>>38157664

As much as you hate to admit, it’s partially your fault for what happened. It’s easy enough to train someone to chant the right words, and set up the candles correctly, but you neglected to teach her anything about keeping her cool.

Who would’ve guessed that Marissa would be the level-headed one?

Oh well, you have all of tomorrow to worry about that, now it’s time for sleep.

~

With your newly acquired hairpin properly secured, you settle down to eat a quiet breakfast with your apprentices.

Ugh, they’re probably waiting for you to say something. Well you are the one in charge after all, it’s now a responsibility. You lean on your hand and think.

Well you’re planning on visiting the guild yourself to look into that mysterious woman, but what to do with these two?

Punishment, reward, forgiveness and other pertinent words float through your head, but you still have to do something.

Well you want Marissa to come along with you to the guild, you want to see just what exactly she can do with the slug's gift to her.

But then what to do with Ellie?

>Scold and punish her (Write in what punishment.)

>Only scold her.

>Forgive her.

>Write in.

>>38157724

Name field dropped, this was me.

>>38157724
>Only scold her.

>>38157748
I figured.

>>38157724
>Scold and punish her (Write in what punishment.)

No delving for a while until she gets in more lessons, and practice keeping cool.

>>38157724
>>Only scold her.
Ellie realize that you could have very well been a pile of meat, You need to be more careful, but by the same token I need to get you into a more proper mindset before you try again. You missing out on your first delve and knowing how close you came to death is punishment enough.

>>38157784
I'll second this if only that she'll learn more from her mistake.

Hello everyone!
>>38157772
>>38157784
>>38157801
>>38157835
Looks like it's going to need a tie-breaking roll. I'll give it a couple of minutes.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>Only scold her
1
>Scold and punish her
2
>Writing the winner

>>38157911
whoops, too late.


Is anyone worried about the gifts more than Ellie's flub?

>>38158142
The gifts have me a little concerned, only because of what Auri said at the end of last thread.

>>38157911

Her mistake could’ve cost both her life and Marissa’s, it’s time to get serious.

You put down your bread and clear your throat. “Ellie…” You see her tense up immediately. “Your mistake could have very well turned you and Marissa into a pile of meat, so it looks like I need to get you into a more proper mindset before you try again.”

Both their eyes are watching you intently as you think of your next words. “You’ll be sitting out on the next delve, and I’ll have to find a way for you to practice keeping your cool.”

The look of disappointment on her face right now is like something out of a textbook on emotions. She nods. “I understand.” Her words come out tense and forced.

“For now you’ll stay in the house and continue your lessons. Learn from your mistake and it should be only a short time before you finally delve.” You finish off your tea and turn your attention to your other apprentice. “Marissa.”

She starts coughing on her drink, not expecting to be called on. “Y-yes?”

“You’ll be coming with me to the guild for some business.” You inform her nonchalantly.

“Right.” She seems to finish talking but then continues as if not satisfied by how much she said. “I’ve never been before, I’m looking forward to it.” She finishes off what’s left of her meal.

“Good.” You stand up from your seat. “Come now.” You turn your head to Ellie as you head out. “Expect some supplementary lessons on keeping your cool when we get back.”

Marissa hurries after you and you head out.
[1/2]

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>>38158613

The walk to the guild is always a quiet one, no one has any business there besides the stray merchant. The abandoned houses and overgrown streets never cease to make you nostalgic.

Marissa walking along side you reminds you of your delve. “Have you noticed any differences since we came back, Marissa?” You ask intent on finding out what Marissa’s gift has given her.

She looks down slightly to think. “Not really, but this morning I concentrated really hard on how that other form felt, and I think I could feel a little bit of it.” She looks at you concernedly. “Should I have not done that?”

You’re quick to reassure her. “No, it’s very good that you’re trying actually. Just be sure to record any differences you feel in writing.”

Her expression turns relieved and then suddenly a glint of excitement appears in her eyes. “Do you want me to do it again right now?”

Hmm you can’t say that you’re not curious, but given where you’re going any peculiarities might be identified. She does seem very confident about it, which is rare for her.

>Allow her to try to transform.

>Tell her to hold off.

>Write in.

>>38158639
>Allow her to try to transform.

>>38158639
>Tell her to hold off.

NOT IN THE GUILD THOSE BASTARDS WILL DISSECT HER

>>38158639
>>Tell her to hold off.
Not yet, the guild might notice. They are rather close minded about some things, especially thing like this. I do like your confidence though.

>>38158639
>Tell her to hold off.
She should only attempt her transformation in controlled conditions or at least in a private and secure location. Not while we are walking towards the guild where people could possibly see her.

>>38158639
>Allow her to try to transform.
If she can't turn back send her home.

>>38158698
>>38158699
>>38158716
>Writing

>>38158795

You put a hand in the air. “Not yet. It’s not that don’t trust you, I just don’t trust most of the people where we’re going. But I do like how confident you are about it.”

The glint of excitement disappears but she still smiles softly. “Gotcha. It’s just when I think about how powerful I felt, and how you reacted to that form…” She looks away shyly.

Damn your past honesty. You won’t allow her to get the upper hand with that knowledge. “Yes, your form warrants study due to the strange immaterial aspects about it.” You answer casually.

“Oh, okay.” Her smile still remains.

The entrance of the guild has a few younger students milling about talking, who briefly glance at the both of you, but promptly return to their conversation. No one here that can stop your passage so you confidently enter as if you belong there.

You start to think of where you might find some of the shadier Occultists that might have some information, but almost immediately spot what you came here looking for.

The mysterious woman travels down the halls in a slow but confident gait. Luckily she didn’t notice you nor Marissa as she turned into this hall. She’s wearing a guild cloak that seems a little too big for her, which is strange since every cloak is tailor made for each of its members.

You’re sure to keep your distance as you follow her and after many turns she makes her way into the restricted area of the guild undisturbed.

This is all very strange, normally there’d be some bored senior member standing guard to make sure no adventurous young girl try to sneak in and discover things reserved for actual members of the guild…but today there’s no such sight.
[1/2]

>>38159488

Marissa tenses up behind you, clearly aware that the both of you aren’t supposed to be there. But nothing ventured nothing gained, so you follow.

She turns a corner and you here her conversing with someone in hushed voices. You pull in to eavesdrop.

“I need to get in.” She demands flatly.

A gruff man’s voice replies. “You know the price.”

“Tch…” She replies clearly annoyed.

“What, no more bribes? I thought you were well off.” The man answers, losing interest.

“I need to see if this is legitimate.” You hear her search through her cloak. “I can get you double the blood in a few days.”

“Goods up front, ten gallons credit now or leave if you don't have it..” He finishes.

A small moment of silence and then the woman finally speaks up. “And I thought I would have more time before I had to leave this place, too bad for you.”

That doesn’t sound good. Marissa is tugging on you in hopes that you’ll leave, but you’ve come this far, and something interesting is clearly going on. The question is do you want to get involved here?

>Step in and offer to cover the price.

>Continue listening.

>Leave

>Write in

>>38159524
>Continue listening.

>>38159524
>Continue listening.
Fuck spending that much, you know how many dresses we can get with that?

>>38159524
>Continue listening.

>>38159524
>>Continue listening.

>>38159568
>>38159577
>>38159589
>>38159612
Looks like this is the way it's going to go.
>Writing

>>38159647

Well might as see how all this goes down.

“And how do you plan on geffughnnngh…nnnghh” The man’s voice suddenly becomes muffled.

“You know this scepter is quite peculiar.” The woman’s voice hushing him gently. “A demon sold it to me, but I thought its usefulness to be lacking.”

The allure of a demon sold item is for you to slowly peak out your head until one of your eyes has clear view of what’s going on.

“Apparently it’s used for torture, to slowly expand and expand…” She angles the rod so it shoves higher into the man’s mouth, nothing supernatural. “Until…SPLAT.” The man flinches. “All over the wall.”

Very clever. She must have quite the reputation for such a trick to even work, but she sells it perfectly.

She pulls what’s likely just a decorated walking stick slightly out of the man’s mouth. “It’d be better for both of us if that didn’t happen right?”
The man tries to speak, but is still unable so he settles for a vigorous nod.

“Then leave.” She says coldly and pulls the scepter out of his mouth and the man scrambles away. “And if I find that you reported me to the guild then…” She holds the scepter low. “This will go in the other end.”

She watches the man struggle away before turning around quickly and spotting your face.

There goes any element of surprise, so you pull yourself into the open. “He must’ve been an idiot to fall for such a simple trick.” You muse with blasé tone.
[1/2]

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>>38160507

She smiles eerily. “It’s precisely because that one’s an idiot that I did that. Perhaps with you a more direct approach would be necessary.” She threatens you by hitting the top of the scepter against her hand.

“I can run pretty fast.” You lie. “Seems like you have business to do, it would be terrible if someone reported you.”

“You play a dangerous game.” She stares deeply past your eyes..

You scoff at that cheesy line. “Cute, but I’ve played with worse. Now…” You step to the door that the man was guarding and open it. “Come on, Marissa. Let’s see what’s down here.”

You descend the stairs without the mysterious woman protesting anymore, seems like she gets by mostly by bluffing. Now all you have to do is make sure she doesn’t find out the same about you.

“Quite the brave bluff.” She calls out from behind you.

Damn it.

The room gets colder the further you descend, until finally you reach the bottom of the stairs where the air suddenly seems to get heavy.

Then you see it. A strange ghoul like creature half-encased in a solid block of ice. If it weren’t for the steady stream of vapor coming from its mouth, you’d think it to be dead.

The woman approaches it while rifling through her cloak. “This one, the guild uses to identify the potency of items gained from the other realms.”

She holds up a small parchment in the air in front of it. Suddenly the ghoul snarls and comes to life, chomping at the air, and trying to pull free of its prison.
“The stronger the item, the stronger the reaction.” She pulls the parchment away, quite satisfied with the results.

This is one hell of a chance. You can see if the slug’s gifts have the power to be what he said they are. You pull off the hairpin and then look at Marissa
deviously, who’s spacing herself as far away as she can from the ghoul.

>Test the hairpin.

>Test Marissa

>Test both.

>Write in.

>>38160533
Don't test the hairpin.

On the fence about Marissa.

>>38160533
>>Test the hairpin
Ask if she wants to know how powerful the "item" she got was.

>>38160574
I'd put it the other way around to be honest.

>>38160574
>>38160597
We're going to have to test one of the things in order to not arouse suspicion. Hairpin is less risky.

>>38160533
>Test the hairpin.
I have a bad feeling about testing Marissa.

>>38160533
>Test the hairpin.

>>38160582
>>38160648
>>38160682
No apprentice abuse this time it seems.
>Writing

>>38160694
Well, I want to do it but just not when creepy lady is around.

>>38160694
I'm more about the physical abuse than the mental.

>>38160694

It’d be easy enough to check Marissa’s gift when you get back home, no sense in making her suffer.

You step toward the frozen ghoul holding the hairpin high. It only takes a few steps before the ghoul begins to react. It chomps intensely only stopping every now and then to take ragged breaths. It shakes its upper body wildly and it practically froths at the mouth from hard its strains. Once you begin to hear the ice cracking you pull the item away.

“You’ve been busy.” The woman remarks pointing at the hairpin which you return back to its proper place.

“Haven’t we all, Miss…” You hold out figuring it’s about time you properly introduce yourselves.

You see the briefest twitch in her mostly expressionless façade. “Sayuline.” She answers clearly not used to having to introduce herself.
You force back any laughter, but it’s so unusual a name that a few giggles manage to make their way free. “I’m sorry.” You say in response to her increasingly red face, a mixture of embarrassment and anger. “My name is Sophia, and my apprentice over there is Marissa.”

Marissa waves stiffly. Well at least she tried.

Sayuline makes her way for the stairs. “They’ll be back soon, we should be leaving.”

“Good idea.” You motion for your apprentice to follow.
[1/2]

>>38161447

She climbs the stairs in a hurry, most likely to be away from you. However she loses her balance in her haste, and almost comically, flails in the air to regain balance.
Seeing that she’s probably going to fall back, you casually raise your arms to prop her up, only to receive an elbow in the nose. Now stunned you clutch desperately at the air in front of you only to pull Sayuline down with you, tumbling down the dramatic height of four stairs.

Marissa’s intense and uncharacteristic giggling lets you know that you’re still alive. Both you and Sayuline scramble to your feet and you two head out to leave the prison with only injured pride.

You sneak your way out of most of the restricted area before hearing an authoritative “Who are you!?” call out from behind you forcing the three of you to run.

You make it to the not so vast distance of the front entrance before having to stop and huff for breath.

Marissa stops and waits for you nervously.

“Hurry up!” Sayuline yells and pushes at your tired body to keep moving.

Damn, why couldn’t you get a gift that would give you more stamina? And why is she stopping for you anyway?

You still want to find out what she knows, but at this rate she’ll follow you back to your house and you’re not sure if you want that.

>Split up here.

>Let her stay along.

>Write in

>>38161482
>Stop
Ask her intentions in a secluded/safe place that is not our home.

>>38161525
Seconded.
also, yay, occult quest!

>>38161525
>>38161633
>Writing~

>>38161669

Well you can’t decide yet so it’s best to be getting the hell out of here first.

You curse your luck for having to run, and continue with the sloppiest of forms. Maybe your sedentary lifestyle is partially to blame, but you’re an Occultist, of course you’d have low stamina. There’s no helping it.

Once you feel that you’re a safe enough distance away from the guild you stop.

You direct your attention to Sayuline “I have some questions for you.” You strain to say properly without any gasps. Your face is extremely hot and your ears are ringing. It’s a long time before you say anything else, Marissa rubs your back sympathetically.

You straighten out. “Why are you still with us? Wouldn’t have been smarter for you to have just run off?”

The question catches her off guard, it appears that she might have just gotten caught up in the heat of the moment. “I just didn’t want…”Her words seem to annoy herself, so she quickly rectifies her words. “I didn’t to owe you anything. You tried to save me from that fall, so I figured I could at the very least wait for you.”

Noble, strange, but noble nonetheless.
[1/2]

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>>38162282

“You’re not a guild member, are you?” You aim to address one of your main suspicions.

Her mouth pulls to one side. “No, I went in because they had a few things that I needed.”

“That you needed for?” You push your luck, hoping that she’ll spill something interesting.

She laughs and you swear for the slightest second you see a genuine smile on her face. “All us Occultists have our secrets.”

You laugh in return, you certainly can’t argue with that.

Sayuline looks at you with an expression of intrigue, as finding it unusual that you’d ever laugh with her. “Before I go, I’ll let you know something.”
Your ears perk up at the chance of gaining more knowledge.

She turns and gives you a sidelong glance. “There’s more to being an Occultist than just delving. Long forgotten things, known sparingly by only a few. Keep that in mind Sophia and Marissa. I’m sure we’ll meet again” She nods at both of you and begins to leave.

More than delving? Now there’s more questions that need answering. Perhaps if you gave her a piece of information or advice, she’d be willing to share more with you in the future. Knowledge is valuable in your trade, an investment can easily turn back to haunt you.

>Share a piece of information with her. (Write in what.)

>Leave it and just say your good-bye.

>Write in.

>>38162309
>>Share a piece of information with her. (There is also more than one way to delve, if you know how.)
Vague and intriguing.

>>38162309
>Share a piece of information with her. (Write in what.)
"Delving is dangerous. But if you are skilled enough maybe you could blend in?"

>>38162370
Seconded again. Let's reel her in.

>>38162309
>>38162370
This with a pat on the ass

>>38162370
Thirded, and call her Sayu, to see her reaction.
>>38162490
Hahaha, I would normally be the one to suggest this, but in this case I'm afraid we might get stabbed.

>>38162370
>>38162478
>>38162490
Maybe next time.
>>38162537
>Share the piece of info and give her a nickname.

>>38162490
>>38162562
Damn, I could have seconded if I were paying more attention.

>>38162601
I'd rather not get shanked my an occultist, thank you..

>>38162660
Why would she suddenly pat someone on the butt anyway?

>>38162874
Lewd anons wanting to get lewd I imagine.

>>38162874
>>38162917
Well, I'm trying to be lewd more sparringly. I didn't back this ass pat.

>>38162957
Thank you. Besides something tells me she knows actual casting magic. Probably hard on her but pissing her off is a bad idea.

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>>38162562

It is quickly becoming your field of expertise, why not share a bit?

“You know…” You call out to get her attention. “Many things were lost about delving as well. There’s more than one way to delve, if you’re lucky enough to be privy to that information, Sayu.”

You see her flinch at the end of your sentence. “G-good to know.” She responds as if she didn’t hear a word you said and then shuffles off with great speed.

Good to know indeed, Sayu.

Suddenly you’re overcome with a singularly striking vision and you struggle to maintain your balance. The same image flashes in your mind repeatedly.

Marissa runs over to you and holds you up. Her words are muted by the deafening whispers inside your head.

“Outline, frame, shape.” Repeated over and over again until the image crystalizes in your sight and then vanishes into memory. You scramble to the dirt and draw the shapes that you saw.

The three overlapping circles perplex you. Just what does it have to do with delving? Whatever’s the case this hairpin clearly has an effect on you. You wipe away the shape, lift yourself off the ground, and return home.
[1/2]

>>38163453

If you can call it home anymore, you hardly recognize the place. It seems the time that you were gone, Ellie took upon herself to clean the years of dirt and grime that has built up around the place. The structure itself is still awful, but at least now it’s clean.

“I see you’ve been taking your punishment seriously.” You remark as you look over the freshly dusted furniture.

She doesn’t say anything, but she clearly takes pride in her work.

“But now it’s time for actual training.” You continue, not allowing her pride to build up too much.

You’ve given it some thought and come up with a strategy to help her focus. You tell her to remain here while you pull aside Marissa to assist you.

Many minutes later and Ellie is standing in the backyard, holding a near overflowing bucket of very hot, but not overly dangerous, water.

You have her stand there with her arms above her head before giving her the go ahead to start reciting the incantation.

She strains a bit, but she’s not nervous. You need to step it up a bit.

You turn to Marissa and then remember that she has yet to show off her transformation. If it’s just a fraction of how powerful it was in the other realm, that bucket could come tumbling down. Or you could just throw things at her; that always works and you’re always willing to throw things.

>Have Marissa transform.

>Throw things at her.

>Write in.

>>38163470
This is where I strike.
>Have Marissa transform.
And
>Have Marissa feel her up.

>>38163470
>Have Marissa transform
>Do not have Marissa engage in any form of lewdness

>>38163470
>>Have Marissa transform.
>No lewdness yet, we are uncertain as to how it would effect the transformation.

>>38163498
>>38163560
>>38163591
>Have Marissa transform and leave your apprentices unharassed.
Writing

>>38163651
Ahh damn, well at least it was an opportune time to do it.

>>38163470
>Have Marissa read the same incantation aloud. Ellie is not allowed to say it at the same time as her.

>>38163672
I would prefer having an intact apprentice rather than a pile of guts just to have some lewd happenings.

>>38163470

“Marissa.” You call your apprentice to your side. “Try transforming.” You quietly say to her.

A mischievous grin appears on Marissa’s face after hearing the order, and she saunters in front of Ellie with great confidence.

You don’t even have to look at Marissa to know that she’s changing, you can feel it in the air. Small immaterial shadows begin to veil Marissa’s body and then take form of diminutive wings and a slender tail. You dare not look at her face simply out of remembered fear, but she still has an incredibly compelling aura. If this is just a fraction of her previous power then your form must have had some resistance to it.

Ellie’s chanting stops immediately and the bucket falls onto the ground behind her, splashing her with its contents, she doesn’t even notice the heat.

You walk over to Marissa. “That should be enough, good…” You find yourself unable to complete your sentence as she turns back to with a deviously demure smile on her face. She revels in your reaction for a few moments before returning back to her normal form.

Terrifying.

Ellie just now notices the water on her legs and then starts complaining in pain.

You’re quick to recover. “Set it up again, but this time just throw things at her.” You say to Marissa’s disappointed face.

That’s quite the powerful skill and it looks like Marissa is beginning to recognize that herself.

You step out to the front fence and bask in the light of the setting sun as always, ruminating over what to do with your apprentices.

“Evening, Soph.” A familiar voice calls out to you in the same cheery tone of voice.

You smile and open your eyes to greet Ali, but soon your smile is quickly removed.

In front of you stands the young merchant, pack laden with loot, but one eye wrapped in a blood stained cloth, and waving hand missing the ring and pinky finger.
~

>>38164067
Okay, that's where I'm ending it for tonight. I'd like to thank everyone that played today! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the thread and I will do my best to respond to them.

If not, then I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

>>38164088
So did Ali mess up a delve or lose pieces of himself to get something?

>>38164088
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

>>38164141
I can't tell you the exact reason right now, but there are more ways to lose a body part other than a delve.

>>38164189
You're very welcome!

>>38164190
Fair enough. Thanks for running!

>>38164190
I can't possibly think of any other way anyone could lose a body part. I'm pretty sure it's impossible. It's not like you can cut digits or limbs off.

>>38164212
You're also very welcome!
>>38164258
The answer simply meant to point the person who asked in the right direction, I'm sorry if you didn't like the way it was phrased.

>>38164189
>>38164189
I find it very strange that one talks like this until it's time to say bye.
Anyway, thanks for running Auri.
>>38164258
No need to be a smartass man.

>>38164306
I was poking fun at the asker, I probably should have replied to him.

>>38164088
Thank you for running!