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>>5295239

At around the same time, Cassandra had occasion to slay another terrible threat to the realm, a great demon bear whose hellish flames and terrible rancor were about to spell the end for an unfortunate harpy child caught in its path. The battle that followed was pitched, the cost of victory steep, but the child was saved and a curious artifact recovered from within its lair: The Amulet of Whispers.

A dwarven relic from long ago, the amulet is housed within a bracer, allowing voices from beyond the Veil to reach out and be heard by the wearer, the first of whom after an unknowable era in darkness was young Cici herself. Ever curious and trusting, she came to the view the voices within as companions and dear friends, teachers and mentors who helped her frame the unfamiliar world outside and guided her toward becoming a better person.

And though the nearby territory consisted mostly of a humble farming village, the adventures that followed quickly grew to be anything but mundane, the rise of a new and monstrous baroness bringing all manner of new friends and foes out of the woodworks, and young Cici bit-by-bit coming to realize the immeasurable potential that resides within herself.

Of course, Cici wasn’t the only person who would become aware of her latent talents. Even now, her mother and the allies she has built up around herself are holding fast with bated breath for visitors from afar, fellow gorgons hailing from the Stone Isles who wish to take Cici away from her mother and everything she knows so that her gift of prophecy might be turned to their own ends.

The voices are determined not to let this happen, no matter the cost, battening down every hatch they can find and preparing to weather the storm to keep their young charge safe. But will it be enough? Will their collective be able to thwart the plans of the all-knowing Seers and drive them back?

Only time will tell. For now, they reside on the wrist of a wizard, Cici’s adoptive grandfather and an archmage from a distant land. His day’s agenda now sees him heading to have a difficult discussion with one of Cassandra’s subjects, a younger mage who broke a grave taboo and must now face justice, but is this where the voices are needed most?

> You decide:
> Go with Brad to prosecute the mage.
> Return to Cici. She’ll need your coaching now more than ever.
> Write-in. Do something else?

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For any new players:

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

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

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

Closure? In this day and age? I'm glad I read back to catch up.

> Return to Cici. She’ll need your coaching now more than ever.

>>5295245
> Return to Cici. She’ll need your coaching now more than ever.
Holy shit, you're back?!

Also, you might want to let the /qtg/ know you've returned. Pretty sure you'll find a few nostalgic old players there.

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>>5295250
>>5295284
>>5295245

[“Truth be told, I think it may be best that I have this conversation with William myself.”] The old wizard confides mentally. [“Though I’ll keep everything you’ve told me in mind, naturally…”}

With that, the old man begins fumbling with the wrist straps, gently loosening the bracer before offering it to his goddaughter still at the lunch table.

“Here you go, my dear. Now, I’ll trust that you’ll be good for the rest of your lectures?”


“Mhm!” Cici says cheerily. “Ms. Willow is really nice an’ I’ve been getting better with math!”


“Excellent!” the elderly wizard lauds. “I’ll be off, then, and see you and your mother around supper time.”

“’Kay! Bye, Grampa!”

With a groan, he then pushes himself back up onto his feet, the mound of dirt he had conjured for a seat already sinking back into the earth as he dusts off his pants. Cici offers a brief hug once he’s done, but no sooner have her tiny arms clasped around him than the belfry of the school tolls, calling all without back in for lessons.

“I can’t believe you’re still going to school today!” Katy points out in an urgent whisper as they’re making their way back. “If I had a wizard grampa, I’d make him teach me all of the magic instead of dumb fractions.”

“Fractions are important too, though,” Cici returns. “Besides, Grampa probably has lots of stuff to do today.”

> Cici does still have school today, after all. How will the voices spend their time?
> Continue acting as a teacher’s assistant.
> Send their projection elsewhere. To where?
> Something else? Write-in

>>5295328
>Continue acting as a teacher’s assistant.
Good to have you back.

>>5295337
>>5295284

Good to be back. Apologies for the leave of absence, but I kind of got side tracked by life for a while.

>>5295328
> Continue acting as a teacher’s assistant.

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>>5295328
>>5295337
>>5295357


The hum of activity fills the air as the voices follow Cici back inside, the door of one additional classroom now open to reveal Mr. Martin up at the board. The dwarf has a look of satisfaction on his face as he appears to be throwing up a list of nations for his small class to memorize. Meanwhile, across the hall from where Cici is headed, Melody stands at her own board beside Mama’s friend Mina, the lamia bowing to the class to a chorus of “Hi, Ms. Mina!” that is significantly reduced in volume as Ms. Willow closes the door behind the last trailing student.

“Now then class,” she says brightly, wasting no time in calling the room to order. “Let’s begin where we left off yesterday!”

Loose leaf paper and pencils appear on desks as Ms. Willow begins neatly writing out a series of basic algebraic equations on her board, the left-hand margin quickly filling from top to bottom before she begins calling on the class for volunteers. In response, Cici, Hannah, and Richard’s hands aren’t far behind, but that seems to be all that she’s going to get, Danny seeming to shrink into himself at the mere thought of standing up before the class and Katy engrossed in what the voices realize to be a detailed sketch of a caterpillar.

“Come now,” the teacher scolds the class, gently rapping on her podium. “We can’t always have the same volunteers do everything. It’s not exactly fair to them, and it’s denying yourself an opportunity to improve!”

She looks to the voices in their hovering form beseechingly.

> What to do?
> Let Cici and the others volunteer.
> Try to encourage another student to come up. Who?

>>5295403
> Let Cici and the others volunteer.

>>5295403
I'd say encourage other students a bit more but if not...
> Let Cici volunteer.

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Okay. So, I am a lame person and have work tomorrow. That said, I'll be continuing the thread whenever I have time. If nothing else, I'll be dedicating the evenings (that is after 6PM EST) over the next couple of days to updates.

As always, feel free to let me know how I'm doing, if you want things to move along faster, etc.

>>5295403
> Let Cici and the others volunteer.

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>>5295403
>>5295415
>>5295427
>>5295541

The voices decide that there isn’t any reason to force the issue and relay as much to Ms. Willow, the young sorceress clearly not entirely satisfied with the state of things but letting the issue drop for now.

“Alright, then. Richard, you’ll be first.”

Things proceed more or less smoothly from there, Richard coming up to the board and proceeding through the problem with confidence. Unfortunately, he misses a sign conversion along the way, and while the class as a whole remains respectfully silent, the boy’s cheeks still redden quite noticeably on the way back to his seat, his expression souring as he notices Hannah smiling coyly down at him before making her own way up to the board.

Always the stand-out when it came to this subject when the girls were practicing, it doesn’t really come as a surprise that she solves her problem with ease, her hand-writing neat and orderly and her process fluid enough to make Cici’s follow-up performance seem very awkward by comparison. The young gorgon still manages to get the right answer, but not without a couple of minor erasures and counting things out on a head snake or two. Still, she comes away from the board with a smile on her face, and that’s probably what really matters.

After that, it’s time for sports, the class practically exploding out of their seats as they all try to be the first out the door. This, of course, results in something of a crushing mob all pressing against each other at the entryway, something Ms. Willow refuses to tolerate as she calls the class back to their seats and has them start over again, this time dismissing the students one row at a time.

The end result is more orderly but ultimately the same as all the children eventually scrabble their way out into the sunshine, some immediately gathering into familiar groups for specific sports while others run for the hills, ready to be done with this day of school altogether. Cici, at least, seems contemplative as she looks out over the playgrounds, Hannah and Katy nearby as they try to decide what to do.

> [“What do you guys wanna do?”]
> [] Suggest a game. Write-in.
> [] Maybe Cici should try practicing some magic.
> [] She should probably head home early to spend time with Grampa.

Snakes and ladders.

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>>5296202
>>5296193

“We don’t have dice, though…” Cici says as the voices explain the concept of Snakes and Ladders to her. “Or a board…”

“We could make a board, though,” Hannah suggests once she’s been clued in. “We just need a chalkboard.”

“Or some sticks and a patch of dirt,” Katy adds. “We could use the sticks to draw, then put them down as ladders.”

“But where do we get the snakes?” Cici asks, garnering some odd looks from the other girls.

“Maybe some string or something,” Hannah murmurs, avoiding the obvious joke. “I still think it’ll be easiest if we just draw it, though."

"Nuh-uh," Katy rebukes.

"Uh-huh!”

“Nuh-uh!”

“Ahem,” comes a voice from the doorway, Mr. Martin giving a polite cough. “Now, what’re ye frettin’ yerselves over girls?”

“Mr. Martin, do you have any dice?” Cici questions.

“And what would ye be needin’ dice for, ye wee rascals? Ain’t playin’ bettin’ games, now are ye?”

“What’s bettin’?”

“Ah, bettin’s a terrible thing, lass, one what gets plenty o’ adult folks in trouble. It’s when ye say ye’ll give someone yer coin if yer wrong ‘bout somethin’.”

“And if you’re right?” Katy probes.

“Well, normally, they’d give ye their own coin instead, wouldn’t they? But there-in lies the problem. Either way, ye’ve got a loser come the end and hurt feelin’s that don’t get resolved. Doesn’t hardly seem like somethin’ for upstandin’ folk to be about, now does it?”

“Nuh-uh,” Cici says with a shake of her head, “but we aren’t bettin’, Mr. Martin. We just wanted to play Snakes an’ Ladders.”

“Snakes and what now?” the dwarf questions. “Are ye meaning Chutes and Ladders?”

“Nuh-uh. The voices say it’s snakes.”

“Ah. You and yer voices lass…” Mr. Martin mumbles, “but if I’m not missin’ my mark, they should be one and the same. Even got a set back home.”

> What to do?
> [] Try to make a set with available materials.
> [] Ask Mr. Martin to go get his set.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5296290
Ask him for help with making a set.

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>>5296290
>>5296295

“Maybe you can help us make our own set!” Cici suggests. “That way the school has one, too!”

“Hmm…” Mr. Martin takes a moment to respond, stroking his beard contemplatively. “Well, I’m still not keen on bringin’ dice into a place o’ learnin’, much less teachin’ the lot of ye how to go about makin’ yer own… Tell ye what, though. I’ll set the lot of ye up with the stuff to make the board and then I’ll see to the dice. Sound good?”

After a trio of enthusiastic head bobs, the children follow Mr. Martin back inside, the dwarf leading his impromptu troop to his own classroom, where-in they find a lone student still standing at the board, the beholderkin’s hand working feverishly with a piece of chalk as she mumbles to herself.

“All this time, wasted! Straight down the drain! Should have gone right when we had the chance, but no… nonoNO! STUPID! THAT’S STUPID! We’ve just got to do it now, do it right WITH OUR OWN TWO HANDS! Not that hard… Just gotta carry the one, subtract the resultant from the abstract. 50lbs should do it, but where do we get the raw materials… the rubber? How would we refine it?

“Tools, tools, TOOLS, ALWAYS TOOLS! Should have gone right when we had the chance. Should have…”

“Iris…” Cici says gently, the small gorgon having crossed the room quietly as everyone else froze by the door.

With both hands she slowly peels Iris’ away from the board, the larger girl having started scratching at the surface with her bare nails when the chalk ran out, smearing all of the equations and diagrams she had been layering on top of each other into an indecipherable mess in the process.

> Seems Iris may be having another episode.
> [] Try to talk her down. How?
> [] Let Cici handle her.
> [] Something else. Write-in.

>>5296361
> [] Let Cici handle her.

>>5295239
Well hello again QM, thought you were dead for good. Nice to be proved wrong.
> [] Let Cici handle her

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>>5296361
>>5296454
>>5296502

“Iris…” The voices decide to let Cici go this one alone. “How come you aren’t outside playing with everyone? It’s playtime now.”

“Playtime?” The word come out sounding hollow and disbelieving, as though the girl is just waking up from a long, terrible nightmare. “Playtime!?”

And then comes a burst of manic fury as, just for a moment, Iris tenses in Cici’s grip, the larger girl now looming over the smaller with a rigid, crooked smile, fangs bared and a hellish light flickering in her central eye.

“Uh-huh.” Cici barely seems to notice even as the voices scramble to throw up some form of defense. “You wanted to make lots of friends, right?”

“I…”

Then, just as suddenly, it’s all gone: the rage, the indignation, the light. All that’s left is Iris, a fragile young girl with tears in her eye and a look of pure exhaustion stretched across her face as the room and the people within it finally seem to come back into focus for her.

“I guess that is why we’re here, isn’t it…?” she whispers, shoulders sagging in defeat.

“Mhm.” Cici nods. “Me an’ Katy an’ Hannah are making stuff to play Snakes an’ Ladders, if you wanna do that!”

“Th-That sounds lovely!”

Cici’s friends are a bit more wary of Iris after that little outburst, Katy perhaps the worst at hiding it as Mr. Martin brings out some art supplies from the closet and the girls all gather around to begin laying out the board. Still, once they get to the task at hand in earnest with rulers, ink, and paint brushes in hand, things do seem to get back to normal, the group soon gossiping, laughing, and quibbling over where to put the snakes and the ladders for a good long while before they finally settle on a configuration that everybody is happy with. By then, Mr. Martin is back with a set of freshly carved, wooden dice, and the games can truly begin.

It doesn’t take long for everyone to get the rules, naturally. It is, after all, mostly just a game of pure chance with little to no need for skill, but that makes it no less engaging for the girls as they whittle away at the afternoon over the course of several games. Cici, however, seems contemplative.

> What to do?
> [] Ask her what’s wrong.
> [] Let the game proceed uninterrupted.
> [] Something else. Write-in.

>>5296769
ask her what's wrong

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>>5296769
>>5296837

[“I…”] Cici looks guilty as she thinks to the voices. [Umm… Well, Katy’s gonna roll a six…”]

“Yeah! Six!” the other girl cheers after a brief rattle of dice. “I get to go up the ladder!”

[“An’ then Hanna’s gonna roll a 4…”]

“Ugh, just missed mine…” the other girl bemoans as the dice turn up a 3 and a 1.

[“Then Iris is gonna roll an 8, then I’m gonna roll a 5, then Katy’s gonna roll a 12 and fall down a snake, an’… Am I cheating?”]

> That… is a very good question.
> [] Reassure Cici that this is fine. Encourage her to try to see even further ahead.
> [] You aren’t sure if she’s really cheating, but maybe she should tell the other girls.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5296866
So this WOULD be cheating normally. But this game is one where, even if you can see ahead, it doesn't really change much.

I'd say still try and ignore it just to enjoy the game properly and keep it to yourself.

>>5295239
Oh damn its you from the qtg. Nice to see that you decided to continue this quest. I will see if I can catch up with the thread in time.

>>5296866
it's not cheating since it's inconsequential to the game, but it's good practice for your abilities...sooo this is more like training?

I’ve never read this one, but it’s always a delight to see an old QM return. Welcome back.

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>>5297258
>>5297116
>>5296866

[“I guess…”]

Cici remains quiet about her predictions and tries to reinvest herself in the game. Still, it’s clear that her experience is somewhat different now that she can be certain of the outcome, her smile a bit more reserved and her reactions a little less enthusiastic as the other girls ride the waves of fortune blind to either victory or defeat.

[“An’ then Katy’s gonna roll a 3…”]

However, as the girl prepares to throw, suddenly the door to the classroom comes sliding open, a frustrated looking Melody standing on the other side.

“Mr. Martin, you’re late!” she informs him crossly.

“What the devil?” the dwarf pulls out a watch from inside of his vest. “Ak. Ye’ve my apologies, lass. Just lost track o’ time here with the little ones.”

“Some sort of game?” she inquires.

“Yup. We’re playing Snakes and Ladders,” Katy explains, “and it’s my turn, so…”

“Afraid we’ll have to call it here, lass,” the dwarf corrects her with a sad smile. “And as I explained earlier, the dice’ll have to come with me when I can’t make sure they’re being used responsibly.”

“Aww,” the girl whines. “Just one more turn?”

“There’ll plenty o’ other times,” he assures her. “For now, though, given the time, I’m thinkin’ the lot of ye’d be better off gettin’ home, don’t you? Don’t want to get yelled at by yer Ma’s, after all.”

The girls all seem a bit sullen at that, but there’s nothing for it but to pack up their things and head outside into what they realize is the much-diminished daylight.

“Bye, Katy! Bye Hannah!” Cici calls after the other two girls as they depart, getting a wave in response before turning toward her own home with Iris in tow.

“So, what’s the plan for this evening?” Iris asks.

> Did the voices have any suggestions?
> [] Spend time with Grampa. You may not see him again for a bit.
> [] Spend time with the bees. You need to learn more magic!
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5297312
>> [] Spend time with Grampa. You may not see him again for a bit.

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>>5297332
>>5297312

“I’m gonna spend time with Grampa,” Cici says after a moment of thought. “He’s not gonna be in town long.”

“Hmm. Not a bad idea…” There’s clearly still something on Iris’ mind, but it takes her a long length of road before she finally settles on the words. “I do wonder, Cici. Aren’t you worried?”

“Huh. ‘Bout what?”

“Well, about the visitors heading our way, mostly, about your grandmother and whatever she has planned for you and your mother.”

“Nuh-uh.” The younger girl doesn’t miss a beat or a step before answering, drawing a questioning look as they continue to march along.

“Really?” her adoptive sister asks.

“Really,” Cici confirms.

“And why is that, exactly? Did you have a vision of some sort that everything is going to be okay?”

“Nuh-uh,” the girl admits. “But I have you an’ Vivi an’ the voices an’ Mama an’ so many people who care about me. An’ so long as we all have each other, I don’t think anything too bad can happen.”

“I…” Again, Iris has something on the tip of her tongue, but shakes her head gently before simply responding: “I really hope you’re right.”

There’s only a little road left at this point between where they are and home, the girls walking close together as the lengthening shadows of the forest fall upon them, traveling for the most part in comfortable silence until the sight of a distant bonfire and the smell of roasting dinner enraptures their senses.

“Mama! Grampa! We’re home!” Cici calls, realizing just a little too late that far more than that had joined together for tonight’s dinner.

Mama, Grampa Brad, Uncle Yesh, Aunt Rosie, Uncle Mishael, Queen Ashana, Ms. Willow, Sarah, Raine, Mina, and even Melody are all there to greet her.

> Seems there’s a bit of a party going on.
> [] Ask Cassandra what’s going on.
> [] Request a change of wearer for a while. To who?
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5297498
I wanna stick with Cici for now. Ask what's going on

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>>5297536
>>5297498

A fuller fire pit than normal makes no difference to Cici as she quickly runs up and hugs her mother’s waist, getting a gentle hair ruffle in return before Cassandra hoists her up into her arms.

“How was your day, sweetling?” she inquires, making a motion to Yesh, who immediately begins putting together a plate.

“It was good!” Cici responds happily. “We got to play Snakes an’ Ladders!”

“Snakes and Ladders?”

“Mhm! Me, Katy, Hannah, an’ Iris all made a board so we could play together!”

“And that’s why we were late,” Melody interjects haughtily, “and why we’re going to have to have a talk with Mr. Martin tomorrow, abou- “

Melody is cut off by Ms. Willow pinching her ear.

“Huh? About what?” Cici asks as her mother lets her down. “An’ how did you get here before me an’ Iris?”

“We flew,” she responds as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Wow! Can you teach me! I already kinda know how cuz of the bees, but- “

“For now, maybe dinner would be best,” Uncle Yesh suggests, the small lizard man appearing from the crowd with a sizeable plate filled with various meats and vegetables that makes Cici’s stomach growl.

[“Oh, thank the gods!”] The voices catch Cassandra’s frantic relief as Cici goes for the food and they depart the bracer to ask her what exactly is going on.

[“We’re planning for what’s to come,”] she answers, stern resolve replacing the earlier elation in an instant. [“I’m trying to gather as many people as possible so that we can cover all of our bases and get Cici out of harm’s way should it prove necessary. After all, we don’t know when they’ll arrive or where exactly. We’ve even discussed temporarily removing Cici from school so that I can be closer to her at any given moment.”]

> What are the voices thoughts?
> [] It may be safer for Cici to stay home for the next little bit, just in case.
> [] She shouldn’t be missing school and time with her friends because of this.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5298093
maybe keep a closer eye on her, but keeping her away from school too long might be detrimental for cici

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>>5298093
>>5298099

The voices council against separating Cici from the familiar in the face of all this but do recommend caution.

[“That’s the plan we’re going with for now,”] Cassandra confirms. [“Ms. Willow and Melody will be prepared to act if our visitors try to force their way onto school grounds. I have Faye scouring the trails along the paths they’re most likely to take and Ashana’s information network should they slip through. Gods willing, I can head them off before they’re in the valley proper and convince them to just leave.”]

Despite that detailed plan, Cassandra still seems nervous.

> What to do?
> [] Suggest a plan of action or try to comfort her somehow. Write-in.
> [] Cassandra will be fine, most likely. It’s best to keep focus on Cici for now.

>>5298381
You have a plan, it's a good plan. Just be sure of you and your allies abilities.
It's going to be fine.

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>>5298430
>>5298381

The voices offer their reassurances, gaining a small smile for their efforts.

[“I suppose time will tell.”]

A moment later, the sound of flapping wings can be heard overhead, a dark shape descending from on high as Vivi returns from her daily mail route.

“Woah. What the heck?” the crow harpy gawks. “Why’s everyone here?”

“It’s a party!” Cici explains happily from a nearby log, her ever faithful hare Din-Din sniffing at the grilled vegetables on her plate while she’s distracted.

“A party for what?”

“I dunno!”

“It’s just weird is what I’m saying.”

“Which makes it par for the course,” Iris responds before biting into a sausage. “Now, hurry up and eat before it’s all gone.”

She throws Iris an irritated look but takes the advice, soon returning with her own plate that she begins eating while sitting on the grass.

“How was your day?” Cici asks the other girl after a moment. “Did you get to do anything fun?”

“I wound up delivering a cat.”

“Huh?”

“A cat,” she repeats. “You know, in a carrier. It didn’t seem to enjoy the experience much, though.”

“And who on earth thought that was a good idea?” Iris inquires.

“Some noble, I guess, delivering to some other noble. Speaking of which, your mom keeps getting a ton of mail.”

That statement seeming to have jogged her memory, Vivi begins digging in her mail satchel for something, eventually producing a small envelope with a glossy, white wax seal which she delivers to Cassandra. Cassandra takes it in one hand, looks it over briefly, and then pales as though she’s just been shot.

[“This… This is my mother’s handwriting…”]

> What to do?
> [] Encourage her to leave the letter for now.
> [] Encourage her to open the letter immediately.
> [] Other. Write-in.

excuse yourself a moment and open he letter, it might be important to know what is it as soon as possible

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>>5298680
>>5298859

“Are you alright?” Vivi asks when she sees Cassandra’s troubled expression.

“I’m fine. I just… Well, I think it would be better to read this sooner rather than later. I’ll be back in a little bit.”

With that, Cassandra begins slithering toward the tower entrance, stopping along the way for just a moment to ruffle Cici’s hair and give her what she hopes is a reassuring smile before making her way inside. The inside of the tower is dark and cool compared to the perimeter of the bonfire, but the former condition is easily enough remedied as she strikes up a magic candle and begins making her way to her room and the quaint little desk within that served as both vanity and private study.

She’s nervous, her body tense as she rushes to get everything setup so that she won’t have to strain to read the contents of the letter. However, she then hesitates with the envelope itself, clawed finger slightly trembling over the wax seal before she finally works up the resolve to tear it away.

Written in an immaculate, pristine cursive, the letter reads as follows:

“To Cassandra, Formerly of the Stone Isles, Now Banished:

“It has come to our attention that you have recently gained political standing in the territory surrounding Jonasburg in the southern reaches. We congratulate you on achieving this monumental milestone despite your expatriation and pray for your continued success in governance going forward. May you strive in all things to showcase the excellence bestowed upon you by your heritage and the goodness of your former society and never through carelessness or purposeful malice allow your own actions or words to lead to their defamation. However, as doubtless you are aware, this is not to be the primary subject matter of this particular correspondence.

“The matter of interest instead falls around your daughter, Cecelia, a child who, as dictated by prophecy, should no longer be numbered among the living. Yet, it has come to our attention that not only does she live but that she has already begun to discover the blessing of foresight endemic to our race. This is not surprising given her pedigree, sullied though it may have been at the last possible moment.”

Cassandra looks ready to tear up the letter then and there but forces herself to continue.

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>>5299094

“However, this letter is not meant to retread past mistakes nor aggravate old wounds, not when more practical matters lie in the present and immediate future, namely those which concern Cecelia herself. As you may or may not recall from your own time as a young hopeful, the life of a nascent Seer is not a simple matter. Rather it is a fraught path requiring careful oversight and rigorous training that serves to safeguard the adept from harm and is an absolute requirement should they ever wish to realize their full potential.

“And young Cecelia’s potential is vast, vast enough to where the council in their wisdom and beneficence is willing to do what we have not done in a thousand years and allow her an opportunity to repatriate, to be cleansed of her exiled status and to be welcomed in full back into the loving arms of her people and once more be placed into the line of royal succession. To put it plainly, we are all but willing to guarantee her future as one of the most powerful women on the continent, given certain conditions are met.

“The first and most important of these is, as you might expect, that young Cecelia will be taken from your custody, now and in perpetuity. Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to convince the council of the need for your own repatriation as an extension of her own. Naturally, as a baroness of an outside territory and a non-citizen, you would then be unable to live in the Stone Isles proper to serve as an effective guardian, and so her custody would fall instead to her next-closest living relative: myself.”

“No.” With that simple statement, Cassandra folds the half-read letter back on itself and seems to be preparing to rip it.

> What to do?
> [] Talk her down. She’s only gotten through half of it thus far.
> [] Let her rip it. This isn’t diplomacy. It’s harassment.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5299099
finish read it, but fuck em. She has been profetized to be dead already, it means their education as seers is clearly lacking. this is an admission of their lack of skill, keep the letter.
and look for ore admipmssion of their own failings.

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>>5299099
>>5299274

Cassandra has to take several deep breaths at the voice’s insistence before unfolding the now slightly crumpled letter and resuming.

“We imagine this is the point where you will attempt to tear up this letter, Cassandra, but we beg you to please summon up whatever modicum of self-control you can manage and finish it. After all, this is not about you, myself, or our relationship, but about your daughter, my granddaughter, about whether it is right for you to keep her from her birthright, her people, and her ultimate happiness, all out of a selfish desire to spite us.

“We both know she deserves better than the fate she currently has in store: living amongst the crass and the uneducated, growing dimmer by the day and struggling just to get by until one day one of those mistrustful yokels puts a spear through her chest. Meanwhile, here, in her rightful place, she would want for nothing. She would be surrounded by knowledge and those who would help her to apply it, be dressed in glittering jewels and fragrant silks while eating nothing but the finest foods from the earth and sea. She would not have to fear for her safety; she would not have to fear anything because in time everything will be known to her.

“In short, she could live as an earthly goddess under our care or as a pauper under yours, and were that the only thing at stake, were it just her life and not millions of others, I might honestly leave that choice to you. However, the world needs Cecelia, needs her gifts more than you can possibly imagine. So, I will be candid in saying I am not above forcing your hand.

“The killers you’ve gathered around yourself as your aids, the dark secrets you wish to keep hidden, all can be made known to the ears of whoever we deem appropriate: be it your people, your fellow barons, foreign diplomats, or the tradesmen who could, with but a single writ, choke the life from your district. Our words are truth, and that truth carries with it a terrible weight that you shall not be able to withstand.

“So, I beg of you, heed my words and surrender the child to my dignitaries who will arrive in four days’ time without delay. Do not seek to bar them entry. Do not attempt to harm them. Doing so will only invite a crueler and more terrible fate upon yourself.

“With hopes that you will see reason,

Gloria”

[“…”]

Cassandra just hovers there as if in shock.

> What to do?
> [] Try to comfort her. How?
> [] Convince her to go back out to the party.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5299352
Comfort her. The future is not set in stone. Your aides can certainly respond in kind to her arrogant shows of force.

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>>5299352
>>5299527

So, I'm gonna duck out for a bit. I've been planning a fishing trip for some time and won't be back until Tuesday at the earliest. In the meantime, feel free to discuss, add comments, questions, etc.

>>5299751
Thanks for running!

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>>5299352
>>5299527

The voices offer kind words of reassurance, that the future is not set in stone, that all will be well so long as she perseveres. Perhaps that finally offers enough relief for Cassandra’s tears to begin to flow, the large snake woman’s hand finding its way to her face as she tries to stifle a sob.

“I… It’s just… It’s been five long years. Five long years, and nothing has changed! Nothing… h-has… changed...”

A second hand joins the first as the indomitable woman’s shoulders finally bow, the tears flowing freely now as she grits fanged teeth.

“I jussst thought…” she rasps, shuddering before taking a deep gasp of air. “I-I don’t know what I thought, but it all feels so terribly, terribly wrong! H-how can she do this? To Cici? To me? To her own daughter…?”

“Cuz she’s a bitch!” comes the curt answer courtesy of a red-skinned woman as she casually appears from behind the doorway. “She always has been, Cass!”

“Raine…. I-I don’t want anyone to see me like this!” Cassandra begs.

“So what?” the tiefling demands. “You want to cry alone till everyone realizes you’re gone and comes looking?”

“…”

“Listen, Cass. A family that doesn’t have your back ain’t fuckin’ family! They’re just assholes you shouldn’t let under your skin!”

“That’s easy to say but- “

“But nothing, Cass! You have your family; you have all of us, right here! And we have a plan, right?”

“And what if that plan fails?”

“It won’t.”

“What if they assault the barony and its people until they finally have to chase us out?”

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>>5305184

“Then, we’ll follow you,” she says simply. “To whatever ends of the earth we have to until you and Cici are safe.”

“I can’t ask that of you…”

“Then, it’s a good thing you don’t have to.” Raine sighs, running a hand reassuringly through Cassandra’s hair. “Our minds are already made up. Whether we beat those skanks at their own game and send ‘em packing or hoof it to someplace more interesting, there’s no place most of us would rather be than at your side. You got that?”

Cassandra seems to be about to shake her head but is stopped as a hand cups her chin, Raine forcing the larger woman to look her in the eyes.

“You got that?”

The tears are still there in Cassandra’s eyes, the façade of maternal calm now a mishmash of difficult emotions: pain, exhaustion, fear, and guilt. All the same, she finally nods.

“Good. Then let’s get you nice and drunk. Me too for that matter.”

“They’ll be here in four days,” Cassandra finally manages.

“And so will we,” Raine dismisses with a smile. “Now get a move on, splash some water on your face, and put a smile back on for the kids.”

--

So it is that Cassandra eventually rejoins the gathering outside, notably less animated than when she had left to anyone who might be paying attention, but if anyone does, they are at least respectful enough to hide it.

“Hey Gramps!” Raine calls. “Magic us up some booze!”

“This is the second time you’ve asked me in less than an hour, you wretch, and as you can very clearly see, I’m busy!”

The old man gestures to the group of children presently gathered in front of him as he carves symbols and runes into the dirt in front of him, explaining the names of various elements and how they can be chained together or, perhaps more importantly, how they really shouldn’t. Cici does seem enthralled by it all, enjoying the company of the other girls and her grandfather, but she spares the voices a look as they float back toward her.

“Is Mama okay?” she asks.

> How to answer…
> [] Write-in

>>5305187
>>How to answer
She just read something that made her a little upset, its nothing to worry about. Maybe she could use a hug though.

>>5305531
this

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>>5305187
>>5305531
>>5305997

The voices explain that her mother is fine, just a little upset by something she had read, getting a peculiar look from the young girl in response.

[“It’s cuz Mama’s mama is being mean,”] she concludes after a moment, the feel of her thoughts taking on that peculiar flutter that the voices were coming to realize meant her gift of prophecy had awakened.

With that bit of insight, she doesn’t delay, doesn’t even excuse herself from Grampa Brad’s ongoing lecture as she wanders over to her mother and makes a motion to be picked up.

[“Please tell me you didn’t tell her…”] Cassandra silently begs the voices, not waiting for an explanation as she picks her up her daughter and lets her small arms wrap around her neck.

“It’s okay, Mama,” Cici promises quietly. “Gramma’s scared too. That’s why she’s being so mean.”

“Sweetling,” Cassandra responds, clearly a bit stunned. “I don’t want you worrying about these sorts of things.”

“I’m not, Mama,” Cici promises, “cuz everything’s going to be okay. Promise.”

The thrum of power is still there as she says this, but it isn’t clear if she’s actively tapping into it to make that statement or just being optimistic.

> What to do?
> [] Take it for what is seems to be, Cici’s unwavering optimism.
> [] Ask if she’s seeing something that will happen in the near future.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5307067
> [] Ask if she’s seeing something that will happen in the near future.

Sorry for the glacial update speed, folks. I've been sick this week, and it's made it difficult to focus on writing. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll start feeling better rather than progressively worse.

>>5307067
> [] Ask if she’s seeing something that will happen in the near future.
Finally re-read the quest. God, what a blast from the past. I'm so glad you're back banananon

>>5307959
this

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>>5308398
>>5308183
>>5307959
>>5307067

Had she gleaned something directly from the future? The voices gently inquire as much but receive no immediate answer as Cici clings to her mother, seemingly in contemplation. How did she know her grandmother was afraid? And what was she afraid of?

The child offers no tangible response in thought or in word for a long moment, the gears of her mind slowly turning over and over. And then suddenly, they stop. Completely and totally. Like a skip of a beating heart, like a breath cut short, like the silence before a terrible storm, all of Cici’s thoughts evaporate and all that remains is the power.

“Sweetling, are you alright?” her mother inquires, jostling the child slightly then panicking as she gets no response. “CICI!?”

A hand quickly tilts Cici’s face up to her own, and the woman freezes as if turned to stone, the brilliant blue of her daughter’s eyes now shining back at her like empty beacons as the voices feel the quiet whisper of the sight within her erupt into a deafening roar. People all around the campfire jump to their feet, then. Pots and plates hit the ground in a clatter as a cadre of concerned shadows dance in the firelight.

However, the voices have no time to process any of that as they struggle just to hold on. Like a door opened at the bottom of the ocean, they now find themselves caught in a deluge that threatens to wash away their very existence, to overwhelm and crush them beneath its weight composed of sights and sounds and raw information.

They see the Stone Isles, the sand and the seas beyond, ships rocking on open waves, flags of every variety and color each wound with a thousand-thousand tales.

> What to do?
> [] Ride the waves and try to hold on! Roll 1d100.
> [] Find a way to make it stop! Protect Cici! Roll 1d100.
> [] Other. Write-in.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>5308414
> [] Find a way to make it stop! Protect Cici! Roll 1d100.
SHIT
USE EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT OUR MENTAL CAPABILITIES

>>5308183
>>5308415

Glad to have you back, anon! You came in at an interesting moment.

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>5308414
aaaah! Protecc

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>5308414
Focus on the sea, you need something to stand on after this is over!

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>>5308414
>>5308415
>>5308520
>>5308836

> 99

“But where was Cici?”

That singular thought anchors the voices as they try to find footing against the tide, throwing every trick Ashana had drilled into them during mental combat training to try to put up some defense against the relentless pressure, to try to find a raft.

A raft? A ship! A man stands firm upon the bow, eyes looking serenely to the horizon as his ship explodes behind him. Showers of splintering wood and cascades of flame drive his crew into the brine as memories of shanties past play haunting melodies to the screams of fallen sailors. A collage of what was meets what is or perhaps what will be in a manic dance.

But how?

The man stands in an office, before a college, is bemoaned by an empty grave as the choir sings.

The mission had been a secret.

Coins. Coins heavy in the hand, glistening in the fire light, raining down like glittering stars as the ship explodes and all is tossed down into the darkness of the riptide: crew, captain, books, barrels, a partially burnt up scroll with a white seal.
White seal. The words of the prophets, a letter of safe conduct bought in utmost secret, all for naught as the cannons of the other ship continue to blaze, a thunderous percussion felt like a heartbeat in the waves. A man stands firm upon the bow.

A serpent stands behind this man. Behind that serpent stands an empire, an edifice of blood and bone wearing a porcelain mask of innocence. As it cracks and crumbles away, a man runs down an alleyway, a diplomat on a doomed mission stumbling his way toward an assassination planned years before his birth. A knife comes down, a scream dies in darkness, a black sealed scroll comes unfurled.

Black seal, white seal. A thousand-thousand tales begin to unfurl once more as the voices finally find the door and, with all their might, slam it back shut. The sudden silence is deafening, but the deed is done.

> What now?
> [] Try to reopen the door, just more carefully this time…
> [] Focus on reaching out to Cici. Try to get her to wake up.
> [] Other. Write-in.

reopen carefully

>>5308878
>> Focus on reaching out to Cici. Try to get her to wake up.

>>5308836
Thank you based Voice
>>5308878
> [] Focus on reaching out to Cici. Try to get her to wake up.
Lets get the kiddo back into the waking world
>>5308419
Ye, was a hell of a ride reading it all again. I was so glad to see this back in the catalogue, such a pleasent suprise.

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>>5308878
>>5309176
>>5309218
>>5309356

There is the temptation in that moment to see if more can be gleaned from the sight, but as the dull silence of Cici’s mind gives way to sensations from the world above, the voices realize there isn’t time to waste.

“Cici! Cici please!” comes the urgent whisper of her mother.

“Some sort of sensory overload, I’m sure of it!” Brad mumbles angrily.

“That doesn’t matter, now!” Rosie’s gruff voice cuts in. “Just keep the cold coming! She’s burning up!”

“Nnnn!” Jade adds.

But where was Cici?

Like an empty cavern, the sound of the real-world voices echo in the blackness of this liminal space, finding no register or sign of consciousness to receive them. There’s just a vague intimation of the cold of a hastily made compress trickling in from the world outside as it combats a body radiating too much heat. Yet, somewhere within that clash, the faintest whisper of comfort can be heard.

Having no other leads to follow, the voices trail that gossamer thread through the dark of Cici’s mind, ever so slowly and carefully tracing its flow until they can be sure of the shape of something else coming into focus. Like a pearl of light at the bottom of a deep, dark well, the familiar warmth of her psyche shines out like a beacon. Yet as they reach for it in earnest, it recoils from them, an uncharacteristic cloud of fear and anxiety forming a barrier between them.

> What to do?
> [] Try to reassure Cici. How?
> [] Try to force your way through.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5309496
> [] Try to reassure Cici. How?
if shes being overwhelmed, maybe try giving her something familiar and comforting to hold onto and focus on instead of everything else.
Probably something simple, like a sound, or a song.
Maybe something from the bees would work, try buzzing/humming!

>>5309496
> [] Try to reassure Cici. How?
Remember that little song she would hum when the bees told her to empty her mind? That should soothe her. C'mon girlie, you've got this!

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>>5309496
>>5309542
>>5309699

The voices decide the best thing they can do in this circumstance is to offer Cici something familiar to grasp onto, something she can focus on other than the fear. And so, thinking back to her earlier lessons with Ashana, the voices begin to hum a single, at first discordant, note between them, one that they do their best to sort into a proper harmony as soon as possible until they can feel the resonance run throughout the entirety of their being. And the entirety of their being is vast, far grander than they had ever once suspected as in the stillness of Cici’s mind and the solidarity of their purpose, the turbulent waters of their collective spirits finally lie still, revealing for the briefest moment depths that stretch onward into eternity.

Then the worldly thoughts: the practical implications of this, the potential for power, the potential for danger, responsibilities, relationships, and duties yet unfulfilled, all of the world and its infinite complexities come rushing back in to fill the perfectly serene void of eternity as the moment is lost and something else of value is gained. The voices can once again feel the familiar warmth of Cici’s consciousness as it presses against their own, expanding to fill the extents of her awareness and in doing so, pushing them away. It’s a sad parting in a way, yet no doubt one that offers much-needed relief as a pair of tiny lungs give out a sputtering cough and a room of concerned faces spins into focus for her.

“Mama…” Cici groans softly, straining to lift her head from the pillow it was laid on but finding no purchase. “What happened?”

“Sweetling…” Cassandra seems to be trying to form the words, but they simply won’t come out as she hovers there over her daughter.

[“Voices…?”]

> How to explain?
> [] Ask what she remembers.
> [] Encourage her to get some rest.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5309854
>Ask what she remembers.

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>>5309891
>>5309854

The voices ask what the young girl remembers from the whole experience.

“Not much…” Cici admits quietly, apparently a little disoriented as she says the words aloud. “Somebody asked why Gramma was scared an’ then… an’ then…”

“Cici, stop!” Cassandra hisses, her call and a tight hug bringing Cici’s mind back from the brink of another harrowing journey. “N-No more…. Please, just stop!”

[“An’ then I don’t remember…”] she finishes so just the voices can hear. [“But I think Uncle Lee was there…”]

With that it seems the last of the young girl’s energy is spent, her drooping eyes closing the rest of the way as her mother quietly rocks them both.

“Cici!” she begins again when she realizes her child is no longer conscious, but Yesh is already there.

“She’s just sleeping now,” the tiny lizard man explains. “And it’s no wonder that she needs it after all of this.”

“I know…” Cassandra breathes tearfully. “I know. Just what was that? What. Just. Happened!?”

> What to do?
> [] Explain to Cassandra what you have seen. In how much detail?
> [] You need answers first. Ask Cassandra how long you’ve been out.
> [] Other. Write-in.

explain in detail, the boat with the snake assassin too

>>5310014
> [] Explain to Cassandra what you have seen. In how much detail?
It told stories of prophecies and assassinations. A man who, I presume, bought a prophecy from the Stone Isle to reach his destiny safely got obliterated with his crew, the prophecy for naught. It also tells of a diplomat being assassinated in the alleyways and of a scroll with a black seal unfurling. Perhaps a conspiracy of unimaginable proportions?

I suppose the contents of the dream and what it implies, are what strikes fear into your mother's bones. Something great is crumbling Cass, but only the Gods know what that is.

>>5310014
>>5310518
Could have taken place any time, past present or future. I doubt it makes much difference to whatever Cici taps into for her visions.
All in all, it was probably the lack of focus that overwhelmed her, it seems like she was getting glimpses of not just the subject of the vision, but everything [i]around[/i] and related to the subject as well, and all from an almost omniscient perspective, so the overload was understandable.
At least we'll know what to watch out for if it happens again.

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>>5310841
>>5310518
>>5310487
>>5310014

The voices summon up their projection and begin swiftly relaying every bit of information they can muster from their experience: about the initial question, the awakening of the sight, the ship, the diplomat, and the dark implications of some insidious conspiracy lying behind it all.

[“I…”] Cassandra’s mind is a whir of half-finished thoughts as her brow furrows. [“None of that matters right now! Is my child… Is Cici going to be okay?”]

Around this, they try to inject some optimism, clarifying how they recovered Cici’s mind from its dormant state and stressing the likelihood that in the future, they’ll be better able to assess the signs of an oncoming surge.

“My dear, please don’t just stand there looking pensive!” Brad chastises. “What are they saying?”

“They’re saying…” Cassandra starts, taking a steadying breath. “They’re saying that you were right, Brad. Cici’s gift of prophesy awakened, and… and I’ve never heard of something like this happening before! Not without deliberate abuse of dream tea or opioids or rituals gone wrong!”

“But I have,” the elderly wizard insists. “Though a rarity among rarities, sometimes magically inclined individuals are born whose innate gifts outstrip the development of their faculties. Granted I’ve never heard of this happening with one so young, but-”

“Is my daughter going to be okay?” she demands. “Tell me she’s going to be okay!”

“This episode should have run its course,” the wizard assures her, though his tone is grim. “As for the future…”

“She’ll need to be trained,” Melody finishes as her grandfather struggles to find the words, her usual smug affect dissolved into a look of concern. “She’ll either need specialists in divination or…”

“Or people who properly understand her gifts,” Brad finishes.

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>>5311175

“No.” Cassandra’s answer is final.

“My dear, I understand your feelings on this matter-”

“No, you don’t!” Cassandra objects, having to catch herself from yelling with Cici still in her arms. “Nobody seems to understand just how terrible they really are, what they’re truly capable of when something they want is on the line or something they deem as impure is in their way! Eugenics doesn’t even scratch the surface!”

“Cassandra, what are you-”

“I’m saying that my people are monsters, Brad, that we’ve used our long lives to warp and twist everything around us until it perfectly suits our needs: even people… especially people!”

“Cassandra…” Mina interjects. “I’m going to put Cici to bed now, if you don’t mind.”

Wild-eyed as she is, that does seem to bring the woman back to herself as she hands over her daughter to the other snake woman with the utmost care and prepares to continue.

“My dear,” Brad pre-empts, raising his hand defensively. “Many people have suspected, but there’s just never been any evidence!”

“That’s because they won’t let there be any evidence, Brad!” Cassandra seethes. “Because anyone who would dare speak out against them meets with an accident or disappears or is otherwise stricken down as if by ‘fate’, but I’m telling you right her and right now, the difference between fate and a plot is just 500 years of hard work! The voices have seen it themselves!”

> What to do?
> [] Recap the story again for Brad. Roll 1d100.
> [] Other. Write-in.

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>5311179
> [] Recap the story again for Brad. Roll 1d100.
All of this is giving me a headache... And I don't even have a head...

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>>5311179
>>5311428

The voices begin to recount what they witnessed to Brad, starting over from the top. However, no sooner have they truly begun than he stops them.

“And what was the name of this ship?” he asks simply.

To this, the voices can’t provide an immediate response, but as they reach into the recesses of their collective memory, they find the exact image of what they had witnessed is not hard to conjure. The man on the bow of the ship that they had seen comes into focus with the sort of surreal clarity of the sight, and just beyond his person in the frame, there is the bow, written upon it “Donovan’s Pride”.

And that seems to catch the old wizard’s attention, his inscrutable expression turning to one of surprise.

“Donovan’s Pride? Are you absolutely certain?”

In response, they once more test their capabilities to send the image into the wizard’s mind, finding the task surprisingly easy even without him directly wearing the bracer.

“I see…” he says meditatively. “These stars… Given the season and the year and a bit of digging, I could…”

“Brad.” Now it is Cassandra’s turn to interject.

“I was getting to it!” the old man insists. “Though really, the fact I have to explain the significance of that name to a member of your generation is- Regardless, the point being, Donovan’s Pride was a ship entrusted with a very important mission, its charge to deliver a vast amount of wealth between nations in order to ensure a ceasefire.

“The payment, however, never arrived. As a result, the republic of Sarda collapsed, and in the bloody civil war that followed, thousands of lives were lost. If the implication that you are getting at is that the Stone Isles had a hand in that… Well, it would reframe quite a bit of history.”

“But can we prove it?” Cassandra asks pointedly.

“Not at present, no…” the old man admits. “The visions of a lone child and the testimony of her council of otherworldly voices likely would not carry sufficient sway on their own to bring these accusations to a court, let alone a court of nations. For that you would need incontrovertible proof: eyewitnesses, contemporaneous written accounts, ledgers.”

> What to do?
> [] For now, maybe what everyone needs is some rest.
> [] Try to think of a way to strengthen your case. How?
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5311622
maybe rest for the night and think how to find the place the ship sunk thanks to the star position tomorrow?

>>5311622
> [] For now, maybe what everyone needs is some rest.
This is alot of things for one night. I think it's high time to just take it easy. We can help Brad figure out some stuff later on but looking for magical political blackmail right now wont soothe anybodys mind.

>>5311622
> [] Try to think of a way to strengthen your case. How?
You know, A good shaman or necromancer would make it almost trivially simple to gather the needed information. As heavy handed as the Isle's cover-up methods seem to be, any attempts to cover them up could serve to implicate them.I think the land of the dead and spirits would probably be outside the realm oof their foresight, and they've probably built up a lot of grudges.
And after all, using foreknowledge to much can serve as proof of foreknowledge being used, if you understand what I mean.

> [] For now, maybe what everyone needs is some rest.
But those are avenues to be explored with clearer heads.

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>>5312152
>>5311987
>>5311960
>>5311622

The voices outline some of their ideas to the assembled group, but above all, they advise rest. The faces that are presently looking back at them from around the chamber are not the faces of happy people, content and in their best mental state, nor the faces of people prepared to topple an empire in a night.

“Agreed,” Yesh confirms as his outline appears once more from the darkness of the tower. “This evening has been filled with stressful planning and difficult emotions. Best to rest and restore our spirits before beginning again in the morning.”

“And how am I supposed to sleep after all this?” Cassandra asks frankly.

“Because I will make you tea,” the lizard man responds without pause, gently grabbing her hand and tugging the much larger woman behind him as they make their way toward the kitchen. “And because Cici will need you come the dawn.”

Cassandra finally relents at that, her whole body seeming to go a little limp as she trails after Yesh. Even Brad, ever the night owl, seems to have had his fill of the day at this point, finding his way to his usual chair before sinking his weary bones into it and almost instantly nodding off.

Outside the tower, the rest of the adults apparently haven’t wandered too far, excepting for Ashana whose stints in the outside world were limited by her nature. Rosie and Raine are slumped over each other at a table near the entrance, fast asleep as Sarah drapes a blanket over them. Ms. Willow is there to receive Melody, the two sharing a short exchange before departing into the night sky. And Mischael’s snoring could probably wake the dead from his place reclining against the side of the tower.

The voices pay it all only cursory mind as they return to Cici’s room where Mina is standing watch. The lamia seems half awake as she props herself by the doorway but perks up as the voices come into view.

“Ah! Less a problem for you, I suppose, but the children’s room is a little…”

She cracks the curtain open a hair to let a beam of lamp light skate across the various forms gathered within. Cici, Iris, Vivi, all the usual suspects are accounted for, but further huddled into the mass are now Din-Din, Jasmine, and Okku, the collective of animals leaving absolutely no space for anything else as they offer their warmth and whatever modicum of protection they can to the children.

That just leaves the voices.

> What to do?
> [] Rest and stay vigilant in case Cici has another attack.
> [] Go and speak to Ashana. About what?
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5313504
>> [] Rest and stay vigilant in case Cici has another attack.

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>>5313504
>> [] Rest and stay vigilant in case Cici has another attack.
We're here kiddo

>>5313504
> [] Rest and stay vigilant in case Cici has another attack.

>>5313504
>>5313504 #
> [] Rest and stay vigilant in case Cici has another attack.
Make sure things are okay for her.

Work has been a little hectic for the past couple of days. Just letting you guys know that I have not abandoned thread. It's just been a little hard to find the time to update.

Praise be to the weekend, which is almost upon us. I'll try to resume writing this evening.

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>>5313504
>>5313880
>>5313963
>>5314180
>>5314644

In the wake of everything that’s happened, the voices opt not to range far from their young ward, letting their projection hover there in the middle of the chamber as they allow the peaceful sounds of sleep to wash over them. It was amazing how even in times such as these, children could find a way to let go of the troubles of the world, to let exhaustion trump their anxiety and deliver them to the better days that would surely follow.

Even for Cici, this proves true. Though the hum of power never truly leaves her entirely, seeming to have finally found its home in some as yet undeveloped corner of her mind, it doesn’t spiral out of control as it had during the day. It just leaves her to the quiet, mundane dreams befitting someone of her age, half-realized fragments of memory spun together with snippets of myth to deliver something strange and nonsensical and utterly beautiful that would vanish come morning light.

And morning does come, seemingly all too swiftly. It confirms for the voices that their time riding the waves of Cici’s vision had not been mere moments, but a minimum of several hours, possibly longer, possibly even days. That simple thought sends a chill up their non-existent spines, but they have no means to confirm or refute the suspicion as the formerly still occupants of the chamber are just now beginning to stir.

Vivi is first, surprising no one as she quickly dresses for her mail route in utter darkness, scarcely making a sound. However, she seems to stop as the gears of her mind truly begin to turn, looking first to Cici, then to the voices, then to the window and the skies beyond.

[“What should I do?”] she wonders.

> How will the voices advise her?
> [] Her sister had a terrifying episode. She can skip work for one day.
> [] Cici will be fine. It’s important that Vivi honor her commitments.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5315791
> [] Other. Write-in.
Maybe she should see if she can take a half day?

>>5315791
>Her sister had a terrifying episode. She can skip work for one day.

>>5316023
Support

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>>5316155
>>5316031
>>5316023
>>5315791

Sometimes the best thing to do with difficult choices is to split the difference. At least that’s what the voices recommend in this particular circumstance, and for Vivi’s part, she doesn’t seem opposed.

“Guess I’ll be back in a couple of hours, then,” she informs them before exiting the chamber, nearly tripping on a sleeping Mina in the process.

“G-good morning!” the prone woman manages as the harpy stumbles past her.

“Morning…” Vivi mumbles back, but she’s either too stunned or too sleepy to offer a proper apology as she swiftly vanishes around the corner pursued by Jasmine.

For obvious reasons, Mina is the next to pull herself up and begin the day, followed shortly after by a disheveled Iris who, most likely not thinking anything of it, gently nudges the sleeping Cici. Realization strikes a half-second afterward from the way she then flinches, a look of panic on her face as to everyone’s surprise, the younger girl begins to stir, her cadre of serpents letting out a low morning hiss as she slowly pulls herself up to a sitting position.

“Good… morning…” she manages through a yawn, a tiny hand going up to rub at her still half-lidded eyes. “Is it time for breakfast?”

> How to answer?
> [] Encourage Cici to go back to sleep. She needs her rest.
> [] If she’s feeling okay, let her stay awake.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5316609
If she’s feeling okay, let her stay awake.

>>5316609
>> [] Encourage Cici to go back to sleep. She needs her rest.

>>5316609
> [] If she’s feeling okay, let her stay awake.
Sure kid, you feeling hungry?

>>5316609
> [] If she’s feeling okay, let her stay awake.
Broken sleep isnt that great anyway. Lets get some breakfast in her, and then if shes still tired, she can go back to sleep.

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>>5317210
>>5317096
>>5317050
>>5316896
>>5316609

The voices opt not to rush Cici back to bed, opting instead to ask how she’s feeling.

“My head hurts a little,” she admits, her face scrunching up slightly, “but I am hungry.”

“Then, let’s eat!” Iris advises, putting on a smile as she helps the smaller girl to her feet. “If we’re lucky, there will still be meat and bread from last night.”

So, the two scamper outward and upward from the recesses of the tower to the rooftop garden, the voices noting along the way that Mina seemed to be waking up Cassandra and that otherwise, the adults had made themselves scarce from the night before. That included Brad, surprisingly enough, the wizard’s chair now empty and a small book left in his place. They’d have to get to the bottom of that, but the children were in no mood to wait to fill their bellies.

Fresh picked peppers and berries, small root vegetables and other oddments are soon served alongside a loaf of last night’s bread and a hunk of venison that the girls greedily devour. Din-Din, slightly slower to rise than the others, still arrives in time to pick a few choice veggies off of Cici’s plate while she’s distracted, Okku apparently opting to forage instead as he tears off from the base of the tower and into the forest. That means that for a time, it’s just the two girls and their rabbit enjoying the crisp morning air, letting the world come alive around them as bird song and the full brightness of the sun chase away the chill gray mists of twilight.

“Ugh… I swear he put something in that tea…” the voices hear Cassandra grumble from somewhere down below.

“Even if he did, you needed the rest,” Mina insists, getting some low sound as a response. “Oh, don’t you dare hiss at me, you grouch!”

The dull clatter of pots and plates then rings out below as Cassandra no doubt searches for her coffee and a means to prepare it.

> What to do?
> [] Inform Cassandra that her daughter is awake.
> [] Let the woman have her coffee first. It sounds like she needs it.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5317347
>> [] Let the woman have her coffee first. It sounds like she needs it.

>>5317347
> [] Let the woman have her coffee first. It sounds like she needs it.

>>5317347
> [] Let the woman have her coffee first. It sounds like she needs it.

>>5317347
>> [] Let the woman have her coffee first. It sounds like she needs it.

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>>5317347
>>5317830
>>5318091
>>5319034
>>5319374

The voices leave Cassandra to it, as do the girls from their place atop the tower.

“So, are you really feeling alright after yesterday?” Iris asks incredulously.

“Mostly,” Cici confirms. “Why?”

“Well, your eyes started glowing and then you fell into a coma. Most people don’t just wake up feeling fine after something like that.”

“I don’t know what a coma is,” Cici admits, “but your eyes glow all the time an’ you seem fine…”

“Fine is a tricky adjective, but I suppose you do have a point,” the beholderkin concedes. “Also, a coma is when you go to sleep, and it’s very hard to wake you back up.”

“But I woke up fine this morning!”

“Then I guess it’s best not to worry your pretty little head… err, heads… over it! You’re fine now, and I’m sure that’s plenty enough for your mother.”

“I hope so… an’ I hope she’s almost ready too. We’re going to be late for school!”

Iris seems incredulous at that but holds her tongue.

> What about the voices?
> [] Encourage Cici to take the day off.
> [] If she’s willing to go, they might as well allow it.
> [] This is really more Cassandra’s decision to make.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5319714
>> [] Encourage Cici to take the day off.

>>5319714
>> [] If she’s willing to go, they might as well allow it.

>>5319714
> [] Encourage Cici to take the day off.
I'm no expert but if you recently had a coma you shouldn't be going to school the next day!

>>5319714
> [] Encourage Cici to take the day off.
Take a day off kiddo, comas need lots of recuperation after them!

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>>5319714
>>5320045
>>5320156
>>5320396
>>5320673

The voices, however, are willing to encourage Cici not to overtax herself and recommend that she get a bit more rest.

“I feel fine, though,” Cici complains. “I don’t even know if I had a coma, an’ I think if we’re late, the others are gonna-”

A pulse runs through Cici’s mind and the school is there, her friends, her teachers, the smell of chalk and scratch of pencils as Ms. Willow utters the dreaded words “Pop Quiz”. Then there are two classrooms, one with her and one without, and one where she remembers her pencils and one where she doesn’t, and one where- The voices politely and firmly close the door on multiverse theory for one day, bringing the girl back to herself.

“Maybe I do need more sleep…” Cici reflects, rubbing at one eye.

“You really do,” Iris agrees, “but don’t worry. I’ll be going, and I’ll let everyone know that you’re fine. Just do hold up your end of the bargain by actually being fine, okay?”

“Mmkay…”

“Besides, I think Vivi’s going to be home early to check on you. Best to be here for her, right?”

In the end, the girls begin heading down the stairs just as Cassandra starts heading up, her expression difficult to read as she swiftly scoops Cici up into her arms.

“Oh, thank the gods!” she whispers, planting several kisses on her daughter’s head in rapid succession. “Are you feeling alright, sweetling?”

“I’m fine, Mama,” Cici insists. “The voices just say I need to get more sleep is all…”

“I’m surprised you’re even awake at this hour considering when we got you to bed last night. That goes for you and all of the girls, but you especially should still be in bed.”

[“How is she this morning?”] Cassandra asks as the hug brings her in contact with the bracer.

> How to answer?
> [] No need to stress Cassandra out further. She is fine.
> [] Mention that she almost had another attack just now.
> [] Other. Write-in.

>>5322614
>> [] No need to stress Cassandra out further. She is fine.

>>5322614
>[] No need to stress Cassandra out further. She is fine.

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>>5322614
>>5322953
>>5323166

The voices assure Cassandra that Cici is fine, choosing to side-step the issue of the recent flare for now. Cici wasn’t the only one who could probably do with some more rest, but if their chances of convincing her mother of that were slim, they could at least not rile her up with news of things outside of her control.

“Well, I’m off, then,” Iris says somewhat awkwardly as she squeezes by the pair.

“Are you sure you don’t need more rest as well?” Cassandra asks, her singular focus on Cici loosening somewhat as she realizes she has more than one child to mother.

“I’m fine,” Iris assures her. “Mr. Martin is supposed to be teaching about the exodus of the elves today, and I think there’d be a riot if we missed that.”

“But-”

“But if I start feeling faint, I’ll come home and rest,” Iris insists. “What about you?”

“I don’t plan on going anywhere today. The council has the mail if they need to contact me, and I already have a small mountain of take-home work to keep me busy.”

“I can look after Cici in the meantime,” Mina adds, “and tidy up around the house a bit.”

With that settled, Iris departs and Cassandra surrenders Cici to the lamia’s care, Mina making sure the young girl bathes and brushes her teeth before laying her down to continue her rest. It’s barely a few minutes afterward that sleep resumes for the young gorgon, time and focus fading away like the warmth of the bath as it meets the relative cool of the blankets.

She would be stronger for these early traumatic experiences, the voices knew. Such was her character that every sickness and stumbling block along her way would only make her that much kinder and more empathetic to those she would later meet in life. All she required was time now, time to heal and to grow and to continue receiving the guidance of those who cared more for her happiness than her utility.

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>>5327453

Sorry about this super delayed update. You guys deserve better, but I've been having some serious writer's block these past couple of days. That said, I think I'll start a new thread once I've taken a couple more days off to clear my head.

Thank you all for reading! And as always, if you have any questions, comments, etc., feel free to leave them below.

>>5327459
Its been a couple of days man, its fine. Really. Just happy to read this again.

>>5329437
Same desu, take a rest bananon!