>>40038318
>Go talk to Liama, she said she had questions.

>>40038318
>>Go talk to Liama, she said she had questions

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Slithering past McCain, who's still making it very clear that, even while lacking legs, you managed to put your foot in your mouth. You head carry both the packs out towards the gateway, before looking around to find Miss Patrick. You manage to catch her outside of her tent, apparently just getting off shift.

"Something the matter Miss Masterson?"

"Not at all Liama, just off to find out what Veles has in store for me, figured I'd ought to see if you had anything you wanted to find out, that last meeting kind of ended abruptly." You say, half smiling at the awkward retreat the two of you made after Veles got fired up at the prospect of teaching.

"Oh, right then. Well, there were a few things firstly the whole male lamia business. Its strange, for one, especially since I don't think there's ever been a male lamia in recorded history. It's probably important. I'm actually surprised the Schola folks didn't ask about that." She says, ticking her finger off one by one. "Second is if he's as old as you say he is, well, there's some questions there as well. He's got the size for it, yeah, but as far as I know, none of our kind have much in the way of mental faculties when they reach that age. Third is that book I saw sitting there, looked like one of the Iron Books. Pretty sure the stone hall librarians have transcribed all of the ones we knew about a new one might drastically change things. Then there is all those gadgets and journals, I'm sure people would give quite a bit to pour over those. Even if just on curiosity. Probably a lot more I could ask, but that's just off the top of my head. If you could find out anything on those, that'd be great."

>Response?

>>40038960
He hinted that he was born directly from a dragon. Specifically the one who caused the books to be made, The dragon who as A dragon etc. His longevity could be because he has near the full measure of both parents vigor in him, which would account for the book, the fact he's male as well, since he' seems to have been born and raised outside of Citadel's influence. As for the gadgets and journals ask him about them. He's usually fairly reasonable.

>>40039019
I like this response, it has my support.

>Specifically the one who caused the books to be made
Huh. I don't remember that bit at all.

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>>40039019
I'm actually impressed you managed to pull stuff from a thread that was nearly 2 years ago.

>>40039453
Thank you, I binged to catch up about a year ago and sometimes my memory just holds on to random things. My memory likes dragons.

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"He hinted that he was born directly from a dragon." You respond.

"Hinted?" She asks, eyebrow raised.

"More like explicitly told me. Specifically the one who made that book you noticed. The dragon who as A dragon or somesuch. Book is named similarly, I think he calls it the Book of Thaumaturgy as a stand-in."

"As in... magic? The books Old One created had to do with natural functions of the races. Its unique if that is the case."

"As for his longevity, it could be because he has near the full measure of both parents vigor in him, the fact he's male as well, since he seems to have been born and raised outside of Citadel's influence. As for the gadgets and journals ask him about them. He's usually fairly reasonable."

She nods, "I suppose, but I'm still a stranger, would be inappropriate to ask 'HEY WHY HAVE YOU GOT MALE BITS' to someone I've just met. Figured you might have the answer."

"Well. If I find anything out, I'll let you know." You say, tactfully.

Leaving her to her break, you head behind the house and open the gateway into Veles' lair. Making your way inside you see Veles fiddling with what looks like a complicated series glassware, reminding you of that distillery some of the hands had set up before your father passed. He looks up on hearing you shuffle in. <Oh, hello Sasha. I'm almost ready for us to begin.>

>Start on the magic first.
>See if you can't press him for information (Specify which questions.)

>>40039873
>Start on the magic first.
magic nao

>>40039873
> Start on magic first

>>40039873
>>Start on the magic first.

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<I'm ready too, three days was it?> You say, setting your packs down by the tunnel entrance, shooing Dahz away as she makes to sniff them.

<What?>

<Three days, that's what you had me pack for.>

<Oh, that. No, getting started shouldn't take that long. Mostly a precaution.> He says, pouring some liqour of some sort into one of the pieces of glassware.

<A precaution against what?>

He responds, not looking up. <What we'll be doing is getting a feel for what your aptitudes are. The best way to do that, is to magnify their strength, and have you do what comes natural to you. From there I can see which aspect you will do best with.>

<Aspect?> You query.

<Oh, yes. Just how my sire referred to the different... I suppose you could say branches of thaumaturgy. The Roc's had aptitude in illusions. The dragons the control of the elements. The great trolls had control of matter through runes. The leviathans had their natural processes. Those are likely the ones you'll be adept in. The fae courts and the spirits of the land had their contracts, through which they could perform everything above to a limited degree. That said, those are less likely, given our birthright.>

<And this will take three days?>

<It'll feel like it.> He says, pouring the liquid into a container handing both it and a cube of metal to you. <Drink deep, and then focus on the material in hand.>

>Give me a 1d100 roll. Then a 1d20 roll.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>40040466

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>40040466

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>40040466
You want 3 sets of dice or what?

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>40040466

So first the 100 THEN the 20?

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>40040466

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>40040466

Also, please be a 20.

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>>40040525
3 for the d20 at least. Other one is more... interesting.
>>40040540
Yeah. Its a little awkward, but it was the best way I could think of to cleanly separate this table and the check.

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>>40040633
>worry

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>40040466
Technically, that means we need one more roll, then.

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>95
>1

You give the glass a tentative sniff, wrinkling your nose at the scent of it. Grimacing, you down the cup, trying to avoid tasting it. It settles inside like liquid fire, before the feeling disappears to nothingness. You then look to the cube in your hand, focusing hard on it. Before long a gout of flame engulfs it, a blackened charred texture crawling up the side of it.

You stay still, fascinated at the flame sprouting from your hand, until you double over in pain as a feeling rushes into your stomache. An intense hunger, unlike anything you ever felt before washes over you, and the last thing you remember is the sound of cloth tearing.

Ravening, thirsting, tearing, you rip into your prey and encircle it. Heedless of its skin you slash at it with your claws, spilling the things insides out onto the ground as you begin to feast.

You wake up to darkness. Panicking, you slither against your container, before you find and exit and flop outward off a ledge. The cooler air of the cavern hits your skin and you crawl back into your prison. Upon further inspection, you see that aforementioned appears to actually be a fur of some large animal. Retreating deeper into the soft furs you hear the sound of something else slithering up to you.

"Have you returned to your senses?" You hear Veles ask from the outside.

>?

>>40041389
"Am I a wizard yet?"

>>40041389
"...that didn't go well, did it."

I'm scared. We killed something, probably something precious to us or Veles.

>>40041729
Oh hey, Katie.

Shame that quest died out.

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"That didn't go well, I take it...." You say quietly from the

"It went about how I expected, and then some." Veles says in a carefully neutral tone of voice.

"I didn't hurt anything, did I?" You ask, trying to ignore the lump of apprehension in your throat.

"There were some casualties."

You cringe as you venture a peak outside and see Veles holding up a mutilated carcass. "Who was that?" You croak out.

"I don't know what its name was, just a deer I was hoping to smoke. I threw it at you after you had finished with the others."

"Others?" you ask, dread building as you realize you feel uncomfortably full.

He holds up a shredded mess of rags. "Your stuff didn't make it." He says completely deadpan. You freeze as you attempt to process the information being presented. "Completely and totally murdered. And it is all your fault."

"You're an asshole." You retreat back into the fur as Veles starts to laugh. "Am I at least a wizard yet?"

"Not quite." He says, laughter subsiding. "Though looking at your handiwork after you completely lost yourself to the drink was rather insightful. Though that may be on my head, some parts of the mixture were rather... fortified by age. Regardless it was telling."

"Oh?"

"Your instincts are better, and it would appear that your claws and spines are coming in well, so at least the leviathan aspect of your anatomy is working well. So proper venoms may be soon around the corner."

"As for magic, you surprised me. Your aptitude with the rune gateway led me to think that would be a better aspect, however you clearly have an affinity for the draconic, as the fire you conjured showed. However, what was most surprising is a secondary affinity for Roc illusions, as you created a false burn on the sides of the catalyst."

>That's good right?
>Are you sure nobody got hurt?
>Other.

>>40042112
>That's good right?
>Are you sure nobody got hurt?

>>40042112
>>Other.
"Huh. Well, don't that beat all. I always considered myself the straightforward type, not the tricksy sort."

>>40042112
>Are you sure nobody got hurt?

>>40042112
>Other
"So. . .Can I cause people to think that they're tied up with ropes with the illusions?

>>40043277
Also, what are the limitations of my magics, once I've figured out how to actually use them?"

>>40043223
(Ignore this one)

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"Nobody got hurt?"

"Your modesty, perhaps. Nothing of yours survived this it appears." He says, picking up a pile of silk fabric and tossing it at you. "It is to be cold weather soon. You'll likely need that regardless."

"Thank you, I don't know what to say." You say, examining the shirt, which appears to have slits cut in the back presumably for spines.

"Do not worry overmuch about it. It is likely the wrong size, it was a proof of concept to a centaur tailor long ago."

Sliding into the shirt, you note that it does seem a bit tight, but given the situation, you're thankful nonetheless. "You said you got results, that is good right?"

"It shows you have potential yes. Dragon, and Roc primarily I would think. Leviathan and Troll are available, but would come to you much harder than the former."

"I didn't fancy myself the tricksy sort. Can I cause people to think that they're tied up with ropes with the illusions? What sort of limits am I looking at."

"It is possible to fool the senses in such a way, but that would be a lot farther down the line, and would be very involved. As for the specifics, I would not know. I do know that just starting out, your limit is your stamina. I don't imagine that you can convincingly fool all the senses with a false rope right now."

"So what happens now?" You ask, now finally slipping out from under the furs.

"Given what happened, we can postpone until you are prepared to learn. Draconic first, far easier to teach. Illusions are not my speciality." He says, slithering back into the main cavern.

"Or?"

"Or we can start now, provided your stamina endures. I imagine that this incident was taxing on you."

>Start now.
>Question Veles (Specify)
>Hold off.

>>40043764
>Question Veles (Specify)
How long was I out of it? Also any idea why you're the only male Lamia in ages?

>>40043764
>Start now
"Okay, I think I can handle a bit more work for today. Let's start learning some basic Draconic magic.
Fire without burning myself, perhaps?"

>>40043764
>Start now.
If we feel capable of going on, let's give it a shot

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>>40043868
>>40043976
Alright, give me a d20 roll then. Best of three

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>40044260

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Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>40044260

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>40044260

As a side note, making magi-tech or normal Dragon's breath shotgun rounds might be a good idea for later.

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>16

"We can start now. I should be fine." You say, "Lets start with the draconic stuff, like you said."

Draconic magic, you learn, is largely the projection of the elements. Control appears to be the most important in this case. Veles illustrating the point by using his blade to change from a wide spray of flame to a minute superheated stream that bores into the stone he was demonstrating on. He has you focus on fire, as that is what manifested first.

It takes some doing, and you're almost completely spent by the time you manage to manifest a flame completely without any catalyst. It isn't much, little more than the flame on a matchstick, but it is in the palm of your hand and completely under your control. You can already see the benefits of having fire be portable like this. After outlining the basics, and guiding you through it initially, Veles leaves you to experiment, checking in periodically if only to make sure you didn't start too big of a fire. After showing him your steady flame he calls it a wrap, sending you home to recuperate. You're a little disappointed you didn't get to spend longer practising, but you were out of it for most of the day.

Heading out, you figure you had ought to try and ask at least one of the questions Liama had regarding him before you leave. You turn to the old snake. "Veles, Liama was wondering something, and now that's she's asked I'm wondering too."

"What is it?"

"Well. From what I've read and everything we know about lamias, all of them are female. Nagas as well. You're the only male one in known civilization. Any idea why?"

"Oh. That. I nearly froze to death as an egg."

"What?"

"Our genders are determined by the temperature we are kept while in egg. According to my sire, the temperature needed to be male is incredibly close to the temperature at which an egg becomes stillborn. Insight borne of ignorance and negligence." He says, looking downcast, "Much like a lot of what I know."

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>>40044929
And that's it for today's thread. Hope I didn't worry anyone overmuch with what happened, seems you were hungry for more than just knowledge there for a bit.

As always, thanks again for reading. I should be about for a bit if anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to answer.

>>40044970
When is the next projected time for a thread?

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>>40044996
Should be sometime this week, usually shoot for a weekend but satellite is finicky. If I do run, it'll start around 5:00. I usually give a two day projection on the twitter thing when I do run.

>>40045056
>Has never used twitter in their life.
How does this, "Twitter" thing work?

>>40045077
Never mind. I figured it out.
'Night.

Fricks, I missed the quest