>>46041219
“So yeah Cennen, I was just going to kill him since he’s one hell of a loose end but then I remembered that you’re fond of him.”

You stare down at Master Yolan. The old man has certainly seen better days. You don’t know how Hiss captured him or what she’s done to him but he’s bruised and bleeding and he can’t stand up right. He stares at you.
“Cennen? You know this woman?”

Hiss laughs.
“Of course he does. I’m the snake he told you about. Maybe you should have heeded his advice a little more.”
You can’t help but notice the way Yolan cringes away from her the moment she moves.

“What did you do to him Hiss?”

She shrugs.
“He wasn’t being very compliant and I felt like using my hands. Don’t worry, he’s mostly unbroken. Now what do you think we should do with him?”

“Can’t you just eat his memories?”

Hiss shakes her head.
“No. I mean, I CAN but it wouldn’t solve the problem. He’s been doing a lot of theoretical work with that snake alchemy you gave him, lots of little thoughts about that everywhere in his soul. If I want to bite all of that out I’m going to have to rip out a lot...well, him. He could end up like the old Mayor. Now, I don’t particularly care about that but I figured you might not want that.”

“Yeah, no kidding. Couldn’t you just have asked him not to tell? Or pay him off?”

“It’s a bit late for that, I’d say. And besides, I’m not sure if you understand just how sensitive this matter is. Snake alchemy cannot be allowed to fall into human hands. You know how strong it is! We’d be best suited by either removing his mind or pruning his soul into a more trustworthy servant. He can’t be trusted with information of this magnitude otherwise.”

1/2

>>46041237

>”Did you really have to hurt him like this?”

>”Hiss, people are going to find out about snake reagents sooner or later.”

>”I suppose you can change his mind a little.”

>”Just rip it all out and try to be gentle.”

>”I’d like to talk to Master Yolan alone first.”

>Nobble Hiss.

>Other

>>46041259
>”Did you really have to hurt him like this?”

>>46041259
>”Did you really have to hurt him like this?”
>”I’d like to talk to Master Yolan alone first.”

>>46041259

>”I’d like to talk to Master Yolan alone first.”
We must learn of his research

>>46041259
>”I suppose you can change his mind a little.”
Don't really care about this guy that much

>>46041259
>”I’d like to talk to Master Yolan alone first.”
I wouldn't really mind changing his mind, it's better than any alternative. Let's talk to him first though.

>”Did you really have to hurt him like this?”
>”I’d like to talk to Master Yolan alone first.”

You stare at his crumpled form for a few seconds. You can't really call Yolan a friend. More of an acquaintance that you met months ago. But he had saved your life when Hiss bit you and had personally placed your feet upon the first steps to becoming the master alchemist you are today. He probably doesn't deserve this.
"Did you really have to hurt him like this?"

"He wasn't being very cooperative," Hiss says. "And besides, I'm virtually Queen now. That means I can hurt anyone I want right?"

"That's not what being Queen means. Or at least, it shouldn't mean that."

"Oh Cennen, you can't act all disgusted now. What's happening to him is all your fault. Why did you have to tell him the truth anyway? If you hadn't then none of this would have happened."

"Maybe so. But I think I'd like to talk to him alone first."

Hiss rolls her eyes.
"If you want. Just don't take too long, I had other stuff I wanted to accomplish before the sun goes down."

She takes Orange by the hand and leads him out of the cellar, leaving you alone with Master Yolan in the darkness.

"Is that really the princess you told me about?"
Yolan drags himself to his feet and winces with pain.

"She's Queen now but yes. Are you doing alright?"

"What do you think? What the hell have you been doing? What is all of this?"

"One question at a time. Here."
You give him a Heal-All and he gratefully drinks it down.

And then he stops and looks at the bottle.
"Cennen, this is a Heal-All. Did you buy this?"

"Nope. Made it. I'm sort of a master now."

"Unbelievable," he mutters. "Now, are you here to rescue me?"

>"No."

>"Maybe. It's a complicated situation. Remember when I told you how I felt about the Princess? It's gotten a lot messier since then."

>"Yes." You need to get him away from Hiss.

>"Letting Hiss prune you a little won't be so bad."

>Talk shop.

>Apologize.

>"So what happened this morning?

>>46041698
>"Maybe. It's a complicated situation. Remember when I told you how I felt about the Princess? It's gotten a lot messier since then."
>"So what happened this morning?
>Moldrun stole your work....(explain what he did with it)

>>46041698
>"Maybe. It's a complicated situation. Remember when I told you how I felt about the Princess? It's gotten a lot messier since then."
>Tell him about Moldrun and how many awful things could be done if snake alchemy becomes known.
>"So what happened this morning?
>Apologize.

>>46041698
>"Maybe. It's a complicated situation. Remember when I told you how I felt about the Princess? It's gotten a lot messier since then."
>Talk shop.
>"So what happened this morning?

>>46041698
>Talk shop.
>Apologize.
>"So what happened this morning?

>>46041698
>"No."

>>46041698
>>"Maybe. It's a complicated situation. Remember when I told you how I felt about the Princess? It's gotten a lot messier since then."
>"I'm sorry, but what she said is true, by telling you about snakes I made you a risk for her. I'm afraid the only way she'll let you live is by taking a huge chunk of memories from you, or maybe, and I can't stress that enough, if you agree to become indentured to her... Premanently."

>"Maybe. It's a complicated situation. Remember when I told you how I felt about the Princess? It's gotten a lot messier since then."
>Tell him about Moldrun
>"So what happened this morning?"

"Uhh, maybe. It's sort of complicated. It's been a pretty long time since we last met and since then Hiss and I have...become close. I think I'm in love with her?"

"You love her? She's a monster!"

"Yes and? You're not the first person to tell me that."

"She would have killed you if it wasn't for me."

"That was my fault. Look, I can't just rescue you and set you free. Hiss might have some legitimate concerns about snake reagents."
You tell him about Moldrun and what you found of his experiments. What little colour is left in Yolan's face drains away.

"That madman," he scowls. "I didn't know he had that."

"So you see, they have to be controlled and kept secret. And like it or not, I turned you into a big risk for her."

"A risk for her?"
Yolan coughs, nearly doubling over.
"Oh I'd hate to be a risk for her after she's treated me so kindly."

"What happened between you two anyway? Did you try and resist?"

"Of course I did. Would you do any different? ...Maybe you would. So yes, I told the complete stranger that I was not going to surrender my research to her. And so she knocked me to the ground and beat me as if I were a dog. She was smiling the whole time. That's who you're helping Cennen. She's a beast in human clothing."

"I know. Trust me, I'm completely aware. She's cruel and horrible and she seems to commit some new atrocity every time I take my eyes off of her. But I love her, all of her, for what she is."

Yolan stares at you.
"You've grown a lot."

"Than-"

"But not in the way I had hoped. You haven't become a man, Cennen. You've become her tool."

"Look, just let her prune you a little and it'll be fine. Nobody has to die."

"No! I don't want to be turned into somebody else! And I don't want to serve someone like her. How can you not understand this?"

>>46042101
>"But not in the way I had hoped. You haven't become a man, Cennen. You've become her tool."


DINGDINGDING winner winner chicken dinner.

>>46042101
"And I'm not just talking about what she's done to me today. It would be morally reprehensible for me to do her bidding. She's evil, Cennen! She doesn't care about us!"

"That's not true. Well, not all of it. She does care about me."

"And you don't find it wrong? She eats people!"

"I guess somewhere along the line I just got used to it."

Yolan tries to hobble away but can only manage a few steps before his bad leg gives way. He holds his head in his hands.
"Just help me escape Cennen. I won't tell anyone about her. I'll run far away, across the ocean if I have to, and I'll keep my mouth shut. Her secrets will be safe. But I can't, I won't become her creature."

>Help him escape.

>"I'll tell Hiss about this and I'll get her to see that exile is a fine option."

>"Sorry but that's off the table."

>Call Hiss back in.

>"You can't stop her. I can't stop her. Why even try to fight it?"

>Ask where his research is.

>Other

>>46042232
>"I'll tell Hiss about this and I'll get her to see that exile is a fine option."

>>46042232
>"You can't stop her. I can't stop her. Why even try to fight it?"
>Ask where his research is.
We've seen an end to this world.

>>46042232
>Tell him about Quedesh, what's we've seen about the art heart, homunculi, and the purpose of this world.
>Yes she is an evil bitch, her entire race is evil, I try my best to temper it. Stopping them would be the end of Taldendral, even if we won. IF.
>She might allow you to be exiled provided I can make a potion to enforce your silence on the subject.

>>46042232
>"I'll tell Hiss about this and I'll get her to see that exile is a fine option."
We can probably pull this off.

>>46042232
>"I'll tell Hiss about this and I'll get her to see that exile is a fine option."
>Call Hiss back in.

>>46042232
>"Look, it's complicate, I can't just forsake her! And I'm fucking trying. Believe it or not there would be a lot more corpses if I wasn't at her side (or alternatively, there would be none, barring hers)"

>"I'll tell Hiss about this and I'll get her to see that exile is a fine option."

>"I'll tell Hiss about this and I'll get her to see that exile is a fine option."

That isn't an awful idea actually. An exile of sorts would get him out of Hiss' hair while keeping him alive and still himself. You find yourself nodding.
"That sounds good. And I'm sorry but I don't think I can rescue you. But I can tell Hiss what you just said! I'm sure I can convince her."

"Wait! No-"

But it's too late. You call Hiss back in and she's back within the minute. That was longer than you thought. Seems like she actually gave you enough space that she wouldn't be listening in.
"So," she says as she sits back down. "Have you decided?"

"We had an idea. Hiss, Yolan doesn't want to serve you or to let you into his soul."

Hiss makes a derisive sound.
"Tough. He'll have to deal with it."

"Or maybe not. What if we exiled him? You can put him on a ship and have him sent off to the mainland. He won't turn back and it doesn't matter what he says or does over there."

"I don't know, that sounds like a lot of effort. Why shouldn't I just eat him?"

Because then you'll be no more than what Yolam said you were. A tool.
"Because it's important to me. Come on Hiss, surely you can let this one slide."

"Hrm, I guess? He's not all that important. But all of his research must be confiscated. He can't bring any of it with him."

You watch Yolan's face fall and you understand completely. How would you like to be parted with your pack?
"There's no need to go that far Hiss."

"Don't push your luck. Besides, I'm going to give all of his stuff to you."
She reaches up and ruffles your hair patronisingly.
"Orange, arrange for a ship right away! No need to keep this sack of bones around for any longer than I have to."

As Orange leads Yolan away the alchemist passes you and exchanges a whisper.
"Thanks."

"No worries mate."

"It must be nice to be a pet alchemist."

"Oi..."
It's too late, he's gone.

You and Hiss are alone in the cellar, Hiss looking particularly pleased with herself.
1/2

>>46042690
"Pretty nice of me, huh? I even let you have a reunion and everything."

"Yeah. I guess it went pretty well."

Hiss cocks her head.
"Is something wrong?"

>"Nothing."

>"Do you think of me as your pet alchemist?"

>"Just something he said to me about being your tool."

>Thank her.

>Just leave.

>Other

>>46042730
>"Just something he said to me about being your tool."

>>46042730
>"Just something he said to me about being your tool."

>>46042690
>Unlimited funding, vanguard research and great sex
It's a living, I guess

>>46042730
>>"Just something he said to me about being your tool."
>Get to your two Homuclus

>>46042804
Not to mention getting to be a cushy house human when the rest of the humans are put to work in the cotton fields.

>>46042730
>Thank her.
For not killing him and exiling him instead. But ask her why she enjoys hurting and subjugating humans so much.
>"Just something he said to me about being your tool."
He may have a point. I've been too passive about some of the awful things you do but I'm asking you now to be kinder to humans, just like you did right now minus the whole beating and using yolan as furniture thing.

>>46042730
>"Nothing."

>>46042857
Teleran was already at a stage of late feudalism/early renaissance before Hiss arrived, hers is not that great of a change

>>46042815
I'll second this.

>"Just something he said to me about being your tool."

"Just something he said to me. Hiss, am I just a tool?"

"Not JUST a tool! You're a fantastic tool Cennen but you know you mean a lot more to me than that."

"That's not quite the answer I think I wanted but thanks anyway. I'm starting to wonder if I've been too passive with you."

Hiss raises an eyebrow.
"I'd hardly call this morning 'passive'. Or last night."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

Hiss stands up, crossing the distance between you in a blink of an eye.
"There's nothing wrong with being a tool. It's just an insulting way to refer to a servant and you are my servant. But I don't think you're disposable and I would never mistreat you."

"But I am your tool."

"Sort of. Don't get too hung up on it."
She leans in close and kisses you lightly on the cheek about as close as she can get to your lips without poisoning you.
"I take good care of my tools."

"I wish you'd treat other humans a little better. Your policy towards them is fine but personally...you're a little harsh."

Hiss smirks. It's clear what she wants.
"Maybe. Why don't you make me?"


>"Maybe later." You have stuff to do.

> Pet snake.

> "No, I don't think I'm happy with this."

> Nobble.

> Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>46043066
I'm being serious right now. I'm glad to be reaching greatness with you but I'm feeling really bad about all the humans we crush underfoot. You could be a ruler that is happily followed by snakes and humans if you held back your impulses and applied yourself. And that's my personal idea of reaching greatness with you.

>>46043178
This.

>>46043066
>>46043178
perhaps a bit less condescending, but otherwise i agree with this sentiment

>>46043066
I might be your tool but if you use me in the wrong way I'll break. I've held my tongue about what you've done to humans but I can't do that anymore. You could be a great queen or an cruel tyrant, personally I would prefer the former and I think you would enjoy it more too in the long run. I'll only be alive for the first bit of your reign and I don't want to leave it knowing that I've done something unforgivable.

>Other

You try to push her away but completely fail.
"Hiss no, I'm being serious right now. I'm happy that we're achieving something, that you're actually getting to be Queen but I don't like the way you treat humans."

Hiss blinks.
"Are we really doing this now? Fine. I don't think you understand. I AM treating most of the humans fine. I'm helping restore the city. But you only see the ones I take umbrage with personally. They're just an outlier. An acceptable statistic."

"I get that. But I think you need to restrain yourself more."

She purses her lips.
"I'll try."

>"That's not a good enough answer."

>"That's all I needed to hear."

>Time to go.

>Pet snake.

>Other

>>46043451
>Pet snake.

>>46043451
I believe you can do better Hiss, you're better than you let yourself be.
>Pet snake.

>>46043451
>"That's all I needed to hear."
>Pet snake.

>>46043451

>Pet snake.

I suspect Master Yolan dead

>>46043451
>>Time to go.
>>Other
We should probably check on our scheming children.

>>46043451
>"That's all I needed to hear."
>Pet snake.
C'mon Hiss you can do it.

>>46043451
Let her try out that soul substitute and ask what she thinks

>Pet snake.

"That's all I needed to hear. I know you can do better Hiss, you're better than you let yourself be."

Hiss puts on an appearance of being appropriately contrite that lasts all of several seconds before it is dispelled by you pulling her tunic open.

"Mmmm oh, hold on!"
She grins as she catches both of your hands and holds them in a grip of iron.
"I'm not going to give in as easily as I did last time. Let's not forget who the tool is around here."


>"We'll see about that."

>Nobble.

>Acquiesce.

>"Okay." Leave.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>46043656
>"We'll see about that."

>>46043656
>"We'll see about that."
Playfully.
Well I'm glad we said that. I hope she can actually follow through with it.

>>46043739
She won't

>>46043656
>>"We'll see about that."
playfully,
"Besides I don't have potence so you have me and a distinct disadvantage"

>>46043656
>"We'll see about that."
Okay but we should get back to our sketchy homunculi after this

>>46043656
>>46043771
this

>>46043769
well she's certainly not going to just up and do it, but it seems that at least some part of her need to achieve greatness pushes her to overcome the weird moralistic challenges that cennen sets up, albeit very slowly and with as many outs as possible..

>>46043656
>Acquiesce.
Fair's fair

>"We'll see about that."

"We'll see about that," you mutter as you fail to break out of her grip.

.............

She wasn't fucking kidding. You tried your best to fight back but you didn't even last a minute before she had you down on the floor with your head trapped between her thighs.
Without the potence or the wish-bond it's hardly a far contest.

After that it's only a matter of time before you're left lying spent and exhausted on the cold cellar floor. Hiss is standing over you with her back turned and getting dressed.

"You can't say I didn't warn you," she remarks.


>Leave to check on your homunculi.

>Get your revenge while her back is turned.

>Check up on Yolan.

>Do some brewing.

>"Did it really have to be here?"

>"What happened to giving up control?"

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>46043950
>Leave to check on your homunculi.
worry

>>46043950
>>Leave to check on your homunculi.


Memo: to self, potence is a must

>>46043950
>Leave to check on your homunculi.
Well of course I wouldn't win this time, but it's no fun if I just give up right?

>>46043950
>Get your revenge while her back is turned.
Spank
then quickly
>Leave to check on your homunculi.
I'm worried we'll find too many or too few

>>46043950
>Leave to check on your homunculi.

>>46043950
>>Check up on Yolan.
Honestly it would be cool to talk with him some more, even if he's just going to browbeat. Its nice to have a voice for honest criticism

>Leave to check on your homunculi.

You let yourself chuckle as you get dressed.
"I gave you that one."

"Uhuh. sure thing. The important thing is that now I feel better and that's all that matters."
She buttons herself up and departs, leaving you to find your own way back to the basement containing your pseudo-children.

On the way back you pass a bright-red Orange standing in the corridor outside the cellar. He's totally flushed and won't look you in the eye so you guess he probably overheard a lot of that.
It must be particularly awful considering that rather humiliating false memory you stuck in him.

You walk back to the basement without any major incident just in time to find it empty. Eva and Hom aren't here and the giant iron pot is turned on its own side, concoction spilled all over the floor.
The brew mixes with the dirty floor to make a thin coating of mud and it is in this that you spot two sets of footprints. They both lead off down a passageway even deeper into the dark basement.

"Eva? Hom?"
No reply.

>Go after the footprints immediately.

>Get some help.

>Tell everyone to be on the lookout for them.

>Sit here and wait.

>Other

>>46044293
>>Tell everyone to be on the lookout for them.
>Get some help.
AAsh, Zigzag either one of you here?

File: gote.png (110 KB, 700x616)

110 KB PNG

Sorry about being so slow today btw, I feel very tired.

>>46044293
>Go after the footprints immediately.
Use a sun potion

>>46044293
>Go after the footprints immediately.

>>46044293
>Go after the footprints immediately.
Sun potion, antimagic. Get our caster ready too.

>>46044293
>Get some help.
First person we recognize

>>46044463
I'm not expecting anything bad

Calling it for going after the footprints. Also calling it for today in general because I actually fell asleep for a second as I was writing and that shit's no good. Makes me way too slow and clunky.

Sorry about this guys, I shouldn't have started a thread today at all. Next thread won't be tomorrow but will be the day after.

>>46044293
>Other
>Inspect concoction
>Follow footprints
Also
>use basic forestry skill to inspect tracks, are they walking or running? If so, just one or both of them?

>>46044520
Thanks for running. Get some sleep Ouro. You're really not writing slowly at all though.

>>46044520
get that sleep man, thanks for running

>>46044293
Aww fuck. Really kids? Going through your rebellious phase already?

Also kinda sad about Yolan. That was probably the best we could do. Still hurt. We need to improve our CQC for Hiss wrangling me thinks.

>>46044520
Night Ouro, thanks for the thread.

>>46044520
Alright, see ya for st patrick thread