>>21776750
How much do we have left?
Can't we just hunt for food? Or would that take too much time?

Oh well, doesn't hurt to buy few more rations.

Could you post the map please?

>>21776750
"Good idea. We'll see what they've got on offer."

File: 1354042879025.png-(488 KB, 1028x1028, Region 10 Complete.png)

>>21776802
>You currently have 5 days of food, and you can hunt at any time- but actually getting anything from it is questionable and based on how well you do

>Map, as requested.

>>21776816
Is the territory between Wyebury and Heaminster wasteland or something? Not a single village in such a huge open land.

I'd like us to try hunting, at least to try out our new bow. Though lets grab some rations, I guess.

>>21776844
>There are very small hamlets between the two, but those are mostly owned by a single family or such- not large enough to be called true villages.

"Good idea." You say. "We'll see what they've got to offer."

As you make your way to the village, which seems to have a small lake next to it, and the villagers all peek out at you, warily. Two of the children, who were playing with a few pegs and sticks, suddenly look up to the two of you, and make their way into their homes. As soon as you'd arrived, the village seems to close up, everyone getting inside as soon as possible.

"I apologize for our... erm, warm welcoming." A busty, healthy woman said, giving you a prim smile. "We don't often get visitors- we're quite far from the river. My name is Riba."

>>21776889
Tell her that its okay
Introduce ourself, tell her we wont be here for too long and just wanted to buy some traveling rations.

Rolled 19

>>21776889
give her our name and shake her hand big mile now
"so what is there around here?"

>>21776889
"Pleased to meet you Riba, I'm Abel and this is Ariana. We're just passing through on our trip and were wondering if you had any food for sale?"

"Pleased to meet you, Riba. I'm Abel, and this is Ariana. we're just passing through on our trip, and we were wondering if you had any food for sale."
"Oh, of course. You'd want to talk to Evid for that," She said, brandishing a hand toward one of the houses. "He's our resident hunter. But, erm, if I may ask, where do you intend on going?"
"To Garamon." Ariana said. "Past the marsh."
"... I'm not sure that's a very good idea." Riba said. "There are bugs, and crocodiles, and... who knows what out there. Much safer to go down the river to Angvard and take a ship westwards."

>>21776953
"Ah, but there's no fun in that and I wouldn't get an opportunity to test my new bow."

Go see Evid

>>21776953
"Ah, thanks for the advice. Might be better idea."
Doesn't mean we're going to go that way but its best not to leave suspicions. Nudge Ariana to not protest or something.

Then go see Evid

"Ah, thanks for the advice." You say. "Might be a better idea."
"But-" Ariana said, starting to protest, when you nudged her with an elbow. She frowned, and started silently fuming.
"Please, be safe." Riba said, as you made your way to the hunter's home.

"Yes, yes, what is it?" The sallow man responded, opening the door with half-lidded eyes. "You're, ah, the newcomers. Piece of advice- don't go into the marsh. Bad news, there, like predators and such. Anyway, what do you want?"

>>21777018
"some traveling rations."

"Could tell us more about the marsh? Have you ever been there?"

"Some traveling rations, mostly."
"Ah, fair enough." He said, limping into the back of his house, coming back with some salted, tough meat. "Anyone who's going anywhere needs a lot of food. Let's go with... ten bits of copper for a day's worth. Yeah, yeah, it's not very expensive, but we don't see many travelers with coin."
"Could you tell us more about the marsh?" You ask, peering into the dark house- it was strange, how he didn't have any lanterns. "Have you ever been there?"
"Once or twice, yeah." He said. "Croc took a bit of my leg the first time, and the second, bobcat played with my arm. That said, it can be safe if you keep a wary eye out, don't eat anything poisonous, be kind to animals, and stay as far away from the color red as you can."
"The color red? Why?" Ariana asked.
"Just some things that don't like to be seen." He said. "Beats me why they wear such a bright color. The village don't like to talk about them."

Is the marsh that dark green area? What is our eventual destination?

I will join up here as soon as I catch my bus home

>>21777141
>The marsh is indeed the dark green, while swamp is the paler green inside the marsh itself. Your destination is Garamon, down near the coast. It's almost a week's walk- that is, if you can traverse the marsh at the same rate you can traverse plains or shrublands. Which you can't, so it's maybe two weeks at most.

>>21777141
The map could use a Legend. What's the dark grey area that dominates the upper half of the map?


How long did it take to get from Sardin to Heaminster? One day?

File: 1354045524634.png-(1.55 MB, 1028x1028, travel.png)

This is how we should travel. Cuts down the marsh to a minimum.

How long would this journey take, op?

>>21777174
>I'm working on a legend while we speak, and it's mountain, most of it.
>Yes, it took one day.


>>21777216
>This journey would take a week and a few days, barring ISSUES. That said, you'd need to find a ferry to cross the rather large river twice.

>>21777245
No bridges? ... I guess it makes sense.

Oh wait, it would be better to find a boat and travel on it till near where I said to cross the marsh.
Do boats travel down there? We should as Evid

>>21777216
This is good plan, but I think we should head towards the mountain and follow that down through the swamp and go straight for Garamon.

>>21777128
Get however many rations we need for days of travel.

>>21777216
Is the river in the approximate direction we're going upstream or downstream?

>>21777276
Oh, I agree, that is probably better since we wont need to cross deep river twice. And the marsh would be sparse at the edge of the mountain.

We might even find some mountain caves to explore and get lost in

>>21777298
>It's mostly downstream, which is why Riba recommended you take it.

"Do boats travel down to, say, Wyebury?" You ask.
"Of course they do." Evid said. "Far as I know, that river's how Sardin takes all of it's supplies down to Angvard.
You quickly count out your five days of food, and figure that you should get up to enough for a fortnight, at least.

"Ninety copper." He said. "Well, I guess I could take three silver for that much instead. There's also a favor I could ask, and if you two promise to do it on the way, I could skim two silver off of that."

>>21777349
I'll have to know what the favor is before I accept, but do go on.

>>21777349
"Depends on what you'd have me doing."

>>21777349
"Where could I catch a ride on a boat?"

"Depends on what you'd have me doing." You say.

"Well, there's a package I need to deliver. To the south east, there's a really small lake at the edge of the marsh, and an old stump. All ya' need to do is put the package there. Wouldn't be too far out of your way, and it'd take me an entire day to get there and back."

"Hmm... Where could I catch a ride on a boat?" You ask.
He shrugged. "A village closer to the river, I suppose. Maybe go all the way up to Sardin."

>>21777436
Boring. Let's marsh it and drop his package off along the way.

>>21777436
"I wouldn't mind doing this.

Whatever the contents of the package are they won't be me in danger correct? Because that seems like a rather odd place to put things."

>>21777436
lets drop off the package and then try to get a ride on a boat

>>21777436
"We've come from Sardin, I'd rather not lose time in going back."

I see no particular reason to not deliver his package.

"We've come from Sardin. I'd rather not lose time going back." You say.
"Fair enough, fair enough." He said, and shrugged.
"Whatever the contents of the package are, they won't put me in danger, correct?" You ask. "Because that seems like a rather odd place to put things."
"Hardly." He said, shrugging. He slung a leather bag to you, worn and obviously patched multiple times, and flipped it open. Inside were... tools, hatchets, pins, needles, and thread, not to mention several folded bits of cloth. All in all, inside was every odd and end that anybody would need. "Just don't let anyone in the village know you're doing this little favor for me."
He combed his hair back, and looked you in the eyes. "Technically, I'm supposed to be the one doing this."

>>21777531
"I see.
Well, I've got no problem doing this."

>>21777531
"I can do this. It's no problem at all.

Though, and I don't mean to pry, if it's something you aren't supposed to tell me you don't have to answer, but why? Who lives out there?"

>>21777531
"My lips are sealed. I won't even ask who's hiding out there."

Well, maybe not the second part of that.

>>21777531
"Is that all for someone who lives out in the marsh or something?"

"I can do this. It's no problem at all. My lips are sealed." You say.
"Good to hear, good to hear." He said, and clapped you on the shoulder.
"Though, and I don't mean to pry, if it's something you aren't supposed to tell me you don't have to answer, but why? Is that all for someone who lives out in the marsh or something?"
"I'm not supposed to say." He said, and shrugged. "But yes. Anyway, one silver for nine days of rations. Special deal for my friends."
Thoughtfully, Ariana tapped on her chin, looking at the ground, squinting.

>>21777607
"Of course, of course. A good day to you. Let's go, Arianna."

She's got something on her mind, obviously, but it should wait till we're out of town.

>>21777607
"Of course, I understand completely. It seems like a fair deal.

Have a good day."

File: 1354048141953.png-(7 KB, 192x192, Shitty key.png)

"Of course, of course." You say, giving him the silver and taking your new rations and the large bag in hand. "A good day to you. Let's go, Arianna."
"To you, as well." He said, and nodded. The two of you made your way out of the village, walking southeast, until Ariana spoke.

"... Why would they be hiding?" She asked. "Whoever we're delivering the supplies to, I mean. They might be bandits or something. Are you sure this is the best idea?"

>pic is the key for the map- sorry for shitty programmer art.

>>21777688
Is Stos making these maps and such? Much better than I would've expected.

>>21777688
"Could be bandits, could be a witch. Either way just delivering some tools to them won't hurt anything. Not even a bandit deserves to die of exposure, or starvation, in some murky swamp."

>>21777688
"Unlikely, he wasn't scared of them, these seem like basic forest living supplies, judging by the pag they've done it before, he wouldn't ask us to keep it a secret if it was bandits.

My guess would be someone magical, or at least seems magical, maybe a witch, who values their privacy and the village keeps their distance from them.

It'll be fine Ariana, trust me."

>>21777688
"We'll be careful but I doubt we have too much to worry about. We just drop it in the stump and be on our way."

"Last one to that stone has to gather wood tonight!" (let her win though)

>>21777688
"Honestly, no, I'm not, but I doubt they're bandits, unless they're very new to the profession. They could be someone such as yourself, or otherwise suspected of witchcraft, accurate or not."

>>21777723
I vouch, through sources, that it is indeed Exabyte doing this stuff.

>>21777770
Well they're very nice maps. I would love to get ahold of whatever program he is using so I may exploit it for my own uses. Doesn't look like that Cartography thing.

>>21777795
I must agree, these are far from bad maps at all.

>>21777688
>Me and a friend did bang our heads together to churn out those textures, yeah, but I made the map myself.
>>21777795
>Paintdotnet, baby.


"Could be bandits, could be a witch." You say. "These seem like basic living supplies, and judging by the bag they've done it before. He wouldn't ask us to keep it a secret if it was bandits. My guess would be someone magical. Maybe a witch."
"It's not a witch." She responded immediately. "Or I'd know her."

>>21777817
"Then maybe it's someone who was accused of being a witch."

>>21777817
"Wha? How?"

>>21777817
"Okay then. I didn't know that all you witches had get togethers and all knew each other.

Might be someone they think is a witch, might just be a person who likes their privacy quite a bit."

>>21777817
"Oh? Though some innate witch sense you all share?"

>>21777817
"Maybe it's a mysterious hermit, who has moved into the swamp to protect his vast collection of books on magic, the nature of the universe, and the fabric of reality. Maybe by delivering these supplies to him, he'll grant us a boon."

"Oh? Through some innate witch sense you all share?" You ask, and she giggled.
"No, not at all. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Gift like that, but no."
"I didn't know that all you witches had get togethers and all knew eachother."
"You aren't supposed to." She said, after a moment, and put her fingers to her lips. "So if you meet anyone like me, then shhh."
"Might be someone they think is a witch, might be just a person who likes their privacy quite a bit. Maybe it's a mysterious hermit, who has moved into the swamp to protect his vast collection of books on magic, the nature of the universe, and the fabric of reality. Maybe by delivering these supplies to him, he'll grant us a boon."
"Maybe." She giggled. "Maybe he'll help me make my familiar!"

>>21777896
"You have to make a familiar? I thought it was just some animal that showed up and started following you around."

>>21777896
"What exactly is a familiar? Are they all giant animals? Were the scratches in the ground at our first camp site caused by your sister's familiar?

Well, I may not be any good at it, and I'm probably not going to want to do it forever, but I could stand in for your familiar until you get one. If you want me to of course."

>>21777896
"If he does, what kind of familiar do you want?"

>>21777896
"Well, perhaps, perhaps not. Wouldn't do to get your hopes too high, though."

"You have to make a familiar? I thought it was just some animal that showed up and started following you around."
"No, you kind of have to..." She said, and trailed off, before shaking her head. "I don't know how to explain it."
"What exactly is a familiar? Are they all giant animals?"
"It's... part of you. They always take the form of an animal that represents... who you are. They're your assistant and friend. Sometimes they're tiny and cute, if you're a ... meek person, and sometimes they're enormous and ferocious, if you're someone with a bad temper."
"Were the scratches in the ground at our first camp site caused by your sister's familiar?"
She nodded. "That's... um, where I was dropped off."

>>21777988
"What a weakness, displaying a part of your personality like that means revealing your potential battle-style."

>>21777988
"So how do you make a familiar?"

Lets not dawdle here any longer and be on our way

>>21778007
Yep, get walking towards that marsh.

>>21778005
I cannot say I care for this. Seems... unnecessarily rude.

>>21777988
"Aha."

>>21777988
"So what kind of familiar do you think you'll get? What kind of familiar does someone get if they're not meek but aren't angry either?"

The two of you continued walking, toward the marsh.
"So how do you make a familiar?"
"I don't know how to word it." She said. "You need clay, and then you need to... breathe yourself into it. It's supposed to be obvious to me when it comes time."
"So what kind of familiar do you think you'll get? What kind of familiar does someone get if they're not meek but aren't angry either?"
"Something that isn't small, but isn't big either?" She asked. "I don't know. It's just supposed to be, um... I don't know. Astora didn't explain much."
The sun continued setting as the stars started peeking out, and Ariana yawned.
"How much longer do we have to walk?" She asked, blearily. "I'm tired."

>>21778093
"we should be there soon"

>>21778093
"Seems like your sister didn't explain much at all huh..."

"I'll carry you if you want."

>>21778093
"We'll be there soon, I think. Might have to set up camp though, it is getting dark and I don't want to be caught out at night."

>>21778093
"We've got a way to go yet. I can carry you though. I'm good at walking for a long time."

Give her a piggyback ride.

"Seems like your sister didn't explain much at all, huh." You say.
"Not about familiars." She said.
"I'll carry you if you want." You say. "I'm good at walking for a long time. We'll be there soon."
"O-okay." She said, stifling another yawn. After stopping for a moment, she climbed onto your back, and closed her eyes, leaning on you.
"I'm making a big risk." She said, eyes closed. "You're the only one that knows what I am, so I could have run away and nobody else would know. But... I trust you."

>>21778206
"Well.... I appreciate that. Now you should rest"

"Well... I appreciate that." You say. "Now, you should rest."
"Okay." She said, in a soft voice, and drifted off into sleep.

You continue walking, the sleeping Ariana on your back, the ground softening when you eventually found a small lake, with a noticable bleached stump sitting there, the only tree you can see. Further south, you can see hundreds of tall bushes, cattails, and ribbon-shaped strips of water, weaving southward. In the distance, you can barely make out a swamp, with tall, gnarled trees.
"Y-you are late." A stuttering voice said, and you see a red-robed person stand, a strange, beaklike mask covering their face. It twisted their voice, making it sound deeper and echoing, but through that, you could tell they were obviously nervous. "N-now, please, the supplies." They said, holding up a gloved hand. "A-again, we thank the village for their help."

>>21778272
"Here you go."

>>21778272
Hand it over.
"You're welcome. Is there a place we can set up camp nearby?"

>>21778272
"Sorry about being late, took longer than I thought to get here.

Look it's late and my companion is tired, would you mind if we shared your shelter for the night?

>>21778344
>sharing shelter with some weird masked and robed people

"You're welcome. Here you go." You say, handing the figure the bag. They turned to leave."Look, it's late, and my companion is tired. Would you mind if we shared your shelter for the night?"
"I, um." They said, freezing and turning back. They froze for a full ten seconds, and then nodded. "I-I do not mind. You leave in the morning. This way."
The figure slung the bag onto their shoulder, and started walking further eastwards. It was less then ten minutes until you reached a large, rather deeply dug pit in the ground, with a small unlit fireplace in the center. As far as you can tell, the camp here isn't a true shelter- just a temporary measure. The figure knelt near the campfire, and started snapping their fingers, small sparks flashing into existence and failing to light it.

>>21778356
They seem nice. They might be going out of their way to seem scary, but I think they're more scared of us than we are of them.

>>21778400
"That's a neat trick, which I could do that. I've got a tinder box and some flint and steel though if you can't get it going."

>>21778404
well, hope you know what you're getting into

>>21778400
Help him light the fire with flint or matches.

>>21778400
Resist the urge to snicker. Light the fire ourself.

"So, what's with the mask? You don't have to worry about telling me, I'm leaving in the morning and not heading back to the village anyways. I'm just kinda curious."

"That's a neat trick." You say. "Wish I could do that. I've got a tinder box and some flint and steel, though, if you can't get it going."
"... Yes please." They said, and took a few steps to the side. You kneel near the campfire... and see that he hadn't set out any tinder. No wonder it wasn't working. You set out some tinder, and quickly light it with your flint and steel. The masked figure watches you carefully.
"So, what's with the mask? You don't have to worry about telling me, I'm leaving in the morning and not heading back to the village anyways. I'm just kinda curious."
"If something goes wrong and we get caught, we can just... take off the mask, and nobody knows who we are anymore. We can vanish." He said, sitting down, the fire's light shining off of their mask. They touched it gently, and readjusted it. "Wait, Y-you're not from the village?"
The suddenly got to their feet, and looked this way and that, before pulling a large sharpened stick from the ground, whirling it around expertly before pointing the end at you.
"E-Explain!"

>>21778517
"Hey, calm down. I'm just doing favour for them."
"Why are you so nervous anyway?"

(judging by the voice, he's definately male, right?)

>>21778517
"We're just travelling through. I brought the supplies out as a favor to one of the villagers."

>>21778517
"Passing through. Delivered a package. Don't tell the next guy though, the guy who asked me to said he was supposed to.

Now could you put down the stick. I don't really care what you're doing here, not my problem, and I'm not going to tell anyone.

>>21778517
Sounds pretty similar to sword-powers to be honest.

>>21778557
>Judging from the voice, yes, he's male. But the way the mask distorts his voice, you can't be certain.

"We're just traveling through. I brought the supplies out as a favor to one of the villagers." You say. "Now could you put down the stick?"
"... Right. I'm sorry." He said, tossing the stick aside. He scooted close to the fire, rubbing his shoulders, while you set down some blankets and tucked Ariana in.
"... what's your name?" He asked, tilting his head.

>>21778639
"Abel. Yours?"

"Abel. Yours?"
"Cass." He responded, rolling his shoulders, and examining his glove in the firelight. On his fingers, you can see strange bits of metal- steel claws on the tips of his fingers, and a small flint patch at one of his fingertips- so that's how he'd created the sparks.
"... Where are you from?" They asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

>Momentary delay while I eat!

>>21778639
"Abel. The sleepy girl's Ariana. You?"

>>21778724
"Waymoor, through the pass to the north."

>>21778724
"It's alright. I'm from up north in Waymoor."

>>21778744
then ask him where he's from and what he's doing here

>>21778724
"Up north, past Sardin. Small village called Waymoor. You've probably never heard of it.

What's with the claw gloves? Never seen anythinglike the.them."

"It's alright." You say. "I'm from Waymoor, through the pass to the north. You've probably never heard of it."
"You'd be right." He said.
"Where are you from, and what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to pick up those supplies and go back home." Cass said, continuing to examine his gloves. "I hope you'll understand if I don't tell you where."
"What's with the claw gloves? Never seen anything like them."
"They're hardy and useful." He said, and glanced at the fire. "Most of the time."

File: 1354053671471.jpg-(26 KB, 460x276, Hipster.jpg)

>>21778813
>You've probably never heard of it.
Yeah, my village is pretty obscure.

>>21778901
Let's get some sleep. Bid Cass goodnight, make sure Ariana is warm and tucked in and then go to sleep.

>>21778901
"Welp, I think I'll head to bed. It was a long trip here."

Hopefully we're a light sleeper.

"Well, I think I'll head to bed. It was a long trip here. Goodnight." You tell the robed figure, and they nod.
"Sleep well." He says, as you make sure Ariana is warm, and then you lay out your own blanket, and go to sleep.

For once, Ariana's Gift doesn't force you into a twisted realm. When you open your eyes again, it's early morning, and you see Cass standing on the ridge, mask off, facing up at the sun. You glance over at Ariana, and find her rolling this way and that, mumbling to herself, obviously not getting much rest- some sort of nightmare, you guess.

>>21779043
Gently wake Ariana

>>21779043
Ariana's more important than his face.

Gently wake her and give her a hug, try to calm her down some.

>>21779088
just wake her, no hugs needed.

>>21779088
I would amend that: Gently wake her, hugs if needed. Could be that just waking from her nightmare'll be enough.

You get to your feet, and make your way over to Ariana, gently nudging her shoulder. She jumped, and then woke up, before pulling you into a hug.
"It was horrible." She said, and you hear a click as Cass slips his mask back on. Ariana clings more tightly to you for a moment, and then sniffles and shakes her head, letting go.

Cass stares down at you, before shouldering the bag you'd delivered, just... watching the two of you.

>>21779141
"So, you will be going then?" "Goodbye, it was nice to meet you, Cass."

>>21779141
Didn't you say you disappear with the mask off? Well, hate to break it to you but I just saw you clear as day.

>>21779141
"Well it looks like this is where we part ways. It was nice meeting you.

Anything you want to ask before we go?"

>>21779174
>Didn't you say you disappear with the mask off?

He didn't mean that in literal sense, God dammit.
I'd like to think our character is not so stupid

>>21779174
He meant that if he ditched the mask, you'd never be able to recognize him, since his voice would be different and you've never seen his face before.

>>21779174
I think he meant that if the mask is removed no one would recognize them as a masked person. No magic involved.

>>21779174
He meant as in, "disappear into the crowd." Y'know, like a partisan or insurgent.

"Well, it looks like this is where we part ways." You say to the figure in red. "It was nice meeting you. Anything you want to ask before we go?"
"Yes." He said. "Why... are you traveling with a witch? My dream..."
Ariana, eyes still bleary, grasped the hilt of her dagger, and her eyes went steely.

>>21779233
"Why not? She hasn't shown herself to be violent or evil. Better than wandering alone."

>>21779233
"Why not?"

seriously, we don't really have any reason beyond "just because"

>>21779233
"It's better than being on your own. She was even set free by a knight of the order."

>>21779233
"Because we both benefit from having a traveling companion? It's not like she's evil or something."

>>21779233
"I see no witch. I see a little girl who just had a nightmare.

You're the suspicious one who goes out of your way to be mysterious. Glass houses, stones, you know the rest."

"It's better than being on your own." You say. "It's not like she's evil or violent or something."
"... I'm glad." Cass said, and nodded to Ariana. "I hope the two of you have good luck."
Ariana gently loosened her hold on the dagger.
"Um, thank you." She said, as Cass turned about and started walking east.
Ariana instantly turned to you. "Who was that?"

>>21779309
"That was Cass. He's a weird guy who lives in the swamp, walks around in a mask and a red robe."

>>21779309
Cass. Guy with a strange mask, the one who i delivered those supplies to. Likes playing mysterious, if you ask me.

>>21779309
"Cass. He's the person the supplies were going to."

>>21779309
"Not entirely sure.

You feeling alright? Looks like that dream really shook you up."

>>21779320
>>21779327
>>21779328
Well, we're all on the same wavelength today.

"Cass." you say. "Guy with a strange mask, the one who I delivered those supplies to. Likes playing mysterious, if you ask me."
"Maybe he had to." She said. "For some reason."
"You feeling alright?" You ask. "Looks like that dream really shook you up."
"Abel... I don't want to talk about it." She said. "It was really bad and I just want to keep moving so I don't have to think about it."

>>21779355
"Hey, you can tell me when you feel like it, trust me."

"Anyway, lets get going then"

>>21779355
"I can understand that.

Let's get some breakfast before we do more of your favorite thing, walking."

"I can understand that." You say. "Let's get some breakfast before we do more of your favorite thing. Walking."
She frowned, and started grumbling as you pulled out some rations.
"I want a familiar that can carry me around." She said. "So I don't have to walk. Like a pony!"
She shrugged, and the two of you started chewing.
"Where?" She asked. "Are we walking, I mean. To the river and find a boat, or through the marsh?"

>Since both of these were suggested I'll just do a full 10 minute vote-
> [] Taking a boat
> [] Crossing the marsh

>>21779422
Marsh march.

If our little witch can't control her gift, then we don't want to be stuck on a boat with not many people for a long time.

[S

Also, more monsters this way.

>>21779422
cross the marsh

[X] Taking a boat

Head to the river and follow it. We ought to be able to hitch a ride.

>>21779422
Crossing the marsh.

We should also keep an eye out for clay.

>>21779422
Crossing the marsh. Ferries can be expensive.

>>21779422
Marsh, stick close to the mountains to stay out of the worst bits.

>>21779422
>> [] Taking a boat

>>21779422
Boat. We have a bit of money to spare

"Through the march." You say.
"Aww, more walking." She said, and frowned. "Well, it is safer. And given the way pretty much everyone I meet learns what I am eventually, it's best to stay away from them."

Your meal finished, you put out the campfire, and roll up your blankets, while Ariana stretched and tried to wake up completely, before the two of you set out, to the south.

"You shoulda' woke me up when you met that guy in red." She said. "I want to make my own choices if we should trust people."

>>21779559
"Then my apologies, and should it happen again, I shall."

>>21779559
"I'll keep that in mind, but hopefully we won't be meeting too many creepy people in the swamp."

>>21779559
"But you were sleeping so adorably"

Well, if we're going through the marsh, lets stick close to the mountains then.
Also, we should spend some time reading the book we got, like one or two hours a day

"Then my apologies." You say. "And should it happen again, I shall."
"That's all I ask." She said, as the two of you made your way further southwest, trying to stay close to the mountains.
"Hopefully we won't be meeting too many creepy people in the swamp."
"Or ghouls." She said, and took your hand, clenching her jaw.

>>21779684
"I know it's horrible to say it, but I'd almost welcome a ghoul or two. Something to shake things up, make this trip exciting."

>>21779684
"Come on now, where's your spirit of adventure?"

"I know it's horrible to say it, but I'd almost welcome a ghoul or two. Something to shake things up, make this trip exciting."
She didn't say anything. She didn't even get angry at you. She simply let go of your hand again.
"Come on now, where's your spirit of adventure?"
"I never *wanted* to adventure!" She said, and stopped walking. "I have to, because of what I am! I just want to go home but if I did then I'd be a kid forever! I can't even talk to my sister, and she can't talk to me because that's part of the rules!"

She gritted her teeth and started walking again.
"At least you're here because you *want* to be." She said.

>>21779684
"Gh-what?"

>>21779805
"I suppose I am, more or less, not that I had much to stay at home for."

>>21779805
"Are these some kind of rules that everyone has to go through or are they just imposed by your sister?"

>>21779805
"I'm here because my mother died and my sister joined the Order on impulse."

>>21779846
that's poor excuse, don't try to guilt trip

>>21779805
"Those are some harsh rules. But don't worry, we'll get through this together."

"Are these some kind of rules that everyone has to go through, or are they just imposed by your sister?"
"Everyone has to." She said. "Witches, at least. Warlocks might have their own coming of age."
"Those are some harsh rules." You say. "But don't worry, we'll get through this together."
"... Yeah." She said. "The rules are supposed to make us more... independent. Weed out the weak and stupid."
"I was one of those. I got hungry my first day here... so I stole." She looked down to her feet. "And then tied to the pyre. I was just lucky you and Crios came by."

>>21779936
Maybe that's another one of your Gifts eh? Incredible luck?

>>21779936
"Warlocks? As in male magic users?
Did you know any?"

"Maybe that's another of your Gifts, eh? Incredible luck?"
She raised her head.
"I doubt it. That's one of the most powerful ones I've heard of. The Gift of Fate."

As the two of you walked, you hear a splash, and out of a brook, an otter padded up to Ariana, and started pouncing up on it's hind legs, squeaking at her.
Despite herself, Ariana grinned, and knelt down, before patting the otter's head.

"Warlocks? As in male magic users? Did you know any?"
"No, they didn't stay in the same place as us." She said. "They're further south. But they're really rare, and their Gifts are different, I think."

>>21780012
Maybe that guy who took our place is a warlock?

"Do you know of any gifts that can make people forget? To have something happen and then.. Unhappen?

>>21780012
"Well, at least some cute animals get attracted to you due to your gift"

teasingly "we could always make a good stew out of them in an emergency"

"Well, at least some cute animals get attracted to you because of your gift." You say, and in a teasing tone, you continued. "We could always make a good stew out of them in an emergency."
"Yeah, we could." She said, not seeming to notice your tone. "Even eating bugs might be better than starving. But all the wood might be too wet to start a fire."

"Do you know of any gifts that can make people forget? To have something happen and then... unhappen?"
"I, um, don't think so." She said, as the otter leaped onto her shoulder, and coiled around the back of her neck, it's head and tail poking out over each shoulder. She stood again, and the two of you continued walking. "It's really hard to use Gifts to lie, and I think making someone forget would be like that."

>>21780116
"I'm thinking it might be a warlock thing. Specifically, the man who was watching you."

>>21780116
Continue walking, look for some drier ground and/or some dry wood. It's more important to have a place to sleep then to walk as far as possible each day.

>>21780116
"What about Gifts that let you replace something, or deal with like... concepts. Justice, peace, war. Et cetera."

>>21780148
she doesn't know about Gabriel, lets not make her unnecessarily agitated about a possible warlock following her

"What about Gifts that let you replace something, or deal with like... concepts. Justice, peace, war, et cetera." You ask.
"I don't think so." She said, holding her hand up to the otter, who started nuzzling her. "But I don't know about all the different types."

The two of you walked for quite a long time, and other than a rather well-disguised crocodile hid in the cattails (until the otter ran, alarming you to not stand too close to the water) nothing of note happened, as the sun made it's long arc across the sky.
You spotted a rather firm, dry area, and started making camp. The swamp to the south was much closer now, and you had somewhat of a foreboding feeling about it.
"... We have to do another week of this?" Ariana asked, exhausted, sitting down- she didn't even bother to unroll her blanket first.

>>21780258
"Yep. If not more."

>>21780258
"If we're lucky, that's all it will be."

>>21780258
"Pretty dull, wasn't it?"'

Time to pull our the books we got?

>>21780258
"Yea, it's unfortunate, but we'll be there quicker and we won't have to deal with finding the right ship and everything."

>>21780303
>Time to pull our the books we got?

yeah, better learn about local fauna before it is too late

>>21780330
Read a fairy-tale book for Ariana then read of book on local fauna.

>>21780258
"That's just the way things are, princess. Don't want to stay a child forever, right."

"If we're lucky, that's all it will be."
"If we're unlucky, then I get to the other side an old, gray woman." She said, and frowned.
"Pretty dull, wasn't it?"
"It's also tiring." She said.
"We'll be there quicker, and we won't have to deal with finding the right ship and everything." You say, as you pull out some food, and light the campfire with some dry wood.
"Good point." She said. You reach for your book satchel, and pull open the one on the marsh, reading. Just from the first few pages, you already knew that the book would help you navigate, and make sure that you didn't run into as many pitfalls compared to otherwise.
"Oooh, can I see this?" Ariana asked, grabbing the second book, prying it open. "There were a lot of books at the tow- ... at home, and I've always loved books. Astora was always more into using her Gift of Sight to watch people."

>>21780400
Put a hold on reading for now.

"She can watch people from far away?"

"She probably is keeping an eye on you, you know."

"If you like, I could read to you from the book."

>>21780400
"...That's a bit creepy."

>>21780400
"what kind of books do you like?"

"She can watch people from far away?"
"Yeah. From anywhere in the world, if she gets up high enough." She said. "She only has two gifts, but they're powerful."
"... That's a bit creepy."
"She's probably watching us talk right now." She said, and giggled. "But she's not supposed to meddle, and, well, if she did meddle ... well, you wouldn't be here."
"... What kind of books do you like?" You ask, deciding to change the subject.
"Everything." She said. "But I like old journals and memoirs the best. Ones by real people who write down their lives."
"If you like, I could read to you from the book."
"I read really fast, though." She said. "It'd just bother me that you weren't reading more quickly. Thanks for offering, though, Abel."

>>21780586
Then you should read to me! Otherwise I'll miss out.

>>21780633
Let's not.

Just get back to our book and leave her to hers. It's probably more important that we actually know enough to survive the trip.

You leave her to her book, and relax, reading your own, as the sun sets in silence, leaving you to read with the firelight. Eventually, Ariana puts your book back into it's satchel, and then sets up her blanket.
"I'm tired, so I'm going to bed a bit early." She said, and closed her eyes. Soon after that, the sun set proper, and the stars were out. Your eyes started to water after reading about how to prepare bulrush for food, and you set the book aside- you'll have to read more later.
>You are now Skilled in foraging in marshes- ones with an ecology similar to this, at least.

Far off, to the south, you see a red-robed figure leaping from place to place, easily soaring over each brook, as a crocodile snaps futilely at them, as they start to enter the swamp.

> [ ] Sleep?
> [ ] Investigate?
> [ ] Other?

>>21780793
Wait and watch them for a while. Lets not go rushing in to anything.

>>21780814
this

>>21780793
Investigate!

>>21780793
>> [ ] Investigate?

lets be stealthy though

Setting the book aside and giving the sleeping Ariana a glance, you examine the red robed figure, as they step into the swamp proper. Carefully, you approach, and you can see that it isn't Cass- This man has a much larger, bulkier build, and definite muscles lie underneath the layers of robe, which, by comparison, made Cass incredibly thin. As you creep up, you hear something like a battlecry, as the red-robed figure brings down the end of his staff onto something humanoid, smashing it with the haft.

>Wat do?
>If you approach further, you'll need to roll stealth.

>>21780939
observe from here

>>21780957
second this

>>21780957
Yup.

Deigning to stay where you are, you slink down into the bushes, watching from here as two more humanoid figures approach, one scrawny and thin, something hanging from it's limbs, and the second large and bloated. With another battlecry, the redrobed figure skewered the thin one, and brandishing his hand out, a plume of flame shot from his hand, enveloping the second and nearly blinding you in the dark. By the time you blink the light out of your eyes, you see the red-robed figure speaking to another figure- this one in heavy steel armor, with a blade on his back. They spoke a bit, and then the one in the heavy armor drew his blade and took a few steps back.
"Die, monster." You hear clearly, from the man in the heavy armor. "For the order!"

>>21781107
Stay hidden. We don't want to get involved here.

>>21781107
Creep back to Ariana. Warn her the order is around .

>>21781107
Ah, so clearly the red robed figure was slaying monsters. Keep an ear out for anything approaching us, maybe get out our sword. Don't act yet though.

>>21781162
This is a good idea.

>>21781162
yeah, seems a good idea although I want to see how this turns out

You stay hidden, watching the battle between the red-robed man and the knight. It's soon evident that the winner was a foregone conclusion- The robed man's spear was nowhere near sharp enough, and any plumes of flame he shot at the knight gave him nothing, the flame simply going around the knight. Grabbing the sword's hilt, wary for any more of those strange figures, you creep back to the camp.

When you finally get there, you see Ariana already awake, Cass's red-robed figure putting out the fire, his mask on the ground.
"Shh." You hear a woman's voice say. "The order is about, and they think we're monsters. Where's Abel?"
"I... I don't know." Ariana said. "He was here when we went to sleep..."

You start to speak up when something snarling grabs you, bowling you over. You twist about and see a humanoid, gaunt figure, flesh rotted and half-missing, as a set of very sharp teeth snap at you, trying to tear out your throat.

>End of thread!

>>21781266
just when it got interesting

>>21781338
He's regained his powers of cliffhangers! Time to abandon thread!

Also, I totally knew that Cass was going to be a female.

>>21781406
I think that just means there's more then one of them.

>>21781419
An army of Cass-clones.
But yeah, Cassandra.