>>735441
Fear of self.

Fear of Self.

Fear of Violence.

the fear of violence

Fear of betrayal.

Fear of Self

Fear of betrayal

We have the opportunity to show mercenary loyalty to a vessel of betrayal, because they (negligible probability) reach us from here. Let's not waste it.

Fear of Betrayal. I sense tragedy from this

>>735468
They could betray us by like, finding a room somewhere to sit and do nothing in.

Fear of betrayal~

Fear of Betrayal

self

Fear of Betrayal

Self. Let's be someone's shadow counterpart!

Fear of Betrayal

>>735466
>>735468
>>735470
>>735481
>>735484

You were born from a Fear of Betrayal, by a deity who couldn't bring themselves to believe in the loyalty of their allies. The deity you were born from is no longer truly important. What matters is that you are born, and so you are free.

It's almost time to awaken. You are so very close, my darling child...

But, I suppose we could add a few more bells and whistles, if you'd like. The silken ribbon atop the wrapped present.

Every deity takes the form of an animal given human stance. If you'd like, tell me which animal your "parent" represented...

>Choose an animal!

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)02:25 No. 735504 ID: ea2bfa
File 146840194533.png - (846B , 100x100 , Betrayal Symbol.png )

>>735502
Whoops, almost forgot! Behold, the (shitty) Symbol of Betrayal!

Fear of huge wangs. ..oh wait, that's already been decided. Never mind.

Um. I think they used to be an elephant. Don't remember if african or indian or what, but they were totally an elephant.

Viper.

>>735506

Gotta go with viper

>>735506
Okay, normally I'd wait to allow for further voting, but I like this enough that I'm gonna just go with it right away. Sorry, guys.
-------------------

Hm. Really now? Interesting. Well, I suppose that will manifest however it may...

Now, one last question. Though questions of gender and sex are but mere trifles for those such as us, do you have a preferred gender?

>Male
>Female

>>735508
>Though questions of gender and sex are but mere trifles for those such as us, do you have a preferred gender?
No.
What do we look like, mortals?

>>735510
I appreciate the sentiment, my darling child. But the tasks ahead of you require something a bit more... well, comfortable for the mortals. It would be best to take a form they'd understand.

There's a reason we don't allow He Of Bone And Gristle outside of his Clinic, after all...

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)03:46 No. 735513 ID: ea2bfa
File 146840679841.png - (1.73KB , 200x400 , Creation Lady.png )

Also, on a lark, have the face of the mysterious lady that's been speaking to you! I'm just gonna pray that stuff about art improving over time is true...

Female.

Male.

I love the sexy slither of a lady snake. Oh baby.

Lady snake.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)07:32 No. 735527 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842033879.png - (13.67KB , 200x400 , Protag.png )

>>735515
I see. I'm not as surprised as I should be, though the reason eludes me...

Yes, your form shall do nicely, my darling child. Now, there is one little thing I'd like you to do...

"Wake up! Hey, cmon, rise and shine, kid! Wake up!"

There's a new voice, now, this one speaking directly into your ear. It's a man, and he sounds a bit exasperated.

"Rise and shine, lady! We've got work to do!"

Your eyes open, and you see you're currently lying in a bed. White sheets cover your body, and a young man sits in a chair currently facing the bed.

"Good. You're awake." He says, crossing his arms. "Welcome to the world, baby."

You sit up, the sheets falling away. He looks you over, and smirks.

"Oh my god, you're kidding me. Little Miss Slither-Bitch went and made a Devil? Guess the Iron Wall of the Court isn't so indestructible after all..."

He raises an eyebrow at you. "So, new Devil, huh? Got any questions?"

>ASK A QUESTION!

>>735527
Yeah, who're you?

Where isss my beautiful tail?

Are you going to betray, violence and/or self me?

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)07:39 No. 735531 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842079078.png - (2.73KB , 300x400 , Who's this jerk.png )

>>735529
"Ah, right to the brass tacks, huh? Well, smart. Don't got a name, none of us Devils do. Call me Fool." He shrugs. "The Seer and I pulled your ass out of the Devil Pit. And as of right now, I'm the one in charge of your Devil Training."

>>735530
"Ooooh, gosh, I see you've still got a pinch of ol' Tungsten Tits in you. Yeah, uh, that whole "Anthropomorphic Animal" thing isn't something we usually do. I'll teach you how to do it later though, if you want..."

"And if I'm going to do anything to harm you... Well, I suppose that's up to you, isn't it?"

The smile he gives you is more than a little predatory, and the lupine ears on top of his head twitch slightly.

>>735531
Hah. Okay, Fool. What's the training?

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)08:09 No. 735533 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842256788.png - (3.00KB , 300x400 , Confused Jerk.png )

>>735532
"Whaddya think?" He asks. "The usual. Making sure you have all yer faculties, making sure you're capable of swinging a weapon, all that good stuff. We'll have to stop by Doc's first, of course. Make sure you weren't spawned with anemia or the gout or something like that."

You get out of bed and stretch, noting that you appear to have been spawned fully clothed. Your legs feel awkward, your mind still used to the idea of navigating via a serpentine tail.

"Alright, so, this isn't normally how things work, but to navigate, you're gonna have to pull up the MAP and choose a room, alright? And then we head there, barring any unexpected interruptions. Alright?"

>Pulling Up Map...

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)08:14 No. 735534 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842286257.png - (4.64KB , 600x400 , Devil Map.png )

You open the map, and see a map of wherever you are. A room marked "Clinic" is currently highlighted with a red exclamation point.

"Alright, so, just select the Clinic, and we'll make the trek there, okay?"

You select the Clinic, and you head down the hallway leading to the Clinic, until, suddenly...

The gravity flips! And you're under a skylight!

As you prepare to turn the corner, another individual blocks your path! She has rabbit ears, and wears a purple dress. She taps her foot on the ground, and glares at Fool. He gulps loudly.

"My dear." She says, frowning. "My darling. All those nice terms you can have for a boyfriend. When were you planning on letting me know the new Devil was awake?"

He seems sheepish. "Oh, uh, after we got 'em to Doc! Just make sure they were alright and all that."

"Uh-huh. Sure." She replies, putting a hand on her face. "Whatever. Glad to see they're up. You didn't bother to ask them what spawned them, did you?"

Fool looks incredibly embarrassed. "Uh, no... no, I didn't. But I can fix that!" He says, turning to you with a grin plastered onto his face.

"So, what Fear spawned you? I'm sure you know, we all know from the day we're born."

>Tell the truth
>Lie

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)08:29 No. 735537 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842376593.png - (3.81KB , 300x400 , Annoyed Bunny Girl.png )

>>735536
Associated image for this post

It was totally the fear of self.

"Fear of Cheese."

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)08:52 No. 735540 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842517730.png - (4.33KB , 300x400 , Staredown.png )

>>735538
She glances at you as you say this, then frowns. "Either you're very confused, or you're lying to us. Fear of Betrayal, Fool." She says.

Fool considers this, then begins laughing his head off. "Holy shit, really? Oh, that's great! She's gone paranoid!" He says, still laughing. "Oh, god, I wouldn't believe it if you hadn't said so!"

She sighs, and takes both your hands before beginning to drag you to the Clinic. "Cmon, let's just get this over with. We've got more training ahead of us, don't we?"

>Ask Questions
>Just go to the Clinic

>>735540
What importance is the Fear we are born with?

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)09:40 No. 735543 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842802859.png - (4.55KB , 600x600 , Fears.png )

>>735542
Fool nods towards Seer, who smiles and begins to explain.

"Well, the thing is, Fears are varied and complex. When they spawn a Devil, that Fear tends to influence three major aspects of their creation..."

"To begin with, there's the Mind. While all Devils are free-thinking, it does give them a tendency to think a certain way. These tendencies will assist them in some situations, but harm them in others."

"Then, there's the Vice. The Vice is sort of a constant temptation for Devils. It's an act based on their Fear, that is almost always violent or otherwise negative in nature. Giving in tends to provide short-term boosts to power and morale, but have longer-term consequences."

"And finally, there's the Strength. Fears tend to encourage specific fighting styles and combat skills. We don't know what your Mind, Vice or Strength are going to be like, but that's what Doc's for."

She smiles encouragingly at you. "I'm sure you'll be fine. Don't worry."

>Ask more questions
>Enter the Clinic

Well, maybe I am lying. As a Devil of self-fear, I wouldn't trust me either.

Enter Clinic.

>>735543
Ask what their Fears are.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)10:04 No. 735546 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842946858.png - (8.89KB , 600x600 , Doc.png )

>>735544
You open the door to the Clinic, and are immediately accosted by the scent of spilt blood and rotten meat. The room seems empty besides a single chair, until a large eye opens on the wall. It examines the three of you for a while, and then a voice speaks up, seemingly from the room itself.

"The patient will enter, please." It says. It sounds oddly tinny, like it's coming from some unseen speaker.

>Head Inside
>Get Confirmation that you're not gonna die
>Other

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)10:06 No. 735547 ID: ea2bfa
File 146842959525.png - (6.36KB , 600x600 , Captain Of The Guard.png )

Also, as a bonus, have a quick, lousy doodle of the deity that you were spawned from, the Celestial Guard Captain!

>>735546
Nope.

>>735548
The eye stares you down.

"The patient's anxiety is duly noted..." The voice begins, pausing to take a deep, rattling breath. "But I assure you, I am a master of my craft. No harm will come to you within these walls..."

Seer frowns and puts a hand on your shoulder. "Look, I promise... This is completely safe. Doc wouldn't hurt a fly."

>Go in
>Continue panicking
>Other

We're a devil, not a human! Get in this very normal room!

I'm not a fly!

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)10:52 No. 735552 ID: ea2bfa
File 146843233814.png - (3.91KB , 600x600 , Reconisderation.png )

>>735551
She frowns. "I meant he won't hurt anyone. He took an Oath. Sure, it was an Oath he came up with himself, but he doesn't hurt people. Promise."

>>735550
You swallow down your fear and enter the room, sitting down in the bright pink chair. The room is warm and humid, and the smell of blood gets stronger. The door closes behind you.

"I must warn you, this examination will include phlebotomy. I will take a small sample of blood, in order to examine your magical potential."

You nod quietly. It's just a blood drawing, right?

Suddenly, a series of tentacles emerge from the walls. They seem to be tipped with various organic versions of surgical implements. As they move towards you, one tentacle squirts a clear fluid onto each tool.

"I am simply sterilizing my implements. This is standard procedure."

One tentacle, seemingly tipped with a dewy, jet-black eye, looks into your right eye. Another tentacle extrudes what seems to be an organic tape measure that wraps around your head.

"Would you like some music, to soothe you during the procedure?"

You notice a needle seemingly made of bone wriggling nearby, apparently waiting for the blood drawing.

>Yes
>No
>Just draw my fucking blood, get this over with
>Other

Might as well. Let's see what kind of music they have!

Faint!

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)11:34 No. 735556 ID: ea2bfa
File 146843485890.png - (5.63KB , 600x600 , Concerned Seer.png )

>>735553
You accept his offer to put on some music. There's a crackling noise like a speaker activating, and a song starts.

"Did I drink some poison?
That I don't remember now?
Is there blood on my hands..."

You are significantly not comfortable, and say so.

"Give the music time to work. Fool assures me this song is quite good. Preliminary examinations complete. Now beginning blood draw."

A tendril wraps around your arm and applies pressure similarly to a tourniquet. More clear fluid is spurted onto your arm, and another tendril marks your vein in black ink.

After a brief moment, the needle plunges into your arm...

>>735554
You faint dead away.

You awaken to Seer standing over you, looking concerned.

"Hey, you alright? The Doc says you fainted. The examination's complete, though!"

>Inquire as to why Doc didn't stop when you fainted.
>Tell her you're alright.
>Leave the room and say nothing.
>Other

>>735556
>Tell her you're alright.
Needles, huh?

Tell her you're alright, at least you didn't have to sit through it. Then nervous laugh.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)12:03 No. 735559 ID: ea2bfa
File 146843662741.png - (6.38KB , 600x600 , Document.png )

>>735558
You tell her you're fine, then let out an exceedingly nervous titter. She frowns, but helps you up off the ground and brings you outside. Fool is sitting against the wall, apparently tuning a guitar and humming a melody. When he sees you both leave the Clinic, he stands and claps his hands together, the guitar vanishing into thin air.

"Right! Examination! How'd it go?" He asks.

Seer pulls a sheaf of papers from seemingly thin air and hands them to you. "She fainted, but otherwise she's alright. I'll let her decide if she wants to tell us anything..."

>MIND: Subject's mental state indicates bonuses to SUBTERFUGE, while likewise deteriorating in CONVINCING OTHERS.

>Vice: Subject gains increased strength and morale when DELIBERATELY BETRAYING ANOTHER.

>Strength: Subject focuses on POWERFUL ATTACKS, though their STAMINA is less potent.

>Show them your results.
>Only tell part of the truth
>Don't tell them anything
>Other

>>735559
We could be their spy... Gain clout with the enemy then betray them. Somehow do this without gaining a reputation as a spy. Disguises, perhaps?

But we should also try to ensure they're not just using us as fuel for their Vices. It kinda sounds like a Devil's Vice should be private in general.
>Only tell part of the truth
Don't tell them about your Vice.

>>735559
Fabricate results that are close but wrong. Stick with the fear of self lie from earlier.

>>735559
"convincing others" means persuasion, right?

>>735563
Exactly. You're bad at persuading others to do things.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)14:43 No. 735570 ID: ea2bfa
File 146844622188.png - (5.81KB , 600x600 , Awkward.png )

>>735561
You explain to the other Devils that you're willing to share everything except for your Vice. They seem to understand, and seem pretty okay with everything else you tell them.

"Goodness, I would have never guessed." Fool says, deadpan, though he lets out a bit of a yelp when Seer swats him on the arm.

"Alright, well, the examination's over, I suppose... Time to move onto sparring, right?"

You head to the Sparring grounds, where there seems to just be a small arena. The ground is littered with burns, bullet holes, slashes in the dirt and... are those mine craters? I think those are mine craters...

"Okay, so, we're just gonna figure out how you do combat-wise, alright?" Fool says, clapping his hands together again. "I'll be your partner. But first, you gotta summon a weapon, okay?"

You raise an eyebrow, and he proceeds to explain that every Devil has a special weapon they can summon. It can theoretically be anything!

As if to show of an example, the Seer holds her hands apart, and what seems to be some sort of... crossbow minigun pops into being. The young woman holds the wooden monstrosity easily.

"So, go on ahead. Just focus on having a weapon in your hands, and you'll have it. But once you pick it, you're stuck with it."

>CHOOSE A WEAPON!
>Note: Weapon must be one-handed. Weapon must be capable of being silenced.

>>735570
>>735569
In case you need to delete a post in the future, you can do it yourself if you didn't already know. Click the checkbox next to your name and tripcode, scroll to the bottom of the page, and press "Delete" in the bottom right corner.

>>735571
Thank you! I'll keep that in mind!

>>735570
Pile bunker with padded stop plate for reduced impact clang.

>Subject's mental state indicates bonuses to SUBTERFUGE, while likewise deteriorating in CONVINCING OTHERS.
I'm confused. Doesn't subterfuge almost entirely of convincing other of things that aren't true? Or do we only get bonuses to lies of omission?

>CHOOSE A WEAPON!
A fractal dagger. As if space and geometry shattered around a single dagger, copies and replicas growing off of itself. You can control the degree of the fractal expansion, allowing for variable length and shape in different circumstances.

>>735575
Well, it's more in the sense you can't persuade people to do stuff. You could lie through your teeth about something and make it sound convincing, but you couldn't get someone to get you a glass of water unless they'd already be willing to get you a glass of water.

>>735570
Ranged combat makes sense for a glass cannon. How about... throwing knives big enough to be used as short swords.

A laser gun. The kind with actual lasers instead of weird sci-fi energy blasts, so the beam travels at the speed of light, can only be seen from the side if there's a lot of dust in the air, and is outside the normal visual spectrum even if there is dust.

Poison dagger. Deadly on backstabs but useless in a confrontation.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)16:01 No. 735585 ID: ea2bfa
File 146845086104.png - (9.47KB , 1000x1000 , NEW WEAPON.png )

>>735578
You focus, and suddenly, around your waist appears a large satchel! Inside are three throwing knives!

>You got: BRUTUS, IKUKO, AND MARINA!

(And author got: Better art style!)

Experimentally, you pull out a knife and toss it at a nearby target. Shortly after embedding itself in the wood, it disappears and you feel a sudden weight at your side as it reappears in the satchel.

Fool nods approvingly. "Neat! Alright, it's time to get sparring!" He pulls a microphone from his pocket, and Seer sits on a nearby bench to watch the spectacle.

"LAAAAAADIES AND... well, just lady, I guess. TONIGHT, WE TEST OUR NEWEST RECRUIT'S COMBAT READINESS! CAN YOUNG AGE AND TREACHERY BEAT OLD AGE AND SKILL? LET'S FIND OUT!"

With that, he drops the mic... or rather, lets it go long enough for it to transform into a wicked looking mace, at which point he snatches it out of the air and levels it at you.

"Your move, cupcake."

>BATTLE START!

>Note: You currently have access to one Battle Tech, "Your Senses Betray You"

>Your HP: 10/10
>Fool's HP: 100/100

>Attack
>Battle Tech
>Item

>>735585
Let's start out big and try the Battle Skill.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)16:25 No. 735588 ID: ea2bfa
File 146845230735.png - (16.43KB , 1000x1000 , Fool Fight 1.png )

>>735586
Battle Tech Menu:
>Your Senses Betray You (Negate Next Enemy Attack Or One Free Hit)

You activate the battle tech, and your heart pounds in your chest for a moment. Something tells you that nobody can see you...

Fool sees this and just grins. "Invisibility? Please. I'm part-wolf, dummy." He sniffs the air... and then looks startled. "Oh my god..." He says, looking around, seemingly genuinely bewildered that his senses are failing him.

You take this opportunity to fling a knife at him, the oversized blade whizzing past his head and cutting a thin line into his cheek.

He curses as you reappear in view, and Ikuko reappears in your satchel. "Clever. Real clever."

>Your HP: 10/10
>Fool's HP: 98/100

He growls softly, and then smirks. "Alright. We're just blowing our loads right out of the starting gate? Fine."

He waves his hand, and suddenly a song begins playing, some bass-heavy piece of techno that gets your blood pumping... And then, it stops pumping.

>Fool used Battle Tech "Skipping Beats"!

You will now take Damage every turn!

You take 2 damage!

>Your HP: 8/10
>Fool's HP: 98/100

He smirks again as you stumble to your feet. "Yeah, just so you know, I'm going easy on you. Devil Magic's a bitch, huh?"

>Attack
>(ALL TECHS RECHARGING)
>(NO ITEMS)

get in there and show em your stabs!

>>735588
>Attack.
Is there anything else we can do? Can we suggest maneuvers or what?

I feel like we should have asked how durable devils are before attacking. A little late, now. We have to trust he's going to spare us due to training.

>your heart stopped
...do we get a bonus for our treacherous heart turning against us? I'm not sure what's more betrayal than that.

>what do
Honestly, your best bet is subterfuge.

Start acting like you're freaking out, lose it a little, fall down. You're a rookie, and you already fainted for the doc once today. He'll believe it, and come check on you.

Only the fight isn't over, and you'll stab him when he does.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)16:59 No. 735593 ID: ea2bfa
File 146845438448.png - (9.53KB , 1000x1000 , Wounded Gazelle.png )

>>735591
You do exactly that. Letting out an exaggerated gasp of pain (though this does hurt quite a bit), you fall onto your backside and begin faking a freakout.

Seer looks concerned, and Fool claps his hands over his mouth. "Oh my god! Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I... I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry!"

In the throes of your acting, you subtly reach one hand towards your knife satchel...

He begins approaching you, one arm held out. "It's okay, you'll be fine! Just breathe, okay? You'll be fine if you just breathe!"

He steps right in front of you, looking down, the utmost concern for you in his eyes. You can tell he really cares about your wellbeing...

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/13(Wed)17:04 No. 735594 ID: ea2bfa
File 146845465641.png - (6.89KB , 1000x1000 , First Betrayal.png )

>>735593
When you reach up, Marina in your hand, and drive the blade through his chest, you see the concern in his eyes turn to a look of confusion.

Blood splatters you, hot and red. You think you may have hit a lung. You can't bring yourself to truly care.

He falls backwards slowly, as if not quite sure if he's supposed to be doing it. When he hits the ground and you get to your feet, Seer's expression locked into one of horror, you realize something.

You've betrayed the first person you ever met. And you've never felt better...

>VICE INDULGED. YOU'VE GAINED ONE PERK.

Seer rushes over, picking Fool up like he's a small child. He attempts to say something, but just coughs up more blood. She looks at you, and in her eyes you see... pity?

"Follow me, we have to get him to Doc!"

You both rush down the hallway, and Seer all but kicks down the door to Doc's clinic, throwing her lover's limp body into the chair. Two tendrils push the both of you out, and judging from the sounds within Doc is going straight to work.

Seer doesn't seem to be meeting your gaze. She seems perturbed.

"Did you mean to do it?" She asks. "Did... did you mean for it to go exactly like that?"

>Tell her you did
>Tell her you didn't
>Lie that you didn't
>Defend self
>Other

>>735594
>Tell her you didn't
Well I mean you were gonna stab him but you expected him to be a bit more durable than that. Are Devils really that easy to kill?

>>735597
For what it's worth, you caught him at what was basically an extremely vulnerable moment. He'd completely let his guard down, and you'd absolutely fooled him into thinking you were out of the fight.

Don't expect this to work... well, ever again. Either your enemies will take weakness as a sign to hit harder, or your future sparring partners might be more guarded.

I just wanted to surprise him since I didn't think I was any match for him. I didn't think it'd do that.

>>735598
So hit points aren't a reflection of durability, but rather the ability to mitigate damage?

>>735594
Truth: no, you didn't. You thought you were brand new, and he was a lot stronger than you. You thought you could trick him into getting a free hit in, but you didn't think it would be that effective. Pulling a cheap trick was the only move you really had, and you wanted to give it your all.

And you kind of assumed if we were swinging around lethal weapons that we had some kind of durability or protection.

I mean, seriously trying to kill your trainer is just stupid. You'd probably end up dead yourself missing out on something!


...of course, this probably doesn't sound convincing, and your impulse is going to not be to believe me. But you know what Doc's tests said about my mind, so you know I'm telling the truth.

...you're the only people who will ever know when I'm telling the truth.

>>735600
Exactly. It's not just stamina, it's the ability to deflect, dodge, or otherwise just avoid getting hit.

>>735601
She gazes at you, tears welling up in her eyes. She nods. "I believe you." She says. The both of you wait in silence outside of the clinic, until some time later, Fool steps out. He's shirtless, and his chest has a large scar on it, but he's otherwise alive.

Seer engulfs him in a hug, and he hugs her back. You stand there awkwardly for a bit, until they pull away from one another, and Fool gives you a good long look.

"I... I'm fine." He says, sighing. "I'm sure you didn't do it on purpose. I let my guard down, that was my mistake..." He chuckles, a bit sadly. "Doubt I'll be making it ever again..."

He heads down the hallway, and gestures for you to follow him. "Listen, I... I don't think you can stay here. At least, not now. Word's gonna spread like wildfire, and I don't think you're gonna be very popular..."

You open your mouth to say something, and he raises a finger. "I know. You didn't do it on purpose. But nobody but me and Seer are gonna know that. They're gonna think you flipped out and attacked me during a friendly sparring session."

You nod, and you notice your vision blur slightly as tears start forming.

He smiles at you. "Look... This isn't goodbye, alright? I never stay here too long if I can help it. We'll see one another again..." He extends a hand.

You take it, and rather than shaking it you pull Fool into a hug. He hugs back, and he seems genuinely upset. "Listen... talk to Traversus. He'll get you to The Normal World."

When you pull away from him, you notice he's pushed a wad of some strange paper into your hand. "It's Normal World currency." He explains. "Should keep you going for a while. We've got someone on the outside, he'll give you the low-down on The Normal World, okay?"

You nod. You realize you've all stopped outside of a door, labelled "Portal Network (Traversus' Realm)". This is probably where you're supposed to go...

If you have anything you'd like to say, say it now...

>Say Something
>Enter the Portal Network

>>735602
...see you later.

>If you have anything you'd like to say, say it now...
He cares about you, you fucked him over, and long term, he and Seerer (and Doc) are the only ones you'll ever be able to be honest with. No one else will believe you when you tell them the truth. So you might as well be honest with him.

"I did hit you as hard as I could, on purpose. I just didn't think it would work."

I think there's one thing we should ask before we leave:

"...why am I important to you?

"You cared enough to make yourself vulnerable, even though you'd just met me. Yuo still care, even after I betrayed you."

>>735605
He smiles at your statement. "Devils gotta stick together, kid. Not a lot of people like us... not even other Monsters."

He pats you on the shoulder. "It's all okay, alright? Just stay safe, kid."

>>735604
"Yeah. Seeya."

You turn around, take a deep breath, and step through the door...

When you open your eyes, you're floating in a black void. From somewhere far away, you hear a voice speak.

"Hello. I believe you're a friend of Fool's. I am Traversus. Is there somewhere you need to go?"

>Where are you going?

>>735607
>list locations

>>735607
Uh, the normal world? Do I need to be more specific than that? Do I get a choice?

(Too bad we cut past the tutorial and don't know what we're supposed to be doing in the world!).

Fool mentioned someone on the outside, we need to at least make sure we get to them before we go anywhere else.

>>735608
The voice pauses. "Well... I'll freely admit, that was only a bit of a formality, friend. I've spoken with Fool, you have somewhere you need to be. To the safehouse, then..."

There's a loud whirring noise in your ears for a moment... and then you pass out.

>Hey, while your body and soul are being transported through the ether, why not spend that shiny new PERK you just got?

>Every Perk gives you a small bonus to some situation or another! You'll be provided three options every Perk! When you pick one, the other two are gone forever! So choose wisely!

>Perk 1: Triple Threat: Use all three knives during combat!
>Perk 2: Honey-Sweet Lies: People who trust you are even more susceptible to your lies.
>Perk 3: Lamb In Sheep's Clothing: People see you as less suspicious.

>>735612
perk three. MAXIMUM SNEAKING MISSION!

Perk 3

>>735612
Uh, 1 is a 200% damage boost. That is way better than the other two.

Hey, wait a minute! Fool shoved us out the door so fast, he completely forgot to teach us how to do the "Anthropomorphic Animal" thing! Awww, now we're going to be stuck with our awkward legs and we're never going to get to have a serpentine tail!

>>735612
Perk three is essential to not getting accidentally killed in the normal world, especially as we entered without information and are going to make stupid mistakes as a result.

...also we just made ourselves really suspicious to a lot of devils, probably, so that will help mitigate things when we eventually return.

>>735618
You can already use two knives. You just haven't yet.

>>735621
Oh then it's a 50% damage boost. Then I guess option 3 could be more effective depending on what we're doing.

I don't like subjective abilities though... it's hard to tell if they're actually doing anything.

>>735612
less suspicious steadily becomes more valuable the more we betray people. all in on perk 3.

Perk three, this is a SNEAKING MISSION, Snake.

>>735623
we just killed someone with ~10x our arbitrary life points in one surprise hit. I figure getting more of those is probably more useful than a 50% combat boost.

Heck, a small cut on the other guy did the equivalent of 20% of our health. I dunno if we wanna be in combat ever.

Option3~

>>735664
My understanding is that hit points only come into play when you're expecting an attack. They're a measure of how much you can avoid being killed, not a measure of toughness. Since his guard was down at the time, he effectively had like 0 hp.

I expect we can kill basically anyone via getting them to drop their guard. The problem is doing that more than once.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/14(Thu)12:49 No. 735771 ID: ea2bfa
File 146852574370.png - (10.15KB , 1000x1000 , Meet Doug.png )

You have selected Perk Three! You are now less suspicious in the eyes of others! They will tend to treat you as more or less a "normal" person unless given reason to suspect otherwise!

Suddenly, you wake up! You're standing on your feet, in what seems to be the living room of a house. You can hear noise from behind you, apparently two people having a conversation...

In front of you, seated on a couch, is what looks like an anthropomorphic dog. He's holding a glass bottle in one hand, and is visibly startled by your presence.

"Oh. Uh, hi. I guess you're the one Fool sent?" He asks you, looking you up and down... and visibly lingering on your hips and chest.

>visibly lingering on your hips and chest
I suppose the plus there is it gives you something easy to play to if you want to manipulate and/or betray him.

Although we should probably hold off on betraying instructors long enough to get the information we need to provide.

>what do
Yes, that's me. And who might you be?

You're supposed to explain some things to me, right?

Use your skill with lying on your posture, hold yourself a little more suggestively, but don't go overboard. A lie that you're interested or available (well, it's possible that might be true later, but you're lying in the moment).

If we need a "name", Viper might serve, unless someone has something better?

Don't tell him what you did to Fool, or why you showed up early.

Would it be possible for you to teach me how to do what Fool called the "Anthropomorphic Animal" thing? He completely forgot to teach me and I feel really weird with these legs.

>>735777
You cross your arms in a way that deliberately accentuates your chest, and hold yourself in a way that suggests it's entirely for his benefit. Judging from the way his eyes keep flicking down from your face, it's definitely getting his attention. His tail wags slightly behind him.

You tell him you are the one Fool sent, and ask him who he is. He stands up, grinning.

"Name's Douglas. You can call me Doug, though." He says. "I suppose you could say I'm a Devil Sympathizer. I help any of them who want it get acclimated to the Normal World."

You nod, and tell him that he was apparently meant to explain things to you.

"Yeah, I was. Mostly about Normal World life. Fool gave you the cash, right? That's important..."

You nod.

"But yeah, I'm gonna explain things to you, don't worry."

He steps into another room, this one a kitchen, and throws his empty bottle into a bin. He turns to look at you, leaning against the counter. He smiles, and you have to admit, your heart flutters a little at the sight.

"So, any specific questions or do you just want the big spiel?"

>Any Questions?
>Just get the Exposition Dump.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/14(Thu)13:21 No. 735781 ID: ea2bfa
File 146852766860.png - (9.91KB , 1000x1000 , Interrogation.png )

Whoops, forgot about the image.

>>735780
>heart flutters a little
Some sort of ability? Or is he especially attractive?

>Any Questions?
Well the most important one is how you can learn to change form. After that,
>Just get the Exposition Dump.

>>735783
He's just really cute. Also, waiting for another suggestion or two, just wanted to explain the heart fluttering thing.

let's get everything out of the way first. then we can dig into the gritty.

>Some sort of ability? Or is he especially attractive?
It could be both, to be fair. Someone with attraction / charisma / social / romantic powers would probably appear attractive as well.

Best to be cautious and not commit to anything, yet. If being subtly flirtatious makes him more amenable to sharing with us, that's good enough for the moment.

>"So, any specific questions or do you just want the big spiel?"
You're not a devil, but you're sympathetic to us? Fool made it sound like everyone hated us.

(If he reveals he's a god, "Okay, this might be a personal or sensitive question then, and you don't have to answer, but that mean you've got a devil?").

Also, yes, ask if he knows how devils do their animal transformation thing.

Then give us the spiel, we're sure we'll have follow up questions after.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/14(Thu)14:16 No. 735800 ID: ea2bfa
File 146853099755.png - (11.35KB , 1000x1000 , Normal World.png )

>>735791
He shrugs. "Some people are more sympathetic than anything. Or, uh, I guess in this case, Gods?" He winces as your eyes widen at this.

"Yeah, I'm a god. Love and Freedom. I swear, I'll leave you be, I just want to help Devils. I mean, I'm all about Love and Freedom, yknow? Not exactly the sort to crush a Monster species underfoot because they don't fit the dogma..."

You pause, and ask him if he has a Devil.

He shakes his head. "Nah. Back when I had a bit of a problem keeping it in my pants I worried that maybe I'd go too far. But I got some therapy and that managed to keep it in check, yknow?"

You nod, and then remember something. You ask him if he knows how Devils can transform.

He grins. "Really? They didn't teach you? Huh. Yeah, I'll help you with that, no problem." He considers you for a moment. "Hell, maybe you'd do better passing yourself off as a Naga or Chimera..."

You tell him that can wait until he explains things a bit, and he nods.

"Well, alright. Basically, The Normal World is sort of the "Good Twin" to The Wild Place. Everything runs off a set of laws, and The Celestial Court ensures that nothing gets too far out of hand."

"Of course, even with The Border, The Wild Place has a tendency to sneak in. It accomplishes that through Monsters, of which Devils are a variety. Most Monsters are formed of recurring thoughts and emotions amongst Morality, which gives them very simple drives. These drives are almost always violent or otherwise unwanted."

"Due to this, the Normal World has a thriving industry of Monster Hunters, mortals who go out and kill or otherwise take care of Monsters. It pays well enough, and usually gets you some renown."

"I've already set up some ID for you. As soon as you give me a name, you'll be a resident of The Normal World legally. You'll be living here until you can get on your feet enough to afford your own place. Or, if you're willing to help out and pay for your share, you could just stay here."

"We've got a bit of a support network set up already, so you're not just gonna be left out in the cold. But it's advised to help out however you can."

He pauses, apparently considering what else he needs to say. "I, uh, I think I've covered everything. Any more questions?"

>>735800
Monster Hunters... could you transform into a Naga or Chimera, pose as a Monster, then hunt them that way? (good way to get Betrayals, too. Get a monster's trust then stab them in the back. Because we'd be hunting in the Normal world, we wouldn't even get a reputation!)

Let's NOT betray the god that helps Devils. That's an incredibly unique and useful ally.

Ask him where "here" is. You're considering helping out.

how do gods react to their devils? like, if we run into the celestial guard captain do we say hi or run away REALLY fast?

...why do monsters, or just devils, even come to the normal world if we run the risk of being hunted and chased out? Fool seemed like he had a home in the wild place, what's so bad about being over there?

>"Hell, maybe you'd do better passing yourself off as a Naga or Chimera..."
Are those monsters, or different species of mortals? Are some kind of monsters accepted enough it might be possible to pass as one of them rather than a faux-human?

>Let's NOT betray the god that helps Devils. That's an incredibly unique and useful ally.
Agreed.

Though, I wonder if smaller scale betrayals still count. Say, offering to share the bed, leading him on, then turning into a small snake and curling up for bedtime. Although even being a dick to an ally doesn't serve us that well, and...

>you have to admit, your heart flutters a little
>I'm all about Love and Freedom, yknow?
Try not to think too much about the opportunity of having your first time with a literal god of love. Oh wait, damn it, you're thinking about it.

(...also try not to think about how that would also be such a perfect time for betrayal stabbing).

>Or, if you're willing to help out and pay for your share, you could just stay here.
Maybe? Honestly, you don't know anyone, or have any plans yet, so it might be better to stick around and learn the ropes before you make any serious mistakes.

>We've got a bit of a support network set up already, so you're not just gonna be left out in the cold. But it's advised to help out however you can.
...if we're part of the support network, that leaves us in the position to "betray" anyone who becomes too problematic for the group. A fixed / enforcer role when monsters just won't play ball. Maybe.

>>735801
"Well, I live in one of the Border Cities, as they're called. We're basically adjacent to the Borderlands. Pretty much ideal for Monster Hunters."

You nod. Sounds about right. You ask him about the potential of using a more animalian form for double-crossing Monsters.

"It's a good enough idea, but it depends on the intelligence level of the Monster in question. I mean there's a difference between becoming Babel's library assistant and trying to convince Death Slot to stop smashing up electronic stores long enough to listen to you. It could work out perfectly, or you could wind up in trouble. It depends."

Seems about right, you think to yourself.

>>735802

You ask Douglas how deities usually react to their Devils.

"Well, if they know they have a Devil? Not well. I dunno who spawned you, but unless they're someone like me they're probably just gonna try killing you on-sight. Thankfully, Devils are actually immune to a lot of the "I Win" buttons gods usually have." He doesn't expand on that thought, though.

>>735804
"Wellll..." He says, rubbing his arm. "Sometimes, it's the best option for them. Most Monsters have a constant drive to enter the Normal World and cause trouble, and for Devils... well, the Wild Place is dangerous for them. Monsters aren't too fond of you guys..."

You ask what Nagas and Chimeras are.

"Those are varieties of Mortals. Nagas are sorta snake ladies, not sure I need to go into much detail there, and Chimeras are, to quote the textbooks, "Animals given Human Stance". Really, just anthropomorphic animals."

"Some Monsters are usually accepted by the Normal World, but it has to be proven they aren't going to go crazy and start killing people on a lark. I mean, The Postman's been delivering mail for 10 years now, but that's because it's all he does. He can't contemplate doing anything other than delivering mail."

You consider your options, and inquire a bit more about staying here.

"Well, if you'd like. I've got a couple spare bedrooms. You'd have to pay for some of the utilities and such, but if you got a job I'm sure you could cover that."

You nod.

"Any more questions?" He asks you again. "Or I could just show you how to Transform."

>Any more Questions?

>"Any more questions?"
How do gods work? Are you like devils with a mind, strength, and some kind of virtue instead of a vice?

How common are gods? Devils? Just like, am I one of very few very powerful things, or am I really weak right now and there are there lots of us? (...you've already realized you're pretty bad at estimating your own power).

>nagas and animal people are types of mortals
While that makes posing as some kind of snake-type mortal a lot easier than.

>"Or I could just show you how to Transform."
Genuine smile. "No lie, this I have been looking forward to since I got my fangs."

>>735809
"Gods were created by The Judge back at the creation of the world. The intial ones were all given tasks in the Celestial Court. Over time, those Gods bred, and created new ones. Obviously The Judge couldn't add new jobs into the Court, so she created Heaven and gave most of us jobs there. I was a relationship counselor until I defected." He says. "We basically work on Devil Rules, though our Vice is usually one that's beneficial in the long term. Still called a Vice for some reason, though."

He spreads his arms. "I'm gonna be honest with you, my Vice is Spreading Love. I'm a habitual matchmaker."

You ask how common Gods and Devils are.

"Well, Devils can only exist when Gods are afraid of something enough to create them. You guys are pretty damn rare."

You frown. That's... kinda disappointing, actually.

"Gods, on the other hand... we're about as rare. Not quite as much, though."

Those final questions out of the way, you grin and ask him about changing forms. You let him know how enthusiastic you are about the process.

"Yeah, it's pretty great in my opinion. Never understood why all the other Gods try taking human form when they're waltzing around here..."

He brings you back into the living room, and sits down on the couch. "Now, transforming's actually very easy, once you're in the right mindset. You just have to focus on the idea of being something else. Then focus on what that Something Else is. If you focus hard enough, you'll probably transform."

You nod. Seems simple enough. You close your eyes and focus on becoming more viper-like, carefully considering it...

You suddenly feel a chill run down your body, your entire form shivering... after a bit of this, something feels different... you open your eyes, and...

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/14(Thu)15:12 No. 735814 ID: ea2bfa
File 146853433993.png - (12.12KB , 1000x1000 , Naga-Self.png )

>>735811
You're a Naga! You luxuriate in the sensation of having a tail again, the feeling of scales rather than the pale, smooth skin you had before, and the significant lack of hair.

Douglas whistles appreciatively. "Nice! You look good."

He stands up, checking the time on the wall. "Anyways, it's getting a bit late. I know Devils don't really do that whole "Sleep" thing unless they're forced into it, but I'm gonna hit the hay."

He smiles at you. "If you need anything, just wake me up. I'll be fine, I promise."

With that, he heads upstairs to what are presumably the bedrooms. You are alone, in Douglas' living room. The television is off, though the remote is lying on the couch.

There's also what seems to be a game console hooked up to the TV.

Of course, what Douglas doesn't know is that you're perfectly capable of sleep. You just don't HAVE to.

>What do you do?

>>735814
Explore the location. Look around, see what amenities there are.

>>735814
Go find the bathroom and check yourself out in the mirror.

Then experiment with shapeshifting. Can you go all the way to tiny snake form? (For sneaking, and being cute). Can you turn into a big snake?

>question to ask tomorrow
...how does he feel about us indulging out vice? I mean, demon ones are, you know, rather less nice. If we're living with him, I assume we kinda stick by his rules.

>>735816
You look pretty nice, you think! Your scales are sleek, shining slightly under the bathroom's single light.

You practice shapeshifting a bit, and discover that you can turn into both a rather small snake, and an averagely-sized viper.

>>735815
You then investigate the house a little. There seems to be a living room and a kitchen, along with a small office and the bathroom you were just in. A computer's plugged in in the office, and it seems to have several sound-based files on it. Most of them are labelled along the lines of "Project One" or "Deadline Piece". You also notice at least one file that seems blatantly pornographic in nature. There's also a bookshelf in here, mostly filled with various fictional novels, though there are a handful of what seem to be history books and a pack of some strange item labelled "Tarot Cards".

The kitchen has everything you could expect from a Kitchen. Oven, fridge, stove, sink, etc. A coffee pot sits on the counter, apparently ready to start up tomorrow. A note sits on the fridge.

"Reminder: The Pale Horse bottles are mine, you guys. Seriously, I buy the Smithson for a reason. Namely, so you guys stop stealing my goddamn drinks -D"

Apparently Doug has a problem with houseguests taking his beverages.

The living room has a couch, a coffee table, and the TV from earlier. Photographs line the walls, most of them either people you don't recognize, Douglas, or Douglas with people you don't recognize.

Upstairs are three rooms you assume are bedrooms, along with another bathroom. Unlike the one downstairs, this one has a shower.

You can hear soft, steady breathing in one of the bedrooms. Presumably, this one is Douglas'.

>What do you do?

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/14(Thu)15:30 No. 735818 ID: ea2bfa
File 146853540105.png - (7.57KB , 1000x1000 , Snek.png )

>>735817
Whoops, forgot the image!

>Apparently Doug has a problem with houseguests taking his beverages.
Pfff. Beneath us. If he already has a problem with it, us taking one wouldn't even be a betrayal.

>don't need to sleep
>can turn into a tiny snake
I think after we get a job we should invest in a heatlamp, the kind people get for pets. Then we'd actually have a reason to snooze. Besides dreaming, if we dream.

>>What do you do?
...well if we wanted to be a dreadful tease, we could sneak into his bed and fall asleep.

>>735819
>sneak into his bed
Yes. As a snake.

Let's at least sneak in there and snoop around as tiny-snake.

>>735819
>>735825

Well, you've got something to do now. You head into Douglas' bedroom, seeing him currently under the covers. He's fast asleep, and you turn into a small snake, plopping onto the covers and slithering around. The room seems normal enough, a bedside table where his cell-phone sits charging and a small alarm clock reads 12:00 AM.

A window reveals that it's currently dark out, and a closet sits closed.

You consider whether you should leave... or maybe slither underneath the covers?

>What do you do?

Get under the covers as a snake and if and/or when he wakes up and asks why you're a snake under his covers, just tell him, "I was looking for my first monster to hunt, the legendary Trouser Snake! I heard that they hide in the beds of men, so I'm trying to find one to kill it! Do you know what it looks like? That would really help me find it!"

And then when he explains what a Trouser Snake actually is, we get extremely embarrassed and start apologizing like crazy! XD

>>735834
I'm ok with that except for the general tone of it. We could make it more obviously a joke, since I don't think anyone would REALLY believe we don't know that much about sex.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/14(Thu)16:58 No. 735836 ID: ea2bfa
File 146854068080.png - (4.19KB , 1000x1000 , Whoops.png )

>>735835
You decide to be a bit cheeky and wriggle underneath the covers. It's dark under here, obviously, and you can only really navigate through wriggling around his body.

You figure you might as well have some fun your first night here, and prepare for an AWESOME joke whenever he wakes up...

Until you realize something. Something that makes your reptile face heat up with... well, you're not entirely sure what it is...

Douglas is completely naked.

>What do you do?

Just slither up onto the bed and take a snooze. You got bored, so you joined him. Messing with people isn't as fun as betraying them, but it has its perks.

>>735834
The first part might work as a blatant tease, but considering how we were sort of flirting with him before, I'm not sure the level of naivete the nervous embarrassment would require would be believable. Maybe with our magic lying, but it contradicts the expectations we already gave him.

I mean, I'd think he'd read as outright flirting / an invitation, given the context.

>>735836
He outpranked you, in his sleep. Dang he's good!

Retreat to sleeping on top of the sheets.

>>735836
We're in too deep! No backing out now! Proceed with the cheekiness!

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/14(Thu)17:50 No. 735848 ID: ea2bfa

>>735839

Yeah, you're aborting this particular mission. Getting back on top of the sheets, you coil up atop Douglas and fall asleep...

You dream that you're in a desert. But instead of sand, the ground is covered in scraps of confetti, all of it either pure white or covered in black ink. The air is warm around you, and it smells like a library.

Behind you is an oasis, but instead of water, it's filled with black ink. Ahead of you are paper dunes in the sand.

>What do you do?

>>735848
Climb on top of a dune and see if there's anything to be seen. If not I guess we can make some papercastles by the oasis. ...taste the ink, maybe?

>>735849
Seems like a good approach.

>>735849

You climb onto one of the dunes, paper crinkling and shifting under your tail. The dune only reveals more paper sand...

Until, off in the distance, you see something move. Something around your size, if you're guessing correctly...

>What do you do?

>>735849

You climb onto one of the dunes, paper crinkling and shifting under your tail. The dune only reveals more paper sand...

Until, off in the distance, you see something move. Something around your size, if you're guessing correctly...

>What do you do?

>>735855
Go check it out.

>>735857
You slither across the sand, keeping your eyes on the distant figure. It apparently notices you too, and begins moving towards you. It seems to be a serpent of some sort, either made of paper or colored exactly like it.

When you reach it, it's revealed to be made of paper, its body covered in rustling pages. One seems to describe a recipe for quiche. Another is a translation guide for Glossolalia.

It looks up at you, and breaks into a wide grin.

"Oh my gosh! There's another Monster in the Library! Soooo cool!" He says. Despite his size, he sounds around 10 years old. "Who are you? My name's Babel!"

You realize that you've never given yourself a name...

give yourself 3 names. you use them interchangeably. susan, michelle, or rachel. which one is your real name? they all are, and none are.

You think to yourself, "Hopefully he doesn't Babylon all day!" XD

And then suddenly feel bad for making fun of his name, even though you didn't say it out loud, it was still rude.

>>735862
That was one of the monsters Doug mentioned. This might be real.

>You realize that you've never given yourself a name...
I feel like we should follow the demon naming convention style. They're all kind of simple and descriptive.

Viper? (Too on the nose, maybe?) Sting? (Kinda cute, what we do, but people are apt to think of the sword).

...Snikt!

It's the sound of drawing a blade from something, or stabbing it suddenly. It sounds vaguely snake-y. In the right context, it sounds like a kind of cookie, or it could sound like something lewd.

Erim.

>>735867

"Snikt, I suppose." You tell him.

"Aw, neat! I don't think I've ever heard of you, you must be new!"

He suddenly reaches down and takes a large amount of paper into his maw, swallowing it down. You're not sure, but you think a few new pages pop up...

"It's good to see someone else! I've been here a while! The Queen sent me to clean up her Library! She says if I do a good job, she's gonna make me The Royal Librarian!"

He slithers towards another pile of paper, and begins slowly eating that.

"An' sh' s'd..." He swallows. "And she said when I eat all these old books, I'll be smart enough to just make them again! And then I can organize them!"

He suddenly darts forward and slithers around you in circles for a bit.

"Won't that be cool?"

You're not sure why... But you feel like you're only going to be asleep for a bit longer.

Do you have anything you'd like to say to Babel?

>>735868

Fuck, this is what I get for rushing. This is the name I'm picking, sorry.

>Erim
So... we're the Sinistral of Death?

Fitting namesake I guess. Especially since she did betray her entire pantheon. And then all her friends. And then her pantheon again.

>Do you have anything you'd like to say to Babel?
Whose library is this? What happened to it?

ask for him to keep a... stomach? out for a book on devils, that would be useful to have.

>>735877
"It's The Queen's library, silly! You know her, she's the one who created Monsters!" He says. "It's all messed up because she has so many books, but nobody to organize them! This is only one part, too! I think there's a beach an', like, a forest!"

He continues chomping on paper for a bit until you think of another question.

>>735889

"Devils? Why do you wanna know about Devils?" He sticks his tongue out in disgust. "They're big jerks who think they're better'n us 'cause they're from gods! But The Queen says it's not about being strong, it's about being smart! I'm gonna be the smartest Monster ever! Then I'll show 'em! Yeah!"

His eyes sparkle slightly. Seems he's a bit too into this...

"But sure, friend! I'll find a book for you, since you're cool! You're a snake like me!" He grins up at you. "Just one more thing! You gotta tell me how to find you!"

His voice sounds odd, on that last bit. The "how to find you" sounds distant, and muffled...

"Are you okay?" He asks, looking concerned. "You seem kinda-"

You wake up.

"How to find you?
Maybe by your singing..."

Douglas' phone is playing a song, apparently set as an alarm. The time is apparently 7:00 AM.

You hear the shower running, and Douglas isn't in bed. Apparently he managed to sneak out without waking you...

You feel a little groggy, but otherwise refreshed.

>What do you do?

Hmm. So we have an opportunity to get close to someone who works for the queen of the monsters. Possibly a useful angle to manipulate, information to mine, or a betrayal to orchestrate.

>What do you do?
Look for breakfast? Realize you don't have a change a clothes, and you slept in them (sort of? Does shapeshifted count?).

>>735894
You sigh, transforming back into your Naga form. You slither out of the room and head for the kitchen. Seems like coffee's ready, and deciding to be nice you make breakfast for both yourself and Douglas.

He comes downstairs a while later, in a mid-riff baring shirt and a pair of shorts that look just a bit too tight to be comfortable. On the other hand, they show off everything pretty nicely.

He grabs a cup of coffee while you cook, and sits down at the table. He seems to be considering something.

"So, uh... Sleep well?"

>>735897
Tell him you dreamt about the Queen's Library and Babel, before he became the librarian.

being able to sneak out of bed to make breakfast without waking someone seems like a thing a god of love could do.

anyway, agenda. food, shower, clothes. ask around for jobs.

>>735899
"Huh, really? That's something. I hear Babel used to be a pretty sweet kid..." He looks into his mug of coffee. "Makes you think..."

When breakfast is ready, you and him both eat in relative silence... Until he speaks up.

"So, uh, not that I didn't like it, but is there a reason you snuck into my bed last night?" He says.

simultaneous case of wanting to check him out, tease him, and not wanting to sleep alone.

>I hear Babel used to be a pretty sweet kid
He's not now?

>"So, uh, not that I didn't like it, but is there a reason you snuck into my bed last night?" He says.
Give him a nice, big, snakey grin, and then crack and giggle to yourself.

>>735907
Then say that.

It's boring at night! Had to amuse yourself somehow.

>>735908

You grin widely, as if trying to be sinister... And then just start giggling. You explain you were a bit lonely, and figured getting to both check him out and mess with him sounded like a good time.

He smirks. "Huh. Did you at least enjoy what you saw?"

>>735914
Ah... maybe.

flush "maybe~"

shower and clean clothes would be good after food.

>>735916

He grins. "Well, maybe next time you won't have to wait for me to be asleep, huh?"

You blush, and he laughs. "Nah, I'm just yanking your chain. Unless, you know, you think that sounds like a good time." He throws his dishes in the sink, and begins heading out of the room. "I left you a list of job openings on the coffee table. Lemme know if you need anything, I'm gonna be in the office."

When he leaves, you head upstairs and take a shower. The hot water feels good as it cascades over your scales, and thanks to Devil Magic your outfit is pristine when you put it on. You head downstairs, into the living room. True to Douglas' word, there's a list of job openings on the coffee table, clipped from various newspapers. All of them seem physically oriented.

>Security Guard: Night Time. Protect Monster Research Facility from Mortal infiltrators and thieves.
>Monster Hunting Apprentice: Day Time. Learn the ropes of Monster Hunting
>Bounty Hunter: Day Time. Hunt both Mortals and Monsters in the name of monetary gains.

bounty hunter.
convince our target we are a friend, go back to their place, kill them and their friends.

Security guard isn't well suited to us. We can't betray our targets easily, and it puts us in a defensive, reactive role. We're better when we can choose our battles.

We could take the monster hunter apprenticeship to learn how to hunt, and so we have an idea monster hunters operate so we can counter them when we need to. It's useful intel and training.

You'll probably have to lie your butt off to make it through, but that's okay!

...then later we switch into bounty hunting, so we can pick our targets. Who we will catch with lying and betrayal whenever possible.

>identity
Would it be better to pretend to be a naga or human for monster hunting? Given the anti-monster bias looking as 'normal' as possible might be advised.

Uh, would the fake ID paper Douglas offered us cover more than one identity, or do we need to choose if we're presenting with a tail or not in public? Or is shapeshifting a thing for people who aren't gods or devils?

>>735935

You note the ID paper lists you as a "Registered Magician". Likewise, it mentions a tendency to shapeshift. Assuming you show them the ID, they'll know it's "you", more or less.

You have no idea what a Magician is, though...

We could take Security Guard and Betray the company occasionally to let thieves in, in exchange for bribes. Or even let them in then betray the thieves, but that'd only work once. Betraying the company might work more than once, and so long as we can blame it on sleeping on the job or the thieves being skilled, it won't bite us in the ass.

Or we could make an entire new identity for each job, so when we Betray we can just ditch the identity and not accrue a nasty reputation. We'll have to learn shapes other than Naga, though. People will start getting suspicious about nagas in general after we do it a few times.

>>735940
I think for the moment betraying a company we're working for is a bad idea. It runs the risk of disrupting our revenue stream, and possibly making an organization hostile to us, which might be biting off more than we can chew so early.

>You have no idea what a Magician is, though...
Might be a good idea to ask before we head out, since we'll be pretending to be one after all. It's easier to lie if you know what you're talking about!

>>735944
Yeah, we should ask Douglas about Magicians. Also, get an idea of the differences between Bounty Hunter and Monster Hunter. Do Monster Hunters get advantages the more general hunters don't get?

>>735945
You knock softly on Douglas' door. "Come on in!" He says. "Just touching up this track..."

You enter, and he looks up at you from the desk, removing one of a set of large headphones from his ear. "What's up?"

You ask him just what a Magician is, and the difference between Bounty Hunters and Monster Hunters.

"Well, Magicians are... Uh, to put it bluntly, they're what happens when Mortals and Monsters interbreed. They're more or less Mortal, but they've got The Wild Place's chaos in them. This translates through some really souped up magic ability." He frowns. "Fool compared 'em to something called a Sorcerer? I don't know, that dude's fucking with different realities all the time..."

You nod, confused.

"Anyways, uh, Monster Hunters don't get themselves involved with Mortal affairs. On one hand, their pay is based on the type of Monster they kill, and they obviously have less jobs available. On the other hand, unlike Bounty Hunters, they're always allowed to use lethal force."

He goes on. "Bounty Hunters make more money, and have more job variety, but sometimes a client will need a target brought in alive. So you can't just go in knives swinging."

He looks up at you, smiling. "Anything else I can help you with?"

Ask if you have a room set up here.

Bounty hunter seems more our thing. Lying and betrayal can pull off more than brute violence.

Although if monster hunting comes with training and methodology, I still think we should grab that first.

>>735947
He shrugs. "Well, I mean, I've got two bedrooms that're just taking up space. You're welcome to one of 'em. If you're gonna stay for a while, you can even buy something to pretty it up if you want."

You ask him if Monster Hunting provides any special training.

"Besides a field-guide to common Monsters? No, not really. Hell, I've got a copy right here in the office, if you want."

>What do you do?

I'll take that guide.

take the guide and go bounty hunting.

>>735956
You accept the Guide, and leave the house to head towards the Bounty Hunting Headquarters. The building is pretty small, and when you slither a bored-looking man apparently reading something on his phone looks up at you.

"Haven't seen you 'round here before. Well, yknow, job listings are right here." He says, sliding forward a list.

"O' course, you've gotta get a license. But that's just a payment 'n' then you're all set."

You pay for the License (which, unfortunately, takes most of your money from Fool...

>You got: Bounty Hunting License!

"Anyways, just lookit the list. They'll tell you the target, the location, 'n' the condition they want 'em in. Simple enough, right?"

TARGETS:
>Immuno Nest (Monster Colony), Abandoned Hospital, Dead
>Death Slot (Monster), TV Station, Dead Or Alive
>Seraph (Monster), Court Temple, Dead

okay, that seems like it would help using the guide. what are immuno, seraph, and death slot?

>>736011
Yeah let's look up what these things are to get a better idea of how dangerous they are or what our approach would be.

>>736011
Immuno: A monster resembling a bacteriophage of varying sizes, Immuno is spawned from concerns over disease and sickness. Smaller specimens tend to gather together and form "Nests". Relics Include: DNA Strand, Plasm, Spindly Leg

Death Slot: Ostensibly spawned from disappointment at the sudden cancellation of television series. Immuno derives great pain from television broadcasts, and will attempt to destroy both TVs and stations where they receive broadcasts from. Relics Include: Sledgehammer, Cracked TV, Robe Scrap

Seraph: A larval form of Beloved. Spawned from worship of higher powers. Minor shapeshifting abilities, which it uses to appear as authority figures or other trusted individuals. Relics Include: Shining Eye, Angel Skin, White Feather

>>736014
The Seraph seems most suited to our abilities. All we have to do is figure out who it is, and we can assassinate them. We can sneak around as a tiny snake and eavesdrop until we find them.

>>736016
or we can pretend to be someone that wants to worship it. act like someone that has fallen for it's trick.

>>736014
Immuno sounds kind of animalistic, and Death slots sounds like a berseker. While Seraph sounds like it tries to interact with people.

That means we have the best angle to try and apply our skills on Seraph. Lies need a certain level of awareness / communication to be effective, and if we pretend to play along with it's game, we have a chance at betraying it.

Hmmm. Our first proper kill, if you pull this off.

We should try for the betrayal bonus on these if we can. The seraph should be easy if we convince them we are a worshipper.
The death shot would probably feel pretty betrayed if we could convince them their show got renewed Futurama style.
Not sure about immuno thoguh.

You decide to go after Seraph!

You head down to the Temple outlined in the ad. It's currently got a few worshippers within, a hodge-podge of mortal races, worshipping various members of the Celestial Court.

A few people stand out in particular...

>Young Cat Chimera, Currently Praying
>Human Priest, Sweeping Altar
>Shadowman Nun, Lighting Candles

carry yourself as someone down on their luck and in need of divine intervention to turn their luck around.

>>736020
I think we can eliminate any non-staff from the suspect list, and minor shapeshifting probably wouldn't let it appear to be something nonhuman. If it's any of these it'd be the priest. Or if I'm underestimating its shapeshifting powers it could be the nun. Did the book go into any detail?

We probably want to keep the Seraph from finding out Erim's a bounty hunter... This mission could take some doing. I bet it'd be easier if we came back at night when the staff is asleep.

It'd be safe to talk to the chimera, regardless.

Hmm. Didn't Douglass' group shield monsters as well as devils? Maybe we should have asked if there was some way to differentiate the ones we're supposed to be helping if we work with him versus the ones we can hunt down for profit.

Also I wonder what criteria makes some monsters okay to help, and others okay for the devil to kill. Violence obviously isn't the criteria, since he seems to have no problem with us hunting or hurting people for a living. So what's so bad about these monsters they don't have Doug's sympathy, I wonder?

>what do
You should play someone poor and down on their luck, desperate for something to believe in. Fall in with the flock.

...if you haven't been seen already, you might be better off not in naga form. You're less impressive looking, making it a slightly easier sell. (Although that's a marginal bonus, don't worry overmuch if you're already inside).

>who talk to
The cat chimera, I think. You can pretend to be a chimera too, gives you a common point of contact to 'befriend' him.

Hmmm. Possibility for multiple betrays here. Anyone in the flock who comes to trust us will be betrayed when we hit the seraph. Complication is if then a mob falls on us.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/15(Fri)14:24 No. 736028 ID: ea2bfa
File 146861785337.png - (7.29KB , 1000x1000 , Praying Cat.png )

>>736025
Unfortunately, you're already inside. Guess you're going inside as a Naga...

You slither towards the praying Chimera, taking up position beside her.

After a bit, she glances over at you. You pretend to be deep in prayer, but then glance over at her as well.

She's a young woman, probably 18 or 19. She's clad in bright colors, and from what little of her prayers you could hear she was apparently praying for somebody to come home safely. Also, perhaps as a side-effect of your general Devilish nature, you can't help but notice the, uh... relative size of her chest.

She frowns slightly as she looks you over, then smiles softly. "Hi! Do you need something?" She asks.

>What do you say?

>>736025
the seraph is taking advantage of the people here to worship the gods. it's a prayer parasite.

>>736028
Ask if she's part of the clergy here. I assume not, so ask if she can help you find the Seraph that's apparently impersonating someone here.

>>736030
we will get a huge negative for asking someone to help us, do not do that. we got a minus to "convincing others" remember?

>>736028
say you are new here and wondering what goes on in these parts.

>>736029
Well sure, that's not a good thing. I'm just wondering why that's apparently an order of magnitude worse than what we do, in the eyes of our new allies. Insight into our lifeline is useful.

I mean, Seraph and Erim both have a similar approach in that they lie and deceive and to some extent manipulate victims in order to make themselves stronger.

>Also, perhaps as a side-effect of your general Devilish nature, you can't help but notice the, uh... relative size of her chest.
That jealousy or interest talking?

>"Hi! Do you need something?"
Feign nervousness, restless body language, have trouble looking her in the eyes.

"I, ah, I heard, there's help here."

Play the victim, looking desperately, hoping there's something real here. Not sure what "problem" we should fess up to when pushed / if someone tries to 'help' us. (The best lies have a grain of truth in them- we could build off what we did to Fool. That you hurt someone (lie) you didn't mean to).

>>736032
that's the thing, we aren't actually any better. if the bounty hunter agency knew we were a devil, our name would be up on the board. for no reason.

>>736036
In other words, "They're a bunch of racists."

>>736032
seconding this. play the victim, don't let anyone here know you're bounty hunting.

>>736032
It's definitely interest talking, that's for sure... God damn, you can even see some cleavage... Okay, focus, no time for a cat-girl's rocking tits...

You feign nervousness, refusing to meet her gaze and chewing on your lip. You inform her you were told you could find help here.

She frowns, seeming to feel sympathy for your feigned distress. "Well... you could always speak to a Priestess of the Defense... They're always willing to listen to confessions..."

She suddenly pauses, gnawing on her lip a bit. "Though... maybe you should just keep it to yourself... Ugh, never mind, I'm not gonna spread rumors..."

She sighs. "You could just... pray? With me, if you want? I've found praying with others usually helps..." She smiles warmly at you.

>What do you do?

>>736052
Ask about the rumors.

>Okay, focus, no time for a cat-girl's rocking tits...
Well, there could be, but getting time with them would require a longer con, and you run the risk someone else might jump your bounty. Plus a lot more time and effort for the same pay.

(Or there's the small chance you'll have a shot after she's free worshiping false hope, and has reached the point where she's grateful she was saved and not upset you ruined everything / tricked her / dashed her hopes).

>what do
Worm your way a little further into her trust. Accept her offer to (pretend to) pray with her, then later you can raise ask if there's something wrong with the Priestess? (She doesn't want to spread rumors, but we could probably get her to do so pretty easy).

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/15(Fri)18:32 No. 736058 ID: ea2bfa
File 146863274096.png - (41.82KB , 1000x1000 , Meet Sarah.png )

>>736055
Okay, as much as you'd totally love to screw this cat-girl senseless, you totally have a job to do. Maybe after you take out the Seraph...

You gladly accept her offer to "Pray" (though in reality, you just think about random things for a while), the both of you sitting in relative silence, the cat-girl whispering a prayer under her breath.

Eventually, she stands. "Well... I think I might get back home..." She turns to you, and leans forward, accidentally(?) giving you yet another great view of her chest.

"Listen... if you want to talk, I'm here every day, alright?" She smiles. "My name's Sarah, for reference. What's yours?"

You tell her your name, and she nods.

"Nice to meet you, Erim. I get the feeling we're gonna get along great..." She puts a hand on your shoulder for a moment, and then heads out the door of the temple.

You seem to be alone. The nun currently lighting candles is now reading from a holy book, and it seems the priest is still sweeping.

Another woman in priestess regalia enters the room, before heading into what you assume to be a confessional.

>What do you do?

>degree in monster biology
Hmm. Higher education on monsters, yet she doesn't recognize the Seraph-trap she's in.

Increases the odds she might remain friendly to you once it's gone and she realizes the danger she was in, maybe. (Unless she's a monster sympathizer).

>she left
Drat, didn't push her about the priestess. Still, that makes her our prime suspect, for now.

...shall we head to confession?

sit around and see if anyone moves to the other side of confession booth

>>736058
Let's go confess to something, then stealthily follow the priestess as a tiny snake. We'll want to transform somewhere out of sight, of course.

...I wonder what we should confess to? There's no point in doing a serious confession, if we're assuming this is the Seraph. How about confessing to having uncontrollable sexual desires? Like, say you think about sex all the time, about people you just met, etc. Or maybe confess to shoplifting, if we're going for something mundane.

>>736064
I feel like some kind of downtrodden sob story would be more believable / what it expects than nymphomania ruining a victim's life, but I suppose we can sell damn near anything.

If we do confirm to ourselves the priestess is the Seraph in the course of our conversation, the very last thing we should do is confess that we betrayed the first person you ever met, and the nothing ever felt better than that moment your knife collapsed his lung.

As we stab her right through the flimsy confession booth screen.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/15(Fri)19:43 No. 736080 ID: ea2bfa
File 146863703624.png - (15.72KB , 1000x1000 , Confessional.png )

>>736065
You enter the other side of the confession booth, sitting in relative silence until the woman's voice emanates through the screen.

"Welcome, my child. What weighs on your soul this day? The Defense shall protect all who feel true regret..."

You struggle for something to tell her, then decide to tell a lie sprinkled with the truth, hoping the extra bit of emotion will help it sound even more convincing.

"I... I hurt a friend..." you tell her. "And they forgave me... but I still regret it..." Tears begin welling up in your eyes.

"I... I just need to know that there's some way to atone..."

The priestess is silent, for a time, but then speaks. "My child... do you truly feel no way to salvation?" She asks.

You tell her you don't, and she remains quiet again...

"I may know someone who can help you, my child..." She says. "If you'd be willing to come back to this temple. Arrive at Midnight, come with nobody else. We will get you the help you need."

She goes quiet for the last time, and remains quiet. You leave the confessional. Seems you have yourself a lead to work with...

The Priest has left. The Nun remains, still reading her holy book.

>What do you do?

wander around, get something to eat, come back later.

>What do you do?
Hmm. Leave, go snakeform, then double back and snoop around? Sneak around the walls, the rafters?

>>736084
You leave the church yourself, then find somewhere quiet to transform into a snake. You wait for someone to open the door, then slither inside. You don't seem to be noticed, and from what little you can tell, you've got two rooms beyond the main room to investigate.

You can examine The Basement and The Office.

>What Do You Do?

Basement, I think. More likely to be something hidden away there.

>>736094
You slither into the basement. It seems this room is usually used for big gatherings, judging from the folding tables against the wall. Down here, there are two doors.

One door leads to what seems to be a bathroom. The other is locked.

>What do you do?

Sneak your snaky head over to the locked door and take a listen.

>>736104
Can we slither under the locked door? Or is it flush to the ground?

>>736110
You discover that your serpentine form is barely small enough to slither beneath the door. The closet is dark inside, and the carpeted floor is oddly sticky. It feels like there's someone else inside of here, but they're not moving...

There should be enough room for you to turn back into your naga form, if you wanted...

>What do you do?

>>736112
I think we found the corpse of the person the Seraph is copying. Shapeshift back into Naga so you can open the door and let some light in. Or find the light switch without opening the door.

...do you not have a sense of smell? You should be able to smell blood or the corpse.

>>736114
Good point. It does smell remarkably like blood in here. You remember VERY well from Doc...

If we turn back into Naga we'll probably be be too big to avoid getting the blood on us. Which, depending on if that carries with us when we shapeshift, may cause us problems moving around outside.

We could just slither over to check out the face, although if they've been dead a few days touching them might not be too pleasant. Maybe we should go for the light.

On and off quick, though. And keep one eye closed to preserve your night-vision.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/15(Fri)21:53 No. 736117 ID: ea2bfa
File 146864479964.png - (7.96KB , 1000x1000 , Ded.png )

>>736116
You go to check the individual's face, and discover what seems to be a burlap sack over it. You briefly transform into a Naga and turn on the light, quickly. Whoever it is, they're elderly and female.

They haven't been here too long. The body's relatively fresh. You wonder how someone figured out a Seraph was here, but you imagine there are ways to detect that...

You can only recall one elderly female individual...

And it's the nun from earlier...

>What do you do?

Light out before anyone notices it, back to snake form, sneak back out the way you came.

Pay attention to if the nun is still in the room. We want to avoid her noticing you, if possible.

Take the sack off its face to verify it's the Nun. Then go stab the shit out of the nun. No time to get buddy-buddy with her and try for a Betrayal bonus.

>>736119
why no time? we have plenty of time. turn off light, sneak away. watch around you carefully so no one senses you.

>>736121
The Seraph could shapeshift into someone else if we don't get them now.

>>736124
then this person will be missing for real and the new person would be suspicious. the seraph has no reason to change forms.

>>736126
I guess so? I was just talking about trying to ingratiate ourselves with the target. Sneaking back up there to make sure we have the advantage of surprise is still a good idea, yeah.

>>736127
You remove the sack from the figure, and it's most certainly the nun. You see what seem to be two small holes in the back of her neck, which you can only assume are what killed her. Or she may have bled out from the other, identical pairs of holes currently dotting her body.

You slither out again after turning out the light, and carefully head back upstairs. It's around noon at this point, and nobody seems to be here right now.

Seems like you might have to come back later...

>What do you do?

Can't we just track them down in the temple? Slither around sneakily, she can't have gotten far. If we find another official of the temple, we can ask them if they've seen where the nun went.

We have two options.

1) is we leave, walk right into whatever we were invited to tonight, play along, then use the opportunity to betray them and kill the Seraph.

2) We get up in the rafters (or find some other hiding spot) or something for an ambush and wait for people to start showing up tonight. Then while they're waiting for you to show, you ambush the Seraph from behind.

Advantage of the first is it's more strait up betrayal. Advantage of the second is you get a tactical advantage and get to choose your battlefield more than if you let them lead you around.

In both cases, we have a slight disadvantage in that the priestess and whoever else comes along will survive your initial attack and may be hostile after you claim your bounty, and you aren't legally cleared to harm them. So you'd have to escape if you want to be a good little bounty hunter.

...what proof to do we need to take back to the bounty office? Do we need to take the body back with us? The head? The scalp? Ears?

>>736158
we can show anyone that is surprised and/or hostile the bounty hunter's license, which is probably the point of having it. we flash it and say "they were a monster listed for death in the bounty office". anyone arguing would have to argue with the entire bounty office, of which we have been following the rules so they would back us.

>>736160
That's assuming they're still rational. People who think they've just witnessed a brutal murder and/or we are still coming out of whatever mental whammy the Seraph may have them under aren't necessarily going to rational immediately.

It would be great if they back down when they see the license, but you know, plan for the worst, just in case.

>>736158
you're forgetting a much better option. cutting a deal with the seraph, acquire fake proof, and betray the bounty hunting agency.
then coming back later and reneging on the deal with the seraph. doubling up on all that tasty tasty betrayal.

>>736186
No, that's not a better deal. It's way more effort, way more failure prone, and at the end we still get the same money and only one extra betrayal, and there's a non-trivial possibility we don't get paid at all or we lose the bounty hunting through legal channels as an employment option.

(Plus if we've already proven to be a traitor, the Seraph might expect us to try something else, so it might not even count as a betrayal the second time if it doesn't trust us).

A steady income and socially acceptable excuse to have the autonomy to pick targets and kill them is worth more than us than any single perk. It's a safe way to survive and operate.

You consider your options in the empty temple. From what you're thinking, you could either COME BACK LATER and attempt a Betrayal, though it would be more dangerous, or STAY AND WAIT for an opportunity to ambush the Seraph.

While the latter option won't get you a Perk, it is by far the safer option.

You consult your monster-hunting manual, and discover that slain Monsters don't leave behind corpses. Instead, they dissipate and leave behind something called a Relic, a fragment of the Monster that usually has some form of magical energy imbued within. People usually pay well for certain Relics, and you can actually remember the Bounty Hunting List mentioning that you're allowed to keep Relics after turning them in for confirmation.

So, what're you going to do?

>Come back at Midnight
>Wait for an ambush opportunity

We're a professional lying backstabber. Coming back at midnight suits us better.

If we wanted to rig things in our favor, we could do some prep work before leaving. Scout escape routes, set up traps (stuff that will collapse or fall, especially anything you can trigger by throwing a knife at it). Maybe steal some keys so we can make sure doors are locked that you can dive under with snakeform and others can't without opening (assuming shapeshifting is fast).

>>736209
You assume that you're going to be meeting the Seraph in the basement. It's large enough to hold multiple people, it's relatively secluded, and you're sure you're not the only one that's been given this particular offer.

With a bit of time to spare, you sneak down and fiddle with a table towards the head of the room, setting it as precariously as possible without it actually falling over. All it should take is a little nudge for it to go down.

Then, you leave the Temple. You've got free time until Midnight. A lot of free time. Do you want to head home, or maybe look around the city a bit?

>>736218
wander the city extensively.
learn the lay of the land. knowing the ins, outs, backways and byways, alleys and rooftops is super useful in case a hasty exit or a hidden grave is needed.

It would probably be polite to stop home at some point, so Douglas knows you'll be out late and not worry you're in trouble.

The Archivist !0iuTMXQYY. 2016/07/16(Sat)13:51 No. 736230 ID: ea2bfa
File 146870226128.png - (10.97KB , 1000x1000 , Speaker.png )

>>736225
You decide to stop by the house, just long enough to let Douglas know you plan on staying out late tonight.

The slither home is relatively relaxing... until you stop outside of the house and hear muffled music from within.

You wonder if Douglas is having a party or some shit. Though, you don't imagine that metal is usually played at most parties...

You open up the door, and are immediately assaulted by the blaring music. You can hear Douglas totally hamming it up singing along to the song... And another voice.

A voice that's very familiar.

You slither into the living room, and see Douglas and Fool generally goofing off, Fool playing guitar and Douglas singing to some song you don't know.

"SO DAAAANCE...

FOR

YOUR-"

They both notice you, and go stock still. They look rather embarrassed that you caught them at this.

Though, you have to admit, Douglas is an amazing singer, and Fool certainly knows how to play that guitar...

"Uh... hi." Fool says, as Douglas goes to turn off the music.

>What do you do?

sing

Don't stop on my account!

Hug Fool or something, let him know you're glad he's okay and his lungs are working fine, apparently.

You didn't expect to see him again so soon!

>>736243
You immediately give Fool a big hug, glad he's apparently feeling better.

"Well, not too much..." he explains, standing up from the chair he's sitting in. "Doc says I can't really do much hard work until I'm fully healed. Thankfully, with Doc, that isn't as long a wait as it could be."

You nod, and Douglas unplugs the speaker. "Yeah, honestly, we should probably stop, though. I'm kinda surprised the neighbors weren't breaking down our door or anything..."

Fool lets go of the guitar, and rather than fall it just dissipates into thin air. "Yeah, Seer's probably gonna get pissed if I don't get back home soon, too..." He pats you on the shoulder. "Glad you're at least acclimating yourself a little bit. I'll check by some other time, okay?"

He winks, and then disappears himself.

Douglas places the speaker in a closet, then turns to you, grinning. "So, back home? I don't know if you're going back out soon, but I had a proposition for you, if you're willing?"

You nod, non-verbally telling him to go on.

"Well, see, you've gotten yourself a job, right? And I don't know how it's going, but I figured we could celebrate a bit!" He says.

You ask him what he has planned.

"Well, it's around..." He checks his watch. "4:00 right now. How about you and me go out and get some early dinner or something? And afterwards we could hang out, have a few drinks, maybe make out a little..." He says the last part like he's joking, but you have to admit, it sounds a bit tempting...

>What do you say?

>>736246
accept but delay. no drinky before worky.

>>736246
Accept. We can sober up before midnight.

>>736246
Accept, but you can't do much drinking. Gotta work late tonight.

>>736259
You decide to take him up on his offer, but inform him you can't really drink. You've gotta get some work done later tonight. He nods, then jokes he'll just have to do enough drinking for the both of you.

He laughs... then specifies that, no, he won't actually do that. He's... he's not an alcoholic or anything.

You inform him you thought it was funny.

The both of you head out, Douglas informing you that he knows this really great place. When you arrive, you look up at the sign.

"The Black Kraken

Surf and Turf"

He scratches one of his ears. "I, uh... don't know what you like, honestly... but this place is pretty nice!"

He frowns. "Not sure why they'd name it after a several centuries old Monster, though..."

You both head in, and are quickly seated. You order drinks, and while you wait for them Douglas smiles and tries to strike up a conversation.

"So, uh, how's your first day on the job been?" He asks you.

>What do you say?

>>736264
Well you're going after a Seraph in the Temple and you figured out who they're impersonating since you found the corpse of the original person. You were planning to kill it at a meeting there at midnight.

Ask him about the Priesthood of the Defense. What are their midnight meetings like? Would you get in huuuuuge trouble by killing the Seraph then?

>>736266
"Well..." He says, taking a sip from his recently-arrived drink. "The Defense only accepts Priestesses for her clergy. Something to do with her being a "virginal" goddess." He sighs and rolls his eyes. "Which, might I add, she's only called that because we never updated the definition to include women or shapechanged women. If you knew what she got up to with the Head Juror, you'd know she's about as Virginal as I am."

"And midnight meetings... well, no such thing. Probably something set up by the Seraph you're hunting down, if I had to guess. Be careful going in, alright? Seraphs feed off of Hope, and after long enough their presence gets addictive. You may have to deal with some angry individuals."

He leans his head against one of his hands, tapping the other's fingers on the table. "Yknow, maybe I should talk to Long-ears... bet she'd be pretty interested in why one of her priestesses is slumming it with a Seraph..."

He looks up at you, apparently remembering you're out on a date. "Oh! Uh, anyways, are you sure you're all set when it comes to fighting the Seraph? I'm sure you can handle them, but... what about its followers?"

>What do you say?

>>736267
If the church is on the side of the Seraph that will definitely complicate things... Tell him you're gonna have to run away. You have something set up at the scene to make it easier. Ask if you can buy a smoke bomb or something from a shop, to increase your odds of not having to kill one of the followers.

Enough about work, though. ...you're able to speak in private here right? Ask him about Vices. Gods have beneficial Vices, so that must make it really easy for them to gain power, right?

>Uh, anyways, are you sure you're all set when it comes to fighting the Seraph? I'm sure you can handle them, but... what about its followers?
I was planning on cutting and running. (literally, since we cut the seraph first). Dodge and turn snake in the panic, disappear under a door or through a gap they can't follow.

Unless you had a better idea?

>also
Gotta ask... you're okay with me doing my thing on monsters, but you're not with the Seraph doing its? Why do I get a pass for being less savory?

>>736270
"Well, yknow, you haven't killed a nun yet." He says. "And, generally speaking, Devils are different. They can think, and choose. I suppose I might be making a mistake, and you're planning to just indulge your Vice left and right with no regard for others, but..."

He frowns. "I... I get the feeling you're not like that, yknow?"

He sighs. "But yeah, I guess your idea works. I doubt you'll need to make a break for it, just wait for the Seraph's aura to fully dissipate and you should be fine. They revert to their true forms and all that jazz before they die."

You nod.

>>736269
You decide to ask him about the Vices of deities.

"Well, yeah, Deity Vices are definitely both easier to do, and generally better when they're done. I'm pretty sure I told you about my "Spreading Love" thing, right? It kinda applies to all of us. The Head Juror's Vice is "See Justice Done". The Captain's is "Protect The Innocent". They're all things that, generally speaking, improve lives."

He smiles. "So, yeah, we've definitely got a leg up over you guys." He chuckles.

A waiter comes by, and you both order food. You just decide to get what Douglas gets, seeing as how you're not entirely used to this sort of thing.

He pauses. "So... Maybe this is a bit forward, but... what do you think of me?" He asks, looking you in the eyes.

>What do you say?

>>736271
YOUR CUTE

Okay as a serious suggestion, tell him he's very attractive and has a good heart. Which is attractive too.

>And, generally speaking, Devils are different. They can think, and choose.
So we're redeemed in his eyes by having a choice in not going off the deep end. Most monsters are ruled by their natures.

>"So... Maybe this is a bit forward, but... what do you think of me?"
Let's just say you probably wouldn't have any complaints indulging in his vice.

Also, >>736272

(...he's a god of love, he's not looking for any lasting commitment, right? Cause you're nowhere near old enough to settle down with anyone).

>>736274
You smile, and tell him that you think he's both physically attractive, and with his good heart, attractive in other ways, too.

>>736275
You imply you'd be more than willing to indulge in his vice, if he'd be so inclined.

To "seal the deal", so to speak, you gently brush his thigh with your tail. His face goes bright red.

"Uh, th-thanks... I, uh, I'm glad you think so..." You're sure he's regretting wearing such tight shorts to this date, but you're having just a bit too much fun teasing the god.

"Uh, look... I hope you realize that if we do anything, it'll probably... well, just be for fun, at least at first..." He says, looking a bit embarrassed. "I mean, maybe when we get to know each other more... Yknow?"

>What do you say?

>>736278
Yep.

>>736278
Yeah, sure.

(Pfff. You're easier than a love god is).

>>736280
He smiles. "Alright, cool. So, uh, when we get home, you and I could probably have a bit of fun..." He leans forward. "Though that depends... maybe you'd like to be a bit more... devious?"

You probably have a bit until food arrives... and you have to admit, his words intrigue you...

>What do you do?

>>736283
TOO LEWD. I think we can wait until we get home, loverboy.

>>736283
...you know I kind of want to see if we can get away with lie to everyone in the restaurant at once.

And you know, betray the public trust or however that would be justified.

Go for it. We're a naughty snake.

>>736295
ehhh, to betray someone you need them to know you, at least a little. it's impossible to betray a stranger since they have no expectations. so i don't think we should try.
>>736283
we can wait. let's talk nitty gritty about seraphs. says it's a larval form of a beloved. and isn't taking care of worshipers a god's job?

>>736298
You decline his offer.

"Eh, alright, your loss." He leans back in his chair.

You decide to grill him a bit about Seraphs. You tell him about Seraphs being a larval form of something called a "Beloved".

"Oh, yeah, that's a thing. Seraphs only appear when it's worship of a genuinely higher power, like us. Beloveds are spawned from general adoration."

You inquire if that's the case, how are Seraphs larval Beloved?

"Well, basically, if a Seraph can absorb enough hope from people it's fooling, then it can sorta evolve into a Beloved. And then you have a whole can of worms there, since Beloved can just FORCE people to worship them. You either need an extremely strong will or to be a Magician to throw off a Beloved's mental control."

You nod, then inquire why the gods aren't getting involved here.

"Well, to put it bluntly, the only one of us who's genuinely omnipotent is The Judge, and she's too busy with bigger things than Monster attacks. Maybe if The Queen herself was involved..." He frowns. "But yeah, none of us really know about this sort of thing supernaturally. We'd only know if we found out for ourselves..."

He seems a bit upset by this, so you decide to drop it. Your food arrives shortly after, so then you're distracted by eating. You could probably ask one or two more questions before the meal's over and you have to go, if you wanted...

>What do you do?

>>736299
What's there to do for fun around here? Any good movies showing?

>You either need an extremely strong will or to be a Magician to throw off a Beloved's mental control.
...or be a crazy snake who's already pretty tempted to betray people left and right.

(Not that you're hopefully going to face that, unless it evolves right in front of you).

>>736299
Shouldn't you have literal worshipers yourself throwing themselves at you?