>>674795
> If she's willing to do a lot of research for them, they'll send a small team to set up camp in a safe zone outside of Ronnalin so she can just go back and forth between town and camp until all the data is collected.
This seems like a very good idea. Sami's limitation in Ronnalin was food and safe shelter. Having a camp set up outside where she can sleep and retrieve food would be perfect.

Smik 2015/10/09(Fri)12:17 No. 675616 ID: 3009b4
File 144441823229.jpg - (428.06KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_51.jpg )

>And as for the shopping, I suggest you get everything while the markets are awake, store it at Amy's house, and meet the Mayor right before dinner.

Amy suggests that if they're going to meet with the mayor then Sami needs new clothes. Amy leads her to the market to where the tailors are.

Amy, holding up a man's shirt over Sami: I think you'd look good in this.

Sami: That's a man's shirt, Amy.

Amy blushes: I know. I kinda fancy you in men's clothing.

Sami raises a curious eyebrow at Amy, who shrinks away shyly in response. Sami offers a warm smile and puts a hand on Amy's shoulder to let her know it's OK, but Amy is still flushed and despite her silly grin she only stares at her feet.

Sami has more than enough cash to afford new clothes. She considers getting some men's clothing just for Amy's benefit and private viewing, but she needs to think about what might hold more tactical advantage for meeting the mayor.

****

The options, as Sami sees them:
A. Don't change.
B. Wear men's clothes (Amy's choice).
C. Wear lady's clothes (Sami will dress herself).
D. Wear lady's clothes (Amy's choice).

Sami plans on letting Amy pick out a set of men's clothing for her unless someone has a good argument against it. She's never been in a serious relationship, let alone one with another woman, and while Sami's fearful of using the l-word she would say she feels very strongly for Amy and wants to make her happy.

A bit of fear prickles at the back of Sami's skull as she realizes that this special person, capable of bringing life back into the dead bits in her, is going to be accompanying her to a cursed town that has already demonstrated a variety of ways it can destroy someone.

Well~

Let's B cool with whatever she wants then.

>>675616
Your choice, Sami. But if you want opinions,

Inner: Feminine Underwear and Shirt/Dress
Outer: Masculine Jacket and Pants.
Let Amy decide if she wants to select the Inner or Outer clothing, you choose the other stuff.

>That's a man's shirt
Pff. Nothing wrong with that.

>Dress A B C or D
...dressup montage?

>she needs to think about what might hold more tactical advantage for meeting the mayor
Well, the whole point is to be intimidating. Two big scary half-fae bringing not-very veiled threats to get what you want. Dressing in a manner that marks you as a little strange or other probably only helps.

>A bit of fear prickles at the back of Sami's skull as she realizes that this special person, capable of bringing life back into the dead bits in her, is going to be accompanying her to a cursed town that has already demonstrated a variety of ways it can destroy someone.
We'll do everything to protect her, as we would for you.

...this does raise a question I was meaning to ask you, though. How important is it that you go back? You made the choice the first time out of desperation, driven by grief and something of a self destructive impulse. How willing are you to face that now that you know you're not monster? That you found people who accept you for who you are? That you have someone to live for?

It's a worthy cause, yes, but you're allowed to stop and ask yourself if it's really worth it to you.

Smik 2015/10/13(Tue)18:37 No. 676316 ID: 3009b4
File 144478664636.jpg - (383.08KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_52.jpg )

>Let's B cool with whatever she wants then.

Amy chooses a simple shirt and black pants for Sami.

She will wear this for her meeting with the mayor, but before they plan on the approach, some sort of plan needs to be hashed out first.

Sami recognizes that despite Skyia and Amy's claims of domination, there's a chance that the mayor may be aware that Skyia is not as strong as she used to be. Rollen is no country of fools and if the mayor's been allowed to live he's more than likely had time to learn, too.

The following things need to be decided upon as Sami sees them:

1. Should Sami bring the Siren's Axe?

The Siren's Axe offers both LEGITIMACY and LIABILITY. On one hand, it's a powerful artifact found within Ronnalin that could give credibility to Sami and provide incentive to clear the town. On the other hand, Sami is aware of how it seems to heighten her emotions and she also knows the mayor was involved with the disaster. It could hinder negotiations if she can't keep her feelings in check but it's also a powerful weapon if things do go sour.

2. Should they be DIRECT or DECEPTIVE? If they are DIRECT then they will be more honest -- letting him know what they know (and threatening as required) or they could play DECEPTION and exaggerate/leave out elements as required.

3. Should they be appeal to FEAR or to GREED? They can either persuade the mayor that assisting them is for his own good or that he could gain to benefit from his assistance.

4. Should AMY do more of the talking or should SAMI? AMY knows the mayor better, but Sami knows the situation in Ronnalin better and more importantly, she looks 'normal' except for her eyes.

If you have any information requests, please let Sami know now so she and Amy can look into them in advance. She is also willing to entertain the idea of just threatening the mayor outright, but there needs to be a good reason or some detective work done to justify this.

1. Have Skyia or George hold on to the axe and wait at the entrance. No need to leave it at the house but keep it away from your hands until you know what you're going to do with the mayor.
2. Deception works here. You don't have enough information to push the mayor, and he'll learn too much if you yap without knowing the consequences of sharing the intel.
3. Appeal to his greed. You can apply anger and intimidate him if he doesn't accept your offers, but show that you can be "reasonable".
4. Amy has a better feel of the politics here, you can't risk causing an incident over the wrong sentence.

>>676316
Hoo boy, we're planning in detail, here.

>1
I say bring it. You've had a crash course in having to control and face the worst of your emotions already, I think you can control yourself, especially with us and Amy there. Just remember: you don't need to do anything extra to make him pay. We're going there pretty much explicitly to rip him off, and then make things worse for him later. We're setting his comeuppance in motion.

>2
Deception. It's much easier if we control what he knows. Honestly, we don't even need to exaggerate much- smart omissions and fear will do that for you.

>3
I... really don't see why you wouldn't appeal to both. Carrot and the stick. You're here to tempt him, and to be intimidating enough that crossing or angering you would be a bad idea. You're playing the fae here. You're the dangerous, unknown creature offering a tempting bargain with veiled threats.

>4
I feel like a big part of the answer here is you should do some planning and talking beforehand- discussing what points you intend to cover. If you each have some idea of what the other considers important, it'll be easier to work together / swap while with the mayor.

>>676319
That works.
On the Axe, would it work to bring it but then lean it against a wall or something rather than carrying it?

I'm lost on the question of what we can offer this guy that isn't a bad idea. Frankly, I see two possibilities regarding his feelings on his part in the disaster. One possibility is that he is justifiably fearful and even repentant over his due karma for causing a mass-murder and the destruction of Ronnalin. The other possibility is that he's only ever shed crocodile tears over that--if any at all--and he's a greedy parasite that cannot safely be tolerated. We need to know more about him to answer the questions given, I say.

>1. Should Sami bring the Siren's Axe?
I trust you, Sami. I believe you are strong enough to control your emotions. Bring the axe.
>2. Should they be DIRECT or DECEPTIVE?
Deceptive sounds good.
>4. Should AMY do more of the talking or should SAMI?
Start out with Amy, but when it comes to confirmation of the condition of Ronnalin, Sami should talk.

Smik 2015/10/24(Sat)08:35 No. 679061 ID: 3009b4
File 144570091722.jpg - (470.05KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_53.jpg )

Now that they've decided on an approach, Amy will arrange a meeting. The walk to the Mayor's office is short, but despite this the two feel the eyes of the town on them the entire time until they enter the building. The inside is tastefully decorated with rich wood grains and a thick, red carpet lines the reception area. Various paintings adorn the walls of figures whose importance has probably past. Sami notes that there doesn't seem to be much in the way of security here.

Amy: Don't expect a warm reception - I'm always bad news here as either I'm warning of a threat or I'm doing some threatening.

Amy whispers to the doorman and soon the mayor's assistant arrives to greet them. Just as any predicted, the mayor's assistant is not happy to see the duo, and the brief glance he gives Sami is one of thinly-veiled disgust.

Mayor's Assistant: Seamstress. Your business with the mayor is....?

Amy smiles icily: Opportunity. I would like to arrange a meeting with the mayor as soon as possible in regards to recovering the golems from Ronnalin.

The assistant winces; apparently Amy's 'opportunities' are normally not well received.

Mayor's Assistant: I'm going to assume that failing to recover these golems would create a security liability?

Amy looks to Sami.

Sami: You should see what the Rook did.

Mayor's Assistant glances at the Siren's Axe and then looks at Sami coldly: I understand that the only time the golems move is when someone steals from them.

Sami pauses for a moment as she realizes the implication and thinks of a response: Oh, you think I stole the Axe? No, it was given to me. By the mayor.

The assistant scoffs.

Sami pauses for a moment: Well, the spiritual remains of former mayor. Of Ronnalin. The one I knew growing up.

The assistant does not look impressed.

Sami brings the Axe forwards so he can take a good look at it. As she does so, her eyes become a more brilliant blue, although she is not consciously aware of it. She watches the assistant's face and times her speech for dramatic effect.

Sami: I am Sami Jones of Ronnalin. THAT Sami. The same child who saw all her friends drown ten years ago, the only survivor of the song of the Pied Piper. THAT Piper. The same Piper that both our mayors did business with.

She steps forward and the assistant tries to take a step back, but in a blink Sami has gripped him firmly by the shoulder and brought him back to her, forcing him to stare into her eyes.

Sami: You know that town is cursed. Everyone involved in the disaster was tainted by it.

The hand that grips the assistant's shoulder is trembling, but it's from restraint instead of weakness. A high-pitched ringing has become audible, and it seems to be coming from the Axe.

Sami's voice becomes very tense: I found out recently that someone... living here... shares that taint.

Amy gently places her hand on Sami's shoulder. The effect is instant: Sami releases the assistant, her demeanor soft and pleasant, and the Axe is quiet.

Sami: But this meeting isn't about that. It's about a beneficial opportunity.

The assistant rubs his shoulder while wincing. Sami's eyes dart between the spot of blood she seems her grip left and back to his face.

Mayor's Assistant: I... I see. I'm sure I can arrange a meeting tonight at our usual location. Good-day ladies.

Amy sighs.

Amy: Usually I make the subtle threats required to enforce compliance but I see you took care of that pretty

neatly.

Sami looks at her feet for a moment, then turns to Amy and pulls her in to embrace her, nuzzling her neck. Amy is flustered at such a bold, public display of affection by another woman. She shrinks at the eyes on them. Sami turns and glares at the observers, daring them to comment. The onlooks turn away and carry on their business in reply. She looks back at Amy's flush face and smiles warmly.

Sami: C'mon, they're not stupid, they know. But what are they gonna do? Fuck them.

Sami takes Amy's hand, and practically swoons as Sami leads her away from town and back to her home.

I think you should have saved the aggressive behavior for the mayor, not his assistant. But if that's you trying at half your normal anger, I think you'll have the real deal stuttering in his mind and easily preyed on by Amy's negotiations.

They're likely going to increase prices around you two after that stunt. No matter. You acted with courage in making choices that should be personal, that's something they will respect. I know I respect you showing affection to your girlfriend in public because you wanted to.

But in all seriousness, you should probably go back to the house. Too much attention at once and something is going to make the news.

Also, your eyes went glowy again.

>>679061
Well, that works. Although you're certainly going to have to be careful, if your emotions came that close to getting the best of you when interacting with a proxy. It'll be worse with the mayor. (If you have to: remind yourself that part of the point of this exercise is exploiting him, anyways. You'll see that he gets his).

>Amy is flustered at such a bold, public display of affection by another woman.
Uhm, breaking taboos is not usually the best way to make friends and convince people to do what you want. I don't disrespect the integrity of standing up for your beliefs and actions... but there surely are more productive ways to get help and resources in town.

>>679100
Eh, the townspeople already saw us as weird and the mayor was never going to like us. Public opinion might be an issue if the mayor tries to raise a mob, but I think Dragons have methods for heading off or dealing with that sort of thing.

>>679466

Kind of sort of, but also kind of sort of not. I mean... yeah, she's powerful, but if the WHOLE DAMN VILLAGE showed up with torches and pitchforks, would she be able to take them all out?

As I understand it, Dragons rely on intimidation and the threat that they could kill anyone -if they wanted to- to keep order in an area, and at the same time, scare away threats from other sources (like the pantheon).

That doesn't mean they could kill everyone. It means they have to toe the line and make sure they are seen as a scary thing that will leave them alone as long as the townspeople do (or don't do) x thing.

Smik 2015/11/14(Sat)19:45 No. 684020 ID: 3009b4
File 144755912155.jpg - (407.19KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_54.jpg )

Sami takes Amy back to her home at a brisk pace, with her hand in hers.

Amy: Sami, what's the hurry?

In response, Sami lets go of Amy's hand, and runs it down to her bottom, giving it a squeeze.

Amy: SAMI!!

She looks around to see if anyone noticed, but if they did they don't let on. She looks at Sami flustered and Sami just smiles.

Amy: Someone will see!

Sami: I don't care. I really don't give a shit. I want you, and the only *restraint* I feel like applying is waiting until we get home.

Amy blushes profusely and looks at her feet, but she can't wipe the grin off her face. It's very clear she likes it.

Amy: I... I'm not used to it. I'm so used everyone trying to hide things.

Sami: But you like it.

Amy: I've always wanted to be this free.

As soon as they're outside the city, Sami gets bolder in her affections, kissing Amy's neck, whispering what she's going to do to her in her ear, and running her fingers down her back. By the time they get to the house, Amy's flushed and when Sami stops before they enter to give her a long, passionate kiss, she gets so hot and bothered that she touches Sami in a very intimate way.

They briefly and rather ineffectively glance around to see if her parents are within earshot before Sami pulls her into Amy's bedroom and ravishes her with fervor. They enjoy bouts of frenzied passion interspaced with tender lulls, and before long Amy is too tired for any more and passes out into a blissful sleep.

Sami lusts for one more time, but as she flicks Amy's nipple with her tail and gets no response she sighs and takes care of herself. It's not until she's finished with her fantasy that the desire clouding her mind clears, and she's sitting on the side of a rather damp bed with Amy still happily in her dreams just beside her.

It's not until she is still in the shadows that Sami realizes the ringing in her ears is gone and that the Siren's Axe is no longer in the room.

The oddest thing is she's still not tired.

>the ringing in her ears is gone and that the Siren's Axe is no longer in the room.
Hmm. It amplified emotions before, could it have egged you on this time? Might explain why you were still raring to go when she was tired out. Although, that still doesn't explain where it went.

From that wording though- it was in the room when you started? It didn't get left behind (or taken) while you were in town?

Should probably figure out where it went. Not the kind of thing that should be left unaccounted for.

>The oddest thing is she's still not tired.
Yeah that's weird. Hmm. There's a connection between water fae and sex, isn't there? Is it possible this actually served to recharge you more than tire you out?

Smik 2015/11/14(Sat)20:38 No. 684030 ID: 3009b4
File 144756228447.jpg - (485.57KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_54b.jpg )

>From that wording though- it was in the room when you started?

Sami's recollection of things before all the sex are a bit foggy, but she's pretty sure it was in the room when they started.

>Yeah that's weird. Hmm. There's a connection between water fae and sex, isn't there? Is it possible this actually served to recharge you more than tire you out?

Sami's never indulged her fae side for ten years, so she doesn't know.

She hears shuffling outside the door, and with whispers from George, Amy's father. Then Skyia speaks loudly from outside.

Skyia: Sami, are you awake and decent?

She hears George hiss at her how improper asking her that question is.

Sami: Ummm...

Skyia: I'm going to assume the former. Sweetie don't be ashamed...

George: Skyia!!

Skyia: Don't let your pot boil over Georgie, I think it's better we be up front with this. Besides, if I didn't smell it coming you might have heard it. More clearly. Besides...

George: Skyia, she doesn't need to know or think about it.

Skyia: ... besides, you had me retrieve the Siren's Axe. While...

Sami: Oh no.

Skyia: Sweetie, you're too young to worry about what your lover's faerie mother might have seen. Just know that you should freshen up and then you and George need to talk.

Sami: OH NO...

Skyia: Relax, it's not like that. It's related to that, but it's not like that. Just freshen up. Amy and I tend to leave our mark on people and while it's not an unpleasant odour it's very distracting. Well, to me at least -- I doubt Georgie will...

... oh he's giving me a look of horror, I guess he can. Just come into the kitchen when you're ready, dear.


Sami is mortified.

>snake mama snuck in and took it
Oh good, that was one of the good likely explanations.

>Sami is mortified.
Hey, making you mortified is a parent's prerogative.

Might as well get decent and see what they've got for you.

Wait, did we screw anything up? Should we have stopped Skyia from holding the axe?

Well, breakfast sounds good. I recommend the breakfast sandwich - scrambled eggs, eggs over easy, fried meat strips and some ground meat all stuck between two pieces of bread. Good times.

Smik 2015/11/14(Sat)21:40 No. 684056 ID: 3009b4
File 144756601555.jpg - (340.36KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_55.jpg )

Thankfully there's a wash basin in the room. Sami wipes herself down to the point where she figures she should at least be presentable enough to go down to the river and have a proper wash. She avoids all eye contact and she hears Skyia laugh merrily as she heads out.

The water does a remarkable job of clearing her head. It feels... more natural than any bath that she's been in.

She returns and meets George in the kitchen. He's got the Siren's Axe.

George: Have a good wash, Sami?

Sami just blushes in reply.

George: This isn't easy for me either, Sami. I... I'm still not quite comfortable with my daughter's choice in, umm... suitors.

Sami: If it's any consolation, I had no idea about it myself until I met her. Everything sort of clicked and now everything is different.

George looks her up and down, measuring her up. She sees Skyia pass by as he does so, and the faerie woman roll her eyes.

Skyia: If there was something wrong with her I would have made it clear by now. Imagine if you had someone judging YOU when you married me?

George rolls his eyes in return: Woman, we DID. We had the entire town, and my family all judging us. Some of my people still consider me fallen! Let me be a little protective of my only daughter!!

Skyia laughs.

Skyia: Oh yes, I forgot you're the scary, scary bride's father. Nevermind the half-serpent dragon-queen faerie who basically owns this town. YOU are the SCARY ONE. YES. Sami, you be CAREFUL.

Skyia continues on to tend to her chores with laughing all the way. George sighs, knowing full well that any moment of authority or intimidation he might have had is gone.

Sami: Does it make you feel any better to know that I understand and that your approval is important to me? Oh gods. I... I have to tell my parents. OH GODS.

George looks over at Sami, whose eyes are wide with the realization. He chuckles warmly.

George: All right, all right, ok, ok, this is not really the reason why I wanted to talk to you. It's about the Siren's Axe. It's binding to you, and you need to know how to handle it before it starts to dominate you.

He has Sami's full terrified attention.

Sami: Guys... remember when we first met and you pissed me off? It... it wasn't you. I've been scared of turning into a monster since I was little. When I killed the piper, I ate him. I BECAME a monster. I... I just got used to this fae side of me and the last thing I want to hear is that something else is gonna make me lose control.

George: When you're a Minstrel Knight, you learn that there's an instrument that just feels right. It touches your soul, you play through it and it plays through you. But when you discover it, it can influence you like an obsession and bring out one's intensity. You've found your instrument, and maybe it's your fae blood but your instrument is something different. Mine was the violin if you're curious. I still serenade Skyia with it but she prefers the CONCERTINA -- it calms Amy down too. Now, you don't know how to play this instrument so it's playing you. If you're going to get any sort of control over it I'm going to have to show you a few things.

The catch is, teaching takes time. You're going to have to stay here for awhile... become part of our family. Try to lower your profile a little too. Speaking of family, you might want to send a message to your parents at some point -- you said they're worried sick about you.


Sami looks nervous.

Sami: Town still calls to me. I have to fix it. I've seen the dead, and they need resolution. I...

George interrupts her.

George: And you've got my daughter involved now. Wait -- how have the dead spoken to you?

Sami: They're... sort of trapped there -- the mayor and the piper. The mayor said he couldn't think very clearly until I came to the place where he died. Seems to be the same for the Piper. I think it's the same for me, I'm just not dead yet.

George is silent for a few moments.

George: Is there anything else you haven't told me? Or Amy for that... oh, actually don't bother trying to talk with Amy. She's like her mother, VERY headstrong and once she'd made up her mind nothing we say will change it. But... you need to tell ME everything that's happened to you. You're going to be family, right?

Sami: I guess... I thought we weren't getting married?

George gives her a stern look.

George: Skyia's taught me family's more than a ceremony. If you're leading my daughter into danger you had better damn well be family.

Sami looks down.

Sami: I... I don't want her to endanger herself. I've had to question if what I'm doing is really worth it when I've got something to lose now.

George: And?

Sami looks at her feet: I don't have a choice. I can't abandon them. It's not RIGHT to condemn the dead like that. I've lived my life with crushing guilt, and even if they ARE guilty I can't just leave them for who knows how long -- maybe even eternity -- tied with the same burden.

George gently raises Sami's gaze to meet his.

George: But you're innocent. We know everything remember?

Sami: I don't believe I'm innocent though. I have to fix this. It's my fault. Even if it's not, I have to do this.

George sighs.

George: I understand Sami, but the only way I can help you is if you tell me everything. You're the grown-up lone survivor, you've got your home town's artifact which is binding itself to you, you've got a Token of Death, you've talked to ghosts, you're mixed up with a curse and you've mixed in with my daughter... is there anything else?

Sami: You're the only thing left guys. I... guess compared to everything else you're kinda sand to stone. But... look, I've been raised to keep secrets and this feels wrong. What should I do? Are you guys OK with it?

>You're the only thing left guys. I... guess compared to everything else you're kinda sand to stone.
I thought you already told them about us? At least, you told Amy you had wild spirits along (after we pissed her off) and you talked with Skyia about us. Did he miss that?

>But... look, I've been raised to keep secrets and this feels wrong.
Uh, wrong to tell him, or wrong not to?

>What should I do? Are you guys OK with it?
I don't have a problem with him knowing we're here. Man has a right to know what his daughter's getting into.

If it's any comfort, we like Amy. So she'll have spooky spirit powers looking out for her, trying to nudge dangerous circumstances in her favor.

>is there anything else?
Uh, if we're gonna do full disclosure, we do sometimes talk to cats. So you've got one degree removed involvement there. I know Skyia's not found of them, but they are handy for information resources.

>I thought you already told them about us? At least, you told Amy you had wild spirits along (after we pissed her off) and you talked with Skyia about us. Did he miss that?

Sami: I guess he wants the gory details. And when I said it felt wrong... it's just... not customary for communities to just spill their guts. It's like a faux pas.

>I don't have a problem with him knowing we're here. Man has a right to know what his daughter's getting into.

Sami: You're right.

Sami explains -- at length -- what she knows about you. The fact that she thought you were trying to change her back at her first night, and then *something* happened... and she woke up at dawn. Sami herself pauses, like she's not sure how much really happened.

This is where George grills her -- apparently he is very interested in HOW your connection with Sami first came to be. He asks her many questions, all seemed to be about finding out when she began to trust you. He even re-asks questions, almost to try to catch her tripping up. What it does show is gaps in Sami's own understanding of you.

As she and George talk, Skyia sits in to just listen. Eventually Amy toddles out of bed, washes up, and sits in as well.

His main point of concern is the fact that your connection with Sami did not initiate until she had arrived back in her home town. If it was truly just a matter of the Death Token, why not trigger earlier? Why now?

Skyia voices her opinion.

Skyia: This is likely a critical point in your life Sami. Wild spirits -- no offence intended -- are horribly unreliable. I'm afraid whoever has set this up has probably done so more out of amusement than altruism.

George: You're meeting with the mayor tonight, right? I advise very strongly that you do not take the Siren's Axe with you. The mayor isn't trustworthy but he won't try anything stupid unless backed into a corner.

We're not the most reliable because most of us aren't specialists, and we're not the most serious because we have no objective stake in this. But sometimes, a large but specific source of help has a way of sorting itself.

Alright, time to plan the negotiations. George, can you find some tools to analyze the Siren's Axe? Skyia, check the Fae networks and see if you can research any information about the Axe that we might not know about. Amy, write down everything you know about the mayor's personality, and a list of recent events that spans up to six months, maybe more. Sami, find a replacement weapon and practice your ability to threaten opponents, choose a weapon that has a combination of a high stopping power and a high grapple.

Oh well now, how do we explain ourselves and all of what we see, say and do?
"You remember those 'wild spirits' I mentioned earlier? One of them is helping me with the words for this, these exact words. They say they are spirits from many different worlds, of many things. This one calls himself a 'human' and knows mathematics, logic, musical theory, and languages of control that tell things like golems what to do. They are connected to the coin. I was suspicious of them at first, but even their failures seem to be made in ignorance and good faith. Most of our interaction is discussing or arguing what to do as they try to give advice. Much of what they do speaking with cats, fairies and magic objects scares me, but they have adopted my welfare and goals as their own and it's unlikely I would have made it out of Ronnalin alive without their help."

>His main point of concern is the fact that your connection with Sami did not initiate until she had arrived back in her home town. If it was truly just a matter of the Death Token, why not trigger earlier? Why now?
>This is likely a critical point in your life Sami.
They've answered their own question. By design or fate, we pretty much only appear in certain critical moments of people's lives. I'm sure you could have benefited from guidance from a younger age, or over the long term, but that's unfortunately not how it works. We don't get to hang around anywhere for the long haul. We don't get to choose when we appear.

>I'm afraid whoever has set this up has probably done so more out of amusement than altruism.
Well, getting meta, questing is technically a lot closer to a form of entertainment than a form of charity. Although you could make an interesting argument there, considering how many of us are motivated to genuinely help the fictional characters we interact with. And there is the fact that an author is usually putting in a good deal of effort to provide something for free to a group of anonymous strangers.

>Wild spirits -- no offence intended -- are horribly unreliable.
None taken, although how true that is depends on the context. There are hard limits on what we can do, and our long term involvement in any scenario is by definition, impermanent, but when we are on a task, we see things through.

We've done pretty impossible things to keep people safe, before. We don't intend to fall short here.

>Now, you don't know how to play this instrument so it's playing you.
>I advise very strongly that you do not take the Siren's Axe with you.
I'm tempted to side with his advise. He has some understanding as to how the artifact works and affects you. If he's right that it's going to disproportionately influence you until you've started learning how to master it, it's probably more of a liability in a tense social situation.

> I'm afraid whoever has set this up has probably done so more out of amusement than altruism.
It's... Both. They're amusing themselves by being both altruistic and humorous, and leaving both ourselves (The spirits) and Sami confused as to what's good and what's not.

>>684255

Some of the cats who set up our connection are trying to help, they're ALL looking to get their kicks, though.

Smik 2015/11/30(Mon)22:16 No. 686430 ID: 3009b4
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The meeting with the mayor is tonight, so Sami sups with Amy's family. As instructed, Sami will leave the Siren's Axe in case she loses control of her better judgement again.

Amy's usual place is in a clearing within the woods a short distance from town -- it provides confidentiality for her and the mayor.

The night air is slightly sweet, fragrant with the smell of pine and damp earth. Sami and Amy arrive first, and watch patiently for the mayor. He is flanked by a couple of masked men, and all three wear wide-brimmed hats and dark clothing.

Amy whispers: It's not unusual for him to bring protection. I wouldn't be surprised if Mother is lurking by somewhere too. The guards are masked so we can't ... influence them in advance.

The mayor has the look of someone aged by stress. His hair is grey, and behind his spectacles his eyes have visible bags even in the dim light. His voice is the clue that he's younger than he appears -- Sami guesses he's about 50.

Mayor Harris : Well, what is it now, Amy? I'm here as rudely requested by your new... acquaintance.

As suggested, they will be deceptive over honest and apply more to greed than fear when there's a choice.

Sami: Didn't your assistant inform you of who I was?

Mayor Harris looks uncomfortable and doesn't meet Sami's gaze.

Mayor Harris: I know who you're claiming to be...

Amy looks irritated: Do we really need to do this little dance? I can vouch for her identity, and that should be sufficient.

Mayor Harris sighs: Very well then. If we're going to skip the dance I'd appreciate we could also skip the usual threats? You did mention an opportunity.

Sami: How about the ability to detect spirits, and maybe even retrieve some golems?

Mayor Harris is unable to restrain a flicker of keen interest.

Mayor Harris: So you're serious about running the experiments proposed by Dr. Korze? I won't pretend that being able to actually know when we're being spied on is uninteresting. It's better than relying on the nonsense from the North-East. I suppose you need funds?

Sami: Well, it's more like Dr. Korze's people will need them. They need someone to go in and run some experiments and considering I'm trying to clear the curse from my home town knowing where the curse is would help me too.

Mayor Harris's expression changes somewhat: If you don't mind Sami - why bother? You survived, the town is abandoned. Why not just move on?

Sami sighs: I've been trying to do that for ten years. It won't let me.

Sami feels a tickle at the back of her neck. She glances over at Amy, but she seems to be focused on watching the mayor and his men.

Do you have anything you'd like Sami to ask?

You're probably being watched. Don't take the mayor hostage yet, someone in the branches might not work on his behalf.

Your main issue is that there's a quick and easy way to beat this curse, but you need EXPENSIVE ingredients that are worth enough to build an over-city over Ronnalin. (Technically the ingredients are gold, gold, and more gold, but keep that from him.) Another option is to perform a specific ritual sacrifice on everyone who was responsible for the mess, which will likely go horribly and you aren't considering that as an option. Also, you can't ritually sacrifice a goddess, so there.

So the last option is to tear away at the curse using hit-and-run tactics to steal the power of the wraiths (hackers) until you can fix this with an exorcist or something.

Let the mayor think he can outsmart you. Your goal is to make him think that he's smart, smart enough to figure out your game and play to the best of his ability. Then screw him over with new rules, if necessary.

>You're probably being watched.
By who? We've already met all the major local players, I think. Unless the Redeemer showed up.

>than relying on the nonsense from the North-East
Do we know about that already?

>Do you have anything you'd like Sami to ask?
Uh. I can think of plenty of confrontational "why did you do what you did" questions, but antagonizing him in that manner doesn't serve our current interests.

Look, you benefit if anything is done about the curse lurking on your borders, you benefit if the research bears fruit or if we recover any golems, you benefit not annoying the local fae-blooded, and for assurances, you've got a contractor who's tied to the place.

It's win-win, and you're not taking any of the risks.

>>686513
To be fair, in financing our expedition, he IS taking something of a financial risk. The idea is to convince him we're worth the money.

Smik 2015/12/06(Sun)17:27 No. 687384 ID: 3009b4
File 144945162329.jpg - (379.37KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_57.jpg )

>Don't take the mayor hostage yet, someone in the branches might not work on his behalf.

Sami: That thought never even occurred to me, amusing an idea as it is. I have no plans on taking anyone hostage.

>>than relying on the nonsense from the North-East
>Do we know about that already?

Sami: Maybe? He's referring to Gaelend and Shinato -- the cloppers & trites. They have this thing about honoring the spirits. We've tried borrowing techniques from time to time but with not much success.

Sami: Look, this is very simple. You just give Dr. Korze anything he needs, we do research for him and hopefully we figure out how to lift the curse in Ronnalin. At the very least we expect to fully test spirit-detecting equipment which you're clearly interested in... but we have the potential to lift the curse which removes a local hazard.

Mayor Harris thinks about it before sighing.

Mayor Harris: I'll be frank, Samantha. I don't think you're going to lift the curse, and while I am interested in spirit detection research and I do have some confidence in Dr. Korze's work you're more likely going to get yourself killed, and then I'll have to answer to Skyia for her daughter's death.

Amy: Going with Sami was my idea. You'll have more to answer to if you get in my way.

Mayor Harris: I'm getting too old and tired for this kind of nonsense. Fine, I'll tell Dr. Korze he has the financial support of our town -- but for your own sake, don't take any more foolish risks than you absolutely have to. The last thing anyone wants is an enraged, grieving mother on the rampage.

Sami: Good. Shake and close.

>>687384
WAIT LET ME SCAN HIS HAND FIRST

[[Scan: Mayor]]
[[Scan: Mayor's hand]]

Okay, we're good.

Yay, you have a budget! Sami and Amy, hug Skyia and then discuss the distribution of funds.

I see no reason to not take his hand, nor any traps or tricks.

But he did hit the nail on the head- the biggest danger to him is actually if you allow anything to happen to Amy. Luckily for him we're already invested in preventing that, though not for his sake.

>>687386
No reason to be suspicious about this, he would have to deal with an enraged mother, like he said, if he tried anything.

[ANIMATED] Smik 2016/01/04(Mon)19:29 No. 691724 ID: 3009b4
File 145196458083.gif - (495.55KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_58.gif )

As her hand clasps the mayor's, Sami feels a sick sensation near the back of her head - pressure building in a pinpoint sized ball. Something pops, and it's like a thousand tiny legs crawling up her spine and on the inside of her skull.

It's over quickly; her face merely flinches and it's done. But she feels like something terrible just happened.

Ummmmmmm.

Sami I'm pretty sure a curse just jumped from you to the mayor. That's probably bad.

I'm really not sure how it was able to hitch a ride without us, you, or anyone you encountered sensing it. Or how it was able to behave itself.

>>691724
Oh crap. TROJAN!

Sami, Trojan Viruses are a type of "curse" that are weak hitters but can camouflage themselves near-perfectly until they find the perfect opportunity to jump to a less defended host! Then they deal damage over time to the host's defenses / summon a horde of bigger, badder curses!

Damnit, one of the advisors might have been a wraith all along! It wouldn't be too hard to mimic some random annoying nerd!

Knock him unconscious, NOW! I know this will break apart your relations with the village, but if you let him back to his seat of power, the curse will likely break his mind and force-feed him wraiths until he's nothing more than a city-razing Overlord! You need to cure him while you have the chance!

That or he is now marked for death. Cause of the whole death-touched thing. It might have taken the opportunity to latch on the Mayor if he is overdue for his fate.

This is going to make a mess of things.

Ohwait, duh. [Scan mayor]

...

[Scan whatever that thing was if that doesn't work]

So here's something I don't think we did before... Should we try to scan Sami?

Chapter Two Complete Smik 2016/01/12(Tue)23:53 No. 693427 ID: 3009b4
File 145267163926.jpg - (95.07KB , 640x720 , Sami_ChapterTwo_58.jpg )

* A security violation has been detected and this system has been suspended.

* CURSESWEEP running.
* 1 demon has been detected and quarantined.
* CURSESWEEP has finished.

* Connection to TEN has been reset.

* A system update is available!
* New version 10.0 BETA
* Features:
* New HANDLER - a more user friendly version of ADMIN, providing helpdesk and shopkeep support.
* Application DAEMON system - smarter programs.
* New ethereal HUD.
* New custom Avatar available.

* Update is currently optional at this time.

* Developer Notes:
"We're proud to offer participation in the 10.0 HMES BETA. We've listened to your feedback and have brought you a better way to connect to your Questor. The new HANDLER option means a single, fairly dedicated and usually-available CAT will be available and visible to assist with both questions about the system and act as a direct line to the store. No longer can hostile network users completely disrupt access as the CAT will have her/his own local inventory.

Additionally we're proud to present the new DAEMON application system. We've repackaged programs like PHYSICAL SCAN and DETECT NETWORK into adaptable DAEMONS who can act on your behalf and even act automatically based on your instructions.

The new Ethereal HUD will allow you to switch to 'Spirit Vision', causing the mundane to dim and focus only on the metaphysical.

Finally we're proud to present a new custom AVATAR system, visible only to the Questor and connected party. Not only does the AVATAR provide a more personable (and less traumatic for the questor) approach to questing, its position within the HUD allows for dynamic camera adjustment.

Participating in the new system is entirely optional however; we understand how irritating system updates can be and want to ensure you're under no pressure to update your system at this time. We also request your patience as this system is still in BETA"

** AUTHOR NOTE **
The "Update" is basically a Quest interface I had originally planned for Nem's Modern Quest, but I figured it might also address some of the issues people have had with Sami's Quest -- namely scrapping multiple Admins who only show up from time to time inconsistently and just having one guide that won't ever flip out on you. The concept of turning the programs (spells) into daemons I thought fit better within the ideas of technomagic, plus then you can give them some guides and there's less manual scanning (which gets tedious) and hopefully less disruptive for the narrative. But since it will be a somewhat jarring change I thought I'd wait until the break between 2nd and 3rd Chapter to ask if anyone was up for it.

>>693428
I kind of liked having the separate admins, but I'm also curious about the new system you have planned, so unless there's a way to allow them into the new system, I'd like to stay as Undecided.

ARGH! And RIGHT before Sami needed to hear that she accidentally turned the mayor into an Overlord Butcher! If this takes too long and Welser goes to hell while we're out, she might be furious with us.

However, I think this update might work to our advantage. Keep a copy of the HMES 2.0 .zip installation file and all programs, we might need them later.

>>693427
Uh. I'm not so sure changing the entire manner we function in the middle of things will be the best thing for trust. Sami's gotten used to us- making us suddenly different raises uncomfortable questions about how reliable and transitory we are. And how much influence / control outside forces have over us.

Especially if said change occurs right after we were yelling about curses and bad things.

I'd say no, for now.

I trust you, unless it's too late for my vote to count, which I totally understand. I'll throw mine in there as a yes for the beta.