>>5772094
Is this a trans quest?

>>5772108
Fuck no, this was a dragon slaying badass knight quest that adopted some kobolds and it snowballed from there

>>5772094
great to see you QM
>Strike first. Breathe fire.
> Fine then, we shall bring thine story to end

>>5772108
Transspecies, yeah.

>>5772094
>Try to talk your way out
Two and a half years, or no dice. Oh, and you have to halt our transformations where they're at until then.

>>5772094
>Try to talk your way out
"You clearly still don't understand your role in this story. You're not the savior, the benefactor that delivers the knight from his suffering. You are merely another obstacle in his way, another monster to slay. Nothing more.

You are free to prove me wrong, but I'm sure we both know that's not going to happen."

Okay, it's not really trying to talk our way out, rather just trying to goad him into striking first.

>>5772094
>>Strike first. Breathe fire.


>>5772108
>Is this a trans quest?
fuck.no if you want it to be fucking leave, your kind is what's wrong with this board.


>>5772142
Listen friend, we have tried talking, and it didn't work, your not out talking the fae our best bet now, since you fucks wasted our chance for a surprise attack, is, TO START FIGHTING, FUCK MAN

>>5772222
I suppose all the transformation stuff COULD switch someone's sex or gender, but nobody in our crew seems to have any such inclination.

>>5772239
I'm not going to sit here and wax poetic to you on the finer details of why genderbending is a completely different beast, than the travesty that is transgenderism. But I will say one is a fine fetish/kink, the other is mental illness that drives people to mutilate children.

>>5772262
Sorry I engaged, now. :/ Let's move on.

>>5772266
gladly, man I am happy to see this quest back in action. Once we fight out way out of this situation, how should we get out of this forest? follow the trail or hope the guide out of this forest.

>>5772094
>>Strike first. Breathe fire.
PTHOOOOM

"You clearly still don't understand your role in this story. You're not the savior, the benefactor that delivers the knight from his suffering. You are merely another obstacle in his way, another monster to slay. Nothing more."
The creature begins to laugh, and moves closer to you. Faster than you would have expected from something that seems so... fat. The sky is also turning a blood-red, and somehow, the faint grayish tone that is over the rest of the court seems to turn a bit darker as well. The others are still frozen in time.

"A monster to *slay*? You overstep your-"
You wonder, briefly, what he would have said if you hadn't decided to exhale a gigantic puff of blue fire on the creature. The carapace changes colour, and you boil many of the creature's eyes with your intensely hot breath. Roaring and screeching, you make the creature quickly turn and run towards the largest tree in the grove. As it does so, you reach for your blade...
Only to find it missing. When you look at where it should be, you catch on to something else...
You're completely naked. All you have for weaponry is life-affirming flesh... and, of course, the ability to breathe fire. You raise your fists, regardless, trying not to pay attention to your misshapen body. Even now, there are still some tiny patches of skin remaining. Small parts of you that are still human, making your dragon-esque features stand out all the more.
The advantages are clear, yes. But something about it still feels so wrong to you, sometimes. You don't know how Paracelsus manages to be so beautiful with the same curse.

The creature crawls up the tree, and then... begins to disappear. As if it were crawling into some kind of hole, though you do see a faint glimmer, and a glow as well, as it crawls into a hole in reality.
Even while you can't see it, you can still hear it. It keeps bellowing.
"YOU DARE FIGHT A KING IN HIS COURT! I SHALL HAVE YOU BEHEADED, HAVE YOUR BODY DANCE FOR MY AMUSEMENT!"
He must not be used to fighting, if he can't shut the hell up while doing so. You keep listening for his location, and when it stops right above you...
You have just enough time to leap out of the way. The portal opens up, and on the inside, you see many, many eyes... Some of them stare at you as the fat, spider-like creature leaps down, intent on crushing you.
Rolling to catch your fall, you quickly turn around and leap on top of the monster, making an educated guess on how its body works. It is undoubtedly powerful, and a mage besides... But it can't scratch its own back. You use a leg to help pull you up, and your clawed feet plunge into several of the eyesockets here. Some of them empty, boiled away from your fire.

Sure enough, the creature cannot reach you, and when it suddenly lights itself on fire, you figure it's not too clever with its spells, not in a panic.
You punch its carapace. You didn't expect much, however, and when your fist basically just bounces off, you're not even surprised. Instead, you go for the next best thing. Inhaling deeply, you scorch the ever-shifting face on the creature's back, as it screams and roars ever more.
It keeps trying to kick you off, moving left to righ in a frenzy, until it finally settles for running headfirst towards the tree. You would try to leap away, but the speed at which those legs move...
You'd be crushed. Instead, you climb over the creature's back, and hop off...
Only for it to scream triumphantly, stop almost instantly...

And you can only try to shield yourself as a stinger just... *appears* out of thin air. It wasn't there, and now it is, even the shape of the creature's abdomen has changed to account for it.
It plunges deep into your calf, and it takes all your knightly training to maintain your presence of mind... and grab the poisonous stinger pumping crap into you.

"I CURSE YOU, KNIGHT! YOU SHALL REGRESS TO AN ANIMAL! I SHALL BREAK YOUR EVERY BONE, AND WATCH YOUR MIND ROT!!"

You remove the stinger as it rants... And put your good leg against the back of the monster.
"WHAT!?"
It keeps running, almost in a blind panic, as you hold on, the grass and stones sliding over your hardened scales... Not without injury, but not enough injury to stop you as you keep.
On.
Pulling.
"NO!"

Still gripping the stinger, you give a shout of effort, and exhale more fire. Whether by adrenaline or rage, it seems, somehow, bigger than before. Once more the carapace changes colour... and warps. More and more, the stinger comes loose, and...
Pop.

It was a horrible sight. Blackened organs begin to spill out of the hole you have made, and with that hole in place, the warping of the carapace only makes it worse. The creature, too overcome with pain, begins to roll along the ground....
And you have its stinger.

It's no sword, but...

>Stab it

>burn it

>Rip it apart with your bare hands.

>>5773678
>Stab it
Beasts fight with fists, and dragons with flame, but a knight fights with a sword!

>>5773678
> Stab it

"Stop hitting yourself!"

>>5773678
>>Stab it

though we may have the visage of a monster we are still a knight and this will make a fine substitute for our blade

>>5773678
>Stab it
It is indeed an unusual blade, but it'll do.

>>5773678
>>Stab it
Tis the way

>>5773678
>>Stab it
>>5773768
Supporting

Also Spine, good action sequence. I've kind of wanted to smoke that motherfucker since we first met him, so good pay off

the fact we seem to be caught in a mind space worries me deeply that we have already fallen into the clutches of the fae and what we are fighting now if not even the real king.

in short you guys fucked up in trying to talk to it. Should have started swinging from the start.

You inhale deeply, limping from the wound in your leg as you step towards the desperate creature, stinger in hand. Moving past its abdomen, you raise your disgusting weapon above your head, and slam it where the carapace connects from abdomen to chest.You hear a loud crack as you pierce through it, and then, you begin to push down, as the creature keeps bellowing in pain and fear. Deeper and deeper it goes, more cracks, each time you suddenly push it deeper, until you have to spread the armor further. The sting is, fortunately, ideally shaped for this. Then, finally...
It goes in, all the way. Losing your footing, you slam against the creature's body, as its legs begin to curl up, and more of that horrible, viscous black fluid oozes out of it.

Then, around you, the colours return to normal. The sky turns blue, the people are no longer faintly grey...
And they slowly move as time returns to its normal flow. Tragically, you remain naked, though you hear several things falling to the ground nearby, on top of an empty table. Conspicuously empty at that. There is some laughter, at first, from fairies and satyrs alike, until they see you standing... And their king dead.
Then, there is silence.
Your leg throbs and you slowly move to a nearby tree stump, repurposed as a chair, while Paracelsus runs towards you, followed by the guide. You don't understand him anymore, nor do you understand any of the goat-men. The fairies remain audible, though.
"YOU KILLED HIM!?"
"THE KING IS DEAD!"
"DEAD!"
"KILLED BY THE GREAT DRAGON!"
"INHERITANCE!"

Ahh, christ. You didn't accidentally adopt a mischief of fairies now, did you?

However, your guide begins to speak, and while Paracelsus is looking your leg over, she is still paying attention to what he's saying.
"...Oh, great. Our guide is now the Prince of the forest, due to having the King's eyes. Congratulations, Reynauld... You've made a hobo into royalty."
"Fairy royalty. Does that mean more or less?"
"I'd say it makes him the definite king of hobos."
"Great... Is he still going to guide us out of here?"
"Oh... Don't worry. He will. But you've got bigger problems, Reynauld. You've been poisoned." She says it as if you just broke something valuable. Annoyed, if anything. "Did he promise anything when he stung you?"
Ahh... Heeere we go.
"He said I'd regress to an animal... And that he'd break every bone and watch my mind rot."

"Right. Obviously, the poison is going to turn you increasingly feral. As a feral *dragon*, that'd still mean you're smart, but I'm guessing that we should make sure you don't eat humans for supper."

You take a deep breath, burying an increasing panic. Fortunately, you remain calm.
"How do we stop it?"

"Well, the good news is, our guide is willing to help us. We need several ingredients, one of which is the blood of the prince of the forest. He can supply us that. However, we'll also need food from a gnome, wine from a satyr and the tooth of a loved one."
"That makes... absolutely no sense."
"These things rarely do. Alternatively, I can amputate your leg now. Perhaps we can even grow it back. If nothing else, it's below the knee... a prosthetic won't be impossible, even if it will take... some getting used to."
That...

Isn't too attractive an option either, but...
You are already feeling increasingly dizzy. You're not sure you'll be able to help the others get those parts.

>Cut it off. I'm not risking it.
You don't have time for this crap. Besides... Decent odds the leg will grow back.

>I'll get to looking for food from a gnome.
Sick or not, you have to make sure they're safe.

>The Klan will be able to gather the two remaining ingredients.
You can trust them. (Pick which character you would like to play as)

>>5775122
>The Klan will be able to gather the two remaining ingredients.
Finally, it's the Klan's time to shine. We've been training them all to take care of themselves and each other, now they have an opportunity to use those skills.

I vote for Snikt. As a dragonkin and Reynauld's sort-of-daughter, she makes the most sense as the Klan's stand-in leader.

>>5775122
>>The Klan will be able to gather the two remaining ingredients.
I'll go with Snikt as well

>>5775122
>>5775139
+1

Time for the lil' ones to shine.

Also worth noting, i thought about having pink lead but Pink just isn't trustworthy when it comes down to it.

>>5775246
Agreed. Pink is a good right hand, but I wouldn't trust her to be a good leader.
Of the others I considered, Anna is irresponsible, Chad and William are both too specialized, and Dismas is still too much of an outsider. Plus, who better to lead a klan of kobolts than a bona fide dragon.
I assume Paracelsus will want to stay at Reynauld's side to tend to his wound, but even if she didn't, I would like to point out that the last time she was in charge ended with William almost becoming zombie chow.

>>5775122
>The Klan will be able to gather the two remaining ingredients.
William or Esmeralda

Will our knight romance Esmeralda, or neigh?

>>5775602
>Neigh
We will cheat on our girlfriend with neither a cute kobold romance author NOR a horse.
I think you mean 'nay', anon.

>>5775122
>>The Klan will be able to gather the two remaining ingredients.

we have been cultivating our klan for this very moment time to see if our bois and girls can stand on there own.

our squire dude who got turned into a kobolt and chad

>>5775611
What about Tomoooooooo? He's probably up for the job.

>>5775602
Although I'm sure we all know the old adage of "It doesn't count if it's a kobolt", I don't think Reynauld subscribes to that rule.

"Snikt... I'm trusting you with this. Chad and William are powerhouses, but I need somebody careful. Are you up to it?" Your Dragon... or just Reynauld says. You're not sure if he's still... "Your dragon", at this point. It's hard to say where you fit in, honestly. You prefer to be in a subservient role, either way. That's how things are supposed to be, even if you're so freakishly tall now, and feel so much stronger.
It's all wrong. It's scary.
Not half as scary as Reynauld telling you to guide everybody, though. You need to find food from a gnome, right now... The "Tooth of a loved one" is really, really easy. In fact, Dragon's Mate just pulled out a box of her old teeth, before her newer, prettier ones came in. You like the teeth...
You kind of wish your teeth changed, but they just got longer by themselves, instead. Almost to fit your mouth more than they are to catch up to being a dragon.
...

Being a dragon...
So strange.

Now, however, you need to think about what to do next. Finding the food from a gnome isn't too hard, but finding the gnome in the first place *is* hard. The weird guide kept speaking his equally strange words, though the Dragon's Mate was able to translate it for you. Reynauld remained quiet, instead slinking back into his bed. You could tell the fevers were already encroaching on him. A dragon is hard to break, but even someone as mighty as Reynauld can fall to this.
Even is, in this case, it is not his body he fears losing.
You should stop thinking about that, and start thinking about the goal.

"Snikt knows what to do!"

You don't, but you'll think of something.

>Find the wine of a satyr.
According to the guide, it will probably end up being a fight... or a contest. You can drink *with* a Satyr, but you can't take their wine with you unless you win at something.

>Find the food of the gnome.
As you said, the hardest part is finding a gnome. They are calm creatures, generally staying away from the parties of the Fae's courts, and instead helping small animals or growing strawberries.

>Split the group
Some people go find a gnome, some people go find a Satyr to beat. Time is important!

>>5777318
>Split the group
Pink and Anna are our best drinkers; they should go with Chad, so he can supervise, and find the satyr. And... William. If gnomes are sensitive, we want the loudmouth at the drinking contest.

Tiny and Collar, the family we picked up from the troll, plus the Twins in case there's trouble, can go and handle the gnome food. Snikt will go with this group.

Esmeralda and Paracelsus can stay back with Reynauld. We need our doctor, and it seems we might need to have a conversation with Esme...

>>5777335
That's a good division of labor, but I'd have Snikt go with the satyr group, instead. We have no guarantee that the satyr will choose a drinking contest, and I'm worried that Chad might not be able to keep everybody else in check on his own. Dismas can take the lead of the gnome group. He's sensible and polite enough, I'm sure he can handle dealing with a gnome if they manage to find one.

>>5777368
Fair compromise. I can support.

>>5777318
Modifying >>5777335 accordingly, QM!

>>5777318
>>5777368
Supportin'

Normally it's a bad idea to split the group, but we have a large enough clan/gang/group and we'd probably not be fighting anyone to the death here so we can afford to have two separate groups performing their respective assigned duties.

>>5777318
>>5777368
Supporting

You think you know how to do this kind of thing. You'll head over to the Satyrs, with Pink in tow. She was able to drink really good... oh, and Chad's green girl. She can drink beer like a fish drinks water. While you're at it, you might as well bring Chad along, because he's responsible, and William, because he is somebody that needs to be looked after, frankly. The goats will be persuaded through drinking or violence. Both of those things are quite available to your group. In the meantime, Dismas, the Twins, Tiny and Collar... and probably Dismas' little family, too. So they're not lonely. They're in a good position to talk to little people. They have a bunch of little people with them, so they should be able to talk to the other little people. That makes sense.
Finally, of course, Esmeralda and Paracelsus... stay with the dragon. Esme because she needs to explain herself. Bird lady dragon mate (too many things in one person...) needs to look after Reynauld anyhow. Good, then things are settled, you can start moving. Fortunately, the satyrs were just here, so you just need to find their tracks. They were bounding along, and had hooves, so they have recognizeable tracks, but it is a bit of effort to find all of them because the jump so far. Bit by bit, you manage to follow the footprints, sometimes, using the goat fur, and also using William's advice, once or twice. He's better at tracking than he seems, though very unrefined;
Perhaps he's just eager to please? Anna also does quite a bit of work, spotting some of the very far off footprints before even you could.
Yes, this group is very well put together to find the goat people.

And, sure enough, you find them. They seem to be sitting at a table already. In so far the stump of an old tree can be called a "table". They are drinking out of a ram's horn, and the wine... You don't know. There is no bottle, there are no grapes. This is nonsense, but they seem to just pour... an invisible bottle? They make a pouring *motion* and the wine does appear. It even spills a tiny bit as they pour. Then, they drink it. You blink twice, and sigh.
"Okay then."

You should think on how to approach this.

>Shoot it in the throat using green Lady's crossbow ability

>Move in and talk to them.

>Try to steal a horn of wine.

>>5781399
>Move in and talk to them.
Let's try the diplomatic approach first. it's why we brought our drinkers.

>>5781399
>>Move in and talk to them

>>5781399
> Move in and talk to them.

Violence should always be the last option when dealing with non-hostiles.

>>5781399
>>Move in and talk to them.

>>5781399
>Move in and talk to them.
Your Dragon said my Dragon needs your wine. Please give.

QM Kill?

>>5785382
No, this is about on par with Spine's update speed.

>>5785994
yep nothing out of the norm here desu.

Once upon a time I updated regularly and I have no excuse for not doing it better these days.

--------------------------
You are going to do this in a way Reynauld would approve of. So instead of stabbing and stealing you're going to be talking and dealing. The satyrs are drinking and a lot, and you don't understand what they're saying in the slightest. Fortunately, though... Pink does.

"I've been around the block with fae... their accent is very different, but I can still tell you bits. They're talking about the succession... or perhaps they mean taxes. Somehow, that's the same word in their language, which is then equal to death, as well... but that depends on the tone." Pink says sighing. "I do not care for it very much."

"Snikt cannot talk to them, but you can." you say. You don't order the elder to do anything, but you do imply it. Pink deserves much respect, and you intend to give it to her as much as you can, even if you're so much bigger. Fortunately, she understands. She walks towards the horrible goat men, and points to the wine they have.
Surprisingly... the goats speak a real language instead of their stupid made up noises from before.

"Well! The tax evader's retinue are here to make an antidote?" One says. He has only one horn, the other appears to have been snapped off.
The other, with black fur instead of brown, laughs.
"Oh yes! It seems they're at our mercy, Shaelyn!"
"Slaying the king is no small matter. Hence, our entertainment shall be no small matter either!"

They reveal dice from their mouths, spitting them on the table. Two each, both hitting ones.
"Fancy a game of chance? Guess what number we shall roll... and we'll grant you what you wish."

You are not a fool. Those words are what led to your crooked back, before your dragon...
You should thank him and his mate again soon. You have forgotten to do so for a week!!

Now, back to it.
"No. I want your *wine*. The red liquid, poured into a mug, and free for me to take with me."

The satyrs seem to be amused by your request.
"My!"
"Greedy guts! This wine is valuable, you know!" The one horn says, laughing.

"I need it. For my dragon." You say back... and the satyr smiles.
"Two ways, then. Our dice game... or, alternatively... a drinking contest. Rules are simple, you drink until you fall off your stump. Whoever falls first loses!"

...there's just one thing.
"What if we lose?"
"Then you get nothing, and we get a servant for a year!"

You snarl.
"Unacceptable!! I belong to ONE master!"
The satyr grins... and shrugs.
"Ah... perhaps we can try something else. What will you put on the line, little one? Chunks of flesh, your youth, your mind..? Something you mortals value, for sure.

Hmmm...

>Gamble on the dice, try to guess what they roll

>Drinking contest to attain the wine.

>Kill them both

And second vote:

>Bet chunks of flesh

>Bet years of your life

> bet your mind. Only bits at a time, it's not a huge risk

> propose another thing to gamble with

>>5786728
>Bet years of your life
Snikt is turning into a dragon, and dragons have PLENTY of years.

>>5786718
>>Kill them both

fuck that, we are not gambling with satyr, do none of you know your mythology!!! please I beg you, let's just fuck em up and be done with this.

>>5786718
>Kill them both
... and make sure someone swipe their wine bottle during the fight.

NOBODY touches our clan without SEVERE repercussions.

>>5786718
>Drinking contest to attain the wine.
>Bet years of your life
Dragon gave Snikt plenty years. Snikt is sure she can give up her years to save Dragon.

>>5787248
>>5786967

Satyrs are fae creatures, and attempting to outsmart their king failed and led to us getting stabbed in the first place. Now, you want to engage in a drinking contest with a Satyr, of all things.

This approach is simply setting us up for failure. This is one of those situations where violence is the answer. If we do this then we are actively throwing away years of Snikt's life without a second thought for nothing. To put it into perspective, it's akin to sitting down at a poker game with a dealer who's cheating with cards up his sleeve and is a card shark. Once we lose and we will lose we will then have to fight them anyway drunk and with an unspecified number of years stolen off her life for nothing.

Just because an option is presented doesn't mean we should take it or that it is even viable. Spine doesn't coddle players when it comes to decisions like this. If we choose something unwise, like accepting a Satyr's challenge to a DRINKING contest, Spine is more than happy to let us shoot ourselves in the foot.

So, please, for the love of Christ, do not vote for it. Our best option as it stands is to fight. We should strike now while they still believe they have us tricked, before we risk getting entangled in a situation where we're trying to beat them at their own game and end up worse off.

have none of you heard to saying play to your strengths? Because that is what we need to be doing, not walking into a trap that lets our enemy play to his. Satyr's are infamous drinkers in mythology and if we willingly walk into this trap we are going to pay dearly for it.

>>5786718
>>Kill them both
Our girl has fire breath.

>>5786718
>Kill them both
You did not understand the terms of my request, what was being offered was your continued existence

Man, next time we have to cross through a Faerie Forest we should just burn it down.

Shame we won't get to beat them at their own game and watch Pink drink them under the table. Ah well.

>>5786718
> Kill them both

Cleanse. Purge. Kill. Those who dare to bring harm to our clan - especially for naught but petty amusement - shall know no mercy but the release of death.

>>5788858
Yeah, if there's somebody I could see beating a satyr at a drinking contest, it would be Pink. And even if she lost, Snikt is cursed with eternal life, so giving up years wouldn't be that devastating. Interesting and game-changing, sure, but not life-ending.

>>5789037
To be blunt, because I can't pretty this up, that is fucking stupid, and a terrible way to think about the lives of our klan. Jesus christ man.

we would not be able to beat these Satyr at there own game anymore than we did the king or did you guys forget that by trying to do that we ended up getting fucked and cursed by him. when our attempted failed and we had to attack anyway at a disadvantage

>>5786718
> Kill
... and remeber to swipe their wine.

>>5789198
Probably you should continue just haranguing anyone who disagree with you. it will surely make them want to vote your way.

>>5789311
Vote how you like stranger, but I want other anon's who have yet to commit themselves to your folly to have an alternative to your "eh fuck it she has the years to spare let just throw them away on the chance that we can out drink a Saytr" I mean come on man, of all things to do you seriously support trying to out drink a Saytr, they are one of mythologies most notorious drinkers.

It is just a straight up losing bet.

>>5789453
WE aren't talking about a human outdrinking a satyr, but a 200+ year old magical kobold who has already outdrank DWARVES. It may or may not work, but it's not the forgone conclusion you're framing it as.

>>5789468
You my claps back stranger, are dramatically overestimating dwarves and seriously underestimating Saytr's. In the first case you have Dwarves who to there credit are none for the love of alcohols and the impressive brews they can produce. But that is a by product of there incredible racial constitution for them they have to make there brews insane just to feel it. They think human spirits are little better than water.

Satyr's on the other hand? they are the literal attendants/followers of Dionysus God of Whine and entertainment, or put another ways a Satyr was made as the OG party animal, they are built to drink, and drink, then drink some more. If you put a Dwarf and a Satyr against one another in a drink off, then my money is 100% on the Satyr. Because that dwarf if passing out or dying of alcohol poisoning before that Satyr is even feeling anything more than a buzz.

but you be fair you right, Pink did out drink some dwarves, but we have no idea what her upper limit is, and gambling with years of Snikts life is a piss pour time to experiment and find out what that limit is. Especially when it would be against Satyr's of all the forsaken Fae creatures we could possible do it against. And that is assuming the fuckers don't find a way to cheat, and they would because, again I need to stress this, they are FAE.

So my framing of the situation when considering the facts as they have been presented is pretty fair.

>>5789198
What ended up getting Reynauld cursed was having a protracted battle with the king, and that would have happened anyway even if we attacked immediately, unless you can somehow claim that we could've landed a killing blow right out of the gate. I'm sorry, but I don't care for metagaming, I'm more interested in the story and writing than in trying to "win" or figuring out the "correct" answer. I'd much rather make a decision that seems appropriate for the PoV character to make, rather than one informed by a modern day nerd's encyclopaedic knowledge of the source material. If I wanted to solve puzzles, I'd get Void Stranger, or whatever the current FotM is, not go to /qst/. No matter how many lengthy screeds you type up, your approach will not convince me that my choice is the "wrong" one, and the fact that you keep melting down at people daring to disagree with you even when the votes are going your way shows me that you're absolutely not worth listening to.

>>5789553
You're framing it in the context of other settings, and satyrs who follow a deity of drinking and debauchery who may or may not exist in this post-apocalyptic fantasy world where THESE satyrs are subjects of a giant spider. You may or may no be right about their ability to best Pink, but you're stating it as if it's fact and calling other people stupid for not agreeing, while all you're actually doing is making a guess from context clues. I might as well say "well, in D&D 5th edition, satyrs have no poison resistance or constitution bonus and dwarves do, so you're wrong", and it would have as much bearing on the dwarves and satyrs of KKA.

At this point the metagaming is kind of a moot point because more important than the question of whether Pink can win a drinking contest is whether we even want to humor a couple of Satyrs who are annoying, selfish, and rude. Which so far, the votes indicate against. Snikt is already tired of dealing with their bullshit and she already asked nicely once. She is also, I think, smart enough to realize that the Satyrs can outsmart her, and thus smart enough not to give them the chance to do so.

>>5789751
And that is fair. Snikt might want to follow her Dragon's example and put an effort into resolving the situation without a fight, or she could be sick of the satyr's shit and fall back to her old trusty dagger, or imore likely, her new trusty firebreath. Either choice can be justified from an in-character point of view, and which one she ends up going with is up to the votes. I never had a problem with my choice not winning the vote. If I did, I would've probably stopped reading around thread 3.

>>5789680
>the fact that you keep melting down at people daring to disagree with you even when the votes are going your way shows me that you're absolutely not worth listening to.

"If a post with 5 to 6 sentences explaining my position is what you consider melting down, then you must have some thin skin, anon.

And if you want to talk about character POV, then why in the world would either of our kobolds agree to any games/agreements/etc. with fae after Raynold has made it very clear they are not to listen to or engage with them?

I mean, are we just going to forget how Esme nearly got taken by the fae court? And all our kobolds saw how close she came to getting messed over?

As for getting a killing blow out of the gate, no, I don't, but group combat would have been nice rather than the one-on-one after the king had us over a barrel.

>>5789700
Have you not seen the literal mix-and-match setting fiesta that is our game world? We have run the gamut from Fallout to some Elden Ring body horror flesh mountains. There is zero reason to assume the things we know about Satyrs from mythology are wrong here. But in fairness, I suppose I have stated my opinion too forcefully. It's just the way I see things; when I connect the dots from A to B, I am confident in my view and state it as such.
>>5789680
>>5789700
Look, for me, looking at the situation and the interactions we have had with every fae up to this point, it is a no-brainer for me to say, "screw these Satyrs." Because they are going to try to cheat or trick us so that they win. Even if we table the mythology around them being made for drinking. Every interaction where we engage with the fae has come back to bite us in the rear. So why give them the chance to mess us up again when we know that is exactly what they are going to do? Especially when the stakes are literal years off of Snikt's life.

Furthermore, I don't find the point of "well, she is a dragon; she has years to spare" convincing at all. How will they take those years from her if they win? I imagine, given these are fae we are talking about, they will do it in a sadistic and cruel way. Then Snikt has to live with that trauma, and we end up having to fight the Satyrs anyway. Doing anything other than killing them both right now reads as a lose-lose to me. It really is as simple as that.

"Snikt would like to propose something else." You say, mentally scolding yourself for falling back to your old way of speaking. You should *never* refer to yourself in third person, even if you're describing yourself. You wish you weren't so dumb... But, that's besides the point.
"In exchange for wine, we do not kill you."

The satyrs, who were quite confident and jolly (if annoying) suddenly lose that bit of jollyness. Their smiles falter, though they don't quite fall away entirely. Rather, they turn to the smiles of an animal baring its teeth.
"You are very confident. Or perhaps cowardly. So scared of a wager that you'd turn to violence?"
You start stepping a bit closer, sighing as you prepare one of the daggers you hid in your sleeves. It would take but a flick, and if they notice that, they never expect the hat knife.
Or the fact you can breathe fire. That one always seems to surprise people when your *dragon* does it, so on you, they'd never see it coming.
"I am confident you will cheat. I am confident you want to take mind, flesh or years from us. I am confident I can kill you."

The satyrs both take another drink of their wine, and hop off their stumps. One of them laughs.
"Fine. Another wager! If you-"
He never finished that sentence, as a crossbow bolt flies towards him, striking him in the chest. The breath is driven out of him as he chokes, though he finds his breath again to scream.
"IRON! THEY DARE!? THEY DARE BRING-"
Well, obviously, you're not going to let him finish *that* sentence either. Taking in a deep breath, you think about how your dragon does it... and how much he needs you, besides. You think on how one would blow air that hot, as well, and figure... well.
It doesn't need to be all the way open. Changing the way you set your jaw, and abusing the fact your face is a lot longer and thinner than your dragon, you exhale a perfect line of heat, hitting it from beyond the ranges Reynauld would have managed... Well, unless he wanted to, of course.
You're not going to do anything better than him. That's just a plain impossibility.

You strike him in the belly, slicing through his meats, and into his stomach... where, to your surprise and his friend's astonishment, the wine must have reacted violently.
Chunks of goat and man fly around, leaving a bloody mess behind, and making the other satyr scream:
"HOSPITALITY IS BREACHED! THEY ARE HERE TO SLAY!" He screams, trying to bound away... only for the others to chase him down.

People tend to forget, but a dragon's servants are fast. Especially if they're well-fed and motivated.
It probably also helps that you managed to shoot the jumping goat. It was really quick, but when you really, *really* wanted to hit it... You think time slowed down. Or maybe your reaction time went up. You are becoming closer to Reynauld, so maybe... his magic is working with you.
The bullet didn't do much, though. Perhaps because it fires lead, not iron. It was enough to push him off-balance, at least, and then a bolt from Anna strikes him in the back, besides.
"Didn't lose my touch." She mutters, trying to keep up, her misshapen face curled in a way that is probably a grin.
Once Chad and William caught up with the satyr, it didn't take long. Chad was quick and to the point, stabbing him where the neck and head meet... And then making sure by cutting off the head.

You reach for the bottle on the stump, still caked in goat blood. It feels full, despite the fact it filled the satyr's drinking horns... but then Anna steps in and grabs one of the horns, and gestures for you to fill it up.
You do so, ready to slap it out of her hands if she tries to drink it, but instead, she just sniffs it, carefully.
"Smells fine, now pour a little on that stump, alright? I've been 'round the block for magical chicanery, I bet they made adjustements."
Raising an eyebrow, you follow the goblin's command, and notice that as soon as it hits the stump, it turns colorless... though it stinks pretty bad.
"Hah. The horns are needed too. Right, we might as well use that drinking horn for our scaled big boy."
She snorts.
"He owes me for this one, I'd say. I'll be sure to hold it over his head for as long as we know eachother."

She catches your look.
"Oh, come off it, lanky. He made me feel accepted, and got me a boyfriend. I'm not gonna do anything other than tease him."
You expression doesn't change much, but you suppose it's fine until your dragon says it isn't.

Time to head back, you figure. As you begin to walk, however, you suddenly spot HIM again.
The archer. The one that fired an arrow at the group way before. It's not so much that you saw him, but you saw an absence of movement. This forest is *always* moving, with bugs, birds, animals... sometimes even the trees.
But there's one part that is stationary right now. Like everything around it left. From there, it took only a little bit more time to guess his hiding spot. In a bush, you see a faint line that's a bit too sharp. A composite bow.
...But if he was going to shoot, it would have been during your talk with Anna. He's biding his time.

If you run towards him now, you'll likely scare him off. At this distance, his camouflage will hide him faster than you can catch him, you're sure of it.

>Head back to your dragon, as soon as possible.
You'll bide your time as well. He doesn't know that you know

>Try to catch him anyhow.
Maybe you have something up your sleeve for this purpose.

>Call out to him

>>5790027
>>Head back to your dragon, as soon as possible.

is it possible to communicate to our fellows we have seen him?

>>5790027
>>Head back to your dragon, as soon as possible.
Keep an eye on him, but not both eyes, he might just be there to distract us, and we don't want to be paying so much attention to him that another group of fae get the drop on it

>>5790027
>Head back to your dragon, as soon as possible.
Keep an eye out so he doesn't do anything funny, but our job is to save our dragon first and foremost.

>>5790027
>Head back to your dragon, as soon as possible.
One thing at a time.

>>5790024
>"Snikt would like to propose something else." You say, mentally scolding yourself for falling back to your old way of speaking. You should *never* refer to yourself in third person, even if you're describing yourself. You wish you weren't so dumb... But, that's besides the point.
>"In exchange for wine, we do not kill you."
>"I am confident you will cheat. I am confident you want to take mind, flesh or years from us. I am confident I can kill you."
>you exhale a perfect line of heat, hitting it from beyond the ranges Reynauld would have managed... Well, unless he wanted to, of course.
>You're not going to do anything better than him. That's just a plain impossibility.
Has anyone pointed out the fact that Snikt is really cute?

>>5790404
They're kobolds. They tend to be cute.

>>5790027
>>Head back to your dragon
>>5790404
Yes our daughter is adorable

>>5790027
>Head back to your dragon, as soon as possible.
Well, it is what it is. Hospitality is breached, now we are hunter and hunted. Let's tip off Anna as well, though.

Apologies to everyone who doesn't care for spergy drama. Feel free to hide this post, it contains absolutely nothing of value.

>>5789784
You've managed to completely suck all joy out of this quest. You've been picking fights and hurling insults at everybody not voting your way for two threads now, ever since the fae entered the scene. I don't even want to follow KKA anymore when every update is punctuated by some eternally hostile knobgoblin pitching yet another shitfit. I guess congratulations are in order. It takes real talent to take one of the scant few good things remaining on this side of the internet and ruin it by mere association.

I'm sure you will come up with plenty of reasons why you did nothing wrong, why I'm an asshole and should just fuck off if I have a problem. People like you always do. Save your keyboard, I've read it all before. I don't care for your reasoning, and nothing you say can excuse or justify your behavior.

I hope you get that singleplayer experience you seem to yearn for. At least that way one of us can enjoy the quest in peace.

>>5791640
just hide his posts. but yes, he's an annoying retard and i'm pretty sure he''s been doing this since thread 1

>>5791684
>>5791640
... am I the weird one for actually agreeing with his logic?

>>5791694
His logic isn't really the issue

>>5791697
Understood. Under no circumstances should insults and name-calling be necessary for explaining logic or referencing IRL information.

Captcha: STKH0T
Bad Captcha! Snikt is cute and don't you dare lewd her!

>>5791640
I have done nothing wrong, I owe you no explanations, but I am sorry that the way I talk and converse frustrates you, I just want to do the same as you. I enjoy this quest it's a nice respite in a world that is increasing going mad.

I do hope you stick around KKA would be less without any of it's players. The thread is big enough for all of us. And if I am that large of a determent to your enjoyment, then please by all means just hide my posts. We can all enjoy the quest stranger danger.

>>5791694
The issue in my view is that I tend to speak without nuance or subtilty preferring to be direct and frank. And it usually goes one of two ways either people get what I am saying or they go man what an asshole.

>>5792139
Yeah. Pretty sure a lot of the 4channers are a bit "style over substance" and have skin thinner than soap bubbles, so they tend to suffer from a meltdown whenever someone used language they perceive as hurting their feelings.

I personally tend to use a lot more "we"s, but a lot less "you"s or any sort of "witty" or "flowery" language when strategizing or referencing IRL info... exactly because I'm pretty sure that's the safest way to avoid offending others while still getting my point across.

The two IDs below are also mine... because somehow every building in my college have a different IP address and they tend to change daily.
>>5791864
>>5791694

Still, good to see a fellow strategizer here, and good hunting.

>>5792247
BAKA, yeah, it's a shame people are so thin-skinned these days, but I suppose it is a sign of the times. I also realize that it doesn't help that we are conversing and planning through text, so context and subtext are lost, leaving your words open to interpretation. I didn't mean to upset anyone with how I presented my position, I wasn't personally attacking anyone but it clearly came a cross as such, and for that, I'm sorry. Sometimes things don't come across as intended, and that's just too bad.

File: Spoiler Image (1.34 MB, 812x989)

1.34 MB PNG

>>5791694
I think his logic is metagamey and not necessarily as self-evident as he presents it, but sound enough. The main issue is that he calls people stupid and harangues them for voting against him, even when he's already winning. People who whine that everyone else is 'voting wrong' are very annoying, and their adamant assertion that quests have only one 'right answer' in votes undermines the entire concept of quests as an exploratory collaborative adventure.

And, of course, he frames it as 'just telling it like it is' and 'being too REAL for the snowflakes', which is what loudmouthed assholes do when called out.

It's 4chan, though. It is what it is.

>>5791640
Don't let him ruin the quest for you. Just let it go and don't reply to him anymore.

>>5792301
I don't think votes have only one right answer, and the rest are traps; that is an illogical view and a bit schizo. However, I do believe that not all options are made equally. For instance, the last vote. It is undeniably a bad idea to engage in games, conversation, or challenges with Fae. I think we can at least agree on that much.

So, when in this case the option was presented to not only do just that, but against Satyrs in a drinking contest, it becomes a terrible idea. On the level of, 'Huh, that screaming in the woods sure is concerning; well, better grab a flashlight and go check it out.'

I'll also push back on the calling people stupid point. In my reply that kicked this off, I never attacked either of the anon's who voted for it; I attacked the idea. You can look, I called the idea stupid, not the anon's. It's like I said to the other anon, text makes things like intent a hard read and leaves your words open to interpretation.

Can we now get back to enjoying spines awesome quest and end this now pointless argument? the thread is genuinely big enough for all of us. For the record I hope that other anon does not leave and can find enjoyment in the quest. Even if I am oil to his water.

>>5792301
>>5792341

Yeah, even without metagame knowledge I highly doubt Snikt (our POV character for that vote) was going to trust any fey creature as far as she can throw them: she had first-hand experience on the cruel "pranks" they played, afterall. Plus, Reynauld - both her "dragon" figure and her father figure - did say something about not trusting the fey.

... and yes, my dear anon, there are people that thin-skinned and takes any criticisms to their decisions as personal insults. It's not an interpretation issue.

There's no time to waste. You'll keep an eye on this filthy waste of space, but right now, you need to get back to your dragon. You gather everybody up, as quick as possible, and start marching back... though, as you walk, you move closer to Anna. She's been very useful today, and you should certainly appreciate her for that; For the longest time, all you knew her as was the green woman that was Chad's mate. Being Chad's mate is a valuable thing, of course, he deserved it after spending so much time being the runt of the litter... excepting yourself, but Pink treated you kindly because you were useful.
Oh, you shouldn't be so distracted.
"Anna. I saw somebody watching us." You say, quietly. You don't know how well the archer can hear you, but it's best to play it safe. "The same one that shot an arrow at us before."
Anna clenches her teeth, something that is quite visible due to her scars.
"Well. Do we ambush him?"
"Not now. We need to get back to our dragon."

She lets silence hang for just a half-second, before saying:
"Yeah, sure. Head back to Reynauld, plan from there, right?"
"Yes" You say, nodding. "That would be good."

Anyhow, you arrive back at the camp pretty quickly. Most things seem to be giving you wide berth, likely having heard how much you suffer fools. It's not hard to find your Dragon, fortunately, though the reason for that is perhaps less fortunate. You could follow the plumes of blue fire being sent into the air, and the occasional roar. When you arrive back in the main court, you're... a little surprised. Pink, especially, gives an appreciative "ooh" when she sees Renyauld, hunched over everything even remotely of value, and evidently napping on his hoard. Paracelsus is to the side, half-naked to your surprise, and she seems to be steaming. Guessing from some of the scorched rags to the side, Reynauld has... tried to incinerate her.
But, he's sleeping, and being a dragon's mate has granted her more than enough resistance. To the side, you something *foul*, and you see your guide, his eyes still twinkling, hunched over some kind of pot.
"Ah. The wine?" He says, his voice echoing oddly. He is understandable again.
You do not like this forest's loose grasp on who is and is not understandable. You hand him the horn of wine, and he just quietly puts it to the side of the pot, for now.
"Good thing you have the horn... I'm not sure if the bottle would have sufficed. How did you acquire it?"
"Burnt them."

The guide blinks twice... and then sighs.
"Very well. We just need the others to show up with the gnome food."
From there... You and the others just move closer to your dragon. He woke up at some point, and just stared at you, his eyes almost feral... Before he grabbed you, and pulled you close.
"...Dragonling. Of mine." He says, his voice practically a groan. His poisoned leg looks incredibly swollen, and the talons on his feet have grown. But, frankly, being called his *dragonling* means this might still be the best day of your life, which is super cool.
You make sure to serve him his wants for now, though. This just feels right, and it's nice for him to want things done for him, instead of always having him do things for you.
Paracelsus doesn't seem to like it as much, though.
Reynauld... is also growing *even bigger* than before. Still humanoid in stance, though, but... By now, few would mistake him as anything less than what he is now.

Fortunately, Dismas arrives shortly afterward... holding a gnome in his hands.
"I have found the gnome. He says gnomes do not eat food." He says, passively, before adding in something else. "I propose we filet him. We make food *from* the gnome."
The little bearded guy in his hands begins to squeak and beg, yelling that he wants to help, but how can he give something he does not have!

... There must be some way to get food from a gnome that doesn't involve killing that little guy, right?
Reynauld, were he not poisoned to act as his instincts demand, would have found a way. You just know it.

>Think of something

>Welp. We make food out of the gnome.

>>5793748
>>Welp. We make food out of the gnome.

We are running out of time, and I personally can't be asked to feel sorry for the fae. The king probably knew that gnomes don't eat food and that's why he was so confident in his curse. Let's cook the little fucker up and be done with this terrible place and these terrible creatures.

The only other option that might work on a technicality is if we give the gnome a piece of our food have it eat some then give it back to us. As once it was in the gnomes possession it was his. But again I don't care to try but wanted to share the idea as it occurred to me.

>>5793748
>>Welp. We make food out of the gnome.
"Gnome food" would be so uselessly broad if it referred to food gnomes eat instead of food made from gnomes

>>5793748
>>5793867
Yeah, ask the lil' guy if he CAN eat food, and if yes, share some food with him and thus making the food we share with him "gnome food". Of course, if they can't eat food then he'll become food.

>>5793958
Try this. Only if it fails do we start killing and eating innocents because, holy shit, we have fallen off an ethical cliff lately.

>>5793748
I'm >>5792301 by the way.

>>5794199
>>5793958
... and I'm >>5792456. There are three IP address in my university, all three of them change by day. PGD7ivAe is the IP of my apartment.

>>5794199
We're only falling back on brute force because we're fighting an enemy who exists by preying on any humanity, mercy, or kindness we have. Think of it as a "Cold Iron" mentality. If the denizens of the faerie forest would stop trying to hurt/enslave us for like 5 minutes, we would happily leave them in peace.
Also there's no reason to believe the gnome is innocent in any meaningful sense. It's fae, thus a liar, thus it's own testimony is worthless.
Finally, this isn't Reynauld acting or thinking, it's a gaggle of rather amoral kobolts whose only moderating influence is currently incapacitated.

>>5794199
If this wins I would not be to upset, but what concerns me the most is we have a limited amount of the components for the curse breaking attempt if we are wrong on the technicality then well honest I don't know what happens but I have some very dark hypothesis about what will happen to our MC.

but there is a chance it could work

>>5794207
If we took that same attitude towards amoral kobolds, bandit brats, or vengeful goblins a few threads ago, most of our cute friends would be corpses. As recently as last thread, we adopted an innocent fae kid.

>>5794444
anon, since the moment we entered this forest every fae has been trying to either trick us and do horrible things to us, or kill us. That fae kid was raised human and had no idea he even was a fae, in all respect but the physical kid might as well be human. But the fae of this forest, well I think the court speaks for itself. Like I said the technicality option might work, but it might now and I don't know if we have enough resources for a second attempt.

But if anons want to give the technicality approach a try then go for it. But I think it is to much of a roll of the dice. at least if we turn the gnome into food that is out right "Gnome food" but who knows

>>5794451
>since the moment we entered this forest every fae has been trying to either trick us and do horrible things to us, or kill us
Mostly just the king and a couple courtiers. Meanwhile, Dismas and his clan did terrible things (including delimbing children to feed an ogre) and we forgave them, WIlliam was trying to help ambush and rob/kill us, and Anna was going to unleash a feral horde on a village of people. The satyrs were douchey, but we burned them alive for not giving us a thing we wanted for free, and this gnome has never done anything to us, is offering to help however he can, and is pleading for his life.

Would the kobolds do this for us? Probably, yeah, and not even blink an eye except maybe Chad and William. Would Reynauld have done such things in earlier threads? I sincerely doubt he would have as we were playing him. Do I want to go this route? Not especially.

Just my opinion. The vote ill go however it goes.

>>5794625
>including delimbing children to feed an ogre

I voted to kill them over that, but the vote didn't go that way. Anyway I've present an alterative option to killing the gnome but I do not trust it to work. If other anons want to roll those dice well gods speed.

>>5794697
My idea is more or less a one-two punch that can be done back to back, if the first option worked then we don't need to kill the little guy, but if anything went wrong we immediately initiate the backup plan. We shouldn't be THAT short on time as of yet.

>>5794697
Agreed. Simple as:
>"Here, have this food. It's yours. You own it. take a bite."
>Wait fro gnome to do so
>Yank food away, give it to Reynauld
>"Here, have the food of a gnome. Gnome food, if you will."
We can kill him in a pinch, but he is a total innocent as far as we know.

>>5793958
>something
after thinking it over I have realized that killing him and making him to to gnome food would likely work and would be the easiest solution, but not the right solution, not the Raynold solution so I am supporting this option, as it is the right thing to do but not the easy thing to do.

god I hope this works

"Come on... Just... claim the bread as yours!" You say, as the gnome takes the chunk of bread. The bread was left here, likely to be combined with wine and cheese, but as it stands, this is what you need.
"B-but I... It's not mine!"
"It can be! The owner's gone, and this party was open for all, remember? Just say that it's yours now, take a bite!" you demand... before explaining an important concept to the little beard on legs. "Oh! If you lick something, you claim it as yours. That's a rule."
The gnome looks up at you, in the same way one would look up at an erupting volcano. Though, guessing from the tilted eyebrows, thick enough to hide the undoubtedly confused eyes, it'd be more accurate to say he was looking at you as one would look at an erupting volcano that is giving real estate advice.
In a less labored way: It means he's in awe, terrified, and incredibly confused, at the same time.

Fortunately, however, he manages to find enough presence of mind to stick out his long, loopy tongue. The tongue of a butterfly, in fact! Then, he gently drags his tongue across the bread, before sticking his tongue in there, and draining... just a tiny bit of moisture from it. It must be like getting water from a stone, and guessing from the fact the suck action was a full-body motion, that's probably a thought that the gnome now shares with you. However, he succeeded, you think.
"B-by the laws of the big lizard thing that's got me hostage, I claim this here bread!" The gnome yells... And then, he shoves the little loaf over to you, which is a laborious thing for him, indeed.
"And, uh... You can have it."

You smile, clapping your hands, and then take the bread. Just as you're about to run, though, you... Stop for a moment.This is something that you do appreciate, and you really did trouble this little gnome guy. Reynauld has taught you better than to just let him walk off traumatized. You hand the bread over to Dismas, and turn to the gnome.
"Is there something I can do for you?"
The gnome blinks twice... And then asks:
"I don't suppose you know how to take care of gnome hair? I want to surprise my wife by getting it done up, but the haircutting badger is hibernating."
"Isn't it spring?"
"He's been saying five more days for months."

You smile, and... Sit down. You're incredibly inexperienced with air, but... You do have a *little* dragon in you! Just... Pretend you're Reynauld, and do it well. You close your eyes, and imagine the gnome's hair to be done up really pretty. Nicely combed, and with a little curl on his mustache, and a point for his beard, instead of the scraggly mess it is right now.
The air grows heavy for a moment... and then, with a little *poof*, you open your eyes.
"Ooooh!" The gnome says. "Mortal peril aside, this has been not altogether bad!"
"Good! Goodbye little gnome."
"Goodbye titanic monster!" He says, before hopping off the table and waddling off, back to his house.

Hehe..
He called you *big*.

Reynauld should be cured soon... But it'll take a little while.
...You should probably direct the others a little bit, so they don't do anything silly.

>We should all clean up the mess that we made in this grove.
It'll keep us busy, and it's polite.

>Let them do whatever for a while
It's *fine*. They're all adults here. Heck, you're the youngest one here other than Petrus.

>Something else that's useful.

>>5799339
> We should all clean up the mess that we made in this grove.
It's only polite that way. The fae folk tends to view courtesy as paramount.

>>5799339
... giving the gnome bread did save our Dragon, right? ... Right?

>>5799339
>>We should all clean up the mess that we made in this grove.


>>5799448
I hope so, I really really fucking hope so, but what's important is that we did the right thing.

>>5799339
>We should all clean up the mess that we made in this grove.
Getting our priorities (somewhat) straight again.

Also, goddamn, our daughteru is EXTREMELY good at magic.

>>5799335
>We should all clean up the mess that we made in this grove.
... After we give the Lady-Dragon-Mate the bread of course.
We hurt those who try to bring us harm, and help those who do not.

>>5799448
I figure it did, if Spine allowed us to release the little guy instead of keeping him around until we find out whether it worked or not

>>5799339
>>We should all clean up the mess that we made in this grove.
Also this

It actually did take a little convincing to help clean up the grove, but once Pink pointed out that you stand above the others as a Dragon-kin, many begin to come around... and once Chad and William willingly worked with you, they even did it without a moment of grumbling.
You, however, didn't feel good about it... As you were cleaning with the others, you moved next to Pink. She had lost some of her chattyness over the past few weeks, and you suspect you know why.
"Pink?" You ask n asyou begin to scrape off the burnt bark, revealing fresher, healthier wood underneath.
"Yes, Dragonkin?" She says, crumbling the wood into mere ash, and spreading it around, to ensure the forest will grow strong from what little it lost.
"Why did you... Say I stood above the others? I'm still just... I."
"It's "myself" when you say it like that, Snikt. But it's fine... The reason I said that, is because you *are* above the average kobolt. Reynauld always did have a soft spot for you, and with good reason. You were destined for greatness, were it not for the humans showing their nature."

Her expression is gentle, even as her words are not.
"But... Reynauld is a human, and he showed love to us all."
"Reynauld is an exception. Consider what malicious creatures we have met on the way here. How dedicated they are to their monarch... and they have the *gall* to consider themselves better than us? We follow the decree of our dragons, we serve them to the best of our ability... They interpret things as they please, abuse the assumed power of their leader. We don't pretend, we aren't cruel because we can get away with it. We do as the dragon asks." She remains so serene, but her tone...
There is hatred there.

"Consider what they have done to you. They broke you, turned you into a hunchback, and the one that helped you? She hates humanity as well. Despite all that, she seeks to help it. Seeks to cure it. Is that not the sign of something *greater* than humans? This blessing... It's their humanity that seeks to rid itself of it. An inherent weakness... One that our Dragons have conquered, I believe, but fear to abandon completely. A parasite they pity too much to finally let it die."
You look at her with... Not quite fear. Trepidation? Shock?
"...How long have you thought like this?" you ask.
"A while. I made no secret of my desire to see Reynauld reach his full potential. I love him, as a kobold should love her dragon. We all do. And you... Think of what you can do, even at this young age. You are the best of us... Even if you were not blessed. Do not misunderstand me, of course. The wizard's attempt at curing humanity of itself would have been a disaster, it would have granted power to those unworthy. It is good we stopped her."

You don't understand. This... Feels wrong.

"But I'm so little... and stupid."
"You are neither. Especially now. Come... It's time to put these dour talks behind us, Snikt. Serve your dragon for as long as you desire, but don't be afraid to spread your wings... I think we both know Reynauld would want nothing but the best for you."

...You nod, and keep on working. Chewing on what Pink said. She is a very old kobolt, and this is something you often forget. But her wisdom is undeniable, even if you know from Paracelsus that you cannot take anything at face value. She has been very clear about that. Hmmm...
Yes.
You should keep on as you are, at least for now.
===============================================
Reynauld

You awaken as if from a long sleep, but feel thoroughly unrested. You look down at yourself, and groan... You've grown bigger once more, in an inhuman way. Your torso looks distended, and your hands have grown thicker. Your claws are stronger, and your scales thicker. This poison did a number on you. You try to stand up... but trip.
...Your heels look as if they have extended upwards, and your knees look bent, besides.
A decidedly animalistic stance, identical to your kobolts, and with your torso like this, you... Sigh as you put your hands on the ground.
Sure enough.
Four legs and two legs are about as easy for you now. Still, you can stand straight, and look humanoid... enough.
You need to find the archwizard soon. Mercifully, however...

"You're feeling fine, right?" Paracelsus asks, investigating your body. "Such a beautiful body you have... It's good to see how I will progress later. Now then, with the guide having been... promoted, shall we say, I'm happy to say that these forests will let us pass very quickly. We just turned the journey of something akin to a week into a day's travel. But, there is something else we need to take into account. The assassin."
You look up, remaining quiet.
"The one that fired the arrow, and as Snikt told me, is still stalking us. Now that the forest will not stop us, it might be interesting to lay a trap for him."

...Hm.

Time to get back to it.

>Lay a trap
But think of a way on how you do it.

>Just move.
The forest is likely capricious. You'd prefer to just get out of here as fast as possible.

>...Take a break, talk to people.
It's been rough, and the grove looks quite clean.

>>5802924
> Just move.
The forest is likely capricious. You'd prefer to just get out of here as fast as possible.
The fact that we (plus our 'bolds) can move a LOT quicker than others in this forest would also mean as long as the assassin isn't supernatural in nature he's gonna have a hard time catching up to us.

>>5802924
>>Lay a trap
>But think of a way on how you do it

We really need to get to that wizard, but we also need to know who wants us dead. We also need to talk with pink, snikt, paracecus.

So much to do, but this isn't the place to do it

>>5802924
>...Take a break, talk to people
>Lay a trap
Have some lay a trap while we talk. We can hold teh assassin's attention in one place while others get ready to ambush him. He doesn't know that WE know he's there.

>>5802924
>>Just move.
Snikt hopefully told everyone how to spot the assassin, so move carefully through the forest and be prepared to respond to him. If he still follows us after the forest, light him up.
Also, maybe see if the new king and the changeling boy would both prefer the child remain with him? Unanimous decisions only, hopefully, but it may be best for everyone.
Otherwise, we'll do our best to do right by the child.
Also, finally, Reynauld and Celsie should talk about maybe coming up with an illusion spell for Reynauld. My idea is one that doesn't actually change his apperance, but makes him seem totally unremarkable to anyone looking at him. The final form of "if you walk in like you own the place, everyone will assume you are supposed to be there." A magically charged confidence trick.

>>5802924
>...Take a break, talk to people.

can we talk with snikt, and Paracelsus, I want to counter some of pinks retoric humanity is not a weakness and she has been a good girl.

I also want to talk to her about just how far she wants to go into dragon TF. because as we currently arm I am not sure how much longer we can even use our sword much less enter towns.

Personally I want our MC to go back to being full human, since that black ancient one wants to turn us into his disciple when we fully transform.

But would be happy just getting back to looking like a dragonborn from DnD. rather than the abomination we currently are.

File: Half-Red Dragon Fire Giant.png (3.7 MB, 1718x1743)

3.7 MB PNG

>>5803746
>the abomination we currently are
You are here.

At least Paracelsus still thinks we're hot. Thought that, and the way she refers to our upsetting bodily transformation that she KNOWS we don't want so casually and without concern for our feelings is... Troubling. Pretty sure she's being mentally corrupted more rapidly than us.

>>5803746
Humanity isn't a weakness... but neither is dragonhood - or the existence as any fully rational sapient being. As long as our new physiology doesn't give us new instincts to be cruel and malicious to others, and as long as our new form doesn't decrease our actual functionality in both combat and day-to-day life... I just can't bring myself to care about what species we currently are right now. Paracelsus, given her characterization, is probably somewhere between "I have the greatest test subjects to observe right now - my hubby and myself!" and "Flesh is weak, transhumanism is the way to go."
The issue is that our kobolds are more or less a magically-created servant race with an automatic instinct to follow those stronger than them, and Snikt is transforming from one of them into something they have an instinctual respect/obedience of. She's afraid that her newfound dragonhood would change her dynamic between her and her friends/family-of-choice, while Pink, being the (perhaps a lil' bit jaded) old accountant who have seen strong people come and go... just decided to accept the world as-is and rationalized that "if Snikt became a dragon then she must be fated to lead us all along". Humanity doesn't even factor into their conversation - the conversation is between two kobolds with obedience hard-wired into them and the unique power dynamics that formed in their groups as a result.

>>5803780
>as long as our new form doesn't decrease our actual functionality in both combat and day-to-day life

but it it will and already does to a lesser extent. looking like a dragonborn already spooked people in settlements but this latest round of changes will surely only make it worse.

>You've grown bigger once more, in an inhuman way. Your torso looks distended, and your hands >have grown thicker. Your claws are stronger, and your scales thicker. This poison did a number on >you. You try to stand up... but trip.
>...Your heels look as if they have extended upwards, and your knees look bent, besides.
>A decidedly animalistic stance, identical to your kobolts, and with your torso like this, you... Sigh as >you put your hands on the ground.
>Sure enough.
>Four legs and two legs are about as easy for you now. Still, you can stand straight, and look humanoid... enough.

>>5803773
this also goes back to your post, we are past the point in the picture you used. being comfortable on four limb as two and based on how we tell over when we tried to stand we aren't going to be able to stand on our two fee much longer.

which I am sure I don't have to point out will be crippling for our ability to use our sword skills in combat. Sure we will still be able to ripe and tear our way through most problems but that will just result in us being injured more and accelerating our transformation even faster. I am already worried our armor is going to be useless now with the fallout from this as well.

we are nearing a tipping point of no return, were our skills and abilities as a fighter will be lost to us because of our transformation. I haven't even touched on the problems trying to go into towns and conducted our business or even get help from locals will be now. We need to pull back take a minute and get out shit together before we fuck out character over.

>You need to find the archwizard soon. Mercifully, however...

his first thought after taking in just how much he has changed was not sweat I am getting even more draconic, no it was a deep need to get to the wizard to stop this from getting even worse. Reynauld doesn't want this and it would be a betrayal of his character to force him down a path that will end in it. That out I see it and why I know we need to talk with Paracelsus because she seems to not really be as concerned as she should be. And why I want to help Snikt understand humanity is not a weakness. because as it stands we have more than enough draconic, and we need to regain and restore some more of our human essence.

>>5803773
She *is* an autistic alchemist/plague doctor, afterall - and being fascinated by - or even attracted to things normal humans would be horrified by might as well be part of her package.
Ones does not need supernatural corruption/manipulation to find the existence as something more powerful than a human advantageous - if anything, it have more to do with how much we can stomach the inherent and instinctual "otherness" we feel, and less about some supernatural spark that defines us "human".
It's almost as if we're dating an AdMech techpriestess and expecting her to not push more implants and cybernetics on us - it probably has nothing to do with supernatural corruption, but her nature meant she saw human physiology as a weakness to be overcome - or even discarded - instead of embraced. She made it pretty clear that "eat humans for supper" is a line she'll not allow us to cross, so I'd say she's safe - at least for now.

Jesus I need t stop posting while tired, that post is full of spelling errors. My main point is, we are close to crossing over from dragonborn to full feral dragon making our fighting style worthless and making it very very hard to enter towns. that is before remembering our Main Character really doesn't want to go full dragon.

>>5803789
>we are past the point in the picture you used
I mean, the pic is plantigrade rather than digitigrade, but with those short legs and long arm and torso, bro is built like a gorilla.

>>5803780
>As long as our new physiology doesn't give us new instincts to be cruel and malicious to others
When Snikt returned, Reynauld had just tried to light Paracelsus on fire for getting near his hoard of valuables...

>>5803795
>I mean, the pic is plantigrade rather than digitigrade, but with those short legs and long arm and torso, bro is built like a gorilla.

hmm, fair, I suppose you have a point with that, I was thinking more of the classic dragon quadruped stance than a gorilla stance. But we will need to get Spine to clarify which it is neither one is great but at least if it is the gorilla style stance it is closer to humanoid than not.

>>5803789
> we fell over when we tried to stand
We're still getting used to our new physiology, and digitigrade hind legs seems to be part of it.
> Snikt understand humanity is not a weakness
Snikt was never human. Even if we're "just" a powerful human knight she (and Pink) will probably still call us a "dragon" because for their kind any species stronger than them automatically rules them, no questions asked. It's just that true dragons just invoke even more instinctual obedience and servitude in them.
> we need to talk with Paracelsus
Why should she be concerned? For her as long as we're still sane, rational, and understand right from wrong there's nothing to worry about. Species is just an outer shell for her - and the stronger the form the better.
We do need to talk with Paracelsus about the issue though: being a dragon is all fun and games until we realize that we still have a devil's contract with some asshole dragon back on the continent we came from. Human essence does not even need to factor into our concern.

>>5803795
> When Snikt returned, Reynauld had just tried to light Paracelsus on fire for getting near his hoard of valuables...
That's from the Fey curse, which turns us into a feral animal - something Paracelsus understands and distinguishes from our normal behavior. After we get cured we no longer have that instinct.

>>5803805
You sure? We recently experienced a whole thing where humans messing with our "hoard" of kobolds caused us to go into a cannibalistic fugue state while roaring about how they touched what was 'ours'.

>>5803800
>We're still getting used to our new physiology, and digitigrade hind legs seems to be part of it.

I am sure that is a part of it, that fails to address the issue of losing our ability to use the fighting style we have used the whole quest and which our MC is a master of, and getting locked into to ripe and tear which we are no where near as good at when compared to our sword play, and again your forgetting the lose of our ability to use armor is this goes much further.

>Snikt was never human. Even if we're "just" a powerful human knight she (and Pink) will probably still call us a "dragon" because for their kind any species stronger than them automatically rules them, no questions asked. It's just that true dragons just invoke even more instinctual obedience and servitude in them.

unless I am mistaken and have forgotten the revival scene we mixed our blood with hers to save her life and turn her into a dragon in the making, and since that scroll was one of species changes, the girl is our bio daughter now and so she has human blood in her, welcome to the human race or as close as one can be when they have the blood of a human who is turning into a dragon in them.

>Why should she be concerned? For her as long as we're still sane, rational, and understand right from wrong there's nothing to worry about. Species is just an outer shell for her - and the stronger the form the better.

how about the inability to interact with civilization, or conduct science or research because your now a dragon and your claws are not dexterous enough for that? or the fact about the only place that will comfortably fit you in time is a cave? or the fact that again Reynauld have made it very clear this isn't something he wants she she doesn't seem to really care as much as she should.

>We do need to talk with Paracelsus about the issue though: being a dragon is all fun and games until we realize that we still have a devil's contract with some asshole dragon back on the continent we came from. Human essence does not even need to factor into our concern.
I agree we need to worry about the black dragon I even said so in my opening post anon, but human essence is very much a factor in our concerns. one could argue it's a piller of the quest.

>>5803805
First it was effectively blacking out with rage at the pirates for touching our kobold which we considered to be a part of our horde, and now again when the fae curse was accelerating our Transformation we tried to touch GF for "messing with the horde" it's more than the fae curse anon.

>>5803813
I'm actually okay with becoming more comfortable with dragon physiology as we go, but not with losing our human mind and becoming comfortable with eating people and enacting petty violence out of greed or jealousy

>>5803807
Yeah, whereas a human knight turning a the pirates into a fine red paste while yelling about how nobody touches our family and friends is perfectly fine. Without the fey curse we haven't tried hurting anyone underserving of our wrath yet - and even before this whole dragon thing we're shown to use lethal force on anyone who have done evil of their own will.

>>5803817
hey fair enough, I can't be a hater for you enjoying what you like, but I still see that as a massive betrayal of our character and every hardship he has overcome in his effort to remain human even if it is only on the inside. I don't really see how you can separate the petty acts of violence, greed, and jealousy from dragon phycology as unlike in say for instance DnD 5e we haven't seen any indication of two strains of dragon which for lake of a better term I will call the good and evil kinds.

in Spines setting based on every dragon we have ever encountered they all seem to be of the evil kind, which leads me to infer that is the only kind of dragon that exists in this setting. I've already said while I want our MC to return to full human, I am fine with him ending up in the dragonborn species basket, it gives him the ability to remain apart of civilization and the perks of being a dragon, without the mental issues that come with it.

again this is even before considering the fact that giant super evil dragon has explicitly told us the day we fully TF he is coming to force us to be his apprentice so it is in fact a bad thing.

>>5803817
That's probably also Paracelsus's viewpoint, so we can probably use that to find a common ground with her and talk about our concerns.
Afterall, it's all about how to control our new form, and how not to be screwed over by the supernatural. A feral human... would just be a human with severe (supernaturally-induced) mental illnesses, while a feral dragon can cause untold destruction just by being there. Plus the whole deal with the evil black dragon thing.
A similar analogy can be seen in Cyberpunk 2077, where "Cyberpsychosis"... is literally just human psychosis but with cybernetics. Only instead of a human snapping and punching someone else in the face, a cyborg is much more adept at turning others into barely discernable chunks of meat and metal.

>>5803828
I'd say the witch is more or less evil because she's promoting dragon supremacy to the detriment of every other species, plus the part about turning people into kobolds - a magically shackled slave/servant race.
All rational sapient beings can choose to be either good or evil - bandits are evil because they survive on the misery of others, and demonic cultists are evil because they murder people for their own gain. Would a draconic bandit be any different? Yes in threat level, but not so much in motivation or morality. Dragons who gather their horde through legitimate means are no more evil than human collectors who gather their collections through legitimate means, while a draconic tyrant who demands a human to be sacrificed to him every day as his dinner is also no less evil than a human tyrant who executes a random human every day for shits and giggles. We fought three dragons in total - the first one is just the run-of-the-mill draconic bandit/tyrant with a dying curse mixed in, the second the aforementioned witch who is already evil/insane as a human, and the third a mutilated being that more or less have to be mercy-killed. The giant super evil one is a big concern though - we cannot turn into full dragons, for the second we do the Onyx asshat would come to collect his side of the bargain.
Also, Spine seems to have a more "species does not dictate morality, action does" viewpoint in his writing.

>>5803813
> losing our ability to use the fighting style we have used the whole quest
Normally speaking, dragons have front claws with enough dexterity to grasp/hold daily objects. We might need a bigger sword and some major modifications to our armor though, and not fitting in most doorways might be an issue for our current objective. But we can probably adapt to swordfighting with our current physiology quick enough that we don't lose any combat effectiveness in the meantime.

> welcome to the human race
Have Snikt gained any human traits during her transformation? Kobolds are more or less dragonoids to begin with, only that she can breath fire now and have a newfound talent for magic. We used the TF scroll to save her as she was hit with an aging spell - turning her into a human would have killed her quicker as kobolds have a longer natural lifespan than humans.

> your claws are not dexterous enough for that
Dracognic front claws should still be dexterous enough for grabbing/holding daily objects. Size might be an issue though. She might not really understand why Reynauld would want to remain human though.

> human essence is very much a factor in our concerns. one could argue it's a piller of the quest.
in the beginning, yes. But we seem to accept our newfound physiology as time goes on - and so did William. Spine's writing seems to suggest the more "humanity has more to do with what we are inside" theme.


Still, as much as I wanted to see two golden-scaled guardians soaring freely in the skies, protecting the innocent and inspiring tales for generations to come as a worthy endgame... we don't have that freedom right now. We need to remind Paracelsus that a certain Onyx arsehat would come to collect once we turn full dragon though. He IS unambiguously evil, has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and his tutelage WILL turn us evil. So we either halt our transformations (yes, plural, because Onyx would also do the same to Para the second she turns full dragon) for the foreseeable future, or somehow find a way to rid the world of that bastard first. Or both.

>>5804396
>Have Snikt gained any human traits during her transformation?
We turned her into a 'dragonkin' like us. She explicitly grew taller and gained CURVES, becoming attractive to human men. Dragons aren't curvy in a mammalian sense, insofar as we've been told.

>Spine's writing seems to suggest the more "humanity has more to do with what we are inside" theme.
Fair, but both William and Reynauld, and most probably Snikt and Paracelsus, are experiencing the instincts and urges associated with their new biology. "What we re inside" is changing.

>>5804415
> becoming attractive to human men
The question is... does SNIKT or her kobold pals understand that, and did she gain any new human instincts/urges not already present as a kobold? I've yet to see them understanding anything more about the whole transhumanism/trans-species topic than "human stronger than kobold, dragon even stronger". For us, a (formerly) human knight, the debate is more on our identity as a human vs that of a dragon, but for them I've yet to see any of them understanding even morality beyond "follow our 'dragon', actual dragonhood not a deciding factor but preferred".

> "What we're inside" is changing.
Fair enough. "All things psychological is physiological" afterall. Our identity is a conflicted being between two species, and our psychological processes changed along with our newfound physiology. Para probably just took the changes better because most questions we're talking/debating about... never even occurred to her; and the only debacle Snikt is facing is "am I still friends with my fellow 'bolds if I turn into a dragon(kin)". We all did keep our morality and rational thought, though. Also, assuming we were a pure human knight instead of a dragonkin, given the Fey's wording when he cursed us, we'd probably be turned into a wolf/boar/bear or some other feral wildlife and would have still mauled (a presumably still human) Para... to potentially even more disastrous results.

So... instead of telling Snikt that "humanity is not a weakness" - which she would have a problem understanding as she have never really had the thought process of a human - it's more important to address that WE, as Reynauld and Paracelsus, does not care about her current species, and we are all basically family-by-choice now. There will be no power dynamics in our group based purely on species or combat prowess, either.

>>5804464
>I've yet to see any of them understanding even morality
Chad has evinced some understanding of our chivalric approach to morality, I've noticed. Probably doesn't hurt that he's shtupping a non-kobold.