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File 142519530123.png - (195.48KB , 600x500 , CH1-1.png )
627139 No. 627139 ID: db2d60

The sun beats down upon the bleached white sands. The sounds of a violent storm fade into the distance. The waves gently push various bits of debris further up onto the sand.
74 posts omitted. Last 100 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 628448 ID: 9ddf68

right then, keep your eyes open for anything since we have no idea what lives around here. Also listen for running water that isn't the ocean.
>>
No. 628457 ID: 8f01e8

That segmented-looking tree leaning toward you seems to have something clustered around the top. Fruit or coconuts or... who knows. Try using your wind magic to cut some of those loose. If the seed pod is juicy and nontoxic, that's at least a partial fix for your thirst problem.

Don't explore further than you have to, at least not until you've got the basics of survival completely under control. Conserve your strength.
>>
No. 628470 ID: d958ad

>>628439
Wow, look at that huge flower. Is that a rafflesia?
>>
No. 628554 ID: 69994e
File 142597687363.png - (293.89KB , 600x500 , CH1-11.png )
628554

>>628445
>You recognize any of the flora around here?
Not off the top of my head. I've never seen any tropical looking plants like this back in Dhubhain.

>>628457
>Try using your wind magic to cut some of those loose.
Sounds easy enough, stationary targets are my specialty! I mumble the incantation and perform the hand gestures to summon a blade of cutting wind and send it flying up to the pods hanging from the tree. One pops loose and falls to the ground. It doesn't appear to be damaged in the fall.

>>628470
>Wow, look at that huge flower. Is that a rafflesia?
A what?
>>
No. 628555 ID: d958ad

>>628554
Large parasitic (tree-parasitic) flower that stinks like a corpse. They normally look flatter... Probably not, then. This one looks more like a bulb anyway.

Sniff the fruit. The nose knows, generally. I'm still curious about that big flower or whatever it is, but it's not important.
>>
No. 628556 ID: 1f8505

>>628554

Take a really small taste of the fruit.

Nice and sweet, good to eat.
>>
No. 628587 ID: 9dd1ee

poke it with your sharp finger and see if the insides are tasty

if they are take it and head back to your camp
>>
No. 628601 ID: 9ddf68

well if this fruit is edible then at least we know the island has food on it and that takes some pressure off surviving.
>>
No. 628625 ID: 8f01e8

>>628556
Irritant/allergy check first. Rub some of the juice on your bare skin, wait a few minutes to see if it causes a rash or anything. Then a little bit on the tip of your tongue, and again wait for a reaction. Resist the urge to wolf it down for as long as you can stand.

If it turns out to be nontoxic and super delicious, cut down as many fruit as you can reasonably carry and bring them all back to camp. If it IS toxic or unpalatable... probably still a good idea to bring one or two, unless you find something obviously better. A lot of marginal foods improve when cooked.


Biggest mistakes to avoid are drinking salt water, or freshwater contaminated with anything that causes diarrhea. Either way, it feels like you're solving the thirst problem, but actually makes things worse faster than going without.
>>
No. 631073 ID: 69994e
File 142740119429.png - (231.68KB , 600x500 , CH1-12.png )
631073

>>628555
>>628556
>>628587
>>628601
>>628625
I sniff the fruit. It smells... like a fruit?
I poke a hole in the hard outer skin. The insides are pretty soft and juice begins dripping out. I rub a little of the juice on my arm and wait. Nothing seems to happen other than my arm getting a little sticky, I guess it's ok. I taste the juice, it's sweet. I think I can probably work with this. It isn't water, but it'll help take the edge off for a bit until I can find some.

I cut down a few more of the fruits and bundle them up in my dress and head back to my "camp".
>>
No. 631074 ID: 9dd1ee

oh shit someone took a bunch of your stuff

they took your barrels of supplies and your rope

also a bottle washed up
>>
No. 631075 ID: 265534

>>631073
You got robbed. They're dragging the barrels. After them with all haste on your one boot.
>>
No. 631083 ID: a9753c

The thieves might be native islanders. They didn't put any effort into covering their tracks, and if they just wanted to steal supplies, why did they take the barrels? The drag marks indicate that they aren't strong enough to hold the barrels, as the drag marks seem too deep to be cover-ups of footprints. It's possible that the thieves are just curious.

Also, something happened near the bow of the ship. Not sure what.
>>
No. 631085 ID: 9ddf68

oh son of a bitch.

well luckily they didn't try to hide there tracks and a barrel along with everything else they took will probably slow them down. Follow the trail of the looters and see if you can't catch up to them. Just try and stay hidden from their sight until you're sure who or what they are.
>>
No. 631086 ID: 296917

It's possible the "looters" are more survivors, and took the supplies over to what they felt was a better location for them. Go investigate cautiously.
>>
No. 631101 ID: f75cf9

>>631086
Yeah don't assume hostility.

Also grab that bottle before it floats away again.
>>
No. 631105 ID: 5db52c

Someone took some of the supplies you gathered!

That suggests people! Animals wouldn't be very likely to carry off barrels.

Follow the tracks. Another survivor, natives?
>>
No. 631169 ID: 8f01e8

Gather back up any useful items that were scattered but not stolen. Set most of the fruit down, bring the one you poked along as a snack. Maybe improvise some sort of a hat to keep the sun off your head and glare out of your eyes. Then, follow the trail.

Move at a casual, strolling pace, along the very edge of the water rather than on looser, drier sand. This conserves energy and also makes you look less threatening.

As you go, keep an eye out for movement in the trees (but try not to stare, again to minimize your appearance as a threat), useful flotsam and jetsam, or especially any trickle of water flowing from higher ground out into the ocean. Remember that however many gallons in a minute as you need to live for a week would still be very small, by river standards.
>>
No. 631293 ID: 69994e
File 142749402573.png - (197.14KB , 600x500 , CH1-13.png )
631293

>>631074
>they took your barrels of supplies and your rope
My rope is still coiled up next to my bottles.

>also a bottle washed up
I grab the new bottle and quickly toss it over with the others.

>>631075
>After them with all haste on your one boot.
>>631169
>Gather back up any useful items that were scattered but not stolen.

I grab one of my lengths of rope and sling it over my shoulder and head back into the jungle following the trails in the sand.

The trails aren't very hard to follow, with trampled plants and broken sticks all over. Who ever they are, they seemed to manage to drag the barrels pretty far into the trees in a fairly short amount of time. The plants eventually give way to a small clearing that looks like someone made it.
>>
No. 631294 ID: d3be40

Cute. Now build your own tent.
>>
No. 631300 ID: 9ddf68

well might as well see who lives here, I say hide somewhere that would make it hard for someone to spot you but easy to slip away unnoticed and see who lives here.
>>
No. 631304 ID: 296917

>>631293
So, it's someone strong, who has been here a long time. Can you see any tracks for where they went after they got the barrels here? Keep following them, if so. If not, they're probably watching you from the bushes. Maybe you can call out.
>>
No. 631308 ID: 5db52c

This looks like an established campsite. That fire, and the wear on the tent, look to be older than your crash.

Look around, cautiously. Hopefully whoever's here is friendly.

Do you have a spell that can tell if people are there, or where (detect breathe? Sense moving air?)
>>
No. 631313 ID: 8f01e8

Shout "Alright, if you're going to take my stuff, I'm going to move in here."

Then go back to the beach and start transferring the rest of your salvage to the campsite. Whoever set this place up seems to have the basic survival stuff under control, and will likely be willing to share if you're willing to pull your weight.
>>
No. 631315 ID: 9dd1ee

peak in see if anyone's home
>>
No. 631331 ID: fef726

Huh, they busted one of the barrels open. I wonder why.
>>
No. 631560 ID: 69994e

Is that an open book on top of the barrel? What is it?
>>
No. 631561 ID: f75cf9

>>631560
Iiiiii... think that's just a couple boards....

Anyway I'm with the "announce yourself" plan.
>>
No. 631765 ID: 69994e
File 142773886247.png - (199.00KB , 600x500 , CH1-14.png )
631765

>>631294
>Now build your own tent.

out of what? I'd have to go back to the beach to make one out of the sail.

>>631304
>Can you see any tracks for where they went after they got the barrels here?

I don't see any tracks leading out of the camp.

>Maybe you can call out.

"Hello!? I know you're still out there!"
There is no response.

>>631308
>Look around, cautiously.
>>631315
>peak in see if anyone's home

The tent is tattered and worn and looks really old. There's an old and moldy tattered blanket lying on the ground, half consumed in mud. The fire is out, but the ashes still feel warm. There's a few camping supplies strewn about, half buried and covered in rust.

>>631331
>Huh, they busted one of the barrels open. I wonder why.

The barrels look like they've actually been here for years too. They're covered in lichen and mold, which is odd. The barrel of salt has rotted clear through and its contents are spilling out. There's a pungent smell of rotting meat coming from the other one.

>>631560
>Is that an open book on top of the barrel?

A leather bound book is resting on top of the barrel of meat. It stands out from the rest of the camp because it doesn't look ancient.
>>
No. 631768 ID: fef726

Oh wonderful. Time magic.
>>
No. 631771 ID: 88960e

>Barrels rotting
Oh. That's really not good. Either we're dealing with a time dilation effect, or something that can rapidly accelerate decay.

Advantage is that if time is passing quickly in this campsite, it's passing slowly on the beach. You other supplies shouldn't have rotted away while you're here.

...I hope there's no one in particular you want to get home to. If time dilation effects are active here, that's not likely to happen, even if you get rescued.

>What do
Examine book. Maybe it contains answers.

Look for other evidence of the time dilation. Is there say, a boundary where the trees suddenly look taller / wider / older?
>>
No. 631781 ID: 9dd1ee

I don't think this is a time dilation area or anything

if that was the case the fire certainly wouldn't be warm, it would have gone out lone ago since everything is so rotted and decayed

I fear this is some kind of rot mage or monster, and you might REALLY not want to be her when it gets back

head back to you camp, gather your things and get out of the area
>>
No. 631785 ID: 9ddf68

I think I see something hanging from a branch near the top right conner, looks like cloth or something but I'm not really sure. Skim the book real quick just to see if you can read it, then maybe head back to your camp.
>>
No. 631787 ID: 9dd1ee

also loot book
>>
No. 631788 ID: 5db52c

>>631781
The fire doesn't rule either out. It could still be warm if it was started recently within the time-accelerated frame of reference. There's no reason this particular fire had to be started at the same time the barrels got here. (The barrels could have been here for months or years, while that fire could be less than a day old).

But yes, scary rot monster / necromantic magic / etc is just as possible as time dilation from the almost no evidence we have.
>>
No. 631791 ID: 296917

>>631765
Read that book.
>>
No. 631937 ID: 8f01e8

Mysteries later, survival first. Grab the book and bring it back to your own campsite, but don't read it, leave it reasonably far from any critical stuff, and put one of the fruits next to it so you can see if it's radiating some sort of putrefaction aura.

Then, rest in some shade until the sun goes down so you're not working yourself to death, and at night go tromping along the beach (carrying a fruit with you to snack on) looking out mostly for watercourses or artificial lights.
>>
No. 632018 ID: 69994e
File 142784188826.png - (188.95KB , 600x500 , CH1-15.png )
632018

>>631785
>I think I see something hanging from a branch near the top right conner

That's some moss, I think. It's pretty common to see hanging from trees or vines in the tropical regions of Layridin.

>>631771
Examine book.
>>631787
>loot book
>>631791
>Read that book.

I don't feel anything radiating from the book. I place my hand on it and nothing seems to happen. No decay, no rot, no creepy skeleton hand or anything, so I assume it's safe to pick up. It's large, like it was designed for something with hands way bigger than mine, or a picture book or something. I flip through the pages and it appears to all be blank. I flip through it again the other way just to be sure and notice words on the first page this time.

It looks like it's written in Skylean, the written language most commonly used by Nedynvor on the Sky Dragon. Luckily, I happen to be familiar with Skylean. It looks to be some kind of journal?
"Day 02. I finally have some time to sit and rest. Our ship was lost in a storm, and I washed ashore on this, I assume, island. Luckily, my companion Aiden washed up just down the beach from me, there were no signs of any other survivors. We managed to collect what we could from supplies that washed ashore, or that what we had on us, and pushed inland. We've made camp in a small clearing in the jungle. Aiden says he found a fresh water stream near by. I had him mark the trail using scraps of my handkerchief so we could easily find our way there and back. Perhaps the most peculiar thing though, is that when I went back to the beach to search for more supplies that may have washed up, I found the ancient wreckage of a ship that wasn't there yesterday. Further down the beach, near where I washed up, I also discovered a small, make-shift camp of sorts. There were a few barrels and old bottles sitting out in the sand next to a large piece of sail cloth bundled around some books. Sadly, the books were either shredded up or claimed by the elements, they would have probably been helpful to pass the time here. The barrels looked old, but the salt and salted meats inside looked to still be preserved well enough. The meat won't help me much, but Aiden will certainly benefit from it. I had him help me drag the two barrels back to camp. Tomorrow I hope to press further inland to do some exploring while Aiden will begin work on a signal fire with wood taken from the ship wreckage."
>>
No. 632019 ID: 1f8505

>>632018

Fellow survivors! They don't seem hostile, so we should seek them out and make some friends.
>>
No. 632022 ID: d3be40

>>632018
So essentially, they're in the far future and you're visiting their far future? I'm confused.

Write a note or two in the notebook saying that you're a fellow survivor who wants to co-operate, and that time-space seems to be warped on this island. Make sure that the note is very large so that moderate wear and tear don't make it illegible, then take the journal with you to the beach and place it somewhere conspicuous.
>>
No. 632024 ID: 296917

>>632018
All blank one way? Write something on it in the blank direction, as well as writing something on the page they already wrote in. Use your direction as your own personal journal, while testing the other direction as a form of communication. Tell them about the strange time flow here. I expect they will immediately write again in the book, at least from your perspective.

It's interesting how the barrels were not yet completely rotten from their perspective, but once they claimed the barrels and moved them, they rotted from your perspective. It's like... if one team of survivors moves something enough, it becomes part of their timeline, and thus in the past of the other group. So the two groups need to coordinate to ensure that no resources decay too much to be used by either group.

On the other hand, I wonder if the barrels would un-rot and thus be usable by you if they moved them back to where they were found? Well, okay no, the meat is probably most useful to them. Aiden sounds like he needs meat.
>>
No. 632025 ID: f0a5e4

>>632018
Oh dear. Uh, are you, uh, aware of any... magical temporal anomalies that are known to form naturally, Eilin? Is time magic a thing?
Because it looks like they're experiencing our presence as though we just popped into existence when we washed up on the island.... at some point in the distant past. And vice versa, our perception of them.
What do you think about writing something in the journal to see if there's a way to contact the others?
>>
No. 632026 ID: 5db52c

Okay... that's not time dilation. That's complete breakdown of causality.

Congrats, you're stranded in the Bermuda triangle.

...worse, if you've received knowledge about your future, that means you're now trapped by paradox. You can't be rescued if that means it prevents them from finding the remains of your future campsite, for example.

Do you have anything to write with? Can you leave a reply message about your own experiences? Maybe you can communicate by correspondence.

Um, do you know anything about time magic, or time travel? Because it looks like that's happening, here.
>>
No. 632029 ID: 9dd1ee

oh no! apparantly your books have become shredded and useless go back to you camp and check if that's really true
>>
No. 632031 ID: 8f01e8

Causality hijinx might make more sense when your brain isn't impaired by dehydration. Look for those handkerchief scraps and follow them to the stream.
>>
No. 632251 ID: 9ddf68

Wait, are you sure that entry wasn't there the first time you flipped through? You got something to write with? If not try to find something and right you own entry. Put down the date or at least the year and how you just washed up on shore today, scavenged what was left of the ship you were on, and while exploring when you returned to your camp you found that someone stole your one of your barrels and while following the drag marks it left by whoever took it you found an old abandond camp with your barrel that seems to somehow have rotted and is falling apart when only an hour ago it was still fine. That and a book that seems to have been blank until you checked through it again only to have an entry appear with someone who seems to be in the same sittuation as yourself and who seems to have found your camp but in ruin when you have just set it up only today. Finish with you writing that you're going to look for this fresh water sours the book talked about and then leave the book where you found it, go look for the water source then head back and see if anything else has appeared in the book.
>>
No. 632281 ID: f0a5e4

>>632031
Agreed. Pondering the implications of temporal shenanigans can wait till your physical needs are taken care of.
>>
No. 632284 ID: f75cf9

Write something along the lines of "Hi! I'm a survivor from that new/ancient shipwreck. You found my camp earlier according to your journal. Apparently there's something going on here making the wood age super quickly? Dunno what's up with that. Anyway I'd like to join up with you guys, all our chances are better if we work together right? Going to get supplies, hopefully I'll see you next time I'm here?" (It can be more formal if you like, but I think the informality lends verisimilitude.) D0 NOT mention possible time shenanigans, other than the aging of supplies, since we have no real evidence of that yet. Then put the book down somewhere obvious - but not quite the same place - and scratch "READ" in the ground.

Of course this is assuming you actually have something to write with. If not just scratch "HELLO" in the ground or something.

After that, if you're thirsty, see if that handkerchief map is around - DON'T take it away though,just look at it. If you're not then just go ahead and try to salvage the sails for a tent or something.

>Sadly, the books were either shredded up or claimed by the elements
Don't suppose you happened to notice the state of the books when you there last?
>>
No. 633172 ID: 69994e
File 142835738099.png - (197.07KB , 600x500 , CH1-16.png )
633172

>>632022
>Write a note or two in the notebook

I don't have anything to write with on me. I place the book back on the barrel for now.

>>632025
>aware of any... magical temporal anomalies that are known to form naturally, Eilin?

Some of Anerassi of Thornald's books make mention of weird anomalies, like an entire city of glass in the great desert. But I haven't read anything regarding temporal shenanigans.

>>632026
>Um, do you know anything about time magic, or time travel?

Time magic is just theoretical as far as I know. No one's managed to discover or develop anything like that and actually have it function safely or in any kind of useable way.

>>632031
> Look for those handkerchief scraps and follow them to the stream.

The handkerchief scraps aren't that hard to find. Their very old and weathered, but still tied around various trees or vines. They lead me to a small stream cascading out of a rock face. The water is cool and looks clean. I drink some to quench my thirst, and fill the bottle I brought with me, and return to the decrepit camp.
>>
No. 633173 ID: 5db52c

>I don't have anything to write with on me.
There's a low fire, there. You could improvise a charcoal pencil relatively easily.

It would be crude, but it might be worth it to leave a message before you leave this campsite. If there's weird time magic involved, you might not get another chance.
>>
No. 633174 ID: 296917

>>633173
Yeah, I agree.
>>
No. 633194 ID: fef726

Hmm, if we're going to be doing cross time contamination we have two choices. Use it so you can build off each other's efforts of or avoid each other completely.

I think we should do the first. Start moving your stuff to the camp. It's a good choice, near enough between water and the beach. It has a tent and a fire pit set up already and that is work you do not have to do.

You can even try and to salvage the salt, though it might be wiser to ask your downtime friends to maybe preserve it better?
>>
No. 633201 ID: f0a5e4

>>633194
It would also be an easy way to alert them to the presence of others, assuming they haven't already been alerted by something we've done. Food might rot and ships might appear out of nowhere, but I doubt they'll assume the supplies moved to the nearest camp of sentient beings by themselves, especially not decades prior to their arrival.
>>
No. 633202 ID: 296917

>>633194
Moving our stuff to the camp would likely render it unusable, either by us or them. Remember, them moving the barrels caused it to rot greatly in our timeframe.

If we can't write in the book our next best bet is to carve out a message on a tree.
>>
No. 633234 ID: 8f01e8

>>633172
>safely or in any kind of useable way.
What theoretical speculation or unsafe/unusable lab results have you heard of specifically? That might give clues to the potential opportunities and hazards, here.
>>
No. 633245 ID: fef726

If you want to keep the division between you and them clear, make a second spot for your own tent and supplies. Things that can be shared freely go near the center (IE long lasting supplies like the books or salt) Stuff like perishables stay near your tent. Your water jugs and food for example. Stuff you don't want to find rotten.

Write the plan with charcoal in the book and hopefully they will agree and stick to it.

We can experiment how used stuff behaves with the two rotten barrels. Frequent exchanges should help show how fast things can age and such.
>>
No. 635269 ID: 4ae2ae

Try and get a handful of salt out of the barrel and pour it into a pile on top of the journal, try and make it look obvious that this was done deliberatly and not by accident without actually damaging the journal.

After that, see if you can find an ember in the warm ashes and some dry moss to carry it in and return to your campsite.
>>
No. 636982 ID: 69994e
File 143034938302.png - (112.54KB , 600x500 , CH1-17.png )
636982

>>633173
>You could improvise a charcoal pencil relatively easily.

I take a piece of charcoal from around the fire pit and write a message in the journal, then place it back on the barrel in which I found it.

>>633234
>What theoretical speculation or unsafe/unusable lab results have you heard of specifically?

There have been records of attempted time magic use. One scholar attempting it withered into an old man, reportedly right in front of his assistant. Another simply vanished, no one knows what happened to him.

>>635269
>see if you can find an ember in the warm ashes and some dry moss to carry it in and return to your campsite.

I scoop up some moss and bundle a smouldering ember into it and begin heading back to my camp.

I didn't realize how late it was, it's starting to get really dark under the jungle canopy. The ember provides a little light, but not much. I... I think I might be lost...

"Are you lost little one? You have no light? Lucky you! I can see fine, so come, trust me."
>>
No. 636983 ID: e114bc

>>636982
Oh jeez. Try to get a good look at the thing and maybe get some distance from it. That bottle can become a weapon in a pinch. Ask who it is, and what's going on with this island.
>>
No. 636984 ID: 809713

>>636982
Well, on the plus side, you found someone who can talk!

...on the down side that's a lot of teeth.

Turn around, ask them who they are, and be ready to lash out with a wind spell if they try anything.

Yes, you're lost. Shipwrecked, in fact. Who are you, are where are we?
>>
No. 636986 ID: bd8b82

if they wanted you dead they would have just killed you, not say hello.
>>
No. 636987 ID: 9dd1ee

yeah don't trust that thing, also don't turn around.

keep walking maybe with a quicker step
>>
No. 636995 ID: c9045b

Stay completely still. It can't see us if we don't move.

Nothing will go wrong.
>>
No. 636999 ID: d3be40

Walk and talk. Attempt to communicate with them while also scanning for safe spots.
>>
No. 637000 ID: 376beb

NOPE!

Just keep walking until yo make it back to camp and start that fire ASAP.
>>
No. 637073 ID: 57d76a

>>636982
Pointy teeth may not be indicative of hostility, but that is some creepy phrasing. Do some standard "who are you/what do you want" type questioning.
>>
No. 637075 ID: 8abb8e

Blow on the ember and try to set the moss on fire so you can see.
>>
No. 637113 ID: 8f01e8

"I know exactly where I am, and that's all I have to say until we've been formally introduced."

This thing's creepy, but it's able and willing to speak your language, and it seems to think there's more to be gained (at least in the short term) by leading your somehwere than by eating your face here and now. Keep it talking, try to get it to reveal it's own background knowledge, and make a reasonable effort to keep it from deducing your own strengths and weaknesses too quickly.

Also, observe immediate surroundings for details of potential tactical significance, without diverting too much attention from the main threat. For example, is there anything heavy up there that your cutting spell could turn into a deadfall trap? Any tactical planning or innocuous preparation now, or during negotiations, is work you don't have to do during the actual fight. Think of it like studying for an exam over the course of a semester rather than cramming the night before, except there's no penalty for cheating and your grade will be expressed in terms of how much blood you walk away with. All of your own, still on the inside? A+. The other guy's? Extra credit. Best possible is if he turns out to be friendly, but whatever you do, don't flunk the basics.
>>
No. 643755 ID: eb5c78
File 143285478622.png - (151.59KB , 600x500 , CH1-18.png )
643755

>>636987
>keep walking maybe with a quicker step
>>636999
>Walk and talk.

I don't even bother turning around and keep walking in the same direction I've been headed. I can hear what, or who ever it is following me through the brush.

>>637075
>Blow on the ember and try to set the moss on fire so you can see.

I don't think setting the moss on fire that I'm currently holding in my bare hand sounds like a good idea...

>>637113
>Also, observe immediate surroundings for details of potential tactical significance

I can barely even see the ground in front of me with how little light there is here, much less the surrounding tree tops.

"I-I'm not lost, thank you though..."

"You are content to wander alone?" it replies.

>>636984
>Who are you, are where are we?

"Wh-who are you?"

"Why, I am a friend!"

"Where are we?"

"Even to me, that is unknown."

A hand, fingers ending in hooked claws extends from the shadows.

"Take my hand, I will make sure you do not meet your end."
>>
No. 643757 ID: e114bc

>>643755
Taking its hand would involve either disarming yourself or abandoning what little light you have. It's a trap. Refuse. Tell it you don't hold hands with strangers. If it really wants to help and is worried you're going to attack it, tell it that it can either guide you to shore, or back to the fire, without touching you.
>>
No. 643758 ID: 8e0b6a

>Why, I am a friend!
I don't have many nameless friends. Or faceless ones, for that matter.
>>
No. 643759 ID: 5d4fc9

don't take it's hand

keep walking

ask it's name
>>
No. 643760 ID: d3be40

Ask about magic theory. See if you can learn a few new spells from this guy.

Don't take their hand, there's much they can do if you aren't fully capable of spellcasting.

But ask for a hug

And see if you can feel their heartbeat.
>>
No. 643781 ID: bd8b82

i repeat, if it wanted you dead, why would it take it's time to ask you things? a killer would just stab you in the back with it's claws and you would be dead.

i therefor think it is trustworthy.
>>
No. 643935 ID: d4a543

>>643781
Biiig difference between "hasn't already murdered you" and "means well."

Turn around nice and slow, look this supposed guide in the eye. Hold up the ember and moss so it's just below that shared line of sight. Use magic to create a steady updraft around your outstretched hand, aiming to gently lift the moss-ember assembly and then hold it in place. Look away, down and to the side, just as the fire flares up. The mysterious entity will be temporarily blinded by staring directly into a sudden flash with night-adapted eyes, and you'll get a better view of the surroundings for just a moment.

Assuming you're still in a forest, grab either some branch thin enough for you to confidently snap off one-handed, or a chunk of dead wood from the ground, and then catch the fire to the far end of your new club.
>>
No. 643953 ID: 9ddf68

keep walking, don't take the hand

if you're a friend why don't you tell me your name?
>>
No. 643981 ID: f0a5e4

>>643935
Judging from my extremely slim knowledge of fauna in this world, I don't think he has eyes to look in to.
But I wholeheartedly recommend getting a good look at him ourselves, as this daft serial killer nonsense only ever goes one way if you huddle down and try to avoid them. Give him a good stern once-over to plan our next move.
>>
No. 648573 ID: eb5c78
File 143434767810.png - (65.22KB , 600x500 , CH1-19.png )
648573

>>643759
>don't take it's hand

>keep walking

>ask it's name

>>643758
"I don't have many nameless friends."

"Names are for those that we call friends, which is something I'd like for you to be. Let's start anew, make some amends. Give me your name, and I'll tell you what to call me."
>>
No. 648574 ID: 9ddf68

...give him a nickname, Like Lin or something. Also keep walking
>>
No. 648575 ID: 5d4fc9

turn around see what this thing is
>>
No. 648593 ID: e114bc

>>648573
First name should be fine. Only a full true name has power, right?
>>
No. 648632 ID: a19cd5

>>648573
call me mick.
no real names.
>>
No. 648636 ID: ab7529

...dangit, I just noticed mister smiles is talking in rhyme. That's never a good sign.

Well, except his first line. That one stands out as a non-rhyming outlier.

Hmm. 5 fingers on a clawed hand, large mouth at Plover head level. That's enough to rule several races out, but not enough for a positive ID, unless I'm being dense.

Eilin, unless you're familiar with any lore of monsters or magic that can harm you with your name, you might as well give it to him.
>>
No. 648678 ID: f0a5e4

>>648636
I'm thinking with the shape of head his teeth suggest, the poofy floof around his claws, the lack of eyeshine, and my totally not stalking all the layridin art ever made, he may just be a lazuhrek. A tall bugger to boot.
But Eilin probably hasn't seen any of those things. A name should be mostly safe, a first name more so.
>>
No. 648691 ID: 3b7405

>>648573

Since this guy/whatever hasn't outright killed you there must be some reason for not doing so. but this is shady as fuck. How about this, it takes time to make friends. friends should trust each other but that's because friends have things to trust each other with. so how about you tell him about you AFTER you can get into real light and see his full form.
>>
No. 648692 ID: d3be40

Ask him if he can go to the beach.

Then go to the beach.

Ask for beach balls.
>>
No. 648695 ID: ad7bba

I don't like that phrasing. It has you "giving" your name to it, while in return only receive direction on how to address it. It's not a trade of names.
>>
No. 648805 ID: 8f04d6

>>648695

Very much this.. getting creepy overtones of 'names have power' from this one. Whatever you do, do not give your Real name.
>>
No. 648839 ID: d4a543

>>648636
>Well, except his first line. That one stands out as a non-rhyming outlier.

Nope, it rhymes with 'end' from the previous update. Between that and the true name thing mister grins would seem to have entirely too much control over the direction this conversation is going.
>>
No. 648843 ID: ab7529

>>648839
"Me" doesn't rhyme with "end".

>"Are you lost little one? You have no light? Lucky you! I can see fine, so come, trust me."
That's the first time he speaks, and line that seems disconnected from the rhyme sequence.

After that it's abab rhyme by post, with alone / unknown, friend / end; friends / amends, be / me.
>>
No. 655127 ID: eb5c78
File 143665857618.png - (96.66KB , 600x500 , CH1-20.png )
655127

>>648632
>call me mick. no real names.

"My... my name is Mick."

"'Mick,' a charming name indeed... Aiden... is what you may call me."

>>648575
>turn around see what this thing is

I turn around quickly, trying to bring the faint light of the ember to bear so I can see what this thing is, but it's not there! I didn't even hear it move through the brush!

>>648692
>Ask him if he can go to the beach.

"Ca-can you... go to the beach?"

"A simple task, if that is what you need. Take my lead, and away we'll be!"
>>
No. 655131 ID: e114bc

>>655127
Have you even been hearing it follow you?

I have a feeling nothing will change in this confrontation until you either attack or accept its help. So far all we have on it is that it's kinda creepy.

I say ask it to hold your bottle for you, then take its hand.
>>
No. 655133 ID: 9ddf68

ask how he can lead if he always stays at your back?
>>
No. 655204 ID: 5d4fc9

do not give it your bottle!
>>
No. 655239 ID: e114bc

Well okay then ask to see what it looks like, first.
>>
No. 660492 ID: eb5c78
File 143881471553.png - (156.73KB , 800x600 , CH1-21.png )
660492

>>655131
>Have you even been hearing it follow you?

I've been hearing it move through the brush following me before.

>>655133
>ask how he can lead if he always stays at your back?

"Ok, Aiden... if we're going to the beach, how can I follow your 'lead' if you stay behind me?"

"What you speak rings true, if I am behind what can you see? Leading from the front will do, and I am so pleased that you trust me."
>>
No. 660493 ID: e114bc

...you don't really need to take its hand. Tell it to lead on. You will follow.

Also remark on its many teeth.
>>
No. 660507 ID: 5d4fc9

Tell him you're not comfortable being around people with too many teeth

and it'd be better if he just left you alone after he's pointed you in the right direction
>>
No. 660618 ID: fef726

Well. We decided to trust it to lead us somewhere. I suggest we trust it and take its hand.
>>
No. 660619 ID: 1cebc8

Ask him if he has the common decency as a guest to go where you invite him and move where you instruct him to

Or if he is a pervert who wants to stare at your back all day.
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