>>40041031
You wake slowly, feeling cold stone and grit leaving pockmarks on your skin. You feel as if someone’s dripped a lump of molten lead down your throat and left it to cool in your stomach. Your head aches and your eyelids try to close on their own.
What are you doing? What’s going on?

Oh right, there’d been a storm and a wreck and after that, uh…

You force your eyes open and sit up fast enough to make you feel dizzy. Had that been real? No way! But more and more memories and sensations filter back in and it becomes hard to deny.

So you should be on the beach, right? Not...here. You are lying in some sort of shallow stone pit, filled with grit and gravel. It’s extremely uncomfortable. You can’t see shit, everything is pitch-black. You get to your feet, feeling the edge of the pit along the level of your shoulder. Beyond is some sort of room but you have no vision. You can hear the slow dripping of water somewhere and your throat aches further. You are very thirsty.

Hiss doesn’t seem to be anywhere nearby. You are alone.

Bastards took your pack too.

> Call out.

> Pray.

> Seek out the water.

> Seek out an exit.

> Go back to sleep. Fuck this.

> Other

>>40041038
>> Seek out the water.

>>40041038
> Seek out the water.

>>40041038
> Seek out the water.
> Pray.

Read through the archives over the last day and I have got to say, I love your writing Ouro.

>>40041038
> Seek out the water.

>>40041038
> Pray.
> Seek out the water.

> Seek out the water.
> Pray

You haul yourself out of the pit, feeling out the floor as you climb out. It's stone and it's roughly hewn. More gravel.

You let the trickle of water guide you as you crawl slowly around the room. Best be careful, you don't want to fall into other pits.
After a few minutes you find a jagged wall, down which a rivulet of water flows. You put your mouth to the stone and drink as best you can. It's cold enough to make your jaw ache and surprisingly sweet.

And as you finally quench your thirst, you begin to pray. Damn it Hiss, where are you?

You can't tell if it's in response to your prayers or not but in the darkness you soon hear the sound of rattling footsteps. It's not the sound of any living thing.

> Do your best to hide.

> Get back in the pit.

> Try to greet it.

> Attack.

> Other

You know, in hindsight we probably should have learned our lesson seeing we were involved in this EXACT same bullshit with the children of the fields. Hiss even remarked there souls were equally rotten and they were suffering in the same manner. We could probably assume this place has a similar corrupt spirit as well. A spirit which can't claim us because lolspiritbane.

>>40041308
> Get back in the pit.

>>40041308
> Do your best to hide.
grab a decently sized rock

>>40041308
>> Try to greet it.
"Okay, lets be honest here, you guys can't claim my soul and are all clearly suffering so just leave me to my own business and I promise to work this all out in a manner which will lessen your suffering."

>>40041308
> Get back in the pit.

>>40041308
> Do your best to hide.

> Get back in the pit.

Are you supposed to be in the pit? You have no idea but you do your best to quietly scramble your way back into the hole before it approaches.

It has to be a skeleton, you have little doubt. But how did you get from where you were- a flash of memory of warm skin and old poison- to this hellhole?

You just stay in the pit and try not to move. Maybe it's not here for you. You hear it standing over you, unimpeded by the darkness.

Something lands on top of you with a wet thump. It's a waterskin and a hunk of stale bread. It tastes awful.

> Eat the rest of it.

> Attack.

> Say something.

> Wait for it to go and then resume the escape.

> Other

>>40041484
> Eat the rest of it.
> Say something.
What's going on?

>>40041484
> Eat the rest of it.
> Say something.
thanks mate. you have any idea why i'm in this pit right now?

>>40041484
> Eat the rest of it.
Ask him why we were taken here and if he's seen a woman anywhere

> Eat the rest of it.
> Say something.

You swallow down the bread as best you can. It's not very good but it's better than an empty stomach.
The skeleton (you assume that's what it is), doesn't seem to be going anywhere so you decide to try a bit of talk. What could you lose?
"Oi mate, thanks. You know why I'm here? What's going on?"

It replies, the voice in the darkness having a much better grasp of Avling than the skeletons that Hiss killed.
"Found you doing flesh actions. Took you in to see the...chief? Important man."

You think for a moment.
"King?"

"No. But good enough. He wants to see you."

"Wait, hold on. Have you seen a woman anywhere?"

"Yes."
He doesn't offer anymore than that.

"Where is she? What's going on?"

"He wants to see you. He wants to see you."

"Why?"

"He wants to see you."

You hear a rustling sound before a tiny spark dances to life in the darkness, a burning torch held high. Was that your flint & tinder?

The skeleton holding the torch is dressed in a fine set of leather armour, a set obviously made to fit a man who was much more than bone and now sat ill upon bony shoulders. He bears the same sealskin cape as the others and a rusted iron halfhelm atop his head. A notched and curved hand-axe is in his other hand.
You recoil back from the sight from instinct alone.
"Who are you? What's going on."

"We are seaborn, the last and greatest masters. He wants to see you."

> Attack. Try to get his axe off of him.

> Attack. Try to get the torch off of him.

> Follow.

> Other

>>40041749
> Follow.

>>40041749
> Follow.

>>40041749
> Follow.
So how'd you'd end up skeletons? Why does he want to see me?

>>40041749
> Follow.
Ask about our shit.

>>40041820
Hell I can answer that. 1.He died. 2. Because he's curious.

> Follow.

You climb out of the pit and set off after the skeleton's slow walk, the light revealing the room to be a small cavern. You can see other pits dotting the floor. Some of them are occupied by piles of bone and leather. A closer examination reveal them to be more skeletons, curled up within each pit as if they were sleeping.

The skeleton leads you from the cavern to a dark tunnel, one that twists and turns, each corner opening into another small cavern of sleeping bones.
How many are there?

"So..."
What do you even say here? You need to find Hiss, you don't know what you'd do without her. You need to find your pack too because you definitely don't know what you'd do without that.
"Why are you all skeletons? I mean, if you don't mind me askin'..."

He rotates his head around to look at you, the skull twisting all the way in the opposite direction while his body continues walking forward.
"We died."

No shit.
"But most dead people usually stop moving afterwards. That's sort of what death is all about."

"Not us."

"Well, obviously. But there has to be something causing this."
Another spirit like in Tedwell? Come to think of it, this situation matches up with that fairly well. Hiss even said their souls were rotten with age.

"So why does this boss man want to see me?"

"He wants to see you."

Fantastic. Real man of few words this one.

The skeleton leads you through the passage and you start as you see light up ahead. Daylight.
You surface in what looks to be some sort of cove, the mountain of the Tooth looming high behind you. And there are ships everywhere.

Or what was left of ships anyway. The gravel-beach is littered with driftwood and the ships in the water and on the sand are little more than broken and rotten hulks.
And you aren't the first here. Gathered on the beach, each with their own axe-armed skeleton behind them, is Tash and Oster and the faceless men and what looks to be a good portion of the crew of the black ship.
1/2

>>40042066
2/2
Hiss isn't here with them.

Oster bellows at you as the skeleton marches you to join them.
"Where is she?"

"I don't know. They won't answer."

"Well, this is certainly a strange sight don't you agree?"
Tash seems unperturbed, even though his mask hangs askew and threatens to fall off entirely.

"You didn't know about this? I thought you sailed this way!"

"Not here, not exactly. The Teeth are bad omens. I think I'm beginning to see why."

More skeletons pile out of various different passages around the cove, all of them dressed in leather armor and most armed with axes. You see a few spears dotting the crowd and stranger weapons yet. They bear a chair, a regal throne hammered out of driftwood with the spine of a broken mast serving as its back.
Atop is sitting Hiss, back in her usual human form. She looks down at all of you smugly, a smile flickering over her lips when she sees you.

"Greetings."

How? How does she always contrive to end up on top?

> Bow

> "What up?"

> Go over and embrace her.

> Ignore her.

> Other

>>40042192
> Bow
might as well play the part of the servant for once

>>40042192
> "What up?"

>>40042192
>> Bow

Skeletons. Court. Propriety. Hiss' Ego.

>>40042192
>> Bow


>Try you hardest not to make a smart ass remark.

>>40042192
> Bow

>>40042192
>> Other
Make puns.

About time you showed up, I tried asking about you but they kept giving me the cold shoulder.

Phew, for a second there I thought we were boned!

It looks like we're dead in the water without repairs.

I hope you all think this is humerus.

>>40042348
Also dear god if we did this Oster might actually shank us out.

>>40042348
...why
puns aren't even funny

>>40042370
autists usually like puns for some reason

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53 KB JPG

>>40042370

>>40042370
I know they're not I just like watching other people cringe when I say them.

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115 KB PNG

> Bow

Alright, let's not get too hasty here. You kind of want to say something smart or try to be funny but you guess that you don't want to try undermine Hiss' authority over the undead, even though you have no idea how she got it.
Still, just looking at her makes you remember last night. She had been in a different form then but it was still the same.

You bow, Oster already bowing behind you. A moment later Tash bends the knee and the rest of the group follow him, the faceless men kneeling as one.

"Ah, it is so good to see that my servants have come through, safe from harm. I have use for all of you. As you can see, I have acquired some new followers."

The skeletons you note, are all keeping a very wary distance of her and yet some of them edge closer as if eager or begging.
"I am the Queen of the true death, the release they crave. It is only natural that they serve me. Now fix the damn boat, this island sucks."

The skeletons slowly dissassemble, treading off slowly to harvest wood from the broken ships. The skeletons behind all of you nudge you to your feet as Hiss waves a hand.
"You may take them to their lodging while they wait. Or whatever. Except that one."
She points to you.
"He can come to my quarters."

> "Hold on Hiss, what is going on here?"

> Just go with it.

> Go with the others instead.

> "Where's my pack?"

> Other

>>40042512
>Just go with it.

>>40042512
>May I ask what is happening and where my pack is?

>>40042512
>> Just go with it.
>> "Where's my pack?"

>>40042512
> Just go with it.
> "Where's my pack?"

>>40042512
> Just go with it.

>>40042512
>> "Where's my pack?"
Priorities.

>>40042537
Whats happening is we probably got snatched in the middle of the night after they realized that hiss could kill them and they are all now worshiping her as a deity who can do so, which is both hilarious and a giant middle finger to god as he cursed snakes to explicitly not be able to get caught up in this kind of shit.

>>40042642
Cennen caught that he was hoping for more specifics.

>>40042664
Uhm... well, in that case hiss has gotten us into another situation involving the undead that will likely end with us punching yet another immortal entity in the face.

>>40042701
Best break out the souldrift and shapechange potions then.

>>40042759
We need to experiment with snake blood brews, they could destroy the souls of the skeletons and help with the spirit in charge of them

>>40042779
Maybe, but I doubt we'll have time.

>>40042789
It only takes around an hour for one new brew

> Just go with it.
> "Where's my pack?"

You decide to just go with the flow for now, it's not worth questioning her in front of the skeletons themselves.
You yourself be lead up to her as she gets to her feet. There is something you want to ask though.
"Where's my pack?"

"Don't worry," Hiss says. "I took the liberty of taking it for myself. Follow me."

She dismisses the skeletons and then takes you along the beach and through another tunnel, this one opening into a small circular room covered in ancient decaying tapestries. And by covered, you mean they're all over the floor. Looks like Hiss has been doing some redecorating.

There's a large fire roaring in the center of the room and the pale constrictor is there, curling itself around so that it doesn't take up too much space or fill up the room.
Hiss points and your pack is indeed there. It's open and it looks like its been rummaged through quite thoroughly. In particular, your old fashion catalog is lying open on the floor next to it.
"Having a peek?"

"Just learning.'
Hiss reclines by the fire, putting the constrictor's head in her lap.
"Well, you have me alone again. Mostly alone. I hope you aren't thinking of anything too...licentious."
She grins slowly and tugs on her tunic.

> "What if I am?"

> "So what's the deal with these skeletons?"

> Pat the constrictor.

> "So they just made you their Queen? Why?"

> "Uh, about last night..."

> Other

>>40042809
Given hiss's new mindset on sex, Oster about to flip his shit, and spirit shit about to hit the fan I doubt we'll have the time.

>>40042822
>> "So they just made you their Queen? Why?"
>Maybe, but after what happened last night, I am slightly worried I'll end up in another dark unpleasant place instead of you.

>>40042822
> "What if I am?"

>>40042822
> "What if I am?"
mention the necessity of discretion. Oster might lose his mind if he knew about this considering how reacted before

>>40042822
> "What if I am?"

But really:
> "So what's the deal with these skeletons?"

>>40042822
> "What if I am?"
And ask if she knows why we ended up dragged off into a gravel pit in the middle of the night

> "What if I am?"

She laughs and lifts the snake as if it were a shield.
"Pray do not besmirch my honor, you filthy peasant. What would I even do with myself?"

"I'm not sure who's besmirching who," you grumble.

"Oh hush, you. Think of it this way, I found a whole new use for you. Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Yeah, I guess but..."
You sigh.
"What about Oster?"

"Oster? No thanks, I'd rather not. Besides, he's not into that. Now Tash, on the other hand..."

"That's not what I meant. And we talked about this!"

She waves a hand at you.
"I know Cennen, I know. I'm not going to, I know it'd hurt your feelings. But if you just got over it...it could be fun. Imagine both of you at onc-"

"Nope. No. Nah-uh."

She laughs again and you realize that she hadn't been serious. She was just doing her best to get a rise out of you.
"So how did we end up here anyway? Dragged away in the middle of the night?"

Hiss nods.
"More or less. I didn't wake you up because to be honest, you really looked you needed the rest. I forgot to be gentle halfway through. As for the skeletons, I haven't been able to get much from them. They don't speak Avling well and Quedeshi not at all."

"So you don't even know why they're doing this."

"Oh, I know," she says coolly. "Apart from simply my natural regal manner that must surely attract all lesser beings, living and dead, they crave the death that only I can offer. They practically worship me I think."

"The one that got me out told me there was a chief or a king. Not a queen."

She shrugs.
"I heard say of that too. And yet whatever it is, it isn't shown up. If they have another leader, they don't seem to be the outgoing type."

"I'm right here actually."
A rap on the side of the doorway startles you as the new voice speaks in Avling, archaically-accented but otherwise perfect.
There's a skeleton there, one clad in a great cloak of furs and leather and a stave in one hand. 1/2

>>40043328
Behind him is a crowd of other skeletons, filling out the tunnel.

"These are my men," the skeleton utters slowly. "And yet I wake to find an imposter trying to steal them away?"

> Grab a brew from your pack!

> Surrender

> See if you can talk it out.

> Make sure that Hiss doesn't do or say anything rash.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Bow

> Other

>>40043328
>a stave in one hand.

PANIC.

I fucking hate wizards. Eugene excluded, of course.

>>40043366
>> See if you can talk it out.
e.g. stall.

>>40043366
>> See if you can talk it out.

>>40043366
> See if you can talk it out.
I wish I could remember which brews we might have more easily

>>40043366
> See if you can talk it out.
> Make sure that Hiss doesn't do or say anything rash.
> Bow
But nearly as much as you did to Hiss.

>>40043366
Tell hiss that this dude kinda looks like he might be a wizard of some sort

> See if you can talk it out.

The stave in his hand is old wood, capped at each end with bronze. It seems to reflect the torchlight wrongly, what images you can see in it distorted.
You pray for Hiss to please be careful. He could be a wizard of some kind. You can't afford engage or do anything rash right now. Right now you need to know more.

You nod your head to him as respectfully as you can without stepping into a bow.
"I mean no disrespect, your lordship."
You have no idea what title he might have.
"We were stranded here, we haven't come for any other reason."

The head skeleton is silent for a moment, long-rotted eyes surveying you.
"You have the pale skin and the tongue of those of Avalon. Has your High King finally decided to seek vengeance?"

"Vengeance?"

"Yes! For we are the seaborn and the saltbred. It is our boats that ravage the lands from the highest tip of Khepri to the coasts of Avalon and beyond to the Scree itself. We are the Melach and there are none who have not heard our names!"

> "Ah yes, of course. Your legends spread far and wide."

> "Avalon sank centuries ago. And I have never heard of the Melach in my life."

> Other

>>40043717
> "Avalon sank centuries ago. And I have never heard of the Melach in my life."

>>40043717
> "Ah yes, of course. Your legends spread far and wide."

>>40043717
> "Avalon sank centuries ago. And I have never heard of the Melach in my life."

>>40043717
>> "Avalon sank centuries ago. And I have never heard of the Melach in my life."

>>40043717
>"Avalon sank centuries ago. And I have never heard of the Melach in my life."

>>40043717
> "Ah yes, of course. Your legends spread far and wide."
How has the ravaging been going lately?

>"Avalon sank centuries ago. And I have never heard of the Melach in my life."

Hiss says nothing as you back away, the skeleton advancing into the room with his retinue behind him.
"And uh, how has the ravaging been going lately? Exactly?"

"Slowly. Your wizardress was unable to stop us and I took her skin and staff alike but her final curse has paid a dreary toll. We have been asleep, our souls trapped and barred from the flensing halls of the ancestors. But I rest easy knowing that when one of the saltlords fall, three more rise to take our place. You people's magic may confine me and your words of death may confuse my men but if you have come here to torment us, know that the Melach continue eternal without us. How many galleons of blood have my people spilled since, how many acres of skin for our sails? Tell me 'fore your coming death."

You're not sure how to put this and you only need to look at Hiss to know that she's realized the same thing as you.
"Uh...Avalon fell beneath the waves centuries ago. A lot of centuries ago. We are Teln. From Teleran."

"Teleran? I have not heard the name."

"And neither I yours," Hiss speaks up. "I have heard many human words but of the Melach there is naught to be spoken of. Not from fear but from forgetting."

"What?"
The skeleton stops advancing, his stolen staff still clutched in one hand.

"She's right. I've never heard of you or your people. The Melach do not exist."

"Absurd! You lie! You lie! I am Ael Saltlord, despoiler of the Teeth and drinker of the blood of Avalon! We have slept but only for a few scant years before you woke us. Centuries? You lie!"

He slams his stave into the ground with a dull boom that lasts for far longer than it should. You feel your hands and feet lock into place. Hiss gasps, similarly bound by an invisible force.
"You dare lay magic upon me?"

The skeleton swings the stave in both hands and clobbers her in the face with it.
"Silence! I am Ael Saltlord! You have heard my name!"
1/2

>>40044105
2/2

Hiss laughs, her face battered and blood running down her cheek. Her eyepatch has been ripped off by the blow to reveal an empty socket. The force of the blow should have knocked her to the ground but the invisible bonds hold tight, forcing her to remain upright.
"You are nothing. I have never heard of you in my life."

He goes to strike at her again.

> Beg for mercy.

> Say nothing.

> Offer yourself up.

> "Surely a saltlord is above such tantrums."

> Pray

> Other

>>40044144
Wow you really are a Saltlord.

>>40044144
> "Surely a saltlord is above such tantrums."

>>40044144
>"Surely a saltlord is above such tantrums."

>>40044144
> "Surely a saltlord is above such tantrums."
Pray and ask the constrictor for help

>>40044144
>> "Surely a saltlord is above such tantrums"

>"Surely a saltlord is above such tantrums."

"Wait! Is this how you want to be remembered, Ael? The man who drank the blood of Avalon reduced to slaying the helpless?"

The saltlord turns to look at you, his nonexistent eyes glaring.
"Slaying the helpless is WHAT I DO."

"Yes but by your own axe and in combat, not with somebody else's staff in a tantrum. You're being a sook, mate."

"Sook? That's not a word!"

Ah right, that's a Teln invention. His version of Avling wouldn't have it. Maybe for the best.

One of the skeletons behind Ael steps forward and says something to him in a guttural language. A few other skeletons chime in as well. They have no body language but their voices still somehow carry tones and theirs is tinged with respectful disapproval. They may be echoing your sentiments.
You think of just how many of these fellows had been near-worshipping Hiss before and you think you know why they speak up.

"She has placed you under spell! Do not listen to her!"

And then the constrictor gets up lazily and rests part of its tail against Ael's foot. He freezes, no doubt feeling true death brush against his soul itself. A very fragile soul too, no doubt, one rotten with age and without shelter.
He takes a hesitant step back as the albino python hisses.

"I will seek counsel. Don't step a foot beyond your bounds."
He slams his staff back down and both you and Hiss fall to the ground. You have to stop Hiss from lunging immediately and the constrictor helps you, wrapping itself around her. Together you slow her for the few seconds needed for her temper to get under control.
Well, maybe under control is the wrong word for it. Hiss never controls her temper but sometimes she lets it run cold.

The saltlord gestures a bunch of other skeletons over and huddles together with them by the doorway, hands on each others shoulders in a cluster. They mutter, despite the fact that none of you have any hope of understanding their speech.
1/2

>>40044424
2/2

"Very well," Ael says as he turns back. "I will do you whiteskins great honor. The Trials await."

"What?"

"Consider yourself fortunate. The Trials, the hazzrd kuh, are for Melach and the worthiest of soilborn alone. It is time for you to be judged."

> Yeah, this is better.

> You don't like the sound of this at all. Can you fight your way out together?

> Make a wish (Specify)

> Other

>>40044476
The trials are? The rules are?

>>40044476
Please explain further

>>40044476
> Yeah, this is better.
Ask for a bit of time to prepare first

> Please explain

"Hold on, what are these trials? They're not, uh, murder related are they? Do we fight?"

Ael somehow manages to look offended despite being literally unable to make any sort of expression at all.
"We are not barbarians. Raid-blood is virtuous because it is of the soil, not the salt. We do not parlay among ourselves such."

"Oh, uh, fair enough."

"There are three tests. The Trial of Art, the Trial of Skill and the Trial of Strength. Each one must be undergone by a different champion. You may select your champions first. The natures of the first trial is chosen by me and the second by you and the third by me again."

Man, that doesn't sound fair. What if he picks something you can't do?

> Ask that all three of you can be allowed to go back to the rest of your people to discuss and choose champions.

> Accept it now, there's three of you already.

> No, this is bullshit.

> Other

>>40044644
>> Ask that all three of you can be allowed to go back to the rest of your people to discuss and choose champions.

>>40044644
> Ask that all three of you can be allowed to go back to the rest of your people to discuss and choose champions.

>>40044644
> Ask that all three of you can be allowed to go back to the rest of your people to discuss and choose champions.

>>40044644
Hiss can win a trial of strength, and if this guys a cursed wizard he can't hear prayers and we can get hiss or whatshername to cheat using them. Alternatively we always have a last wish. We can also probably take those souls from hiss if need be. As for us, we are potion master fuck yeah!

>>40044644
>> Ask that all three of you can be allowed to go back to the rest of your people to discuss and choose champions.

>>40044737
This dude isn't a wizard, he killed a wizard and took her staff.

>>40044814
>He killed a wizard.

Bullshit. If that staff is intact he didn't quite finish the job. We kind of proved that ourselves. Also if this curse is the same kind as the one we got from our "killing a wizard" we can provide true death via dispel potions!

>>40044847
Not a master Anon, can't into dispel.

>>40044884
But can we into space?

>>40044847
We can probably destroy their souls if we learn some snake blood brews. Dispel potions are still too hard

> Ask that all three of you can be allowed to go back to the rest of your people to discuss and choose champions.

You make your request and the saltlord begrudgingly allows it.
You and Hiss are marched back down along the cove and through the caverns, the python slithering alongside you.

The three of you are dumped into a torch-lit cavern very similar to where you had awoken, filled with skeletons both asleep and awake.
There are reasonably few awake skeletons, all of which are armed with their hooked axes and bronze spears.

Oster runs over to you, with the others not far behind.
You let Hiss do the explaining and do your best as she hooks an arm around you. She doesn't even seem to notice her injury and waves off Oster's fussing.
"We need to select three champions."

"I must say," Tash starts, "this seems weighed heavily against us. The lord can select two trials while we only select one. And we must nominate our entrants before the trials are even chosen?"
He reaches up to realign one of the two long feathers nestled within his braided hair. His robes are filthy and encrusted with brine but somehow his hair is fine. You have the brief mental image of one of his soldiers carrying him to shore held above the tide and you can't help but stifle a short chuckle.
"Nevertheless, I nominate myself. The Test of Art is one that they'll choose. It could be anything. But my training in this regard is quite broad. I can sing, I am practiced in the Shedal, I can play many instruments and I can paint."

"But what if by Art he means magic?"
Hiss bites her lip.
"If the Trial of Art is a trial of magic than only I can hope to compete there."

"Your talents are many, dear lady," Tash bows. "But if the Trial of Art is of actual art then your talents will be wasted for we can all only do but one Trial."
1/2

Also, I've been thinking, not even hisses transformation ability could make her a dragon, and the psychological effect of doing so should be negligible to her seeing all snakes are descendants of fallen dragons.

However, I predict a different problem entirely here. I think if we were to let hiss dragon it out and god were to notice (assuming hes not already watching us), he would immediately do everything in his power to damn us to oblivion.

Also we can totally give hiss advice in art from prayers, which he cannot detect. Or waste a wish.

>>40044956
Cennen doesn't know shit about art though

>>40044997
Alchemy is a magical art.

>>40045009
I don't think Hiss would be able to perform alchemy with just prayer advice

Also. "I wish hiss would create an artistic masterpiece" would allow her to do so. If need be. Remember, third wishes are tricky, granting an ability will revoke it at wish threes end, we need to make a request with a tangible end product that benefits us for this final wish.

>>40045045
Hiss doesn't need to, she has her own magical art, I literally meant to funnel artistic advice from tash to her using it. Or hell, tash can directly give her art advice by just praying it all to her.

>>40044930
2/2

"I can whittle," Oster says. "If it's art-art. I've seen what these guys do with driftwood, that might be what they pick."
He doesn't say anything about what he'll do if they pick anything else.
"Or I could do the Trial of Strength. That sounds like it could be some sort of a fight and you know there's nobody better for that."

"But if the Trial of Strength is about brute force alone," Hiss says, "then either I or the constrictor should be there."

"It may be referring to inner strength or courage," Tash says.
"You should have asked for more information."

"He was translating anyway," you mutter. "I don't think we can read too much into semantics."
But then again, Ael was very well-spoken in Avling. Would he deliberately give you a confusing translation of the Trials?

"Well, what about the Trial of Skill," Tash says. "That is our home ground, the one we get to choose. If they are as old as you say we should be able to win very easily simply by invoking a skill they would not have."

All of you debate for a good bit longer until you come to a conclusion.

2/3 Choices next part

>>40045046
I don't know if that would work either. Wishes only give Hiss the most power she possibly could have as a snake to fulfill wishes. I don't think artistic knowledge is included in that. Plus we need to use that wish to get rid of all those nasty souls she's been eating.

>>40045103
She'd probably make something beautiful and horrific using her snake powers as her tools to create whatever the piece was. I guarentee you whatever the end product was would likely be magical and almost certainly be dangerous.

>>40045119
Fuck, left my name on from shitting up other threads.

>>40045091
3/3

Choose your Champions
Rules: For the first and third trial, Ael Saltlord will be choosing the exact challenge which can be anything as long as it falls within the parameters of the Trial. He will probably attempt to cheat you in some way.

Trial of Art
> If by Art he means magic than Hiss is probably the most well-rounded of you.
> If by Art he means magic than you might be able to give it a try, though your Art is very narrow.
> If by Art he means magic than you might be able to choose Oster but his Art is even more narrow than yours.
> If by Art he means actual art, then Tash is probably your best bet for meeting the challenge he chooses.
> If by Art he means actual art, then Oster might be very good if he is correct on his assumption that they might choose woodworking

Trial of Skill (This is the challenge you get to choose, allowing you the most advantage)
> Pick Oster and choose swordfighting as the challenge.
> Pick yourself and choose alchemy as the challenge.
> Pick Hiss and choose, uh, princessing? Probably don't choose Hiss.
> Pick Tash and let him choose something witchy and weird for the challenge.
> Pick one of Tash's bodyguards and choose discipline for the challenge.

Trial of Strength
> If he means brute force than Hiss is good here.
> If he means brute force than the constrictor is good here.
> If he means combat than Oster is probably best here.
> If he means resolve or steel nerve than Tash is probably the calmest of all of you.
> If he means discipline or self-control, one of Tash's bodyguards should fit well.
> Nominate yourself.

>>40045165
> If by Art he means actual art, then Oster might be very good if he is correct on his assumption that they might choose woodworking
> Pick yourself and choose alchemy as the challenge.
> If he means brute force than Hiss is good here.

>>40045165
> If by Art he means actual art, then Oster might be very good if he is correct on his assumption that they might choose woodworking
If it is magic he could show off his shapeshifting instead. A safe choice.
> Pick yourself and choose alchemy as the challenge.
> If he means brute force than Hiss is good here.
also you used the incorrect form of "then" several times

>>40045165
Trial of art (Oster is the only one with skill in both, the magical staff also doesn't allow them to use magic).
> If by Art he means magic than you might be able to choose Oster but his Art is even more narrow than yours.
> If by Art he means actual art, then Oster might be very good if he is correct on his assumption that they might choose woodworking

Trial of skill
> Pick Tash and let him choose something witchy and weird for the challenge.

I'm genuinely curious, also hes a servant of snakes, hes been trained from birth to serve them.

>Trial of strength
>Nominate yourself
Bunyip steroids and transform potion, we can cheat like a madman with this one. Also explosives solve all problems.

>>40045247
>also you used the incorrect form of "then" several times

Whoops.

>>40045255
Seconding this
all of that copying and pasting would be a pain in the ass on my phone

>>40045304
We've still got a potency potion right?

>>40045255
>>40045344
You forget they could stipulate no add ons. Which means we'd be fucked, or it could be combat with our bare hands, which Is doubly bad.

Just caught up with the archives, great work so far. I'm looking forward to the rest.
>>40045165
>>40045255

This will probably be fine.

>>40045368
They could also stipulate no masks for oster and we'd also be fucked, if they intend to fuck us over that way they'll do it and theres nothing we can do about it. But I have faith we'll get at least a fighting chance.

>>40045370
Welcome anon. Thanks for reading the archives instead of showing up and demanding an explanation of the story so far

>>40045402
Except Hiss is far stronger and better at most forms of combat than we are. Going lel strength is the same kind of decision making that got us captured, and nearly killed us several times. They'd underestimate Her strength cause the think she's a witch not a fighter, they won't make that mistake with us.

>>40045370
>Just caught up with the archives.
Thats great, finally a late joiner who knows what hes getting into...
>great work so far.
Wait a minute I thought you said you read the archives you liar!
>>40045442
We're a scrawny alchemist, not a fighter, we have oster and tashes bodyguards to make us look even more puny and weak.

>>40045458
We're 6'5"anon and not scrawny at all.

>>40045479
Correction, we WERE scrawny and puny BEFORE we drunk treebrew!

>>40045489
Eh we were already over 6 feet tall before the treebrew

>>40045489
No we only gained 3 inches, and our strength was above average before that too.

So Are we still trying to Make Cennen do strength like a retard? It is a massive trap option.

>>40045512
I'm pretty sure the pastebin said our physique was mediocre

>>40045576
Still 6'5" mediocre is above average since he'd have more leverage and mass than your average 5'10" guy of the same physique.

>Trial of Art: Oster
>Trial of Skill: Tash
>Trial of Strength: Yourself

Eventually, you all come to the conclusion. The champions will be Oster, Tash and yourself. Together the three of you stride back out, ready to meet the challenge. Hiss walks in a step behind, dragging the constrictor and grumbling. She's a little unhappy that she wasn't selected but she wasn't unreasonable about it and you were able to talk her down without ever technically disobeying her.

Instead of leading you to the cove, the Melach guide you down deeper into the very roots of the Tooth itself. There you find yourself in a room of worked stone, smoothly cut and illuminated by torchlight for your benefit.
It's a wide arena-looking place that opens into a wide set of stairs at the back that descend even deeper into the darkness.

The skeletons crowd around everywhere but leave the main area empty. You can see many of them either flinch away or reach longingly towards Hiss and you have to wonder just how much power she still has over the Melach rank and file.
For her part, Hiss just closes her functioning eye and waves at them.

Before the stairs sits the driftwood throne that Hiss had been lounging on before. You can almost see her fingers twitch in desire as she beholds it. But it is now firmly occupied by its true owner, Ael Saltlord.
The skeleton clutches his plundered staff to his breast as he sits bent over atop his throne. He doesn't look angry, his countenance is confident and cruel. Behind the throne you can see a ring of shadowy figures.

"Your champions have been selected?"
Ael slams his staff upon the ground but there is no magic now, only the low boom that serves to silence the skeletal crowd.
"Then let us begin. You seek to topple my rule, is this charge correct?"
He doesn't give anyone chance to reply, though you're sure that Hiss would have just said yes.
"The first test is the Trial of Art! Send forth your champion!"
1/2

>>40045611
Say, did we brew another potency potion? We used one during the sinking of the ship.

>>40045651
If not we can brew another during the other trials

>>40045651
Nope.

>>40045661
Provided they'll let us. Remember magic got them here in the first place. They might say no cause they think we're cheating. Correctly I might add.

>>40045685
It's not really cheating. These trials hardly seem to have any rules to speak of

>>40045611
I've got a question. Why'd we win the strength vote? There were two votes for his, one write in for Cennen with one supporting vote, and one vote against Cennen.

>>40045611

Oster steps forward, whittling knife hidden in his huge palm. He wears no mask and the brand upon his face is shown to all.

"And for my champion, I have nominated Kom Nah, my personal crier."

One of those in the shadows behind the throne steps out, a skeleton clad in seal-skin but wearing no armor. His jaw clatters to the ground as he moves and he has to bend down halfway through his descent to reattach it.
The crowd grows riotous once more. You can't understand much of their speech but you can hear the word 'Kom Nah' spoken over and over.

"Saltlord," Kom Nah begins, his mastery of Avling even greater than Ael's. His voice is deep and melodic. "I choose skrael, the art of the battle poet."

Ael nods.
"The challenge is set. Neither of you are permitted to use verses from beforehand. He who devastates his foe greater claims triumph. Oh, and Kom. You'll have to do it in Avling. They don't speak the salt tongue."

Kom Nah shakes his head.
"A worthy handicap for there is no greater battle poet among the waves."

Ael raises his hand in a signal and then lets it drop.
"You may have a few minutes to prepare yourselves. Start when ready. The first to start can claim first verse."

Rather than do that, Kom Nah instead motions Oster over towards him and starts whispering. Explaining the rules?
Ael doesn't look pleased but you guess Kom is more sportsmanlike than he is.

Everyone's attention is focused on the arena, on Kom specifically. You have room to sneak about if you choose.

> Just watch and see what happens.

> Use this time to brew.

> Make a wish (Specify)

> See if you can sneak around the back of the crowd towards the stairs and the shadowy figures behind the throne.

> Other

>>40045738
2 supporting and vote againsts don't count.

>>40045726
Except we're not using our own strength to win.

>>40045779
So this is a rap battle?

>>40045738
I count 2 supporting votes and I don't count veto votes because that would quickly become a pain in the arse.

>>40045779
>> Use this time to brew.

Viking rap. Neat.

>>40045798
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyting

>>40045827
So Viking Rap Battle?

>>40045827
Do we have a potency brew or not?

>>40045779
>> Use this time to brew.
Here's hoping Oster can fake it.

>>40045853
You do not.

>>40045779
> Use this time to brew.

>>40045779
>> Use this time to brew.

inb4 the skellies actually want us to beat them since ael is such a shit ruler

> Use this time to brew.

You kneel down as everyone leans in to watch and do your best to look inconspicuous as you pull your cauldron and ingredients out from your pack. Hiss steps in front of you, shielding you from view.

You can't see what's going on in the arena but you hear a drum beat start, a powerful methodical beat that repeats itself. Is that for timing or do they have to actually match it? You're not sure.

You nearly fumble your ingredients onto the ground but you get to brewing as Kom Nah seizes the first verse.

"Noooow, I hope that you're ready,
that your legs aren't unsteady,
cause the name's Kom Nah,
I seek far, speak tar and I take no prisoners!"

The beat suddenly speeds up and you hear his voice match it with ease, spitting words out faster than you can barely understand. The crowd goes fucking wild.
You banish it from your mind and keep brewing.

You brew a:

> Potence for your Trial of Strength
> Regeneration for your Trial of Strength
> Treebrew for your Trial of Strength
> Other (Specify)

>>40046147
>> Potence for your Trial of Strength

>>40046147
>> Potence for your Trial of Strength
Since we still have a regen and tree few ready

>>40046147
> Potence for your Trial of Strength
We already have one of both of the other brews right?

>>40046172
Yeah but they stack.

>>40046174
Does Cennen know what is likely to happen if he drinks all three? an educated guess?

>>40046180
He likely gets really big and strong and can also heal. Unless you mean what happens if he mixes them together rather than takes them in succession.

>>40046190
the latter

> Potence for your Trial of Strength

You brew up a cold mix as quickly as you can while everyone is still distracted by Kom Nah's opening.
By the time you hastily bottle the resulting Potence, the skeleton is still going strong.

"...I've got free salt air beneath my wings,
soilborn's got nothing but dirt in their things.
Pull up a chair cause I know you're feeling it,
Kiss my bony arse while you're at it,
lick the salt right off while you're at it
get a coffin ready while you're at it
Because you know I'm killing this shit
straight plundering this shit
looting and raping and setting this shit aflame
now go ahead soilborn, it's all your game."

Kom Nah raises his arms and the crowd cheers, no doubt for managing to perform in Avling, a language that most here can understand but can barely speak.

Oster raises his hand and begins his counterattack.

"Uh."

"Well."

"In west..."

"T-....umm.."

The crowd boos him and Ael cackles.
"Victory for Kom Nah! Blown out in the first volley! That's one for me!"
He and Kom slap skeletal palms together as the crier walks back past the throne.

Oster trudges back to the rest of you, looking embarrassed.
"There was nothing anyone of us could have done there," he says.

"Actually," Tash starts but Oster just shakes his head at him.
"Nothing. Don't even start."

Tash just shrugs.
"Looks like I'm up now. The Test of Skill was it? Nominate your champion, Saltlord!"

Ael grunts.
"You look like a ponce. What magic or blade do you have? This'll be over in two rounds. I nominate Tryg Kingslayer."

The skeleton that steps down from behind the throne is huge, nearly twice the size of a man. It has to be at least ten feet tall. No, maybe even eleven! Why isn't he using this one for the Test of Strength.

"Tryg," Ael continues, "has learned everything and can see a man's actions before they even raise their fist. See them...and learn them. There is no challenge he cannot defeat."

1/2

>>40046352
>"In west..."
Kek

>>40046352
And we lose again Cennen would win since alchemy is beyond copycatting

>>40046352
2/2

"Oh dear," Tash says. "And here I was with something tricky up my sleeve."
He shakes his baggy sleeves around for emphasis, trying to play the crowd.
"But I can already tell you can't trick this man. I'll just have to kill him then."
He reaches back and puts his hand on the hilt of his bodyguard's sword before pulling it free. It's a long curved sword made of patterned steel, with shades of mottling that almost resemble rippling water running down the blade.

"That's the challenge, the Trial of Skill I select. Sword to sword."

He lifts the sword high in a salute, looking like a toy before the great beast before him. Oster takes a single look at him and huffs.
"He doesn't know how to use that."

> "What are you doing?"

> Slip him a potion. (Specify)

> Just step back and watch.

> Brew (Specify)

> Other

>>40046390
Relax anon. I hate when players make baseless predictions. Just wait a bit.

>>40046399
>> "What are you doing?"
>>40046402
See next post were fucked.

>>40046399
> Just step back and watch.

>>40046399
> Just step back and watch.

>>40046399
>> Just step back and watch.
what can we even do here?

Well looks like lol random snobs cost us at least one easy win. I hope the let us our potions or else we're dead,

>Just step back and watch.

You nearly cry out, to demand just what Tash is going for. Wasn't the plan to make use of some sort of courtly skill that they would not possess? What does he think he's doing? Can you switch in in his place?

Ael seems to entertaining the same thoughts you are but finds them quite pleasurable.
"Very well. I was expecting to lose this round but one should never stop the fool from being foolish. Get Tryg a sword."

Someone in the crowd throws his sword to the giant skeleton, who catches it and holds it in his hand like a knife.

"Now, let's discuss the rules shall we?"
Tash is still talking.

"What rules?"

"It's a courtly duel. First to three touches upon your target. He who gets to three first wins and may choose to then make a fatal blow. You chose the rules for the skrael, can I not do the same?"

"Fine," Ael mutters. "I hardly see why it matters. Everyone get clear, this is only going to take a minute."

Tryg nods his head in respect to the Quedeshi.
"Brave. I will let you attempt this first 'touch'."

Ael mutters but says nothing and Tash bows in return, taking off his mask and headdress.
"You are well-mannered giant so I shall pay you in kind. I will strike you first along the side of your bottom-most rib. The one on the left."

"What?" Ael thunders. "What are you doing? Just get on with it."

"I just told you, I'm telling my good friend Tryg here where I will first hit him. Since he was so polite to me and all. I am going to slash him right there."

Hiss almost goes to scream at him but stays silent at the last moment. Still, you can virtually feel the intensity of her death glare radiating into the air beside you.

The crowd however, is fucking loving this shit. The few with shields bang their axes into them as the two men step forward, Tash's sword already pointed at his declared target.
1/2

spooky skeletons

>>40046590
2/2


Tash doesn't even move his sword, he just points it and walks towards Tryg. Tryg, clearly a little nonplussed, raises his sword and parries the blow. Tash's sword doesn't even have any force behind it, it simply touches Tryg's sword and then is gone as the Quedeshi dances back swiftly.

Trygg, his burden to honor thus paid, goes on the offensive and he goes hard. He doesn't have Oster's speed or his exact skill but his swipes make Tash look like a child.
All Tash can do is dodge, forever dancing around the ring to avoid the blade. He doesn't even attempt to strike back.

And then after a few such exchanges, Tash points his sword again.
"I am going to attempt a pelvic strike!"

He darts in, his sword poking forward towards Tryg, who parries it once more. Was it even going to reach him if he didn't? What was the point of all this?

Still, the crowd really seems to like the dramatic air he lends the spectacle even as he jumps back and resumes his constant dodging.

Ael shakes his head.
"If this is all you've got then you're an idiot. Are you trying to tire him? He's a skeleton, he can't get tired! And even if he wasn't, he is also Melach! We are relentless!"

"I wouldn't dream of being able to defeat such a man as this," Tash says as he backs up hastily.
"But what I do dream of is my next strike. I'm aiming for the spine."

He walks forward with his sword pointing in again and Tryg lets him, clearly confused by his actions. Once again he simply turns the strike aside with his own sword."

And then Tash drops his own sword, kicking it back towards his bodyguard and steps out of the ring.
"Thank you everyone. I win."

"Get back in the ring!" Ael roars, irritated already by his refusal to fight properly. "You haven't won anything! Zero touches!"

Tash shakes his head.
"I touched his sword three times and he never touched mine. Sounds like a clean 3-0 win to me. I will however, be gracious and neglect to make the killing blow."

"What?"
2/3

File: ....well then.gif (826 KB, 245x170)

826 KB GIF

>>40046724
Tash u wot m8?

>>40046724
Tash thanks for winning but you're still a cunt

>>40046724
Fuck tash got him angry before our test

>>40046724
3/3

You're still scratching your head but Hiss laughs, almost a giggle.
"Oh, I get it! When he gave the Trial, he said sword to sword. And when he specified the rules, he never said that the touches were to be on the enemy's body, just the 'targets'."

"That's...That doesn't make any sense!"

"No, she's quite right," Tash speaks out. "The target to be struck was never specified save by my initial declaration of 'sword to sword'. By the rules as written, I win."
He lifts his arms and waggles his fingers around.
"Trying to figure out a way past a man who could supposedly predict all of my moves, now that was the hard part. So I just decided I would tell him where I was going and nullify the advantage."

You put your hand on your forehead and sigh as Ael freaks out. The crowd seems torn between booing and laughing.
"No!" Ael cries. "That's dumb! That's not fair!"

"I guess you really a Saltlord," Hiss purrs. "If you still had eyes, would you be crying?"
The crowd actually laughs with her, many of the skeletons still treating her with reverence.

Tash walks back to the rest of you, clearly savoring his time in the limelight.
"Went pretty well, don't you think."

Hiss gives him back his mask from where had dropped it.
"I liked it!"

Oster just grumbles.

"Eh," you say. What a show-off. Tryg just shakes his head and walks off apathetically.

The din is interrupted by Ael slamming his staff into the floor once more.
"Enough. The Trial of Strength begins now. I know who you're champion is already. I nominate myself."

> Step forward and hear the challenge.

> Drink potions before you hear the challenge (Specify)

> Call Tash a cunt.

> Other

>>40046837
>you're champion

fuck

>>40046837
> Drink potions before you hear the challenge
Regeneration and potency

>>40046837
>> Step forward and hear the challenge.

We can probably nobble a potion or bluff it.

>>40046837
> Drink potions before you hear the challenge
Regen and potency. Who knows if we'll get a chance to drink any after the challenge is declared

>>40046854
There's no real downside to drinking the potions beforehand though

>>40046837
> Drink potions before you hear the challenge
Regen and potency

> Drink potions before you hear the challenge

You quickly down both the Potency and the Regeneration potions while the crowd still obscures you, feeling strength and easy power flow through as you step forward.
Ael stands, throwing off his cloak to reveal nothing but bones underneath. He throws his staff to one of the figures behind him.

You walk into the center and Ael joins you there, standing eye to socket.
"My challenge? The blackletting."

A silence falls across the room as you look at him. You have no idea what that means.
"Pardon?"

"Make an incision upon your arm and I shall do the same. The first to lose their strength and surrender is the loser."

Now you understand why the crowd is silent. The inherent unfairness of this is clear to all.
"But you don't even bleed!"

"I never said bleeding in the challenge," Ael says mockingly. "Just that the incision has to be made and whoever can stand it longest wins. I think it's quite far by the 'rules as written'."

Tash waves to him from the crowd as a Melach hands him a rusty knife.
"Here, I'll even go first."
He drags the knife along his bony arm, cutting a long groove in the bone before handing it to you.
"Your turn."

> Fuck this. Nobble him right now while you're strong.
> No, you'll make the cut. The Regen will keep you going for a long while and give you time to figure something out.
> Figure out a method that gets around this (SPECIFY)

>>40046986
> Figure out a method that gets around this (SPECIFY)

CUT YOUR FUCKING HAIR!

BOOM. GET FUCKIN' REKT SKELLY-SHIT!

>>40047007
The incision has to be on our arm though right?

>>40047007
>>40046986
yisssss this

although then its just a stalemate and we'll die of old age eventually

>>40047012
>>40047007
Wait. We're white right? White guys have hairy arms right?

>>40046986
> No, you'll make the cut. The Regen will keep you going for a long while and give you time to figure something out.
I'd prefer to use our own non-rusty knife if possible

>>40047027
Yeah but it's up to you whether you think they'll you count cutting a little bit of arm-hair as an 'incision'.

>>40047052
Protip: it isnt

There's some kind of trick involved here. I don't get it yet though.

We have to make an incision on our arm, and between Ael and Cennen, whoever can avoid "losing their strength and surrendering" is the winner.

So what part of this would lead to the AEL losing his strength? It doesn't matter if we can sustain our own strength, if we can't make Ael surrender.

>>40046986
> No, you'll make the cut. The Regen will keep you going for a long while and give you time to figure something out.
Make the cut as shallow as possible

>>40046986
>Figure out a method that gets around this (SPECIFY)

Cut your branded hand while secreting venom and hand the knife back.

>>40046986
>Make a cut then start NOBBLING

>>40047083
>>40046986
Sure. Let's try this. Toss every single dirty trick we can at him.

>>40047083
We don't have to cut the brand but putting our venom on it is a decent idea

>>40047092
>>40047101

I'm helping. c:

>>40046986
How can we define what "strength" is? Is it sheer endurance, or do we have to prove vitality?
>>40047083
Also, supporting.

Would the spiritsomething potion do anything to the skeleton I wonder? We could try putting some of it on the blade.

>>40047083
Damaging the brand might be a bad idea but I'm all for trying to put our venom on the blade. we could just hold it in such a way that it drips down the blade.

>>40047117

I didn't mean to actually cut the brand, just the hand WITH the brand since that's where the venom comes from.

>>40047112
The souldrift potion is a good thing to try if the venom has no effect. Say that we're raising the stakes or something

>>40046986
Make the cut, then start slagging his honour and his lack of memory, implying that it was his personal failing that his empire fell if he was so important to it, until he eventually goes beserk and attacks us.

Then we can claim that as further proof of his lack of honour, which we suspected once we found out that he had made no effort to end the torture his men put him through.

Hopefully Hiss saves us.

We don't give a fuck about beating him, we want to impress his men. Who probably aren't happy that a) He fucking got them into this, and b) He didn't do a damn thing to fix it, and c) He didn't make sure they were even remembered.

We can also probably get a few as minions by convincing them that it's their duty to get them to bring back the name of the Melach before they pass on, and that if they come with us they'll have the chance to do it and make something of their lives . . . err, deaths.

That's the problem here, I'm trying to determine if this is a riddle of some kind.

The easiest answer is it isn't, and it's just a skeleton guy cheating his ass off expecting us to give up when we realize our opponent has limitless stamina and an inability to lose any blood.

If it's a contest of stamina, we lose by default, as we have a finite amount and his is indeterminable. If it's vitality, what defines a victory under those conditions?

>>40047127
>>40046986
This is also a good idea. Let's shit-talk the fuck out of this guy.

>>40046986

>>40047127
This is the best option so I'm voting for this.

>>40047127
Nah let's just stick to the poisoning/ souldrift plans for now. I don't want to piss this guy off any more. His men seem to like him a lot.

>>40047127
They've all been sleeping for centuries m8

Let's try and play by the rules and outsmart him with venom/poison and any other ideas we might get. If that doesn't work out, we can just fight it out and the snakes can get rid of the skellies with a simple touch.

>>40047140
> Be a cheaty cheaterson in front of Vikings

I mean, I'm not against trying the poisoning plan, but the souldrift might be hard to play off, especially as once our cut starts regenerating they might call foul play if we try to drink ANOTHER potion. And then battle his soul in the spirit realm where dude has power. I'd say we try that if we can't provoke him.

Hell, the only reason we're doing this in the first place is because his support is shaky already.

> Liking the guy who got you trapped in eternal undeath.

It's hard, Anon.

>>40047127

If we beat him, all of the minions are ours. Hiss gets an undying army and we prove our resourcefulness. Win-win.

>>40047168
He's already cheating with this entire challenge

>>40046986
>>40047127

Might as well try this, we can do the soul-brew potion if it doesn't work anyways.

Lets just be sure to slag on him personally, and not the rest of his men or the Melach. Responsibility of the leader and all.

>>40047168
>they might call foul play
The rules does not forbid magic. We are against a magic skeleton for fucks sake. They don't get to call shit.

>>40047179
No, the entire point is that he's playing completely by the rules, thanks to Dickbag McTash doing that in his challenge. The rules are just shit.

>>40047127
I really think shit talking is an awful idea anon. Let's try to keep things relatively civil and just win the challenge

>>40047189
You are the kind of person who would have advised us to stab the Bard from the first challenge, hey?

"He can't rap if he's dead! Such smart plans!"

>>40047083
This

>>40047191
We will be playing by the rules too. Rules doesn't say not to use magic or alchemy.

Trying the poison/potion thing after trying to enrage him is stupid. If we try enraging him, next thing we'll do is fuck the trials and start the fight. It should be the other way around.

>>40047215
>making stupid assumptions about what a person would do to argue
Real smart guy you are anon..

To clarify, the souldrift potion suggestion was to douse the blade in it right?

>>40047201
It's the only way to make him be the one that can't "stand it" first.

Also, we started off with a rap battle to insult the other person. So it's not like their culture is going to shit the pants about it.

>>40047252
Yes.

>>40046986
Hey, do you just want to do a vote on what to do here?

>>40047254
I really think the poisoning or souldrift ideas have a much higher chance of success. Getting him angry will only make him more determined to beat us.

Can we do a runoff vote for some of the suggestions made?

>>40047266
Eventually yes. It's good to talk things out though.

Just a heads up. I'm not entirely sure on the intent behind the plan to douse the knife in venom? Ael can't be poisoned, he's a skeleton.
So I want to know the idea behind it so I can write it properly if it wins.

>>40047215
Oster might have given that idea some thought if his opponent hadn't been a skeleton and thus immune to being stabbed.

Guys, we could dip the blade in acid somehow. It should eat through his bone. Better than poison it seems. We might just have to stab ourselves with it

>>40047324

The venom from our brand isn't magical at all? I figured with its supernatural origins it would work on more than just living, physical things. Kind of 'poisoning' the magic keeping him so, ah, "hale and hearty".

>>40047324
Well fuck, just cut ourselves and then apply some souldrift brew to the blade. It's not like it's against the rules and if he stops us we'll just have to try something else

>>40047372
This seems kind of sketchy, still? I mean, poisoning the blade is . . . there are limits to saying "It's not against the rules" bro.

I mean, Tash specifically stated the rules and used the language to determine "targets". This challenge is obviously a traditional one, where we just happen to not be the skeleton in the ring.

I feel you're pushing the "not against the rules" a little too far.

Lets goad HIM into breaking the rules, instead of doing it ourselves, so that the skeletons follow us instead of calling us dicks and trying to kill us so that we are FORCED to give them the final death.

I don't get it. I don't get it at all!

>>40047127
This SEEMS to be the supported vote. Am I right here?

>>40047397
I'd rather try coating the blade with souldrift before antagonizing him.

>>40047392
If it's against the rules he'll stop us. He might think we're just trying to poison him so he'll allow it because he's immune to poison. We could say we're just raising the stakes and the "poison" will still be on the blade when we cut ourself thr next time. If it works on him his soul will separate from his body and he'll die and if it doesn't work on him we'll just destroy his soul while we're in soul form after cutting ourselves with the souldrift potion blade

>>40047324
Fuck it, use our strength to pull of his arms. He will be forced to forfeit without arms to cut.

>>40047397
Sure.

>>40047397
Hold another vote with the ideas we came up with. Excluding the venom one of course.

>>40047424
Kek we could throw them really far away too

>>40047438

RUNOFF VOTE

> Antagonize him into making a fool of himself.

> Use the Souldrift.

> Pull off his arms.

We could just distract everyone and pray for hiss to change to her sneaky snake form and eat his soul by touching his foot or something

>>40047472
> Use the Souldrift.

>>40047472

> Antagonize him into making a fool of himself.

>>40047472
>> Antagonize him into making a fool of himself.

>>40047472
> Use the Souldrift.

>>40047472
>Use the Souldrift.
We ought to apply it BEFORE we cut ourselves, else we'll get called out on it.

>>40047514
Nah because if it works from a cut we'll fall over and our soul will leave our body, making us lose. We should apply it after if possible.

>>40047526
Then as a heads up, I hope we can gild the shit out of our tongue on command or we're more than likely not going to get away with it.

>>40047472
>> Antagonize him into making a fool of himself.

>>40047514
Are you supposed to put anything except your vote in a runoff vote? Won't that let you samefag within the 5 minutes?

>>40047526
If it does work from a cut though we can fuck him up and kill him in soul form and then return to our body, making us the winner

>>40047572
Well he clearly hasn't samefagged within five minutes

>>40047588
Hahahaha, you have a point there.

>>40047472
> Use the Souldrift.
Damn you all, had to delete my arm pulling vote to break the tie

>>40047572
>>40047588
>>40047600
That's like lying about your rolls, if you're going to do it then why bother playing?

Rolled 3 (1d6)

Did we really do a runoff to hit a tie? Odds for antagonize, evens for souldrift.

>>40047620
Oi
>>40047611

>>40047620
>>40047611
Oh wait, nevermind. Souldrift it is. Writing.

I'm kinda nervous guys. This is a risky plan. I suppose we had no chance of winning without trying something strange though

>>40047670
Worst case scenario of any plan is that it comes down to a straight up battle. If it comes to that we better give Hiss a chance to touch and eat the guy before he can use any magic. The rest should be easy if we manage that.

>>40047670
Well, using the Souldrift has been . . . strange, at best, in the past.

So it'll be interesting if nothing else. Unless it doesn't do jack to him. Because all we're doing is handing a knife back to him, it's not like he's going to cut himself again.

I'm hoping our assumption that there will be multiple cuts is accurate

"What's the matter?" Ael asks as you stare at the knife. "Is there a problem?"

Oh, you smug skeletal fucker.

"No worries. I was just wondering if I could use my own knife. Not a fan of all that rust."

"Let me check it first!"

"I will, I will!"
You reach into your bag and pull out your own knife. Now your knife is right at the bottom of your pack so you rummage around for a few seconds. While you do so, you manage to spill some of your Collapsible Brew onto your bottle of Souldrift potion, shrinking it down to less than a thimble. This all happens within the pack and is thus unseen by any but yourself. You might have shrunk a few other things in there but it doesn't really matter.
You palm the tiny souldrift bottle as you get the knife out and pass it to Ael to inspect. You can tell by the way the Saltlord turns the knife over that he's expecting some sort of trick. But you know there's nothing wrong with it.

Funny fact about the Collapsible Brew, anything affected by it needs a shake to restore size. Specifically a shake. Being cut is less of a problem. So you run the knife along the inside of your arm, wincing at the pain.
And as you bring it back up, you let it slice open the tiny Souldrift potion concealed in your hand. It's all just basic nobbling when you get down to it.

You hand the Souldrift-coated blade back to him, the brew itself invisible combined with your blood.
"You can check it again if you want, make sure I didn't do anything to it afterwards."

"I will!"
He takes the knife off you, running a skeletal finger down the blade while you watch.

Meanwhile, the blood is flowing from your arm thickly and the crowd is stamping their feet. They like that you cut yourself anyway, despite such a manifestly unfair challenge.

Your Regen potion should keep you going for a good long while so you can stand to lose a lot of blood. But is it doing anything?
1/2

>>40047763
Well, and I'm saying this as the guy who suggested taunting, you better not ask for a retcon if this fucks up.

>>40047772
Holy shit. Did we back Nat20 that nobble check? Cennen is fucking smooth.

>>40047778
Err, *background roll a Nat20 on that nobble check?

>>40047775
>ask for a retcon
I ain't no bitch anon. I've never done that and I've both witnessed and made some awful decisions in this quest.

You know... If Regen kicks in and closes our wound up, we can lobby for a second cut if Skelebones gets... "Salty".

>>40047801
With the soulbrew tainted knife?

I don't think that's a great plan.

>>40047790
>>40047778
Does OP do the rolling for us on another site?

>>40047819
I bet we could fuck all these skeletons up in soul form if we had to. And no, he only asks for rolls if we're doing something we're not really skilled at and nobbling is one of our skills

>>40047772
2/2

Ael watches your blood run to the floor quite smugly, almost rivaling Hiss' worst moments. But as the minutes pass, you watch his smugness slowly fade.

This is taking too long, he's suspicious of how you're able to keep bleeding without any ill effects.
"I'm going to raise the stakes," he declares and brings the blade down on his arm again, thus forcing you to cut yourself again or look weak in the eyes of the Melach watching. Hastening your death.
But he didn't carve another groove with his rusty knife no, he used the knife that he was holding. The one that he had been inspecting from you.

You do your best not to smile as he carves the Souldrift knife into his arm. Bones are not conducive to carrying poison or alchemical effects. But marrow is, even when its dried and dead.

You watch him, your own wound getting smaller by the second.
And then Ael collapses. And I don't mean he just falls to the ground, his entire body falls apart as if every bone decided to spontaneously separate themselves from the others.

You whirl around and you can see Hiss' eyes drawn upwards towards something invisible. His soul was drawn out!

The Melach all around you roar in confusion and dismay. The ring is closing quickly.

> You drank Potence for a reason! Fight!

> Pray

> Time for a tactical retreat. Bring Ael's skull with you.

> Time for a tactical retreat.

> Don't fight or run, just stand your ground and tell them you won.

> Use Potions (Specify)

> Make a wish (Specify)

>>40047832
>> Don't fight or run, just stand your ground and tell them you won.

I wonder. Does increased strength apply to lungs? Can we yell them down?

>>40047832
Pick up our dagger
> Don't fight or run, just stand your ground and tell them you won.
If they come after us try our best to dodge and just nick them with the dagger and move closer to hiss. Also
> Pray
for hiss to talk them down with her princess abilities

>>40047871
This

>>40047832
> Don't fight or run, just stand your ground and tell them you won.

Yep, pissed off the skeletons by cheating. Not sure why you guys thought that them being dead meant they would be stupid, as well.

I mean, the skeleton SPECIFICALLY checks our knife to make sure we aren't poisoning it, and then he collapses after cutting himself with OUR knife when he was fine after doing it with HIS.

No, the skeleton just magically collapsed. Totes cool with that, right dudes?

Well, I hope someone else has a damned good plan for talking their way out of this. YFW no skeleton army to follow you searching for glory and honour before fading into final death.

>>40047832
>Don't fight or run, just stand your ground and tell them you won.

>>40047832
Are all the skellies currently armed?

>>40047909
Yes, they also have weapons.

>>40047948
Uh is that you ouro?

> Don't fight or run, just stand your ground and tell them you won.

Oh hell no, you're not going anywhere. What did Tash do? He told everyone that he had won and he had been perfectly confident about it. If you back down now or fight immediately you might as well be admitting that you lost. You have to convince them that you won rightfully.

You let out a bellow as loud as you can, the Potence assisting you. It's no wizard voice but it gets the job done.
"OI! Back off! Didn't you see it? I won! He was the first to lose his strength!"

They stop jostling about and you can hear them shout at each other and while you don't understand the language, you're pretty sure what they're talking about.
"No cheating! It was ENTIRELY within the rules! Didn't the Saltlord tell us that it was fine if it were done so? Did he not do that to bleed an unbleeding arm?"

You know that Ael choosing the blackletting had been an unpopular move among the Melach. It matches up with what you know of the Trials. They could do whatever they wanted to foreigners usually and from what you can gather, that entailed horrific things but the Trials were different. The Trials were how they judged themselves, decided the actions of people who were worth being people. To test not only their strength and skill but their cunning as well.

"I won! I WON!"

They slow a little but they don't seem done with you yet. There's nobody to command them right now and they're in the danger of just forming into a mob.

You're about to let off a prayer for aide but everything is interrupted by the sound of the staff booming against the floor once more.

Hiss is sitting in the driftwood throne, Ael's staff, now twice-stolen sitting in her hand. She scans the crowd with her working eye and looks behind her, shaming Ael's council into the light.
"Didn't you hear him? He won. Does anyone dispute?"

1/2

>>40047961
No, it is the Anon who is saltier than the sea.

Making what we call a "Joke".

>>40047995
2/2

She reaches out and gently caresses the skull of the closest Melach, causing him to fall apart immediately.

The room quietens down real quick.

"That's what I thought. It seems to me that we had a pretty good arrangement going on here before the Saltlord decided to cry."
She slathers on contempt for the pile of bones before her.
"If you want the true death, rebuild our ship. I know there must be some of you that are shipwrights. I would expect no less from the seaborn, the saltriders. Now get to work or I shall never grant the true death again."

Unbelievably, the majority of the crowd begins to shuffle away. They all want it. They want her, or more specifically, the death that she can give. Ael Saltlord had been wrapped in the past but his men had just wanted to die.
They wanted it enough to make her queen while Ael slept and they still crave it now.

You are left standing alone.

> Go to Hiss.

> Go talk to Tash.

> Go get the constrictor.

> Go talk to Ael's little cabal.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Wish (Specify)

> Other

>>40047909
Most of them bear their special handaxes but there's a few with spears, swords and shields.

>>40048044
Grab our knife and clean it then
> Go to Hiss.

>>40048044
> Go to Hiss.
Cennen was a total badass in this thread.

>>40048044
>Go to Hiss.

>>40048044
> Go talk to Ael's little cabal.

Also just a heads-up, this is the last decision and the thread ends after it. I've already archived the thread.

The other thing is I really need to go eat because I haven't eaten anything all day. So I'm going to go do that and then write the final update that ends the thread. So it might be a while.

>>40048115
This was a really long thread. It's way too late over here in freedomland

>>40048044
>> Go talk to Ael's little cabal.

This has been a surprisingly lighthearted thread. I dunno why, but something about spooky skeletons is just sorta, non threatening and goofy for some reason.

>Go to Hiss.

You make your way through the dispersing Melach, making your path to Hiss and her throne. She smiles at you and waves a skeleton away from her.
“Cennen! You were pretty impressive today, there’s no other way to say it. I just wish I got to do something!”

“I don’t know, our layout of champions worked out pretty well in the long run. Oster didn’t win but the Trial of Art was always going to be a wild-card and I don’t know if anyone could have beaten Kom Nah.”

Hiss nods.
“His loss was understandable and I forgive him for it. But don’t tell him that I said that, I want him to feel bad. The more he thinks he fails, the more he is tempered and honed further in his desire to serve me.”

“Harsh”
Once again the thought of how much you might have ended up like Oster had you not been subject to the Spiritbane crosses your mind but you do your best to banish the thought.

“I just wish I could have been a champion too.”

“Oh come on Hiss, you’re already getting to be the Skeleton Queen! Leave the rest of us some glory, eh?”

She covers her smile with her hand.
“Technically I believe the correct term for what I am right now is ‘Saltlord’. Saltlady?”

“Should I start referring to you as Hiss Saltlady then?”

“Only if you want to get bit. Now hush, I have some talking to do.”
Kom Nah is approaching the throne, his jawbone creaking. Behind him is Tryg Kingslayer and three other skeletons. Together you suppose they made up Ael’s little cabal of advisors.
“Yes? Just one warning first. If anyone of you Melach still desire power, you’re looking at her. I don’t just bear it, I am it. Raise a hand against me and you will suffer the doom I lay upon you, the fate of lasting forevermore until the stars fall down and your are naught but dust.”

“We are cursed enough,” Tryg says.
1/??

>>40048645
2/3

“Exactly right,” Kom Nah says. And with a slow movement, he kneels before her. The rest of them kneel the moment after.
“We are at your command, saltlord. Just…”
His voice, as powerful as it is, cracks for but a moment here.
“Just grant us the death you hold. This eternal life is not for us. When I woke, I left too much of myself behind in my dream. We become lesser with each passing day. Ael took the brunt and his soul was riven for it but we are all-”

“Rotting.” Hiss says matter-of-factly. “Oh yes, I am well aware. So you want the purity of death, you want what lies beyond.”

“The flensing halls,” one of the skeletons in the back of the cabal mutters.

“Yes, whatever. Well…” Hiss lets the sentence hang in the air for a cruel length of time.
“Too bad! I will not give you what you seek.”

She reaches down and curls her hand around Kom’s faulty jaw and you can almost see his soul longing to join her. And then she pulls her hand back.
“Not yet. But one day perhaps, I will call on you and give you peace. Until then you can get to fucking work and repair my ship.”

They depart, speaking dim words but unable to resist the traitor hope in their figurative hearts. When the room is empty Hiss laughs.
“This is great, I love them. I’m not going to ever kill them.”

You blink.
“Really?”

“They’re much too valuable! And their souls are bad eggs, all too rotten to give me anything but pain. I’ve already been down this road in Tedwell. Even the few I’ve eaten already are giving me a right bellyache.”

>>40048651
3/3

You bend down, sweeping yourself into a bow.
“Does the saltlady desire me to wish those souls away?”
You still have one wish left and you already know it’s possible to regurgitate souls.

Hiss gives you an exaggerated frown.
“Saltlady is an awful term. I can only assume that it sounds beautiful in their language but ew. And no, you can hold onto that wish for at least one more night.”

One more night? So that means-

She sees into your head and answers them for you, a smug expression twisting her face in half.
“What I mean to say is that you have one more Trial of Strength to attend today. And you won’t have any cunning tricks to get out of this one.”

Alright and that's that for the thread. Next thread won't be tomorrow but will probably be the day after, check the twitter closer to the release date etc etc.

Thanks for running.