>>2443574
>>Write a letter back to Namaki since we have time. Let her know that Marybell saw her letter. Also let her know about the yeti who thinks she has one of their artifacts and tell her, even if she probably knows, we have resolved the eternal winter issue and are working on other problems in her list.

>>2443604
>>2443574
>This
This works

>writing

-head to one of the studies in the manor and sit down for a minute to write a letter to Namaki.

You start the letter by saying that since she included a message to you in her letter to Marybell, it's only polite that you write back.

Then you go into your time with the Scholars at the Archive, and all the neat things you learned both about yourself and about the world.

After that you tell her about your trip up north and how that whole eternal winter thing is not only not going to happen, but the only person who could make it happen is Lyvia, who is incredibly easy to appease.

You also mention that Freyja was talking about an ancestral axe that might be the huge one she has in her house.

At the end you allude to the fact that you've learned a bit about what the source of her power might be, but leave it at that. If she doesn't want to know more, she doesn't have to. But if she asks, you'll tell her more.

Then you sign it and look it over to see if there's anything you missed...

>Anything to add?

>>2443712
>>We look forward to visiting again after the Legion is defeated and giving her a thorough brushing.

>writing

You add another bit in a 'P.S.' at the bottom, telling her that you look forward to seeing her again once your business in Antolia is finished. Then you fold the letter, stick it in an envelope, give it to Coral and send her to the mail spider.

You know the mail spider probably doesn't have a sprite that can go to Namaki directly, but there'll at least be some way to get it to Otuna.

With that done you get up and head out. You've got plenty of time left still so you stop to chat with a few of the maids along the way, including Belladonna, with whom you discuss setting up some way for the townspeople to send requests to you, before leaving the manor.

The town is still quiet after the events of yesterday. You assume they're just getting used to the idea of the soldiers patrolling the streets being friendly.

Now that you think of it, you should find some way to actually let them all know you're in charge of the town now. Maybe there's a meeting bell like the one in Bell's Run around here somewhere...

When you reach the meeting hall, someone ushers you right inside. There are a lot of people around, and most of them are probably just waiting to hear what the council's decision is so they can relay it. It might just be the small council, but it's a big decision...

As you enter the room, you see that they decided to get started without you. You take up a spot by the edge and listen to the arguments.

Derrick was right, not that you ever doubted him. There are 2 main targets, and you've got the forces to go after 1 at a time. So it's either Johnston, or Kirando.

From what you're hearing, if you want to get the old Antolian military together again, you'll want to hit Johnston. The defenses from here to there aren't stellar, but the terrain is going to be rough once you hit the mountains.

However, since Stella is in Kirando, taking that city will mean getting the hunters back into the fight. The main problem is that all the forts from here to there are much more advanced, given their need to hold back the Lubrians...

Seems like you're at an impasse. The Northerners want to take Johnston, and the Lubrians want Kirando. Your vote could swing this, you just have to pick one...

>Go to Johnston (Gain the Antolian military as an ally)

>Go to Kirando (The Hunters will return to fight)

>Other

(I'll be leaving this up a bit longer than usual)

>>2443843
>>Go to Kirando (The Hunters will return to fight)

Johnston is close to the northern land and Kirando is close to the Lubrian territories. Either one risks us being outflanked to some degree and having supply lines hit, but ultimately I think we have more danger from Kirando than Johnston as it has gentler terrain and weather to attack friendly lands with, as well as a port.

I also think the Hunters would give us an advantage in approaching Johnston through its rough terrain, while I feel there is less immediate benefit from the Antolian military in the reverse case. They're unlikely to have a better shot at taking fortified locations beyond what inflation of numbers will get us as I expect their military is heavily ground down.

Nonmilitarily, rescuing Stella is a good thing certainly, and I am certainly concerned as to what this new boon may have done if she was exposed to it. So that's a plus there. I am worried about Johnston being too close to a place of power, but that's an even more speculative threat ultimately.

>>2443843
>Kirando

>writing

You put your vote in to go south, arguing that you need the hunters more than you need the Antolians.

Derrick adds his 2 cents as well, saying that it will also help bring the Southerners into the fold.

The Northmen argue for a bit, but you manage to get them to budge. They were hoping to secure their borders first, but you assure them that the people who didn't join themon this attack will be plenty to hold the line.

After that it's mostly hammering out the details. There are 2 main forts between here and Kirando that will need to be taken: Riverhold, and The Spire.

With the decision made, most of the council is dismissed to spread the word, while the tacticians and strategists get to work.

"Well that didn't take long" You say.

"I didn't expect it to" Derrick replies. "I'm surprised you got the northmen to agree with you"

"They respect me" You say. "It helps that their queen also occasionally uses me as a chair"

Derrick chuckles. "I was gonna head to the armory here, maybe use the training yard for a bit. Want to come?" He asks.

>Go do some training with Derrick

>Head back to the manor and read the rest of Graumer's books

>Go find Lyvia

>Other

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>>2444016
And I did the one thing I told myself I wouldn't do: forget to post a semi updated map.

No new borders, but this one has the new forts.

>>2444016
>Go do some training with Derrick

>>2444016
>>Go do some training with Derrick


>"It helps that their queen also occasionally uses me as a chair"

Oh man with no context that gives a WAY different picture.

>>2444016
>Go to the armory, then training afterwards if we have some time.
I'm thinking we don't really have any formal combat equipment for our new role as the lord of Lutain. Let's see if we can maybe pick up some equipment that suits us and have it designed so when we head to the next fight they know who's beating them.

>writing

"I'll tag along" You say. "It'll be nice to spar like we used to"

"You make it sound like it's been years, man" He says.

"It's been a few months" You say. "I didn't get to see you all that much before I shipped off up north"

"That's true" He replies, motioning for you to come with him as you both head to the armory.

"So I was wondering something..." You say. "Do I need like an emblem... or a crest or something?"

"You mean a coat of arms?" He asks. "I guess you would... before now you would have just used the Commanders, but now that you're a lord in your own right you should have one of your own"

"Any idea how to go about that?" You ask.

"You just get it drawn up... maybe sewn into your clothes or something" He says, pointing to the breast of his shirt. "This is the standard Gallant crest: the winged flame. Most offshoots of the family keep one or two elements of the original. Like how the Commander's is a winged flame with a sword overtop"

"Is there anything it has to be?" You ask.

"Nope. It just has to represent you" He says. "I'd keep it simple though. Maybe just add something to the Commander's crest"

"Like... I dunno..."

>A mageblade instead of a sword?

>A golden eye?

>Something cute and fluffy?

>Other

>>2444089
>>A golden eye?

>>Something cute and fluffy?

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>>2444089
>A flaming golden eye?

>>2444089
>Maybe a mageblade crossed over a coiled winged flame and ice leviathan. I'd like to represent Lutain somehow as well if we could. We are supposed to have some autonomy here.

>writing

"Does it have to represent just me, or the whole town?" You ask.

"Just you. The town has its own stuff for that" He says.

"Can I make it something cute?" You ask.

"Only if you want the Commander to disown you" He replies.

You both laugh at that. "How about... I dunno... maybe a golden eye?" You ask. "I'd put a mageblade, but it might be too similar to the Comomder's"

"Similar isn't bad here. She is your mother, after all" He says. "But a golden eye would look pretty cool... give it the wings, put it over the flames... yeah, that's a good symbol"

"I'll have to see if any of the maids can draw" You say.

"You have what... 27 of them?" Derrick asks. "Chances are pretty high that you've got at least one of every skill in there"

"Good point. I still have to figure out which one can do it" You reply.

Derrick nods. "Oh yeah, what did Madelaine want?" He asks.

"She found a tiny Serpid and needed me to get her to come out of hiding" You say.

Derrick chuckles. "'Small problem'?" He asks.

"Yep" You say. "The kid's at the manor now, and I've discovered which of my maids is good with kids"

"One down, 26 more to go..." He says.

>1/2

You and Derrick find the armory. There's already a few soldiers doing some drills here, so you pick an empty area of the yard and do some stretching.

"I hear you picked up a trick or two up north" Derrick says.

"That's kind of an understatement" You say, as you activate your mageblade and let it float around you.

"It would appear so" He says. "How'd you figure that out?"

"Well the crystal in the blade is just more soul. I can control where my shields go, so why wouldn't I be able to control the blade?" You ask. "The hard part is keeping it activated..."

"How are you doing that anyway?" He asks. "Wouldn't you need to keep funneling energy into it?"

"Pretty much. I'm just using the soul in the air. It's easier than trying to take it all the way from my body" You say.

"By that logic you shouldn't even need your hands to cast spells" He says. "Are you good with this in a fight?"

"My aim could use some work..." You say.

"We're in the right place" He says.

>Work on your swordplay

>Work on your aim

>Work on your casting

>Other

>>2444189
>>Work on your aim

>>2444189
>>Work on your aim

>>2444189
>>Work on your aim

>writing

You talk with Derrick about improving your aim a bit, and the two of you head to the archery targets.

Oddly enough, he grabs a bow.

"Didn't think you were much of an archer" You say.

"I picked it up while I was with the hunters" He says. "I'm not all that good yet, but if I keep at it then I'll have a good alternative for when enemies are not quite close enough to stab"

You both immediately start pelting the targets with projectiles. You don't use your blade, instead opting for your soul seekers.

His aim is better than yours, but you have the advantage of unlimited ammo while he runs out of arrows every now and then.

After a few hours, you decide to call it quits...

"Alright. I think I'm good for now" He says. "Wanna do one more round to see who's better, and then go grab some lunch?"

"I'm in" You say. "Loser buys?"

"Of course" He replies.

You both take your aim...

>Roll 1d100
>No focus

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>2444244

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>2444244

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>2444244

>writing

You fire 3 seekers in quick succession. The first one strikes the third ring on the target, the second hits the edge, and the third hits near the middle.

Looking over, Derrick did better, but not by much...

"I'm gonna be honest, I'm willing to call this a loss for both us and just split lunch" He says.

"Nah. I'll give it to you" You say. "Come on, we can eat back at the manor. I'm curious to see how the little Serpid is settling in"

...

And now that you think of it, Madelaine was supposed to get back to you once she found ot her name. You take a second to send Coral off to her with a quick message asking about that.

"How soon do you think we'll be leaving for Kirando?" You ask.

"Knowing the Commander? As soon as possible" He replies. "But we've got two armies to coordinate, so it might be a while"

"We can't march them separately?" You ask.

"Splitting our forces isn't the best idea. In ideal circumstances we would have had time to run joint drills with all of our current strength. As it is, we'll have to take whatever organization we can get" He says.

You continue on towards the Manor, as Derrick tells you what he knows about Riverhold and The Spire.

"The Spire sounds kind of ominous" You say.

"It's basically a big, manmade mountain in the middle of the flatlands" Derrick says. "The Antolians were trying to mimic the strength of their capital... it worked, kinda"

"Only kinda" You ask.

"Part of Johnston's defensive strength comes from the terrain" Derrick says. "It's a tough march to get there, there isn't much flat ground to set up seige on, and those mountains are littered with hidden tunnels"

"But on the flat ground..." You say.

"You can surround the town in no time, bombard it from wherever, and the ground is a little too soft for tunneling" He says.

You keep talking until you reach the manor, where Denise is still waiting at the entrance.

"Have you been standing there this entire time?" You ask her.

"No, sir. I sit and read when there isn't anyone coming over the drawbridge" She says.

"Oh" You say.

>Ask if she's reading anything good

>Ask where Lola is

>Ask if any of the other maids can draw

>I need lunch

>Other

>>2444332
>>Ask if any of the other maids can draw

>>2444332
>>Ask if she's reading anything good

Also, I'm familiar with Washington. Is Johnston near lake chelan?

>>2444342
Great Rock is Mt. Rainier. I may not have placed it quite right on the map, but that's where it's supposed to be.

>writing

"Reading anything good?" You ask.

"Just some boring stuff about finance" She says. "How was the meeting, sir?"

"It went smoothly enough" You say. "Out of curiousity, can any of the girls draw?"

"Draw...?" She asks. "No that I can think of. Ask Miss Belladonna. She knows everyone better than I do. You'll find her out in the yard"

"Alright, thank you" You say, as you make your way inside.

"Always a pleasure, sir" She replies.

You make your way to the back of the manor where the yard is, when you see something dart out of sight into a room out of the corner of your eye...

"See something?" Derrick asks.

>Investigate

>Leave it

>Other

>>2444393
>>Investigate

>>2444393
>>Investigate

>>2444393
>>Investigate

>>2444393
>>Investigate

>writing

You walk over to the room and see Lola sitting with the Serpid.

"Hello, sir" Lola says.

"Did she just come in here?" You ask.

"Yep" Lola replies. "I sent her out to get a book to read to her, and she got... this..."

Lola holds up the book. It's a big, thick thing that says something like 'Lutain financial records' on the front.

"How did you even carry this? It weighs a ton" Lola says.

The Serpid's little tongue flicks out, and she gets comfortable.

"You can get as snug as you want, I'm not reading financial records to you" Lola says.

The Serpid's tongue flicks out a few more times.

"Where did you even get this?" Lola asks. "I thought Miss Belladonna was still doing the finances..."

Lola suddenly pales, looking past you through the door as Belladonna steps in.

The Elf walks over and takes the big, heavy book from Lola. The Serpid slithers around and tries to grab it back.

"No, child. This kind of book is not for you" Belladonna says, as she puts a much lighter looking book into the Serpid's outstretched hands. "I believe that is what you were looking for"

>Doing finances?

>Can any of the maids draw?

>Ask how the Serpid is doing

>Other

>>2444423
>>Can any of the maids draw?

>>Ask how the Serpid is doing

>>2444423
>>Doing finances?
>>Can any of the maids draw?
>>>Ask how the Serpid is doing

>>2444423
>>Doing finances?
>>Can any of the maids draw?

My internet just went down so I'll be calling it here.

Next thread will be on Wednesday.

I'll try to answer questions from my phone if I can.

>>2444434
And now it's back. Fuck me.

>writing

>>2444438
Fuck yeah, Canadian Internet!

>>2444450
It's gone again now. I'm just gonna finish this post so I can put it up when i get the chance and call it a night here.

See you guys on Wednesday.

>>2444456
Thanks for the thread, shame about the internet.

"Doing finances?" You ask.

"Just seeing how much we have for the renovations" Belladonna says. "I know the house is in good shape, it's just the numbers I want to figure out"

"Alright... hey, can any of the girls draw?" You ask.

"Draw...?" Belladonna says. "Try asking Astrid. She's the one with the silver hair and the extra pair of arms"

"She can draw?" You ask.

"She is a painter by trade. Astrid is the one who did most of the portraits you see around the manor" Belladonna says.

"Cool. I'll do that" You say.

After being assured that there's nothing else that you need, Belladonna heads back to do her business.

"So aside from hauling around oversized books, how's the kid doing?" You ask.

"She ate sooooo much" Lola says. "I heard that Serpids have big stomachs, but oh my goodness. And after she ate, she slept, and when she woke up she started pointing at books"

You lean over and stroke the Serpid's hair. "I thought she might be able to speak at her age" You say.

Lola shrugs. "She hasn't made any noise at all, except for the occasional rattle when she's spooked" She says. "We might wanna see if there's something wrong..."

"I did say I'd have to find a trauma counselour" You say. "At least she seems happy"

"As happy as any child in her position could be" Lola says. "Did you need something, sir?"

"No. Derrick and I were just going to eat lunch, but I saw her slither into this room and came to check it out" You say.

"Oh, nice" Lola says, as she stands up. "I'm Lola, by the way"

"Derrick Gallant, Yuu's cousin" Derrick says.

"I saw you here last night, but I didn't get a chance to say hello" Lola says.

"I probably wouldn't remember it if you had. I was very tired when I got here last night..." Derrick says.

While Derrick and Lola talk, Coral comes back to you with a little note. You take it, feed the sprite, and read it.

"Her name's Elizabeth" You say, reading the note out loud.

The Serpid's head perks up, and she slithers down Lola's leg. Then she makes her way over to you and slimbs up to coil around your stomach.

"You definitely recognize your name, little Liz" You say. "Can I call you that? Liz?"

Her tongue flicks out, and the rattle on the end of her tail starts to shake.

"Alright, Elizabeth it is" You say. "You want some lunch Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth nods.

"You just ate like half your body weight in pancakes" Lola says. "You can't possibly be hungry again"

>Maybe she's got a bigger stomach than we thought

>Can I have half my body weight in pancakes?

>At least we know she understands us now

>Other

Leaving this up for the night. Voting ends at 10pm PST.

>>2444534
>>Can I have half my body weight in pancakes?

>>2444534
>Can I have half my body weight in pancakes?

>>2444534
>>Can I have half my body weight in pancakes?

>>At least we know she understands us now

>>2444534
>>At least we know she understands us now

>>2444534
>>Maybe she's got a bigger stomach than we thought
>>>At least we know she understands us now

>>2444534
>>Maybe she's got a bigger stomach than we thought
>>Other, "I bet I can eat half my body weight in pancakes. That sounds great!"

"Can I have half my weight in pancakes?" You ask.

"I-I don't think we have enough ingredients to make that much pancake batter, sir" Lola says.

"Aww..." You say. "Well at least we know she understands us now... or at the very least has heard her name and is now just agreeing with me"

Elizabeth's tail starts to rattle.

"Understanding it is" You say. "You know there are easier ways to say no to something than going straight for 'I'm going to bite you'"

Elizabeth's little tongue flicks out.

"Or just keep being cute and no one will be able to say no to you" You say. "Also a good plan. Let's go get lunch"

Derrick chuckles, following along with you as you continue along to the kitchen. Lola comes too, since looking after Elizabeth has kind of become her job.

One of the maids makes all 4 of you sandwiches, and you sit down in the dining hall to eat.

Elizabeth's meal is smaller and a bit softer than what they made for the rest of you, and she looks it over carefully as the rest of you start eating. She almost looks like a hunter, moving slowly so that her sandwich won't notice her and run.

"While I'm here I might as well ask. How did your meeting go, sir?" Lola asks.

"It was much more civil than I expected" You say.

"That's because you were there to end the argument" Derrick says. "That could have gone on all day"

You shrug. "That's fine when there's no urgent decisions to be made, but right now we-"

You stop talking as Elizabeth suddenly picks up her sandwich and swallows it whole.

The entire thing. Gone in an instant. Her mouth opens unnaturally wide to fit it in, and for a moment you're worried she'll choke.

But then she goes back to being normal, like she didn't just win every eating contest forever.
...

>Finish what you were saying

>Is that normal?

>I guess she was still hungry...

>Other

>>2448873
>Other: Tentatively try to mimic the feat
>When that fails, "Is that normal?"

>>2448873
>>Finish what you were saying

>>2448873
>Is that normal?
>wat?

>>2448873
>>Finish what you were saying

>writing

You stop and stare at the little Serpid for a moment.

"Never seen that before?" Derrick asks.

You turn to him and shake your head. "Is that normal?" You ask.

"Most Serpids can do that kind of thing... though most of them don't" He says. "From what Emi's told me, she probably thinks her food will disappear if she eats too slow"

"A lot of poor kids are like that" Lola says. "S-speaking from experience..."

"Then we'll just have to teach her some proper table manners, and show her that there's no shortage of food here" You say. "Anyways, what was I saying?"

"Something about urgent decisions" Derrick says.

"Oh yeah. Long meetings are fine when there's nothing urgent to decide on, but right now we need to keep the action moving" You say.

"Does that mean you'll be leaving?" Lola asks.

"For a while, yes" You say. "I'll come back when there aren't any immediate battles to see how things are running here. But otherwise you and the girls will have the run of the place"

"You should make sure you finalize any plans for the renovations with Miss Belladonna before you go" She says. "That way we can get the work started, and maybe finished before you come back"

You finish your lunch and start talking about what to do next.

Lola offers to give Derrick a tour of the manor for you, and you-

>Go talk to Belladonna

>Read the rest of Graumer's old books

>Stick with them

>Other

>>2448969
>>Go talk to Belladonna
>>Read books if we have time.

>>2448969
>Go talk to Belladonna

Probably want to talk to Atlea about getting some of the archive dudes out here so we can stash Graumer's books someplace more safe.

>>2448969
>>Go talk to Belladonna
>>Read the rest of Graumer's old books

>>2448977
You've already sent a message to the Archive. They'll be sending someone soon.

>writing

"I'll leave you guys to that. I should go speak with Belladonna" You say.

"Want me to take Elizabeth?" Lola asks.

You look down, and the Serpid flicks her tongue out in a passive way. "I think she's good" You say.

"Alright" Lola says. "I'll come find you once I'm finished showing your friend around"

You head off to Belladonna's 'office' while Lola takes Derrick to start the tour. When you reach your destination, you give the door a knock and then enter.

"How's it going?" You ask.

"Quite well. We are in better shape than I hoped we would be" Belladonna says. "I see you have made friends with our new guest"

"We bonded over a mutual love of food" You say.

Elizabeth climbs around you to get a bit higher so she can rest her head on your shoulder, then she shuts her eyes.

"And she has no interest in the conversation that's about to take place" You say.

>Ask about the town

>Ask about the renovations

>Ask how her day's been

>Other

>>2449043
>>Ask how her day's been
>>Ask about the town

>>2449043
>>Ask about the town
>>Ask about the renovations

>>2449043
>>Ask about the renovations
>>Ask how her day's been

>writing

"How's your day been?" You ask as you sit down.

"Well enough. It is good to see the girls in such high spirits" She says. "I thought it might take a while for the mood here to change, but to see it lighten so much in such a short time is quite staggering"

"That just means they're all naturally happy girls" You say. "They just needed someone who would let them show it"

Belladonna smiles. "A good way of saying it" She says. "I look forward to waching them all come out of their shells... but I also know there's going to be a lot of work..."

"I'll try to keep the load light" You say. "Let's focus on the renovations for now"

Belladonna really shows her worth. She's got a map of the building with a legend for which rooms are currently unused and in need of renovation, which ones can simply be repurposed, which facilities will need expanding, etc.

"You've been busy" You say.

"I aim to please" She replies.

That's kind of an understatement... you've been Lord here less than a day, and she's got easily 3 days worth of work here...

>Work over what needs to be done

>Are you afraid I'll fire you or something?

>Other

>>2449091
>>Work over what needs to be done

>>2449091
>>Are you afraid I'll fire you or something? (In a joking manner)
>Work over what needs to be done

>>2449091
>>Work over what needs to be done

>writing

"This is a lot of work... you're not worried I'll fire you or something, are you?" You ask as you look over her papers.

Belladonna is quiet for a moment. "It is... a legitimate fear..." She says.

You wave her off. "Don't be. The girls respect you, and you know more about keeping this house running than anyone" You say before looking straight at her. "I need you here. Alright?"

Belladonna nods. "Yes" She says.

"Now, what needs to be done?" You ask.

You go over the maps and numbers with Belladonna for a while, checking Elizabeth every now and then to make sure she's good. The Serpid stirs every now and then, but otherwise the talking doesn't seem to bother her.

As far as the renovations go, there's a lot that will need to be done. Kitchen and bathroom facilities will need to be expanded, you'll need a few more staff members, an expansion to the yard, more bedrooms, and a whole list of other things.

"But ultimately it shouldn't cost us too much" She says. "For the kitchen and bathroom, the rooms next to those are up for repurposing so we'll just knock down some walls and upgrade the plumbing"

You then talk about where to get the furniture, who to hire as labourers go, and then it comes to the "Maybes" in the legend on the map...

"I wasn't sure if you'd want to keep these, so I wanted to ask before writing them off..." She says.

You look over the list. On it is Graumer's lab, the dungeon, the rooftop gardens, and the moat with its drawbridge...

>What, if anything, do you want to keep?

>>2449147
>>the rooftop gardens, and the moat with its drawbridge

>writing

"We can get rid of the lab and the dungeon" You say, looking over the floor plan of the first floor. "Ditching the lab will let us expand the baths a bit, and I don't see any need for a dungeon in an orphanage"

"We could clean it up and leave it be, then tell all the children that it's haunted" She says. "I have some fond childhood memories of exploring supposedly haunted places myself, and it's deep enough that it won't be a problem for the children"

"Haunted by the ghost of Alex Graumer..." You say. "Got a nice ring... I'll think about it. We'll be keeping the gardens, maybe even expanding them if anyone wants that job"

"Talk to Tanya. She is a dryad, and I'm sure she'd love to start really tending the gardens" She says.

"Will do" You say. "As for the moat... filling it would be a lot of work, but would it be possible to maybe ditch the drawbridge for something more permanent?"

"I will see to it" She replies.

You talk for a bit longer about which rooms should be converted to bedrooms, among other things, until Elizabeth starts to stir.

The Serpid looks like she wants to work off some pent up energy, so you close up your discussion with Belladonna and take her to-

>Somewhere with something to climb

>Go find Lola

>The yard

>Other

>>2449224
>>Go find Lola

>>2449224
>>The yard
We can think something up. We ran the kitten out of energy after all.

>writing

You head to the yard, and send a note to Derrick and Lola letting you know where you are.

Out in the yard there are plenty of things to keep Elizabeth occupied. It seems to have been a light winter here, and so there are plenty of bugs around for her to chase.

It's still a bit nippy though, so whenever you see her slowing down you go over and pick her up so she can coil up under your shirt for warmth.

She's chasing a particularly persistent moth near the entrance when someone enters the yard, getting between her and her quarry mid strike. Elizabeth hits their leg and recoils, slithering around the yard in confusion until she locates you and slithers back up under your shirt.

The person who came in is Madelaine, who looks somewhat shocked by what just happened.

"Hey man" She says finally. "You get my message?"

"Yeah. Thanks" You say. "She's been much friendlier since we learned her name"

"Good to hear. Elizabeth is a nice name" She says.

At the sound of her name, Elizabeth pokes her head out from under your shirt. She's holding her nose in one hand, like she hurt it.

"Oh, sweetie. Did you get hurt?" You ask, as you pull her out a bit and remove her hand so you can get a closer look. You don't see anything, and she didn't hit Madelaine's leg all that hard. But it probably still hurts, so you kiss it better and let her continue sapping your warmth.

>Most kids cry when they get hurt...

>Ask if she found anything else in the house

>Ask what brings her back here

>Other

>>2449272
>>Ask what brings her back here

>>2449272
>>Ask if she found anything else in the house

>>2449272
>>Ask if she found anything else in the house

>writing

"Find anything else in the house?" You ask.

"Nothing good... I don't think she had any other clothes or toys or anything" Madelaine says. "Lots of empty bottles though, and a few of the bloodstains were much older than our attack"

"Meaning...?"

"Meaning one or both of her parents were drinkers, who were poor and quite possibly abusive" Madelaine says. "Just look at her reaction to getting hurt. She didn't cry, she just hid"

You frown and look down. Elizabeth's eyes are fixed on the door, and her tail starts to rattle.

Turning to see what she's so focused on, you see Meyu, Gerard, and Zaine coming into the yard.

"Uh oh, Meyu. She doesn't like you" Gerard says.
"He probably kept her up all night with his snoring, if she was under his bed all that time" Zaine says.

Meyu takes a step forward, and the rattling increases in volume. He frowns and steps back. "I just wanted to see how she's doin'"

>Maybe keep your distance for now

>Convince Elizabeth that he's friendly

>Other

>>2449316
>>Convince Elizabeth that he's friendly

>>2449316
>>Maybe keep your distance for now

>writing

"Just... keep your distance for now. I'll get her to see that you're friendly" You say.

"She looks much better than she did earlier" Gerard says.

"Well she's had 2 naps, half her bodyweight in pancakes, and a sandwich that she swallowed whole" You say.

Gerard chuckles. "Yeah... Serpids do that" He says. "I actually dated a Serpid this one time, and-"

Zaine puts a hand on Gerard's shoulder. "They don't want to hear about that" He says.

"Right... yeah" Gerard says. "Mind if I take a look at her? I'm not much of a healer, but we really should make sure nothing is wrong..."

"Sure, if that's okay with her" You say, looking down at Elizabeth, whose eyes are still fixed on Meyu. "Is that okay with you?"

Her tail starts to rattle again.

"Guess not" Gerard says. "She looks healthy enough though. Maybe once she's a little less nervous we can try again"

"What's with the sudden interest in her well being?" Madelaine asks.

Zaine goes over and whispers something to her, and Madelaine nods.

"That makes sense" She says.

>What makes sense?

>I wonder what's taking Derrick and Lola so long...

>Maybe we should get her checked out...

>Other

>>2449401
>>What makes sense?

>>I wonder what's taking Derrick and Lola so long...

>>2449401
>>Maybe we should get her checked out...

>>2449401
>>Maybe we should get her checked out...

>writing

"Maybe we should get her checked out... by a real healer. No offense Gerard" You say.

"None taken. Every scar these two have is a testament to the fact that I kinda suck at it" He says.

"And now that you mention it, I should probably have someone on staff with at least some medical knowledge" You say.

"Maybe you already do" Madelaine says.

"Good call" You say. "Well, time to go bug Belladonna again"

"We'll hang here if that's okay with you" Meyu says. "We're just waitin' on word of when we'll be marchin' again"

"That's fine" You say. "No mischief though"

"I'll keep 'em in line for ya Yuu" Madelaine says. "You go on"

>1/2

You find Belladonna, and learn that you do indeed have a nurse of sorts on staff. Which is good news because now you don't have to hire one...

The nurse appears to be human in every way, save for the fact that she's got one big eye instead of 2. She agrees to take a look at Elizabeth in one of the unused rooms.

"Just try to keep her relaxed" The nurse says, as she takes out some of her tools and gets to work.

She checks a few things, like her heartbeat, her breathing, and her eyes, and then smiles.

"Looks like she's in good health, though there are some other tests we can do" She says, as she pours out a cup of something. "Think you can get her to drink this?"

You take the cup and hold it up to Elizabeth. She sniffs it and hides behind you.

"Guess not" The nurse says. "That's fine. It's just standard medicine. Nothing too urgent"

"What was your name again?" You ask.
"Monique" The cyclops says. "And you're... err... I- already know your name"

"I would hope so" You say.

>Ask if she'd like to be a more permanent nurse

>Ask how her giant eye fits in her head with her brain

>Medicine for what?

>Other

Must step out for a bit. I'll be back in 20 or so minutes to write the next post.

>>2449491
>>Ask if she'd like to be a more permanent nurse

>>Medicine for what?

>>2449491
>>Medicine for what?
>>Ask if she'd like to be a more permanent nurse

>>2449491
>>Ask if she'd like to be a more permanent nurse
>>Ask her if she has any eye powers like we do.

>>2449491
>Monique
>Mono eye

Good one

>Medicine for what?

>>2449510
I get lazy with names sometimes.

>writing

"How would you feel about shifting your duties more towards being a nurse?" You ask. "Elizabeth here may be the first child to join us here, but I don't plan on making her the last"

"I can manage that" She says. "We'll need an actual sick room, though. Not just for recovery, but for someplace to keep my notes"

"There are still rooms to spare, even with the current renovation plans. I'll see to it that it gets done" You say.

Monique seems surprised. "Thank you" She says.

"And what kind of medicine is that?" You ask, pointing to the bottle she just poured out of.

"It's for parasites" She says "Pretty standard whenever a new girl comes in. Sometimes, especially if they were poor before they came here, they've got some err... internal tagalongs... that we need to get rid of"

>... that sounds important

>Can eye try some?

>Well if you don't see a problem...

>Other

>>2449539
>>... that sounds important
>>Can eye try some?

>>2449539
>>... that sounds important

>>Can eye try some?

>>2449539
>>... that sounds important

>writing

"That sounds important..." You say.

"It kinda is, but we might wanna wait until you're finished building trust with her before we try to make her take medicine" Monique says.

"Can I try some?" You ask.
"Uhh... sure... I guess" She says. "Here"

Monique hands you the glass she was going to give to Elizabeth, and you get an idea...

You give the medicine a sniff, and then down it in one go. It takes everything you have not to make a face, but you just barely manage.

"Huh... not bad" You say. "Definitely tastes much better than it smells"

Monique looks confused, until you give her a wink.

Elizabeth comes out from behind you to investigate, the bad tasting medicine having now caught her curiousity.

Monique pours her another little bit. "Wanna try it now?" She asks.

The Serpid hovers around the cup for a second, sniffing it and looking apprehensive. But she does take it after a second, and Monique tilts it into her mouth with one hand while the other reaches underneath to massage her throat and make sure she swallows it instead of spitting it out.

Elizabeth does not look happy.

"I'm sorry, kiddo. But parasites are really not something you want inside you..." You say.

She hides her head under your shirt.

"Maybe we shouldn't have done that..." Monique says.

"She'll come around" You say.

>Ask if she has any candy

>Ask if medicine always tastes that bad

>Ask how good of a healer she is

>Other

>>2449566
>>Ask if she has any candy

>>2449566
>>Ask if she has any candy

>>2449566
>>Ask if she has any candy

>writing

You reach up your shirt and stroke Elizabeth's hair to try and comfort her.

"Do you have any candy?" You ask.

"I think I might..." Monique says, reaching into a pocket on her uniform. "Ah! I do"

She pulls out a candy similar to the ones Lola had. Now that you get a close look at it, it looks like the ones Layla used to carry around as well, right down to the wax covering.

"Awesome" You say. You take the candy from her, unwrap it, and hold it down your collar as an offering.

Elizabeth's tail loosens around your stomach, and you hear her sniffing. Like Lola did before, you pull it back until her head pokes out from your collar, then give it to her.

Monique giggles at the sight. "You look kinda silly with her head poking out there" She says.

"Just wait until I get Lyvia on my shoulders and Coral back in my shirt" You say. "They do say that 4 heads are better than 1"

"I think that saying goes 2 heads..."
"Yeah, but if 2 heads are better than 1, then 4 must be better than 2" You say. "Right Elizabeth?"

...

"She's really focused on that candy..." Monique says.

"Probaly for the best. I'm used to getting smacked or bitten by kids her age..." You say.

"And you still like kids?" She asks.

You shrug. "I've hurt worse" You say. "Did I tell you guys about the time I got an arm full of Carracore spikes?"

"Isn't Carracore venom lethal?" Monique asks.

"Only if you have a heart" You say.

Monique nods. "Apologies, I had forgotten you were uhh... a demon" She says.

>Ask if she's dealt with many demons here

>Everyone does

>I'm basically an anti-demon

>Other

>>2449591
>>I'm basically an anti-demon

>>2449591
>I'm basically an anti-demon
Equal but opposite
>Ask if she's dealt with many demons here

>writing

"Well I am basically an anti-demon" You say. "All the strength and the lack of heart, but with more heart... y'know?"

Monique laughs. "You certainly show it" She says.

"Have you dealt with many demons working here?" You ask.

"Only a few... the older maids tended to keep the rest of us out of sight whenever Legionnaires were around" She says. "That was because of what happened to Ilica, you see... most of the time no one got hurt, but Carthac beat Miss Belladonna pretty bad the last time he was here..."

"Huh... Belladonna never mentioned that" You say.

Monique shakes her head. "She wouldn't want to trouble you with something like that" She says.

"She should. You all should" You say. "If anyone gets hurt, I want to know... I mean in this case I already killed the heck out of Carthac for trying to get his puppet-guy to kill my sisters along with various other reasons... but if anyone ever hurts one of you in any way, then I want to know. Because then they deal with me"

"Alright" She says. "It's... actually really good to hear that"

"And that goes for you too, Liz" You say.

Elizabeth's head pops up, and her tail starts to rattle.

You sigh. "Elizabeth..."

She goes back to happily licking her lollipop.

"She really doesn't like the shortened version..." You say.

"No kidding..." Monique replies. "Do you need anything else, sir?"

"Not really, but I did want to ask you something..." You say.

"Is it about the eye?" She asks.

"Yes" You say. "How do you have such a big eye and still have room for a brain behind it... no offense"

"None taken" She says. "You see, a good portion of my brain is actually in my eye..."

That's all for tonight!

Next thread will be on Sunday. I'll try to stick a few long posts in between now and then, though.

As always I'll be sticking around for question/suggestion time!

I would also like to point out that the brain being part of the eye is the only way I could think of that would make the "anime cyclops girl" in any way feasible.

Here at Beyond the Gate we strive for realism, and failing that we go for 'as realistic as anime monstergirls can get'. Which isn't very.

>>2449625
Truth is stranger than fiction

Good thread, thanks

I want to ask this now, when will we be deciding which waifu route we go on? I usually can't make it to live sessions, but I want to try and make it to that one at least.

>>2449754
That's a vote I'll be leaving up for a few hours so that everyone can get their say. I'll also announce it on twitter and the like.

>>2449754
>>2450853
I've gathered you are tracking affection levels to some degree as well. How is that going to play out? Will we ever get sort of an update on where girls are running?

AHHHH I just realized we have a Cyclops Nurse.

Whether it was intentional or not, nice.

"Neat" You say once Monique is finished her explanation. "But doesn't it suck having such a huge eye? What if somebody like... punched it?"

Monique smiles and raises a hand, giving her eye a knock. "It's not soft like a normal eye" She says. "Could you imagine? An eye this big would be like a big target..."

"It is surprising difficult to resist poking it" You say.

"That happens a lot" Monique says. "It mostly comes from Carrie, since she likes to poke people's noses, but... well..."

...

"I actually didn't notice that..." You say. "No nose at all?"

"Nope" She says. "Wanna know how I smell?"

You lean in and sniff. "Kinda flowery" You say. "Is that perfume?"

Monique giggles, and before you can get an answer you feel something tugging at your shirt. Looking down, you see that Elizabeth is tugging at the inside. You pull your collar out, and her hand pops up with a bare lollipop stick.

"That was quick" You say. The hand pulls back in immediately once you take the stick. "I don't know what to do with this"

"Here" Monique says, as she takes the lollipop stick and puts it away in her pocket. "She's surprisingly well mannered for someone so young... do you know how old she is?"

"Not a clue" You say. "She looks about 1 and a half"

"For a regular baby, yeah. But Serpids are hatched, not born" Monique says.

"When do they start counting age or girls like her? From when the egg is laid, or from when they hatch?" You ask.

"I... don't know, actually" She says. "Nobody on staff came from an egg either, so you might be out of luck there"

"Do dragons lay eggs?" You ask.

"I believe they do" Monique says.

"Then I'll have toask my mom..." You say. "Anything else we need to do here?"

"Nothing that comes to mind... though if I'll be doing this more often I'll have to write up some kind of checklist..." She says. "Since she's going to be staing here, we'll probably need baby supplies... and if you want to find out how old she is, it might be in the town records"

>Go check the town records

>I can do the shopping

>Go talk to your mom

>Other

>>2461875
>I can do the shopping

>Go talk to your mom

I can’t even imagine what it must be like for Altea, not even half a day out of her sight and he’s already got a new girl using him as a cart.

>>2461875
>>Go check the town records

>>2461875
>Go talk to your mom

Mom's not-reaction reaction to Yuu's new girl is always fun to see.

>writing

"I should go talk to my mom then" You say. "She might be a bit busy, but there's some business stuff I'd like to ask her too. Maybe I could stop in somewhere and pick up baby stuff on the way back"

"It might be a lot of stuff, are you sure you can carry it all?" Monique asks.

"You were there when I lifted that cabinet" You say. "Heavy things are no problem. Plus I've got extra hands now"

"I don't think Elizabeth will be much help..." She says.

You shrug. "Worst case scenario, I'll send Coral to get help" You say. "Now, where is this place?"

Monique gives you a location and directions. It's not quite on the way back, but it's close enough that it won't be a problem.

With that you say goodbye to Monique, convince Elizabeth to wave to her, and head off.

Along the way you meet Lola, who informs you that Derrick decided to head back to the armory for something. You thank her and continue on your way.

People are starting to come out of their houses now, which is a good sign. You see a man and woman having a conversation with a few of the Northern soldiers as you walk past.

The soldiers salute you, and then start telling the civilians about who you are... you wonder if the soldiers know you own this place now.

You find Altea as she's walking out of the big hall with Lulu and Pip in tow.

"Ah, Yuu. I was just about to call for you and-... what is under your shirt?" She asks.

>Nothin'...

>Lift shirt

>Ask about the age of egg-born girls

>Other

>>2462029
>>Lift shirt
>>Ask about the care and raising of egg-born girls

>>2462029
>>Lift shirt
>>Ask about the age of egg-born girls

>writing

You lift up your shirt. "Her name is Elizabeth" You say.

Elizabeth doesn't like having her hiding place removed, and she reaches up and tries to pull the shirt back down.

...

"She's shy" You say.

Altea squeezes her eyes shut. "Where did you manage to find a child?" She asks.

"Meyu found her in a house they though was empty" You say, as you let Elizabeth pull your shirt back down. "Her parents died, so she's the first child to join my new orphanage"

"I see..." Altea says. "What orphanage?"
"The one I'm turning my manor into" You say. "I've got too many rooms and too many staff members, so I'm going to be opening the doors to children in need"

"That is... very like you" Altea says. "I've no idea why I didn't expect it. So what brings you here?"

"Oh yeah. You came out of an egg, right?" You ask.

"I did" She says.

"I was hoping you could tell me a bit about that. Nobody on my staff is like that, and I need to know more" You say.

"Walk with me, Yuu" Altea says. "I've got some time"

You nod and fall into step with her as she starts walking.

"So, what would you like to know?"

>?

>>2462134
>>How do you measure age for children who come from eggs?
>>Do you think I'm doing okay so far with the town?

>>2462134
>>Do you think I'm doing okay so far with the town?
>>How do you measure age for children who come from eggs?
>>Is there any particulars about those who came from eggs that I need to know about?

>writing

"Is there anything different about girls that come out of eggs?" You ask.

"Well... they eat solid food right off the bat" Altea says.

"I knew that one" You say. "She swallowed an entire sandwich whole at lunch today"

"That little thing swallowed an entire sandwich?" Lulu asks.

"Yep. She just shoved the whole thing down" You say. "And here I thought Munchkin ate too fast..."

"I've heard that's normal for Serpids" Pip says, as she pokes the girl under your shirt. "You've just gotta teach her some table manners"

Elizabeth tries to swat away Pip's hand, and when she fails she pokes her head out from your collar to see who's poking her.

"What about age?" You ask. "Do you measure age from when the egg is laid, or from when it hatches?"

"Here's an odd one" She says. "You measure the age from when she was lain, but you celebrate her ctual birthday on the day she was hatched"

"Really?" You ask.

Altea nods. "I turned 35 while you were up north, but my actual birthday is still 4 months away" She says.

"Neat" You say.

"Other than that... you seem to have the whole 'keep warm' part covered" She says. "I'll be honest, I don't know much about Serpid care. You'll probably want to find a book on the subject, or ask someone who knows more"

"That's fine. I just wanted to know about the whole egg part" You say.

"Is there anything else?" She asks.

"Well... I was kinda wondering how you think I'm doing so far with the town" You say.

"You're doing quite well so far" She says. "The real test will be keeping the people on your side once you've been in power for a while, but for now your doing your part to see your vision through and make sue the town prospers"

"Thanks" You say.

"And I suppose the orphanage is a good move, too, on that note. It's difficult to dislike someone who takes in orphaned children..."

"All part of my devious master plan to make everyone love me" You say.

Altea chuckles.

>Head off to do baby shopping

>Talk about when you'll be leaving

>Ask where she's headed

>Other

>>2462289
>>Talk about when you'll be leaving

>>2462289
>Talk about when you'll be leaving

>>2462289
>>Head off to do baby shopping

>>Ask where she's headed

>What about boys, was Derrick hatched as well?

>writing

"But what about boys? Did Derrick come out of an egg too?" You ask.

Pip has a hard time keeping a straight face at that one, but Altea takes it in stride.

"Oh, heavens no. Boys are born normally and develop normally" She says. "Otherwise what would the point of all us reptilian women having breasts be?"

You try to come up with an answer for that, and come up blank.

"Exactly" Altea says.

"So where are you off to?" You ask.

"Dozens of places" She says. "Lots to oversee, conversations to be had, and someone has to make sure everyone stays in line"

"Any idea when we'll be leaving?" You ask.

"Depends on when the Legion's counterattack hits" She says. "I'm not moving our forces until they've made their move, and I expect it will come tonight or early tomorrow morning. So you might want to rest up"

"And what if they just stall out, knowing we won't move until they do?" You ask.

"Then we'll pull our airships into formation and turn their encampments into blasted craters" She says. "I've no patience for stalling tactics. Not when so much is at stake"

"Could we fix that big cannon at the center of town?" You ask.

"Already happening. It won't be firing high powered ammunition like it was yesterday, but our team can get it working again" She says.

"Oh..." You say.

"I... suppose I should have informed you of that, given that it's your town..." Altea says. "My apologies for that. I'll keep that in mind for future decisions"

>Anything else I should know about?

>You know I'd never object to having a badass giant cannon in my town

>Head off

>Other

>>2462416
>>Anything else I should know about?
>>You know I'd never object to having a badass giant cannon in my town

>writing

"Aww, you know I'd never say no to having a giant cannon in my town" You say. "But is there anything else I should know about?"

"Nothing that comes to mind. I won't go over you head next time, so you can expect a sprite or two from me in the next few hours" She says.

"I'll try to reply as quickly as I can" You say.

"Good to hear" Altea replies. "But I've got some business in here, so I'll have to cut our time short. Is there anything else you need?"

You hold your arms open for a hug.

Altea sighs and hugs you. It's short, but sweet.

"Take care, now" She says.

"I will try" You reply.

Pip and Lulu wave to you as they follow Altea inside. Meanwhile Elizabeth looks thoroughly confused.

You chuckle and pet her head as you walk off to your next destination...

>1/2

You reach the store, marked by a sign that was probably colorful at one point, but has since faded to the point where it's bland and unreadable...

You walk in apprehensively. "Hello?" You call out into the seemingly empty building.

It doesn't look abandoned. The shelves are all fairly well stocked with food, toys, diapers and other baby tools. But you don't see anyone...

A spot of movement catches your eye. It's subtle and smooth, to the point where you almost didn't even see it.

You look up and see someone in the rafters. She looks like a Serpid, which is good news. She also looks like she's on guard, with a spell at her fingertips.

"I don't take well to looters" She says.

"I'm not-"

She launches a blast of heat in your direction, strong enough that it could have sent you flying out of the shop if you weren't ready.

But you're always ready. So you cover Elizabeth's body with one arm and counter the blast with a soul wave.

But the woman isn't letting up, so you-

>Push back

>Tell her who you are

>Ask that she not put Liz at risk

>Other

>>2462528
>>Push back

>>Tell her who you are

>>2462528
>fire off a disruptor
>show her the baby

>>2462528
>>Tell her who you are

>writing

"Wait! Wait! Hang on" You say, reaching under your shirt. "Elizabeth, I need you to get off for a sec. Can't fight this lady if you're clinging onto me"

Elizabeth's tail starts to rattle, and she tightens her coils.

"No dice... sorry. I'd love to fight this out, but I can't really do that right now" You say. "I'm Yuu, by the way. Yuu Gallant"

The woman stares at you for a moment. "There's a child under your shirt?" She asks.

"Her name is Li-... Elizabeth" You say. "Wanna come out and say hi?"

...

"She's shy" You say. "Are you the owner of this place?"

"I am... why do I feel like I've heard that name..." She says, as she starts to drop down from the ceiling. "Your name, not hers..."
"I'm the Lubrian prince" You say. "I also run this town now"

She stops midway down, looking completely shocked. "Oh my goodness. I am so sorry!" She says, as she hastily comes the rest of the way down and slithers over to you. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Now that she's in the light, you can see that she isn't exactly a normal Serpid. Her skin is a bluish colour, while her hair is green, and she has a pair of regular snakes coming out of her head just above her ears. There's an odd, eye-like symbol on her forehead as well, but otherwise she looks like a normal Serpid.

"I'm fine" You say. "Wouldn't be much good against the Legion if I went down to a simple heat wave now, would I?"

She breathes a sigh of relief. "I'm very sorry for all this... I had some people try to come in and steal from me yesterday" She says, pointing back at the door. "They broke my locks, so I've been on guard ever since..."

>What's with the snakes on your head?

>I need baby stuff

>! could send a few soldiers your way

>Other

>>2462578
>>What's with the snakes on your head?

>>I need baby stuff

>>2462578
>>I need baby stuff
>>! could send a few soldiers your way

>writing

"I need baby stuff" You say. "And since I'm starting up an orphanage here, I'll be needing a lot of it"

"An orphanage? Where?" You ask.

"At the manor" You say.

"Baron Graumer's manor? How did you convince him to allow that?" She asks.

"I didn't" You say. "It's my manor now. Graumer is in a cell awaiting a trial for crimes he's committed"

"Oh... you did say you were in charge of this town now..." She says. "S-so what can I do for you?"

She looks pretty nervous about this, so you decide to lighten the mood a bit.

"Well first I wanted to ask something" You say. "What's up with the snakes?"

She looks confused for a second, looking around until her eyes fall upon the snakes coming out of her head. They seem to move in unison with her arms when she isn't focusing on them.

"Oh, you must never have seen an Echidna before" She says. "I'm not like a normal Serpid. Girls like me tend to be much better at magic, and I'm the only kind of woman capable of giving birth to girls of different kinds"

You tilt your head. "Do they all come from eggs?" You ask.

"Well... no. They'd only come from eggs if they needed to" She says.

"Huh..." You say. "I'm learning a lot about eggs today"

"Y-you're... welcome?" She asks.

"But enough about that... for now. That all actually sounds super interesting and I'd like to hear more later" You say. "I still need baby stuff, and if you want I could have a few soldiers sent here to guard the place... maybe a locksmith too, just in case"

"Y-you would do that? Even after I attacked you?" She asks.

>Yes

>Only if you tell me more about Echidnas

>I've done more for people who've done worse

>Other

>>2462656
>>Yes

>>Only if you tell me more about Echidnas

>>2462656
>>Only if you tell me more about Echidnas
This sounds like it could be something worth researching.

>writing

"Only if you tell me more about Echidnas" You say.

"I can manage that" She says. "But first, I'm gonna need some coffee..."

She heads behind a counter and taps on a few devices, before stopping herself and turning stiffly towards you.

"I'm Aenea, by the way" She says.

"Yuu" You say, as you pull up your shirt. "And this is Elizabeth"

"Ohh... she's a little sweetie" She says. "And I'm pretty sure I've seen her before... she lived in this area, right?"

"Around here, yeah" You say.

"I think her mother brought her in here once or twice..." She says, as she goes back to making coffee. "But that's not what you wanted to know about..."

"Actually, if you can tell me a bit about Elizabeth, it would be pretty helpful..." You say.

Aenea shrugs, and then tells you all about the few times Elizabeth's mother visited... how she never bought much, the way she'd had badly hidden bruises under her makeup...

"-and if I recall right, the kid used to cling to her for dear life, just like she's doing to you now" Aenea says.

"You seem pretty observant" You say.

"People watching is like the only fun part of this job" She says, as she hands you a cup of coffee and sips one herself. "I... probably should have asked if you drink coffee before I made this..."

"I do" You say.

"So, you want to know about Echidnas" She says. "What would you like to know?"

>How do you have non-echidna children?

>What's with the snakes coming out of your head?

>What else can you do?

>Other

>>2462759
>>How unique are echidnas? Are they like unicorns or nine-tails?
>>How do you have non-echidna children?
>>If you're so good at magic, why do you run a store?

>>2462759
>>How do you have non-echidna children?

>>What's with the snakes coming out of your head?

>writing

"How rare are echidnas?" You ask.

"Rarer than most, but it's not like we're one of a kind" She says. "Generally we like to have big families, and at least 2 of the daughters tend to end up being Echidnas themselves"

"How do you have non-echidna children?" You ask.

She shrugs. "Sorry... I don't really know about that one. They just kinda happen..." She says.

"So do you have any sisters?" You ask.

She nods. "3 sisters and 2 brothers" She says. "One of my sisters is an Echidna like me, but the others are a Canid and a Reptilian"

"Neat" You say. "You said that you're really good at magic... but if that's the case, then why do you run a store?"

Aenea puffs out her cheeks. "I happen to like running a store" She says.

"That makes sense..." You say.

"But it's also because it's not like... flashy, powerful magic. An Echidna's special magic is meant to manipulate people's minds in tiiiiiiny little ways" She says. "My mom said it was meant so that we would have no trouble finding a husband, but then it's rude to just make somebody like you. So you just continue on, open up a shop and hope to meet someone one day, but every guy who comes in here is married with children and therefore off limits... I mean, except for you... like, are you single?"

"Yeah, actually" You say.

"Oh, wow! Really? A handsome, smart, kid-loving, rich, sssssssexy man like you doesn't have a lady friend?" She asks. "Would you like to maybe go out with me sometime? We could have a nice dinner, stroll around town for a bit, and then head home and you can-"

The snakes on her head cover her mouth, stopping her from finishing that sentence. She holds up a finger and slithers out of the room for a moment.

You sit tight and wait for her to come back, sipping your coffee all the while. It tastes pretty good.

After a minute she comes back, looking noticeably calmer. "I'm sorry I got a liiiiittle bit carried away there what was your question again?" She asks, all in one breath.

...

>How does your magic work?

>Is that normal?

>Ask about the snakes

>Other

>>2462874
>>What just happened there?
>>Is your magic unique to Echidna's? How does your magic work?

>writing

>>2462874
>>Is that normal?

>>Ask about the snakes

"What was that?" You ask.

"Just... getting a little carried away in a way that I'd really prefer not to discuss" She says.

You nod slowly, looking down as Elizabeth works up the courage to slither out from under your shirt and look around.

You and Aenea both pay her no mind, figuring that you can just let her do her own thing.

"So how does this mental magic work?" You ask.

"I can use it to change little things about people's desires. You can't force someone to do something they don't want to do, but if the desire is there I can strengthen it. The same goes for something you don't like"

"Can you show me?" You ask.

Her cheeks turn red. "Th-that's throwin' an awful lot of temptation my way, you know" She says. "But I guess I could do something simple..."

She fixes your gaze, and her yellow eyes glow orange for a second. You feel warm for a second, and get the sudden urge to drink a bit more of your coffee. So you pick up the mug and take a sip.

...

"Was that you?" You ask.
"Something simple" She says in a 'matter of fact' tone. "I can't make you suddenly dash the cup against the wall, or down the whole thing since that would burn your throat. But if you want to drink it, I can strengthen that desire"

"That's pretty neat... but it also sounds really easy to abuse..." You say.

"Which is why us Echidnas always have a very strong moral compass" She says. "Did you know there's never been an Echidna that turned into a demon?"

"Really?" You ask.

She nods.

"Huh..." You say. "That's kinda cool. Though I did meet a demon named Echidna once"

"Was she an Echidna?" She asks.

"Nah, she was a reptilian of some sort" You say. "That would be kinda weird... naming an Echidna Echidna... it'd be like naming a Leprid 'Bunny', or a Felid "Cat'..."

You hang your head.

"Wh-what's wrong?" She asks.

"I actually know a Felid named Katherine" You say. "I wonder if that was intentional..."

>1/2

You send off a request for some guards and a new lock for Aenea's shop, and then hang out with her for a while longer.

She tells you all about her species, like how the snakes on her head are controlled by her subconscious, which is why they do the things that she either needs to do, or really wants to do. Like covering her mouth when she's saying too much, giving little kisses to things that she likes, stuff like that.

The weird eye symbol on her forehead turns up when she comes of age. She also doesn't dye her hair. It's naturally green.

All the while you're talking, Elizabeth is exploring the store. Nothing in here is breakable or not safe for children, so you have no qualms with letting her wander around.

After a while, Coral comes back with the requested men in tow.

"That's my cue. I really should get my stuff and get back home" You say.

"Aww... you don't wanna stay?" She asks.

Her eyes start to glow, and your head feels warm again. Suddenly you really do feel like staying a while longer... but the feeling passes quickly, as Aenea giggles.

"I'm only kidding. I'd never actually do that" She says, draining the last of her coffee and placing the cup down. "Now, let's go over your purchase..."

You gather up all the things you need and put it all into a sizeable box. It's heavy, but manageable, and the final price is much cheaper than what you thought it would be.

"That's a little discount from me" She says with a wink. "If you're runnin' a child care place, you'll be needing a lot of this stuff. So remember to come back here, okay?"

>Anything else?

>>2462961
>anything we need to know specifically about raising a serpid, your the only one we know in the area. Keeping warm is obvious but do they need stuff to climb, also any foods to watch out for?

Stop making so many cute girls, Aenea is fucking adorable.

Good god don't stop please

>>2462961
>> Would it be something within your abilities, and perhaps some other echidnas in the city, to try and help motivate people to rebuild and move on from what the Legion has done?

>writing

>>2462970
Only get one though.

>>2462990
Just cuz we only get one waifu, doesn't mean we can't enjoy the other characters being cute as well.

You crouch down and call Elizabeth to you. Her head pops out from behind a shelf, and she slithers over to you and up your leg to wrap around your torso, outside the shirt this time.

"You're basically a Serpid... is there anything I need to know about taking care of one?" You ask.

"She needs lots of meat and stuff, and eggs are a big part of her diet at this age" She says.

"Like... scrambled eggs?" You ask.

"Raw. Just give her the whole thing, shell and all. Us Serpids can swallow just about anything" She says with a playful wink.

When it becomes clear that you have no idea what she meant by that, she clears her throat and continues.

"But anyway. Just make sure she's got something warm to sleep with, whether it's a person or a pillow, and she should be fine. We're not picky eaters, but we're also not very nice when we're cold... not that I'd know much about that" She says. "Another nice thing about being an Echidna is that our fire affinity makes it easy to stay nice and toasty"

"Neat... a friend of mine was always complaining about being too cold" You say.

"Well you'll never hear that from me" She says. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Just one more question" You say. "What kind of scope does that mind power have?"

"I can only effect one person at a time, and even then only to the degree that you've seen" She says.

"Okay... I guess that's probably a good thing" You say, as you lift up the big box of supplies and put it on your shoulder before turning back to say goodbye.

"It's great for getting people to come back and shop here though" She says, putting on an innocent face and rocking her shoulders as her eyes start to glow again. "I mean, you do want to come back, right?"

Again your head feels warm, and you're filled with the urge to return here ASAP. But again the feeling passes quickly.

"Just kidding" She says. "But like... if you wanted to come by again I absolutely wouldn't complain"

"I might have to" You say. "You seem to know more about Serpids than anyone else I've met here, and you make a pretty good cup of coffee..."

"Really?! You mean it?!" She asks, before regaining her cool and coughing a few times. "I-I mean... yeah, that'd be cool. I'm here like... all the time"

You chuckle and say goodbye, heading out as Elizabeth gives her a wave.

"What a strange person" You say. "What did you think?"

Elizabeth's tongue flicks out.

"That's exactly what I was thinking" You say. "Come on, let's get this stuff home"

That's all for tonight!

If you're wondering why there's an Echidna running the baby supply store, it's because I figured that the "mother of monsters" would be a fitting owner for a baby store.

Next thread will be tomorrow

As always I'll be sticking around for question/suggestion time

>>2463021
Thanks for the thread, I actually learned a bit about greek mythology and all that thanks to you making her an Echidna; didn't even know they were a breed of monstergirl.

Is Aenea new cutie best girl?

>>2463021
Good grill

You stop for a moment to let the soldiers who arrived know what's going on, and then start heading back home.

As you walk, Elizabeth looks around at everything with a curious eye. You think if she wasn't so nervous she'd probably be slithering around, climbing all over everything.

When you arrive back at the manor, that same maid is still at the entrance.

"Welcome back, sir" She says. "What's in the box?"

"Baby stuff" You say. "For the baby"

You both look down at Elizabeth, who is peering out at the moat. When she realizes she's being observed, she sticks her head underneath your free arm to hide.

"Aww... where can I put this stuff?" You ask.

"There should be a storage closet near the bedrooms. Just leave it outside, and one of us will unpack everything later" She says.

You nod and head upstairs, passing a couple other maids on the way. Their calm, kind demeanour seems to soothe Elizabeth a little, as she doesn't feel the need to hide from them.

When you find the closet, you set the box down and wipe your forehead. It might not have been too heavy for you, but carrying it all this way still worked up a bit of a sweat...

But now that it's done, you can-

>Head back into town

>Relax here

>Other

>>2464901
>>Head back into town
Maybe briefly tour around and see a few of the local people of importance just to make an impression before we leave?

>writing

You feel like heading into town, maybe meeting some of the more influential people here... only you have no idea who they might be...

So you go and find Lola, who is in the kitchens stirring something in a bowl.

"Heya sir" Lola says. "What brings you my way?"

"I was wondering if you knew of anyone in town who I might want to meet with" You say. "You know... the more influential people"

"I know of a few, but I could say where you might find them" Lola says. "For that, you'd want to ask Miss Belladonna"

You pause for a second, wondering why you didn't go there first, as Elizabeth's tongue starts to flick the air and she gets curious about what Lola is doing.

"Oh? Hey there sweetie, wanna come help me bake cookies?" Lola asks.

Elizabeth looks interested.

"Can I take her for a bit?" Lola asks.
"Up to her" You say.

Lola holds out her hand to Elizabeth. Instead of just taking it she slithers straight up her arm, coming to rest on her shoulder with her tail coiled just above the bunny's chest.

"I guess that's a yes" You say. "Keep an eye on her for me, will you? I'll be back in a bit"

"Of course I will! And when you get back there'll be cookies~" Lola says.

You wave to her and head up to find Belladonna. She's currently napping with her head down on the desk. You'd hate to wake her, given how hard she's been working... and it looks like some of the notes she has on the desk could be helpful.

>Read the notes

>Wake the Elf

>Other

>>2465019
>Read the notes
Let her sleep for a bit longer

>>2465019
>>Read the notes

>>2465019
>>Wake the Elf
>>Poke her ear.

>writing

You sigh. "I told you not to overwork yourself..." You say.

Looking around the room, you see a comfy looking couch and a blanket. So you gently lift the stubborn Elf out of the wooden chair and lay her on the couch, then put the blanket over her so she can get some actual rest.

With that done, you look over what she's got written. Looks like a to do list, including a short list of people she needs to get you to meet.

"Well I can simplify that, maybe remove some steps" You say. "Whaddya say, Coral?"

Coral gives you a thumb's up. She's back at your collar now that her space isn't being occupied by a Serpid.

The list has a whole bunch of people, but there's 3 up at the top whose names are circled. According to her writings, these are the most important.

The first is Frang Varus, one of the few merchants who was able to keep up trade with other Antolian cities. A bit of a miracle given how dangerous the roads have become...

The second is Arianne, a priestess of the trinity who was allowed to continue her duties so long as she never denounced the Legion.

And the last is Marshal Keeling, Captain of the Lutain militia, who's been guarding the city from monster attacks using the limited forces he was allowed to muster.

They all seem like fairly strong, competent folks, and the locations are all pretty close by...

>Merchant first

>Priestess first

>Captain first

>Other

>>2465099
>>Captain first
Lets make sure our city stays safe while were away.

>>2465099
>>Priestess first
I don't think we've done too much with the religions yet have we? Also would be a good source to try and get the populace on our side.

>>2465099
>Captain first
Safety first
Also maybe have someone bring Belladonna some tea or coffee in a few hours as a wake up call

>writing

You figure it's a toss up between the captain and the priestess, as those are the two that will go the most smoothly. The Merchant is a bit of a toss up, he'll either love you for setting up an air harbor to facilitate trade, or hate you because he had the monopoly on land trade and you've ruined it.

Out of the two, the captain inhabits a world that is more familiar to you. Fighting is something you understand, religion... less so.

Belladonna's notes say the Captain should be at the town's armory, and if he's not there then someone there will know where to find him.

So you've got a destination. Before you leave, you tuck your head maid in so she's nice and snug, then let someone know not to disturb her for a couple of hours and then maybe bring her some coffee so she doesn't oversleep.

"That's awfully kind of you" The maid says.

You shrug. "She's overworking herself for my sake, so making sure she can get a decent nap is the least I can do" You say.

With that, you head off to the armory. Sunset is growing pretty close now, so it must be nearing dinnertime. As such the armory is emptier than it was when you were here with Derrick earlier... in fact there's only 2 people in the yard right now: Derrick, and Marybell. He must have come back here after he left the manor.

He appears to be getting a lesson on archery from the Centaur.

Marybell has one hand on Derrick's back, with the other one lightly guiding his bow arm as she calmly gives him some instructions. It seems a bit more intimate than an archery lesson would need to be.

Your first instinct is to go over and say hello, but...

>Give them their privacy

>Go say hi

>Other

>>2465193
>Give them their privacy

>>2465193
>>Give them their privacy

>>2465193
>>Give them their privacy
Derrick likes em thicc

>>2465193
>>Give them their privacy

>writing

You shrug and go to leave, but scuff your foot on the ground as you do so.

Marybell turns and freezes when she sees you... so it looks like you may ruin the moment after all. But you out a finger over your mouth and give her a thumb's up, silently letting her know that her secret's safe with you.

She relaxes and nods to you, and you continue on your way. The Captain's offices are up on the second floor, overlooking the town, so you head up there.

There are a pair of guards standing outside the door. Both of them are grizzled looking fellows who've clearly seen their fair share of fights.

"I'm here to see the Captain" You say.

"Your name?" They ask.

"Yuu Gallant" You reply.

One of them nods, and motions for you to go in. "Captain, the new lord is here to see you" He says.

The Captain looks up from his work, and motions for you to approach. He's an old looking man, with grey hair and tan skin. Clearly not someone who stays behind a desk for very long.

"Captain Marshal" You say, reaching across the table to offer him your hand. "I'm Yuu"

He stands up and takes your hand, giving it a firm shake. You respond in kind.

"You're younger than I expected, given what I've heard... and much stronger than you look" He says.

"It's been an eventful couple of months" You say. "I'm told you manage the town's defense"

"I did manage the town's defense... now the coalition's put me ot of a job" He says.

"Nonsense. The coalition will have to move on soon, and the town will still need to defend itself" You say. "I'm looking to you for that"

"I won't disappoint" He says.

You've got a few questions for him, and they pretty much all fall into 3 categories...

>Ask about his experience before the legion

>Ask about his time under the Legion

>Ask what the town has to defend itself now

>Other

>>2465314
>>Ask what the town has to defend itself now

>>2465314
>>Ask what the town has to defend itself now

>>2465314
>>Ask what the town has to defend itself now

>writing

"Okay... so..." You say, taking a moment to gather your thoughts before continuing. "If the coalition were to move out tomorrow, what would the town have to work with?"

"A half fixed heavy bombard... barely a company of guards with weapons held together by string... and those fancy new walls you guys put up earlier" He says.

"That's... not much" You say.

"We lost the majority of our guardsmen in the rebellion when the Legion first took this place" He says. "We've been scraping by thanks to aid given to us by the resistance, but we've got no way to contact them and they've been silent since the city was taken"

"Well you've got us now" You say. "And that bit about the coalition moving out was purely hypothetical. We'll be leaving some of our forces behind to make sure the city stays free"

He nods. "I can't imagine that's entirely for our benefit" He says.

"You're correct, of course. Lutain is our foothold. We lose it, it sets us back" You say. "But the town is also my responsibility now, and it would be most irresponsible to allow legion banners to fly anywhere near here"

"And you can manage that?" He asks.

"I haven't lost a fight to Legionnaire yet, and I have no plans to break that streak" You say. "Now, let's talk business..."

You go over the town's defenses with him. He seems to know his stuff, giving accurate estimates for how many people he'd need to man the walls and patrol the town, as well as an approximation of the cost to arm and armor all those people.

"You been in the military long?" You ask.

"Almost my whole life" He says. "I was captain of the Wyvern Corps in my heyday, until the demons shot me down... I spent a while recovering, and took over as the captain here when the country started to fall"

>You were a wyvern rider?

>Ask if he's got any military contacts

>Go talk to the priestess

>Go talk to the merchant

>Other

>>2465395
>>Ask if he's got any military contacts
>>Go talk to the priestess

>>2465395
>>You were a wyvern rider?
>>Ask if he's got any military contacts

>>2465395
>>You were a wyvern rider?
>
>>Ask if he's got any military contacts

>writing

"You were a wyvern rider?" You ask.

"For a long time, yes" He says. "Antolians have been using wyverns for hundreds of years, since they're the only reliable mount when you're in the mountains"

"I could see that" You say.

You ask him more questions about the profession, which he's happy to answer.

The Antolian military had a deal with the Hunter's Guild. Instead of killing fledgling Wyverns, they would mark them off and notify the Wyvern Corps who would then send a team to capture it.

Capturing their mount was the first job a recruit had to do, so a team with several recruits would be sent. But only the one who could mount the wyvern could join the Corps.

"And that was not an easy task. They buck, and they twirl, and they dive, and they do whatever it takes to get you off" He says. "They only accept you once they realize that you're not going anywhere. But you can never really tame them. I knew guys who'd been riding for decades who let their guard down around their mounts, and got killed for their carelessness"

"Wow" You say. "Sounds dangerous"

"It is, but it's worth it" He says. "The Wyvern Corps was the scourge of these skies for hundreds of years. No airship could match their agility, no ground force could match their speed"

"Until the Legion" You say.

"They were something different" He says. "They could bring down a Wyvern wth a single arrow, when the beasts could normally survive hundreds. My own Wyvern fell like that, and to this day I have no idea how"

"I do" You say. "Its their weapons. The fleshy ones they recieve from their god"

"What about 'em?" He asks.

"They feed off mana" You say. "A single hit can weaken a person until they can't fight back... a single arrow, left alone, would drain even the largest monster..."

Now it's your turn to talk, telling the Captain what you know about the flesh weapons...

"As far as I know the only real counter seems to either be me, or excessive force" You say.

"I'll remember that... I was looking at those Northern Ballistae, and I think they might be just wht our walls could need..." He says.

"And I think that's everything..." You say. "Oh, wait. You wouldn't happen to have any contacts with the Antolian Military would you?"

"None that I know of" He says. "We lost most of our sprites, and the new ones don't know anyone outside the city. If I can think of a way to contact them, you'll be the first to know"

"Alright" You say, as you stand up. "That will be all for now"

"A pleasure to meet you" He says. "Glad to see someone with some guts taking the reins of this place"

"Glad to have someone with guts to work with" You reply, as you shake his hand.

>1/2

You head out of the armory, deciding to go and meet with this priestess now.

Derrick and Marybell have left, most likely to go and eat dinner... and speaking of dinner, you should think about getting some yourself soon.

The temple isn't far from the armory, as you thought. It's a small building, with a short steeple containing a single bell. The outside looks relatively worn, though there is a woman cleaning the outer walls.

The woman is a blue devil, wearing worn robes with the symbol of the trinity embroidered on the front and a faded headdress. She has a bucket in one hand, while her other works on washing the walls. Meanwhile her tail is just kind of feeling around...

Her garb is clearly religious, though it's nothing like the ornate robes of the Inquisition. She gives off a very humble feeling that you find comforting.

She turns her head slightly towards you, and you see that her eyes are closed.

Figuring that she's waiting for you to speak, you call out. "Are you priestess Lianna?" You ask.

Her head perks up, and she stops what she's doing. "I don't recognize your voice" She says. Her voice has an accent that's similar to Belladonna's, with a tone that's teetering between welcoming and afraid.

"We haven't met" You say, as you step up to her. "I'm Yuu. Yuu Gallant, the new lord of the town"

She turns her head a little more, and you see that her eyes are closed. "Ah, of course" She says. Her tail quickly brushes the ground next to her, before she places the bucket down in that spot and drops the rag inside. She then turns the rest of the way towards you and brushes her robes off. "I am Priestess Lianna... though most people do not guess that when they first see me"

"Nice to meet you, I was hoping we could speak about the town for a while if you have time" You say, offering her your hand.

...

Her eyes don't open, and she doesn't seem to notice your hand. But she smiles pleasantly. "A servant of the faith always has time" She says. "Please, follow me. We will talk inside"

...

You look down at your hand, as she makes her way to the front door. Her hands are folded in front of her, but her tail traces along the wall as she moves...

>Ask if she's blind

>Ask why the church looks so bad

>Ask about her role here

>Other

>>2465530
>>>Ask if she's blind

>>Ask why the church looks so bad

>>2465530
>>Ask why the church looks so bad

>>2465530
>Ask if she's blind
>Ask about her role here

>writing

"This place looks like it's seen better days" You say.

"I'm told it was never much to look at" She replies.

...

"So you're blind, right?" You ask.

"I am" She says.

"Okay. I mean, I kinda guessed, but I figured I'd ask" You say. "How come your church is in such disrepair?"

"The people were forbidden from making donations or offering their aid" She says. "I can only do so much on my own, so in the past few years it has fallen apart..."

"We'll have to talk about getting some repairs done, then" You say.

"Are you a religious man, Yuu Gallant?" She asks.

"Heavens no" You say. "My only run in with religious people were the Inquisitors back in Lubars. I don't know how much you heard of them, but they'd turn anyone away from religion"

"I had dreams of the east... fire, and flesh, and death" She says. "Enough to make me question my own faith. But Origin does not give us hardships without pause, and Apocalypse cannot help us unless we can help ourselves"

She reaches the steps leading into the church, and you come up beside her and lend her a hand.

"Thank you" She says, as you help guide her into the temple. She seems to know where to go on her own, but doesn't turn away the helping hand. "Now, what can a humble servant of the Gods do for you, My Lord?"

>Ask about the gods

>Ask why the Legion wanted this place in disrepair

>Ask what she's heard of the Inquisition

>Ask about her dreams

>Other

>>2465611
>>Ask about the gods
>>Ask about her dreams

>>2465611
Man, i sorta want to choose all the options. But I guess we can start with,
>>Ask about the gods
>>Are they the same ones that the Inquisition worshiped?

>>2465611
>>>Ask about the gods

>>Ask about her dreams

>writing

"I'm actually somewhat curious about the gods themselves" You say. "I think I got a crash course on them at one point, but beyond that I don't know much"

"The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one indeed" She says. "Please, sit. I fear I don't have much to offer such illustrious company, but you may have my hospitality"

You chuckle as you sit down. "Well you haven't thrown a rock at my head or called me demon scum yet, so this is pretty much the warmest reception I've ever recieved from a person of the faith" You say.

She sits across from you, the pleasant smile never leaving her face. "We are not all like the Inquisitors" She says.

"Oh... I wasn't accusing you of anything" You say. "That was just a bad attempt at a joke..."

Her smile widens slightly. "Do not feel the need to impress me, My Lord. Your deeds speak for themselves" She says.

"It's just that I usually charm people with my dashing good looks, but... well..."

Lianna lets out a light, airy giggle. "You should not feel the need to charm me either" She says. "You have already earned my eternal gratitude for freeing this place. For that, I shall always be at your service"

"Alright..." You say. "So tell me about the gods. I know about the whole beginning, middle, and end thing... but what is the purpose of worshipping them? Do you expect the gods to give something in return?"

"We worship not for our own gain, but to offer our gratitude and ask for strength" She says. "Strength in the face of new hardships as they rise, and strength in the face of good things as they leave us"

"You can't just... be strong?" You ask.

"People find comfort in the fact that we are being watched over" She says. "Strength is not always so easily found..."

>1/2

She tells you some stories of her time as a priestess, of all the people who have come to her for guidance or aid. It's strange to think of this blind, fragile looking woman as one of the pillars of the town, and yet she is.

"So the Legion cut me off from aid, but did not ask that I stop helping others" She says. "They isolated me, hoping to watch me crack under the pressure..."

"But you're still here" You say.

"It was not always easy" She says. The tip of her spade tail pokes into shallow hole in the table and starts to dig in. "Many people come to me for advice, but I could receive none. People would shelter here when they had nowhere else, but when the church started to fall apart there was nowhere for me... I-"

"You outlasted them" You say, putting a hand over her tail in an attempt to calm her. "It may have been hard, but it's over now"

It's now gotten pretty dark in the temple, not that it bothers either of you all that much, since she's blind and you can always see.

You look around at the inside of this place, and see just how bad of a shape it's in. There are several holes in the roof, a few of the beams have collapsed, the chairs you're sitting in are the only non-broken pieces of furniture, the door to her pantry has been broken, and the inside looks pretty bare...

"And now the demons no longer rule here. I do" You say. "We'll fix this place up in no time. It might not rival the spires of Leon, but it'll be a beautiful place nonetheless"

She breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank you..." She says.

>Ask if she needs somewhere to sleep

>Ask if she needs food

>Ask if she'd like a hug

>Other