>>35874568
>[wipe her cheek clean]
>I think gardening is a great hobby for you

>>35874568
>[wipe her cheek clean]
>I think gardening is a great hobby for you
>Who makes magic items?

>>35874568
>Tell her she has some dirt on her face
>I think gardening is a great hobby for you
>FUCK YEAH! PALADIN OF JOY QUEST!

>>35874568
Reminder that Sireyi can delegate a lot of tasks and that she can make insanely powerful items against demons.

You wipe the smear of dirt of her cheek and Isla closes her eyes and breathes in sharply “thanks” she says.

“What’re you growing?” you ask.

“Some of this, some of that” she says “Herbs mostly” she indicates some plants you don’t recognise “Athelwort leaves, when dried and crushed help protect against ghosts and spirits” she indicates another “the root of the Curlyweed is supposed to help one when dispelling magic” she indicates a third “juices of the Whiteworm, when crushed help a person stay awake, though I’m told they taste foul.” She suddenly blushes “but listen to me, blathering on – what did you need?”

“I think gardening is a great hobby for you” you say “And surely I don’t come to see you just when I need something?”

“True” concedes Isla, impulsively embracing you and kissing you “but I know that look - so what do you need?”

“Well” you start “I’m thinking about when we go to rescue my mother, we’ll need a lot of magic items to help us I think, and I need to know who makes them?”

“Almost any mage with the power and skill” says Isla, still held in your arms. She frowns “but I’d have to say the best at it are the adventurers guilds, the mages guilds and the church of Yerra. What sort of magic items are you looking for?”

>Anti-demon ones
>Other type (what?)
>No particular type – I need to know better ways of making them, I don’t intend upon buying them
>Other

>>35874568
>>[wipe her cheek clean]
>>Who makes magic items?
>>I think gardening is a great hobby for you
>Are you just planting them as a hobby or did you make this part of your studies by learning about magical or unusual plants?

>>35874885
Reminder that the important ones usually can't be delegated and we have more urgent things to deal with a lot of the time.

>>35874917
>No particular type – I need to know better and faster ways of making them, I don’t intend upon buying them

>>35874917
>No particular type – I need to know better ways of making them, I don’t intend upon buying them

>>35874917
>All sorts. I'll need to know which ones I better buy and which ones we should make ourselves.

>>35874917
>No particular type – I need to know better ways of making them, I don’t intend upon buying them

had to step away from computer, am back and writing.

“I don’t need a particular type” you say, trying to articulate what you do need “I need to find faster and better ways of making them – right now it takes weeks to create something that even comes close to my natural powers” you sigh “at this rate I’ll being going to Hell alone.”

Isla gives you a tight squeeze “Don’t say that” she says “I know we’ll figure something out – as for making items quickly, you want the adventurers guilds.”

“Really?” you say sceptically “Not the mages or the Church of Yerra?”

“Oh no” says Isla, shaking her head “the mages make some of the most powerful items, and the Church makes their perfect works of art, but the adventurers guilds specialise in churning out quick-made items that work – but don’t look pretty.”

“Oh I don’t know” you say, kissing Isla “I found something very pretty in an adventuring guild once.”

“Well” says Isla, pulling you close “If you’re in no hurry...”

---

Later the two of you are walking through the halls of the Most Illustrious and Venerable Guild of Adventurers in the City of Dornmer. You are being given a tour of the Guilds Manufactorum by a middle-aged wizard with a big bushy beard, called Master Harham.

“As you can see Baroness and Sera” he gestures to a room full of long benches of young men and women assembling all sorts of devices, from jewellery to items of clothing to rugs and pieces of furniture. “Here is where the apprentice mages make the base items, the substrate if you will.” You can hear hammers striking metal coming from another room.

>Must the base item be made by mages?
>How long does this take?
>Why so many apprentices making things?
>Enough about this, I need to learn about enchantment, not rug-making
>Other (what?)

>>35875482
>Must the base item be made by mages?
>How long does this take?

>>35875482
>>Must the base item be made by mages?
>>How long does this take?
>>Why so many apprentices making things?
There is not really anything to choose. As always, use all of these.

“Must the base item be made by mages?” you ask “I mean, surely an ordinary craftsman could do it?”

Master Harham scratches his beard thoughtfully “Maybe” he says “But it’s always been done this way – the base item needs to be clear of unknown magical influences or residues that would impair or twist the imbuing of the item.”

“Imbuing?” you ask

“The next step” he says “If you’ll follow me this way”.

As Master Harman leads you through the guilds corridors you ask “How long does this part take?”

“Depends upon the item” says the master wizard as you walk “could be a few hours, could be days, or even weeks for some of the more complex items.”

“Is that why you have so many working on it?” you ask

Master Harman chuckles and shakes his head “It’s good for apprentices to work” he says “teaches them discipline, and” he concedes “We do get many items that don’t take the enchantment properly, so we do have the apprentices create a lot of base items, just in case.”

“Sounds wasteful” comments Isla

“In parts it is” says Master Harman “But the typical ways of a mage making an item is doing it all himself – or herself, and that takes weeks of work, our way shortens the time considerably – ah, here we are.” His voice drops to a whisper and you notice you’re in a deserted corridor with lots of doors lining the walls.

“Here” whispers your guide “trained mages spend days casting the spells to power the items over and over in isolation – to keep the item free of outside influences, and ensure that it builds up enough power to last a long, long time.”

>Why are we whispering?
>Is the isolation necessary?
>I do things a little differently
>Enough time here, how is the process finished?
>What do you think Isla?
>Other?

>>35875854
>Why are we whispering?
>Is the isolation necessary?
>I do things a little differently
>What do you think Isla?

>>35875854
>Why are we whispering?
>Is the isolation necessary?
>What do you think Isla?


>and Bokins test of adulthood awaits
If you would have said we get to do two things, I would have given two votes last time instead of wasting our time with something this utterly pointless.

>>35875854
There is still no decision to be made. Ask the questions, then go to the next step.
>Does casting the same spell several times always strengthen its hold?
>How does this compare to how sorcerers create items?

>>35875854

>why are we whispering?
>why the isolation?
>what do you think, Isla?
(ask the last two elsewhere, if the reason for 1st question warrants)

>>35875999

I plan on doing both things, this will not take the entire thread.

>>35875999
>>35876001

Ok, I can understand that this can be boring for some.

Skip to the end?

Y/N

>>35876044
>N
I see no reason to skip it if you think there is some benefit we can get here by choosing the right questions.

>I plan on doing both things
We could have also done this and something useful, like searching for our double instead of doing this Bokin thing which no one wants and has no real pressing need to be done, in difference to the things we kind of need to do to save the world.

>>35876044
>Helllllllll no.

>>35876044
N

>>35876001
>Mutually inclusive votes are pointless
>Submits two write-in questions
Anon...

Oh are we going to do bokin's test this thread?

>>35876110
According to the description on the sup/tg/ archives, yeah.

>>35876080
While I don't like his tone, he is kind of right, I would have chosen something different for a second task too. Bokins adulthood test is pretty much at the bottom of any priority list, considering the two massive invasions we have to prepare for.

>>35876110
I was planning on it, yes but I'm willing to be flexible if people want to do something else.

>>35876080
>>35876128
Bokins test was the runner-up in votes last thread.

Finding your double received no votes that I could see.

Still, as I said, I'm willing to be flexible, once we're done here I'll call a vote for next activity.

Since it seems the majority is happy with the magic item tour, I'll continue.

>>35876176
>Finding your double received no votes that I could see
Because we thought we would only vote on the next activity, instead on the next two.
And I'm heavily assuming no one wanted to split the vote and risk having to see ShotaCock anon talk about his shitty fetish again. Which I admit might make me unreasonably averse to anything involving Bokin . My point still stands though.

>>35876044
>Skip to the end?
>N
No, but I think it would be best if you continued writing under the assumption that all questions are asked, and simply include write-ins as they come in.

Also, it is not boring. It just doesn't require any reader-interaction and therefore reader-participation will be at a minimum.

>>35876080
>no one wants

I do. Fuck you.

“Is the isolation necessary?” you whisper back, looking at the closed featureless doors.

“Well” he responds “It’s boring work, but mages can only do this for a few hours each day before they exhaust themselves, so they’ll be out soon.”

“Oh” you whisper “Why are we whispering?”

“Yes” he replies “we train our mages to be able to do this for long periods of time until they’ve used their energy, but any distraction can ruin the finished product, and a single item can only be charged by a single mage.”

You see Isla shaking her head. You motion for Master Harham to follow you some distance away.

“You don’t agree Isla?” you ask

“This is unnecessary” she says “The items do need to be imbued with magical energy but multiple mages could work on the same item in succession.”

“You lady it’s been tried” says Master Harham with a chuckle “multiple mages working on the same item spoil it.”

“Because they’re casting a spell rather than trying to imbue the item with raw magical energy for later shaping” argues Isla.

The two of them debate the metaphysics of magical item creation for a while before you ask “So casting the spell to empower the item at this stage is unnecessary?” you ask Isla “It can be done later?”

“Yes” she says, nodding “At this stage it’s wasted effort – they just need to get the item to accumulate enough energy then direct it later as required.”

Master Harham shakes his head “This is a tried and tested method” he says “everything thinks they can improve the process, and although minor adjustments have been made, overall the process has remained unchanged for centuries.”

“I do things a little differently” you venture as several tired looking mages emerge from the rooms and trudge past you “For me imbuing an item with power doesn’t take long, for me shaping it is the hardest part.”

“Ah sorcerers” says Master Harham with an understanding nod “Yes, due to your power imbuing an item is easy, but your very strength leads to a lack of fine control, yes it is very different for sorcerers.”

Isla opens her mouth to argue, then stops, looking thoughtful.

>Ask more questions about this stage (what?)
>Move on to final stage
>Other

Better?

>>35876535
>Move on to final stage
Isla can give her opinion once we have seen the whole process.

>>35876515

>What is it, Isla?

then
>Move on to final stage

>>35876535
So the logical solution would be to have sorcerers empower the items with raw energy, then have other arcanists shape the spell?

>>35876535
>>35876611
Sounds good, lets recommend that if Isla doesn't.

>>35876591

Changing the vote to >>35876584 in interest of avoiding a tie.

“What is it Isla?” you ask, as Isla’s eyes flicker back and forth and she’s looking around, seemingly deep in thought.

“Not sure yet” she says tersely “Might have a few ideas, still thinking.”

“Well” you say turning to Master Harham “Is that everything?”

“One last stage” he says, leading you down several flights of stairs to a place with isolated rooms with thick rooms and doors that remind you of Ellahi’s laboratory in Drache, indeed, a simple spell reveals strong magical protections in this place.

“Here” he says “The items final functions are perfected, and tested.”

“Impressive protections” you note.

“In case of explosions” says Master Harham, the adds as he catches sight of your expression “Doesn’t happen often.”

His reassurance is cut short by a loud bang and a door rattling and smoke pouring out from underneath it.

“Oh Jenkins, not again” says Master Harham with a sigh, and runs for the door, yelling back at you “wait here!”

>Wait
>Go help
>Other

>>35876781
>>Go help
As if we ever would do something else.

>>35876781
>Wait

>>35876781
>Go help

>>35876781

They probably know what they're doing...
Oh, who am I kidding, they're Wizards.
>Go help

You and Isla race after Master Harham as he rushes to the door and tries to open it with no success. He pulls out a ring of keys from his belt, trying different ones in the lock and swearing under his breath “If students wouldn’t lock themselves in their bloody labs.....”

From inside you can hear high-pitched maniacal laughter followed by a voice screaming out “It’s Aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!!!!”

“Which bloody key is it?” grumps Master Harham, trying different keys with no success.

“Sireyi” says Isla, paling slightly “It feels like magic gone mad in there.”

Action
>Let Harham open the door
>Break down the door
>Teleport inside
>Other (what?)

Optional
>Arcane Sight
>Other spell/power (what?)

>>35876943
>Break down the door
>Arcane Sight

>>35876943

>Excuse me, master Harham
>Break down door
>Arcane sight

>>35876943
>>Let Harham open the door
He seems to do this every now and then.

There’s no point in going in there blind, you cast your spell to allow you to see magical energies. The lab is protected against all sorts of magic, and is keeping whatever is in there contained, but you don’t see any locking spell or magic protecting the door from physical force.

“Excuse me Master Harham” you say, pulling him to one side. A few kicks later and the study wooden door is open, though it will need the lock replacing.

Inside the lab you see tools and furniture strewn everywhere. Inside is a young man capering in circles and giggling to himself.

In the middle of the room is a glowing sphere of multi-hued energy that your arcane sight can’t seem to puzzle out, although it appears to have some sort of mind-control/enchantment aspect.

The young man capers up to and stretches out a finger to touch it.

“No!” yells Master Harham and you grab the young man and pull him back, he’s still giggling and muttering nonsense.

“What do we do about that?” asks Isla, indicating the glowing ball of magical energy as you check Jenkins for any injuries – aside from being a little hysterical, he’s fine.

“We’ll need to dispel it” says Master Harham, rolling up his sleeves, then he pauses and turns to you “You’re a pretty powerful sorcerer right?”

“Yes” you respond, wondering where he’s going with this, as you keep hold of Jenkins, who is struggling to reach the sphere of roiling magic.

“You might be able to absorb it” he suggests “I can’t recall what Jenkins was working on, but it won’t have been anything lethal.”

“How about we just dispel it?” you suggest

“It might get away” says Master Harham, indeed the ball starts to orbit the room, as if seeking an exit.

“And if I absorb it?” you ask “what happens?”

“Probably harmless” says Master Harham, “though it won’t increase your powers any if it’s not your type of magic.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea” says Isla, watching the ball of magic warily “It looks dangerous.”

>Let’s dispel it
>Absorb it
>Disjunction
>Other (what?)

>>35877336

What could possibly go wrong?

I kinda wish there was a way of isolating things in a dead magic zone... or at least dead magic bubble...

>>35877356
>Let’s dispel it

File: Spoiler Image (1.59 MB, 1240x1754)

1.59 MB JPG

Almost forgot, commissioned picture

>>35877463

Jianxi?

Dispel it is, please roll Willpower 1d20+16

Rolled 13 + 16 (1d20 + 16)

>>35877609

Rolled 7 + 16 (1d20 + 16)

>>35877609

mind over... uh, magic?

Rolled 2 + 16 (1d20 + 16)

>>35877609

“Isla’s right” you note “That does look dangerous, I think it’s best if we just dispel it.”

The three of you cast your spells as the floating ball of magic heads for the door, darting in-between you.

Even as it escapes the laboratory your spells strike it in unison and the collection of wild magic scatters, dissipating harmlessly.

“Thank you” says Master Harham, taking a burbling Jenkins from you “As I said, doesn’t happen often, but it’s why we have these rooms.”

“Is he going to be ok?” you ask

“Probably” says Master Harham “I’ll need to have the enchanters look him over, but what wizard hasn’t had his brain scrambled a little by a run-away spell hey?”

Isla watches the exchange and then smoothes down her dress with her hands and draws herself up to speak. You know her well enough to realise that Master Harham is going to get a lecture.

You could let her, or you could talk to her about it once you’re both away.

>Let Isla speak
>Join in, this young mage could have been hurt!
>Time to go Isla (leave)
>Other

Leaving is talking with Isla in private about whatever it is she is going to say.

Rolled 12 + 16 (1d20 + 16)

>>35877770
>Let Isla speak

Why do all the other anons keep disappearing?

>>35877770

>join in, but moderate the exchange

>>35877463

Oh, pretty good.

I thought Jianxi was black.

>>35877770
>>Let Isla speak

You keep quiet for now, wondering where Isla is going with this.

“This...this is stupid!” says Isla, as the three of you take the overly-happy Jenkins to the infirmary.

“I don’t quite follow” says Master Harham politely.

Isla continues “You’ve got apprentice mages who don’t know much about magic or workmanship making the base items – you don’t need mages to do that, hire real journeymen metalworkers and blacksmiths.”

“Young lady” says Master Harham indulgently as you walk to the infirmary “the items must be free of any lingering magical effects that might-”

“So have experiences mages clean them!” she retorts, “Don’t have novices would can barely sense magic make and examine them – you said yourself that there are flawed ones that make it through – and look what happened today.”

“Skilled wizards would balk at such work” he says “and labour keeps the apprentices honest” he adds with some asperity.

“So have the apprentices charge the items once cleansed” suggests Isla “Or better yet, have sorcerers charge them with raw magic.”

“I doubt that would work” says Master Harham as he hands Jenkins over to one of the apothecary assistants in the infirmary “Besides, this way works well enough.”

“So well that Jenkins’ head might never get unscrambled?” asks Isla pointedly, she breathing deeply and her face is contorted in anger.

“Hahahah scrambled eggs” adds Jenkins

“It happens” snaps Master Harham “I can see that you are full of passion young lady but once you’re a little older and you’ve met a nice young man, and possibly had a few children you’ll realise that passion is no substitute for study and experience.”

Isla opens and closes her mouth several times as her face goes red, and then white, and then she takes a deep breath and raises her hands, as if to cast a spell.

Master Harham has turned his back on her, and is making a show of ignoring her after saying his last words.

Isla
>Stop Isla
>Let Isla do what she wants

General
>Time to leave
>That was rude Master Harham
>I have other questions about this process
>I have no questions, I think Isla has already figured out how to improve it
>Other

>>35878237
>Stop Isla

>That was rude Master Harham
>I have no questions, I think Isla has already figured out how to improve it

>>35878237

>Stop her

>I have no questions; thank you for your time, master Harham. The tour has been most informative.

We can give him a tour of our own magical enrichment center once we have one.

>>35878237
>Stop Isla

Even if he is a jerk, it's not worth it to scare him or anything else like that.

>That was rude Master Harham
>I have no questions, I think Isla has already figured out how to improve it

>>35878367

I bet she was going to polymorph him into a little girl.

>>35878413

But that'd just be giving him what he wanted. All wizards want to be the little girl.

>>35878314
>>35878367

I'd rather not school the magician. He may be wrong and set in his ways, but it's a natural response for someone who's accustomed to unquestioned authority and suddenly gets challenged by an impetuous youngster, and a girl to boot.

>>35878440

Eh, you've got a point.

>>35878237
Changing my vote: >>35878367

Change
>I have no questions, I think Isla has already figured out how to improve it

To
>I have no questions; thank you for your time, master Harham. The tour has been most informative.

>>35878237
>and in the interest of not not harming our host I think we should leave. This isn't something we need yo copy so let's check out something else later.

As Isla is about to teach the rather set in his ways wizard a lesson you take her hands gently but firmly in yours, feeling tingles as magic dissipates through your fingers, and you speak gently to Isla for several minutes, until she’s calmed down. Once she has she seems almost scared of what she was about to do.

Then you turn your attention to Master Harham “That was very rude” you say to him “Have you studied magic so long that you’ve forgotten your manners?”

He snorts “forgive me Baroness” he says in a tone that is anything but apologetic “But I hear the same stuff and nonsense from young apprentices every week – they methods we use have been used for centuries, they work.”

“And yet you said that improvements are made all the time” you point out.

“Small ones” he clarifies “minor improvements to the process, not radical redesigns – tell your friends to give up on her crazy ideas before she hurts herself, or others.”

“Thank you for your time” you say with a polite bow of your head, putting an arm around Isla’s shoulders and leading her away as it seems she is working up to another outburst.

“Some people even I can’t convince” you say to Isla as the two of you walk away.

Outside the guild Isla fumes “I can do much better than that, I’ve already got a dozen ideas to improve that mess.”

“Well” you say “I was thinking I’d need to start recruiting and trained mages myself, but if you feel you’re up to it...”

“Of course I do!” retorts Isla, summoning up an illusion as the two of you walk. It appears to be layouts of buildings, floating along beside the two of you “We’d need several places for craftsman to create the base items” she says, pointing at the diagram “An area cleansed of magical influences to purify them, perhaps create a magical dead zone, then somewhere that the items can be charged with raw magic, and another place for the magic in the items to be shaped to the right purpose.” As she talks the illusion changes, zooming in to show more detail in each area.

You smile wryly: maybe you’ll need to ask someone to tend to Isla’s herb garden for her.

“It doesn’t stop there of course” continues Isla, as the two of you prepare to teleport home “We could get some specialist spellcasters, mass-produce magic items to make peoples lives easier, build powered armour, or even an airship with the right labour.”

>Whatever you think best Isla
>Just get the Manufactory built first
>Actually prioritise...(specialists/simple items/powered armour/airship – pick one)
>Other

And...next task

>Help Isla set up the magic item factory
>Help Bokin (rite of adulthood)
>Find your double
>Help Ebonsong find a lair
>Other task (what?)

[Meta]
Mages Guild and Manufactory added to Realm options. Ask your friendly Autism Anon to add it to his to-do list if you want it buying.

Mages Guild: You have your own mages guild in your main town, along with ties to mages across the barony. This has several effects:
You reduce the cost of mages for your military by 20%;
You get a +5 bonus to all Magical and History Knowledge checks if you spend time researching the topic in the mages library;
The XP cost to increase the Magical Knowledge and Historical Knowledge skills is halved for you and your allies;
The mages can create magical items for you; this equals 10 *free* weeks of crafting per year and the mages have access to all commonly known spells, as well as all ordinary magic item creation feats (100,000/5,000).
Requires: Church of Yerra

Manufactory: Your mages guild is skilled at creating large numbers of weaker magical items. This has the following effects:
All troop types have access to potions and simple enchanted weapons and armour;
You increase the number of free weeks of magical item creation available by 10.
This can be purchased multiple times, increasing the number of free weeks by 10 each time (10,000/500) – Upkeep cost reduced due to Isla’s improvements
Requires: Church of Yerra, Mages Guild

[end meta]

>>35879082

>Let's get the industrial park set up first, and let's make the layout flexible enough to limit necessary remodelling in case production needed to be altered
(i.e. structure large enough and with access points that would allow construction of larger devices)

>Help Bokin with the rite

>>35879082
>>Whatever you think best Isla but I do need stuff for my trip into hell.

>>35879082
>Just get the Manufactory built first

>Help Ebonsong find a lair

>>35879182
>Requires: Church of Yerra, Mages Guild
Second you mean.

>>35879082

I'll second this option:

>>35879165

>>35879082
>Whatever you think best Isla

>Help Ebonsong find a lair

>>35879082
>Whatever you think best Isla

>Help Ebonsongfind a lair

>>35879082
>help bokin

>>35879110
>Whatever you think best Isla

>Help Ebonsong find a lair

Ok, I'll announce a final destination vote in 5 minutes. Please don't vote until I call it.

Ok, final destination vote. Please post the number for the option you want, regular or greentext.

Please do not quote this post.

Other post content (discussion etc) is fine, but please make the number obvious.

Unclear or conditional votes (i.e. "I vote 1 unless 2 involves X") may be ignored at QM discretion.

1 - Help Ebonsong find a lair
2 - Help Bokin with is Rite of Passage.

5 minutes and then vote closes. Any tie will be decided by die-roll.

1

>>35879452
1

>>35879452
2

>>35879472
>>35879484
>Please do not quote this post.

2

2

>>35879494
Force of habit. I've revolted

>>35879452
1

1

>>35879452
>regular or greentext
should be one or the other, no? Or does 4chan consider 'text' and '>text' to be identical?

Stop, no votes after this post count, analysing...

Ebonsong it is, writing.

Unquoted votes tied 2/2, quoted votes 2/1 - used as tie-breaker, deleted votes ignored.

>>35879564
Good point, will remember that for next time.

>let's ignore the friend we've been neglecting for years of in-game time, the one we've promised to help and run off doing some other shit instead, just because

>Let's ignore our little sister's increasingly-urgent need for a lair and instead go help a friend with a challenge that's supposed to be overcome independently which we have a ten year time limit on because I have a fetish

You spend just over a week helping Isla draw up the plans for her magical item Manufactory. However in that time you notice Ebonsong moping around and sometimes taking long flights away from the keep, returning in low spirits.

Once you are happy that Isla is ok with everything, you turn your attentions to your little sister. You find her sat atop a tower one evening, staring out at the sunset, in her human form.

“What’s on your mind?” you ask, flying up to the roof and taking a seat next to her.

She shrugs “Dunno” she says.

“Are you hungry?” you ask

“Nah” she says

“Lonely?” you try instead

“Nah” she repeats

“Then what?” you ask

“Just...everything” she waves her hands vaguely

“Is this a teenager thing?” you ask

Ebonsong blows a raspberry at you

“A dragon thing?” you try

“Maybe” she shrugs

“How are you and Nicolvren getting along?” you ask

“Ok” she says “but when I’m there I know it’s her place and not mine....”

Ah now it gets clearer...

“Had any thoughts about your own place?” you ask gently

“Lots” she says, drawing up her knees and hugging them “But I don’t want to leave here big sis – all my friends are here. On the other hand I want...I want a lair of my own, my own territory” she turns to look at you “Is that weird?”

“Of course it’s not” you say “it’s natural.”

Ebonsong looks at you, her eyes looking for a clue to your opinions in your eyes.

-So what should I do?- she sends to you telepathically

Lair
>Go find a lair, tell me about it when you’ve found one
>You and I will find one for you together
>Stay here in the keep, you don’t need a lair
>We’ll decide this later
>Other

Friends
>You can be friends with whomever you want
>You should start making friends with other dragons, not with humanoid races
>No comment
>Other

>>35879781
So that's it then, we'll be acting out of character because a player is uncomfortable around male npc's... to the point where we fabricate justifications.
>muh magical realm
I'm not the anon that kept spamming about giant dicks earlier, and I think that guy was just some /qtg/ tourist, but once you allow this line of thinking to control your choices in quest... well, good luck keeping the character making sense.

>>35879933
>You and I will find one for you together

>You can be friends with whomever you want

Though she should probably try diversifying her friend portfolio. She needs to know proper dragon etiquette and manners and customs and stuff after all.

>>35879933
How large a lair does a dragon need? Could one be built into/as a keep's tower? Or is some degree of seclusion necessary?

>You can be friends with whoever you want

>>35879961
It's hardly out-of-character, I'm not uncomfortable around male NPCs (I don't know where you even got that from), and the justification is just as valid as your complaint.

>>35879933
>You and I will find one for you together
Split up and find possible choices. Then regroup and decide

>You can be friends with whomever you want
But remind her that although most people are good some might try to hurt her.

>>35880020
A lair can be built into a keep quite easily.

Territory is a different matter - dragons, though intelligent still feel an instinct to fight other dragons that enter their territory. Though this is less of a problem for dragons they know, and they aren't suicidal about it.

>>35879933
>>Go find a lair, you can tell me about it when you’ve found one. Unless you'd rather I help you.
Let her chose.

>>35880037
>because I have a fetish

>>35880121
That was an afterthought, remove it and it's a valid justification.

And it's not like your complaint is perfect either, we aren't doing this 'just because', we're doing this because our sister's reaching the point where she needs a lair.

>>35879933
>You and I will find one for you together
>You can be friends with whomever you want

>Together

Ok, roll 2s20 for searching please, first roll is Sireyi, 2nd is Ebonsong

Rolled 5, 9 = 14 (2d20)

>>35880437
>2s20

>>35880437
that's 2d20, not s

Rolled 20, 18 = 38 (2d20)

>>35880437

>>35880465

Welp

>>35880465
You win.

Anon wins, everybody.

Rolled 3, 7 = 10 (2d20)

>>35880437
>>35880465
There goes the grade curve.

For the next few weeks you and Ebonsong fly over your realm, and parts of the Tribal Lands looking for suitable lairs.

As a black dragon Ebby has a natural inclination to watery or underwater lairs, and she delights in any location with a lot of water.

You see dozens of potential locations but one or both of you rule many of them out as too small, too big, too close to large populated areas, too close to orc or beastmen tribes, too isolated etc.

Eventually you’ve narrowed it down to three main locations.

A lake in the Tribal Lands, far from any orc and beastman tribes, it’s well stocked with fish and has a lot of streams feeding into it, wide and deep it’s a good fully aquatic lair.
However remains of fishbones and other detritus and tracks indicate that a family of trolls visit the place occasionally, to fish and possibly swim.

A wide river in your realm, far from any human habitation; it’s a slow and calm river with muddy banks that Ebonsong could quickly tunnel into to carve out her own lair. There is a ford nearby that is used by trade caravans.
This place is remote enough that you spot several abandoned bandit camps in the area. The bandits might be gone, or could come back.

A swamp towards your realms borders, it has a few villages dotted around it, but talking to the mayors of these villages they have no objections to one of “the Baronesses Dragons” taking up residence there, as long as she stays away from their herds. Several people in the villages voice discontentment towards this idea, a search of the swamp reveals smugglers caches – seems a few people in these villages like to transport goods without paying taxes, and a dragon in the vicinity might hamper such activities.
A swamp would allow Ebonsong a mixture of land and water for her lair, as well as making it easy to hide her hoard in the ever-moving swamp islands.

After looking at all 3 locations, Ebonsong says “I like the lake – I’m not scared of trolls.”

You wonder if the lake isn’t her choice because she’s thinking of raiding orcs and beastmen for treasure – an opportunity the other locations don’t have.

>Lake it is
>How about the river?
>How about the swamp?
>How about another location? (describe)
>Let’s decide later

Regardless of location...

>I’ll take care of the trolls/bandits/smugglers first
>We’ll take care of them together
>Consider the trolls/bandits/smugglers your first job – good luck
>You should avoid the trolls/bandits/smugglers

>>35880780
>Lake it is
>We’ll take care of them together

>>35880780
>swamp
>consider the smugglers your first job - good luck

The troll location is also damn fine, and Sireyi could watch Ebby fight them and only interfere if needed.

But. The swamp is closer and should help in keepin order and sacrifice content?

>>35880780
>Lake it is
How tough are trolls?
>Try to scry Trolls to find out how many there are

>>35880780

>so, which would you prefer, Ebby?
I would personally lean in favour of the swamp. She might learn about dealing with non-hostile people there.

>we'll take care of the troublemakers together.
Nice way to start her hoard.

>>35880780
>Lake it is
>We’ll take care of them together

I'm kinda torn between the lake and the swamp. The lake is cool but the swamp is rather useful with being able to hide treasure...

>>35880780
>Lake it is
>We’ll take care of them together

>>35880898
>Ebonsong says “I like the lake

>>35880890
Scrying reveals a family of 15 trolls - 12 are adolescents or adults.

Trolls are 8ft-10ft tall (adult height) humanoids that are slightly less intelligent than humans, they typically disdain civilisation and weapons - preferring to rely upon their claws and teeth to hunt and defend themselves. Some trolls do work as mercenaries and learn to use weapons though.

They regenerate any wound not caused by fire or acid.

Are they a threat to Ebonsong? Yes, if they got her on the ground and attacked en-mass they would likely kill her.

If she kept her distance and picked them off one at a time, she'd win.

They don't pose much threat to Sireyi.

Your scrying spell shows no indication that they use weapons or are anything but typical trolls.

>>35881005
backing this>>35880879

>>35881005

These encounters are scaled for Ebonsong, not Sirey.

We should let her deal with them and only watch, guys.

>>35881005
In that case. Lets offer to essentially just watch her take them out. If it gets bad for some reason, we can assist her.

>>35881064
Why?
Doesn't really serve any purpose to let Ebonsong do it herself if we can just do it together.

>>35881064

Yeah, but stand ready to rescue her if she'll get in over her head.

>>35881005
We might want to see if we can persuade the trolls to leave first.

They're not that much stupider than humans, so I'd feel slightly bad about killing them.

>>35881102
If she succeeds by herself its her first step toward independence and should be a sizable boost to her self-esteem

>>35881197
I don't have the feeling Ebonsong needs a boost to her self-esteem, she has not shown issues with that in particular, and the lair is already the step towards independence.

Its amoot point anyway, since we already said we take care of the problem together.

>>35881251
>since we already said we take care of the problem together
>>35880843
>>35880898
>>35880919
>>35880933
Vs
>>35880879
>>35881049
>>35881064
>>35881099

“The lake it is” you say “As for the trolls, I think you are more than capable of handling them, but I’ll be nearby if you need help.”

“Ok sis” says Ebonsong, as the two of you fly over the mountains around the lake, looking for the trolls “How should I handle it?”

“I think offering some sort of compromise might work” you say “such as letting them fish in your lake as long as they warn you of any intruders perhaps? If they don’t go for that then tell them to leave, fight them only as a last resort.”

“Right” she says, nodding, though you wonder how much of that she took in, ah! There’re the trolls, the two of you descend....

---

You are Sireyi...but not Valyenya.

“What are we even doing here?” asks Sofia, as the two of you walk towards the orc encampment.

“Building an army” you reply absently.

“Out of this rabble?” asks Sofia, eying the orc camp dubiously “There’s what, a thousand greenskinned savages here?”

“With a lot of goblins” you say “far more than other orc tribes, which suggests the orc chieftain is smarter, or sneakier – traits we can use, besides, if they do decide to be stupid, I can comfortably deal with a thousand orcs.”

“You sound pretty sure of yourself” says Sofia with a raised eyebrow “you never used to.”

“She” you can say that without grinding your teeth now “knows how tough she is, but doesn’t flaunt it, I do. If the orcs choose not to fall in line, then they’ll just fall.”

The orcs at the edge of the encampment notice the two of you approaching and a half dozen big tough-looking greenskins walk out to apprehend you. Several goblins follow them, but hang back warily.

You cast your tongues spell, one of the orcs grunts to his companions that you’ll make good breeding slaves.

“What did he say?” asks Sofia as the distance between you narrows.

“He said you had very pretty hair” you say dryly, Sofia snorts.

The orcs are a dozen feet away now.

>>35881362
Just a point. I am
>>35880919

and

>>35881099

Being there to back her up if she needs it counts as taking care of them together. At least in my opinion.

>>35881362
The last two aren't votes.

One yells “You’ll look good in a collar, and nothing else” and points a serrated sword at you.

>I want to speak to your chieftain
>Kill the orcs, the goblins will report back what happened
>Pretend to be taken captive
>Other

>>35881405
>I want to speak to your chieftain

>>35881405
>I want to speak to your chieftain
When they are stupid. Which i'm sure they will be.
>Kill the orcs, the goblins will report back what happened

>>35881405
Remove his sword arm

>>35881405
>>Kill the orcs, the goblins will report back what happened

And with that the thread comes to an end, sorry for the brevity of it, but it’s past 1am here.

I will run next thread in about 10 and a half hours. Thank you for your patience and thank you for playing.

I’ll leave the final vote up and will check in the morning.

I combined the voting options for Ebonsong + trolls as I liked the suggested idea.

Unless anyone has any objections, next thread will be Ebby as PoV character dealing with trolls, with Sireyi nearby to jump in just in case.

Hope to see you all next thread!

Comments appreciated, feedback (good or bad) always required if I am to improve (or not get worse at least).

>>35881501

Cheers for the thread, OP! Was enjoyable as always.

>>35881501
Thanks for running, see you in a few hours.

>>35881388
>I will speak to your chieftain
There is no doubt about it.

If they attack, we beat them silly, kill most and then keep the speaker, cut off his arms cauterize the wounds and tell him to fetch the chief because we will talk.

>>35881501
I'm fine with as is.

>>35881501

Sweet, can't wait for Ebby. I liked that people likedmy suggestion.

>>35881405
>kill the orcs

>>35881501
See you then OP.