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>>1189446

For any new players:

Welcome to Gorgon Child Quest! Where-in you take up the role of a magical talking artifact being wielded by a young gorgon girl named Cici. Living out of the remains of a once great dungeon, the game will focus on exploration, character interaction, and learning as the voices of the players within the amulet help guide her along.

For news about quest updates, my twitter can be found here:
https://twitter.com/bananon_QM

And the archive can presently be found here:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=gorgon+child

hugs vivi back?

>>1189446
Perhaps work at the bakery again? Then maybe some magic practice?

>>1189446
Part of me wants to lean back today and let you decide. We don't want to run your life for you.

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>>1189588
>>1189545
>>1189513
>>1189446

Cici squeezes Vivi a bit tighter, enjoying the protection of her feathers in the chill morning air sweeping across the rooftop.

“Are you going to have to leave for work soon?” she probes curiously, looking into the glare of the rising sun as she notes that Vivi should have probably already left by now.

“Nah,” Vivi answers. “I’ve got today off, not to mention a bit of cash if we want to do somethin’.”

“Hmm… The voices want to do more baking, and that sounds fun. I’m not sure if you’d be able to help though.”

“Heheh. Yeah… Mom left the cooking to dad for a reason… We could get some sweets though, maybe a book while we’re there…”

“That sounds nice. We could visit Katy and Hannah too.”

“Girls,” Mama interrupts gently, turning away from her work with the clippers to face them. “I know you’re eager to go into town, but… Well, today might not be the best day for it.”

“Awww,” Vivi moans. “Are you still worried about that crazy dwarf?”

“That’s my job,” Mama admits, giving a slightly sad smile, “but it’s not just Oscar I’m worried about. I… Our neighbors in the woods think today would be a good day to introduce themselves to the townsfolk, and I’m a little concerned about having you girls get lost in the crowds.”

“Are you going with them, Mama?” Cici asks, seeing the nervousness in the way her mother’s tail twirls idly at the end.

“Yes, sweetling. I’ll be gone for a little while, but afterward, we can certainly go to town together.”

“Hmm… ‘Kay,” Cici finally concludes after some thought. “We’ll wait around here until you get back! Otherwise, we’ll visit the bees.”

“Just be careful,” Mama sighs, ruffling her child’s hair and straightening her blouse before slithering toward the stairs. “And be good!”

With that, the gorgon is quickly out of sight, appearing a second later halfway across the graveyard as she slides toward town.

“Guess we’ve got some time to kill then,” Vivi sighs.

“There’s lots of stuff we can do though.”

> Write-in

feed pets and yourself?

>>1189610
Do you feel up for some magic practice? Maybe that might be worth while

>>1189610
Build a fort!there's probably still some loose building materials around, right?

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>>1189610
>>1189625

[“Vivi an’ me already ate breakfast, and Din-Din…”]

With a dull rattle of leaves, the hare pops his head out of the clippings pile he had snuck into while Mama wasn’t looking.

[“I think he’s full too. And Jasmine is out hunting, I think…”]

Still, it didn’t hurt to try to find the sleepy cat, if she’s still in. Otherwise, she’d spend the whole day napping. And so, Cici and Vivi make their way downstairs, the latter nervously trailing the former as they sought to awaken the beast.

“Jasmine…” Cici calls softly, sliding a hand inside of the darkened cubby as she feels around for fur. “Jasmine…”

However, there are no mewls of acknowledgement forthcoming, and the blankets, though still warm, come up empty. It’s then that Cici hears a tapping noise coming from down the hall.

“Huh? What’s that?” Cici asks, getting a confused shrug from the harpy before moving to follow.

The tower had less empty rooms now than it had before, but Cici still finds herself passing quite a few as she searches for the mysterious tapping noise apparently echoing from down below. Quiet but insistent, it gains volume the further she goes in pursuit of it, taking on a distinct, rhythmic clack as she rounds a corner and finds Jasmine waiting there. The noise, however, is not coming from her, but from the other side of a very specific door the cat’s eyes appear to be boring through, the stone barrier erected by Grampa Brad before he had left.

“Oh gods… why now?” Vivi whispers quietly.

“Maybe it’s the little robot again,” Cici suggests.

[“But what do we do?”]

> Write-in

>>1189746
>>1189754
In fact, combine these, build a magic fort! It will probably just sparkle or something, but magic is magic!

>>1189764
>>1189754
>>1189746

The refresh was a little slow, but noted.

>>1189762
Best grab Jasmine and leave the door alone.

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>>1189762
>>1189764
>>1189781

Clink…. Clink….
Clink…. Clink…

As Cici stands there just listening to the gentle rhythm of the tapping against the door, she finds herself uncertain. It could be the little robot again, or it could be something dangerous. One thing was for certain though, Mama wouldn’t want her opening the door while she was away. She didn’t even know if she could anyway, but for now, it was best to get Jasmine and leave.

Clink… Clink…
Clink… Clink…

“Jasmine…” Cici calls softly, moving forward to pick up the fixated cat. “Come on. It’s dangerous h-“

“Well, hello little girl!” comes a muffled voice from beyond the door, making cat and girl jump back in shock. “Would you be so kind as to let me in?”

Clink… Clink…
Clink… Clink…

“M-Mama says I’m not supposed to….” Cici answers after a long pause. “An’ Vivi an’ I don’t know how to open it!”

“Ah, so that’s her name… The bird girl behind you…” the voice confirms somehow. “Quite adorable, little things, the both of you.”

“I, um-“

“This is r-really weird,” Vivi murmurs.

“Anyway, Mama says I’m not supposed to talk to strangers,” Cici calls back. “I’m sorry!”

“Oh, no need, child,” the voice assures her. “I’ll be seeing you soon enough.”

Clink-Clink… Clink-Clink…
Clink-Clink… Clink-Clink…
C-clink-Clink-Clink… C-clink-Clink-Clink

As Cici and Vivi back away and being fleeing up the stairs, the sounds below them grow louder, a chorus of tapping against stone that has her hair standing on end.

“Well, t-that was kinda scary…”

> Write-in

>>1189877
Scary, but interesting...

all the same, let's not risk anything. I don't like how he inferred he knows he'd be seeing us shortly. Folks like that tend to be distressingly accurate.

I'd say to tell your mom, but I'm worried that might be playing into his hands. Folks as smooth talking as that tend to do that sort of thing.

Ngh. Leave it alone for now, I'd say. We'll deal with this later today.

...too much stress for a little girl, I swear...

>>1189877
NOPE!
NOPENOPENOPE, nothing to feel good about there!
Just go outside, lock the door, find An adult nearby, and then find something else to think about. I suggest forts.

>>1189877
Cici, it's time to find an adult

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>>1189963
>>1189929
>>1189926
>>1189877


“Vivi, we should tell Mama what’s going on,” Cici confirms when she gets upstairs.

“I’m not leaving you here,” Vivi emphasizes.

“It’s okay,” Cici says with a smile. It hadn’t even occurred to her that Vivi would be faster on her own. “I’m sure the voices will keep me safe!”

“Cici, I-“ Vivi shakes her head. “You guys better.”

With that lingering threat, Vivi wastes no more time launching into the air and disappearing past the tree-line, feathers trailing behind in her wake.

“Umm… I don’t know much about forts,” Cici admits once Vivi’s away, “but I read about ones made out of blankets. I’m not sure if those would be helpful though…”

Jasmine mewls impatiently as Cici strategizes, idly gnawing on a finger as her tail twitches side-to-side.

[“Hm. Brienne’s mom might be an adult. We could ask her for help while Vivi’s gone, or… um, do you have any ideas?”]

> Write-in

>>1190020
Grab Celene and head over there. I am nervous of having you alone with an unknown quantity

>>1190020
The individual at the door has yet to show any particular ability to surpass barriers by way of cunning of brute force. But they have shown an ability to see you no matter what.
But judging by the clinking noise, and the material the door is made of, they're probably trying to pickaxe their way through it. (And very desperately, as the clinking sped up.)
In short:
Hiding will not help you.
Any mundane barrier you can erect will not withstand their (probably tireless) pick-swinging.
I suggest you flee from the unknown being.
So yeah, go see Brienne's mom.

>>1190020
Yeah. Briennes mom, or the bees. The queen counts as an adult right?Plus she's magic.
We can talk about the finer points of forts afterwards, like ones made out of boxes, or in trees...well get to it later.

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>>1190020
>>1190059
>>1190067
>>1190086

[“I don’t know who Celene is…”]

But Cici grabs one of Uncle Yesh’s basket backpacks and places Din-Din inside before heading toward the bees. It’s not an easy weight for such a young girl to carry, but she knew she’d have to go quickly with Jasmine also in tow. With pets thus secured, she heads off at a decent pace, running through the trees on her way to the bee people’s garden as fast as her legs can carry her.

[“Hi Cici!”] Itsy call about halfway there.

[“What’s the rush?”] Bitsy asks.

As the voices appear and explain the situation, their tone takes a decided shift.

“Uh-oh. That’s probably bad…”

“Really bad!”

“Follow us!”

With the duo leading the way, the remainder of the woods doesn’t pose much of a problem. Only Cici’s inability to fly over fences really gets in her way, forcing some course correction before she is back at the tree and leaning into the knothole.

“Yes?” the queen leads curiously, antennae twitching as she turns her head to the side. “What’s wrong?”

> Write-in

>>1190175
Well, explain what's bothering you to the queen.
You just need to stick around until your mother can deal with.. whoever that was.
The bees are a good choice, actually. They can get eyes on whoever seems to be stalking you before that person gets eyes on you.

And if nothing else, the range advantage should prove useful if you feel pressured enough to attempt to stone your stalker (although you probably haven't learned how to do this yet). And I don't mean the stoning where you chuck rocks at people, either.

Explain about the voice and ask if some of the bees can accompany you back to your home for safety. You need to keep an eye on what's happening.

>>1190175

Hide her! Quick!

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>>1190262
>>1190241
>>1190209
>>1190175

The voices need no spell to fit themselves inside the throne room, whereupon they quickly send a stream of consciousness at the queen.

“Ah, I see! There’s an intruder in your home.”

“They were scary an’ making lots of noise…” Cici adds.

“Well, I could certainly let you stay here until the matter has been taken care of,” the queen invites. “I could also accompany you home and help you deal with the matters more personally.”

“The voices seem to think hiding is a good idea,” Cici notes.

“And they may be right,” the queen concedes. “After all, there are many truly terrifying things which live beneath the earth. In this case, however… Well, we’ll just have to see, won’t we?”

With a wave of magic, Cici once again feels her body grow light and the world grow small, her bee-person form once again materializing inside of the throne room.

“Brienne, dear,” the queen calls. “Take Flora with you and please investigate the situation. I trust you to be safe.”

“Of course,” the bee girl says with a bow. “We’ll get out of there if it’s dangerous.”

A moment later, Flora comes out of her own room, and the two take flight, waving as they depart.

“Wait, what happened to-“ Cici thinks to ask as she looks for the pets she’d been carrying.

A gale pounding inside the throne room quickly answers her question, a roll like thunder in the air as Jasmine sweeps upward and lands both bees on her back.

“What the-“

“You should hold on!” Bitsy shouts.

“With both hands!” Itsy adds.

And judging by the quickly departing screams as Jasmine bolts for the tree lines, they must have had just enough time to process that before the cat takes flight.

“Hee!” Itsy laughs. “Their hair is going to be all crazy when they get back!”

“Super crazy!”

“That manticore is curious,” the queen sighs. “I just hope they’ll be safe. In any case, while they deal with that, was there anything you wanted to do, Cici?”

“I think Beeci is a better name,” Itsy comments.

“Yeah!” Bitsy agrees.

“I like my name though…” Cici murmurs.

All the while, the orb of chaos just continues to flutter there, a passive observer.

> Write-in

>>1190335

How about learning a Light spell to temporary blind enemies? Beings that live underground have sensitive eyes to strong lights.

>>1190335
How about a Cici-to-Bee transformation spell? It seems like a good form for hiding.

Failing that, maybe some force spells, like one that summons stingers made of force.

(please note I'm using the word "Force" in the Dungeons and Dragons sense)

>>1190335
Yeah, ask her to explain how transformation spells work. I thought turning things into other things was supposed to rather hard as far as magic goes?

>>1190403

It may be something like mirror magic or imitation. Since she is a bee she can turn others into a bee. It might also be location based, maybe the beehive is enchanted?

>>1190335
Beeci's a cute nickname when you're transformed like this though.

Weren't Itsy and Bitsy asking if you could make them big once? That'd be a neat trick to learn.

Ask the queen how the hive's been doing. Is the fence working well or have there been more bear attempts?

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>>1190524
>>1190425
>>1190403
>>1190388
>>1190359
>>1190335

“Hmm?” the queen listens to the voices, antennae twitching contemplatively as they speak. “Well, I won’t say it’s impossible for Cici to learn how to change her form. It is, however… difficult. To change one’s skin and don another can take years of practice and large amounts of experience, even with instructors.”

[“Failure is also a very real and very dangerous possibility.”]

“But could you teach me?” Cici asks insistently. “I bet I could make lots more friends that way!”

Cici smiles as she imagines the possibility of flying in the sky with Vivi or being able to talk with Din-Din directly. The queen smiles as well, though for a different reason.

“Let’s focus on basic magic for now,” she insists. “Light, water, fire, earth, and wind: when you learn to shape all of these, it will be much easier to shape living flesh. I’d also like to teach you how to dance.”

“Huh? Dancing?” Cici questions. “That sounds fun, but why?”

“Isn’t fun enough reason on its own?” the queen asks.

“Yes ma’am!”

“Then, come. Let’s begin.”

> Write-in

>>1190594
Oh yeah, dont bees communicate by dancing?

>>1190594
Let's start with something simple...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anzzNp8HlVQ

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>>1190594
>>1190605
>>1190609

The queen groans as she slowly rises from her throne, stretching out arms, legs, and wings with an elegant flourish and going through a series of strange poses that Cici doesn’t recognize. Even more to her surprise, Itsy and Bitsy seem to be following along.

“One of the keys to dancing is to be flexible, Cici,” the queen explains. “Your body needs to be loose and move fluidly. And over time-“ Cici looks on mesmerized as the queen brings one graceful leg around to touch the back of her head. “You’ll find it grows easier and easier.”

“Wow!” Cici breathes, turning around to Itsy and Bitsy. “Can you guys-“

The answer is evident by the series of groans the girls emit as they fall over trying to imitate their mother, the pair grunting and using their arms to try to force their legs backward and upward into the same position.

“As I said, Cici: practice, patience, and most of all, have fun! Bees talk by dancing, you know, and anything worth saying is worth saying with a smile!”

Over the next few minutes, the queen slowly walks Cici through a series of simple stretches that she can do on her own, ones for her legs, back, arms, and neck. And by the end, Cici really does feel much more at ease in her movements, almost absent-minded as the stresses that had brought her here fade to the back of her mind.

Courtesy of the voices, music then begins to play… of a strange, and shocking variety.

“Please, something a tad gentler, if you would,” the queen asks politely as she lines the girls up. “Now, follow after me.”

--

Time and music flows, the bodies of the assembled bees moving in time to the rhythm. Naturally, Cici never exactly had the opportunity to do much dancing with a mother lacking feet, but the group guiding her is very forgiving, leading her gently through the steps and missteps of each performance with smiles and enthusiasm.

It’s frantic but fun, with serenity hovering just out of reach, and it keeps the girls quite busy before a pair of forms come darting back inside, Brienne and Flora as out of breath as the dancers as they struggle to give a report.

“Something’s breaking up through the ground,” Brienne pants.

“Lots of something’s!” Flora corrects.

> Write-in

>>1190861
Ants, probably?
Wasps?
Either way, take cover!

>>1190861

Weren't the girls gone with Jasmine? When did they return? What did they found?

>>1190861
They're probably machines. What do the bees know about constructs?

>>1191033
>>1190923
>>1190909
>>1190861

“Relax girls,” the queen coos, running a hand through their scalps. “Everything will be alright. Now what precisely did you see?”

“There were lots of these little metal things breaking up out of the ground!” Brienne explains.

“And when we left, some of them were attacking Cici’s house!” Flora finishes.

Cici’s gasps as the breath is almost literally knocked out of her.

“And where is Cici’s mother?” the queen asks.

“She’s not far, but it’s a long way from town,” Brienne explains. “Vivi, told us that before flying off again.”

“Can you describe what these metal things look like?” their mother asks. “How big were they?”

“Well, Jasmine actually caught one, and she’s right out-“

“BZZZZT! WRRBLE WRRBLE! GORK!” complains a flailing metal ball as it’s thrust in front of the opening in the tree between a pair of cat jaws. “Whoop-whoop-whoop! ZRRRT!”

The light in its empty eye socket flickers as Jasmine tightens her jaws.

“Hmm… I see…” she comments, moving toward the machine unafraid. “They’re very simple creatures… Perhaps I could…”

She thinks a little more before waving a hand at the struggling creature. And like that, it goes silent and limp. Seemingly satisfied, she then turns toward her children.

“You girls stay here,” she commands. “And Cici-“

“Yes?”

“I’ll need you to come with me or your mother will be worried sick.”

“But mom!” Bitsy and Itsy complain in unison.

“No butts!” the queen snaps. “I’ll be back soon. Now, then, we haven’t had much opportunity to teach you how to fly yet, so… Really!”

Jasmine’s paw is already wrapped around her waist and pulling her bodily out of the tree, Cici running helplessly after before stopping short at the edge.

“I dunno know what to do!” she stammers nervously as the wind kicks up. “How do I-”

“We’ll teach you how to fly next time!” Itsy promises, wrapping an arm around one of Cici’s legs.

“But for right now-“ Bitsy continues, grabbing the other.

“Try gliding!” they shout in tandem as they throw Cici bodily out of the tree.

Uh, this might be a problem…

> Write-in

>>1191250
Just buzzzzzz your wings like a beeeeeee. You're Beeci, you can do thiszzzzz.

>>1191250
Come on, Cici, you can do it!
Just imagine your wings moving.

>>1191264
>>1191299
>>1191250

Weird, I cannot upload images. Could someone else try and confirm if it works for them?

>>1191311
Nope, upload failed for me, too.

>>1191311
Yeah, my attempt to upload another tired meme failed as well.

Is it something with 4chan?

>>1191311

Just upload somewhere like tinypic or something and just link it instead.

>>1191250
>>1191264
>>1191299

“Ahhhhhh!!” she screams at the top of her lungs as the earth below her comes into view from this towering height. “I don’t wanna!“

She’s a little too panicked to take advice right now, and every muscle in her body seems locked in place.

“Girls, really!?” their mother demands as a wave of force surrounds the falling girl, pulling her onto Jasmine’s back. “We’ll talk about this later.”

But that’s all the time she has to imply threats before Jasmine is flying off at eye-watering speeds, Cici once again screaming as she holds on for dear life with both hands full of manticore fur. To the cub’s credit, though, the young girl hardly has time to blink before the tower is once again in sight, the feline mount soaring downward with enviable grace and steering far from the hole that has apparently been dug up through the earth while she was gone.

“Now, then-“ the queen sighs, straightening her hair as with a wave, she returns Cici to her original size. “It’s safer if you aren’t too far from me, but try to keep away from anything dangerous, alright?”

“Ugh. I think I’m gonna be sick…” she moans as her stomach gives another unpleasant jerk with the transformation.

“I’ll gather some mana while you settle your stomach then,” the bee confirms, extending both arms above her head, and giving a gentle twirl of her hips.

Cici honestly can’t pay too much mind to anything besides her stomach right now, the nuance of whatever ritual was being conducted far over her head as she uses deep breaths to calm her belly. She also can’t decide whether Jasmine’s rubbing against her legs is helping or not, but picks her up nonetheless as she decides it’s time to go.

“Are you alright now?” Cici nods. “Then let’s get to the matter at hand.”

A woman the size of a hummingbird leading a strange girl with a strange cat into a possible battlefield was far from your average situation, but as the queen flutters toward the rift opened behind the tower, hands moving in broad, sweeping motions, the effectiveness cannot be questioned. Everywhere she sets her sights, a dozen or more of the gathered mechanical masses fall quietly to the dirt.

Curiously, they do not seem to pay her much mind, even as she decimates them, the throng forming almost a perfect line to the tower and maintaining it, ignoring their downed brethren as they haul the rocks pilfered from the widening hole in the tower’s surface back down into the earth.

However, for each stone claimed, it would appear that there is already opposition on the field waiting to send two more scavengers flying, a certain, angry hare growling furiously in the rift carved into his home as he fights tooth and claw to keep what remains where it belongs.

“Well, since they’ve done me the courtesy of lining up,” the queen murmurs, spinning her arms around in a powerful arc. “Let’s end this quickly.”

>>1191503

It seems the enemy is really weak to electricity?

Wait... does that mean... robots? machines?

>>1191503

“Well, since they’ve done me the courtesy of lining up,” the queen murmurs, spinning her arms around in a powerful arc. “Let’s end this quickly.”

Like that, she stabs her arms forward, and in their wake the gathered energy blasts through the opposition like wind, a soft green light gently robbing them of life and movement as the mechanical army finally ceases its depravity.

“That was amazing! I mean, um…” Cici’s praise catches in her throat as she looks around to the limp forms scattered in the grass.

“It should be fine,” the queen muses as she surveys the scene. “We’ll have to figure out why they came, but afterward we can simply… simply…”

Her words become faint as something unseen takes hold of her, her tiny body dropping to the ground as silently as the machines.

“You seem to have killed all of my friends,” comes a cold, coarse voice from the earth as a figure walking unseen stairs comes marching up from the depths. “I’d prefer you hadn’t done that.”

The tone is casual, but the body language betrays her anger, as does the light in the woman’s single, red eye as her grey skin and jet black hair emerge onto the surface. At least, that’s the only eye Cici can see at first. As it would turn out, the rest aren’t far behind as a swarm of other eyes on leathery stalks come rising up from behind her back, all filled with that same malice as she stalks toward the downed queen.

[“Um… I- Help!”]

> Write-in

>>1191574

And that's where I'll end it for tonight folks. As per the usual, I will be busy tomorrow night, but will pick back up on Thursday. Hope you all had fun thus far.

RIP cute goodnight image.

>>1191574

Cici, pick up the queen and run!

>>1191503
Why are they stealing the rocks? There's plenty of rocks underground!

>>1191574
Pick up the Queen, tell the Gazer her friends were breaking your home.

>>1191574
They were breaking our stuff!

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>>1191574
>>1191590
>>1191594
>>1191597
>>1192105

“We’re really sorry!” Cici shouts toward the strange person as she runs for the downed queen. “We really didn’t want to hurt anybody, but they were breaking our house an’-“

Cici’s words catch in her throat and a chill runs up her spine as the gazer’s eye turns on her with a surreal snap of its neck.

“Oh, hello again!” the aberration greets with a serrated smile. “I did say I would be meeting you again soon, now, didn’t I?”

“I- um, I…”

“But why so timid, dear? You’re shaking like a leaf… You… You don’t think I would hurt you, do you?” With the rest of her host of eyes still trained on the bee queen, she turns bodily to the shivering gorgon with arms spread wide. “Come now dear. Why don’t you come a bit-“

Jasmine objects with a virulent hiss, and the gazer stumbles, seeming at first unable to grasp the meaning of the three, bony barbs now sticking out of her shoulder.

“My word…. What a naught kitty!” she murmurs, her last statement before she collapses to the dirt.

Cici, the last one standing, is left thoroughly stunned.

> Write-in

>>1196901
First things first, Cici.
Check on the Queen.
We should put her on a pillow inside.

As for the Gazer, hmm...maybe drag her to your bed and tie her down until your mother comes home?

>>1196901
>>1196908
Check the Queen for breathing and such. Tell Jasmine she's a good manticore, as well. While it's not normally a good thing to do what she did to others, this was a special circumstance. She's earned a treat when the situation gets handled, and that venom of hers should keep the Gazer out for a while.

As for the Gazer... I'm pretty sure she's too big for Cici to drag anywhere. Go inside, put the queen on a pillow to rest, and grab sheets and pillow cases and any rope you have in the house. You should tie the pillow cases and sheets over her eyestalks, first of all. These individuals tend to have magic and the like that they can zap out of their eyestalks, but it needs line of sight. Then use any spare sheets or some rope to tie her hands and legs. Make sure her hands are BEHIND her back to prevent her getting out so easily.

>>1196901
Um, sorry for the poor introduction, but you seem to have frozen a good friend of ours. We can explain a bit of why we assumed you were hostile, but could you please unfreeze both of them? We'd be glad to offer you tea and scones while we discuss recompense for our mistake.

>>1196948
Oh, wait. Thought it was Jasmine that got knocked out.

In that case, what >>1196908 suggests.

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>>1196901
>>1196908
>>1196939
>>1196948

“T-thanks Jasmine,” she finally manages, petting the cub on the head as she sets her down on the ground.

The cat purrs contentedly at the recognition, scorpion-like tail wagging back and forth at Cici’s feet before she slinks off to sniff at her downed prey.

“Don’t hurt her anymore,” Cici begs as she heads toward the queen. “I’ll be back really soon!”

Fortunately, the grass isn’t overly long, and it doesn’t take long to find the queen bee where she fell. And much to Cici’s relief, she seems to already be sitting up straight, though thoroughly disheveled.

“Are you okay?” Cici asks, picking her up with care and cradling her in her hands.

“A little low on mana is all,” the queen murmurs. “The beholder’s eye is dangerous to those of us who rely on magic.”

“Well, we have pillows inside. You can rest on one of those and eat some food while we wait for Mama to get back.”

“I’m certainly not leaving you alone with that thing,” the queen confirms, “but then I’ll need to get back to my own girls.”

“I’ll help,” Cici promises, and then she’s off toward the tower at as fast a clip as she can manage while keeping her hands steady, rounding into her bed chamber for a pillow and setting it on the table before depositing the queen on top. “I’ll be right back.”

“You should leave her where she is for right now,” the queen insists, causing Cici to pause.

“Grass gets itchy after a while though,” Cici insists. “Besides, I think she must have lost her shirt somewhere.”

A quick rummaging through Mama’s drawer later, and Cici has a blouse in hand, one not too large and not to small plus an old sheet before heading back outside. Seems the situation hasn’t changed much since she left.

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>>1196989

“Aww, who’s a pretty kitty?” the gazer coos to the cub now sitting on her chest, getting what probably isn’t her first swat to the nose. “That’s right. You are! Oh, and you’re back now. Wonderful!”

“Umm, I brought you some clothes,” Cici manages, still nervous at the way her eyes roll around to stare at her. “Will you be good if we bring you inside?”

“A present on our first meeting?” she questions happily. “My, you’re a woman after my own heart! Well, one of the three anyway…”

“I really don’t want your organs…” Cici corrects, a word she learned in the dictionary not long ago. “I just… Grass gets itchy after a while…”

“Well, I have spotted a snake or two… or a couple dozen,” she adds, looking up meaningfully at the gorgon. “That said, I wouldn’t say no to a change in venue.”

“What’s a venue?” Cici asks, grunting slightly as she struggles to sit up the beholder.

“Oh, you know, it’s a place here or there… Heheh! That tickles,” she laughs as Cici slides Mama’s blouse over her and begins fumbling with the strings.

“Also, how come you don’t have clothes? Did you lose them somewhere?”

“Ah, that,” she sighs wistfully. “You see, there’s quite a lack of shopping malls beneath the earth, as it would turn out. Not many sheep either.”

“So, you’ve been underground for a long time, then?” Cici questions, rolling the now clothed beholder onto the sheet and getting two handfuls of the corners.

“You could say that,” she laughs. “Also, would you be so kind as to remove these needles from my chest? They’re a tad uncomfortable.”

> Write-in

>>1196991
No. The needles stay until Mama gets back. Pulling them out would cause her to start bleeding. Right now the barbs are holding the wounds shut. Also, if they're keeping her sedated to the point you can manhandle her, then they definitely need to stay in. You are absolutely NO match for a Gazer.

Plus, she's been taking apart your house. That's not a thing good people normally do. You should not totally trust anything coming out of her mouth. If she's reasonable you taking precautions will be forgivable under the circumstances.

Tell her that she has to wait until your mother gets back, and if she tries anything the manticore will pop her again. It's a bit mean, but this is a serious matter.

>>1196991
We do have someone who's more experienced in medical matters, and we're afraid that if we remove them, the wounds might start bleeding.

That being said, we do have some questions as to why you've come to visit. We've had plenty of non-human visitors recently, and one or two could have caused a lot of damage to the nearby human community, so we do need to ask your reasons for traveling to our home. From what it sounds like, you're taking a vacation?

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>>1196991
>>1197008
>>1197020

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea…” Cici says, struggling to drag the larger person bit-by-bit toward home. “The voices said you might start bleeding an’ I don’t know if I could help. Mama will be home soon, though.”

“The voices?” she laughs, seemingly amazed. “So, you can hear them too?”

“Huh?”

“Invisible but always with you, always debating what’s right and what’s wrong. Urges, feelings, inspiration, and desires…”

“Umm… Maybe…”

[“Do you guys know this person?”]

At Cici’s call, the voices once again materialize, hovering in the air as a ball of light over a sea of shimmering red orbs.

“Beautiful…” she murmurs.

> Write-in

>>1197047
To answer your question, Cici, I don't seem to recall her... that being said, magic always has a habit of doing whatever it wants for whatever reason.

Anyway, we're Cici's guardian. We're a sentient conglomeration of memories, souls, and/or extradimentional beings. How might we help you, miss...

>>1197047
She's a beholder Cici so she's likely schizophrenic. Sometimes she sees and hears things that aren't really there.

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>>1197047
>>1197071
>>1197109

“I’m quite comfortable right now. Thank you.” She smiles as she looks up at the orb. “As for why, I am here, I was simply following my little friends on their journey. The underground is quite dangerous, you see, and they’ve been paving quite a long road through the dark.”

“A road from where?” Cici asks.

“Who knows? I never bothered to check myself, and they weren’t the chattiest individuals. It was always just onward and upward for them. Well, with the occasional pitfall or ravenous beast. It kept me rather busy.”

“What did you do?”

“I ate well. Well, I suppose occasionally I ate well. I don’t recommend oozes for those with a softer palate, but I digress. I suppose you could say I’ve been helping them.”

“And keeping them safe?”

“Until recently, yes. I’ve your friend to blame for ruining that track record. At least, I assume she’s your friend. Awfully rude of me, now that I think of it…”

“She is my student,” the queen corrects from her pillow as Cici drags the girl inside. “And your ‘friends’ will be fine once the scrambling effect wears off. That is, assuming they won’t immediately go back to destroying everything around them.”

“Who can say?” the beholder laughs. “They’ve always been an industrious lot, grabbing whatever is nearby to keep their progress steady. For all I know, they may be building a stairway to heaven.”

“You aren’t doing a good job convincing me,” the queen asserts, frowning as the beholder begins absently humming a tune.

“Is it my job to be convincing?” she questions, stopping her performance. “Or in your best interest to be threatening my friends?”

She shakily clenches one hand into a fist as she turns an eye toward the queen.

“Jasmine might sting you again if you try to be mean,” Cici warns, and at that, the woman seems to settle back down.

“Outplayed by a child, a kitten, and an insect,” she laughs. “Still… not the worst day in my life, I suppose.”

“I warn you, the manticore isn’t the only one who can sting,” the queen threatens with a meaningful buzz and flick of her stinger.

“Calm down. Calm down,” the beholder sighs. “Now, gentlemen…. Ladies? If you would continue your interrogation…”

> Write-in

>>1197141
How'd she first meet the little machines?

>>1197141

"You... you have to obey the Gorgon who is a queen don't you? Cici mother is the ruler of these lands. Were you born? Maybe you were cursed? Or maybe you were created?"

>>1197141
Hm, well... Let's assume your friends won't teard down and/or rebuild our house first. While they are industrious, I am a little worried that they might be a little too zealous. After all, this has been home to us for a while, and we're a bit fond of it, plus, we just got our heated indoor bath a few weeks ago... That being said, we have a few groups of people that have been coming here recently, for a variety of reasons. If you don't have any problems with humans, we can talk about you living in or near our property. That's a topic you and your friends can bring up to our Baroness, though. We mostly guard and teach the little one, here.

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>>1197185
>>1197182
>>1197167
>>1197141

“I wonder how she wears a crown…” the gazer muses curiously, looking to Cici’s writhing hair made of serpents. “And if she is a queen, then is this a castle? I had always imagined them a tad… Well, larger than this… No offense intended, of course. Your heated bath sounds lovely.”

“Grampa made it last time he was here,” Cici confirms. “It’s really nice.”

“And probably with the added bonus that it doesn’t smell like sulfur,” she guesses. “It really was the one terrible downside to the vent-heated bath we found some time ago. Still, it did leave my skin feeling supple and almost unnaturally smooth after it grew back…

“Anyway, speaking of what’s recent, I suppose you’re also curious about the past. I’m afraid that my family history is a bit… touchy, not to mention blurry after so long. So, you’ll forgive me if I don’t bore you with the details there, but let’s just say that it left me wandering deep into the depths of the earth for quite some time.

“I was born before that, of course, or at least I suspect that I was. Funny how memories don’t go back to those moments, but to keep surviving and making new memories, I needed to hunt. Naturally, this meant I was always moving and not always watching where I was going, and it was in doing so that I tripped over one of my first little friends. I named him Gregory.

“In return, Gregory led me back to his family, and I then unknowingly helped lead them to the surface. The disturbances caused by their activities seemed as good a way as any to capture a meal and helped break up the boredom of eating and sleeping.

“Now, as for keeping them from destroying your hypothetical castle…. Hmm… I don’t suppose you have a large pile of rocks you could put out for them a bit closer in their way?”

> Write-in

>>1197262

Outside there are a lot of rocks.

>>1197262
We might have some rocks for them, but if they go through stone at the speed you're describing, we might need to find them a quarry or something. How do they feel about working with wood and dirt? We're starting a farm nearby...

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>>1197262
>>1197277
>>1197312

“I fear they aren’t the sharpest knives in the brush pot,” she chuckles. “And I’ve never had much success in trying to turn them away from what they see as the straightest path. If you could move the quarry to them, maybe we’d have something, but otherwise… Hmm… I might not mind farm work when all’s said and done, though.”

“Auntie Oni and her brother might be able to bring you rocks,” Cici suggests, “if you ask nicely…”

“I’ll get right on that as soon as I can feel anything below my neck,” she assures Cici.

[“Well, at least that’s something… Now we just need to wait for Mama to get home…”]

A couple of minutes later, and it seems that the entourage finally arrives, Mama, Vivi, and the two ogres all rushing through the gate at a break neck pace. With weapons drawn and steely glares, it seems like they came prepared for a fight. Fortunately, Mama thinks to slither past the tower entrance first and happens to spy the denizens already inside.

“Oh, thank the gods!” she breathes, wrapping Cici in a hug. “But why are you here? What’s going on?”

She turns to the voices.

> Write-in

>>1197373

Cici adopted another friend!

Oh and the golems love rocks.

>>1197373
Good news: the visitors we have aren't looking to fight, which include a Gazer and a group of constructs.

Bad news: the constructs were making a path through the underdark, and have built the exit in the basement. Also, we're unsure whether or not they'll deconstruct the keep of they don't have an adequate supply of stone.

We would like to suggest finding them a quarry for them to work in. We haven't discussed with the Gazer if she would prefer to stay here aboveground or if she'd like to head back into the underdark.

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>>1197398
>>1197376
>>1197373

“Ugh…” she sighs.

[“I need to stop leaving Cici alone…”]

“I’m just glad you’re safe,” Cassandra says, hugging her daughter a bit closer. “Both of you, apparently.”

“It’s good to get out and stretch my wings every now and again,” the queen dismisses.

“And you,” she turns to the gazer still on the floor. “What’s your name?”

“Don’t have one…”

“Of course…”

“Hey Cassandra!” comes a loud, familiar voice from behind the tower. “Where the hell are you? There’s little metal guys all over the place and someone beat the fuck out of the back of your- Oh crap! Eh, sorry kid.“

“It’s fine!” Cici says happily. “I’m glad to see you again.”

“Well, I- um… Anyway, it doesn’t look like they messed things up too badly. Gonna have to patch a hole is all. Guessing eyeball girl is the one responsible. You got a name?”

“Do you?” she asks in return.

“I’m… I’m workin’ on it… Thinking Rosalind sounds pretty nice. Kinda classy…”

“Can I call you Rosie?” Cici asks excitedly.

“You can call me whatever you want, kid?” she laughs. “But seriously, why wreck somebody’s house outta nowhere?”

“Apparently, those constructs have been programmed to build with available materials,” Mama sighs. “And our house just happened to be nearby.”

“So what? Are we gonna have to scrap ‘em or…”

The beholder squirms.

“No…” She takes a deep breath. “But I may have to ask a favor of Mishael and yourself.”

“Another one?”

“Another one… If you could cart in some stone from downriver, maybe they can finish whatever it is they’ve been working on. If not, we may have to keep them offline for a while until Brad comes back.”

“Speaking of, fine, but it’ll cost you a heated bath.”

“Really?” Cassandra asks, a bit dumbfounded.

“Really. I mean, hey, you want me to live all civilized and… and stuff. Least you could do is help me and the big guy stay scrubbed up and fragrant.”

“Soap dun’ taste good…” Mishael complains from the door, bending down to peer inside.

“That’s cuz it’s not for eating, you lug! Anyway, move it! We got work to do, unless you want to tack anything else on.”

> Write-in

>>1197458

"Call the Gazer Jenny, and get her a cute dress!"

>>1197458
A warm bath is a fair enough price for it, although we may need to consider eventually building a large enough one for Mishael outside. If the constructs would be willing to help with its construction, we would be glad to supply them with as much stone we could find.

Also, we might need to plan ahead for more visitors from the underdark. If there's now a path leading up to our home, we should find a way to secure it enough to keep people out, but still leave a way for them to come in if they wish to trade or travel peacefully.

>>1197471
I'd prefer Iris.

>>1197483

That works.

>>1197483
Brilliant! A temporary wall in the direction the constructs came from might be prudent too.

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>>1197520
>>1197505
>>1197483
>>1197480
>>1197471
>>1197458

“I guess not,” Cassandra concedes. “Just be careful.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

And with that, the two oni disappear into the woodlands, leaving the fate of the gazer solely on the gorgon family and the mercy of the bee matriarch. The voices, for their part, start offering names.

“Iris?” she wonders aloud. “A little on the nose, don’t you think? Or on the eye? Heh. But I suppose I’ll take it over horrible mutant. My mother really was terrible at pet names…”

“Right, well, I suppose we’ll need to get those quills out of you now. Please don’t make me regret it.”

“Naturally, but then again, you don’t seem much of a doctor either.”

“I’m an adventurer,” Mama corrects, casually ripping the three barbs clean with one hand and drawing an unpleasant hiss from the gazer as her other hand flies to a nearby cupboard. “And I assure you, I’ve stitched worse. Now, bite down on this.”

A few minutes pass, Cici covering her eyes and leaning into Vivi’s arms as her mother enacts brutal yet efficient medicine on the beholder’s wounds with nothing but a fish hook, some thread, and a bottle of antiseptic. For better or worse, the paralysis prevents her from thrashing about during the procedure, but her discomfort is very clear as is the accusation in her eyes as she throws the occasional glance to Jasmine casually licking her paws.

“Anyway, I’ll trust that matters here are under control now,” the queen bee sighs, uncrossing her legs after polishing off a berry she’d picked from the garden. “I really have to return to my own little ones before they come this way.”

“Thank you for all of your help.”

“We’re neighbors, dear. Consider it a courtesy and a bit of payback for your help defending our hive.”

“Bye Mrs. B!” Cici waves.

And with that, the queen flutters away into the afternoon sun, leaving the three and a near comatose gazer to await whatever comes next.

> Write-in

Gossip about how it is having weird noodles for hair and your mutual fear of haircuts.

>>1197569

Hug your mother.

>>1197569
Find a bed for Iris, and put some medicine nearby for the wound when she wakes up. We should get some food ready for dinner. Hopefully she'll like chicken noodle, at least, compared to ooze stew.

>>1197569
Catch up with your mama. She is a woman wise beyond her years and lives a rather isolated life.

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>>1197569
>>1197579
>>1197603
>>1197627
>>1197796

“It’ll be okay, Mama,” Cici promises, hugging her mother’s trunk from the floor as she notices how unnerved she appears. “Nothing too bad happened.”

“I guess you’re right,” her mother sighs, running a hand through her daughter’s freshly shed hair. “I just wish things were a bit more settled is all. Speaking of which…”

She gingerly stoops down and picks up the beholder girl in both arms, her eye stalks hanging toward the floor as Mama drifts toward the bedroom and tucks her into her own sheets.

“Well, this is nice at least,” the gazer groans as she sinks into the pillows. “I’d heard about these… *Yawn* but never had one myself.”

“What’d you sleep on then?” Cici asks, having followed her mother into the room.

“Rocks mostly,” she sighs. “The occasional furry thing after I ate the bits that weren’t too tough.”

“That sounds bad…”

“It’s not so bad, really. At least there are no people down there. Well… no people I personally ran into.”

“Are you scared of people?” she asks.

“No, but you’d think they’d be scared of me. I mean…” She gestures to the pool of fleshy stalks fanned out around her.

“What’s it like?” Cici follows up. “I mean, having eye tentacles.”

“Well, now, you’d be the one to tell me, wouldn’t you?” she challenges. “You have two eyes per tentacle and mouths to boot. How is that? Do they eat?”

“Sometimes…” Cici admits. “But they’re not supposed to…”

“It’s like having your own herd of golems then, I guess, always messing with things they aren’t supposed to.”

“Yeah… I guess…”

“Sweetling, you should let her rest,” Mama asserts, gently grabbing Cici by the hand. “We’ll talk more when she wakes up.”

“’Kay.”

--

Time passes and a cookfire sizzles to life under spits of fresh cut meat, fragrant veggies and fruits not long behind as Mama begins on an evening feast. Naturally, Vivi won’t let Cici out of her wing after everything that happened today, but the young girl doesn’t mind being doted on. She just enjoys the warmth of the fire crackling near her toes and Din-Din gently butted up against her thigh as he takes a well-deserved nap.

Uncle Yesh would arrive later on, the onis not long after him with the continual crash of trees heralding their entrance. The source of the calamity was apparently the great red demon woman picking up and placing whole trees, one after another, beneath the path of a giant rock Mishael had presumably been hauling from miles away. Invitations to dinner as an added reward were perhaps a bit ill-conceived, but pleasant nevertheless as the ever-growing menagerie of family friends dined and drank together into the quiet dark of late evening, the stars above no doubt no brighter than the days that lay ahead.

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>>1197826

And that's where I think I'll call it for the week. Hope you guys all had fun.

>>1197843

Thank you.

Too bad we don't know anyone who could reprogram the golems.

>>1197843
Cassandra really needs to get Cici a babsitter soon. or a tutor or babysitter or something. Shes nobility now, she should have someone around even if she wasnt an adorable little trouble magnet. And the moms only going to get busier....