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You focus your inner eye outward, the ebb and flow of vys filling your darkened vision. Swirls of purple, green, blue, and red twist gracefully through your vision. You can easily pick out the illuminated form of Mortia sitting across from you, her reserves are shot through with a deep, rich purple color, though remain predominantly blue. That means something, or it's supposed to mean something. You can't quite recall what it is your master told you regarding the color of someone's reserves. Something about particularly strong emotions, you think.

You shift your focus away from the world around you and instead on nature and life. Your surroundings seem to come alive with brightly glowing green, the vys which dwells within living entities. Subtle tone differentiations allow you to tell whether or not what you're looking at is a plant, animal, or person. Mortia appears solid, dark green unlike previously, where she appeared as a shifting mass of various colors.

Suddenly plantlife intrudes on your vision. It's as if one by ones vines stretch their way across your field of view, until all that's left is a sea of pale green. You feel Mortia's voice intrude on your thoughts as you try to figure out what you're seeing, but not in the same harsh way the brooches typically force speech into your mind. It's a gentle, subtle influence. You'd almost think her thoughts were your own.

{I've blindfolded you. Attempt to pick out when I'm casting a spell despite your obscured vision. I'll cast three times in five second intervals to allow you to get a feel for what you need to look for. I suggest you do the same, or similar to further aid your understanding. Once you've spotted what you think is a spell, create a ball of flame.}

(1/2)

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Taking her advice you manifest a series of glowing orbs, composed of heat and light without fire, surrounding your head. You have them wink in and out of existence in rapid succession, trying desperately to discern any sort of shift. You don't see anything, though you do feel something. Thin strands of vys attaching you to each of the glowing orbs. You try focusing on these, but can't quite seem to grasp them. The moment you think you've caught a glimpse of one it twist away, hovering just out of sigh.

You're so focused on these strands that you almost miss the dim flash of light blue in a sea of green. It seems to spread, slowly encroaching on the world around it. You've no idea what it is, or what it might be doing. You assume it's a spell of some sort. All at once the light blue vanishes, the green reasserting itself in the space it once occupied. A moment later you feel something constrict tightly around your abdomen, spanning roughly from your diaphragm to your hips. It's almost like a massive creature has reached down and grabbed you in one massive, calloused hand.

You wait until you see another patch of light blue appear within your field of view. At that point, you create a ball of flame next to your head to indicate you believe Mortia to be casting a spell. The blue glow falters, and then vanishes. You feel whatever wrapped around your chest recede, and your vision clears as the vines retract from your eyes. You see Mortia standing up, and so force yourself to awaken from your meditative trance.
>Congratulations! You gained an insight towards Nature Magic!
>Congratulations! You now have a Vatis level understanding of Nature's extrasensory capabilities!

(2/3)

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As your eyes snap open to reveal the darkness of clearing, you find Mortia standing over you. The ground beneath you and around you has been churned up, as if by a plow or something being ripped up from beneath. The vegetation has been cleared away as well, leaving the ground the two of you sat upon nothing save black soil. Mortia speaks before you get the opportunity. “You did quite well, Mikhael. Quite well.” She seems reserved, compared to how she was acting earlier. Though you suppose no more reserved than usual. “You will need to teach me what it was you were using to create those burst of bright red, normally the color is not so rich.”

>You suppose that would be fair, at some later date. You've got some reading to get back to presently.
>How about another round of meditation? You feel yourself on the cusp of a major revelation.
>You don't think you can fit teaching magic to yet another pupil into your schedule.
>Explain that you intend to be on the road again soon, you'll teach her then.
>Write-in

Your bonuses meant you essentially couldn't fail the roll.

>>36167808
>You don't think you can fit teaching magic to yet another pupil into your schedule.

also isn't she teaching us because we took her punishment for her?

>>36167808
>STAY ON MORTIA'S WILD RIDE

>>36167808
>How about another round of meditation? You feel yourself on the cusp of a major revelation.
>Explain that you intend to be on the road again soon, you'll teach her then.

After the incident with the monks and Mortia the temple doesn't feel like a welcoming place and more, I could like to depart after a few days at most.

>>36167808
>>You suppose that would be fair, at some later date. You've got some reading to get back to presently.
i like beaing a teacher

>>36167808
>>How about another round of meditation? You feel yourself on the cusp of a major revelation.

>>36167808
>>How about another round of meditation? You feel yourself on the cusp of a major revelation.

>>36167808
>How about another round of meditation? You feel yourself on the cusp of a major revelation.

>>36167955
Nah if we have another problem them maybe.

This was just random event ##

>>36167808
Learning magic is a giant snowball isn't it? The second you get kinda good, nothing is going to stop your improvement.

>>36167955
We still gotta go finish looting the island

>>36168039
A snowball rolling down a hill in to a bottomless pit

>>36168053
There's nothing left anon

>>36167808
>How about another round of meditation? You feel yourself on the cusp of a major revelation.

>>36167808
>>Explain that you intend to be on the road again soon, you'll teach her then.
why not

>>36168073
Dude, most of the tower was sill intact.

Not to mention the mysterious watchtower.

>>36167718
Fuck yeah Banished Quest! I just catch up after more or less dropping out during the other dimension/futuristic world arc. Never being more glad to catch up with quest before.

>>36168014
>>36168003
>>36168002
>>36167955
>>36167908
>>36168083
>>36168083
>Mo' magick

>>36167881
>Bitch, swerve

>>36167955
>>36168112
>You're leaving soon, you'll teach on the road.

>>36167955
>You'll scratch her back so long as she scratches yours, but first, books.

>>36168128
>abandoning ship during namek

anon, we have no room for traitors

>>36168147
Lynch him.

>>36168128
Either you're with us or not. Not halvers.

>>36168128
Get out you dirty deserter

>>36168147
>>36168161
>>36168168
>>36168170
I love you guys

>>36168128
Anon go back and read it. We sat through it so can you. It's no that bad, lot's happened that you have to know.

I really want to spend more time with Zahak.

We're really neglecting him.

>>36168168
>>36168161
>>36168147
>>36168170
>>36168194

Come guys, the change into shadowrun territory was a little to sudden for me at the time. I read through everything between now and then in the last two days. I am committed to the cause.

>>36168194
Gonna post this here just for refrence.

Bout to count how many vys we'll get if we complete every experiment we have and learn all the effects/metas we have. And get to the levels we want in each element.

>Liquid Fire
>Magnification/Telescope technique
>Invisibility
>Point Defense
>Point Offense
>Mistral arms
>Movement Meditation
>Metal Music
>Grandmaster in Water
>Expert Nature
>Expert Metal
>Vatis Earth
>Mark
>Create
>Animate
>Sleep
>Leaping
>Beam
>Selective
>Hidden
>AOE
>Magnetism
>Fire cutting
>Flash

Paths of Study
>Sound magic
>Anatomy
>Vys


>Organize our cloak/catalog it
>Open the mystery containers

>Check out Varvars chest
>Get to readin

Does GM net us a larger than +1 bonus? I imagine it would.

>>36168256
Chrys is playing with him. He's having fun and you know it

>>36168256
What? We've spent most of time he's been awake with him. Probably because he's asleep all the time though.

>>36168256
Once we dont have to confine him to a small room

>>36168294
Well i guess it's okay if you did read it. Still next time be stronger. Know that Mik will always make it interesting.

>>36168305
>>36168313

He's been confined to a small room for his entire life so far. We need to get out of here.

I was going to ask you to roll, but I realized you still couldn't fail that roll. Total bonus is +16 and the DC is 20. After this meditation the DC will be 25 and you'll only be getting a +10 due to reductions in various bonuses.

>>36168294
Disgusting.

>>36168303
>Beam

I want us to get beam so bad.

>>36168332
He's a two day old.
I feel like you forget that

Does Mortia want Magik Mik's Magik Dick?

>>36168332
Most newborns don't see much besides their parents and titties for their first few days of existence.

>>36168408
I think that's what the purple in her vys was

>>36168408
Who doesn't?

>>36168433
Lust seems more like a pink or a red type thing. Purple is kind of a melancholy color.

>>36168366
>38vys
Noice

>>36168464
Colors are weird man. I think purple goes nice with either lust or love.

>>36168471
1 rank up in metal and another in earth would put us at 40

>>36168510
>>36168464
Soma seems to be using the RGB color spectrum, so purple would be a combination of blue and red.

>>36168256

You think we can teach him earth magic? Water seems out of the question and he wasn't fond nature by his reaction to the staff.

>>36168332

He hasn't even been alive long enough to get added to our companions list! Once Soma does that, then we can talk about taking him out..

>>36168645
He didn't like the DRAGON STAFF because it's made from DRAGONS.

>>36168645
He can probably learn everything.

>>36168303
>7 from techniques

>7 from reading depends on if "how earth vatis built the empire" gives us Vys. I assumed it didn't.

>20 from effects and metas

>6 from leveling depending on what GM gives us. I assumed it didn't

>40 total

>>36168734
This is from us already at vatis nature so a total of
78

>>36168303
What's Mistral arms? Is that just multiple arms? If so I want it.

>>36168812
Using Water for multiple arms.

>>36168673
Czech again.

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>>36168812

>Zahak Abdul-Hakim:
>Mikhael's adoptive son, a dragon hatched from an egg he found deep within the Mines of Longia, separate from the rest of the mother's brood. Only recently born.
>Max Vys: 30
>Max Vys: 30
>Max Vys: 30
>Max Vys: 30

>>36168916
Dragons is serious fuckin' business, man.

>>36168849

Ok. Sweet. NOW we need to take him out hunting!

>>36168916
Our kid is gonna be stronger than us in no time at all.

>>36169002
Shit. What if we've gotten in over our heads?

>>36169002
Well, yeah. He's a fucking dragon.

>>36168870
It turns us into a foreign cyborg whore?

So how long till we ride him?

>>36169021

You act like that would be a new experience for us..

What happened to Gadget not and why haven't we opended theystery boxes yet? Also can we reverse leech?

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>>36169002
Switch Danny for Mik/Chrys and you have a winner

>>36168991
I really want a Chrys, Mik, and Zahak hunting trip

>>36169109
Gadget bot

>>36167808
>How about another round of meditation? You feel yourself on the cusp of a major revelation.

>>36169119
Damny is scum.
You should feel bad for comparing her to mik

>>36169154
>>36169109
We never get around to, it.
People usually vote to read or meditate instead of looking through our shit(we still have a sword that its better than the 1 jeweled one, but we have no clue what it does, hell the fucking our cloak is only half finished being investigated), i still think we should have fulvia and SK upgrade the unshackled AI.

>>36168366
Hey soma can we make sound with fire?
If not what maigc would allow us to make sound?

>>36169544
>Implying I can answer either of these.

>>36169544
>implying he can answer that

>>36169590
I'll take that as a maybe for fire.

>>36169544
>Implying Soma can answer that

>>36169590
Well, sound is vibration and pressure, right? So...probably all elements have a way to make sound. Probably a mixture of a few for best results

>>36169544
Any magic.

>>36169732
The best way to magically manipulate sound would be to use a mundane object that already generates sound and fuck with it with vys

>>36169791
This, that's how that one chick who gave us oud lessons (once) did it. She used metal to fuck with the strings of her guitar.

What happened to her?

>>36169819
We still have a few lessons left.

>>36169869
Still have a few eardrums to burst.

wait dont we need to collect money on the game we invented back at the collage

You take a moment to stretch your limbs, one of your knees popping loudly as you stretch out the leg. You've been sitting down for what seems like ages now. How long did that meditation take? You don't hear singing anymore, so presumably the other monks that were in the gardens have left by now. “How about another meditation session? I feel as though I'm on the cusp of a breakthrough.”

She glares at you, but there isn't any ill-will behind it, or at least not very much. “That wasn't a rhetorical statement, you know. Would you be willing to teach me that magic you were using?”

You wave a hand dismissively. “Sure, sure. Later. I mean, it's just Fire magic, but I've made significant progress in the school lately and I'd like to get to a point where I can think about truly perfecting my mastery over the art before I try teaching it to someone else from scratch. After all, I wouldn't gain much of anything from such a meditation.”

She huffs, but doesn't complain any further. Instead she takes a seat across from you and folds her legs beneath herself. “Fine, one more meditative session. Because I owe you. Don't think you're the only one who wishes to accomplish anything tonight. I've finally finished cataloging most of the local flora and I was hoping to get started experimenting to see if any might have interesting alchemical properties.”

You shrug, and open your mouth to speak. However, she seems to have already faded into her trance. You have to admit, you find that more annoying than anything else. She acts without regard for others. You must admit you're guilty of the same at times, more so than you'd like to admit, but she doesn't even seem truly aware of it. If she is, she doesn't care.
(1/4 or 5)

You banish such thoughts from your mind and sink deeply into a meditative state. This time no blindfold is necessary, you can see her illuminated in green, shot-through with light blue. You're wondering what spell she intends to cast when, seemingly from nowhere, a large blob of green light shoots from the dirt floor directly towards your head. You're able to divert it with a mixture of water and nature magic, but another comes, this time from your other side. Once more you're forced to turn it away.

You're preparing for another assault when Mortia's voice weaves itself among your thoughts. {I will be attacking you from all sides, often simultaneously. You'll need to rely on your wits to save you. The goal is to apply enough mental pressure that you find the breakthrough you're looking for. If my guess is correct, it's the missing piece of understanding you'll need to slide into the sensory realm of other lifeforms.” Sensory realm, that's a fancy term that you've not heard before. Its meaning is fairly clear, fortunately.

True to her word, Mortia once more launches into an offensive. You find yourself struggling to keep up, one minute you're turning away a twisting knot of vines, the next you're forcing a sharpened root's nose into the dirt. Several times she manages to slip past your guard, but she's careful not to actually do you harm. She leaves a thin scratch on your cheek, a bruise here and there, a shallow puncture wound. Nothing you couldn't heal with the most basic of water magic.

(2/4 or 50

Most of your problems seem to be coming from the fact that you can't see behind you. Any attack from that direction slips by your guard easily. Slowly, Mortia seems to be shifting the focus away from frontal attacks and instead to attacks from the side, rear, or all directions at once. She's also delivering more and more vicious blows. At once point, a branch slaps you across the cheek hard enough that you nearly fall out of your meditative trance, the taste of blood briefly wafting across your mental landscape before it's forced into the background.

Eventually something just clicks, some vital aspect of understanding falls into place and you find yourself looking at the clearing from a hundred different angles. It's dizzying at first, you can hardly tell what's going on or where, or even when. However, slowly you find yourself parsing the information. You're able to determine that you're actually seeing yourself from the perspective of the plants she's attacking you with, and you find this revelation invaluable. From there, it almost seems like child's play to simply divert her attacks, and you even manage to go on the offensive. Granted, not with any success but you managed to get an attack in during a moment you weren't frantically defending yourself.

Suddenly the blue glow that had come to pervade Mortia fades away. You note that it had deepened into a much brighter, almost royal blue over the course of her expenditure. Presumably a result of focus and extended use. When your eyes snap open you find her gasping for breath, back leaned against a tree. She seems to have used up much of her reserves, judging solely on the look of her.
>Congratulations! You've reached Vatis rank in Nature magic!
>Max Vys: 38
>You no longer suffer a malus to Point Defense or variations there-of.
(3/4)

>>36170086

We should mention the local alchemist to her it could help her in her work.

You push yourself to your feet, extending a hand to help her up once you've shaken the stiffness from your legs. She takes your hand and you haul her to her feet, but she stumbles. You catch her with some small difficulty, she's surprisingly heavy. Humans and Elves tend to be in comparison to your own people.

Fortunately it doesn't seem like you'll need to be struggling to carry her all the way to your rooms. A branch detaches itself from a tree and vines carry it aloft into her hands. She takes it, using it to support herself with only some difficulty. She mumbles something about her mother that you don't quite catch before nodding to you. “Thanks, Mikhael. For earlier as well. I think I'll be getting some sleep after this.”

>Help her to her room, it's the least a friend can do! Then retreat to your own room to read.
>As above, but meditate instead of reading. You might still be able to accomplish something in one of your weaker elements, if you don't tax yourself too hard.
>She seems to have herself well in hand, head for the library to read.
>Don't help her to her room, but instead go to the meditation chamber.
>See if Chrys or Darzi are up for a sparring session, if they're awake.
>Write-in

>>36170137
>we already got vatis rank in the previous meditation yo, give us that 1st insight

>>36170162
>Help her to the room
>Read a fucking book, shit

>>36170162
>>Help her to her room, it's the least a friend can do! Then retreat to your own room to read.

>>36170162
>Help her to her room, it's the least a friend can do! Then retreat to your own room to read.
>write in GIVE HER THE FUCKING PIDJATAN ALCHEMY MANUAL.

>>36170186
No, you got an insight towards Vatis rank in your previous meditation. This time you gained Vatis rank.

>>36170162
>>See if Chrys or Darzi are up for a sparring session, if they're awake.
why not both

>>36170199
This

>>36170162
>>Help her to her room, it's the least a friend can do! Then retreat to your own room to read.

>>36170162
>>As above, but meditate instead of reading. You might still be able to accomplish something in one of your weaker elements, if you don't tax yourself too hard.

>>36170162
>Help her to her room, it's the least a friend can do!
Then
>See if Chrys or Darzi are up for a sparring session, if they're awake.

>>36170207
Wheren't we already at 1/2 before the 1st meditation?

>>36170199
Seconded

>>36170199

Support

>>36170162
>Help her to her room, it's the least a friend can do! Then retreat to your own room to SORT THAT MOTHERFUCKING CLOAK

>>36170162
>>As above, but meditate instead of reading. You might still be able to accomplish something in one of your weaker elements, if you don't tax yourself too hard.

>>36170199
Add giving her a gland, and than you get my vote.

>>36170199
This and a brooch too.

>>36170162

>Help her to her room, it's the least a friend can do! Then retreat to your own room to read.
>See if Chrys or Darzi are up for a sparring session, if they're awake.

>>36170253
Nope.

Also, the character sheet was getting a little cluttered and bloated, so I've moved the inventory into a separate pastebin you can find here:
http://pastebin.com/9mxDQn7N

In the future, this will be included in the OP>

>>36170199
>we will never get to do alchemy
She probably already knows everything the book has to offer

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>>36170319
>brooch
We should give one to ricky as well.

>>36170396
Why would he need a brooch?

>>36170430
To communicate with us.

>>36170162
>Help her to her room, it's the least a friend can do! Then retreat to your own room to read.

Tell her about Grandma Alchemist and give her the book.

>>36170430
To slowly and painfully kill us.

>>36170440

We can already "talk" to him just fine.

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>>36170396
>That fucking picture.

Anyway, seems pretty clear we're helping her to her room, giving her lods o' shit, then reading.

I'll write for
>Give her a brooch
>Give her a gland
>Give her the Alchemy book
>Tell her about Ghada
If anyone takes issue with any of these items, bring it up.

>>36170430
so he can skreech sweet nothing into our mind via the brooch And the link from the cloak.
Or hell even skree while Chrys or someone else wear the cloak like last time.
Should have a discussion before giving him tho

>>36170477
Sounds good.

>>36170477
>Ghada
Shes the sexy milf right?

>>36170522
aye

We still have to punish the elders for having that musclefag flog mik that shit ain't cool

>>36170553
We were expected to numb ourself, and whipping someone is harder than tou think anon, you need those muscles.
What's done is done, stop being a bitch ass.

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>>36170522
Quod enim est iustum.

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>>36170522
ooohhh I can already see the banter the next time we pay her a visit after Mortia went.
>ara~ara Mikhael, and here I though you fancied me a bit and now I discover that you've taken a newer model to do your potions

>>36170489
I'd rather give the last brooch to Zahak

>>36170610
>That surely is righteous.
Ara~ara~ route Soma confirmed!

>>36170653
>Zahak
He can laready speek to us through our minds.

>>36170671
The range is extremely limited

>>36170477
>brooch

I thought we were out of brooches and those taken from the pirate corpses work on a different "network".

>>36170686
They do, but presumably everyone who was on that network is now dead and the brooches can be calibrated to work on your network.

>>36170686
We can easily tune them to us.
>>36170685
He is just learning to use it, his father was pretty far away, but could still fuck us over mentally.

>>36170707
>presumably
You cunt, now we have to meditate on them and shit to make sure the line is clear

>>36170738
Or delegate that job to a certain big boobied nature grandmaster.

>>36170738
I'm pretty sure that if the old network is still online it just wouldn't calibrate to anyone else.

>>36170815
You don't think that Mortia, being a nature GM and having some experience with mind stuff means she could eavesdrop on our telepathic conversations the way Fulvia does naturally?

We should use the prism in combination with our brooch to check up on Demetrios.

>>36171005
second

You heal the various minor wounds she dealt you over the course of the meditation session, it barely drains your vys at all. Once that's done, you help Mortia to her room, lending support whenever she stumbles or otherwise seems to falter. It reminds you quite distinctly of helping your old master through the market. Except with less shouting, threats, and property damage.

Your Master hated markets.

Eventually you reach your party's wing of the building, and get Mortia to her door. You open it for her, but before you allow her to drift off to what you presume will be a much deserved nap you dig a number of things out of your cloak. First and foremost, you give her the book 'Alchemical Guide to Pidjatan Plantlife'. Stacked on top of that is a communication brooch and a thick, lumpy gland you found within those strange plant mutants within the Mines of Longia.

She glances at each of the items warily before taking the stack from you awkwardly, still not quite able to stand without the help of her walking stick. “What's all this for, then? Jewelry, books, and...-” She glances down at the gland, shaking her head slightly. “-I'm not even sure, some sort of tuber?”

You pluck up the brooch and open it, stabbing the pin into your finger just hard enough to draw blood. It barely hurts, especially considering what you've gone through recently. “Stab your finger with the pointy end and it will allow you to communicate with anyone the pointy end has stabbed, make sure you get the rest of the party attuned to your brooch before too long. It's how we handle most of our long range communication.”
(1/2)

[CRICKET CHIRPING INTENSIFIES]

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You set it back down on top of the book and point next to the gland. “This is a poison gland I found inside a monster in a mine. It nearly killed me, so I figure it ought to have useful alchemical properties. I believe it to be a lethal paralytic.” You fold your arms in front of your chest, leaning against the door frame casually. “The book is related to the alchemical uses of Pidjatan plant life. It's primarily written in Samjan, but I noticed a few notations in Rhynian. There are also illustrations, hopefully it will help at least somewhat.”

She still seems hesitant, but accepts your gifts with an uncomfortable nod. You're not sure what's got her so on edge. “If you'd like, there is also an experienced alchemist in the village. A white-haired widow by the name of Ghada. You can find her in a shack by the sea, it's a bit of a task getting to her front door so I suggest resting first if you desire to meet her. I've bought from her several times and her potions seemed quite satisfactory, though she's awfully stingy about showing off her strongest potions.”

She takes a step back into her room, placing a hand on the door as if preparing to shut it. “Alright, well. Thanks for all the help. I mean-” She clears her throat. “-I mean really, thanks. I don't-whatever.” She waves you away before shutting the door firmly.

You push yourself away from the door frame and and drift over to your own room. There are a few more scorch marks surrounding the door than you recall... but you don't smell smoke. Well, no more so than usual. You push the door open to find Zahak curled up on top of his blanket, his meager horde hidden beneath him. He's sleeping, or at the very least dozing. Chrys is reading on your bed, a book you don't recognize.

(2/3)

Anyone else think vatis would be great artists? I mean you can literally see the very life essence of people, enchanters can see the strings of the universe, you can make fucking fireballs, you can carve valleys through mountains.
Mik should try painting. I mean the nigga has seen some weird ass shit, that journey in the mask, when he was in the void. Nigga could make some real hard cash.

>>36171305
>. It reminds you quite distinctly of helping your old master through the market. Except with less shouting, threats, and property damage.
>
>Your Master hated markets
I love that old bastard

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As you enter she looks up and nods once. “It is good to see that you have finally returned. Your dragon tired himself out after a time and went to sleep. I have been reading for the past several hours. How did the meeting with the Elders go?”

>Meh, it was fine.
>Explain what happened in brief.
>Screw brevity, explain in great detail what happened.
>Write-in

>>36171353
>>Meh, it was fine.

Just old assholes being old assholes. What'cha reading there?

I'mma run out to grab some eats before I start drinking. Back soon!

>>36171353
>Meh, it was fine.

>>36171353
>Detail
Don't lie to our waifu

>>36171353
>>Explain what happened in brief.
>Write-in so what happened to my dragon

>>36171353
>Explain what happened in brief.

"Nothing unexpected, old assholes acting like old assholes."

>>36171353
>Explain what happened in brief.

Make sure to tell her it wasn't anything she should hold a grudge about.

>>36171353
>>Explain what happened in brief.
Give her details if she asks though,

>>36171353
>Meh, it was fine.
>Explain what happened in brief.

>>36171353
Detail

>>36171353
>>Meh, it was fine.

>>36171353
>>Explain what happened in brief.

>>36171333
>skeleton standing infront of a void abomination with a weird ass blood fountain
Goth kids will dig it

>>36171353
>Explain what happened in brief.

>>36171353
>Explain what happened in brief.
We should tell her we chose not to numb the pain, and shit, and that the wounds weren't that serious.

>>36171353
>Explain what happened in brief.

Talk her about leaving the temple soon and traveling north and do you know what.

>>36171353
Definitely detail, she'll find out about it eventually and it's not good to keep things from party members.

>>36171333
And when his artistic sense turns out to be as shit as his musical ability he can pass it off as avant-garde.

>>36171466
Its south numbnuts

>>36171483

Its actually east.

>>36171466
Dude, there's no reason to leave and we have fuck tons of training to do.

We'll leave if shit goes south

>>36171480
>inb4 just looking at it causes pain

>>36171527
>>36171483
>>36171466
The Deep Desert is south. Far south.

>>36171353
>>Meh, it was fine.
>>Explain what happened in brief.

>>36171353
>>Explain what happened in brief.

>>36171527
man seeing a man having a breakdown while fucking a cake is surreal
>>36171466
We'll get there, when we get there stop rushing it and teasing chrys.

>>36171483
East rather, so we can kill Chryssa's husband/hit these two fort that are close to her village on the way back

>>36171549
>>36171483

I am talking about her husband, the one we promise we could kill.

>>36171576
>man seeing a man having a breakdown while fucking a cake is surreal
The fuck?

>>36171602
Its funny and sad at the same time, a quick google search should bring it up.
>>36171592
We aren't leaving yet, so there is no use in planning on where to go, when we don't even know when the shah finishes his paper work.

>>36171584
>>36171592
Oh, that'll be a side solo trip I imagine. We could make the trip on our own in a day or two and be done with it in less than a week. Make a nice break from meditating some time.

We could do it in a day if we popped an incorporeality potion.

Or if we rode Zahak.

>>36171650
Killing the husband shouldn't necessitate the whole gang, Mik could go do the dead while the git gudder.
Could also take this time to send people to Longia and search for our Guars' bones or something

>>36171670
>Or if we rode Zahak

He'll shit his pants and die from assplosion

Gonna need to add Mortia too the companions.

>>36171670
>Or if we rode Zahak.

We avatar Roku soon.

>>36171884
Mortia is the kind of companion that while a decent and fun companion, i wouldn't mind leaving at some point down the line to do their own thing.

>>36171929
Would make more room in the party for our ex-bride after we kill our brother.

>>36171929
>>36171959
Second with all of my everything.

>>36171321
>though she's awfully stingy about showing off her strongest potions
Oh, that's what you meant.

>>36171959
>ex-bride
Ex-betrothed you meant

>>36172046
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_FQU4KzN7A
I took it as a reference to this.

>>36172069
ehh, same shit

>>36172116
Yeah, as did I.

>>36172116
>>36172046
?

>>36172117
not really

>>36172167
I'm pretty sure Soma said there was a reference to that video in the quest somwhere. It's Ghada.

>>36172254
shush

>>36172268
I don't see the reference really.

I HAVE RETURNED

>>36171573
>>36171569
>>36171466
>>36171460
>>36171458
>>36171441
>>36171419
>>36171417
>>36171408
>>36171405
>>36171403
>Be brief

>>36171396
>>36171424
>Go into detail.

>>36171569
>>36171434
>>36171419
>>36171395
>Eeeh, no complaints.

Writin'

>>36172390
hey soma, not the usual guy, but whatcha listenin' to?

>>36172456
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGyIwia7rk

>>36172488
This seems like it would be up your alley Soma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oW5nnyjkKw

>>36172724
You fuckin' with me? I love Emily Youcis. Bitch is Queen of /f/. I didn't even know she was still doing stuff.

>>36172806
Soma what the fuck is wrong with you?

Can we discuss what our next meditation will be about? I was hoping for Animate a couple of golems with us and take advantage of small unit tactics perk we have.

>>36173056
We still have that anti golem core, maybe we can combine it with the robot.

Did the notes ever clarify if enchanted shit has sentience?
I remember it saying that since they have souls they a will and will help out its wielder.

>>36173056
Metal first

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>>36169544
Obviously you use a combination of elements, rock, metal and fire.

>>36173171
what about... Zazz? how do we add zazz?

You shrug your shoulders, glancing down at yourself. Your pants are soaked in blood, as are your various robes. The only thing clean is your cloak, and that's only because it seems incapable of getting dirty. You're surprised she can't surmise that things went poorly, or maybe you wander around soaked in blood so frequently that it's no longer strange to her? That seems sort of vaguely depressing.

“They decided to have me whipped for what Mortia did, and I decided to tough it out without numbing myself using magic. Perhaps not the wisest decision I've ever made, but I managed to avoid crying out or otherwise embarrassing. Then I insulted the Elders and stormed off. Spent the last... six? I think it's been six hours. Anyway, spent my time since then meditating with Mortia in the gardens. I've made significant progress.” You pause for a moment, gathering your thoughts. “So overall it was a nice outing.”

With that you nod, reaching into your cloak and laying out your various tomes on the floor. You leave the chest inside your cloak for now, since Chrys doesn't know about it as of yet, at least not that you recall. You're interrupted from your considerations of the small library inside your cloak by Chryssa's voice. You're able to detect a hint of concern in her otherwise emotionless voice, though only barely.

“I assume since you are standing here and they are not dead so far as I know that you have accepted the punishment and do not think it overly cruel. If that is the case, I will not pursue vengeance. However, I wish to inform you that, under different circumstances, I would gladly present you with the severed heads of every monk in this temple. Should you find such extreme measures necessary to properly exact revenge.”

(1/2)

You stare at her for a moment, trying to figure out an appropriate response to that sort of declaration. Horror? No, that doesn't quite seem appropriate. Fear? Again, not quite. In the end you simply opt to be thankful, after all she was really only offering a sentiment. That's probably normal, or at least somewhat socially acceptable, in her culture. “Thank you, Chrys. That's... touching.”

She nods, sitting upright and closing her book with a soft thud. You catch a glimpse at the title. 'An Earth Vatis' Guide to Architecture'. You're glad that she's pursuing her magical advancement so diligently; you've been feeling a little guilty about just leaving your apprentices, unofficial though they may be, to fend for themselves. “Shall I leave you to your reading?”

>Yes, that would be preferable.
>She can stay, you don't mind.

Read:
>Ritual Book of Surya (5/16 Chapters Read)
>Excidium (5/13 Chapters Read)
>On Empire: The Rise of Civilization (Unread)
>Metal Codex (Unread)
>The Serpent and The Staff (Unread)

>Utility Effects (Unread)
{Mark, Animate, Create, Confuse, Sleep}
>Enhanced Interrogation (Unread)
{Pain, [Poison], Hallucinate}

>>36173523
D'aaw Chrys is the best

>>36173543
>Excidium (5/13 Chapters Read)
>She can stay, you don't mind.

>>36173543
>She can stay, you don't mind

>Metal Codex (Unread)

>>36173543
>she can stay
>Excidium

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>>36173523
>I wish to inform you that, under different circumstances, I would gladly present you with the severed heads of every monk in this temple.
>Yandere_Intensifies.png

>>36173543
>She can stay, you don't mind.
>Ritual Book of Surya (5/16 chapters read)

>>36173543
>>She can stay, you don't mind. In fact she is more than welcome to stay.

>>Metal Codex (Unread)

>>36173543
>She can stay, you don't mind.
>Metal Codex (Unread)

>>36173543
>>She can stay, you don't mind.
>Utility Effects (Unread)

>>36173543
>>She can stay, you don't mind.
>Read:
>>Excidium (5/13 Chapters Read)

>>36173543
>>She can stay, you don't mind.
>>Metal Codex (Unread)

>>36173543
>She can stay, you don't mind.
>Metal Codex (Unread)

>>36173543
>She can stay, you don't mind
>Ritual book of Surya

>>36173543
>She can stay, you don't mind.
>Metal Codex (Unread)

>>36173543
>>She can stay, you don't mind.
>>Ritual Book of Surya (5/16 Chapters Read)
Shit was just getting good last time.

>>36173543
>She can stay, you don't mind.
>Ritual Book of Surya

>>36173655
>Shit was just getting good last time.
What was happening agian?

>>36173695
>>36173655
>>36173637
>>36173600
>Rituals!

>>36173570
>>36173586
>>36173614
>Excidium!

>>36173652
>>36173625
>>36173618
>>36173607
>>36173575
>>36173606
>Codex!

>>36173610
>Utility!

Writin'

>>36173715
Soma do you believe that we will be the aliens that invade worlds?
or
that Aliens exist, but not in the same sense that people think of them.

We really need to get a change of clothes guys. Our poor GM robes... Well they were ill-gotten anyway so it will be fine to just replace them when we actually hit Water GM.

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>>36173799
>Ricky's now Skreeching AYY LMAO in your head.
How fucking terrifying would that be?

>>36173917
We're wearing master robes

>>36173799
I honestly believe that the universe is very thickly populated in the grand scheme of things, with a possibly infinite number of life forms.

I'm not convinced that we're close enough to any of them for that to matter, because thinking about things realistically even if there are two or even three other races in our galaxy alone we'll likely be long dead and forgotten by the time we have the sort of tech to realistically traverse the distance between us, if we ever do. Society is actually long overdue for another Great Societal Collapse, a la the Late Bronze Age Collapse or the Collapse of the Roman Empire.

Arguably the French Revolution, Fall of the Holy Roman Empire (Might tie in with the French Revolution, have the same overarching cause. Societal unrest), Dissolution of the USSR, and Death of the Abbasid Caliphate (iffy on this one) also qualify as examples.

>>36173594
Chrys is best waifu.

>>36173985
There's a storm coming. Bunker down.

>>36173985
Fucking focus Soma stop stroking your history boner. Jesus.

>>36173985
Hey, Soma, have you seen Adult Swim's latest sitcom? It's a more traditional show that harkens back to America's more wholesome, less venomous family values. The intro is pretty well done too, you should watch *all* of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrGrOK8oZG8 You don't want to *miss* anyone important.

>>36174119
Why is there a guy on the tree in the first 5 seconds?

>>36174166
He's everywhere.hell even when he starts killing he shows up in the scene hidden(like a drawing) before he kills.

>>36174017
history boner is a good boner

>>36174119
I watched this the whole way though. Why.

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>>36174540
Some people find it funny, i don't but the song is catchy and i have more fun playing where's waldo with bill.

>>36174540
Because it embodies the sweet innocence of a time sadly long past and is a picturesque idealization of a perfect community? Why wouldn't you want you just relax and kick back on a comfy futon as you watch Sally Cook try to design an intelligence solution for her ditzy sister, Taylor Cook get into trouble with Smarf around the neighborhood, and Linda Cook gossip about that loveable scamp Bill's misadventures at the book club?

>>36174658
.......Pffffffffffff

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Soma Kill its been an hour again?

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You pick out the Metal Codex from the pile. It's a heavy tome, you strain to pick it up. The cover is solid iron, some parts of it eaten through with rust. Fortunately it's thick enough that the inside remains undamaged, and the precious metals inlaid throughout the iron cover remain untarnished despite the tome's apparent age. You drag the book over to your bed and sit down on the charred stone platform, Chrys draws her knees to her chest to allow you room.

Gently you set the tome down on the stone platform and open the cover. The first page is gorgeous, a dedication to Pani as far as you can tell. The concentric circles mimic, in your mind, the beginnings of an enchantment and the illustrious gold and lapis illuminations mimic the flowers Pani is typically represented by. Each of the four smaller circles represent one of her arms, and the item she wields in that arm.

The text further confirms your suspicions, offering elaborate, you'd even say excessive, praise to the goddess. It claims that from Pani all good things flow, and that it is in Pani's name as Empress of the gods that the book is dedicated.

(1/???)

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However, it is not simply a single illumination on a single page. Rather, it is a two page spread. On the recto, the second page, you find a similar dedication to Surya. This time the concentric circles within an ovoid frame mimic not flowers, but the god's burning maw. You're familiar with these depictions from very early religious text, though such depictions have since fallen out of style. These days, people typically just represent the gods in vaguely anthropomorphic forms.

The time the text does not praise, but begs. It begs the god to spare this tome his wrath, for much effort has been placed into its creation and to destroy such a treasured object would surely shame him in the eyes of the Empress. It ask that Surya leave the families of the illuminators in peace, and to permit them safe passage to their homes after the manuscript is completed.

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You turn the page, and once more find what you believe to be a dedication page. However, this is not to a god you recognize. Rather it praises Dhatu, to whom the devotional techniques in this tome belong. Even though he may simply be a loyal servant of the Empress, at least according to the text, it spends a significant amount of time espousing the virtues of this, you assume, foreign god. The image itself is rectangular, with only two outer circles and a number of spikes protruding from one edge. All of which breaks sharply from tradition.

The recto of this page, that is to say the second page of this spread, is a table of contents. It seems to have primarily been some sort of hymn book, as it contains various prayers and songs one was supposed to say and sing during devotion. You also note a small, golden seal on one side of the page, strands of ink twisting away from it like the vines of a plant. It depicts an ox, the sun shining proudly above it, surrounding by an iron ring.

You skim through the next several pages. Once the table of contents is concluded, you find a calender containing a number of holidays you're unfamiliar with. This sect in particular seemed quite obsessed with fasting and feast. For instance, the Iron Fast is followed by the Silver Feast. The Bronze Fast is followed by the Golden Feast. Then there is simply a 'Last Feast', with no fast previous. If you're dates are correct it would typically fall sometime during the month of Mirtyu or, when applicable, Lamba Mirtyu.

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Eventually you come to the text proper, which seems to be dictating the proper way to use this book. Sadly, there are seldom few illustrations on this page. While the borders are wonderfully done with floral and abstract designs, primarily in Lapis Lazuli and gold, the text itself dominates the center of each page. It discusses at length how one ought to be 'using their understanding of the rights' to read along as they meditate. The very concept of reading as you meditate is alien to you. Unless the ink they used was infused with magic, which you're certain it wasn't as the book gives off not a whiff of it, there would be no way to see the writing while in a trance.

You continue reading, flipping to the next page. What you find surprises you, a massive two page spread depicting the various phases of the night sky, the stars and constellations one might expect to find. You take a moment to examine the book, noting with some concern that many of the constellations mentioned either no longer exist, or no longer exist where the book describes them to be. Cautiously, you flip the page.
(4/5)

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The verso is almost completely dominated by abstract designs best described as a flower, though that wouldn't truly be accurate. Depictions of various birds and mythological beast surround it, and at its center is written a name you do not recognize. “Srsti”. The recto, however, provides some further insight into the purpose of the book. It states with undoubted clarity that only through the perfection of Metal may a Vatis bring themselves closer to the god Dhatu, Guardian of the Underworld and from whom all wealth flows.

You're interrupted in your readings by a knock on the door. A voice calls out a moment later. “Aghtak, the Shah has need of you!”

>Fuck, close the book and tuck it away. It was just getting interesting too!
>Screw that, the Shah can wait! What's the worst that could happen?
>Ask what the Shah has need of you for.
>Write-in

>>36174965
>>36174994
>>36175020
>>36175044
>>36175073
This is me. In case it was not obvious.

>>36175073
>Fuck, close the book and tuck it away. It was just getting interesting too!

>>36175073
>Fuck, close the book and tuck it away. It was just getting interesting too!

>>36175073
>Fuck, close the book and tuck it away. It was just getting interesting too!

>>36175073
This could connect to the other book we had, since it had space travel.

>>36175073
Soma do you have an entire illuminated manuscript prepared for this?

>Fuck, close the book and tuck it away. It was just getting interesting too!

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>>36175073
>Fuck, close the book and tuck it away. It was just getting interesting too!

>>36175073
>Srsti
Hmmm.
http://sanskritdictionary.org/srsti
>using their understanding of the rights
If it's written in metal would a sufficient understanding of metal magic allow us to make out the shapes of the words while in a trance?

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>>36175073
>Fuck, close the book and tuck it away. It was just getting interesting too!


>bring themselves closer to the god Dhatu, Guardian of the Underworld and from whom all wealth flows.
>from whom all wealth flows.

>>36175073
>Fuck, close the book and tuck it away. It was just getting interesting too!
Once we leave our room
>Ask what the Shah has need of you for.

>>36175227
Hopefully the documents are ready.

>>36175178

I am reading Wikipedia and apparently some inks have iron and other heavy metals. It be very fitting for this book to be written with something similar. Also where the hell did we get this beautiful piece of art?

>>36175329
Read the quest agian.

>>36175329
The Temple Library. It's a rental, actually. They'll want it back or paid for before you leave.

Anyway, writin' for
>Fuck

Didn't that journal we read by grandmaster what's-his-face same something about fusing nature and earth for tremorsense? Maybe we could do the same with nature and metal?

That book has me all kinds of curious, like goddamn nigga

>>36175352
Will you list the affects each piece of the warlock armour does in the pastebin?

>>36168137
>not teasing her about the whipping but jokingly agreeing anyway
c'mon guys...

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You stand, gently closing the books' cover and tucking it into your cloak. Chrys has rested her own book against her chest and seems to be watching you with some small interest as you make your way to the door, jerking it open to reveal a lown Immortal guardsman. He's not one of the previous guards you met, despite your initial suspicion. Of course, all of the Immortals are sort of faceless, nameless entities without true identity. At least, that's what they're supposed to be.

An axe rest within a leather housing on his hip, to unsheathe the weapon he'd need to undo a series of knots along the side of the case. To you, it seems inefficient. The axe itself is about as long as your arm and probably heavy as all hell, but this guardsman in particular seems as though he could likely handle it with ease. Judging by the looks of him, that is. The weapon is obviously enchanted, runes carved alone the hilt and a massive glowing gem set in the hilt, and that's just what you can see. Most of it is hidden.

He nods once to you, then turns to leave without a word. You're thankful your dragon was hidden behind the door, or else that could've been an issue. You shut the door gently behind you and then follow the guard through the halls, twisting and turning along the path to the former Varistha's quarters. Eventually you reach the large double doors and find another guard waiting; your escort steps aside to take up position opposite his comrade while you shove through the massive blocks of ice which serve as the doors to the chamber.

(1?2)

As you enter, the Shah is pressing a seal covered in still hot wax to the last in a series of documents, each of its predecessors set out to dry. He blows briefly on the wax, and then sets it out to dry with the rest. That done, he turns his attention to you. “You'll be given a sealed letter with my seal on it. Present it to the commanding officer of any garrison and, so long as you have not committed any crime beyond continuing to exist-” You're not sure if that was a joke or an insult. “-they ought to release you. Break the law and you'll be treated as any man would. The rest of these letters-” He cast a hand over the desk, where all fourteen are laid out. “Will be sent to the rulers of each of the fourteen largest settlements in the Shahdom. You will not be officially restored to your full rights and privileges for some time yet, but consider this the first step in my apology.”

>Ask to read over your letter before he seals it.
>Take him on his word, thank him and leave.
>Thank him, begin making plans to leave the temple.
>Write-in

>>36175637
>Ask to read over your letter before he seals it.
Then
>Thank him, begin making plans to leave the temple.

>>36175637
>Ask to read over your letter before he seals it.
Don't let this cocky son of a bitch screw us over

>>36175637
>Ask to read over your letter before he seals it.
>Thank him, begin making plans to leave the temple.

>>36175637
>>Ask to read over your letter before he seals it.
>>Take him on his word, thank him and leave.

>>36175637
>>Ask to read over your letter before he seals it.
>>Take him on his word, thank him and leave.

>>36175637
>Write-in
Talk to him about the garden.

>>36175637
>>Ask to read over your letter before he seals it.
>>Thank him, begin making plans to leave the temple.

>>36175637
>Thank him, begin making plans to leave the temple.
It's been fun and all, but we seriously have shit to do. It might be prudent to cancel our quest to get the gem and prioritize getting rid of the dead god in our head.

>>36175637
>>Take him on his word, thank him and leave.
>>Thank him, begin making plans to leave the temple.

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>>36175693
>>36175692
>>36175690
Ya'all got dropped on your heads when you were little, didn'tcha?

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>>36175693
Except for you. You're cool. Sorry for the misclick.

>>36175637
>>Take him on his word, thank him and leave.
>>36175703
Though that's cool too so long as we don't get too heated about it.

So it looks like asking to read the letter first is a pretty unanimous decision.

>>36175720
>>36175715
>>36175708
>>36175690
>>36175674
>Begin planning to leave.

>>36175692
>>36175693
>>36175720
>>36175758
>Thank him and leave.

>>36175703
His, now burnt to the ground, garden? That would be an option. Do you want to apologize, rub it in his face, just sorta feel out how that whole situation is sitting?

>>36175703
>>36175758
We provoked them though, it would have been either less lashes or a lesser punishment.

>>36175637
>Thank him, begin making plans to leave the temple.

>>36175792
Apologize a little bit

>>36175792
oh it was burned to the ground? nvm then.

>>36175792
I'd rather not bring up the garden

>>36175831
>>36175792
I could support a kinda backhanded, not-really-but-sorta apology. Mainly for saying that he banged his mom.

>>36175703
>>36175758

Better not, as much amusing as it could be to be the first person to get banish and then pardon and banish again I can over state how good is to have the freedom to travel Pidjata.

>>36175792
Feel out the situation and hope to come to some kind of an understanding on it. Maybe offer to talk about it and other things over some fine spirits, attempt to bury the hatchet. He is our shah by our own hands we have an opportunity to reconcile and help guide his rule slightly by helping him develop some empathy and maybe understand what his father's motivations were.

>>36175846
Yeah that's what I was thinking. If we even bring it up, that is.

>>36175792
Let's just apologize for the other stuff like the slander. That was pretty much out of line and we were saying that to be a dick, rather for any real reason. The garden...will be a wash point.

water vatis struggle to make enough water for people to drink and this asshole wastes a metic fuck ton on none food plants? fuck that guy where in the write.

>>36175954
right*
god I'm tired.

>>36175954
Mik didn't just criticize him for the garden though, he spread a bunch of bullshit that wasn't even true

>>36175969
And metic
And none
And where
You need some sleep son.

>>36175983
Still in the right.
Still committed a crime though.
Got our ass banished real good.

>>36175885

How about instead insulting him we asking him like a request, out of consideration of saving his life, that he becomes a more wiser and considerable ruler then he was before?

"Please become a wiser and just Shah than the Shahzada you were before."

>>36175992
heh, yeah

>>36176031
Oi. Considering the shit we do and our current relationship, we're hardly the sort of person who he'd listen to. In fact, he'd probably take it as an insult. I really do think the best thing is to let bygones be bygones, and to be the first party to do that by apologizing for our obvious fuckup. Maybe that will convince him to take that step. Maybe it will take a while longer for him to realize what he *should* do. Whatever the case, at least it's another step towards a less asshole-ish Mik.

>inb4 the Shah is a puppet

>>36176031

This way we admonish him for his previous behavior but at the same time ask him to make himself a better person and ruler without insulting him. Because lets be honest if he fucks up the nation it could be our fault for saving him.

>>36169544
read the quest, we've been talking about aound magic for a while, and it's probably more complicated than that, will need research/experiments
>>36171321
>>Alright, well. Thanks for all the help. I mean-” She clears her throat. “-I mean really, thanks. I don't-whatever.” She waves you away before shutting the door firmly.
cute as fuck
>>36173056
Our party is probably already nearing the limit for small unit tactics. There's more important shit to do.
>>36175792
Nah, no garden talk please, I'd also like to stay t the temple a while longer, I think the monks will be messing with us less after that show we put on for them.

metal god name learned, at least

>>36176085

How is "please become wise and just ruler" an insult? But yeah my line of thinking goes towards letting bygones be bygones.

>>36176167
Alright, so, imagine you're a high and mighty Crown prince in a monarchical nation based entirely on hierarchy. Also, you're about 50 years old give or take, and you're an egotistical prick. Like, Kim Jong Un, chest-full-of-medals-out-of-highschool-level-douche. Imagine if some 16 year-old noble shit starts talking trash about the fact that you like to gamble with public funds or some crap and that you're an incestrous fuckwit. You'd be pissed. I'm betting you'd be a little tired of his crap even after he apparently saved your life and nation by being so much better than you. The contested comment would absolutely piss him off just a little bit. And I don't want any more bad blood between us and the guy who can make our lives really problematic at his whims. Need I remind you that Surena, the Parthian general who defeated 44,000 Roman soldiers with 10,500 cavalry archers was assassinated by his own king?

>>36176272
>Surena
Ahhh yes, the tallest and finest looking man in the Parthian Empire. Though I've heard that the delicacy of his looks and the effeminacy of his dress did not promise as much manhood as he truly possessed.

Ye Olde Big Dicked Trap

>>36176272
>talking trash about the fact that you like to gamble with public funds or some crap
But Kadir is that, what's more first thing he's done once he became Shah was to dub himself a Boss bigger than the Boss: a Big Boss or whatever you want to call him.

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>>36176319
I dunno man. The 'stache doesn't lie.

>>36176366
He looks kinda like Freddy Mercury.

>>36176358
It being the truth doesn't make it less insulting. He's the fuckig god-emperor of El-Amin or something now, for fuck's sake.

Soma, does Kadir have any relevant magic levels?

>>36176390
Not that Mik really recalls hearing. A few basics, he might have been Vatis level in something or other.

>>36176379

You don't think it was previous life do you?

>>36176406
>Both awesome
>Both have awesome mustaches
>Both liked to plunder boypussy.
>Both died prematurely.
Maybe...

>>36176422
>Freddy Mercury
>Awesome

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>>36176452
>Not liking Freddy Mercury.

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>>36176452
Bitch, you best not be >implying what I think you're implying.

>>36176460
losing at but hole roulette

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>>36176460
Not everybody likes Freddie Mercury, you double nigger. I personally like Freddie Mercury. No homo

>>36176488
>No homo
>>>/out/

You clear your throat pointedly. “May I read the letter, before you seal it? I wish to be absolutely certain of what it is I'm receiving.”

He looks hurt, though it's fairly obviously an act. “You don't trust me?”

You stare at him impassively. Eventually he relents and passes you a small slip of paper which he's prefolded along the top and bottom third of the page. You glance over it quickly. The gist is as he described; so long as you have not broken the laws of the realm you ought not be detained. However, there is a clause in the middle which states that, should you commit an offense worthy of banishment, you should be executed rather than detained and branded. Signed at the bottom is the Shah's name, Kadir El-Amin, in flowery script.

You shoot Kadir a glance, but pass the note back to him. The terms are fairly generous, all things considered. So long as you do not get yourself into a situation that would result in your (re)banishment you won't have anything to fear from guards, not truly at least. He snatches the paper from your hands rather rudey and folds it together.

“Everything to your liking, my Aghtak savior?” He ask, a grin splitting his face. You're not sure if he's mocking you or amused by your distrust. You'd tend to believe the former but in this case you're just not certain.

“Not entirely, but I believe it's the best I can hope for.” You shrug. “Truth be known I'd rather not be killed on sight should I find myself in another situation meriting my banishment, yet by the same token I don't intend to put myself in those sorts of situations again.”

(1/2)

The Shah, or rather Padishah, nods and plucks up his seal. He melts a lump of hot wax over the paper before pressing the wooden device to the page. When he pulls the stamp away a perfectly round seal sits at the center of the paper, the wax bulging out around it. He blows on it for a moment while it dries and then passes the sealed letter to you. You tuck it quickly into your cloak.

Your business concluded, Kadir returns to his desk. As he seats himself you clear your throat and begin to speak. “Regarding that whole slander business...” He quirks an eyebrow, curiosity plain on his face. “I merely wish to apologize. Not, mind you, for the comments regarding your waste of water. That was perfectly justified. Rather, I mean the other things I said. That you only fancied men, that you were at one point sleeping with your mother, that you frequented the cheapest and dirtiest of lowtown brothels, that you couldn't hold your liquor-”

He stops you, holding up a hand. “I get your point, there's no need to remind me of every slight you committed. If it's any consolation in retrospect, I think you were right about the garden. My steward ran me through the weekly cost in water and gold both, and it was truly an untenable, superfluous luxury.” He pauses, clearing his throat. “Not to say that a similar construction on a smaller scale wouldn't be acceptable. I've been in the process of designing a sustainable garden ever since Father burnt the old garden down.”

(2/3)

You sigh, but turn on your heel and march out of the room. “I will leave you to it, Padishah. For now I must plan my departure!” You slip out of the door before he has a chance to respond. Was it a touch rude to walk out on the Shah? Yes. Do you particularly care? No.

You reach out to your companions via the brooches, all of them now that you've distributed a brooch to Mortia. {Everyone, I have news. It's time we started packing our things. Our welcome has been overstayed.}

Profectus is the first to respond. {Finally! Gods above and below I've been aching for a proper town. You know there isn't a single prostitute in this entire village? Not one! Not to mention the peasant women won't-}

Darzi cuts him off. {We're leaving? Why? I thought this was our sanctuary against the persecution of guards and other such enforcers of the law.}

>Explain to Darzi that you've negotiated for your unbanishment with the Shah, to take place officially at a later date.
>Just mention that it won't be a problem anymore. No need to spread that information around.
>Write-in