>>45307580
It feels like all the excitement of the recent hour or so is finally winding down. Elle is subdued and awake and is undoing the damage she did to Oster while Aashenpreet keeps watch. Your rift with Zigzag seems to have come to at least a temporary close and your own brush with inhumanity resolved. Aashenpreet even paid off the innkeeper for you so hopefully he won’t bother you about the ruined door or dented ceiling.
Peace has returned but peace has its own different dangers which you discovered as soon as you asked Reggie about his dream girl.

While you’ve never known him particularly well you’ve known since your first meeting that Reggie has an interest in humanity that could be termed ...unwholesome. Not particularly harmful mind you but one that is still rather unpleasant, particularly when you foolishly invite him to talk your ear off about his fascination. You eventually manage to fob him off politely but only after losing nearly ten minutes to uncomfortable details that will not be repeated here. You can only hear so much about a girl’s beauty and purity (he particularly emphasized this part for despite his fascination he still seems to find sexual contact with a human disgusting and demeaning) before wishing for death. You leave him with Zigzag and pretend not to notice her look of betrayal.

Noon has now well and truly passed but the day is not yet over.

>Go downstairs and try to explain yourself to the innkeeper.

>You’ve been wanting to go shopping for alchemy products for a while now.

>See how Oster and Aash are going.

>Attempt to introduce Zigzag to human society.

>Get brewing.

>You should do something about Hom.

>Tell Reggie that his waifu a shit.

>Other

>>45307601
>Tell Reggie his waifu a pure blessing on this world.


>Attempt to introduce Zigzag to human society.

>>45307601
>You’ve been wanting to go shopping for alchemy products for a while now.
>Attempt to introduce Zigzag to human society.
What could possibly go wrong?

>>45307601
>You’ve been wanting to go shopping for alchemy products for a while now.
yesss finally

>>45307601
>>You’ve been wanting to go shopping for alchemy products for a while now.
>Attempt to introduce Zigzag to human society.

>>45307601
>You’ve been wanting to go shopping for alchemy products for a while now.
We should also check out Moldran's notes, and get back in touch with master Ingrid, she might be able to help

>>45307601
>You’ve been wanting to go shopping for alchemy products for a while now.
>Attempt to introduce Zigzag to human society.
Give her that warm brew to keep her relatively calm. Maybe conceal it on her person though

>You’ve been wanting to go shopping for alchemy products for a while now.
>Attempt to introduce Zigzag to human society.

While you've replaced all of your lost glassware thanks to Master Moldrun it couldn't hurt to go shopping. Who knows what you might be able to find within the Potions College? You could even buy yourself a proper certification if you really wanted.
And in addition to that it could serve as way to help Zigzag acclimatise to the human world. You've taught her manners and she at least knows about basic human morality now but she won't ever adjust without you throwing her in there at some point. What could possibly go wrong?

Actually in that vein was there anyone else you'd want to come with you?

>No, just me and Ziggy should be fine.

>Aashenpreet.

>Oster.

>Elle.

>Reggie

>>45307872
>Elle.

She's my waifu.

>>45307872
>Aashenpreet.
She wanted to go on another tour right?

>>45307872
>Aashenpreet.
>Oster.

>>45307872
>Reggie


>>45307907
I don't think putting Aash under any more pressure is a good idea right now.

>>45307872
>Aashenpreet.
>Oster.
Tell Elle to wait in the room patiently for us to return

>>45307925
How is the potions college considered pressure?

>>45307872
>No, just me and Ziggy should be fine.

>>45307975
Because whatever we do or where-ever we go, trouble always happens. We were just buying glassware earlier and look what that got us into.

>>45308012
Eh, we can avoid it if necessary.

File: aash.jpg (437 KB, 3888x2592)

437 KB JPG

Calling the vote for Aashenpreet and Oster.

>Aashenpreet.
>Oster.

You brew up another Warmth Elixir for Zigzag and she clutches it to herself like a miser with a signet coin. That'll look a bit weird but when you reach the College itself sights like that should be commonplace.
You also ask Aashenpreet and Oster to accompany you and they do so, Oster still shaking off the effects of Elle's hypnotism.
"You got pretty lucky with that 'curse' of yours," he complains. "Seems to me that a Bane is more help than hindrance."

Aashenpreet frowns but says nothing. You just focus on keeping one eye on Zigzag for the entire duration of your walk. She's enjoying herself, her eyes darting from one human to the next. She isn't anxious or trying to attack anyone so you'd be quite happy about her behaviour if she wasn't literally drooling.

>Give her a signet and tell her to go buy some food. Under your supervision of course.

>Tell her off.

>Just ignore her and keep on walking to the College.

>Other

>>45308320
>Tell her off.
>Give her a signet and tell her to go buy some food. Under your supervision of course.

>>45308320
>>Give her a signet and tell her to go buy some food. Under your supervision of course.

Introduced her the wonder on warm pastries.

>>45308320
>Give her a signet and tell her to go buy some food. Under your supervision of course.
Take her to the best food we can imagine, preferably meat

>>45308320
>>Give her a signet and tell her to go buy some food. Under your supervision of course.

maybe certain foods will fit her taste.

>>45308320
>Give her a signet and tell her to go buy some food. Under your supervision of course.

>>45308320
>Tell her off.
>Get her some food personally
Tell her to remember how scary it is whenever she craves humans and then to eat normal food instead

>>45308320
The bane really is an advantage in most situations. It's only bad during spirit diplomacy. And possibly during seer inspections.

>>45308519
And probably when we die

>>45308519
And we can get around those easy enough

>>45308596
I guess it means our soul won't be recycled but I'm not bothered by that. Really it would take the creator itself to do anything to our soul, we'd just be floating around wherever souls go, chillin with the other spiritbanes

>>45308642
>tfw end up in the seventh circle of hell for throwing a bottle

>>45308642
That's only if souls are actually recycled. We've shown that creating new souls isn't all that hard.

>>45308642
>chillin
I see what you did there

>>45308737
Indeed if some dumbfuck alchemist can get close what can the almighty do?

>Give her a signet and tell her to go buy some food. Under your supervision of course.

Come to think of it, has Zigzag ever had some proper human food? As far as you can tell she's been living off a diet of live rats and snake oil for the past few weeks. Unfortunately there's nothing that qualifies for 'proper human food' nearby but the cart of that pie vendor will have to do.
Besides, getting her to actually exchange coin for goods without killing anyone would be a good lesson. One that you're not sure Hiss ever truly learned.

"Come here Ziggy, let me show you how we do it here. You can do the talking."
You give her a signet and lead her over to the pie cart.

The pie man squints down at her as she approaches. He's probably not used to a woman as good looking or as obviously noble approaching his wares, even on the good side of the city.
"Can I help you missy- uh, madam?"

Zigzag stares at the selection of pasties with a look of confusion on her face. She leans in and smells them. It's like she doesn't understand what they are.

"Oi oi oi! Don't t-please don't touch them."

Zigzag looks back at your desperately, having apparently forgotten just what she was supposed to do. She ends up thrusting the signet at the man.
"Please?"
Well she remembers that part of your lesson at least.

"I don't get it, do you want a pie?"
He pockets the signet regardless.
"Honey for that price you could get a dozen pies. Is something wrong?"

"I'll have them please. Thanks."

"Which ones?'

Zigzag stares into the void for a moment before running her hands across the cart and dragging a plethora of pies off of it and holding them to her chest. She drops the Warmth Elixir in the process, not so much accidentally but simply letting go of it to make more room. It shatters harmlessly on the cobbles and gives the merchant a fright.

"Look lady, when I said a dozen I didn't MEAN-"

"Thank you."
Zigzag walks off back to you with the pies.
1/2

>>45308776
k-kawaii

>>45308848
I'm thinking an actual childlike disguise would work better than her current big tit midget disguise

>>45308776
The pie seller doesn't raise a fuss, a signet is a signet after all. Zigzag rejoins you and then attempts to pick up and eat one of the pies she's holding in a pile with both hands. She lacks the third arm required for this however and so winds up dropping all of the pastries while she eats the first one. They break open and splatter over her feet in mess of thin gravy, fish-heads and unidentified meat.

Oster only sighs while Aashenpreet tries in vain to push the mess away.
"Oh dear."

Zigzag wolfs the pie down, spilling juice all over her shirt. Without stopping to breath she immediately looks for the next and throws herself onto the ground so that she can bury her face in the pile of broken and leaking pies that she dropped.
You grab her by the suspenders and pull her back up but her face is already smeared in gravy. Her reaction to you interrupting your meal is swift and you only just hold your breath in time as she hisses and breathes venom in your face.

Aashenpreet grabs her off of you, hefting her up off the ground entirely. Zigzag looks extremely satisfied.
"It tastes pretty good. Warm."

Everyone is staring at the well-dressed folk and their curious companion.

>Make an excuse for Zigzag.

>Who cares? Just get to the damn College.

>Try to get Zigzag cleaned up first.

>Turf Zigzag duties onto either Oster or Aashenpreet.

>Other

>>45308952
>Try to get Zigzag cleaned up first.
They'll just assume she's a simpleton which is fine by me

>>45308952
>>Try to get Zigzag cleaned up first.
>Make an excuse for Zigzag.
Alchemy muck up it'll pass.

File: mOnvOJG.png (298 KB, 2271x2380)

298 KB PNG

>>45308919
>shortstack Zigzag
h-has this been confirmed?

>>45308952
>Try to get Zigzag cleaned up first.
Calmly and nicely explain everything she did wrong too

>>45308952
>Try to get Zigzag cleaned up first.
She's entirely our responsibility, give her some pointers.

>>45308952
>Try to get Zigzag cleaned up first.
Also, >>45308919 makes a good point, having her look like a child would help explain her behaviour

>>45309056
Yeah, I'm not sure why she's so short exactly. Maybe she was just a small snake to begin with?

>>45309112
Well she did say she stuck to human form because she could eat more with it.

Calling for cleaning up first.

>>45309112
She's really short because she copied from a short model in the catalogue that you gave her and basically every other snake. She doesn't really care about her human body saved that it exists.

>>45309233
So are there a bunch of snakes that look exactly the same? There are only so many models to choose from in the catalogue

>>45309335
Well any of the vanguard snakes are using forms of people they ate. I guess back at snakehome there are some repeats, but a lot of snakes have fed by now what with that human pit they have.

>Try to get Zigzag cleaned up first.

You don't need to explain yourself to strangers so you just focus on getting Zigzag out of view and making her presentable again.
She looks at you confusedly from within Aashenpreet's grip.
"What's wrong?"

"You didn't do that quite right. People don't eat off the street if they can help it, Ziggy."

"You never told me that."
She frowns while you do your best at wiping down her shirt and face.

"This would be much easier if she could just eat a human," Oster remarks.

Zigzag's face lights up.
"Yes!"

"No," Oster says. "I mean eat a human soul and actually keep it inside of you. Don't digest it, use it for knowledge."

Aashenpreet nods.
"That sounds like the best course of action. Once you have at least one of them kept inside of you you should be able to understand humanity a lot better."

"No guys," you interject. "We are NOT feeding her any more humans."
You keep trying to futilely wipe her shirt down before you remember something.
"Wait, what the fuck are we doing? Just revert and change back!"

Zigzag claws at herself, slowly dissolving into a cloud of dust and a black snake with a white zig-zag pattern down its spine.
Fortunately you've bundled her into an alleyway and the three of you are clustered around her, protecting her privacy with your bodies.

She hits the ground with a soft thud and almost immediately begins to fatten and swell out of her skin, returning to a pristine human form.
But right now she's virtually helpless. If you just grabbed her right now you could MAKE her suitable for the human world. She wouldn't like it but it would work.

>Nobble.

>No.

>>45309454
>No.
Resist your natural urges!

>>45309454
>No.

>>45309454
>No.

>>45309454
>No.

>>45309454
>No.
>Point out to her that if we resisted the urge to nobble, so can she

>>45309335
Most snakes have now eaten at least one human and have the information to take what forms they please. They usually have a 'default' body that they usually take but that's either a matter of preference or just a complete lack of caring.

>>45309454
>>No.
>INTENSE PRETEND NOBBLING

>No

You resist your urges and Zigzag bursts out of her snake-skin reborn into a new copy of the same human body as always. Completely clean and composed and without a single hair out of place.

With all that hubbub out of the way the four of you are able to proceed to the Potions College market without much worry.

The market itself isn't actually within the Potions College's official bounds but it is right next-door, the tall iron fence of the College grounds forming one of the marketplace's outer walls. This place is different from the alchemist shops that litter the city in other districts. It's not a place to sell potions to the people, oh no. This is a market made and provided by alchemists FOR alchemists. The common goods are not brews here but recipes, books, reagents and glassware of all shapes and sizes. That's not to say potions aren't being sold of course but they're hardly the main focus. What alchemist would buy a potion that they could have a chance of making themselves? Or, from the other end of things, what alchemist would sell a new potion to a marketplace full of buyers likely to dissect and reverse engineer it?

Among the alchemists themselves, various honest tradesmen ply their wares. Food vendors traditionally do good business here as alchemists rarely make proficient chefs and only the most degenerate subsist on nothing but restoration and rejuvenation brews. There are glass-blowers and metalworkers all selling stock specialised for alchemical customers and advertising that they do custom commissions for a negotiable price. You think you spot an array of devices not dissimilar to Moldrun's syringes as you pass one of them by.
And there are those who are there to prey upon the curious mania common among your kind.
1/2

>>45309869
>curious mania common among your kind.
Well at least it's not just us.

>>45309869
Vendors who are there for the small but significant portion of alchemists who spend their lives locked up, refusing to leave the confines of the College save for this event. They sell clothes and blankets and long-lived food and other basic necessities at ridiculously inflated prices, safe in the knowledge that their customerbase of afflicted alchemists would rather the convenience of not having to leave the College rather than having to go into town to buy it cheaper.

And with such benevolent parasites come the women. First the burly matrons who offer their services to a profession of folk who often lack worldly skills and are willing to pay a truly horrendous amount of money for someone else to darn their clothes and clean their belongings. And then later once night falls the other women will come, those prostitutes and whores who willingly patronize with the eccentric for the reward of a captive and easily-pleased audience. For where else would the afflicted get such companionship without having to leave their beloved projects? The female members of the College? Unlikely.

You're not sure how to feel about that, having succumbed to that peculiar madness several times yourself. It is good that they are being cared for but are they not also being taken advantage of?

There's even a small corner pub which comes as a bit of a surprise for alchemists can brew their own alcohol quite easily. But you suppose there's a difference between brewing alcohol and making something actually enjoyable to drink. And from what you see within it does very good business as a place for alchemists to simply meet, talk and have fun.
You've never been one for drinking.

You have to make sure you keep hold of Zigzag as you walk through the midst of all this, she looks quite eager to jam a bunch of potions and reagents into her mouth.

But where should you go?

2/3

>>45310084
>The metalworkers and the glassblowers.

>Those selling books and recipes.

>Find a Master selling brews.

>The College itself.

>Just walk around and let the others enjoy themselves.

>Look for a familiar face.

>Do you have anything you want to peddle or share?

>Other

>>45310124
>The metalworkers and the glassblowers.

>>45310124
>>Look for a familiar face.

>>45310124
>>The metalworkers and the glassblowers.

>>45310124
Could we find something that would facilitate faster loading of the caster like a bandolier or something? Also running into anyone we know like that master we gave the snakeskin too wouldn't really be a good thing.

>>45310202
You could probably commission someone to make it for you.

>>45310124
>Those selling books and recipes.
KNOWLEDGE!

>>45310147
>>45310201
>>45310202
Come on guys no one else wants to see Master Yolan?

>>45310124
>Those selling books and recipes.
>>45310202
I wouldn't mind doing something like that too.

>>45310260
Nah, I can't remember how much we told him about snakes but it would be bad if he knew we were back in town.

>>45310308
We told him everything actually, he sees us before we talk to him shit hits fan anyways.

>>45310124
>>Those selling books and recipes.
>Look for a familiar face.

>>45310260
totally, we don't have to go right there though

>>45310260
Why would we?

>Those selling books and recipes.

Oster and Aashenpreet peel off towards the pub and you let them, fixating instead on possible new recipes you could learn. You keep one eye on Zigzag at all times as you navigate your way through the crowd to the first stall that you can see books on. The seller is a tall and straight-backed man who could be no more than thirty years old with short auburn hair and long bushy sideburns. His stall is a bit rickety but it's piled up with old books and new books alike.
"Howdy, mate! And madam? You see anything you like?"

You scan through the books as quickly as you can. You spot newer editions of the Journeyman Volumes that Master Yolan lent you so long ago and which formed the basis of so many of your long brewing nights. There's plenty of theory books as well and few of the more specialized-looking tomes are interesting. But where are the books concerning Mastery? There doesn't seem to be any books involving master-tier brews anywhere!

Meanwhile Zigzag takes the alchemist's question literally.
"Yes. You."

He blinks a little and clearly mistakes her predatory intentions for something else.
"Well maybe after I close up later..."

Oster has the majority of your signets, you'll only be able to afford one purchase here unless you use the gold.

>The updated Journeyman Volumes I, II and III

>A Young Man's Guide to Agricultural Alchemy

>A theory book claiming to be both a guide and a debunking on the myths of Tolemy.

>Education and Entertainment: How Best to Teach Your Apprentice.

>Remove Zigzag.

>Other

>The Workings of the Human Anatomy, 23rd Revised Edition.

>Ask him if he's got anything more advanced under the counter.

>>45310775
>Ask him if he's got anything more advanced under the counter.
>Remove Zigzag.

>>45310775
>Ask him if he's got anything more advanced under the counter.
Oi why did we give Oster all our signets?

>>45310775
Hmph. Not sure how the order of the options got jumbled up like that.

>>45310775
>The Workings of the Human Anatomy, 23rd Revised Edition.

>>45310811
I was going to reply because they're mostly his in the first place but then I remembered that you got a bunch of signets from Abel earlier.
Nevermind then, you can buy a bunch. I'm going to chalk that up to the hiatus messing with my memory.

>>45310775
>Ask him if he's got anything more advanced under the counter.

>>45310775
>The updated Journeyman Volumes I, II and III
Seems like it would get us the most brews

>>45310775
>The Workings of the Human Anatomy, 23rd Revised Edition.
>A theory book claiming to be both a guide and a debunking on the myths of Tolemy.
>Ask him if he's got anything more advanced under the counter.

>>45310811
If we can get more than one add
>The Workings of the Human Anatomy, 23rd Revised Edition.

>The Workings of the Human Anatomy, 23rd Revised Edition.
>Ask him if he's got anything more advanced under the counter.

You pull Zigzag back just a little as you pick up The Workings of the Human Anatomy, 23rd Revised Edition. Several signets change hands and you slide it into your pack. It's not exactly an alchemical treatise specifically but it should help you in making bodies for your homunculi.

"So, are these everything?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you have anything...stronger? I'm not here for the Complete Journeyman's Guide if you know what I'm saying."

He smiles and nods shortly and swiftly.
"Say no more, I happen to have a few books under the counter. I'm going to need to see your registration first though."

"Registration?"

"Yeah, you know. Your certificate from the College as a trusted Master. You can't sell these to just anybody!"

Zigzag pushes her way back in, having misunderstood the seller's desire for a licentious affair as a human actually willing to be eaten.
"Why do you have to wait until you close? I want you now!"

>Pay him extra. Exorbitantly so.

>Offer to trade him some of the books you have.

>Take advantage of the misconception between him and Zigzag to try and lever your way into seeing the Master books.

>Remove Zigzag.

>Push his stall over and take the books.

>Find out where the books are and come back later to nobble them stealthily.

>Leave

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>45311227
>>Remove Zigzag.
>Pray so Zigzag knows the guy meant sex not getting eaten
>Offer copies of our books for trade.

>>45311227
>Offer to trade him some of the books you have.
We don't need that theory book anymore. We could give him the Quedeshi alchemist journal as a collectors item and translate the recipes inside for him.

File: pimp.jpg (50 KB, 640x507)

50 KB JPG

>>45311227
>Take advantage of the misconception between him and Zigzag to try and lever your way into seeing the Master books.

>>45311227
>Offer to trade him some of the books you have.

>>45311227
What is the mastery test anyway?

>>45311311
This.

>>45311356
Make a master level potion which we can do, easily.

>>45311311
Shit, forgot about the alchemy and anti magic book. That one too. We're done with it I assume.

>>45311394
Right but we might have to show our soul mastery which is a bad idea.

>>45311430
They can't tell mastery from a potion made, only by asking and context clues.

>Offer to trade him some of the books you have.

"Look man, I'm not from around here. I don't have a certification from this College."

He tears his eyes off Zigzag to look back at you.
"Do you have it from anywhere else then mate? I'm sorry but rules are rules."

You set your pack down on the stall.
"Let's cut the shit, right? How much do you want?"

He narrows his eyes.
"Got any books?"

Select as many as you wish:

>Alchemy and Anti-Magick
>Fire & Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
>Quedeshi Alchemy Book
>Shapeshifting Recipe Scroll
>Moldrun's Notes
>Make an additional offer.

>>45311552
>Alchemy and Anti-Magick
>Fire & Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
>Quedeshi Alchemy Book
We're finished with all three of these right?

>>45311552
>>Alchemy and Anti-Magick
>>Fire & Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
>Translation of the recipes in Quedeshi book(the non recipe shit is trouble)

>>45311575
Not quite on the Quedeshi one, also details his life in service to a snake so........... Yeah. Sensitize by translating or not at all.

>>45311552
>Alchemy and Anti-Magick
>Fire & Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
>Quedeshi Alchemy Book
>>45311590
Wasn't it all fairly ambiguous about the snakes?

>>45311552
>Fire & Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory

>Alchemy and Anti-Magick

>>45311618
> Alchemist's Bane: A preventative that protects the drinker from being affected by alchemical concoctions for the next few hours. If drunk by an alchemist it dulls their own Art and interferes with their brewing for the duration.
> Dulling Cloud: Releases a cloud that renders anyone who breathes it in temporarily imbecilic and suggestible. Pointedly only works on humans.
Here's the two we haven't yet learned from the quedeshi. We could easily copy them down for our own use if we translate them though.

>>45311552
>Alchemy and Anti-Magick
>Fire & Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
Let's throw the quedeshi one in only if these aren't enough. It's a bit suspicious after all.

>>45311575
Change my vote to originally only offer the first two and add the Quedeshi Alchemy Book if absolutely necessary.

>>45311552
>>45311752
I will support offering the quedeshi book as a last resort only: If we do we should pass it off as the work of an eccentric. A fantastical yarn with a few recipes inter spaced. Great imagination, that guy. Yep

Sorry about these slow updates here, I've been eating.

>Alchemy and Anti-Magick
>Fire & Water: Mastering Alchemical Theory
>Translated Version of Quedeshi Alchemy Book

You lay down the three books and he hums underneath his breath.
"The Anti-Magick tome is a good one, I like it. Not sure if it's worth getting in trouble for but it might be. Fire & Water doesn't really sweeten the deal though that's a very common book. And this one..."
He flips through the Quedeshi book.
"A bit messy...definitely alchemical but I don't recognize the language."

"It's alright, I can translate it for you."

"Hrm. What language is this anyway? I don't think I've ever seen it before."

>Tell him that it's Quedeshi.

>Make up something exotic but not THAT exotic.

>"Do you need to know?"

>"I found it in the Teeth."

>Don't give it to him.

>Other

>>45311846
>Tell him that it's Quedeshi.
I was told it was "cuuuuuuursed" but that's hokum isn't it?

>>45311846
ah shit I only wanted to offer it as a last resort
>Tell him that it's Quedeshi.
Make up something about how our master was very mysterious but taught us how to read the recipes at least. We suspect he spent a bit of time in the witchlands somehow. Or maybe say he was a POW there or something.

>>45311846
>Tell him that it's Quedeshi.
He won't rat us out because he's breaking the law with this transaction anyway

>>45311846
>Tell him that it's Quedeshi.
>"Got it from an old Teln alchemist travelling the world, guy was crazy talented but unfortunately he's become senile with the years. It shows a little in the book, but the theory is still top notch."

>>45311846
My Master was very paranoid about people stealing his recipes, he used a strange code. I can translate the recipes but I'm afraid anything more than that would take a long time and wouldn't be worth much, he tends to ramble. Interesting brews though.

>>45312039
That doesn't explain how we would know the language

>Tell him that it's Quedeshi

"That's because it's from Quedesh and written in their tongue. Potions never seen on our shores."

That gets his attention at the very least. He leafs through the book once more, tracing the text with a finger.
"From the Witchlands, eh? Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"And you can translate it?"

"Yes."

He laughs.
"Fuck off mate, you think I don't know a swindle when I see one?"

"It's genuine!"

"Oh yeah, I'm sure it is. And you just happen to know how to translate it. And you're giving to me for just one book instead of selling your services to some merchant or scholar for a shitload of money. Yeah no worries mate that sounds plausible."

"It is! Do you think I just scrawled a bunch of nonsense down here? It's too coherent for that, there's a clear structure."

He looks extremely dubious.
"Doesn't mean anything. Certainly doesn't mean that you or it are from fucking Quedesh."

You're starting to feel a little peeved.
"Of course it's from Quedesh, that's where I got it from!"

He looks you square in the eye.
"Prove it."

>Find Aashenpreet and drag her over.

>Show him your sword.

>Get Zigzag to corroborate.

> "Look, aren't the first two books enough then?"

> "Is there anything you want to get this matter settled?"

>Use Potion (specify)

>Other

>>45312261
>>Show him your sword.
They really like treebrews over there. Made a mint. Apparently only the nobility in the cities can eat meat over there.

>>45312261
>Show him your sword.
Look mate, I swear both this sword and that book are from Quedesh. Nobody else in this country knows enough to prove or disprove that this is from Quedesh. I bet you could sell it as a collector's item and everyone would trust that it's from Quedesh on your word.

>>45312358
This. Since he knows nothing about Quedesh there's nothing we can really do to prove it to him. Also we've already read it all we want and it's therefore no longer valuable to us. And we have better things to do than selling our services to a merchant or a scholar.

>>45312261
> "Look, aren't the first two books enough then?"

>>45312261
> "Look, aren't the first two books enough then?"

>>45312261
>Show him your sword.

>Show him your sword.

You draw your sword, prompting him to step back with his hands raised for a moment before you slam it down on the counter.
"You ever seen a sword like this? Look mate, I swear both this sword and that book are from Quedesh. Nobody else knows enough to prove or disprove it, I bet you could sell it as a collector's item and people would take you at your word."

He stares at the sword and then back at the book, looking at the slanted script within it one more time.
"Alright. All three books then."

"Nice. Just give me an hour or so to translate the good parts for you."

He holds out his hand to forestall you.
"Nah mate. I want the original copy."

"But you won't be able to read the brew recipes?"

"There's no way any of the potions in this thing is worth me than the book itself. And if I include a translation than it's just going to hurt my credibility, innit?"
He reaches under the counter for just a moment.
"Now here's what you want. A bit second-hand but guaranteed to impress."

He places another book on the counter, a plain and discreet looking thing with a cover that's completely black save for small gold lettering on the spine.
A Lesson In Compliance: Mental Alchemy.

>Agree

>Disagree. You've changed your mind about selling the book.

>Disagree, you want more than that.

>Other

>>45312755
>Agree
Neat.

>>45312755
>>Disagree, you want more than that.

>>45312755
I'm interested, but what other books can you offer?

>>45312755
Are we offering the sword as well as the book?

>>45312755
>Disagree. You've changed your mind about selling the book.

Less trouble to just pop next door, brew up a Dispel and get our certificate of mastery. Probably. Letting people read about snakes is bad idea.

>>45312755
>>Agree

>>45312870
No.

>>45312854
This

>>45312889
If someone can speak quedeshi well enough to read it then they already know about snakes

>>45312755
>Disagree, you want more than that.
>>45312854
This
Also, I agree with >>45312889, but I want to either make the most out of this deal or make him call it off.

Please tell me Zigzag didn't run off somewhere during all this

>Ask about other books

You don't consider yourself the best at bargaining but even you can recognize when the boot is on the other foot.
"That's interesting but what other books do you have?"

He sighs and slides the book back away underneath the counter.
"I have a few but I don't have them on me. I sold the others I brought. Tell you what though, I sit you down, maybe buy you a drink, and we have some scribes come in and write down what you know about Quedesh? I'll pay you for it."

Well...you probably don't want to be doing that. Or do you? What's to stop you from just lying your head off?
"And what would you do with that?"

"Compile it into a book and sell it of course. It would take a few weeks of talking to you about it but it could make us a lot of money. I have connections with a few book-houses."

>"No thanks, I'm willing to wait for you to get the other books instead."

>Agree.

>Agree with the plan of lying.

>"I can go one better and show you a real Quedeshi if you want."

>Ask Zigzag to hypnotise him.

>Leave

>Other

>>45313228
>Agree.
Omit snakes, but otherwise tell the Truth maybe bring in Aash IF she's comfortable.

>>45313228
>"No thanks, I'm willing to wait for you to get the other books instead."
Sounds like a pain in the arse

>>45313275
You really want to spend a few weeks doing this? That's an awful idea anon.

>>45313228
>"No thanks, I'm willing to wait for you to get the other books instead."
>Leave
Let's go to the college, check out their library and talk to the masters.

>>45313228
>"No thanks, I'm willing to wait for you to get the other books instead."

>>45313228
>"No thanks, I'm willing to wait for you to get the other books instead."
Sad all this was for naught.

>>45313228
Christ what a waste of time. That sucks. Let's just take the damn mind alchemy book and a few of his lower level books.

>>45313390
It's our own fault for haggling before we knew what we were haggling for

>"No thanks, I'm willing to wait for you to get the other books instead."

You shake your head. You have a feeling that you're already spending too much time here already.
"No thanks, I'm willing to wait for you to get the other books instead."

The seller responds by throwing his hands into the air.
"What do you even want?"
But true to his word he slips a coin to a young lad who'd been sitting imperceptibly off to the side who then runs off to presumably fetch his books.
After that he drags out a small stool and sits down with an explosive sigh.
"I've got half a mind to give you your money back and tell you to leave, I'm not going to get any other customers with you hogging all the space. Not you girl, you can stay."

"I think I'm being a lot more inconvenienced than you are."

"I'm not the man who comes in and insists on making everything as difficult as possible, am I? Luckily this won't take long."

It takes over thirty minutes until the servant returns with an excuse of being stopped by a guardsman. It feels like it's been two hours.

The merchant just shakes his head and puts the Mental Alchemy book back on the counter together with two others.
"There. Which one do you want?"

>A Lesson In Compliance: Mental Alchemy

>A Beginning Master's Primer

> Stikkert's Guide to Exceedingly Dangerous Tomfoolery And Japes

>Ask for more than one.

>"Do you have anything else?"

>>45313594
>A Beginning Master's Primer
this sounds good let's do something else now

>>45313594
>A Beginning Master's Primer
Then let's ditch this looser

>>45313594
>A Beginning Master's Primer
Is this one just theory or does it have master-tier recipes in it?

>>45313594
>A Lesson In Compliance: Mental Alchemy

>>45313668
It has recipes.

>>45313594
>A Beginning Master's Primer

>>45313594
>A Beginning Master's Primer
I do like tomfoolery though...

Sorry guys, I've been feeling a bit faint. Just give me a few more minutes.

>>45313949
>tfw QM curse won't leave my favorite QM alone

>>45313949
>>45314009
>I'm going to beat the curse this time anon. You just have to believe.
Remind yourself that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer

>>45314044
10/10 I keked heartily

>>45313594
>>A Beginning Master's Primer

>A Beginning Master's Primer

You end up taking the Primer, exchanging three books and a few signets for two books. Considering how valuable the Quedeshi book might actually be you can't help but feel that you got ripped off.
Still, you're happy to just extricate yourself from this haggling hell.

Zigzag attempts to stay behind but you drag her along until you're out of earshot.
"Ziggy when men proposition you like that, they aren't offering themselves to be eaten. Actually, take this to heart. Nobody is ever going to ask you to eat them."

Zigzag looks confused which is nothing new.
"Then what did he want?"

"He wants to mate with you."

"Why would I want to do that?"

"I don't know, just follow me."

"I don't get it, it's not even the right time of year for that. Or...is this the human mating time? Because I'm seeing a lot of humans and I don't think any of them are mating. Are they?"

"Oi, keep it down with 'human' this and 'human' that will you? And no, it's not. We don't have mating times or seasons or whatever snakes do."

"Then where do your eggs come from?"

"I am absolutely certain we can talk about this later."

>Find Oster and Aash.

>Look for familiar faces.

>Check out the craftsmen.

>Find a spot where you can read through the books and maybe brew.

>Other

File: hopeless.jpg (171 KB, 1148x646)

171 KB JPG

>>45314044
>mfw

>>45314203
>Check out the craftsmen.
no haggling this time, nice and quick

>>45314203
>Look for familiar faces.

>>45314203
>Check out the craftsmen.

>>45314203
>Check out the craftsmen.

>>45314203

>Check out the craftsmen.
>Look for familiar faces.

>>45314203

>Look for familiar faces.

>Check out the craftsmen.

You drag Zigzag back down through the market until you're back in the part where all the craftsmen have set up, shouting offers at potential customers and the occasional abuse at their competitors. They're mostly people working in metal or glass but there's at least one bloke selling leather and cloth products, mostly backpacks and potion bandoleers.

Zigzag finds part of an orange that's been dropped and smashed into the cobblestones. She puts it in her mouth and chews before spitting it back out again.

You try to ignore that as best you can and focus on the wares. What are you looking for?

>I want more and better glassware.

>I want syringes.

>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.

>I want to try and commission a replica of the Caster.

>I want something else (Specify)

>Other

>>45314459
>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.
>I want syringes.
>An actual sheath for our sword if that matters

>>45314459
>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.
>tfw I've spelled bandoleer with an i my entire life
it's not like I use the word a lot but I still feel like an idiot

>>45314459
>>I want more and better glassware.
>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.

>>45314459
>I want syringes.
>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.

>>45314459
>I want syringes.
>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.
What does better glassware even mean in this case?

>>45314459
>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.
>I want syringes.

>>45314563
stronger, less prone to breaking, easier to clean, harder for residue to stick too

>>45314459
>I want to try and commission a replica of the Caster.
I kinda wanna get famous with this. Maybe once Hiss is in power here we can start mass-producing them.

>>45314652
I feel like Cennen would have mixed feelings on that subject

>>45314459
>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.
>I want more and better glassware. Focused on better.

>I like the look of the potion bandoleer.
>I want syringes.

You stop by the leatherworker first to buy a bandoleer that fits you. It's a shoulder belt with enough space for ten potions and the slots where they are contained can be covered in flaps of dark cloth so people don't see what exactly you have stared there. Any potion inside of the bandoleer can be drawn and used immediately without losing valuable time digging through your pack. Any potion in your bandoleer is always considered valid to be used immediately within reason. However the seller warns you not to put anything too explosive in there in case you fall over and land on your chest. He also warns you to be careful of thrown rocks or stray crossbow bolts breaking one of the bottles stored in your chest.

Once you buy that you spend the next few minutes purchasing a set of six syringes. Syringes are a remarkable invention crafted from glass and steel that allows for any potion that normally requires ingestion to be administered through injection.
He also tries to sell you something that he calls the 'War Syringe, a sturdy hollow rod with a hilt not unlike a sword that tapers into a replaceable needle-point. According to him it's popular with battle alchemists currently plying their trade overseas.
You don't ask where he got the idea that you were a battle alchemist since you're wearing a bandoleer. What other alchemist would likely need one?
Instead you ask him what makes the 'War Syringe' better than just a sword. He doesn't reply.

>Buy the War Syringe.
>Save your money.

Additionally:
>Choose from any of the potions in your inventory to place in the bandoleer now if you wish.

>>45314795
>Save your money.
Antimagic
Acid
Dispel 2x
Ignition 2x
Scalebane
Soul guard
Snakebreaker
Snake dispel

>>45314795
>Save your money.
However, we should steal the idea and make some sort of siringe throwing crossbow for stealth and non-lethal shots

>>45314795
Would the War Syringe put much of a dent in our funds? I feel like we're pretty well-off right now but I'm not sure.

>>45314795
How have alchemists missed blow-guns?

>>45314842
nigga the acid, ignitions, and snakebreakers are bad ideas
also soul guard doesn't do jack shit for us since we're a spiritbane

>>45314795
>Save your money.
We've got enough offensive firepower between our caster and our snakes, as well as just throwing potions or stabbing people normally.


>Choose from any of the potions in your inventory to place in the bandoleer now if you wish.
Dispel, defang, antimagic, sun potion. Nothing else looks too mandatory to have on immediate access, or necessary at the current moment. And he did just warn us against explosives, it's sound advice.
We need to brew some more potions up since we're running light though, once we do we can put two heal-alls, two antidotes, and some other potions that we go through on a regular basis in it.

>>45314795
>Save your money.
meh, our sword is cooler

>>45314890
Let's add a soulgrasp to this since you never know when you want to nab someone's soul for our ethically dubious soul alchemy

>>45314857
It wouldn't.

>>45314843
>>45314861
The blow-gun and the syringe crossbow aren't used because just using a crossbow and soaking your bolts in your potions beforehand is usually better.

>>45314795
>Buy the War Syringe.
Hey, you never know. Might be useful someday.

We've really been neglecting our experimental brewing lately. We need to make some more Caster brews and some other brews to use when making homunculi.

>Save your money.
>Load up the bandoleer.

You load up your new bandoleer with potions, a dispel, defang, antimagic, sun potion and soulgrasp respectively. You can fill the other slots later.

While you're preoccupied with fixing up your potions, Zigzag wanders over to investigate the War Syringe.
"What's this for?"

"It's a weapon for alchemists, you stick that sharp end into something and it acts like a syringe you see? Lots of people use it."

"This end?"
You hear a faint snapping sound and turn around in growing horror just in time to see Zigzag set the War Syringe down, the needle-point broken against her invulnerable skin. You're not the only person watching either and the merchant looks very aware of that.
"Doesn't look very sharp to me."

A few people are starting to laugh and heckling the merchant for trying to push his shoddy wares. He hasn't said anything yet but he's getting extremely red in the face while Zigzag pokes through his other merchandise.
He doesn't know it but it looks like he's coming dangerously close to doing something that costs him his life. Or at the very least his dignity.

>Let it happen. It can be explained away through brews.

>"It was a shit weapon anyway."

>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.

>Pay recompense.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>45315119
>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.
The needles are replaceable right? Must've been a bunk needle.

>>45315119

>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.
>Pay recompense.

>>45315119
>>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.
Most weapons that work on humans that aren't wearing ponderous heavy armor wouldn't do shit to you anyways Zig. Acids on the other hand.....

>>45315119
>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.
>Pay recompense.
>Just buy one

>>45315119
>>Let it happen. It can be explained away through brews.

>Pay recompense.


must be a sideeffect of that cosmetic brew ive been working on

>>45315198
I don't think you know what cosmetic means

>>45315119
>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.

>>45315119
>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.
Note to self: give her a different disguise. She's been doing lots of suspicious shit in public today. Also explain to her why that was wrong so she can learn.

>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.

You force a laugh as you step forward.
"Must have just been a bunk needle, right? Sorry about that?"
You grab hold of Zigzag's hand and pull her away as quickly as possible while hoping to hell and back that she doesn't choose to shred all the skin on your arm.

Once you're at the other end of the marketplace you let go of her and sigh.
"Ziggy...Ziggy, that was wrong. That was a wrong thing you did there."
How are you going to explain this to her?

She smiles widely.
"I know."

You draw to a stop slowly.
"What do you mean by that?"

"I know it was the wrong thing. That's why I did it."

"But why?"

"I knew it wouldn't be able to hurt me. I also knew that everyone watching me would think I was just a human without scales. That way it would appear that it was shoddy."

"That doesn't really answer my question. Why do that?"

She shrugs, not quite able to explain it herself.
"It gives me a warm feeling. Like warmth but not actually. It makes me smile and I feel good."
She pauses for a moment as she tries to think of the right word.
"It was funny. My body enjoys doing funny things."

"Well uh, Zigzag just because it's funny doesn't mean it's right."

"Why not?"

"What makes you feel good doesn't always make everyone else feel good."

"And?"

"And what? That's it! That's the point!"

"Manners are weird."

>Fuck this, it's starting to get late. Just go back to the inn. Oster and Aashenpreet know the way back.

>You still have something you want to do here.

>Other

>>45315119
>>Just quietly lead Zigzag away.
>>Pay recompense.

Sorry, I need a better assistant to test out my brews, one that can think about possible consequences.

>>45315379
>Fuck this, it's starting to get late. Just go back to the inn. Oster and Aashenpreet know the way back.
Ok, it might have been a little bit funny

>>45315379
Golden rule Zigzag, if you don't like someone doing it to you, don't do it to someone else. How'd you feel if someone took you ability to find food and broke it?

>Fuck this, it's starting to get late. Just go back to the inn. Oster and Aashenpreet know the way back.

>>45315379
>Fuck this, it's starting to get late. Just go back to the inn. Oster and Aashenpreet know the way back.
Can't decide if we should read or brew.

>>45315379
>>Fuck this, it's starting to get late. Just go back to the inn. Oster and Aashenpreet know the way back.

>>45315379
>You still have something you want to do here.
Might as well get Aash and Oster first

>>45315410
She already know what that feels like and we did it to her. Probably shouldn't bring it up.

>>45315379
Devilish, Zig.
>Fuck this, it's starting to get late. Just go back to the inn. Oster and Aashenpreet know the way back.

>>45315379
I forgot that being in a human body for too long will slowly make you think more like a human too. I guess this is a sign of progress?

>Fuck this, it's starting to get late. Just go back to the inn. Oster and Aashenpreet know the way back.

Screw this noise, you've had an extremely long day and it's time to get back. Spend the night doing some nice stress-free activities like brewing or reading or even just sleeping. And unlike Zigzag here it's not like Aashenpreet and Oster need your supervision.

"There's a general rule Ziggy," you say as you start walking back. "If you don't like someone doing it to you, don't do it someone else. Simple as that."

"But you never follow that rule."

"...I do sometimes," you say somewhat lamely. "Let's just get back already, it's been a big day for all of us."

"I spent most of it asleep."

Your journey back to the inn is blessedly uneventful but all of that ends when you arrive at the inn itself. There's a carriage pulled up right outside of it but there aren't any horses and there's a small crowd of people muttering about outside.

"Oi," you call out to them. "What's going on?"

"We just got turfed out! Innkeeper threw all of us from our beds!"

"I was just trying to get a beer when that bitch came in and everyone started treating her like she was fucking queen!"

"Fuck that, I didn't get my money back!"

"Yeah, fuck em! Let's go!"

One of them breaks forward towards the door for a moment but nobody follows him.
"It's fine really."

"I didn't want to stay there anyway it was shit."

"I really don't like the way she looked at me."

The man who was trying to organize them into a mob is starting to look pretty crestfallen.
"Come on, you lot! Are you afraid of a woman? What kind of men do you call yourselves?"

When nobody else is willing to look him in the eye he makes a rude gesture and storms the inn alone, slamming the door behind him.

Let's just say you have your suspicions about what's happened.
"That can't be right," you say to yourself. "She's not supposed to be here until tomorrow."

1/2

>>45315615
Has the savior of Melire finally arrived?

>>45315615
You wait for the crowd to disperse, grown men shamed by a fear that they cannot explain, before entering the inn.

It's been...refurbished, to say the least. The tables have all been pushed to the side and the chairs have mostly been demolished to make room for a giant empty space in the very centre of what used to be the bar.
A place where a Queen can hold court.

And sure enough Hiss is sitting in the centre of it all atop a makeshift throne. The innkeeper and his staff are all missing, she is waited upon by the dead.
The sole man who'd kept his courage and stormed the inn just a minute earlier is lying in a motionless huddle in front of her. She's using him as a makeshift footstool.
She claps her hands when she sees you come in.
"Cennen! And the other one, whatever. I've missed you!"

"Yeah uh, me too Hiss. What have you done here?"

"I have bought out this building for my own personal use. This shall be a fine temporary base of operations don't you think?"

"When you say 'bought', do you mean with signets?"

"With lives. But that's neither here nor there. Sit."
It wasn't a request.

The dead drag out a table and a chair for you so that you can sit opposite the Serpent Queen. Zigzag goes to sit as well but Hiss just shakes her head.
"You can sit at our feet if you want. Or you could just go get lost, either way."

A teapot is brought over as you sit down, clutched in the hands of a corpse.
"I'm using the rooms here to house my snakes, I hope you don't mind. I left the room with the smashed-in door untouched, I just KNEW that was yours."
The tea tastes alright. Not great but it's not awful either.
"So...how was your day honey?"

You sigh.
"You wouldn't believe it."

Anyway that's that for today. I was feeling a bit bad during the latter half of the thread so sorry about that. But on the other hand, the Longest Day in Snakecatcher History has actually come to an end.
I hope you all had fun and remember to check the twitter for when the next thread will be.

>>45315747
Thanks for running!

>>45315747
Night Ouro, thanks for running

>>45315747
>7 threads for a single day
kek yep a lot of shit happened today huh

Actually while I'm here there's a question I've been meaning to ask. I will probably be running tomorrow but I don't know if I'll feel well enough to do Snakecatcher.
Would you guys like a oneshot thing done in the same setting for a day?

>Yes

>No

>>45315826
>Yes
absolutely, sounds interesting. what's it gonna be?

>>45315826
>Yes

>>45315826
>Yes
Sure, as long as there are sneks

>>45315826
>Yes
Some other country or what?

>>45315833
Probably something on the mainland. I was thinking a very rudimentary system of character generation similar to the first thread of this Quest.

>>45315844
There might not be sneks

>>45315861
Neat. I'll be there.

>>45315826
>Yes
I'm sure it'll be fun.

>>45315826
>>Yes