You move upright, exhaling slowly, and seeing your breath steam up even in this heat. And you spot them, your people.
Sarah is leaning back, her powerful arms out of the bath, as several kobolts around her have sponges and brushes at the ready.
She's being *pampered*, as she should be.
Esmeralda is waiting for you, opposite to Sarah. Seems she wishes to clean you, as well, with Pink standing at the ready.
She brought the soaps.
And, perhaps, maybe you should permit yourself to be pampered a little.

Anna and Chad are in a small two-person bath together. Anna seems to be scrubbing her boyfriend's back... though she is wearing a cloth over her face.
Seems like she has issues showing herself as well, even after all this time. It can't be easy with that over her features, with only her nose and a single eye still visible.
Elsewhere, you see Teensy and Collar are both playing together in a bigger pool... amidst some human children, who seem to be quite taken by the friendly kobolts. They've got a natural touch with them, you feel like.
Good.

It might finally be time to relax, and to ensure that your beautiful scales glitter.
Let them dazzle the people around you, let them see you as the superior creature you are.
You feel... lightheaded. But proud. Strong. A part of you says that your humility is still important, but another part insists that without pride...
You're little more than an animal.

You lean back in the bath, and look over to your wife-to-be.
Hells, how radiantly beautiful she is.

>Lean back and let your kobolts do their duty.
They'll probably pout if you don't let them, frankly.

>insist on washing yourself.
You're not that lazy...

>Let yourself soak for a bit, and speak to the others.
But about what, you wonder.

>>5916513
>>Lean back and let your kobolts do their duty.

>>5916513
>>insist on washing yourself.

I'm not interested in leaning that hard into dragon instincts

>>5916513
>Lean back and let your kobolts do their duty.
But also, VITALLY
>speak to the others
Thank the kobolts. Ask if they're enjoying themselves, living the high life. Ask if there's anything they want or need. Mutual servitude, if you will.

I am torn man, I want to see how the quest develops, but if we are just going to vote to turn Reynold into a full dragon, I just don't think I can be excited for the story anymore, or even if I want to continue following.

I just can't get behind it, the farthest I'd be ok going in dragonborn, humanoid with dragon features. But not full dragon, that would just ruin the last 17 threads for me.

maybe it's time to stop the sunk cost fallacy and peace out rather than hang around for 5 more threads only to end up disappointed. I don't know but I am not happy with the direction things have been going.

>>5916513
>>insist on washing yourself.

You sit back, shuddering as the heat seeps in through your scales. It's a comforting feeling, especially as Pink and Esme get to work on you.
"There's really no need..." You say, pushing back for only a moment, but... as they start scrubbing at some of the parts of yourself that you actually have trouble reaching, you fall silent. So, with the ability to go against what they do being gone, you decide to at least try to be useful to them.
"...So, how are you two?"
"I'm doing great, dragon... Being able to serve and touch one so great as you is always an honor." Pink says, and you can't help but feel bad as she says it. It's just not... right.
"Pink, you don't need to-"
"Dragon, I know what you are going to say, and I'll be clear... I do love to serve, and seeing the Klan grow as strong as it is... that's gratifying. Snikt, too, is someone I am immensely proud of. And you."

She suddenly grabs your arm... and wraps it around herself, sinking most of her body into the water.
"I do adore you, Dragon. I wish only the best for you, even if you do not always agree... You love humanity, I do not."
Esme, who is scrubbing your back, suddenly pitches in:
"You hate the humans?" She asks Pink. "Why? They make such nice stories, and they think we're cute!"
"Did Snikt's tormenters think she was *cute*!?" Pink shoots back. "You would do well not to trust them because of how they treat us around our dragon... If he was not here, we would all be lost, before long."

You sigh.
"Pink... Why did you trust *me*, then?" You say. "I was plenty human, lest I remember it very strangely."
Pink doesn't skip a beat.
"You slew a dragon. Ergo, you were better. The ones that attacked us, tortured Snikt... those are weaklings, having found something smaller still. A kobolt without a klan is less than nothing. A klan without a dragon is barely anything."
Esmeralda... scoffs:
"Reynauld isn't a *dragon* dragon. He's Reynauld. And as you said... he's better than a dragon. He loves us! Right, Dragon?"
"Of course I love the klan. All of you are like family to me. Small, noisy family."

You chuckle when you hear Teensy yell: "ONWARD STEED", while riding Collar. They seem to be having an expanded water fight with the children.

"Noisy family I adore like no other."
Sarah, across from you, laughs:
"I'd take offense to that if I wasn't part of the family... OR does it only count once we're married?"
"I suppose we'd have to adopt everyone here if family had to be literal. Imagine the *paperwork*!"

You both laugh, and you cringe a moment when you feel a brush go over a scar.
Hm. You still have some of those, you suppose, though you suspect your oldest scars are long gone.
"But... anyhow, is there anything I can do for you? Or... Do you have plans after we're done in this country?"
"Following you.", both Snikt and Pink say... as do the twins
"I'm staying with my husband, I suspect." Sarah says, smirking, and then suddenly peeking to the right, and snarling something in the language here... and then she turns back to you.
"That one was looking at my tits, I could tell."

You look her over for a moment... and then tilt your head:
"Not the two kobolts cleaning you... or the scales and teeth?"
"A woman can tell what men are looking at. By the way, you don't *have* to keep looking at my eyes. You've got a pass."
"Oh, thank you."

She makes a little faux-bow with her arms.
"I am nothing if not magnanimous... Now, here's my question... Do you have anything planned? I'm sure you've started dipping your toes into the horrific cesspool that is our politics? Anything I should know, or do we throw ourselves on the mercy of the king?"
She stops for a moment, and drops her somewhat ironic matter of speaking:
"On a sidenote, the king isn't *that* bad. Full of himself, sure, but never outright cruel. He had no need for that, considering he's already at the top."

Seems she doesn't know about him being senile.

>We're going to try and talk to the wizard without involving the whole court

>There's some people in cahoots with the wizard. I'm hoping to talk to them.

>We'll bring this up to the courts

>I'll talk to your family before I make any brash plans. They have a finger in a lot of pies, best I can tell...

>>5918070
>We're going to try and talk to the wizard without involving the whole court

File: reynauld kobolt klan adoption.png (4.18 MB, 3000x3200)

4.18 MB PNG

>>5917667
I don't think it makes any sense for anyone to tey to argue you into enjoying a quest, or to keep playing a quest you don't enjoy. I'll say that I don't think any shape Reynaukd takes would make me dislike the dynamic between him, Sarah, and the Klan. Their characterization is what sells me on them and on this quest, not their shapein the occasional physical description.

>>5918070
>There's some people in cahoots with the wizard. I'm hoping to talk to them.

>>5918070
>>We're going to try and talk to the wizard without involving the whole court

the fewer people involved the better IMO

>>5918676
I won't lie and say your post instantly changed my mind, but it has given me something to chew on, I do love the interactions between the characters and how their bonds develop. I'll mull it over and see where the chips fall.

>>5918070
>We're going to try and talk to the wizard without involving the whole court
Welcome back Spine

>>5918676
NTA but the 'body' changes a lot of things. becoming a full dragon is literaly throwing away your humanity to become a beast.

>>5919080
We have this discussion every thread, anon. You know the counterarguments and so do I, and none of us yet know if it's possible in-universe to have the shape without the instincts, or to become a shapeshifter through magic.

>>5919093
I'm not talking about becoming magically evil by turning into a dragon, i'm talking about the very nature. Your body influences everything. Even if you don't magically become evil, if you turn into a dragon, it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to relate to humans on a physical level.

Even the strongest human looks like a mere chicken to a dragon. Even if Reynauld maintains his mind, he will lose his humanity forevermore. He might even still try to be good to humans - but it won't be because he's one of them, it'll be because he's fond of them the same way you're fond of a dog. Because it is literally impossible to relate to a creature who lives for 1/1000th of your lifetime.

In two hundred years, do you really think reynauld will care about the life of a singular person? When he'll live to see countless of them dead during the blink of an eye?

>>5919095
Depends on the author. Not to be a fedora-tipping internet atheist, but some people believe so strongly in the capacity for goodness in an ancient and immortal superhuman entity that they pledge allegiance to one at least once a week and follow that entity's code of conduct.

Whether it's possible in this universe is only speculation, so while I respect your opinion, we should acknowledge that's all either of us can do.

>>5919103
Anon, i'm not tallking about the capacity for goodness. I'm not saying he won't be good. I'm saying he won't be human. Imagine you have a spider. You may like him. You may even give him a good life. But you will never care for him truly. In the blink of an eye he'll be gone, and you'll still be around.

If reynauld becomes a dragon, he may even still be good, but he'll never be a person. He'll be immortal, ageless. Imagine if ants could ask you foro help - bring me that leaf, please. Give me a sugar cube, please. Sure, you might even do it, but to you, they're nothing. You'll got sleep as you have done countless time, and when you're awake every single one of them will be dead, and to you, it'll be nothing. There have been many of them before, and there'll be many of them after.

That's what happens when you become an immortal beast. You loose your perception of the ground level.

>>5919107
So a lifetime or two of doing good on a more human level, before the tide of time sweeps that perspective away and we start doing good on a demigodly one? Sounds pretty neat. Again, though, it's speculationand a long ways off.

>>5919115
Again, you don't really seem to understand the perspective. Reynauld simply won't be able to relate to humans anymore. If an ant's nest was destroyed by rain, you might say that it's a shame, but are you really going to care? Those ants were all going to die by the next time you were awake, anyway, and there's untold billions of those still around.

Reynauld might be a good person, but he's not a god. He's not some ultimate paragon of infinite patience and infinite virtue that will never run out.

>>5919117
Anon, you can pretend to understand the perspective of an ageless and inhuman immortal better than me all you'd like, but neither of us do and what holds true for this universe (Marvel's Thor? Abrahamic deity? Total alien inhumanity? Something else?) is in the hands of the author/QM. Until it's addressed and conclusively answered in unuverse, no amount of stating yout perspective as objective fact will make it so.

I hope you continue to enjoy the quest, but unless some other anon wants to take it over on my end, the debate is done, because I'm not going to rehash this tired multi-thread argument any further.

>>5919127
>is in the hands of the author/QM
That could be said about pretty much anything i guess. I'm merely warning anons that becoming a dragon means throwing away anything left Reynauld has of his humanity and becoming an complete, 100% beast.

>>5919133
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ2regeDoJw

I'd rather live and die as a man. Then live long enough to see myself become a monster. Hollowed out by endless march of time, To end up becoming the very thing I sought that destroy him.

How can we know for share that won't happen to Reynold

>>5920681
If you fear all change as degradation of the self, there is no other option but amnesia or death. the dragon-transformation is an extreme example, but all growth has the capacity for negative or positive change. Any time you grow in power, you run the risk of abusing it. The solution is a system of checks and balances... Like a knightly code, friends and loved ones who aren't afraid to call you out, and other such things which Reynauld has already instituted as cornerstones of his life. The solution is not, to my mind, stagnation or death.

>>5920717
That shit only works if you're a still relatively normal guy. It's when you become a full on dragon that you lose your humanity.

>>5920719
What this guy said

>>5920719
>>5920736
I've personally never met anyone who ahs turned into a giant, effectively-immortal, superintelligent lizard-wizard, so I'll take your word for it.

>>5920749
Indeed, we do not need any fantasy creatures to realize how power and status can corrupt a person. Just take a look at the modern world and all the stories we have heard about people who became successful and let the money and power go to their heads. It's really sad to think that our leaders, no matter which country we're talking about, often make promises of reform and a better tomorrow, only to get caught up in the very corruption they promised to fight against. It makes me wonder how many people are truly good at heart. I believe that most people are probably harmless because they lack either the means or power to inflict harm. But the moment someone gains any real power, their true colors are revealed. And unfortunately, most people lack the necessary moral fortitude to be truly good people.

"I imagine Reynold could handle the power and status for a longer time than most people, but as the saying goes, 'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. He may fall prey to corruption due to the passage of time and fading of experience from his time as a human or due to the possible instincts that corrupt all dragon kind. This is a fate that I find abhorrent, and would never wish on the character I Have come to care about. It's bad enough that William wants to remain as a slave species seeing Reynold fall as well would be heartbreaking.

>>5920796
Isn't same logic (that lessening/limiting a person's potential is sometimes okay to prevent abuse of power and giving into violent or tyrannical instincts) the logic William explicitly sued to explain why he'd rather stay a kobolt?

>>5920798
The fundamental difference you have from the rest of us is that you see us not wanting to go dragon as a limiting of our potential. Whereas we see it as a diminishment of who and what we are. I don't think there's anything we could say to convince you and likewise I doubt there's anything we could say to convince to you of our position.

>>5920798
It's a different situation. Kobolds aren't giant immortal overbeasts who are all but completely evil.

>>5920886
Pink seems to view human nature as inherently wicked and flawed in a similar way, albeit more in a 'barbaric, ravenous beast-person' sense.

>>5920883
>you see us not wanting to go dragon as a limiting of our potential. Whereas we see it as a diminishment of who and what we are.
Both can be true, but only one 'side' of this debt is stating opinion as fact as to the inevitability of moral degradation or the capability to stay strong and righteous. I don't disagree that there's risk, I just think it's overzealous to claim that corruption is unavoidable.

>>5920898
I'll be frank with you, you come off as a transhumanist, which hey if that is what you're into fair enough, but that....Ideology is not for me. I will proudly stand my ground and fight for a human future to my last breath. So I don't see us reaching a solid common ground on this, our beliefs may be to incompatible.

You lean forward, just a tad, and also subtly move a brush away from your inner thighs. You're not *that* comfortable yet.
"I'm thinking we should try to talk to the wizard without involving the rest of the court. The more people know about our situation, the harder it's going to get."
Sarah raises an eyebrow (eyescale?) at this.
"Truly? Then speaking to my family is going to make this difficult. Still, considering their love of underhanded dealings, I'm sure we'll be able to get something done for that..."
That's a fair point, the family... but you think you should be able to deal with that.
"The king isn't as spry as he used to be, I've heard, so it shouldn't be too difficult to bypass him, so it's just-"
"He isn't as spry...?" Sarah asks, leaning forward. "What do you mean? What happened?"

Hm. So this is a newer development, then.
"From what I could tell, he's going senile. Or *is* already senile."
Sarah leans back... and seems genuinely concerned. Considering the fact she is otherwise so dismissive of the country and its politics, this strikes you as... odd.
"I... hm. I've always known the king as a very strong, very... forceful man. Despite everything, and the horrid mess that comes from his being worshiped, it's still odd to know that even a mountain can break, I suppose." She says, before shaking her head. "But, what am I saying. I don't like the man, either, it's just... I always figured he would die by a blade, not by... something as banal as age."
"Death comes for us all. There's a lot to be said to be able to die by old age."
"There's a hell of a lot to say *against* it, too!" Sarah says, surprisingly forceful. "Like hell I'd ever let it happen to me... But, well, through serendipity, I suppose I might have a way out of that, or at least a way to stave it off."
She chuckles, though there's no mirth in it. "Suppose this is why wizards go mad so much, other than the obvious. Trying to kill time..."

You don't care to speak of this, honestly. It's not a subject you can speak much on, or wish to speak about.
"We should refocus. The wizard has a pyramid in the center of the castle. We should be able to speak to him there, if we can reach his abode."
"He spends most of his time with the king, so we'd have to find him when he goes to bed." Sarah says... though she stops.
"Then again, that's when I last saw him, and the king was careful not to let him out of his sight. Now that the king is weakened..."

She bites her knuckle, and then scoots forward, so the twins can scrub her back more efficiently.
"This is... I don't like these new parameters. I much preferred the time I thought I knew what would happen. Alas..."
"Well, that doesn't-"
You gasp, when you suddenly feel scaly hands go across your back. Rather than waiting for you to stop leaning against the edge, it seems Pink and Esme decided to just give you a small push, instead.
You're much closer to Sarah, too, and the fact you are quite naked together, even with the roiling bathwater hiding eachother's features at least somewhat... is starting to turn this awkward.
She blushes, you are blushing, and you both ball up as your kobolts get to scrubbing. They're really getting in every nook and cranny that you haven't really been able to reach, especially with the scales. Smooth as they may seem, there are a few creases. An inevitability of your bodily structure.

Sarah's heat can be felt even from here, and you wonder if that's... just something you do. You already know that you both run *hot*, and you might be heating up the bath just by sitting in it. Your tail is getting worked over by Pink, and you don't know what to do with your hands.
Your mate is right across from you.
Even though you know there are much more important things to focus on, you can't help but wonder...
What would your brood look like?
Would they be gold like hers, or more radiant blue, like your own scales? Would there be one? Two? Four? How many?
And why must you think of this? You are not a teenager caught in the throes of puberty, but everything is screaming at you to do something more. As if being together is unusual. Guessing from the equal silence, you wonder...

It hits you like a lightning bolt. Some faint recollection, of obscure dragon trivia.
Dragons prefer to lay their eggs, and even mate, *in water*. Dragon reproduction is so rarely discussed it doesn't come up, and the one dragon you did meet was on a mountain, where you doubt there was proper water, except...
Well, no, there was klan, there was a dragon, there was *snow*. Almost certainly there was water not too far from there. The fact it would be freezing is irrelevant to a dragon, as well.
You need to get out of here. This is *shameful* to even think about!

>Push yourself away from the centre of the bath, and excuse yourself for a moment.

>You are not a teenager, as you said. Push the instincts down, focus on the goal. To give in is to lose.

>Move closer to your mate. You won't take this too far, you're still in public, but... The fact you love eachother is nothing to be ashamed of.

>Get out of the bath, grab a towel, get out of here!

>The kobolts pushed you both together. Did they know, or...
Either way, confront them.

>>5921417
>Push yourself away from the centre of the bath, and excuse yourself for a moment.
Don't get a boner at the public pool, don't get a boner at the public pool, aaaugh this is high school all over again!

am i the only one who still likes pink more than sarah

>>5921417
>>You are not a teenager, as you said. Push the instincts down, focus on the goal. To give in is to lose.
I am much more concerned about the fact that we are in a public bath with children and frankly we still need to tell Sarah about her family's plans and that is far more important than getting our hemipenes wet.

>>5921417
>>You are not a teenager, as you said. Push the instincts down, focus on the goal. To give in is to lose.

For now this then afterward this
>The kobolts pushed you both together. Did they know, or...Either way, confront them.
Also these fucking instincts man they are a clear problem one that if we don't actively combat will control us. This just proves that.

>>5921492
They're both good. Esme, too, as she's developed, but I have a thing for cute, sweet short girls.

>>5921713
>Also these fucking instincts man they are a clear problem
oh nooo, we might impregnate our hot doctor/wife.
But yes, taming or controlling/directing the instincts will be key fi we go dragon/dragonkin

>>5921742
Not loving the transhumanist push but I can at least say I'm willing to compromise and be a dragonborn

>>5921417
>>You are not a teenager, as you said. Push the instincts down, focus on the goal. To give in is to lose.

and

>>The kobolts pushed you both together. Did they know, or...Either way, confront them.

You take a deep breath, grit your teeth, and move back.
"We should... focus on important matters."
"This feels pretty important." Sarah says, a faint tremble in her voice. "I do wonder... Am I far enough along to lay eggs, or-"
You cut her off there, harshly whispering:
"Not... The time..."
Then, you turn right around, so you can't see her. Even if you can still feel her. You notice that the bath you're in has gone from warm to steaming, and that's quite literal at that. The kobolts are looking a tad tired just from being in here, apart from Pink.

There is a part of you still screaming to take your mate right now, despite what all the surrounding apes might say, but you push that down. With ease, for that matter. You suspect that if you still had your evil little dragon on your shoulder, this would be a lot harder. As it stands... Honestly, you might have felt this even if you were still entirely human, just... less pronounced.
"I hope you won't be this bashful tonight..." Sarah says, before giggling to herself. "Or are you preparing yourself for the wedding night? Lest you forget, you've already taken my maidenhood."
Hard to forget that, but-
"Sarah, please. Try to repress these instincts. We were talking about-"
"Our upcoming plans, yes. But first, we need to survive my family. We'll save that for the walk to them, right now, I just want to talk to you. Love you... hug you."
"You weren't ever this touchy before."
"That was before you said we are to marry. It's... It's not a small thing over here, you know? It's... it means to give yourself over to the other, and vice versa. In the eye of the king, we would be as one person. It's... Possessive, my dearest knight. And how I would *adore* to own you. And to be owned by you."
She sighs.
"It's... It's been looming over my head, marriage. It's part of why I ran from this country. But with you? Hells... I love you. *Truly* love you. I want to be married, and having this... fairy tale come true is just driving me wild. The idea of something I hated being something so..."
She giggles again.

"Aahhh! I feel like I'm a little girl again, is what I'm saying! I'm embarrassed. It's not... I feel like... I don't know, even."
Pink, casually, adds:
"Dragons have not been known to love eachother. Even when they mate. Even when it is a mate they tolerate, they think only of the brood that would spawn from them. Your feelings are new indeed, Dragons."
...Interesting to think about.

>Ask about this relationship.
Is Paracelsus happy or... is she deluding herself. This really isn't like her to be so... optimistic.

>Finish bathing, and move to your room to... prep.
You doubt you'll have enough privacy in her family's castle, so... Well... The weakness of the flesh is no sin, is it?
[No, i'm not writing lewds]

>Finish bathing, and just move to your room.
Sleep with socks on, if you find any that fit.

>Go play with the other kobolts.
Teensy and Collar could both use reinforcements, if you hear it right.

>>5924047
>>Finish bathing, and move to your room to... prep.
what we do with a bit of privacy in our own room can be completely different than what we do in a public bathhouse full of random civilians. as for asking about the relationship, now is really not the time, that's going to slam the brakes on whatever she's feeling. we'll get our answers, but they won't necessarily be verbal replies.
>"Dragons have not been known to love eachother. Even when they mate. Even when it is a mate they tolerate, they think only of the brood that would spawn from them. Your feelings are new indeed, Dragons."
Very much worth thinking about, underlines the fact that Reynauld can very much be his own man regardless of his physical form, and Sarah is no different.

But I still think it's important to inform Sarah that her family very much wants to make the court mage give them your dragon curse so they can be powerful or something. After we do a bit of ploughing, of course.

>>5924071
worst case scenario whatever Sarah's last name is, gains the same connotations as Numitor. And I wouldn't shy away from that incident because if they want to go ahead with certain harebrained schemes it is incredibly important for them to understand that it wouldn't be the first time we solved a problem like this and being family isn't going to be anywhere near enough to stop us.

>>5924071
>>5924073
+1

>>5924047
>Finish bathing, and move to your room to... prep.
> inform Sarah that her family very much wants to make the court mage give them your dragon curse so they can be more powerful.
>Remind her of the Numitors.

>>5924047
>>Ask about this relationship.

we need to be sure this isn't a side effect of the transformation, perhaps Reynold is her horde?

"Well... I think I'll finish up a little early. Pink, Esme, am I free to go? You ask your kobolts, and Esme just giggles, while Pink quickly says:
"That isn't up to us, dragon! Come on..." She says, pouting a little. "But if you want my opinion... Then, yes, I think you are clean enough."
"Alright. Hope you don't mind that I'm going to get..."
You look over to Paracelsus, who tilts her head in confusion, just for a moment, before say:
"A little filthy."

She still looks confused... and then gasps. She grins, and makes the faintest gesture with her head, essentially telling you get going. Esme sighs, and then adds:
"Just... let me finish your tail. Your scales are feeling a little thicker where-ever we scrub."
"Just a tad." Pink clarifies. "It's good for you."
Hmm. You let them finish, and then you make your way back to the dressing rooms. You put on the fancy duds that you took from the hotel, and then make your way upstairs. You get a few looks, which is to be expected... and, in your excitement, you catch yourself running on all fours when you reach your floor. You don't stop yourself, either, this is... You're going to enjoy this.
You reach the bed, and pull back the sheets, for now. If you want to go under the covers, it's just one quick pull away. Then, looking around, you spot a small bouquet of roses, freshly planted, which permits you to do a real classic...
Petals, around the bed, though not *in* it. Finding chunks of rose in your scales for days would rather undercut the romantic gesture, after all.
Then, finally, you undress.

You haven't been this excited before. Everything just feels right. Even your body feels warmer, as your heart beats so hard you can feel it in your throat, hear it, even. You look down at your chest, and you're only faintly surprised to see a faint glow coming from your heart, in time with your beating heart.
Then, you hear the door open, and there she stands.
Naked. Her glorious body on full display. A queenly display, power and regal confidence both.
"My *king*... Shall we?" She whispers, breathlessly.

It was a battle for dominance. Neither of you wanted to be on the bottom, but you won out with superior strength... And then let her switch, regardless. Getting topped was quite fun too, you have to admit... even if you both did quite a bit of damage.
By the time you were done, the sheets were on the floor, the bed frame has suffered some damage, and you're both too exhausted to move off of it. You look over to the clock in the corner, and groan...
"We can sleep in tomorrow, yes?"
"We could... and we should. Four hours of sleep is altogether insufficient, especially after such... rigorous exercise."

She sighs.
"...You know, I don't actually menstruate anymore. I haven't a clue if it's a safe day."
Ah?
Hm.
You feel like you should care more, but you just don't. You look around you, and notice you left a few scorch marks on her scales, too, and she did the same in kind. It's a miracle you didn't burn the floors... or the bed.

"I... Need to tell you something." You say, sighing as you remember that you need to get your business done, lest you forget it. Sarah just sighs, as she turns to you, a bright, exhausted smile on her face.
"That you love me? I know."
Ahh. Damn it. That's cute.
"Nothing that obvious..." You reply. "But it's, unfortunately, about your family. They intend to use our curse for their own gain, using the wizard to do so, if needed."
"Ah?" Sarah says, almost disinterested. "That was to be expected, though we can work around it. If we intend to speak to the wizard directly... We don't need to worry about side projects. Besides, nobody in my family would be brave enough to give up their ape-shape."
She giggles, amused at what she just said, evidently.
"They were always arrogant. But, well, scuttlebutt isn't confirmation, either. So, we'll see."

You're relieved that she's so calm about this, honestly. Though it might be because of the overwhelming warmth between the two of you, as you clutch your claws together.
"...You're certain about everything we've done together, right?" You ask. "You don't think this is just... animal instincts?"
"Reynauld... Even if it was? If it feels like this, I don't think I give a singular shit about how "real" it might be. It feels like love. I want to spend the rest of our lives together, and I'm currently trying to consider what our child might look like. I think... Yeah. I'm sure."

Oh my.
That was more direct than you thought.
Also.
Children.
...
In a weird way, you saw your clan, and Snikt especially, as your children. You don't think that'll change, either, but... this is a lot to think about.
"Now, come, we should sleep while there's still a moon in the sky. I'll... magic up a repair for the bed come morning."

>That's an exciting thought... But for later

>That's an exciting thought... But for later. You should just get to her family as fast as possible, and get it over with.

>This is... a bit too fast for you. Maybe you should both take a bit more time to think about that kind of thing.

>...Sneak out for a moment, and speak to Pink. You need to know what you're in for if she really is... you know.

>>5927475
>...Sneak out for a moment, and speak to Pink. You need to know what you're in for if she really is... you know.
Too fast, bad timing when we're still unsure if we'll be a dragon or man or something between the two... But we should have thought about that before we pumped her full of baby batter, I guess. Now we need to prepare, just in case.

>>5927642
This is me on mobile, by the by.

>>5927477
>>This is... a bit too fast for you. Maybe you should both take a bit more time to think about that kind of thing.

>>5927475
>>That's an exciting thought... But for later
>Spend all night dreaming about children and what your offspring would even be
The world quakes at the conception of a new Heir to the Numitor house...

>>5927477
>>That's an exciting thought... But for later. You should just get to her family as fast as possible, and get it over with.
We have things to do, then we can worry about the other stuff.

Wow.
You hadn’t even considered children in… several years, really. But now it’s just brought to the forefront so suddenly. Now, of course, the odds of actually having children right now is unlikely at best, and frankly, you suspect that your ordeal will be over long before Sarah would start showing…
If you even succeeded. Your bodies are in flux right now, after all, so it’s questionable if you could even reproduce at all. Still…

You suspect you might need to find a new last name together. She doesn’t care for her family, and your own name is tainted beyond repair. Though, perhaps… perhaps you could still, despite it all, salvage your family name. Bring it back to something approaching respectable. Haven’t you done enough for that, really? One can only hope your deeds outweigh the sins of the father.

You smile as you lean back in the bed, and go to sleep… Or, well, you would.
There is something at the window. You hear the faint *tick tick* of somebody removing the lock, and you squint in the darkness. Your glowing eyes would be best off being hidden, but your darkvision is as keen as ever. Slowly, you see a small pick getting pulled back, and then, silently, a cloaked figure enters the room. Long, slender, her cloak is closely form-fitting, with belts around her limbs to further ensure a tight fit. A blade is then produced from her hip. A small, red knife, faintly glowing in the dark.

She is approaching you, slowly, though she suddenly stops, shying back, when you open your eyes fully, and then you kick your sheets aside. Still completely naked, you stand up fully, and stare at her… Growling despite yourself as smoke billows from your maw.

She looks to the window, clearly hoping to make an escape, though the fact she hasn’t made a run for it yet shows she might just stab you yet.
…

>Grab her by the arm, disarm her, and then grab her by the throat.
She is going to give you some answers… If she doesn’t stab you.

>Incinerate her.
You’ll find a way to pay back the hotel for any potential damage, you suppose.

>Call for help

>Perform some… magic?
You need to have the right kind of mindset for that to work, though. How do you convince reality to do what you say, again?

>>5932003
>Grab her by the arm, disarm her, and then grab her by the throat.
If she thought she could finish us in a straight fight, she wouldn't be looking to run away.

>>5932003
>>Grab her by the arm, disarm her, and then grab her by the throat.


those other options are very dragonish worryingly so, beside I want answers

>>5932003
>Grab her by the arm, disarm her, and then grab her by the throat.

>>5932003
>>Grab her by the arm, disarm her, and then grab her by the throat.
try not to hurt her more than we have to, but we're going to sit her down for a nice, long talk.
or even just skip all that and tell her, "look, if you surrender now and cooperate with me when I ask you questions, I might just let you go quietly."

>>5932003
>Use Magic to close the window

She may be hesitating, but you are not. You dash forward, faster than she likely expected, as your long misshapen body shoots outward like a coil, while you slam your fist into her stomach. She is forced back for a moment, and you grab her knife hand forcefully, before ramming your elbow against her nose. To her credit, she doesn't drop the knife, and tries to move her arm to still stab you in the gut, but your superior strength makes this a pointless endeavor. Then, suddenly, your leg is pulled forward, as she hooks her foot around it, and using your momentary lack of balance, she pulls her caught arm back, out of your grasp... But you surprise her in turn, twisting your long torso to the side, further than she expected...
You clamp her arm between your chest and your arm, and slam your fist in her face once more, with enough force to break something. A red stain begins to form on her cloth mask, and she can't stop herself from muffling a scream from the pain, especially when you stomp on her foot.
Cloth shoes don't make for good protection, and your talons tear right through it.
Finally, you hear her blade land on the floor, after which you release her arm... and grab her by the throat. With inhuman strength, you lift her off the ground, as she struggles against your grip.

A fine fighter, but you're simply too big for her to take in a straight fight. You have reach, even without the dagger, not to mention sheer strength and plain mass. She struggles against your grip a moment longer... but then she goes limp. She's given up.
You hear Sarah behind you, the smell of smoke filling the air as she gets out of the bad, stomping forward. Still naked, mind.
God, she glitters so wonderfully.
"And who in all the hells thought that they could invade this room now!?" She snarls, as she looks at the intruder. "Ah... Assassin. Of course."

She sighs, and then moves to the pile of clothes to the side. She quickly tosses her robe over herself, and then she looks into her bag for a moment.
"Better tie that one up. Or, perhaps, I could try a paralytic... Ah, let's go for both."
She reveals some tough-looking leather straps, and a needle filled with a viscous, clear liquid. The assassin stares at it with an almost bored amount of resignation, and doesn't struggle as the needle is pressed into her thigh. She just closes her eyes, while you put her on a chair and strap her down with a bit of effort. These leather belts could probably be jostled free eventually... but it will do for now.
Sarah then tosses you your pants, which you quickly put on... And Sarah begins the interrogation. The tone of the assassin is rather blasé, and you're a bit surprised when her hood and mask get removed.
She doesn't look like she's far out of her teens, if she even is.

"She assumed that she's dead already, so she's fairly forthcoming. Her name is Twelve, she's an assassin sent to collect your bounty, she doesn't know who ordered it, and she couldn't tell you the location of the assassin's guild if she wanted to, as she's blindfolded when she is brought outside. She's not a cheap thing to buy, I should add. The Assassin's guild is a pricey direction to go." Sarah says, leaning against the cabinet, and letting her tail rest on it while she's at it.
"Don't suppose you know where they live?"
"No. I do not. At any rate, be sure to collect that dagger. It's Mythril."
That... would explain the strange red color of the blade.
"Mythril, huh? I thought that was more... silver, in color."
"It's an alloy, based on mythril. Pure mythril is silver, their tools mix cold iron and mythril. Useful if you face a fey... Your head must be worth a lot if they're risking tools like that."

Sarah sighs...
"People like her are taken at a very young age, and trained to kill. She turned eighteen just this year. It's a disgusting thing that they do."

Ah...
"Could we... help her?"
"I doubt it. This isn't something you really come back from... She's been told to kill you or die trying. Currently, she's waiting to die. I haven't told her the paralytic poison will wear off."
You've seen the expression in her eyes before. Men and women, waiting to die. It happened during the crusade. It happened during the purge of your family. People that knew they were too far gone. It doesn't get easier to kill them. You tense up, and Sarah looks back at you.
"If you let her go, she'll be hounding us until we kill her."

...

>Send her to the local guards, have her imprisoned.
You're not sure how safe it is, but it might be safer overall...

>Kill her now, make it quick.
Poor girl.

>Take her to Paracelsus' family.
A personalized cell might be better for her survival. Who knows, maybe they'll make something out of her.

>Another way
Taking her with you is a bad idea. She *will* stab you.

>>5936584
>>Kill her now, make it quick.
if in fact she is a human guided missile meant to kill us then it seems like this is the kindest thing we can offer her.
I guess we should find out where that baron guy is, and kill him. he might not be the one behind this one but he's the only person we know who hired an assassin before to kill us so he needs to get punished.

>>5936584
>Kill her now, make it quick.

>>5936584
>Turn her into a Kobold

'She' is already dead. Let's give her a chance to live anew.

>>5936975
This seems a bit out of let field for Reynauld. I can't support it.

>>5936584
>Kill her quickly
I'm >>5932081

>>5936584
>Kill her now, make it quick.

the more I learn about this part of the world the more I hate it

You're not happy about it... But you know better. She's been conditioned beyond repair, and trying to help her is something that is thankless and incredibly likely to fail.
It's another part of the crusades you saw. Thralls, people called them, not humans... Though nobody's ready for their first child. The realization that they are not possessed, even as they rip your buddy open and drink his blood.
Many people tried to rehabilitate them. Most of those attempts died when the hopeful crusader is stabbed or gets his throat ripped out by the same cute little girl they were trying to save.

The girl in the chair just stares at you, her expression... Almost peaceful. You step behind her, and then you take aim for a moment. You wrap your hands around her chin and her neck, and use your incredible strength and the right leverage to pull her neck too far. The cracks of her vertebrae were almost inaudible, something you feel more than you hear. Still....

You close your eyes, and turn to Paracelsus.
"At this point, I've got half a mind to clear out the assassin's guild before I leave this godforsaken country."
"Many have tried, Reynauld.
That's all she had to say. It's likely clear enough. You then have to awkwardly shuffle down stairs to explain a corpse and a broken window. They were, at least, shocked, and many people came to get the corpse. They asked a few questions.... And left. The window was covered with plywood, to at least keep the breeze out.

Back to bed...

Come morning, it's time to walk to Sarah's family...
You'll be there quite quickly, though you wonder if you should adjust ...

A first impression matters. Bringing in well over a dozen kobolts might be a tad unorthodox

>Like hell anybody is hiding!
Your first impression is who you *really* are.

>Hide the changeling boy...
It's a devil they know, better not risk him. Kobolds and goblins, meanwhile, seem to be more of an unknown, and might be accepted

>Go it alone...
Just you and Sarah. The others can camp outside the castle!

>>5941753
>Like hell anybody is hiding!
Angry defiance in the wake of one terrible injustice we could not correct seems appropriate.

>>5941753
>>Like hell anybody is hiding!
thought about hiding the changeling boy but we're gonna make the wizard cure him so might as well let him stay.
Also I'd like to specify that Chester and Tomoooooooo are included as well.
anyway they get to meet us all at once because this is also a show of force on our part. Like not entirely, but a little, if they get shifty.

>>5941753
>>Like hell anybody is hiding!

I do not approve of the *yassss queeen* energy the black text for this option gives off but, fuck no to leaving any of our group alone after a literal assassin showed up

You arrive at the castle after an altogether calm journey. Nothing jumped out at you, no arrows were sent flying your way, you didn't come across some horrific monster from beyond the pale. You know, all in all, it's almost unusual considering the way your path usually brings you to those things to an almost unnatural degree. Or maybe you're just a nosy guy, who knows.
The castle feels more opulent than you would have expected, and you were a little surprised to see them roll out a purple carpet from the front door, right in front of you. With the dirt and mud of the roads still clinging to your soles, you fear that it will be impossible to avoid soiling it... and the kobolts are already stepping to the side, avoiding something as fine as that like it would bite. Paracelsus, of course, doesn't care one bit as she takes a step... And you notice that she didn't even bother putting on shoes today.
Her muddy footsteps are as inhuman as yours, and you see several guards staring at you. Past the helmets, it's hard to tell what they're thinking, but the deathgrip on their weaponry says more than words ever could. They're scared, whether of you or the sheer number of guests, you don't know.

The kobolts are ushered onto the carpet, after that, and the changeling boy... you keep close, when one of the guards begins to yell at him.
"He's with me." You say, and the guard... stops. Then, Paracelsus says something, quickly, and the soldier backs away.
Then, you keep the boy close to you. He's trembling, terrified. He wants nothing more than to leave, you can tell, and you end up keeping a hand on his shoulder to make sure he doesn't run. But you can't let him run off, he'd never survive on his own, not out here, not this far away from everything. You help the helpless, and it's as simple as that. This boy isn't going to get help from these people, so you have to help him out, at least for now. Until he can go back to... something akin to a normal life.
When you enter the main hall, it becomes a lot darker. Sunlight doesn't seem to grace these halls much, with the windows being too high up and too small to permit more than a smattering of light. Several candles have been lit... and the chandelier up above is particularly striking. A myriad number of crystals hang there, a slow pulsing light coming off of them... and, then you hear two loud claps. Their origin came from the top of the main stairs, which take up almost a quarter of the space in this large hall. There, at the top, you see a man wearing a jacket over one shoulder, and with a large poofy cap on his head. A large feather, in a garish blue colour, and a walking stick that, considering how quickly and how easily the man walks down the stairs unaided, is only there for show. He is built wide, a man who was once very strong, who has gone to seed. A well-groomed beard adds to his features, and his hair is kept short as well. Despite the colourful ensemble, you can't deny, this man is... lordly.

He runs towards Sarah, who just stands there. She is holding her breath, and whatever enthusiasm this older man has, Paracelsus seems intent on countering with supreme discomfort. They speak... Or, more accurately, the man speaks, and Paracelsus nods or grunts. You hear "Sarah" several times, at least, and then... He looks to you.
And the changeling.
His expression changes for a moment, to one of outrage, or perhaps just confusion. Whatever the expression is supposed to be, it's not positive, but he seems to crush it down to give you a kinder smile.
"Reynauld, yes!?" He says, even just saying "yes" in Rosarian seems to be a trial. But, with a chuckle, he just pokes Paracelsus in the rib with his elbow... and reaches into the vest on his shoulder. He produces some kind of scroll, and even at this distance, you can tell that it's magical even at a distance! You flinch, and then you feel... lightheaded for a moment, and then...
"There. Now he should understand us, for as long as the magic works."
"Father. This is something you *warn* people about!" Sarah says, with a barely hidden scowl.
"Oh, please... Look at the boy, look at you! A little bit of magic couldn't hurt! You both look... well, quite different from what you once were! But! That's for later. Come-come, you must all be famished, you and the..."
He shoots a dark look at the changeling boy, who shrinks back.
"Entourage."

"Sir, this is-"
"Oh, goodness, listen to that accent...." He says, but then he scoffs. "Well, not his fault. Not his fault... Come. We've got food for the people, and... what do those little things eat?"
"Just... food." Paracelsus hisses.
"Ah, very well. We're well stocked, regardless! Just... Keep the changeling under wraps, yes?"
"He's just a boy, father, we're hoping to make him human when we-"
"What kind of magical experiments you hope to do with it don't concern me, darling. We must speak about *you*, and your patient, not to mention... if you intend to stay, I believe that your condition might just make you eligable to marry the wizard's appren-"
Paracelsus is practically laughing as she interrupts.
"I'm engaged. With him, in fact."

The man stops walking... and just stands there. Running the numbers, perhaps? Thinking?
Perhaps, just in shock.

You feel like you should say something.

>Indeed I am, sir.

>Indeed I am, step-father.

>Remain quiet.

>>5946451
>>Indeed I am, step-father.
let's at least *try* to get along with the family.
like, there's politicking behind the scenes but we should be outwardly nice

>>5946451
>Indeed I am, father-in-law.
Stepfather has rather different implications.

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>>5946481
oh dear lord i picked the wrong word. it took until this commend to remember the difference.

>>5946451
>Indeed I am, sir.

Father in law will be the right term; but we're engaged, not married yet.

>>5946451
>Indeed I am, sir.

>>5946621
I just don't want to give him the idea that this is in any way up for debate.

>>5946482
No worries, it happens. I'm >>5946481, btw.

>>5946621
>>Indeed I am, sir.
support adding on
> Give your best approximation of a knightly bow and provide the expected respect for his title and him being the father of your future wife

>>5946451
>>Indeed I am, sir.

Good to have you back.
>>5946482
And don't beat yourself up.
I've seen far worse typos and poor word choices.

“Indeed I am, sir.” You say, bowing slightly as you put a fist over your heart. “I have had the luck of being able to court Sarah over the course of the journey. She is very dear to me.”
Sarah’s father stares at you for a moment… and after some time, he scoffs.
“You were a… what did they call it? A homeless knight?”
Interesting way to phrase it, but not entirely inaccurate.
“Wandering knight, sir. I am ordained by my king to wander the lands and help where I can. I did this of my own free will.”

He keeps walking, after that, and Paracelsus grabs your hand to pull you along. Seems you’re going to get a little tour of the home as he talks. Your kobolts, Anna and the changeling boy all follow you, as do two guards in full plate, their footsteps echoing across the halls, though they quickly cease when you enter a hall. Carpets and paintings dull the sound as you walk.

“The Ambrose family comes from a long line of respected people, Reynauld.” The man says. Using your first name somehow feels like a bit of a slight, but you think nothing more of it. You don’t know how this brand of high society works.
Nor do you care to, for that matter.
Anyhow, you let him keep on talking.
“While my daughter has been very insistent on being outside of the norm, that makes her no less my daughter. I must know for certain that you will uphold our family name.”

Paracelsus quickly gives you an aside, in your native language instead of Crowntongue (as you now know the name is).
“Lets hope you don’t, you’re far sexier when you aren’t a self-important dick.”
“Pardon, daughter?” Her father says, but she quickly pivots into a lie.
“I warned him not to claw the rug, father.”
“Of course, of course…”

Then, you end up in a very big room, with quite a few benches, couches, seats, and what have you. A lounge, intended to be used by many guests at once, you suppose. The kobolts waste no time climbing into the expensive, poofy seats, and you are guided towards the hearthfire in the centre. It didn’t feel cold enough to justify it being on, though the heat is undeniably pleasant. As you are now, you could probably crawl in there and sleep in it.
There are three separate seats here, though Paracelsus quickly pulls her seat closer to yours, and holds your hand.

As much as you love her, it feels a bit rude to be used a slight to her father like this. He flashes a moment of anger… but then he just sighs.
“Well then. Dearest daughter of mine. I must ask, what do you intend to do here?”
“My dearest wishes to be cured of his condition. To be human again, and to use that same spell to help the changeling child.”
“I… Was wondering.”
“If he were to be human again, would he not be a normal boy, by all accounts?”

There is a short pause… and then the man looks at her again.
“So, you intend to make the… Your betrothed, I mean, you intend to make him human once more? And… what of yourself? I can tell you are not the daughter I once had, but something… Something greater. Is it true you can spit fire? That you are becoming as one of the great monsters across the sea?”

Paracelsus leans back.
“Yes… It does look like this transformation shall lead to me being one of those monsters, eventually.”
She breathes in, but then she stops. She was about to say far more, you can tell, but she thought better of it. Then, her father leans forward.
“Is it… true, this power leads to immortality?”
“...Of a sort. A dragon is immortal, and the curse relies on many years before it would finish. Reynauld here is likely going to stay as he is for much, much longer. The same could be said for me.”

Her father leans back… and then smiles.
“So… Your knight would sacrifice immortality? For what?”
“He wishes to be human, rather than a giant firebreathing lizard, naturally inclined towards pure evil. It’s an expected reaction.”
Her father just scoffs.
“Well… It would be interesting at court, don’t you think so? The power of fire in your throat, magic at your fingertips, armor that could stop crossbow bolts! Don’t you think this is a grand opportunity that is being wasted? Not to mention…”

He chuckles darkly.
“If you bring yourselves to court, the transformation will be used upon the king. That doddering old fool will continue torturing us forever, rather than finally croaking, and letting some fine *chaos* enter the field. Think about it, Sarah, if we have you and… your…”
He gestures vaguely at you.
“Your betrothed.”
He pauses a little longer than strictly needed, like saying it burnt his tongue. “Think about it. If chaos is a ladder… Then you’ve been granted wings. You could finally do your house proud, and-”

Sarah stops him.
“Is this what you called me for? To use me as a way to advance? Again?”
She sighs.
“I’m not marrying anybody, and I’m not here to help you. I’m here to help my future husband, and to aid all people. Not just you. Now, lets move on to different-”

Her father sighs, loudly… And then he slams his fist into the armrest, and starts screaming!
“NO! I will not stand by and watch my daughter SQUANDER her life in an attempt to SPITE ME! I WILL HAVE YOUR ANSWER! DO YOU STAND WITH ME!?”

Sarah stares at him… and she squeezes your hand tight. Guards enter the room, confused at the commotion.
You can’t just stay a bystander, can you?

>You ask too much of her, sir. It’s been a long road.

>I can already tell that she isn’t going to change her mind over a tantrum, sir.
>Remain silent.

>Other

Weeee mobile posting

>>5950720
>Other
Make direct, meaningful eye contact. Allow a bit of smoke to waft up from our mouth or nose. Then stop, cough, and apologize.

(In other words, mind your manners, old man...)

>>5950720
>Other: Regale Father-in-Law the tale of house Numitor and what happens when Nobels try to gain power through evil means

>>5950822
Probably a good approach, actually. A subtler threat.

>>5950720
I'll switch from >>5950760 to this.

>>5950720
>>5950822
supporting.
It seems he's proud of his line and it is important that he understands that we come from a lineage that is in no way less illustrious than his own. One which is all but extinct because they sought answers to questions best left unasked.

"It seems like there was some confusion earlier. I am not simply a random wandering knight. I was born into the Ancient House of Numitor, and Numitor is the name I bear still..."

>>5950760
>>5950822
Supporting both of these.

>>5950822
Support, end on a note of every house thinks they will be different, that they alone are the ones who can master the powers that seek to master them. But invariably they all fail and someone like us is left to pick up the ruined pieces once it comes crashing down

You adjust how you are seated, leaning forward, and clear your throat, mostly to make a little noise. The still furious patriarch looks at you, just in time to see a cloud of smoke waft up, out of your nose and from between your lips. It's a small thing, but the way you stare, and seeing that black smog float up, never losing consistency until it reaches the ceiling, seems to get your point across.
"Sir." You say, perhaps a little rougher than you usually do. "I would ask that you calm down. Your daughter has come a very long way, and shouting at her is no way to win any favors." You say, tilting your head slightly. The old man glares at you, but doesn't do anything dangerous or unexpected, mercifully. The guards that just entered all seem to be more than worried, though a quick look at them lowers your concerns. They are using halberds. Fine weapons, no doubt, but not in a busy room like this, where the many people and couches would make it difficult to make much of a swing.
They can poke, of course. Very dangerous. But you have the advantage with a combination of skill and your inhuman body.

"I would also like to speak to you of my own history. I am not a nameless knight, I am merely one with no home. My full name is Reynauld of house Numitor. I've been told the story carried even to here?"
Guessing from how he went from getting ready to shout to slowly sitting down in his chair. You suspect it has.
"I bring this up not out of any pride. Being the man that slaughtered that same family, I can tell you this with the *utmost* certainty."
The room seems to grow darker as you speak. Your kobolds become quiet, and some of the guards seem to make some distance.
"There is no family alive on this earth that can, or should, handle in forces they do not understand. To find power for power's sake leads to ever darker pits. Soon, you're considering yourself beyond human morality. Soon, you may decide that a servant is no different from a meal. Then, at one point, you reach a tipping point. You go beyond what you should. What little humanity still rests in you when that happens will find out very quickly that as powerful as the forces of darkness are, they can never truly defeat humanity. It may take a hundred men to break you... but all creatures break. Do not forget, I ended up in this situation because I, too, slew a dragon. I did it alone, with rocks, bait, guns and a blade."

There is another pause.
"So, I ask you. Consider carefully where you wish to find power. I would appreciate it if you could treat your daughter more kindly? This is not a power you *want*."
There is a pause... and the older man sighs.
"...I understand your... issues." he says. "But I ask you to understand mine. She has gone against every tradition, at every point, seemingly out of spite... And even now, she seems intent on doing *nothing*. What am I supposed to do with her, then!?"

Paracelsus sighs.
"I could have my own opinion. You could have ignored my presence, even. Instead, you demanded I come here, just so you could yell at me in the hopes I'd bow down to you, when I am the one with all the power, besides."
She sniffs... And a plume of smoke comes out of *her* mouth now.
"You're just an arrogant, fat, disrespectful LOUT that went out of his way to ensure I would be little more than a sub-par bargaining chip! You were going to marry me off, not because you cared, but because you needed to do *something* with me. I ran off, I became a doctor! I became an *exceptional* doctor. I am the only known expert on dragon transformations, in fact, and you want to know more, you bloated gasbag!?"

She stands up with enough force to kick her chair away, as she bears her fangs and leans forward, her tail whipping to the side as she drools in a rage, a glowing red liquid rather than anything natural.
"I AM BETTER THAN YOU! IN EVERY WAY THAT MATTERS, I AM THE BETTER PERSON! I'M SMARTER, I'M STRONGER! I COULD RIP OUT YOUR THROAT AND MELT YOUR INNARDS RIGHT NOW!"
The guards begin to point their weapons at her, as you stand up as well, and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Sarah-"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT! I AM PARACELSUS! I AM AN ALCHEMIST, AND YOUR MATE! I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS FAT, HAIRY APE! DO YOU HEAR ME, REYNAULD!? NOTHING!"

She screams at you... And then she stops, breathing hard... And then, you see tears in her eyes. She's out of breath, and then she grabs your shoulders, before you pull her in close.
"Sssh.. ssh.. It's alright. It's alright."
"I-I just... wanted... W-why doesn't he want me? Why has he never, ever wanted me?"

As you hug her, a myriad number of blades pointed at you, you look up, at her father.
He's... shaking. Seeing Paracelsus like that is enough to make anybody scared, you suppose. But...
"I want... I need... I need... C-can we... G-go to the treasury? I need... to sleep."
This outburst dug deeper than you expected. You don't think you've ever seen her give in to instincts like this and...
Perhaps holding that back for so long, and in a high stress environment like this...
"What the hell do you mean the *treasury*!?"
"I need something glittery. Something that's mine. Something..."

She grips you tighter. "You're mine, aren't you? And my research... I need my research."
You look at her father again. To your own surprise... he looks horrified. And he's reaching out to touch his daughter with the first bit of tenderness you've seen on the man since you came here.

>Excuse yourself. Paracelsus clearly needs some time to think.

>Excuse yourself... and ask if they can spare some gold for her to lie on.
Sooner she's calm the better.

>Let her father in on this. They need to get this settled.
If she reacted this hard after only a few seconds of yelling... This clearly goes incredibly deep for her.

>>5952264
>Excuse yourself. Paracelsus clearly needs some time to think.
Give the man a sympathetic look and a little head shake. His current instinct is the best parenting he's demonstrated so far, but we don't want her to lash out and hurt him, for both their sakes. maybe mouth 'later'?

>>5952305
Seconding this.
Him touching her in this volatile state is a big blunder waiting to happen.

>>5952305
support, we can mend this bridge after sleep, but right now her instincts are running too high.

and for the LOVE of god keep her away from shinies and gold that could send her deeper into dragon mode.

>>5952264
>Excuse yourselves. Paracelsus clearly needs some time to think.
Then Hug her.

>>5952264
>Excuse yourself. Paracelsus clearly needs some time to think.

>>5952264
>>Excuse yourself. Paracelsus clearly needs some time to think.
We've made a bit of progress between them, and maybe we can pick up on things later, but Paracelsus needs to rest.

You give her father a look, and shake your head. He seems to take some offense to it for a moment, until he meets your eyes. The concern must still be evident, especially as Paracelsus shudders and sobs.
“Look, look, lets just get some air, okay?”
“I-I want-”
“Yes, yes, please. Just come with me, okay?”
You start walking, with her in tow, while her father gestures at the guards to back away. They raise their halberds, and your crew also begins to move.
You notice that Snikt is quietly holstering her gun as she hops out of the couch, and takes the lead. You keep Paracelsus very close, and even the way she walks is strange.

“R-reynauld, I feel strange… Hot… Hungry.”
She growls softly, and you decide to hurry up a bit, as her tail begins to whip around, and she lowers her hood. She begins to tap and grab at her robes, beginning to pull them free, as you hurry down the hallway. When she stumbles for a moment, you just give up, instead putting your hands under her and lifting her up in a bridal carry. She gasps, but doesn’t seem to mind the treatment.

The front doors. The guards open them for you, fortunately, and once you’re outside, she keeps tearing at her outfit.
“Get these rags off me!”
“Paracelsus, please, you’re being hysterical.” You say, as you gently put her down in the grass. She just whines plaintively, and then says:
“I don’t want to be this kind of animal any more. Why did I even care about the people here!? Their problems, their ills! They’ll reject knowledge out of hand, they use people as cattle, the seek to slit our throats!?”

She roars, and a huge, flickering firestorm shoots out of her mouth. The heat is enough to blacken some of the castle wall, and you flinch for a moment.
“I hate them! I hate them, I hate them, I hate them…”
You know she doesn’t mean that. Seeing her kick her feet like a child throwing a tantrum really adds to that. Considering she’s as stoic as you’ve ever seen anybody be, this is entirely unusual.

“Give me my treasure, Reynauld! I need my gold, my hoard, my research! I want YOU!”
She wraps herself around you, tighter this time, as you just sit there, calmly waiting… and from there, you just hug her back, giving her time.
She doesn’t talk, after that. Slowly, however, you see it. Her back begins to swell, her scales shine brighter, her claws longer. As though she has abandoned humanity entirely, she grows less and less human. But then it stops.
Her eyes are wide open.

“We need to leave this place. I don’t want to be here any longer. We need to find the wizard, and get you cured.”
“Get US cured.” You reiterate, and she just scoffs:
“I have research to do. I have no desire to waste away as some ape. I wish to have the power to do as I wish, besides. Come… We need to leave this place. My father has summed up all I need to know.”

>No. He isn’t some evil creature, he’s your father.
She needs to reach some kind of peace. For her own sake, if nothing else.

>Fine. We’ll go.
If the guards let you…

>Aren’t you going to talk to the rest of the family?

>Other

>>5955272
Oh jeez, she has the dragon-sickness...

>Aren’t you going to talk to the rest of the family?

Didn't she mention a couple pretty-okay relatives? maybe they can help talk her down and remind her of the good in humanity?

>>5955272
>>No. He isn’t some evil creature, he’s your father.

we need to deal with these daddy issues, letting this fester will only make things worse in the long run. Meeting her dad really clears up why she wants to be a dragon so badly

the dragon instincts and her own emotional baggage are causing her to mentally death spiral this is bad

>>5955271
>>Fine. We’ll go.
yeah. we can come back if it still matters

>>5955812
Support

We're on page 10, btw. Archive-and-new-thread time?

>>5957217
Indeed
Also, I noticed that I didn't fucking archive thread 16. Fortunately, I did find another archive for it here:
https://archived.moe/qst/thread/5869342/
It's not ideal, but it'll do.

This thread's archive is here
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2024/5916511/

>>5957232
You can probably ask Lord Licorice on Discord if he can archive an old thread via archived.moe.

To avoid that in the future, might I suggest archiving when you get to page 8 or 9? It keeps updating until the thread falls off the board, so you won't lose anything.