/monster/ - The Last Bastion of Romance

>Denounce an Unknown Paladin

>Testify about the Fleshmarket

>Do not force Chad to Testify

“Yes. Your Worship.” You venture, clearing your throat as your voice cracks from nerves. “When Grek was telling me about the man who led her here, she used the phrase ‘Bright-Burny’. She used the same phrase to describe you calling on the Holy Blessing of the Benedictus.”

“You impugning me here, Freeman?” Douglas demands.

You shake your head vehemently. “No, Your Worship… At least, not you specifically, but I think she was talking about a Paladin.”

“A weighty denunciation…Who?”

“I have no proof of anyone specific, Your Worship.”

“Vagary…” Matriarch Neisha snorts mockingly.

“Hast thou known a Ghoul to lie, Matriarch?” Bella accuses.

“Who appointed you a special prosecutor, Outlander?” Neisha scoffs in reply.

“Oi! That’s off value! Lady Bella here fought the fire, askin’ nothin’ in return, didn’t see you and yours rushin’ to help… Matriarch.” A human interjects loudly. A rumble of affirmation ripples throughout the crowd.

“SHADDAP!” Sir Douglas snarls menacingly, silencing the crowd. “That will fuckin’ DO with the unprompted additions from the peanut gallery… regardless of the gallantry of the speaker.” he continued, looking at Bella pointedly. The Griffon looks down at her leonine paws, intimidated by the Paladin’s glare. “…Still, she raises a good point. Ghouls are too stupid to lie.”

A yowl of umbrage from Grek at that, silenced by a casual cuff from Douglas’s mailed fist. “Doesn’t mean they’re always right either. Still… Can’t hurt to ask. Oi. Ghoul. What’s Bright-Burny?”

“Hurt! Hurt-scared! Bright-burny from angry-sun-god-thing-mens. No-again bright-burny! Grek make good-nice! No-again!”

“Angry-Sun-God-Thing-Mens… I wonder if we can work that into a canticle somewhere…” Kathleen murmurs in mild amusement.

“Blasphemy!” Justin decries, and a worrying number of affirmative murmurs ripples from the crowd.

“Challenge.” Douglas growls. “Does she SOUND like she’s capable of complex fuckin’ speech?”

“All know the name of Holy Tyris!” Justin declares imperiously.

Hidden Roll

“Now, true… but don’t forget that His Doctrines command; ‘Be thou not incensed if the righteous claim to know Me by another name afore My Word be given unto them, but let thy tutelage be of gentle encouragement, that My True Name be known to them in due course.’ This is the Word of The God.” Kathleen corrects the Paladin.

Automatically, you raise your hands in the sign of the sunburst. “All Glory to the Most High” ripples across the gathered Humans.

“I’d say that counts as ‘Without Merit’.” Douglas remarks. “Do you spend so much time bullying the lowborn you forget what comes out yer mouth, Justin?”

Justin glowers, but says nothing.

“Well, I was suspicious before. Now I’m halfway to convinced. How many of the Anointed are in attendance?” Douglas asks.

“Brothers Mark and David are absent with fever, Sir Douglas.” A Paladin you didn’t recognise replied. “Both have cloistered themselves without healing, suffering the illness as penance. All others are accounted for.”

“You know… there is such a thing as excessive fuckin’ piety…” Douglas grumbles.

“Also such a thing as an immune system.” Kathleen interjects “And it is known to be found wanting if not adequately stimulated.”

“Not the time, Your Reverence.” Douglas grunts. “Orright. How long they been out?”

The unknown Paladin ponders that. “Day before yesterday?”

“Both of ‘em?”

“David first, but they were both on that coast run where the tide caught them napping. It was a long, cold night.”

“…You know maybe penance is deserved for being dumbarses.” Douglas muses. “How long were you down there, Ghoul?”

“Long-and-long.” Grek replies.

Douglas puts his face into his mailed hand in desperation. “The God be gracious… Freeman, how long’s stinky here been in that basement?”

Secular Lore(Adam): fail

You ponder that for a moment, before turning to the crowd. “Hey Riley, you here?”

“If you try and pin this on me I’ll claw your face onto the back of your head, Trader.” The Quoll’s voice rings out from somewhere in the crowd. “And you’ll never see me coming.”

“Tyris be Merciful, was just gonna ask if you were sure it was a week ago you saw the vegemite!” You groan.

“Oh. Well. Yeh, to the day.” Riley admits.

“You sure?”

“Who do you take me for, Shambles?”

“Leave off the Null, Riley!” Connor calls from where he stands with the soldiers.

“If I have to tell folks to shut it again, I’m gonna start collecting tongues.” Douglas snarls. “Freeman, you don’t call others unless Her Reverence tells you s’orright first. Understand?”

>>306658

“Thank you, Sir Douglas.” Kathleen replies with a gracious inclination of her wimpled head.

“Sorry Your Worship, Your Reverence…” You apologize sincerely “…But to answer your question, a week at most.”

“How do you know?”

“Because neither the Cook or her Assistant would have touched the vegemite, and it wasn’t there when I went into the larder.”

“And what, pray tell, were you doing in the Larder, Adam?” Justin asked suspiciously.

“Counting parsnips and spikerush, Captain Justin.” You reply evenly, was this fucker trying to pin this on you? “Corporal Connor… conscripted my assistance. Apparently there was a bit to-do with his ability to get fresh supplies if your Quartermaster wasn’t satisfied with the existing stocktake.”

“Corporal? Quartermaster? This true?”

“Yessir!” Connor answers quickly, straightening to attention.

“That is the… spirit of my instruction, if not the EXACT wording…” The Quartermaster clarifies, looking between Sergeant Bennet and Connor with a look of slight irritation. The Sergeant had the good grace to look somewhat abashed. Clearly some florid exaggeration of the situation had occurred somewhere along the chain of command.

“Right…” Douglas mused. “…So. A week. I’m safe to say all Anointed are suspect?”

“Sir Douglas! Surely you’re not taking this… Dead… THING at her word?!” The Paladin exclaimed in objection.

“Why not? Simple matter really. “Oi Ghoul. Do you see who led you here?”

Grek shakes her head. “No see. Bright-burny bad-make ouch in eyeses. Just know mans.”

“Well piss.” Douglas curses. “Orright, so we confess all the Anointed here, and if we’re all clear, we stick the ghoul in a hole somewhere until we can confess the others. Drop a dead horse in there with her, keep her outta mischief.”

Grek made a slathering noise of anticipation at the prospect, ignoring the widespread sounds of revulsion from the gathered crowd.

“To be put to Confession on the word of THAT though?”

“Humility’s good for the soul, Brother Stefan. Now, since I’m already talking to you…”

“Y-you want to confess… me first?”

“Why? Nervous?”

“…yes.” The paladin admitted with a look of ashamed chagrin.

“Well there you are then!” Justin declared. “He admits it!”

“No! What? Justin, why in the name of Tyris…” Stefan exclaimed in horrified shock.

Hidden Roll

“I asked him if he was nervous, Justin, not if he did it…” Douglas replies evenly. “…and no Stefan, I’m not confessing you first. You will be confessing me.”

“You?”

“What man claims righteousness if he is not willing to drink of the cup he offers to others?”

“As you will, Sir Douglas…” Stefan concedes, walking over to his fellow paladin. Swallowing, he raises his hand, palm outwards “…Kneel and be Confessed.”

Without hesitation, Douglas kneels, Stefan placing his hand atop the Paladin’s head. The Glow of the Benedictus suffuses both men, and Douglas gives a grimace of discomfort.

“Hast thou guilty knowledge of this Ghoul before thee?” Stefan intones formally.

“I do not.” Douglas declares clearly.

“The Blessing of The God speaks to the truth of thy statement. Thy thoughts are made clear unto me and thy soul is free of guilt.” Stefan concludes.

Hidden Roll

“I KNEW I saw an extra card in your hand last week…” Stefan hisses in a barely audible whisper.

“Later, dumbshit.” Douglas retorts in a likewise hushed tone.

Oh Tyris… Tonight was going to be interesting…

>>306659

“This is pointless!” Justin declares as yet another Paladin rises with a sheepish expression. The dour look on his confessor’s face spoke to yet another conversation to be had after this business had concluded, however. “…Nothing but minor infractions, nothing even with a hint of malice.”

“I notice you have not been Confessed, Justin.” Douglas remarks.

“I’m sure I have.” The Paladin blusters.

Hidden Roll

“And I’m sure you haven’t.”

“Do you denounce me?” Justin demanded, fronting up to his fellow Paladin.

“Confess then, and if I’m wrong I shall do penance.” Douglas replied evenly.

Justin’s face twisted, as if he had just eaten something foul… then, between one moment and the next, he bolted, shoving his way through the crowd.

“Seize him!” Douglas ordered.

Justin chanted a short phrase, and the light of the Benedictus erupted around him, causing those around to shield their eyes and stymying their efforts to grab the fleeing captain.

“Your Reverence?” Douglas growled, looking expectantly at the High Priestess.

“The light… I can’t see him, there’s too much of a risk that I’ll hurt someone else!” Kathleen replied, grimacing in outrage and frustration. Truth be told you sympathised, Justin was little more than an intensely bright shape making his way steadily towards the outlying derelict buildings. You couldn’t even begin to try and focus a glyph on him. You realized with a sinking heart that once he was in that maze of ruins, finding him would be even more difficult.

Hidden Roll

A shriek resounded throughout the courtyard, and a winged shape launched itself at the light, tumbling over and over as the two collided. As the struggling subsided, you saw Bella, talons firmly around Justin’s arms and shoulders, pinning him to the earth as the light around him faded, her eyes squeezed shut.

“Thank you Bella, Stand him up please.” Kathleen asked in an almost conversational tone.

Still with her eyes closed, Bella forced the man upright, and you sensed a stream of resonant glyphs being cast, expertly woven by the High Priestess. Justin shrieked, pulled in two directions as the glyphs warred with Bella’s iron grip.

“Let him go, Griffon, that’s Her Reverence.” Douglas yelled across the courtyard, before turning his head towards the gathered soldiers. “Secure Captain Justin, if you please Sergeant.”

“Aye sir! Second squad, penal detail!” Sergeant Bennet commanded. The Griffon released the man with a sigh, then opened her eyes… and screamed.

“Adam! Blue! Prithee! Help me! I cannot see!” She cried in utter terror.

“Oh Tyris…” you moaned, rushing towards her, pushing your way through the crowd, and coming to a pause in amazement. A group of humans had quickly made their way to her and with soft words and gentle encouragement, were guiding her back towards the inn.

“C’mon Lady Bella, your mates’ve got you…” One murmured.

“Argh!” Another man cried as Bella stumbled, mashing his ankle beneath her leonine paw. “Don’t stress Lady Bella, s’just a leg, I’ve got another’n.” He assured her with a friendly pat to the shoulder before limping away with a grimace.

“Bella!” You gasp, taking the Griffon’s talon in your own and putting it to your face without thought for the razor-sharp claws it was tipped with. “I’m here. You’re alright.”

“M-maou… I am blind!” The Griffon sobbed.

“Shhh…” High Priestess Kathleen interjected soothingly, having somehow appeared next to you. “…Let me see.”

“She’s Mamono, your reverence.” You mentioned as Kathleen pulls down one of Bella’s lower lids, peering at the gold-irised eye beneath

“Aren’t you a clever lad, Adam? I spotted that too.” Kathleen murmurs mockingly.

“What I mean is…”

Hidden Roll

“…Am I going to know what I’m looking for? An eye’s an eye, Adam, there’s not much difference to the way they work, regardless of species.” And then, in a near whisper. “If you spent any time in Magisterium, you’d understand this.”

That hit you. How MUCH beyond your understanding was mere child's play to trained Resonants? Suddenly you did feel very inexperienced.

“Someone fetch a warm washcloth and some essences of Aloe, Witch Hazel, and Peppermint.” Kathleen commands the gathered priestesses. One bows and departs, and Kathleen turns to another. “Sister Sarah, you will tend to Bella here. The washcloth is to be changed hourly.”

“W-wilt I see again, Your Reverence?” Bella asks in a small, timid voice.

“You’ll be seeing just fine by tomorrow, but it’s going to start itching like the dickens in about fifteen minutes. That’s what the washcloth’s for.” Kathleen assures her.

“A Miracle! Praise Tyris!” A nearby human declares.

“Praise to the Most High indeed, but I do believe we were in the middle of something.” Kathleen reminds the gathered crowd, leaving Bella in the veiled Priestess’s care.

“Indeed.” Douglas agrees, turning to the struggling Justin, clasped in irons and the ungentle hands of a group of Faith Militant soldiers. “Will you Confess willingly or am I going to have to force you?”

“I did it.” Justin snarls “I led that rotting thing here. But only to expose the corruption that has been allowed to stand within Kalbarri! We have been found wanting, my brother Paladins. We have allowed unseemly tolerance to stay our hands from righteous act…”

Justin’s preaching is cut short by Sir Douglas’s mailed fist coshing him firmly in the mouth. “You’ll have the chance to challenge soon enough. Now. To the other.”

“What’s left to tell?” Matriarch Neisha scoffs. “The Alp has nothing more to say.”

Hidden Roll

“Pardon, Your Worship, Matriarch… Ernie was no murderer.” You interject, stepping forward once again.

“Tyris be merciful, what NOW, human?” The Matriarch whinnied in exasperation.

“I’m given to understand the bodies were those of Criminals and Ferals, duly convicted.”

“That can be investigated, but they were butchered for FOOD, Freeman.” Douglas growls, “How do you explain that?”

“And what was being fed, your Worship? I don’t know, but how often do Waylanders leave those selfsame corpses for Ghouls, Bungarra and scavengers?” You reply “Abhorrent as the… preparation is, is there really any difference?”

“It’s still unlawful defilement, which is still Heresy.” Kathleen explained. “Although, the complexity of ‘why’ does lead me to further curiosity. How does this exonerate the Alp?”

“Because I believe that apart from running an inn atop it and putting the prepared ‘meat’ in storage, Ernie didn’t have anything to do with its administration.” You explain.

“You’re mad, Trader! They’ll kill you!” The Alp shrieked.

“Prove me wrong then. Please. I can only look like an idiot, and I’m kinda used to that.” You retort with a wry grin.

“How do you know this, Freeman?” Douglas demanded

Secular Lore(Adam): Crit Success (wew!)

“Because all the funds were funneled through Nautilus Futures, and purchases of ‘Giltfleisch’ were only ever paid with Nautilus notes. It’s right there in the stock ledgers, he was audited, frequently, from the looks of things, and did his best to obfuscate the figures, but as me dad taught me, numbers don’t lie. Ernie was nothing more than a middleman, and I think the Alp’s reaction speaks louder than any other testimony to the fact he didn’t have a choice as a human.” You explain, ticking the points off on your fingers.

If you hadn’t done Connor first, you wouldn’t have gotten this option, but if you had done Chad first, you may have had the opportunity to bypass this whole thing.

“Well fuck me backwards, what do you expect me to do with that, Freeman?” Douglas demands, “Line up every Mer, Kraken, and Trader associated with Nautilus until I find someone willing to take ownership of this horror?”

You shrug, “It’s your Inquisition, Y’Worship, but youse already stayed the Ghoul’s execution due to coercion. Figured the same should apply for the Alp, especially since as she says, her life as ‘Ernie’ is pretty much shot as is.”

“Fair.” Douglas concedes, before turning to the Alp. “Give me a name and I’ll exonerate you, absolve you of all sins, fete you as a fucking hero.”

The Alp shakes her head sadly.

“Anybody else?” Douglas booms, panning his steely gaze about the gathered crowd. Silence was his only answer.

>>306661

“Pity. Reverence?”

“As it stands the sins not mitigated by coercion are largely secular… On the middling to serious side, but absolvable by corporal punishment.” Kathleen explains with a frightening casualness.

“Bah… New Alp? She’d be dead within a week if we flogged her, or back up here for rape. Exile.” Douglas declares.

“Agreed.” Kathleen nods, “Matriarch Neisha?”

“What do I care? She’s not my problem.” the Centaur snorts dismissively, flicking her tail absently.

“Matriarch, as a Mamono, regardless of how she got to that point, she sort of is.” Kathleen corrected in that deceptively sweet tone that sent crawlers up and down your spine, despite the fact it wasn’t aimed at you.

“Urgh. Fine. Exile.” Neisha groans, rolling her eyes and pointing off towards the west. “Thealiss is thataway. Get moving, Alp.”

“I’m just to cross the desert with just the clothes on my back? I’d rather you just killed me now if it’s all the same to you, I’ve seen men die from exposure and burning’s quicker.” The Alp scoffs cynically.

“Indeed, it would behoove you to supply enough for her to at least GET to her destination, Matriarch?” Kathleen adds, a touch of steel beneath the sweetness

“Why am I shelling out? She’s not Gorge-Runner.” The Matriarch objects.

“I refer you to my previous statement.” Kathleen smiles, her eyes growing flintier by the moment.

“Sky-horde… it never ends with you two-legs… Fine. Seline, see it done.” The Matriarch waves presumptively.

“At once, Matriarch.” The Stablemistress replies obediently, extending a foreleg and bowing deeply.

“Now… Justin.” Douglas began, turning once again to the restrained Paladin as the Alp was led away by her escort. “…I get it. I do. Your house fallen, your title disavowed for the Heresy of your Father… watching Kalbarri fall to ruin… Anybody would want to act.”

“Then you will absolve me?” Justin asked hopefuly.

“Of the Sin of false witness against Brother Stefan, I’ll absolve you. It’s a tenuous charge. But the Heresies of Forcing by malice a Human to surrender His humanity, of Enabling assault on a Freeman of the Australs, of the use of the Benedictus for Mercenary ends, of the forced Mutation of a Mamono, of by word or deed bringing the Faith Militant of the Holy Church of Eternal Tyris into disrepute… and most egregious of all, the concession of Monstrosity by omission… Oh… for these you’ll answer to The Most High.”

“Clemency!” Justin begged, his face white as a sheet. “Clemency!”

“You KNEW, Justin! Knew that horror was there and not only said nothing, but conspired to COMPOUND it. You would have manipulated the Faith for your own ends… Here’s my Clemency, Justin. You burn now, instead of doing penance nailed to a cross for a week beforehand!” Douglas roared in pain and fury

“For the sins listed, Justin is stripped of rank, title, and property and sentenced to Immolation.” High Priestess Kathleen intoned formally before turning to the arachne furiously working at the machine. “Anthea, did you get all those?”

“There were a lot…” The Arachne replies, her mouth twisted in disgust, her multiple obsidian eyes glittering.

“There were. Sir Douglas, you may carry out the sentence.”

>>306662

Justin begged and pleaded as he was dragged towards the Pyre. You made your way towards where Blue was still standing with Chad and River, taking her paw in your hand. The Kobold made a small sound, turning into your chest.

“Sure you know what you’re doing?” Chad murmurs “Nautilus will not like their name being attached to this.”

You shrug slightly “We’ll soon find out… not like I proved it was them, and Douglas is right, they’ll probably end up getting a stern finger wagging, maybe have some assets seized… They’ll survive.”

“Having Blue distract me to keep me away? Bit of a dog move mate.” Chad chides softly.

“Didn’t know how you’d react. Rather a minor deception than not be able to save an innocent life.”

“Ernie wasn’t innocent.”

“He might have been a deviant and a dodgy cunt, but he was no heretic. He’s lost his life as it was, but he… she… didn’t deserve to burn.”

Chad grumbles acceptance “You’re probably right.”

“Boss…” Blue whines as torch is touched to oiled wood, Justin’s screams becoming more frantic. “..Can we go?”

You shake your head, stroking Blue’s hair, now reaching to her shoulderblades. “Go play with River if you want, Pup. But I’ve gotta stay.”

“Why?”

“Because I killed that man up there.”

The fire reaches the once-paladin’s legs, and his screams, once desperate and terrified, take on a new note. You would muse later in life, when the memory of that sound brought you awake in the swarming dark, that the sound of a man burning alive has its own particular horror, unmatched in your experience by any other. Though it be presumptuous in the extreme to think it, in a way you felt you all shared in the punishment through those screams, the sounds of that indescribable agony etched into your very soul.

>>306663

“How’s Bella?” Chad ventures from across the rude table where you sit with your Kobolds. The mood of the inn, now re-opened, was understandably somber, the community, already under strain from the mismanagement of the (to your discovery) negligent disinterest of the Centaur Matriarch, forced to come to terms with the revelations

“She does not do restricted movement very well.” You drawl, a faint smile at your lips at the memory of her wall-climbing frustration at her confinement in Thealiss. “But Sister Sarah’s a merciless fuckin’ bully, Tyris Bless her. She’ll be fine.”

“No concern about contamination?”

You snort, “From Bella? Ever shared a canteen with River? You’re at more risk.”

“Fair.” Chad concedes. “I never did thank you for not selling me down the creek today.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was my fault anyway.” You grumble.

“Boss what’s up with this?” Blue demands “You blame yourself for Justin… spirits harry him to hell…”

“Don’t shittalk the dead pup”. You order.

Blue whuffles dismissively. “And now you’re blaming yourself for what?”

“The lot of it pup… It’s my fault.” You repeat, taking another drink of the average wine atop your table. The beer had run out in short order once Connor had made it clear it was now for general consumption, and the Faith Militant had been forced to prevent a near-riot from the Centaur once they discovered the same.

“Really…” Chad scoffs. “…How do you figure you’re that important?”

“If I never came here, Connor never would have told me about people messing with the stock, which meant I never would have gone looking in the Larder, which meant I never would have found Grek, which means the whole inquisition never would have happened. She would have eaten until it was all gone, and when she got bored or hungry she would have just dug her way out. Nobody had to die. I’m responsible for this.”

“Well, you’re cut off, you’ve clearly had too much of this shit and it’s affecting your brains.” Chad declares.

“Be serious.” You retort.

“I am. Do you hear yourself? You are no more special than anyone else who just happened to be where they were. Sure, you were the Inquisition’s star witness, but if it wasn’t you, it would have been someone else, and it might have gone a lot worse. Tyris… We just dodged a crusade! And if you had the slightest idea of the kind of bugfuck crazy I’ve had to deal with in the past month and you not even NEAR here…” Chad breaks off, shaking his head.

“Mister Chad’s right boss.” Blue agrees, “If you were going to take responsibility for anything, what’s happened here would be the last thing I’d suggest.”

“Oh? And what would you suggest?” You demand, turning to fix the Kobold with an imperious stare.

“Lemon. Tarts.” Blue retorts seriously. “You promised, and you haven’t even so much as LOOKED!”

You sat there for a moment, mouth hanging open, brow twisted incredulously. “How… what? I never…”

“Nah yeh you did. If you can’t remember the important stuff, why even bother beating yourself up over the stuff you’re only involved a bit in?” Blue demands, her huffy expression marred by the smile she is unable to suppress.

“Was I being that ridiculous?” You ask sheepishly.

“You were.” Blue agrees, hugging you tightly to her.

“Orright, mea fuckin’ culpa… Leggo pup.” You chuckle, patting the Kobold on the head fondly.

“Where you goin?”

“To see a man about a wallaby.”

“Don’t take too long, I can’t drink all this by myself.” Chad insists, holding the ceramic carafe aloft.

“Thought I was cut off.”

“Yeh, well, you might make more of a dick of yerself. Challenge Riley to a fight or something.”

>>306664

You chuckle helplessly, extending a middle finger over your shoulder as you head through the back of the taproom to the rude privy outside… Now what were those two blokes doing just standing about? And… Hmmm… Over there too… Nope, you’d been caught once with your dick in your hand and you weren’t about to let it happen agai…

“Hello trader.” A low voice drawls as you fasten your trousers and turn to head back inside.

“G’day.” You reply, hand at the hilt of your cutlass… Only to have it removed from your grip by a sudden slap and twist.

“We’ll take that.” Another man remarks conversationally.

“Don’t suppose it’d make much difference me telling youse blokes you’re makin’ a terrible mistake?” You ask cynically.

“Listen to him will you?” a third voice laughs, its owner pulling a stout billy club from a ring at his belt.

“What’re you after?” you demand, taking deep breaths, trying to keep your mind as calm as you could, the Logos so near you swore the glyphs were scrolling across the backs of your eyes. All it would take is one… just one…

“We’re in a bit of a spot. See, Nautilus is getting shot of Kalbarri before the Faith Militant decide to look any further into what you told them this afternoon. Gonna make honouring our notes a little more tricky, see.”

“Me heart bleeds, but there’s a trade freeze, the other offices’ll take…” You begin.

“Oh, minor inconvenience that, name of the game really… The problem you have, Trader… is before they left, Nautilus paid us very well to make you good and sorry for the inconvenience.”

“Ah.”

“Don’t worry…” The man with the billy chuckled “…We won’t kill ya… well… not deliberately.”

“Imagine me fuckin’ relief.” You murmur. “Now look lads, I’m sure we can work out som…”

Pain exploded in your shoulder and you spun instinctively, sweeping your leg out like Kessiah taught you, feeling the jolt in your ankle where it hooked on another's, hearing them grunt in surprise and then hit the cobbles. What could you do? Lashing out with Resonance would at the very least give you away, at worst, result in these men’s deaths… You doubted Kathleen would show you the same leniency as Raoul if you were to be known publically here as a wilder.

A bellow rang off the stone, and a sturdy and… oddly curvaceous frame came into view, impacting with another of your assailants and driving them bodily into the wall, breath whooshing from lungs as yet more figures, unknowable in the darkness of the alley appeared, restraining the other two and moving in to grab the figure pinned to the wall by your odd rescuer’s… head?

Your deliverer stepped back, your three assailants held before her. Scooping up your cutlass from where it had been dropped in the melee, she tapped each of them on the chest in turn with the blade.

“Y’all know who I am?”

Nods and gulps all around.

“Then y’all know what’ll happen if’n I catch you troublin’ one o’my creditors again, mmm?”

Vehement nods.

“Give Nautilus back their coin, and tell ‘em they’re lucky that’s all they’re losin’. Go on now, git!”

Your would be assailants are released, and with hissed oaths scramble over each other to be quit of the alley.

“Well…” Ivy smiled, turning to you “…if it ain’t my new favourite person in the world! Bring him upstairs boys.”

>>306665

“Gotta say sugar…” Ivy remarks as she twists thick cork baffles from the pointed tips of her horns. “…That was somethin’ else. Pinnin’ Nautilus for their fleshmarket? Ain’t nobody else could’a done that and got away with it.”

“You corked your horns…” You remark in bemusement.

“Course sugar.” Ivy answers without a hint of shame “Can’t be up and killin’ folks on account-a bit of business. Jus’ plum-ain’t right. Plus them Faith Militant all got their dander up on account-a one o’their own gettin caught in a dang monstrosity and all… Better not to, y’hear?”

“Yeh… Guess so. Look, can I get me cutlass back?”

Ivy looks at you in puzzlement “Course sugar, it’s right there…” She gestures to where the blade is leaned nonchalantly against a wall.

“So… I don’t have to sit here.” You clarify, gesturing to the chair in which your impassive escort had placed you.

Ivy pauses for a moment, then lets loose with a peal of laughter. “Have they got their scary-faces on? Go on boys, we’ll be fine, I’m sure Adam thanks you for yer trouble.”

You had to agree with that, they DID just save you from a sound drubbing… “Sorry, thanks lads.” you venture.

“Really Adz…” One of them chuckles, pulling a leather cowl back and grinning at you “…Thought you would’ve clued on by now.”

“Garret. G’day.” You greet the man, returning his grin.

“Not bad today, if I didn’t know better I’d say you planned the whole thing.” He praises as he leaves, his fellows in tow.

“That’s one I hope doesn’t follow me.” You murmur, not quite sure how to take that.

“Sugar?” Ivy queries.

“Planning the whole thing… Tyris… I didn’t want… fuck… ANY of that… just… couldn’t let them die.”

“I hear ya sugar.” Ivy agrees, sitting herself in a chair next to a stocked vanity and brushing out her waterfall curls with a boarbristle brush. “If Nautilus had any brains they woulda got shut-o that fleshmarket a week before the Paladins rolled in… But… You know mermaids, let ‘emselves get dragged clear out the water if there’s gold on the other end.”

“Boy did I pick an enemy, eh?” You chuckle.

“Naw… Sure they’re pissy now, but it’ll all come out in the wash, you’ll see.”

You nod thoughtfully, your gaze returning to the door that your rescuers had left through. “The muscle though… What…”

“Debtors, direct employs, people who owe li’l ol’ me a favour or two…” Ivy muses, twirling a waterfall curl around a finger, a smug smile on her face as she stands, clopping over to you on digitigrade hooves and tapping a knuckle against your chest. “…which as I thigure, now numbers you among ‘em.”

“Oh really?” You grin “Miss the part where I’m a creditor?”

“Miss the part where I just saved that cute butt from a beatin’?” Ivy retorts without hesitation.

“Bloody hell, you’re good…” You remark helplessly.

“Thankee sugar.” Ivy beams, winking at you and flouncing back to the chair. As she moves to sit, she pauses momentarily, wincing and rubbing at her neck.

“Y’orright?” You ask in mild concern.

“Yeah, just hit him at a weird angle, done gone pulled a muscle. I’ll be fine.” Ivy assures you.

“Cairn…” You sigh, walking over to the Taurean and gesturing for her to move. “…Turn around.”

“Oh? Oh… My… Aren’t we a multi-talented individual?” Ivy drawls in pleased surprise as you begin to knead at her neck and shoulders.

“Comes with the territory, ever seen a Kobold’s legs after running back and forth across a paddock all day?” You chuckle.

“No, but I’m bettin’ you have…” Ivy muses teasingly “…and a bit more besides.”

“I plead the Peace of Tyris.” You answer nonchalantly.

“S’allright sugar… we all got our little secrets that don’t hurt nobody…”

“Oh do we?”

“Show me yours and I’ll show you mine…”

You press a little firmer, drawing a squeak from the Taurean which quickly turns into a lowing moan. “Buy a man a drink first.” You drawl urbanely.

“Oh sugar you gonna start somethin’ here you better be finishin’ it…” Ivy groans, her eyes almost rolled back as you work on her. You glance forward, noticing the top of her shirt has come partially undone… That sinfuly ample cleavage… all you had to do was slide your hands forward…

>TOUCH THE COW! DO IT NOW!

>Let’s keep it professional… For now.

>Keep up our tradition of bullying T&G Factors by teasing her then walking away.

>Are you fucking serious? She’s trying to entrap us! Give it legs!

>Something else

No, cowtit afficionados, this will not be your only opportunity to lewd the cow

>“Tyris be merciful, what NOW, human?” The Matriarch whinnied in exasperation.

That is a fuckup of my proofreading, not a clue as to anything with the matriarch, just FYI

>>306666

Glad to see my theories weren't too off-base. Now

>Do something else

>Keep up massaging Ivy, and segue into discussing the potential for T&G stepping in to bankroll Chad while we do

Ivy's way too smart to not be pulling something here, even if she is genuinely interested in Adz. Two can play at that game, though, and we should see to business before pleasure.

Plus winding her up will make for even better sex.

>>306666

>>306672

I'm also still interested if this is an option.

Oh, and maybe we should trim Blue's bangs enough that they're not in the way of her seeing things if that's a problem? I'm impressed by how consistently you've mentioned her hair length and growth, by the way.

>>306666

Time for bully

>>306690

Second that. Buy now, touch the cow later, with added interest. We're not in any rush to leave town, are we?

>>306666 (hail satan)

bully ivy super hard by touching the cow but not all the way

touch the cow for real later in the evening and after that since we did so well touching the cow she wants to come with us when we leave the town (and i imagine Blue would like to have a chance to experience Ivy's chest pillows at some point as well)

>>306694

This. Beef tastes better well-stewed.

>>306666

>Not giving T&G the bully before the beef

>Not keeping up the tradition

Give her a promise note for a future dicking with present bully

>>306694

it's actually 616

>Tease Ivy

>Work the possibility of Chad being bankrolled by T&G into conversation

>Do not touch the cow just yet

“Starting something?” you muse, continuing to knead at Ivy’s neck and shoulders with your fingertips, leaning forward so you are almost breathing into her floppy, bovine ear. “Dunno what you’re on about…”

“Do I gots to paint you a picture, sugar?” Ivy drawls, her impressive bust swelling with her deliberate breathing.

“Those are very nice…” You admit, “…But I had something I wanted to ask you about.”

“Oh?”

“Yeh… Chad.”

“What, both of you? That’s a first…” Ivy lows coquettishly “…But I ain’t above tryin’ new thangs…”

“I’m sure you’re not…” You murmur, letting your warm breath tickle her neckline for a moment, listening to the slight catch in the Taurean’s breathing, watching her try and hide her frustrated squirming. “But…” You add, straightening and giving Ivy’s shoulders one last firm squeeze before stepping away. “…That’s not what I was getting at.”

“Freeman Adam…” Ivy begins in a frustrated tone, standing from the chair and turning to face you, hands on her wide hips as she stares at you challengingly. “…Are you teasin’ li’l ol’ me?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it…” You grin as cheekily as you can. “…But reckon business before pleasure, yeh?”

“As they say in the Brasil Protectorate…” Ivy moans, sauntering over to you seductively and trailing her fingers lingeringly up your torso “…Porque no los dos?”

“Porky no-lose does?” You echo, your brow furrowing with incomprehension “What the fuckssat?”

“Why don’t we have both?” Ivy whispers, putting a hand behind your head and pulling you towards her moist, pouty lips, her eyes half-shuttered in anticipation.

You chuckle, putting a finger on that bowlike mouth to halt her advance. Whilst the Taurean does pause in pulling your head down, she seizes your hand and envelops the finger in the warmth of her mouth, sucking it suggestively before releasing it with a moist ‘pop’. “What’s the matter sugar, you chicken?”

“Yeah Nah…” You grin, turning your wrist to gently break the Taurean’s grip, before taking her hand and turning her in an almost dancing fashion, coming to rest with her back now facing you, her ample backside grinding into you without reservation… You suppressed a moan… Tyris she was good!

“Just wouldn’t work…” You whisper salaciously in her ear, hoping your will could hold “…I can’t have you screaming the ceiling down with that lot downstairs.”

“Dangit…” Ivy moans in defeat, slumping against you. “…Ain’t got nothin’ to argue with that.”

You give her a brief, one armed embrace, before stepping away from the Taurean who tromps frustratedly back to the vanity, brushing aggressively at her slightly mussed hair.

“Don’t get stroppy Ivy.” You chuckle.

“In your ear, Freeman, I just WASHED this dang shirt.” Ivy retorts bluntly, pointing at two damp patches on the front of her flannel top. “Set me to damn leakin’ then don’t even get me off right… Criminently…”

You’re pretty sure you put a fair few Cheshires to shame with the smugness of your grin. “Sorry…”

“Naw y’ain’t, don’t lie.” Ivy harrumphs, wiping at the front of her shirt with a clean cloth. “Thought I tol’ you get shot-o that boy or you’ll have trouble outta him.”

“Yeh well…” you accede with a shrug. “…Seems he’s in something of an interesting position, and you stand pretty well poised to capitalize on it.”

“How d’you mean?” Ivy demands, looking at you thoughtfuly, her interest pricked slightly.

“I take it that the IMFC making Kalbarri a free city is not exactly in the best interests of the other financiers here in the Australs?”

Ivy fixes you with a deadpan stare. “Sure… if you consider the Dominus taking a Lilim to bed to be ‘slightly unadviseable’.”

“See what you did there…” You chuckle “…And thanks to Justin, the justification for a Crusade has been firmly yanked out from under them.”

“Sugar are you approaching some kinda point or are you just delightin’ in tellin me stuff I already know?”

>>307592

“Chad’s the closest thing this region has to an Heir Apparent. It’s a three-way race between him, the IMFC, and our incumbent Matriarch.”

“Hmm… If’n they had the slightest clue how to do it, I thigure half the Mamono in Kalbarri who ain’t centaur’d stick your pretty winged friend in that seat.”

You blinked in surprise at that. “Bella? A Matriarch? It’s not the WORST idea I’ve ever heard, at least you couldn’t accuse her of nepotism. She wouldn’t go for it though.”

Ivy nods with a slight smile. “She knows y’all humans are fixin’ to get another one o’your own in that chair.”

The hair on the back of your neck stands up. Shit, did she know something about your task?! “W-what makes you say that?”

Ivy laughs. “Sugar do you think I’m stupid? This whole MONTH has been nothin’ but positionin’ and politickin’ on who’s gonna eventually kick Neisha outta office. Maou knows she didn’t have but a paper-thin claim and dang fine timin’ to begin with.”

“S’pose you’ve got me there…”

“Still don’t see why Chad’s any interest of mine…”

“What did you just say about not bein’ that bloody stupid, Ivy?” You drawl.

“Why don’t we pretend for a minute, and you can tell me?” Ivy replies breathily, twirling a lock of hair around her finger and looking at you with a vapid, wide-eyed expression.

“A friendly Baron in Kalbarri. A Baron who owes T&G for his ascension… Not to mention as far as I’m aware, the opportunity for T&G to control its first port.”

“Gee willikers mister Adam!” Ivy exclaims, clapping her hands girlishly “I done never woulda thought of that!”

You sigh, rolling your eyes. “Orright so who DID you have in mind?”

“I had a few ideas…”

“Such as?”

“Well one of ‘em’s in this room.”

“Me?!” You exclaim incredulously “Have you been fuckin’ drinkin’?”

“Why not? You’ve got enough money of your own that you wouldn’t look like a puppet Baron… Y’all at Gibson are pretty close to House Reinhardt…”

“OK, just shy of two solar marks is no amount to be sneezed at, yer right, but from what Breyten was tellin’ me, it takes a shitload more’n that for the Court of the Highlords to uplift a lowborn like me to nobility.”

Ivy clops over, putting a hand on the small of your back and leaning in conspiratorially, “Palms we could grease, sugar, much more efficiently than dear ol’ Breyten. You know we DID make him the same offer, stubborn idjit wanted to do it on his own though…”

“Tyris be fuckin’ Glorified Ivy, I don’t know the first THING about running a Barony!” you exclaim.

“I did say you were just one of my ideas… not like I’m gonna be pickin what horse we back by my own self now.” Ivy chuckles, patting your shoulder comfortingly. “But out of curiosity, apart from his lineage, what makes ol’ Chad worth me countin? Surely not just because he needs our money…”

Hidden Roll

“He knows how to run the shop.” You begin. “He’s been trained, knows the people, knows the land… Knows Horses.”

Ivy reaches up, ruffling your hair before stepping away thoughtfully. “Why should horses matter?”

“Because assuming he takes the throne tomorrow, it’ll be at least ten years before Kalbarri’s fit to produce anything else. The fishing yards are full of shipworm, the fort’s a ruin, the houses are deathtraps… Tyris, if it doesn’t eat grass or rocks you’ll be paying for every bite of food or scrap of material it needs.”

“Well… Seems you DO know the first thing about running a Barony… and, so it would seem, does your little buddy.” Ivy muses, smiling mysteriously. “Gonna have to give it some thought…”

“All I can ask for, I guess. Cheers Ivy.” You sigh, turning to leave.

“Oh, Sugar?” Ivy remarks as an afterthought.

“Yeh?”

“I’m gonna be gettin’ some-o the boys to buy some horses, run a drove down to Fremantle… Could always use an investor to increase the margins… Tell Chad too… if’n it’s as you say and he’s an eye for horseflesh, could come in useful.” Ivy advises nonchalantly.

>>307593

“What about the money, Ivy? You’ve still got it squirrelled away somewh… Oh.” You pause as the penny firmly drops. “Good plan.”

“And I’m glad to see you’re not as dopey as you look, sugar.” Ivy replies sunnily.

“Tyris be Glorified I will put you over my knee…” You grumble through your teeth. Why did everyone seem to want to call you stupid or remark on your dick?

“Criminently… What did I say about threatenin’ me with a good time?!” Ivy demands through the door as you stomp back downstairs.

“Boss!” Blue exclaims, rushing over to you “Where did you go?! I looked and looked and I couldn’t find you and…”

“S’orright Blue… I was just having a word with Ivy…” You assure the Kobold, stroking one of her tawny-furred ears.

“Wow… You smell like it… She leaked on you.” Blue points out, gesturing to a damp patch where the Taurean had pressed against your torso.

“Hence why you couldn’t find me, I guess…” You concede thoughtfully. How much of that interaction did that canny bitch plan?

“We were getting a little worried, all things considered.” Chad continued, pouring you another cup of wine. “Thought you might have fallen in… a nautical mile offshore…”

“Better order another one…” You sigh, flopping back into your chair and taking a good long drink. “…This might take some explaining.”

“Your buy?” Chad asks hopefully.

“Yeh. My buy.” You agree with a slight grin.

<Well folks? How to proceed?

>Agree to the Drove, invite Chad along (You MAY have to front him for the horses, depending on how much you buy)

>Agree to the Drove, don’t tell Chad.

>Refuse the Drove, Tell Chad about it (offer to front him or don’t)

>Refuse the Drove, don’t tell Chad

>Something else

>>307594

so the drove is another supply run thing?

i say we could go along with Ivy of course, and offer to invite Chad along with us

also once the in-story day is over, we should pay our taurean friend a visit and touch the cow for real this time and as for that, i say she rides us cowgirl (heh) for a bit while we suck on her tits, and then maybe we could bend her over something and do her from behind afterwards just a thought

>>307594

>Agree to the Drove, invite Chad along (You MAY have to front him for the horses, depending on how much you buy)

>>307594

Invite Chad, agree to the Drove

Resonant you on another long break?

>>307594

Let's move some animals! And see if we can't get Chad to come along.

(Also maybe touch the cow)

>>309576

Sorry guys, I don't know if the eclipse made weird shit happen over there but I've been dealing with some horribly heavy shit involving friends and family over the past few weeks. Should be good now, update within the next 12 hours.

>>310750

Lappy's being a cunt… sorry guys, can't post tonight, will put it up ASAP.

>>310911

That's fine, I hope everything is okay bro.

>Go droving, bring Chad.

“Move it, two-legs!” a centaur demanded presumptively, leading a spirited stallion by a rope bridle towards an empty auction stall. You and Chad wisely moved out of the way, Chad with a note of approval as the snorting animal was corralled.

“Good one?”

Chad nods emphatically. “Oh yeh. Recognise that bloodline anywhere. Get you two-to-one if anyone from Albany even SNIFFS that stroppy lad being put up for auction.”

“Barely broken, pulls at the bridle, looks like he’s a biter… Yeah nah you’ve lost me on him, Chad.”

“Merchant Princes, Noble sons and the like, they like to show off. Horse like him, they’ll risk a whole bunch of broken bones to be seen riding it.” Chad explains.

“Wish Bungas came with that kinda status.” You chuckle.

Chad laughs “Those reptilian garbage disposals…”

“Twice as strong as a horse.”

Chad glances at you with a cheeky grin. “Mmm, and how much coin have you spent feeding them when there’s nothing but mallee scrub for five nautical miles in any direction?”

“…Shaddup.”

“Attention please, attention!” A tired-looking auctioneer called from behind his lectern. “Lots twelve through eighteen will commence bidding shortly.”

You turn your head at the sound “We wanted some of those, didn’t we?”

“The bay in particular.” Chad agrees. “Thanks for offering to front me on this.”

“The look on your face when you woke up this morning and saw that on the bedside table mate… Thought it was all I could do to stop you from bursting into tears.” You tease, elbowing your fellow trader gently.

“Leave off!” Chad objected. He had indeed been possessed of a singularly choleric mood as he joined you, Blue and Bella in the common room for breakfast earlier that morning, holding a somewhat modest coinpurse in one hand and a sheet of parchment in the other. It was official. Nautilus had disenfranchised its Kalbarri branch, and all local accounts and debts were to be paid out or called in respectively. Chad had, to his credit, been in the black, but not to such a great extent that anything involving leaving the ruined barony wouldn’t severely overextend him.

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

Against that, you felt offering him twenty-five percent for advice and assistance was only fair. To be sure, seeing as ideally you would be bidding against him, you justified that you would still be coming out ahead for it.

Auction Rolls - fuck typing this out

You have purchased TWELVE horses

Your current wealth is 1/500/50/74

You have 0 debt

Also updated the character sheet: https://pastebin.com/9JK0Eqjj

“Are you sure?” Chad murmured uncertainly

“How many times do I gotta say ‘I got it’ before it sinks in?” You demand wearily as you and Chad head back towards the inn. The auction had eaten a good portion of the day, and you were bone-tired from the intensity of it, and starving like you hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

“Sorry, sorry… just… that wasn’t a small chunk of change you dropped there. What if it all goes balls up?”

Subterfuge(Adam): Success

You wisely determine that telling Chad that this drove was a front for moving the T&G wealth back to Fremantle wasn’t the best idea. Setting your face in a long-suffering expression, you turn to your fellow human. “Then I’ll drink it off when we get to Fremantle and hope Dad doesn’t mind me sulking in his guest room for a week or so. I’ve got the coin mate.”

“Fair enough… Heh… Sometimes I forget how good it is still having family in contact” Chad mused with a slightly cynical tone.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean.”

“Oh no…” Chad waves dismissively “…Me and Dad were never that close. Just… River was.”

“You love her, doncha?”

“That’s disgusting.” Chad objects with a look of revulsion.

“Not like that.” You groan.

“Oh, well then of course I do… She’s my baby sister.” Chad shrugs as if it was the most natural thing in the world. For some reason that stings you… you can’t put your finger on why.

>>311032

Entering the common room, you pause to see a group of Humans and Mamono gathered around a table in animated conversation, the wings of your Griffon companion, Bella, poking from atop assorted heads.

“I’d better take care of this…” You groan. Chad nods, heading over to a table where your respective indentures were seated, Blue obviously trying to teach River the finer intricacies of a card game.

“Orright, orright, what’s the flamin’ drama?” You demand, pushing through the group.

“Hey! Wait your turn!” A kangaroo objects, shoving at you with a furred, muscular forepaw, frowning in irritation.

“Adam!” Bella exclaims in recognition. “Prithee, a moment, gentles all.”

“Lady Bella I’ve been waiting forever, I counted!” A kobold you didn’t recognise whines.

“Possess thy heart in patience, for verily, as Maou giveth me strength I shalt hear thee anon.” Bella assures the kobold with a smile, gesturing for you to join her at a slight distance from the group.

“S’goin on there?” You murmur.

“Oh Adam, it doth rend mine heart to see them at such odds. Certes, their lamentations hath gone unheard yon many months prior. Tis no great feat to list unto them, yea, that blessed harmony be restored in the absence of petty dispute.” Bella explains, hugging you briefly in greeting.

Hidden Roll

“You’re playing Waylander.” You chuckle.

“Waylander?” Bella echoes in confusion.

“Yeh, secular law such as it stands. They investigate and prosecute secular Sins and make arbitrations on official documents and stuff in the names of their respective Barons. Keeps the official court shit at a minimum.”

“Certes, I thought the Faith Militant fulfilled that role.” Bella mused thoughtfuly.

You shake your head, a wry grin on your face. “Nah, well… only when there’s no other choice. I mean, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the world but it rankles us enough to have to get Magisterium’s chop just to acknowledge a new Baron, if our governance was coming from the Cathedral Solar, I don’t know how folks’d react.”

“I am not overstepping myself I hope?” The Griffon asks with a slight note of trepidation.

“Not unless you’re making promises someone else has to deliver.”

Bella gives an uncharacteristic snort of laughter. “Why, prithee, would I do something that obviously foolish?”

“Y’never know what kinda dumb shit folks’ll do without thinking about it.” You chuckle. “Horses’re bought… You still wanna come with?”

“Verily, if thou wilt have me. I yearn yet to see more of this world.” Bella agrees emphatically.

“Glad to have ya along.” you smile genuinely, stroking the griffon’s headfeathers fondly.

>>311033

“What kinda bullshit… OI! Keep that fuckin’ rowan under control!” You demand, standing atop the wagon’s bench and pointing to where a rowan and chestnut stallion were eyeing each other off in the dusty herd.

“Bit of a scrap won’t hurt anything, Trader…” Garret muses from where he has pulled in next to you, a scrubby thoroughbred gelding under him.

“They won’t be worth shit all bloodied up, but I guess you’re right if you want to give away the game, mate. Unless youse were stupid enough to clue in all the extra hands…”

“Shit, good point…” Garret concedes. “…Horse thieves I can deal with, but actually managing this?”

“River! Git away round!” Chad’s voice rings out, punctuated by the crack of a stockwhip as he expertly seperates the stallions from atop a muscular-looking grey.

“Showoff…” Another one of the drovers mutters jealously.

“Just because he knows what he’s doing? And him not even drawing a wage cunt. Now stop picking at your fuckin’ navel and keep this lot moving in the right fuckin’ direction!” Garret retorts, glaring at the man, who harrumphs, wheeling his own mount and riding to head off a few horses who had decided to meander off at the side of the herd.

Supressing a grin, you whistle shrilly, Blue’s answering howl ringing from the front of the herd.

“You right pup?”

“I could do this in my sleep boss!” Blue answers, running back towards the wagon, her hair streaming out behind her. “Horses don’t bite nearly as much as bungas.”

As if to prove that point, four takes a questing snap at a nearby mare, which snorts, lashing out with a rear leg and striking the huge lizard in the side of its broad, scaled head. Though uninjured, four still hisses, turning its head to look at you reproachfuly.

“Serves you right.” You drawl, flicking the reins at the Bungarra. Blue gathers her athletic frame and leaps onto the wagon in a single bound, grabbing a canteen and drinking deeply before giving you an enthusiastic, if sweaty hug.

“How’s our eye in the sky?” You murmur, rubbing her tawny ears affectionately.

Blue’s questioning ‘Awoooo’ is high and shrill, and you’re not entirely sure the way she scrunches up her face adorably isn’t somewhat for your benefit. Bella’s clarion screech answers from high above you, and you spot the dark shape against the dimming sky where the Griffon lazily circles above you.

“Shadows’re getting a bit long boss…” Blue ventures.

“Good call pup… Oi Chad! What do you reckon?”

“Fair call, I don’t fancy dealing with the Keniny in the dark.”

“Ken-wha?”

“Wind-spirits… The Geraldton ruins are lousy with ‘em.” Chad explains, whistling and pointing, the brunette blur of his sister-indentured kobold sprinting in the indicated direction.

“Heresy.” a drover decries.

“Shaddup fuckya, unless you’ve got a better term for it.” Chad retorts.

“Also…” Garret adds, “…We’re in the bush mate. We play by Mamono rules out here.”

“Don’t say that unless you mean it, Human…” Blue snickers with a predatory grin.

“Blue. Behave.” You growl warningly.

“Yehboss.” Blue murmurs meekly, nuzzling into you.

“You really must teach me how you do that…” Chad mumbles absently. You bite your lip to keep from bursting out in laughter as Blue stares at the man incredulously.

“Orright, hands off cocks. Wagoneers, I want a picket in thirty. Drovers, if I don’t see hobbles on half the horses by the time the fire’s up then I’m gonna get stroppy.” A heavyset man atop a bulky shire demands, leaning forward in his saddle.

“You sure you weren’t Faith Militant Jerry?” One of the drovers asks suspiciously.

“Baronial Director of Ceremonies. I’m what the Faith Militant has nightmares about.” The large man replies without pause, his eyes narrowing in a sun-leathered face.

“How’d you end up working for T&G then mate?” You ask, reining in the Bungarra and hunting through the wagon for the large canvas sheets of the communal tents that comprised part of your cargo.

“Never play dice with Juni.” Jerry responds with a shake of his head.

“No Blue.” You insist without turning.

“Maou’s tits boss! I didn’t even say anything!” Your Kobold sulks as she clambers over the cover to assist you.

>>311034

“Sing it again Lady Bella!” One of the drovers insists, his eyelids heavy as he passes a flagon of spirits around the campfire, its cheery warmth reaching with fiery fingers towards the sea of stars above you.

“Thou flatterest me, sir.” Bella murmurs bashfully, an attractive blush colouring her sun-kissed cheeks. “And I do not know that I hath earned the title of ‘Lady’, Certes, for e’en…”

“Bollocks.” The drover objects. “You’ve been a better Matriarch in a few days than that fuckin’ centaur’s been in a half-decade.”

“Gotta say Bella, If I didn’t know better I’d say you were spying on me brother.” You add.

“I do not understand.” Bella replies, looking at you with her golden eyes.

“He’s a Waylander, and you managed to settle disputes he would have had to sic his ‘roos on cunts to solve.”

Bella blinks in confusion. “His what?”

“Dani and Kira, his Kangaroo indentured. Top sheilas, both of ‘em. Keep the bugger honest more often than not.” You explain.

“Have a drink, Lady Bella, and sing us another one of those songs!” Jerry rumbles, thrusting the flagon at the Griffon insistently.

“If thou art insistent…” Bella accedes, taking the flagon and drinking, coughing slightly as the spirit burns her throat.

“Where’s me Kobie?” You ponder, looking about for your absent companion.

“She said something about a haircut Adz, try the covered wagon.” Chad remarks, jerking his head in its direction, absently stroking River’s back as the Kobold dozed against him.

You nod, standing and brushing the dust from your trousers. “Back in a bit. Don’t wreck Bella’s throat, cunts.”

“Ah, stop babying her Freeman, Lady Bella knows when she’s had enough.” A drover objects.

“Certes…” Bella agrees with the faintest hint of a naughty smile in your direction.

You chuckle, holding a raised middle finger over your shoulder as you head towards the black shape of the large wagon, silhouetted against the star-spangled horizon.

“Oi Blue, you in her…” You begin, pulling the cover aside and pausing as you see your Kobold indentured, her hair once again a short pixie cut, naked atop the unmistakable form of the Taurean Ivy, her mouth insistent against a large breast, an athletic leg writhing between the thick thighs of the Trade Factor’s digitigrade legs.

“Oh! H-howdy sugar…” Ivy lows breathily, her waterfall curls a mess and her face flushed.

“Ivy… I didn’t know you were coming with.” You remark conversationally, too bemused to be surprised by the sight. “Pup. Y’orright there?”

Blue’s lips leave the Taurean’s nipple, the sheen of milk upon her lips. “Yehboss, this is EXACTLY what it looks like.” She drawls cheekily, echoing the Quoll Riley some few days previous.

“So… Thanks for the haircut? Y’both kinda accidentally fell out of yer clothes? S’goin on here pup?” You query, trying to keep your expression neutral.

“Well she done started grillin’ me on if’n I was plannin’ on havin’ my way with you, and… well… Y’see what happens is…” Ivy explained, her hands busy upon Blue’s torso.

“Ivyyyyy…” Blue moans, writhing at the Taurean’s touch. “…You’re not meant to just TELL him how it works!”

“I’m sorry cutie-pie…” Ivy giggles.

“So… She passes your ‘Test’ then?” You muse, trying to keep a straight face.

“And then some. I’m tempted to keep her all for meself!” Blue replies eagerly, nibbling at a bovine ear which draws a moan from the Taurean.

“Pup, you know you can talk to me about these things…”

“Boss…” Blue retorts, looking at you insistently.

“…I mean I like to think I’m a reasonable bloke…” You continue

“Boss!” Blue interjects more forcefully.

“…There’s just no need for…”

“BOSS!” Blue growls demandingly.

“Whazzamadda?” You ask, your face what you like to think is a picture of innocence.

“Do you want a written Maou-Damn invitation right now?!” Blue asks incredulously.

“Sugar… Please… Don’t make me beg now… Blue’s been tellin’ me all kinds’o thangs, and I gots to find out if’n they got any merit…” Ivy pleads, looking at you with smouldering eyes.

“Oh really…” You drawl indulgently, dropping to the wagon bed next to the entwined Mamono. “…Such aUMMMFFF” Your drawl is cut off as Ivy’s hungry mouth is planted against yours, her lush lips eager, her tongue busy within your mouth. You feel your heartbeat quickening, not assisted by Blue’s panting and licking at your earlobe.

>>311035

“Oh he IS a good kisser.” Ivy sighs.

“Right?” Blue agrees, her nude body writhing against your side. “Boss… do the thing?”

“What thing?” You murmur, your brain rapidly losing blood to its competitor between your legs.

“You know…” Blue hints coquettishly, trailing a furred paw down Ivy’s bare thigh.

“Giving away me tricks beforehand pup?” You ask with a predatory grin.

“Did I do bad mastAAAAAAhhhhnnn!” Blue’s teasing query turns into a lewd whimper as you grip the Kobold’s firm buttock roughly in your hand.

“Sugar, don’t leave me hangin’ in the breeze here…” Ivy insists, opening herself to you, her bovine tail writhing serpentine between ample buttocks. You release your indentured, who rapidly returns her attention to Ivy’s voluminous breasts, as you bend your head to kiss and lick at the Taurean’s soaked, quivering womanhood.

“O-oh mah stars…” Ivy gasps “…I ain’t had me a good hello-kiss in… Ohhh… Maou… T-there! R-right there! Don’t you dare stop sugar!” Ivy pleads, planting a hand atop your head and pressing you to her insistently. “K-keep… going… I’m… Oh… I’m…”

Whatever she was going to say next was smothered by her thighs clamping about your head as the Taurean shook in the throes of orgasm. You held your breath valiantly, until finally you forced yourself free, pushing yourself up to see Ivy panting, her eyes unfocused, a hand absently toying between Blue’s legs as the Kobold whimpered, her small, pink tongue hanging from her mouth as she relished in the sensation.

“You… Shit…” Ivy moaned as she regained her equilibrium. “Holding out on me like that.”

“He’s so mean…” Blue agrees, licking her lips at you lewdly. Ivy removes her hand, much to the Kobold’s objection, looking at you challengingly for a moment before launching herself at you, grappling, kissing her juices from your lips as she forces herself atop you.

“Maou damn pants…” the Taurean curses, grinding on you in frustration, and suddenly Blue’s nimble paws are sliding your trousers off, your erect manhood springing from their confines.

“Big boy…” Ivy remarks with a pleased drawl “…I do believe I’ll have me some-a that…”

She groans as she straddles you, lowering herself onto your shaft inch by agonizingly exquisite inch.

“Me now boss… Hello-kisses for me now…” Blue pants, her dripping sex poised above your head. Hungrily, you pull the Kobold down onto your mouth as Ivy begins moving atop you, grabbing your hands from Blue’s thighs and pressing them to her voluptuous breasts. Absently, you marvelled at the weight of them, though it did strike you as a little funny that your thoughts should be so abstract with a Kobold fucking your face and a Taurean impaling herself on your manhood. You chuckle slightly, and Blue gives a surprised squeak at the unexpected vibration, leaning back and looking down at you askance. You take her sensitive little nub between your lips, kneading softly, sending the Kobold’s sky-blue eyes rolling almost violently into the back of her head in sheer pleasure as she collapses into a whimpering, shaking mess atop you.

“I… ah… knew y’all… unh… had done that… before… “ Ivy pants, bouncing enthusiastically atop your shaft, the velvet walls of her innermost secrets dragging along the length of you most deliciously. A grin from you and the wordless thumping of Blue’s tail on your torso is her only answer.

>>311036

You take the Taurean’s nipples between your fingers, teasing at them, and are rewarded with small trickles of creamy liquid in your hands. Ivy pauses in her motions atop you, smiling wryly.

“Ever had it straight from the source, sugar?”

“Can’t say I have.” You admit, gently moving Blue’s trembling post-orgasmic form from atop you and propping yourself up to take one of Ivy’s massive breasts in your mouth. Almost instantly, your gullet is filled with creamy sweetness, and you feel Blue’s furred paw slide around your shoulder, the Kobold licking your jaw cheekily before latching onto its partner.

“M-my stars… Between the two of you I… I’m not going to be able…” Ivy protests unconvincingly as she clamps and quivers against you, the three of you locked in a triune embrace, your cries of passion muted by each other’s bodies.

“Ivy…” You gasp, raising your head from her coral and cream. “…I’m close…”

“Gotcha sugar.” Ivy giggles, sliding herself off you with a low, lewd moan and taking you in her hand, squeezing gently and watching all enraptured as your head swells in her grip.

Hidden Roll

“Don’t mind if I do!” Blue declares, planting herself atop you, driving you home within her.

“Pup! Taurean milk!” You gasp in shock.

“Don’t care…” Blue pants, taking your face between her paws. “…I love you Adz… I want you to put a baby in me.”

“I…” You begin, before your own body reaches its limit and you erupt within Blue’s scalding depths. On and on your orgasm seemed to go, pulsing and spurting, Blue making small, happy noises punctuated with kisses on your open, panting mouth.

And then… it was done. You lay spent on the wagon-bed, Ivy running hands through her mussed hair, her breasts jiggling delightfuly, Blue holding you to her as if she would never let you go.

“Did you two plan that?” You demand suspiciously.

“Would it matter if we did, sugar?” Ivy replies, leaning over to kiss first you, then your indentured. “That was real nice y’all. We should do it again sometime.”

“Right… Talk to me when I find the top of my head again.” you groan helplessly, absently patting Blue’s head with one hand and squeezing Ivy’s ample buttock with the other.

>>311037

“Thou art concerned to such an extent?” Bella asks from where she has perched on the canvas behind you, a slab of cured, spiced meat held in one talon, its mate draped familiarly over your shoulder.

“I dunno…” You admit. “With continuance there’s a process… a tradition… it’s something you’re raised to expect. This? It’s so…”

“Natural?” Bella quips.

“Pretty sure that’s Blasphemy…” You mutter.

“Prithee? Then denounce me properly and we shall fight about it.” Bella retorts.

“You are getting far too good at this.” You chuckle. “Why would you even want to fight me anyway?”

“Forsooth, to move to yon more clement act of kissing and making up, of course…” Bella murmurs, nipping at the nape of your neck teasingly.

“I’ll have the rest of the humans lookin’ to tear me to pieces for defiling the object of their adoration.” You object laughingly, tickling the Griffon at the base of one of her massive wings.

“N-nay! Villain!” Bella objects, squirming away with a giggle, before her face turns more ponderous.

“Brass for yer thoughts?” You prompt.

“Yea, ‘tis no guarantee that thy seed wilt quicken within her, though she may pray in moment of sweet passion for it to be so.” Bella remarks. “Please do not think I mean to speak slightingly of thee or her in regards to this.”

“Taurean milk though Bella.”

“E’en so, regardless of the warnings thou hast been given pertaining to its use… ‘tis not a certainty. ‘Tis no essence of Alarune…”

A nostalgic smile spreads across your face as you rein the trio of bungarra pulling your wagon around a pile of rubble they seem intent on marching directly over. “No… No it isn’t…”

“Thou knowest of what I speak?”

“Fucken oath…” You grin. “…It was about the time when…”

“Call a halt!” Jerry’s voice booms over the whistles and yells of the drovers. Blue and River’s howls of acknowledgement sound from the fore and aft of the sprawling herd.

“What’s the matter?” You call to the shire-mounted man.

“That’s Jurien Holding.” Jerry replied, pointing a sun-browned hand towards the collection of buildings faintly visible against the coast. “We go inland from here.”

“Lancelin… It’s spread this far?” You gulp.

“I don’t know, but I’m not risking everyone’s arse by going any further unscouted.” Jerry declares with a note of finality.

“I shall take to the air.” Bella declares.

“Thank you, Lady Bella.” Jerry remarks deferently, tugging a forelock at the Griffon. “Adz, Chad, think I could impose upon you two to have the Kobies find how much room we’ve got to play with? I’d much rather not have to skirt the entire dune-field before we hit something resembling civilization.”

“Don’t reckon it’ll be a problem.” You concede, whistling for your Kobold.

“Yehboss?” Blue pants, loping through the milling horses unconcernedly and up to the wagon.

“How you doin’ pup?”

“Just as well as the last time you asked me an hour ago…” Blue sighs, rolling her eyes but smiling at you fondly.

“We’re comin’ up on Matango territory. Jerry wants to know if you and River can give it legs around the top end of the spread, see how far we’ve gotta go ‘round.”

“Can you Humans handle the horses on your own in the meantime?” Blue remarks cheekily.

“I’ve got ten silver says no!” River calls from Chad’s side.

“Behave…” Chad laughs.

“Thou… Thou couldst join me… if thou wert of a mind to…” Bella offers hesitantly, looking at you askance.

<What do you want to do?

>Fly with Bella

>Scout with Blue and River

>Go see Ivy

>Engage in Bro-bonding with your fellow humans

>Something else?

>>311038

Fly! How many non-resonant humans will ever get to take to the air?

Also glad we're back. I missed this.

>>311038

Flying with feather'd tiddywing is the only option worth doing.

>>311038

>Go see Ivy and do to her what we did to Blue (because reasons)

>>311093

>Choosing boring, fat, and homely cowtits over actual flying

Beardicus plz

>>311093

What, make her chase horses all day? :^)

>>311120

of course not

we came inside Blue, and we only bullied Ivy further by not doing the same to her

Let's fly! Shoot a smug look towards all those silly fuckers on the ground who don't get to fly on tittywings.

>>311038

>Fly with Bella

Hell yes.

>>311038

Fly Now!

Impregnate Ivy and Bella later!

Indeed Bella hasn't been getting enough of Adams attention. Fly with her, spread the love.

>>311038

>>311131

Also, mostly irrelevant I'd guess, but we could probably glyph ourself with weightlessness via Levitate or something to lighten the load on her while flying easily enough without it being obvious.

>>311038

Will we be out of the danger zone if we're in the air? Fuck those scary-ass mushrooms. I want a damn good range between me and those spores.

Also, do we know how to unfuck ourselves (resonantly or otherwise) if we do get exposed?

>>311752

>will we be out of the danger zone

If you stay high enough, only matango and their plaguebearers release spore though. The mohorovicic is scary looking but pretty harmless.

>unfucking yourself

Not with resonance, and the antidote is about 700 years away.

>>311785

So matango is instant death?

>>311852

No, not instant. In your case you'll start finding reasons to stay, explore further into Lancelin… what are you talking about she's just a mushroom girl? She can't even walk… of course I'm hugging her, look at that little punnum… so what if we're having sex? Does it looks like she gets it regularly… what do you mean, I've always been bolted to the floor by rhizomes, and who's Blue?

>>311873

Yeah, nah. Fuck those mushrooms unless we're allowed to do something involving baking those Portobellos for the good of the Australs.

>>313180

Fucking sage fell off

>>311785

>Antidote is 700 years away

There is a vaccine though. It's hard to them to infect anything when they're on fire. Don't advocate going anywhere near potential spore range though, so trust Tiddywing's senses when flying.

>>313366

“Tis not like that!” Bella objects, pouting adorably. “I… Know thee… trust thee… I… am fond of thee…”

“Feeling’s mutual Bel.” You grin, planting a light kiss on her mouth.

“And…” She continues, reddening further. “…the chance to do this… up here… fie ‘pon me if I were to let such pass.”

“If I lose the glyph…” You murmur, nibbling at the side of her neck “…you’ll have to catch me.”

Hidden Roll

“C-certes…” Bella moans, wrapping her leonine legs about your waist as you both hover in the cold mist of the cloudbank, her with beating wing, you with Resonant glyph. “…Trust in me to safeguard thee an…Oooohhhhh.” Her assurance is cut short by your hands hiking up the rude leather skirt of her armorlike tunic, one hand gripping a taut buttock through her smallclothes, another pulling gently on her feather-tipped, leonine tail. She kept her grip around your waist with her legs, yet clamped your head with her deadly talons, pulling you hungrily in for a lingering kiss, her tongue insistent within your mouth.

“I want thee inside me… Now.” She hissed, a predatory glare in her golden, raptorial gaze. Chuckling, you loosened the front of your own trousers, taking your manhood in hand and encouraging it the remaining way to tumescence. Pushing her smallclothes to the side, you pull her onto you, entering her with only the slightest resistance of flesh.

Bella moans, kissing you again, whimpering against your mouth as she moves atop and against you, her wings beating frantically as her breathing quickens.

“Thou… Feelest… So… Good!” She cries, clinging to you desperately. You grit your teeth, trying to simultaneously hold your concentration whilst the exquisite sensation of the Griffon’s womanhood enveloping you as she desperately writhes around you.

“Forsooth…” Bella sobbed, “…I want thee to release within me…”

“What about…”

“Please…” Bella begs, taking your earlobe between her teeth and pulling gently.

“Sweet Tyris…” You groan, feeling yourself clench and erupt within her, Bella’s own legs tightening vicelike around you as she pushes her hips to yours forcefuly. Panting, you squint as a ray of sunlight breaks through the cloudbank, bathing you both in blinding warmth.

“You look like an Angel like that…” You mumble, raising a hand to the Griffon’s face, her features hidden in the corona of light.

“Adam!” Bella declares in a shocked tone.

“Ah shit, I didn’t mean…”

“I know what thou meant, e’en if t’were not politic as such… I thank thee…”

“What’s with everyone wanting it inside all of a sudden?” You ask, stretching languidly.

“Late spring.” Bella admits.

You feel slightly crestfallen at that. “Ah. Shoulda spotted that.”

“And…” Bella continues, poking you on the nose with a talon “…we are indeed, all rather fond of thee. To bear a child from thee would be… welcome.”

“Even if nobody can admit it?” You ask, straightening your clothes and pulling the Griffon’s tunic back down to cover her modesty.

Bella smirks indulgently. “Parfay, doth we not know?”

“Fair point that… Tyris, Most High God, why’d ya have to make things so fuckin’ complex?”

Bella beats her wings, taking you out of the sunbeam and back below the clouds. “Is that Blasphemy?”

“Don’t tell on me?” you grin

“Mayhap… Perchance I shall want something of thee…” Bella smirks.

“Bitch… Since you’re carrying me I’ll take it I dropped the glyph.” You drawl.

“Aye, ‘tis of no import, thou art not the heaviest burden I hath born.” Bella admits.

“We should probably get to scouting.”

“Ut ut…” Bella tsks, tapping a talon against her pursed lips “…Kisses first.”

You laugh openly, before kissing the Griffon warmly. The rushing of wind and lurching in your stomach indicates she has folded her wings into another dive.

>>313367

“Not too low!” You remind her, turning in her grip to be face-down, her legs and talons holding her tight against your back.

“Certes.”

You both scan the alien, burgundy growths of the Mohorovicic. The Matango within seemed to be content to limit themselves to the holding itself, and strange, furtive movement within its bounds spoke to their frightening numbers.

“Tyris be merciful… there’s so many…” You moan.

“Aye… Prithee, who art they?” Bella queries, pointing with a forelimb to what was evidently a group of humans beyond the Mohorovicic’s edge, busily moving barrels from a series of wagons and stacking them in a line along the corruption’s leading edge.

“Reinhardt Militia… Tyris! They’re supposed to have the Faith Militant with them!” You exclaim in panic.

“What troubles thee?”

“Without the Blessing of The God they’re sitting ducks for… Oh… Oh no…” You groan.

“Priestesses?” Bella asks in puzzlement, gesturing to the limping group of women dressed in tattered robes stumbling towards the militia. One of the Militia clearly sees them and points, his words lost to the distance. An argument seems to erupt, with Brown-clad waylanders waving their arms at the Militia officers, the Officers in turn gesticulating towards the Mohorovicic.

“I Highly fucking doubt it… I’d bet me whole wad on them being Plaguebearers.”

Bella hugs you against her body. “What wouldst thou do?

<What to do?

>Get a better look at the Priestesses

>Fly in and warn the Waylanders and Militia

>PURGE THE (Potentially) FALSE PRIESTESSES WITH HOLY (Well… Resonant) FIRE

>EXTERMINATUS THE WHOLE FUCKING PLACE

>Something else?

>>313368

Again, feel free to ask for meta, I haven't given you much on that front.

>>313368

>raw midair sex with Bella

Gooooo Adz! We are rolling all the fuckin' best encounters and encounterin' all the best fucking. Bet Blue'll like that we did it too - not that we'll be able to hide it from her.

>>313369

Okay. We know what happens to unprotected human men who're exposed to Matango spores, but what happens to unprotected human women? What exactly is a Plaguebearer and can they be cured?

Can a human man be recalled or restrained once under worst mushroom's foul influence? Can they be cured by Faith Millitant, if prevented from reaching the colony proper? How many knights does it take and of what power? Does someone in early stages of infection infect others?

Anyway, without further information the key thing right now is to cut off infection vectors and buy time. The second step is to move everyone off in a safe direction quicksmart while it is established what the fuck they're doing close to the creep without proper escort (it's like the silly cunts have never dealt with an outbreak before). If it was just a matter of Millitia it'd be bad but Waylanders present makes it worse since they're likely in a coordination role and don't exactly grow on trees. The whole lot of them wandering off into the shrooms would probably cripple containment for a while and that simply must not happen.

Create a sizeable blaze or explosion between the Millitiamen and the shamblers; not close enough to either to injure but enough to shock, drive back in either direction, and hopefully break line of sight between.

>>313371

>but what happens to unprotected human women?

Transmuted to Matango or Plaguebearer

>What exactly is a Plaguebearer and can they be cured?

A Human stuffed to the proverbial with inert Matango Spore. Once the Mohorovicic deems it appropriate, they explode, showering everything in range. Can they be cured? Potentially? A Lord of the Angelic Orders or a Bride of Tyris could probably give it a proper go, but there aren't any recorded successes as people tend to just set them on fire out of hand.

>>313368

>>313369

If Adam's shield can stop the spores from causing a possible outbreak then using it to prevent contact between the women and would be rescuers needs to be a thing. We should use whatever means available to determine if the women are infected if it's safe to do so. I'm all for purging people with fire, but this will require just cause. This is assuming my assumptions hold true.

Now if the women are proven to be carriers? Get as much information from them while they still have their human senses relatively intact. Then kill the women mercifully, and burn the bodies after to deal with immediate spore threat.

Either way, some exterminatus is in order so once the non infected are safe burn it all to the ground.

>>313461

So just to be clear here, you want to either 1) Wait until the priestesses are clear of the mohorovicic before shielding them, or 2) shield them ON the Mohorovicic and take the risk of landing in it? And if they are infected, you want to use resonance in full view of the Militia and Waylanders, one of which is likely your older brother and will recognise you from a half a mile away? Not saying it's a bad idea, just want to be clear what you're asking to do.

>>313526

not him, but if i had a choice i'd say #1

>>313526

I like the "not matango" option where we wait until the priestesses are clear. That way we don't get any spore induced ideas about fucking any fungi.

>>313368

Several questions. Could Bella drop us off with the Waylanders and then go investigate the priestesses? Would we have time?

How do Waylanders usually make sure their mamono associates are spore-free after dealing with Fuckshrooms?

>>313769

Yes she could, and as for cleaning, a wipe down with a bottle of anything over a hundred proof would do it… just have to make sure anyone who did it got EV-ER-Y-WHERE. :^)

>>313769

>>314079

I'mma go with this. Have Bellamy investigate and deal with the ladies as appropriate, and we can talk to the guys.

As for wiping her down, I guess that another mamano would be the best option for ensuring they're clean, though they'd probably need to be wiped down too. Either way, I vote Blue for maximum bully in both directions.

>>314099

>Bellamy

Thanks, autocorrect.

>Have Bella drop you with the Humans whilst she investigates the ‘priestesses’

>Warn the humans

>set fire to the priestesses if they turn out to be plaguebearers.

>Exterminatus if the option presents itself

>Have Blue wipe down Bella afterwards.

“Drop me on the lee of that dune, Bella” You order the Griffon. “Then you get a better eye on those priestesses.”

“Verily, for what doth I look?” Bella asked you, kicking up a massive cloud of sand as she came in to land.

“Anything non-human. Swellings, growths, extra limbs… mushrooms growing out their heads… it’ll be obvious.” You explain, dusting yourself off. “Quickly.”

Bella nods, taking wing again as you begin to slog through the sand towards where you spotted the humans from the air.

“…Don’t care, Waylander, if there’s even the slightest chance…” A Militia captain roared, his eyes bugging out in clear fury, his squad forming up to intercept the priestesses.

“Don’t move! For the love of Tyris, don’t move!” You yell, panting as you ran through the scrub.

The waylander turned, and you cursed all the sodding luck… Tristan.

“Adam!” Tristan exclaimed. “Stay back mate… You don’t want any part of this…”

“Got a Griffon… Scouting…” You pant, ignoring your elder brother’s instruction. “Keep out of the Mohorovicic… There’s thousands of them in there.”

“A what?” The Militia captain demanded. “Look Freeman, I don’t know who you are or how you got here but if those Priestesses are…”

“Like I said, I’ve got someone on it.” You insist. “Tristan, please. You guys have to go. This isn’t patchwork, the Moho’s solid from here to the coast, it’s even taken the Chancel Isle.”

Hidden Roll

“Dammit Adam, how do you know this?” Tristan demanded, grabbing your shoulder in a heavy-gloved hand as he turns you this way and that, rudely searching for signs of infection.

“I saw it.”

“From where?”

You point to the sky “Up there.”

“Dave-o did say he saw that weird harpy break through the Cloudbank…” A Militiaman added.

“Adam, did you get yourself nicked by a harpy? Where’s Blue?” Tristan grated, shaking you.

“No, and scouting the Northern end, we’ve got a whole drove coming south… And quit fuckin’ shaking me!” You insist, trying to pull away from the Waylander’s iron grip.

“Then how did you…”

“Adam!” You hear Bella shriek, spotting her form taking wing from the midst of the Mohorovivc. “They yet approach with ungainly haste! One of them erupted ‘pon me. Maou… I am covered in its foulness!”

“Oh piss… There’s our answer.” You curse. “Keep back Bella!” You yell. “Get over the water and call for Blue when you hit the northern end. Tell her to grab two bottles of that ping pong tiddly youse were necking last night, and then BOTH of you douse each other thoroughly!”

“I do not understand…” Bella lamented, hovering above the swaying burgundy fronds, wiping something off her with clear revulsion.

“She will!”

“Certes…” The Griffon agrees, winging towards the ocean.

“What was that?” Tristan blurted, his mouth hanging open in amazement.

“Griffon. Now please Tristan, we’ve gotta give it legs. I don’t wanna know how fast ‘ungainly haste’ is.”

Hidden Roll

Your brother’s eyes narrow as he studies you. Sighing, he turns to the captain. “Kick ‘em. We burn it now.”

The captain swears, yelling orders to the Militia who put boots to the barrels, sending them careening down the slope and into the Mohorovicic.

“Fire!” Tristain orders, and high, sharp sounds of shard rifles spitting glowing Shadrium are heard, glowing blue streaks lancing towards the barrels which erupt in black smoke and billowing orange flame.

“Dammit Waylander they’re just smouldering! I thought you said this stuff would spread!” The captain yelled, “Back! Back to the dunes!”

“It should!” Tristain retorted, swearing as you both scramble up the sand-hill. “That fucking piece of shit merchant… I’m going to feed him his fucking feet!”

>>314942

You turn to look back… the barrels were burning, yet too far apart… This wasn’t going to stop anything…

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

To hell with the possibility of discovery. This had to end now. You called upon the Logos, feeling it respond…

Adam used Resonant Glyph: Fire(Maintained)

“TYRIS FUCK!” A militiaman cried in shock as the leading edge of the Mohorovicic erupted in flame. The wall of fire boiled westward, consuming inexorably, choking smoke roiling in a skyward pillar.

“Please be clear Bella… Tyris… Please let her be clear…” You murmur.

Maintain - Success

The fire continued to roil, faster than should be physically possible, your mind straining under the effort of maintaining the glyph… suddenly it started to get cold, and you realized you were sucking an immense amount of heat from the surrounding air to spawn the flames. It didn’t matter, you held the glyph… You felt wetness dripping from your nose… It didn’t matter, you held it, forcing the wall of fire westward until the stinking black smoke turned to billowing white steam.

“Well fuck me…” the Militia Captain declared, slack jawed. “…It actually worked.”

“Seems so.” Tristan agreed.

“Why’d you snot the Freeman? He did warn us after all.”

Tristan looks puzzled, his eyes widening as he looks over to see the blood dripping from your nose. His mouth purses, and he pulls a kerchief from his pocket. “For bein’ an irresponsible cunt and worrying his big brother.” He replies without hesitation, tossing the square of fabric at you. “Clean yourself up, Adz, and don’t ever do that to me again.”

“Oh Balls… Captain… Waylander…” One of the militiamen exclaimed in a sinking tone as you held the kercheif to your face.

“What?” The Captain demanded shortly.

“That was our supply wagon…” the militiaman replies, pointing to a furiously burning cart at the leading edge of the inferno.

“You said you had a drove coming south…” Tristan remarks presumptively. “ I’m commandeering it in the name of Lord Baron Thomas of house Reinhardt.”

“Course…” you shrug, “…Ivy’s gonna be stroppy as hell mind…”

>>314943

“Dangit Waylander I ain’t got no problem with feedin’ you and yours back to Fremantle, but by Maou I will not WAIT on you and y’all will NOT be takin’ your leave with my horses!” Ivy orders, hands on her broad hips.

“Madam. We have militia here who haven’t slept in four days. Look at them! They’re fit to drop!” Tristan retorted hotly, gesturing to the Militia who weakly objected, leaning against polearms and wagon sides, some indeed, having dropped to the ground in sheer exhaustion.

Ivy’s gaze softened somewhat. “Well… At least picket ‘em proper, I ain’t havin ‘em makin’ the place look untidy.”

“Your Generosity is overwhelming, madam.” Tristan replied in a slightly mocking tone, bowing slightly. “Adz, is that your three-train with Two, Four, and Twenty over there?”

You nod. “Yeh Tristan.”

“Good. I’m gonna go die on it, if that’s alright with you.”

You can’t help but grin. “Goferit mate.”

Tristan nodded curtly, turning and calling over his shoulder. “And when I wake up, you’re gonna explain a couple things to me. Clear?”

“Yes Waylander.” You sigh, cursing inwardly.

“Criminently, that is one demanding, infuriating… GORGEOUS Human…” Ivy harrumphs in clear frustration.

“You too, Ivy?” You groan, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“What?” The Taurean asks in puzzlement.

“Everybody bloody well falling in adoring lust with me bloody brother.”

“My Stars, the Waylander’s your brother?” Ivy exclaims in surprise “…How open minded is he, sugar?”

“If you disturb him right now he’s probably as likely to put a foot in your arse as… well… anything else.” You drawl cheekily.

“Well dang.” Ivy sighs in disappointment. “What’s he after you about?”

Hidden Roll

“This and that…” You reply nebulously.

“That big ol’smokestack over yonder part of ‘this and that?” Ivy asks.

“Any reason you can think of that it would be?” You reply, cursing inwardly and trying to keep your expression as neutral as possible.

Ivy studies you for a moment before smiling slightly. “…You’re good, sugar… I can see why Juni wants to jump you.”

“Juni wants to jump me so she can make me agree to things while all the blood’s busy in me other head.” You retort, snickering.

“That too…” Ivy agrees.

You swallow slightly. “Did… Did Bella…”

“Blue’s taken half a crate o’hooch down the beach with River to sort her out, not to fret, sugar.” Ivy assures you. “Some quick thinkin’ on your part seein’ as she got slimed and all.”

“I told her two bottles… What was she thinking?” You mumble.

>>314944

“My brother is th’best boss ever.” River declares drunkenly.

“Pfft… No. Adz is.” Blue retorts.

“Lies! I’ll fight you!” River growls, pouncing on Blue as the two Kobolds grapple, giggling uncontrollably.

“I have *hic* been most foully abused…” Bella declares from where she is draped over your back.

“Gotta get everywhere feathersh…” Blue slurs, poking her head out from the kobold-ball before biting River on the ear.

“Ow! Blue! No fair!” River laments, pinching Blue on a modest breast with her brown-furred paw.

“Eep! Titty-twisters are against th’rules!” Blue yelps.

“Come on you two, it’s a bit of a walk back to camp.” You sigh, pausing while the Kobolds reluctantly cease their tussle.

“I’ll help carry feathers!” Blue declares, draping one of the Griffon’s massive wings over her head and shoulders.

“Me too!” River adds, mirroring her fellow Kobold on the other side.

“What is it with those two and Bella’s wings?” Chad asks, drinking absently from one of the remaining bottles you had confiscated from the sozzled Kobolds and the near-comatose Griffon.

“Wing cuddles mate. Can’t top em.” You chuckle, grinning at your fellow human.

“Thou art too gallant for thine own *hic* good…” Bella slurs, tightening the grip of her talons where she clings to your back, her feather-tipped, leonine tail dragging limply along the ground behind you. “…in fact were it not for the deep regard I hath for thine most comely indentured…”

“Bella, booze is talking…” You chuckle, placing a shushing finger on the Griffon’s plump lips.

“You think I’m pretty?” Blue asks in drunken wonderment.

“Certes…” Bella drawls, drunkenly smooching the air at the Kobold.

“Best. Packmate. Ever.” Blue declares.

“Blue…” You chide mildly, shaking your head in amusement.

“You right there?” Chad asks, passing you the bottle.

“Yeh, she’s nothing on me mate Eddie… There was a drunken deadweight…” You laugh, taking a belt and passing it back to Chad.

“Mister Adam! Yer screwing up the rotation!” River laments.

“You, little pup, have had quite enough.” Chad chides sternly.

“Yesboss.” River replies with instantaneous meekness.

“See?” You exclaim, “Nothing to it.”

>>314945

“…Nothing to it.” You grumble, yanking at the reins of the witchy chestnut mare you found yourself mounted atop, putting heels to flanks to get her ahead of the rowan stallion who had decided to wander away from the main herd for reasons only known to its tiny equine mind. “Get back over there or I’ll fuckin’ eat you, and damn the lost profit!” You snarl at the wild-eyed horse, who wisely concludes that doing what he is told is preferable to dealing with the angry human.

“Don’t saw at her mouth, freeman.” A voice chides from behind you. The rider, clad in the ubiquitous high-collared brown of a waylander, reins in beside you.

“George, isn’t it?” You venture, recognising one of your brother’s colleagues.

“S’right Gibson. Your Mamono are a bit the worse for wear today.”

“Let ‘em out of me sight for one fucking second…” You grumble. Blue, River and Bella were indeed suffering the after-effects of last night’s impressive drunk, all three lain low with what seemed to be horrendous hangovers.

“Ah, don’t be too hard on them. Matango are fuckin’ scary, even when you don’t have to worry about infection.” the Waylander replies evenly.

“True enough…” You admit “…thanks for helping out, by the way.”

“You kidding, a night of uninterrupted sleep AND a hot bacon breakfast? I wouldn’t be surprised if a bunch of the militia were offering to buff that Taurean’s hooves and braid her hair this morning.” George chuckles.

“Tristan still out?”

“That man’s a machine.” George replies with sincere admiration “He must have pulled a straight week, plus patrols, plus keeping on top of Baronial missives. Far as I’m concerned he can sleep all the way back to Fremantle and still have my vote for the Commandery.”

“Commandery? What happened to old Seb?”

“Heart gave out two weeks ago, Tyris rest his soul.” George sighed. “Adrian’s the nextmost senior but he won’t give up Mount Barker, especially not after Scotty.”

“Yeah… What’s the latest version of that story?”

“Led a pack of Ghost-Kobolds against a beast twelve metres tall, slaying it with the Secret Name of God before succumbing to his wounds.” The waylander replies with a suppressed grin.

“We do love our fuckin’ stories…” You snicker, before the sight of a rot-bloated corpse adorning a cross on the side of the road sobers you. “…Tyris be merciful, another one?”

“Greed makes monsters of us all in the end.” George sighs philosophically. “All we can do is uphold the law.”

“Yeah but… I mean, how many?” You bluster, absently making the Sign of the Sunburst as you pass the crucified corpse of the looter.

“Enough that there haven’t been any Ghouls spotted around the Fremantle dump in near on a fortnight.” George replies simply.

“Tyris… Kinda makes you ashamed to share a marking with ‘em.” You remark, shaking your head. Looting during an official emergency was harshly punished, and rightfully so… still it rankled to see so many willing to put their own larcenous desires above the welfare of their fellow humans.

“Mmm… Hey… Joondalup finally fixed that fence after the Mihirung got into the vineyards.” George remarks, nodding at the freshly-peeled log fence which delineated the edge of a holding.

You blink in surprise. “Fuck off, we’re not in Joondalup yet… are we?”

“We’ve made damn good time, Freeman.” George explains with a tight grin. “The Landholder here’s a big fan of horseflesh, if I remember correctly, might even be able to offload a few of yer also-rans ahead of pulling in to Fremantle tomorrow.”

>>314946

“This is thy home?” Bella asks, staring about at the buildings and bustling crowds from where she is perched behind you.

“Almost, HOME home is about half a day east of here.” You explain. “But close enough to feel good, doncha reckon pup?”

“Yehboss” Blue replies, closing her eyes blissfully as you pat her head.

“Tyris…” Came a groan from the back of your wagon, Tristan’s head popping up from under the cover. “…We here already?”

“You slept for two days, Tristan.” You chuckle, reining in the Bungarra before the stockyard stables, already crowded with the horses which had arrived ahead of you.

“Well that’d be why I’m hungrier than a Murchie Feral with twelve pups…” Tristan remarked.

“You wouldn’t even wake up for bacon!” Blue exclaimed, grinning at the Waylander, her tail wagging furiously in greeting.

“Oh… Nah, one of the lads saved me some when I woke up to drain the lizard briefly.” Tristan explained. “Still… Two days! Tyris. Must’ve needed it. Also hello Blue.”

“Hi.” Blue whuffled dreamily as the Waylander patted her head.

“And who’s this magnificent creature?” Tristan prompted, gazing at Bella appraisingly. The Griffon, subjected to both metaphorical barrels of the Waylander’s rugged charm, could only blush and mumble while wringing her talons.

“This’s Bella, the Griffon I was telling you about. To be perfectly honest you and the Militia owe her your continued non-shroomy existence.” You muttered somewhat darkly. Here we fucking go again…

“My sincerest thanks to you, gracious lady…” Tristan mused, taking one of Bella’s talons in a rough, calloused hand and raising it briefly to his lips. The Griffon giggled helplessly, actually trembling as the Waylander released her talon.

“Well, I’m off.” Tristan declared, pulling his high-collared brown coat about him and leaping from the wagon.

“P-prithee… why?” Bella lamented, earning herself a surly sidewards glance from you.

“Gotta make sure me ‘prentice hasn’t given half the Barony away in my absence… make sure me Kangas are still alive… eat Joe’s larder bare… Take yer pick. Meet me there when you get a sec.”

“See how we go.” You replied noncommittally.

Tristan fixed you with a level stare. “That wasn’t a request. I still want to talk to you about what happened.”

“Balls.” You grumbled, having hoped against hope that two days of unconsciousness had muddled your brother’s infamously crystalline memory.

“Verily… He is…” Bella sighs lustily.

“Too right.” Blue agrees.

“Could ya fuckin’ not right now?” You spit venomously.

“Adam! What hath come over thee?” Bella asks in surprise.

“Adz gets surly when people notice Tristan is prettier than him.” Blue whuffles in amusement, throwing her furry forepaws around your shoulders. “Doncha boss?”

“Blue…” You growl.

“Boss…” Blue retorts, her azure eyes locked to yours. “…who’s your good girl?”

“You.” You surrender with a helpless sigh.

<What to do first?

>See Ivy and Juni

>See Tristan and Matt

>Find a High Priestess

>Talk with Chad and River

>Something else?

>>314947

everyone here damn well knows i'm gonna always suggest we go see Ivy (and by extension Juni because she's in the suggestion)

after that, i suppose we should go see Tristan before he finds us

eventually we should see if we can't get Ivy to come with bella, blue, and us once we leave this drove thing because cowtits a best

>>314947

I'd say see Tristan first so we can rip off that band aid quickly and painfully

Would he believe that we dropped a bundle of Molotov cocktails from 30,000 feet before we flew down to meet him and when they hit the ground the explosion and resulting fire was so beautiful it gave us an anime nosebleed? We're totally not Resonant. Honest.

something that could be metagaming, but this line is probably important

>suddenly it started to get cold, and you realized you were sucking an immense amount of heat from the surrounding air to spawn the flames

i assume it would work both ways (probably), but the air getting colder when we sustain a fire glyph is something we should remember and take into consideration if we ever do something like it again

>>314947

Let's settle our official business first, then talk to Tristan. Might want to tell Chad not to run off so we can get a hold of him later; we still need to make him baron or something.

I suppose waylander bro is a necessity but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Try to slink around admitting to Resonance but if we can't do that then do something showy and intimidating with resonance. Shock and awe the little wannabe fabio.

>>315095

nonono

Don't let anyone here know were resonant. If I know RD, and I don't, this is a trap.

>>315020

I'm all for this. I'm also all for keeping a lid on the resonance. If Tristan pushes as to why, kindly point out to him he'd be balls deep in a mushroom and that he needs to keep quiet …. assuming he puts two and two together.

So Two for Ivy/Juni then Tristan, Two for Tristan first but be a coy cunt about Resonance if we can.

Can I gets me a tiebreaker?

>>315237

Tristan obviously. Try not to run afoul of the law of the land after all, even if the cheeky cunt is our brother.

Repost for not saging like a newfag.

>>315237

I'm voting that we go sort Tristan first, then go see Ivy and Juni to continue our tradition of bullying T&G factors.

>>315256

>>315244

I can't find the scene from Men in Black where Will Smith tries to come up with a cover story for him blowing up a semi trailer with the Noisy Cricket but I imagine things will go something like that.

>>315237

Not that I'd be making a difference either way here, but can we do anything else to make damn sure we're not trucking around with a dormant mushroom omelette right now? That sounds like a game over situation waiting to happen.

also going with Tristan first

>>315293

Yeah, but unless I missed someone, nobody besides the girls really got close enough to be a concern. Tristan would have been pushing them into the fire at the end of a spear if they had.

>>315342

Ah alright, maybe I should put a bit more faith in the GM :^)

>>315237

I say we tell Tristan but make sure he understands that it is effectively a state secret.

>>315395

Only if Tristan presses the issue in such a way that we have no 'out'. Otherwise Adam should keep his piehole shut.

>>315511

You're right, we should try to dodge it. But I don't think he'd take it well as a brother or a waylander if we're lying and also doing weird shit.

>Go see Tristan

>Conclude your business with Juni and Ivy

“Orright then…” You groan, handing the reins presumptuously to your Kobold. “…Blue, if you could be a good girl and sort us out here, I’ll go see Tristan. Bella, could you do me a favour and…”

“If it art all the same to thee, Adam, might I remain at leisure? ‘Tis mine fulsome desire to see more of this place.” the Griffon interjects.

“No drama. Blue, see if Cicerello’s got any room, otherwise the Tradewind’ll have to do again I s’pose.”

“Yehboss.” Blue replies, kissing you briefly on the cheek before barking harshly at the Bungarra, lashing them with the reins held proficiently in her tawny paws.

“You’re getting good at that…” You chuckle teasingly. Blue pokes her pink tongue out at you in wordless response before returning her attention to the lizards. You hop down from the wagon, ambling in the general direction of Joe’s. It felt like forever since you had tread these familiar streets, and every well-worn memory filled your heart with a curious warmth.

It was good to be back.

Judging by the crowd which had gathered at the front of the taproom of Joe’s, Tristan’s return had brought with it some burning issues people either didn’t feel comfortable entrusting to Matt, your boyhood friend and apprentice Waylander, or he had fucked up something major. You prayed it was the former, you honestly did. You also had no interest in waiting for the crowd to disperse, novelty sated or issues dealt with. You skirted the outside of the building, ducking through a staff entrance and hurrying back towards the taproom, hoping nobody saw you.

hidden roll

“He’s gonna flog me bloody…” A voice lamented. A voice you recognised. Matt. You paused, hugging the wall behind the corner of the hallway, listening intently.

“Don’t be so defeatist. He’s not unreasonable.” A second voice murmured comfortingly. That was one of the Kangas, you were pretty sure, but you couldn’t quite tell which one.

“There’s not unreasonable and then there’s this though Dani!” Matt exclaimed, clearly having worked himself up.

“Oi ‘prentice…”

“What, indentured?”

“Shut up.”

“Mmmffff!” You heard Matt’s objection smothered as something was pushed over his mouth. What the hell was that Kanga doing? You turned the corner, ready to give Dani a jolly good telling off for bullying your friend, but the excoriation died on your lips as your eyes took in the sight before you, The Kangaroo-girl with a fistful of Matt’s shirt in her furred, clawed forearm, pulling her roughly against him, his arm on the wall as he kissed her hungrily, a hand groping at the swell of a breast…

Hidden Roll

…You also couldn’t help but notice the slight swelling of the Kangaroo’s normally flat, toned abdomen.

“No shit…” You blurted in astonishment. Dani and Matt sprang apart like the other had each become white hot.

“Adz!” Matt exclaimed, a look of shock and horror on his face. “Now don’t…”

Hidden Roll

“Don’t what? Who’s talking? I swear I heard someone just then…” You state myopically, deliberately looking past the couple partially obscuring the hallway. “…I sure do hope I can get through to the taproom and see Tristan about something completely unrelated to this hallway with nobody in it.”

“Thanks Adz.” Dani murmurs gratefuly.

“I really must get my ears checked… Though I have a distinct desire to say congratulations… I have no idea why…” You continue, not looking at them as you give a thumbs up in their general direction, turning slightly sideways to squeeze past them… And almost colliding with Tristan who is coming around the blind corner the other way.

“Adz? I was just about to send…” Tristan exclaims, looking at you in mild surprise, before he notices Matt and Dani behind you. For a moment his eyes harden, his mouth tightens, then he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Thanks for being proactive and getting Adz for me, Dani.” He states evenly, not really looking at the Kangaroo.

Dani frowns in puzzlement. “But I didn’t.”

“Thanks. For. Being. Proactive. And. Getting. Adz. For. Me.” Tristan repeats, fixing the Kangaroo with an imperious, almost threatening look.

>>316266

“N-no worries, Master.” Dani almost gushes.

“Now Matt. I know we’re technically not supposed to start intensive field work until your third year, but for some reason I think about six or eight months from now I should get you working with Kira.”

“Uh… As you see fit, Waylander.” Matt agrees quickly.

“I hope your wrist is limber, I have a LOT of paperwork for you tonight.” Tristan promises menacingly.

Matt sighs. “Yes, Waylander.”

Tristan turns to you, beckoning. “Well, saves me the trouble of looking for you then. C’mon Adz.”

You follow the Waylander into the halls which house the inevitable offices required to run a tavern and eating-house of this size. Tristan knocks on the door of one before entering presumptuously.

“In the name of Baron Thomas, blah blah, so on and so forth… Bugger off.” He demands, flashing his badge of office to the surprised, callow looking youth bent over a pile of parchment.

“Y-yes Waylander!” The youth swallows, rushing from the room.

“Tell Joe I told him to give you the rest of the day off… and a good pint of stout, you look peaky!” Tristan called after the youth.

“Joe Junior?” You chuckle as Tristan closes the door behind him.

“Maybe, maybe not…” Tristan shrugs, flopping into the recently vacated chair. “…Now. Spill.”

“‘Bout what?” You reply carefully.

“Oh I don’t know, the weather? Price of salted fish in Esperance? New shoes? Fuck me backwards Adz, don’t play about with me…” Tristan demands.

Hidden Roll

“Well I didn’t really see anything, there’s any number of reasons they could have been in the hallway togeth…”

“NOT MY BREWERY, NOT MY SATYROS…” Tristan exclaims loudly, putting his fingers in his ears. You pause, getting the point. Tristan takes his fingers out of his ears, staring at you pointedly. “…Whatever you were talking about is clearly a matter for our Holy Mother Church. And she’s been real fuckin’ busy of late… Be a shame to bother her about something so trivial, doncha reckon?”

“Real busy.” You agree. “Why, it’d be a Virtue to save the Priestesses the trouble.”

“A Holy Virtue indeed. All Glory to Tyris and his Bollocks.” Tristan declares, raising his hands in the sign of the Sunburst. “Now, stop fucking about and tell me what happened.”

Hidden Roll

“You’re gonna have to be more specific, Tristan.” You reply, shrugging helplessly.

“You’re really gonna play this fucking game with me Adz? Me? You dozy little cunt, you haven’t been able to lie to me since the first day they marched your sniveling arse to Dad’s doorstep.” Tristan snarled, leaning forward in the chair. “Lancelin. That supposed naphtha was fucking trap-grease mixed with vegemite. Wouldn’t have done shit, yet somehow it managed to magically spread to the coast. Tell me how.”

Hidden Roll

“I suppose you wouldn’t accept Tyris showing His Divine Favour upon your efforts?” You offer lamely.

“Adam…” Tristan growls warningly.

“Alright! Shit!” You exclaim. “You’re a fucking pushy cunt towards someone who hasn’t done anything wrong, you know.”

“Take it up with the Baron if you’re that arsehurt. Now talk.”

You sigh, squeezing your eyes closed. “Say someone had come across a Matrix of Resonance out there in the bush somewhere. No how or why or wherefore… just… found it. Say that person opened it, and instead of going mad or vegetative… that person survived. Say that person knew that the Dominus had forbidden Resonants from operating in the Australs outside of official Church business, over which he has no authority. Say that person refused to go to Magisterium, but is pretending to be just another ordinary Jezza Smith-Son.”

Your breath catches in your throat, your eyes sting, but you press on. “Say that person came across his big brother about to get fuckin’ swarmed by shitfungus… Say that person had no other choice to save you…”

>>316268

“You’re telling me you’re Resonant.” Tristan states evenly.

“Wilder.” You correct. “It was a choice made on impulse… If I’d known…”

Tristan gets out of his chair, moving around the paper-strewn desk to catch you in a rough hug. “Simmo told me mate… I didn’t want to believe it…”

“Wait. You knew?!” You yell, shoving him away. “You fucking knew, and you forced it out of me anyway? Why? Tyris be fucking Glorified Tristan, this isn’t a fucking game! If you knew the half of what I’ve had to fucking do after that rock fucked me in the brainstem you’d…”

“That will be quite enough of that.” A female voice interjected, the wimpled features of a High Priestess standing in the now open doorway.

“Your Reverence.” You and Tristan automatically responded, ducking your heads and tugging forelocks at her.

“Waylander.” The High Priestess began imperiously. “I will have a Vow of Silence from you for everything you may hear in this room.”

“O-of course, Sister Superior Rachel.” Tristan agreed obsequiously, before fixing the High Priestess with a smouldering stare. “Foreasmuch as you know I am our Holy Mother Church’s most loyal servant…”

“Don’t you give me those eyes Tristan…” Imkampfy's Fursonademanded, flushing slightly and adjusting her wimple.

You turn to your elder brother, fixing him with a level stare. “One day you’re not going to be pretty any more, then you’re fucked.”

“But not today.” Tristan grinned cheekily, and for a moment you saw the fifteen-year-old boy who had taught you to catch yabbies in the dam and how to properly steal cooling pastries from the cook’s trays without getting caught.

Hidden Roll

“You’re fuckin’ good Tristan.” You chuckle appreciatively, shaking your head. “Why’d you go law? You could have owned half the world as a trader.”

“Few are called, fewer are chosen.” Tristan remarked enigmatically. “Course you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you… Resonant.”

“You will not refer to him as such. He is unacknowledged by Magisterium.” Imkampfy's Fursonastated, stepping in front of you. “Though it appears I am too late to prevent his mouth from running over.”

Hidden Roll

“He’s my Brother, Reverence.” You explain simply, before puzzlement furrowed your brow. “Who told you I was here, by the way?”

“Your winged friend. She is possessed of a marked eloquence and a singular presence, by the way. The way she framed herself against the setting sun… a few of our acolytes nearly genuflected in her presence, would you believe?” Imkampfy's Fursonaexclaimed.

“Bella…” You grin helplessly. “…I love that girl… Uh… In a purely platonic sense, of course!” You quickly correct.

“Of course…” Sister Superior Imkampfy's Fursonasighed, rolling her eyes before moving towards you. “…I understand we have you to thank for that spectacular display to the north… You impulsive, careless…”

You brace yourself for the slap, eyes widening in surprise as the High Priestess embraces you warmly.

“…wonderful, wonderful man.” She exclaims. “How did you manage to get it all?”

“Well…” You explain, feeling slightly uncomfortable in Rachel’s arms, your brother making it no better by fixing you with a mocking grin. “…Bella brought me in from above… I had a rough idea of the span, and from there you just… Y’know…” You explain, extricating yourself from Rachel’s matronly embrace.

“There was no chance of any survivors?” Imkampfy's Fursonaasked desperately.

“Mohorovicic was thick and solid from the road to the Chancel Isle.” You shake your head sadly.

“Tyris… Most High God… take your poor children to you gently…” Imkampfy's Fursonasighed, squeezing her eyes shut against the tears threatening to spill over.

“I’m sorry, Reverence…” You offer, putting a comforting hand on the Priestess’s back. “…You lost someone there?”

“Dear friends… and…” The High Priestess broke off, biting off the grief threatening to spill from her mouth with a will of meteor iron.

“Family?” You offer.

“Blasphemy!” The Priestess grates, though her voice is one of pain, not anger.

>>316269

Hidden Roll

“I supplicate The Forgiveness of The God.” You offer sincerely, sinking to your knees, raising your hands in the Sign of the Sunburst.

“Granted.” Imkampfy's Fursonaremarks absently, control returning to her voice. “Though I would know you, Wilder.”

High Priestess Imkampfy's Fursonaused Resonant Glyph: REVELATION (Success)

“Right in front of me brother and all Your Rev-OH TYRIS FUCK! OUCH!” You declare, as letters of fire seem to inscribe themselves on your forehead.

“I recognise you.” Imkampfy's Fursonastates simply.

“I stand recognised… also fuckin’ ow!” You lament, dabbing at your forehead as if expecting to see blood on your fingertips. “Why didn’t you use the other one?”

“Didn’t think of it. Don’t forget you have a job to do, Freeman. Waylander, see this doesn’t leave this room.” Imkampfy's Fursonaorders absently. “Also… I summon you for Continuance.”

“The Will of the Most High be forever Obeyed.” Tristan responds without hesitation. “Give me a small time to allow my Apprentice to take over my duties?

“Granted, but don’t dawdle, Waylander.” Imkampfy's Fursonamuses with a smoky, challenging stare, before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

“Tyris…” Tristan sighs, rolling his eyes.

You raise an eyebrow. “Whazzamadder?”

“She’s a crier…” Tristan responds with a helpless shrug.

“You should see what they make you do when you’re Resonant.” You drawl, a grin spreading across your face.

“I take it I don’t want to know.” Tristan laughs.

“You really don’t.”

Tristan shakes his head helplessly. “Adz… Really… Are you alright?”

Hidden Roll

“Tristan… If I gotta be honest mate, I feel like I’ve aged three decades in the last year.” You admit sincerely. “What I’ve seen… what I’ve done… It’s been hard.”

“Why didn’t you just go to Magisterium?”

You take a deep breath, looking at the floor before letting it out. “You’re still sworn to secrecy, yeah?”

Tristan spreads his arms. “We’re still in this room, aren’t we?”

“Blue.” You reply seriously. “I can’t leave her mate… She’s… she’s a part of me.”

“Please Tyris, let Dani and Matt be less complicated.” Tristan prays effusively, raising his eyes to the heavens.

You can’t help but chuckle at that. “You alright with that?”

Tristan shrugs slightly “Assuming her Mob is fine with looking after their daughter… also assuming Matt doesn’t fall over and die doing fieldwork with Kira. Won’t denounce ‘em for Heresy but I’ll be damned if I’ll let them slack off any more than I have to for getting pregnant.”

“All any of us can ask for I suppose.”

“Heh. Yeh.” Tristan agrees. “Welcome home mate.”

“Adam!” Ivy exclaims as you walk through the door of the Tenno and Goldstein office. “I done gone thunk we wouldn’t be seein’ you until tomorrow, Sugar!”

“Yeh welll…” You reply absently. “…better to keep accounts current.”

“Do you owe us money?” Juni asked eagerly, the Tanuki’s fluffy tail positively bottlebrushing behind her. “Please tell me he owes us money Ivy…”

“Other way around I’m afeared honey.” Ivy sighs. Juni groans in near religious lament at the news.

“Just wanted to check in, make sure everything got sorted like planned.” You continue, leaning absently against the counter.

“You know between you and the Kalbarrian…” Juni begins, sidling up to you and tracing a finger up your torso. “…I might even think it’s worth doing this run regularly.”

“We skimmed the cream Juni.” You chuckle, patting the Tanuki’s hand. “Thoroughly. You’re looking at at least a year before we get anything of similar quality.”

“Ivy showed me the Solar Marks you brought her…” Juni states almost accusingly. “…You know you could have gotten me to do just about anything with those…”

“Heh. You Tanuki.” You smirk, patting Juni on the head absently. The Tanuki makes a small sound, her head pressing against your hand, her mouth open and her eyes rolled back into her head.

“Late Spring?” You ask the Taurean, who is trying very hard to look like she isn’t fidgeting on the other side of the counter.

“Somethin’ like that, Sugar.” Ivy admits.

“Come ON Human….” Juni demands. “…Ivy told me about what happened near Geraldton. You’re really going to leave me out?”

<Well guys? Would you a Tanuki?

>Give Ivy and Juni the D

>Refrain from the D, bully instead

>Refrain from the D, no bully

>Run!

>Something else?

>Imkampfy's Fursona

For fuck's sake MangoMod, that is a VERY common name!

>>316271

bully, then give them the D

also we need to ask Ivy if she wants to come with us, Blue, and Bella once we leave for a new adventure and she totally says yes because reasons

>>316313

It's not a proper lewd act without some bullying.

Let's do it.

>>316285

I second this notion. All B because A has no D to give. And Tanukis always need to be bullied

>All for bully, 2 for fug, 2 for no fug

Tiebreaker plz

scriptsimian fix your shit

>>316587

I'm against sticking our dick in new girls without running it by Blue first.

>>316591

>>316587

As much as I would like to fug the danuki I reckon we're getting a little too promiscuous, so bully hard, no fug. Maybe fug later after we've bullied her to dangerously extreme levels and we know Blue's fine with it.

Tell them we don't lay a hand on other girls without blue approving. But the moment she does it's a yes from us.

A bit of bully and definitely fug, but with Blue there. She's been eyein Ivy for too long for us not to reward her with that.

>>316693

>touch the cow a little bit in front of Juni

Alternative amendment: Thoroughly touch the cow, allow Juni a good gander at Adam’s undocumented tangible assets, maybe even give her a bit of a taste by mouth, then once she’s toier than a Roman sandal, swan off with the promise of coming back in a few hours to sip once she’s well-stewed.

I… I might have a thing for defeated danuki being induced to enjoy the abrogation of their contractual advantages. So what?

>No D

>BULLY

“Geraldton, Juni?” You exclaim in mock surprise. “She told you about that, did she?”

“Well I mean I done kinda mentioned it in passing…” Ivy explains.

“You were bragging your horns off, Ivy, don’t lie.” Juni retorts hotly.

“Oh. I see…” You remark, walking around the counter as if lost in thought, pausing behind the Taurean who looks over her shoulder at you in slight puzzlement. “…So she told you how she nearly tore my head off with her thighs the first time I made her come…” Without warning, you grab Ivy’s buttocks roughly with both hands, the Taurean’s brief shriek of surprise turning into a moaning low as you massage her hindquarters. “…So that’s what you’re after? Or would you prefer me to just take you over the counter like so…”

Ivy gives a small, pleased chuckle and an ‘Oooh…’ as you push her forward at the nape of the neck, bending her over the counter with one hand, the other continuing to tease at her thighs and rear, her voluminous breasts squashed against the wood, threatening to spill from her shirt.

“One, either, both…” Juni agrees without hesitation, almost drooling as she stares at you greedily.

“Or maybe I should show you what you’re in for with Ivy first… No sense going into things unprepared…” You continue, pushing aside the crotch of ivy’s short-cropped pants and teasing the wetness beneath with your fingertips.

“S-sugar you’re bein’ dreadful naughty…” Ivy pants, her hands clawing at the wood of the counter.

“Sorry Ivy, just making a point.” You apologize, straightening her up down there and moving back around the counter, the act of which drawing a frustrated, wordless sound of objection from the aroused mamono. “Maybe put you on your knees…” You purr at Juni, a hand on her cheek, your thumb on her pouty lower lip. “…Have you clean me off first.” You slip your thumb into the Tanuki’s bowlike mouth, a moan vibrating around your digit as the Tanuki visibly quivers, her tail and the fluffy ruffs on her calves brushing out as if she’d been struck by lightning.

“Okay…” Juni whimpers in a small voice, as your thumb pops free, beginning to sink to her knees.

“It’s too bad really…” You sigh, turning away from the pair. “…I’ve just got so much to do this afternoon. Tyris forgive me my proximity to blasphemy but he really doesn’t make enough bloody hours in the day.”

“WHAT?!” Juni demands in an almost animalistic snarl.

“Sugar! That’s just plum mean now.” Ivy scolds in shock.

“I’m sure you understand Juni, Tanuki and all. Business’s gotta come first… Though I mean I might see fit to…”

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

White stars bloomed in your vision as something hit you behind the ear. Hard. Strange, you didn’t remember falling, yet here was the floor. Good floor… Your mouth throbs and you tongued the area experimentally. You taste copper and a tooth wiggles slightly. Bad floor… Someone was pulling you somewhere, your eyes weren’t exactly working properly and everything seemed to sound like it was underwater. You tried to regain your feet but for some reason your arms and legs wouldn’t do what they told you. That sent a jolt of panic and adrenaline through your system, clearing your sap-addled mind. You groan, blinking, raising your head and squinting through clearing vision to see your hands and feet thoroughly bound.

Thank Tyris, at least you hadn’t broken your back or something similarly permanent.

“…Don’t think that was really necessary though Honey.” Ivy chides from somewhere behind you.

“I am not going to be denied a third time in my own damn office!” Ivy retorts. “You know how it works. I like him, and I want him, and he was given plenty of options to do things the easy way, but he just had to have it the hard way. The choice was his.”

“Juni.” You groan, blinking against the thumping headache which has decided to take up residence in your skull “This is a terrible idea. Stop it now, untie me, and we can forget this whole thing ever happened.”

“Oh, I’ll untie you, after I’ve gotten what I want…” Juni hums sweetly, her sunny smile belying her intent.

“You did tease her somethin’ awful, Sugar.” Ivy reminds you in a disapproving tone.

“A bit of bully’s no justification for rape in the eyes of the law, Ivy.” You reply seriously. “Juni, think about it. This is going to end very badly…”

Juni snorts. “Come on Adam, you’re a big guy…”

“…For you.”

“Just me?” Juni chuckles. “Adam, say you DO decide to denounce me. I’ve got enough swing around here to get you at LEAST put to the confession over it. And what other little details are you going to let slip before your God, hmmm? Something about a certain Kobold wanting a baby in her perchance?”

>>317118

You look back at Ivy with a mixture of hurt and disapproval. “Thought we had an understanding, Ivy.”

Ivy sighs, lowering her eyes regretfully. “Sugar, I like you, I really do, but like you said, business is business, and we ain’t got nearly enough of a hold on you to make any of us comfortable… Plus, you seem to have a knack of makin’ the dice turn up in your favour too damn often.”

“Put ‘em on a plate in a hot bread oven for an hour.” You retort snidely.

“Ain’t what I’m talkin’ about sugar… Just say yes and let her have you for a little while, it ain’t gonna hurt nobody after all.” Ivy almost pleads.

“Ooh, is this a new game?” An echoing voice crawls from somewhere near your feet, sending goosebumps up your spine. “I like games.”

You raise your head, curious as to the source, to see an… odd… being standing at your feet. Her stance was demure, and she seemed to be clad in the garb of a servant of a noble house. One of House Reinhardt’s? Couldn’t be, where was the crest? And why did she seem so… wet?

Hidden roll

With a crashing realization, you understood. Those weren’t clothes, those were an extension of her body manipulated to look like clothes. As if to solidify your theory a tendril of blue-grey snaked from beneath her ‘dress’, poking at your ankle experimentally.

“He doesn’t do much, does he?” The newcomer remarked, looking directly at you with those glowing yellow eyes. At that stage it wouldn’t have mattered if you had retained the presence of forethought to attempt to cast a Resonant glyph, the whispers in the tongues of madness itself which filled your skull would have rendered you incapable.

“Tyris… Most High God… Deliver me…” You almost whimpered, snaking away from the figure as well as your bound form could manage.

“Yisbeth, quit it.” Juni ordered shortly. “I don’t quite need his mind but I really would prefer him not reduced entirely to shrieking madness.”

“My Apologies, miss Juni.” the entity identified as ‘Yisbeth’ replied, inclining her head towards the Tanuki.

“Why are you here, you’re supposed to be looking after Mr. Goldstein?” The Tanuki prompted.

“I am, Miss Juni… He is on his way. He wished me to proceed him so that his time was not taken up by… unforeseen delays.”

“Dangit.” Ivy remarked in displeasure. “I am not in the doggone mood for a lecture today.”

“Maou’s got a weird sense of humor. Come on, help me get Adam in the back, no sense giving the old man more things to talk about…” Juni sighs, picking up your feet and gesturing for Ivy to take your shoulders. Yisbeth giggles in that discordantly echoing voice of hers, which makes you shudder once again. The Mamono pair set you down (surprisingly gently) and Ivy makes some show of bundling a throw-pillow behind your head.

“She don’t mean no harm Sugar, honest… Just… Late spring, y’know?” The Taurean explains with a hint of desperation.

“I really don’t.” You remark in a nonplussed tone.

“Can I get you anything? A drink maybe?”

“I’m fine. Just don’t forget I’m back here. You two might want to think about how Blue and Bella will react if they find me like this.”

“I like to think there’ll be giggling involved.” Ivy suggests, trying to inject a hint of levity.

“Dunno, I’ve never seen Bella kill…” You reply in a neutral tone. “…Maybe think about that.”

“Y’all gots to be complicated, doncha?” Ivy sighs in frustration as she follows the Tanuki back out the front of the office. Truth be told the Mamono had made you as comfortable as they could given the circumstances, and you gave some thought to a brief nap, thought which was interrupted by the outside door opening and the step-clump-thud of someone leaning heavily on a crutch or cane as they entered.

“Ahhh…” A deep, smooth, undeniably male voice sounded from the main office “…Juni, Ivy. It’s been some time.”

“Two years, Mr. Goldstein.” Juni answered with the closest thing to subservience that you had ever heard from her.

“Miss Tenno tells me that our operations throughout the Archipelago are proceeding apace, How are things on this end? Oh… thank you Yisbeth.” A slight grunt of relief and the slight scraping of a person taking a seat.

You had an itchy nose, and were growing thoroughly bored with this. The only question was, what was the best way to proceed?

<Wat do?

>Do nothing

>Covert Resonance to bust the ropes, sneak out

>Overt resonance to bust the ropes, bust out like you just stole the kitty

>Overt resonance, confront Goldstein

>Covert resonance, sneak out to get eyes on Goldstein and then possibly confront.

>Some alternative combination of the above

>Something else?

>>317119

As one of the voices in Adam’s head, I recuse myself from this decision for the moment on the grounds that I am too pissed to offer anything that will not sound like a good idea now but lead us to grief later. Such as, for example, pumping a sudden bolt of resonance up Juni should it transpire that she actually manages to rape us, popping her clit like a wet capacitor put in backwards and rendering her permanently numb downstairs.

I’m sure I’ll have more measured plans once some of my colleagues make their opinions known.

>>317121

>Mangling Juni with Resonance instead of just dominating her into whimpering submission and making her apologize.

C'mon man, Ammit expects better from you…

>>317123

This is why I declined to actually suggest anything. I’m surprised at how angry that made me. Perhaps it was the flavour of betrayal and blackmail about the whole thing, felt very dark and almost hard-gyaku-NTResque.

Better now. Turning Juni into an apologetic puddle was the original plan anyway, albeit with a break in between to let her stew. We shall split her in half.

For the moment, however, I think we should free ourselves (more options always better), pretend we’re still bound, stay very still and listen very carefully. Much as I am not terribly keen on turning into someone that has heard too much, if we can gamble on Juni’s crotch doing the thinking for her (I’d back those odds) and doing her best to stay quiet about our existence, her silence may make her our unwitting accomplice.

When the coast is clear and Juni comes in, we ambush her, use the rope to bind her, administer spankings for her impertinence, humiliate her until she’s gushing (>>317118

being a good taste of that side of her), then finally dick her until that attitude of hers has all dripped out downstairs.

>>317124

Oh, and Ivy’s not getting out of it either for her part. She’s still the warm-up in between Juni getting trussed + tanned and the rest of it, per original plan.

Alright, that’s out of my system. Looking forward to more plot.

>>317119

>>317124

I'm good with discretely slipping our bonds and sitting through the conversation. I'm pretty torn on which way to go with Juni though. On the one hand, we fucked up; bullying a mamano about that kind of thing when they're basically in heat was a dumb fucking decision, and we got complacent because she's "only" a danuki, instead of something else we'd normally avoid baiting like that. All aboard the humble train, I guess.

On the other hand, Blue. Don't really want to go behind our good girl's back.

That being said, I'm going to say we should fuck Juni, even if we're not the nicest about it. I feel like this has moved past "fucking somebody for fun" to "fixing our mistake". Obviously Blue's gonna be able to smell that later, so tell her the whole story of how we're an idiot. She'll probably think we're a dumbass for pushing somebody's button's so hard during breeding season. Also, be prepared to stop her from trying to kill/maim Juni. I can't imagine she'll take somebody hitting us nicely.

>>317119

Slip through our bonds with resonance, leaving a cheeky note that we'll be back to finish what we started soon

We must fug the coon before we leave town, with Blue's approval and hopefully participation

>>317123

Use resonance covertly to get out of our situation, and since they decided to act like wild animals we do not under any circumstances give them any D. Also there's that whole Blue thing: no going behind her back.

Listening in on the conversation is good as well, might as well find out some useful info. Once that's done worry about dealing with Ivy and Juni. Without sexy time.

>>317123

Slip through our bonds, use resonance only if we have to. May as well listen on although Yisbeth already knows we're here so I'm not sure how much we're gonna get out of it. Sneak out, explain shit to blue about how we pushed things a little too far with Juni, get her involved in fugging Juni senseless as recompence.

>>317185

>>317239

Sneaking out and coming back sounds better than I what I had, now that I think of it, so I'm good for that. Still with the explaining to Blue and all that, like I mentioned in >>317185

>>317239

Yeah, this guy gets it. Let's do this.

>>317123

>>317258

I'm liking the 'sneak out, come back with wan for dickings and punishment' plan. Though I want to add that we need to work in just how incredibly disappointing Juni's approach has been to this whole thing.

Like, Ivy wrangled us having driven her main business competition out of town into US owing HER a favour, before she even started with flirting. And when that failed, she seduced Blue and got her to bring us in on things. Juni, by comparison, has done nothing except flirt so desperately as to be suspicious, keep trying the same thing repeatedly, and when it didn't get the results she wanted fast enough she resorted to the kind of violent force you'd expect from some back-alley Hellhound thug.

I still think we should give her the D, but we should also chastise her (while fucking her) for being so utterly terrible at this whole seduction game.

>>317382

>I still think we should give her the D, but we should also chastise her (while fucking her) for being so utterly terrible at this whole seduction game.

Couldn't agree more with your whole post but this especially needs to happen.

>>317123

Covert-resonantly slip our bonds, compose ourselves, and calmly enter the situation as if leaving the bathroom. Maybe introduce ourselves on the way out. Talk to the man whose company's money we carried (and to a small extent supplied).

>>317463

This is our chance to get in good with the higher-ups in a trade company, and we can act as if nothing happened immediately preceding his arrival.

>>317463

>>317464

>let's just walk into the room with an inter-continental finance baron, his Shoggoth PA who knows for a fact we were tied up by their own staff moments prior, and two of his underlings at least one of whom is already demonstrably angry with us

>What could possibly go wrong?

I mean, worst-case scenario Yisbeth assumes we're out to do harm to Goldstein and eats our SAN. Best case, honestly, we'd probably just cause drama for the owner of our main financial backing and make Adz look like a blundering jackass.

>>317632

Excellent points that i missed completely, let's hide. Still slip bonds though.

>Covertly deal with the ropes

>Listen for a bit

>Sneak out, find Blue and Bella

>Make a note to redden Juni’s buttocks for her naughtiness

Finance Magnate of unknown influence and that nightmare thing straight out of hell’s blackest hole? Yeah, there was no way you were going to wave your metaphorical dick around, resonance or no resonance.

Hidden Roll

It took little complexity to sunder the bonds about your wrists, though the effort of restricting the glyph to a single section of rope was surprisingly taxing. What WAS this, that it seemed to want to split the world in half by default, you wondered? Leaning forward, you quickly undid the bindings around your ankles, standing and stretching before scratching your nose thoroughly. Ahhhh, much better. You gingerly poked the area of your skull where Juni had rabbit-punched you, it was tender, but she didn’t seem to have damaged anything. For a moment you pondered the deceptive strength of the Tanuki, as well as the fact that once again you had underestimated her. You would need to take pains to ensure you did not do so again.

“…Up at least fifteen percent.” Juni’s voice intruded from the main office.

“Only fifteen?” Goldstein’s deep, smooth voice enquired.

“Well we did scoop up quite a bit of infrastructure that Nautilus has had to liquidate. They’ve been hit pretty hard here in the west.”

“And valuation wasn’t included in your forward estimates?”

“The situation is a little unstable… We’ll be able to get a more solid view once Kalbarri’s back under Human control.”

“Neisha was a disappointing development, it’s true…” Goldstein sighs “…Too bad that promising young man from Gilgai’s already under Nautilus’s tentacles.”

“Uh, Beggin’ yer pardon Mr. Goldstein, Sir. But not anymore he ain’t…” Ivy interjects in her trademark drawl. “…Nautilus done cashed him out when they liquidated their holdin’s in Kalbarri on account-a that Fleshmarket I told you about.”

“Oh yes… Fleshmarket… Terrible business that. I assume we’ve pulled all investment out of similar establishments?”

“No need for it in the interior, mining accidents happen often enough that those who need it can get it easily enough.” Juni again.

“See now I’m thinkin’ he’d be better as a Majordomo or the like…” Ivy continued. “…He’s knowin’ the land and all, sure, but I got a good feelin’ about Adam from Gibson Holdin’…”

“Can we NOT talk about him right now?” Juni spits hotly.

“Master, she’s all afluster…” Yisbeth echoed discordantly.

“Shut it Shoggy.” Juni growls.

“My my… six years in the Australs has turned you into something of a local, Miss Juni…” Goldstein snickers amusedly. “…The name hasn’t escaped my notice, Miss Ivy, but from what I can tell he’s just an eager young man with the inexplicable luck Tyris grants to fools and madmen.”

“See that’s my point Sir.” Ivy explains. “Whatever higher power done fell in love with his cute butt, I can’t think of a better place to take advantage of it than a barony what sorely needs itself an injection of good fortune.”

“It’s worth considering, but he’s still something of an unknown factor. Do we have any leverage on him?”

“Rumor and hearsay, I’m afraid.”

“Pity. Probably best to meet the chap then. You can get ahold of him?”

“I can practically guarantee it, Mr. Goldstein.” Juni replies smugly.

Hidden Roll

Subterfuge roll: Success

A wicked grin spreads across your face. With a quick glyph, you reduce a section of the stone wall to so much sand, slipping through the makeshift opening and into the street.

“Cometh not Pride before the Fall of God-Before-Tyris” You intone under your breath, melting away into the milling crowds, luckily still plentiful as the days lengthened into summer. Right, better go find Bella and the Pup and work out a plan. You? A Baron? The concept was ridiculous, clearly they thought you little more than a rube to be manipulated once on the throne… Still… Nobility… Money didn’t buy happiness but a feather bed was still more comfortable than a swag in the dirt.

Spotting Cicerello’s sign waving in the late afternoon breeze, you made towards it, hoping that some of your purported luck had rubbed off on your indentured.

>>318782

“She did WHAT?!” Blue snarls, her hackles raised as she paces the room she had secured for the three of you in Cicerello’s establishment. “Tanuki bitch… I’m gonna do her hamstrings.”

“Oi, settle down pup, wasn’t too long ago you were giving some consideration to having a go at her yourself.” You interject, surprised at Blue’s vehemence.

“There’s a way to go about things boss!” Blue explains, still fuming. “Rabbit punching my Hus… I mean, my Master and making with the forcey fun time is fuckin’ off value. Did Ivy not do a damn thing to help?”

You shrug. “I think there’s a bit of politics there, she tried to talk her out of it but she also kinda seemed to think I deserved it a bit.”

“Certes…” Bella remarked.

“Bella?” You ask incredulously, raising an eyebrow at the Griffon.

“Hast thou not heard of the expression ‘poke thou not the bear-girl?” Bella asks, folding her talons across her chest and looking at you with mild disapproval. “Thou knowest that all Mamono are somewhat… sensitive due to the demands that the season doth place ‘pon us, yea, as Maou hath dictated foreasmuch as…”

“Orright Bella I don’t need the sermon…” You sigh, truth be told you did lay on the bully a bit thick.

“Pfft. Shit excuse feathers.” Blue retorts. “Juni KNOWS how this works.”

“How exactly DOES this work, Blue?” You interject, “Because from where I’m sitting it looks like you girls kinda make it up as you go.”

“You’re Human, you wouldn’t get it.” Blue sniffs.

“‘Tis indeed a subtle matter which Mamono are best placed to comprehend, Adam.” Bella agrees.

“Try me.” You drawl levelly.

Blue rolls her azure eyes, beckoning with a tawny paw at the Griffon. Putting paws to Bella’s cheeks, she kisses her deeply, Bella’s talons resting atop the Kobold’s slender shoulders. Blue breaks the kiss, looking at you pointedly, before kissing Bella again.

Hidden Roll

The kiss looks slightly… different somehow, you can’t put your finger as to exactly how it differs, but something nagging in the back of your mind insists it is.

“Now boss, tell me what you just saw.” Blue states, straightening her clothes.

“You kissed Bella, then you kissed her again, but different.”

“Impressive…” Bella remarks, raising her thin, golden brows in surprise.

“Different how?” Blue prompts.

“I… I dunno… just different.”

“Well the fact you noticed it is a big thing anyway boss.” Blue declares, throwing her paws about you and kissing you lingeringly. “But until you can tell me WHAT was different, you won’t understand.”

“Right…” You sigh. “…So what do you reckon? I mean, this could get hairy.”

“I’m sure she trims.” Blue replies without thought.

You stare incredulously at your indentured. “Oh hells, Blue, do you actually mean for me to go through with it?”

“Not if you don’t want to, Boss… But if you do, then you gotta make sure to do it right. She’s gotta be… Reminded. Reminded that I was your girl first, and that YOU’RE Alpha.”

“Put her across my knee?” You suggest helplessly.

Blue taps a furred digit against her bowlike mouth in thought. “Yeh… could work… It’s all about attitude boss, and you know how to pull that out with me.” Blue pauses as a delicious shiver coursed through her at the memory.

“Focus Blue…” You chuckle.

“Hmm? Oh right… But I mean there’s no need to. I can go and tell her off while you go see this Goldstump.”

“Goldstein.” You correct absently. “That’s… Not gonna be a problem?”

“Pfft. No. She knows she broke the rules, and I’m meaner than her.” Blue grins rapaciously, her sharp little teeth bared.

>>318783

<Forgot the wat do

>Go see Goldstein on your own

>Dob Juni in to Tristan

>Dob Juni in to the Church

>Go with Blue to dispense righteous dickings

>Fuck the whole business, have dinner, shag Blue and/or Bella and pretend none of it ever happened.

>something else?

>>318785

>Go see Goldstein on your own

>Go with Blue to dispense righteous dickings

Anything else would likely fuck us hard.

>>318785

We gotta do righteous dickings. And after all this we really should reward blue with a night for just the two of us.

>>318783

>Go see Goldstein on your own

>Go with Blue to dispense righteous dickings

Go for the meeting, take Blue with us as our indentured. After the meeting, we should speak privately with Juni and handle that situation. I don't have any problems with fucking her but she needs to damn well know who's in charge first. I also get the impression that Blue would me immensely satisfied with that

When we get a chance, we should try thinking over that kiss between Blue and Bella to see if we can figure out what we're missing. Might have to review it multiple times, even. You know, for science.

>>318783

By the way, I've been meaning to ask, but keep forgetting: what happened with the Cheshires from Thealiss? I know we were looking at some sort of note passing scheme or something. Was there no way to work it in, or are you as forgetful about it as I am?

>>318785

>Go with Blue for righteous dickings

We need to cure Juri of her delusion that she's in charge.

>>318785

See shekelstein, then righteous dickings.

And have Adam figure out what the fuck just happened between Blue and Bella. Would be interesting to find out.

>>318900

I didn't forget it, you just somehow didn't hit the mile-wide trigger for it in Kalbarri… I can't remember how off top of head, something obvious you decided was a con or couldn't be bothered with or thought was a bad idea… It's escaped me right now but I'll review my notes when I've got a second.

>>318904

Just for the sake of meta, You're doing Mamono Lore rolls for that, and it's a hard roll.

>>318927

Stupid browser removing my shit…

Concern Bump. You still out there resonant?

>>321426

I don't like doing it but if I don't the quest. Could just die. Do you want this to be the last time we see blue?

>>321431

I don't think RD would kill CotA by abandoning it. Might wrap it up and tell /monster/ if it gets close to jumping the shark though, but that's it.

Got roped into some tech work for an impoverished little theatre company as their lighting and sound guy bailed, so my free time's been somewhat non-existent sorry guys. I didn't realize it had been this long.

>Find Goldstein Alone

>Go Confront Juni with Blue

“Actually Blue…” You begin, scratching at the stubble on your cheek. “…Hang here a bit, I’m gonna go find Goldstein meself. That offsider of his gave me the willies and if I’ve got to drop a chunk of sky on him, I’d rather them not have the opportunity to hold you hostage.”

“But Booooossssss…” Blue laments, giving you her azure eyes.

“Don’t worry pup, we’ll go sort Juni out together.” You assure her, patting her head.

“Orright…” Blue sighs in acceptance.

“Good girl. Bella, could I impose upon you…”

“Hey!” Blue objects.

“Just to give me eyes on him, I’ll do the rest meself.” You explain.

“Aye, certes Adam… But art thou sure thou art not… EEEK!” Bella shrieks as an unseen hand yanks at her feathered, leonine tail.

“Got it darl. Cheers for asking though…” You smirk, tapping at your temple.

>>322656

“There. That’s him.” You declare, pointing to the portly, well dressed human waddling down the street, the form of the Shoggoth almost flowing as it demurely moves beside him. “Set me down in the alley there.”

“Cry thou in a loud voice shouldst thou need my assistance. For yea, I shalt employ mine…” Bella whispers covertly as she sets you down.

“I got it Bella.” You chuckle, patting her Talon and kissing her cheek briefly. The Griffon’s mouth twists in a slight pout, before she beats her massive wings once, rendering herself airborne once more.

“Mr Goldstein, I presume.” You muse, stepping from the alley into the path of the portly man.

“M-Merciful Tyris!” He squawks, recoiling in surprise, his voice thin and reedy. “What do you want?”

Hidden Roll

“Hold the fucking farcaster…” You declare, noticing the difference between the portly man’s voice and the deep, resonant baritone you had heard in the T&G office. “…You’re not…”

A glint of steel catches your eye as a thin blade taps absently on your shoulder. You freeze, reaching for the Logos… And then the Shoggoth looks at you again…

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

“Gah!” You gasp, throwing an arm instinctively across your eyes, promptly cutting yourself on the blade resting on your shoulder. “OW! FUCK!”

“Well it serves you right for squirming” the more familiar voice chuckles from behind you, removing the blade. “Thank you Neville, that will be all.”

“N-no worries Mister Goldstein…” The portly man gulps, mopping his brow with a yellowed kercheif before waddling away at top speed. You weren’t exactly sure WHO the fat bastard was running from, to be perfectly honest.

Holding the cut on your arm, you turn to face the Magnate who has just outfoxed you.

“Adam of Gibson Holding I presume…” He drawls urbanely, a smug smile on his smoothly shaven face, finely boned like the most precisely bred Magisterian diplomat, his silver hair absolutely immaculate, high collar trailing down into a jacket and trousers which positively screamed obscene wealth. Tyris be Glorified, even the Baron didn’t tote such finery!

“That…” You grumble, holding up your cut arm. “…Was fuckin’ off value.”

“You tried to ambush me, did you not?”

“Tried to catch you off guard.” You correct.

“It amounts to the same thing.” Goldstein sniffs. “Come. Have a drink with me.”

“Master…” Yisbeth echoes, flowing towards you, her glowing yellow eyes suspicious.

“Yisbeth, don’t play with our creditor.” Goldstein chides gently, sheathing the thin blade into the haft of an ebony cane. “And please don’t dawdle Freeman. I have much to do and only so much time to afford you. Come.”

What could you do? You went…

>>322657

“Fuck me…” You breathed, looking wide eyed at the subtle opulence of your surrounds.

“I’d really rather not. You’re a little rough for my tastes, Freeman.” Goldstein quipped in reply, gesturing for you to take a seat at a low table opposite him.

“Not what I… Nevermind.” You sighed, not willing to be drawn on the matter, especially not in such surrounds. “So… The Crux Club… High end.” You venture, sinking into the luxurious cushioning of your seat and feeling obscenely out of place. From the covert glances you were getting from nearby patrons, you weren’t alone in this conclusion. Goldstein murmurs a few words to the Shoggoth accompanying you, and with that same disconcerting flow of motion, Yisbeth moved to murmur quietly to the other nearby patrons, who near universally made haste to be anywhere but there. Soon, you were alone in the luxurious lounge.

“A completely manufactured exclusivity I assure you… In fact I can assure you there are a number of regular members here who Juni would just love to get her hands on.” Goldstein replies with a slight grin, signalling one of the few remaining waitstaff with the casual nonchalance of those used to being instantly obeyed.

You give a whistle of mock sympathy. “In the red?”

“To the proverbial neck.” Goldstein admits.

“Like who?”

“Ut ut… confidentiality, dear boy.” Goldstein chides, pausing as a Kikimora bends forward with a tray containing two tulip glasses with a rich, dark spirit within them. “Thank you Chesna. What are we blessed with today?”

“A rye distillate fashioned after Zipangan tradition. A favourite of The Aestenland High Lord, I am told, Sir.” The Kikimora replies demurely.

“Well then, in Zipangan tradition, Kampai.” Goldstein declares, raising his glass towards you.

Hidden Roll

“That’s disgusting.” You reply, making a face.

The magnate looks at you levelly. “You haven’t even tried it.”

“Yeah nah I don’t care how much of this plonk you fill me with, I’m not making a cum-pie.” You declare in revulsion.

“What? No… KAMPAI, you idiot…” Goldstein chuckles helplessly, shaking his head in disbelief. “Cum pie… Really… What in the name of Tyris?”

“Old story…” You admit, somewhat bashfully after your obvious gaffe. “…’Bout how Succubi’ll milk you into a pie until you die from exertion. We used to tell each other the craziest shit when we were in the Abbey.”

“The most worrying thing there is that I can see it happening, under the right circumstances.” Goldstein remarks thoughtfully. “Nonetheless drink. Tell me what you make of it.”

You sip the spirit, feeling it burn its way across your palate. It was… interesting, almost ‘fresh’ in comparison to the smoky, and at times almost sickly sweet distillates popular in the Australs. You were, you had to admit, pleasantly surprised… Plus it kicked like a mare in heat.

“That’ll put some hair on your arse.” You declare, smacking your lips.

“I thought you’d enjoy it.” Goldstein replies, seemingly pleased with your reaction. “Still. To business. You put something of a hole in one of the walls of my office.”

“Thought it was Juni’s office…” You respond without thought.

“She may like to believe it so. Chesna, I believe we’ll move to something longer, perhaps involving citrus. The days do grow warmer after all.”

“Certainly, Sir.” The Kikimora replies deferently, her feathered tail rustling against her skirts as she moves away, but not before fixing a murderous glare at the back of the Shoggoth’s head. Yisbeth smirks, her glowing yellow eyes smug, yet she does not move from her position at Goldstein’s side.

“Kiki doesn’t like your assistant.” You remark.

Goldstein spares the departing Kikimora the slightest turn of his head. “Shoggoths and Kikimora have something of a… natural rivalry. Still, that’s besides the point. It’s easily repaired, in fact unless I miss my guess Juni probably has already strongarmed a stonemason into doing just that.”

>>322658

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

“Tyris fuck!” You exclaim, rapidly raising a resonant shield in front of yourself.

“There.” Yisbeth remarks in that echoing voice. “He did it.”

“Resonance… Remarkable…” Goldstein almost purrs, rapping the barrel of his pistol against your hastily raised shield, the dull ‘chunk’ of alloy against whatever force prevented ingress through it sounding like nothing more than a spoon against a hard, stale loaf of bread.

“How commonplace…” Goldstein chuckles, as if reading your thoughts.

His nonchalance stings you. “Right.” You begin, your mouth curled with disdain. “So. You know from threatening me life I could set you and your moist little terrifying fuckin’ mate on fire with me brain and no law in the land could gainsay me?”

“Oh please, enough with the dramatics, it’s not even primed.” Goldstein scoffs, squeezing the trigger which does nothing but cause the device to emit a brief, impotent buzz. “Besides. I’m completely aware of the effect Yisbeth has on Resonants…”

Suddenly the Shoggoth was in your face, her glowing eyes filling your vision. Shrieking madness filled your brain and you cried out, squeezing your eyes closed. “I get the bloody point! Leave off!”

“Ufufufu…” The Shoggoth snickers smugly, tapping you on the nose with a cool finger. “…He’s cute when he’s scared.”

“Yisbeth. Don’t gloat, it’s unseemly.” Goldstein chides.

“Yes Master.” She replies automatically, and you feel more than hear her moving away from you. Experimentally, you crack an eye open to see her back at her place beside the finance magnate, moist hands folded demurely as if she had never moved.

“Orright… HOW.” You demand exasperatedly.

“Shoggoths are sensitive to changes in reality, considering their… Origin.” Goldstein begins.

Hidden Roll

“What are you talking about? They’re born of Hell the same as all Mamono.” You scoff.

“Oh no…” Goldstein tsks, shaking his head. “…They are projections into this world from… elsewhere. Expatriated and embraced by Maou in the centuries following, it’s true, but if you think Yisbeth is terrifying now, be glad you’re alive now and not in the time before that occurred.”

“How long are we talking?” You gulp.

“A million years or so, wouldn’t you say pet?” Goldstein queries.

“Yes Master, in vague terms.” The Shoggoth agrees.

“Fuck off.” You blurt. “You’re a million years old.”

“Dear me…” Yisbeth giggles in that echoing voice “…No. My memories are drawn from the sweet and warm times of my parents’ parents’ parents’ parents back to the beginning. The bits of a million lifetimes coalesced into a birth gift of complete awareness.

“Dinkum eh?” You reply, trying to look like you understood a single word of that. “Still doesn’t explain why you looking at me has me cheese perchin’ very precariously on me cracker.”

“Have a care, Mister Adam…” Yisbeth echoed warningly “…For there are forces beyond your ken at work in the world and when you know enough to see them…”

“Again? Tyris be bloody glorified I’ll stop you there.” You beg, holding up your hand. “At this stage I’m wondering if I shouldn’t find these ‘Forces’ and let them know a whole buncha cunts are talkin’ shit about them down here.”

Yisbeth blinks slowly, before raising a hand to her mouth and chuckling. “He’s funny, Master.”

“He certainly recovers quickly from the unexpected.” Goldstein admits.

“Mate if you knew even the bloody half of it…” You laugh, gladly taking the offered drink from the returning Kikimora. “Cheers sheila.”

“Well, to it then. Baron of Kalbarri.”

“You’re fuckin’ berko.” You reply absently, drinking deeply.

Goldstein steeples his hands. “You don’t want the position?”

“I’m not even twenty one yet. How the bloody buggering hell you reckon I’m gonna run a Barony?” You demand incredulously.

“You wouldn’t be the first. Ivy does have an eye for talent, she wouldn’t be putting you forward if she didn’t believe in you.”

You look levelly at the magnate over your goblet. “And I’m sure T&G are just gonna back me out the goodness of yer hearts… You know the kind of power a Baron has, legally, right?” You snort.

>>322659

“We would of course insist on certain… Assurances.” Goldstein admits

“Such as?”

Goldstein rested his stick across his knees. “Your child.”

Hidden Roll

You call upon the Logos instinctively, the air around you positively crackling with power as you float from your seat to hover in the air. “There had better be a fucking explanation following that, fucking sharpish, or I’ll obliterate half the fucking block for that Heresy, cunt.”

“Language…” Goldstein sighs, seemingly unperturbed. “…And do calm yourself. We mean no harm, merely that you proceed as you already have been.”

“Explain.” You order, forming a white-hot ball of fire between your hands.

“The Kobold, Adam. Father her child… AFTER you become Baron.”

Hidden Roll

The shock of the suggestion shattered your attention, causing both flame and levitation to flee your mind like a covey of pigeons. With a slight exhalation, you collapse back in your chair. “The fuck? You know that’s a guaranteed way to find myself warming a square, right?”

“By Tyris, I do think he’s grasping it.” Goldstein remarks to his Shoggoth attendant. “Yes Adam. That is the idea. Play nice, and we keep your secret. Put us at odds, and suddenly our confidentiality will be much less guarded.”

“The Faith Militant would have questions for anyone who bore that information.” You remark, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“After Neisha? You’d be lucky for the Paladins to GET to Kalbarri before the public lynches you.” Goldstein smirks. “Look, this can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, if you agree. A long and prosperous reign for you, and the Ascendency of Tenno and Goldstein in the Financial markets of The Australs.”

“I’m not the only option though.” You remark, reminding yourself as much as the Magnate.

“True. Chad of Gilgai is a more than acceptable candidate for the Barony, and much easier to ingratiate into our influence, to be honest.” Goldstein admitted. “Look, this is getting much more heated than I intended, and my time, as I said, is limited.”

“What’s to stop me from going to the Waylanders with this the instant I leave?” You ask helplessly.

Goldstein smirks, putting an arm around his Shoggoth attendant and pressing his lips to hers. His silver hair shimmers, becoming a glossy black. His eyes change from ice-blue to a verdant green, and even his face seems to change.

“Please. Show me the Waylander who can find “Mister Goldstein” if he doesn’t wish to be found.” The Magnate chuckles, tapping his forehead with the metal head of his staff before standing and departing. “Enjoy the Hospitality of the Crux Club for as long as you wish, Adam. I will make a Baron of the Man who meets me here at this time tomorrow.”

“Fuck.” You grunt, throwing the remainder of your drink back.

>>322660

“What’re you gonna do Boss?” Blue whines, looking at you askance with her azure eyes.

“No fucking idea Blue… But I for one am a bit fuckin’ peeved.” You admit, patting her absently. “Wanna go bully a Danuki?”

“Maou YES!” Blue grins rapaciously.

“Verily, I would question the wisdom of this course of action.” Bella muses warningly.

You shrug, still too irritated to really take her seriously. “Eh. Was gonna do it anyway Bella.”

“Certes. Well. Forsooth, ‘tis indeed thy fortune that I dine this eve with Miss Ivy.” The Griffon remarks. “…And mayhap it is better that ‘tis done by thee than by me.”

“Eh?” you grunt, raising an eyebrow at the Griffon.

“Thou wert churlish to tease her, certes. But parfay her actions were beyond pale in their own right. Also… I am made joyous at the thought of a Danuki begging.” Bella admits with the ghost of a smile and a covert wink.

“You’re a savage Bel, and I fuckin’ love you for it.” You laugh, ruffling the Griffon’s headfeathers.

“Were it not thee I would not be so accommodating. Daresay thou shalt owe me for this.” Bella replies naughtily.

“Wasn’t me.” Blue adds with overt innocence as you turn to regard her suspiciously.

You shake your head helplessly. “C’mon pup.”

The purple and orange tinges of twilight stain the dusty roads as you make your way through the thinning crowds towards the T&G office once more. All around you, a melange of delicious smells begins to waft, the cries of street hawkers vending all manner of fried mystery, probably as unhealthy as it is delicious beginning to ring out in the cool evening air.

“Reckon we shoulda eaten first?” Blue murmurs, staring longingly at some kind of fist-sized rodent impaled on a stick and fried in a thick golden batter.

“We’ll get a proper dinner at Joe’s later.” You assure her with a pat on the head.

The streets are nearly empty when you reach the office. A light is still on in the window. Good, you didn’t have to hunt her down.

“She alone pup?”

Blue nods. “Me first?” She asks pleadingly.

Hidden Roll

“Since you asked so nicely…” You grin, making a hooking gesture at the locked door, a resonant glyph raising the latch and pushing the door gently inward.

Blue barrels through the door at breakneck speed. “HIYA FLUFFYCALVES!” You hear her cry.

“Blue? What are you…ACK! S-stop!”

“Why? You didn’t…”

Okay probably a good idea to get in there. You sidled through the door, to see Blue pinning Juni against a bookshelf, the Danuki’s wrists pinned to the small of her back, Blue’s other paw yanking teasingly on her thick, fluffy tail.

“Wanna take liberties with MY Alpha? Juni… You KNOW that’s not how this works…” Blue almost purrs.

“Ngghhhaaaa” Juni moans, flushing in a mixture of discomfort and arousal. “W-wasn’t a big deal.”

“Sorry? Try again. All I heard was ‘Please Blue, can I have another…” The Kobold whuffles, sliding her paw lower.

“B-bitch!” Juni pants, shoving with surprising strength and bowling the Kobold over. Vaulting nimbly to her feet, Juni turns to glare at Blue “Your footwork sucks, Kobold.”

“Wasn’t me who soaked the floor…” Blue growls in retort, circling the Danuki with a predatory glare. “…how many times have you rolled up your little ball of yarn this afternoon?”

“N-none of your business! Dammit! This is MY office. I’M in charge here!” Juni shrieks, launching herself at Blue.

>>322661

Hidden Roll

The Resonant Glyph you use is almost instinctive, it comes to you so easily, catching the Danuki almost in mid-air.

“Do you feel in charge?” You muse in a low, mocking tone.

“Adam? How…” Juni gasps, finally noticing you. “…Wait… You’re Resonant?”

“Mmmhmm.” You affirm, smiling smugly as Juni struggles against the bonds of pure force holding her in place.

“Then, this afternoon, you could have…” The Danuki gulps.

Your smug smile turns into a deaths-head grin. “They’d have been lucky to find enough of you to fill a bucket.”

“Speaking of buckets, boss…” Blue giggles, eyeing you naughtily.

“Behave.” You chide, popping her on the backside absently. Blue gives a short squeal, biting her lip as she stares at you lustfully.

“W-why play dumb?” Juni ventures.

“Not the sort of thing I’m supposed to just wave around. Politics. I’m sure you understand.”

“Then why…”

“Well your boss already knows, so I guess, who’s left to tell?” You shrug. “But that’s besides the point. What to do with you?”

“P-please… Don’t kill me…” Juni begs, seemingly on the edge of tears.

“Pfft… Yeah nah, not gonna kill you.” You scoff “Still… Can’t exactly just let today go.”

“Then what… aaahhh!” Juni’s query turns into a scream of surprise as you pull her bodily towards you, sitting on a nearby chair and positioning the Danuki face down across your lap.

“Now you’ve been a very, VERY bad girl Juni…” You remark, wrapping your hand absently around her tail.

“It’s just the season! Y-you’ve been doing nothing but teasing me and… Oooohhhh… P-please…” Juni sobs, squirming on your lap as you pull on her tail ever so slightly.

“Still, that was very unfair to Blue, wasn’t it pup?”

“Yehboss.” Blue growls throatily, ducking down to grin smugly in the Danuki’s face.

“What are you going to do to me?” Juni babbles in near-panic.

“A lesson needs to be learned, Juni. You’re used to getting your way, but I think it’s time someone reminded you what ‘Freeman’ really means.” You continue, bunching up her skirts and hiking them up, leaving her rounded backside covered by only a sheer set of smallclothes.

“You’re not serious… You’re going to spank me?! L-like a disobedient child?” Juni cries in disbelief. “Maou preserve me… This is so humiliating…”

A musky scent tickles your nostrils. Humiliated she might be, but from the way she squirmed, she was also absolutely SOAKED.

Drawing back your hand, you deliver a ringing spank to the Danuki’s buttock. Juni jolts with a squeal, her tail bottlebrushing and standing stiffly on end. You repeat the process on the other buttock, your experience chastizing Blue quickly letting you settle into the comfortable rhythm of habit. Still, as you warm Juni’s round, pert backside, you note with absent interest that at no point does she ask you to stop.

“Have we learned our lesson?” You ask in a low voice, almost a purr…

“Y-yes Freeman.” Juni sobs.

“Then what do you have to say to Blue?”

“I-I’m sorry for trying to rape your Alpha.”

“S’orright.” Blue whuffles with haughty magnanimousness. “Now ask nicely.”

Juni stares disbelievingly at the Kobold from her position across your thighs. “What? You’re… letting me?”

“If you ask nicely.”

“P-please?” Juni whimpers. “I need it… I need it so fucking bad, I swear to Maou.”

“Boss?” Blue wheedles. “Could you do me a favour?”

“What would my good girl like?”

Blue’s answering grin is dripping with malicious mischeif. “Fuck the shit out of fluffycalves while I hold her down?”

>>322662

“Hold… Wait…” Juni gasps as you raise her with Resonance, flipping her over so she lies on her back atop the counter. Blue wastes no time in straddling the Danuki across the torso, roughly pulling her clothing away until top and skirt are bunched in a rough wad around her waist. Planting her paws atop the Danuki’s hands, her blue eyes seem to positively blaze as she grins manically in Juni’s face. Opening her mouth, she licks at Juni’s jawline with her small pink tongue, drawing a squirm and a moan from the Danuki.

“Open up for him like a good girl now…” Blue pants, shifting her mouth to a nipple atop one of Juni’s ample breasts and biting teasingly with her small, sharp teeth.

Juni makes a noise halfway between a squeal and a moan, and opens her legs to you. Above her thrashing tail and the curves of her thighs, you notice your earlier assumption was correct. The Danuki was sopping wet, the petals of her innermost secrets seeming to open of their own accord. The sight made you almost hungry with desire, and you wasted no time freeing your own rapidly hardening manhood.

“Please… OH SWEET MAOU that’s all you!” Juni cries in shock where she peeks over Blue’s shoulder to regard you.

“Did you think he stuffed his drawers?” Blue chuckles.

“T-the possibility had entered my… Ooooohhhh Hell’s Throne! G-Gentle! Please!” She cries as you enter her. She isn’t quite as tight as Blue had been the first time, and she evidently is no virgin, but obviously the Danuki talked a much bigger game than she was actually experienced in.”

“Take it, Fluffycalves… Feel my Alpha inside you…” Blue growls, grinding atop Juni’s torso in rhythm with your thrusts. Having experienced her mischevious, playful submissiveness for the better part of your time together, seeing this dominance was an altogether new sensation… one you had to admit aroused you more than you expected.

“Maou… I’m… Cuh-cuh-cuhmmmiiinnnnggggggg” Juni shrieked, and you were grateful for latticed windows and thick walls as she cried out in her ecstasy.

“He could make you cum for days if he wanted… He can do anything… And who was his girl first?” Blue demands.

“W-what?” Juni groans, her eyes still unfocused with the aftershock of orgasm as you continue to thrust within her.

“Who. Was. His. Girl. First.” Blue repeats, her face mere inches from the Danuki’s

“Wuh… Y-you! You Werrrrrr… OH MAOU AGAIN! I’m… I’m…”

Juni’s fluffy calves clamp pythonlike about your waist and you feel her moisture positively dripping down your legs as she shakes around you.

“Blue… Pup… I’m getting close…” You grunt through gritted teeth.

“Yessss…” Juni hisses, staring at you with lustful eyes.

“Ut ut…” Blue tsks, pulling down her own shorts and presenting to you. “For me, master… For me…”

Almost instinctively, you pull yourself out of the Danuki, her yowl of protest transmuting into another sobbing moan as your dextrous fingers replace your member. As your teasing touch brings Juni to a third shaking orgasm, you plant yourself to the hilt within the Kobold’s molten core.

“M-master!” Blue moans, and the sensation of her around you sends you over the edge. With a choked groan, you erupt within her, feeling as if you would never stop. If you still held the Glyph on Juni, it had long since evaporated, your mind empty save for the waves of pleasure washing over you.

The three of you paused there a moment, A sweaty, heaving mass of flesh, fur, hair and clothing.

“Wow.” Juni moans. “And to think I would have been satisfied with you trussed up like a Midwinter ham.”

“Well I trust that our relationship will be a little more equitable from this point forward?” You prompt smugly, glancing at her shaking legs as Blue hops off her torso, The Danuki languorously fixing her clothing as Blue in turn straightened her shorts with a satisfied whuffle.

“Mmm…” Juni replies noncomittally.

“Do we have to go over this again?” You chide sternly.

“Oh… No… Trust me… I am DONE. I’m gonna be lucky to be walking tomorrow and Maou Bless you for it.” Juni replies. “And it’s evident that you can do whatever you want to me and I can’t do a thing about it.”

“Glad that’s settled.” You reply.

“C’mon Boss, I’m hungry.” Blue demands, once again the petulant submissive as she pulls at your wrist with a tawny paw.

“Oh, Freeman?” Juni adds as you open the door.

“Yes Juni?”

“Who really got what they wanted tonight?”

You pause as the realization hits you. “C’mon Blue…” You grumble, closing the door to the sound of the Danuki’s satisfied chuckling.

“I’m confused boss… Did she play us or is she just pretending she did to save her own ego?” Blue asks, looking up at you, her azure eyes luminous in the darkness as you walk towards the light and noise of Joe’s Tavern.

“Let’s go with the latter and be happy with it, pup…” You sigh. “…The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.”

>>322663

“Mfff” You mumble, still half asleep, your nose and mouth occluded by a soft, furry object. “Blue.”

“Myehboss?” The Kobold’s sleepy whuffle replies.

“Get your paw off my face.”

Blue moves, cuddling into you and you are struck with an intense sense of deja-vu. Outside in the morning light, a raven caws harshly.

“C’mon Blue… We’d better get up.” You prompt, pushing the Kobold off you gently and swinging your legs out of bed.

“Ten more minutes…” The Kobold whines, throwing her paws about your torso.

“Nah, my fuckery-sense is tingling. Something happened last night and I’ve got to figure out… Wait… Where’s Bella?”

“She was talking to Chad and Ivy when we left, remember? River walked back with us.” Blue yawns, stretching slowly, obviously trying to entice you with her scantily clad form.

“On any other morning that would work pup… Something’s bothering me though… Did she come to bed last night?”

“Not that I can remember…” Blue admits. “…But she’s a Big Girl boss, she can take care of herself.”

“You’re right…” You sigh. “C’mon. Bacon awaits.”

That was enough to get the Kobold moving, and in short order you both found yourself dressed and seated within the dining area of Cicerello’s Inn.

“See boss? There she is!” Blue declares, pointing at the Griffon who seems lost in thought. “Hey Feathers!”

Bella looks over at you, her face conflicted, as if something was bothering her. Before you can say anything, Chad presumptively plants himself at your table.

“Adam, thank Tyris. I really need to talk to someone…” The young man begins earnestly.

Blue sniffs the air and her jaw drops, eyes wide as saucers. “No bloody way!” She gasps in utter astonishment.

Hidden Roll

Your brow furrows in thought, as you look over at the Griffon and back to the Human at your table… Both with the same uncomfortable bearing… both looking anywhere they could except for at each other.

“Tyris be fucking glorified…” You groan, burying your head in your hands as you chuckle helplessly.

<What to do folks?

>Get details from Chad

>Get details from Bella

>Make them sit at the same table and bully them outrageously

>Not your Brewery, not your Satyros, ignore the issue

BARONY DECISION

>Meet Goldstein yourself.

>Convince Chad to meet Goldstein

>Meet Goldstein with as many Waylanders as you can convince to come

Or something else?

>>322658

>Fuck, somehow missed a chunk between these posts

Hidden Roll

“I’m not paying her back for it. Unlawful deprivation of liberty is a secular sin, and let’s just say her reasons for doing so wouldn’t make the church too pleased either.” You retort defiantly.

“She planned to rape you. I’m aware.” Goldstein replied nonchalantly, as if you had told him nothing more than your preferred fishing bait. “And the fact you did was expected and natural. I’m not seeking recompense from one of my best performing creditors for something so trivial. What I’m interested in is how.”

Hidden Roll

“Not bad this…” You remark, swirling the remaining spirit in your glass before polishing it off “…be interesting to find out how it’s made.”

“Zipangan distillers are remarkably close lipped about their… Ah.” Goldstein trails off, realizing your point. “Don’t ruin an edge by making it known.”

“For a man who keeps a pig-sticker in his walking stick I’m surprised that you weren’t expecting that response.”

“Still, there are other ways of revealing hidden truths. I did after all, invite you here to find out about you.” The magnate remarks, before promptly pulling a shard pistol from his jacket and pointing it at you.

>>322659

>>322664

oh HELL no, Bella's OUR girl but if she REALLY wants to be with Chad then i dunno

we better bully them both at our table

>Barony

i suppose we could meet goldstein ourselves and maybe see Ivy beforehand to ask for some advice on what to doand perhaps offer her a position as our treasurer (of sorts if she's willing to stay with us if we decide to take goldstein up on his offer (because having a little daughteru with Blue would be cute (and maybe some with Ivy and/or Bella if they both stay with us as well)

>>322664

Let's bully both and while we're at it ask Chad if he wants to be Baron and tell him we can help.

If he says yes, we go with him to Goldstein and maybe we can figure some shit out from there.

Bella's already a local hero in that area, so maybe she & Chad can work together if they want if you know what I mean; wink, nudge, etc.

>>322705

Also, it isn't like Bella can't fly over and visit us at some point if we split.

>>322664

So, to start, Chad for Baron. We're playing resonant errand boy, and doing that as the baron might be… complicated. Plus, when they said to get a human in the seat, I don't think they'd be impressed to find out we picked us.

>Bella & Chad

Get them both at the table. Skip the bullying because that would probably make Bella uncomfortable and she doesn't deserve that. Talk it over like the actual fucking adults we are, because this is some pretty serious business.

>>322707

I'm voting this, there's too much fuckery around our whole situation at the moment to not take things seriously. Goldstien has already got way too much dirt on us and Chad and Bella should enjoy themselves, hell we already had Cal struggling with her feelings for Adz we shouldn't fuck with Bella in the same way.

>>322705 here,

I'd like to change my 'bully' vote to a 'talk it over then fun-bother them about it later' vote.

I just want an explanation and then we decide if someone needs their asses kicked. Why do all our girls cept blue just fucking leave? I bet that kanga our tiger lady killed would have stuck around for the Long haul.

>>322789

Lorewise, Because you and Blue are bonded and you haven't hooked up with any other mons with a 'pack' culture. Oddly enough yes, a roo probably would be more comfortable with it.

Out of character, because I thought you guys might like more opportunities to explore Mamono culture by way of the dick.

>>322825

>I thought you guys might like more opportunities to explore Mamono culture by way of the dick.

which is why Ivy should come with us because holstaur/taurean culture is amazing and we need to learn more about it :^)

>>322707

Chad for baron, we need to stay under the radar. We also had that mission to make sure a secular humie had some power in that area if I remember correctly.

Get the details from Bella, pretty sure she's incapable of lying to us.

>>322827

>Helped bind and gag us

>Told things about us to someone who could blackmail us if needed

Ivy's fit for the glue factory and nothing more. The only way that set of cow tits would look good is if her hide is turned into a leather couch, the conniving slag.

>>322664

>Should you allow the eternal Jew to hold your daughter hostage in exchange for favors

No. Bring Waylanders. Inform them of Goldstein's disguises and the abilities of his inferior maid.

>>322838

It was gonna come up in the next entry, but 'Goldstein' is more a title or codename. The Jews as a recogniseable people died out about 2500CE.

>>322838

And he's not holding your daughter hostage, he's holding the knowledge of her as leverage

>>322664

>Get details from Bella

>Convince Chad to meet Goldstein

Am I the only person who genuinely likes Goldstein? Like, yeah, he's an underhanded, manipulative, conniving sonovabitch, but so long as we aren't working at cross-purposes with him, that's a very good thing. And the fact that he's open about potentially holding Blue and Adz's daughter over our heads as security means that we know where we stand with him.

I'm against taking the Barony position, since it would interfere with our utility to the Lodge and the Holy Mother Church (although I suppose 'fuck you I'm the Baron of Kalbarri' might make it harder to conscript us into visiting Magisterium), and I don't exactly think we should be putting ourselves into a position where Goldstein's leverage would have immediate use. But I have to admit, I have a strong fondness for the idea of working with a well-established finance baron who's ruthless but upfront about the fact.

>>322879

>I suppose 'fuck you I'm the Baron of Kalbarri' might make it harder to conscript us into visiting Magisterium

Much, considering the Dominus isn't too happy with the Grand Lodge at the moment.

>>322841

>>322843

Whether he's holding her hostage or not, he's still attempting to use our family against us, which is incredibly Jewish. I think Judaism may just be something that happens to people who run banks.

Really though. Bring every motherfucker with any amount of authority to the Crux Club. Waylanders, and maybe some Faith Militant if we can convince the priestess with the wordfiltered name that having the Barony of Kalbarri in a bank's pocket is a poor idea. I just realized that Ivy is probably the reason Bella and Chad did the horizontal bop and she probably also involved some of her lusty lactose so that Goldstein could use their possible child against Chad should he become Baron, and we should probably warn the pair of them about this.

>>322918

>Spoiler

Well spotted.

> actually giving a Jew or jewnuki leverage against you. Nothing is worth that. We should keep getting money buy some land and have children. A nice quiet life. As a little side quest let's find some pack animals who would understand blues way of thinking more.

I kinda don't know what to do about the whole thing with those two because I'm not sure what Adam relationship with tittywings really is. Can he really lay claim to her without admitting he's just territorial? Could blue still respect him as an alpha ff he just let someone else touch Bella without any consequence?

>>322935

>>322918

regardless, i still sort of want Ivy to come with us when we get on to doing the next adventure thing

>>322918

>Dat spoiler.

I officially don't like ivy.

Let's tell this hook nosed faggot to neck himself warn these two and kick our friend here's ass just to set presedence. And then buy him a drink and tell him we know it's not really his fault (while still warning him that our girls are our girls.)

>>322941

although if Ivy is a total slut and jumps on any dick she sees, then yeah screw her we can find a different (and less slutty) cowtits to join us

>>322944

>Sweet wisdom and get.

Big beutiful boobs are nothing if they don't have a big beutiful heart behind them.

Also are kikimoras a viable companion option because they would probably fit with us and blue quite perfectly? Little difference between master and alpha as well as both being wan related.

>>322879

>Am I the only person who genuinely likes Goldstein?

I doubt Adz likes him, and the guy is kind of a conniving dick, but I like him as a character. We ended up being duped and lead by the nose a good deal by him, which I actually like, even if it's lame in character. It's nice to see that for all that he's done and the power he commands, Adz is still wet behind the ears in some regards and got thoroughly taken to school by somebody who knew the game better. But we'll learn from this, oh yes.

>>322918

Fuck yes. Good eye picking that out. Warning them would be good. Also, knowing that is definitely a good reason to sit them down and talk to them both about it, particularly in warning about the leverage part and him being used, no matter how beneficial to him (This also certainly changes the complexion of what happened between him and Bella. Fuck know she might have been dosed too, and just chalked it up to the time of year). Oh, and we should be having this talk in private.

>>322940

Blue admires Bella, but she hasn't specifically submitted to you in the same manner as Blue. Even Cally could be considered 'closer' than Bella.

>All the others

Wew… Making me do some planning up in here…

>>322947

In a meta sense, they'd be pretty boring, as they'd spend their time being meido-y and tsking at blue for being a cheeky bitch. Also they're pretty squishy as far as stats go. Australs servant kikis are not slav operator kikis.

I mean go nuts if you want one, just keep that in mind.

>>322946

big, beautiful anything on a girl such as hips, thighs, and/or butt really

but yeah, if cowtits Ivy is a massive slut when from what i can tell she says she really likes us, there's way more holstaurs/taureans in not-australia we can ask to join us which is why we need to go to that one town/area that RD said was taurean-dominant

>>322918

I knew Ivy was fit for the glue factory, this just furthers that opinion. My official vote changes to:

>Get Chad in position of power

>Get details from Bella, warn them of Goldstein's hand rubbing scheme

>Get Waylanders involved to deal with Goldstein, Juni, and Ivy but AFTER Chad has been made baron (assuming Goldstein's arrest won't void this)

>all this hate for Ivy

as deserved as it is, it's still hard because holstaur a best

i suppose this is what i get for liking cowgirls (a lot), and constantly trying to shill for Ivy to join the group later on

also, y u do dis RD?

>all these votes to fuck with Goldstein via Waylanders

On what charges, exactly, are people proposing we try to get him with? I mean, this is at minimum a country-wide financial institution, one of only three real players in the field. Any underhanded dealings will almost certainly be untraceable, have a lower management fall-guy in place, or be technically on the up-and-up. Possible some or all of the above, and we don't actually know of any specific examples.

Goldstein trying to leverage Adz and Blue's child is an unprovable accusation, and also pegs us as fucking a Mamono regularly enough for children to be a potential. Hell, the threat was less about taking anything away and more a pointed reminder that if we're the Baron we're technically highborn as nobility and so 'mamono dalliances' go from "You shouldn't, but just don't screw up Continuance and we'll overlook it" to "fucking don't mate".

Beyond that, actually trying to screw with Goldstein means that

>we potentially lose our financial guarantor, up to and including the record of our finances being mysteriously lost, costing us everything we don't have in cash or assets on hand

>we screw ourselves out of a potential high-powered business contact

>we're now actively antagonistic with a full two-thirds of the entire Australs' banking operations (remember we're already in the shit with Nautilus)

>we fuck up the chance to actually fulfill the job we got from the Lodge/Church to place a human in the seat of Kalbarri

That last point makes trying to leverage the law against Goldstein an even worse idea. On the off-chance that it works, our higher-ups will then know we threw out strict orders to accomplish our job by ANY MEANS NECESSARY (which includes 'I got my financial backers to arrange a mutually beneficial appointment) because we got our panties in a twist over a personal grudge regarding an action which we technically aren't allowed to be doing in the first place.

Sure, Goldstein's a dick and it sucks that he outplayed us, but we need to suck it up and keep going. Don't try and flip the table because you got out bluffed on a single hand.

>>323106

Yeah, I'm against the guns blazing thing here. Considering the number of peoples livelihoods that are tied up in this, just going loud would cause a fuck ton of problems. If we're going to do anything, we should just tell them what's up on the sly the next time we're in contact with the lodge and let them deal with it.

>Get details from Bella

>Talk to Chad and Bella about the fact Ivy probably orchestrated it as leverage at Goldstein’s insistence.

>Convince Chad to meet Goldstein

>Warn the Resonants that the Baron could be undermined by T&G.

“Come on Adz, this isn’t funny.” Chad remonstrates in a rather hurt tone.

“No, I imagine it wouldn’t be.” You admit. “And if Blue’s jaw on the floor is any indication it’s probably a conversation we’d be better off having in a more private locale. Tell you what, there’s a factor’s office called ‘Breyten Trading’ on the west side of the trade district. It should still be vacant. Meet me there in about an hour?”

“Thanks Adz. C’mon River.” Your fellow human beckons with a tight smile.

“But I haven’t finished my breakfast!” River whines sulkily.

“She can hang with us if you like Chad. We haven’t even really started after all.” You offer.

“You alright with that little one?” Chad asks. River nods eagerly, pushing her way next to Blue who eagerly makes space for her fellow Kobold.

“Eat up Girls…” you encourage “…I’m gonna talk to Bella.”

“Kayboss.” Blue murmurs from around a mouthful of bacon.

“Unku mushtuh Adam.” River burbles through a mouth full of eggs.

“Right…” You chuckle, making your way over to the Griffon. “…You alright Bel?”

“Adam… Certes… I…” Bella blusters, refusing to meet your gaze.

Hidden Roll

“Bella…” You entreat. “…it’s me.”

“Verily, I know not. Parfay it all happened so fast, and now… I doth not know how I feel!” Bella gushes helplessly, shifting her massive wings.

“Right. Definitely not a conversation to be had here.” You confirm. “Blue? You remember where Breyten’s is?”

“Yehboss.” Blue replies, digging into a bowl of beans

“When you and River have finished emptying Cicerello’s larder, meet us there?”

“No beating up whoever hurt Feathers until I get there!” The Kobold insists seriously.

“Me too!” River demands.

“Yeh right…” You chuckle. “…C’mon Bel.”

“I pray they do not cause mischief on my account.” Bella ponders, following you from the Inn and up the road.

“Nah. They love you though, in their own weird, overenthusiastic way.”

“Thou art becoming most attuned to the Kobold mindset, Adam.” Bella remarks.

Hidden Roll

“Yeh… Guess spend months on end together and you’re gonna pick up on each other’s bad habits eventually.” You admit.

“Certes.” Bella agrees softly.

“So. I’m gonna take a few guesses, and you let me know if I’m anywhere close to the mark.” You offer, patting Bella on the talon comfortingly. “You, Chad and Ivy were talking and drinking and generally having a beaut old time until quite late last night.”

“A-aye.”

“And at some point, you stopped talking.”

“Well…”

>>323416

“Hmm?”

Bella wrings her talons “I-Ivy left first… Chad and myself were talking about rock moorings… Forsooth, for be it all wonder that climbing the Gorge walls is a popular pastime for the young men of Kalbarri. I too remember similar joy in exploring the hidden mysteries of a sheer face. Then… We stopped talking.”

“And things got heated.”

Bella spares you an uncertain glance. “A-Aye.”

Hidden Roll

“Ahhh… Dammit.” You groan.

“Prithee forgive me, I did not mean to hurt thee, yet…” Bella begs, clinging to your arm with her talons.

“Shhh… It’s not that Bel.” You assure her, delicately extracting your arm from her deadly talons “Do you like him?”

“I… I think I may.” Bella admits. “I mean forsooth indeed I am fond of thee to great extent but he… He’s different.”

“Don’t stress Bel.” You wave magnanimously, trying to keep the sting from your voice. It was only sex, it wasn’t like you were losing her as a friend, so why did this bother you so much? “Remember I’m human, we’re bred to take this sort of thing philosophically.”

“I suppose.” Bella agrees, yet her face is still troubled.

You raise an eyebrow. “So what’s still bothering you?”

“Do you think he likes me?” Bella asks in a small voice.

“Bella, in the months on the road I’ve never seen Chad show an interest in any Mamono apart from River.”

“Wilt she not be incensed, yea, that I hath…”

“Oh! No! Tyris…” You laugh suddenly “…River and Chad are… so not like that… Bloody hell.”

“I do not understand.”

“I’m sure he’ll explain everything.” You assure her, swinging the creaking door to Breyten’s abandoned office open. A human figure spins around in the dim, cool interior.

“Adam. Thank Tyris.” Chad breathes in relief. “And… Oh… Lady Bella.”

“Certes, Chad… After last night I would think we had dispensed…”

Chad starts making strangling noises, looking at you in wide eyed consternation.

“S’orright mate, I know.” You assure him. “But there’s one thing I want you to answer me true.”

“Of course.” Chad assures you.

“Do you like her?”

“Adz! She’s… Right here!” Chad chokes, flushing beet-red.

“Should make it easier. Now answer me, or I’ll thump ya.” You threaten.

“I… Tyris forgive me, I do! I’ve never met anyone who… GETS me like she does!” Chad admits desperately.

“Parfay…” Bella murmurs, flushing crimson and covering her cheeks with her talons, wings luffing up clouds of dust.

“Ack… pthpt…” You spit, waving the dust away from your face. “Well fuckin’ congrats, and I pray The God keep yer tryst away from the nosy eyes of the Church.”

“Blasphemy!” Chad gasps.

“Really cunt?” You reply levelly.

“Ah… point… I withdraw.” Chad concedes.

“Your Grace is received.” You wave dismissively. “Now… What’s got me a bit concerned is Ivy.”

“Ivy? She’s a lovely woman, what’s the issue?” Chad asks in a puzzled tone.

>>323417

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

Shit…

Briefly, you outline Goldstein’s stick-and-carrot speech from the afternoon previous. “…Needless to say, I have no bloody interest in a Barony I barely know, let alone my ability to govern it.”

“You’d be better than Neisha…” Chad counters.

“Fuckin’ BLUE would be better than Neisha.” You snort. “…Point being though, I can’t dismiss Ivy tryin’ to get you to put a bun up Bella for the purposes of future fuckery.”

Bella screeches in outrage and Chad makes a similar noise. “How fuckin’ dare!?” He gasps incensedly. “You reckon I’m so fuckin’ green I’ll go to bed with a Mamono, regardless of my station, just because a Taurean, who’s done NOTHING but go out of her way for us, mind you, suggests it?”

“Oi cunt, don’t shank the fuckin’ messenger.” You retort.

“Bearin’ false witness is a sin Adz, and right now I’ve got nothing to go on but a tall tale about some rich prick in the Crux Club.” Chad replies evenly, folding his arms. “I think me and Bella owe each other some discussion… In Private.”

Hidden Roll

You glance to your side at the Griffon, who is looking at you with a slightly hurt expression. Fuck this. If they weren’t going to listen to sense, then it was their bed.

“Fine. Fifteenth toll at the Crux Club. You want to be Baron? Be there. Maybe you’ll thank me for it someday, maybe you won’t… Hope you’re alive to do it. Just be fucking careful.” You grunt, exiting through the creaking door. “Ungrateful cunts…” You grumble to yourself.

Hidden Roll

You’re not exactly sure what’s driving your wandering outside of pure bloody-minded irritation, but you head into one of the smaller taprooms on the whimsical decision to try and wash the acid out of your throat… Sure enough, there at a table, laughing it up with Garrett and a couple of her other employees, the lush form of the Taurean Ivy.

You were going to use Resonance to set fire to the next Raven you saw, and fuck the consequences.

“Well Howdy Sugar.” Ivy declares. “Ain’t this some good luck?”

“If you say so…” You muse evenly, narrowing your eyes.

Hidden Roll

Ivy’s floppy bovine ears do not fail to catch your tone. “Orright boys. Here’s y’all’s wages, don’t spend it all on drink now.” She chides motheringly, handing each of the men an Underwriter’s note. “Adam, I wasn’t expecting you to be here, but I’ve got my book upstairs if’n you feel like popping up for a bit.”

The men’s chuckles turn lewd and knowing as they grin mockingly at you.

Hidden Roll

“Spell it out boys…” You grate, fixing the group with a death’s head grin and putting your hand atop the hilt of your cutlass. The chuckles die off, replaced with puzzled looks.

“Don’t pay him no mind. Go on now, y’all know the beer here’s terrible.” Ivy tsks, waving them away. “C’mon Adam, we’ll get you sorted out in short order.” The Taurean insists, beckoning you up the stairs at the taproom’s rear.

“Now…” Ivy sighs, closing and bolting the door after herself after ushering you into a cozy if humble room. “…Mind tellin me why you’re acting so fanny flustered?”

Hidden Roll

“Where to fuckin’ begin, Ivy? You were gonna let me get raped yesterday…” You begin.

“Lemme stop you there. I KNEW Yisbeth was on her way. The whole point was to warn Juni in the first place… But then you had to swagger on in and get distracting. If’n you had just played it straight Juni never woulda even got that worked up!”

“So you’re telling me the whole ‘let it happen’ spiel was for Juni’s benefit…” You offer suspiciously.

“She’s still Senior Factor on the West Coast Adam! I need my Job!” Ivy declares incredulously “Juni was in NO shape to listen to reason. Maou… You really are as dense as they say, aincha?”

“Get a dog up ya.” You retort.

“Ain’t my taste, though yer girl is sweet as pie. She don’t deserve a man actin’ the dang fool like this…” Ivy rounds on you, hands on her broad hips.

“You keep yer fuckin…” You begin, raising a finger.

“HUSH yo mouth.” Ivy demands in a tone of unquestionable authority. “And then I hear you done went back and drilled her a quarter inch into the bench anyway. So you can SPARE me the woe-betide-me act because that werewolf don’t hunt.”

Hidden Roll

“How bout the one that got Bella and Chad bumpin’ uglies?” You retort. “That one got a better nose on it?

>>323418

“What in tarnation are you on about?” Ivy demands.

“Oh, dunno… just your Boss giving away your plan to use Blue’s potential daughter as leverage on me if I accepted the Barony?” You muse smugly “You knew Chad was the better candidate… It just makes sense.”

“You… You think that I…” Ivy gasps.

“Don’t lie to me. Goldstein told me you wanted my child.” You growl.

“YOURS, you dumb fucker! Because we ain’t got shit else on you” Ivy retorts, pawing the floorboards with a digitigrade hoof. “You done go pulling the impossible out your ass like some kind of… Some kind of….”

Hidden Roll

“What.”

“The fire… The Ghoul… Bella with that dang boat… thing musta weighed a million tons… Juni wasn’t exaggerating! You… You’re Resonant!” Ivy gasps, backing away from you.

“Don’t try and play to my ego, Ivy… We’re not talking about me right now.” You warn. “You pushed Bella at Chad. Go on, deny it.”

“Alright! I did. Could we use their kid? She ain’t even sure she can have them, mind, there’s one thing you didn’t know we talked about, and I betcha something you never even asked.” Ivy accused. “But yeah, it’s a factor. Was it why I did it? No. You want the truth, Adam of Gibson Holding? I did it to get her away from you!”

“The FUCK?!” You exclaim.

“Fuckin’ frontier packer, right down to the bone, you don’t even know you’re doing it!” Ivy laughs, tears welling in her eyes. “Blue’s the sweetest girl, but she’s changing you. You’re becoming a Pack Alpha… and while that works for some Mamono… The rest of us? It’s fun for a little while, the dominance, the wildness… but some of us need more.”

“I don’t understand… It’s just Sex…”

“And there it is… The dang Pax, havin’ a sick ol’ dance with the pack mentality in yer brain there. You Humans are losin’ it… little by little, year by year, generation by generation. It’s killin’ you and y’all don’t even know it.”

“You’re lucky I’m not a Paladin, Ivy…” You warn, completely astonished by her outburst.

“At least a Paladin I can rely only thinks with one head, not three!” Ivy snorts. “You’d break that poor girl’s heart. Dangit… I nearly let you get to me… I… I like you sugar, you’re a one-of-a-kind sorta guy… but you’re like black lotus blossom… eventually we gotta give you up.”

“I…” You blurt helplessly.

“Your account’s been updated. Go check with the office if’n y’all are wanting a full statement.” Ivy sobs, sitting on the bed, big tears falling from her soft brown eyes. “Might wanna give Juni a day… She’s indisposed this mornin’… Can’t think why.”

“Ivy…”

“Just go…” the Taurean sniffs.

<Open choice folks, what do you want to do?

<If you have trouble choosing, I can make suggestions, but I kinda wanna see how you shoot from the hip after that LEGION of less-than-good rolls heh.

>>323419

Maybe we should talk with Blue about this

>>323419

>now ivy's sad

dammit, even after what she did i still feel sort of bad

really wish i could still shill for her to join us when we leave the town, but i dont think other anons would want her to join after the shit she (just) pulled, and i dont think ivy would even agree after what she admitted about us

>>323449

Getting Ivy to admit to Bella and Chad her plan. Getting her to admit to it now tho will be tough as we've hurt her.

>>323449

>>323484

>Getting her to admit to it now will be tough.

I'll put it this way, getting her to talk any further after she's this emotionally vulnerable without getting attacked, whether verbally, physically, or sexually is going to be a fucking CUNT of a roll, just saying.

>Talking to the Resonants is still going forward…. just remember they're all High Priestesses.

>>323526

Further to this, I'll just clarify… You want to antagonize a T&G factor further, and press an issue that a guy 5 hours away from being named heir apparent and a mamono with the natural bearing that makes PRIESTESSES genuflect have already intimated is a potential sore spot?

I won't STOP you from shitting where you eat like that but it's a bad idea.

>>323419

>All those half twenties and nat 1's

WELP

I vote for cutting our losses and leaving while the getting is good, figuratively speaking. I don't think now is the time to be attempting to mend any fences, we were the ones to set them on fire.

Just cut and run after talking to Bella though. We didn't completely fuck ourselves over with her, just don't have a conversation that relies on a dice roll. Keep it short and simple.

>>323419

Like the others have said, just run. The situation has plummeted pretty quickly. Talk to Blue about what's happening, and also Bella. We need to make sure of what she plans to do next, whether it be staying with us or with Chad.

>>323548

>>323549

>talking to Bella though

If she wants to stay with Chad. Tell her we wish her a long and happy life. Surrounded by those that love and respect her. That we hope she can still consider us her friends. And tell her to please be careful and as safe as possible.

Do we have to roll for this?!

>>323529

Maybe we shouldn't go in shouting "Moooom T&G are gonna manipulate the Baron of Kalbarriiiiii" but we can at least tell them we've done the job we were given

Seriously this place has been nothing but one big shit show. Let's leave this place behind say goodbye to anyone worth it and go find some elves to bully

>>323526

Yeah, I'm not feeling the telling on T&G anymore, what with the problems it will cause Chad and Bella all told. This situation blows though.

>>323548

I'm also for getting the fuck out of here after talking to Bella, though we shouldn't be sour about it. Wish her the best. We should load up on something and go afterwards. Maybe murdercat or some other interesting protection is in town that we can hire for the way.

>>323549

>>323548

>>323558

definitely go talk to Bella, and offer her to join us when we leave which by my guess would be within like 2 days or something

give her time to think it over if she wants to stay with Chad or come with us, it'd also give Blue time to say goodbye to Feathers if Bella doesnt come with us

tfw no cowtits (that isnt a scheming cunt (for better or worse)) in the party

>>323635

I'm against offering Bella to join. We need to leave it to her without trying to influence the decision. That is something that will come back to bite us in the ass. Do you want to piss off a man that will end up with power?

>>323529 I say we should probably say g'bye to Bella and that we still want to be friends and apologize profusely and be mildly supportive of the relationship and at some point tell the resonants that we did the thing and give a heads-up on the potential new baron.

>>323869

in no particular order

>>323419

Alright. First step is to express regret that it all turned out like this (last impression is important), apologise for misunderstanding her earlier intentions (even if she was lying about them there’s no harm in this), then leave Ivy to her tears. Nice girl, very effective, wonderfully sweet and sensible, but on a different side to us this time. Different time and different place I’m sure would have turned out better.

We are fortunate that the effective thing to do and the decent thing to do vis a vis Bella and Chad are the same thing. We apologise to Bella for the earlier words, let her know by way of explanation that we were still smarting from T&G’s moves on us, tell her that we bless her and Chad shacking up as the new nobility (especially because after centuries of isolation she deserves a chance at lasting happiness), express confidence in her ability to be a Baron’s consort, then drop a veiled warning about T&G’s likely plans so she’ll remember it later (formerly nearly-in-hock Chad sure as fuck won’t be able to outmanoeuvre them), debrief with Blue, wrap up our mission, and then figure out a way to profitably blow this popsicle stand.

As for the issue of our ongoing transmutation into a Pack Alpha:

- yes of course we are because Blue is our girl and a good girl needs a good Alpha

- but fucked if we’re going through that process blind, therefore

- we will be giving Blue some loving bully while she explains to us exactly what this means so that we can

- grasp this process with both hands and ensure we master it rather than the other way around because at the end of the day a cunt still has to be able to look himself in the eyes doesn’t he?

>>323419

lets grab some beers and hit the road and try to forget about this whole mess everything's fucked also maybe think about getting a new bank

>Try and leave on a good note with Ivy

>Try and patch things up with Chad and Bella

>Discuss what ‘Pack Alpha’ means with Blue

>Make trails, this place is tapped

“Ivy… I’m…” You begin, feeling somewhat guilty now the burst of self-righteous irritation had run its course.

“If the next word outta your mouth is ‘Sorry’, I’mma hit you, Resonant or no, y’hear?” The curvaceous Taurean interjects with surprising heat. “We are who we are, that’s all we can be… We all gotta make our way in this broken ol’ world.”

Hidden Roll

“I didn’t want…” You attempt, halfheartedly reaching for her.

“I know y’didn’t sugar…” Ivy sighs, taking your hand and pressing it briefly to her tear-smudged cheek before patting it briefly with her other hand and releasing it. “…but y’did, and you can’t take it back now. I don’t hate you, for what it’s worth.”

“If things had been different…” You offer lamely

Ivy gives a great, gusty sigh, fixing you with her red-rimmed eyes. “Criminently Adam, will you quit tryin’ to shove the Djinn back in the bottle?! You’ve said yer peice and I’ve said mine. Hatchet’s buried but you’re REALLY tryin’ me right now.”

“Yeh. Right. Fair enough… Until… next time, I guess.” You offer by way of farewell, waving slightly as you leave.

“Yeah. See you, Freeman.” Ivy offers absently, holding a pillow to her chest as you close the door behind you.

“One down, I suppose.” You murmur to yourself, walking absently through the late morning crowds. Blue and River would have no doubt found Chad and Bella at the office by now… Strange that your own Kobold hadn’t sniffed you out after discovering that you were no longer there.

>>324907

Hidden Roll

“…Must admit, I am surprised that you managed to find me so readily.” A deep, smooth voice exclaimed from somewhere within the muted din of daily commerce. You swore internally, you recognised that voice.

“Adam’s not the only one with a few tricks up his sleeve, Goldstein.” Chad’s reply sounded, freezing you into surprised immobility. “I’ve still got a few people in House Reinhardt’s court who remember which Gilgai kept his mouth shut.”

“Ah me… to be so cynical at your age!” Goldstein chides, and you spot the pair through the crowd, the Shoggoth Yisbeth flowing demurely a pace behind them.

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

They hadn’t spotted you yet. You hid yourself unobtrusively behind a dusty pile of empty crates, waiting for them to pass you by. Court intrigue… Yeah, if anything solidified your decision not to have anything to fucking do with the Barony, it was that. Something sticky meets your hand as you rest it atop a nearby crate. Absently, you wipe it off on your shirt, too engrossed in the conversation to care.

“I don’t understand the obsession with him.” Chad continued. “Seems like everywhere I turn it’s Adam of Gibson Holding this, Adam of Gibson Holding that… Tyris, what am I saying… I shouldn’t talk behind the bloke’s back like this.”

“You’re hardly impugning his character, dear boy.” Goldstein scoffed “But I’m not the one who brought him up.”

“Yeh… Sorry. Had a bit of a blue with him this morning… Personal matter. I’ll get over it.”

“He told you that I was planning to ransom a potential daughter against his cooperation?” Goldstein replied evenly.

“Tyris! We’re in public for fuck’s sake, Goldstein!” Chad hisses, looking around furtively… Damn, they were getting too far away. You moved as unsuspiciously as you could up the line of rude stalls and shopfronts, making some show of examining a pair of vintners shears.

“Nobody’s interested in us, Yisbeth is seeing to that.” Goldstein assured the younger human, gesturing presumptively behind him at the Shoggoth..

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

Hidden Roll

“…Did you?” Chad finally blurted.

“Of course I did. Leverage is leverage after all, and I don’t think he appreciated how MUCH power a Baronial seat would have given him over our affairs in Kalbarri.”

“And I got salty at him for telling the truth…” Chad sighed guiltily. Yeah. Put that in yer pipe and smoke it.

“Don’t tell me you’ve played the commoner for so long you can’t see the converse, My Prince.” Goldstein chides. “If he’d betrayed us, we wouldn’t have been shy about exposing his Heresy, it’s true. But loyalty runs both ways as well, A positive relationship would have meant our unconditional protection on any… let’s call them ‘Happy Accidents’.”

There were no more stalls… You grumble, looking around. That roof wasn’t exceptionally high…

Adam uses Resonant Glyph: Levitate - Success

Stepping into a side alley, you called upon the Logos, lifting yourself up to the flat rooftop before crouching at its edge.

“Can I assume you’ll be looking to make similar arrangement with me?” Chad asks suspiciously.

Goldstein laughs, “With what you have planned in the Murchison? That’s small beer, my Prince.”

>>324908

A cloud of dust swirls around you, accompanied by the sound of massive wings, making you turn in surprise.

“Verily, it is rude to eavesdrop.” Bella chides evenly.

“Oh yeh? What’re you doing then?” You retort with a cheeky grin.

“Hush thou…” Bella retorts, trying to suppress a smile. “…Adam…”

“Nah shaddup a sec.” You plead, holding up a hand. “I’m sorry Bel. Didn’t matter how right I may have been, it didn’t give me the right to go wavin’ my proverbial about, especially considering how touchy y’both were about what happened last night. I shoulda treated you both with more regard.”

“I… Thank thee.” Bella admits, hesitantly reaching out with a talon.

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“Geddere…” You insist, grabbing her talon and pulling her into a warm embrace. The Griffon screeches slightly in surprise, yet soon melts into the hug, her talons tight against your back.

“Forgive me?” You ask.

“C-certes… And… I hope…” She stammers, fighting tears.

“You’re going with Chad.” You finish for her. Why does that sting again?

“It is not as thou mayest think.” Bella assures you, slight desperation in her voice. “We had much opportunity to discuss things earlier. Chad shalt be Baron, which will mean much change to things such as they are. Mayhap it shall mean that all we shall ever have was one night and enduring respect and affection.”

You raise an eyebrow in confusion, “Then why go?”

Bella releases you from her embrace. “His dismissal of Neisha shalt be somewhat… declarative. The Mamono of the surrounds shalt be in disarray. He believes that I can be of some assistance in allowing sweet reason to prevail.”

“No arguments there.” You agree. “And of course the other reason.”

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“Prithee… Other reason?” Bella asks, failing to keep a poker face.

“Bella you will never be able to lie worth a damn. Thank Tyris.” You chuckle, shaking your head. “You know… Me getting all packy, apparently.”

“Thou sayest it as if it were a bad thing!” Bella objects. “Parfay, ‘tis not! Thou art whom… and I pray He forgiveth mine presumption… Thy God hath made thee to be. I hath not known any other man before thee, in any sense. The Order were not human as thou art, as all of thee art! They wert… twisted. Broken. Mamono may lament the strictures of the Pax but I say truly unto thee, if they had lived through the alternative as I hath… They would not be so quick to lament.”

“Tell that to Ivy, I think she needs some perspective.” You drawl softly.

“Certes, I agree with thee on that front. She is a most intelligent and talented woman, but she doth allow her heart to lead her on far too many occasions. I am told ‘tis a Taurean thing.” Bella nods. “But… yea. After the opportunity to SEE humans as they live, both here and in Kalbarri… Nay… I am sorry. I shalt always be grateful to thee for saving me in Thealiss, I shalt always hold thee as most treasured friend… but I cannot any longer be with thee, lest mine heart be broken, for thou shalt never be what I wish thou to be.”

“I’m sorry.” You offer sincerely.

Bella shakes her head. “Thou needst not be. The Gods hath a plan for thee, e’en as my faith dictateth they holdeth one for me.”

“You’ll… Let Blue say goodbye?” You ask, your throat feeling oddly… thick.

“Oh certes.” Bella assures you. “Now I must away, lest that man and his horror convince Chad of actions most unbecoming a Noble of enlightened and chivalrous bearing.”

“Chad?” You scoff.

Bella sniffs. “Hush thee.” She demands primly before taking wing.

“Whatever you say Bel…” You muse with a note of melancholy to the dusty ghost of her departure.

>>324909

“Where is me damn Kobold?” You mutter to yourself, before cupping a hand to your mouth. “Blue! Geddere!”

“Cooo-eee!” Comes a ringing cry.

“Hold the fuckin’ farcaster… that’s not…” You begin in slight alarm.

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Breath whooshes from your lungs as a broad pair of oversized feet plant themselves squarely in your back, driving you to the ground.

“Tyris FUCK…” You groan, rolling over to see the grinning form of Kira, Tristan’s other indentured Kangaroo. “…fuckin’ ‘Hello’ woulda done.”

“Yeah nah” Kira retorts. “You’re up to something.”

“Kira I told you when I was seventeen, I’mma tell you now. I am not going to play strip-search with you.”

“How Lewd!” Kira gasps girlishly, putting a slender, sharp-clawed paw to her sun-kissed face, deliberately pressing her modest breasts, clad in a leather jerkin together and giving you a deliberate eyeful of cleavage. “And have Blue do me hammies? No fuckin’ fear freeman, I’m on duty.”

“Then why the introduction to the road?” You demand, getting up and dusting yourself off.

“Because everyone’s been looking for you most of the day. Master Tristan got some REAL interesting things said about you.”

You swallow briefly. “Such as?”

“Well someone real high up in the tulies said that they didn’t know where you were, and were worried you were gonna do something dumb, but you hadn’t done it yet, so Tristan wanted me to come get you, then Blue comes barging in…”

“Blue’s at the Tavern? Why?” You interrupt.

“Looking for you, believe it or not, and she’s in a right state, causin’ Tristan no end of grief.”

“Tyris… Blue…” You breathe, heading off in a run towards the Taproom which comprised Tristan’s waylander ‘Office’.

“Hey!” Kira calls, bounding alongside you. “I get to say I found you.”

“Why…” You pant absently.

“Because Master will pat my head and tell me I done good…” Kira sighs dreamily, driving herself a good eight feet in the air with an enthusiastic hop, her thick, muscular tail stiff behind her.

“Bloody Mamono…” You grumble, dodging various townsfolk in your mad scramble to the tavern.