>>3659133
>(2/2)
With a grin you add:“...And if you do manage to complete your brazen act of child murder, I'm afraid our mutual friend Alonso here will lose his newfound preoccupation with chivalrous valor and will revert back to his base nature before my charge's magic took a hold. If you manage to survive that, you're going to have to deal with me and my meaningless words. I'm sure the police will certainty approve of your actions. They are known for their tolerance of kidnappers, perverts, and child killers and will absolute believe your assertion that you stabbed a witch. I'm also positive that tribal officials can keep all this hushed up once the media gets involved. Missing kids are great for ratings.”

If looks could kill, you would be dead already. “However, none of that has to happen. I think we've all managed to make bad first impressions.” You continue.

“We mean no harm and to cut to the chase your talk of corruption is concerning. My dear's magic shouldn't take on that sort of presentation. I'm worried that what you are seeing is something else's doing and if that's the case the last thing my sweet girl needs is another enemy. Young man, you must have a name? I have come to be known as Octavian. This is Alice. I can answer your questions in a more private setting. However I do not want to trouble the girl. She has enough on her plate, as is.”

“It shouldn’t?” Alice stammers out, her blue eyes gone wide as saucers. “Octavian, what’s wrong exactly?”

“Explain…to the queen…at once… rabbit.” Alonso has shifted his attention away from the exorcist to you.

“I don’t quite know yet.”

“It sounds like you think do.” Alice retorts. “God had to tell you, Octavian, you’re my guardian angel. What are you trying…”

Giving you a confused look, the native chooses now to butt into your conversation. “It’s Jonathan Durand…my name is Jonathan Durand.” He seems to roll his eyes at the sound of his last name. “Look, I really don’t know what I’ve stepped into. You’ve got a wendigo that I’ve been chasing for two weeks. Somehow little miss nun, Alice here, stuffs him in a suit of armor with magic, right Mr. Angel?” Sarcasm drips from Jonathan’s words. “…And she’s the queen of Wisconsin?” Jonathan sheathes his hunting knife and points his free hand back to you. “Don’t tell me you’re on a mission from God!”

“Actually, I am on a mission from God. How’d you know?” Alice says excitedly. With that Jonathan’s free hand goes to clutching at his temples and he mutters something under his breath.

“This is absurd.” Jonathan haphazardly drops his dagger back in to his satchel and fishes out a cell phone. “Just stay right there where I can see you. I’m calling in a second opinion.” Jonathan walks backwards across the street. “That thing moves and you’re dead.” He shouts.

“Knaaave” Alonso groans back.
>(2/3)

>>3659156
You hear the man carry on in a strange language to whoever is on the other end of his call. “Well he stopped attacking us.” Alice states obviously. “ I still want an answer, Octavian."

>(lie) All the time outside and the meager meals have made her sick. It’s nothing too serious.
>(whisper) “The man is clearly a heathen, Alice it’s what he wanted to hear.”
>(partial truth) As a messenger of God, evil forces might be attacking you. Jonathan might be able to help
>(partial truth) God hasn’t confirmed this but Father Flounder wanted this sort of mission and much like Cain or King Saul, he has grown very jealous of you. He might have stooped to doing truly evil things, like dark magic. That’s between him and God, but it’s my duty to warn you to stay away from home until the danger has passed and put a stop to anything that might hurt you.
>Come clean about everything. Who knows how Alice will do?
>Write in or some logical combination of the above choices.

>>3659167
>>(whisper) “The man is clearly a heathen, Alice it’s what he wanted to hear.”

>>3659167
>(partial truth) As a messenger of God, evil forces might be attacking you. Jonathan might be able to help

>>3659193
>>3659383
I can make make both of these options work together.

>Writing.

“Alice” you whisper “It’s what he wanted to hear. Just look at him. He’s clearly a heathen.” You shrug your shoulders dismissively as you say that. “However, God is forgiving and often works in strange ways. As a messenger of the Lord, you could be beset by evil at any time, even now. Of course you will prevail but maybe the arrival of this Jonathan is an act of providence. He could help us in a time of need and you could be the start of his path to salvation.” Fourteen years pretending to be a mere stuffed animal graded on your nerves but it gave you plenty of time to brush up on your theology (admittedly from a questionable source, the cult in this case.)

Alice thinks this over and just nods her head in affirmation solemnly.

You turn your attention towards the fate your ill gotten supplies. Thankfully the bag is still unmolested safe on Alonso’s back. Jonathan ends his call, but still eyes your group warily. With this uneasy stalemate reached, there’s nothing to do but wait.

After what seems like a small eternity, a late model blue pickup truck pulls off the road toward Jonathan and an elderly Native American man steps out. “Grandson, if you needed a ride you just could have told me so.” The old man proclaims loudly. “I didn’t need a fish story about some Wiindigoo warrior.”

“Grandpa, Elwood Blues and the wiindigoo are that way.” Jonathan snarks pointing across the road. “Now what do you see?”

The elder stares dumfounded at your group till his eyes meet Alice’s. Then another hurried conversation begins in that unintelligible language.”Young lady, you can control him? Show me.”The elder asks in English.

“Alonso, kneel.”Alice commands
“Yes…my liege.”Alonso acknowledges before complying as asked.

The natives return to their discussion, with the older man seemingly winning the argument by virtue of most words uttered. “I’ve seen one before. He’s not lying. Only that one and that was years ago.” The elder adds cryptically. “Now apologize for your foolishness, Johnny.”

>>3660191
Jonathan marches across the street toward your fence, only pausing to return his three discarded daggers to his satchel. “Sorry” he mutters before removing his bag, dropping it to the ground, and kicking it away. Next, he tosses the hunting knife at the ground between his feet. “Put that one in your boot, Alice. Grandfather believes your story. The least we can do is offer up a meal. There’s a diner a few miles from here a little before the next town.” Alice looks to you longingly. It’s been too long since she had anything substantial.

“There’s no trick?”You ask.

“None” you get in reply. “However, we might need to load your knight friend in the bed. He’s a bit too conspicuous. If we put some ropes on him, nothing that would really tie him down, and he lies still we can pass him off a lawn ornament. You also might want to dispel your transformation, Alice. That outfit is exactly common either.” She does so before you can even interject. “Great, no shoes…on second thought, give the knife to Octavian, Alice. Tell him to stab me before I get another bright idea.

“I’m kidding” Jonathan adds a second later and starts back towards the truck. Not before mouthing out “We’ll talk” to you as Alonso helped Alice back over the fence.
--------------------------------------------------------------

>>3660223
"Yeah, the place is defiantly a cult; certainly up to no good." You say to Jon, keeping one eye on Alice and the old man inside the diner from your perch on the dashboard of the car.

Johnathan shakes his head "Still I'm not sure they're responsible for the corruption and those Ill omens. Regardless, my grandfather has taken enough interest in your Alice to try to get to the bottom of this. He's a skilled enough shaman and worked with delicate subjects before. It'll should only take a few days to confirm or deny your magic hunch. Alice should enjoy sleeping in a bed again for the meantime."

You smile "...And three meals a day. What do I owe you?"

"If the girl's magic is as potent as it looks, She owes me. She could help me finish up a job or two. It will more than cover any costs."

You hold out your hand with a laugh "Consider it a contract."

>I'm ending things for the night here. I would have liked to get to the next set of choices but it took longer than I thought to get from where the old story was going to the beginning of the plot I thought up to continue it. I'll get the next post after I get some sleep.

Good night or morning and thanks for reading.

Goodluck and thank you!

After her lunch, Alice practically skips back to the truck to tell you all about the different deserts she tried, giving the Durands some time to talk over the situation inside the restaurant, no doubt confusing some poor waitress with their shared language. With her child-like sugar high winding down, Alice finally thinks to ask a question.

“Octavian, is it okay for me to take a break from my mission? Grandpa Sam said I should take some time to figure out how my magic worked. He asked us to stay with them for a little while. Can we?”

You can’t help but agree and assent to her request. Today could have gotten really messy. The contract and forget method was common among your fellow beings, but you’ve sunk fourteen years into Alice. She might even have magical potential that exceeds her mother’s. You can’t rush a masterwork. Maybe there’s more to it than that but you drop that train of thought.

The long car ride back is largely uneventful. The elder finally formally introduces himself to you as Samuel Durand. He explains the language is Anishinaabemowin of the (commonly known to outsiders as) Chippewa people He explained some other things but frankly the number of names and terms thrown about even made your head hurt. Alice chiefly concerned herself with her new discovery of these things called cassettes! And if it’s okay to sing songs not about God, Jesus, or some form of prayer. At some point, Alice forgets her reservations and begins to sing along. She has a nice voice.

With her general innocence and overall demeanor sometimes it’s hard for you to believe she’s already fourteen. You know better though. You've been there for her entire life. Heck, you were there when she was born.

You arrive in another rural area at ranch style home with acres between it and the nearest neighbor--Perfect for your purposes. Jon and Sam head inside. The former to clear out his office for Alice’s bedroom; the latter to get to work on dinner. You and Alice have the rest of the afternoon free. Training time. What are your priorities?
>Roll 1d20 regardless of option. No critfails here. BO3 Better rolls ensure better outcomes in a more efficient use of time. There will be gains regardless.

>Physical: this girl must become swole, like her mother before her. (Magic is also involved)
>Magic—summoning and alteration.:Experiment further with the rose or spider
>Magic—Alteration:Maybe Alonso needs a makeover…to be less dead.
>Magic: (general) work on new techniques.
>Write in a routine or goal.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>3660886
>Magic—Alteration: Maybe Alonso needs a makeover…to be less dead.

>>3660981
Well crud.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>3660981

>>3660981
>>3661787
wow the dice really haven't been kind so far in this quest.. Still need one more before I call it.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>3660886
>Magic—Alteration:Maybe Alonso needs a makeover…to be less dead.

>>3660981
>>3661787
>>3662331
Writing

>9
Deciding not to waste any time, you lead Alice to the back of the home and take a look around. A slightly raised deck juts from the house, empty save for a couple of outdoor chairs positioned to look out over the yard toward the trees further in the distance. There are a couple of flower beds next to the deck, in need of a spring weeding. A further distance from the house is a brick fire pit. Choosing to make yourself comfortable while supervising Alice you climb the couple of stairs and jump into one of the chairs.

“So Octavian, what do you want to do?” Alice asks, seemingly eager to practice herself. Ambitiously, you decide to start with Alonso. In his current state he sticks out like a sore thumb. He looks like an escapee from a renaissance fair and without all the armor…well taking off the armor would be a bad idea on multiple levels. “Uhh I think we left him in the truck. Should I get him?” Alice thinks out loud somewhat perturbed by her thoughtlessness.

“No use your magic. Try to bring him to you like the rose earlier.” Alice transforms shortly after you stopped talking. She raises her hammer and her face contorts with concentration--no doubt, trying to solely focus on the inner wiggling feeling of her magic. “Imagine reeling back a kite’s string on a windy day. The string is your magic. Now imagine Alonso is the kite. Try to find a…well…the best way to put it is a sensation when you think of Alonso.” Alice just nods.

After a minute or two, Alonso drops from a quickly dissipating portal with all the ropes and tie downs that “secured” him still attached.”…Greetings…Queeen” He groans seemingly unperturbed by much of anything. “Now Alice, try to alter him. Alonso is a knight. He shouldn’t look dead. That’s all wrong. Someone telling the story made a mistake; you’re merely correcting it.” You state slowly, hoping that Alice can turn this thought process into reality with her magic.

What follows could be considered the magical equivalent of staring at a blank page waiting for writing to spontaneously appear. Alonso just stands there motionless, completely unchanged. After what could be hours, Alice grows discoursed and decides to take a break. She uses this time to set up her tent. “I know he won’t use it, but I can’t just leave him out here with no shelter while I’m comfortable inside.” As she fumbles with the last post, Alonso rushes over like a blur to assist his majesty.

Well that’s new. He hasn’t moved that fast since he was first fighting Alice. Her mood viably brightens when you draw her attention to this fact. It wasn’t what you set out to do but it’s progress.

>Alonso’s armor now seems weightless. He can move in it unimpeded. There will be a small bonus to future rolls toward this goal stating tomorrow. It occurs to you that Alice should make a weapon for her knight: But how? (this is a question for later)

>>3662805
You have a couple of hours left to train before dinner.

>Same set up as before:

>Physical: this girl must become swole, like her mother before her. (Magic is also involved)
>Magic—summoning and alteration.:Experiment further with the rose or spider
>Magic: (general) work on new techniques.
>Write in a routine or goal.

>>3662805
lets focus on her happiness
>Magic—summoning and alteration.:Experiment further with the rose or spider

>>3662857
you can roll 1d20 already if would like.

>>3662827
Just in case all these options are roll 1d20 like the last vote.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>3662827
>Magic—summoning and alteration: Experiment further with the rose or spider

I need to get up extra early tomorrow, so I'm going to head to bed and leave the vote open overnight.

Thanks for reading.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>3662857
>>3662991

Found some free time today. Writing

>>3662857
Rolling for this anon (as there is no critfails on these training rolls.)

>>3664866
man the dice see to hate us.
>18
After the mixed results from experimenting on Alonso and seeking not to waste any more time, you decide to try something a little easier. Alice already had some success with her strange rose earlier. Why not see how Alice’s magic can interact with it? You decide on a simple first test. “Alice dear, if you’re not feeling tired, let’s try something different. Come up here and sit next to me” You glance over to the empty chair besides you. Alice is happy to comply. “Okay, now try summoning the rose.” Without even raising her hammer the flower springs into existence with no need for the portal this time. The rose sticks up from the wood of the deck just like it had sprouted from it somehow. As you suspected, she can summon the rose anywhere regardless of the presence of soil. Furthermore, Alice seems to be getting the hang of summoning things.

Alice turns to face you and says: “I tried using that kite thing you said earlier, Octavian. It really works.” Interestingly, when Alice turned to you the rose seems to turn with her. “Alice, do you know you’re moving the rose.” She seems surprised by this. “Oh, I didn’t really mean to. If I’m…” You immediately cut her off. “No, No. It’s alright. Actually it’s great. Alice, were you thinking about the rose when you were talking to me?” She nods in affirmation “Yeah, in the back of my head I was just thinking about how pretty it looked there…Oh that’s like that thing you said about sensations.” You tell Alice to try moving the rose consciously and she makes it twist around like it was doing a little dance. It looks like she’s just made a breakthrough. You tell her to try making the rose taller. After a bit of effort, Alice makes the stem about a foot taller. Then you tell her to undo the change. The rose goes back to its original form.

You have another idea. “Alice, try moving the rose over there” You point to a patch of grass a little ways from the deck. With a little concentration from Alice, the rose appears right where you told her to put it. You tell her to come with you over to a wood pile next to the house. “I need you to pick up one of those logs. Stand it up.” Alice knows where you going with this and her face takes on a look of mental exertion. The rose shoots forward as a vine and wraps around the log. “Good now try to pick it up.” It takes effort but inch by inch she moves the log into the air and off of the wood pile. You start to walk Alice through another mental exercise.”Now roses have sharp thorns, Alice. This rose is yours and it’s special. Its thorns are really sharp, sharp like metal, sharp like knives. Good, Good. Now Imagine the vine is a knot, pull it really, really tight.” You smile as the vine constricts violently around the log; thorns shredding off pieces of bark. It’s no chainsaw, yet, but Alice could use this to do some damage.

>>3665249
The exertion finally gets the better of Alice. The log falls to the ground and the rose shrinks back to its original form. Alice’s face is covered in sweat and she’s started to pant.”My Queen” Alonso interjects causing Alice to wave off his concerns with a motion of her hand and an “I’m fine.” She starts speaking weakly to you. “So that’s what my magic can do? I could really hurt someone.” Alice seems taken aback by the thought of violence. “Octavian, why are you making me do this? “ Alice stops you before you can answer. “Fighting off Alonso was one thing, he was a monster at the time, but this morning I almost had to fight Jonathan. Octavian I’m going to have to fight people. That’s why you’re making me do this. What if I kill someone? Wait when I killed something I-I changed it. I made it follow me. What will God think of me if I do that to a person? Is this really what my mission is?” Well shit, this was the last thing you wanted to deal with again.

>Look Alice, God doesn’t always ask people to do pleasant things. Do you think Moses liked unleashing the plagues on Egypt? People died. Heck, you know the Angel of Death even got involved. It wasn’t pretty but it had to happen to make the world a better place.
>There are evil people out there Alice. You’re going to have to defend yourself. I can only do so much in this form. God will only let me get so involved with the mortal world. I might not be with you forever too. So I’m trying to teach you the best I can.
>Hopefully it doesn’t have to come to that, but I’m just preparing for the worst. God doesn’t tell me everything, so I try to think things out a few moves in advance.
>No. You’re never going to have to hurt people, just monsters.
>Write in/Something Else

The high roll gives you more than just the new uses for the rose. It just occurred to me that Alice might not be very comfortable with the idea of offensive magic. You will get the other stuff afterwards. How soon depends on this conversation

>Hopefully it doesn’t have to come to that, but I’m just preparing for the worst. God doesn’t tell me everything, so I try to think things out a few moves in advance.
>All paths lead to Rome, but monsters like Alonso might appear in some of theses paths, protection is necessary.

Rolled 18 - 25 (1d100 - 25)

Might as well drop something here while I bump the thread and wait for more votes.

42 Hours Earlier

From your position at the pulpit you could see everyone else had gathered in the central meeting hall. It was an old barn when you first set up shop here, but after a few years and countless additions it made for a passable church for your flock. The room had to be rearranged a bit to make the space for the centrally located alter. The thicket of brambles wrapped around it was a personal touch. Brambles and the will of God had helped save Isaac but Alice wouldn’t be so lucky. She had her part to play and it was a very important one. You couldn’t wait, although you were doing just that. The girl shouldn’t put up that much of a struggle. What if that oaf harmed her? No, you were too thorough with him. You had to be. The bastard was a dumb as box of rocks but that was precisely why he was useful. His sister on the other hand, you always had to keep an eye on her. She’s a sharp one. No telling what ideas she might get without your aid…. He’s fifteen minutes late and more importantly he doesn’t have the girl “She’s gone. I don’t know where. Alice knows nothing. She always listens to us. She wouldn’t just run off, Father Flounder.”Joseph stammers out. Many in your flock begin to glare at the man. Even your starting to lose your cool. “Everyone but Joseph—OUT! Find the girl. NOW” It takes the congregation a moment to process your command, but they wordlessly follow, as they should. You beacon Joseph to come closer while you step down from the pulpit. “This” you gesture to the empty alter “…is your fault.” A quick stomp to the shin brings Joseph down on one knee. You slap him across the face before putting your hand under his chin to look directly into his fearful eyes. His eyes quickly glaze over. “Take your sister. Go to town. Find the girl at all costs. Do not reveal our presence or purpose here. If caught you know what to do.” You mime a finger gun and point it at him before moving it under your chin. “Do I make myself clear” In a monotonous tone you get your reply from Joseph “Yes, Father Flounder. Thank God for this correction; this second chance. Thank God for you.” That never gets old.

>>3665796
well the cult knows jack shit for now. Alice might as well have disappeared into thin air. But Joseph is still going to town.

“I’m sorry Alice.” You motion towards the chairs. “Please sit and rest for a bit. I will clarify my intentions.” You follow her up the stairs and once she is seated, you climb up her leg and snuggle into her lap. In your most reassuring and gentlemanly voice you start: “Hopefully it doesn’t have to come to that, but I’m just preparing for the worst. God doesn’t tell me everything, just what He thinks I need to know. So I try to think things out a few moves in advance. All paths lead to Rome, but monsters and evil people might appear in some of these paths. You or I can’t talk our way out of every problem; protection is necessary. God won’t condemn you for justified self defense. Nor would He have given you your powers if He wanted to forbid you from using them.” You climb a bit further up her blouse to wipe the tears away from her eyes with your paw. “I’m always here for you, Alice” you add. Alice finally responds “Maybe I’m being silly. I know from father that there are plenty of bad things in the world, some of them people. If I really want to fix things I’m going to have to confront them. You’re right Octavian, I need to know how to defend myself.” Well it seems things worked themselves out.

You still have plenty of time before dinner so see if Alice is up for more training. “Alice are you feeling tired?” “No.” She responds. “I wasn’t really getting tired out earlier. It was just hard to do all those things. It was like I was moving a limb I never knew I had and the limb was asleep. It was really strange and it made my head hurt but I guess that’s magic.” You nod knowingly. “So do you think you can make more than one rose?”Alice thinks for a second. “No, I can’t do that, but I can make the plant branch.” Well there are plenty of weeds in the garden for Alice to convert. That might be a task for tomorrow.

“Well what about the spider?” You say causing Alice groans in disgust “Why do you keep bringing him up?”
“Well for starters, SHE was minding her own business before you killed her and she certainly isn’t anywhere near as disgusting or dangerous as Alonso. Just like him all she wanted to do was to serve you.” Alice mulls this over for a second. “Wait, she—how do you know the spider is a girl like me. Octavian, it couldn’t talk.” You explain to Alice that the bigger spiders are usually females but you leave out the biological reason for why. Her Arachnophobia is bad enough without learning about the intricacies of arachnid biology and their various reproductive strategies. It would probably unsettle her like you were when you learned about how human reproduction functioned. Humans can be truly disgusting creatures.
>(1/2)

>>3666362
>(2/2)
“So can you try to bring the spider back? Pretty Please? What if you made her soft and fluffy like me?” Alice relents. Her hammer repapers and after a few seconds of concentration the red and white spider descends from a strand of silk hanging from a portal, now looking more like a plush toy. “Well Alice, you changed her already, so maybe you can make her talk? We need to be able to understand it.” Alice face palms but she holds up her hammer and sets to work. You are greeted with a new voice, an unpleasantly nasal and high pitched one< directly in your mind.

“Glad to see kween and advisor again. So happy to serve. Have many eyes to watch over kween” Maybe this was all a terrible mistake. “You were so interested in her I made it so you would have to listen to her too.”Alice adds with a grin. “Ah kween, your domain is so strange. Web is weaved but there aren’t flies to catch there. “Wait what domain?” Alice asks. “Kween’s kingdom. Kweendom? Just a rose, your humble servent, and a shadow like that knight over there. Otherwise void.” Interesting, you’ve never heard of a contractee making something like that before. ”Can spy for Kween. Only Kween and advisor can hear voice.” You can imagine how that could be useful. In addition, you could imagine that someone getting the spider confused for a contractor. She looked the part and had a slight magic emanating from her.

>Unlocked: Rose Whip, Spider Spy, Decoy Familiar, (new research) Domain?, Alice is getting better at summoning and alteration magic. Bonus on training rolls/reaserch in these subjects.

>Name the spider?

>Keep the spider around?

You have about an hour left before the Durands want Alice to come in for dinner. Alice could use a break.
>Humans seem to busy themselves with stuff called media in their free time. Maybe you can find a book or movie for Alice to enjoy in the house.
>Maybe you could both talk with the Durands.
>Alice always liked to play silly little games with you. Now she knows you can move and talk, you can really play with her.
>You can explore around the property. Who knows what you might find?
>Alice would always talk to you and share her feelings and secrets. Now you can have a pleasant conversation with her for real.
>Write in/something else/combination of actions

>>3666368
>Alice always liked to play silly little games with you. Now she knows you can move and talk, you can really play with her.

>>3666368
>>Alice always liked to play silly little games with you. Now she knows you can move and talk, you can really play with her.

>>3668105
>>3668255
You shoot Alice a pleading look. You’ve never experienced what humans call a headache in your entire existence but something tells you that enough of the spider’s voice might change that. Alice thanks the spider and bids her a quick goodbye and the spider disappears back into the portal from which she came. Alice starts to laugh “Octavian, you should have seen the look on your face. Now are you scared of spiders?”“No, but why did you do that to her voice?’ Alice flatly denies doing anything beyond what you asked to the spider. “I guess it’s like Alonso. It’s just what my magic did. It’s not exactly easy to guide. You saw how much effort I had to use to control it earlier. It’s almost like something is holding me back.”

Deciding to avoid a repeat performance of self-doubt or worry, you take advantage of your position and start to tickle Alice’s sides. She’s just as ticklish as you remember she was when she was a small child playing with Shirley. This sensation you feel in the moment is pleasant. You wish you could bottle this instant or freeze it in time--to save this Alice forever. You wonder if this is what it is like to be a human parent. You never chose to interact much with the parents of your contractees (if the choice was available), even when the worst happened. It was easier that way. Titania never seemed like this. In her brief time with baby Alice she always seemed confused, nervous, or angry. Sometimes almost all at once. At least that’s what you think you remember. You’ve gotten much better reading people after fourteen years as a stuffed animal. The tables are turned and Alice now pleads with you to stop before she has an accident. So you do.

“Hey Octavian, what am I thinking about?” Alice asks. When you were merely a doll you always guessed right. Alice provided your answer after all. You guess “Uhh..food” She’s surprised. “How did you know? Did God tell you” Alice says trying to goad you into answering. “Actually, I just guessed.” You reply. “When you’ve used your magic you’re either hungry or tired and you don’t seem tired.” “Maybe I’m tired too, that’s why my question was so easy.” She retorts. “I wish I brought some of my other dolls. We could have a tea party for real, Octavian. No, I should have brought my sewing kit. I should make something for you to wear.” She should hardly do anything of the sort. She doesn’t even have real shoes to wear. You feel odd as you think about this like you’ve failed Alice in some respect. But you haven’t failed her. You gave her magic. That’s what you do.

It’s Alice’s turn to distract you. She picks you up and walks from the deck to a patch of bare soil. She traces out a grid with her boot. “Tic-tac-toe, I bet you know how to play Mr. Smartypants.” Of course you do. Even something so simple is engrossing when you have Alice.
>Roll 1d100

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>3668427

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>3668427

>>3668449
>>3668520
My apologies, I nodded off at my desk and now I'm too tired to keep writing. I'll pick back up tomorrow.
Still could use one more roll.

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>3668427

>>3668449
>>3668520
>>3668798
>57
Alice finally loses interest sometime after the sixth game you've let her win. (She was getting a bit too frustrated after you purposely drawn about thirteen games in a row. No winners, no losers, while spending time in leisure how isn't that a mutually beneficial outcome? Isn't that better than just fun?). She decided to take this opportunity to carry you toward the house despite your protests of legs getting tired from how had she was squeezing you. As you get closer you can make out bits and pieces of a heated discussion that the men were trying to keep hushed in English, for once.

>"...Enthrallment...has to...too fast...Humans don't...Fae...Altering...I mean look at that thing...What if it's him. I can't believe I...Why do you care…She could be...She might not even be...That's them. Shit!"

Hopefully Alice didn't hear any of that. She opens the door and steps inside. Out of the corner of your eye you can see Jonathan, in more normal clothes this time, sitting in the nook shuffling some papers into a stack and do something on his computer. The nook was a disorganized mess of various mountains of papers and folders some weighed down by the laptop. The back of its screen was plastered in stickers bearing slogans and iconography from various groups from different stripes of activism, many of which were scratched or worn in one way or another. A map of Wisconsin, the surrounding states and a portion of Canada hung crooked on the wall. It was covered with arrows and circles in marker and a rainbow of colored thumbtacks. Jon had clearly moved everything in a hurry. He tries to ignore the both of you and focuses on the computer. Sam, on the other hand, greets Alice warmly. "Hello dear, dinner's almost ready, beef stew. You should get cleaned up." He looks down and notices her dirty boots. "Oh you can dispel your transformation. I found an old pair of my daughter's shoes when I had Johnny help move the bedroom set out of the cellar. They never really fit her. I hope they're better for you, Alice. The bathroom is through the living room, past the bedrooms, down at the end of the hall." Alice smiles as changes back to her casual clothes and thanks the grandfather profusely.

>>3669237
Alice drops you off in the living room for her own privacy. It's much like the rest of the house, modest but comfortable. There are some framed photographs on the walls and among the knickknacks on shelves. One is of a group of Native men in traditional costume at some type of ceremony. Another features what you think is a much younger Sam in military uniform holding a baby positively beaming at the person taking the photo. A third is of a woman holding a diploma. The final one is what you think is a family portrait: A middle-aged Sam is standing behind the woman. She's hugging identical twin boys at her sides--smiles all round.

By the time Alice comes back, the two men have already set up the dining room and are plating the food. Alice carries you despite your protests (this time that you don’t eat food at all, but she insists you should at least be social.) Alice says a quite prayer before the meal. After her magical exertion earlier, she eats voraciously but makes time to talk to the men. She is happy to show off her dancing rose trick to Sam. Jon leans to you and tells you that his grandfather is meeting with “the coffee club” tomorrow to discuss things—he looks over to a distracted Alice. “I would like to go but…I’m sort of banned. I have work anyway. A couple of University of Madison students went missing a hoedown themed mixer. I suspect more of Alonso’s kind.” Apparently he’s meeting with some police officials under the guise of being a journalist. Considering the level of subtly he displayed with Alice you would like to be a fly on the wall for that debacle in the making. Dinner concludes and Alice remembers to bring a portion of stew (yours probably) to Alonso, still standing vigil over the tent. The men kindly excuse her from any help cleaning up. You tell the now visibly tired girl to take a nice hot bath before getting some rest. Thankfully you are there to help preserve her modesty, ferrying the girl’s filthy clothes to an understanding Sam, and bring back an oversized (for Alice at least) T-shirt. After bidding you goodnight, it doesn’t take long for your, now clean, contractee to fall asleep.

You now have the evening to yourself:

>Alice’s clothes give you a pretext to interact more with the other humans. If selected, do you bring up what you heard earlier? Yes or No?
>Wait for the men to fall asleep and explore the house, especially Jonathan’s papers.
>(timeskip to the next morning) You would just like to be alone with your thoughts.
>Other?

>Regardless of option selected roll 1d100 for something else entirely.

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>Alice’s clothes give you a pretext to interact more with the other humans. If selected, do you bring up what you heard earlier? Yes or No?
>No

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>3669238

>>3671966
Supporting

>>3671966
>>3672160
Should have time to write in about 6-7 hours.

We could still use one more roll.

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>3669238
>>3671966

Rolled 31 - 25 (1d100 - 25)

You wriggle from Alice’s limp grasp and leave her to her dreams. You might as well get her clothes ready for her before she wakes up. Alice wanted you to socialize earlier; you now have a perfect excuse to do so. Leaving the hallway, you can see Sam is relaxing in the living room filling out what you think is a crossword puzzle in the local paper. You don’t see Jonathan, but it’s safe to presume he is still in the kitchen nook researching something in his mess of papers. Sam looks up from his paper and greets you “Hello Octavian. I thought you would be asleep with Alice.” “No. I decided to get her clothes ready ahead of time and…” you stop yourself before blurting out “I don’t sleep.” It occurred to you that both men weren’t being completely upfront with you from the conversation you overheard earlier. So why should you be upfront with them? “…I’m not sleepy.” You add after the pause. Sam seems to consider something for a moment before he resumes talking. “Her clothes are in the dryer. They should be out in another thirty minutes. Not to pry, but why Alice. Why did you pick her?” Something is visibly bothering the man but tries to continue in a calm voice. “Did the cult make her easy to take or would no one care if she went missing? Besides the magic, what happens to the people you select?” There is an unspoken accusation in all of that somewhere.

“Look if this is about that corruption business. I have nothing to do with that. I want answers as much as you or your grandson does. I’m pretty sure I missed something about that cult.” You hesitate for a moment before continuing. Your hand’s been forced so you might as well tell them the truth.”As far as the contractees go, I hold nothing over them. They get magic and I stay alive. That’s the deal and how the system works. About Alice, she’s special, very special. You need to understand, I don’t see magic as a physical thing like you do; rather I can perceive it in my mind. Think of it like a sense of smell. Alice has a very high magical potential. To continue the analogy, if her magic was a scent it would be one so strong it drowns out all other smells in the room. She wreaks havoc on my ability to detect magic. Her mother was like that too. The more magic, the better the contract and with a better contract I get to stay around just a little bit longer. Why Alice because I’ve known her for her entire life. I mean that literally. Considering that the cult viewed her as a disposable sacrifice and her own mother saw Alice as a burden to her personal freedom, I’m all she has left.”

Sam seems taken about by your answer.”Well…I guess I can sympathize with you on the last part. I know all too well about that situation. I guess my wife thought the same thing.”He casts his gaze down dejectedly before talking again. “I believe you about the corruption. I think I’ve seen something like you before and one of your girls. Her name was Nancy and she was three years old than my daughter. They were close, best friends almost like sisters. One day in ’78, Nancy show up at my house on a Saturday evening looking for my daughter acting exited. The strange part was she’s glowing pink. I just wrote it off as a quirk of my sight. As a shaman and an exorcist with my gift you see plenty of strange things. Two years later, people start going missing on the reservation. Naturally, it was my job to investigate. Turns out it was wendigos, a group of them. I stumbled upon them in a forest clearing and needless to say things weren’t going my way. Then Nancy shows up in something resembling a more whimsical version of a tribal dress with a strange spirit. It looked sort of like a stuffed bear cub with fairy wings. Then the girl pulled out a comically oversized bow and started killing the monsters. I ran the first chance I got. I figured it was all some sort of hallucination from those things abilities. Afterwards, Nancy was distant from my daughter and had stopped coming over for a couple of weeks. I just thought they had some sort of spat. Then the tribal police got word Nancy was missing. Her parents had issues, we all did on the res, but sometimes Nancy got caught up in them. She would show up at my house sometimes with a bruise or a limp and suddenly want to have a sleep over. I could never get her to speak up to anyone. Well, we figured out pretty quickly that she had run away, but this was 1980 and no one outside the tribe really gave a shit about a runaway native girl. We never saw or heard from her again. My daughter took it hard and I blamed myself. I should have done something sooner, especially after she saved my life. When I saw Alice, I was reminded of the whole thing and I couldn’t help but wonder if the strange spirit had done something to Nancy and if you were going to do the same to Alice. Sorry.”

Trying to end the awkward silence pervading the room Sam starts talking again. “I hope you can understand that situation is strange and it’s natural for my grandson and I to have our doubts. I’m still committed to help Alice and that exactly why I’m meeting with some other tribal elders in town tomorrow. I’m going to perform a ritual to drive this corruption away from her. If you would like to tag along I wouldn’t mind giving you a little money to spend on Alice. Honestly, she needs it…Look Octavian, please treat her right. Johnny’s told me all about the cult business. I don’t envy your position, but how long are you going to keep her in the dark about all this. I don’t know what I would do but eventually she’s going to find out the truth. Think about what you’re going to do.” There’s a beeping sound which you guess is from the dryer. Sam returns a little while later with Alice’s clothes folded.

>You could use this as an excuse to leave but do you?

>Share more with Sam. He doesn’t seem so bad.
>Talk with Jonathan. Maybe you should work out any misunderstandings or hash out your deal.
>Head back to Alice (timeskip to morning) If chosen: Head to town with Sam? Yes or No? also
>Wake up early and get some quick training or research done?
>Let Alice sleep in (timeskips to the trip)

>>3674220
>>Share more with Sam. He doesn’t seem so bad.
she is all that i have and she was going to be sacrificed to summon there so called good then they would have children after her death and the only thing she wants is a family

I’ll leave the vote open for a little while. Tomorrow will be busy for me so it may be 22-ish hours before the update. I still need to write the scene those dice were for but I want to make sure I get it right. I’ve already got one attempt I’m not pleased with. I might get that out sooner if I come up with something.

Thanks for reading.

>>3674220
>Share more with Sam. He doesn’t seem so bad

>>3671966
>>3672160
>>3672750
>>3674148

54 vs 6

Sometime Yesterday

It was a nearly the end of a slow day at the farmers’ market when that weirdo showed up. “Hello my Christian brother.” He greeted you in a sing-song voice as he limped up to your stall. You wanted no part of this. “Sorry, I’m closing up and if this is about free food nothing I’ve got is going bad and if I have a couple more days like this I’m going to be asking you for change.” He regards you oddly for a moment before replying “Actually friend, I’m looking for my little sister. She has blond hair and blue eyes, about this tall. She’s fourteen and goes by Alice. She went missing a couple of days ago. I’m afraid she’s run away from home. It’s probably drugs, a boy, or something.” Yeah sure, this guy probably knows all about drugs. “It was the weekend so the market was packed. I’m sure she’s around town somewhere.” He reacts strangely before he begins to prattle on. “Oh that’s just wonderful friend. If you see her around tell her that big brother and sister are waiting for her at the value motel, room 114. Do you know the place—edge of town right?” Do you know the place! This guy wants you to send a minor over to the seediest hooker motel in town. “Thank you so much brother. I hope you know God loves you.” He limps back off towards the parking lot and gets into a beige sedan being driven by a woman the same age as him. Man that was unpleasant.

You’re not taking any chances. You pull out your cell phone and dial a number. “Hey Bill. I know you’re still on duty but I just ran into a real odd one…Yeah the guy seemed like the meth or crack type. The worst part was he was asking all sorts of questions about a missing teenage girl…Said her name was Alice and she just went missing. He wanted me to send her to his hotel room…You know value motel. That place…Yeah of course there’s no report of a missing Alice. He’s probably the one planning on making her go missing. I didn’t by that brother act for one minute. Anyway, He’s in room 114…I bet you’ll find the stuff that went missing from the store and the money from the till—whatever he hasn’t smoked up…Thanks, I’m glad you’ll check it out.”

The cult thinks Alice is still in this town but they haven’t found any hard clues. They might waste more time looking for her there. Joseph made the locals suspicious by acting strange—unlocked:???

Octavian didn’t take any cash from the till. The store owner reported extra items and cash missing from Octavian’s burglary to cheat the insurance company. However that makes it worse for Joseph and Shirley. To the local police the break-in is worth investigating.

>>3674306
>>3677384
There’s no hurry to head back to Alice, so you decide to continue talking to Sam. “I know I’m going to have to tell her everything eventually. I just can’t seem to think up a good way to broach the subject. All Alice ever really wanted was a family. She’s that sort of girl. If I hesitated, there’s a real chance she would went along with Flounder’s whole fucked up plan. She would let the cult hurt or kill her just to please some people who didn’t ever really care about her. They just wanted the return of whatever the hell they really worshiped and kids of their own.” You sigh. “Now I’m all she has left and…She’s all I really have too. I guess I really do care for the girl. You don’t know how strange that is for a being like me. These emotions are new to me and I don’t have human instincts for parenting. I’m just improvising as I go along.”

Sam smiles “You’re starting to sound like a first time parent with that comment. A younger me might have said the same thing. Just always do the best you can for the girl and make sure Alice knows she’s loved, no matter what. Keep those commandments and everything else will work itself out in the end.” You can only hope it does. “…And you’re not really alone. You have my grandson’s and my help. I made a promise not t fail another girl like Nancy.”

You thank Sam for his kind words. It was just then you noticed Jonathan looking at you from the kitchen doorway. Did he hear everything? He just smiles and waves before walking off (probably going back to the work you assumed he was doing).

>Sam and Jonathan show more trust in you. They might be more forthcoming with information related to Alice.
>Your feeling emotions for the first time in your nearly eighty years of life. How strange.

It’s still evening. Do you:

>Ask one of the men about the conversation you overheard earlier. Who?

>Head back to Alice (Skip to morning) if chosen, do you:
>Wake up early for some training or research (triggers a vote for what)
>Sleep in (Skips to town visit)

Something else/Write in:

>>3677575
>Head back to Alice (Skip to morning) if chosen, do you:
>Wake up early for some training or research (triggers a vote for what)

>>3679748
support

>>3679748
>>3679773
Training options:

>Physical: Considering how things went with Titania, some exercise would help Alice get use to swinging her hammer, become better with flight, and improve her overall endurance both physically and magically. (roll 1d20)

>Magic-Alteration: Alice is pretty good at controlling the first rose and more vines could be useful. Why not make the weeds in the backyard garden into more rose vines (roll 1d20+3 for Alice's attempt at controlling multiple vines at once)

>Magic-Alteration: If Alonso is a knight he should have a weapon befitting his new calling. There is also the matter of him still being sort of dead, but that will be harder to fix. (roll 1d20+1)

>Magic-Alteration: The spider is awfully annoying but could be useful as a scout. Why not test out her abilities. (roll 1d20+1)

>Research-Domain: You want to know about what the spider was talking about yesterday. Alice has some pocket dimension? (roll 1d20)

>Research and develop new magical techniques (roll 1d20)

>Write in/Something else:

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>3681606

>>3681636
>>Magic-Alteration: The spider is awfully annoying but could be useful as a scout. Why not test out her abilities. (roll 1d20+1)

Rolled 10 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>3681606
>Magic-Alteration: The spider is awfully annoying but could be useful as a scout. Why not test out her abilities. (roll 1d20+1)

Rolled 16 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>3681606
>>Magic-Alteration: Alice is pretty good at controlling the first rose and more vines could be useful. Why not make the weeds in the backyard garden into more rose vines (roll 1d20+3 for Alice's attempt at controlling multiple vines at once)

>>3681636
>>3681826
>>3682635
17,19

I should have mentioned I was going out for the evening when I put up the options. I’ll get to writing as soon as a get a chance. Right now I’m headed to bed. Thank you for your patience.

>19, 17
With a better understanding of the Durands and yourself, you take Alice’s clothes and head back to her room. Alice is still fast asleep. That’s good. She didn’t need to overhear any of your previous discussion. You place her folded clothes on the otherwise bare dresser and climb atop the bed. You resolve to yourself that Alice deserves to know the truth, but when she’s ready. There’s still a lot you’re going to have to protect her from. Sometime later in the throes of a dream, Alice wraps her arms around you and pulls you tight to her chest. You feel the gentle rise and fall of her chest and the warm tickle of her breath on the fur of your neck. You’ve seen much of this world and known many people, but right now you know this is the place where you belong. You would trade it all to be right here in Alice’s arms.

You wake Alice up before dawn. It takes a few tries, but after some gentle prodding she stirs awake and stays that way. “Octavian the sun still isn’t out. Why wake me up so early?” She complains. You tell her she has a busy day coming up and she might as well get the first crack at the hot water in the shower. The thought of a hot bath wins over Alice. She takes her clothes and her backpack of toiletries and leaves you to your thoughts. She returns a short time later, still drying her damp hair with a towel. You bid her to take a seat and help her with the simple task as best as you can. Deciding to break the silence Alice starts to speak with you. “I know you well enough now that you wouldn’t have just woke me up for a shower, Octavian.” She’s right. “I thought we might want to practice a bit with your powers. You never know when you will find a reason to use them, Alice. I want you to stay safe.” You leave her to finish drying her hair and climb down the bed. You push her new-to-her shoes over to the bed side. They’re not a perfect fit, but it’ll do. She still could grow into them. From her stature and figure it looks like Alice is a late bloomer much like her mother. The borrowed socks on the other hand are much too big and just bunch loosely at her ankles. They do look cute on her though.

The first rays of dawn still haven’t shown by the time Alice and you reach the backyard. She greats Alonso and he is happy to see her. Apparently he spent the entire night patrolling the property on guard for any threats. None bothered to turn up. Surprised and concerned by this Alice bids Alonso to get some rest in her tent. Somehow he manages to drift to sleep sitting up in a complete set of armor. Maybe Alice’s magic helped. Deciding not to waste anymore time, you tell Alice to get to work on a simple task: convert the weeds into more of her roses. She transforms and it doesn’t take long for the otherworldly red flowers to overwhelm the garden. You then order her to try to control multiple flowers at once; asking her to contort the roses in complex patterns. Much like yesterday, she finds this taxing at first but shortly can move the vines as if they were and extension of her own limbs. However, she finds it hard to concentrate on her own movements while doing this and for now ordering about a dozen vines seems to be her limit. She can however make those dozen vines branch off at will, so functionally it’s she’s controlling many more plants. Not wanting to tire her out this early, you call off the exercise.

Reluctantly, you decide to see what the spider can do. You ask Alice to summon her and brace yourself for her grading voice. She gracefully descends from a portal on a silk strand and greets the both of you. “Greetings and salutations kween, advisor. How may I serve you? Oh, and the grove of flowers are quite lovely. Thank you for improving home.” You decide to see if Alice can control the size of the spider much like the rose vines. Alice grimaces but she raises her hammer and follows through. The spider increases in size to that of a large breed dog before Alice’s arachnophobia get’s the better of her and she quickly changes the spider back. You can’t blame her, the strength of a spider that size could be a real threat, even if she is plush and cuddly to the touch. Deciding to press on with the training, you order Alice to send the spider inside with the goal of observing the residents without waking them up. After a moment, Alice speaks up “When I think about her, I can see what the spider sees.” Useful to know. After a little while longer, Alice informs you that with the help of her magic the spider completed your task. The spider was able to observe the sleeping form of both Sam and Jonathan without waking them up. After a bit of hesitation Alice adds: “I almost screwed things up, though. Octavian, I’m not use to giving orders. I confused the spider a couple of times.” It seems she doesn’t directly control the spider like roses. You have an idea. “Alice let’s go inside. Ask the spider to meet us in the kitchen.”

She picks you up and heads off. Once inside you explain further. “Alice didn’t you like to cook back with Joseph and Shirley?” Alice offers a meek “yes”, no doubt remained of how she misses her “home”. You continue: “Okay, well we’re going to cook an omelette. And by ‘we’ I mean the spider and me. You are just going to tell us what to do. The spider will do most of the work and you should try to see everything through her eyes. I will take over any tasks she might find difficult with her limbs. Sound good.” Alice doesn’t protest and you set to work. About midway through the cooking process Alice is getting the hang of issuing concise commands and thinking out future ones in advance. You can also hear the tell-tale sounds of humans going about their morning routines. You pass the plated dish over to Alice and ,after a bite, she rules the exercise is a success. While you are all cleaning up your mess, Sam walks in and begins to talk to you. “Don’t worry about making breakfast for me, Octavian. I’ll get something at the coffee shop before my friends get there. I like to be early.” He places a hundred dollar bill on the table. “I know you need to do some shopping for Alice. I can’t stop myself from helping. You know, grandpa’s gotta’ grandpa. When everything is put away we’ll be leaving.” Once the dishes were finished, Alice dismissed the spider and de-transformed. You tell her to empty out her backpack and put you and the bill inside. She heads out to the truck with Sam.

During the car ride you think over what you will do first in town.

>Might as well get the shopping out of the way. Sam told you about a thrift store in town. Children around Alice’s age often outgrow their clothes, so you should find a lot of basics in gently used condition.
>Look for another store. There are some items you know you don’t buy second hand like socks or underwear.
>Look for a sporting goods store. You’re going to need durable items on the road. One hundred dollars won’t go far but maybe you can offset the cost with a five finger discount. That might upset Alice, though.
>Explore the town. Who knows what you might find?
>Write in/Something else/Some logical combination of responses:

>>3684772
>Might as well get the shopping out of the way. Sam told you about a thrift store in town. Children around Alice’s age often outgrow their clothes, so you should find a lot of basics in gently used condition.

>>3684772
>Might as well get the shopping out of the way. Sam told you about a thrift store in town. Children around Alice’s age often outgrow their clothes, so you should find a lot of basics in gently used condition.

>>3684781
>>3684900

I'm going to leave the vote in >>3684772 open but as it seems there is a consensus.

>Is there any particular outfits or things you want to look for for Alice?

>>3684990
>>Might as well get the shopping out of the way. Sam told you about a thrift store in town. Children around Alice’s age often outgrow their clothes, so you should find a lot of basics in gently used condition.
something she likes is at a good price and quality

>>3684781
>>3684900
>>3685657

It's about a twenty minute car ride before you are greeted with the sights of small town America. The gas stations and fast food joints near the highway blend into a much older part of town seldom visited by travelers. The "main street" is quaint and well maintained but a mere glance down any side streets makes it clear the same can't be said for the rest of the town. Dilapidated, boarded up homes, businesses that appeared to be closed for decades, this place looks like it's been left behind. Things certainly have changed from the days you spent in places like these with contractees.

Sam pulls into the parking lot of one of the "main street" buildings. It appears to have once been a stately house, no doubt belonging to someone of some importance to the town, before being converted into a restaurant and (you guess)offering some type of lodging for the more adventurous tourist. Sam tells you to be back by one in the afternoon or he will come looking for you and you part ways. You can't see much from your seat in Alice's backpack but it seems she remembered Sam's directions to the thrift store. You hear the sound of a chime as Alice opens the door and you are both greeted by the voice of an older woman. "Oh my, hello miss. We're not supposed to be open for another hour, but you're here and I'm running things. No point in making you come back." There's a pause for a second. "It looks like you're looking for smaller sizes. You're in luck I just stocked children's section and you might find some things towards the end of that section in ladies'. Since you're here so early you should have the pick of things. The dressing room is in the back that way. When you're done or if you have any questions see me up at the front." You can then hear Alice's footsteps as she walks off to somewhere.

>>3686987
Alice takes you out of the bag near the back of the store in one of the ladies' isles. It's clear from the look on her face that she is overwhelmed by the number of choices. Deciding to be practical you whisper to her to look for a pair of jeans. It takes a bit of searching between children's and ladies' and a few trips to the fitting room, but you finally find a pair that fit. They're of average quality and not anything particularly fashionable, but denim is durable and the more relaxed fit leaves room for Alice's growing hips. It should be some time before she needs to replace them. The best part is the price is right at eight dollars. Nearby you notice a similarly sized khaki colored skort. At first glance it appears to be part of some sort of girl's school uniform but upon examining the fabric, it's clearly made for some type of ladies' sport-- probably tennis or golf. The fabric is light and breathable, and is the type that resists dirt, stains, and water. It will make a nice alternative to Alice's shorts on hot summer days. It's well worth the eight dollars for the quality of the item. You noticed Alice eyeing a pink ankle length skirt with floral accents. Deciding to eschew practicality for Alice's happiness, you agree to let her try it on. It fits and she seems to like it a lot. It's slightly more at ten dollars but It's a name brand item and still has its original tags indicating it originally sold for around one hundred and fifty dollars. You spot a pair of tops one in black and the other in a shade close to royal blue. Both are solid additions at four dollars each. Alice finds a white ladies polo shirt and it goes well with her pink skirt and the skort. It's another ten dollars. you tell Alice to pick up a pajama set that was discounted to five dollars. She needs something to sleep in, after all. Alice is happy to find a cardigan sweater that matches her skirt perfectly. It's made of pure cashmere and is from a very high end brand but there is a small hole on the left side. Alice insists she's skilled enough with a needle and thread to mend it and so you drop any protest. It's priced accordingly at just six dollars. With all these new clothes, Alice will need another bag. You find a nice duffle bag with plenty enough room to carry other items while on the road.

Alice head up to the counter. The old shopkeeper looks her head to toe before giving Alice a worried look

>Roll 1d20+2

Rolled 12 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>3686992

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>3686992

Rolled 8 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>3686992

>>3687294
>>3687470
>>3687477
Writing. dc was 10

>14
"Miss, I've seen a lot of poor and desperate people walk through these doors. It's not really hard to tell if someone needs help. Sweetheart are those clothes all you have?" Alice stands silent for a second before you discreetly put a reassuring paw on her back. "Yes, Ma'am." Alice answers while looking down at the floor embarrassed. "I'm Madeline, dear what's your name?"

"...Alice"

"Look, there's no way in good conscience I can ask you to pay for these. Alice, it's not that you look young. You are young aren't you. This is the last place you should be on a Wednesday morning. You should still be in school."

"I've never been to school before. I sorta' learned how to read from the Bible and people showed me how to do other things." You can tell Alice is only getting more embarrassed.

"Oh dear, I...I should ask where your parents are and where you came from but I can tell I'm not going to like the answer." Madeline, takes a business card from beside the register and writes her name, address, and number on the back. Then, puts it in the duffel bag with Alice's new clothes." If you ever need anything, even if it's just someone to listen, that's where you can find me. If you need somewhere to stay in town, I can always help." Alice doesn't have a phone and neither of you are going to speak up. You appreciate the gesture. Maybe this could come in handy in the future. Madeline starts talking again "I haven't put out some of the things I've sorted in the back. I might have a few more things that fit you, Alice." The woman leaves the register and returns with a short sleeve yellow t-shirt with a pocket and a long sleeve one in white with a heart design, along pair of red shorts. "There's one more thing I want to show you. Please come to the back with me dear." She points Alice to a dark blue (almost purple) dress. It's sleeves fell slightly above her elbows and the hem rested just below her knees. It was of a conservative and modest style but, at least in your mind, that was perfect for Alice."I know it's probably the last thing a girl in your situation needs, but every woman needs at least one beautiful dress. You really should hang it up, but I know that that's not an option. It shouldn't wrinkle too bad if you fold it like this around some cardboard and put it in a box like this one. Take it too."

Alice profusely thanks the shopkeeper and leaves the store with her duffel bag full of clothes, her empty backpack, and you resting in the crook of her free arm. "It's people like that I want to help on my mission, Octavian." You can only agree there really are some good people left in the world.

>>3687768
You still have one hundred dollars left to spend and quite a bit of time left in town:

>Look for a big box store. Alice still needs socks and underwear. You might find other useful things as well.

>Look for a sporting goods store. Alice is going to be doing a lot of walking and the fit of her new-to-her shoes isn't the best. High quality socks and a good pair of boots would be great, but that sort of stuff doesn't come cheap.

>Explore the town. Who knows what you might find?

>Moving around unnoticed in a town is a key skill of a magical girl. Practice magical parkour.

>Write in/Something else/Some logical combination of responses:

>>3687815
>>Look for a big box store. Alice still needs socks and underwear. You might find other useful things as well.
lets get the bare basics

>>3687815
>Look for a big box store. Alice still needs socks and underwear. You might find other useful things as well.

>>3687815
>Look for a big box store. Alice still needs socks and underwear. You might find other useful things as well.

>>3687924
>>3688418
>>3688450
Writing

You've spent enough time around human girls to know your shopping trip isn't close to finished yet. You still haven't accounted for all the various undergarments and any sundries Alice might need in her travels (besides the swag back at the Durands'). When you're both alone you direct her to go back to one of the side streets closer to the highway. You spotted a big-box store that catered to many of the needs of the local residents and no doubt helped close many of those old shops you saw on the drive in.

It's not too long of a walk and the morning sun and light breeze feels good on your fur. Alice is clearly delighted with the morning, so far. Even back on the farm, Alice never really had much to call her own, just a couple of daily outfits--never any shoes, her "Sunday best", some sowing and knitting supplies, a few hand-me-down art supplies for use with whatever paper she could scrounge up from Father Flounder, and a couple of other dolls (well and you, but she didn't really own you). It's safe to say in her short time with you, Alice has acquired more possessions than she ever had in her entire life. Her good mood is contagious.

Alice reaches the big blue building and takes a cart from outside, stowing her other bags in the basket. Once inside the greeter shoots her a dirty look before glancing to you, seated in the child's section of the cart, then back to Alice's youthful, smiling face. He grimaces. "Young lady, when your finished up shopping just check back with me." He states as he waves Alice by, the subtle accusation lost on her but not to you. It not hard to find the girl's and ladies' section, laid out one beside the other. You tell Alice to first go about replacing her borrowed socks. Alice finds a couple of pairs of ankle length white socks with a faux lace trim and a heart design. You were going to tell her to put them back before you saw them priced at two dollars, a small cost for a little of Alice's happiness. You tell her to pick up a five pack of crew socks in black for use while traveling. Adding another eight dollars to your expenses. A "value pack" of eight panties in a rainbow of patterns and colors joins them in the cart and adds around twelve dollars to the bill.

>>3688756
Now came the part you were dreading. You beckoned Alice to head to the fitting room, where thankfully the attendant was too distracted to care about a girl carrying her plush toy in with no items to try on. You had become all too aware of the world of bras and their sizing during Titania's pregnancy (she brought you along for aid in securing "discounts")--along with many of the other intricacies of human females. Although, it dawned on you that end product of all those things was your wonderful Alice. Maybe it was all worth it after all? After some minor protests from Alice regarding her modesty, you got a clear look at her chest and the tags on her old bra. It was apparent from the red impressions on her skin, that her current bra was much too tight in both the band and cups. If this bothered her, Alice never spoke up and you know she wouldn't. You offer a silent curse at her "family" that left her in this state. With your help she finds two new bras that fit her nicely. Your girl's comfort is well worth the twenty dollars. You tell Alice to also pick up a three pack of camisole type tops to round out that part of her wardrobe. Another ten dollars. You find a three pack of black tights left over from the winter season discounted down to five dollars. You know from observation that Alice gets cold easily and she could use them in lieu of a slip with her dress or skirt. Finally after some repeated requests, Alice goes to the craft section and puts together a sewing kit, along with different colors of thread (including pink for her sweater), and small plastic container from sporting goods to put it all in. This brings the final total to sixty dollars.

You still have some money left over. Choose any, all, or none:

>You noticed a name brand multitool that was mismarked at twenty dollars in sporting goods. That could really come in handy on the road.
>Alice likes to doodle. Maybe you should get her some new art supplies.
>Alice has never had the chance to enjoy some of the little things other girls her age take for granted. It wouldn't cost much to buy some store brand nail polish and other supplies. She might enjoy having pretty nails and thanks to Titania you know how to give a manicure.
>It's almost eleven. Alice ate pretty early and has used magic today. Maybe she'd like an early lunch. There's a burger joint in the store.

Afterwards:

>Explore the town. Who knows what you might find?
>Alice's bags are starting to get a little heavy. This might be a perfect opportunity to teach her how to tap into her magic while untransformed for things like minor strength boosts.
>Moving around unnoticed in a town is a key skill of a magical girl. Practice magical parkour.
>Write in/Something else/Some logical combination of responses:

>>3688757
>You noticed a name brand multitool that was mismarked at twenty dollars in sporting goods. That could really come in handy on the road.

>Alice's bags are starting to get a little heavy. This might be a perfect opportunity to teach her how to tap into her magic while untransformed for things like minor strength boosts.

>>3688773
Support

>>3688773
>>3689017

>The vote is still open for now and you can choose as many of the options of the first vote as you would like.

I have a (relatively) quick errand to run. Then after that, I feel like getting something different for lunch. Otherwise I should be free to write after that and barring no new votes I'll go with this.

>>3688773
>>3689017
My apologies, I had a friend drop by unexpectedly around 2pm and I couldn't get the guy to leave.

While Alice was looking for water resistant containers for her sowing supplies, you noticed a single multitool hanging among the flashlights. You can tell from the packaging that it's an older model and has been here for some time from the dings in the blister. Twenty dollars is a lot when it's half your money, but a good blade or two...or four and some basic tools will no doubt prove useful at some point. You discreetly get Alice's attention and tell her to add it to the cart and to memorize the location and the 19.99 above the peg, just in case. Alice isn't nearly as excited about your find but she's a practical enough girl to understand why you want her to get it.

The check out process goes smoothly. You see "camping sup. misc. 19.99" show up on the screen when tool was scanned and in rural American no one really cares about a girl buying a knife. Maybe it's a birthday gift for her dad or maybe she's using it on the farm. It's nothing out of the ordinary. The cashier is even happy to help Alice pack the shopping bags into her duffle bag and backpack, but seems intent on making small talk with her young customer. Alice is quick with the excuse you gave her earlier (really for the nosey greeter) "Oh, I'm just stopping here for a day. My family is on vacation. I forgot my luggage at the last hotel and by the time I noticed it was too late to drive back. I just need a few things to finish out the trip. There're mad enough at me as it is. I need to get going." Once at the entrance, the greeter seems happy enough with just the receipt once he realizes what you were here to purchase. It seems like he doesn't want to rifle through bags filled with a little girl's underwear and other clothes in public.

When you're out of the store and nearing the edge of the parking lot, Alice places you on the ground, returns the cart, and picks up her now bulky bags. You're both alone so you decide not to waste an opportunity for a lesson. "Alice do you know you can use your gift to make carrying all your new belongings a trivial task? Your magic grants you access to great strength. It's just a matter of tapping into it. Think back to when you first transformed with your magic. remember the squirming sensation. Try to draw a little bit of that out. Imagine it's like you're trying to pour only a little bit from a full bottle into a glass. The glass in this case is your body."

Alice concentrates on your words and...

>Roll 1d20+2 for magical gainz

Rolled 15 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>3689974

Rolled 6 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>3689974

Rolled 3 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>3689974

>>3690427
>>3690444
>>3690584
>17

Writing.

>17
Both Alice and you are surprised when nothing seems to happen. Most of your contractees over the years transform when they first try this skill, being unable to limit the flow of their magic. Alice isn't your average contractee. She has the same or greater potential as her mother. Strength enhancement was the bedrock of Titania's arsenal. When she got going there was very little that could survive a blow from her sword. Although, it occurs to you that Alice's hammer might have been a more fitting weapon in the hands of her mother. You're all too aware that Alice isn't her mother despite the similarities. Since the start of your journey, Alice has alternated between having trouble with the basics of her magic like something was limiting it (an issue you hope to get to the bottom of between the Durands and you) or downright impressed you with her strength or competence. Titania was a prodigy from the get go, unlike any other human you trained--in more than just skill. She was certainly an odd girl and kept many secrets from you (besides the personal things you wish she kept secret from you). She outright forbade you from contracting more girls while you traveled together (at threat of great and disproportionate physical violence you acquiesced to her demand). Most female contractees like to travel in groups and become fast friends with their sisters in magical arms. Disentangling your thoughts and bringing your mind back to the present, you're taking the lack of a light show as promising sign of the latter.

"Did it work?" Alice asks before taking a step towards you. She doesn't need an answer from you when she completely overshoots her mark with a single stride. A look of awe breaks out on Alice's face when she registers the nearly weightless feeling of her own body. Carrying her bodyweight and bulky bags is trivial for her enhanced strength.

"Alice, I would suggest avoiding any theatrics right now. You might damage something or put on a rather exceptional display of physical prowess for the general public. I don't want to draw any unneeded attention. Thinking about it you might want to use even less magic. Remember sewing back at home. Think about winding back excess thread on a spool. You should feel the squirming for a moment before it dies back down."

"Oh it's so just so cool. With this I really could have helped out back at home. Joseph wouldn't have had to send me back inside so much when he was working in the barn. Thank you God. Thank you Octavian. I can't wait for when I can show them." Alice scoops you up in a hug with her free arm. Thankfully she's already taken your suggestion.

>Alice has unlocked magical strength both in and outside her transformed mode. You would really hate to be on the receiving end of her hammer now. Unlocks Research: Minor Enhancements (magic Alice can use outside of her magical girl form).

>>3691320
It's a little past eleven and looking for any means to change the subject from the cult. You...

>Explore the town. Who knows what you might find?
>Moving around unnoticed in a town is a key skill of a magical girl. Practice magical parkour. Alice's new physical strength will make this easy.
>You spotted a quiet little park on your drive into town. Being a school day, it's completely empty right now. Maybe Alice would like to chat with you about whats on her mind.
>Look for somewhere besides the coffee shop to get lunch for Alice. You still have twenty dollars you could spend.
>Write in/Something else/Some logical combination of responses:

>>3691324
>Look for somewhere besides the coffee shop to get lunch for Alice. You still have twenty dollars you could spend.

>>3691324
>You spotted a quiet little park on your drive into town. Being a school day, it's completely empty right now. Maybe Alice would like to chat with you about whats on her mind.

>>3691352
>>3691767
I can make these work together.
Writing.

>>3691352
>>3691767
support

>>3691352
>>3691767
>>3692026

Sorry it took a little while. I had writer's block for the strangest reason--I couldn't think of a breakfast place I like that has any locations in Wisconsin.

"Hey Alice, It's almost lunch time." You state as a quick distraction. "I still have money left over. How about I treat you?"

"Octavian, you've been nice enough to me today. Seriously, I don't know what I would do without you. Thanks to you I've met so many nice people, I have so many beautiful clothes, I've got cool powers, and I get to help people in the name God with my best friend, who's my guardian angel. Everything is great." Alice is downright giddy and hugs you a little tighter to her chest. "I can't wait to go home and show everyone and have a glass of fresh milk and hot..." "Well you're right Octavian. I think I am hungry again."

"Well, we're not far from most of the restaurants in town. What sort of lunch do you want?"
Alice thinks for a second. "Actually, I could go for breakfast again."

"Again. Well there was a doughnut shop about a block from here, closer to the road...and there was that park near it too. We could head there afterwards. People might think it strange for a girl your age to be talking to something that looks like me."

"That's a good point, Octavian. You were just telling me to be careful about magic in public. Although then I need my hands free to carry the food. So you know what that means..."
Great! Back to the bag again, except this time you must suffer the indignity wedged between socks and various ladies' undergarments. "Why is this bothering you so much?" you think. It's not like you have to breathe and it's certainly not the first time you played the role of "children's toy carelessly discarded in a pile of clothes". Might as well take it like a man, er...rabbit, errr...Magical Contractor. Well at least the clothing provides good insulation from outside noise and it's not the worst ride you've been on by far.

The muffled sound of cars dies down into the muffled sound of human voices and you think you can make out Alice's. A short time later you can feel the gentle jostle of walking again. It takes about seven minutes (a complete guess) for you to reach your destination. You finally see the light of day when Alice pulls you from her bag and thankfully removes the bra strap from your ear before setting you down on a park bench. The park much like the rest of this town has seen better days, but it's clear some effort went into its upkeep. The neighborhood surrounding it was a different story. You can see Alice got herself a half a dozen doughnuts and a half a pint of milk. Alice doesn't wait for you to start talking before she tears into the box and gets to eating--no doubt longing to feel a sugar rush. Something she seldom had back on the farm.

>(1/2)

>>3692160
In between bites of a half eaten doughnut, Alice breaks the ice. "So Octavian, how do you think my magic is coming along?"

"It's progressing alright..." You stop talking as a young lady clutching tightly at her purse enters the park from the far entrance directly across from your bench. She could see the both of you from her position. Thankfully you're too far away to hear and you weren't moving anything when she glanced to you and Alice. She quickly heads off to the public restroom. So you resume your conversation. "Things are certainly coming to you easier than at first. You really had me worried."

"Well what I'm wondering, Octavian, is when can we get back out on the road. I mean I probably helped people dealing with Alonso, but I can't help but wonder when I get to really help people. Grandpa Sam said I could go when I know my magic better and I do now...So uh, when do I get to leave?"

"Well I said we could stay for three days, but I'm not in a big hurry. I don't think you should be either, Alice." You hope you can keep your poker face as you look her in the eyes as she is practically inhaling her doughnuts. "I mean you have your whole life ahead of you. There will be plenty of time to help people. God doesn't want you to rush into anything and get hurt."

Alice wipes her mouth with a napkin and takes a drink of milk before she asks another question. "How will I know when I have to help someone?"

Oh boy, how to describe this one? You normally helped your contractees detect negative energy or magic. Except that wasn't an option around Titania or Alice. It's like going sightseeing in the middle of a blizzard. At least Titania eventually managed to figure out how to detect magic on her own. There's no telling if that's in Alice's powers. To make matters worse ,to Alice, you were an angel of the Lord. One He talks to. Well you've already used this excuse once: "Well Alice, that's a tough question. I've already told you that God doesn't tell me everything and he really doesn't like it when interfere in things beyond the scope of my mission. I guess you'll just know when the time comes and you will do what's right."

"How do I know?" Alice's face takes on a serious look. "Is it like a sinking feeling in the bottom of my gut?"

Well that was how Titania put it. Negative energy or evil, as the girls would call it, often could seem like....WAIT, SHIT!

"Alice, when you look around, does it feel worse when you look in a particular direction?"
"Umm. Over there." Alice points to the bathroom. "It's off to that side."

A (nervous?) smile creeps over your face. (Why are you smiling?) "Alice whatever you choose to do--The minute you set foot in that bathroom. Transform. Just trust me on this. Oh and it's in the ladies' side."

>>3692310
>Whatever your choice of tactics roll 1d20

How are you going to handle this?

>Send in the spider. It might help to know what you're walking into.

>The element of surprise is important here. A magical being like the spider will just tip off whatever is causing this. You should try to hit the cause hard and fast before it knows Alice is coming.

>Write in/Some other tactic:

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>3692313
>Send in the spider. It might help to know what you're walking into.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>3692310
>>3692517
supporting.

>>3692517
>>3692976
Sending the spider ahead is probably going to win this, but the vote is still open if someone has a battle plan.

>Also, I need that last roll. It matters here. I should have mentioned Crits are on. This isn't training anymore.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>3692517
>>3692976
writing.

>>3693519
>17
"Alice, we need to know what we're walking into. Remember what we practiced with the spider. Don't worry I'm coming with you. Pass me the bags real quick. I'll make it so I can ride in your backpack."

Alice transforms and gets to summoning the spider while you busy yourself with unpacking Alice's backpack. Where did she put her sewing kit again? It occurs to you that you should leave. Your job here is done. (No never mind that you can't just leave Alice like that. She needs you here.) Ah, there it is. You rip open the new scissors and get to opening that multitool. Well she is an interesting anomaly. Sunk Cost is a fallacy but you have invested quite a bit of time in this experiment. It could be worth it to see where it goes. You shake your nagging thoughts to see Alice has sent the spider forward slowly and very cautiously. Good, she's taking this seriously. That's already better than her mother's first hunt. Well, this isn't Alice's first. She dealt with Alonso, but he attacked first. The multitool's smaller scissors are easier to use with your paws. Unraveling some blue thread you try to remember how those sailors tied those knots again. It was so many years ago...

You've just finished securing yourself inside the backpack via a crude harness. You can peak your head out of the bag without flying out when Alice gets moving--it's better than closing the zipper and being blind. You wish you had something better than thread to construct the harness but ,you don't weigh very much at all, it should hold. (It's not like you have any bones or organs.) You've also tied the multitool's nylon sheath down so you can get to it to free yourself in a hurry. (obviously to help Alice) With your task complete you wonder how things are going on Alice's end. "See anything yet, Alice?"

"Nothing, the spider just went inside the bathroom and it's pitch black. It's like there's nothing there. I can still hear her though."

"Okay, keep at it. If it's what I think it is, the spider might take a little while to push through. I'm ready over here, Alice. First slip these loops over your head and arms and down to your waist. When they're in place, pull on that. The loops should tighten... Don't pull too hard." Alice complies with your request. "Okay, those are just in case you lose the straps of the backpack for some reason. Now just put the backpack on." Well you're now as safe as you can be. You always hated jumping into combat with contractees.

A look of surprise spreads across Alice's face. "Octavian, there's a big city in there. How is that possible?"

"It's magic, obviously. A recreation of a memory or a nightmare. Possibly both."
>(1/2)

>>3693807
>(2/2)
"Yeah, it's not exactly inviting in there, Octavian. It's raining really hard. It's the worst storm I've ever seen... Huh, there's a little girl in there. Ms. Spider says she's not really paying attention to anything. The girl is moving around like she's dazed...The storm seems like it's getting worse the deeper you go in... All the lightning is striking around the center of the city."

"It's a maze, Alice. The thing that's causing it is in the center. It's like in the myth...oh that's right Joseph and Shirley never told you those kind of stories."

"Do you know what Itis, Octavian?"

"No clue until I either see it or you describe it to me."

"Well the spider and I are having a hard time. It's getting trickier."

>You know there is something inside the restroom. It's created a maze containing a city during a pretty bad storm. The worst of the weather is at the center, no doubt where it is. There is also a girl. She is either a civilian, a threat, or just an illusion like everything else. What do you do now?

>Keep pressing your luck with the spider. There's only so long before she's detected. Roll 1d20-2

>Enter the maze. You're going to have to come to it to fight whatever it is anyway. You might as well enter while you still have the element of surprise.

>Write in/Some other tactic:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Magical%20Contractor%20Quest

Archived the thread for those interested.
Also the vote in >>3693814 is very much open.

>>3693814
>Enter the maze. You're going to have to come to it to fight whatever it is anyway. You might as well enter while you still have the element of surprise.

>>3693814
>>Enter the maze. You're going to have to come to it to fight whatever it is anyway. You might as well enter while you still have the element of surprise.

>>3695067
>>3695089
writing

"Alice, we should move in. There's a possibility that the magic creating that maze could start spreading outward at any moment. Then, it would only be a matter of time before it reaches the highway or the main road. Furthermore, I don't know how much more we can keep probing before we draw unwanted attention of the magical kind."

"I'm scared, Octavian."

"It's alright sweetheart. Even Jesus got scared when the Father asked him to complete his mission on Earth. Things might get tough but I'll be right here beside you."

"I always thought I would be okay with it if God asked me to...Am I going to die like Jesus?...I don't wanna' die right now."

"No, No Alice, I already told you that you're going to have a long life. I know things are going to turn out just fine. I promise." It almost hurts to lie like that. It use to be so easy. Now you're attached?

"Okay, Octavian" Alice responds quietly and with that you're off. There's a nervous hurry to her walk, as if Alice is torn between keeping up the stealthy pace she did when she sent in the spider or running ahead to just get everything over with. It doesn't take long for Alice to reach the public bathrooms and cautiously set a foot inside the ladies section...Then, the emptiness of a pure void assaults your senses. Following it was two paradoxical sensations: The feeling of falling, while your eyes told you were motionless. Alice may have been screaming, but no sound was coming out.

The first logical thing you felt was wetness--rain. It's raining. You pull yourself up by the zipper of the backpack's main compartment and take a good look around. Alice is still here and she's making a face that is alternate parts puzzled and terrified. You're definitely in a big city. New York? You can't make out any of the landmarks among the anonymous big buildings. Not that you could recognize any of the newer ones, You haven't been in that city since the Fifties. The city is strangely dead. There's no people, no cars, no animals, just the omnipresent storm. Alice bends down, giving you the first test of your makeshift harness. She's picking up a thick strand of red silk. "Ah, clever one, Alice." you think. She's figured out Ariadne's trick on her own. Now she just has to play the role of Theseus. There's no sign of the strange girl.

Alice keeps following her silk as you give the occasional word of encouragement. It dawns on you that you that you are moving in a circle but along different paths. The maze is a spiral, snaking in on itself. The rain and wind has been getting worse the deeper you get and the sound of thunder is getting closer. There's still not a shred of any other living things. You both finally reach the position of the spider and you see the problem yourself--At a point the rain becomes a solid wall of water. "Took you awhile kween." The spider says in greeting before Alice quickly shushes her. Now, how to get to the center? That water doesn't look too appealing. Maybe you could go through one of the buildings embedded in it? No on a closer look the water goes through the building as if part of one uninterrupted flow despite the walls--dream logic. Looking up you get an idea. The water only goes up so high. You can fly over, well at least Alice can.

"Alice, remember how I explained how to increase your strength? Do that. You can go over the water. Just run at one of the buildings and let your strength do the work. When you crest the top, start flying and let your momentum carry you forward. That should put you past the wall."

"Here goes nothing, God grant me strength." With that Alice charges. Yeah, the harness was a good idea. Alice makes her vault perfectly and you go sailing over the building and the wall of water. You can see nothing but black clouds and the occasional streak of lightning. Flying blind you call out to Alice: "When you start falling, use your flight magic again. Just enough to float. Hopefully it will cancel out our fall."

"HOPEFULLY, OCTAVIAN!" Alice yells out in displeasure. Well that's the pitfall to plans that operate on dream logic. There's no telling if they will work out logically in the first place, so you never got the hang of planning out the next step. Thankfully, your suggestion works and you can fell the gentle landing as Alice breaks into a crouch. You get a good look at the center of the maze. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the massive creature sitting in a centrally located lake. It's looks like a massive swan, made of black smoke or clouds. Right now it hasn't noticed you. You can hear a pearl of thunder as it beats it's expansive wings. Surrounding the lake is the bright green of a manicured park and the forms of many people, of various ages, seemingly frozen in motion. Their eyes closed and their breaths slow, as if sleeping. Gazing back to the center again, now you see her. Standing right between Alice and you and the great swan is a well dressed little girl. Her eyes are glazed over yet she turns to you and Alice and speaks.

"Look Mommy, Isn't she so pretty. I hope one day I can move as gracefully as she can. Maybe I can fly through the sky on my own. Just like her." The girl says as she stands En Pointe before transitioning into a shaky Pirouette. Then, the girl's eyes close and she falls to the ground as if she were noting more than a lifeless doll.

"Octavian, what was that?" Alice asks in a whisper before renewed look of surprise dawns on her face. You can see water from what might be the strange wall lazily flowing around Alice's ankles down into the lake as if it were a bathtub drain. More importantly the swan has turned its attention to the both of you. It begins to lift off as the sound of thunder echoes from its wings.

How are you going to deal with this? What's your strategy, now?

>Alice isn't great with moving while she summons her roses, so tire the bird out first. Focus on dodging it's attacks. Then when you get an opening, tell Alice to summon her roses and drag it down to the Earth where it's vulnerable.

>Giant spider has reach for a reason. Have Alice use her magic to make the spider huge and tell her to spin an equally huge web between two of the buildings. While that's going on have Alice run the maze to buy time and eventually kite the bird into the web.

>Alice's hammer might not pack thunder like Mjölnir or this birds wings, but it has a mean punch. Use acrobatics to meet blow for blow. It might not be the best plan, but it's the most direct.

>Write in/Something else/Some logical combination of plans:

>>3695794
>Giant spider has reach for a reason. Have Alice use her magic to make the spider huge and tell her to spin an equally huge web between two of the buildings. While that's going on have Alice run the maze to buy time and eventually kite the bird into the web.

>>3695791
>Giant spider has reach for a reason. Have Alice use her magic to make the spider huge and tell her to spin an equally huge web between two of the buildings. While that's going on have Alice run the maze to buy time and eventually kite the bird into the web.

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>3699689
>>3700872
I will get to making a new thread sometime today. However this update may take a while to write (and I write slow enough as it is), so I'm keeping the voting open for now.

Also if you have any comments, suggestions, or story related questions feel free to post them. Might as well make use of the old thread for something.

Thank you for reading.

new thread and the lengthy boss fight is up >>3702767