>>41290793
>What was that about corpses, earlier?

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"What was that about corpses, earlier?" You ask, not quite finished. "You said that a moment ago..." She nods, unsurprised.

"Right." She confirms. "Sieglinde and Seffi grew within two of the bodies of the original women who died here, until they finally awoke, animating the bodies once more." She lays a slim hand on her chest, "As for myself, while this body is properly mine, of course, and my perceptions are all filtered through it, 'I' am not exactly here." Your confusion, you're sure, is visible on your face, and she explains. "The core of my being is actually an object - even if this body is lost, as long as my core exists, I will be fine. If that were to happen, though, I'd have to either create a new body with raw magic, which is, of course, time consuming and very difficult - even for me - or I'd need to repurpose a pre-existing body for my use, which should be much easier. In theory." She frowns. "Sieglinde and I are very magically active, and rather powerful, if I do say it myself, so neither of us need to worry about the deterioration of our bodies with time. Seffi doesn't have anything to lose, in comparison - her flesh is formed of the raw magic that supports her existence to begin with. The bones which are her main body provide a form for it." She thinks a moment longer. "Ah, and as for Silke, she's another odd case. She built her body herself, as I understand it. I'm not entirely sure how she started, but you've seen the end result?" You confirm that you have, and she continues, "Normally, she would need... replacement parts, if you will, after a time. Sieglinde and I - mostly me, if I'm honest - have managed to halt the corruption of her flesh, though. She won't decay any further, unless the magic is undone, so she won't need any new...parts."

You'd taken her to be the quiet sort, when you first saw her, but Ulrike rather likes to talk, doesn't she? Or maybe it's more that she enjoys showing how much she knows... Her explanations do seem to be rather comprehensive.

>That's all. Let's head up to the others.
>A core?

>About the catacombs...
>>[What?]

>One more thing... [What?]

>>41291963
>That's all. Let's head up to the others.

>>41291963
>>That's all. Let's head up to the others.
I'm sure other questions will come up later.

>>41291963
>>That's all. Let's head up to the others.

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"I see." You nod. "Then I guess for now, that's all of my questions. Let's head up to the others - the party should be starting soon, shouldn't it?" The two of you have been talking down here for a while, and the cakes were just about ready, so... Ulrike consults one of the crystals nearby.

"Yes." She confirms, "Quite soon, I believe. I'll follow you up." With that, she gestures for you to lead the way - although there's really not much leading to do, only needing to go up the stairs. The steps aren't too bad - rather steep, but it's not anything you can't handle. When you reach the door at the top, and pull it open, however...

A blast of sound strikes you, as the gathered inhabitants of the catacombs - the children, and the other six girls - cheer your entry. Even Alheid, which surprises you, a little, given how upset she had been when she left. How long had Ulrike been talking, anyway? It hadn't seemed very long, but...

Startled, you take a step back, and your heel slips from the stair - and you bump into Ulrike, who steadies you with unexpected strength from such a small, soft-looking woman. Regaining your balance after the near-fall, you look around. It looks like when she said 'quite soon', she meant 'once you arrive'. The cakes are out, snacks are scattered about, most of them softly glowing, and the children - and Seffi - are casting covetous glances over at a small pile of items, concealed in cloth bags and pouches. The party favours, presumably.

With you sufficiently startled, and the party, apparently, now officially begun, the group that had been waiting for you breaks up, with Alheid leading the children - and Seffi - over to the pile of party favours, and the rest of the girls dividing between the snacks and you, as the two most immediately interesting things in the room.

They seem to be a bit hesitant to actually engage you in conversation, though. You'll probably have to take the initiative if you wanted to talk to anyone.

>Talk to someone.
>>[Who? About?]
>Get some snacks.
>Go watch the favours get handed out.

>...?

>>41294235
>>Get some snacks.
Get a drink and sit down, sipping

>Go watch the favours get handed out.

>>41294235
>Get some snacks.
>Go watch the favours get handed out.
I missed the last few threads when I was in the land of blocked Google, but now I'm back and ready to play! Yay!

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You make your way over to the table, picking up the plate that Sieglinde had just made for you - you can tell it's yours because it has your face on it. It also has a warning written around the edge, promising retribution if anyone steals 'the master's plate' and so on.

Well. It is a very nice plate, you suppose. A little weird to have the picture of yourself watching you eat, but...

Anyway, you collect a few snacks, a couple of cookies, and wander over to watch as the kids - and Seffi - receive their party favours. Alheid throws a smile your way as you arrive, but she seems to have her hands full with the children... and Seffi, who fits in with them a little too well.

"Here you go! Only take one, now!" She gets them into a line, and one by one, they select the little bags for themselves, before scurrying off. Seffi ends up in the back of the line, only a little bit bullied into giving up her earlier spots. It looks like she's just playing around with them.

As for the favours themselves, it looks like they're little magical trinkets. One of the kids quickly figures out that hers can shoot little pink balls of light, and another discovers that his can produce a reflective shield, and soon the entire room below waist-level is a warzone, coloured balls of light hurtling around and impacting harmlessly on everything - they just sting a bit, when they hit.

Factions are forming and crumbling left and right, as the kids dart around, practically diving between people's legs to avoid getting hit, and yet somehow they manage not to get underfoot.

It's really quite impressive.

Seffi, despite Alheid's admonishments to take only one, is wielding one of the trinkets in each hand, attacking everyone indiscriminately.

You can't help be smile, as you shake your head at the kids' antics. Alheid, who at some point came up next to you, laughs.

"They're always like this." She says, fondly, as an impromptu alliance is formed, the children grouping together to bring down Seffi.

"They get along well." You observe, as Seffi, after making a brave stand, is overwhelmed by the sheer density of incoming fire and takes a fall, and the alliance abruptly splinters, the kids running about and laughing as once more it descends into chaos.

"She's like their big sister." Alheid tells you. "Or their little sister, some days, but..." She shrugs. The two of you watch the children for a moment longer. "...it's too bad..." She murmurs, right at the edge of audibility.

"Hmm? What is?" You ask, but she gets a bit flustered.

"Ah, what? It's nothing..." She glances away.

>Press her.
>Let it go.

>>...?

>>41295929
>I expect an explanation in the future.

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"Later, then." You let her off the hook for now, but you'll be looking for an explanation later. She nods, a bit unwillingly.

"...Alright." She understands, then. You return your gaze to the children in time to see them all group back up, as Jana suddenly appears. Or at least, that's the cry that goes up.

"Janaaa....!" A synchronised whine, as a shadowy being - more than likely, yes, it's Jana, especially considering no-one else seems concerned - skitters along a wall, before pausing near where Seffi is slumped against it, after her dramatic death scene.

"Hey!" Seffi cries, as the shadow skitters away again - this time, with coloured orbs firing out of its back, at the children. "Those are mine!" She jumps up... or tries to, but her ankles have been tied together, and she just manages to smash her face into the floor.

There's a creepy, rasping laughter, from the shadow - Jana, at least, is having fun. The faces of the children, though, are grim. 'Here,' they say, 'A true enemy has risen against us.'

>Continue watching.
>Talk to...
>>Who?
>You could use more snacks.

>Intervene.
>>Discreetly.
>>Directly.

>...?

>>41296509
>>You could use more snacks.
then
>Intervene.
>>Discreetly.
things like slightly knocking Jana's aim off

I'll continue tomorrow, in less than 12 hours. Same rules then as now, except the thread will end tomorrow - I just don't have the ability to run a thread all week right now.

Current voting period will be extended until I get back, since I've just scrapped everything in frustration - a little sleep goes a long way.

bump

>>41296509
>Talk to...
>>Hannelore

>>41296509
>You could use more snacks.
>>Discreetly.

baker, when will we see our companion again?

>>41300480
Companion and Knight will return shortly! We're not too far from the end of the interlude. Just a couple major points left.

bump before sleep