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>>29151389
In the span of a couple days, you've discovered you own far more land than you thought, met an ancient member of your species who in turn told you about a way through the mountains to a civilization made up of a race of what was previously thought to be mythical centaurs. This was then followed by getting a modest herd purchased, as well as a pair of hands, and discovering the threat of one of two orc businessmen, who you can only imagine made his first move trying to burn your barn down. Not to mention finding out that your oldest family friend was a notorious rebel at one point and, now that you think about his story, it is apparent that you weren't born on this Southern Continent as you had originally thought. You had never asked father of course, and always assumed, but how much of your father, and mother coming to it, hadn't you been told?

You eventually break through the bushland and, beneath the shade of the tree canopy, have room to slide next to Veles. He turns to regard you dropping out of his awkward speech and into Snake Cant, <I know the area fairly well, so how did you want to proceed?>

>Following the River ought to go into the mountains shouldn't it?
>Head towards the Hot Springs, we can get our bearings from there
>You said that your entrance was near one of our markers, yes? We'll follow the perimeter slow and steady.

>>29151409
we've mapped this place out a bit, let's make for the hotsprings and then make a bee-line to his cave/house/path/thing. Added bonus of having water if we need it.

>>29151453
oh, and welcome back, hope you had a good christmas.

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<Lets head towards the springs where we netted our first meeting with you. From there we can proceed.> You say, to which he nods and you set off, following the river listening to it gurgle as you go.

<So what is this place of yours like?> you ask as means of breaking the silence.

<It was one of my sire's old retreats, she had an appreciation for hideouts. Since then I've made it more... liveable. I've had a lot of time to do so. I've got a couple workshops, and living areas. The rookery is my proudest bit, since it is near invisible from the outside just by geographical design. That and the entrances are new, since I can hardly keep a dragon sized entrance quiet>

<I can't imagine it is warm up in this mountains.> You say.

<I've got a few ways around that. There are a few steam vents, much like the springs. They aren't much, but I've found a way to channel them. Can't say I did it all with my own two hands though. More than a little magic went into carving out the rock.>

It isn't long before you feel the humidity climb and shorter still before you catch sight of the springs, steaming lazily in the cooler air. You scout the area a bit, noting with satisfaction that the area is relatively flat, and an ideal place to build something. Veles in the meantime, picks up his own trail and beckons you to follow.

1d20 roll, lower is better.

Rolled 13

>>29152201
We've got to establish a more permanent style camp or something here later.

Let's hope we don't get lost.

Rolled 15

>>29152201

Rolled 8

>>29152201

Rolled 1

>>29152201
One more

Rolled 8

>>29151389
Ha-HA! thought you could start without me, could you?

>>29153576
you and your rolls, anon.
>>29153635
he thought it. And it was happening!
Would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling... spreadsheets?

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>>29153576
Lemme... lemme just make a small edit to this update.

>>29153668
welp.

>>29153697

>lower is better

Indeed

>>29153734
oh.
OH!
that's much better!

>8

An animal trail catches your eye, closer inspection reveals it to be horse tracks, you start for a moment, wondering if perhaps the bandits you had seen passed through here or if the centaurs Veles mentioned had found a way through the mountain. Then it hits you, these ones aren't shoed, and you know the ones the bandits were using likely were, and a quick check with Veles tells you that the Casimiran have something similar, are the ones that made these possibly feral or wild?. Not seeing any nearby you opt to move on with Veles. Here the land takes a slightly steeper gradient, and through the trees you catch snatches of the river winding through. Veles seems to know where he is going so you just focus on enjoying the scenery. After some time you emerge from the treeline into the highlands you had made your way around during your surveying. You see your breath fog up the air and you give an involuntary shiver. Veles stops here and places a hand on your shoulder.

<What's going o-> You start to say before you see a faint blue light run around the both of you and you feel a warmth building around you.

>>29153825
ah, a bit of warm magic or some crap. Well, better than freezing.

I don't like the highlands as much. Too cold.

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>>29153825
<Did not wish to use this in the woodlands, its a means of drawing heat in from the surroundings, less taxing than a heating charm.> He says, and by means of explanation empties a bit of water from his waterskin into his hand then whips it away. Not five feet out you hear a crack as it freezes in air, then hits the ground and shatters. You stare at it for a little before looking back at the grinning snake, Dahz meanwhile has given up trying to follow and is splayed out on Veles tail like a rug. <Avoiding the cold.> He responds to your unasked question before continuing on.

Roll 1d20 lower is better.

Rolled 7

>>29153879
rollin'

Rolled 1

>>29153879
>water freezes in the air

Holy hell. That takes -70 F or more to pull off. This is no natural cold.

Rolled 8

>>29153879
Darn veles and his handy portable heat generation dog.

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>>29153946

AWW YEEEAAA

>>29154033
Well, you got us an easy ride, that's for sure.
or for probable.

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>1

You are mindful not to stray to far from your companion, if this draws heat towards him, then the cold out there must be due to it. As you walk you watch the tufts of grass develop a film of ice as you approach them. As you pass you touch one of them and it shatters. Now you see why he didn't want to use it in the woodlands. You pass another tuft and turn to look, seeing how quickly it thaws when it gets out of range when you see them. You stop mid slither, prompting Veles to look where you are pointing.

Cresting the ridgeline to the west of you, just following the trees are at least a dozen or so horses. You stay still, watching them move across the path you just travelled and heading towards the river. Wild. Horses. You don't know if they are just escaped ones that went feral, or had always been here, but other than the western plains and the racers you see come in from the UFK, nobody has wild horses.

>Reaction?

>>29154481
I think I might like the highlands again. It comes with its own supply of horses.
For a second, though, I thought they were centaurs.

Maybe one is big enough for us to ride.

Nah.

No horse is big enough for that.

Rolled 6

>>29154481

"Beatiful. I've never seen wild horses before..."

>>29153879
Veles is versed in the art of SnakeTrain as well, eh?

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>>29154705

>>29154756
well, for dogs at least. Probably more comfortable.

>>29154854
Eh, still might not be huge enough.

Rolled 17

>>29154854

Not big enough, but damn big. Give me that over those pencil-leg thoroughbreds any day. I want a horse that can gallop through a brick wall.

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"Beautiful. I've never seen wild horses before..." you say, watching as they just move

<Really? I would have figured most of your stock would be from herds.> Veles says conversationally

You turn to him, <We have breeders specifically for horses. A few ranches, but wild stock is not something we have an abundance of.>

<Really? I can only imagine a slew of health problems later on without new blood.>

<Yeah, that's why seeing these, well... it will be something of note.>

He nods and you continue on, mentally making a note of the area to return to later. It isn't long before you see the markers you and McCain put up just a few days ago.

<Can you see my door yet?> Veles queries.

Roll 1d20+4 best of 3 DC 21

Rolled 15 + 4

>>29155080
haha, no, we can't see your door.

Rolled 4 + 4

>>29155080

Rolled 20 + 4

>>29155080

Let's do this

>>29155140
huh.

Rolled 4 + 4

>>29155140
Man, deez dice.

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>20

You think back to what Veles mentioned last time as he deactivates whatever that spell was, something about seeing one of your surveying posts when he opened up the door. Following his gaze, you head right to the post he is looking at, on relatively flat ground on the highlands, shivering as the cold comes back. You look at the ground and notice that surprisingly, a lot of the turf here seems... thinner. You extend one claw and drag it behind the post. You are rewarded with the feeling of hitting something hard. Tracing the outline yields something square and after some effort, you lift up flat stone slab, one like many others in the area, only larger, and not many have a wooden hinge mounted on the bottom, nor the entrance to what looks like a tunnel.

Veles gives you an appraising look, <Well done Sasha.> You can feel how impressed he is.

<Had you not told me, I probably would have missed it.> You say modestly.

<Somehow I doubt that> Veles says, with that routine sssnicker and grin as he ushers you inside.

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>>29155954
Its dark, and a bit close inside the tunnel, Veles having pulled the turf door back closed with a complicated display of flexibility that has even you wincing a bit before he untangled himself and led you onward as the tunnel slopes to nearly 30 degrees downwards. It isn't long before it widens a bit, before leading to what looks like a sheer rock facing, if not for the hairline crack running straight down it. Veles places a hand on the center of it, and you see that familiar line of blow spiderweb from it, the sheer rock facings splitting apart and showing... a fairly well lit area and a blast of warm air.

<Your magic moved all that?> You say a little incredulously

<No, just started the mechanisms that moved it, beats doing it by hand.> He says as you enter what must be his place.

To say it was spacious would be an understatement. You've read how big dragons are but to see this is staggering. The main hall is enormous and looks to go further into the mountain. Off to one side you see what must be a living area, a large pot, what looks to be a smoking rack, something decidedly looking like one of your blanket nests, but made out of furs, amongst other things. To another you see what must be the workshops he was talking about. Thin screen dividers and some rough hewn tables with all manner of tools, most looking to be hand made and what looks like a... forge.

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>>29155974
You see another passageway, looking newer than the rest and smoothly hewn out the rock much like your entrance passage, heading upwards. You also see, the source of heat here, a large pool up against a wall, steaming like the hot springs on your land.

You take all this in as Veles detaches Dahz from his back, the dog promptly running up into the other passageway and out of sight. <I have a few things to take care of now that I am back, feel free to take a look around.> he says, excusing himself and slipping into that same tunnel, and out of his heavy coat just leaving that black fabric shirt you saw him wearing on the boat.

>Look at anything? If so specify
>Saw some books near those living quarters
>Workshops look interesting.
>No way that heat is just coming from that spring, investigate.
>How is there light in here?

>Saw some books near those living quarters

>>29156003
let's look at the books and the heat.

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>>29156003

In order.

>>29156117
I would have picked that, but I always feel bad for the QM when I do.

But yeah, all the things.

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>>29156117
I can do that, will just take me some time, probably a wall as big as the McCain story.

>>29156165
well, in order of interest, I have to say
books
workshop
heating
light

if you have to minimalize some stuff.

well, time for a long period of sitting and waiting.
Looks like we're going to be in the stupid cold highlands a lot dealing with horses.

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>All the things.

You make your way towards the living area, giving an appreciative glance towards the stone cooking area, there appears to be some dried fruits and smoked meats if the smells are anything to go by. The bundle of furs in the corner are almost inviting given how warm and soft they look, but you reign yourself in and go for what you are really after. The books. The shelving, which appears to have been chipped out of the rock wall as well, gives plenty of room for you to look at the leather bound books. Most of which, you note, don't seem to have titles. You pull a few of the ones that you see lettering on out and look, however it appears to be in a script that you aren't familiar with. Must be that Casimiran language that Veles mentioned.

On a hunch you poke through one of the rougher hide bounds ones to see a fairly familiar snakesign, though it branches into symbols you haven't seen before. The text however, is a side note to the diagrams. Ranging from sketches of muscle structure, to what you can only think of as schematics for items, the rougher books are full of them, all written in a flowing, refined style. Even though you can't quite understand the symbols, they seem fairly intuitive. You place those books back on the shelf when you see a glittering from one of the books.

>>29158896
Ah, all the things. The most taxing for QMs.

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>>29158896
You pull that one out and are nearly floored by how heavy it is. Opening it reveals that the book itself is made of of a metal you cannot place, and it is written in a decidedly different script than any you've seen yet. Veles, slides back down, and notices you. <Ah I see my library has caught your eye. It is a modest thing but, well what you hold there, there is nothing quite like it I imagine. My sire's work. I believe she called it...> he frowns a moment trying to recall the name before continuing, <ITIUTCRAUTOMIDFC or IF THIS IS USED TO CREATE A UNIFIED THEORY OF MAGIC I DEMAND FULL CREDIT. She was immensely proud of it, of course, she was immensely proud of anything she created. I just called it the Book of Thaumaturgy> he rattles this information off, then grabs a slab of whatever that smoked meat was, and disappears back into the tunnel. Not being able to read any of the books, you put that one down gingerly and move toward the workshops.

You had them pegged right when you first saw them, on the whole they are rough, but on the tables lie a surprising number of intricately designed things. You see a set of brass binoculars on one, near a rack of, what appears to be crystals of varying colors. On another you see what appears to be the skeleton of a bird, assembled and hanging from a series of wooden connectors, another one of the books lying open and in that familiar diagram filled snake script.

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>>29158954
On yet another, nearest to the forge, you see a series of blades, much like the one you saw Veles using, however a box lying next to it with cracked blades, handles, and unidentified pieces of metal hint that it wasn't a simple process. The forge itself seems to have long been out, but has a surprising degree of complexity to it as well. Several tools you cannot identify, and several you can, hang from a rack on the wall. You are curious about where he got these, but the shaft of a chisel, laying snapped in such a way that it must have been a forging error, give credence to the thought that Veles had made them himself.

Seeing the forge inactive brings you to wondering about the heat, when you find something unusual. You find a smaller hole in the wall, smooth and circular like the tunnel you cam in, but only large enough for your arm. It seems to be constantly blowing a warm, damp, stream of air into it. Curious you move over to the pool, to see that there is a small square cut into that wall as well, placing your hand in the water, you feel a current drawing it towards that square, pressing your hand against the wall, you find it curiously warm. It would appear that some mechanism warms the water to the point where it becomes steam, before it funnels through these holes. You'll have to ask Veles about it when you get the chance.

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>>29159003
Speaking of unexplained, you turn your attention to the lighting. Farther up than you can reach, light shines out of a few illuminated grooves in the walls. You turn your attention to one down lower, stretching yourself up the wall, cursing its smoothness and your lack of grip, you manage to reach it. Inside yields a small crystal, brightly shining light that continues to do so even as you take it out. Then it starts to dim, which prompts you to place it back, where it slowly builds up brightness again.

<They are something unique to here.> Veles says, startling you as you start to slip down the side of the smooth wall towards the pool, only to have him catch you, arresting your momentum. <Careful now, anyway, I found these in a geode I had uncovered. These light emitting crystals, curious things, but I've found that they glow only faintly when not focused, but house them like so...> He starts sliding up the wall, dwarfing your length and grabbing one of the ones higher up and cupping it in his hands. <They seem to reflect off themselves, so leaving them suspended would lead to naught but dullness, but charge them with a bit of magic, and make a smaller aperture.> You are nearly blinded as a ray of light shoots out from his cupped hands against the wall. <These are only one kind of course. The others are also fairly curious. Thoughts?> he asks with a smile.

>Reaction on all this?
>Any questions?

>>29159027
this is actually sort of a lot. The dragon book sounds appropriately dragon-y, and I wonder at what the crystal array in the workshop is for.

In fact, all of this crystal business is interesting. I'd sort of like one of those lamps at some point, if only for easy candle-free nighttime reading.

All in all, pretty swanky place, Veles. You'll have to introduce me to your horse friends one day. And show me the passage to get to them. Where are we putting the teleport rune?

>>29159027
"Veles, this is an amazing place. You seem to be a serpent of many talents and skills. How long ago had you begun working steel?"

the guy seems to be a tinkerer. he'd probably much appreciate baubles and gizmos from town.

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<Veles, this is an amazing place. You seem to be a serpent of many talents and skills. How long ago had you begun working steel?>

He scratches the back of his head, <Oh, that is a hard question. I only took it up as a means of getting things I needed. Which... well that was after my Sire had left... I honestly don't quite remember, I was moving from project to project you see, keeping myself busy while tending to the burden she left me. That was already taken care of by the time I had developed any aptitude for it. By then I had simply started writing things down and chasing after one idea or the next. I'd go into more of those, but I'd have you here forever if I did that.> He says ruefully, gesturing to the books and the displays.

<Well, perhaps another time then, speaking of business, where was that rune going to go?>

<Ah, past the rookery, there is a small... I suppose you could call it hub.> he says, heading towards that tunnel you had seen him slipping in and out of. <If you don't mind, I have one last thing to take care of. You can come watch if you care to.>

>I can wait
>Sure, I'll tag along

>>29161436
sure, let's tag along. We'll get porting home after that.
Maybe.
I'm still leery of those things.

>>29161436
>Sure, I'll tag along!

>>29161436
>>Sure, I'll tag along
Why not? Might learn something!

>>29161436
>>Sure, I'll tag along

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>Sure, I'll tag along

<Don't see any reason why not to. I'll come along.> You respond.

He looks serious for a moment, <Alright, however, for a bit I would ask you stay behind me.>

You don't question it as you fall in behind the thirty nine foot snake as he makes his way up this tunnel, coming to a small bend and heading into an alcove. You wait outside until you see his hand beckon you in. You go in an are greeted to the sight of... well... raptors. A slight chill runs through the floor, as you can see there are a few recessed slots in the ground that the birds of prey are entering their roost. You see more than a few gathered around a piece of meat laid on wooden slats near the middle of the room. However, Veles is near one of the roosts, coaxing one birds out and onto a heavily gloved hand. Surprisingly it does so and he reaches into the next with the other hand. Pulling out, well an egg twice the size as your fist. Murmuring to the bird he sets it back in the roost, and backs away slowly taking it to spot lined with furs. He waves you over, and you do so hesitantly, feeling the eyes of the birds on you as you move.

<Its about to hatch> he whispers. Already you see cracks starting to form on the surface of the shell.

Roll 1d20

Rolled 6

>>29162600
Yep, he mentioned having to get back to deal with the falcons. It seems like a big one.

Rolled 6

>>29162600

Rolled 4

>>29162600

>>29162641
>>29162692
>>29162731
SO close to an antichrist-bird

Rolled 15

>>29162600

The stars favor my spreadsheet powers today.

>>29162866
you are laaate

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>4

You watch closely, yourself on one side, Veles on the other as the egg begins to break open, you see the a tiny beak peak out of the top before its struggles knock the egg to the side, towards you. You watch as Veles gently peels away the eggshell revealing a scrawny little form, you can hardly believe such a little thing becomes one of those giant things regarding you icily from their perch. Then the little thing opens its eyes and looks straight at you. Veles starts to laugh. <Oh dear... Thankfully these imprint on the first three things they sees. Benefits of being a flock predator. You've just made a friend for life.>
>Reaction?

>>29163088
>check inventory for food to regurgitate into chick's mouth

>>29163111
you silly, that's not how falconry works.
I hope.
>>29163088
"You should've warned me! Now I've got to care for this thing!"

"It can eat meat, right? This young?"

>>29163088
"My, what will McCain say now that I have gone out to the hills with you and have come back a mother?"

>>29163187
you witty motherfucker, that's pretty good.

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>>29163187

ZING!

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You don't fancy the responsibility of having to raise a hatchling, especially when you have no idea how to do so. "You should've warned me! Now I've got to care for this thing!"

<That won't be a problem,> He responds, picking up the bird and staring at it before continuing, never leaving snake cant, <Like I said, it imprints on the first three, and its mother is surprisingly antisocial for a flock bird. It should imprint on myself and her, and I can take care of it here.>

You watch as he ruffles the downy little figure in the furs, drying it off, before ushering it back to the mother, who promptly takes it under her wing. <In any case, though unexpected, I do not believe this to be a bad thing, given training, it could be a fairly effective messenger. And given my deals with the Casimiran and their interests, I have more than a beginners knowledge in training animals for others to use. Of course, provided you were interested.>

Taking this in, you decide to inject a bit of humor. and use your most demure voice, "My, what will McCain say now that I have gone out to the hills with you and have come back a mother?"

His face remains motionless for a second, splitting into a sly grin. <I know eggsactly what he would say during such a hawkward conversation. Something to the effect of the consequences of a flight of fancy and a fledgling romance. He would most assuredly accuse me of turning my eagle eye toward your nest egg.>

You got Pun-ished
>Reaction?

>>29164175
A messenger, eh? Well, might be useful. Much safer than using that teleporter. I guess he swooped away with all the good bird puns, so we'll have to concede defeat for now.

Shift the topic to talking about training animals for others to use, and the casimiran centaur folks. After that, maybe we can see the pass he uses to get through the mountains, or head home. It's either gonna be a lonely trip, or a nervous teleporter test.

>>29164175

>puncount: 4 or more

OW. THAT HURT. RIGHT IN THE DICTIONARY.

>>29164175
"Well, damn, it seems you have, in one fell swoop, used all of the 'good' bird puns. Shall we continue home then?"

>>29164383
>>29164264
Not all of them. I think this is just coming to a beak.

Really, we're just two birds of a feather, aren't we? It should be no wonder we're attracting a flock.

>>29164454
Well, he must have been cooped up for quite some times to bring out the puns so early.

>>29164478
he did chirp in rather quickly, didn't he?

Rolled 8

Guys. GUYS.

We're supposed to be punning him. Not each other.

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>>29164264
>>29164379
>>29164383
>>29164454
>>29164478
>>29164509
Alright, once everyone's done falcon around. I'll work on the update. Though it'll have to be tomorrow, been going 10 hours now and I'd rather not pass out at the keyboard. With you guys waiting for an update.
Puns ain't Veles main thing either, Its the Dad Jokes you gotta watch out for.

>>29164548
well, okay. Thread will probably persist until tomorrow. I guess I'll have to archive it again.

I was going to end with a bird pun, but I don't want to egg anyone on.

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>>29164584
Well, so far the votes have been for conceding defeat, with a bit of intermittent punishment between players. I'm loathe to quit while I have people but... well you guys crit through a lot of progress so far. If you want to make an itinerary of things to do I'll do my best to address them next update.

So far I know:
>Magic/Lamia training
>Centuars
>Portal
just for here. Might be some I missed.

>>29164584
>29151389
there, archived.
Thanks for runnin'!

>>29164647
I think that's the gist of it. Though, I don't expect much of anything magicwise. that stuff always takes forever.

Maybe offer to send him a thing of milk every few days in the teleportron to be neighborly.

I'm conking out. Catch you later when we feed the falcon and get back to animal husbandry.