>>40437871
The stones remain silent, the air still. The fox woman nods approvingly. "It's all right, Emma. I... they would have been very happy to see you again after all these years. So very happy..." She bows her head, wiping her eye on her sleeve. Emma looks a bit unnerved by the whole exchange.

The older kitsune speaks a few moments longer to the stones, explaining that the three of you will be staying for a time, and she will be teaching Emma. She asks them to watch over her, and grant favor to all of you. Soon enough, the elder woman claps her hands.

"All right, that's enough. Let's go inside. It's getting chill out here, and I'm sure you're all tired from your trip."

>But there's nothing around here.
>Why were you talking to rocks?
>Talk to Emma (Write-In)
>Talk to the older Kitsune (Write-In)
>Other

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Welcome to RE: Kobold Quest

QM Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lotuseater1031

Ask me Questions: http://ask.fm/Lotus_Eater

Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/u/Lotus_Eater

SYSTEMS:

Rolling: d100, best of three, roll under, degrees of success (roll compared to DC/opponent rolls and the amount by which you succeed/fail will matter). 1/100 are crit successes/fails, and override other rolls. A crit fail and success on the same roll means the remaining die result will be used.

Win/Lose by 10: Slight Success/Failure

10-20: Moderate Success/Failure

Greater than 20: Extreme Success/Failure

Voting/Writing: Ten minutes for voting, 20-40 minutes for writing as needed.

Final Destination: If a vote is tied/contended, I will call for FINAL DESTINATION, and present the most popular options. For those who don't know, you must vote precisely in the form of ">vote" without additional commentary. This extends 4chan's native post delay from one minute to five, and prevents samefagging or vote padding.

Exploration: While I have a general outline of what's going to happen, sometimes there are instances where things are left to chance. In those cases, I'll call for 1d10, and take the first given. Low rolls are beneficial encounters, with the higher you go being more dangerous. A result of 10 can actually be threatening to the character, and should be treated as such.

>>40437890
>>But there's nothing around here.
>>Why were you talking to rocks?

>>40437890
>Why were you talking to rocks?

>>40437890
>Why were you talking to rocks?

>>40437890
>Why were you talking to rocks?

>>40437871
Dammit lotus, I just got destiny, and I was gonna play it.

>>40438285
What system?

>>40438285
This is your destiny now.

I missed the last threads (con), but even still... Those rocks, man. Those hurt.

>>40438387
Now I don't want to pull out what I have planned for later...

>>40437890
"But, where? There's nothing around here?" You look about, the whole forest dark and foreboding now that the small dancing lights aren't illuminating everything. The fox woman smiles and gestures to a pair of trees grown tall, shaped so their branches cross overhead.

"Just through there. Come on." She steps ahead of you and vanishes through the shadows. You whimper softly, looking back to your companions. Djanna looks apprehensive, but Emma just nods.

"I think it's safe. Don't ask me how I know, but I think it's a magic thing..." She nods and steps ahead of you, likewise vanishing into the shadows.

You give another whine and you bound ahead after her. Once you pass between the trees, you find yourself in a small glade, brightly lit by hanging lanterns. Pearlescent walls of force shimmer all about, including the archway you just stepped through. The loam on the floor is warm, as if bathed by the sun despite the moon hanging high overhead. The center of the glade is covered with furs, and a few chests sit in the bole of a large tree adjacent to where you entered. You whine, on your guard, the barriers putting you far from at ease.

"Don't worry. You may come and go as you please. The domain won't keep you here, since I invited you in." She speaks more to Emma than to you, smiling as she takes a seat on the furs, gesturing you to do likewise. Emma takes your hand timidly and walks to the edge of the furs, sitting and pulling you down beside her. Djanna remains standing, leaning against a tree and taking in the scene calmly, though the tip of her tail cuts the air.

>>40438420
"Why were you talking to rocks?" you ask, curiosity getting the better of you. "An why can you make a... domain?"

The older woman pulls a tail into her lap, running her nails through it idly. "Domains are a relatively simple spell for an old monster. A method of hunting, or a method of self defense. Something that most of us in this region had to learn in order to survive the hunters. As for the stones... memorials, for my fallen family. There... weren't any remains, so the stones serve as a reminder that they lived. It helps me remember them. Gives me somebody to talk to..."

You nod, tail swishing softly. Emma crawls into your lap, and the older woman looks on with a pang of jealousy.

>So what's your name?
>How are you gonna train Emma?
>What are we gonna do while you're helping her?
>Other

>>40438420
>Now I don't want to pull out what I have planned for later...
If its the "Herp derp you get teleported away from everyone into aztec land!" idea, Then please do us all a favor stab yourself right
fucking now
>>40438441
>So what's your name?
>How are you gonna train Emma?
>What are we gonna do while you're helping her?

>>40438441
>>So what's your name?
>>How are you gonna train Emma?

>>40438485
Hey, I told you teleportation doesn't exist.
You get shipwrecked. Garush drowns and ends up with amnesia. Emma gets eaten by a sea serpent and taken to the land of monsters. Djanna gets sick and ends up in a land of perpetual beauty and helps you with an artifact that lets her unleash plasma fury from a great distance.

>>40438441
>So what's your name?
>What are we gonna do while you're helping her?

>>40438441
>>So what's your name?

>>40438530
If your serious please stab yourself right now, You're a shitty QM if that's your plan

>>40438551
Hes even keeping his snark in the spoilers now, what more do you want?

>>40438565
QM's use spoiler for revealing well spoilers aswell you know

>>40438327
PS4
My friend picked it up, so I couldn't resist

>>40438587
but this is Lotus. He snarks.

>>40438688
And he could be serious aswell

>>40438551
jesus man calm the fuck down

>>40438734
Lotus has never legitimately given away story points.

He's the king of BS.

>>40438551
>If your serious please stab yourself right now, You're a shitty QM if that's your plan
So much salt its like Jewish cooking

>>40438441
"Nurrim." She smiles and gives a half-bow from her seat. "It's good to meet you. And whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

You and Djanna introduce yourselves, and as Emma begins to do the same, the older kitsune waves her off. "Of course I know you, silly fox." Emma blushes and shrinks deeper into your lap.

"How are you gonna help her, anyway?" you ask, tail sweeping back and forth. You're suddenly feeling tired. Something about the glade is putting you at ease. The warmth, the pale moonlight, the lanterns. You feel safe here for some reason. Djanna's already started drowsing from her position against the tree.

"Well, that depends on her. There is a lot to our people that she has yet to learn. There are powers we have that she can utilize. It all depends on what she desires to learn. If she wishes to stay for a long time, I'd be glad to teach her everything..." There is a hopeful tone in her voice, as well as a sparkle in her eyes. You hug Emma reflexively.

"Like, what?" Emma asks, her small hands folded in her lap. She unconsciously pulls her tails into her lap, hugging them close to her as a sort of security blanket.

"Well, our people can change shape somewhat. We possess illusion abilities that outstrip many human sorcerers. We can become adept spellcasters in our own right, if we have the aptitude to feel the ebb and flow of mana... it depends on what you, yourself, have a gift for."

Emma turns her face up to you, looking somewhat lost.

>Focus on shape-shifting
>Focus on illusions
>Focus on magic
>Other

>>40438805
>Focus on illusions

>>40438805
>>Focus on illusions

>>40438805
>Focus on shape-shifting
>>Focus on illusions
>>Focus on magic
>>Other
Teach her a bit of everything and find out where her talent lies.

>>40438805
>Focus on illusions
>Focus on magic

>>40438892
backing, but nadia would probably phrase it as "what shes good at"

>>40438805
>>40438892
second this.

Rolled 47 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

Don't mind me.

>>40439067
Panic

Rolled 17 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>40439067
And one more.

>>40438758
>He's the king of BS.
It humors me that this statement is somehow a compliment.

Man this kitty is not giving up on the tricks. Bad kitty.

>>40439211
Yeah she's being too much of a bitch atm, I suggest we shank her if she doesn't cut this shit out

>>40438805
"Why not try all three?" You bounce Emma idly in your lap, the girl grumbling lightly and hiding her face in her tails. "She's really good at illusions, and I don't know about magic... but who knows? She could be really good at all three."

Nurrim nods thoughtfully. "Well, she is my older sister. She well could be very talented. I remember a lot of the pranks she used to play..." she laughs softly, but Emma just buries her face deeper into her fur. The older kitsune clears her throat and motions Emma closer with her hand. "Emma, dear, come here for a moment, would you?"

Emma hesitates and looks up at you, but you nod and she slowly trudges over to the woman. She reaches up and takes the younger kitsune's hands, guiding her to sit before her. "Now, dear, I want you to close your eyes and concentrate. I want you to picture yourself as a fox. A small, sleek, black fox. Four legs, tail, ears. Small and swift and clever. Can you do that?"

Emma whines softly but nods, closing her eyes and screwing up her face in a look of concentration. Nurrim chuckles and shakes her head. "No, sweetheart, relax. Just let it flow. Picture yourself becoming that fox. Let it flow through you. Let yourself become that fox."

Moments, then minutes pass, in tense anticipation. Nothing happens. Finally, Emma lets out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, cracking open an eye. Her tails thrash in frustration. Nurrim just tuts softly and shakes her head. "It's all right. We'll keep practicing. Now, stand up."

She rises and plucks a leaf from one of the trees, placing it in the small girl's hands. She leans down and whispers something into one of her ears before pulling back and laying a hand on her shoulder. "Just repeat that word, and focus on what I told you."

Hello lotus!
nice to see this quest again.
Last thread was very productive, was it?

>>40439278
Emma nods, holding the leaf close to her, eyes focused and tails aquiver. "Agni... agni... agni... agni... agni..." she intones over and over again. Slowly, smoke begins to rise off the leaf, until a flash of flame rises from the center, spreading quickly. With a yelp, she drops it, and it crumbles to ash before it hits the ground.

>Congratulate her
>That seems dangerous...
>Other

>>40439297
Yeeeeeeeah, about that...
Seems the thread got hammered with a lot of people flailing about for weapon superiority choices.

>>40439303
>>Congratulate her
Tell her to be careful

>>40439303
>>Congratulate her
Cool,you set it on fire!

>>40439326
That was bloody annoying and we already decided on monkbold
>Congratulate her

>>40439337
dont fuckin start it all over again...

>>40439303
>Congratulate her

>>40439337
Claws cant cut through metal armor goddammit! That was the main point!

>>40439326

>Hammered with a lot of people Flailing about weapon superiority choices
>hammered and flailing

I hope that was intentional.

>>40439326
>hammered
>flailing
Lotus please.

>>40439389
>>40439337
Table it for now. We don't need to force this one off the board too, please.

>>40439406
Well, yeah?

>>40439303
>Congratulate her

>>40439326
Dohoho

Rolled 21 - 20 (1d100 - 20)

Yet again, don't mind me.

>>40439303
>Congratulate her
>>40439326
>Seems the thread got hammered with a lot of people flailing about for weapon superiority choices.
>hammered
>flailing
LOTUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSS

>>40439465
well damn if thats her other skill roll it would apear shes only bad at shapeshifting. damn. that was probably the coolest.
Assuming she wasnt limited to just fox of course

>>40439477
Creeeeeeeed

>>40439517
>Assuming she wasnt limited to just fox of course

>Mfw she makes her tails bigger and fluffyer....Nadia's tail wags so much as she gets to pet them

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>>40439524

>>40439597
>touch fluffy tail

>>40439303
You can't help but clap as Emma stomps out the cinders. "That was incredible! You can do magic! I mean, I knew you could do illusions, but that was so cool! You just said the words, and then 'fwoosh'! And then it crumbled and was all... and then..." Your tail whips about wildly, and you just want to hug the kitty, but you contain yourself for the time being.

Nurrim also seems impressed, but you see a strange glint in her eyes. Something between fear and madness. "Yes... but you must promise me to be very, very careful. Fire is something wild, much like a monster itself. If you're not careful, it will turn on you and devour you... do you understand?" Emma swallows hard and nods. The older kitsune nods likewise, turning and walking away from the three of you to sit on one of the chests.

"Now... let's try your illusions. I want you to scare me."

Emma tilts her head to the side, tails flicking. "Scare you?"

"Illusions can end a fight before it begins. If you can scare your enemies... remove their will to fight at all... then it will save you a great deal of time and effort, right? Show me what you can do, elder sister."

Emma swallows and nods. "Just... just give me a moment."

>>40439670
She closes her eyes and holds out her hands, palms up, on either side of her. Her hair begins whipping about in a wind you can't feel, her tails rising about her and swaying in the same. She chants slowly, the language one you can't remotely begin to make out. Small orbs of white light begin to flare into being all around her, silent and heatless. Each slowly begins drifting to the ground, and where they land, solid and as real as can be, you see the Czarina appear. Masses and masses of them, each light landing spawning as another copy. The glade shifts in form, the moon and lantern light going dark, replaced by the dank interior of a maze-like crypt, festooned with cobwebs, coated in grime and dust. You hear tittering, staccato laughter echoing all around you, the scraping of bare feet on stone, and the screams and wails of the poor unfortunates caught in the hungry grip of the undead. You hear the gnashing of teeth, the tearing of flesh, and the splintering of bone. You smell blood.

"ENOUGH! ENOUGH! Please, enough!" Nurrim screams. At some point, you had rushed over to Djanna and the two of you were gripping one-another in a vice-like embrace. The illusion falls, and Emma stands with her hands on her hips, looking somewhat proud of herself, her moodiness all but gone, her self-assurance restored.

"You told me to scare you."

>NEVER. AGAIN!
>Good job!
>Other

>>40439685
>>Good job!
but
>NEVER. AGAIN!
Cause damn that was scary.

>>40439685
>Good job!

>>40439685
>Good job!

>>40439685
>Try not to cry on Djanna
>cry on Djanna

>>40439685
>NEVER. AGAIN!
Oh godsthat was scary don't do it again lh gods

>>40439685
>>NEVER. AGAIN!
>>Good job!

>>40439685
>NEVER. AGAIN!
PANICBOLD first
>Good job!
and this at the end too.
>stick tail between legs and shake
All while doing this

>>40439725
Second

>>40439685
>Good job!

>>40439685
"Yay! You're horrifying!" wins.

Batteries finally died in my mosue, so quick suppy run. Back soon. Sorry, folks.

>>40439855
For what it's worth, guerilla bold could be cool.

>>40440027
Monkbold best bold and it was decided waaaay earlier

>>40440133
>we did route locks and we can't do anything new waaa

>>40440179
We're built for fighting not sneaking

Guys, you are all pretty, and the weapons you want to wield all masterwork examples of death and mayhem.

Let it go.

Just https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk

>>40440197
He started it by bringing up Guerilla bold

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>>40440227
I'm not the one who brought up the guerillabold, anon.

>>40440293
Annnd i'm not talking about you, I'm talking about the anon who originally brought it up

>>40438682
There is no story. At all. They wanted to break it up and sell it in chunks like starcraft II so the writer walked with it.

Pvp is decent. House of wolves is the good DLC. Overpriced though.

>>40440293
>He started it by bringing up Guerilla bold
>He
I think if he had accused you of it. Anon would have said, "You."

I'm reasonably sure the viking does not look in his direction. But yours.

>>40439685

I am disappoint. I thought for sure she was going to conjure up Garush giving the sex talk.

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>>40441313
SQUAD MORALE BROKEN!

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Awoo~

DONT DIE

>>40441786
No.

>>40441903
Not dead. Long lines. Home soon.

>>40441931
yes! it worked!

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>>40441903

En route to home base.

I appreciate your patience.

>>40442532
(Waiting intensifies)

>>40440770
I just finished the "Story" missions, and you're not wrong.
It is, however, a very enjoyable game with a LOT of replayability.

Especially that mission with the sword. That was just cool.

>>40443006
Note for pvp.

The Level of the gun/number of attack means jack shit.

The actual stats matter. Auto rifles got nerf'd though their impact score is next to nothing no matter what the stats sheet says.

Magnums are flavor of the month with pulse rifles and scouts still doing okay.

>>40443098
Yeah, my personal fav at the moment is a scout I picked up a little bit ago.
And my shotgun. Can't beat a point and click.

And about the numbers, I take it that they're inconsequential because it's evening it out so level 5s and level 30s can play together?

Back. Writing. Sorry for the wait. Worst part of living in the boonies is that it takes forever to get anywhere.

>>40439685
You whine softly, finally pulling yourself away from Djanna and forcing a smile. Emma looks smug, but her expression falls when she sees your tail pressed between your legs.

"G-good job! That was... ohgodthatwasterrifyingneverdoitagain!" You finish in a rush, bounding over to her and falling to your knees, hugging her tightly and burying your face in her stomach with a shudder. She whines and pets you softly.

"S-sorry... I didn't mean t-"

"You have nothing to apologize for! That was amazing! It seemed so real. You really do have a gift for the art!" Nurrim stands, her tails fanned out behind her. You note that her fur seems to stand a bit more on end than it should, but you don't blame her. You're sure yours isn't exactly smoothed down either. Emma just shakes her head, small fingers gliding through your messy hair.

"It was horrifying. Emma, where did you... er, what gave you the inspiration for all of that?" Djanna asks, stepping forward onto the furs. Nurrim joins her, and soon enough you and Emma likewise. It seems to be mutually agreed that basic practice is done for the evening.

"I just... thought of what scared me most. Being trapped in the crypt with the the Czarina and her guards. I... as long as I stayed in her tomb, I was fine, but I had to sneak out sometimes to find food, and whenever one of her guards saw me, they'd chase after me." She shuddered, pulling her knees to her chest and hugging them tightly. "But, I had to eat, so... I just got really good at sneaking around. It gave me a lot of time to get familiar with the crypts. I could probably recreate the whole thing from memory, if I wanted to."

>>40443300
Djanna shakes her head and reaches over, mussing the girl's hair as you put an arm around her. She shrinks down under the attention, and the two of you lean in against her. Nurrim looks a bit jealous, but simply crosses her legs, trying to maintain a look of detachment. "Well. It has been a long day, and I'm certain you're all exhausted. I will be turning in, and I suggest you do the same. If you are thirsty or hungry, you remember the way to the river, surely. There is some food in that chest, and tomorrow you may hunt if you so desire. Until then... good night."

A cloud of fog enshrouds her, and when it parts, you see a large fox with a mass of bushy tails fanning out behind it. It nods its head to you and dashes between the chests, vanishing under the tree.

>Sleep for now.
>Talk to Emma (Write-In)
>Talk to Djanna (Write-In)
>Other

>>40443312
>Sleep for now
And like that i also have to sleep, You're times are killing me Lotus....Hope yo uget back to normal times

>>40443321
Sorry. Today was kind of an unplanned thread anyway. D&D fell through again and I was bored.

>>40443312
>Sleep for now.

>>40443312
>Sleep for now.

>>40443148
Yeah.

>>40443312
>Sleep time
Sleepy anon is also sleepy-bold.

>>40443312

> Cuddle with Emma
> "I love you little sis"
> Sleep for now

Now, I'm going to bed.

>>40443312
>Sleep for now.
I hope we have another nice relaxing pleasant dream, in which a car doesn't hit us.

>>40443312
http://strawpoll.me/4563558

Sleepy bold wins it. Writing.

>Break till tomorrow
>Keep on running, or the koi will eat me

>>40443444

Break till tomorrow.

>>40443444
Sorry man it's 3 am here. I gotta crash.

>>40443489
Hey, don't you dare apologize. I'm the dumbass who forgot batteries when I was out and about earlier. I shouldn't have had to take that long-ass break mid-thread. I'm really, really sorry about that.

>>40443444
I'd say I'm scared of the koi, but it seems I'm outnumbered.

>>40443499
Nah, man. Shit happens.
You're doing this as a free service to us.

It's not as if you're technically even obligated to continue the story I swear to god if you drop this quest, I will find you, and strap you down in front of your keyboard.

>>40443312
The three of you, left alone, realize how very tired the day's events left you. You settle in on the mass of furs in the center of the clearing, curling together and pulling a few of the skins over top of you. The warm softness envelops the three of you, the heat easily fighting the chill in the air, as you and Djanna press in on either side of Emma, who curls against your chest. You smile down at her, an arm around both your sisters.

"Emma... you know we love you, right?"

She yawns, her mouth wide and eyes closed, as she nods. "And I-" You shake your head and nuzzle her nose to nose. Djanna nudges her in the back of the head with her cheek.

"We know." the dragon girl whispers lightly with a yawn of her own. "Now get some sleep. I get the feeling tomorrow's going to be a bit rough."

The lanterns overhead cast warm light down on you, like the banked coals of your hearth at home. You feel warm, and safe, beside your sisters. You finally succumb to sleep's embrace, the gentle rise and fall of your breathing the only sound in the protected glade.

===================================

A young kobold sniffed the air carefully, his eyes closed. He frowned, pulling his patched leather coat closer about him as he shivered.

"She came this way, but not recently." He smelled other things, along with the odor of young female. Autumn leaves and spices, and the hot, dry scales of a dragon... and something that smelled of seawater and heady musk. He growled softly, ears flattening as he pawed the ground with a foot. "Damn... I really hope she's all right..."

He laid a hand on his uncle's hammer, gently stroking the head of it with a sleek black claw. He looked to the east, then to the west, and again in both directions. He tapped his claw against the hammer, and deciding his course of action, headed toward the east.

===================================

>>40443564
Either we've got an ally looking for us.. or.. one of the kobolds wants to show us Maxwell's hammer up close.

If it's our brother he seems extremely well spoken.. of course.. Nadia did have many brothers didn't she?

Maybe it's one of the older ones.

>>40443657
It's almost definitely our brother.
The one who was our brother, not our cousin.

>>40443657
He stayed in the warren while you wandered around talking to crazy people. And remember, siblings from other litters are referred to as cousins.

Methinks he's our brother that secretly escaped. Maybe.

I actually struggled with including the brother thing. A long time ago I ran a D&D game (didn't last long because I have focus worse than Nadia's), but I liked to include little "cutscenes" that showed what was going on elsewhere in the world. Made things feel more cinematic. Kind of thought to include that here, kind of give the players a bit wider field of vision. Not sure how I feel about it yet, though.

>>40443999
I dunno, but I guess it could hurt the immersion.
only showing something like he's starting off and not showing anything else, so that we are aware that he's on his own adventure but not know his current state.
But in general no, but it's your decision.

>>40443999
I like it. It's interesting.
Especially given the heavily narrative driven medium.

>>40443999
im with
>>40444041
also, seems our brother decided to follow us after all. that or our uncle sent him.
I would be 100% fine with him joining the party, especially if he acts as a straight man to nadia's zany batshit

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>>40444190
>nadia's zany batshit
>batshit
oh no you didn't

>>40444190
That sounds pretty sick.
Plus, we need a guy. It's kind of a clam bake at this point.

>>40444243
Would dogshit work better?
I'm not sure what you're upset with.

>>40444244
Agreed. I like the idea of a romance sub-plot between Nadia and another 'bold.

>>40444282
They're cousins you sick- Actually that might be alright in 'bold society.

A gingerbread house is not a cookie.

>>40444282
...
Anon, you realize that he is our brother, right?
Like, same mother, same father, same fucking litter?

>>40444351
And?

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>>40444282

>>40444341
I hadn't given it any thought. I suppose naturally 'bolds wouldn't feel a mating urge with kin who are too close in genetic make-up. Maybe they have some system of finding mates outside the warren.

Also, just so you know, Garush wasn't 100% accurate with his little sex talk, since mortal races can freely interbreed with monsters. He just didn't bring it up.

>>40444368
...
Fair point.

>>40444428
DAMMIT GARUSH!
We might need that information down the line!
What if we go onto a trivia show?!

>>40444478
Or when we inevitably grow up we may decide that fucking humans is okay since children are unlikely to come out of that union.

Crockery is not soup.

>>40444495
When I say "Mortal races," I mean the non-evolving ones. Humans, elves, dwarves, the standard PHB stuff.

And children can most definitely come about from those kinds of unions, they just tend to retain their monstrous lineage more so than their mortal one.

One of these days I'll have to get around to actually writing down which parts of the canon I'm keeping and which ones I'm taking out behind the wood shed with a nail bat.

>>40444495
>It doesn't count if it's with a human. It's like anal.

>>40444516
So, wait, Djanna CAN have a clutch with Garush?
Also, is Garush a play off of Garish because gems and shit?

I'd actually find monster crossbreeds to be... Interesting, at least.
Like, imagine a half bold half dragon.
Not suggesting anything, just the first two that came to mind

>>40444547
A furry instead of scalie dragon?

A sandwich is not a burger.

>>40444547
>So, wait, Djanna CAN have a clutch with Garush?
I don't think orcs are included in "mortal" races, since they're monsters and can probably evolve.

>>40444547
The way I'm thinking it so far:

Monster X Mortal = OK
Monster(A) X Monster(A) = OK
Monster(A) X Monster(B) = NO

But, there may be monsters out there (Dopplegangers, mimics, etc) who may be the exception to the rule, or reproduce through other means like the tarslimes.

I haven't decided yet, and I doubt it'll be relevant for a while yet.

Besides, you see the size difference. Garush would break the poor girl.

And no, Garush was borrowed with permission from a friend of mine who used to run Neckbeard Quest. He used to be a yankee delinquent with a pompadour, and I just loved the way he talked.

>>40444572
>Garush would break the poor girl.
This excites the dragon.

>>40444572
Don't worry, Djanna has her durable stat, that should help with the stretching.

Also, she's a reptile. So I'm not sure how sex would actually work like that...

>>40444572
Holy fuck, I remember neck beard quest.
Feels like forever ago

God, that was a clusterfuck and a half

>>40444590
With humanoid monsters, it's humanoid anatomy.

Lamia, arachne, etc, fucked if I know. I don't care to think about it. I think Doc said something about a cloaca, and I don't know if REQM ever specified, given his threads have probably never devolved into this kind of discussion.

>>40444601
Teli was talking about maybe picking it up again somewhere else, but just keeping all the psychotic stuff on locked files.

>>40444606
So... When dragon girls give "birth", do they birth the egg at full size?
Because, god damn that'd be worse than a child.
Maybe that's where the durability comes from...

>>40444638
Every dragon mother gets the Blessing of KYR-UN-YASSUN, the dragon god of mothers, the first time they give birth.
+5 DUR
+2 VIT

I have no idea what I selected but it was not sushi.

>>40444638
Oh, also, if that's the case then Djanna should have no trouble wrasslin that Orc Dick.

>>40444638
When dragons lay eggs (usually 1-3 per clutch), they come out roughly the size of an adult male's fist. Gestation lasts between 3-5 months, depending on the number of eggs, and 1-2 months outside of the mother, during which time they've absorbed most of the nutrients they need to grow to their hatching point, and stored the rest in the placental sacs that surround the fetal dragonling. As the dragon grows inside the shell, the surface will crack and new rocky material will fill in which is what gave Djanna's egg it's irregular shape and appearance. The surface of the egg is actually a semi-fluid solid (I forget the actual scientific term), which is why they require heat: if the surface cools and solidifies, the hatchling could easily get trapped and die inside the egg.

Fun fact: Some monster hunters prize the failed eggs as decorations, since it's very rare that two dragon eggs share the same pattern or coloration.

>>40444689
Amorphous solid. There we go.

>>40444689
You thought up these things in minutes?

>>40444740
Yeah, why? That bad?

>Fun fact: Some monster hunters prize the failed eggs as decorations, since it's very rare that two dragon eggs share the same pattern or coloration.

Now, in this world exist a deranged dragon that collects failed eggs.

>>40444748
>That sad mother who only lays infertile eggs. Spending all that time trying to incubate them not realizing she will always fail.

>>40444748
Given how dark some of Lotus' shit is?

Probably kills the new parents, keeps the eggs alive just till the point of hatching, then lets them die to get maximum pretty.

>>40444747
>bad
No, just suprised.
I'm unoriginal as fuck and can't come up with new things.
>>40444771
>>40444775
STOP
THIS IS CUTEBOLD QUEST
PLEASE

>>40444788
Just takes practice. As a thought experiment, it's fun to follow things where your mind takes you. "Why" is the most important question you can ever ask. Remember that.

>>40444771
>>40444775
That's fucking horrible and I'm taking notes.

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>>40444806
>As a thought experiment, it's fun to follow things where your mind takes you. "Why" is the most important question you can ever ask. Remember that.
Okay. I'll try
>>40444806
>That's fucking horrible and I'm taking notes.

>

>>40444918
The infertile mother and the egg-murderer have the potential to be the same.
If we cannot convince the mother to either take back the insult against the gods which led to her being cursed with infertility in the first place, or to just accept that she will never have children, then we will eventually meet her again as she tries to kills Djanna's egg far in the future.
Hard-mode: We will have to devise a coherent argument to convince her instead of relying on dice-rolls

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>>40444987
>
All I hope is that by that time we have a big audience to contain some anon that has good social skills and logic.

>>40444987
An encounter I thought about, but dismissed because it was way, way, WAY too dark for now (actual spoilers, because I might use this once you age up. Plus, you might cry and/or hate me more): You're looking for things to help you increase in rank, or learn new skills, or get a leg-up once the main antagonists start showing up, so you take on a job to go to an island where a great treasure trove is rumored to lay, hired by a human who wants nothing more of the treasure but a pair of huge sapphires rumored to lie there. You fight a dragon that's gone mad/feral, stuck in her full-bore monster form. You kill her, and amongst the hoard, you find two blue, sapphire-hued eggs. She went mad because her kids died. She plundered all the treasure and stayed there trying to keep them warm, using the coins and such as a radiant heat source to increase her own body heat.

>>40445059
>using the coins and such as a radiant heat source to increase her own body heat.
How... does that work?
Dragon magic?

>>40445082
Dragons can give off exceptional body heat by controlling their metabolism. They predominantly do this to survive in extreme climates, but also when mothering a clutch.

Plus, you know, mad from grief. And sure, we'll say dragon magic.

>>40445082
Sorry, I should clarify. Since metal will hold heat, she warmed the hoard with her own body heat, so she could regulate her metabolism and keep the heat on her clutch when she left the nest to eat/hunt for food/raid ships/etc.

>>40445096
>>40445107
That makes sense.
But she must hunt really fast, or the egg mist be really heat resistant

>>40445180
Well, when you don't really care about eating sapient beings...

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>>40445187
Uh.
You can't even do that on dorf fort.

>>40445308
Nonsense. You just need to install the right mod or be a vampire.

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>>40445322
>using mods on dorf fort
I bet your fort crashes every five minutes

>>40445333
Nah, I have two saves on different thumb drives. One for forts which has no mods and the other for adventures which has several. I just love playing the wandering barbarian skinning animals and making my own equipment.

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>>40445349
Remember to always play female in advebture mode because image related.

>>40445376
...ouch. Just... just ouch.

>>40445376
If that same message appeared even if you were female, what would that imply?
Rice is not soup.

>>40445376
I remember my last long surviving adventurer, was a few years back when I was really depressed, had a lot of fun going around and stealing lairs from Monsters. Eventually I found a kobold warren which I used to level my sneaking and wrestling stats, I became the kobold version of the boogieman stalking up and down the warren, choking out and bashing in the skulls of poor unsuspecting kobolds a mere one tile away from friends and family members, my sneak was so high I could break every bone in a kobolds body before it even knew I was there. Eventually I killed every man, woman, and child in the warren. To the point where the game had to spawn bolds in the region because the numbers said there was supposed to be a population. That crazy human had over 800 kobold kills by the time I finally got bored and had him leave sneak mode, he was killed instantly by a copper bolt from a Kobold Adventurer's crossbow. Yep, dark time in my life, dwarf fortress sure is fun though.

>>40445759
And I'm stealing this to mesh with another enemy character I had planned.

You don't mind, right?

>>40445814
Do what you will, that emufeather and horseshoe crab mask wearing muther fakka died years ago, rotting in the woods and wearing the longest kobold tooth necklace ever crafted. I have no attachment left to him besides memories of !fun!

>>40445869
Well, then...

Prepare to encounter the scariest team of mortals you'll ever meet.

Someday.

And thank you.

>>40445396
>>40445562
In case you didn't know, of you take damage in the 'lower body' part, there is a chance for it to cause a gelding blow/miscarriage. Since you don't bear babbies in adventure mode, playing female makes you immune to it.
this is important because gelding blows have a chance to trigger instadeath.

>>40445919
"Welp, lost mah dick. May as well lay down and die now."

>>40445950
the other day I played adventure mode, I kept whipping the target after downing him (makes more open spots for me to hit) and after keep on whipping him I accidently gelded the bandit. I apologized and left, but damn, his nerves were serveres, he was gelded, I don't think he survived.
the thing was that I was ths one who attacked first, by sneaking up on him in a bandit camp to earn fame

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>>40445899
Bear in mind most elite npc combatant in dorf fort is really old, so pic related happenes suprisingly frequently (if you encounter elites a lot)

>>40445996
Full disclosure? Never figured out how to get it to run. No patience for it.

Also, I want to apologize. I've been following Harpy (Read it. READ IT!) and feel like I may have robbed you of puppy days. For some reason I thought it would make more sense that Nadia would be born blind/helpless like a typical puppy/human infant, and so fast-forwarded till I thought she'd more realistically be up and mobile.

>>40446120
Nah. You had to please the audience.

>>40446120
>Full disclosure? Never figured out how to get it to run. No patience for it.
Simple.
Press S,down,down,open quicktravel, go to site, press s, crawl behind first target that is not seen by other party member, stand up, wait one tick, heavy attack head. Run away if you're detected by the entire camp. Repeat until the brain is jammed through the skull.

>>40446169
I meant Dorf Fort in general.

Show of hands: Who's here?

>>40446518
yo

>>40446518
the guy who inspired psychotic dragons is still here, tho I'm in GMT+2 so it's about mid afternoon here.

>>40446518
I'm here for now. I gotta go help my friend move soon.

>>40446593
When do you get done? Just out of curiosity, if you know. Debating starting now, or waiting a bit longer

>>40446631
Dunno, could be an all day thing. But, it is getting about that time of day where board traffic starts picking up.

>>40446652
I'll start once I eat. I don't want you ti miss out entirely.

>>40446705
Welcome back to RE: Kobold.

How are you passing the morning while Nurrim trains with Emma? She's made it clear in no uncertain terms you and Djanna will be pulling your weight around here.

>Hunting
>Carrying water
>Gathering herbs/edible plants

>>40446820
>Gathering herbs/edible plants

>>40446820
>Gathering herbs/edible plants

>>40446820
>Gathering herbs/edible plants
Yeah.
also, the gelding blow anon is here. I'm on the other side of the globe so it's 10:33 here.

>>40446820
All right, we're still moving a bit slow, but it is the AM still.

Gimme a d10. The forest is relatively safe, but you never know.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>40446906
Belay that for future reference. I'm a moron.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>40446906

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>40446906

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>40446906

>>40446820
You and Djanna rise early, finding Nurrim already working closely with Emma on her spellcasting nearby, focusing on her fire abilities.

"We kitsune have a natural affinity for fire. With the right props, like smoke and mirrors, even a simple candle can be magnified and reflected to look like hundreds of campfires, and give the impression that there are more of you than there really are. Of course it has more practical applications as well."

She levels her hand at a tree and shouts "Agni!," a wave of flame flowing up her arm, undulating like a snake, before striking out from her hand and slamming into the tree like Djanna's breath. You scramble to your feet, and Djanna does likewise, moving to stand before you. Nurrim's eyes again flash with that barely held-together mania before she turns back to the two of you, smiling. "Oh, you're awake? Wonderful! Emma was just saying how she was getting hungry."

Djanna nods, her own stomach growling. She reaches for her pack, but Nurrim shakes her head. "Ah-ah, no no no. No human food here. I saw you come from the village. If you want to eat, we're going to eat like monsters, as nature intended. The rivers are full of fish, and the woods ripe with berries, nuts, and edible roots. I'm sure that nose of yours could sniff them out easily enough, hm?"

You open your mouth to object, but you feel Djanna gently tap your leg with her tail, see the subtle shake of her head. Emma looks between you and Nurrim and moves to join you. You smile softly and shake your head. "Remember why we're here, Emma. We'll just be gone a little while. I promise we'll come back with enough food to feed an entire warren!" She whines softly, but nods. Nurrim smiles and gives a dismissive gesture.

>>40447089
"If you get lost, just howl. I'll come find you. Oh, and take one of your bags. You promised to feed a warren, right?" There's something about her that seems... not quite right, but at the moment, you don't feel like questioning it. Shouldering your bag, you and Djanna give a final backward glance, then step through the barrier.

=====================================

"She kind of scares me." Djanna says as she sinks her claws into the bark of a tree, climbing up to pluck a few pine cones from a tree, tossing them to the forest floor before dropping back to the ground. You nod in agreement, scooping them up and cracking the spines off with your paw, exposing the nut inside. You drop it into the pack with a few sprigs of sweet-smelling leaves, some red berries that don't smell utterly repulsive, and a few fat roots that smell sort of starchy. You haven't got a single clue if any of it is edible, but at the very least they don't smell terrible.

"But, Garush trusts her, so I think we should too." You mumble, readjusting your pack and moving on through the woods, dragon in tow. Your paws crunch through the underbrush, her claws and tail likewise through the path your large feet mash down. You sigh softly as your nose picks up a sweet scent. You lift your nose to the air, sniffing deeply and moving off the game trail you'd been following, your ears picking up a slight buzzing sound as you grow closer to the sweet odor. Finally, you break through a bush, and up against a tree ahead you see a massive mountain of black fur, claws, and black eyes leaning up against a tree, feathery wings extending from massive upper arms, a long beak outstretched toward a nearly-spherical orb hanging suspended from a branch. You're not sure what the sweet smell is coming from, but it's strong in the clearing. Something glistening drips slowly from the spherical object into the creature's beak.

>>40447099
>Attack the monster! Maybe that's the sweet smell!
>Drive it off and investigate the buzzing ball!
>Other

>>40447112
>Drive it off and investigate the buzzing ball!

>>40447112
>Other
Stand down. Observe what's happening first.

>>40447112
>Give a quick thumbs up congratulating it's find and go find something to eat that's not guarded by hundreds of pounds of rage and claws.

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>40447112
Well. Three different votes, three different voters, but the overall seems to be caution.

Gimme some d100's.

First roll for me is Djanna's stealth. DC is 65 since the creature is distracted.

Think I'm just going to use dynamic dice inside of combat from here on.

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>40447253
Uh, why?

>>40447267
Asked for advice in WQDT. Seemed the dynamic dice made encounters too swingy for some people's liking. Plus, kind of makes sense in a way.

>>40447184
Just got here, seconding this.

>>40447281
>Seemed the dynamic dice made encounters too swingy for some people's liking. Plus, kind of makes sense in a way.
Please explain this, I don't quite get it

>>40447305
Say you're fighting a goblin. Something weak. It could crit succeed (random mobs don't crit, but still) and you could crit fail. A mook could take your head off. Seems a bit too random.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>40447253

>>40447316
Congratulations! You're not going to be horribly mauled! Writing.

>>40447316
>and you could crit fail. A mook could take your head off
Maybe they don't cut our head off ut do something that's not quest-ending?
In the same discussion in WQT I remember that being done as your friend being heavily injured for you, your plot coupon weapon breaks, stuff like that.
Critfails doesn't always equal fatal body harm, like we could be wielding a weapon (here comes the shitstorm), but a critfail could break it and leave us weaponless while fighting a toxic monster. We could use claws and get schorched, or run.

>>40447350
Always reassuring.

>>40447384
Yeah this, the dice aren't the important bit, it's how you interpret it that is.

Fighting an enemy that by all rights you should beat and critfail? Your character stubs their toe and gets a bruised shin where the enemy kicked it.

>>40447384
Oh, no, I was using an extreme example, but how many times can you get your head knocked in by a low-level grunt before you just decide "Fuck this," hold up somewhere unassailable, and give up leaving home all together? If my players are all right with that kind of potential swing, I'll keep things as is, but I just worry I'm somehow cheating you.

>>40447099
You motion, and Djanna hunkers down behind you, the both of you concealing yourselves behind the bush. The creature stretches out with its beak, nudging at the hive. You hear a crunching sound, and with another sharp jab, the sphere comes loose and falls, bursting on the ground.

An angry buzzing - and a delicate sweet odor - fills the air, as a swarm of black and yellow erupts from the broken remnants of the hive, the small bugs armed with tiny spears and shields. They swarm about the creature, jabbing at it angrily as the beast roars fiercely, taking a swipe at the swarm and succeeding only in slamming the tree hard enough to shake it from root to tops, shattering the bark and leaving deep gouges in the wood. Another swipe crosses the first and it begins to growl and whine, slapping at it's face as the bugs continue to dart in, jab it, then speed out of range of the creature's claws.

Finally, with a whimper and a snarl, it charges toward you, but barrels right past, heading toward the river. The swarm continues to chase it, a few of the small armed bugs stopping in midair, wings beating, to glare at you before flying onward. You see a few dozen left guarding the ruins of the nest. Your skin is delicate, where it's not covered with thicker fur, but with Djanna's scales...

>Send Djanna to recover the sweet-smelling stuff
>Leave well enough alone
>Other

>>40447430
>Leave well enough alone
Beeeeeeeees

>>40447430
>Bees dislike ozone.

>>40447430
>Other
>Smoke them out and get honey. Djanna has fire right?

>>40447430
>but I just worry I'm somehow cheating you.
uh. How?
>but how many times can you get your head knocked in by a low-level grunt before you just decide "Fuck this," hold up somewhere unassailable, and give up leaving home all together?
>implying nadia would be downed by any failiure
I wouldn't play nadia like that, but other anons may differ.
>>40447430
>Other
Wait for about 10 seconds.
Observe all movement nearby.

>>40447430
>Tiny shields and spears? I wonder if we can say hi!

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>40447486
Hell if I know. Reception's been positive and I just don't want to fuck it up.

Also, we're tied between "Git honey" and "Caution."

1: Honey
2: Caution

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>>40447566
>Caution
Good reputation of 'smut free' for one.

>>40447598
Que? Haven't slept yet, so I'm a little slow.

>>40447631
Well, I was reffering to the part 'don't fuck up'
Being smut free while having a female MC feels good.

>>40447430
You keep low, just watching the guards fly around the perimeter of the ruined hive. Workers crawl through the comb, pulling small white larvae from their sealed chambers, loading them onto their backs and taking off into the forest, wings beating heavily, probably off to found a new nest, or find somewhere they can secure them for the time being. Some workers gorge themselves on the sweet liquid, flying off into the distance at a much slower pace. Soon enough, the squadron that took off after the owlbear returns, diminished in number. They reunite with the guards that kept to the hive, and after a quick conversation, one of them levels a spear at you. A small detachment separates from the rest and flies toward you, spears up on their shoulders.

You move to run, but they stop short several feet away. One turns and hands off his spear and shield to another, flying ahead and beginning to bob and weave in the air, it's wings and legs moving in intricate patterns. You stare at it, uncomprehending, for several long moments. It puts its legs on its... hips? Frustrated, it repeats the pattern, a bit more hastily. You shake your head, mouth opening and closing slowly in confusion, as if you want to say something but don't know where to begin. It buzzes angrily, and the detachment returns to the hive. It dances and buzzes to its hivemates, and several of them vanish into the upper limbs of the tree, returning a moment later with a rather large leaf. Together, they work to shovel the sticky, sweet liquid onto the leaf, and then straining under the weight they fly it back over to you.

Djanna holds out her hand and they drop it in her claw, motioning her in the direction the other bees had flown. The dragon girl turns to you slowly.

"I... think they want us to help them."

>Go on, take the honey and run.
>Help the bee-people.
>Other

>>40447660
I'm sure the smut will come, but I won't be writing it. Nadia will eventually grow up and maybe find a mate. If she wants to "do what adults do on the road," it'll be exclusively FTB.

>>40447699
>Help the bee-people.
>Carefully and slowly move to pick up their hive and gesticulate in a manner than implies we intend to move it to where the other beepeoples went.

>>40447699
>Help the bee-people.
Maybe they will give us free honey if we help.

>>40447699
>Help the bee-people.
We good girl.
>>40447713
>I'm sure the smut will come
But you'll have to run long enough until nadia becomes an adult. Heh heh.
>it'll be exclusively FTB.
?

>>40447774
Fade to black.

And given the rate I run at? What, a few months real-time?

>>40447713
>>40447774
>until nadia becomes an adult.
I'm still confused why you think the people inclined to writes fansmut would wait til she's aged in the quest. If they were particularly perturbed about writing it of her with her young mindset they can simply fanficfiat her regaining memories of her previous life, thereby spontaneously gaining the level of maturity they feel she needs to be comfortable writing her.

>>40447815
Then they aren't really writing about Nadia, are they.

Helping beople it is. Writing!

>>40447795
>And given the rate I run at? What, a few months real-time
I can wait. Unless real life strikes me.
and during thag time we can enjoy cutebold. Not that I'm waiting for a smut though.
>>40447815
I don't recall her being fond of sexual stuff. Also, why would smut be relevant at this opint of the story? Or in context?

>>40447831
>Then they aren't really writing about Nadia, are they.
Well that's getting a bit philosophical and also missing the point a little I feel.
>>40447840
>I don't recall her being fond of sexual stuff.
That's not what the regained memories would achieve, the point is that a smut writer might be uncomfortable writing it about Nadia with her current mental maturity but not about a Nadia with an older maturity for <reasons>.
>Also, why would smut be relevant at this opint of the story? Or in context?
Why would it need to be relevant? When has that ever stopped anyone?

Hell, it's not even like the guy who wrote the smut for RE:snek waited long. Katie was a snek for less than a week before she ran into that spider.

>>40447896
>Why would it need to be relevant? When has that ever stopped anyone?
Huh. I guess you're right, but I dunno. I really don't care much about smut, but it's different, kinda feel iffy about it here.

>>40447935
>kinda feel iffy about it here.
Well that'd be because there's been no presence of it, sexualisation of characters, and moreover the MC isn't obsessed with masturbation like Katie was, instead recoiling at the notion of naughty things when Garush gave the run down.

To rephrase that, it's been made clear that Nadia & co have no interest in it and so anything that happens would have to be written as a forced experience which directly contravenes the comfy feeling that permeates the quest despite Lotus' best attempts to fearmonger.

>>40447968
Enjoy it while you can.

>>40448003
>implying any success you make won't only make me harder

>>40448003
Haha, fear mongering. Its always funny.

>>40448013
>>40448022
I won't give you anything you can't deal with, but things won't stay cozy forever.

>>40448041
As long as Nadia keeps her fur things will always be comfy. If things get too bad we can just curl and be fluffles.

>>40448041
>Implying this is cozy
>Implying this hasn't been the edgiest Re:

Sure thing Lotus.

>>40448067
Is that a challenge I hear?

Anyway, update's coming. Sorry for the long wait.

>>40447699
"Then... we should help them!" You wag softly and stand up, the detachment spreading out and buzzing away from you, keeping a careful eye on you. You step out of the bush and lean down, hands on your knees. "I'm going to move the ball thingy, okay? I'll be really super gentle, I promise!" The lead insect doesn't look like he understood you, and as you approach the nest the remaining retinue buzzes aggressively, but the detachment buzzes and dances in response. The others back down.

Djanna rises, walking up behind you and unclasping your pack. "Hold on. I have an idea." She reaches into your pack and pulls out the smaller bag containing the snow sugar. She plucks another leaf, wrapping the candy up in it, then shakes the loose crumbs of sugar out of the bag. "Okay, carefully. Dump the honey in here. Hopefully it won't leak." You smile and nod. The bag's leather and tightly stitched. You wag, a few of the bugs sent careening through the air. They move as if to attack you once they right themselves, but again the retinue dances them down.

Soon enough, the honey you can save relocated into the bag and the halves of the hive clutched carefully in your hand, half of the guards fly ahead of you slowly, the remainder buzzing around you slowly, eyes on you warily. You simply walk slowly ahead, one paw in front of the other, not mindful of the careful glares upon you in the least. You're just glad to be helping somebody who needs it. Maybe they weren't kin, but small or big, furry, scaley, or chitinous, it didn't make much difference. They needed help, and you were in a position to. You blush and smile to yourself, skipping along until a gentle tap on your shoulder reminds you of the careful cargo you're carrying.

>>40448163
Soon, you come to a large, ancient elm, branches stretching out toward the heavens and sheltering the ground below it. In the trunk, a gaping hole oozes with honey, and a large contingent of guards buzzes all about it. As soon as you step into the clearing, they swarm, and once again the advance guard dances them down. They fly over to you, swirling in the air in front of you before alighting on the halves of the nest and trying to pull them out of your hands. You follow their lead, moving where they lead and finally settling the halves on the ground at the base of the tree. Workers swarm from inside the tree and set to work liberating the larvae, a small group flying over to Djanna and trying to take back the honey sack. She likewise follows their lead and carries the bag to the base of the tree, opening it and settling it on the ground. More workers fly out, gorging themselves then returning to the tree.

Suddenly, all action ceases. The bugs rise into the air, forming ranks as they hover in place. A bee, much larger than the rest, her wings trailing behind her like a royal robe, has appeared at the mouth of the large hive. Even though she's barely two inches tall, you feel she's somehow regal. She holds herself taller than the rest of her cohorts, her eyes and shell shine just a bit brighter, and she's flanked by two guards armed with angry-looking red spears and barbed shields. She beckons you closer with a leg. With a slight wag, you and Djanna approach, and the large bug rises into the air, her guards following.

>>40448176
She hovers in the air in front of you for a moment before she begins an elaborate dance, spinning through the air about you. Her wings catch the slight light that filters through the branches, the wings reflecting red, gold, and yellow in the light. Something about the dance is hypnotic, and you feel at ease, your heart calm. The rest of the swarm begins to slowly join in on the dance, the patterns intricate, the movements graceful. Djanna watches curiously, head tilted, but she seems to be moving along with them, even if not with her whole body.

Almost as soon as it began, it ends, and the swarm has all vanished back into the tree. You shake yourself from your reverie, and for some reason you seem to hear it plain as day.

She said "Thank you for saving my children."

NADIA AND DJANNA HAVE GAINED THE FOLLOWING TRAIT:
Friend of the Swarm: You can understand insectoid speech.

"Nadia, look!"

Your bag has been refilled, but the liquid looks somehow thicker and more yellowish. Djanna leans over, picking up the bag and giving it a slight sniff. "It doesn't smell as sweet, but..." You take the bag from her gently and take a deep whiff. It smells kind of rich, earthy, a little like your medicine kit in a way you can't quite place. You whine softly, but decide for now to secure the bag by placing it inside your medicine kit after binding it tightly.

You spend another hour gathering food before you return to the glade. You stop and say hello to the rocks, if for no other reason than Nurrim said it was polite, before you step back into the barrier, Djanna in tow.

"Well, welcome back! I was about to come look for you." Nurrim is seated on one of the chests, one leg crossed over the other. Emma smiles brightly and bounds over to you, plowing into you and nuzzling against your stomach.

"Nadia! Djanna! Welcome home! I mean, back! I mean... where have you been!?"

>BUGS! BEARS!
>Just out getting food, no reason to worry.
>Other

>>40448196
>BUGS! BEARS!
>Look what they gave us!

Also, we just learned to speak to insects? That's really neat, and I feel will somehow come in handy one day in a really strange manner.

>>40448196
>BUGS! BEARS!
>ENTHUSIASM!

>>40448196
>Just out getting food, no reason to worry

Buzz Buzz Buzz, Insect speech talky talk, Bugs.

>>40448196
>>40448223
This.

>>40448232
Should note: Understand. You'll have to take a lot of ranks in dance to communicate back, unless you want to sound like a babbling inf- oh, wait, it's Nadia. Per the norm, nevermind.

>>40448223
You'll be trapped on top of Not!Isengard. "There is only one Lord of the RE, and he does not share power!" Suddenly, eagles.

Writing.

>>40448270
Heheh
By the way, what exactly do these bee people look like?
Fully insectoid, but with enough grasper augments to let them use tools?
Semi-humanoid insects?

>>40448293
Longer bees with an extra thoracic section, with small pincer-like claws on the end of their more forward limbs to enable them to grasp and manipulate objects.

>>40448067
No, seriously, is that a complaint? I honestly can't envision a world full of monsters that wouldn't get real grim real fast without a strong figurehead to keep everyone in line.

File: did i do good.jpg (71 KB, 505x457)

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>>40448338
So... something akin to this...?

>>40448382
Pretty close. Ya done good, anon.

>>40448196
>BUGS! BEARS!
>bees!
>EXPLAIN further
>Wag tail

>>40448196
You grin and scoop her up, twirling about with her. Nurrim chuckles and lays a hand along her cheek. "My my... I wish I knew where you got all that energy from."

"We were out in the woods an' we smelled somethin' sweet! We followed it an' there was this big bear with a beak an' feathers, an'-"

Emma's eyes shoot open. "You saw an owlbear!? Are you okay? It didn't hurt you, did it!?" She squirms to get out of your grip, and begins bounding around the both of you, checking you over. You laugh and wrap an arm around her shoulder as she tries to get behind you and examine your tail, scooping her back against your stomach. "Relax, kitty, we're fine! We didn't fight it! We just waited for it to get chased away by these long black an' yellow bugs! They were kind of cool! They had little spears an' everything!"

"Oh, them?" Nurrim asks lazily, fanning herself with her hand in the mid-afternoon sun. "I hope you girls were careful. They're not too terribly friendly."

"Well, they were kind of scary, but after the big bear thing broke their nest and they chased it off, we helped 'em move it! And then this real pretty one danced for us and... and... EMMA I CAN TALK TO BUGS!" You giggle madly and crouch to hug the younger girl, tail flailing. Djanna has picked up your bag from where you dropped it, moving over to Nurrim and going over your foraging, as well as the bag. Nurrim quickly divides your find into edible and non-edible piles.

"The roots and nuts are an excellent find, but the berries are poison. There's no use for them, I'm afraid, except maybe if you wanted to dye something. The herbs have some minor medical applications, but nothing too impressive. Still, not quite enough for a warren, but enough for the four of us with what I have stored. All in all, a good morning. Good job, girls."

You beam with pride, nuzzling Emma.

>>40448435
"H-hey, Nadia. You're messing up my hair. C'mon, knock it off..." You can't help but notice her tails and ears are quivering.

"There was also this." Djanna reaches into the pack again and pulls out the medical kit, opening it and revealing the bag. Nurrim takes it and opens it, looking inside and giving it a soft sniff.

"Hmm... Royal Jelly. Well, now, this is quite rare. Usually you only find small quantities in abandoned nests, or you have to kill an entire hive for some. To find this much... she must have been very pleased with you." Nurrim smiles at you and Djanna - an actual, warm, genuine smile. "Such good girls you are. Your parents must be proud of you."

>Wag. Wag hard. Wag forever.
>Frown and bury your face in the kitty's hair.
>Other

>>40448338
>is that a complaint?
No? I kinda like it.

Spider is a nice hugbox/light novel, Lizard is starting to feel like Lizard Ball: Re:, Snek is dead but was suffering/SoL, and Harpy is beetus levels of cute.

Each Re: has its own niche and that is something you don't see out of many quests that share the same base world. I think its cool that so many writers can take away and make something from the same general concept.

But no, you are not the comfy one, you are the edge one right now. Even if Nadia is genki.

>>40448453
>Wag. Wag hard. Wag forever.
>Can you talk to them Nurrim?

>>40448453
>Wag. Wag hard. Wag forever.

>>40448453
>Wag. Wag hard. Wag forever. and bury your face in the kitty's hair.
>>40448466
I bet even if nadia went wdgy, she'd fail and still be cute while trying to be edgy.

>>40448466
Okay, sorry. I wasn't trying to get defensive, it's just that I lost readers over the bait and switch (which, swear to Yra, I didn't intend), and I'm trying not to go full-bore edgemaster lunacy. Yet.

Seriously, last quest I ran was a one-shot about a witch who could transform into a demonic battle form by ripping off and eating chunks of her own flesh after she sold her soul to get revenge on the people who killed her father and left her for dead.

>>40448516
No worries, I'm pretty much here to stay, even though you run at inconvenient as hell times.

>>40448516
>spoiler
Kinky.

>>40448541
Sorry. I work overnights, so no matter when I run I'm going to miss somebody, I think...

There's a Strawpoll on the Twitter about preferred runtimes, if you want a vote in it. Right now 2 CST is ahead (last I checked, anyway), and that would fit in well with my sleep schedule. Of course, if I just ran weekends, sleep wouldn't necessarily need to factor into it.

>>40448547
I might revive it, but I want to get further into 'Bold first.

>>40448581
>I might revive it
I never read the other quest so I can safely say I'd rather see your efforts focussed on just re:'bold.

As for running schedule, I'm BST so these threads tend to be during the middle of the day for me.

>>40448606
Other quests I want to run are a Xenogears-style quest and/or a Disgaea quest.

I joked in another quest discussion thread that if Nadia ever actually died, I'd just revive her in the NISverse and remove her damage cap.

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>>40448516
>it's just that I lost readers over the bait and switch (which, swear to Yra, I didn't intend), and I'm trying not to go full-bore edgemaster lunacy. Yet

Lotus
stop
you're confusing me
my head hurts

>>40448453
>Wag. Wag hard. Wag forever. and bury your face in the kitty's hair.

File: BELKA suoerweapon believe.jpg (63 KB, 340x427)

63 KB JPG

>>40448651
>Disgaea quest.

>>40448666
That cat version of toothless is adorable

>>40448453
You can't help it. You wag, and you wag hard. Even Djanna blushes, turning her face away from Nurrim. The older kitsune reaches up and rubs the dragon-girls head lightly, and you bury your face in Emma's hair, squealing with delight. Something about being praised by an adult... you don't know why, but it makes you giddy. You are a good girl. At least you try to be. You don't like upsetting people, since it causes trouble. Like mama going crazy and papa getting hurt and even Sylea getting burned, because if you hadn't gone down to warn her and she hadn't come to take you home she wouldn't have gotten attacked and-

No! No, Nadia. You can't think about that kind of thing. It was bad, but it wasn't like it was directly your fault. You didn't make mom go crazy, or hurt papa, and you saved Sylea! You even saved Djanna! She might not be here right now if you hadn't fought! Still... if you hadn't fought...

You whine and stand, tears unshed in your eyes. "Djannaaaaaa..."

The dragon girl tilts her head at you and crosses the furs, cupping a claw against your face. "What is wrong with you? You are the only person I know who can go from happy to tears in no time at all..."

You sniffle and give a soft laugh as she wipes a tear from your eye. "We know the same people."

"Then you know I'm right!" She smiles and nuzzles you. Emma whimpers and worms her way in between the two of you. Nurrim clears her throat softly before clapping her hands. The three of you pull apart and turn to the older woman.

"Who's hungry?"

=======================================

"Now, carefully just brush the coals aside."

>>40448755
Emma nods, raking the ashes and burning coals aside with a stick, revealing eight of the roots from the center of the fire pit.

She'd helped Djanna gather firewood while you and Nurrim carried water from the river. After you'd all washed up, she'd gathered you around the wood pile and Emma put on a show for you. Using her illusions, she made if look as if tiny kobolds made of flame dashed up the outside of the pile, dipping into the gaps between the branches and kindling. From inside the pile, a soft glow began to emanate, and sounds like the striking of picks on stone. Shortly, atop the pile, climbed out a smaller kobold made of flame and a girl with a serpentine tail. The first threw back her head as if she were howling, and the latter jumped up in the air, opened its mouth, and with a whisper of "Agni" from Emma, unleashed a gout of flame into the pile, setting it alight.

After it had burned down to cinders, Nurrim had directed you all in washing the roots, wrapping them in aromatic leaves, and burying them in the coals. Now, she carefully lifted them from the fire with a forked stick, charred black from long years at the task, and set them on a long wooden trencher. They steamed, the delicious starchy smell, and the scent of the leaves, combined to give them a slightly sour, but very pleasing, aroma. "Tonight, I will take the three of you hunting. You all worked hard today and deserve a good meal."

>Talk to Nurrim(Write-In)
>Talk to Emma(Write-In)
>Talk to Djanna(Write-In)
>Other

>>40448766
>Talk to Nurrim(Write-In)
>Can you speak to the insect people?
>What did you teach Emma today?
>What's the coolest magic you can do?

>>40448804
>>40448766
Seconded

>>40448766
I wanted to interact with nurrin, seems like >>40448804 got it done.
however ask more about her past or families.
and 300 years?

>>40448922
Curious as I am I'm not entirely convinced turning her thoughts to her various dead relatives is a good idea, nor reminding of her 300 years of isolation and craziness.

>>40448766
Nurrim serves Emma's lunch first, then yours, Djanna's, and her own. As you're eating the roast roots, your mouth full, you turn to the elder kitsune. "You know the bug people? Can you talk to them too?"

She shakes her head, taking small, delicate bites. "No, child, but we are on... even footing. They do not bother me, nor I them. Sometimes, they have been known to favor me with gifts of honey when I happen to hunt those that prey on their hives, but that's it. They're a very reclusive creature, and fond of their sovereignty." She looks up at you, and smiles at the confusion on your face. "They don't like to be disturbed."

"Oooooh. I see." You nod, making a mental note to use that word the next time you want to sound really smart. "Oh! Did you teach Emma that little show today? And what's the best magic you can use? You're a sorcerer, right?"

She nods slowly. "Indeed, I am... though my skills are nowhere near what they could be. I became a little... fixated... upon fire, and its workings. It limited my growth somewhat."

"Then what's the best magic you know? Can you show me?"

She shakes her head softly. "Not here. I... would rather never use it again." She shudders softly, taking another bite of her root. You frown softly, but don't press it. That manic gleam is back in her eyes. No matter how nice she seems, it still scares you.

"I can make little fires now!" Emma pipes up from across the coals. "And my foxfire - that's what Nurrim calls it - can make things smoke! With a little more work, I might even be able to make 'em burn too!"

Nurrim smiles, but she still looks somewhat shaken by the child's enthusiasm. "Let's not reach too far, too fast now. There's time yet, and you have to learn control before you learn power."

Emma whines but nods, turning her attention back to her food.

>Talk to Nurrim (Write-In)
>Talk to Emma (Write-In)
>Talk to Djanna (Write-In)
>Advance
>Other

>>40448971
>>Talk to Emma (Write-In)
Any memories come back?

>>40448971
>Talk to Emma (Write-In)
Inquire more about what she learned. Also praise her. Wag tail. And enjoy her blushing.

>>40449006
>>40449010
These

>>40448971
"Did you learn anything else today?" you ask Emma as Djana reaches over, brushing a bit of root from your cheek. You whine, tail flicking about, but say nothing. Emma shakes her head softly. "It was a busy morning. We spent a lot of time going over basics. Feeling the flow of mana, gathering it, channeling it properly through your corpus... er, that's your body, in magic-talk. It's a lot of stuff I'd already learned, but a refresher... it's been nice."

"Then, did you remember anything?" Nurrim frowns softly, taking a drink of her water. Emma shakes her head. "No, nothing. I... might. I don't know if I want to."

Your tail droops and you whine softly.

"Would it be so bad?" Nurrim asks, her hand trembling on her glass. "I mean, it may not all be happy, but at least... at least remember your family... remember us..."

Djanna frowns and wipes her lips on the back of her hand. "Nurrim, I know you're anxious, but please... don't force this. I... can't imagine what this is like for you, but consider it from Emma's perspective. She's... scared. Can't you see that?"

The older kitsune looks at the younger, who's facing her food with a frown, lost look in her eyes. Her tails lie flat on the ground, and a moment later she offers her roots to Nurrim. "Lost my appetite. Sorry." she whispers as she rises, walking toward the river. Nurrim rises, reaching out for her with shame in her eyes, but Djanna shakes her head, looking over at you as if to ask "You or I?"

>I'll go
>You go
>Leave her be
>Yell at Nurrim
>Other

>>40449132
>You go
We are good for cheering people up with tail wags, not complex emotional problems.

>>40449132
>>You go
This is one that we are a little too dumb to help with.

>>40449132
>you go
the one with the most bright and goodwill ed mind should go.

>>40449132
>>You go

>>40449132
Sending Djanna it is.

Going to talk to Nurrim about anything while they're gone?

>>40449250
Tell her where we found Emma and just how very bad it was. Maybe Emma fidgeting is what kept her sane.

>>40449250
>What is it that you've done that haunts you so much? I can see it in your eyes every now and then.

>>40449265
Forgetting*

>>40449282
Oh shit! I just figured it out. Guys, she recalls a man in white coming and destroying everything.

Emma recalled a sister of hers speaking to that man in white first. I wonder who that sister was.

>>40449250
Explain everything what we known about her so far.
af far as I know she might know what happend with that sick skeleton monster.

>>40449250

> Don't look so sad, Nurrim.
> You're a really nice person. I can tell.
> But you're kind of scary sometimes.
> You look excited and nervous and maybe a little lost, like you aren't really here.
>Like mama...

>>40449353
Not Nurim, Nurim is younger than Emma. Or was.

>>40449353
You reckon she cut a deal and was spared from the slaughter so long as she gave him her sister?

>>40449265
Yeah, point out that when she did that terrifying illusion it was what she'd had to spend all her remembering life dealing with constantly.

>>40449353
Glad to have a smart Anon.
let's do>>40449364 with>>40449282 in the midde of it. We need to let her know of the general situation she's in.

>>40449368
Sure. Assuming that what she said wasn't lies.

>>40449403
Word of Lotus anon.

>>40449132
You jerk your head back toward the river and Djanna nods, finishing her root and rising, taking off after the kitsune girl. You set your own aside, the starchy tuber not quite agreeing with you, and cross the clearing to Nurrim. You settle down at her feet, tail watting softly as you reach up and lay a hand on her knee. She looks down at you in surprise as you meet her gaze, earnest concern in your eyes.

"You know... when we found Emma, she was in a real bad state. Her hair was all messy, an' the fur on her tails was matted. She looked half-starved, an' her skin was all pale. She acted real brave, but I could tell she was scared. Really bad. She thought she was gonna die... an' the thing that you saw? The zombie-Czarina? She spent... I don't know how long down there alone with her. I wonder if maybe Emma forgettin' everything is what kept her from ending up like the Czar and the Czarina..."

Nurrim just shakes her head. "I... I didn't..."

You reach up softly, cupping a paw against her cheek, whimpering softly. "It's okay to love 'er. Okay to be scared. I dunno what all happened to you, but I can tell. You look scared too... like you done somethin' bad, maybe? I don't know, but you don't seem bad to me. Not really. You just don't wanna be alone any more. Right?"

The elder woman bites her lower lip, turning her face away from you and staring pointedly at nothing, trying to force herself to remain stoic. "I... you're young, Nadia. There's no reason for you to worry about me. I'm... what I've done... it's none of your con-"

>>40449493
"But that's not true!" You bark, bouncing to your feet and clenching your fists in front of you, tail wagging back and forth as you narrow your eyes. "If you really are Emma's sister, then... then you're my sister too, an' that means if you're all sad an' stuff it is my business! So if I can, lemme help you! You just tell me what's botherin' you an' Djanna an' I an' Emma will go punch it and make it leave you alone!"

She looks up at you, jaw slack, eyes wide. Finally, a smile creeps over her lips, then into her eyes as she claps a hand over her mouth, squeezing her eyes closed and laughing earnestly. She keeps this up for minutes, tears flowing in a torrent down one cheek. You tilt your head in confusion, tail swishing about.

"Oh... oh, Nadia... you're... you're unbelievable..." She reaches out and pulls you close into a hug. Her arms are slender but strong, and she smells like campfire and herbs. It's a comforting smell, but not quite what you expected. Still, you wag softly as she runs her fingers along your haaaaoooh gods yes. You melt against her as she pulls you closer, her tears falling against your cheek.

A long time passes before you hear footsteps approaching the clearing, and she releases you, drying her face on her sleeves. "Thank you. I... as long as you love Emma so genuinely, I'll think of you as my sisters as well. I'm sorry... I'll leave things be as they are for now. I didn't mean to cause trouble for everyone. Mother would be ashamed of me."

You frown softly and shake your head, ears flapping. "Nuh-uh. You're helping us. I'm sure she'd be really happy! You have to teach me their names, so I can greet them properly!"

She smiles and nods softly. "I'm sure they would like that very much."

>>40449384
Just a quick aside: I may be dumb here, but skeleton monster? You mean the Czar/Czarina?

>>40449514
I meant the Czarina, but I wasn't the one to refer to it as 'skeleton monster' so the original anon's intent may differ.

>>40449553
Noted. Sorry. Like I said, haven't slept yet. Think I'll make another post or two then take a brief nap, if nobody objects.

>>40449591
Hey, that's quite alright. We've hit autosage though so you'll be wanting to start a new thread when you come back if you think you can run long enough to warrant a session

>>40449591
In autosage already

>>40449514
>but skeleton monster? You mean the Czar/Czarina?
Yes. She was more of a zombie than skeleton, right?
I FUCKED UP
please no bully.
>>40449591
...
SLEEP ALREADY LOTUS
You're the QM, not like we hold any rights ovee your sleeping schedules.

>>40449591
You earned your rest. I mean you run consistently.

>>40449514
Gimme a d100+30. One last update then I go.

Rolled 90 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>40449653

Rolled 5, 8, 53 + 20 = 86 (3d100 + 20)

>>40449653
Versus.

>>40449666
Satan why....

Rolled 80 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>40449653