ScissorSlipper
Barber cat
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Check up on Ada, Teo, Svenja, and Tanja. You're in the castle anyway, you suspect Caras and Virmire fumbled aspects of interacting with them, and you want to make sure this is handled properly.
Monster Marriage Quest
- Thread starter Ghoul King
- Start date
- Original Romance Horror
- Location
- Wherever
Not going to close the vote today (or tomorrow, in all likelihood) as I would not be up to doing the writing, but it's pretty obvious that checking up on the humans in the castle is going to win. 12 vs 3! That's pretty unlikely to shift enough to matter.
It is in Caras' territory. This was way back, before the 4-year hiatus: the Baron of Shifting Sands built a fort in Caras' territory overnight, and voters decided to try to solve the problem by having those bandits that didn't agree to making trouble in Commoner lands go attack the fort in daylight.
Not long before I brought the Quest out of hiatus, I rolled dice and it turned out the bandits did bizarrely well. (I set their odds of survival per-head to poor. They rolled high a lot) This update has been the first opportunity to properly bring the outcome to Questor/Sabrina's attention. (I have been sitting on this info for months)
Tanja is 10 or so as best as Sabrina can tell. Svenja, Sabrina spent a bit going "other girl's mom?" so she's definitely old enough and so on to be mistaken for a young mother: if she's not at least 17, Sabrina will eat a hat.
It is in Caras' territory. This was way back, before the 4-year hiatus: the Baron of Shifting Sands built a fort in Caras' territory overnight, and voters decided to try to solve the problem by having those bandits that didn't agree to making trouble in Commoner lands go attack the fort in daylight.
Not long before I brought the Quest out of hiatus, I rolled dice and it turned out the bandits did bizarrely well. (I set their odds of survival per-head to poor. They rolled high a lot) This update has been the first opportunity to properly bring the outcome to Questor/Sabrina's attention. (I have been sitting on this info for months)
Tanja is 10 or so as best as Sabrina can tell. Svenja, Sabrina spent a bit going "other girl's mom?" so she's definitely old enough and so on to be mistaken for a young mother: if she's not at least 17, Sabrina will eat a hat.
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- Location
- Deep inside the sand
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X]Check up on Ada, Teo, Svenja, and Tanja. You're in the castle anyway, you suspect Caras and Virmire fumbled aspects of interacting with them, and you want to make sure this is handled properly.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
A realization has been had:
1) The Gendarmes (or at least Caras) don't really seem to know what sex is
2) Sabrina seems to be ace
I cannot wait to see what sort of hilarious legislative oopsie this will lead to down the road
1) The Gendarmes (or at least Caras) don't really seem to know what sex is
2) Sabrina seems to be ace
I cannot wait to see what sort of hilarious legislative oopsie this will lead to down the road
16 characters
Sick and tired of being Sick and Tired
- Location
- Alta California
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X]Check up on Ada, Teo, Svenja, and Tanja. You're in the castle anyway, you suspect Caras and Virmire fumbled aspects of interacting with them, and you want to make sure this is handled properly.
We can check in Virmire after we make sure no one is on deaths doorstep and or prevent additional traumas. Much as I don't like it the village trip also wait since for all we know Sabrina's father might already be dead. :-(
We can check in Virmire after we make sure no one is on deaths doorstep and or prevent additional traumas. Much as I don't like it the village trip also wait since for all we know Sabrina's father might already be dead. :-(
16 characters
Sick and tired of being Sick and Tired
- Location
- Alta California
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I have a feeling that Sussuron might actually know a little given just where in a humans body the integration takes place and how their /her followers seem to be so literally touchy feelie wth one another.A realization has been had:
1) The Gendarmes (or at least Caras) don't really seem to know what sex is
2) Sabrina seems to be ace
I cannot wait to see what sort of hilarious legislative oopsie this will lead to down the road
I wouldn't be surprised if dear heart face was among a pretty small group of Genarmes to understand at least the basics of sexual reproduction.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ah, but our dear Caras is just a poor innocent provincial lad
- Location
- Wherever
Okay, formally closing the vote.
To no one's surprise, Sabrina is first checking up on Svenja, Tanja, Ada, and Teo.
Update incoming, please stand by.
To no one's surprise, Sabrina is first checking up on Svenja, Tanja, Ada, and Teo.
Update incoming, please stand by.
Human Resource Management
- Location
- Wherever
After some thought, you decide you really ought to make sure Caras and Virmire didn't make any serious fumbles with their unexpected guests, before anything else.
--------------------------------------------------------
You'd not meant to check on Tanja first given you'd already seen her yesterday and she seems to be holding up well overall, but on your way to the others, you run across her, arm against the wall to guide her in the dark.
"Hi," she says, looking you right in the eyes. (Right, your eyes glow now...)
"Oh, hello Tanja. I was just checking to make sure everything was going well. I didn't mean to drop you all off like that..." you're not sure how to explain this to Tanja so she understands. The trip back home in the carriage had made it clear she wasn't as carefree and oblivious as some children you could name back in Abandonne, but you hadn't gotten a good sense of her overall.
"Nobody's tried to burn us to death, so I'd say we're fine," Tanja replies blandly, while you wince at the reminder of that... thing.
"Um, yes, well, I'd more meant in terms of things like getting enough to eat? Beds being adequately comfortable? Not catching any illnesses?..."
Tanja shrugs. "I dunno about Teo and Ada, but we're fine. Virmire brought back candy one time..." Really? You'd not have expected that from Virmire.
"I'd... still rather take a look-see. Unless you think your sister would mind?" Svenja gave you the impression she bought a bit more into all the 'evil Dominators' stuff and just rated being dead as being worse than whatever she thought you'd do to her. You wouldn't be surprised if she tries to stab you at some point, honestly.
Tanja shrugs again. "I don't think she'd notice if a meteor landed beside her."
Oh dear. "Um..."
"Have a good night, miss. I'm off to talk to Virmire about mushroom medicine recipes," Tanja says and then shuffles on past.
Okay. That just happened.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The closest room turns out to be Ada's, with a Boulder standing next to its door, watching it.
"Virmire? Is that you?" Ada calls out as you approach, sounding terribly forlorn, apparently hearing your footsteps.
"Um, no, it's me. Sabrina. Um." Gosh. Now that you think about it, Ada might have more cause to hate you than to hate Virmire or Caras. "I wanted to make sure you were..." You want to say 'okay' or similar, but obviously she's not okay. You tricked her, had her paralyzed, kidnapped her, humiliated her on the way, and she's been locked up for somewhere over two weeks. "... not being accidentally mistreated more than necessary?" Accurate, but somehow feels completely dishonest to say aloud.
"Necessary? How is any of this necessary?" Ada shrills out. You're going to tell yourself it's at least good she no longer sounds really sad. Silver linings in clouds and all, right?...
"Ahh... would you have come willingly to help us figure out how to kill Bu-Brandstifters without killing their hosts?" Silence. "Would anyone in Neustadt de Glaubens have come willingly for such purposes?" Silence. "You're free to curse the Great Plan for making you so convenient for me, if it helps?"
"... can I at least go outside. Just for a bit? Please?" Aaaand now she's back to sounding very forlorn.
"We can go right now. You'll... be watched and all, but we can."
"Please," is all Ada says.
"Alright," you say. "Give me... just five minutes to make arrangements."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
15 minutes later, you're standing outside in the evening sun (still too bright...) with Ada, a couple Rollers, and a couple Suncrawlers.
Ada herself is a mess. Hair scraggly, dark circles under her eyes, messy splotches on her clothes that were not there when you dropped her off; it's clear she's been continuing to avoid taking care of herself.
You're a bit disconcerted when Ada just sits down in the dirt and stares basically right at the sun, rather than trying to escape.
"Um... is there anything I can do to help as far as... better food variety?... or more water to clean yourself with?..." you ask, still feeling dreadfully dishonest even though you know you're not lying at all.
Ada turns her hollow gaze on you and stares for several seconds while you wring your hands nervously. Then she goes back to staring right at the sun. Um.
About a minute passes before you muster yourself to say, "I'm quite serious. Um. I'm not... happy with doing this to you, and- obviously I don't want you to die even if you think I don't care about your life? So..."
Ada turns to stare at you again. There's another long silence. "How's Teo?"
You relax a little. "I haven't checked on him yet. You were closer. My understanding is he's fine, um, physically, but... angry."
"Why did you take him?" Ada asks emptily. Uuuuh. How do you take this?
"I thought he'd know stuff of use? And he was right there?" You might also have been motivated slightly by the 'Ada and Teo make a cute couple' thing. You'd rather not say that to her face, though.
"He doesn't," Ada says in a flat tone that brooks no disagreement. "He's just nice."
O...kay? Your brow furrows a little. "Do you... want him to not be here?"
Ada stares in silence for a bit longer, then turns back to staring at the sun and randomly comments, "Potatoes."
"What??"
"I need potatoes," Ada clarifies disinterestedly. Then she sits up a bit shakily, dusts herself off, and says, "The sun is nearly set. Just... lock me back up."
"I'll make sure that happens!" Wait. "The potatoes, I mean. Like yes you'll... never mind..."
Escorting Ada back to her room (cell) occurs in silence.
----------------------------------------------------------------
After... that whole thing... you checked in on Teo.
He was less unnerving, at least. Said a lot of very rude things about you and Maman that were certainly not true (Okay, except calling Maman fat, but yes? So? Why was this part of the tirade?), and admittedly a couple things about you that weren't necessarily undeserved, but... yeah.
The main thing you extracted from the conversation was that Teo wanted to go home and was in fact quite willing to abandon Ada (Ouch) if you'd just give him some supplies to try to walk back home and let him out.
He was proving to be shockingly ignorant and unhelpful...
[]Sure, send him packing. Whatever. At least that way he's eating at Neustadt's expense, not yours.
[]Sure, if he's willing to carry a letter back to Neustadt.
-[]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
-[]Assuring Neustadt you don't intend to bother them anytime soon if they continue to not be aggressive toward the Freelands.
-[]Declaring war on the priesthood in specific more explicitly.
-[]Write-in.
[]Nah, he stays. You're pretty sure you'll find a use for him eventually.
[]Nah, you're recommending Caras renders him. He's going to need resources for those Cores you promised the Council, for one...
[]Write-in.
------------------------------------------------------------
After that was decided, you finally got to Svenja.
"Go away," is her first response when you knock on her door.
"I'm here to make sure you're okay!" you say with as much cheer as you can muster after the depressing pair of interactions you just had. "Um, to make sure no serious slipups have occurred with your care."
There's a long silence before Svenja pulls open the door to her room. She thankfully does not look anywhere near as bad as Ada: she clearly hasn't been able to keep her hair in the style it was in when you met her in Neustadt, and you think she's a little paler than you remember, but overall she looks just... unhappy. "Hi... Dame Sabrina... what brings you here today?" Svenja says in a rote manner she clearly has no enthusiasm for.
"I... just said why?" you say in some puzzlement.
Svenja sighs very slightly. "I'm... fine. Very fine. Everything is fine."
You doubt that. "I have been given the impression you're not fine. Maybe even... suicidal?" you say with some trepidation: it's not a topic one is really meant to broach openly.
Svenja gives you a funny look, then bursts into laughter so hard she has to wipe tears from her eyes. Okay...
You wait patiently for a minute. Eventually Svenja recovers enough to give a crooked smile and say, "No, no, never, I would never do that to Tanja. I just... don't know what to do with myself. I had my life laid before me in Neustadt, daily routines, familial obligations... and now I'm in a Dominator castle and the only things left are making sure Tanja and I are well. I offered to help in the kitchen, but Dominators don't cook! I can sew a little, but there's no material and the only thing needed is to adjust Tanja's clothes in a few months! How- how do you not go a bit mad, living like this?"
Oh. That's... okay, much less dire than your worst fears, but still far from ideal. Ummm. Well, answering her question first to give you time to think. "I'm personally very busy running errands for my husband, the Baron. He can't be everywhere at once, for one."
Svenja gives you another odd look. "You- you were serious about that? Married?" Svenja looks very disbelieving.
"Happily married, um, a few months now? I've had trouble tracking time since it happened. Very busy, for one." It might be six months by now? You're not sure. It's been really difficult to track everything, but... the leaves are turning orange and falling away outside... so that should be not too incorrect...
"How- but- children?" Svenja stumbles over her words.
You frown a little at that, still stinging a bit from learning you can't have kids while Integrated. "I'll have you know my marriage duties lie elsewhere and anyway this is love." You sigh happily a little at that. You didn't like most of the old fairy tales, but you had liked the basic idea of marrying for love as opposed to any of the other reasons to consider marrying. It was a nice piece to some of those fairy tales.
Svenja stares at you like she just discovered an unrecognizable creature on the underside of her shoe and isn't sure whether she should be disgusted or not. "Love," she says like she's never heard the word before.
"Oh yes!" you nod enthusiastically. "Pure love! None of this stuff where carnal desires are dressed up after the fact as 'love'..."
Svenja's right hand rests on the door edge, as if she is considering closing the door in your face. "I see, Dame Sabrina," she says very neutrally, expression suddenly blank.
"But enough about me," you say, abruptly remembering the actual purpose of this visit. "So you just need something constructive to occupy yourself? That's all you're suffering from?"
Svenja's face relaxes slightly into uncertainty. "Yes? It would be nice to not live in such darkness as well..."
"Alright, I'll have to give this some thought, but if nothing else we could relocate you to a village?" Hmmm. The obvious answer is to Integrate Svenja if she's willing, but you're... reluctant to do that. Especially when there's always that chance Svenja would turn out to want to get revenge or something for ruining her life.
This bears thinking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Once you'd bid Svenja goodbye, you sought out Caras. You had things you wished to speak with him about before he headed out for the night!
[]You'd like his input on the Svenja thing before committing to anything. You know why he didn't just put her to work, of course, but you'd like his perspective regardless.
[]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
[]You still haven't actually talked about the possibility of extending the Integration. You'd like to at least know what Caras does (and does not!) know regarding it.
[]Your notes about Soissons' Breeds! You'd like to actually go over those reasonably quickly! Caras might get some use out of them!
[]Write-in.
And then after that you had plans for what you'd do.
[]Hang out with Caras for the night! Talk about All The Things! See what he actually does in his 'rounds'! Spend time with him! Hug him lots!
[]Go check up on the border road, with the traps and so on. You're still not sure of its condition.
[]Go visit a village, see how things are going.
-[]Abandonne. It's been a while since you've seen your family, and also Abandonne is apparently underperforming on its sheep tax?
-[]Ville Luminous. You remember a Virmire suspected they were underreporting their size. You should look into that.
-[]Terre de Moutons. To check on Felix and Konrad, for one, but also to see if you can learn anything of use about why these sheep are so vigorous. Maybe export them or something.
-[]Lac de Glace. You'd like to ask more questions about the Szumowiny issue. (You'll ask Caras some questions on the way out)
-[]One of the small towns whose name you don't know. You'd like to dig more into the issue of their own tax contributions.
-[]One of the disputed towns on the Ice Lake shore. Do they have opinions on this border dispute? Maybe you can talk them into picking Caras...
-[]Estvallee. It's occurred to you that you don't have any idea what happened to the place once its inhabitants were killed? You're wondering if maybe new tenants have moved in without Caras realizing it.
[]Prep an armed escort and check out the accidental Bandit Fort. See if you can undo that damage.
[]Write-in.
(Yesterday was a very derail-y day. Glad I did get the update finished today: I was worrying I wouldn't be able to)
--------------------------------------------------------
You'd not meant to check on Tanja first given you'd already seen her yesterday and she seems to be holding up well overall, but on your way to the others, you run across her, arm against the wall to guide her in the dark.
"Hi," she says, looking you right in the eyes. (Right, your eyes glow now...)
"Oh, hello Tanja. I was just checking to make sure everything was going well. I didn't mean to drop you all off like that..." you're not sure how to explain this to Tanja so she understands. The trip back home in the carriage had made it clear she wasn't as carefree and oblivious as some children you could name back in Abandonne, but you hadn't gotten a good sense of her overall.
"Nobody's tried to burn us to death, so I'd say we're fine," Tanja replies blandly, while you wince at the reminder of that... thing.
"Um, yes, well, I'd more meant in terms of things like getting enough to eat? Beds being adequately comfortable? Not catching any illnesses?..."
Tanja shrugs. "I dunno about Teo and Ada, but we're fine. Virmire brought back candy one time..." Really? You'd not have expected that from Virmire.
"I'd... still rather take a look-see. Unless you think your sister would mind?" Svenja gave you the impression she bought a bit more into all the 'evil Dominators' stuff and just rated being dead as being worse than whatever she thought you'd do to her. You wouldn't be surprised if she tries to stab you at some point, honestly.
Tanja shrugs again. "I don't think she'd notice if a meteor landed beside her."
Oh dear. "Um..."
"Have a good night, miss. I'm off to talk to Virmire about mushroom medicine recipes," Tanja says and then shuffles on past.
Okay. That just happened.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The closest room turns out to be Ada's, with a Boulder standing next to its door, watching it.
"Virmire? Is that you?" Ada calls out as you approach, sounding terribly forlorn, apparently hearing your footsteps.
"Um, no, it's me. Sabrina. Um." Gosh. Now that you think about it, Ada might have more cause to hate you than to hate Virmire or Caras. "I wanted to make sure you were..." You want to say 'okay' or similar, but obviously she's not okay. You tricked her, had her paralyzed, kidnapped her, humiliated her on the way, and she's been locked up for somewhere over two weeks. "... not being accidentally mistreated more than necessary?" Accurate, but somehow feels completely dishonest to say aloud.
"Necessary? How is any of this necessary?" Ada shrills out. You're going to tell yourself it's at least good she no longer sounds really sad. Silver linings in clouds and all, right?...
"Ahh... would you have come willingly to help us figure out how to kill Bu-Brandstifters without killing their hosts?" Silence. "Would anyone in Neustadt de Glaubens have come willingly for such purposes?" Silence. "You're free to curse the Great Plan for making you so convenient for me, if it helps?"
"... can I at least go outside. Just for a bit? Please?" Aaaand now she's back to sounding very forlorn.
"We can go right now. You'll... be watched and all, but we can."
"Please," is all Ada says.
"Alright," you say. "Give me... just five minutes to make arrangements."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
15 minutes later, you're standing outside in the evening sun (still too bright...) with Ada, a couple Rollers, and a couple Suncrawlers.
Ada herself is a mess. Hair scraggly, dark circles under her eyes, messy splotches on her clothes that were not there when you dropped her off; it's clear she's been continuing to avoid taking care of herself.
You're a bit disconcerted when Ada just sits down in the dirt and stares basically right at the sun, rather than trying to escape.
"Um... is there anything I can do to help as far as... better food variety?... or more water to clean yourself with?..." you ask, still feeling dreadfully dishonest even though you know you're not lying at all.
Ada turns her hollow gaze on you and stares for several seconds while you wring your hands nervously. Then she goes back to staring right at the sun. Um.
About a minute passes before you muster yourself to say, "I'm quite serious. Um. I'm not... happy with doing this to you, and- obviously I don't want you to die even if you think I don't care about your life? So..."
Ada turns to stare at you again. There's another long silence. "How's Teo?"
You relax a little. "I haven't checked on him yet. You were closer. My understanding is he's fine, um, physically, but... angry."
"Why did you take him?" Ada asks emptily. Uuuuh. How do you take this?
"I thought he'd know stuff of use? And he was right there?" You might also have been motivated slightly by the 'Ada and Teo make a cute couple' thing. You'd rather not say that to her face, though.
"He doesn't," Ada says in a flat tone that brooks no disagreement. "He's just nice."
O...kay? Your brow furrows a little. "Do you... want him to not be here?"
Ada stares in silence for a bit longer, then turns back to staring at the sun and randomly comments, "Potatoes."
"What??"
"I need potatoes," Ada clarifies disinterestedly. Then she sits up a bit shakily, dusts herself off, and says, "The sun is nearly set. Just... lock me back up."
"I'll make sure that happens!" Wait. "The potatoes, I mean. Like yes you'll... never mind..."
Escorting Ada back to her room (cell) occurs in silence.
----------------------------------------------------------------
After... that whole thing... you checked in on Teo.
He was less unnerving, at least. Said a lot of very rude things about you and Maman that were certainly not true (Okay, except calling Maman fat, but yes? So? Why was this part of the tirade?), and admittedly a couple things about you that weren't necessarily undeserved, but... yeah.
The main thing you extracted from the conversation was that Teo wanted to go home and was in fact quite willing to abandon Ada (Ouch) if you'd just give him some supplies to try to walk back home and let him out.
He was proving to be shockingly ignorant and unhelpful...
[]Sure, send him packing. Whatever. At least that way he's eating at Neustadt's expense, not yours.
[]Sure, if he's willing to carry a letter back to Neustadt.
-[]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
-[]Assuring Neustadt you don't intend to bother them anytime soon if they continue to not be aggressive toward the Freelands.
-[]Declaring war on the priesthood in specific more explicitly.
-[]Write-in.
[]Nah, he stays. You're pretty sure you'll find a use for him eventually.
[]Nah, you're recommending Caras renders him. He's going to need resources for those Cores you promised the Council, for one...
[]Write-in.
------------------------------------------------------------
After that was decided, you finally got to Svenja.
"Go away," is her first response when you knock on her door.
"I'm here to make sure you're okay!" you say with as much cheer as you can muster after the depressing pair of interactions you just had. "Um, to make sure no serious slipups have occurred with your care."
There's a long silence before Svenja pulls open the door to her room. She thankfully does not look anywhere near as bad as Ada: she clearly hasn't been able to keep her hair in the style it was in when you met her in Neustadt, and you think she's a little paler than you remember, but overall she looks just... unhappy. "Hi... Dame Sabrina... what brings you here today?" Svenja says in a rote manner she clearly has no enthusiasm for.
"I... just said why?" you say in some puzzlement.
Svenja sighs very slightly. "I'm... fine. Very fine. Everything is fine."
You doubt that. "I have been given the impression you're not fine. Maybe even... suicidal?" you say with some trepidation: it's not a topic one is really meant to broach openly.
Svenja gives you a funny look, then bursts into laughter so hard she has to wipe tears from her eyes. Okay...
You wait patiently for a minute. Eventually Svenja recovers enough to give a crooked smile and say, "No, no, never, I would never do that to Tanja. I just... don't know what to do with myself. I had my life laid before me in Neustadt, daily routines, familial obligations... and now I'm in a Dominator castle and the only things left are making sure Tanja and I are well. I offered to help in the kitchen, but Dominators don't cook! I can sew a little, but there's no material and the only thing needed is to adjust Tanja's clothes in a few months! How- how do you not go a bit mad, living like this?"
Oh. That's... okay, much less dire than your worst fears, but still far from ideal. Ummm. Well, answering her question first to give you time to think. "I'm personally very busy running errands for my husband, the Baron. He can't be everywhere at once, for one."
Svenja gives you another odd look. "You- you were serious about that? Married?" Svenja looks very disbelieving.
"Happily married, um, a few months now? I've had trouble tracking time since it happened. Very busy, for one." It might be six months by now? You're not sure. It's been really difficult to track everything, but... the leaves are turning orange and falling away outside... so that should be not too incorrect...
"How- but- children?" Svenja stumbles over her words.
You frown a little at that, still stinging a bit from learning you can't have kids while Integrated. "I'll have you know my marriage duties lie elsewhere and anyway this is love." You sigh happily a little at that. You didn't like most of the old fairy tales, but you had liked the basic idea of marrying for love as opposed to any of the other reasons to consider marrying. It was a nice piece to some of those fairy tales.
Svenja stares at you like she just discovered an unrecognizable creature on the underside of her shoe and isn't sure whether she should be disgusted or not. "Love," she says like she's never heard the word before.
"Oh yes!" you nod enthusiastically. "Pure love! None of this stuff where carnal desires are dressed up after the fact as 'love'..."
Svenja's right hand rests on the door edge, as if she is considering closing the door in your face. "I see, Dame Sabrina," she says very neutrally, expression suddenly blank.
"But enough about me," you say, abruptly remembering the actual purpose of this visit. "So you just need something constructive to occupy yourself? That's all you're suffering from?"
Svenja's face relaxes slightly into uncertainty. "Yes? It would be nice to not live in such darkness as well..."
"Alright, I'll have to give this some thought, but if nothing else we could relocate you to a village?" Hmmm. The obvious answer is to Integrate Svenja if she's willing, but you're... reluctant to do that. Especially when there's always that chance Svenja would turn out to want to get revenge or something for ruining her life.
This bears thinking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Once you'd bid Svenja goodbye, you sought out Caras. You had things you wished to speak with him about before he headed out for the night!
[]You'd like his input on the Svenja thing before committing to anything. You know why he didn't just put her to work, of course, but you'd like his perspective regardless.
[]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
[]You still haven't actually talked about the possibility of extending the Integration. You'd like to at least know what Caras does (and does not!) know regarding it.
[]Your notes about Soissons' Breeds! You'd like to actually go over those reasonably quickly! Caras might get some use out of them!
[]Write-in.
And then after that you had plans for what you'd do.
[]Hang out with Caras for the night! Talk about All The Things! See what he actually does in his 'rounds'! Spend time with him! Hug him lots!
[]Go check up on the border road, with the traps and so on. You're still not sure of its condition.
[]Go visit a village, see how things are going.
-[]Abandonne. It's been a while since you've seen your family, and also Abandonne is apparently underperforming on its sheep tax?
-[]Ville Luminous. You remember a Virmire suspected they were underreporting their size. You should look into that.
-[]Terre de Moutons. To check on Felix and Konrad, for one, but also to see if you can learn anything of use about why these sheep are so vigorous. Maybe export them or something.
-[]Lac de Glace. You'd like to ask more questions about the Szumowiny issue. (You'll ask Caras some questions on the way out)
-[]One of the small towns whose name you don't know. You'd like to dig more into the issue of their own tax contributions.
-[]One of the disputed towns on the Ice Lake shore. Do they have opinions on this border dispute? Maybe you can talk them into picking Caras...
-[]Estvallee. It's occurred to you that you don't have any idea what happened to the place once its inhabitants were killed? You're wondering if maybe new tenants have moved in without Caras realizing it.
[]Prep an armed escort and check out the accidental Bandit Fort. See if you can undo that damage.
[]Write-in.
(Yesterday was a very derail-y day. Glad I did get the update finished today: I was worrying I wouldn't be able to)
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Torgamous
Aspiring Gynoid
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[x]Sure, if he's willing to carry a letter back to Neustadt.
-[x]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
-[x]Assuring Neustadt you don't intend to bother them anytime soon if they continue to not be aggressive toward the Freelands.
[x]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
[x]Go visit a village, see how things are going.
-[x]Abandonne. It's been a while since you've seen your family, and also Abandonne is apparently underperforming on its sheep tax?
-[x]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
-[x]Assuring Neustadt you don't intend to bother them anytime soon if they continue to not be aggressive toward the Freelands.
[x]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
[x]Go visit a village, see how things are going.
-[x]Abandonne. It's been a while since you've seen your family, and also Abandonne is apparently underperforming on its sheep tax?
- Location
- Earth
[x]Sure, if he's willing to carry a letter back to Neustadt.
-[x]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
-[x]Assuring Neustadt you don't intend to bother them anytime soon if they continue to not be aggressive toward the Freelands.
[x]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
[x]Go visit a village, see how things are going.
-[x]Abandonne. It's been a while since you've seen your family, and also Abandonne is apparently underperforming on its sheep tax?
I'm surprised to find myself sharing Sabrina's disappointment in Teo. Honestly, this is the best possible version of "kidnapped by monsters and imprisoned, discovering the true depth of their love in overcoming their hardships" that he can expect to ever find. He's not being tormented or kept from his ostensible one true love, and they're welcome to eat in their rooms or with the main group.
He's probably going to even leave a bad review: "2 stars, the kidnapping experience didn't feel personal or poignant, but at least they let me go when I asked."
-[x]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
-[x]Assuring Neustadt you don't intend to bother them anytime soon if they continue to not be aggressive toward the Freelands.
[x]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
[x]Go visit a village, see how things are going.
-[x]Abandonne. It's been a while since you've seen your family, and also Abandonne is apparently underperforming on its sheep tax?
I'm surprised to find myself sharing Sabrina's disappointment in Teo. Honestly, this is the best possible version of "kidnapped by monsters and imprisoned, discovering the true depth of their love in overcoming their hardships" that he can expect to ever find. He's not being tormented or kept from his ostensible one true love, and they're welcome to eat in their rooms or with the main group.
He's probably going to even leave a bad review: "2 stars, the kidnapping experience didn't feel personal or poignant, but at least they let me go when I asked."
- Location
- PA
[x]Sure, if he's willing to carry a letter back to Neustadt.
-[x]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
-[x]Assuring Neustadt you don't intend to bother them anytime soon if they continue to not be aggressive toward the Freelands.
…I'm torn because a part of me thought he cared for her but then again…Maybe not?
-[x]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
-[x]Assuring Neustadt you don't intend to bother them anytime soon if they continue to not be aggressive toward the Freelands.
…I'm torn because a part of me thought he cared for her but then again…Maybe not?
thelordofmango
may be stupid
- Location
- under a rock
I worry that sending him back with a letter might get him executed/imprisoned to keep things hush-hush or for being in league with the Dominators. Depends on how things shook out after we left and to what degree the priesthood could maintain their control of the city. Those things might happen anyway, but a letter probably makes it more likely. He definitely doesn't want to be here, though.
[X]Sure, send him packing. Whatever. At least that way he's eating at Neustadt's expense, not yours.
-[X] Make sure he actually knows how to get back to Neustadt, and warn him about the traps.
Taxes aren't the most urgent, but we should probably shake that out sooner rather than later.
[X]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
Bandits are bad. I don't really have much else to say here.
[X]Prep an armed escort and check out the accidental Bandit Fort. See if you can undo that damage.
[X]Hang out with Caras for the night! Talk about All The Things! See what he actually does in his 'rounds'! Spend time with him! Hug him lots!
[X]Sure, send him packing. Whatever. At least that way he's eating at Neustadt's expense, not yours.
-[X] Make sure he actually knows how to get back to Neustadt, and warn him about the traps.
Taxes aren't the most urgent, but we should probably shake that out sooner rather than later.
[X]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
Bandits are bad. I don't really have much else to say here.
[X]Prep an armed escort and check out the accidental Bandit Fort. See if you can undo that damage.
[X]Hang out with Caras for the night! Talk about All The Things! See what he actually does in his 'rounds'! Spend time with him! Hug him lots!
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Kai Merah
Hound Hearted Hedonist
- Location
- Somewhere in the corners of my imagination
Hmm. I kind of want to do something to provide light for our prisoners. Do we have glowing moss or anything like that? And can we talk to Caras about more than one thing?
Also, can I just say it's strange we came to see how our prisoners are doing, and after hearing their complaints, there's no option to try and fix things in their lives, beyond letting Teo go?
Also, can I just say it's strange we came to see how our prisoners are doing, and after hearing their complaints, there's no option to try and fix things in their lives, beyond letting Teo go?
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- Location
- Over there
I'm not sure if Ada staring at the sun so intently is just a result of being kept in the dark for a few weeks or if sunlight acts like the burner worm version of the rejuvenation pools. Do we want to try to starve it out or are we looking for something less likely to kill her?
I'd much rather she not die, but ya it does imply that the Sun acts as some sort of energy source for the burner worms. Which means it might be possible to try starving the burners worms by isolating the hosts in darkness. Worth trying.
For the Teo thing, could we not get him to take care of Ada somehow? Though that might actually be a bad idea considering how he seems willing to just abandon her, pity...
Edit: Oh! I just remember that Svenja knows Ada, maybe she can do it? There is the whole Ada thinks she is a traitor aspect but it's probably better than just letting her be? Would certainly be a big enough task to do, all things considered
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Torgamous
Aspiring Gynoid
- Pronouns
- She/Her
We've been very open about wanting people to not be killed by these worms. Her refusal to help is not because she doesn't know what we want.
We know how to kill the worms along with the hosts. That is not hard. It doesn't really help treat infected Freelanders.
Lurking_Badger
Cheese Enjoyer
- Location
- Wisconsin
I wonder where the burner worms actually are in the host body. Are they concentrated in one part or spread across the body? The answer could be helpful for both military and civilian uses when dealing with the infected.
Do you think we could ask Caras to bring back a Burner infected corpse (that hasn't combusted itself) to cut apart?
Do you think we could ask Caras to bring back a Burner infected corpse (that hasn't combusted itself) to cut apart?
- Location
- Over there
If it works like integration, the only known safer method requires the cooperation of their equivalent of Caras. The longer we let it progress, the more likely she is to die when we remove it. If we can confirm that it works we'll at least have an option other than certain death for the infected.
On the other hand, letting it progress might let us figure out if she retains her personality throughout the process. I don't have high hopes for this given the way they've been weaponized against us. If figuring out how to take care of your Brandstifter just resulted in healthy people with slightly superhuman abilities I don't think the priests would be throwing them at us while restricting their own people from getting them.
I'm voting to keep Teo here, half out of spite and half out of the possibility that he might be able to help Ada somehow.
[X]Nah, he stays. You're pretty sure you'll find a use for him eventually.
Probably want to clear up the tax stuff sooner rather than later too, since we will be needing resources to maintain the upkeep for producing what the council wants.
[X]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
Afterwards, it was a 50-50 between the border road or the bandit fort, but I think I seen the border road thing a number of times already, it's a good sport to see if the traps are even effective, and we might be able to see the Commoners' reaction to the previous attack if we go there.
[X]Go check up on the border road, with the traps and so on. You're still not sure of its condition.
[X]Nah, he stays. You're pretty sure you'll find a use for him eventually.
Probably want to clear up the tax stuff sooner rather than later too, since we will be needing resources to maintain the upkeep for producing what the council wants.
[X]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
Afterwards, it was a 50-50 between the border road or the bandit fort, but I think I seen the border road thing a number of times already, it's a good sport to see if the traps are even effective, and we might be able to see the Commoners' reaction to the previous attack if we go there.
[X]Go check up on the border road, with the traps and so on. You're still not sure of its condition.
Kai Merah
Hound Hearted Hedonist
- Location
- Somewhere in the corners of my imagination
I thought her refusal to help was because we were asking her how to kill Burner Worms.
I was hoping she'd be more amenable if we asked how to keep hosts and the Brandstifters alive.
Torgamous
Aspiring Gynoid
- Pronouns
- She/Her
She's known we're not picky since before we attacked Neustadt.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Svenja is easy: Sabrina has needed a Lady in Waiting for a while to do stuff like fix up torn dresses and handle human adjacent things.
Teo... well, has he actually had the chance to spend time with Ada? I feel like they should have a chance to talk before we let him go, at least.
Ada... well, we really need a 'human wing' for Caras' castle. Maybe something on the top floor that's more open to the outside?
Edit: Do we know if there's a special reason to use sheep as tax? Or would any livestock work?
Because sheep are very inefficient from a input feed/output meat standpoint.
Maybe sheep are used because they can be moved long distances without too much trouble, and we can keep paying 'federal tax' that way, but for 'provinical tax' we should look at chicken, fish, rabbits, and insects/worms.
The later are especially efficient from a feed in/meat out standpoint.
Teo... well, has he actually had the chance to spend time with Ada? I feel like they should have a chance to talk before we let him go, at least.
Ada... well, we really need a 'human wing' for Caras' castle. Maybe something on the top floor that's more open to the outside?
Edit: Do we know if there's a special reason to use sheep as tax? Or would any livestock work?
Because sheep are very inefficient from a input feed/output meat standpoint.
Maybe sheep are used because they can be moved long distances without too much trouble, and we can keep paying 'federal tax' that way, but for 'provinical tax' we should look at chicken, fish, rabbits, and insects/worms.
The later are especially efficient from a feed in/meat out standpoint.
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
I really feel like we're missing key things from all of these interactions, but maybe I'm thinking too hard.
Rather than the worms needing sunlight, I think she's just trying to understand her situation. If we *can't* bring her to sunlight, because there isn't any, then the crusaders were right and we're just lying. That the sun shines here in our land means we're not entirely full of shit, and things are more nuanced than she was raised to believe. Staring at the sunlight is an allegory for reexamining her beliefs.
I guess I can believe her friendship with Teo was just casual, and after some solitary confinement he's willing to throw her under the bus. Or maybe it's a play to get info back to Neustadt and stage a rescue? I'm not sure it really matters, because he doesn't know anything sensitive. It would be a bit out of character to render him, and there's no sense keeping him here forever, so I guess he can go? I don't feel great about it, though.
[X]Sure, if he's willing to carry a letter back to Neustadt.
-[X]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
I'm not sure why a non-procreative marriage bothers Svenja so much, unless it's just implying a lesbian comp-het thing. But what does she have to offer, if integrated? Sabrina wasn't particularly impressive before integration, either, but she seems to have made up for it with enthusiasiam. Would an integrated seamstress be helpful, or is a human mind that can command broods just intrinsically valuable? I feel we'd have better luck finding a girl who's already good with fighting, or numbers, or something we'll use. Or else an older Tanja who actually wants to be here. I think we move them to the closest village, so Virmire can maintain his new friendship.
[X]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
[X]Go check up on the border road, with the traps and so on. You're still not sure of its condition.
Ideally we don't tell Teo how to avoid the traps, because when he gets captured and interrogated by our enemies they will learn whatever we tell him. And then there's not much point to them. Maybe walk him to the edge of our territory with an escort, so he gets through safely without knowing why that path was taken? We could do it ourselves, if we're heading to inspect the border.
Rather than the worms needing sunlight, I think she's just trying to understand her situation. If we *can't* bring her to sunlight, because there isn't any, then the crusaders were right and we're just lying. That the sun shines here in our land means we're not entirely full of shit, and things are more nuanced than she was raised to believe. Staring at the sunlight is an allegory for reexamining her beliefs.
I guess I can believe her friendship with Teo was just casual, and after some solitary confinement he's willing to throw her under the bus. Or maybe it's a play to get info back to Neustadt and stage a rescue? I'm not sure it really matters, because he doesn't know anything sensitive. It would be a bit out of character to render him, and there's no sense keeping him here forever, so I guess he can go? I don't feel great about it, though.
[X]Sure, if he's willing to carry a letter back to Neustadt.
-[X]Containing a detailed accounting of this whole 'Burner Worms shipped out to the Freelands' thing.
I'm not sure why a non-procreative marriage bothers Svenja so much, unless it's just implying a lesbian comp-het thing. But what does she have to offer, if integrated? Sabrina wasn't particularly impressive before integration, either, but she seems to have made up for it with enthusiasiam. Would an integrated seamstress be helpful, or is a human mind that can command broods just intrinsically valuable? I feel we'd have better luck finding a girl who's already good with fighting, or numbers, or something we'll use. Or else an older Tanja who actually wants to be here. I think we move them to the closest village, so Virmire can maintain his new friendship.
[X]Tax stuff! You have ideas! You want to share them so any good ideas can bear fruit sooner!
[X]Go check up on the border road, with the traps and so on. You're still not sure of its condition.
Ideally we don't tell Teo how to avoid the traps, because when he gets captured and interrogated by our enemies they will learn whatever we tell him. And then there's not much point to them. Maybe walk him to the edge of our territory with an escort, so he gets through safely without knowing why that path was taken? We could do it ourselves, if we're heading to inspect the border.