You shake your branded arm, helping banish any lingering numbness as best you can. As far as you know, your experiment was a success. As long as you drink at least one Defang Elixir a day your brand shouldn’t be any issue. Or so you hope, you’re treading entirely new ground after all.

“How’s the potion going?”
Hiss sidles in, pushing aside the sheet of thin wood that can only tenuously be called a door.

“Good, good. You’re back early, I thought all this was boring you.”

“Don’t get me wrong Cennen, watching you brew is supremely tedious. But there’s not much else to do, you know? We’re stuck on this ship for the time being and the Melach are awful conversationalists. Most of them can’t even speak Avling, you know.”

“Can’t you speak Melach, Hiss? You’ve still got some of their souls.”
You know for a fact that she has Kom Nah at the very least.
“Are you feeling alright with that?”

She waves you off.
“Nothing to worry about, a small handful of rotting souls has never been a problem. And besides, I am now supremely powerful. I can vomit up those souls anytime I choose.”

“So you can speak Melach?”

“Yes. Or what’s left of it anyway.”

“So why complain about their poor fluency in Avling?”

“Because I don’t want to speak to them in Melach! Do you have any idea how the language works? There’s a lot of similar terms which means that it’s given them a cultural predisposition to…”
She makes a face.
“To make puns.”

“Puns.”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t know it to look at them, would you? But the moment you get to speak to them in their native language it’s just one skeleton pun after another! I refuse to speak to give them the opportunity!”

You snort, finding this hard to reconcile with her recent display of dominance over them.
“Can’t you just, uh, tell them not to?”
1/2

>>42803366
Hiss scowls.
“Cennen please, the true strength of royalty is not only knowing your own strength but also your boundaries. I have control over them because of one thing and one thing only. I don’t really want to push it, they are not a people particularly given to respect.”

“Really? That doesn’t sound like you.”

“What?”

You laugh, making her screw up her face even more.
“Do NOT mistake my lenience for permission. Just because I tolerate them doesn’t mean I’ll tolerate it from you.”

> Talk to her more about the brand.

> Ask her about what plans she has in mind for when you get back, if any.

> Ask her for more about the Melach

> “Want to take the Bunyip out for a ride?”

> “So how’s everyone else getting along?”

> Other

>>42803382
> Ask her about what plans she has in mind for when you get back, if any.
> “Want to take the Bunyip out for a ride?”
I'm not expecting her to say yes but maybe it will help with the boredom?

>>42803382
> Ask her about what plans she has in mind for when you get back, if any.
What she said right now sonded kinda... sensible?

>>42803382
> Talk to her more about the brand.
> Ask her about what plans she has in mind for when you get back, if any.
> “Want to take the Bunyip out for a ride?”

>>42803382
> Ask her about what plans she has in mind for when you get back, if any.
> “Want to take the Bunyip out for a ride?”
> “So how’s everyone else getting along?”

> Ask her about what plans she has in mind for when you get back, if any.
> “Want to take the Bunyip out for a ride?”

You nod and don't challenge her. There's no need to contest her on this point, certainly no need to make her think that it was a bad idea. In fact it was remarkably sensible idea and not one you think Hiss would have said a few months ago.

"I'm not complaining. It sounds like a wise decision to me."

Hiss preens, a smug look creeping across her features and overriding her slightly-less smug default expression.
"It was wise, wasn't it? Like the words of a Queen."

"Speaking of which, that's something I think we need to talk about. The good kind of talk," you say, forestalling what looked to be a preemptive groan on Hiss' part.

"Honestly I'd talk about anything if it distracted me from being cooped up on this ship. This place is much less luxurious than Tash's!"

You make a show of pondering her words before nodding.
"Tell you what, I think I have a way around that."

And so not even five minutes later, the two of you are off the ship and sitting on the Bunyip's back as the beast swims. You're at the front, your hands on the Bunyip's shaggy neck and mane while Hiss clutches you from behind. She clearly doesn't want anything to do with the creature's head, especially given their rather low opinion of one another.
"It's off the ship, isn't it?"

"Why couldn't this thing have just been hunted down in Lombai?"

"So," you start, taking in the sunlit water around you and the smell of salt. "What exactly are we going to do?"

"Eh? Ride this stinky monster, I suppose. Until he lets us go."

"No, I mean when we get back to Teleran. Do you have a plan?"
You twist your head back so you can look her in the eye.

Hiss blinks.
"I guess...we go back to Teleran? Maybe Taldenral? Wherever, we then make our way back to Snakehome and BAM! We kill the King."

"Do you really think you can take him on in a fight?"

1/2

>>42803804
She never told us how it went the first time

>>42803804

"That's none of your business. And besides, it's not going to be a fight. Do you think I'm stupid? We're going to do something nasty and underhanded."

"Like poisoning him?"

"No, he's immune to all toxins."

"Stabbing him while he sleeps? He does sleep, right?"

"He does. He sleeps all the time. And that won't work because his scales are more or less invulnerable."

"So the plan is to trick him into taking human form and then doing that to him in his sleep? Or when he's not expecting it?"

Hiss sighs.
"No, not exactly. Even when he's in an unscaled form his scales can cover him instantly in response to an attack, even if he doesn't know it's coming."

"I do have anti-scale potions, you know. I made them for the Snakecatcher."

"Yes but if you waste your one chance at a sneak attack on doing that, none of us will get a chance at trying a second! He's very fast."

"Something a little more esoteric then?"

"I don't know," Hiss grumbles. "I know I'm much stronger now and I know there's a way I can do it, I just haven't...figured it out yet."

> "How did it go the first time?"

> "Would he really kill you?"

> "Would he really kill me?"

> "Hiss...do we HAVE to kill your father?"

> Other

>>42803937
> "How did it go the first time?"

>>42803937
>> "How did it go the first time?"

>>42803937
> "How did it go the first time?"
> "Hiss...do we HAVE to kill your father?"
I mean let's face it other than his title, he has nothing you want. You hate or can barely stand the other snakes, The lands around snake home has no value, and quite frankly I daresay you'd be bored. Why not just make your own home?

>>42803937
> "How did it go the first time?"
> "Would he really kill you?"
> "Hiss...do we HAVE to kill your father?"
> "Won't that leave a power vacuum? What if the other snakes don't accept you?"
This could cause a civil war, there's also the chance some constrictors may follow us, and the fact we revealed de existence of snakehome to some people in Teleran. Maybe killing snakehome's strongest protector right now isn't the best idea.

>>42803937
> "How did it go the first time?"

>>42804087
Incase you forgot anon Hiss cares about 2 people
Herself and Cennen

>>42804087
The snakes would accept her. She's of royal blood and if she kills the current king then she's definitely strong enough to be the leader in their eyes. And I'm not worried about the puny human town that knows a bit about Snakehome.

>>42804131
>We're going to do something nasty and underhanded
I don't think they'll take this as a sign of strenght.
There's a huge powergap between the serpent king and the others, but that may not be the case for Hiss. What if the royal blood alone isn't enough for the older snakes and they choose to challenge Hiss?

>>42804276
Then we'll wreck them too.

>>42804299
How the fuck are you posting, Hiss? You're riding a sea monster right now!

>>42804339
>Hissposting

> "How did it go the first time?"

"You sound like you're speaking from experience. How did it go the first time?"

"Awfully. I waited for him, tucked away in the crevices of his favorite sunbathing spot. I was completely undetected, he didn't see me or even know I was there. But I couldn't even scratch his scales with my bite. I...I had to bite him seven fucking times before he even felt anything and noticed me!"
Her hands quiver before balling up into fists.
"I was ready to die. But all he did was laugh and flick me out of his spot before going to sleep. Can you even understand how that felt? I wasn't worth killing."

You take her hand in yours, trying not to wince as her grip tightens.
"Hiss, you might be reading into this a little much."

"What?"

"There are other reasons he could have spared you. Particularly for a father sparing their daughter. I don't think he'll kill you."

She laughs.
"Oh you're so very right and yet so very wrong. But I think I understand. You look at me and think you know my people. But Cennen, I have spent a very long time in human shape and thinking human thoughts. My father is far less sentimental than I. He will spare me but only because I am his only heir. Because royal children are becoming increasingly rare to beget. He assigns me value only as the eventual continuation of himself, further lengths of his tail. He doesn't love me."

"Then let's kill that arsehole. He sounds like a jerk."

Hiss laughs.
"And now we're back to square one! Cennen, I honestly don't think there's been anything on our travels that even compares to him. He is the strongest mortal creature alive. You remember the Snakecatcher, right? Well he's just...just my father's byproduct."

"I think you're getting a bit sill-"

"If he wanted to, my father could leave Snakehome and kill every single human in Teleran without so much as taking a wound."
Her tone is suddenly flat and you know she isn't trying to mislead you.
1/2

>>42804526
"Regular humans, sure. But there's stuff like wizards and whatnot."

"I'm pretty sure he's basically immune to human magic too."

You throw your hands up.
"Then why doesn't he just go and murder everyone then? Take over the fucking world, if he's so powerful?"

"Because he's afraid," she hisses. "Afraid of the Creator and the judgement laid upon the dragons."

"I don't see how that could help us. I'd be afraid of the Creator too, if I felt he had a bone to pick with me."

"What I'm trying to say, Cennen, is that making plans right now feels worthless. None of them would survive contact with him anyway. We need to improvise."

"Do we have to kill him?"

Hiss looks at you as if you'd just said something moronic.
"Yes. There's no doubt about it. What do you think has kept me going for so long? It's my dream."

You suppose it's become a lot more than just a coup, at least in Hiss' head. But sometimes the most beautiful dream is one that is unattainable.
You don't tell Hiss this of course.
"I'm sure there'll be a way."

> No, you need to figure out a plan NOW.

> Distract Hiss by patting the Bunyip and getting him to dive underwater without warning.

> Promise her that you'll help her no matter what.

> "No really, do you HAVE to?" There's no shame in settling.

> Other

>>42804684
> Promise her that you'll help her no matter what.

>>42804684
> Promise her that you'll help her no matter what.
I bet his soul isn't invulnerable. I wanna make some nasty offensive soul brews.

>>42804684
>> Promise her that you'll help her no matter what.

>>42804684
>> No, you need to figure out a plan NOW.
If he's that far above us, we need a plan for how to do it before we move. And one for what comes after would be nice.

>>42804738
Well if he's invulnerable to alchemy we're fucked. Soul alchemy has the best chance of hurting him I guess. Since its kinda weird and new.

>>42804684
> Promise her that you'll help her no matter what.

Maybe... Potions combined with her Arts could make the king worry enough to allow her to eat him?

>>42804782
...what?

>>42804684
> No, you need to figure out a plan NOW.
> You don't think he could be playing you, like Tanni did?

>>42804803
Hiss, using her Arts and our potions, might make the King of Snakehome worried/scared/apprehensive enough to allow Hiss to eat him. She can eat snakes now. She almost ate Aash.

>>42804684
"Well you do have one advantage Hiss, You can still get even stronger. You've grown so much in a few months, and you'll have years to surpass him if you decide to be patient.
still
> Promise her that you'll help her no matter what."

>>42804845
Why would scaring him make him give up and accept death? That makes no sense. And we will never actually intimidate him, he's the most powerful being in existence.

>>42804845
Yeah I doubt it. He still has his Ouroboros halo, and probably several other ways to negate her gaze and hunger.

Guys... What if we nobbled him?

>>42804961
We'd have to incapacitate him first.

>>42804961
Seems like the only option if he's truly invulnerable

>>42804977
We have a potion that can break the wishbond, we could make one to establish it

>>42805025
It'd still have to hit him, and get around ALL his defenses first. Or he'd have to drink it.

> Promise her that you'll help her no matter what.

You nod, mulling the issue over.
"Well you do have one advantage Hiss. You can still get even stronger. You've grown so much already and you'll have years to surpass him if you decide to be patient."

"Waiting is an option, you're certainly right. But I don't think I can return home until I'm ready to kill him. I won't let myself be seen by mocking eyes and judged weak if I come crawling back after spending so much effort running!"

"I understand. And trust me Hiss, you'll always have me to help you there. I promise you that I'll help you see this through. No matter what."

Can you nobble him? It should be theoretically possible. Even the greatest serpent must bow before a certain human. But how would you even go about doing that?

The Bunyip crests a particularly high slope and you nearly slide off despite yourself, Hiss catching you and holding you on.
"I'm not sure if I'm the one who needs help here."

A few minutes later and the Bunyip circles back to the closest ship, ready to dump you both on deck. Hiss wastes no time in getting back on, her stylish and expensive-seeming clothes caked in seaspray.

"Now you really are a saltlord!"

Hiss gives a snort that implies that you're lucky to be out of arm's length.

> Follow her up.

> Stay down on the Bunyip for a bit longer.

> Get on the ship but seek out someone besides Hiss.

> You need some time alone right now.

> Other

>>42805055
>Unseen hunter

>>42805025
I wonder what she meant specifically when she said he's invulnerable to human magic. Just his scales or what? Is alchemy included?

>>42805086
> Get on the ship but seek out someone besides Hiss.
Let's find Aash, we haven't seen her on the ship yet

>>42805086
> Get on the ship but seek out someone besides Hiss.
Oster, what's his take on the king

>>42805094
She was probably referring specifically to the Artskin, a Snake Art seen on both the Serpent Empress and the Snakecatcher.

>Artskin: An upgrade to Scales, the effects of mere human magics mean nothing to the Snakecatcher. His scales prevent him from being targeted or affected directly by ANY non-Snake magic. His scales themselves can still be affected however.

>>42805087
>Halo
>Auto defense SCales
>Automagic art and magic negation


>>42805086
> Get on the ship but seek out someone besides Hiss.
Aash, haven't seen her yet. Oster after we check on her.

>>42805172
I really don't think he has a halo

>>42805086
> Stay down on the Bunyip for a bit longer.
Whatever we do, we should get some hairs first for alchemy

>>42805187
He doesn't. He uses the Ouroboros symbol as a deliberately corrupted and mocking version of the unmarred ring that signifies the Creator.

>>42805086
>> Stay down on the Bunyip for a bit longer.
Play with the Bunyip.

>>42805086
> Follow her up.

>>42805086
> Get on the ship but seek out someone besides Hiss.
Aash

> Get on the ship but seek out someone besides Hiss.

You give the Bunyip a farewell pat on the head as you climb back up.
"I'll spend some more time with you later, buddy."

You notice Hiss wander off in the corner of your eye and for once you don't follow her. You have other people to find and talk to after all.

> Aashenpreet.

> Oster.

> Rock.

> The Melach

> Nah just kidding, it's Hiss.

>>42805492
>> Aashenpreet.

>>42805492
> Aashenpreet.

>>42805492
>> Rock.

>>42805218
I don't get it, so is he a pseudospirit or what?

>>42805492
> Rock.

>>42805534
No he isn't and I never meant to imply that he was. He uses it as his brand symbol, not as a sign of his own halo.

>>42805492
> Aashenpreet.

>>42805492
>> Aashenpreet.

> Aashenpreet

Yes, you decide, you haven't seen Aash around since the battle at the docks. You hope she's settling in alright.

It take you nearly half an hour of searching before you find her, tucked away below decks near the rowing galley. She's still in her human form and staying human-sized as well.
"Everything alright, Aash?"

"Yes."
She sounds tired. Strained.
"Skeletons, huh?"

"It's a long story."

"I think I have time."

> Tell her just about what happened on you trip over here.

> Sit down and tell her about all of your adventures.

> "You look like you've been having a hard time."

> "Where's Rock?"

> "Where's Oster?"

> Ask her about the King.

> Other

>>42805711

> "You look like you've been having a hard time."
> "Where's Rock?"
> Tell her just about what happened on you trip over here.

>>42805711
>> Sit down and tell her about all of your adventures.
summary thread?

>>42805711
> Sit down and tell her about all of your adventures.
> "You look like you've been having a hard time."

>>42805730
noooo

>>42805711
> "You look like you've been having a hard time."

>>42805711
> Sit down and tell her about all of your adventures.
Don't take too long though. I wanna brew a bunch today.

>>42805711
> "You look like you've been having a hard time."
> "Where's Rock?"
> Ask her about the King
> And the Marajah

>>42805730
Haha no, though that would be a good setup for it. I wouldn't spring it on you without saying something beforehand though. That vote is more just to remedy the fact that Aashenpreet has spent most of her time way behind on knowing what the fuck is going on.

>>42805823
How would she know anything about the king?

>>42805711
> Sit down and tell her about all of your adventures.
> "You look like you've been having a hard time."

>>42805711
>> Tell her just about what happened on you trip over here.
>> "You look like you've been having a hard time."

>>42805835
That's why I want to ask about the marajah, I should have put that instead of asking about the king

> Sit down and tell her about all of your adventures.
> "You look like you've been having a hard time."

"Speaking of time, you don't look like you've been having a good one. Anything wrong?"

She sighs, sounding tired once more. She doesn't have any creases or bags underneath her eyes but you suppose that her physical form is always immaculate.
"This is kind of hard to deal with. I mean really, skeletons? I can't sleep with them around."

"I'll tell you all about them, if you want. But are you sure that's all that's bothering you?"

"Skeletons isn't enough?"
You don't reply, forcing out a silence until she continues.
"Remember what we talked about back when we left the Chau? I know what you said was right but...I'm sorry, I should be happy. I'm free and I'm finally getting to do what I've always wanted, to sail and adventure to barbaric lands just like the stories. And I know that I wouldn't have been able to if it wasn't for you and Oster. But...is it alright for me to feel bad all the same?"

"Of course, what do you mean?"

"I'm not sure how to explain it. I'm free, I'm away but I want to go home. Nothing here makes sense. I feel sick and I can't sleep with these things. I'm sorry. I don't want to be a burden."

"You aren't. You saved our butts several times, if I recall correctly. And you've sailed to Teleran before."

"Yes but I've never been told that I will never go home before. I don't know anything about these lands and I guess I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life in them."

"Well personally, I don't believe that. You'll be able to go home someday. And until then, maybe I can help familiarize you? How about, uh, the day me and Hiss first met?"

You think back to that day as best you can, remembering the fire in the forest and the branded men. And from there it feels natural to keep the story flowing onto your adventures with Hiss in the following town. And so on and so on, as hours pass by.

"...and I think that's it actually."

1/2

>>42806292
"So what do you reckon Aash? Aashenpreet?"

She's fallen asleep, her head resting on your shoulder. Looks like she really was tired after all. Still, you're not sure about leaving her down here by the galley.

> Just set her down and leave her be.

> Wake her up.

> See if you can take her to your room, the only private space in the ship.

> Go to sleep yourself.

> Nobble

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>42806374
>> See if you can take her to your room, the only private space in the ship.
resist the urge to nobble

>>42806374
> Just set her down and leave her be.
Lord knows she needs it. Get her a blanket though.
Then check the time outside.

>>42806374
>> Just set her down and leave her be.
Tell Oster where she is when we find him.

>>42806374
> Wake her up.
I'd rather not damage Hiss-Aash relations any further

>>42806374
She fell asleep on us, how rude

> See if you can take her to your room, the only private space in the ship.

>>42806374
> See if you can take her to your room, the only private space in the ship.
>n-no-no-nobbl-no nobbling

>>42806419
>>42806440
>>42806442
You really want Hiss to get even more jealous?

>>42806440
I'm not sure if I should feel insulted or touched. She was unable to sleep when we weren't with her.

>>42806463
It was a joke

>>42806457
its all part of the adventure

>>42806457
Cennen takes care of those he cares about, and Hiss knows it. And she's past the point of getting worked up for things like this.

> See if you can take her to your room, the only private space in the ship.

You slowly squeeze your way out of there, making sure to catch her before she falls. From there it's just a matter of awkwardly levering her up until you've got her in your arms. You suppose you can just count your luck that she isn't as big as she was in the House otherwise she might have accidentally done you an injury.
She stirs slightly but only to mumble something indecipherable. Looks like she's really out of it.

You try your best not to drop her but when you don't have any Potence it's no easy matter. She's deceptively heavy. When you're carrying her upwards back to the deck, your right hand slips, threatening to drop her entirely!

>Roll 1d100.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>42806655

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>42806655
spontaneous constrictor strength go!

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>42806655
Come on cennen don't be pathetic

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>42806655

>>42806698
Flawless princess carry

>>42806698
Of all the rolls to crit...

>>42806698
Cennen is officially a master snake handler.

>>42806698
Cennen is not pathetic, nice guy, but not pathetic.

>>42806698
Can we Nobble snakes by carrying now?

>>42806755
I was implying that dropping a sleeping girl you're carrying would have been pathetic

>>42806775
Yes I know, but that sounded like a Hissism.

>>42806698
Your hand slips only for a moment before you hoist her back up and you carry her forward, one hand beneath her legs with the other supporting her back. She doesn't even stir, so quick and seamless was your recovery.

You make your way to your room and set her down.
"Oh bravo, nice work."

Unfortunately, Hiss is still in this room. She claps sardonically.
"How romantic."

"Hiss, don't make this a thing please. We all know it's not a thing."

She laughs.
"Maybe I just wish that you'd be anywhere near as good at handling me."

> "Is that a challenge?"

> "To be fair, she's never bitten me."

> "How are the others?"

> Brew

> Other

>>42806867
> "Is that a challenge?"
> "How are the others?"

>>42806867
> "Is that a challenge?"
> Brew
> "How are the others?
Potence and Regen, for the challenge.

>>42806867
>> "Is that a challenge?"

>>42806867
> "Is that a challenge?"

>>42806867
> "Is that a challenge?"

>>42806867

> "Is that a challenge?"
> "How are the others?"

>>42806867
>> "Is that a challenge?"
> "How are the others?"

File: aash.jpg (30 KB, 480x760)

30 KB JPG

Alright guys, I've got to go. D&D night and all. This is a reasonable place to end the thread considering that it was basically a half-thread to cap off the half-thread that was 56.
Just a general non-urgent patch after the end of Part 2 and all.

I'll be back at the usual time tomorrow most likely and we can start amping things up again properly. Thanks for sticking around despite the small hiatus!

>>42807386
>I'll be back at the usual time tomorrow
I want to believe

>>42807386
No problem Ouro, thanks for running

>>42807386
thanks for running

>>42807386
Was nice. Thanks for running.
Hopefully I'll be here, but I'm up early Thursday.