>>38748699
><Deviance Reset: New Deviance Locked In: 0,4 (Mother’s Embrace)>
><Stress Levels Reset: New Stress level: 15%>
><Drain Reset: New Drain: 0% (?)>
Dayum, gotta sleep with Helena more often
Sorry Eri it was just a joke don't worry.

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I am Azureus ben Kholmar din Mattheo, but really, who cares about the names? Right now I certainly don’t as I streak through the sky, my Remembrance making the air churn and roil behind me. Finally. School’s supposed to prepare us for running countries It seems like it’s meant to accomplish that by making dealing with it hard enough that anything else seems trivial afterwards. Just getting a leave permit for tonight…

I missed this.
I missed being free.
I missed just being myself, seeking my limits and testing my power.

Soon I’m so fast I have to erect a barrier in front of myself leaving me with just a single additional skill to use without. Guess everything has it’s ups and do--
My hair stands on end and I /roll/ before even thinking.
Curses.
I trundle, the ball of frozen flame streaking upwards just missing me by a hair’s breadth. Mumbling I climb higher over Mooncrest’s peaks.

/Witches/. Jumpier than a bag of fleas and thrice as likely to bite you. Grinning, I release my remembrances and plummet, the air rushing past me making it hard to even hear myself chant.

“FROM SILENCE YOU WERE CALLED; TO SILENCE YOU RETURN!!”

Something in the back of my head /stirs/, signalling that I’m no longer showing up within the wards.

I circle around the towers till I find the right window, hopping inside only to find myself faced with a wand.

“I’m not amused”.

“Are you ever?”

“My boot in your face could do it”.

“Wrong person for that, Lady Witch” Really, I’m not sure what makes her tick, but in my experience it’s best to just roll with it and wait for the right opportunity.

“Mara?”

“What is it?”

I step closer and envelop her with my arms, bending down to make sure my mouth is level with her ear.

“I missed you, Lady Witch. Missed you like you wouldn’t believe”. She stiffens and for a second I’m afraid she’ll just curse me with something before she answers, voice muffled against my chest

“Really?”.

I press my forehead to hers.

“By my name and honour; Really”.
-------

>>38748956
Who was Mara again?

>>38748956
Ufufu~

Late night trysts are very romantic, especially when accompanied by violence.

Nice to have you back Weisman, don't forget to tweet this.

>>38749045
The student assistent who helped unfuck us. Looks like she's as bitchy with her boyfriend as she's with students.

>>38749045
She was the one that helped us out when we wree in AKAZU's realm

>>38749274
>>38749286
>Getting the dragon
We should ask her for advice.

>>38748956

This guy's way smoother than Thallian. I'd say he also has more personality but that's probably because we've seen his thoughts.
>ben Kholmar din Mattheo
Son of Talan's boss?

>>38749350
Internal monologue really helps with that.

>>38749350
Thallian has a personality. It's just not a very fun one. He's super proper to make up for not being a proper noble.

>>38749507
>not being a proper noble
Wha?

>>38749586
From the stuff that he said we're guessing that he's either a bastard or a very low ranking noble for being a dragonborn.

>>38749586
"Lady Sora, politeness is /always/ needed. Besides, I am heir to no holdings and as such not much beyond a warrior". Somehow, that seemed like a practiced speech, though his sincerity shines through.

>>38749638
Ah right, I had forgotten that part.

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“The difference between dreams and history is your courage to make one into the other” - Andros Lagidis

I am… Maria Lagidis, hopeful future guard! Today was really interesting, though teacher Norram says I’m terrrible with a sword. Then again, I don’t like swords, not really. They just don’t have the right feeling, I guess? Besides, even if every time someone says it’s better or worse than a spear turns into a total disaster the trainers can really not handle I like my glaive. Better or worse, it’s the person that counts, right? I mean, it’s not like we’re expected to fight all the time or something.

Not anymore at least, though the city’s ruler is lowborn so we might need to instead of having her family handle it. Well, that suits me just fine I guess because so far there haven’t been any invasions and the army seems pretty well-trained here too an-- riiiight. Anyway, yes, I guess I won’t have to deal with any of that sword nonsense for now. Which is just fine with me. Besides, you can’t carry things home from the market on the length of your sword.

Of course there was also the whole thing with the robbery we couldn’t solve. My mood turns sour as I recall the faces of the shop owner and his wife. Why do people do this? Why can’t they just respect things like that? Pa was quick to promise them he’d find the people responsible, but I’m not so sure anymore. Uuugh, why did I have to think about that?
1/2?

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“Precious, could you fetch me some firebeans?” Ma is barely visible through the steam of the kitchen but her voice is as clear and full as ever. Aaaactually we should probably be helping, but both Pa and I are covered in dust so there’s no chance of that before we’re washed up.

I nod, running to the cellar, still fuming about today. On my way back I trip suddenly lose my footing. No, no, nonono-- I slam against the floor, the jar skidding over the brown tiles before exploding with a wet “smash”. Noooo. This is it. I can’t take this day anymore!!

“Maria, could you please pick this up agai--”

“You *Idiot*, no!! DO IT YOURSELF!!” Suddenly, it’s very quiet and I slowly turn my eyes to Pa.

“Maria?” His eyes are… /dangerously/ calm, his voice so controlled

“...yes?”

“Outside”. I nod, following Pa onto the paved practice area in our backyard.

“Maria. Do you know what you did?”

“I said something bad to Ma”. I trot over to the latrine to fetch the stick leaning against it. This must be the fourth time he’s going to use that /ever/.

“Wrong”.

“Wh-”

“Fetch your weapon”.

“Wh-”

“Now”. I obey, taking Florencia off her rack.

“Are we going to train o--”

“Maria. You didn’t just insult Ma. You insulted /my woman/, and as the husband I demand satisfaction”. I just blink, but he just looks at silently.

“Really?”

“You are too old to spank, and as a member of the law I *expect* you to understand it”. The air grows thick as his Will flares, the pure Killing Intent far beyond anything I could do. I just nod, pushing against it and gripping my weapon faster.

“...okay”. I wouldn’t run.

Seeing him coming I
[] Searched for a weakness in his defense. Everyone has them.
[] Waited for the blade to come down and caught it. It took a lot of focus.
[] Ran up the wall before coming down with a vengeance.
[] Turned the attack with my own weapon. I’m not /that/ good, but good enough.
[] Ran away from under the strike, almost too fast to see.

2/2

>>38749778
[] Searched for a weakness in his defense. Everyone has them.

>>38749778
Hmmmhmhmhm.
>[x] Turned the attack with my own weapon. I’m not /that/ good, but good enough.

>>38749778
>[] Ran up the wall before coming down with a vengeance.
A chuuni move for a chuuni QM!

>>38749778
>[X] Turned the attack with my own weapon. I’m not /that/ good, but good enough.

>>38749778
>[] Turned the attack with my own weapon. I’m not /that/ good, but good enough.
Dang Maria.

>>38749778
Oh my, I'm, almost surprised she would call people names even out of frustration.
>[] Ran away from under the strike, almost too fast to see.

>>38749778
>[x] Waited for the blade to come down and caught it. It took a lot of focus.

>>38749778
>[x] Waited for the blade to come down and caught it. It took a lot of focus.
Will powerup!

>>38749755
Hmmmm, the city has a lowborn ruler, huh? Interesting. Then again, maybe we knew and I just forgot.

>>38749957
I don't think we've been told before, the store robbery sounds familiar though.

>>38749778
Time for duelan!

>>38750227
This isn't a duel. This is "pick something Maria is good at before her Pa smacks her down"

>>38750256
Pfffft, ye of little faith!
Beat him up Maria!

>>38748699
>New Deviance Locked In: 0,4 (Mother’s Embrace)
Now we won't ever forget about Helena.

>>38749778

>[x] Turned the attack with my own weapon. I’m not /that/ good, but good enough.

Not the time for fancy stuff.

>>38750256
It's probably that choose how Maria got one of her scars vote.

>>38750318
Is that what the locked means? I thought it was just a fancy way of saying our D-score was lowered.

I'm very very pleased by this.

>>38750578
>our D-score
So Maria will be the father.

I don't know myself, I'm just assuming from the term locked in. I don't think it's said that when our Deviancy changed before.

If this is a dream and bananaboy shows up next update, I'm going to laugh real hard.

>>38751025
I think it's a memory.

>>38751080
Both?

Dreaming of the past?

>>38751115
Most likely along with this>>38750400.
It's probably Maria just wandering through her memories as her soul repairs itself.

>>38751150
It might also have to do with the whole "mother's embrace" thing, seeing as the main event of this memory was triggered by Maria's reaction to her mother.

I hope we get some of Shining Lady Athra's soul by mistake. Not that the Shining Lady Athra would ever make a mistake!

>>38749778
Poor Ma has to do everything herself because Pa is a prat who can't wait a couple minutes before disciplining Maria.

>>38751214
>>38751223
I'm almost certain that's just the baseline deviancy caused by being a witch.
Because of our connection to the All Mother and everything.

>>38751446
It said New Deviancy, if it was caused by being a witch then we would have gotten it way back when wouldn't we?

>>38751534
Well we never got told the deviancy level until it got raised and the new just refers to it being the new level we're currently at like the new stress and new drain levels.

> daughteru does something bad
> CHALLENGE HER TO A DUEL TO DEFEND WAIFU'S HONORU!!
This guy, man.

>>38751700
It's only proper, anon.

>>38749778
>[x] Turned the attack with my own weapon. I’m not /that/ good, but good enough.

>>38749957
No wonder it's such a clusterfuck!!

>>38753395
Actually apparently the crime rate isn't so bad compared to a lot of other places it's pretty average or even low.
It's why Maria didn't get the entire guard deep training package because guards in her town just don't need it.

>>38753449
It's because of the excellent guard no doubt!

>>38753483
Also, because her home city isn't all that big.

>>38753483
Best!Pa does a good job.

>>38750318
That's assuming her deviance doesn't exceed hours, which is unlikely.

>>38753586
I tink Helena's base deviance is like 0.7 or something.

>>38753586
I don't think we need to match or best it.

We just need to be close

>>38753755
I don't think that true either we started forgetting Helena again really quickly after we smoked with Liliana.
I think it needs to reach a point where it counteracts Maria's susceptibility to effects that cause confusion and such.
The stability of Maria's mind is probably going to be one of her biggest weaknesses.

>>38753822
>>38753755
What's interesting is how we seem to become LESS susceptible to Liliana's influence/lewdnesss aura the more we Deviate towards her. I wonder how it feels to our other friends.

>>38753879
I think it's a lot less than our other friends especially since Maria's mind is so vulnerable without the protection and support of her deep training or her meditation.

>>38753952
Right, when we wake up let's do our rites this time.

>>38754127
Yeah, it's probably already been like three days and I don't want to see how bad it can get.

>>38754155
Hey Hex, how much of Maria breaking was Santa and how much was her not doing her rites?

>>38754228
It's a bit of both.
Sayna probably did something very similar to last time trying to make Maria understand and all but her mental defenses have degraded since then.
Also I'm guessing we would be fine if Maria just ran on her deep training because with ti she would likely have the best mental fortitude in the group. But that's like wearing a suit of armor all the time. It's also probably why the AKAZU thing went so well and why it was one of Maria's more stable moments.

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>>38754228
>how much of Maria breaking was Santa
>Santa
HO HO HO

I'm guessing the Hex has entered its daily hibernation and will resume once the sun's oppressive rays wakens it from its slumber?

>>38750671
Hex really needs to actually explain what the change in our stats are instead of just telling us a meaningless number.

It's been so long and we know nothing about the stats so I have no idea whether our Deviance went up or down or what the fuck happened to it.

>>38758042
It's up from I think 0.3. I forget what it was last we heard about it. I think it was when Maria got high.

>>38758153
Why is it going up when we came down from the druggy high and our mind is getting better?

None of this deviancy stuff makes any sense.

>>38758153
>>38758153
Down from .9 actually.
0.4 is our base deviance cause by our connection to the All Mother.

>>38758174
Either Sanya shenanigans or extended proximity to Helena. Probably.

>>38758186
Well I'm glad we have anons like you on the ball who remember these things, Hex needs to start telling us the change in number and what it means rather than just the number.

>>38758228
As long as he tells us OOC. I like how we don't know what the fuck, like Maria.

She still hasn't realized she has Chantseeking, for Athra's sake.

>>38760877
It's just as much that Maria hasn't realized that most witches don't have Chantseeking. She probably just figures that other people can see the flow of magic like her, and that she'd just embarrass herself by asking about such a stupid, simple thing.

Despite being extremely observant, Maria has some major blindspots, especially when it comes to herself. It's part of what makes her so cute.

>>38726607
>By having a character who is a preteen cleric of what is basically the good version of Slaanesh having a discussion with another preteen cleric, this one of a fertility goddess, while both are naked and still remaining chaste as fuck.
Oh man this post.
>>38753952
>>38753879
We really gotta tell Liliana to turn her weird aura down a little too. Friends don't make friends into lolicons.

>>38762419
Threadly reminder that even if we do get smut it will be emotional porn rather than sexual porn.

>>38762419
>We really gotta tell Liliana to turn her weird aura down a little too. Friends don't make friends into lolicons.
Maybe mention that she's intense and see if she could be less intense. Anything more than that is too awkward for Maria.

>>38762419
>We really gotta tell Liliana to turn her weird aura down a little too. Friends don't make friends into lolicons.
I don't want to do anything that could have the slightest chance of making her fall.

>>38762499
It'll be fine not making people uncomfortable is a part of her job.
Living a boring and static life is what will make her fall so it just means we have to go on adventures.
PS. fuck joining a noble army she'd fall in a week. Also Mqria would have to go into combat and she hates hurting people Sanya wouldn't go too well and I think it's against Helena's religion as well.

>>38762477
It would probably be awkward to anyone. How do you tell a girl she's got "something" that makes it impossible to look away or not have... thoughts... despite not usually being inclined in... such... a way or even getting along with young kids very much?
>>38762499
I'm not sure why not drawing attention or making people that'd never be interested normally flustered would make her fall.
>>38762526
We'd probably not really join so much as get hired for special missions anyway.

>>38762564
>We'd probably not really join so much as get hired for special missions anyway.
I'm pretty sure that's Antioch's thing alongside exploring and general adventure and hero stuff. Like hunting solo demons and exploring ruins for artifacts.

>>38762564
>It would probably be awkward to anyone. How do you tell a girl she's got "something" that makes it impossible to look away or not have... thoughts... despite not usually being inclined in... such... a way or even getting along with young kids very much?
Maybe I need to reread, but I never got the impression that Maria was having those kind of thoughts. She was just creeped out by her.

>>38762579
>I'm pretty sure that's Antioch's thing
Yes. I'm not sure if it came through for everyone during the house meeting but we're basically JSOC with a high emphasis on high speed, low drag type missions. Apparently the founder actually seems to have pioneered small unit tactics which is all kinds of badass. Nefesh on the other hand seems more like the Army and Alumandra would be NSA in that analogy.

Wasn't the house meeting supposed to explain how the Totems all fit into the house? I remember something about that.

>>38762622
Yep, the lady who started talking about that never actually answered our question....

>>38762622
>>38762643

inb4 Maria knows and it wasn't shown because we cut away after our first question and came back after our.
>>38762610
She did think of her smile as being strangely like a courtesan's.

>>38762646
But we don't actually know, kind of why we asked those questions.

>>38762615
I would hesitate to relate Alumandra and Antioch to government and military organisations witches are far too flexible and lack any kind of hard top down leadership rather they just form into groups of eight and work amongst themselves unless something major happens that requires them to be called back.
Also Antoich is hardly a military unit in anyway the closest to the is Nefesh.

>>38762610
Maria sees Liliana in a very sexual light which is what creeps her out.

>>38762654
>But we don't actually know, kind of why we asked those questions.
I mean that the question was answered during the interlude.
>>38762657
>Maria sees Liliana in a very sexual light which is what creeps her out.
Yea said it better than me. In the back of her head she sees her as sexy which just makes her go NOPE.avi.exe.tiff.torrent each time Liliana so much as smiles. Or maybe it's unnatural levels of smug a girl her age shouldn't be able to muster.

>>38762657
>Maria sees Liliana in a very sexual light which is what creeps her out.
You're saying this like it's fact, but there isn't much to back it up. She was more creeped out by the times she was serious than anything.
>>38762646
>She did think of her smile as being strangely like a courtesan's.
I guess there's that.

>>38762722
>but there isn't much to back it up. She was more creeped out by the times she was serious than anything.
Most of it is background stuff hence why she's creeped out and doesn't know why.
Stuff like Liliana smiling in a way that she shouldn't know how to for her age.
It's not a forward and direct thing but an uncanny valley effect where Maria knows something is wrong but can't pinpoint why that is.
Hence why she's creeped out so much.
Maria is only just becoming a sexual person after all and Eriadne is pretty much the first person she's showed that kind of interest in
and even that's only in a very basic way and indirect way because she still doesn't really know what it means only that it's different from how she's felt towards someone before.

>>38762756
That's part of it, but I think it's mostly the druggie haze. Maria can sense something off there too.

I just really don't like the idea that the main reason Maria is freaked out is because Lili is unsconsciously forcing herself to be viewed sexually. It's too creepy. I don't think Yulemai would want that.

>>38762798
That will be a part of it too along with the way her intelligence kind of comes and goes randomly.

>Maria is freaked out is because Lili is unsconsciously forcing herself to be viewed sexually. It's too creepy. I don't think Yulemai would want that.
It's more that Yulemai gives Liliana a sexual aura beyond her age and Maria is unconsciously responding to that because of her preference for the fairer sex and just becoming a sexual persona nd all.
That's why Helena is unaffected by it she too young to be sexually active in any way to start with.

>>38762798
>I don't think Yulemai would want that.
Maybe she's not properly capable of controlling her aura yet and doesn't actually want to have this kind of effect. We did see how she made Helena like putty in her hands and then backed off because the question of post-coital regret or even consent was too fuzzy for her to stomach going forward.
>>38762849
>That's why Helena is unaffected by it she too young to be sexually active in any way to start with.
And a cleric besides which probably blocks out the mojo of other clerics.

When Lili's maturity bugs Maria again and she asks if it's an aura, Liliana replies that the only aura is the pleasing smell thing and everything else is in Maria's head.

Maria too embarassed

>>38762943
>Liliana replies that the only aura is the pleasing smell thing and everything else is in Maria's head.
Oh there was that thing where both Maria and Helena seemed to perceive her aura as Liliana smelling of honey, right? And Helena smells like flowers and clouds.
Helena is Spring, Liliana is Summer, Maria is Autumn and Eriadne is Winter.
>>38762849
>It's more that Yulemai gives Liliana a sexual aura beyond her age
Now that I think of it, that could become a problem when we go to the city or dragonheart. What's gonna keep people from just stealing our stupid sexy cleric and having their way with her?

>>38762978
The fact that Yulemai is not just about sexiness. Yulemai is about new and adventurous things...and being able to deal with them.

I have very little doubt that if Liliana needed to deal with someone trying to take advantage of her, things could get EXTREMELY unpleasant for them - after all, defending yourself from someone for the first time is an adventurous and new thing, and when your deity is fond of that chances are pretty good he'll lend you a hand.

>>38762978
>What's gonna keep people from just stealing our stupid sexy cleric and having their way with her?
Eva or Sora would never, ever allow that.

>>38762978
>Helena is Spring, Liliana is Summer, Maria is Autumn and Eriadne is Winter.
Sounds pretty much right to me
Helena is very comfortable and warm towards everyone but at the same time it leaves her very innocent and unprepared for the harshness of winter and autum
Liliana's heat can be uncomfortable for people who are unaccustomed to it and it can even cause dislike though she is still very easy to get along with.
Maria can be very chilly and disconnected when you first meet her but once you get close she becomes very warm and cuddly like a comfy autumn night in front of a fireplace.
Eriadne is initially harsh and aloof when you first meet her and is a very difficult person to get along with. She's even cold towards people she's close to but is still extremely caring and affectionate

>>38763016
Yulemai's cleric do hunt down and torture rapists to death.
Rape!TImeline a shit.

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>>38762978
>What's gonna keep people from just stealing our stupid sexy cleric and having their way with her?
Maria, duh.

>>38763060
Maria will be too busy having a not-deito with Eriadne.

The rest of the team is a little pissed that they're stuck in their own world.

>>38763054
>She's even cold towards people she's close to but is still extremely caring and affectionate
Nothing beats snuggling up and getting cosy with a loved one wrapped in blankets in front of a fireplace during a winter storm.

>>38763084
That's what Maria is best at.

Sora = Summer
Eva = Early spring
Twins = Winter

>>38763091
>>38763084
Exactly, Eri makes the snowstorm and the cosy little cottage and Maria brings the food, drink and blankets to cuddle with Eri in front of the fire.

>>38763103
It's a good thing Eri has all that extra body heat from being a dragon to warm up MAria's much colder body.

Does Eriadne think Maria is stupid?

I mean actually. Of course Maria thinks Eriadne thinks Maria is stupid.

>>38763124
I'd say no, but she does see Maria's peculiarities at least on the surface.

>>38763124
I think she wonders about what the fuck goes on in her head sometimes but considers her somewhat competent at certain things. Like how she was just chill as fuck when Sanya appeared.

>>38763124
Well, it comes in two parts.
1) She's probably aware that there are bunch of issues with Maria's head after the trembling with fear incident at the house meeting and
2) Maria has very obviously only had a very basic education.
Also Maria is probably not very good at learning in the first place being a very physical person who learns by doing rather than reading and studying. Which will bite us in the ass when she will need to learn dawnchant(I think that wrong but you get what I mean.)

>>38763164
> spoiler
At least Chantseeker might help disassemble spells we see easier if we level it up though if it can go full Sharingan is another question.
Sorry, best comparison I had available.
>>38763079
> Maria
> forgetting about GUARDAN her friends - cause that's what they are - from peril
Ha. Ha. Ha. Good one.
>>38763054
>Yulemai's cleric do hunt down and torture rapists to death.
That was one of the more interesting parts of the fluff. Not that other parts aren't.

>>38762978
>What's gonna keep people from just stealing our stupid sexy cleric and having their way with her?
What if she wants to be stolen?

>>38762683
>Liliana is a living Rustle drawing
That is simultaneously hilarious and creepy as all hell.


I love it.

Reminder that being thought of as a sex fiend is one of the few things that genuinely upsets the Liliana.

She'd frown for a couple seconds before asking Yulemai to get her stoned even more out of her mind if she saw these threads.

>>38764639
No, she dislikes being stereotyped. Or that's how I interpreted it.
>>38764585
>That is simultaneously hilarious and creepy as all hell.
Now you get why she just feels WRONG to Maria. She just ain't human enough for more sensitive spirits to appreciate her presence.

>>38764667
>No, she dislikes being stereotyped. Or that's how I interpreted it.
Yeah, and stereotyping as a sex fiend is exactly what's going on here.

Hey OP what does Sora's collar look like?
Hey XS, Sora collar fic when?
>>38764680
Truth.

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Closing, Counting, Writing.
>>38765723
>Hey OP what does Sora's collar look like?
Current one looks roughly like this. She's probably got some others.
>>38763054
...
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN.

>>38767161
>coziness intensifies

>>38767161
>she has a night collar
LEWD

>>38767771
Why wouldn't she have a night collar? You don't sleep in your day clothes either unless you're Maria or a "soup worker", whatever that is.
>>38767161
Am I the only one amused by how Sora despite being one of the most spunky and "free spirited" characters in the cast constantly has collars and such associated with herself?

>>38767858
Well, she is a king's property. Or maybe not since she's a witch now? I'm not sure.

>>38767993
>Or maybe not since she's a witch now?
Well she still called herself that though if that was just trolling is another matter.
>>38767858
The face of XS pandering, anon.

>>38767993
I'm sure by law she isn't, but who wouldn't willingly want to be most hallowed property of Nagrascant's Balance, his grand eminence the resplendent God-King.

>>38767858
>>38767993

Yeah, it might be a religious/cultural thing. We could ask her about it?

>>38767993
Well, he's a deity so who knows.
>>38768010
Anon pls.
>>38768012
EXACTLY.

>>38767161
>DAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN.
W-what?!

>>38764680
>>38764585 here
I wasn't saying that she's a sex fiend so much as that she seems to -exude- an aura of some sort allurement. While not necessarily sexual, you can't deny that she's good at drawing people in around her (and then doing her best to make em feel cozy)

>>38769825
>I wasn't saying that she's a sex fiend so much as that she seems to -exude- an aura of some sort allurement.
True. ...maybe the thing that's so creepy is that she MAKES people like her, and Maria just isn't onboard with that. Or wasn't.

>>38770401
I think it's a mixture of the two. Maria catches herself staring at Liliana a little too much as well as not paying attention to her surroundings as closely, the former of which she finds rude on her part and the latter absolutely unacceptable for her. This may be leading to some displaced mistrust/resentment from Maria, further compounded by how smug Liliana acts about it and how carefree she is compared to Maria's ever-anxious mindset.

I'm overanalyzing things, aren't I?

>>38770514
> spoiler
It's Hexer, anon. This is exactly the kind of things she gets her kicks form. Or he, whatever.

>>38762526
>PS. fuck joining a noble army she'd fall in a week.
Well someone has served it seems... either you're trying not to die or you're trying not to die from boredom.

>>38763124
I doubt it, Maria picked up Future Sense before she did and she trusted her with searching for Helena and during the AKAZU adventure, even if part of that was her being scared and Maria being Hunter's Mind mode.

She might not be as learned as Eriadne is, but I don't think she thinks Maria is dumb.

Oh Hexer where art thou.

Sorry, got myself tied up again, gonna hop devices and finish this. Fuck's saaake, I hate this. My apologies and thanks.

>>38785873
We believe Hex, don't worry.

I just realized we didn't get any of the OP links, the archive, the character sheets, the ask, the journals, all that stuff.

>>38787240
Hah, it's true. Oh well.

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This sucks. Sorry, I'll have to work on my action.
[X] Turned the attack with my own weapon. I’m not /that/ good, but good enough.

Five steps.

He thunders forward. The blade glints. My chest tightens. Careful, remember your training.

Three steps.

Grip the shaft. Crouch low. The blade comes up. Remember your training.

Two steps.

=From nothing comes everything and everything comes to nothing=

I see it. I remember.

One step.

Silence.

…
Florencia whips up and I shriek, the shock travelling down the shaft into my ar-- with a twist I jerk away.
The sword slices past me and clangs against against the stone.
=No blade. Only thought. No form. Only self.=
Pa strikes in a glittering arc, the blade seeking my legs. I knew it! I remember!

I flip backwards, the sword a silvery blur beneath. For a moment I admire its beauty, the pure strenght behind pa’s move, the way time seems to slow down to let me take it all in, from my own beating heart to the way the wind rushes past me as I travel through air feeling completely weightless, strong and free.


1/2

>>38789294
>our glaive has a name
That means it's good.
Super good even.
Probably.

>>38789418

That or it's just Maria being cute.

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>Begin<

Impact five steps behind aggressor... Strike coming from behind. Evasion advised. Non-lethal approach inadvisable, suggesting letha-- overridden. Non-lethal strategy remains tantamount.

My first move takes his knee. He jumps back, guard wavering.

Openings detected: Three. Offensive strategy.

Florencia /sings/ through the night air her form a blur of dark wood and gleaming iron.

I see it! Pa brings up his sword to block, but /I see/ him and turn the low arc into an upwards strike. Right into his ribs. Got hi-- the world explodes into pain. I bring up Florencia’s shaft blindly. Just in time. Another strike knocks me off my feet, and my vision clears just soon enough to the blade’s tip over just a hand span away from my face.

“Do you relent, Miss Lagidis?” It’s hoarse, but unwavering. Anyone else but me would think I didn’t get him really badly just now.

I nod.

Pa drops the sword and walks over to me, his smell filling my nose as he wraps me in his strong arms. What is that noise? Why is there water on my face? Am I… yes. It’s happening again. Really I need to stop doing that.

“It’s alright now, Maria”. That does it. All the sadness, shame and frustration of today just bubbles to the surface and I hug him, my entire body shaking as I finally allow myself to cry.

Later - much, much later - I slowly remember where I am again and look up, Pa answering my gaze steadily.

“Should we go back in? I believe there might be something you’ll want to tell your mother, aren’t I right?” I just nod and pick up Florencia - when did I drop her - offering a small prayer of thanks for the work she did tonight.

“Yes. Let’s go”.
2/2

<Received: Weaponlore 2 (Truth of the Shapeless Form)>

That was kind of sparse but not bad.

>>38789499
>Pa drops the sword and walks over to me, his smell filling my nose as he wraps me in his strong arms. What is that noise? Why is there water on my face? Am I… yes. It’s happening again. Really I need to stop doing that.
Guards don't cry.

Maria a sad

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“Dreams and History books are but separated by the number of fools who believe in them” --Andros Lagidis, Beta Timeline


[The camera pans across a small library, the rows of desks strewn with writing implements as if only left recently before focusing on a girl idly painting strange signs onto paper with a brush]

“Why, hello there. It’s good to see you after all this time, trust me, it gets really really boooooring in here sometimes! Hm, yes, the point. Right. Silly me. Remember the rules from last night? Yes? Good. Post pictures and roll 3d10 along with it!! The first die is for Potency. Potency describes how strongly Maria’s mind can reach outside herself to touch the dreams of others. The second is for Lucidity. Lucidity determines how much Maria is aware of her own dreaming state. Finally, the last roll is for Recall. Recall determines how well Maria will be able to remember her dreams on waking.

[she searches through her pockets, then triumphantly holds up a small sheaf of red paper]

“Producer says that because you rolled well last night you can choose to seek out the dreams of someone specific if you want!! Of course, you need to pass the checks but Maria is gathering experience in dreamwalking quickly so it shouldn’t be a problem!!

[she smiles, and the camera fades to black]

Seek out the dreams of
[] Free

Manifest in
[] Armor
[] Normal clothes
[] Guard attire
[] Other
>>38789535
((Pretty sure that was the worst thing I've written over the course of this quest.))

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Rolled 9, 5, 2 = 16 (3d10)

>Seek out the dreams of Eriadne

>[X] Guard attire

It was totally fine Hex.

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Rolled 4, 5, 5 = 14 (3d10)

>>38789669
>Seek out the dreams of
Let's see Helena, she's right here after all.
>[] Guard attire
At her most comfortable

>>38789669
>[X] Free
Eriadne.
[X] Other
Nude. I kid, Guard attire.

Rolled 7, 1, 4 = 12 (3d10)

I'm actually expecting a surprise visit from Liliana.
>>38789696
2spoopie

>>38789696
> seek out the dreams of Eriadne
> posts the skull picture
Classy.
>>38789776
>I'm actually expecting a surprise visit from Liliana.
She's probably still watching the stars.

File: Beware the Dancing Elves.gif (3.97 MB, 456x348)

3.97 MB GIF

Rolled 5, 3, 10 = 18 (3d10)

>>38789669
>[] Guard attire
I don't mind seeing whoever's dream, but I think we saw Eri for a moment last time.
>>38789696
Woah that's way too scary.

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>>38789669
>Seek out the dreams of
Eriadne
>Manifest in
Guard attire. That's normal clothes, right?

Rolled 6, 8, 1 = 15 (3d10)

>>38789789
>>38789797
I couldn't decide between doing something really scary or some yuri.
So I did both.

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Is Banana boy going to make a come back?

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Rolled 10, 8, 1 = 19 (3d10)

>[X]Eriadne

>[X] Guard attire
COZY COUNTER HO!

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Rolled 10, 5, 4 = 19 (3d10)

>>38789669

>[] Normal Clothes

Action scenes are always tricky.

>>38789696
>>38789841
>19>16
Success!

>>38789669
>[x] Liliana
Because it sounds fun!
>[x] Guard attire

>>38789669
>[] Eriadne
>[] Normal clothes
Weee update!

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2.45 MB JPG

Rolled 4, 4, 9 = 17 (3d10)

>[] Normal clothes
>[]Eriadne

Closing, counting, writing.
>>38789418
Florencia is a good girl.
>>38789839
Of course!

Oh yea, gotta hop devices, whee~

>>38789669
Eriadne
[x] Normal clothes

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All these Eriadne votes make me a little sad. She's so private that there's no way she'd appreciate being dreamstalked every night.

I'm never going to be quick enough to get a dream picture in.

>>38789873
>1 Recall
That's a terrible success. Maria spent time with Eriadne and now she can't remember a damn second of it.

>>38792621
Everyone's picking out wedding rings and it's been three days since they've met.
I blame Pa and Ma for never having the talk.

>>38793133
That happens when those three days lasts 6 months.

>>38793200
More like 8 months.

>>38793133
Not my fault Eriadne is best onee-sama.

Rolled 1 (1d9)

Phew, traffic so bothersome. Gonna cook real quick.
>>38793133
>I blame Pa and Ma for never having the talk.
But they talked a lot, anon. Every day. Really, it's hard to think of the things they didn't talk about!!
>>38792621
Pic is in, because Ai. Now let's see...

>>38794002
>1
This is worrisome. Or great. Hmmm...

>not warlocks

>>38797176
What?

>>38789696
>Rolled 9, 5, 2
I think this happened last time too.

Great Potency, decent Lucidity, terrible Recall.
The first time at least and then we went to slept again instead of getting off of Eriadne's bed.

>>38803365
holy shit anon that roll

>>38804597
why would we ever want to get off Eri's bed, or Eri?

>>38804597
Yea, we should have. That one set off a terrible chain reaction.

>>38804618
Hey it wasn't that bad.

I mean okay it was, but we got to show off Maria being all cool and calm and in charge in AKAZUland!
And then we broke Maria's mind.

>>38804610
To not get our shit stabbed or make her mad. Reminder that she only apologized for the former. Maria's crush might not be entirely one-sided but Eri is also not one of those anime floozies that give out cuddles like candy in the first episodes. Like, I don't wanna shadowrun but I often wanna point out people might be expecting too much too soon. Hexerian running speed or not.
>>38804635
Yea, there is that.

>>38804647
Buuuut mooooom

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine, we'll limit it to only one cuddle a night with Eri.

Hope you're having a good day, Hex!

>>38807101
I have a dynamic IP and we really only need it every 2 hours anyway. Hopefully Hex will stay in the 1 post per day window.

>>38804647
Well to soothe your fears this is happening during dream walking which Maria doesn't know she can do yet.

>>38804647
>Like, I don't wanna shadowrun but I often wanna point out people might be expecting too much too soon.
It's definitely something we should be keeping in mind.

It's easy to forget it's only been a few days some times.

>>38816973
At least convergance is on our side pulling them closer together.
They're already extremely close for only 2 days.

Hex please

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEX

All this raido silent.
Hex-chan pls.

Not kill, but a number of issues (the majority being The Hex and The Hexer's technology & schedule) got in the way.

Sorry. Also welp, this is gonna be loooong again. DAMN MY WORD VOMIT.

>>38833378
As long as it's cute and awkward as all hell I'm fine with it.
Apparently kind of yuri as well judging by the pictures.
Also, I'm heading off to work now so other anons will need to cover the thread for me.
Also, work has started on the new Pastebin I think I'm about a quarter through the new questions.

>>38833440
>Also, work has started on the new Pastebin I think I'm about a quarter through the new questions.
thanks fellow anon, you are credit to team. though you might have trouble with the most recent questions as a bunch just randomly vanished

>>38833440
>Also, work has started on the new Pastebin I think I'm about a quarter through the new questions.
Waiting most warmly. Thank you again.
>Also, I'm heading off to work now so other anons will need to cover the thread for me.
May the power of your mind and will carry you through.
>As long as it's cute and awkward as all hell I'm fine with it.
May you dreams come true!!

>>38833378
Don't worry Hex, we stay cozy through the night.

You two girls sleeping

>>38835195
And irradiate the thread?! Madness...

Looking at Hex's old ask, Age of Spreading Root, the age group right after Beginning Completion, starts at 24 so BC is probably somewhere from 17 to 23.

That's older than I had thought it was.

>>38845967
They're fuzzy so you can imagine them as whatever age you want, Anon. Don't sweat it.

Give me cute witches or give me death.

>>38848236
Wrong QM.

>>38845967
>>38846635

So could that mean that Eriadne might be up to 10 years older than Maria? Kinky.

>>38848567
It's a good thing Maria is a complete lolita.

>>38848567
Possible but unlikely. I'd put Maria in like the middle section of Ignorant Understanding and Eriadne in the lower half of Beginning Completion. I do like that age gap though.

>>38848650
I wonder if it's something that just happened or if it's related to her usual environment. Also, HEX PLS DON'T LET IT BE FOUR DAYS.

>>38848844
> 5 days ago
Too late for this one.

>>38848863
>>38848863
No, I mean between updates.

>>38848844
It's our punishment for lewdness anon.

>>38849329
If Hex didn't want lewdness why did she create Liliana and Sora? Checkmate, atheists.

>>38849411
Sora's not lewd at all.
Why am I afraid thaty something terrible is going to happen now?
Hex wouldn't sink our ship would he?

>>38850980
You're being pretty paranoid anon.

>>38851002
I'm still really worried and I don't know why.

>>38851021
Cheer up anon!
Hex has worked for a while on this so it should be cozy time!

>>38851089
I dunno some of the things that were on Hexer's ask before he deleted seemed to imply some incoming dispair.
Also, those anons worrying about being too forward with the yuri stuff.
Also that anon in spookie who mentioned having his next update kill his quest from angry players.
It's like I'm some kid on their first date.

>>38851302
The spoiler stuff is pointless worrying, I really can't see a dream sequence ruining everything even if it went poorly. And I don't think the yuri has been to prominent at all, we've been dealing with Sanya and had a Ma/Pa interlude and stuff after all, and the last time we talked about it, it was Hex's own fault anyway!

I mean, I guess some anon might have been going on about it on ask.fm or something but Hex wouldn't take the sperging of a dude there out on the quest.

>>38851363
O-ok I guess I just have to stay positive.

I'm a bit sad we never got to see Ma's reaction to Maria's outburst.

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I get the feeling there won't be an update today.
Maybe tomorrow?

>>38854471
Its only 10am here so it will be today in some part of the world

>>38855072
Y-yeah

>>38854471
Nah, I'm on this.
>>38851427
What would /you/ do if your Ascendant was about to explode into violence?

>>38856107
Grab ear. Twist. Hold until situation stabilizes.

>>38856183
>acting against your Ascendant
>in front of others, no less
This is why Maria will never get married!

>>38856533
But we're talking about Ma.
I don't even think Maria could think of what hitting or attacking Eriadne even is.
Like it just doesn't make sense.
It's completely incompattible.

Hex's bed time is soon.

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEX

Maybe tomorrow.

>>38861019
Night anons!
Night Hex!

bump

Up we go.
Hexer's brain cooperating when?

You awake yet Hex?

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEX
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE
I'M DYING HERE

I have to say. I'm still not really hopeful for an update today.
We'll probably have to wait until the next thread or something.

Did your computer fail again Hex?

>>38878056
It's not been that long since he posted in spooky, probably just writing a far too long update or is stuck.

>>38878056
Yesterday he was having issues with GDocs crashing his toaster

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If you guys don't mind I think it's time to go into maximum preserve mode until Hex posts.
I won't delete this so that everyone can see it but if we could delete every new bump and keep things as quiet as possible we should be able to last a few more days and hopefully get an update.

He's likely already in a permanent state of feeling guilty and keeping these threads alive only make it worse. That's not a good mindset for writing.

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I regret everything. Sorry people. Sorry.
[X] Seeking One Of Heaven’s Grace and Dragon’s Blood: Eriadne ben Tharek din Antioch, One Who Stands With Her Feet on the Earth and her Head in the Sky

[X] Within the Temple of the Mind is Strength, Honour and Remembrance. Becoming one with the past looking to the future the seeking one clads herself with the cloth of righteousness to set foot upon the road of truth.

Potency = 9 (Mind’s Arrow)

Lucidity = 5 (Inspired Neophyte)

Recall = 2 (Mist of Forgetfulness)

Let me tell you a story. A story about a very special girl named Maria. She wasn’t strong. She wasn’t very gifted, but within her heart slumbered an ember of dreams just waiting to blossom into a fire of determination and power. This Maria did not understand a lot but desired so much, and one night her soul’s seeking found an answer. Of course, not all answers are such that we desire them.

I look at the text above, scratching my head. Why does it say about my desires? That’s kind of strange to be honest. Why would anyone write about me? Do I even have any dreams? Hmmm. Dreams, right. That’s interesting; I think there was something I wanted to remember. Looking down on myself I decide to do away with the brown skirt, and just like that it dissolves into the standard divided midnight blue skirt trousers and metal-reinforced leather armor customary among the few women and girls joining the guard.
Haah, that’s better. So comfortable and safe. The top bearing our symbol - a winged sword whose tips almost touch the shoulders - in silvered steel is laced just right; Not too loose and not to tight and the bottom part is flowing enough to be really nice and comfortable without getting in the way of fighting or decency like normal skirts do.


1/?

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I missed this. ...missed this? When didn’t I wear this once per d-- hmm. ‘This Maria did not understand a lot but desired so much’, eh? I look to the text again, the letters weathered and worn, then to the wall they’re engraved on. It seems made out of a single rock but it’s still way too even to be just something that got this way naturally.

‘Of course, not all answers are such that we desire them’. I read the last sentence again, whispering the words softly enough even I can’t hear them. Heh, too true. Well, I guess there is not much else here and I think there’s someone waiting for me. Someone? Interesting, should I be doing something special here? Probably, or I wouldn’t just be standing around in this place; ‘Everything has a cause and purpose’ as they had us repeat each morning.

“You unguided fool, your path leads upon the way of return!” I blink at the sudden voice accompanied by the beating of wings. A crow, at this time?

“Fool, Fool, Fool, do you wish to be late or do you wish for completion?” The wings beat faster now and the bird zips ahead.

“Wait!” With a shake of my head I decide to dash after it... Rounding a corner I almost run into another person from behind, flailing to steady myself.
2/?

>>38885002
We knew you'd be back, Hex. It's always worth the wait.

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>>38885002
I-it's okay I'm just glad you got an update out.

>>38885089
>>38885099
It really does seem like a test of faith sometimes.

>>38885002
>[X] Seeking One Of Heaven’s Grace and Dragon’s Blood: Eriadne ben Tharek din Antioch, One Who Stands With Her Feet on the Earth and her Head in the Sky
>
>[X] Within the Temple of the Mind is Strength, Honour and Remembrance. Becoming one with the past looking to the future the seeking one clads herself with the cloth of righteousness to set foot upon the road of truth.
I love your chuuni Hex

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“Lady Maria? You were expected, yet I am most pleased at seeing you arrive on time. I believe this shows I am to put more trust in your skills”. That voice… the person doesn’t turn as she begins to walk, her long white dress swishing and swaying in rhythm with her quick but controlled steps. Well, guess I best follow then? I catch up just as crow - or is it a raven - lands on the person’s shoulder, looking at me with beady eyes as it begins to speak.

“Rotted bone and brittle hair
Death’s greatest hour’s drawing near!”

The person turns to me and smiles. I must be looking really dumb right now.

“Are you ready for this, Lady Maria?” I nod. Wait, what. I didn’t want to do that!! But it seems it was the right thing to do as my friend - cause that’s what she is - takes hold of my hand and leads me through an arched gate decorated with winding snakes gazing on us coldly into a coartyard filled with hundreds of people that part as we step through.

The crowd cheers, black rose petals falling onto us like dark snow. I feel myself gasp and turn to my friend who just nods, squeezing my hand.

“What are they… why do they... “ Right, looks like I forgot how to speak again.

“They’re here for us, Lady Maria”.

“You…. me... us?”

“Us. They have assembled to commemorate our dying ceremony. You did say you were ready, were you not?”

“Yes but…”

“Very well then? Are you having second thoughts?” She stops and the crowd quiets a little as Eriadne regards me calmly, eyes a calm blueish grey with the gold of anticipation sprinkled throughout. Huh, when did I start to understand what this meant? I blink, trying not to get lost in them and instead actually /think/.

“No”.
3/?

>>38885216
((It is a blessing and curse, one called from the myriad of faceless faces))
>>38885099
((HexZone is never okay))
>>38885089
((Thank you))

>commemorate our dying ceremony
We've made a terrible mistake.

>>38885275
>I catch up just as crow - or is it a raven
> takes hold of my hand and leads me through an arched gate decorated with winding snakes gazing on us coldly
Eri confirmed for Snake?
>She stops and the crowd quiets a little as Eriadne regards me calmly, eyes a calm blueish grey with the gold of anticipation sprinkled throughout. Huh, when did I start to understand what this meant?
Saved and Noted.

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“No what, Lady Maria?”

“N-no. I don’t have second thoughts. Or, uhm, I do, but that’s alright really! I’m sure enough. I really wouldn’t mind dying with you I mean!” There, now that wasn’t so hard, me. The crowd seems to think otherwise though as it breaks out in cheer again as we walk towards a white brick hall ahead. As we pass through another of those strange arched gates Eriadne squeezes my hand again and stops just a few paces after the doors which… are gone, suddenly, leaving us in pitch blackness.

“I shall speak on our behalf. I believe this is acceptable?” Uuuh, I wouldn’t have any idea what to say anyway!! I nod, but she probably can’t see that.

“Y-yes. That’s alright…”

“Very well then. Pray it won’t be lo--” Eriadne and I suddenly fall silent as someone… no, some/thing/ enters the darkened building, its power feeling familiar and completely strange at the same time. In a way it reminds me of Pa but also myself and the Trader Lamere and teacher Noran and the street performer with the funny hat an--

“Who comes before the throne?” The voice is young yet old, harsh yet gentle, at once a boy and a man in his best years. What to sa--

“It is I. A lost child. A silenced whisper. A flawed vessel in need of breaking”.

“Why have you come before the throne?”

“To find mending in breaking. To seek completion in ending. To find fulfilment in death”. Uuh, what is going on?! Why is he trying to kill us? Well, I agreed to go along with this… I can’t embarrass her now.

“Is this your final answer?”

“Yes. I shall pass beneath the shadow renouncing my burden yet accepting one anew”.

“Then so shall it be”.

Eriadne pulls on my hand and we turn to leave, the person or presence or power seeping out of the room.

“What now?” My head still buzzes and I’m thinking even less clearly than normal.

“Now you follow me”. Well, that is certainly the best idea when it’s Eriadne, really.

4/?

1: This went really morbid really fast.
2: I don't think this is just a dream.
>>38885354
Snake or Bat. She's too lacking in ideals for any of the others.

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What have we done!

>gold of anticipation
Wasn't there gold in her eyes when we mentioned sleeping in the same bed as her?
HOW LEWD!

>>38885375
>“Very well then. Pray it won’t be lo--” Eriadne and I suddenly fall silent as someone… no, some/thing/ enters the darkened building, its power feeling familiar and completely strange at the same time. In a way it reminds me of Pa but also myself and the Trader Lamere and teacher Noran and the street performer with the funny hat an--
That's the all father isn't it?

>>38885536
Green + gold is when she becomes aware of us or is pleased seeing us. I theorize it's cause dragons have naturally gold eyes so it's sort of her more emotional modality of seeing people.

>>38885536
>Eriadne's even footfalls falter for a few seconds and she looks at me sideways, gaze unreadable, eyes a curious mix of bright green splotched with gold and grey with a thin pink ring around it. Despite myself, I can't help but be impressed by the combination.

>>38885563
We just got told that gold meant anticipation though.

>>38885567
Eriadne a lewd.

>>38885563
Are you not reading the updates?
>She stops and the crowd quiets a little as Eriadne regards me calmly, eyes a calm blueish grey with the gold of anticipation sprinkled throughout. Huh, when did I start to understand what this meant?

>>38885441
It has to be Snake, the fact that Maria's totem made an appearance and of Bat and Snake the latter made one as well is strong proof of it.

>>38885596
>>38885626
I'm saying pleased = anticipatory in an emotional way. Rather than intellectually which is where the blue and grey and all that comes in.

>>38885539
>That's the all father isn't it?
Are we sure he even exists?

>>38885650
Her eyes were still mostly green at that time as well though with a mix of pink and grey.

>>38885539
>>38885669
I'm 90% sure it's the dragonborn god.

>>38885828
Now the question is if it's him or Eriadne's recollection of him.
>>38885002
>I look at the text above, scratching my head. Why does it say about my desires? That’s kind of strange to be honest. Why would anyone write about me? Do I even have any dreams? Hmmm. Dreams, right. That’s interesting; I think there was something I wanted to remember. Looking down on myself I decide to do away with the brown skirt, and just like that it dissolves into the standard divided midnight blue skirt trousers and metal-reinforced leather armor customary among the few women and girls joining the guard.
Drawfag please gib armored maria. We need a new OP image anyway.

>>38885873
It would have to be Eriadne's recollection.
Maria has no real base of knowledge for it.

>>38885650
Intellectual isn't how I would put it, but green and blue are almost opposed states of emotions, we've only seen them together once and that was when we heard that spoopy history lesson.

http://pastebin.com/hYyv6Vrm
Here's the most current list I have access to at the moment.

>>38885889
>>38885828
I think the Dragonborn god might be pure divine masculinity the same way AllMother is the divine feminine. It could explain why witches have such a thing for dragonbloods.

BRB, have to take care of something in meatspace.

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>>38886085

So I'm really starting to feel that we've fucked up something major and this is going to damage our chances with Eriadne if not doom them completely.

>>38886661
But what have we fucked up? What could we have fucked up? We've not done anything at all and I have no fucking idea what is going on with this 'dream', I very much doubt that its something that serious.

It just doesn't make sense to be something like that, we've had no opportunities nor anywhere near enough time to get into such a situation and this is already confusing enough, I don't think Hex has lost his mind that badly.

>>38886661
That would kill the quest, and its been 2 days in the quest anon, we haven't had the opportunity nor chance to screw something up like that, this is just a really really weird and obtuse dream which I don't understand in the slightest.

>>38886759
>>38886772
CALL IT NOT A GRAVE
>>38789696

>>38885375
>N-no. I don’t have second thoughts. Or, uhm, I do, but that’s alright really! I’m sure enough. I really wouldn’t mind dying with you I mean!”
Maria pls

>>38886772
Remember what happened last time we dreamed, we went through all the images posted and look at what the first image was.

Witch dreams yo. I do wonder if this is the real Eri who we're sharing a dream with or if we've yet to actually start dream walking.

>>38886824
From Eriadne's reaction I think we've entered her dreams and she knows we're a dreamwalker.
That two on remembrance as well what if we're just left wit the impression that Eriadne will get us kill in some undefined way?

If this is Eri's dream it's not all that surprising really.
She is an extremely morbid person sometimes.

Through death, rebirth.

Its like the Death card in Tarot, it's not an actual death, only a symbolic death so that rebirth can be performed.

....Maria is such a loyal friend.

>>38886824
>Remember what happened last time we dreamed
No I don't...

>>38886893
It may also be a big change in MAria's life like becoming a witch or realising how fucking gay she is.

>>38886908
https://archive.moe/tg/thread/34612743/#34612743

>>38886893
>To find mending in breaking. To seek completion in ending. To find fulfilment in death”.
>“Yes. I shall pass beneath the shadow renouncing my burden yet accepting one anew”.
Makes sense to me

>>38886908
Neither does Maria.

>>38886938
I's Eriadne's ceremony, not Maria's. Maria is just accompanying her. Not that it is insignificant in the slightest that Maria is accompanying her. If anything that suggests that they're changing together, especially since Eridane went out of her way to include Maria in the ceremony.
>“Us. They have assembled to commemorate our dying ceremony. You did say you were ready, were you not?”

Also, Maria has the same fetish as I do.
Beautiful eyes.

>>38886980
Well it seems to imply that the ceremony is meant for two people.
>“N-no. I don’t have second thoughts. Or, uhm, I do, but that’s alright really! I’m sure enough. I really wouldn’t mind dying with you I mean!”
This gains a new context and I think the cheering is significant as well along with people who are significant to Maria being there.
But it definitely seems dragonborn in origin especially with the god.

Either way it's probably best to pause the discussion and wait for Hex to finish the post so that we don't knock ourselves off the board by accident.
We can go crazy afterwards anyway with the rest of the information and no concern for the autosage.

>>38885375
A nice surprise to wake up to.
Time to get cozy and wait some more!

> all that speculah
Some people are getting a little ahead of the script here as FQOP would say now, but niiiiice.

Right, this all took longer than expected but I'm back now, sorry.

>>38893639
Welcome back Hex!

>>38887032
>as well along with people who are significant to Maria being there.
They aren't though. she said that the God felt like them not that they were actually there.

Actually the only ones that she mentioned were the men she knows, more hints for that being that masculine partner to the All Mother's feminine nature.

>>38894114
So wait, the god of Eriadne's people isn't just a man, he is THE Man and the deity that gave Maria her powers isn't just female she is THE absolute primordial feminine?

Holy Freud....

>>38894148
And yet Maria is the tomboyish one and Eriadne is the consummate lady.

>>38894148
>>38895394
Something to note actually is that she also included herself in that list
> In a way it reminds me of Pa but also myself and the Trader Lamere and teacher Noran and the street performer with the funny hat an--

Hex has your house caught fire or something?
Is it literally filled with gelatine?
How the fuck can you get home then come to let us know that you should b able to start posting again AND THEN FUCK OFF FOR HOURS AGAIN? FUCK YOU SO MUCH SOMETIMES WHY DO YOU FUCKING DO THIS SHIT?

>>38896585
It's time for deep breaths anon.

>>38895448
> being gay is the result of excess male energy
We Ryukuza now.

>>38896885
That's how it's suspected to work in RL too, except it's male hormones.

>>38896633
Seriously though it's like he's intentionally fucking with us sometimes. Why would it ever take so long to copy and paste text out of google docs and add a picture.
I get the feeling he hasn't even fucking finished the update right now.

>>38896885
It might be partially the opposite as well if you take the death ceremony to be abandoning the whole masculinity god thing.

>>38897013
But what about lipstick lesbians?
Or for the reverse, bears?

>>38897049
Gay cuttlefish

Hex is never going to actually speed up is he.
We're going to be stuck in this live support hell until either Hex breaks or we break.
Maybe we should stop doing the bump thing and force him to speed up?
Because so far it seems to have only slowed him down more and more.
I was going through the old ask.fm questions for the past bin and there is all these posts yelling at him about not breaking into the 3-day mark and now getting under three days is some kind of accomplishment.
Him getting more than one update out in a thread is an accomplishment.
Starting a thread in less than two weeks is an accomplishment.
Having more than 4 updates in a month is an accomplishment.
Maybe forcing him to sink or swim will actually get some progress.

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We step out onto a round court, the crowd and turning to us as one as soon as we’ve cleared the door. Why is it so dark…? I try to see the sun but in its place is just a pale disk of black ringed with ghostly flame. It does less to dispel the creeping shadows the black candles the crowd is lighting one by one. Oh by the saints…

“We welcome thy departure. We weep thy arrival. We await thy translation”. The words seem to come from all around, a thousand voices dry as bone speaking as one.

“Eriadne… what do we do?” That come out way too squeaky. This is like a bad dre-- huh? It might be.

“As I stated, Lady Maria. You follow me. Am I still in possession of your trust?” What a question really!!

“Yes!”

“Excellent”.

My friend guides me through the silent crowd, the flickering candles like a sea of tiny stars parting before us, revealing the entrance of a midnight black tower whose outlines actually manage to be even darker than the twilight against which they stand like an admonishing finger. Eriadne quickly opens the door and we start to climb.
5/?
>>38898990
((Not a bad point))

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Up. Up. Up up and up around the inside of the building. The steps seem to faintly glow on their own because I can just see them enough to avoid falling. Finally, the stairwell opens up into a narrow room with a bed in the middle.

“Do you trust me, Lady Maria?”

“Hey, I already said I do!!” Eriadne nods and steps forward, pulling aside one of the blankets and laying down. Huh, what now? She pats the space beside herself and I blink. What now?


“Huhu, you’re still hesitating even now?” Oh. She wants me to join her? How strange, but I guess it’s okay? My guard’s clothes vanish replaced by a simple dress, my slightly longer hair now held together by a hair band. I slip in beside my friend and sigh as her warmth and scent make me relax.

“Does it please you being here, Lady Maria?” I smile.

“It’s really nice!!” Uoh, my heart is going way too fast. I’m just in bed; Why would my body prepare to run awy at this time? This is way too strange. Oh well if I talk with her it might go away.

“Then I am pleased as well”. Eriadne begins to rub my head in slow circles and I can feel myself tingle all over. This is pretty okay. Confusing but pretty nice.

6/?

>>38899646
>((Not a bad point))
I would actually like to try having you run a thread without us artificially bumping it.
I don't know if the other warm anons would do it though.

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“Soooo~” it comes out all sleepy and more like a long purr. Oh well.

“--soo, what do we do now?”

“Now, Lady Maria? Now we die”. I nod, and through half-lidded eyes I see the bird from before come in through window and drop something white onto the blanket. As it crawls upward, it splits into several long worms whose brown heads seem to sniff the air before advancing upwards.

“E-eriadne tha-that…” I want to jump up. Beat away those pests. Defend my friend. Do something, *anything* to get away, but Eriadne just keeps my head at her side.

“Sssh. It will be alright”.

The first worm - maggot, was it called that - arrives at my face, an-- this is amazing! I feel it burrow into my cheek, feel my flesh become part of it, and it feels like the best thing I’ve ever felt. I smile up at Eriadne who returns it, several worms working on exposing her brow the white bone shimmering in the light of the moon rising outside.

“You’re beautiful, Eriadne”. It comes out a little choked because of the worms making their way down my throat, but it’s alright; She has to know after all.

“Thank you, Lady Maria. So are you”. She hugs me closer as the worms swarm over us, their number growing larger and larger as they devour us and I know, just as the writhing mass closes over us completely and thought slips away, that I regret not a single thing anymore.

From Confusion to clarity.
From Illusion to Reality.
From Death to Infinity.

7/7

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EPILOGUE

A few hours earlier-

I am Samara ben Shivanes din DeVega. Much good that ever did me. For the the thousandth time I curse my stupid, /stupid/ brother for leaving me like this. I *told* Tharek it wouldn’t be safe, but then, that harlot of a wife always had the habit of convincing him of the worst ideas.

I can feel myself seethe again, my reflection in the mirror showing my eyes go from purple-and-blue to stark red before I reign myself in and turn back to the room filled with the people I just scammed out of more than they’ll ever realize. Not exactly unselfishly, but I also do like my head firmly attached to my shoulders and they most likely feel the same way.

“Are you certain of this?” Varenthis seems hesistant, but I know the incredibly imposing man well enough to see he’s going to support us in this.

“Certainty is not required. I *know* you fear SHAI’GOUL, but what you should fear more is extermination”.

“A DeVega fears nothi--” Eulalia. Of course. Stupid girl couldn’t keep her mouth shut if she tried.

“*Lady* Eulalia. Will I have to remind you of your responsibilities? Responsibilities you, as an aside, shirked in favour of engaging in magics whose exact nature you have still failed to disclose?” Haah, it shouldn’t be so satisfying to see the colour drain from her eyes and face but it is. Oh how it is.

“T-that is not… Subject Alexis was... “ I turn away from her. Important she might be, but I’m not about to let her know as much.

“What about you, Samara. Don’t you wish to shoulder this yourself or pass it onto someone a little more… likely?” Demaris objection is of course justified, but we already talked about this.
1/2

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“Gentlemen, Ladies. This is not a time for hesitance. Our people are beset by all sides, our holdings are under threat and it will be our undoing if we are to simply ignore this situation”.

“We wouldn’t be in this situation if your niece hadn’t--” Eulalia mutters before catching herself, but it’s too late. The room immediately falls silent and only years of training keep me from grinning triumphantly. “Two thirds of a war can be won by allowing your foe to make a mistake“. Tharek’s words seem ironic now, but oh so very fitting.

“Any other questions?” More silence. Eulalia’s outburst couldn’t have been timed better if we’d set this up.

“Very well then. Gentlemen, Ladies if you would be so kind?” Likenia leaves the corner of the room, all poise as she hands out the crystal bowls and silver knives, every part the dignified noble daughter serving her elders. An old tradition - any other house would just use maids like some commoner upstart - but tonight it is more important than ever we remember our roots.

Blood flows, vows are spoken and soon whatever doubts I had are gone as I finally allow myself to smile.

The world will hear us.

And they shall know the Dragon still stands strong.


-End of chapter two-

>She thinks we're beautiful

>>38899859
>>38899787
> eaten by worms was never so romantic

>>38899889
Metamorphasis symbolism in Eriadnes brain is weird.

A Tale of Witches chapter 37 has now concluded. I really wanted to have it span a longer amount of time, but my current performance got in the way of that, for which I am deeply sorry.

Thank you for your patience and continued patronage. Should you have any questions I'd be glad to answer them now, otherwise Ask.fm is another opportunity.
>>38899711
It would certainly be worth a try.
>>38897024
>>38896585
Several things came together though it was mostly my hesitance to go forward with what i had in mind. /blog

>>38899833
>I am Samara ben Shivanes din DeVega. Much good that ever did me. For the the thousandth time I curse my stupid, /stupid/ brother for leaving me like this. I *told* Tharek it wouldn’t be safe, but then, that harlot of a wife always had the habit of convincing him of the worst ideas.
...Eri's aunt was massive brocon wasn't she?

>“We wouldn’t be in this situation if your niece hadn’t--” Eulalia mutters before catching herself, but it’s too late.
I'm gonna take a stab and say that Eriadne was the last legitimate heir and a power struggle has started with possible heir fighting over the throne.

>>38899889
But anon we've gained clarity now.
I hope Eriadne has better recall than us.

>>38899929
She did tell Helena that she was "dead", so this is her and Maria "dying" together.

>>38900121
And apparently mentioning someone getting witched is taboo enough it can be leveraged when someone mentions it.
>>38900158
Holy symbolism batman. Is this the face of Hex!Forshadowing?

>>38900158
Yeah, like the death arcana it's a change in life thing. Eriadne died when she changed from a noble into a witch.

>>38900170
>Is this the face of Hex!Forshadowing?
Yes, but not in an overt manner if that makes sense. Like the whole relationship thing being a bumpy and difficult ride that will require a lot of trust from Maria. Not so much dying and being eaten by worms or anything.

Eriadne's aunt seems like a bitch, but less of a bitch than I thought, if that makes any sense.

>>38900203
>Not so much dying and being eaten by worms or anything.
Then again, they don't call it "the little death" for nothing.
Also note the fact that she didn't feel herself getting eaten so much as she felt herself -become- the worms that were eating her. The very same worms that ate Eriadne. Ergo, she felt herself becoming of one flesh, blood, and body with Eriadne.

And by her own admission, it felt like the best thing ever

>>38900355
Also we know that Eriadne definitely recalled the last we visited her in that why she was expecting us but was unsure if we actually could dream walk.
This would probably be her confirmation of that among some more important things.
Taking the AToW culture in mind as well having this kind of relationship between two very ordered people will probably be a very scary experience to start with.
Hence why Eriadne is so worried most of the time about Mari having second thoughts she doesn't want Maria to regret this happening or have her make the wrong decision.
So she definitely wants it to be a more permanent thing and Maria seems happy for it even if she doesn't quite understand her feelings still she is certain of what she wants to do.
Also Eriadne is confirmed ascendant material.

>“Fool, Fool, Fool, do you wish to be late or do you wish for completion?” The wings beat faster now and the bird zips ahead.
Seems our totem is trying to stop us feeling regret over ignoring our feelings as well.
Maria is kind of an idiot with her self-hatred and if she wallows in it for too long she won't reach completion in time to get what she desires.

>>38900597
What's interesting is that apparently the Totem can enforce All-Father's commands. Like how it lead us there and dropped the maggots on us.