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>>1363461

These things are on your mind because you’re in the Trader’s District. You’re in an inn, sitting by Ashtia’s bigger wolf shape and with your belongings strewn around on the floor.

You gave the innkeeper, a kind young lady with a lazy smile, one silver coin so you could sleep here for the night. The inn is tucked away from the more open places in the district, and the patrons it does have look rough and worn like labourers. It’s a quiet place.

You’re holding up the coin you got from last night’s... thing. You don’t really know about money, but you think gold coins can be a lot for some people.

It’s a really clean coin. Shiny.

You put it carefully in the small, nearly empty leather bag you got a long time ago then stand up and shake your head, accustoming to the morning light coming through the window.

Ashtia yawns and turns into a weasel which makes Lulette, who was sleeping on top of her, thump onto the floor with a weird warbling squeal. You pick up your bucket, grab your shovel, and pull open the creaky wooden door of your room.


>

[ ] To the river out east. You have more plants to pick.
[ ] Wander the Trader’s District.
[ ] Visit the Archives, read about things.
[ ] Drop by the Academy.

Previous stuff: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=GFQ

>>1363468
>[ ] To the river out east. You have more plants to pick.
[ ] To the river out east. You have more plants to pick.

>>1363468
[] Drop by the Academy.

I want to see Baphy bother some scholars!

>>1363468
> [ ] To the river out east. You have more plants to pick.

>>1363468
>[ ] To the river out east. You have more plants to pick.
We needed to get that one thing for our wound, didn't we?

>>1363461
>[X] To the river out east. You have more plants to pick.

Oh boy time for goats!

The nice smiley inn lady is behind her counter when you walk downstairs. She greets and bids you to take a seat, then brings you a wooden plate.

Your breakfast for the day is two soft slices of bread with purple jam spread on them. You bite through one slowly, finding that it tastes of berries and has a more subtle sweetness than you thought it would. Lulette sits cross-legged on the table with Ashtia, picking at the other piece you left on the plate.

A calm morning, punctuated by talk between other patrons and the door of the inn opening and closing. You finish your meal and thank the nice lady, then leave to start your day.

The area around the inn feels hidden compared to the wider main streets of the Trader’s District, but even here and at the early hour this part of the city feels the most busy. You walk along and against the constant stream of people in so many different outfits, each moving to their own tune of busy or relaxed.

There’s someone shouting over the otherwise pleasant buzz of activity. You look around, and see on one side of the street a tall man standing on a box.

“Look around, fair people of Skyhaven! Your city is one that repeats that ancient empire’s mistakes, the folly that lead to downfall at the hands of the divine!

I beseech you, oh fair citizens, to turn away from your constructs and conveniences, to heed the warnings of the past! Heed the voice and will of merciful Alteros who gifted us with the arcane, unworthy as we are. The art of magic is for the reverence of the gods, not for the pride of man!”

You feel annoyed.

The man is middle-aged and has a narrow and sharp look to him, and also is someone you’ve seen before. He the angry person who was at Lortham. Heimy, you think.

Lexy said the village would send someone to report about what happened. You don’t think this is what he meant.

Nn.

He’s getting some glances but most people ignore the noise, which doesn’t lower the thin man’s energy. You decide to hurry on by.

>>1363911

Your path is a bit long, taking you through the Trader’s and Maker’s districts to the gate leaving the city. Set told you that there’s a river a short distance to the east and you can find plants there, so that’s where you’re going.

There’s something quiet and comforting with the city behind you, surrounding yourself with the sound of wind and rustling leaves instead of footsteps and chatter. Ashtia hops out of your bucket and turns into a gray wolf, and Lulette sings softly from atop of your shoulders while you stroll off the road and across the grass.

It’s growing colder. You think it’s winter, or nearly.

It takes less than an hour for you to reach the river, for its murmur to accompany the breeze. It flows slowly and is clean and wide, steady in how the shallows by its rocky banks sink down into parts too deep to stand in.

You were at a river before. Was it a week ago, or two? That one was nice and warm.

Maybe this is the same river. You don’t know.

The plant you are looking for is called aatane. You look around, not seeing much other than a big shell half-submerged in the sunlit water. A turtle, you think.


>

[ ] Check your book.
[ ] Poke the turtle.

[ ] Acquire plant, return to Set.
[ ] Relax here for a while.

>>1363926
>[ ] Poke the turtle.
>[ ] Relax here for a while.
This is a nice place, with a nice turtle.

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Also, for no particular reason, here's a thing I haven't posted in ages: a character sheet.

Baphy
Young appearance (15yrs equiv). Short, white-beige hair. Short stature, dainty. Pale skin. Light yellow-brown eyes, rectangular pupils.

Bored Goatgirl
Friend Of Wolves And Big Green Lions
Local Singing Sensation
Owner Of Shoes And Aspiring Adventurer
A Cute
Snake Doctor
Honorary Bush Thing
Friend Of (Many, Many) Birds
Tactical Stealth Goat
Closet Pyromaniac
Traveling Apothecary


Traits - Character
Autistic 4
Cute 2
Goat 2
Keeper 0 of 5

Traits - Skills
Digging, Shovel 2
Apothecary 1
Druidic Lore 1
Spirit-Singing 2
Veil Affinity 1

Knowledge
Melfam's Solvent, Phirin Fruits, Angel's Siperweed, Ookriper, Stillflax

Baphy is reading her Herbalist's Guidebook, and will reference it when looking for plants. Lulette is in the process of colouring in the pictures.


Items

Enchanted Clothing (Set Bonus: Cute +1) (Auto-Repairing: Minor damage is repaired over four days)
Long-Sleeved Jumper Thing (Worn)
Height-Mismatched Socks (Worn)

Plain Silver Locket (Worn)
Maroon Mary-Wool Scarf (Worn) (Begrudgingly Fluffy)
Leather Traveling Boots (Worn)

Small Cloth Coin Purse (1 gold, 1 silver, 6 copper)
Ebonwood Shovel (Super Cool)
Iron Bucket (Shiny)
Oakbark Wild Infusion (Awake) (In Lulette's Pot) (toughens body or weapon for a short time)
Herbalist's Guidebook
Mortar And Pestle

Purifying Watering Can (In Bucket) (Filled)
Half a Glass Vial Of Melfam’s Solvent (In Pot) (Cracked) (1 use)
Palm-Sized Metal Box (In Bucket)
Fire Steel And Chert (In Box)

Satchel Of Stasis (Worn)
2 Phirin Fruits (1-2 uses ea, depending on wound)
2 Withered Leaves of Angel's Siperweed (4 total uses)
3 Ookriper Pods (1.5 total uses)
Stillflax Roots (1 use)
2 Flowers of Stillflax Petals (1 use when processed)


Abilities

Wild Empathy (Passive)
Baphy can vaguely feel the emotions of animals around her.

See The Veil (Active)
Baphy can follow marks in the Veil by sight, and sees colours where the border is close. She currently cannot turn this off.

Mark Hiding (Active)
While concentrating, Baphy can suppress her Veil-mark to make it harder to detect and track by others with 'See The Veil' and 'Mark Tracing'.
Proficient: She can move and act while doing this, with some difficulty.

Last Rites (Passive/Automatic)
Imprison / Release (Active)
To Ashes (Active)
To Dust (Active)

>>1363926
>>[ ] Poke the turtle.
>>[ ] Relax here for a while.
>This is a nice place, with a nice

>>1363926
> poke tertle
> relax here
The Vampire probably isn't even up yet

>>1364048
>The Vampire probably isn't even up yet

For some reason I laughed at this far more than I should have.

>>1364048
seconding

>>1363955
>Autistic 4
kek, was that the max lvl autism?

>>1364181
> implying autism has a cap

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>>1364181
(I rolled a 1d4. Yup.)

>>1364188
kek

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Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB3npuV32O0

You walk to where the ground becomes dirt and rock, across the river bank to the shallows and next to the turtle.

Tortoise. Turtles have flippers. You think.

The tortoise is big and top of his shell reaches about half your height. You think you could climb onto it and he wouldn’t notice. He doesn’t move when you come close, but does turn to look.

Your traveling boots make light splashes in the water. You put your bucket down back where it’s still dry, letting Ashtia jump out of it and hide in your scarf, then crouch down in front of the tortoise.

“Hi. I’m Baphy.”

The tortoise nods. Slowly. He’s very relaxed.

You don’t really have anything to say to the tortoise.

Oh. “Do you know where aatane plants are?”

The tortoise nods again. Down. Up. Then he moves his head to the side.

You thank the nice tortoise then go to where he pointed. Further down the river the incline becomes steep and the transition from grass to water more sudden. There you find small dark-green shrubs with long, grass-like leaves.

You take a leaf and chew it. Bitter in a nice, mild way.

You start collecting the leaves of the aatane plants, putting them in one of the pockets of the witch’s satchel at your waist. They’re easy to pull out, making for simple work. You remember Clari saying you should get a knife for collecting plants, but you haven’t thought about it much.

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>>1364244

You end up with a lot, you think. Many handfuls of thin leaves poke out of the satchel. Set did say more should be better.

Returning to the tortoise reveals Lulette lying flat on her back on his shell. Bob’s pot is next to the fairy, and the plant stretches up and waves its head when you return.

You find a clear place to sit on the river bank, pulling your bucket next to you and setting your shovel down. You’re chewing an aatane leaf. The tortoise looks at you, and you pull out some leaves and offer them.

He turns around then lumbers forward.

Step. Step. Step. Step. Step.

You hold out the leaves and the tortoise reaches out. Closes his mouth over them. Retracts, chewing.

For a while you just sit, letting the wind blow through your shoulder-length hair, watching waters flow calm and clouds drift across a gentle blue sky.

Time spent doing nothing. Moments you enjoy and value.


>

[ ] Head to Set’s shop.
[ ] He might be asleep. Visit other places.
+[ ] Academy! Find people to bother.
+[ ] Archives! Things to learn and read.
+[ ] Other?

>>1364250
>[ ] Head to Set’s shop.
Perhaps the leaves need to be fresh? Or something. Probably best to get his say-so before spending time elsewhere, maybe.

>>1364250
>[ ] He might be asleep. Visit other places.
>[ ] Go back to the trading district and see what Heimy (Hiney?) is up to.

Damn that update was comfy. Tortoise bro ftw! I'm curious to see if we can find out what that doomsayer guy's deal is and if he's making any headway with the locals. It would be bad if he ended up getting Lexy in trouble.

>>1364250
>[ ] Head to Set’s shop.

You think it’s almost noon by the time you decide to head back. You brush yourself off, lift Lulette off the tortoise’s shell and onto your shoulders, and gather your things. You say goodbye to your new friend and leave him to his lazing, finding the road to Skyhaven again.

The east gate opens to the middle of the Maker’s District, and turning south along one of the narrower streets leads you quickly to Set’s shop.

The door is locked and the inside is dark.

Knock.

Hm.

Knock, knock, knock.

Knock knock knock knock knock knock knock knock knock-

“Oh hell read the sign will you-!” The door is yanked open with a clatter to reveal the vampire, his red eyes and pale skin hidden under foggy colours. He really does look young; you know you’re kind of short but Set is shorter, almost closer to Lulette’s height than yours.

He’s shielding his face with a hand but you still see him flinch when he sees you.

Nn.

“You’re back.” He states, pausing awkwardly. “Er- Sorry. I guess you found your aatane?”

You poke your leaf-filled satchel.

“Right. That should last a while. Come in and hand them over.”

Set steps back and you walk inside, closing the door behind you. Following him through the dark, you see the vampire grab a simple bowl from one of the crates strewn around and set it down on the wooden counter.

“Just put them there,” he says, pointing. “It’ll take a few hours to prepare, so come back later today or tonight.”


>

[ ] [ ] Talk to Set (about?)
[ ] ‘Kay. Go somewhere.
+[ ] (as before: Academy, Archives, Trader’s District, Other?)

>>1364627
>[x] Talk to Set (about?)

being a vampire. being a vampire and having a job. being a vampire in the city.

>>1364627
>[X] Talk to Set (about?)
being a filthy unburied.
Erm. I mean what >>1364649 said

>>1364627
>[ ] ‘Kay. Go somewhere.
>+[ ] Trader

Browse the wares

Kill?

>>1364868

(I'm a tiny bit dead. I'll have one more update soon.)

You take your satchel’s strap off your shoulder and place it on the counter, opening it and placing the aatane leaves in the bowl while Set disappears past another doorway. You hear some rummaging and clinking, and the vampire returns holding a small box of things.

There’s two flasks, and Set puts a stone cap on one then connects the glass tube-like neck to the opening of the other flask. Both are placed on metal stands, the former flask on top of a small bowl with a shiny red stone on the underside of it.

An alembic. You saw one when you were in Silvercrest. You don’t know how they work, just that they make special extracts from materials.

You finish filling the bowl with dark-green leaves and put your satchel back on, watching Set put his tools together.

“Why are you a vampire?”

He looks up, a little wide-eyed. Uncertain.

“I- Because I was bitten?”

“Did you want to be?”

His tone is halting, like he’s not used to speech.

“Yes. I did.”

That’s weird. You don’t get it.

His unnatural features are visible to you. He’s unburied. Not alive. His mark is messier than his store. Different, wrong.

You notice he’s stood up, and there’s a bit of distance between the two of you.

“I-” he starts. “I just live here. I haven’t done a thing. Haven’t hurt anyone, haven’t turned anyone. Haven’t tasted blood-” Pause. He bites his lip. “For a long time.”

He has, though.

“But you’re here.”

“We can go on for a long time without blood. So long as I don’t get hurt and don’t use magic.”

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>>1364963

There really is something funny about him. Other than being nervous. And fearful, actually.

You ... don’t like that.

“Okay.”

“... Okay?”

You nod. “Mm.”

There’s a kind of uneasy silence. You don’t know what to think.

“You aren’t what I expected.”

You look up at the vampire, questioning. It almost looks like he regrets saying that.

“I mean, what happened when you got here last time... happened. But still, you always sounded like you were more-” An uneasy grimace. “Inevitable.”

That doesn’t sound like he’s describing a person.

...

You’ve spent very little time around Set, but he always seemed restrained. Even when you first met him, first woke him up from snoozing on his store’s wooden counter, he seemed nervous.

That could have just been your mark. The witch was hostile when you met her, too.

But what he just said.

“You know me.”

>>1364967

The vampire blinks. “Yes? I’d be surprised if there were undead that didn’t.” He frowns. “I mean, those that can think, aren’t totally mad, and- Wait.”

Set bolts up, staring intensely.

“What are you?”

You find yourself backing away a bit. “A goat?”

“Other than that.”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

For a while you think he’s more confused than you are, and you’re very confused. The young-looking boy drops back onto his seat.

“That... makes sense.”


>

[ ] You want to know.
[ ] You don’t want to know.

[ ] The past defines a lot of you.
[ ] What happened then matters.
[ ] You don’t really care.
[ ] You’d rather throw it all away.

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That's all for today!

The city wandering is coming to a close. The stuff that people have expressed interest in are Trader's District, Academy, and probably Archives.

That probably covers the entire city anyway, I can probably write a bit about all of that. If you have random ideas, thoughts or preferences feel free to throw them at me.

This thread will resume tomorrow at the same time. See you all then!

>>1364972
>You want to know.
>What happened then matters.
I'm thinking more that we woke for a reason and knowing what we are (were?) might help with figuring that out. Also we will be surprised by peoples reactions less.

>>1364972
> [ ] You don’t want to know.
> [ ] You’d rather throw it all away.

Hmm. It doesn't really matter what we used to be. We're Baphy. We're a goat.

>>1364978
A part of me wants to follow our goat instincts and climb to the highest point in the city.

>>1364972
>[ ] You don’t want to know.
>[ ] You don’t really care.

Sounds most like Baphy

>>1364972
>[ ] You want to know.
>[ ] What happened then matters.
>But still not as much as what happens from now on.
Sort of like a thing that we're a bit curious about, and would like to eventually get to know, if there's time, maybe?

>>1364972

[ ] You don’t want to know.
>[ ] You don’t really care.

"Don't tell me, I am happier this way. I... I remember being tired of people being stupid... so don't tell or..."

>Glare

>>1364972
> You don’t want to know.
>[ ] You don’t really care.

'Sounds LIKE I was mean. Don't wanna know. You're weird n' kinda wrong? But you're okay. I guess.'

>>1364972
>You want to know.
>What happened then matters.

>>1364972
>[ ] You want to know.
>[ ] What happened then matters.
>But still not as much as what happens from now on.

>>1365004
This.

>>1363955
>Closet Pyromaniac
W-what?

>>1365887
Shhhhhh you don't know that

Seconds tick by as Set stares into nothing, lost in thought.

...

“Who-”

The vampire snaps back to awareness. He raises his hands with fingers straightened together and crosses them at the wrist, meeting you with a sharp gaze. “No.”

“No?”

“I’m not telling you a thing,” Set declares.

You tilt your head to the side.

A part of you doesn’t care. Or doesn’t want to care? You’re fine with how things are but what happened before isn’t leaving you alone, and some memories have come back.

You haven’t remembered good things.

What happened then matters. It might be useful to know.

But don’t want to think about the things that happened then, the things you’ve done more than what you’re doing, and what you’re going to do.

“Okay.”

Set doesn’t want to tell you anyway. You aren’t going to make him or anything. That would be mean.

The vampire sighs. Deflates a bit, seeming tired.

You don’t think Set is a morning person. Or a noon person.

“You’ll know eventually. Who you are, what you are, doesn’t just go away.” There’s a quiet something in his tone, but that goes away with a shrug. “But I’m not helping it catch up to you. I don’t plan on getting buried.”

>>1366099

Set is a bit different after that. It’s hard to tell because all that really happens is he gets up and pushes you out of his store, repeating that you should come back later or at night, but he seemed a bit ruder and more careless.

You get the feeling that it’s how he normally is.

You can feel Ashtia wrapped around your neck, hidden under your scarf. You can’t see Lulette but you know she’s nearby. It’s around the middle of the day, and Skyhaven is very awake.

Time to look for fun things, you think.


> Trader’s District

[ ] Acquire foods (1 silver)
+[ ] Something filling
+[ ] Something sweet
[ ] Wander around, stare at things.
[ ] Other?

>>1366103
>[ ] Acquire foods (1 silver)
>+[ ] Something sweet
>[ ] Look for the shouty man from the Trader's district this morning

>>1366103
>[ ] Acquire foods (1 silver)
>+[ ] Something sweet
>[ ] Wander around, stare at things.

>>1366103

>[ ] Acquire foods (1 silver)
>+[ ] Something sweet
>[ ] Wander around, stare at things.

"Are they making golems out of people? Mmm... no... yes? Something is wrong... hungry... something sweet. Do you guys want food too?"

>Make your wolf take "girl" form so you can go to try clothes.

(For some reason this updated ended up a lot longer than intended.

Mm.)

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Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqfCZl08Z70

The Maker’s District isn’t really a place you can explore. Not because it’s boring; there’s lots of machines with metal moving bits doing things you don’t understand, but people and constructs keep telling you to stand back and not play with them whenever you want to look.

So you end up in the Trader’s Districts, wandering through its widest street. An overhanging sign at one end tells you it’s called the Market Way, and it’s really, really busy.

There’s people and noise everywhere. So many bodies jostling around in every direction, so many different things being yelled out from the dozens and dozens of stalls of different colours and sizes that line the street.

It’s a buzz of energy. You hold your shovel close, wide-eyed.

Lots is happening at once, but it’s not as confusing as the celebration thing that happened last night. This is good.

You pick a side of the street at random and walk along it, doing your best to not run into anyone while looking at the things being shown by the stalls you pass. Trinkets and shiny things, tools and baskets and useful things. Food.

Food.

Most of them are meats sizzling away on metal plates propped up over fires. A smoky smell is in the air, and you watch a man in an apron poke juicy pieces onto a skewer before handing it off to his customer.

>>1366493

Your interest gets directed at something else. There’s a construct behind one stall with a short, almost barrel-like frame. Instead of a head it has a large transparent bowl, and in the middle something metal whirs and spins rapidly. Strands of thin white thread fly around the metal thing, and the construct has a round, two-pronged clawing arm holding up a wooden stick and waving it inside its bowl-head.

There’s a short line in front of the construct’s stall, mostly child and parent, but you don’t have to wait long. You pay the construct a silver coin for a huge mass of spun white threads on a stick.

Excite.

The sign in front of the stall says it’s sweet. You pull at the mass, coming away with a fuzzy and sticky piece, and put it in on your tongue.

You confirm that it is sweet.

Lulette likes it a lot, sitting on your shoulders reaching out for bits of probably-entirely-sugar. You take pieces to give to Ashtia, who pokes her head out of the scarf around your neck, and raise the ball of sweet for the fairy.

Bob reaches down and chomps over some as well. You think the plant is supposed to eat insects.

Bob’s diet is weird.

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>>1366499

Closer to the center of the district are fewer small stalls and more open shops. You look around, licking your fingers, pondering.

You were given a gold coin. You don’t really think about buying things much, but maybe you’ll find something you might want.

You can see some people inside a store. Clothing is being displayed there, the more decorative kind similar to what you saw in the Tower District. There’s a lady there wearing a dress with many more frills and laces than you think is needed, craning around and examining her outfit. She speaks while she does so to a man with a prim moustache, who looks on with a certain emptiness in his expression.

Clothes?

You put down your bucket then dig into your scarf and pull out a weasel, placing her on your upturned palm and you pointing her at the store.

Ashtia looks at you.

You look at her. Then at the store. Then at her.

Ashtia gives you the flattest, most expressive ‘no’ a weasel can muster.

...

You drop your shovel and lunge forward but the not-currently-wolf reacts too quick, jumping forward over your hands and darting up your arm. She scurries into your scarf and you reach up to find her and-

Make a weird, high-pitched bleat because she’s dived into your jumper and and it tickles it TICKLES-

The next few minutes are spent twisting and twirling and flailing about, accompanied by the energetic laughter of the fairy on your shoulders.


>

[ ] Acquire small herbalist’s knife and sheathe (3 silver)
[ ] Acquire small roll of cloth (1 silver, 2-3 uses for bandaging)
[ ] Other?

[ ] Onwards to the Academy
[ ] Skip the Academy

(There will be a brief visit to Heimar as well.)

>>1366507
Kek Just imagining a small goatgirl making bleats
while flailing around in the middle of the street brings me joy also
>[ ] Acquire small roll of cloth
>[ ] Onwards to the Academy

>>1366507
>[ ] Acquire small roll of cloth (1 silver, 2-3 uses for bandaging)
A knife would be nice, but the gold coin is more of a souvenier than anything.

[ ] Onwards to the Academy/Archive

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>>1366655

(Due to spending a silver on sweets, Baphy currently holds 1 gold and 6 copper. Buying a roll of cloth will trade the shiny coin for 23 less shiny coins.)

>>1366676
Adorable even without a weasel scarf

>>1366507
>Acquire small roll of cloth (1 silver, 2-3 uses for bandaging)
>Onwards to the Academy

>>1366676
No! we can't trade goldy! He's our first and only! We can wait on more stuff and make more money later.

>>1366507
>>1366795
The market is packed, let's get more coin by singing!
>Put up a show!

>>1366981
That's a good point. Our singing went down well in that village that Cookie was pranking.

You’re in one of the relatively-quieter streets of the Trader’s District. It took you some time to realise people were looking at you, and when that happened you hurried off into the nearest alley you could find.

Your cheeks are a little red. Ashtia is hiding in your scarf again. You can feel her smug.

You forgive the wolf. Because warm. Also cute.

A sharp voice calls out, one that’s becoming more and more familiar. You follow it and poke your head around the street corner.

“Pray, city of Skyhaven! Pray to the Six for succor!”

Heimy is still there, and somehow louder than he was before. There’s a construct near him that looks a bit like one of the city’s guard constructs, though without a weapon for an arm.

“You Causing A Disruption To The Public. Please Cease Your Activity.”

“Seek the benevolence of Mithra, the mercy of Anumet! Pray for clemency from Alteros, as we are but lost lambs without His infinite wisdom!!”

Mm.

The construct isn’t doing anything other than repeating its message. It doesn’t look like Heimy wants to stop, and it doesn’t look like people are listening to him either.

You were a little bit worried. He was arguing with Lexy before so you had a vague thought that the thin man could get the artificer in trouble, but...

Mm.

You walk off and leave the shouting man and the guard construct to whatever they’re doing.

>>1367209

You start heading south towards the Scholar’s District, thinking of visiting the Academy again. You don’t think you’re supposed to be there if you aren’t a student or something, but you still want to look around.

There were constructs outside before that said visitors aren’t allowed outside of a time during the day. You don’t really remember.

You find a general store close to the west gate, almost between the Trader’s and Scholar’s Districts. You think about buying a small knife like Clari said, but you’re okay without one so far.

One thing you do want is some bandages. You didn’t have any with you in Lortham so you had Mary give you some cloth. It would be good to have bandages with you.

You fish out the small bag from your bucket. There’s six copper coins and one gold coin inside.

Commerce calls for its due, its sacrifice.

But the gold coin is shiny.


>
[ ] Buy the roll of cloth.
[ ] ... Maybe later.

> The Academy
[ ] An apprentice, practicing in a quiet room.
[ ] A professor, lecturing his class.

>>1367230
>[ ] Buy the roll of cloth.
>[ ] A professor, lecturing his class.

Ignore the Goat watching you

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I'm going to have to pause here.

Performance goat has come up before and will come up in future, but for now, well,

I don't know if Baphy knows busking as a concept.

Anyway. I'll continue again tomorrow for the last session of the thread!

>>1367230
[x] Buy the roll of cloth.
[x] An apprentice, practicing in a quiet room.

>>1367277
Ok thanks for comfy goat

>>1367230
>[ ] ... Maybe later.
Baah, muuh shiny round yellow friend neeeds mee.

[ ] A professor, lecturing his class.
You're lecturing your absentminded class when suddenly a goat, a wolf and a fairy slip in through the back door and plop down in a seat.
As you choke before continuing the wolf curls up for a nap, the fairy pokes the cheeks of snoozing students and the goat stares at you blankly for an entire hour.

>>1367230
>[ ] ... Maybe later.
>[ ] A professor, lecturing his class.

>>1367277
That goat is too cute! G'night Mitty

>>1367344
>You're lecturing your absentminded class when suddenly a goat, a wolf and a fairy slip in through the back door and plop down in a seat.
>As you choke before continuing the wolf curls up for a nap, the fairy pokes the cheeks of snoozing students and the goat stares at you blankly for an entire hour.
The potted plant, however, plays the part of an exemplary student.

>>1367230
>Buy the roll of cloth.
>A professor, lecturing his class.

Thanks for running!

>>1367230
>...Maybe later
>A professor, lecturing his class
I'm dying to see how they handle higher education, and how GOAT goat will react.

>>1367230

>Buy the roll of cloth.
>A professor, lecturing his class.
>Look at your wolf "They might talk to us more if they see two girls instead of a weird kid with pets."
>Wolf refuses
>Stare
>Wolf looks away
>"I will cook you something tasty."
>Wolf looks
>"I will get a cooking book or pay for a good meal."
>Wolf backs away
>"Please?"
>Wolf groans

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Wolf.

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Rolled 1 (1d2)

1: Capitalism
2: No capitalism

>>1368991
Oh snap it's capitalism

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Your first gold coin. The gleamiest, glintiest of coins.

Bandages are important. Super important.

But- But-

You stand in front of the store’s counter with a roll of cloth placed on it, holding your coin. The storekeeper lady looks on with a fixed, slightly perplexed smile.

It takes you a minute of slowly stretching out, reaching out with a shaking hand, before you give your coin away.

Your gold coin turns into twenty-three, less shiny silver ones.

Commerce is scary.

>>1369069
ALL IS LOST

>>1369069

“Wel Wel Welc Welcome To The White Staff Academy Visitors Are Are-”

You pass the gate of the academy, staring up at the looming buildings and picking the middle one. The biggest, the one that has a clock at its peak with ornate hands marking nearly three hours into the afternoon.

Exploring time.

Its doors are kept open, revealing a wide hall of stone or marble flooring. People in dark blue robes walk around, many youthful and barely adult and some a lot older. A few curious glances point your way, but like when you were here yesterday everyone seems to be busy and preoccupied, hurrying to their own destinations.

Or maybe they’re used to visitors. And goats.

Ashtia and Lulette aren’t visible. The former because she’s in your scarf and the latter because she’s a fairy. You remember there was an apothecary that could see Lulette when she wasn’t visible. You wonder if anyone here can see her.

Anyway.

There’s a row of big portraits along the far wall, each of an older man or woman in flowing black and blue robes looking some mix of proud, stern, and noble. Metal plates adorn the lower edge of each portrait’s frame; headmaster, headmistress, long names.

You don’t really stop to read them. Two long staircases interrupt the row of paintings in the middle. You decide to climb one, admiring the polished metal handrails.

Another hall stretches out to each side. You reach the second floor of the building, then stop.

Because you don’t know where you’re going.

>>1369069
REPENT OUR SINS

>>1369077

Um.

You lean and look to your right. Tall sliding wooden doors, closed. To your left, the same thing.

Forward is a wide glass window. Looking outside is fun, because you’re in a high place.

Distractions.

You pick a direction and go to the closest door. You wanted to look around and explore anyway, so you decide to do that.

You slide open the door and peek inside. A dark room, a glass window on the opposite side covered by curtains.

There’s no-one inside. Some distance in front of the door is a- lectern? A raised sloped wooden thing in front of a chair. The door is at one end of the room, and looking towards the other end shows you longer lectern-things in front of benches of matching width.

The benches together might fit more than two dozen people. You wonder how that would look.

You close the door and go to the next one, opening it.

The room is the same as the other one, except the window’s curtains are drawn back to let in the light.

Also people. The benches are nearly filled with young men and women, boys and girls, and there’s an elderly man with a very, very bushy beard standing by the lectern at the front of the room.

Lots of heads are turned to you.


>
[ ] Hi.
[ ] Stare.
[ ] Close door.

> And/Or
[ ] Don’t care.
[ ] Nervous.
[ ] Nooo

>>1369084
>stare
>don't care
>don't blink, either

rip goldy 08/04/2017 - 16/04/2017

>>1368119
(Wolf a cute.)

>>1369084
>[ ] Stare.
>[ ] Don’t care.

No one here is cool looking except maybe the old man with the bushy beard

>>1369084
>Hi.
>Don't care.

>>1369084
As Anon >>1369163 says. Greet people because its polite, but autism means no social fucks given.

>>1369084
>Hi.
>Don't care.

Imma goat.

You stare back. Nothing moves.

...

“Professor Gent, sir?”

The elderly man turns to respond, breaking eye contact.

“Yes, Simon?”

“Would that be the person you mentioned?”

“Not this young lady, Simon. As I said my volunteer will not able to join us today.”

You think the professor looks funny, then you realise it’s because he’s in more simple clothes. Everyone you’ve seen in the Academy wears a dark coloured robe, but the older man is in a thick, warm-looking green jacket over a simple tunic and trousers outfit.

He might look funny in other outfits too. His beard is super bushy.

He looks at you again. A spark in the air, then the older man laughs. It’s a very short laugh, more like the start of a chuckle, just one ‘hoh!’ in a gentle yet hearty voice that comes from his belly.

“She would, however, be a fitting subject.” He steps away from his lectern. “I am Professor Nikaeus Gent, young miss, and you have found my classroom. Might I ask your name?”

You think you hear some other people in the room starting to mutter and whisper to each other. You wonder what they’re talking about.

“I’m Baphy,” you reply. “Hi.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Baphy.” A kind smile, and vigor in his eyes despite his age. “If you could, and have no pressing matters, I would be very pleased if you could join us for the remaining half bell.”

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>>1369405

You accept the professor’s invitation. He just wants you to stand next to him and welcomes you to listen, so you do.

“With Miss Baphy’s presence, we are now able to undertake the practical aspect of the lesson,” Nikaeus says. The class is paying attention now. “I hope nobody has forgotten to bring their inscriptions with them.”

“I forgot, Professor Gent.”

“Fortunately I have a spare,” the professor says without pause, holding a rolled up piece of paper for one of the students sitting in the closest bench.

“As I explained previously, Border Seeing is the most common arcane method for observing fluctuations and markings in the border, or Veil. Its origin is in the Mystic Seeing spell, but proficiency in one is not shared with the other.”

“When dealing with the border it is always better to simply practise. I would like you all to cast the spell and focus on Miss Baphy here.”

“Should we be looking at the shovel as well, Professor Gent?”

“You need not, Simon. Miss Baphy’s shovel is not covered in today’s lesson.”

You watch the students spread out pieces of paper or place and open books on their bench-table-things. The two dozen of them start to chant, some muttering softly, some proclaiming loudly, some quick, some slow, some with dramatic flair.

The air sizzles, and again everyone looks at you.


>

[ ] Stay still and be a good subject.
[ ] Present Ashtia.
[ ] Hide your mark.
[ ] Reverse-hide your mark?

>>1369412
>[ ] Stay still and be a good subject.
We are a good goat.

>>1369412
[ ] Present Ashtia.
[ ] As a girl.
[ ] Hug her

>>1369412
>[ ] Stay still and be a good subject.
Uhhhhhh...okay. What are you looking for?

>>1369412
>[x] Stay still and be a good subject.

We are a helpful goat and we are helping as best we can.

>>1369412
>[ ] Stay still and be a good subject.
>[ ] Present Ashtia.

>>1369425
We are just that beautiful of a Goat it's only natural
they stare at us

>>1369412
[x] Hide your mark.

It's no fair that they're the only ones who get to practice. We've got a skill that needs practicing too! I'd ask the teacher for help but I doubt he'd know anything about our mystic stuff.

>>1369412
>[ ] Stay still and be a good subject.
>[ ] Present Ashtia.

The expressions of the young men and women are kind of funny. There’s those that look really concentrated and focused, some are leaning forward and squinting, others look dizzy and many just confused.

You wonder what they’re looking for. You can see things in the Veil, but maybe it’s different for them.

Hm. You realise you haven’t seen anything. You can’t see any of the student’s marks, or any colours flowing around the Academy or the city.

The old Professor Nik has a faded mark. Not as noticeable as Elena’s, Set’s, or your own.

Maybe you can ask later.

“Professor Gent, I can’t see anything.”

“That is expected for fledgling apprentices, young Simon. Miss Baphy’s markings, forgive me for saying, are quite evident, but I suspect less than half of this class are able to observe it. I advise you to not be discouraged, and keep practising.”

You find Ashtia around your neck and hold her out. The class’s attention turns to her. The wolf-but-also-weasel looks bored.

The old man chuckles, his beard shaking up and down with him. Hoh hoh. “Miss Baphy’s friend also bears markings, but I’m afraid they are less visible than those of Miss Baphy herself.”

But she’s cute.

The student calls out again. “Professor Gent, I appear to be passing out.”

“Border Seeing, like its origin, can indeed be rather taxing. Remember to stop the spell if you begin to feel lightheaded.”

“Professor Gent, I am passing out.”

“In that case, do replace the lid of your inkwell. We can’t have that spill over your books, can we Simon.”

“Yes Professor.”

A loud thud sounds out with the student in the front row hitting his head on his worktable, and the funny buzzing feeling starts to go away as the other students slump back on their seats.

“If I could ask someone to carry young Simon- yes, thank you. That will be all for today’s class. Have a pleasant afternoon, everyone.”

>>1369667

The students file out slowly, one carrying a slightly-drooling friend along. You stay until they all leave.

“Thank you for your help, Miss Baphy,” Nicky says. “I hope you did not mind fulfilling my selfish request.”

You shake your head. You could have refused, or left.

Lulette drops onto your shoulders, smiling.

“And thank you, miss fairy, for not causing too much mischief in my class.”

Lulette smiles wider.

Nicky turns back to you. “I would express concern for your wound, if I may. Have you been directed to the storekeeper of a certain shop in the Maker’s District?”

You nod. “Set is making something for me.”

“That is excellent to hear. I wish you a speedy recovery, Miss Baphy.”


> Questions?

[ ] Ask about marks, Veil stuff, how they relate to arcane.
[ ] Is Simon going to be okay?
[ ] (Other?)

>>1369673
>[x] Ask about marks, Veil stuff, how they relate to arcane.

and ask about his mark

>>1369673
>[ ] Ask about marks, Veil stuff, how they relate to arcane.
>[ ] Your beard looks fluffy. I met a bird man with a beard.

>>1369673
>[ ] Ask about marks, Veil stuff, how they relate to arcane.
>[ ] Your beard looks fluffy. I met a bird man with a beard.

>>1369673
[x] Ask about marks, Veil stuff, how they relate to arcane.
[x] Is Simon going to be okay?

I'm not opposed to asking about bird wizard, but don't want to copy/paste it. Simon made me laugh so his question gets in.

>>1369673

>[ ] Ask about marks, Veil stuff, how they relate to arcane.
>[ ] Your beard looks fluffy. I met a bird man with a beard.

"Your mark is faded, are you losing magic due to.old age? And.. what's the problem with the golems?"
>You tell him about the golems attacking a town.
"No one is doing golems using people, right?"

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Okay. I'm going to end this session here.

I went into this thread wanting to get to a certain point, but that point is further than I figured and I'm starting to think it's better to avoid burning myself out.

So I'll continue in a new thread next time.

Sorry bout cutting things short. The vote is still open if you have something you want to ask Professor Nick. Visiting the Archives will likely be a thing as well if there's topics you want to learn about.

Usual stuff:
Announcements for new threads at https://twitter.com/boxofmithril
Archives for previous ones at http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=GFQ

Thanks for showing up, thanks for reading!

>>1369878
Thanks for running.

Inner Goat wants to hug wolf girl

>>1369878
Ok thanks for comfy

>>1369878
Thanks for the comfy, boss.

>>1369878
Thank you for writing.