>>43796066
You hold back a groan as Hiss pats you on the head in what could be construed as a patronizing fashion. She probably doesn’t mean it though. Hiss doesn’t mean a lot of things. Your gut still hurts.

Aashenpreet stays back, observing this with a mixture of confusion and worry.
“Is it wise to antagonize the person who holds all your wishes, Hiss?”

“It’s okay, Cennen loves me and he knows that even if I get a little mad and carried away, I don’t really mean it.”
She helps you to your feet, holding you close. She’s very cold.
“And besides, he always makes cowardly wishes. It’s really nothing to fear.”

It is at this point that Oster returns, a stack of kindling in his arms. He looks at all of you and shrugs, dumping the firewood on the ground.
“I’m not going to ask.”

Before long, he’s got a nice fire going. You’d question why you would need it just yet as the sun has not yet gone down but Hiss and Aashenpreet are already crowding around it. Maybe they’d grown too accustomed to the heat of Quedesh.
Oster sits further back, whittling at a chunk of wood with a thin knife. Another mask?

“Hey Cennen, what are you doing? Come sit here.”
Hiss beckons you down to sit beside her, having apparently already forgotten about her momentary violence against you.

>Sit and talk with her

>Go brew instead.

>Make sure the Bunyip is doing fine instead.

>Sit down but not near her.

>Use a Potion (Specify)

>Make a wish (Specify)

>>43796097
>Sit and talk with her
Tell her that the physical abuse seriously has to stop. It's time to really stand up for ourselves here.

>>43796097
>>Make sure the Bunyip is doing fine instead.

>>43796153
This. I don't know if having this talk in front of the others is a good plan though. Take hiss somewhere else or ask the others to leave for a bit.

>Sit and talk with her

Lacking anything better to do, you sit down next to Hiss. She wraps an arm around your shoulder a moment later, trapping you there.
"Feeling better? Thanks for carrying me, even if you got a little sassy about it."

You don't reply straight away and she raises an eyebrow at your sullen expression.
"What? You're not hung up on that, are you? You know I didn't mean it."

Aashenpreet is inching away and Oster is pointedly averting his gaze from the conversation.

>Just do it now.

>Ask if you can talk in private.

>Drop the subject for now.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Make a wish (Specify)

>>43796332
>Ask if you can talk in private.

>>43796332
>Ask if you can talk in private.

File: 000143dd_medium.jpg (40 KB, 639x423)

40 KB JPG

>>43796332
>>Ask if you can talk in private.

>>43796332
>>Ask if you can talk in private.

>>43796332
>Ask if you can talk in private.

>>43796332
>Ask if you can talk in private.
Ants eating your wiring ouro?

>>43796332
>>Just do it now.
make your memes come true
sorry

>Ask if you can talk in private.

You don't want to broach the subject right here, you know for a fact that she's much more defensive when in the eyes of others. She'd defend anything then just to avoid the appearance of weakness.
"Can we talk in uh, private?"

"Why?"
Hiss looks at you quizzically for a moment before enlightenment washes across her face.
"Oh. Yes."

She stands and leads you away from the fire and into the surrounding sodden bushland, full of long grass and paperbark trees. When you're well and truly alone, she holds up a hand to forestall your words.
"I know what you're going to say. I've been thinking about it a lot too."

"You have?"
That doesn't sound right.

Hiss laughs, short and bitter.
"Are you kidding me? How could I think of anything else? We're nearly there."

Oh, she's thinking about something else entirely. You go to speak up but she keeps on talking.
"We're going to be back home soon. Me and you both. And he'll be waiting for me."

"His-"

"What I'm trying to get at here is that I don't know how to feel about all of this. About killing him. I mean, it's easy enough to plot when you're a hundred miles away but now that we're on his doorstep."
Hiss looks down and doesn't speak for a long moment.
"I used to idolize him, you know? Even though he never seemed to have time for me. Especially because of that. It seemed...cool."

"Hiss-"

"I know you must be excited," she interrupts. "Or afraid. I know I am. But I'm not just afraid of him killing me or failing. I'm scared of what happens if I win. What do I even do then? I'm not sure if I'd know where to start."

You try to speak again but she keeps interrupting you.
"I know, I know. This is what we've all come here to do, nothing means anything if I don't succeed now. But Cennen,...I think I'm losing my nerve."

1/2

>>43796596
> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."

> "You're a fine princess and I'm sure you'll be an even better queen."

> "You don't have to do this."

> "Will he kill you?"

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Say something else (Specify)

>>43796596
> "You're a fine princess and I'm sure you'll be an even better queen."
> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."

>>43796614
>> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."
> "You don't have to do this."

>>43796614
>> "You don't have to do this."
You have decades to gain your strength if you choose, but
> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."

>>43796614
> "You're a fine princess and I'm sure you'll be an even better queen."
If you didn't take over his rule then what would you want do to instead?
> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."

>>43796614
>> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."
But of course we can also discuss it. We don't have to rush into this regi/patricide business.
There's no reason to rush in without getting a sense of the situation on the ground.

>>43796614
> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."
> "You don't have to do this."
> "Do you really want to do this?"

>>43796614
>> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."
>> "You don't have to do this."

>>43796614
There's no rush, we can always travel a bit more while you think things through.
> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."

> "You don't have to do this."
> "Actually that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."

You suppose you can put your own concerns on hold for just a moment to deal with this. Since when did Hiss get cold feet? But when you think about it, she's done this once before. She's looking at you earnestly.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Her face falls.
"Oh Cennen, you are just the worst. That was your cue to tell me that my path is righteous and make me feel better."

"Is it?"

"It will be," she grumbles. "When I'm queen, righteousness will mean whatever I decree it to be. And I'm not going to just be queen of Snakehome, I can't stop there."

"You can if you want to."

"But I don't want to! This is what I want, it's what I need. I'm just suffering from last-minute jitters, that's all."
She sits down with a sigh.
"This is how it must be. Don't you remember how I left home in the first place? If I come back and I can't make good on my promise I'll be a laughingstock. Nobody would take me seriously ever again."

"There's no rush, we can always travel a bit more while you think things through."

"No. This is my life. It's what I chose, I can't throw it away now."
She seems to be drawing resolve from your dissent, ever the contrarian.
"Sorry about having to hear all of that, pretend you didn't. But...it felt good getting that off my chest. It's not like I can talk to anyone else about it."
That last thought in particular seems to depress her.

You sit down next to her, letting her lean against you for warmth.
"Actually...that wasn't why I wanted to talk to you at all."

"Eh?"
She flushes bright red but doesn't move away.
"Oh shit, now I look fucking silly don't I? Of course you aren't interested."

You're not sure how to reply to that without sounding mean. Hiss ever twists the conversation to her own advantage like that.
1/2

>>43796991
"It's not that I don't care about your problem Hiss and I'm grateful that you can confide in me. But there's another problem and we can't keep ignoring it forever."

"What problem?"
You just stare at her until she twigs.
"I thought you were fine with that."

"When have I ever been fine with that?"

"I'm sorry, I really am. I just get mad sometimes and I lash out without thinking. You know I don't really mean it, right?"

> "Yes but you need to work on your self-control."

> "Sometimes I doubt it."

> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."

> "Maybe we've taken this relationship too fast."

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Say something else (Specify)

>>43797076
>> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."
>> "Maybe we've taken this relationship too fast."
No more second chances

>>43797076
>> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."
Furthermore, this was deliberate, not done in the heat of the moment. There was forethought and malice in it.

>>43797076
> "Yes but you need to work on your self-control."
> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."
The fact that I'm frequently beaten by the woman I love is extremely depressing. It really has to stop. Don't you care about my feelings?

>>43797076
>> "Yes but you need to work on your self-control."
>> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."

>>43797076
> "Yes but you need to work on your self-control."
> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."
It just seems like you don't care enough about me to resist your urges sometimes and that hurts worse than any physical pain. And the beatings hurt pretty fucking badly.

She'll just do it again if we're too nice about how we word it
>"Maybe we've taken this relationship too fast."

>>43797076
> "Yes but you need to work on your self-control."
> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."

>>43797076
> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."
>"It's not just about me, Hiss. Do you not care that you drive everyone away?"

If she doesn't:
> "Then why are you trying to become queen?"
If she does:
> "Then what kind of queen will you become like this? What happens after I'm gone?"

> "Yes but you need to work on your self-control."
> "Hiss you've given me that excuse at least three times before."

You sigh. Nothing about this is fun.
"I want to believe you, I do. But you've given me that excuse at least three times before."

"I can't help i-"

"Yes you can. When you just kicked me before, you weren't in the heat of the moment. You held yourself back, backed off and THEN hit me."

She looks away.
"That's not the same."

"I can't believe I defended all of this to Rock and Aash. They told me that this was fucked up and I just parroted to them the same excuses you always give me. When I think about that, th-that's really scary. Is that who you want me to be?"

"No. No! You know that I l-..care for you. I really don't want to hurt you."
She pushes your head towards her, making you look into her eyes. The same eyes that she'd once used to tear your soul in half.

"I get that. But it feels like you don't care enough about me to resist your urges sometimes and that hurts a lot."
The actual beatings hurt a lot too of course, just in a different way.
"You need to work on your self-control."

Hiss breaks eye-contact before you do, her eyes flashing into slit pupils.
"I can promise that but would you even believe me now?"

> "Yes."

> "At least try this time."

> "Honestly? No. But we have to dream, right?"

> "No. You've had more than enough chances."

> Make a wish (Specify)

>>43797435
> "At least try this time."
If you lash out at everyone you'll not be able to rule a village, much less anything else. You'll be left alone, deserted by your own hand.

>>43797435
>> "No. You've had more than enough chances."
Unless she actually stops being a massive bitch

>>43797435
> "Yes."

>>43797480
Oh adding in,

"If it happens again, I won't talk to you about it, I'll just leave. I'm certain I can remove a brand on my own."

>>43797435
>> "Honestly? No. But we have to dream, right?"

>>43797435
> "Yes."
> "At least try this time."
I think you can control yourself if you really make the effort.

>>43797435
> "Yes."
>> "At least try this time."

>>43797435
> "At least try this time."
"If I need to protect myself, I can. I've proven that I can protect us all throughout our entire journey. Please don't make me need to protect myself from you."

Let's see if Hiss understands now.

> "Yes."
> "At least try this time."

"Yes."
You can't help but feel like you're making a bad decision but then Hiss' face lights up and all of your misgivings melt away.
"At least try this time."

"I will. I promise."
She takes your hand and clasps it tightly, painfully so. You wince and she lets go guiltily.

"And I really mean it this time, Hiss. Something has to change. Maybe next time I won't talk to you about it, I'll just leave."

"Harsh. But maybe not unjustly so."
She stands up, pulling you to your feet too.
"The fact that you think it would be your decision to leave is cute."

"Hiss."

"Yes, yes, don't worry. I'll treat you right. I mean it, this time."

"It's not just me, mind you. You always drive everyone else away. What kind of queen are you going to be with no followers?"

Hiss scrunches her face up.
"Don't think that issue hasn't escaped my notice. I'm thinking of solutions for it. Now, let's go."

She doesn't give you the choice, pulling you back to the fire. You consider digging in your heels but that probably wouldn't accomplish anything.
"Oi!," Hiss calls out as you approach, getting Aashenpreet and Oster's attention.
"I'm sick of waiting and I'm feeling pretty fired up now. We're pushing on. Screw waiting for tomorrow, we're doing this NOW."

You suppose the sun hasn't gone below the horizon yet but it'll still be night by the time you reach your destination at this right? Is this really the best time for it?
No, most likely she just doesn't want the time to rethink.

Hiss is already stomping away without waiting to see if anyone is following her.

> Follow her.

> Don't.

> Convince her to wait until tomorrow.

> Make a wish

> Other

>>43797827
> Convince her to wait until tomorrow.
Two things, one no princess or queen to be should return at night, two we need to be at our best.

>>43797827
>>43797860

This seems like a good angle of attack.

>>43797827
>> Convince her to wait until tomorrow.

>>43797827
> Convince her to wait until tomorrow.
We need to make some kind of plan. Are we gona attack immediately? If a snake sees us what would happen? And we need to make a plan to use our new weakening brew effectively.

>>43797827
> Convince her to wait until tomorrow.

> Convince her to wait until tomorrow.

You're the first to follow her but not for the reasons she hopes. You grab her shoulder and then immediately regret that decision as she drags you forward several meters before even noticing you.
"Two things, Hiss! Firstly, it's not fitting for you to make your grand return at night. Secondly, we need to be at our best."

She looks at you with an unreadable expression before her familiar smug smile returns.
"Are you tired?"

"Yes?"

Her lip trembles.
"Then I suppose I'll wait another night. But just to be gracious to my subjects, you understand?"

"Of course. Thank you for your concern."

Hiss marches back to the fire and sits far away from it, her back to a tree. Her hands are shaking.

"What's up with her?"
Aashenpreet's question is shushed by Oster as you sit back down.

> Sit with Hiss.

> Leave her alone for now.

> Make a wish (Specify)

>>43798021
> Sit with Hiss.

>>43798021
>> Sit with Hiss.

>>43798021
>> Sit with Hiss.

>>43798021
> Make a wish (Specify)
Wish for her to calm down and be able to focus on coming up with a plan.
> Sit with Hiss.

>>43798021
> Sit with Hiss.
Get to planning.
Is there any chance we'll have to deal with anyone else besides the king? Other snakes, human servants, any more snakecatcher-like creatures?
Does she know of any overpowered arts he may have, and any clue on what to do about them

>>43798021
> Sit with Hiss.
With your power and my alchemy there's nothing that can stand in our way. Don't worry too much.
We might want to make a snake dispel brew with that twig now too.

>>43798122
She already told us about them. We can weaken all his arts including his magic resistant scales with a snake dispel brew and then it might actually be possible to hurt him.

> Sit with Hiss.

By the time you join her by the tree, she's calmed down somewhat. Or at least, she has the outward appearance of having done so.
"Thanks," she says without explanation. You don't need one.

"You know, you REALLY don't have to do this if you're not ready."

Hiss shakes her head.
"I can't expect you to understand."

"What, is it a special snake thing?"

She looks irritated.
"No, you moron. It's a special ME thing."

You take her hand in yours and together you don't say anything for a long while. But in time, you have to come up with some sort of plan.
"What are the other snakes are going to do when they see you?"

"Nothing. They'll let me pass, they want me home."

"You won't get punished?"

"Me? Of course I won't. Not physically anyway. They'll probably kill you though."

"What?"

She looks at you askance.
"What, did you think that the consequences were going to be on me? I'm still the princess. If I fail, it's going to be your lives on the line, not mine. The King will kill you."

In hindsight, that sounds obvious. You hadn't really thought about it.

"So...," Hiss leads on. "Remember when I said it wasn't going to be your decision whether you left or not?"

"Pardon?"

"I mean it, Cennen. If I look like I'm going to lose tomorrow, if I'm hurt or even dying...you have to leave my side. Promise me that you'll flee without even thinking to help me."

> Promise

> "I'm sorry but I can't do that."

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other (Specify)

>>43798218
>Laugh
>You should know me better than that by now.

>>43798218
> (lie) Promise

>>43798218
>>43798253
Damn skippy. This.

>>43798218
>>43798253
Second

>>43798218
> "I'm sorry but I can't do that."
>>43798253
Not really a good time for laughter.

>>43798218
Absolutely not. But we're not gonna lose tomorrow anyway. We're destined for great things, remember?

>>43798218
> "I'm sorry but I can't do that."
You've always known that I'm a bit of an idiot. And I'm still YOUR idiot, no matter what.

>Laugh
>You should know me better than that by now

You do your best to laugh at the absurdity of her request. She frowns, embarrassed.
"Come on, you should know me better than that by now."

Her expression softens and she pulls you close.
"Sometimes I don't know if I deserve you."

"Funny, I could say the same thing."
You feel strange, having already done a turnaround so shortly from when you'd been angry at her. You remember what Oster told you long ago and nod. He was right. You're trapped here much more than he is.

Her lips brush up against your ear, wet with venom.
"And we don't even have to worry about that. Because I will never lose again."
You're suddenly sitting in her lap, your legs twitching to her unspoken command without you really noticing.
"I think," Hiss continues, "that I could use a confidence boost."

> No, you need to plan or brew something.

> That can wait.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43798435
> That can wait.
Nothing beats a little post-sex brewing

>>43798493
you mean post-brewing sex?

>>43798435
is "that" referring to brewing or sex?

>>43798435
>> No, you need to plan or brew something.

>>43798435
> That can wait.

>>43798513
Oh sorry. It's referring to brewing

>>43798435
>> No, you need to plan or brew something.

>>43798435

> No, you need to plan or brew something.

>>43798435
> That can wait.

>>43798435
> That can wait.

>>43798435
> No, you need to plan or brew something.

Rolled 2 (1d6)

I like that this is the decision to tie on. Evens for brewing, odds for not

> No, you need to plan or brew something.

As enticing as that might sound, you probably need to brew. You lever yourself off of her, reaching for your pack as you do so.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Roll a 1d100. Best of the first 3 is counted.

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>43798674
Must... resist...

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>43798674

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>43798674
low pls
she needs our affection right now dumbshits

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>43798674

>>43798712
Woah...

>>43798712
uh... the dice gods heard my plea i guess.

>>43798712
And if we die because we HAVE NO means to defend ourselves? If you haven't forgotten Hiss is incredibly shitty at thinking ahead.

>>43798739
We have plenty of time to brew.

>>43798778
Every time Hiss has gotten a hold of us, we're useless for the rest of the night. We lose MASSIVE amounts of time.

You blink, suddenly unable to summon up a coherent thought. Where WERE you going?
"I don't know?"
Regardless of what it was, you suddenly know that there is no better place to be right now.

.....

When you wake up, you're feeling a little weird. And not just because you feel like you were just pressured or compelled into something you didn't want to do. Hiss had turned out to have been very...assertive. You had practically passed out by the end of it. It had actually hurt a little more than the kicking she'd given you yesterday.

Pale pre-drawn light is breaking out above the trees. Shit. You don't have much time. You get up gingerly, slipping out of Hiss' unconscious deathgrip. Is that a new bruise?

You unpack your lab and start to brew. You can't afford to be unprepared. But unfortunately you doubt you have time to experiment now, it'll just be restocking.

> Choose three potions you already know how to make to brew.

> You may choose to use your twig if you wish.

>>43798834
> You may choose to use your twig if you wish.
Make a boosted snake dispel
Hiss better be mottivated as fuck

>>43798834
Potence, Snake weakening crew with twig, Regeneration.
>>43798778
Told you so, and she raped us. Hope you're happy.

>>43798834
twig in snake dispel brew
knockout brew
heal all
Is anybody else having trouble with the legacy captcha right now?

>>43798908
We already made like 3 heal alls last thread. Ouro hasn't updated the bins.

>>43798908
This.

>>43798923
Nah, the vote changed at the last minute if I remember correctly.

>>43798923
No we didn't. That was a mistaken vote, I corrected it in the inventory.

>>43798923
no a few retards chose to make anti-wizard brews instead

>>43798953
What the fuck? Why?

Anyway to avoid further vote fuckups like last thread, I'm going to call it for boosted Snake Dispel, Knockout Brew and Heal-all.

>>43798908
>legacy captcha
go street-sign captcha or you aint hardcore

>>43798986
I can't deal with those fucking street signs man.

>>43798982
Hiss changed plans after we had brewed them up. We thought we were still going after Bart.

>Empowered Snake Dispel
>Knockout Brew
>Heal-All

You put your pants on and start brewing over the embers of the dying flame. You don't hesitate before using your special ingredients on the Snake Dispel either. Is this not the brew that might decide everything?

Aashenpreet joins you, watching you stir the mixture. Rock is sitting on top of her head, evidently having returned while you were preoccupied.
"You two were certainly loud enough last night."

And of course Oster and Aash had been right there. Fuck.
"Sorry about that."

She shrugs.
"It's nothing I haven't seen before."

-I found it mystifying.-

"Don't we all?," you sigh. "What are you two going to do today? With the King and all?"

"Nothing."
-It is none of our business.-
"I am looking forward to visiting Snakehome, it must be so quaint."

You guess they aren't going to help you fight? And then again, why would any of them stick their neck out for Hiss?

>Ask for their help.

>It's not their fight.

>>43799042
False.

>>43799074
>Ask for their help.
It's worth a shot, I guess?

>>43799074
>Ask for their help.
Maybe Rock could fly overhead and drop the snake dispel brew on the king for us? Hiss can't be anywhere near him when it happens. And Aash could scare off any branded humans with her rattle

>>43799074
>Ask for their help.
Not to fight but to help with any escape

>>43799074
>It's not their fight.

>>43799125
This works. As long as they're kept out of combat.

>>43799074
>It's not their fight.
It's not right to ask them to risk their lives here. The other snakes have no quarrel with them, so they should be fine as long as they don't push it with the creator preach.

>Ask for their help.

"Look, I know I'm asking for a lot and I know that you don't have any reason to care about Hiss."

"You've got that right."
-Correct.-

"But Aash, isn't it taught that everyone deserves forgiveness?"

"Forgiveness is truly divine, yes. But it doesn't encompass aiding patricide attempts."
-I have yet to have been given a compelling reason for why this Serpent King is worse than Hiss.-

That's fair.
"But it's my life on the line here too. So can you at least help? You don't have to fight, you just have to be ready."

Aashenpreet looks uncertain.
"Maybe. Yes. I suppose. But only because I know you'd do the same for me."
-I do not want you to die just yet so yes. I will offer some assistance.-

You breathe out, a load taken off your chest.
"Thanks guys, you don't know how much that means to me."

-If you die because of this, rest assured that I will hold the princess accountable for her actions.-

"That's not what I want, Rock."

-I know. And it is only because of that that I will refrain until you have passed on.-

You hear Hiss stirring behind you, still only half-awake. She looks happy.
Is there anything else you want to do?

> Yes (Specify)

> It's time to march.

>>43799257
>> It's time to march.

>>43799257
> It's time to march.
Guys I'm scared

>>43799257
> It's time to march.

>>43799257
> It's time to march.

>>43799257
>> It's time to march.
Let's fucking do this!

> It's time to march.

You don't speak much as Hiss assembles everyone together. Even the Bunyip emerges from the swamp, awkward and ungainly on dry land.
"Everyone," Hiss says awkwardly. She stops for a moment as if she's trying to think of some sort of heroic speech. "Let's go."

And so it was.

You begin your hike before the sun has truly risen, Oster leading the way and Rock floating overhead.
The Bunyip takes up the rear, keeping a slower pace than everyone else. In the end you stay back with it, one hand atop the immense beast and guiding it forward.
You hope that you won't regret not leaving it behind in the swamp.

As the hours pass, you notice Oster lagging back on Hiss' request. Slowing down to talk to her. You can't help but eavesdrop.

"Oster, there's something I want to ask you."

"Anything, your Highness."

"Whatever comes next, stay out of it. You won't be able to help."

"Yeah that's me, useless as ever."
As servile as he seems, his words have some real bite to them.

"Don't think I haven't noticed how sassy you've been getting lately. And no, it's not because of that. There's something else I've been meaning to talk to you about. I'm sorry, Oster. You don't deserve the treatment I've been giving you."

"Your Highness?"
Oster stumbles, shocked.

"I've been given a lot of reason to think about this stuff lately. From uh, multiple people. And I don't think I've realized how much I've been hurting you."

"Th-thank you, your Highness.'

"I don't want you to die. Consider that an order."

"Of course, princess."

After that, Oster returns to the forefront with a new skip in his step. Hiss doesn't seem to have noticed that you were eavesdropping.

> Talk to her about it.

> No need.

>>43799483
> Talk to her about it.
The closer you get to home the more like a Princess you are becoming.

>>43799483
> Talk to her about it.

>>43799483
> No need.
If it wasn't just for show there's no need for acknowledgment just yet

>>43799483
> No need.

>>43799483
> Talk to her about it.
She really has grown a lot since we first met her.

> Talk to her about it.

You leave Bunyip behind for a moment and stalk up on her.
"You are more like a queen every day, I feel."

"You weren't supposed to hear that! And...you think so?"

"Yes. I actually didn't expect that of you."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, idiot. And I've been thinking about it for a long while now. Ever since I talked to that cripple girl. Liss."

"Oh?"
You still don't know what happened between them. Liss was uncharacteristically shy about it.

"I know it sounds sad but I was actually jealous of her. That'd she would have more people that cared about if she died."

"You're not going to die, Hiss."

"I know, I know. But if I do-"

"You're not."

"But if I do! You need to take care of Oster for me. He'd probably do something stupid."

"And I wouldn't?"

"Point taken."

You trek onward for several hours more, the sun reaching noon and then passing it. Oster is leading you all by the secret ways, guided by some of the best woodsmanship in the world. You'll be there before nightfall.

"We're being watched," Oster announces in due time. "It's fine. It's to be expected."

A few minutes later, a man and a woman emerge from the bush around you. They're wearing subdued greens and browns and you had not noticed them at all. Foresters?
But no, they bow to Hiss and treat both her and Oster with respect. They belong to a far older power than the Duke.

You are lead upon a winding trail, a road without roads as the trees grow taller and thicker around you. And then without even noticing where one ended and the other began, you are out of the bush and into the forest. Back home.

You see a clearing ahead of you and nearly jump in surprise. The little wooden houses among the trees, the calls and laughter of people going about their daily business...have you taken a wrong turn somewhere? Are you truly back in your home village?

But then one of the villagers turns to look at you, betraying the ouroboros brand upon their forehead.
1/2

>>43799706
>betraying the ouroboros brand upon their forehead.
I now expect to see our family's and master's bones lashed to somewhere grotesque.

>>43799706
inb4 our village was snakehome all along and hiss ate that memory for some reason

>>43799771
Oh fuck

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>>43799771

>>43799706
But even so, this village is not unlike the one that Hiss stole you away from. A small and homely community that is neither rich yet not impoverished, full of rangy men and stocky women. There are even children lurking cautiously behind their parents. Thin curls of smoke rise into the air and you can hear the sound of a forge from somewhere within.
Most of the villagers are unmarked, not in the direct service of the King.
There can be no doubt that this is the village that Oster has often spoken of, the place that housed the small human community that were either slaves or servants of Snakehome itself.

Oster breathes a sigh of relief, an invisible weight gone from his shoulders.
"It's good to be back home."
But something sinister passes over his features anyway and you have to wonder just how many memories of this place he has left. Hiss flensed many of them from him.

And as you approach, you see something a little more worrying. There are snakes all over the place in every color and pattern. Most of them are as small as Hiss but several of them approach constrictor-size and they are coiling upon the rooftops and lurking among the grass. Most of them are simply sunbathing.
All of them are watching you.

Hiss makes a theatrical stretch, aware of all eyes upon her.
"It feels good to be back. Take me to my father."

Despite her assertion, it doesn't look like you're going anywhere just yet.

> "Hiss, it would be better if we rested here a little, no?"

> No waiting around, you're doing it now.

>>43799826
> No waiting around, you're doing it now.
No point letting them get any more organised than they are.

>>43799739
>>43799771
>>43799778
>>43799810

Haha, that wasn't supposed to imply that this WAS your village or anything. It just looks a lot like it. It's the village outside Snakehome where the human servants live.

>>43799826
> No waiting around, you're doing it now.

So this is something I've been a little concerned about for a while now.

Everyone is quick to bitch and moan about Hiss' getting an upgrade in her Princess skill, because it makes it difficult for anyone to disobey her, and just naturally assume that whatever she says is fine.

Has anyone considered that her dad probably has a pretty high level King skill?
Does the Princess skill help her resist King?

>>43799859
Yes and unlikely since King>Princess

>>43799859
Hidden skill: spoiled brat: due to being an unruly brat that never got a much deserved spanking, Hiss can disobey any command issued to her excepting wishes

>>43799826
> No waiting around, you're doing it now.
Shit man, I don't know why we would wait

>>43799826
> No waiting around, you're doing it now.

>>43799918
It's my hope that Hiss can disobey reliably, either due to being Hiss or with a sufficiently high "Princess" skill to counter his royal decree.

But it's also my concern that either she'll be forced to turn on us, or one of our party will be forced to turn on her.
We may have saved Oster, but if we turn on Hiss, it's not ending well for anyone

>>43799826
> "Hiss, it would be better if we rested here a little, no?"

> No waiting around, you're doing it now.

You let Hiss lead you forward, ignoring most of the village. You're sure it's all very interesting but frankly, you're not here for that.
"Hey Hiss," you whisper. "Shouldn't you be back in snake form by now?"

She shakes her head.
"This body is more useful. And besides, it'll force him to abandon his serpent form if he wants to talk to me. That's an advantage."

The man and the woman guides from earlier spring up in front of you, barring you from walking further.
"Forgive us princess but no humans are permitted any further. It is your fathers orders."

"Then consider this my order."
They go limp, collapsing on the ground as she snares them within her gaze.
"Anyone else?"
Hiss grins though you can't help but notice that she seems a little tired.
"Come on Cennen."

Looking back behind you, you notice that Aashenpreet has changed back and is currently enjoying the attention of many other snakes. Oster is hanging back, his sword sheathed. Looks like he won't be coming with you.

You and Hiss walk out of the village and back into the forest, this time upon a proper trail filled with snakes. You step cautiously, making sure you don't stand on one. As you pass each snake they rear up on either side of you and bare their fangs, a honor guard of coiling bodies.

And then you're standing on the edge of Snakehome and the first thing you think of is that you've been here once before. In a dream, back when Hiss branded you.
It's a tremendous crater gouged into the forest, as if something gigantic had been cast to the ground from the sky high above. Completely circular and lined with rocky steps of flat stone and boulders that absorb the sun's heat well. Each one has a serpent upon them and the hissing is so loud that it becomes cacophonous. There are humans among them but you don't need to see much to confirm that they are but serpents in human guise, impossibly beautiful fae creatures that do not move.
1/2

>>43800131
This is it, this is Hiss' palace. This is the royal seat that she's strove so long and hard for. It's a fucking hole in the ground.

And you can't help but notice that same emotion pass over Hiss' face for just a moment, replaced with a troubled expression.
"Cennen, I fear I may have stayed too long among your kind," she whispers.

You really don't want to enter, you don't want to climb down the crater and pass by so many snakes. But Hiss does so without a thought and so what choice do you have? You follow her and try not to flinch as the snakes hiss and spit at you. None of them will bite you, you just have to believe in that.

And at the bottom of the crater is the chasm, the crack in the ground filled with shadow. Hiss takes your hand as the shadow unfolds into a giant black snake with a crimson underbelly, one with a mouth large enough to swallow you whole.
He's bigger than you recall Tanni being and there's yet more unwinding from below. You think to Hiss' true form, how tiny and vulnerable it is compared to this monster. You can't win, you can't kill this thing.

> Throw a potion (Specify)

> No, if Hiss hasn't attacked yet then neither will you. There are too many snakes.

> Flee

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43800266
> No, if Hiss hasn't attacked yet then neither will you. There are too many snakes

Believe in the Hiss.
And then believe in our ability to run the fuck away when Hiss gets in over her head.
We don't have any of the snakeoil do we?

>>43800266
>> No, if Hiss hasn't attacked yet then neither will you. There are too many snakes.

Snake dispel in hand.

>>43800266
> Throw a potion (Specify)
Empowered snake dispel?

>>43800266
> No, if Hiss hasn't attacked yet then neither will you. There are too many snakes.

Wait to see what she does.

>>43800313
Not this. Suspicious actions right as we enter are a bad idea.

>>43800266
whats the AOE of our snake dispel brew?

>>43800266
> No, if Hiss hasn't attacked yet then neither will you. There are too many snakes.
Focus on not shitting our pants

>>43800266
>No, if Hiss hasn't attacked yet then neither will you. There are too many snakes.

>>43800266
Give Hiss an antimagic brew. Then we can still use the snake dispel brew and she'll be unaffected.

>>43800266
> No, if Hiss hasn't attacked yet then neither will you. There are too many snakes
>IMAGINE NOBBLING THE HUGE SNAKE

>>43800375
This nobbling will be our masterpiece

>>43800375
>Imagine nobbling the HUEG SNEK
This is an underrated post and I want to add this to my vote. >>43800305

We are a snakecatcher at heart, and this gets our scales slick.

> No, if Hiss hasn't attacked yet then neither will you. There are too many snakes

Every instinct in your body is screaming at you to either fight or run away, most of them favoring the latter. Just think about it, how screwed would you be if it was the Snakecatcher standing here? Well this is so much fucking worse.
Maybe there's a better way to think about it, something that'd stop you from soiling your trousers. Maybe just imagine him as a giant, older Hiss?
No, that's actually even more terrifying. And yet somehow also oddly erotic. The idea of nobbling a giant Hiss is a strangely good one.

Hiss stands between the King and you, staring up at the serpent resolutely. You do note however, that she is very careful to avoid looking him in the eye.

There's no sound for almost a minute, just father and daughter doing their best to stare each other down.
And then the King flicks his tail and rattles, a dry sound that hits you right in the brain.

>Roll 1d100, counting the highest of the first three.

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>43800479

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>43800479

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>43800479
come on boy, stop shaking

>>43800517
Yes. Ash has acclimatized us to it.

>>43800517
Damn, nice roll anon.

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>>43800517
anon you based fucker, you have delivered.

>>43800517
Indeed Cennen shall start acting like he did in front of the Empress, an immovable object.

>>43800517
Damn son

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28 KB JPG

>>43800555
> We be like

>>43800558
Has rattle EVER worked on Cennen? I think he might be immune now.

>>43800517
No, you won't let this make you cower. And you sure as hell won't let it make you leave Hiss! You've been struck by Aashenpreet's rattle multiple times and even more than that, you stood firm against the Snake Empress herself when she tried that bullshit on you.
You're not going to do all that just to run away now.

Hiss has gone pale and is starting to hyperventilate but she stays where she is. She's the only one however. Every other snake is on the move, hundreds of them slithering out from behind the rocks though you get the feeling that they're doing it out of respect rather than outright fear.
Snakehome is emptying.

> Take Hiss' hand in front of the King to help calm her.

> Now that all of the snakes are gone, attack!

> No, just stay behind Hiss and she'll know you've got her back.

> Pretend to be afflicted.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Make wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43800640
> No, just stay behind Hiss and she'll know you've got her back.
>Prepare your snake dispel brew
He rattles we rattle

>>43800640
>> No, just stay behind Hiss and she'll know you've got her back.
I'm here all is well

>>43800640
> Take Hiss' hand in front of the King to help calm her.
give her an antimagic brew and ready the snake dispel brew

>>43800640
> No, just stay behind Hiss and she'll know you've got her back.

> Make wish (Specify)

Introduce ourself to the king, he should understand us with a wish. If we have the chance, pull out the snake dispel brew discreetly but don't do anything untoward yet.

>>43800667
Seconding this.
We should make an offhand comment about rattles getting boring to remind Hiss that not only are we here, but we're fine - so she should be too.

>>43800690
This. Wait until he's in human form to use it though.

>>43800590
Cennen repeatedly gets good rolls against ungodly anti-human Arts so he can repeatedly fail rolls against relatively trivial effects later.

>>43800667
>>43800707
Guys we can't use the snake dispel unless hiss is far away or she uses an antimagic brew

>>43800690
This.

>>43800767
Please listen to this anon everyone

>>43800640
> No, just stay behind Hiss and she'll know you've got her back.
> "Still here"
> Pass her an antimagic

>>43800690
Seconding this. Use your brains people.

> No, just stay behind Hiss and she'll know you've got her back.
>Try to prep the Snake Dispel

There's no need to take Hiss' hand just yet you feel. It might make her look weak. Surely just knowing that you still have her back is reassurance enough.
And indeed, she does seem to draw at least some strength from the fact that you have not fled.

"Rattles are getting kind of boring, aren't they?"

The King idly rattles again but it has no effect on either of you. You reach for your pack, trying to slide out your Snake Dispel in a discreet fashion.

Only when Snakehome has emptied of observers does the King move, bending down to face Hiss in something that is almost a bow. His black bulk twitches and falls apart like something more of shadow than of flesh, a giant translucent snakeskin falling to the ground around you.
And in the middle of it is just a man, the same height as you and Hiss. He doesn't look particularly elegant or slender, an unshaven hirsute brute wearing extremely outdated nobleman's breeches, coat and not much else. His hair is the same glossy black as Hiss' but is long enough to go past his shoulders, matted and knotted beyond repair. He cracks his knuckles experimentally, shaking first one foot and then the other while ignoring the two of you. Eventually he turns to Hiss and says something completely unintelligible, the hiss of a snake with a tongue of a man.

Whatever it is he says, Hiss blanches.
"Father," she says stiffly. "I have returned."

"Obviously," he says, his voice hoarse and scratchy with disuse. "It is nice to see you back and having grown so strong too."
Now that he's human, it's hard to feel too afraid of him. The King seems to completely lack the presence he used to possess in serpent form or even the air of danger that Hiss wears like a cloak.

"Y-yes," Hiss stammers. "I have. Grown strong, that is. I have travelled the world and gone deep within human lands to find it."

1/2

>>43800996
The King blows his nose on his beard, apparently mystified by the functions of the human body.
"That's nice, dear. I see you have grown affectionate of the human form. I don't particularly approve of all this inconvenience but it's worth it just for your return."

Hiss seems shaken by his disregard for her threat.
"Do you not recall what I promised? That when I return-"

"Who's the boy?"

"What? H-he's just a a a"

"I had not taken my daughter for a deviant," he rumbles, more with a vague sense of unhappiness than anything else.

"Enough! Don't you remember? I tried to kill you!"

He chuckles softly.
"Don't worry, it was no great crime. You are welcome despite that."

Hiss screams with frustration and before you can do anything, lunges! Her fist bounces off the King's throat as if it was made of stone, causing her to jump back in undignified hops while nursing her fist. The scales on her hand are dented and broken.

"Oh," the King says almost sadly. "When you remained uncaught, I hoped that some travel would make you wiser. You have only grown in foolishness."

"Fuck you! Fight me! I'm trying to kill you!"

"No. This audience is over. Go home, I will speak to you when you have calmed down."

> (Specify)

>>43801108
Pretend to start walking away with Hiss, give her the antimagic brew and use the empowered snake dispel. After confirming that she still wants to do this now, of course.

>>43801179
This, I guess. Not the best time for a write-in only vote.

>>43801108

I get this self-depreciatingly humorous feeling that the snakeking is actually pretty alright of a guy, all things considered.

>bring up the weird wizard thing going on while we're here

>>43801208
This.

Also, ask what it would take for him to take Hiss seriously? Maybe he'll give her a task or something, since he obviously just sees her as a silly child right now.

>>43801179
This. I didn't really picture things going this way for some reason though. It's kinda throwing me off my game.

>>43801247
He doesn't have to respect her to get killed by her anon. Did you forget the whole reason we came here?

>>43801247
>plan to kill him
>work for him instead
are you retarded?

>>43801108
"Hiss if you still want to do this, I'll back your play. Give the word."

Look the king in the eyes. He's a big snake, so what? We've stared down a Creator level entity and punched one in the face. Comparatively he's nothing.

>>43801108
I don't know what to do... Should we warn him that humans are about to wisen up about Snakehome? He'll dismiss us, but we now have means to deal with snakes. We have been busy while they were sitting in this hole for the last thousands of years

>Pretend to walk away with Hiss
>Give her the antimagic brew and use the empowered Snake Dispel
>After confirming that she wants to.

Hiss moans and moves to attack again but you catch her arm. You're not nearly strong enough to stop her but just your touch is enough to make her come to a halt.
"Why can't you take me seriously? You didn't do it back then and you won't even do it now!"

The King shrugs.
"Why? You have learned strength but you have not learned patience. Snakehome is yours when I pass on anyway and you will outlive me. Why can't you just wait?"

You lead Hiss away, the princess for once acquiescing to your guidance.
"I hope you have a plan," she whispers.

"Yes. Wait. Are you still going to do this?"

"Yes," she hisses. "I don't give a damn if he respects me. Let's just kill him."

You give Hiss the Antimagic brew and she downs it immediately. Seeing this, you immediately spin on your heels back to face the King and without announcing yourself, simply toss the empowered Snake Dispel at his face.

His hand moves in a blur, knocking the bottle away from him. You can't help but laugh, having seen this scenario play out so many times before. They ALWAYS make that mistake.
The bottle shatters on contact with his ludicrously hard scales, blasting the King, Hiss and you with foul orange smoke!

Hiss coughs but is otherwise fine, protected by the antimagic. Meanwhile, you can see the King's silhouette sieze up, arms scrabbling blindly.

> Go for an attack now!

> Back up and prepare for long-ranged bombardment.

> Don't attack him, just support Hiss while she does her thing.

> Use Potion (specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43801348
> Don't attack him, just support Hiss while she does her thing.

>>43801348
>> Don't attack him, just support Hiss while she does her thing.

I wish we had a scalebreaker right about now, to chuck at him before Hiss goes into melee.

>>43801348
> Make a wish (Specify)
Wish for her to enter Snake Empress mode

>>43801388
We should save this for if she starts losing, as a trump card.

We've got two other wishes we can use until then, as well. Like "Hiss, escape that constriction!" or something.

We must become the pokemon master.

>>43801348
> Don't attack him, just support Hiss while she does her thing.
He's right, though. And he's already old as fuck so he'll probably won't live much longer (in snake terms), maybe we should get Hiss to spare him after clobbering him a couple of times to gain his respect.

>>43801388
> Back up and prepare for long-ranged bombardment.
>>43801388
Use the wish if it looks like she's in trouble

>>43801348
Is our vision still obstructed by the smoke?

>>43801348
>>43801439
Shit, mislinked my vote

>>43801348
Nail him with a rumpleskin!

>>43801348
>Nobbel

>>43801348
> Don't attack him, just support Hiss while she does her thing.
>Be ready to wish assist
>Or nobble chances.

> Don't attack him, just support Hiss while she does her thing.

You open your pack and get ready to sling some potions as Hiss charges in, ready to claw and bite. You know he has Art-granted immunity to toxins but under the effects of this, Hiss' venom should kill him as much as it does anyone else.

Her first blow strikes his face, which scales up in immediate response and skitters off, striking sparks off his head but accomplishing little else. Hiss gapes but keeps attacking, her strikes rocking the King and making him step back but dealing no damage whatsoever.

"Stop," he grunts in pain before striking back with enough force to snap Hiss' head back, scales dancing across her entire body. And it doesn't stop there, his hand transforms as it makes contact, becoming a black and red snaketail that coils around her throat and extends further, lifting her into the air while she struggles to breathe.
"If you had wanted a lesson, you only need to have asked."

By this point however, you are already throwing the potion.

>Choose potion

>Alternatively, use wish

>>43801562
>Choose potion
Weakening and get ready to nobble

>>43801562
>>43801626
This,

>>43801562
Throw knockout brew while wishing for Hiss to have a better strength and scale art than the king's current level

>>43801562
>>43801626
This, also get ready to nobble if given the chance. Sorry Hiss we gotta nobble

>>43801562
Changed my mind about the knockout brew, he's probably immune since he has a similar venom. Use a wish to make hiss stronger and have better scales and then nail him with a scalebane once they're separated

>>43801692
Shit, you're probably right. Change >>43801655
to this

>Knockout Brew

You throw your next potion at his feet just as Hiss' body disintegrates, letting her smaller snake form slip free of the King's shapeshifted coils.
He doesn't try to intercept or knock the bottle away, instead he just jumps directly at you!

Oh shit!
The bottle sails past him as he lunges for you and you jump out of the way, narrowly avoiding a shapeshifting arm filled with fangs and sharpened scales. You hit the ground heavily and roll down several of Snakehome's steps, groaning in pain with each one. You need some time to rearm but time isn't something you have right now.
You can see Hiss slithering up behind him but her snake form is so small that she's way too slow to get there in time.

The King reaches for you, ready to snuff out your life with but a touch.

> Run!

> Use your pack as a shield.

> Throw a random potion.

> Pray

> Beg for mercy

> Just attack the King so he's focussed on you while Hiss comes in from behind.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43801562
>>43801634
this, sadly i can't come up with anything more clever to do while pouring through our inventory the best non convetional thing I can think is to soul drift him and take a soulgrap ourselves but that wouldn't work well .
>>43801692
Ouro has said in ask that hiss's venom is fundamentally different from her fathers if i am remembering correctly .

>>43801692
This, maybe say "I wish your scales and strength were enough to escape his grasp" so that it doesn't expire right after she escapes his grasp

>>43801729
can we drink a potion?

>>43801729
> Throw a random potion.
> Make a wish (Wish you were at the full measure of you potential power.)

>>43801729
shit Ouro you gotta give us more time to decide

>>43801757
As I said, he's not giving time to rearm. That's why there's a random potion option because while you dont have time to search for one in particular, you have time to just grab one.

>>43801764
Yeah I probably should, though that might mean that this fight continues into the next thread.

>>43801729
> Use your pack as a shield.

>>43801784
where's the pastebin with all the potential snake arts?

>>43801729
> Run!
Wish for the snake empress mode. When we create some distance we can then use our brews as much as we like since she'll have magic resistant scales

>>43801805
no we have the danger potion in their, thats gg if it breaks.

>>43801808
Here's the Empress list, which is basically that.
http://pastebin.com/erg8grHg
Not even the Snake King has all of those, mind you. Just most of them.

>>43801810
This. We might be able to escape with our ridiculously strong legs

>>43801729
> Run!
Run! Brave sir Robin!

>>43801729
>> Run!

>>43801729
> Run!
> Make a wish (Specify)
Maximum hiss power

>>43801855
>>43801884
Guys we can't run from him for long, we gotta have superHiss save our ass with that wish. Running will get us a few extra seconds at most.

>>43801810
>>43801729
this, not seeing anything clever in using just a specific snake art and sadly we need hiss to end this we don't have th potions to fight this out ( how I wish we could have gone half dragon mode on this man )

>>43801907
I was thinking of using those seconds to grab a scalebane and throw it in his face, that should softem him a bit.

>>43801924
It's a good plan, but we might as well wish for Hiss to be stronger too because it might take a little time.

>>43801907
Maybe if we wish hiss could use a death rattle that only the king would hear?

>>43801946
If we're gonna make a wish we might as well wish for max power Hiss.

Wait, this might be the best time to use this.
>-Royal Blood: If Hiss witnesses a Snake Art she doesn't possess, she can choose to immediately learn and master it.

Wish for Hiss to have Royal Blood, and let it play out like Shirou Vs Gilgamesh. Even after the wish wears off, the side-effects of Royal Blood shouldn't.

>>43801889
Maybe we should only wish for her physical arts to increase so that she can maintain that form longer

>>43801963
i'll second this

>>43801968
She lasted over an hour in snake empress mode when we first tried it out and she's gotten a lot stronger since then.

>Run
>Wish for the Serpent Empress

You roll out of the way from his outstretched hand and scramble to your feet, clinging to the side of the Snakehome crater as you focus primarily on getting the fuck away from him. The King sucks in his breath and based on instinct alone, you leap into the air as he exhales.
His breath ripples almost visibly and the rock where you were standing bubbles and spits as it begins to dissolve, pitted through with tiny drops of venom.

You keep running, putting your virtually superhuman physique to use to outpacing him long enough to make a wish. That's the thing here, you think the King assumes you to just be a slave or a follower. Can he even imagine that you've kidnapped Hiss not just once but multiple times? He doesn't know she has a wish-bond.
"Hiss! I wish that you would use all your power possible to destroy him!"

The King stops, eyes widening as Hiss suddenly rears up behind him in a human form many times larger than either of you and the lower half of a snake. She swats her palm down at him with enough force to shake the earth.
But she hits nothing. The King blinks out of existence, transforming into three different snakes that lunge in different directions. Hiss crushes the life out of two of them but the third escapes and swells into a serpent that's at least thirty feet long.

Hiss just laughs and holds out her hands, the King's amplified size still but the size of an ordinary snake to her. She does something invisible and...the King is unaffected, lashing out and biting her. And though the attack has no effect on her scales, it's enough to make Hiss back away. Her tail lashes about, nearly flattening you underneath her.
"Cennen!" she booms. "Where are you? He has Royal Blood, this is making him stronger!"

1/2

>>43802080
You don't really understand what she means by that and though you don't say this, Hiss scoffs above you.
"Of course you don't know. He can mimic Snake Arts, moron. MY snake arts!"

Oh.

> Just stay back and let them fight it out while you think of something else.

> Make another wish (Specify)

> Flee out of the range of Hiss' tail

> Climb on top of her, it's probably the safest spot.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Pray

> Other

>>43802080
Son of a bitch.

>He has Royal Blood
I hate all of you.

This is literally the opposite of >>43801963

>>43802103
>-Royal Prerogative: An upgrade to Snake Eater, Royal Blood and Art Control. Hiss can disable the Snake Arts of others if she so chooses.

CMON HISS DISABLE IT THEN
> Flee out of the range of Hiss' tail

>>43802144
She has to win a clash of wills with him to do that.

She's already a stuttering wreck in front of him, watch him learn that after out-stubborning her and then strip her powers.

>>43802144
That was the invisible attack she tried earlier btw

>>43802103
I Just realized guys, this is the giant snake fuck whole guys, we are probably standing snake scales two feet deep, all we need is some water or fire and we could brew up enough snake oil to trank these two.

>>43802103
> Flee out of the range of Hiss' tail
Tell her to use her art control to limit what he can take to things that won't be as useful to him. Also ask her to create a little distance from him so we can hit him with our scalebane

>>43802159
could hiss create water with whatever she learned from the nothing of bart's not soul now that she's in empress mode?

>>43802186
This.

>>43802178
Nice, we could get rock to help with that, see if she can reroute nearby creeks or aquifers

>>43802159
how long would it take use to brew a shapeshifter brew( sorry for all the questions )

>>43802186
This, he's still in her hands right?

>>43802103
>> Climb on top of her, it's probably the safest spot.
safety first, i think he has to at least see the art to imitate it

>>43802228
A few minutes.

>>43802186
Wait, I misread that. He's not in her hands, he's on the ground in front of her. Go ahead and just use the scalebane then I guess.

Guys I just had a really crazy idea but it might be effective. We can use souldrift and try to bait him into eating our soul. Our soul won't be harmed but the spiritbane will really fuck him up.

Kind of sad we went full murder on the king. Dude seems to actually care about Hiss.

Oh well.

> Flee out of the range of Hiss' tail
>Remind Hiss to use Art Control
> Try to set up a scalebane

First of all, you need to make sure you don't get squashed by your own ally. You start scaling back up the wall of Snakehome, getting out of the way of her sweeping tail which melds seamlessly with her human upper half. She has to be more than a hundred feet high right now and you think she's still growing. You know for a fact that she's probably the most powerful creature in the world right now.

"What do you mean, 'probably'?," Hiss complains loudly. "If you've seen anything better I'd like to know."

Well, for starters, the ever-growing King who's copying her own power for himself. Fuck, why wasn't the Snake Dispel enough to get rid of him? You rack your brains for the answer, going through all you remember of the Empress' powers and then it comes to you.
He must possess Art Control and is using it to at least partially negate the Snake Dispel's effect on him. And wait, doesn't that mean-

"Oh right!," Hiss thunders, her Lore Gullet allowing her to functionally read your thoughts moment before you actually think them. "Can't believe I didn't think of that."

You don't see any visible sign of it but you're pretty sure that Hiss is employing her own Art Control now to retract the vast majority of her Art that isn't immediately useful to her. That should stop the King from copying it.
Unfortunately that still doesn't stop them from being more or less equals.

The King lunges and Hiss catches him only for him to increase dramatically in size, coiling around her torso and arms. She bites him to little effect and then...you cover your ears as they both rattle at the same time, an awful din that nearly makes your heart stop. Fortunately the two rattles overlap and counteract each other, making each other mostly just useless sound or you might be dead now.

"You're welcome," Hiss grumbles as she keeps biting. "I just watched you die in my head."
1/2

>>43802320
Or we could use the shapestealer brew somehow to make him take on our weak human form. Still gotta get past his scales though.

>>43802103
>> Just stay back and let them fight it out while you think of something else.
this is the safest option while doing that we should either get rock to divert water into the pit ( don;t know if it;s a good idea sense other snakes might here the prayers) or we brew up a shapsifter and go into half dragon mode, either way we know have one of the two elments we need to brew any journeryman brew containing a shit ton of snake scales a.k.a snake oil, and we just turn this pit into a giant drug filled tub.

>>43802374
that water idea is shit and would take way too long

>>43802382
then we do fire

>>43802351
You don't understand what she means by that and really, it's for the best. Hiss and the King continue their battle, two titans locked in a stalemate for now.
But not forever. Hiss can only sustain the Empress form for so long and while reverting back to her normal self might also weaken the King, it'd set them back to square one of the King overpowering her.

So what you need to do is tip the scales between them. Literally.
Hiss groans as she predicts you thinking of that awful pun.

You take your scalebane from your pack and get ready for a throw. You don't even have to aim that way as you know Hiss will automatically adjust the King to whatever trajectory you choose before you even throw.

"I'm not a fan for being taken for granted like this!"

Well, she's going to have to get used to it because its by far your biggest advantage over the King.

>Throw the Scalebane and hope Hiss can monopolize on the brief moment where his scales are weakened but he hasn't yet copied hers again.

>Throw the Scalebane and ask Hiss to retract her own scales so he can't copy her in response. This will make the King weaker for longer but will also make Hiss vulnerable.

> Throw a different potion instead (Specify)

>Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>43802358
>hiss holds him still
>we hit a patch of him with scalebane
>put shapestealer on sword and stab him
>drink the rest
and then he's a weak little cennen who she can crush

>>43802447
>>Throw the Scalebane and ask Hiss to retract her own scales so he can't copy her in response. This will make the King weaker for longer but will also make Hiss vulnerable.

>>43802447
Could we carry a brew while in souldrift form?

>>43802490
With concentration, yes.

>>43802447
>Throw the Scalebane and hope Hiss can monopolize on the brief moment where his scales are weakened but he hasn't yet copied hers again.
He's acknowledging you now Hiss, are you happy?

>>43802447
>Throw the Scalebane and hope Hiss can monopolize on the brief moment where his scales are weakened but he hasn't yet copied hers again.
Drink some shapestealer, then break it on one of hiss' fingers/claws so she can stab the scaleless area and then we can help her take him down with his own form, without the limits of the snake dispel brew

funny question guys, does snake dad consider himself a degenerate or was the snake-catcher either his's uncle or nephew?

>>43802570
The catcher was his son.

>>43802447
>>Throw the Scalebane and ask Hiss to retract her own scales so he can't copy her in response. This will make the King weaker for longer but will also make Hiss vulnerable.
hopefully we can make a wish if this causes blowback

>>43802564
Wouldn't he just be able to copy our Arts then? Let's do that idea but make him take our human form instead.

>>43802570
He's also a deviant, he is proud of Hiss for carrying on the tradition.

>>43802597
Yeah you're probably right. I stand corrected.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>43802570
The Snakecatcher was his son and Hiss' brother yes but the King didn't sire him for pleasure, he did it because he wanted to see if he could. He's faintly offended by the idea of copulating for pleasure.

Looks like a tie between having Hiss retract her own scales or not. Evens for the former, odds the latter.

>Throw the Scalebane and hope Hiss can monopolize on the brief moment where his scales are weakened but he hasn't yet copied hers again.

You don't want Hiss to risk herself by retracting her scales, even if that means the King will just be able to copy her again. There should still be a split-second opening for her to take advantage of!
And with that in mind, you pop your Shapestealer brew out of your pack and drink half of it. With that taken care of, you throw the Scalebane and the Shapestealer together.

Hiss is ready for both of them, having already maneuvered the King into the path of the Scalebane and hold out her own gigantic hand to intercept the Shapestealer.
The Shapestealer shatters upon impact, soaking her fingertips with the potion that has been infused with distilled essence of Cennen.

And so once the Scalebane strikes true and dissolves a patch of the King's scales, Hiss jams her potion-covered finger home. The King twists in response, spraying smoking venom from his mouth in a giant spray that blasts harmless up Hiss' hand and then overshoots to kill at least a dozen trees by the crater's rim.

Hiss laughs and digs her finger into the wound only for the shapestealer to take no effect. Unfortunately, the Serpent King's venom burns away everything and while it can't penetrate her scales it was still able to eradicate the potion lingering on her fingertips.

The King suddenly spasms while Hiss is distracted, briefly multiplying in size for enough time to slap Hiss into the air with his tail. Hiss' tail slams into the walls of Snakehome hard enough to collapse half of the crater while her human upper half drags a furrow through the forest that nearly squashes you.

Hiss blinks in stunned surprise, trying to pull trees out of her hair. You tear your eyes away from her and back towards the crater.

The King is nowhere to be seen.

1/2

>>43802765
> Flee.

> Defend Hiss as best you can while she's down.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Pray

> Use Potion (Spray)

> Try and make a distraction.

> Other

>>43802777
Whoops, was meant to be another option here.

>Try to brew something as fast as you can.

>>43802777
Wish that Hiss could use her ability to predict your thoughts on the king?

>>43802777
Drink a soulsight to locate the king and nail him with a snakebreaker as long as he's not too close to Hiss or Cennen.

>>43802811
This.
Why didn't Hiss take a bit of his soul when they were touching? She only needs direct physical contact and then she could predict all his moves. We can give her a soulguard so he can't do the same to her.

>>43802777
>>43802811
This, though he might have Unseen predator.
He may be coming after us, so if we don't see him

> Flee.
towards Hiss

>>43802777
>>43802811
this

Alright, I'm starting to make a lot of errors and typos, I have to go to work soon and I think this is going very late for everyone in Europe and/or America so I'll archive this and end it here.

I will run tomorrow however and I will run every day until this is resolved. I hope you guys had fun!

>>43802847
Thanks for running!

>>43802831
She'd already retracted that Art by the time they started grappling so that he couldn't do the same against her. She's not confident in who would win in a direct soul-off.

>>43802847
Thanks for running bro! Have a good sleep

>>43802847
Thanks for running man, I knida wish we had spoken with the knig before jumping him, but whatevs.
I'm actually glad you ended it here before I'm on the verge of collapsing on my keyboard

>>43802883
> before I'm on the verge of collapsing on my keyboard
holy shit

>>43802883
jesus get some sleep anon

>>43802847
thanks for runninh ouro