>>46121864
“Oh come on Aash, it’s not that big of a…”

You let your voice trail off as she remains unresponsive. It’s been nearly half an hour since you gave her the Soulsight and she hasn’t said a single word to you since save for telling you that she no longer considers you a friend and that she will leave as soon as the potions and the wishbond wear off.

She’s still sitting on your bed with her arms around her knees while you pace the floor in front of you. She’s grown back to a more proper human size and won’t even look at you.

You stop by the door.
“Are you ready to talk about it yet?”

She does look at you this time but only with one teary eye.
“I wish I’d never met you.”


>Make a wish (Specify)

>Give her some time alone to think about this.

>”You deserve this.”

>Apologize.

>”If you’d never met me you’d be dead.”

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Say something else (Specify)

>Other

>>46121876
>Apologize.

>>46121876
>Give her some time alone to think about this.
>Apologize.
That we couldn't waste anymore time not telling her the truth.

>>46121876
>”If you’d never met me you’d be dead.”
>"Where will you go?"

>>46121876
>Apologize.
>Give her some time alone to think about this.

>>46121876
>>Apologize.
it was wrong to tell her this way, but she does need to know this, she's the only chance we have of pulling a system that isn't totally immoral out of this.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

Tie between only apologizing and giving her some time for herself after apologizing. Evens the former, odds the latter.

>Apologize.
>Give her some time alone to think about this.

"If it helps at all, I'm sorry. But you needed to know the truth."

She glares at you and says nothing. But you know she heard you. You still have that wish forcing her to listen to and consider everything you say even if she'd rather ignore you. Especially if she'd rather ignore you.

"I'll uh, give you some time alone alright? I'll be back later."

You leave the room and close the door behind you. Fuck, what are you supposed to do now? Just wait out here for a few minutes? You're not sure. You should probably find Zigzag and tell her what's going on, that'd be the best use of your time.

You're only halfway down the hallway when you hear the sound of glass breaking. You run back to your room and throw open the door only to find your room empty and the window smashed open. You race to the window and look down into the mansion garden but you don't immediately see Aashenpreet anywhere down there. Is she hiding?

>Run down to the ground and start looking for her.

>Thoroughly check this room first.

>Get Hiss to organize a search.

>Use the wish-bond to make her come running back.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Make a wish (Specify)

>Other

>>46122371
>leaving super depressed snake who's nearly mindroken alone
>not expecting her to run off of try to suicide
brilliant anons, i'm late for 1 vote and you cock it up.

>Thoroughly check this room first.

>Use the wish-bond to make her come running back.

>>46122371
>>46122433

Remember she has camuflage now

>>46122371
>Injure yourself
>Thoroughly check this room first.

>>46122371
>Run down to the ground and start looking for her.
Shit

>>46122371
>Thoroughly check this room first.
Use a wish prayer to bring her back if she's not here

>>46122371
I'm right to asume nobody's bothered to give her a serpentbane, right?
>She clearly doesn't want to see us right now. Apologize again, out loud.

>Thoroughly check this room first.
>If that fails, injure yourself to activate the wish-bond.

Now hold on a moment, didn't Elle trick you in a similar way? Aashenpreet was there for that too! She might have gotten the idea from her. And considering that she can use camouflage...she might still be here just waiting for you to run off. You better check this room first.
And if you're wrong and she really is down there , well, you can always use the wish-bond to compel her back to you. She won't like that.

You pat down the bed where she used to be but feel nothing so you move onto the walls and floor while keeping your eyes straining to spot that slight hint of distortion that occurs when she moves with her camouflage up. But even after all that, you haven't felt her. You guess she really did jump out the damn window.

Wait a minute. There's one spot you haven't checked yet.

You sit down on the bed and then wait a few seconds until you think she won't expect it before getting down onto the floor and feeling around underneath the bed!
Your hands come into contact with the feel of cool flesh and you shake your head. Camouflaged under the bed? Really?

"Alright Aash, you can come on out n-"

She bites your hand.

The Champion's Elixir is still circulating your system so you don't feel any pain but she won't let go of you either! Her camouflage fails and she's revealed to be lying underneath the bed, her sawtoothed mouth latched around your hand.
The Elixir renders your skin unto steel but that's not quite hard enough. She's poking holes into the skin regardless and you can feel your bones painlessly break and crack from the raw strength of her jaw.
She makes eye contact with you and doesn't look away as she does her best to sever your hand.


1/2

>>46122830
>Kick her in the face until she lets go.

>"I might die if you keep that up."

>If she's latched onto you, that just means you can drag her out now.

>Maintain eye contact and don't do anything. Stare her down.

>Use a potion (Specify)

>Make a wish (Specify)

>Other

>>46122371
>>Thoroughly check this room first.
i really doubt using the wish bond is going to help our situation
maybe just wish she doesn't intentionally hurt herself just in case

>>46122855
>Maintain eye contact and don't do anything. Stare her down.
Were both feeling pain right now.
>>46122866
heh

>>46122830
>>Maintain eye contact and don't do anything. Stare her down.
but not in a super threatening way perhaps

>>46122855
>Maintain eye contact and don't do anything. Stare her down.
>"I might die if you keep that up."

>>46122855
>Maintain eye contact and don't do anything. Stare her down.
>"I get it, I'll go. May I have my hand back?"

>>46122855
>Maintain eye contact and don't do anything. Stare her down.

>Maintain eye contact and don't do anything. Stare her down.

"Stop that."
You keep eye contact with her as she chews and grinds away at your hand. You can only imagine what the wish-bond is doing to her right now to make her stop but you know from experience that unless they're doing something fatal, they can and will overcome its compulsion. It didn't stop Hiss from lashing out at you multiple times in the past and it didn't stop Tanni from nearly ripping out your tongue.

Aashenpreet doesn't say anything for obvious reasons. Her mouth is quite full. But as you look her in the eye you can see glimpses of something else besides just her. Something long-buried and restrained.

Your wrist is starting to break. You maintain eye contact all the same.

>Roll a d100, highest of the first 3.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>46123118

>>46123118

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>46123118
>>46123152
sheesh every damn time

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>46123118

>96

You keep staring at her and at least she begins to falter. Aashenpreet groans and relinquishes your hand.
What's left of your hand anyway. Your hand is deformed, the bones broken and splintered. Most of your fingers are pointing in the wrong directions while your skin is ragged and torn. To top it all off, the entire thing is coated in blood and spit.

Thank goodness for the Elixir preventing you from feeling pain.

Aashenpreet glowers defiantly at you from where she's curled up underneath the bed, her mouth stained with your blood. She's still human but she's regressed back to having sharp teeth and red slit-eyes. A thin forked tongue slips in and out between her bloody lips.
"Make your lasst two wissshesss and then leave me alone."


>Make a wish (Specify)

>Drink a Heal-All.

>"I thought we were friends."

>Give her a Serpentbane.

>Brew

>Move the bed so she's out in the open.

>Get somebody else in here (Specify)

>Say something (Specify)

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>46123431
>>Move the bed so she's out in the open.
one handed

>>46123431
>Drink a Heal-All.
No. I still want to be friends. You're important to me.

>>46123431
>Move the bed so she's out in the open.
>Drink a Heal-All.
>"I thought we were friends."
The reason I showed all that too you was because as a friend I felt you needed to know. You were indoctrinated from a very young age by a religion that was shaped by snake politics, and I wanted you to know the score.

>>46123431
>Brew
I'll have a greater heal-all
Did we leave our pack in the hallway?
Also, can we please leave her alone?

>>46123431
>Move the bed so she's out in the open.
>Drink a Heal-All.
>Were still friends

>If you change your mind, I'm still willing to be your friend.
>Give her a Serpentbane

>>46123832
Shoot, didn't mean to vote for serpentbane.

>Move the bed so she's out in the open.
>Drink a Heal-All
>The power of friendship

You grab a Heal-All from your pack and drink it down as you stand up. That should heal your ruined hand over time. With your other hand you grab hold of a bedpost and drag the whole bed to the side, stranding Aashenpreet out in the open.
She curls up even further and hisses at you in response. You notice that she doesn't even try to grab onto it or hold it in one spot. Her arms are hanging limp and vestigial by her sides.

"Damn it Aash, I thought we were friends. No. We're still friends! That's why I showed it to you, you were my friend and I felt you needed to know. It's not your fault. You were indoctrinated from a young age and taught lies and I just wanted you to know the score."

She stares up at you with blank serpentine eyes.
"Are you really my friend?"

"Yes."

"Then break the wish-bond and leave me alone you lickspittle piece of shit! I hate you!"
The outburst is sudden and unexpected. You take a step back.
"Did you expect me to forgive you? Well, TOO BAD Cennen! Forgiveness is part of my 'fucked up lie religion' that you don't want any part of! So why don't you take your fancy wish-bond and your self-serving words and shove them up your arse you...you human! You're not even a real person!"

She glares at you again before slowly wilting, cringing and turning away from you.
"I'm sorry! Please don't do anything to me!"
She no longer seems particularly confident in her faith being able to protect her from wishes.


>Make a wish (Specify)

>Try to reason with her.

>Give her a Serpentbane.

>"That's rich coming from an animal."

>Use Potion (Specify)

>"Just remember that if you change your mind I'm still willing to be your friend." Leave her be for now.

>Other

>>46124077
>>Make a wish (Specify)
can we break wishbond with a wish? if not serpentbrew

>"Just remember that if you change your mind I'm still willing to be your friend." Leave her be for now.

>>46124077
>>"Just remember that if you change your mind I'm still willing to be your friend." Leave her be for now.
>Wish for her to stay safe

>>46124077
>You're not yourself, and I apologize for being so abrupt in showing you this. That was a mistake.
>If you think I'm going to hurt you when Hiss has done so much worse, you really never knew me at all. Get some rest Aash, you seem like you could use it.
>"Just remember that if you change your mind I'm still willing to be your friend." Leave her be for now.

>>46124077
>"Just remember that if you change your mind I'm still willing to be your friend." Leave her be for now.
There's more to you than just your religion.

>>46124077
>Leave her be for now.

>lickspittle
What does this mean? Is it an insult? Where did she learn it?

>Leave her be for now.

You sigh.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything to you. You're not yourself and I apologize for being so abrupt in showing you this. That was a mistake. Get some rest. Please?"

You step back to the door.
"Just remember that if you change your mind I'm still willing to be your friend."
You step outside and close the door again. Best to leave her be for now.

You think back to last week and the time you spent together. Taking her around the church, comforting her after Moldrun. Sharing tea with her and saving her when Elle took her hostage, albeit in an embarrassing way. Aash telling you about how just once she'd like to feel the love a human mother felt for her children.

Just to be sure you stay in the corridor outside for a few minutes and listen. She doesn't seem to be doing anything. That's a relief. But what the fuck do you do now?

>Stay out here and keep an eye on her. You don't want her to hurt herself.

>Go find Zigzag.

>Find Hiss.

>Find Orange, maybe he can arrange some better place to keep her.

>Find Oster, maybe he can talk to her.

>Brew.

>Other

>>46124580
>>Find Orange, maybe he can arrange some better place to keep her.

>>46124580
>>Find Orange, maybe he can arrange some better place to keep her.

>>46124580
>>Stay out here and keep an eye on her. You don't want her to hurt herself.
at least for a little longer

>>46124580
>Stay out here and keep an eye on her. You don't want her to hurt herself.

>>46124580
>Stay out here and keep an eye on her. You don't want her to hurt herself.
Another heal-all

We should probably prepare for the incoming terrible pain. Like bite onto some leather/fabric to muffle the screaming

>Stay out here and keep an eye on her. You don't want her to hurt herself.

You decide to stay out in the corridor so you can listen in on her and keep an eye on her. You're not sure you can trust her not to hurt herself if you leave her be for now. She's not in her right mind.

You sit down and start to brew while you wait, preparing another Heal-All to replace the one you just lost. As you do so you keep looking through the keyhole to make sure she isn't doing anything rash. She doesn't know you're still here.

A few minutes later, the door creaks open and Aashenpreet furtively steps into the hallway. She then spots you still waiting out there and darts back inside. Huh. Was she trying to sneak out after she thought you were gone? But for what purpose? She knows you can use the wish-bond to force her back any time you choose.

You choose not to say anything and sure enough, Aashenpreet slowly opens the door again. She's in a bad way. Her teeth are still sharp and her eyes are still red. She looks at you and quivers.

"Release me. Please. If you actually still want to be my friend then take off this leash around my neck!"
Her snake eyes don't betray any emotion.

>Make a wish (Specify)

>Give her a Serpentbane.

>"I don't trust you to be by yourself yet."

>Tell her to get back inside.

>"Just please tell me what's wrong."

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Other

>>46125091
>>Give her a Serpentbane.
>"Just please tell me what's wrong."
ok we know whats wrong, we shattered her worldview abruptly without really giving her a viable alternative.
and we didn't even ask

>>46125091
>"Just please tell me what's wrong."
I don't want you to hurt yourself.

>>46125148
We told her what we knew and then offered her the soul sight. It was her choice to drink it

>>46125091
>>"I don't trust you to be by yourself yet."
The core of your religion, the kindness you showed it's not stupid. But the way it's been perverted like a bad alchemy brew, that humans are scum and inherently without worth, the abuse it promotes with a smile, that's what I hate. It's like a brew that someone else perverted for thier own needs. Regardless of what you think of me Aash you need to rest and calm down.

>>46125091
>"Just please tell me what's wrong."

>>46125091
>"Just please tell me what's wrong."
I mean I know what's wrong but I want to know what you're thinking. I'm still here for you even if you hate me.

>>46125091
We know very well what's wrong.
>"Do you still want to leave?"

>>46125091
>>46125312
Adding to this, is she says yes
>"Where will you go if I release you?"

>>46125224
This isn't wrong but it won't make her feel any better

>"Just please tell me what's wrong."

"Just please tell me what's wrong Aash. I mean, I know what's wrong but I want to know what you're thinking. I'm still here for you and I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"What's wrong?"
Aashenpreet's tone starts to shake and grow hysterical.
"What's wrong? I don't know Cennen, you tell me! After all that and you ask me what's WRONG?"
She starts to laugh and it sounds frail and brittle.

"You didn't listen to what I said, I know what's wrong. I just wanted to kno-"

"Hold on," she says in a lilting sing-song tone.
"I just had a wonderful idea!"
She sidles back into your room. She's starting to sound a little manic.

You follow her only to find her by the windowsill. She has a long shard of glass in her hand and as you approach she lifts it up and holds the point to her throat.
"What now huh?"

"...Put that down please."

"Make me. Wish for me to do it. Spend your awful wishes and let me go free!"
Her hands are trembling and she starts to the laugh, the jagged shard of glass wobbling closer to her throat with each movement.
"I'll do it!"


>Make a wish (Specify)

>Rush her and disarm her.

>Offer her a Serpentbane if she'll stop.

>"You're being childish now. Stop that."

>"You won't. The Aashenpreet I know wouldn't throw her life away for nothing."

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Call for help.

>Other

>>46125529
>>Offer her a Serpentbane if she'll stop.
hard call really, but i still hold that using the wishbond is not going to help

>>46125529
>Make a wish (I wish you would calm down and explain to me what you're feeling)

>>46125529
>"You won't. The Aashenpreet I know wouldn't throw her life away for nothing."
I still haven't shown you the world yet. You still haven't loved the homunculi I'll make for you.

>>46125529
>>"You won't. The Aashenpreet I know wouldn't throw her life away for nothing."
See needs a good heat soak.

>>46125529
>"You won't. The Aashenpreet I know wouldn't throw her life away for nothing."

>>46125529
>Make a wish (Specify)
I wish you're unable to do anything to hurt yourself, and that includes doung stupid shit like picking a fight with Hiss or whatever.
>"There! Only one wish left. Im going to go now, and I'm holding on to it until you calm down. Come see me when you want to talk properly and I'll let you go"

>>46125673
>>46125744
>>46125749
I don't think she gives much of a shit about anything at the moment.

>>46125983
I just think reminding her of things she wanted that had nothing to do with her faith is a good idea.

>>46126035
its a lot to wager on it but i guess we'll see

>"You won't. The Aashenpreet I know wouldn't throw her life away for nothing."

You shake your head, unable to tear your eyes away from the makeshift dagger.
"You won't do that. The Aashenpreet I know wouldn't throw away her life for nothing."

"I'm not your slave! You don't own me!"
She gasps a few times and wobbles back and forward before plunging the shard into her own throat. You can't believe it and so for a moment you are frozen.
Red stains her hands and her arms and her clothes. Red on the carpeted floor by her feet.

You rush over to her and clamp your hands on the wound as Aashenpreet faints. You can't hold it closed. There's blood everywhere. You force a Heal-All into her mouth but you don't know if it will be fast enough. Her blood is all over your hands.

You give her a second Heal-All and then splash some directly into the wound itself. She's still breathing. She's still breathing!
You take off your bloodstained shirt and use it cover the wound. You hold it tight and keep a steady pressure.

And just like that, the danger slowly passes. It was close, if you had fucked up even once she probably would have died. But the wound slowly closes and you stop her from losing too much blood before then. She missed the artery.

Aashenpreet wakes up a few minutes later to find herself being held in your arms while you make sure she stays alive. She starts sobbing and doesn't stop.

"Ssh. It'll be alright. Everything's going to be fine. Don't you want to see the world? Or have children? There's still so much here for you Aash, you just have to let it in."

You lay her down on the bed as she goes limp again. She's losing consciousness once more. As you set her down, not even caring that she's covering your bed in dried blood, she reaches out to you.

"What is it?"

She feebly takes you by the arm as she drifts off to sleep and whispers something you almost don't hear.
"I hate you."

You sit down and think about that for a while.

1/2

>>46126035
It might be for other circumstances, but look at her now. Her worldview was just destroyed by one of her very few friends right after he attacked her for no reason (to her). She's at the point of holding a shard of glass at her throat, and it's probably not just to coerce cennen to use the wishes

>>46126224
fuck.

>>46126224
>Go get yourself and Aashenpreet cleaned up. You're covered in blood.

>Clean yourself but leave Aashenpreet. She can get some sleep for now.

>Clean up the room. Seeing all the blood still there when she wakes up can't be good for her.

>Get somebody else to help (Specify)

>Brew.

>Use a Potion (Specify)

>Sit by the bed and wait for her to wake up.

>Other

>>46126315
>Clean up the room. Seeing all the blood still there when she wakes up can't be good for her.

>>46126315
>Brew.

>>46126315

>Clean up the room. Seeing all the blood still there when she wakes up can't be good for her.
>Brew.
More heal alls

>>46126315
>>Clean up the room. Seeing all the blood still there when she wakes up can't be good for her.
>Get somebody else to help (Specify)
would be nice if we knew somebody who was actually trustworthy here, maybe eva can watch her?

Also can we please consider just breaking the wishbond, its clearly not helping her opinion of cennen

>>46126315
>Clean up the room. Seeing all the blood still there when she wakes up can't be good for her.
>Go get yourself and Aashenpreet cleaned up. You're covered in blood.
What the fuck

>>46126315
How fucked up is our hand? If we're able to, then
>Clean up the room. Seeing all the blood still there when she wakes up can't be good for her.
If not, ask someone else.

We fucked up, people. I think we should get Oster to take care of her and once she's had some time to think and we're sure she won't try to off herself, release her and hope she comes around.

>>46126315
>>46126488
Seconding getting Oster's aide.

>>46126488
i'd be willing to bet oster's going to be pretty mad too.

So, the stuff going on with Aash at the moment is, in summary:
>Everything she was taught since birth is wrong
>She's been preaching eternal suffering as salvation
>Ashamid doesn't actually give a fuck
>The compact house is just a way for him to raise a substitute instead of the promise of redemption
>Her albinism is just a birth defect (just like Hiss says) as are the deformities of every other snake she grew up with
>Her friend count just went down to one.

Snek status: broken, hopefully not permanently

anyone have that pic of orange?

>Clean up the room. Seeing all the blood still there when she wakes up can't be good for her.

You sit back, unsure on what to do. You feel emotionally exhausted. What the fuck? Where did it all go wrong?
You need to clean up this room. It's filthy. At least that's something you can do without messing up too badly.

It doesn't take too long for you to figure out a basic cleaning solution and you brew an entire cauldron of it before getting to work on the floor and the walls. There's blood all over them.

As you get to work you realize that you're still in some kind of shock. You didn't expect her to do that and it sort of fucked you up. But as long as you keep working you don't have to think about it.

You've gotten the room (but not Aashenpreet or yourself) mostly clean by the time Aashenpreet wakes up. She doesn't say anything, you just feel her gaze upon your back and turn around.
She looks human again, albeit pale and drained.

"Cennen?"
Her tone is hesitant and her voice is scratchy from where the Heal-All's haven't fully restored her throat.

"Yes Aash?"
You don't know what she's going to say. Is she going to tell you that she hates you again? You're ready for it. Your stomach is starting to hurt from being so twisted up with stress but you're ready for it.

"Please let me go or I'll do it again. I can't stop myself."
She starts crying again. She's a fucking mess. A blubbering incoherent mess. She's completely lost control.


>Make a wish (Specify)

>Pet snake. No, not that way you monster.

>Give her a Serpentbane.

>"I just want to help you."

>Get somebody else in to talk to her (Specify)

>Offer to remove her memory of the last few hours.

>"I think you need to sleep for a little while longer."

>Use Potion (Specify)

>Say something else (Specify)

>Other

>>46126790
He has cause to be. But he's the only one who can help.

On the other hand, Hiss will be totally stoked... Or pissed that we destroyed half the mansion

>>46127000
>Pet snake. No, not that way you monster.
>"I just want to help you."
>"I think you need to sleep for a little while longer."
Get her as heatstruck as she can be right now

>>46126932
to be fair we don't really know the extent to which the creator doesn't give a fuck.

her points about naja's spiel are valid although I doubt any of it was outright falsity
much of her religious line of thinking could be in a sense salvageable

>>46127000
>Offer to remove her memory of the last few hours.
>Pet snake. No, not that way you monster.
>"I just want to help you."

>>46127000
>Pet snake. No, not that way you monster.
>Give her a Serpentbane.
>"I just want to help you."
Try not to cry, cry a lot. I feel awful for trying to talk her out of hurting herself instead of wishing

File: Orangefanart.jpg (741 KB, 2048x1152)

741 KB JPG

>>46126970
You mean the fanart from a few threads back? I've gotcha.

>>46127000
>>Make a wish (Specify)
1. don't hurt yourself and
2 don't leave for 24 hours

>>46127084
Wait, is this his first form, or the one he's using right now?

>>46127124
First form. He lost the tits but that's about it

>>46127124
Both.

>>46127000
>Make a wish (Specify) this one
>>46125949
>"I think you need to sleep for a little while longer."
>Get somebody else in to talk to her (Specify)
Oster

>>46127000
I've seen lots of awful things lately but that affected me more than anything because you're really important to me. Please don't hurt yourself anymore

>Pet snake. No, not that way you monster.
>"I just want to help you."

You sit down beside where she's lying and you put your arm around her shoulder. She sits up but doesn't otherwise resist so you hold her close.
"I just want to help you."

"Why? What did I do that was so wrong? Why did I deserve this?"

"I'm sorry, I really am. But you needed to see the truth."

"Fuck the truth! I hate it! I hate you!"
She's said that a lot today.
She pushes you off, locates the closest bedpost and then starts to feebly slam her head against it over and over again.

"Aash no!"
You pull her back and lie her back down, patting her head and stroking her hair less in an attempt to calm her down and more just to stop her from smacking it into anything else.
"Please stop hurting yourself."

"It'll keep happening," she sniffs. "You can't stop me. I'm trapped and it's my only way out."

"No it's not. You know that's not true."

You hold her close again and after a few minutes she stops crying. When she next speaks it's about something entirely different.
"I miss Rock."

"So do I. I'm sure she'll come back one day."

Another long silence.

"Cennen?"

"Yes?"

"Please release me. I need some time by myself. I need to leave."

"Aash, how do you expect me to let you go anywhere after all this? I can't do that."

"But I don't want to stay here anymore! Everybody here is horrible. I used to think you were different but...well, there's no reason for me to be here now."

"What about Oster?"

She freezes.
"Please don't," she whimpers. "I don't want anyone to see me like this."


>Make a wish (Specify)

>"Tell you what, how about you get some sleep and if you still want to leave after that I'll let you go. Okay?"

>Force her to confront the issue rather than just cry about it.

>Use Potion (Specify)

>"Will you ever forgive me?"

>Call somebody in anyway (Specify)

>Pet snake.

>Say something else (Specify)

>Other

>>46127678
>Force her to confront the issue rather than just cry about it.

>>46127678
>"Tell you what, how about you get some sleep and if you still want to leave after that I'll let you go. Okay?"

Keep this one
>"Will you ever forgive me?"
For later

Gonna be eating soon so this one will take longer than normal. Apologies in advance.

>>46127678
>"Tell you what, how about you get some sleep and if you still want to leave after that I'll let you go. Okay?"
>Pet snake.
>Point to get her heatstruck

>"Tell you what, how about you get some sleep and if you still want to leave after that I'll let you go. Okay?"
>"You don't have to forgive me, but I wish you'd at least consider what I tried to tell you."

>>46127678
>>Say something else (Specify)
With rock gone you're probably the only person who can help guide these snakes to some kind of spiritual truth.

>>46127890
She just learned that there's no such thing as spiritual truth

>>46127890
I'm pretty sure we've spent half the previous thread to tell her there's no such thing, you silly.

>>46127890
This might be a decent idea, but we should make sure that we put in that she can still make life better for everyone, and that she doesn't have to be defined by her religion.

If Aash leaves Oster will probably leave as well. He's got no incentives to stay.

>>46127678
You just wanted to ease the suffering of humans. We'll just have to do that in a different way. You and I can work together to improve the quality of life for everyone in Teleran and keep snakes from eating anymore humans. I've made a brew that tastes just like a soul to help with this.

>>46128002
That's completely wrong. He's fanatically loyal to Hiss and the snakes as a whole.

>>46128002
He got re-branded and I'm pretty sure he's still loyal to Hiss. We just turned him more human.

>>46128060
>>46128070
He defected the king and stuck with Hiss out of spite, and then because of what Hiss did to him. Now that we've restored his soul ha can think better for himself, with both Aash and Elle gone, what else is there for him if he stays?

>>46128160
how can one anon be so wrong in just two posts

>>46127937
we made it clear that she had been lied to, but its not as if religion relies on a benevolent creator.

>>46128160
I don't know, Snakehome? The place he he's most loyal to? And to all the snakes that inhabit it?

How do you image Aash's value for Oster anyway, if I might ask?

>"Tell you what, how about you get some sleep and if you still want to leave after that I'll let you go. Okay?"

You nod as you look into her teary eyes. It's strange to see one of her kind cry. Hiss has never done it, none of the others have. Aashenpreet never has until to day either. You suppose Blue has.
"And nobody else will. So tell you what, how about you get some sorely-needed rest and...if you still want to leave after then I'll let you go. Okay?"

She nods. You can tell that she's tired, both physically and emotionally. Hopefully after she gets some sleep and her eyes dry up she'll come around. And if she doesn't? You don't know if you'll be able to keep your promise.

You stay by her side until she falls back into a deep sleep and then you step back out into the corridor. You let out a deep sigh as the tension unravelling hits you like a sack of bricks.
Holy fuck! You can't believe any of that just happened.

Now what?

>You need to tell someone about what happened.

>Go brew.

>Find Hiss. You need to feel better.

>Find Zigzag. She probably needs an explanation.

>Find Orange. Teasing him has lifted your mood in the past.

>Find Oster. You won't tell him about Aashenpreet though.

>Find your homunculi.

>You have plenty of Aashenpreet's blood with you right now. That means you can get to work on her child.

>You have plenty of Aashenpreet's blood with you right now. That means you should go get cleaned up.

>Hang around moodily.

>Other

>>46128328
>You have plenty of Aashenpreet's blood with you right now. That means you can get to work on her child.
Cennen!

>>46128328
>You have plenty of Aashenpreet's blood with you right now. That means you can get to work on her child.

>>46128328
>>Find Zigzag. She probably needs an explanation.

>>46128328
>You have plenty of Aashenpreet's blood with you right now. That means you can get to work on her child.
Should it actually be a child?

>>46128328
>>Find Zigzag. She probably needs an explanation.

>>46128358
>>46128371
>>46128399
Shouldn't we doing it after she gave us her consent? She just went on about us just doing anything we wanted and now this?

>>46128418
She already asked us to do it a while ago.

>>46128328
>to day
aaaaaaaaagh

>>46128446
You're free to link the post if I'm wrong, but wasn't that before we fucked her day up? Would you think she'd want anything to do with us right now?

>>46128358
>>46128371
>>46128399
>Hey Aash, sorry I destroyed your beliefs and drove you to suicide, here's an art spider abomination brat to cheer you up

Back when we promised her a child, we thought the homunculus we were making were just artificial souls, this is may not be what she wanted. Besides, she may not be in the best condition to become a mother right now.

>>46128328
>Find Zigzag. She probably needs an explanation.

>Find Oster. You won't tell him about Aashenpreet though.
Tell him to watch over her. Aash could take off from that when she wakes up.

>>46128328
>Find Zigzag. Tell her not to eat souls and give her a soul substitute, we can talk theology with her later.
>Hang around moodily.

>>46128529
If she doesn't want it we can keep it.

>>46128529
It might make her see a reason to live,

>>46128574
>>46128598
How about we wait to see if she still wants it

>>46128617
She's more likely to accept it if it's already made

>going to zigzag before cleaning off the blood
come on guys

>>46128716
>"Take a good look, Ziggy, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PISS ME OFF"

>Find Zigzag

You feel awful about what you've done so far today and you're not sure how you're going to make Aashenpreet feel better. You may have broken her.
And that's when you think of the homunculus child you promised her. Could that help? You still have plenty of her blood on your person after all.

It's definitely tempting but after a moment's more thought you realize there is another issue that's more important. You need to talk to Zigzag about all of this. Her head's still filled with Aashenpreet's lies.

You wander back downstairs towards the kitchen and find Zigzag sitting alone in the corridor outside it. She looks vaguely confused but mostly just vacant. She perks up when you approach however.
"Hello!"

"Uh...hi Ziggy. What's up?"

"I was just reading my human soul. Why are you covered in blood? Is there eating?"


>Tell her what happened to Aashenpreet.

>Ask her what the soul is like.

>"Please don't eat any more souls." Give her the Soul Substitute.

>Talk theology to her.

>"I need to get myself cleaned off. Sorry."

>Give her an Advanced Thoughtbrew.

>Nobble.

>Other

>>46128754
>"Please don't eat any more souls." Give her the Soul Substitute.
>Talk theology to her.

>>46128754
>"Please don't eat any more souls." Give her the Soul Substitute.
>Tell her what happened to Aashenpreet.

>>46128754
>"Please don't eat any more souls." Give her the Soul Substitute.
Tell her that human souls suffer terrible once eaten. Give her a soulsight to prove it if necessary.

>>46128805
This

>>46128754
>Ask her what the soul is like.
>"Please don't eat any more souls." Give her the Soul Substitute.
>Tell her what happened to Aashenpreet.

>"I was, uh... brewing."

>>46128803
>>46128842
Aash doesn't want anyone to know what happened.

>>46128867
It's going to be hard to hide it, because half the building is in ruins.
We don't have to give the specifics, just say that we fought.

>>46128940
That isn't all that's happened anon.

>>46128754
>Ask her what the soul is like.

>"Please don't eat any more souls." Give her the Soul Substitute.

>Talk theology to her.

I still think we should make a homunculus tonight. We can ask Aash if she wants to keep it but keeping it ourselves is no problem whatsoever. I don't understand your reluctance.

>"Please don't eat any more souls." Give her the Soul Substitute.

"No Zig, there isn't. But speaking of eating..."
You pull the Soul Substitute out of your pack.
"I don't want you eating any more souls. Try this instead."

She pops the bottle open and drinks it.
"This tastes pretty nice. It's not the flavor of the soul that I'm after though."

"Look Zigzag, what Aash told you about what happens to the soul after it's eaten wasn't true. They're in pain and they suffer. If you feel the urge just come to me and I can give you another substitute."

Zigzag isn't even paying attention to you. Instead she's grabbed hold of your trouser leg and is sucking on the bloodstain in a most distracting fashion.
"This tastes like human! Have you been eating people without me?"

Oh right. Zigzag doesn't even care about eating the soul most of the time. Her obsession is with eating the meat.
"Don't eat any more souls okay?"

She looks confused but nods anyway.
"If you say so. Now what's this from? You can't hide it from me, I know it's human blood."


>"Snake blood actually."

>"It's none of your business, that's what."

>You need to get yourself clean.

>"Oh no you don't!" Put her in a headlock and rough-house a little.

>"Maybe I'll give you some but only if you're very good."

>Other

>>46129183
"It's actually my blood."
>"Maybe I'll give you some but only if you're very good."

>>46129183
>>"Snake blood actually."
>"I'm going to make another homunculi with it, want to help?

>>46129183
It's mine.
>use it to make a homunculus

>>46129183
>"Snake blood actually."

>>46129183
>>You need to get yourself clean.
man ouro its cruel of you to finally start giving wrestling options at the most inopportune times, oh well,, I doubt cennen is really in the mood for roughhousing, and also he probably has enough horrible injuries.

>>46129183
>>46129229
This

>>46129230
>>46129244
Guys come on. Do you think imposing her a child will make it better? This is going to change her as a person, she may not even want one anymore

>>46129327
Yes. She sees no reason to live. A child wouldn't even her one. She's free to say no if she doesn't want it.

>>46129366
Would give* her one
What the fuck is going on with my autocorrect

>>46129327
I feel like it would be a good way to keep her from leaving in the morning.

>>46129453
I feel like it would be a good way to ruin her morning.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

Tie between telling her that it's snake blood or telling her that its yours and that you might give her some if she's good. Evens the former odds the latter.

>>46129486
You're being retarded. Being offered a child that she asked for wouldn't piss her off.

>>46129366
>>46129453
That's straight up coercion

>>46129530
Suicidal people need to be coerced into living.

>>46129530
No it's not. We would happily take the homunculus if she doesn't want it. I don't know why I have to keep saying this,

>>46129568
Let's settle things between Eva 2 and Hom before making a new one

>>46129568
Haven't you paid atention to Aash's character? Her principles will force her to take the child, even if she doesn't want it.

>>46129546
Dude...

>"Snake blood actually."

"It's not from a human Zigzag, it's snake blood. I accidentally got a little ...overenthusiastic when I was gathering some reagents. Don't worry, they're fine."

Zigzag shivers just a little, no doubt thinking back to when she was your living reagent bank for a few days. But then the import of what you said makes her ears prick up.
"So what you're saying is that the human form of snakes taste just like humans?"

"Yes. Have you never thought about that?"

"Not really," Zigzag says. "I wonder if any snakes will let me eat them."

"...Probably not. Don't try."

"What if I eat them in the same way that you eat the Queen?"

You stop.
"What?"

"I see things sometimes since you two are very loud. The Queen seemed very happy to be eaten like that."

Is she intentionally fucking with you? Does Zigzag even have the understanding to do that?
"I'm sure that would make them a lot happier than being actually eaten but please don't, Zigzag. That's not what you think it is."

She stares up at you with her characteristic blank stare.
"What about you then?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Can I eat you like that? It would help me practice."

Oh no. OH NO. You do your best to stop your body from reacting in the predictable way.
"Zigzag, I-I don't think you understand what you're offering. So no."

Zigzag starts laughing. At first it's small but then it grows and grows until she's rolling all over the floor.
"Your face was very amusing Cennen."

"Hold up. So that WAS intentional?"

Zigzag sticks out her tongue, exposing her fangs.
"I told you that I have a human soul in me, right? I understand humans much more now. I knew it would make you feel funny and bad so I said misleading things on purpose for entertainment."

You've created a monster.
1/2

>>46129706
That will never happen.
>>46129718
I don't know why you would think that. And Aash sincerely told us she wants a child. I bet she wants it even more now.

>>46129803

>"Please don't try to 'trick' humans like that. Most of them will probably take it the wrong way."

>Leave. You have better things to do.

>"Maybe when you're older."

>Make her a Warmth potion.

>"Don't you have other people to harass?"

>"What happened to all those manners I tried to teach you?"

>"Do you actually want to do that?"

>Pet snake.

>Put snake in the garbage can where she belongs.

>Flee.

>Other

>>46129848
>Leave. You have better things to do.
homunculus time bitches

>>46129848
>"What happened to all those manners I tried to teach you?"
>"Do you actually want to do that?"
Not with me of course
>>46129865
Seconding getting the homuculus started before too late

>>46129848
>"Please don't try to 'trick' humans like that. Most of them will probably take it the wrong way."
>"What happened to all those manners I tried to teach you?"
>Pet snake.

>"Do you actually want to do that?

>>46129848
>"Please don't try to 'trick' humans like that. Most of them will probably take it the wrong way."
>Leave. You have better things to do.

>>46129848
>"What happened to all those manners I tried to teach you?"
>Make her a Warmth potion.
>Leave. You have better things to do.
zigzag a best

>>46129848
>>Flee.
this is the most dangerous situation we have yet faced

>>46129848
>"Please don't try to 'trick' humans like that. Most of them will probably take it the wrong way."

>"What happened to all those manners I tried to teach you?"
>"Do you actually want to do that?"
Note me of course, find a different guy.

>>46129817
You think Aash would abandon a child? With Cennen?
And yes, she said she wanted one, but don't you think something could have happened recently that might have made her change her mind about that, or about anything having to do with Cennen?

>>46129994
your argument is bad and you should feel bad

>>46129848
>"Don't you have other people to harass?"

>>46129994
The important thing is that the homunculus would stop her from killing herself if she does keep it.

>>46130064
Oh my god.
"Here Aashenpreet, I made you a Suicide Buddy! He's a cute baby you can take care of and he will not allow you to die. Ever."

>>46130031
Tough luck m8, cause I feel fantastic.
>your argument is bad
Care to elaborate?

>>46130110
I mean being responsible for a child would make her less likely to kill herself. You're literally too retarded to even argue with

>>46130133
Her interest in raising a child of her own never had anything to do with her religion or how she feels about Cennen.

>>46130137
>would make her less likely to kill herself
By trapping her with a responsability she might not want anymore. What a great life she'll have.
I'm not against making her an homunculus, I just want to ask her if she still wants it before dropping it on her.

>>46130235
Which is exactly what I've been advocating for this entire time. If she doesn't want it she'll just let us keep it.

>>46130260
Do you think she'll have a choice once we present it to her? Do you think Aash will be able to look at this sentient creature, that she knows exists because she asked for it once a few days ago, and say that she won't take it?

>"What happened to all those manners I tried to teach you?"
>"Please don't try to 'trick' humans like that. Most of them will probably take it the wrong way."
>"Do you actually want to do that?"
>Leave

You reach down and ruffle her hair as she stands back up.
"What happened to to all those manners I taught you?"

"I still remember them. But now I know that I can forget about them temporarily to help me make humans feel bad."

Well, you can't really argue against that can you? You just sigh instead. As troubling as it is, this is at least helping you forget the problem with Aashenpreet.
"You shouldn't try to 'trick' humans like that. Most people will probably think you're serious and they could take that the wrong way."

"It would indeed be a shame if they thought I was serious."

You nod before you realize what she said and the completely flat tone she delivered it in. You practically do a double-tack when you do, stepping away from the diminutive woman.
"Uh. Zigzag, do you actually want to do that?"
Was she for real propositioning you just before?

"No."
Well that's a relief.
"But," Zigzag continues, proceeding on her adventure to destroy the hopes and dreams you once had of her. "I do understand a lot about humans now. Like for example, why you always keep a close eye on me when I'm bathing."

Okay time to go.

Zigzag does her best to follow you as you turn and leave.
"I always thought that was peculiar because you do it a lot. You even touched me that one time. I thought it was just a strange human thing and it turns out it was. Just a ...different human thing than what I thought. And thinking about that kind of stuff makes me feel strange. It's like heat but not."

"Okay, I have to go. Really important business, see ya!"
You push her firmly behind you and start walking away once you're sure she's not following you.

"But," Zigzag says from down the hallway. "I mean, if you wanted me to I could? I like new feelings."

1/2

>>46130433
aw fuck now we've planted the thought in her head. wtf guys

>>46130433
>JUST KEEP WALKING.

>"Maybe later."

>It might be time to give Zigzag the Talk.

>"Do you really want to?" I mean, Hiss DID say she wouldn't mind.

>"No I do not. In fact, never do that to anyone."

>Pet snake.

>Run.

>Other

>>46130499
>It might be time to give Zigzag the Talk.
>Pet snake.
Let her know that Hiss will nobble her if she progresses. Her human memories will understand.

>>46130499
>JUST KEEP WALKING.
hiss was lying, she would definitely mind
and I don't want an open relationship anyway mostly because I'm not a cuck

>>46130499
>>It might be time to give Zigzag the Talk.
how akward can cennen's life be

>>46130499
>JUST KEEP WALKING.
The talk is unnecessary. She has a soul's worth of experience to work with.

I think this has to be nipped in the bud because if it's anything like her approach to other desires she's going to end up some sort of hedonist.

>>46130499
>JUST KEEP WALKING.
Suddenly a spirit conveniently attacks out of fucking nowhere

File: rbr.gif (445 KB, 300x135)

445 KB GIF

>>46130499
>>JUST KEEP WALKING.
>Run.

>>46130499
Well last time I looked at you naked was just so I wouldn't look at Aashenpreet.

>>46130566
She's a big girl, she can take care of herself

>>46130499
>>It might be time to give Zigzag the Talk.

>>46130582
that would be nice. then we could blame it for the destruction we caused earlier.

>>46130566
I'd rather she suck lots of dicks than suck lots of souls

>>46130820
inb4 she becomes a succubus

>JUST KEEP WALKING.

No. Nope. Not today. You're a one-snake man. In fact, you don't even want to talk this out with her because this is starting to get real awkward.
You remember something Aashenpreet told you a while ago, that eventually the denizens of Snakehome would come around on the topic of Hiss' 'deviancy'. You should have expected this.

You keep your head facing forward and keep on walking and hoping that Zigzag doesn't try to follow you again. You turn around once you're a safe distance and see that she's still where you left her. She looks confused.
Good.

You round the corner and when you are no longer in her direct line of sight, break into a run. You'll have nothing to do with this. You run and run and run until you're sure you've left Zigzag far behind.
Now if only you could do the same with your problems with Aashenpreet.

You now have a different problem. Like, where the hell are you? Is that the door to Hiss' office? You must have wandered into this part of the mansion by accident. You should have been heading downwards to find the homunculi. Crap.

You turn around and walk back around towards the front of the mansion, winding up in the entry hall. Zigzag should never find you here.
However you also find yourself face to face with a small group of men. Actual humans too!

There are five of them, most of them burly with the kind of look that tells you that they're no strangers to hard work. Are they builders? Has Hiss already arranged for the damage you've caused to the mansion to be fixed?

The lead man, a short fellow with black hair and a beard, glowers at you.
"We'd like to talk to the lady of the house."


>Direct them to Hiss' study. Whatever they are, she can deal with them.

>Ask what they're doing here.

>"We're not taking visitors right now, sorry."

>Just keep walking.

>"It'd probably be healthier for you if you didn't."

>Other

>>46130910
>Ask what they're doing here.

>>46130910
>>Ask what they're doing here.

>>46130910
>Ask what they're doing here.
>"We're not taking visitors right now, sorry."

>>46130910
>Ask what they're doing here.

>>46130820
We have top-class daughteru parenting

>>46130910
>>Ask what they're doing here.
i'll see about finding her, who should i tell her is calling?

>>46130910
>Ask what they're doing here.
They look like poor people. What are they doing here?

>>46130910
>Direct them to Hiss' study. Whatever they are, she can deal with them.

>Ask what they're doing here.

You frown. What are they doing here? Hiss has been entertaining all sorts of nobles in the past few days, alternating between bribing them and intimidating them into submission but these men didn't look like nobles. Quite the opposite in fact. Why would Hiss want to see them? They return your frown, no doubt looking at the dried bloodstains on your clothes.
"Do you have an invitation?"

The leader strokes his beard with a calloused hand.
"We saw fit to invite herself. This is the home of the Witch, is it not?"

"I doubt she'll want to see you then."

"Can she not be the judge of that and not your fine self?"
He sounds remarkably eloquent for a man of his stature and if he's intimidated by the difference in your heights he doesn't show it.

"Perhaps. What are you doing here?'

"We are the Melire Council for the Protection of Trade."

"Never heard of you."

"No, you wouldn't have. The Duke and the Mayor and all those other nobles didn't want anything to do with us. Same for the High King, may he soon rest in piss."

"So..what do you do exactly?"

"We represent a union of working men and tradiers in Melire in an attempt to protect our collective interests. We want a system like the old guilds of Avalon but more comprehensive. Standardized wages, enforced limits of treatment and care for all of us. None of the nobles or the merchants wanted anything to do with us because they all want to be so damned rich but I've got a feeling that this Witch of yours might be more concerned with what we have to offer."

>"And what do you have to offer exactly?"

>"Haven't you heard of witches before? Aren't you afraid?"

>Good enough for you. Take them to see Hiss.

>"It's probably safer for you if you didn't."

>Ask them for more depth on their policies.

>Turn them away.

>Other

>>46131302
>"Haven't you heard of witches before? Aren't you afraid?"
>Good enough for you. Take them to see Hiss.

>>46131302
>"Haven't you heard of witches before? Aren't you afraid?"
>Good enough for you. Take them to see Hiss.
More people for hiss to subvert

>>46131302
>Good enough for you. Take them to see Hiss.

>>46131302
Communists!
>"Haven't you heard of witches before? Aren't you afraid?"
>"And what do you have to offer exactly?"

>>46131302
>Ask them for more depth on their policies.
>Good enough for you. Take them to see Hiss.
ask on the way to her office, its a big building

>>46131302
>"Haven't you heard of witches before? Aren't you afraid?"
>"And what do you have to offer exactly?"
>Ask them for more depth on their policies.

>>46131302
>Good enough for you. Take them to see Hiss.
treat them with respect and try to make a good impression despite being covered in blood

Calling it for:
>"Haven't you heard of witches before? Aren't you afraid?"
>Good enough for you. Take them to see Hiss.

Sorry about the delay on these last few posts. People keep sending me asks about snake abortions.

>>46131506
if you could enable ask anonymously that'd be great

>>46131651
I thought an account was required for any question no matter what

>"Haven't you heard of witches before? Aren't you afraid?"
>Good enough for you. Take them to see Hiss.

You nod, thinking the concept over. You remember something about the old guild systems. Similar to the Potion College system but for all trades? Strange. You also remember that they were abolished by the first Teln High King and replaced by a more mercantile system where employers were allowed to pay whatever kind of wage they wanted to keep their employees who could, theoretically, leave and go to work for someone for someone who paid better wages if they wanted to.

"I think I understand but this is a strange place to have brought your concerns to. Haven't you heard of witches before? Aren't you afraid of what she might do to you?"

The bearded man shakes his head.
"That's why we came. Nobody concerned with nobility or coin want anything to do with us because our interests and there's are opposed. But she don't need any of that, does she? And with the way she's been sending relief down to us we've been thinking that she might be the one to give us a fair go."

"Fair enough. Follow me."

You talk while you walk and you ask them about the current system of wages. After all, isn't that better than a single standard?

"Not quite. All the mercantile system does is make them lower the wages to the minimum amount possible. It doesn't matter if we're technically free elsewhere if everyone else is doing it too. And they are because it's the only way you make enough profits to stay in business."

"But what if you all walked away at once? Wouldn't that exert pressure?"

"Nah mate. We've tried that but too many of the fellas have children to feed and they back out. Plus then the rich folk just talk to the noble folk who talk to the guard and suddenly it's all of our business. But if SHE was backing us then the rest of the workers would join us and we could set up a thing like the Potions College that the alchemists have. Proper regulations and whatnot."

1/2

>>46131670
they add back in ask as a no one but must be enabled first I think.

>>46131757
I have an account but I ask anonymously all the time. It's just a checkbox near the text box where you type the question

>>46131689
"Yes," you say, "but the College also applies a lot of restrictions to alchemy. Alchemists are held to a higher quality standard yes but they have to be certified. And I know for a fact that the College breathes down the necks of those who traffic with uncertified alchemists."
You remember your first 'job' with Jefford and Sons after all.

"That's the point," the man says. "Regulation sounds good to me."

You can't help but think that setting up such a system would give Hiss indirect control over the entire working class. Either the Council hasn't thought about that or they plan on being the ones that hold the reins with her.
Either way you're starting to get the feeling that Hiss is going to love this. Still, you can't act like that without making them suspicious.

"So what else do you have to offer the Queen?"

"Well, let's just say that we have brothers all over the country. 'Specially in Taldenral. We aren't stupid mate, we know what she's probably planning. Taldenral has all those new factories that practically breed underground worker circles every week. We can put in a word."

"I see. Please go through this door."

You show them to Hiss' office and then abandon them to whatever fate she has in store for them.

>Stay here and wait to see Hiss afterwards.

>Nah, you've got stuff to do. (Specify)

>>46131794
>>Stay here and wait to see Hiss afterwards.

>>46131794
>Check up on homunculi

>>46131794
>>Stay here and wait to see Hiss afterwards.
it'd be interesting to hear how this meeting goes

>>46131794
>Nah, you've got stuff to do. (Specify)
Make a homunculus. Or get cleaned up.

>>46131651
Can you do that? I was of the understanding that you needed an account these days to post Asks no matter what. If there's a setting somewhere I can click to let people without accounts Ask again, please share and I will do so post-haste.

Unless you mean that you want post an ask anonymously while you have a named account. In that case I believe there's a checkbox on your end when you write a question.

>>46131794
We're invisible while soul drifting right? Can we phase through doors and whatnot? If so let's drink one and stealthily observe.

>>46131794
>Nah, you've got stuff to do. (Specify)
Put the blood to good use

>>46131794
Make a homunculus soul and then return, that should take a similar amount of time. We can make its body afterwards.

>>46131794
>Nah, you've got stuff to do. (Specify)
This is a good time to go wash all this blood

Interlude 23

Orange was having a frustrating day. This was not an unusual event for the bureaucratic snake. Between his duties and the Queen's increasingly bizarre demands, frustrating days were the norm.
Not that he didn't like his Queen's demands! He was always willing to please her. Just that thought alone brought up a great many connotations however and Orange briefly closed his eyes and tried to banish them.

The Queen had recently become the centerpoint of his frustrations. Was she doing it on purpose? Surely not. Maybe not. Was she playing with him? But how can he say no?
He was dreaming a lot more these days and for the most part they were about the times he was burrowed and coiled around his distractingly soft monarch.

Orange shook his head again and realized that he'd made an error in his paperwork. Oh bugger. He lifted the quill to his mouth and filled it back up with thick black venom before getting back to work.
At least now he was alone and he had no distractions whatsoever.

A hand suddenly swept over his shoulder and knocked the paperwork to the ground. A round face with messy black hair was suddenly being jammed right up into his business.

"Want to do something fun?", asked Zigzag.

>>46132102
I had actually almost suggested this pairing but I felt weird about it and changed my mind

>>46132102
>tfw pure zigzag is no more
just end my life familia

Sorry about the delay on this one. Had a phone call.

>Homunculus

Confident that Hiss has the matter well in hand you stroll back down towards the basement. You don't find Eva or Hom anywhere there but you do find the big old pot they were using for brewing. It's not a bad design, give it a bit of a clean and it should be good to go. You have to use this blood before it dries anyway.

Yes, you're going to be making Aashenpreet's child. You have to do it now before she wakes up. Fortunately you have blood to spare.

But what kind of soul mixture should you be using for this?

>Ordinary Soulbirth (Eva, Eva II)

>Anti-Spirit Recipe (Hom)

>A new recipe! (Specify what brews you wish to add)

>No, let's not do this.

>>46132162
Aash is next now that she's lost her faith

>>46132102
Thanks, Aash.

>>46132102
For the first time in 88 threads something good has resulted from cennen's actions

>>46132183
Soul balm for regen
Soul sight to see
The potion that keeps it soul from being eaten.

>>46132183
>No, let's not do this.

>>46132183
>No, let's not do this.

>>46132162
Maybe you shouldn't have acted so lewd towards her back when she was pure. She learned from watching you.

>>46132187
Poor Oster.

>>46132183
>A new recipe! (Specify what brews you wish to add)
Speech elixir, half of a bloodkin so Aash can have a telepathic link if she chooses to drink the other half, soul guard, soulsight

>>46132219
>>46132231
Why not? We're just making the soul right now and it won't start rotting unless we rip it out of a failed body again. We can ask her if she wants it before it's even born.

>>46132245
This but can we modify the soulsight so it can be turned off and on at will?

>>46132242
Oster is gay anon.

>>46132183
>>46132245
Ill second this

>>46132317
>implying Aash cares
>implying she won't throw herself at him because he's the only male friend she has now
>implying he'll be able to say no

>>46132266
Yeah let's do that. Then she can decide its form when we make the body, if she's interested

>>46132317
>Hey Oster, want some of dat snake tail (Throught brew)

>>46132317
Gay or asexual anyway.

>>46132242
>implying it won't be hatesex with Cennen

>>46132317
More importantly, he loves aash as a friend

>>46132356
>implying that Cennen would allow it
If Cennen can be cruel enough to turn down Zigzag he can turn down anybody.

>>46132245
Bloodkin is a questionable idea

>>46132356
She hates us, and Hiss would kill her.

>>46132370
She's best girl though. I wouldn't turn her down desu fampai. It would cause a shitload of problems though.

>>46132102
I expect a frazzled Orange interlude after they finish Ouro.

>A new recipe!
>Speech Elixir, half of a Bloodkin, Soulguard, Soulsight.

You spend several hours slaving away over the cauldron, working on a new recipe that you call the Companion Recipe. A homunculus that is born speaking, that can be meld minds with whoever drinks the other half of the Bloodkin and can, if they so choose, see into the souls of others to help divine their problems.
You're not sure if that's what Aashenpreet needs but it's a good idea anyway and you use Aashenpreet's blood to help make it.

And eventually, as the day goes on, your work bears fruit! The soul rests within the bottle peacefully. Suspended invisibly within a cloudy liquid.

What do you call it?

>Ouroboros

>Eva III

>Hom II

>Aash Jr.

>Companion.

>Other (Specify)

>>46132412
>implying we're nor going to walk into them in the middle of the act

>>46132497
Nothing yet, Aash will name it

>>46132497
Let aash choose the name when she meets it

>>46132497
It'll be Aash's kid so she names it.

>>46132497
>>46132518
This

>>46132508
Awkward moment 2 snek boogaloo

>>46132518
This. In fact let's go see her now.

>>46132497
>>46132518
Yeah, bring it to her.
Hopefully she doesn't smash it because it's unnamed

>Let Aashenpreet name it.

You know what? This isn't yours to name. You should bring it to Aashenpreet and let her choose. Maybe that'll make her feel better.

But she's probably still asleep right now. Do you want to chance waking her up?

>Yes. Go see her now.

>Work on giving the new homunculus a body first.

>Go see Hiss to see how the meeting went.

>Visit Orange to give him the new homunculus' details so that he can add them ahead of time.

>Seek out your other homunculi

>Other

>>46132611
>>Go see Hiss to see how the meeting went
Check in on Orange if he's on the way.

>>46132611
>Go see Hiss to see how the meeting went.

>>46132611
>>Visit Orange to give him the new homunculus' details so that he can add them ahead of time.
>Seek out your other homunculi

>>46132611
>Visit Orange to give him the new homunculus' details so that he can add them ahead of time.
Also to save him from Ziggy.
Then
>Seek out your other homunculi

>>46132611
>Go see Hiss to see how the meeting went.
I really want to be more involved with the specifics of the invasion

>>46132611
>Yes. Go see her now.
inb4 we find her in a pool of her own blood

>>46132611
>Visit Orange to give him the new homunculus' details so that he can add them ahead of time.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

Another tie? Been having a lot of those today. Preparing the dice gods for what is to come no doubt.
Evens is Hiss, Odds is Orange.

>>46132804
judging by the rolls made earlier they prefer us doing mean things to snakes over tiebreaker rolls

>Go see Hiss to see how the meeting went.

As you walk upstairs to see Hiss you can't help but notice how low the sun has sunk. Looks like you were in there brewing up the homunculus soul for longer than you thought you were.
Needless to say that the Council are long gone by the time you arrive at Hiss' study. You knock on the door and then let yourself in to find Hiss with her feet up on the desk and virtually radiating smug self-satisfaction.
"Meeting went well?"

"You could say that."

"How many of their heads did you get into?"

"None of them! That's the good part! They're totally willing to betray their current system for me! I mean, so are the banks so it's not that unique."

You suppose you can't judge too hard. After all you're betraying humanity as well.
"Are you actually going to honour their demands?"

"I should hope so. Punishing human turncoats seems against my best interests. No, best to give them all cushy jobs and nice houses once I'm in control. Let everyone see the rewards of backing me. And really, this is the Teleran's own fault."

"Oh? How so?"

"The problems that this 'Council' wants me to fix are entirely human-created. It makes me wonder how many other malcontents are out there with causes against the nobility."

You nod and then stop as you think of something.
"But aren't a lot of your current supporters nobles and banks? Won't enabling the Council's policies hurt them?'

Hiss laughs.
"The banks? Jefford and Sons will go where my signets lead them and I think there's a tremendous amount of potential money to be made with this 'union' business. As for the nobles, they're not an issue. They're too close to me to rebel."

"I don't get it."

Hiss sighs.
"It's simple. I am going to spend all day around nobles and other various rich folk, the upper crust of human society. I already am technically. They are attracted to power and will thus meet me personally."
1/2

>>46132919
"That makes them easy targets for me to personally mould their souls as I wish or replace them with my snakes. But the common people in general? I will not be spending anywhere near as much time with them nor could my magic reach them all. So I posit to you Cennen, that once I am in control, the discontent of the commoners will be far more dangerous to me than any number of annoyed nobles. By letting these unions form and gain power I appease them as no ruler ever has before and if the rich and noble feel the sting in their pocketbook as a result well, I'll just eat their souls and spit them out feeling all nice and loyal again."
Hiss steeples her fingers.
"Basically any sole individual with a disproportionate amount of power or influence is spectacularly weak to me but the reverse applies to the masses who do not. Why do you think I spent so much time printing those pamphlets?"

"Nah, I get it now. Makes sense."

"Oh Cennen, you know I love it when you tell me I'm right. But enough about me, how was your day?"

>"Nothing interesting happened."

>"I'm actually working on a new homunculi."

>"Tell her about Aashenpreet."

>other

>>46132975
>"I'm actually working on a new homunculi."
I think the snakes are beginning to develop human sex drives. Zigzag propositioned me earlier.

>>46132975
>"I'm actually working on a new homunculi."
>Warn her that Zigzag has humor
>Tell her she might need to give snakes The Talk.

>>46132975
>"Nothing interesting happened."
>Ask how she's been utilizing Oster lately

>>46132975
>"I'm actually working on a new homunculi."
>"Tell her about Aashenpreet."
Guys we need to combine thoughtbrew, communion brew, and soulshape so we don't make Aash's child into another abomination. She could even choose its form herself.

>>46132975
>"Tell her about Aashenpreet."
Do you think this will strengthen the economy and our country as a whole? Do you have any plans for improvements when you're queen?

>>46133083
I think we could actually motivate her to be a super benevolent queen by saying things like this. It's cool that she's getting the favor of the common people.

>>46133108
Basically more happy and healthy citizens who love their country=a stronger military and less revolts, stuff like that

>>46132975
Tell her about the soul substitute brew

>"I'm actually working on a new homunculi."

"I've been working on a third homunculi actually. It's been coming along pretty well."

Hiss nods, her eyes growing vacant.
"That reminds me, you really need to control the two you have now."

"How did you find ou-"

"They've been producing barely any potions for the war effort for DAYS."

"Oh right. That. Yeah. By the way, I haven't seen Oster around lately. What's he been up to?"

Hiss smirks.
"Delivering pamphlets mostly. Not to say that I've been neglecting him though, I had him clear out a whole church full of dissidents yesterday."
She sees the look you're giving her and throws her hands up.
"Don't worry, they were all non-combatants. He wasn't in danger."

"And where is he now?"

"Around. Probably up on the roof somewhere. He's taken to brooding dramatically lately."

"Guess I can't blame him. Now, as another thing, I think you might have to give a lot of snakes the Talk soon."

Hiss blinks.
"The what?"

"Zigzag of all people propositioned me earlier so I think it's safe to say that a lot of snakes are probably growing more used to the sex drives of their human bodies by now. You might have to say something before things wind up getting messy."

"That's a good point."
Hiss gets up out of her chair and leans over the desk.
"Do you think we should give examples? We'd have to put in an awful lot of practice for that."

>Practice.

>"No thanks."

>Nobble.

>Other

>>46133126
And eating loads of human souls will engender suspicion towards the upper class(snakes) which is a problem.

>>46133169
>Snake Harem

>>46133169
>Practice.
Potence. Or hit her with a tiny bit of weakening brew gas.

>>46133169
>Practice.
It's cennens turn to take charge.

>>46133169
>Practice.
don't take a ridiculously long time though, we've got stuff to do

>>46133169
>Nobble.
Wishes for sexy outfits time?

>>46133279
>not making her shapeshift and roleplay as zigzag
pleb

>>46133169
I'm guessing the religious folk disliked the idea of a witch gaining power?