You need to take stock again of what you have to work with.

You don't know for sure where you are in the world. Having climbed one huge overgrown boulder you were able to survey the surroundings, you are in a vast forested valley that runs east to west, it's shape suggests it was formed by a glacier eons ago. But you don't recognize the shapes of any mountains. And the sun traverses from right to left, therefore you're on one of the the southern continents.

You don't know how to fight in human form. You had never needed to learn something like that. And on top of that, this body is weak. But, while it lacks strength, you were able to move fast, or at least fast enough to catch a rabbit. And you have a weapon, a bronze dagger. So while you should probably avoid fights for now, you would be able to defend yourself somewhat.

With the bronze dagger, you also found some other items. Among them, flint and steel, a tool that pitiful humans use to create fire. While it hurts your draconic pride, you will now also have to use it.

The corpse that so kindly donated the backpack with said items, was still leaning on a small boulder, with the backpack right next to it. Some part in the back of your mind called out to you that you should give it a proper burial, but you quickly dismiss the thought. You didn't know them and you could care less about who they were.

What was more interesting was the circumstances of their death. But since the remains lay in a relaxed position with it's load taken off. Poisoned berries or starvation, maybe succumbing to an infection on a wound. Humans are so fragile. All these things that you need to be wary about as well. But you doubt they found their death in the midst of battle, neither against a large predator or another human. However, this also doesn't confirm that there were no large predators about either. You have to keep your guard up.

With flint and steel now in your possession you could go about making a fire and cooking the rabbit you caught and killed. From your climb of the huge boulder you know there was a village in the distance, and if you could see the smoke that rose from their fires, they will likely be able to see the one from yours.

You need to eat to not lose what little strength you had.

You also have other things that you need to put into consideration:
Water, but locating the river in this valley will be easy.
Clothes, you're still naked, and you don't know how cold the night will be.
The bedroll you scavenged from the corpse is still filthy and if you were to wash it, you'd need to dry it by a fire. You can't run around with a wet blanket, nor sleep on the ground. They would drain your body heat.

You weigh your options:
>Prepare the rabbit and make a quick fire now. In the time that someone spots the smoke and comes to investigate you'll be gone.
>Go to the river and wash the bedroll, then set up a fire in a secure location to dry it and cook. With some luck nobody will come to investigate the fire. And even if someone comes, you can prepare for it. (specify)
>Put more distance in between you and the village before starting a fire.
>Wait for night, and do something else in the meantime (specify). The smoke wouldn't be as easily visible from a distance, but the fire itself will be much more visible to people close by.
>Approach the village (You are naked, but you have some coins)


This quest was hijacked from another where QM flaked after a few posts.

>>6174249
>Prepare the rabbit and make a quick fire now. In the time that someone spots the smoke and comes to investigate you'll be gone.
Food is priority right now, better to save up what strength we have.

>Spoiler
A tale as old as time

>>6174249
>>Prepare the rabbit and make a quick fire now. In the time that someone spots the smoke and comes to investigate you'll be gone.
Cut up the blanket use some of it as fuel, it will save us the time and energy to find enough sticks

>>6174244
Good to see this revived, I'd have used a different OP image but that's just me

>>6174264
+1

>>6174263
>>6174264
>>6174281
alright, writing...

>>6174249
You're going to have to take the risk of the fire being noticed, but will only have it being lit for the shortest amount of time, just enough for it to be edible to a human stomach.

After you cleared a bit of distance from the remains – and picking up some dry twigs from the ground as kindling on the way – you find a spot with a downed tree. Its rather thin and likely broke due to a storm, with no signs of it having been felled with an axe. The horizontal trunk gives a only a bit of way from your weight and was at a fitting height to sit on.

For a moment you collect yourself. How will you go about it? How do you make a fire? You collected dry twigs as kindling, something that will keep the fire fed, but you've never actually done it. Your dragon soul screams in frustration, and while you wanted to do so in actuality, you are wiser than making a loud sound.

You also don't know how to prepare the rabbit. The fur will burn badly. It wouldn't be edible. The organs likely aren't either. Some are, but you have no idea. Liver? You heard humans eat liver, but it's the organ that filters toxins, it could be full of it. You're only sure that the muscle tissue is something you can eat. But you also don't know how much a human even needs to eat a day! Your own ignorance infuriates you. You've kept humans and they were allowed to prepare and eat part of the tribute that was brought to you as a dragon, yet you never bothered to learn how much they actually needed. The amount they took was negligible to your own share.

The part with most muscle on a rabbit were its legs. You cut into it and sever them. Then you carve a little more around the rabbits hips and abdomen, only to then realize that you don't know where to put the meat that you've liberated. You can't just place it on the floor, can you? Nothing here is clean, and you have to worry about disease.

You release another groan of frustration, the only sounds you have allowed yourself to make so far. Looking up into the sky, “I hope you're happy!”, you forcefully say, addressing that elven goddess. While you can't know, you believe she was watching you, delighting in your struggles.

The words which came out of your mouth were in a language you don't know. Well, you appear to completely know how to speak it, but not how it is called. You would have spoken in draconic, but humans, and pretty much all sentient races, can't speak it. They simply have different lungs, voice boxes and mouth shapes to make the correct sounds. What you wanted to say was simply was perfectly mapped onto this unknown language.

Your mind was in too many places at once. Shaking your head you attempt to peel the skin off the rabbit. It wasn't pretty, but it's own inedible flesh will serve as a tray for you to put on any other cuts of meat you make.

It's tedious work, so you let your mind wander back to that language and begin to recite a poem to gauge its limitations.

“Beneath my wings, the shadows sprawl,
A realm subdued, my power's thrall.
Each golden thread, each gem-stewn crest,
sings homage to boundless zest.”

“Behold the faces trapped in light,
their beauty stolen, sealed from flight.
They sing for me in silent screams,
adorned as trophies in my dreams.”

“No mortal king, no fleeting lord,
shall ever claim my sacred-”

You stop. Not because you found a limitation, but because another realization just hit you.

Your hoard!

What will happen to your hoard?

There were enough women who will have seen your altercation with the goddess. They have likely already fled. While they can't carry your gold by themselves, the news will surely spread. And you're on a different continent, not being able to do anything about it.

“Raaaaaah!”, you scream for real this time. Anger overwhelms you, rendering you unable to think about anything else. You even punch a tree several times, hurting your hand in the process.

No small amount of time passes before you force yourself back on track again. You need to get your revenge, you need to inform the dragon god as soon as possible. But first you need to survive. First you must do this mundane task of preparing food.

You rend and tear as if the rabbit itself was responsible. Cutting it into tiny pieces. Your reasoning is still that the smaller the pieces are, the easier the heat will spread into them and cook them faster, as time is your limiting factor.

Soon you move on to making a fire, which you also manage to do once you've properly put your mind to it. Shaven wood from dry branches and strips of the soiled woolen bedroll quickly start a few flames. Cutting another tree branch into a skewer, you were also able to hold the meat over the fire to cook.

You need to think about a long term plan. Sooner or later you will have to interact with humans. A teleportation rune large enough to allow a person to traverse continents will be difficult to find. Something like that can only in the capitals of the richest kingdoms. And even if you can locate one, gaining access to it will not be easy either.

You could also go by water. Ships large and sturdy enough to traverse oceans are not as rare as large teleportation runes. But it would take a considerable amount of time. There was also the option of finding another dragon and asking it to fly you as a passenger... as any would ever agree to such a thing.

Right now you will need to think about your immediate actions. You extinguish the fire, shoulder the backpack and take a bite of the meat. Bland food that's still too hot. An insult to a dragons pride. ..

>Go to the river for something to drink, the river will be more exposed, which will allow others to spot you easier, but you still need water.
>Make your way near the village and wait for nightfall. You might be able to steal some clothes there.
>Go to the village and hope for them helping you. (You are naked, but you have some coins)
>write-in

>>6174332
>>Go to the river for something to drink, the river will be more exposed, which will allow others to spot you easier, but you still need water.
We need clean water, plus it'll be a chance to finally see what we look like now

>>6174332
>Go to the river for something to drink, the river will be more exposed, which will allow others to spot you easier, but you still need water.

Much as it may hurt a dragon's pride, if we do meet someone we have no choice but to play damsel in distress. Just pray we don't meet bandits or bad people.

>>6174332
>Go to the river for something to drink, the river will be more exposed, which will allow others to spot you easier, but you still need water.

>>6174332
>Go to the river
Worst case scenario, we get seen by bandits or some unsavoury characters, and end up dead or worse. A lone naked woman in rural country, that's bad stuff. No telling what'll happen if we go to the village soon, but staying out after dark will be far worse, so.

Go to the village after drinking water.

>>6174341
>>6174358
>>6174385
>>6174390
unanimous again

gonna need a 1d100

you can also write-in some character traits you'd wish MC to have more/less of
currently I made them rather prone to rage, but knowing when they need a cooler head. Also cultured (in dragon culture at least, you have centuries to work with, gotta make some poems and philosophy), but still ignorant about a lot of things they think beneath them.

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>6174405

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>6174405
Vain and lustful perhaps? We collect beautiful maidens after all

Since we know poetry and philosophy we could technically bullshit our way into claiming to be a poet or bard down on its luck, those coins won't last us forever after all.

Rolled 37 (1d100)

Forgot the roll

>>6174409
>>6174416
>>6174419
writing

>>6174332
Your feet hurt more and more from stepping on the rough terrain. These dainty feet did not have any calluses, so each step on a sharper stone poked into your flesh. In your youth you were roughhousing with other young dragons, so you're no stranger to pain. You haven't felt it in a long while, but you know you do not need to fear it. It's the wound that one needs to fear, and as long are you're not bleeding, or scratch yourself with a poisonous plant, you endure.

The sensation that you were much more uncomfortable with was the cold.

The trek to water was largely uneventful. You've seen a deer-like animal and attempted to get close to it without it noticing you. Not that you would have done anything to it, you don't need such an amount of meat and doubt you could even carry it.

Stalking some prey animal still feels nice, and it put your mind somewhere else for a while. But you still always return to anger. Yes, anger. Fury towards received injustice. A great stimulant to enable one to action. But it also clouds your judgment, won't let you focus on other things. And other things you need to focus on right now you have in abundance.

You're in luck. On your trek to the center of the valley you already encounter a much smaller stream. Even perfectly at a small step in elevation where water flows over. Standing water can have tiny animals within which can cause disease when ingested. But in a free fall of water like this it's much safer to drink.

You clean your hands from the remaining pile of the rabbit in the even colder water, and drinking as much as you're comfortable with. That damn cold. You could almost feel your core temperature sink with each gulp.

Finally you allow yourself to rest a bit, sitting on the backpack to make yourself as comfortable as you could – no, there was something else you want to know first before sitting down. You walk over to the stream again and attempt to angle yourself in such a way that you can see your reflection. In a small sidearm of it where water pools and is much stiller you were able to make out some detail, but not much.

A short straight nose, fierce eyes, a chin maybe on the longer side, and all around symmetrical features. An eye color you can't make out, but dark. You'd like to believe they are black like your scales were and your hair now is. Yes, a beauty, exactly your type, and with exactly the kind of eyes that suggests she'd resist deliciously.

The smile you just had fades as you think about how those with power will have similar feelings towards seeing this body. You need to grow stronger and quick. So once more you take stock of what you're working with.

The valley is teeming with life and you have good access to water. You will neither die from thirst nor hunger. The next thing that will kill you is the cold. And once more you think about that filthy bedroll.

The bedroll was ducked away in the backpack and probably served as a nesting ground for some rodents, probably covered in dried urine too. If you want to use it as anything other than kindling for a fire you'll need to wash it, even if you doubt you can properly wash it in water this shallow and without any soap.

Then there was the point of drying it. You should be able to find a branch to hang it from and then leave it be for a day to return to. Or make another fire. Fire. Oh how you yearn for it's warmth again. But fire will likely attract humans. Which... is not a bad thought either. You could lure them to you, hope it's only a small group or maybe just a single person and... You're still a weak woman with only a dagger as a weapon.

Humans in remote villages are also inherently distrusting of strangers. If one of them were to disappear, and a stranger were to show up in the garments of the one who disappeared? There is no tale you could spin that'd make them trust you.

What should you do?
>write-in

Since the engagement is present I'll give just a write-in this time.

>>6174521
First we should shower and clean ourselves. If there's a water pouch in the backpack then clean it too and refill it.

Now comes the hard part. Do we try to attract someone out here or head straight for the village? The first is basically gambling so my vote is for the latter. We can claim to be a bard down on her luck or a victim of bandits, either works for me. Dump the shitty bedroll too since it'd make us look like a looter.

>>6174521
Start a fire that will be seen from afar and hide. We're pretty quick so we can ascertain their intentions safely. If they're bad people run, but if they seem fine then come out.

>>6174545
+1
Gotta hurry before we freeze to death at night

>>6174521
>>6174545
Support. Is the village downstream of the water or do we have to go through another trek?

>>6174598
this isn't the main river, it's a smaller stream that would merge with the river a bit further down

and it wasn't mentioned before, but the village would be upstream of the valleys main river.
MC hasn't seen the river properly from their vantage point, but assumes the village will be next to the river

generally, if you have any questions on things that the MC should already know, you can always ask

lore stuff I will explain when it's needed in prose, but you can ask outright too, albeit it being much more dry

And I will bring up why the MC hasn't yet tried to use magic next update

>>6174545
>>6174567
>>6174598
taking these, but it's getting late, I will only do a smaller update

>>6174623
Any caves around here we could possibly take shelter in?

>>6174649
MC doesn't know, but doubts it. They are more likely further up in the mountains, but not in a valley carved by a glacier.

>>6174521
You try to clean yourself as good as you dare in the cold water. Freezing had never concerned you before, and you don't know what level of coldness a human body can handle. Your ignorance fuels your desire to quickly find warmth. The closest source of warmth remains to be the village.

Just as you discard the filthy bedroll, you discard the idea of luring villagers out with a fire. The only people that would come out into the woods to investigate a fire would be men, and you doubt you can overwhelm a man in your current state. Even if you don't attack them, they could attack you and have their way with you. It's an unnecessary risk.

The weak must fear the strong, and right now you were weak. This is a fact of life, and there is nothing wrong with that. It's just that you are not in your rightful position. You need to gain in power quick. Training this body would take too long, so the best course of actions you can think of is locating a focus. Even a weak one would do.

Unlike dragons, humans have no even one focus in their bodies. They need to slay a creature who has one, or dig it out of the earth. Or have the luck of a meteor falling from the stars in front of them. Or, and this is much more likely, barter for it or have it be passed down in their family.

And unlike any human “casting spells”, enforcing your will upon the world is natural to you. What they call “performing magic”, is something you barely have to think about when you soar. You look up into the sky again. The freedom it gives you, the speed at which you can traverse the land, the sensation of the wind in your wings... You sigh.

The sun is getting low, but luckily the valley is at the correct angle to have it shine directly down its course in the evening. There is maybe two hours left before dusk will settle in, but you will reach the village well before then.

True to your estimation, you find the forest getting thinner and opening up into the meadows soon after. Or rather farmlands. Young wheat stalks rise about to the height of your knees, and you can't help but lean down a little and let your hand run over them as you move a few steps.

You spot a figure in the field, walking methodically in between the plants and presumably checking for insects and weeds. They haven't seen you yet and are not quite within shouting distance. At least not to properly understand what the other person says.

You have had some time to come up with a story. If they expect you to help them with work you would be useless to them. You will claim to be a traveling bard and scribe, collecting songs and tales, and sharing them with people.

There remains the reason as to why you are naked...
>You were assaulted by bandits (how many, where are they now, specify)
>You're an escaped slave (from whom, specify)
>You were banished (by whom, specify)
>You've had a dispute with a powerful person (specify) and they thought it'd be fun to leave you naked and stranded before riding away.
>write-in

last post for today, see you tomorrow

>>6174697
>You've had a dispute with a powerful person (specify) and they thought it'd be fun to leave you naked and stranded before riding away.
We had a bad breakup with our lover/patron. He thought this would be "funny" punishment

What's the general attitude towards magic users in this world?

>>6174697
>You've had a dispute with a powerful person (specify) and they thought it'd be fun to leave you naked and stranded before riding away.
Seconding >>6174705
It's basically the truth, best to stick to that as close as we can.

>>6174705
Also I'd prefer to avoid the person and head straight for the village so we only need to repeat our story once.

>>6174712
differs, especially on the different religions under different gods.
Generally are magic users much more powerful than regular people and MC would think they are feared. But they can still be tricked and have their focus be taken away, and then they are just regular pitiful humans again

>>6174705
+1
How tall are we compared to an average human?

>>6174697

+1 >>6174713 >>6174719

The more witnesses the better, we might get luck and one of the villagers will feel pity for us, they might interpret our foul mood and scowling to be expected of a spurned lover

>>6174697
>write-in
We're part of an order of bards that goes around nude to be closer to nature.

>>6174545
>If there's a water pouch
a water pouch was there, but ruined

>>6174726
>How tall are we compared to an average human?
so far no real point of comparison but that'll change soon
Simply judging ones own limbs to figure out size was not something MC had

>>6174705
>>6174713
>>6174726
>>6174793
writing

>>6174697
Best not to approach a single person. If you could make them out to be a women you might be more comfortable, but you can't tell at this distance, and by the time you would recognize their features, you'd no longer be able to turn back.

You retreat back into the forest and look for a route that'd take you to the village's center. By your estimation, the village houses about 100 to 150 people, which would mean that everyone will know everyone else. If you appear in front of multiple people they could hold up each others moral behavior. And the chance is higher for someone to take pity on you.

To protect what you could you move the backpack around to carry in front of your chest. You did not at all like the way that it rubs against the more sensitive spots on your skin. Women who are more well endowed will need more specialized undergarments, likely even tailored. But that's not something you should focus on right now. Any clothes at all will already appreciated.

You get closer and closer to the village, and as you do, so increases your doubt. The specific words to say and the act you need to put on. Pretending to be weak and helpless, even if it's mostly true, it doesn't feel right. You're a predator, but you're not preying on peoples pity. Except you are. That's exactly what you are doing right now.

Near the villages entrance, by the main road, was a stable. There was a small commotion about it. A larger man was sitting on a stool with a leather toolbag beside him on the floor, treating a horses hind leg. A much skinnier man and a young lad beside him. A woman by the horses front, calming it down. And a trio of older women a bit further back, gossiping between themselves. Perfect.

It was the elder women who first spot you. One nodding her head towards you, for them all to stop chatting and simply starting at you as you approach. You were about ten steps away from them before even the last person, the large man, noticed you too. He had been absorbed by his work until now.

You let yourself fall down on your knees, and act as if the last bit of strength had left you. “Please...”, you say in between some labored breaths, “Please, you have to help me.”

This was their cue to stop staring at the apparition and know you're real, because the moment you had started speaking, the older women rush towards you. “Ereth, Chamas, look away, give the girl some decency. Orid, find a blanket.”

Good, they speak that same language whose name is still unknown to you. And a better immediate reaction you couldn't have hoped for.

“What happened to you, girl?” “Where do you come from?” Questions where thrown in your direction, but you deliberately don't answer any of them directly.

You still act out of breath, and even somewhat delirious. “He- He left me for dead. I didn't- I- I'm so cold...”

“He who? Who did this to you?”

“Let her catch her breath!”, the stable girl shouted over.

Why is it that the youngest woman present would show the most empathy? Well, you don't fault the older women in their inquisition. Their questions stem from the fear of the unknown. There is someone out there that does this to some woman. They need to know that they and their children are safe. And, well, at least they told the men to look away first.

They have now formed a protective wall before you so the men, “Are you hurt anywhere?”, the seemingly oldest of them asks in a much kinder tone.

You shake your head a bit, “Just... scratches, and- and cold,” your voice still quiet.

“Is she-?”, one of the men asks, not having heard your answer.
“Orid!”, another one of the women calls out, “What's taking that boy- Orid!”
“Not hurt”, the third woman answers the unfinished question of the man, “Funa told you to look away.”
“What's your name, dear?”, the oldest of the women addresses you again. “I'm Anfled.”
“I can help her”, the man retorts to the third woman.
“You can't cure cold, Ereth”, the second woman rebukes him, “a blanket can”, before shouting again “ORID!”

They are talking over one another and you find it difficult to follow. But you were asked a question you don't yet quite thought of an answer for. Dragons don't really have names, but you know the humans referred to you with one. Rendeas. You have no way of knowing whether these people have heard of you, but a part of you seems drawn to it, or at least a female version of it.

What's your name?
>Rendeis
>write-in

>>6175173
>Simply judging ones own limbs to figure out size was not something MC had
didn't finish that thought
Simply judging ones own limbs to figure out size was not something MC had not considered.
I don't mind either way, so we can vote on it too, or roll a die

>>6175241
>write-in
Sendrea
Best anagram I could torture. Anyway we shouldn't appear *too* weak, it's not very draconic. Stand up and try to answer their questions as best as we can.

>>6175254
+1

>>6175253
I imagine we're as tall as most men given that our breasts are stacked

>>6175241
>>Rendeis

>>6175241
Supporting >>6175254
I agree we shouldn't appear too desperate and give them the wrong idea. We're not in immediate danger. We're vulnerable but not helpless.

>>6175241
>Rendeis

>>6175241

>>6175254
+1

>>6175254
>>6175258
>>6175273
>>6175362
gonna lock in Sendrea

I was already writing because it didn't really change the next post, but inspiration didn't strike me as much today
I will get one more post out before bed, and will likely not be able to write a lot during the week

>>6175363
Don't worry QM. Once a day is a good pace by the standards of this board.

>>6175371
well... I will promise to at least tell you when I can't post a day.

>>6175241
“Sendrea”, you tell Anfled quietly, just as the boy, Orid, came back with a blanket.

“This was before the heart, it's warm,” he explains, as he hands it over, “I only had to get Aria of it.”

“What's more important, a freezing girl, or a bloody cat?!” Anfled shouts back at him while putting the blanket over your back.

You let out a gasp of pleasure as the sensation. “No palace fine, nor jeweled throne, could match the joy of warmth just sown.” You mutter as you take off the backpack to nuzzle yourself into the blanket tighter. “Thank you,” you say louder, now daring to put more strength into your voice.

“I'm Funa, that's Joane.”, she begins to name the people present. “Ereth is our doctor, Orid's his apprentice. Chamas' the blacksmith. And that girl over there's Elean.” That's too many names at once. “What happened to you?”, she asks again after having introduced everyone. “And you, git!”, she shoos the boy away who had been trying to take a better look at you.

“Orid, be a dear and brew some tea,” Anfled tells him as he backs away again.

“Let's get you inside,” the third older woman announces and moves to help you up.

“Thank you,” you say again before taking another deep breath. “I wasn't-”, you fake a pained laugh. “I wasn't returning his feelings,” as if that'd explain it, “so he drugged me and dumped me dumped me naked in the woods. I- Where am I?”

“A man did this to you!?” Outrage.

“It's the rich and powerful, they can do what they want,” you shrug, before repeating, “where am I?”

“Stibridge,” came as an answer, but you have no idea where this is.

“Why would someone dump you in the middle of the Stee Valley?”, the stable girl called over, “Where are you from?”

You hear the skepticism in her voice, and you can't fault her for it either. With how fertile the valley appears, you wouldn't be surprised if there was another village close by in the other direction, maybe not even a day away. If you really had been dumped here by someone, they must have known you could find help and a settlement soon.

“Originally? Adria in the north. I've been traveling all over the northern continent. But my luck ran dry as soon as I came ashore here.”, you shake your head again “I don't know, maybe that wasn't his original idea. Maybe he grew sick of the effort of whatever he was planning and dumped me then.”

She couldn't ask anything else as you were guided into a building while she remained by the horses side, but you get the distinct feeling that she wasn't done with you.

You need to get more information to solidify your story.

>Ask to be shown on a map where Stibridge is
>Ask when the next trader would come by and from where
>Ask more (specify)

You will also need to further refine your story
>write-in

>>6175379
>Ask when the next trader would come by and from where
>Ask to be shown on a map where Stibridge is
>Ask to be taken to the village square

Don't think random peasants would have a map lying around so we would have to see the village chief. On the way there we could do an impromptu performance in the square just so we can show to everyone that we aren't lying about being a bard.

You will also need to further refine your story
>write-in
Our patron was a wealthy merchant. After some embarrassment, admit that we slept with him and he dumped us when he caught us in bed with one of his retainers.

This is the least harmful story I can think of that doesn't get us involved in a crime.

>>6175433
Seconding + ask who rules this land
Our dragon seems to be poor with geography despite being literally hundreds of years old

>>6175433
+1

>>6175444
It does track with our dragon being vain and too powerful to care about geographic matters (should have done less arts and more natural sciences)

>>6175433
One more thing
>Tell the women politely that you can handle the men here yourself. You are quite capable and not ashamed.

Women are too inquisitive. Men drop their brains when they see a scantily covered beauty. Now that we're inside, we must work our charms on the weak.

>>6175433
>>6175511
Supporting

my apologies, I stayed way too long at work. Will probably only manage one update before I'll head to bed


>>6175433
>>6175444
>>6175459
>>6175511
>Telling the backwater people that you slept with a guy out of wedlock for personal gain, that he got mad at you because you slept with yet another guy
locking in

>>6175444
>>6175459
>poor with geography
to be fair, do you know the names of of remote valleys in Asia?

I'll need a d100 for the presence of a map

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>6175996
>to be fair, do you know the names of of remote valleys in Asia?
I do, but then I'm an autist

>>6175997

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>6175996

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>6175997

>>6175379
The four of you enter the house attached to the stable, and you immediately head towards the burning hearth and make yourself comfortable before it. These women ask too much, you need to take control of the conversation.

“I will try not to impose on you for too long. Do you know when the next trader will come by?”

“You want to leave already?”

“Rumors will spread about me soon”, you give them a weak smile, “that boy ate me up with his eyes-”, you move a hand towards the fire and gesture as if calling it to you, “as would it warm a freezing soul.”

They made some gestures between themselves, not able to deny the prediction. Before they could say anything else though you reiterate. “A trader, do you know?”

“We always have people coming through, but mostly only visiting family members of neighboring villages.”
“What was the new salt traders name? The one who took over from Omgee?”
“Giles? Gileon, maybe. I liked Omgee, always so soft spoken.”

Salt. That might be good news. If it was sea salt, you could reach the coast like that.

“Do you know his route?”, you inquire further. “Well... I'm not sure if I want to go back to the coast or further away from it.”

“I think he's going back and forth between Hallein and Caburh.”

Caburh. You recognize that name. They trade in faceted gemstones, you're had some in your hoard...

“Thinking about that man again?”, Anfeld asks, having read your emotions off your face.

“I-” You need to think. Where is Caburh? You can't properly focus on the conversation and think at the same time. But you need to keep control of it. “He traded in gemstones”, you further construct the story. The only thing you know for certain were... “emeralds, specifically.”

“Oh,” they let out a rather ominous sound, and thought for a moment. “Was he with the syndicate?”

Could you be any less specific?

“An emerald trader? What do you think?”, you say sarcastically, “He was good to me... until he wasn't.”

“And you broke his heart?”, Funa dug further, but in the direction you guided them to.

“I don't know”, you say with a sigh. “I never pretended that it was about feelings. He was a good patron and sponsored me.”

You can't quite read their faces, but you continued. “I'm a traveling scribe, maybe more of a bard-”

“You're a prostitute?”

The atmosphere in the room had soured in an instant. Gone was the kindness and worry on their faces. Now replaced by disgust and anger.

“I'm a traveling scribe. I collect stories, poems, songs, and other knowledge, and I share it in kind.”

“But you were selling your body to that syndicalist?”

>“Technically, yes. But I'm not selling it to any random person on the street.”
>“My appearance is part of my strength. And I use it.”
>“Rented it, at best.”

I should mention that things that got voted on but didn't make it into the next update are still things that MC would plan to do, or at least they are his/her intentions not the outcome, they can obviously can still get interrupted
and I have ADHD, sometimes the story just flows in one direction more naturally, and I'm unable to steer against it.

>>6176016
>“My appearance is part of my strength. And I use it.”
This syndicate thing sounds bad. We should assure them that we are categorically not involved in any shady trade.

>>6176016
>“My appearance is part of my strength. And I use it.”
Quick, think of a song to lighten up the situation!

>>6176016
>“My appearance is part of my strength. And I use it.”

>>6176016
>“My appearance is part of my strength. And I use it.”
We say anything else and these women will throw us out

>>6176016
>“Rented it, at best.”

>>6176016
>“My appearance is part of my strength. And I use it.”
Now it's time for us to be offended

>>6176016
>“My appearance is part of my strength. And I use it.”

You stand proud. “My appearance is part of my strength”, some force in your voice, “And I use it.”

Your words are only met with more outrage. If you make a wrong move they could see to have you thrown out. You sigh and say much more softly while looking. “You do not approve of my lifestyle.”

“You let man defile your god given body.”

Something about 'god given body', sets you quite on edge. You know they didn't mean it like that, they had no way of knowing, but still...

“A body you should have treasured for your husband on the night of your wedding.”

You stop listening. Something about sanctity, and a 'capital G' god. If you know one thing about gods and religion, then it is that all those religions which claim there was only one god, and that he – and it's almost always a he – will have you burn in hell for eternity for breaking one of his rules, because he is so all loving. All those religions are bullshit.

There's many higher beings adjacent to this world, and some just plainly powerful ones within it. And a lot of them received the title of god by some group of people, even some who didn't really deserve it at all. And of course there are also those “religious” gods, that people created for themselves. And while thoughtforms can be created by people believing in them, these puny spirits are anything but gods.

The next thing that you've never properly understood was human's relationship to sex. You're a magical creature, you can't perform this ritual to tap into Creation and pull a soul into this world. Very few humans are aware of that, though maybe it is something instinctual for them. There are even demons who specialize in harnessing that power by sleeping with humans.

You understand and even enjoy the power dynamics of sex. To make someone else yours – through force too, sure but – through cunning. To have that trust built to do with their bodies as you please. Even hurt them, to contrast the pleasure that usually coincides with sex.

“I will not cause trouble for your village”, you tell them. “The syndicate will not come for me. He- I don't know, maybe he planned to sell me into slavery, but got cold feet and just dumped me. He has no reason to harm you if you help me. I will not seduce any of your men. I will leave as soon as I can.”

“And take your sins with you! We should-”

“My sins are my own”, you interrupt them again. You feel rather annoyed, having to defend yourself against something that didn't actually happen. “But they do not justify a death sentence.” You sigh again and go back to soften your voice. “I am at your mercy. Please, allow me to stay one night and buy some clothes from you. Tomorrow, I will be go-”

“With what money?”, comes the question, and a look to the backpack they had carried in for you “Where did you get that backpack?”

>Tell the truth (the corpse near their village might have been someone they know)
>write-in

>>6176535
>write-in
>"I found this backpack next to me when I woke up."
Not really a lie this time

>>6176546
+1

>>6176535
>>6176546
+1

>>6176546
>>6176558
>>6176568
writing, but not sure if I can squeeze it out before I'll head to sleep
if I don't update in 2 hours, see you tomorrow

We really need an excuse to talk to the men instead of these fanatical women