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He takes the moment to point out where the ducts to the venom glands are, and how to you manually coax the substances out with the application of pressure. You opt to do it yourself, and are quick to find out that it is much more difficult than he made it appear. You nearly retch as manage to coax out another two samples of different venoms. One a clear liquid, which he takes more gingerly than the other, and the second a light amber hue. He moves the jars to one of the many workbenches he has set up here.

Roll 3d20 for venom potency
>If you wish to discuss something with him, now would be the time.

Rolled 16, 16, 14 = 46

>>30655154
Here's hoping for POISON INCARNATE

Rolled 9, 9, 12 = 30

>>30655154
you know veles, I can't help but notice I asked about sleepytime tea and now we're checking poisons

Rolled 15, 6, 9 = 30

>>30655154
Yes, I'm not late!

>>30655154
>>30655371
oh, also talk with him about
A. how he would feel about new people coming onto our land to do work
B. how he would feel about us going out and making contact with the centaurs and
C. if there's any path we can use to get from our land to centaur land other than his house

>>30655387
And what he thinks about surveying with these new people. Hopefully he'll do it as a favour, but maybe we'll have to hire Veles on. I'm fine with that, sure, but... I'm greedy.

>>30655454
oh yeah, that too.
I'm not greedy, but payroll concerns bother me. I'm worried about having enough to pay our farmhands.

>>30655227
High poison rating, it seems.

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>16
>16
>14

<You know Veles, I can't help but notice I asked about sleepytime tea and now we're checking poisons.> You say as he pours a drop of the yellow into a... is that blood?

<Just making sure everything is in working order.> He says, swirling the glass a bit and then dumping a... block of something

"You paralytic and acidic venoms are progressing better than I would expect for one who doesn't use them, the coagulant is a bit slow acting, but not enough to be worried about. As for your other concern...> He turns to look at you, <I honestly don't know, it is not something I've encountered before, I have some vague ideas, but they are largely just speculation at this time.>

You are a bit disheartened by this, but press on. <No matter, I had some other things you to ask you if its all right.> He nods, <Firstly, it would appear that there is some iron on this land, and I have a potential backer who wants to do a survey. Would you be ok with people working the land near you?>

He muses a bit before responding, <Should not be too mucch of an issue, but I thank you for asking.>

<Secondly, there will be some surveyors coming to appraise the land, I was hoping that you might act as a sort of guide for them. Primarily so they don't accidental stumble across your caves.>

<Don't see why not, would be a good way to meet more of these people, I'm assuming I will be using your language?>

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>>30656170

<Correct, And thirdly, I'm planning on making contact with the Centaurs. Are there any other ways through the mountains that don't have me impinging on your hospitality?>

He frowns a bit, <Well, I can think of one way.> He beckons you too follow as he heads to another tunnel, nearly hidden by the steam rising from the water.

>Press him for ideas about your dreams
>Just follow him.

>>30656170
yeah, you will. Unless they happen to hire lizardmen or something for the survey crew.

>>30656194
>Just follow him.
If he doesn't know about the dreams, well, it's probably just stress or something then. Maybe we need to go to bed earlier.

>>30656170
Neat.

>>30656194
>Just follow him.
Eh, he doesn't sound like he'd help us much with our dreams if he thinks little enough of his theories that he won't even volunteer them.

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You decide against pressing him further and proceed down the tunnel. The humidity here is noticeable, to the point were it feels almost tropical when you finally exit. It is near pitch dark as well, only the movement of Veles as he strikes a flint and lights a torch are visible until the flare of light causes your eyes to adjust. Veles actives another mechanism similar to the stone covering his entrance to the outside world and you finally see where you are. You are inside larger tunnel, almost to scale with the cavern that Veles uses as a home, the heat here though is oppressive, even for one such as yourself, you can see a boiling stream of water heading down the far side of the tunnel. <I don't like coming down here... for obvious reasons, this is the old riverbed where the aquifer was forced upwards by a magma vent. Most of the steam here was harnessed and diverted both for my Sire's usage and my own later after she dissipated. It is also likely the reason for your hot springs.>

<This doesn't seem like a natural occurrence.> You say, as you see the steam rising off the water.

<It largely wasn't. Mostly it was caused by Leviathan Tanak's slipping into dormancy.> He says dismissively

>Tanak? Dormancy?
>Continue exploring the caverns.

>>30656694
>>Tanak? Dormancy?
As if we'll pass up some history.

>>30656694
>Tanak? Dormancy?
Sure, give us some info while we walk.
This place has exits on both sides of the mountains?

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<You know you can't say stuff like that and not have me asking about it.> You say as you start heading one way down the tunnel.

He sighs, <Ancient history, I was only a hatchling when I met him, and even then I never met him much. Or rather, I never met all of him. My sire introduced him to me as 'AllTanak' which I used as his name, I didn't realize that she meant that all of what was in front of me was Tanak... He was... gargantuan... to say the least. I recall he was a quiet sort though, more interested in theories and mathematics. Often discussed with my sire about properties of magic. I was just entering adulthood when he went dormant. Completely ruined the bay out to the west of this mountain.>

<There's naught but mountain ranges to the west of here, and I thought you said you were from the other continent.>

<Exactly, when a leviathan goes dormant, it burrows into the ocean floor, moving underneath until it gets completely covered, then it forcibly raises the earth up to create a cavity in which it rests. He decided to do it on in the bay. Only reason I knew about it was because Dragon who Was Dragon complained about it ruining her backup lair. I think it was her way of telling me my father was going to be gone a long while.> He looks at your expression, <Or at least I think he was. Only leviathan I ever knew her to associate with.>

>A being several dozen miles in length sleeps beneath the mountains to the west. Reaction?

>>30657901
Cool. Wonder if I'll be around when it wakes; something that big will kick up a hell of a mess.

>>30657901
We should check the maps and see what that bay is now.
also, attempt to and fail to resist the urge to make an age comment about veles.

Stunned awe. That's a big critter.

Fuck yeah lamia western quest

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<I find it hard to ever imagine you as a child.> You say after some time. <Or anything ever existing that is as large as you say this Tanak is.>

He sssnickers, <Oh I definitely was a child at one point. Quite long ago, but nevertheless. As for Leviathans... well, they are interesting to say the least. Leviathan magic is a subtle thing. Its less a casting, and more a balance. Leviathan heredity is what makes things work. Only way a body their size can survive only one eating the occasional whale every once in a while. Its also the reason our bodies work they way they do. We really are an alchemical mess when you take a good look at our physiology. Further from the leviathan tree you get it starts to make itself apparent.> He grows more somber after this, lapsing into a silence.

You keep quiet as you come to a rock wall, the river running under it. You see rock jutting out of a groove. He pulls it and it shifts. You hear the whirring of something complex and mechanical, the rock facing begins to move upward. A wind picks up as the hot air starts escaping outside. You see a layer of loam blocking the exit, having grown there since it was moved last. Poking through it, you are greeted to the sight of the highlands, and off in the distance a ways, you can see one of your property markers. Ahead of you, the river winds its course into the forest, cooling as it hits the highland air.

>Reaction?

>>30659348
I assume this goes both ways?
How many of these secret tunnels do you even have?

>>30659348
Manic grinning.

>>30659348
Grin. This is what we wanted.

>>30659348
Wide enough to fit a wagon through?

>>30659740
we might have to use donkeys

>>30659740
Its large enough for a dragon to fit in.

>>30659888
and he doesn't mind us opening this path up for public use?

>>30659947
Public? It's for our use. Maybe more if we decide to toll the pass.

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<I take it there is another exit like this on the other side?> You say, trying to hide the manic grin.

<One that way, and a vertical shaft that let my sire enter the upper cavern, though she sealed that long ago.>

You head towards the other side, closing this one. You briefly speak with him about the surveying work, which he agrees to, not wanting his own place to be discovered by anyone he doesn't really know. After what seems like an eternity of walking in darkness, the heat subsiding a bit after the venting, you come to a mirror of the exit you were just at. Opening this one, and you can see the remnants of a glacial melt, falling off into a rubble like valley trailing off into the centaur lands.

<Would you mind letting me use this for... reasons?>

<Cut me in an equal share of the profits and keep it maintained on your own time.> You look at him a bit flabbergasted, <Need I remind you we are both dragon stock. That and it saves me from having to convert my own assets into those Isen things you mentioned.>

>Well?

>>30659997
Well, the pass is Veles's. It is not something we had ought to try appropriate. We could, however, make a business arrangement with him. Offer some manner of compensation for use.

>>30660587
Shake on the deal, and tell him he'll get his share. When we eventually get around to telling the authorities about this pass on our land.
After we make it double-checkedly official we own this land.
And also after we visit the centaurs ourselves.

>>30660677
Sounds okay to me, I'll support it.

>>30660677
thirding i guess

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You offer your hand, which he regards for a bit before realizing he's supposed to shake it. You tell him that he'll get his share, and that you'll only be expecting visitors once you actually get around to going over and making contact with the centaurs. This jogs your memory and you ask him how we should go about meeting them in the first place. He thinks on it a bit, before taking you back to his cavern, closing the exits on his way up. Veles assumes that if you are going to make contact in any capacity, that you should have more than a few representatives of the species that make up your society. He insists that he come along as well, he's got more experience and the Casimiran are more than a little insular when it comes to outsiders. He also tells you more about them. Around the major towns, the rule is decided by the szlachta, basically a council made up of members of the landed families. They decide the rules and tenants of their town while remaining loyal to the crown. They have a small standing army made up of elite troops that, while are mostly for show and to please their South Court advisers, are nonetheless fearsome lancers in their own right. These troops are bedecked in heavy silvered armor, winged with eagle feathers, usually dyed to the color of the szlachta they pay fealty too.

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>>30661690
Outside of the folwarks and in the badlands proper, you find the Kozaks, independent drifter that form a loose community. United under a group of leaders known as Atamans, the kozaks eschew the laws of the szlachta and live a more militaristic survivalist lifestyle. This is permitted however, as the Atamans maintain close ties to the crown itself rather than the szlachta. They are commissioned to defend the towns and cities from all threats, namely, Veles wagers, from the degeneracy afflicted trolls on the coastal mountains, on the other side of the basin from you. He goes through the Kozak ranking system, where your status in its society corresponds with your effective military rank, all the way from the Kazak initiates to the Yesaul heads of the roving bands who answer only to the Atamans.

After this lengthy primer, he finally asks you. "Any questions?"

>>30661734
What do they do for fun?

Gotta have some common ground to stand on when we go talk to 'em.

>>30661690
>>30661734
"I think we're good Veles. Let's get this show on the road."

>Cossack Centaurs.
You da bes Canid.

>>30661734
Will you tutor me in their language so I can learn quicker?

We're making slow progress with that journal he gave us if my memory isn't failing me.

>>30661734
"Are they religious? Religion always has some sort of taboo that everyone else in the world considers normal and healthy. I'd prefer not to step in it."

>>30661786
Polish Hussartaurs and Cossacktaurs. To be specific.

>>30661908
Are these your own making or did Echo have this rough idea for the continent?

>>30661908
I cannot into spoilers myself but that is fucking awesome. I blame my polska last name for most of it those.

>>30662011
Pretty much everything southern continent is my own creation, only things I grabbed from Echo are a couple plots involving phoenix empire, a few token references to the previous quest, and some shit way up north that I put my own spin on.
Also I apologize once again on the slow pace of the quest if it appears that way. I've got a LOT of campaign arcs I can cover. Just having a bit of trouble with the pacing. Last thing I want to do is rush people through it.

>>30662148
Pacing is fine to me so far. Gotta build the world before you can play on it.

>>30662225
We'll be out on a caravan circling wagons to deal with bandits shortly, I imagine.

>>30662250
Talking about pacing, the first word I read was 'caravan' and had terrible flashbacks.

>>30662148
I wouldn't mind faster posting if it's not too demanding, but the actual pace of the story is just fine.

>>30661734
"Well, generally speaking, do the centaur keep beasts of burden? Are there any taboos that I had ought to be aware of?

>>30662250
no doubt. at least we took levels in sharpshooter

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"What do they do for fun? We need some common ground." you say, slipping back into your language.

"Drinking mostly, the main reason the Kozaks and the Szlachta tolerate each other is the Szlachta make liquor and grain alcohol that the Kozaks purchase. There is a whole economy around it. They have a few games, but they are mostly racing and dueling, not much on land is faster than a centaur. And before you ask, yes I probably could on a good day, but I don't have any Fuligo Moss to boost abilities, and there are... possible side effects to use those." He says with... well you picked up a stumble or two but his grasp on the language is pretty good.

Given his tone you don't bother to ask what this moss is. [Will you tutor me in their language so I can learn quicker?] You say, attempting to slip into the Casimiran tongue, watching him wince as you pronounce words.

[I can give it a shot.] He says, slipping into the language, [It would take some time however.] You hash out details, he figures that in a week or so the bird would be ready for training with you, so he could teach you how to command it, especially in casimiran tongue. He believes that this would impress them and in the process allow you to learn their language.

"How about taboos?" you ask, "Differences from my society."

He gives you a look. "Not something I'd quite know."

>Just a prompt for more questions while I continue.

>>30662611
well, you know, will bringing pack animals around weird them out?
Or introducing them to all the various races that come from our mainland?

>>30662611
Veles, they're horse-men. I was kind of fishing for if they'd be offended if I came with horses or donkeys saddled with my things and pulling a wagon.

Also, have they had any contact or experience at all with humans/elves? It's at least a relief they won't be freaked out by another lamia, but how would they regard McCain?

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He then goes into the Casimiran mindset. You discover that they are fiercely loyal to those they trust, and have an almost romantic notion of pride in their society. Solidarity formed from the arrangement between the crown and the Kozak's while being checked by the landed elite has prompted a revolution in rights, with the serfs having... well if you had to put it, more freedom than you would imagine a serf to have. The szlachta having a majority of young, well educated individuals and progressive society. However there are differences, in the UFK surviving an ordeal would mean you are a hero, you would only have been unlucky, but not so unlucky to have died to the Casimiran. This is most pronounced in the Kozaks, who do not smile save for close friends. As for religion, the Casimiran have a uniform belief in the power of ancestry, respecting elders as the closest connection they have to the elder troll Casimir, the father of their race. You broach the question of whether they have horses or donkeys. He affirms that they are there, but he apparently they treat them more like the humans would apes by your best guess, they exist, but are not used as the Casimiran can do their job just as well.

>Calling it for the night here, will pick up tomorrow. Will be about a bit to answer other questions though.

>>30663222
Night canid. Thanks for running!

>>30663222
Thank you for running Chemlab, have a good night.

Give me a sec to remember any questions I wanted to ask.

>>30663222
Just a couple small ones.
>Why CanidChemlab as an alias?
>Do you prefer an anon call you Canid, or Chemlab?
>You follow any quests at the moment?

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>>30663534
>Chose the name since it had the same convention as EchoGarrote, figured
>Don't care, its just a handle I've written other stuff
>Maverick Hunter Quest primarily, Strikers '89, a couple others I just look through the archives. Primarily because I talk with the writers of those a bit, will not confirm or deny any contributions in the form of voicework, plot, or character concepts.

>>30664038
There are quests with voicework?

Also I've been meaning to ask someone, so I guess you're as good as any and better the /qtg/, but do you think someone like me who didn't like Strike Witches would enjoy Strikers '89?

>>30664038
>Strikers '89
Nice.
So any coyotes around this week?

>>30664161
Different writing styles. Just ignore the waifu assholes. SliderandorIcefag here Starts off kinda Top Gun, transitions into Ace Combat. Apologies for double posting

>>30664239
Naw, I meant the anime. I couldn't sit through more then a few episodes.

I mean, I'll probably check out the quest eventually if only because it's popular, but I figured I could ask if that would be a waste of time is all.

>>30664325
oh yeah i'll go out on a limb and say its way better than the animu. Granted the animu was just for lolpantsu

>>30664369
The only scene I've seen is the one with the bug that crawls into their butts and they're all spanking one another to get it.

I feel like that's really all I need to see.

>>30664369
Thanks for letting me know. It'll probably be the next thing I read through in the archives, then.

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>>30664161
Maverick Hunter Quest has it, its a side bit though and was only for a couple threads, but I put some work into it.

As for the strikers question? You'll have to clarify if you mean the SWQ or the strike witches anime. Anime was shit, planefag took it and turned it on its head. Only problem is the playerbase can... well can't see the forest through the trees.'89 is a lot more polished and took the madness that was SWQ and turned it into a bit of a more cohesive story.

Knowing ghost and planefag, who happens to live near me when I'm not at college I can enjoy the quests just from the mess that it becomes as well.

>>30664167
I'm a bit further north than coyote territory at the moment, and actually in a city so thankfully no. Had a bit of a scare with the college cutting internet at noon today, but we got it back.

well, see ya next time you run then.

>>30664452
How is planefag in person?

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Veles gives you a quick rundown on the Casimiran tongue, the number of rules, caveats, and grammatical mazes makes it more than a chore. Your own studies make you able to pick up a bit better than someone with no training, but it is apparent you still have a long ways to go. In the meantime you see Dahz bound town a tunnel, with something chirping on its back. The little hawk far cry from the scrawny thing you saw when it accidentally imprinted on you. You see a mass of rust brown plumage as it hops off the wolfdog and does a mad scramble to you.

Veles shakes his head. <Got a name for her yet?>

>Give me a 1d20+2 roll for learning casimiran, plus 2 is from scholar.
>Name ideas?


>>30672772
Picture an eagle firing an M1911 with its dick

Rolled 10 + 2

>>30675116
<How about Daisy?>

Rolled 17

>>30675116
I didn't expect this thread to still be up!

And all my bird names are things like fluffles, ruffles, squark, and quack.

>>30676711
>About to post
>17
Ah bugger, lemme change something real quick

>>30676711
Those are terrible names, Anon

>>30676724
damnit, I don't mean to mess things up.
I just woke up!

>>30676757
they aren't great names, I admit that.
My cat's name? Black cat.
I am not a great namist.

>>30676778
Wow. If you have offspring, be sure someone else names them. You don't want to be on the receiving end of "A Boy Named Sue".

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>17+2=19

<How about Daisy?> You say, before continuing to make Veles wince with your attempts at the Casimiran language.

<It would work, though what language would you want it to be in, consistency is key when training the birds.> He says, watching the thing nuzzle up against you.

You shrug and absently pet the little bird as Veles gets some strips of meat for you to feed it. In between its rampant hunger and Veles insistence that you refresh the imprinted bond, you surprising progress in learning the language, to the point where you can hold simple conversations in them, though you do get hung up on some technical points, seriously, how does a nouns gender change mid sentence by the addition of an adverb. You do however figure you can get some sort of expedition going should you want it. Veles does worn that you should limit the expedition to 4 people, any more and it would be taken as a military incursion and four is the common number of Kozak bands when they aren't part of the main camp.

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>>30676987
With you and Veles, that would leave two openings. You think of the possible people you could take with you. McCain comes to mind first, he's been a rock, and he would probably be upset if he didn't go, given how insistent he's been on keeping you safe. The hands, Marie and Tai come to mind as well, but you hired them for ranch work, not exploring and meeting a whole new race. You get a vision of Captain Keel, he would give an air of legitimacy, but also would mean tipping your hand to the UFK proper depending on how much discretion he has. Serrak is also a thought, but again, tipping your hand, to a rampant businessman at that.

>Figure out a plan now
>It can wait until later, we still have the surveyors to deal with, we can decide then.

>>30677008
>It can wait until later, we still have the surveyors to deal with, we can decide then.
We can't really make the decision until we figure out who is going to be surveying.

Mccain, us, and veles might be a good diplomat party, but I'd prefer not to give the impression we're a nation of snakefolk. Because we aint, it's mostly humans.

>>30676829
My kids would probably be named like "tyranocore" or "dangerclops"

>>30677086
honestly, we'll probably just have to hire on a couple new people.
Or go with a smaller than recommended expedition.

>>30677086
I think you're a great namist, just you get stuck naming the most boring things. If I ever need a name for a monstertruck, you're the guy I'd want to hit up first.

>>30677008
Let's broach the subject to McCain at least. The centaur's preconceptions about the world at large can be cleared up quickly enough if we are to take some on a tour subsequent to our getting trading established.

>>30677273
So, basically what you are saying is that he shouldn't have cats, birds, or children, but rather monster trucks.

>>30677938
Monstertrucks, pro-wrestelers, robots.

That sort of stuff, ya.

>>30677414
You know, mutual tours might be a good way to do things. We visit their place, they visit ours.

>>30677938
>>30677982
if I could, my children would be monster trucks, pro-wrestlers, and robots.

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<No sense rushing into it, we've got more than enough time to make an educated decision on who to bring. What are the downsides of not having four?>

<Well, for one, there are those that are not of the szlachta nor the kozaks, bandyta. They are a not insignificant threat, and are one of the other things the Kozaks are obligated to fight. So it could lend itself to trouble. There are loners of course, which are generally considered neutral, but its a whole threat assessment mentality that they have.>

<So if I don't take four, it is suspicious, and if I can't rightly go by myself... This is a bit of a problem isn't it. I'll talk to McCain then. See what he thinks it should be a while before we get to it anyway.> you say with some finality.

Veles takes you through some basic commands that he's already trained the bird to do. The homing sense has apparently yet to develop, but it does know how to return. Getting 'Daisy' to get a specific target though... that is a bit of a challenge. Before you know it, Veles tells you it is getting dark, and you head up into the gateway room, seeing twilight fast approaching. You say your goodbyes and head back through the gate, returning to the ranch.


>Going to call it here. Dorms are doing something ungodly to my internet and I had to pretty much blackmail my way into having a 15 minute window to post this. Apologies guys, I had hoped to run longer.

>>30678264
Enjoy your dorm problems.
And by enjoy I mean live through.

Thanks for running!

>>30678264
It's fine with me, thank you for running!

>>30678264
Thank you for running!