1f9401 No.929[Last 50 Posts]
You sip from the glass of wine that accompanied your brunch, eyes turned towards the grounds of your estate though in truth you see little of it as the true focus of your mind is on your future. You recieved your degree from the Union City Academy of Magic yesterday and today your new life as a certified Wizard is about to begin. Most people in your position would probably be content with taking over the family business, something you technically did when your parents died 4 years ago but since you were focused on your studies the running of it all was left to your father's right hand man so far, while the more ambitious might try to go into politics or strive for making a name for themselves in academic circles. Unimaginative fools the lot of them. Your sights are higher, set on a truely epic goal rather than such feeble bumbling. When you ended up enrolled in a theology course by accident, soon realized that it had been a blessing in disguise, because you noticed a pattern. Most, if not all, of the gods were mortals once, mortals who ascended to godhood and if they could do it then so can you, and you will.
But while you have a long term goal that goes above and beyond the imagination of what passes for your peers in this city, that doesn't mean that you do not have more mundane things to deal with as well, such as deciding how to spend the remainder of the day.
You could go to the Academy. While you degree is completed, there is always more to learn and enrolling in a course or two might help broaden your magical abilities, while participating in research that falls within your field of choice may help further improve your abilities in your speciality. Aditionally, the expansive library of magical texts is mostly freely accessible to Alumni, and a lot of the people you know can be found there, either among the students still working on their dissertation projects (since you completed yours exceptionally fast, and with flying colors) or among the staff.
Taking a proper look at the workings of your family business is something that you will probably have to get out of the way sooner or later, and getting more directly involved may prove to be worthwhile.
There is also your family's political affiliations. Running any sort of business beyond a simple shop or tavern will pretty much involve you in politics wether you want it or not, and with the population's fascination with magic and admiration of its practitioners the same usually holds true for being a Wizard. Your parents had connections and you will probably be expected to at least meet with some representatives and participate in a few events here and there, and making your position on political matters clear early on could save you some headaches down the road.
Or maybe you can think of something else worthwhile to spend the day on.
So, where do you go?
> Academy
> Family Business
> Political Affiliates
> Write In
9a22e8 No.940
1f9401 No.948
You leave the family estate, devoid of people living there save for yourself and the butler since your parents' passing, and hail a carriage to take you to the Academy. While driving, you think back upon your student time. Hours upon hours of pouring over arcane tomes, experimenting with mystical energies and writing papers for submission detailing your findings. The Academy offers many specialization options, which one is yours
> Alchemy
> Artifice
> Summoning
> Biomancy
> Distortionism
> Energy Manipulation (Electricity)
> Energy Manipulation (Heat)
> Energy Manipulation (Kinetic)
> Energy Absorbtion
> Morphing
> Divinations
> Symbolicism
> Transmutation
166b14 No.952
42debf No.953
>>948> ArtificeWhat do Distortionism and Symbolicism actually mean? Also how is Morphing different from Transmutation? There's a lot of things I'd like to know before I vote.
1f9401 No.955
>>953Transmutation is changing objects and your surroundings, Morphing is changing yourself. Distorting is altering and bending space, teleportation and 'extradimensional' spaces and whatnot. Symbolicism is magic using symbols, runes and script.
42debf No.967
>>955In that case I change my vote from Artifice to Distortionism.
9a22e8 No.997
2e364d No.1009
>>948Difference between Alchemy and Transmutation? Alchemy is like potions and stuff?
Anyway, I vote for
> Biomancy 1f9401 No.1032
 | Rolled 1 |
>>1009Alchemy is the standard fantasy tropes of alchemy so yeah, potions, explosive fluids and other stuff, basically magical chemistry. Transmutation is reshaping stuff at the simple level and changing it from one solid to another for more advanced stuff. Similar to Fullmetal Alchemist's version of alchemy really.
Anyway>>952
>>967>>997>>1009Going to roll then
1: Alchemy
2: Distortionism
3: Divination
4: Biomancy
1f9401 No.1034
File: 1411710024230.jpg (153.59 KB, 683x1170, 683:1170, the_alchemist_by_ran_zu-d7….jpg)
The carriage arrives at the academy and you get out and pay the coachman before heading onto the ground themselves. The Academy is a large and sprawling complex of buildings, bigger and more impressive than even the seat of government, not least of which because a good half of campus consists of large chunks of rock and ground kept suspended in midair by magic, the buildings on them accessed via distortion gates. Now that you are here, you will need to decide where to go. The library is an obvious option if you want to research something, and there is a reasonable chance of running across someone you know there. You could also go and see if there is any ongoing research projects looking for more people. Signing up for a post-graduate course to broaden your magical horizons is always an option as well, and on a sunny day like this, most people head outside if they take a break or even to do writing on their dissertations so the Alchemy Wing garden is bound to have some familiar faces.
> Library
> Alchemy Wing Research Administration
> Post-Graduate Course Registration
> Alchemy Wing Gardens.
> Write in
2e364d No.1036
>>1034> Alchemy Wing Gardens.Is the pic the mc? 1f9401 No.1044
>>1036Yes it is. I had various MC pic options depending on specialization.
07ef0f No.1048
>>1034Let's go to alchemy wing garden.
Can we get rid of the pig disgusting glasses ?
2e364d No.1050
>>1048>pig disgusting glassesThey're nice tho.
1f9401 No.1051
>>1048Yeah I don't mind terribly. I'm going to need someone to do the shooping though since my photoshop skills are shit.
>>1036While it's called the Alchemy Wing, it really is a smaller building complex in its own right on one of the floating mini islands. You head through the Distortion Gate and out into the garden. The garden is in two levels, the upper one consisting of a terrace with tables and large flower pots with flowering shrubberies while the lower one is a field of grass with scattered trees and flowerbeds cut in half by a stream with a high-arched bridge over it. The stream starts and ends at Distortion Gates and is a part of a circuit that runs throughout campus, on which the student body holds a yearly raft race.
The several terrace tables are occupied by students, some groups chatting idly while others are busy with tomes, stacks of notes and paper, obviously busy with schoolwork of some sort or other, and a single group playing cards. The green is a bit more scarcely populated, but there are a few people sitting here and there reading and in a far corner what you assume are a couple have set themselves up with blanket and picnic basket enjoying what seems to be a rather early lunch. Granted, you allowed yourself to sleep in today, but it's still hours shy of noon.
You notice four people you know more than just in passing. Under a tree by the stream is a younger student that you tutored for a while when she moved here with her family from a country up north that still practices the antiquated Master-Apprentice system for magic education. The group playing a cards includes an alumni from the Symbolicism Faculty whom you shared several courses with that he enrolled in because he wanted to create alchemically enhanced inks for his symbolicism. One of the professors is standing near the wooden rail that prevents people from accidentally falling off the edge of the island, seemingly enjoying the view, and sitting alone at one of the tables is a male from your year who looks like he is putting the finishing touches on his dissertation. The two of you started at the same and have been competing for top of the class in most of the courses you shared, not that either of you took the rivalry particularly seriously.
> Professor> Younger Student> Symbolicist> 'Rival'> Write-in 2e364d No.1052
07ef0f No.1053
>>1051>RivalLets put the motherfucker in his place.
1f9401 No.1054
| Rolled 2 |
>>1053>>1052Rolling.
1: symbolicist
2: Rival
1f9401 No.1069
>>1054You walk over to him, but he is too engrossed in his work to notice you right away even though you are standing right in front of him. Glancing down at his work, it doesn't look like a Dissertation after all. It looks more like experiment preparations of some sort, with a lot of different formulae, each with shorthand notes of some sort or other. Then he notices you and looks up.
Natas: "Hello Eona."
Eona (MC, in case you are in doubt): "Hello Natas, are you working on your Dissertation?"
He shakes his head "Handed it in this morning. Yours?"
That means you were almost a week ahead of him, assuming he gets his accepted without revisions. It isn't a big deal but it is still a small satisfaction. Your lips curve upwards in a small smile as you respond "I defended it yesterday. No revisions."
> Brag a bit about already having your degree> try to get him to tell what he is working on> Just talk for a bit> He seems busy, go talk to someone else> write-in f48f03 No.1072
Let's see what he is up to
9a22e8 No.1092
>>1069>Find out what he's up to 1f9401 No.1123
>>1072>>1092Natas half-mumbles a congratulations, already turning his attention back towards whatever it is he's working on. Clearly, he is not really in the mood to talk, but you do not let that deter you as you ask "So, if you're done with your Dissertation, what
are you working on?"
He looks back up at you and covers his notes with his arm in a manner that was no doubt supposed to look innocious. "Ehr just a pet project of mine, nothing terribly interesting…"
Enoa: "What about?"
Natas shifts a little, looking slightly uncomfortable "Eh, just trying to refine an alchemical medicine a bit. Nothing major, since the base recipe isn't patented, but hopefully I can earn a little for the family this way."
His comment about his family reminds you that he is from one of those dockside families with far too many kids and barely enough money to feed half of them. More importantly though, while you didn't understand his shorthand notes on the formulae, you saw enough to tell that at least half of them definitely aren't safe for consumption. Obviously he isn't keen on telling you what he is actually working on, but it seems it will take a bit more handling to get him to tell you.
> Try to get him to spill the beans (write your approach)> Leave him alone> write in 2e364d No.1142
>>1123> Try to get him to spill the beans (write your approach)Be kinda sarcastic about it. Something like "Huh. I thought medicines were supposed to make people better."
84b615 No.1147
1f9401 No.1153
>>1147>>1142"Huh. I thought medicines were supposed to make people better."
Natas at first attempts to feign confusion, but seems to realize after a second that he has essentially backed himself into a corner and sighs. He then glances about to see if anyone seems to be listening and responds in a lowered voice "It's a commission for mixtures to strengthen muscle and bone. He said it doesn't matter if it's toxic, but asked me to be discreet about it."
Eona: "But if you're supposed to be discreet why are you working on it here instead of at home?"
Natas sighs again "It's impossible to concentrate, far too noisy." Ah, yes, that would be his younger siblings' fault.
Still this raises at least as many questions as it answers, but you're not sure Natas knows the answers himself either. Still you may be able to help yourself get closer to the answers by keeping tabs on Natas. An easy way to do this would be offering him to come to your estate to work on it, you have more than enough space after all. It might even be worthwhile to help him with it.
> Offer him to use your Estate for his work> As above but offer your help with it as well> Nah, let him work in peace, you can look more into it later.> Write-in. 2e364d No.1155
>>1153> Offer him to use your Estate for his work 84b615 No.1163
| Rolled 1 |
>>1155Second this
1f9401 No.1170
>>1155>>1163"You know, if you want a place that's both quiet and has some privacy you can do it at my place."
He gives you a look of surprise, then gives you one of his rare smiles "R-really? Thank you Eona, I really appreciate it!"
You quickly scribble a note for the Butler explaining what he needs to know about the situation and hand it to Natas
"Just tell the coachman to go to the Veset Estate and give this to the man who answers the door."
He takes the note and begins packing up his things, then thinks of something and ask you "Do you mind if I leave my notes and stuff at your place? That way I'm certain nobody will make paper hats out of my notes or something." he chuckles darkly at the paper hats comment, and you get the feeling it has probably happened to him before.
Eona: "Sure, no problem."
He thanks you one final time while he finishes gathering up his things, then he heads off towards the Distortion Gate. Well, that's that, but the day is still young. What now?
> talk to someone else (specify who)> Head to the research administration> head to the library> register for a post-graduate course> head to the library> write-in 2e364d No.1171
>>1170> talk to someone else (specify who)The Symbolicist
If there isn't some arbitrary limit here, we're probably going to end up talking to all of them and then it's just a matter of the order. 1f9401 No.1173
>>1171There is, sort of. They all have stuff to do at some point so…
1f9401 No.1194
>>1171You walk over to the Symbolicist, his name is Engon you recall, and as opposed to Natas he notices your approach as they're wrapping up a round of their game and raises a hand in greeting "Hey Eona, breathtaking as allways. Want in? Do mind, we're playing for keeps."
Engon is a handful years older than you and your peers, but it doesn't show much from his behavior. In his own words he keeps a youthful mindset, and while you wouldn't know it to look at him, he is quite a ladies man.
Eona: "Sure thing. Three Dragon Ante I see, any house rules?"
Engon: "Just fellowships."
You nod and take a seat as he starts dealing out the cards and size up the competition. Engon is sharp, but usually doesn't take things too seriously, and he is from a wealthy enough family for the stakes here to be pocket change for him. The others are two girls and a boy a few years below the one you just graduated from. The looks slightly smug, probably because he has the biggest pile of coins at the moment, and you're guessing he's a competent enough player. The redheaded girl has a small pile but seems to be having a good time regardless, so she's probably in it for the fun. The blonde is the only one you've met before though it's been several years so it takes a few moments to recall the circumstances. The prep school you went to before beginning at the Academy, she entered the year before you finished. You've played with her a few times back then and if you recall correctly she had sloppy strategy but an excellent poker face.
Engon: "By the way, this is Bryn, Melina and Riah."
They raise a hand in greeting in turn as their names are mentioned, Riah being the one you've met before.
> Time to teach these loosers a lesson and empty their wallets a bit.> Just play for fun.> Write-in 2e364d No.1201
>>1194> Just play for fun. 84b615 No.1202
>>1194Play for fun, if we are going to become some godess at least lets not be a bitch.
1f9401 No.1257
>>1201>>1202You decide to play for fun, taking crazy risks and making plays that focus more on messing with the others than with winning yourself, such plays generally met with laughter and mock threats of revenge. The only one who seems to be actually playing seriously is Bryn, but he isn't very good at it so while his pile of coins grow slowly, he is a far cry from dominating anything. After a handful of rounds, Bryn withdraws from the game as he has a lecture coming up and Engon makes a suggestion with an impish grin "What about we up the stakes a little ladies? Whichever of you three has one the most in… say 5 gamits' time gets treated to dinner by me tonight."
Now this, or at least something like it, you should probably have seen coming. You make a friendly jab at him that it should be the one who looses instead and Riah and Melina laughs and agrees.
Engon: "All right, I suppose it works as a consolation prize then."
> Play to avoid dinner with him> Play to get the dinner with him> Play to make one of the other two girls end up as his date (which one?)> Write in e7bbcd No.1263
>>1257Play to avoid dinner.
If anything gets in our pants its gonna be a 11/10 alpha motherfucker
1f9401 No.1265
>>1263You decide that you have better things to spend your evening on than dining with Engon, though he seems to think differently. While he makes an appearance of messing with each of you equally, on a subtler level he is definitely trying to mess up your game, but if the other girls realize this they don't show any signs of it. In the end, you manage to stay afloat as the other two quickly ended up in a downward spiral of revenge and in the end, Riah gets the dubious honor of the dinner. Engon is presumably mildly disappointed at you not being the 'winner' of the date, especially seeing as he has attempted similar trickery on you twice before without luck, but to his credit he takes it in stride, arranging for when to pick Riah up while Melina giggles. Afterwards all three excuse themselves, the girls to class and Engon to an experimental ink that he things should be ready. Looking around, you notice that most of the people about have left, including the professor, but the girl you tutored is still here.
> Go talk to her> Go somewhere else on the Academy (specify where as per previous choices)> write-in 35528f No.1268
e7bbcd No.1285
>>1265Is she hot ? If yes i dont mind us being bisexual.
1f9401 No.1287
>>1285Well, pic related is her so take a look and decide for yourself. Either way, I don't mind either.
>>1268You walk over to her, Siji is her name though you cannot for the life of you recall her surname. Her hat makes her easy to spot, seeing as she is the only one in the faculty if not the entire academy to wear one like it. Apparently it is a thing among wizards in her homeland.
Eona: "Hi Siji, how is it going?"
She looks up and smiles brightly "Great! Thanks in no small part to you. I would probably still be completely lost about your way of learning if it hadn't been for you. How are you?"
Ah, that's right. She considers you more or less her savior from flunking completely. Honestly, she could probably have figured it out herself, she is both smart and dilligent but she has a tendency to underestimate herself.
Eona: "I'm fine. I just got my degree, passed with flying colors."
Siji: "Of course you did, you're a bloody genious!"
You chuckle "Thank you Siji."
She opens her mouth to say something more but is interrupted by a loud grumble from her stomach. "Oops. I get so focused on my reading I don't notice how hungry I get." she says sheepishly "I should probably go eat something, but if you want to tag along to the Cafeteria, lunch is on me."
> Yes> Yes but buy your own lunch> no ca65dd No.1288
>>1287Yes. We bisexual now.
e7bbcd No.1289
>>1287Yes, but if we are bisexual that bitch is nothing but a one night stand, not hot or cool enough for more.
ca65dd No.1290
>>1289I dunno son, we don't know much about her just yet. Let's find out just how cool she is first.
e7bbcd No.1304
>>1290With those braids i doubt it's anything to find out.
ca65dd No.1305
>>1304With that scarf I must respectfully disagree.
9635bb No.1320
>>1287Yes but buy own lunch
1f9401 No.1364
>>1289>>1288>>1320You come along, offering to buy your own lunch but not really putting up any resistance when she insists to pay. You end up going for an omelette while Siji chooses fried fish with vegetables and bread.
Eona: "So, how's the family?"
Siji: "They're fine, but you don't really want to hear about them you're just being polite." she responds, though she shows no signs of minding your lack of true interest. And she is correct, you have met her father and mother once and her siblings never and know none of them well enough to particularly care as long as they aren't causing Siji headaches.
Eona: "You got me there I'm afraid."
Siji chuckles "It's fine, I appreciate you asking but I don't want to bore you with it. Anyway, now that you have your degree, what are you going to do with it?"
Now, answering about the short term seems wiser than telling her about your plan to become a goddess. Of course that means the answer is "I haven't really decided yet actually. I'll probably end up doing research sooner or later but I don't know if I will do something else first and I don't know if it will be through the Academy, a private organization or independently." After all, you'll probably have to do some sort of research along the way to ascension.
Siji nods "I see. You not doing so would really be a waste of your gifts you know. If you end up doing something where I can help you out, you know where to find me. Even though I'm probably not useful as more than a lab assistant right now."
Speaking of lab assistant, if you recall the year she is in right, she should have her practice semester next semester. In other words, she is supposed to find a research project that is either done in the Academy or approved by it and spend the semester as a research assistant in order to gain some practical experience. You could always offer to try to find or make her an opening in whatever poject you end up in, if you join or start one soon enough. Granted, if it's through an organization it's up to them if it's submitted for assistants from the Academy in the first place and if it's a private one you conduct you will have to divulge the research plans to the academy for approval meaning that discretion will be harder.
> Tell her you will find her a spot for her semester> Tell her you will try but make no promises> make no suggestions in that direction> write in 294c7c No.1365
>>1364Make no promises
We dont know what we will end up doing, if we can use her fine but if we do something more esoteric it wont be so fine
2e364d No.1366
>>1364> Tell her you will try but make no promisesIf we end up doing something where it looks like we can get her in, we'll give her a call, but it's not like we even really have anything picked out yet and we really shouldn't make promises to get her a job if we might end up somewhere that wouldn't hire her at all.
1f9401 No.1368
>>1365>>1366Eona: "Speaking of lab assistant, isn't your practice semester next year?" Siji nods and you continue "If I end up in a project that's approved for it by the academy, I'll let you know and put in a good word for you with the project head."
Siji: "Thanks! That would make you twice my savior"
Eona: "Oh, is finding a place problematic this year?"
A very light hint of a rosy hue spreads on Siji's cheeks and she looks down at her plate "I haven't searched much. I've been too busy reading for the semester finals and I'm kinda struggling."
That can't be right. You know from tutoring her that she is more than bright enough to keep up and she should be settled well enough into the type of education given here for that not to be the issue, which means whatever the cause of this is, it must be about something else than the Academy.
> Try to coax it out of her> Offer to help her out with reading up> Change the subject (suggestions for a subject are welcome)> write-in 294c7c No.1369
>>1368> Try to coax it out of herI bet she is going full cowgirl on some fratboy.
1f9401 No.1370
>>1369You are free to theorize whatever, but just for your information, magical education is not the only thing her homeland is behind the times in. Saving yourself for marriage is generally the thing to do there. Not that that rules your hypothesis out, mind.
2e364d No.1372
>>1368> Try to coax it out of her 1f9401 No.1374
>>1369>>1372Eona: "How comes? Is anything wrong?" You realize as you ask that while it really is none of your business, you are genuinely concerned. You've kept people at arm's length since you parents died but somehow you've come to care about her all the same. Plus, if you were to tell anyone about your ambition you have the feeling she is one of the few who wouldn't think you were crazy.
Siji is still looking down at her plate as she responds "I've uh had a hard time concentration the last few months. Today was the first day in a week that I really got anywhere with the reading."
Eona: "Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted you then."
Siji: "It's all right."
Eona: "I would like to know what is messing up your concentration though."
The rosy hue on Siji's cheeks spreads and gains a bit in intensity "It's just that uh…" she takes a bite of her food. A stall for time if you ever saw one "My mind wanders… Daydreaming I guess."
It looks like that's as far as you'll get asking directly, but maybe if you poke at the circumstances of it a bit you'll be able to figure it out. "When did you start having these daydreams?"
Siji: "Three months ago." she says, followed by muttering something you didn't catch at all. Leaning in, you ask he to repeat. She does so, slightly louder this time but still low enough for you to have to strain to hear it "Since Esten Risul's birthday party…"
Esten rings exactly no bells, but Risul is one of the other wealthy families and that combined with Siji's age and the fact that she's a few years older than the people she has classes with because of the transfer you're beginning to have a fairly strong suspicion about what is going on here. To confirm this you ask "Esten… He turned 20 right?"
She nods, as you expected. Here in Kethesia, turning 20 makes you legally adult and it's something of a tradition for 20th birthdays to make use of some of the newly earned rights, such as access to more… adult entertainment. Rich kids like Esten usually hire a show exotic dancers, of the sparsely-to-undressed variety, as part of the party entertainment. Combined with the usually copious amounts of wine those parties tend to get somewhat lewd. Not really something that anyone in these parts mind but with Siji coming from a place that could practically be listed as an example under 'Prude' in the dictionary and probably not having seen anything of the seedier parts of town she wouldn't have known how to deal with that which could've lead to all sorts of trouble.
> Shit. She ended up doing something she regrets. She probably got pregnant or caught a disease too.> So, she probably had her first adult experience and don't really know what to make of it or how to deal with the guy in question. Help her sort it out.> She's not really the sort to go and sleep with someone she isn't involved with, but it probably awoke sides of her she doesn't know how to deal with. Help her figure that out.> This really is something her mother should help her deal with, not you. 1f9401 No.1375
>>1369>>1372Eona: "How comes? Is anything wrong?" You realize as you ask that while it really is none of your business, you are genuinely concerned. You've kept people at arm's length since you parents died but somehow you've come to care about her all the same. Plus, if you were to tell anyone about your ambition you have the feeling she is one of the few who wouldn't think you were crazy.
Siji is still looking down at her plate as she responds "I've uh had a hard time concentration the last few months. Today was the first day in a week that I really got anywhere with the reading."
Eona: "Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted you then."
Siji: "It's all right."
Eona: "I would like to know what is messing up your concentration though."
The rosy hue on Siji's cheeks spreads and gains a bit in intensity "It's just that uh…" she takes a bite of her food. A stall for time if you ever saw one "My mind wanders… Daydreaming I guess."
It looks like that's as far as you'll get asking directly, but maybe if you poke at the circumstances of it a bit you'll be able to figure it out. "When did you start having these daydreams?"
Siji: "Three months ago." she says, followed by muttering something you didn't catch at all. Leaning in, you ask he to repeat. She does so, slightly louder this time but still low enough for you to have to strain to hear it "Since Esten Risul's birthday party…"
Esten rings exactly no bells, but Risul is one of the other wealthy families and that combined with Siji's age and the fact that she's a few years older than the people she has classes with because of the transfer you're beginning to have a fairly strong suspicion about what is going on here. To confirm this you ask "Esten… He turned 20 right?"
She nods, as you expected. Here in Kethesia, turning 20 makes you legally adult and it's something of a tradition for 20th birthdays to make use of some of the newly earned rights, such as access to more… adult entertainment. Rich kids like Esten usually hire a show exotic dancers, of the sparsely-to-undressed variety, as part of the party entertainment. Combined with the usually copious amounts of wine those parties tend to get somewhat lewd. Not really something that anyone in these parts mind but with Siji coming from a place that could practically be listed as an example under 'Prude' in the dictionary and probably not having seen anything of the seedier parts of town she wouldn't have known how to deal with that which could've lead to all sorts of trouble.
How do you react?
> Shit. She ended up doing something she regrets. She probably got pregnant or caught a disease too.> So, she probably had her first adult experience and don't really know what to make of it or how to deal with the guy in question. Help her sort it out.> She's not really the sort to go and sleep with someone she isn't involved with, but it probably awoke sides of her she doesn't know how to deal with. Help her figure that out.> This really is something her mother should help her deal with, not you. 1f9401 No.1376
>>1369>>1372Eona: "How comes? Is anything wrong?" You realize as you ask that while it really is none of your business, you are genuinely concerned. You've kept people at arm's length since you parents died but somehow you've come to care about her all the same. Plus, if you were to tell anyone about your ambition you have the feeling she is one of the few who wouldn't think you were crazy.
Siji is still looking down at her plate as she responds "I've uh had a hard time concentration the last few months. Today was the first day in a week that I really got anywhere with the reading."
Eona: "Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted you then."
Siji: "It's all right."
Eona: "I would like to know what is messing up your concentration though."
The rosy hue on Siji's cheeks spreads and gains a bit in intensity "It's just that uh…" she takes a bite of her food. A stall for time if you ever saw one "My mind wanders… Daydreaming I guess."
It looks like that's as far as you'll get asking directly, but maybe if you poke at the circumstances of it a bit you'll be able to figure it out. "When did you start having these daydreams?"
Siji: "Three months ago." she says, followed by muttering something you didn't catch at all. Leaning in, you ask he to repeat. She does so, slightly louder this time but still low enough for you to have to strain to hear it "Since Esten Risul's birthday party…"
Esten rings exactly no bells, but Risul is one of the other wealthy families and that combined with Siji's age and the fact that she's a few years older than the people she has classes with because of the transfer you're beginning to have a fairly strong suspicion about what is going on here. To confirm this you ask "Esten… He turned 20 right?"
She nods, as you expected. Here in Kethesia, turning 20 makes you legally adult and it's something of a tradition for 20th birthdays to make use of some of the newly earned rights, such as access to more… adult entertainment. Rich kids like Esten usually hire a show exotic dancers, of the sparsely-to-undressed variety, as part of the party entertainment. Combined with the usually copious amounts of wine those parties tend to get somewhat lewd. Not really something that anyone in these parts mind but with Siji coming from a place that could practically be listed as an example under 'Prude' in the dictionary and probably not having seen anything of the seedier parts of town she wouldn't have known how to deal with that which could've lead to all sorts of trouble.
How do you react?
> Shit. She ended up doing something she regrets. She probably got pregnant or caught a disease too.> So, she probably had her first adult experience and don't really know what to make of it or how to deal with the guy in question. Help her sort it out.> She's not really the sort to go and sleep with someone she isn't involved with, but it probably awoke sides of her she doesn't know how to deal with. Help her figure that out.> This really is something her mother should help her deal with, not you. 1f9401 No.1377
>>1369>>1372Eona: "How comes? Is anything wrong?" You realize as you ask that while it really is none of your business, you are genuinely concerned. You've kept people at arm's length since you parents died but somehow you've come to care about her all the same. Plus, if you were to tell anyone about your ambition you have the feeling she is one of the few who wouldn't think you were crazy.
Siji is still looking down at her plate as she responds "I've uh had a hard time concentration the last few months. Today was the first day in a week that I really got anywhere with the reading."
Eona: "Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted you then."
Siji: "It's all right."
Eona: "I would like to know what is messing up your concentration though."
The rosy hue on Siji's cheeks spreads and gains a bit in intensity "It's just that uh…" she takes a bite of her food. A stall for time if you ever saw one "My mind wanders… Daydreaming I guess."
It looks like that's as far as you'll get asking directly, but maybe if you poke at the circumstances of it a bit you'll be able to figure it out. "When did you start having these daydreams?"
Siji: "Three months ago." she says, followed by muttering something you didn't catch at all. Leaning in, you ask he to repeat. She does so, slightly louder this time but still low enough for you to have to strain to hear it "Since Esten Risul's birthday party…"
Esten rings exactly no bells, but Risul is one of the other wealthy families and that combined with Siji's age and the fact that she's a few years older than the people she has classes with because of the transfer you're beginning to have a fairly strong suspicion about what is going on here. To confirm this you ask "Esten… He turned 20 right?"
She nods, as you expected. Here in Kethesia, turning 20 makes you legally adult and it's something of a tradition for 20th birthdays to make use of some of the newly earned rights, such as access to more… adult entertainment. Rich kids like Esten usually hire a show exotic dancers, of the sparsely-to-undressed variety, as part of the party entertainment. Combined with the usually copious amounts of wine those parties tend to get somewhat lewd. Not really something that anyone in these parts mind but with Siji coming from a place that could practically be listed as an example under 'Prude' in the dictionary and probably not having seen anything of the seedier parts of town she wouldn't have known how to deal with that which could've lead to all sorts of trouble.
How do you react?
> Shit. She ended up doing something she regrets. She probably got pregnant or caught a disease too.> So, she probably had her first adult experience and don't really know what to make of it or how to deal with the guy in question. Help her sort it out.> She's not really the sort to go and sleep with someone she isn't involved with, but it probably awoke sides of her she doesn't know how to deal with. Help her figure that out.> This really is something her mother should help her deal with, not you. 1f9401 No.1378
>>1369>>1372Eona: "How comes? Is anything wrong?" You realize as you ask that while it really is none of your business, you are genuinely concerned. You've kept people at arm's length since you parents died but somehow you've come to care about her all the same. Plus, if you were to tell anyone about your ambition you have the feeling she is one of the few who wouldn't think you were crazy.
Siji is still looking down at her plate as she responds "I've uh had a hard time concentration the last few months. Today was the first day in a week that I really got anywhere with the reading."
Eona: "Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted you then."
Siji: "It's all right."
Eona: "I would like to know what is messing up your concentration though."
The rosy hue on Siji's cheeks spreads and gains a bit in intensity "It's just that uh…" she takes a bite of her food. A stall for time if you ever saw one "My mind wanders… Daydreaming I guess."
It looks like that's as far as you'll get asking directly, but maybe if you poke at the circumstances of it a bit you'll be able to figure it out. "When did you start having these daydreams?"
Siji: "Three months ago." she says, followed by muttering something you didn't catch at all. Leaning in, you ask he to repeat. She does so, slightly louder this time but still low enough for you to have to strain to hear it "Since Esten Risul's birthday party…"
Esten rings exactly no bells, but Risul is one of the other wealthy families and that combined with Siji's age and the fact that she's a few years older than the people she has classes with because of the transfer you're beginning to have a fairly strong suspicion about what is going on here. To confirm this you ask "Esten… He turned 20 right?"
She nods, as you expected. Here in Kethesia, turning 20 makes you legally adult and it's something of a tradition for 20th birthdays to make use of some of the newly earned rights, such as access to more… adult entertainment. Rich kids like Esten usually hire a show exotic dancers, of the sparsely-to-undressed variety, as part of the party entertainment. Combined with the usually copious amounts of wine those parties tend to get somewhat lewd. Not really something that anyone in these parts mind but with Siji coming from a place that could practically be listed as an example under 'Prude' in the dictionary and probably not having seen anything of the seedier parts of town she wouldn't have known how to deal with that which could've lead to all sorts of trouble.
How do you react?
> Shit. She ended up doing something she regrets. She probably got pregnant or caught a disease too.> So, she probably had her first adult experience and don't really know what to make of it or how to deal with the guy in question. Help her sort it out.> She's not really the sort to go and sleep with someone she isn't involved with, but it probably awoke sides of her she doesn't know how to deal with. Help her figure that out.> This really is something her mother should help her deal with, not you. f40c2f No.1380
>>1368> Try to coax it out of her f40c2f No.1381
>>1378> She's not really the sort to go and sleep with someone she isn't involved with, but it probably awoke sides of her she doesn't know how to deal with. Help her figure that out. 7750f1 No.1384
>>1369>>1372Eona: "How comes? Is anything wrong?" You realize as you ask that while it really is none of your business, you are genuinely concerned. You've kept people at arm's length since you parents died but somehow you've come to care about her all the same. Plus, if you were to tell anyone about your ambition you have the feeling she is one of the few who wouldn't think you were crazy.
Siji is still looking down at her plate as she responds "I've uh had a hard time concentration the last few months. Today was the first day in a week that I really got anywhere with the reading."
Eona: "Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted you then."
Siji: "It's all right."
Eona: "I would like to know what is messing up your concentration though."
The rosy hue on Siji's cheeks spreads and gains a bit in intensity "It's just that uh…" she takes a bite of her food. A stall for time if you ever saw one "My mind wanders… Daydreaming I guess."
It looks like that's as far as you'll get asking directly, but maybe if you poke at the circumstances of it a bit you'll be able to figure it out. "When did you start having these daydreams?"
Siji: "Three months ago." she says, followed by muttering something you didn't catch at all. Leaning in, you ask he to repeat. She does so, slightly louder this time but still low enough for you to have to strain to hear it "Since Esten Risul's birthday party…"
Esten rings exactly no bells, but Risul is one of the other wealthy families and that combined with Siji's age and the fact that she's a few years older than the people she has classes with because of the transfer you're beginning to have a fairly strong suspicion about what is going on here. To confirm this you ask "Esten… He turned 20 right?"
She nods, as you expected. Here in Kethesia, turning 20 makes you legally adult and it's something of a tradition for 20th birthdays to make use of some of the newly earned rights, such as access to more… adult entertainment. Rich kids like Esten usually hire a show exotic dancers, of the sparsely-to-undressed variety, as part of the party entertainment. Combined with the usually copious amounts of wine those parties tend to get somewhat lewd. Not really something that anyone in these parts mind but with Siji coming from a place that could practically be listed as an example under 'Prude' in the dictionary and probably not having seen anything of the seedier parts of town she wouldn't have known how to deal with that which could've lead to all sorts of trouble.
How do you react?
> Shit. She ended up doing something she regrets. She probably got pregnant or caught a disease too.> So, she probably had her first adult experience and don't really know what to make of it or how to deal with the guy in question. Help her sort it out.> She's not really the sort to go and sleep with someone she isn't involved with, but it probably awoke sides of her she doesn't know how to deal with. Help her figure that out.> You really isn't the person to help her deal with this. It should be her mother or something. 7750f1 No.1385
>>1374>>1375>>1376>>1377>>1378>>1384As you can probably tell, my computer and the website really wasn't playing nice with eachother. Sorry about that.
648248 No.1389
>>1385Shit son, was that during the update?
f7b95f No.1394
>>1384>Shit. She ended up doing something she regrets. She probably got pregnant or caught a disease too.I was right all along huehuehue
1f9401 No.1395
Probably, yeah.
>>1394>>1381I would prefer if you could figure out which of these two you're going to go with.
f7b95f No.1396
>>1395I am
>>1369Not samefaging,kek.
1f9401 No.1397
I was meaning you in the plural sense. I wasn't suggesting samefagging, I was asking for an attempt to reach a compromise. But I figured out a way to combine them so it doesn't matter.
f7b95f No.1398
>>1397Dont you usually roll when there is no compromise ?
1f9401 No.1399
>>1381>>1394You know she wouldn't normally be the type to sleep with someone without a serious, committed relationship. You do, however, also know that her experience with alcohol is limited at best, so she could have ended up getting too drunk to control herself. Finding out if she got severely drunk first is probably a good idea, so you know what you're dealing with.
Eona: "Okay, I think I get the idea. I do have one more question though, and just answer yes or no. Do you remember as much from the party as you would from a normal evening?"
Looking throughly confused, Siji nods. This both confirms that she knows very little about the effects alcohol can have, not that there really was any doubt, and rule out her being drunk out of her mind. That being said, she would probably appreciate talking about this in a place with a bit more privacy than the cafeteria.
> Find somewhere with a bit more Privacy at the Academy. (Suggestions on what sort of place exactly are welcome.)> Suggest that you go to your place to have the rest of this conversation (having it far out of Natas' earshot will be easy. The estate is big)> write in 1f9401 No.1400
>>1398Yes, but given the server update or whatever it was I wasn't sure how much opportunity you'd had to try to reach an agreement. I wanted to make sure you'd had a chance before rolling. Then I thought of
>>1399 15aeee No.1441
> Suggest that you go to your place to have the rest of this conversation
cba621 No.1445
>>1399Lets go to our place
1f9401 No.1449
>>1441>>1445Eona: "All right Siji. I think that when it comes to it you know that you need to talk about it."
Though she nods, she voices resistance in the form of "But… it's embarassing."
You smile reassuringly to her "I know, which is why I think we should go home to me. We can talk in private there. Is that okay with you?"
Siji: "O-okay."
The two of you quickly finish your meals and head outside of campus grounds. You hail a carriage and a little while later you return home, Siji in tow. The butler welcomes you home and you tell him to fetch a bottle of wine from the cellar and two glasses and bring them to your chambers, and to knock before entering. Then you bring Siji to your chambers which, in addition to your bedchamber and dressing room, includes a lounge with a few comfortable armchairs around a fireplace. You sit down in one while Siji claims another.
Eona: "Okay, can you tell me about the party?"
Siji nods and starts. The first part of her story goes smoothly and is fairly run of the mill as she describes arriving, generally good but in no way remarkable times being had over dinner and such. You do notice that she starts blushing more and more the closer she gets to the end of the meal. Both of you know that this part is essentially her trying to work up courage to talk about the part that has really been on her mind. It turns out to not have worked, however, or at least not been enough when her voice trails off after telling about some shenanigans Esten got up to during the desert. She tries to start again a few times with no success before you interject. "It's okay Siji. I'll try to guess some of it instead. All you have to do is nod or shake your head."
You really hope that the wine will help loosen up her tongue a little or this is going to end up being somewhat difficult. As if on que, a knock is heard from the door and your butler enters with the requested wine and glasses. He opens the bottle and pours for both of you and you dismiss him, telling him to leave the bottle behind and to ensure that you are not disturbed. Both you and Siji take a sip before you ask "After the dessert, there was entertainment. Exotic dancers right?"
Siji nods and you continue. "Both men and women?"
She nods again and a small part of you ponders if this is because he swings both ways or simple for the sake of the female partygoers. Not that it matters, really. Anyways, moving on. "After that, did people get touchy? Especially the guys?"
She nods again at that, leading you forward to the main question out of this line. "Did any of them get touchy with you?"
She nods after a moment of hesitation. At this point she has drained her glass in between nodding. She may or may not know of the saying about liquid courage. If she does she could be trying to put it into practice. You finish your own and pour another for both of you, then decides to see if it is beginning to have a bit of effect. "Can you tell me what you did then?"
She hesitates and you quickly add "Not how you felt, just what you did." She nods and answers "I asked him to stop. Then I went home."
Eona: "And since then you have had the daydreams?"
Siji: "Yes. At first it was just sometimes, but it became more and more often."
Eona: "And are they about the exotic dancers or about getting touchy?"
Siji looks down, blushing heavily, nods to herself and drinks a mouthful of wine before responding. "Both."
That was to be expected, really. More interestingly however: "The ones about getting touchy, are they about someone in particular?" she nods "Is it the guy who got touchy at the party?" She shakes her head. If it'd been the guy from the party it could've been just because that was her only experience with being touched, but since it isn't she's probably attracted the person in question. You take her hand and say "Okay, you don't have to tell me who it is if you don't want to, but when you feel more comfortable with it, you should tell the person, okay?"
Siji: "Okay…."
She drinks the rest of her wine and pours herself a new glass, thus emptying the bottle. By now you're pretty much convinced that she's trying to put the concept liquid courage into practice. The question is if you should:
> Call James (the butler) and have him fetch another bottle> make do without wine for nowand also:
> talk more about the daydreams and how she might alleviate the issue a bit in the short term> take her mind off it for a while by letting her raid your dressing room (and maybe help her out of being stuck in her homeland's 'fashion' in the process> write-in 941a3c No.1505
>>1449No more wine and lets get her in our dressing room.
1f9401 No.1519
>>1505Eona: "All right, I think that is what there is to say about it right now. So now I'm going to let you do something I know you've been dying to do."
Siji tilts her head slightly "Oh?"
You grin widely and get up from the chair, walking over to your dressing room and throwing open the double doors with an overly dramatic movement "Have at it!"
Siji smiles enthusiasticly as she sees the wealth of different clothes, getting up and moving closer with a bounce in her step "Can I try it on?"
Your grin widens as you reply "Knock yourself out."
She picks through your clothes joyously at first at a loss for what to try on first, but she soon makes a decision and what follows is a flurry of trying out one dress or combination of various pieces after another. She is a little shorter than you and her bust is a cup size smaller but otherwise you are essentially the same size, so most of it fits her well. You offer honest, but generally positive critique as well as suggestions, and you help her into or out of some of the more tightly fitting pieces. You can't help but notice that doing so brings a faint blush to her cheeks but she doesn't seem to really mind and the blush fades as quickly as it comes. Probably just pent up tension.
After a while, it becomes clear to you that one dress in particular has caught her eye. She's been through it with different combinations of accessories a few times now and keeps casting glances at it every now and then. It's a very elegant but somewhat demure one that used to be a favorite of yours when you were younger but it's been a while since you wore it, in part because it has gotten a bit too tight around the chest region. Which incidentially means it fits Siji absolutely perfectly.
Additionally, she has looked at a more risque dress several times but put it back each time. She is definitely interested in it, but you have a feeling she might be a bit too shy to try it on. At least without a little push.
> She can have your old favorite dress. It's not like it fits you anymore, and she will be extatic about it.> Compliment her on how she looks in it but don't offer it to her.Also:
> try to get her to wear the risque dress> put the risque dress on yourself> nah. On an unrelated note, you're well into late afternoon. Ask her if she will be staying for dinner.> write in.The pics are the dresses in question. Ignore the women wearing them.
1f9401 No.1523
Also, I am keeping an eye on the QTG if you have questions or critique
da1bac No.1545
>>1519> She can have your old favorite dress. It's not like it fits you anymore, and she will be extatic about it.> put the risque dress on yourself 1f9401 No.1553
>>1545As Siji is trying on the dress for you don't know which time, not that you kept count in the first place, you comment "You really like that dress, don't you?"
She nods "Yes, I think it's very pretty."
Eona: "I see. You can have it."
Siji literally bounces with joy and gives you a hug "Thank you so much Eona! You're the best!"
You raise a finger and she calms down a bit "On one condition." you reach into a drawer and take out a comb and a brush "Loose the braids. They don't go very well with it."
She nods and takes the comb and brush, then turn towards the mirror and start working on her hair. While she is distracted, you slip out of your own clothes and into the yellow dress, then you stand behind her waiting for her to finish with her hair. When she seems to be done, you comment "You know Siji you really should wear your hair down more often, it looks really nice."
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mi-" she responds as she glances at your reflection, does a double take then turn around to look at you directly, jaw dropping. "Breathtaking" she mutters before regaining a bit of composure "Eona you look absolutely gorgeous!"
You must admit that you quite enjoyed her reaction. While your appearance really isn't the strength of yours that you emphasize the most about yourself, you do like it when people appreciate how you look. Smiling you respond "Thank you Siji, so do you. If we had a crown to put on you, you would look like a princess." Nobility and royalty isn't a thing in Kethesia and it has been centuries since it was, but in Arcem, where Siji is from, they still have a monarchy and every little girl in the country dreams of being a princess so you know that this is a compliment she will cherish. She smiles ear to ear, blushing strongly but not really looking embarassed about the compliment just happy. And apparently lost for words.
Before she has a chance to recover, you are interrupted by a knock on the door.
James: "Pardon the interruption Miss, but I am afraid I need to know if we will have guests for dinner."
> Offer Siji to stay for dinner> Offer Natas to stay for dinner (with James acting as messenger)> Neither> Both> "None, and I will be going out myself."> Write-in 6eb753 No.1557
>>1553Both,then we can double team on natas,my sides will not hold.
1f9401 No.1562
>>1557You look at Siji "Well, do you want to stay for dinner?"
She nods "Sure, I would love to."
Looking at the door again, you answer James "Siji will be here for dinner. As for Natas, you will have to ask him if he wants to."
You hear James walk off as Siji looks at you somewhat confused "Natas?"
Eona: "Yes, he's one of the other Alchemists graduating this year."
She shakes her head "No I know who he is. I was just surprised that he's here, that's all."
"Oh" you shrug "I let him work on a project of his here because it gets too noisy to concentrate in his own home."
Siji tilts her head "Uh… are you courting?"
Courting. Now that's something nobody really calls it around here. You suppress a chuckle, seeing as Siji seems to be serious about the question. "No, we're not."
Siji: "Are you interested in him?"
Now in all honesty, that is an angle you haven't really considered.
> Write in. e32e77 No.1571
>>1562Only if he grows a little, he seems too short and dyel.
1f9401 No.1622
>>1571You chuckle and respond, half-jokingly "Maybe if he worked out a bit he could meet my standards. In all seriousness though, no not really."
"I see" Siji nods, and you could have sworn that you heard a hint of relief in her tone just now. Before you can contemplate it further, she asks "Is there anyone else you're interested in then?"
You shake your head "Not really no, I guess I've been mostly focusing on my studies."
Most people would probaly think that is a shame. You don't. Siji evidently don't either as she just answers "Makes sense. Anyway, can I do your hair?"
"Sure, just no braids." you tease her as you fetch a stool and sit down in front of the mirror. She ends up doing a great job of it and just as she declares that she is finished, James arrives to announce that dinner is ready.
How to approach the dinner
> Just talk regularly. > Be jokingly flirty> Flirt at maximum. You aren't interested in Natas, but you are interested in making him want you 4a1d33 No.1629
>>1622>Just talk regularly 1f9401 No.1641
>>1629The two of you make your way to the dining hall where Natas is already waiting. When he sees the two of you he says "Hello to the two of you. My apologies but I didn't realize that this was intended as a formal wear occasion."
Eona: "It isn't, Siji and I just amused ourselves in my dressing room and didn't feel like changing back for dinner."
Natas: "Ah. Well the result of your efforts is quite lovely."
Siji: "Thank you Natas."
You have your dinner, roast fowl with bread, sweetened baked roots and salad, chat casually. Mostly about alchemy seeing as it was a shared interest among the three of you. After dinnner, both of them head home for the night.
How will you spend the evening
> Go look at Natas' research> relax a bit> Do some research of your own (Alchemy, History or Theology available from your private library at the moment)> Write inAlso
> go to bed at a reasonable hour> whatever, you can always sleep in tomorrow as well. 9a22e8 No.1654
>>1641> Do some research of your own (History of those who have ascended)> go to bed at a reasonable hour 1f9401 No.1674
>>1654The history books you have mostly pertain to Kethesia itself. Within recorded history, three periods has elements related to previous instances of Ascension. Ziel is the prototype Forgeborn, a type of sapient constructs developed by a Kethesian artificer centuries ago. At a point, Forgeborn in Kethesia were widespread, but when a plot was discovered to overthrow the humans of Kethesia, preventive action was taken and the Forgeborn sought eradicated. A few escaped into the mountains of the east and founded a city there, though the first time Kethesia became aware of this and Ziel is mentioned again, he had already become the God-King of the Forgeborn.
Gideon is a Gremlin who lived his entire mortal life in Kethesia, and was heralded far and wide by Gremlins as the greatest of their kind and a paragon of Gremlin vitues, which more or less sum up to more curiosity than sense. He was an avid tinkerer and alchemist. What exactly caused his ascension is unknown, but it is suspected to be related to his research in some way. You recall that one of your fellow studens mentioned a rumor about Gideon having created an alchemically enhanced stone that had near god-like abilities commonly called the 'Philosopher's Stone'
The last is during the late part of the so-called Hellfire Campaign. Armies from the Zar'grel Empire across the sea to the west had invaded the continent, backed by devil summoning warlocks had conquered most of the continent, including half of Kethesia. Effective resistance was problematic because a Titan was rampaging through first Kethesia and then Arcem to the north. A group of heroes referred to as the Six Winds slew the titan and rallied Arcem, Kethesia and the Forgeborn together to push back against the invaders, along with refugees from the already conquered areas. Out of the group of Six, two ascended while they were pushing the Zar'grel back into the sea and another two ascended later, while the last two never did.
Additionally, Aurantico ruins have included a lot of finds alluding to ascension in some way or other, but since their rise and fall predates recorded history more information on this would fall under Archeology or possibly Theology.
There are also several other gods about but none that are directly related to the history of Kethesia. Looking into those might be worthwhile.
That is as far as you get before bedtime. In the morning you wake up to a note pushed under your door. This is the manner in which James delivers messages while you are asleep if something happens. The note says that Siji appeared at the front door very late last night and was in a state of 'emotional stress' as he put it. James let her in and showed her into one of the guest rooms. You get dressed and ask James for details, but he says that she was too upset for him to make sense of what she said and that she is currently asleep.
> Wake her up. Find out what the hell is going on.> Wait for her to wake up naturally. Continue your research in the meanwhile (Specify which of the options to look into.)> Head out (Same options as yesterday)> write-in 774995 No.1705
>>1674>Wait for her to wake up and continue your research in theology. 1f9401 No.1718
>>1705You tell James to alert you when Siji wakes up, then proceeds to look into the Theology material you have. There is mention of Aurantico philosophies within the material you have but since the material is mostly concerned with religious practices that are still being practiced, you find nothing of interest pertaining to them. It seems that to pursue this angle further you will have to either acquire more books yourself or find sources elsewhere. The Academy Library may have something.
Looking into current religions proves a lot more fruitful, as you manage to find two instances of Ascension that happened just a little over two hundred years ago while a powerful lich was scouring the land with his army of the undead. The two were set upon by a large force of undead while seeking refuge in an abadoned temple dedicated to a dead religion, and accoding to the legend the pair performed a piece of music so moving that the living dead abandoned their master and returned to their graves. There are reasonably strong indications that the location where this happened was related to the results however.
Sarkathos is also a fairly recent Ascension, and a tale you have heard of before as well. Almost universally dreaded, Sarkanthos is the god of murder and he was known as a ruthless and prolific killer before his ascension. He has never really been widely worshipped as far as you know, but he is recognized as a god all the same, and speculation about the nature of his divinity stemming from some sort of magic abound as his murders all had seemingly ritualistic components to it.
Lastly there is Tarianna. The worship of her is highly localized in the southwestern part of the continent where she lived before her ascension as well. According to her clergy she was taken captive along with a few dozen others by a demon cult and volunteered to be their sacrifice for a ritual to bring the cultists' lord into the world when they at first intended to sacrifice a child. Her purity of heart was allegedly too powerful for the ritual to subvert and instead of bringing the demon to the world, Tarianna became a goddess. It seems more likely that the cultist simply botched the ritual than the clergy's explaination, though the result of the botched ritual would still be quite extraordinary. Granted, that is mostly guesswork as you know little to nothing about Demonology.
It's about 10 AM when James informs you that Siji has awoken. You head to the room where she slept and knock, only to be met by no response. After a few tries, you open the door and look inside to find Siji still wearing the dress you gave her yesterday, though it is decidedly less clean now, lying face down on the bed sniffling softly. She doesn't seem to have noticed that you came in.
>Write-in 8d8d5f No.1732
9a22e8 No.1733
>>1718>Take a seat and wait for her to speak. 1f9401 No.1736
>>1733>>1732>>1733You take a seat next to the bed and cough lightly to alert her to your presence. Siji rolls over on her side so she faces you, staring blankly in your general direction for a moment that feels much longer than it is before her mind emerges from whatever dark place it was in before. While waiting for Siji to remember where she is, you get an odd feeling of deja vu. You haven't experienced anything like this as far as you know, but there is still something oddly familiar about Siji's expression and sluggish movements.
Her eyes are red and puffed from crying and as her mind returns to the surface, as it were, the tears that seemed to have been reduced to a trickle starts flowing more freely again. She reaches out meekly and you take her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze, hopeful that your presence will help her endure whatever is wrong. Then she speaks, barely louder than a whisper: "Gone… They're gone… At home… the blood."
Her voice trails off into a whimper and she looks at you with pleading eyes and you realize why this seemed familiar. Siji is stuck with a horrific memory replaying over and over before her mind's eye, a memory that she wants nothing more than to escape. Similar to how you felt after witnessing the accident that killed your parents.
> Crawl into bed with her and hold her tight until she feels better> Stay and wait for her to get a bit more lucid> Go and brew an elixir to help improve her mood> Tell her that she is welcome to stay as long as she likes, then give her some time to herself to process whatever she saw while you go about your business.> write-in dc72db No.1769
>>1736> Go and brew an elixir to help improve her moodWe didn't pick alchemy for nothing
9a22e8 No.1777
>>1736> Go and brew an elixir to help improve her mood> Crawl into bed with her and hold her tight until she feels better 1f9401 No.1793
>>1769>>1777You give her hand a gentle squeeze and say "Don't worry Siji. I will be right back." Then you get up and leave.
You head to your private laboratory and get to work. About thirty minutes later, you've finished a potion that will dampen her emotions across the board. It doesn't actually solve anything by itself and if she's just left to her own devices she will probably sink back into her current state of mind when it wears off, but it should allow you to talk about what happened, which in turn can hopefully help with the matter.
When you return, she has sunk back into the apathical state she was in when you first saw her this morning. Getting her to drink is as simple as pouring it into her mouth as she is currently laying on her back. Then it's just wait for it to take effect. While waiting, you lie down next to her and wrap your arms protectively around her.
After a few minutes, she turns around to face you and snuggles herself closely into your embrace. "I'm sorry I…. I just didn't know where else to go."
You gently stroke her hair as you respond "Don't worry about it Siji. If you need it, my door is open."
She responds with a meek thank you, after whihch you ask if she can tell you what happened last night. She nods, which more or less equates to nudging your bosom with her face the way you are currently laying, then speaks. "When I got home the front door was ajar and it felt as though something was wrong. Nobody answered when I called out that I was home. Then I got to the kitchen and father and mother were there, but they were lying in pools of blood. I froze in fear, but then I heard foodsteps on the stair and I ran. Then I came here."
Even though you know it's because of the elixir you gave her, hearing this told in a tone that is mostly devoid of emotion is still rather unnerving. Either ways, you need to figure out what to do about this.
> Take Siji with you and report this to the police while the elixir lasts> Go take a look at Siji's home (with or without her, you decide)> Like hell you're leaving Siji alone right now! Especially not when there could be a killed after her! Have James go fetch the authorities instead.> Just spend time together with Siji for now, worry about reporting things and all that stuff later.> Write-in b7b563 No.1795
>>1793>Take Siji with you and report to the cops 9a22e8 No.1816
>>1793> Like hell you're leaving Siji alone right now! Especially not when there could be a killed after her! Have James go fetch the authorities instead. 1f9401 No.1819
| Rolled 2 |
>>1795>>1816Go to the cops: 1
Have James getch them: 2
1f9401 No.1822
>>1819> Getch.Well fuck that.
This really needs to be reported to the proper authorities so it can be investigated. But you aren't going to take Siji back out into the public when there is a murderer that may be out for her blood on the loose. Besides, you're not sure she's quite fit for travel anyways.
The solution presents itself momentarily when James comes in, presumably to ask if the two of you want any refreshment. Upon seeing the both of you in the bed, he raises one eyebrow very briefly but otherwise maintains perfect composure. You tell him to get a hold of a constable, and he promptly leaves in order to do so.
The two of you don't really talk while waiting for the lawmen to arrive. Siji is, understandably, not in a talktive mood, and you can't really think of any words that would help her, so you just hold her close until you hear the door signal the arrival of James and the Constable. Then, with no small amount of reluctance on Siji's part, you untangle yourselves from eachother and sit upright on the edge of the bed. She gives the same description of the previous evening to the constable as she gave to you, and when asked if she noticed anything about the person in the house or anything out of the ordinary that she didn't already mention she says no. The constable then asks if she knows if her parents had any enemies which she also answers with a no. You stay with her for a while after the constable leaves, but then she dozes off. A side effect of the potion you made her.
> Trust the authorities to take care of the investigation.> Hire someone to investigate independentlyAlso
> Prepare Siji's next dose of potion in advance> Research psychoactive alchemy more thoroughly> Take a nap next to Siji> Write inAlso, apologies for the slow reply. Interwebs went and died on me.
9f3f47 No.1873
>>1822>Hire someone to investigate independentlyAnd i say it's better to not make her into a potion addict so lets >research psychoactive alchemy
While we are waiting
1f9401 No.1886
>>1873Now if you could trust the authorities to be competent all the time, that would be ideal. You are quite aware that the world isn't ideal, however, so to be safe you decide that putting up a second investigation is probably a good idea. You ask James to get a hold of a private investigater, one of your father's old contacts who helped investigate some business espionage apparently, and put him on the case.
While you are certain that the elixir you gave Siji a dose of is safe in moderation, you are also certain that it can have problematic side effects if overused and that it won't actually solve anything on its own accord. So it would probably be better to brush up on the parts you know and expand your research to things beyond what you learned at the academy. Based on the research you make some improvements to your formulae. As it stands, it should be safe with one dose a day for up to about a month. Beyond that risk of addiction and problematic side effects start growing significant. It should also last longer and be less suffocating towards positive emotions, and she shouldn't tire out quite as quickly. Still it's hardly ideal compared to actually coping. Additionally, you learn a wealth of options for inducing various emotions, reducing cognitive function or even increasing it for a while (though that comes with a temporary but quite unpleasant backlash afterwards). It even goes as far as to modifying, deleting or outright replacing memories, though that part would require a lot more studies of both psychoactive alchemy and psychology for you to not mess it up.
> Hold off on more potion for now. Perhaps telling about it and reporting it to the police has helped her enough for now.> Continue the treatment as before, with the improved formula> add something more to her potion (specify what) 1efdae No.1888
>>1886Oh shit, i hate to be doing this but
>Make the potion as to also increase congnitive functionsLet's hope that she will remember what happened besides making her fucking brilliant for a while.
We should put her to work on our projects,that will also divert her attention from matters.
9a22e8 No.1889
>>1822> Hire someone to investigate independently> Take a nap next to Siji 1f9401 No.1891
>>1888You decided to brew up a combination elixir of her dose of emotion suppressants and a cognitive enhancer. Then you head to bed. In the morning, you have breakfast, but while waiting for Siji to wake up so you can administer the potion, Natas arrives.
> Tell him about what happened to Siji> Just let him go work on his stuff> Ask him to leave and come back tomorrow> Write-in 9a22e8 No.1940
>>1891> Just let him go work on his stuff 1f9401 No.1978
>>1940Sorry I am gone. Hurt my hand. Typing with left. Hard as fukc. Will post new thread when hand works again. Starting morning from scratch. ignore
>>1891 9a22e8 No.1996