"Uh. Ask nicely, got it. I think I'll just be on my way now thanks, Mr. Student."
Exit. Head back out.
You leave the darkness behind and Evey follows. Your fulfillment will be kept on record should you wish to utilize it in the future.
Thank you. Come again.
You find a rope in the dark and begin climbing it - at the other end awaits Silver, who is quite pleased that you've returned. He has to say, waiting in a terrible dark cold room is awful enough, doing it alone is absolutely horrifying in ways he had not actually anticipated. What did you find, if you don't mind him asking?
There's a hole down there, Evey says, made for idjits who ask too many questions. You fall into it and foom, get swallowed right up. She could show him if he likes.
Well, Silver replies, that certainly doesn't sound like something he'd enjoy going down to explore. No option for closing it, is there? It's a little unnerving, truth be told, perhaps you could just go off and impose on some of the other folk, surely it'd be both warmer and cozier to sleep in a pile of other equally or less frightened individuals.
"Aah!" Spider! Big spider!
Flip the helmet on, or open, or whatever it is you do to let the gatherd light out at it.
[Here's That Little Light of Mine: 2]
Your helmet hums, then thrums with impending release before everything in about a 100-foot radius becomes blinding white for a fraction of a second, the spider-thing hissing, fungi blasting spores all over the place, anywhere from a hundred to a thousand beasts of many shapes and sizes shrieking wildly as they run quickly away, the street suddenly coming uncharacteristically alive as a real ruckus begins to unfold.
The spider, for what it's worth, doesn't appear to be at all able to see you at all. This sadly does not stop it from slapping at you reflexively, which due to its bulk and considerable strength is more than enough to put you off-balance and land you on your bottom - right onto more of the spider's webbing.
The net usefulness of this maneuver appears to begin and end at you having a more impressive view of the whole spider, which seems to be flailing in its web, retreating a little and very noticeably cursing in an ancient and guttural tongue you struggle to interpret.
Maybe I should have asked for the terrifying details before I agreed to this. Too late now, I guess.
If I'm still being escorted by guards, I ask them to lead me to the Nuts & Humphrey. If I can walk around on my own, I ask for directions to the... tavern, I guess? Then begin heading there.
The guards have long cleared out (standing in front of a speaker's house is asking for trouble), which you assume is a strong indication nobody would mind you wandering about at your leisure, and possibly that you're being also watched by other means. You go out and look for the Nuts & Humphrey with your two companions, wondering what manner of horrors await you in town.
[Ghouls Under The Bridge: 2]
The doctor looks terribly puzzled as you go on - she's never heard of such a thing as a ghoul, and she's studied quite a lot about this. Well, that's not strictly true - she's heard of the word before and knows that it's usually what they call a slightly mutated traveler from the Kingdom of the Dead, a sort of person who might not necessarily eat corpses or kill people, but who you'd safely assume such a thing about due to being, you know, from the Kingdom of the Dead. Nothing good ever comes from there.
She does get the feeling that the speaker meant something quite different when they were talking about the ghoul. Say what you will about undead raiders, but set them on fire while beating them with a stick, preferably with a large group of associates, and they're not really much trouble at all. Might be some manner of stoatfolk myth - they do have a certain folklore that, aside from a few not very well-liked scholars back in the college, has mostly escaped scholarly attention.
[See the Sights: 4, 4]
Speaker's Bridge is a lot larger than you'd expect, and where the Nuts & Humphrey might be, or even what it might be, somewhat escapes you, so you do the sensible thing and flag down a stoat for information. You learn several things - first of all, what would a couple of nice ladies like you and yours want with the Nuts & Humphrey? 'Tis a terrible place - didn't you hear about the terrible incident, a girl died! Even with a monkey as impressive as yours, they're not at all sure you'd be safe!
Second of all, when you ask more insistently and the monkey comment provokes a helpful stare from Oggie, you are told that it's to be found around the docks, not far from the bridge site - the new one, not the old one, it's right near the harbor by the fabrics warehouse, can't miss the sign - they paint them real colorful by the harbor.
Thirdly, they say at last in a whisper, if you must insist in going there, think happy thoughts and consider every step - the ghoul walks the streets today, and you never know who it'll try to eat next.
All together this advice is good enough to guide you to the harbor, where a sign painted either very abstractly or highly ineptly over an older one informs you of the Nuts & Humphrey's presence, which is also helped that, much like the speaker's house, it seems to have attained the unenviable quality of a zone of exclusion, laying curiously silent and deserted for what surely couldn't be that unpopular of an alehouse.
It's not much nicer inside, either. Nobody's quite cleaned up the blood around the center table, a morose stoatman innkeeper sits by the fireplace with his head in his hands, doing his best to curl up into a sphere. A few other patrons also remain - a stoatman and a young woman sit in one corner, and a cheaply adorned stoatman musician has set her drum on the bar as she helps herself to the drinks.
She gives me a stinkeye? Me? THIS MIGHTY ME?! Eye for eye, stinkeye for stinkeye.
I wonder if I can take that longhouse along. It would be handy to have a party place within arms reach. See if I can shunt it into Jehwlheimr or somewhere and back. Regardless of the result, it's time move! Here I come Elizabeth, prepare yourself!
Lee's as good as taking stares as she is at giving them, and unfortunately seems entirely able and willing to outlast you in both intensity and patience. You could cheat, you guess, with minding and such, but that just seems unsporting.
Meanwhile, what's the point in taking the longhouse? You can have as many as you like exactly like it in Jehwlheimr, and all you need to make one just as good or better is to get blasted with your Moth friends and go on a creative binge. Folding it up and putting it into your mindscape would be way more bother than just creating one when needed.
[The Final Approach: 3]
In any case, the clan stands ready and you soon set out for Elizabeth, skulking through the surrounding countryside and watching out for any kind of danger on the way - fortunately no Dragons are about on this side of the city, but you do run afoul of something arguably just as bad - the Monkey delegation, rich in winsome girls and delightfully well-groomed fellows garbed in their traditional furs and excellent jewelry. They start to do their best in mixing with the Moths (who suddenly become quiet and begin to close ranks), rattling off pleasantries like "didn't I see you in the last clansmeet, what was your name" or "you look to be in good health, been a good season for the Moths, has it".
One of the more beautiful of their number approaches you on the fringes, a woman with exceedingly long brown hair and a voluminous fur coat and cap, a golden ring on each of her fingers - aren't you new, she says, she would think she would remember a handsome and well-endowed individual such as yourself on the road, is it your first clansmeet? Her name is Dell, it's her first clansmeet as well! She's so excited!
All in all, Two Shores says at the end of your twelve-hour physical diagnostic as she makes a final few observational notes, she would call this a very productive first session - your basic capabilities and tools vastly exceed those of the average trainee, herself included. A half-hour break to reflect on what she has learned and perhaps get some water, and then she will get back to you with some preliminary exercises, she says before briskly walking off, scribbling thoughtfully all the way.
"Excellent! I'll be here or very nearby."
At this point you notice Peaks Ever-Crumbling leaning on the mast as she's sat down for a breakfast of exotic fruit, your manikin at her right side performing a jig on two bronze peg legs. She waves to you as she peels an unusually spiky variety of orange. The manikin notices you as well in the process, and rushes over awkwardly and hugs your right shin in proxy gratitude.
"Ah hello, my friend," Daniels exclaims, picking the manikin up gently. "You're all fixed up now, I see. A much better state for you to be in than when I first saw you, I think. Thank you, Peaks," he says, nodding to the second mate. "Have you given it a name? Or perhaps I should ask you that, my friend. Do you have a name you'd prefer me to call you? I could give you one if you like; they're important where I come from."
Meet the new friend! Thank the nice alchemist for fixing it up for me. Make conversation all around.
Possible name suggestions include: Stan, Stiltskin, Haemon, Manny for male-ish names, and Jill, Eve, Ava, Linda for female-ish names. Maybe float them by the manikin and see if any of them fit the thing's preference? Maybe Peaks would want to contribute some examples? Naming's an important thing, and should be undertaken carefully, except when it's not (see Dan, who can only be rationalized as an appropriate name in retrospect).
There's something about the name Linda that makes the manikin excited. Suppose you shouldn't question its choice.
And you're very welcome, says Peaks, it was pretty fun to get little Linda there running around again. Might have put a little too much pep in her step in the activation, but it's honestly pretty hard to tell what an optimal temperament for a manikin is - she suspects you like them a bit feistier than average, so it all works out in a way.
When you pick Linda up, she starts looking around very actively, and holds on to your hand with both of her arms so that you don't inadvertently drop her.
Anyway, all fine and good on that front, Peaks continues, but there's also a thing she wanted to ask you and- well, no good way to say this, but would you mind lending her a few pounds of your flesh, she says with an enthusiastic smile and produces an extremely sharp carving implement. It's for a good cause, she swears - she's quite possibly on the verge of a breakthrough!
Leif Erikson, Mastermind
- Sealed alchemist's brass box
- Half-basket of apple-like mushrooms (hallucinogenic)
- Paper party crown (worn)
- Moth-robe (worn)
- Itchy Woolen Britches (worn)
- Moth Elder's prized pigsticker
- A Word: INEVITABLE
- A Word: APOCALYPSE
- A Word: DRINK
- Body Count: 228
- Mead of Poetry (2 shining revelations remaining)
- Enders' Friend: The Grave of Red Clouds Parting
- Inscribed Wooden Stylus
- Iron spear
- 0.03 gp
- The Box: ?
- Induced Lucidity: Jehwlheimr, The Land The Gods Remember
- Compatibility: Minding
- Tricks of the Mind: Perception, Memory
- Tricks of the Mind: Engagement, Negation, Abstraction, Prestige
- Tricks of the Mind: the Self, the Other
- Tricks of the Mind: the Mythscape
- Tricks of the Mind: Demiurgic Orgion
- Gods of the Underground: Did You Just What
- A Visit From The Stork: Is What You Yes
- The Voracious Dark: Two Deals Made
- The Voracious Dark: The Promised Sixth
- Moth's Flight: the Shaman of Festivals
- Dreams of the Dark: A Promise Broken
- A Night That Burns Forever: Juicy Gossip
- The Miracle of Life: Wayward Rabbit
- A Faith Is Born: 200 Moth-Believers
- Monkey Business: In Terribly Good Health
Eileen Minett, Vinyl Collector
- Distilled alcohol (in flask)
- Spirits of salt (in clay jar)
- Soaps of elk, bear, bat and snake
- 4 flasks of lamp oil
- Oil lamp (lit)
- Linen stoat shirt (worn, plasma-scorched)
- Stoat trousers (worn)
- Comfy slippers (worn)
- Never-made scimitar (blackened, slightly dull)
- Tooth-handled hunting knife
- Black leather boots
- An assemblage of amber and amethysts
- Silver thread-necklace
- Onyx spiral earrings
- 2 oaken rings
- Rusty, bloodstained knife
- A Word: HUNGER
- A Word: SYNTHESIS
- A Weapon: Explosive Cysts
- Grenade Jumping: A Solid Technique
- The Good Doctor: Secret Histories
- Sword of the Sand People: Cleaning Supplies
- Sword of the Sand People: The Services of a Minder
- Higher Tonight: There And Back Again
- The Old Mistress: Like A House On Fire
- Our Old Bridge Is Falling Down: A Monster Hunter
- She Who Fights Monsters: Ghouls Under Bridges
Jack Daniels, Karate Man
- Linda the peg-legged manikin (lively, joyful)
- Red and gold vest and breeches combo (worn)
- Leather boots (worn)
- Rubber mattress (filled with water)
- 14031 gp (in sack)
- Poor Unfortunate Soul: Forever Captive
- The Queen's Guard: Actual Asset
- Powers of the Beyond: Gardener of Thoughts
- Garden of Thoughts: the Stoat-Magistrate
- Dusty Wooden Speaking-Trumpet
- Crossbow Bolt (in throat)
- A Word: REND
- A Word: SILENCE
- A Word: EXECRABLE
- A Weapon: Murder-Thought
- Uncoupled: Strength
- Wooden Door
- Induced Lucidity: The Silent Garden
- Elongated Affairs: Enemy of the New State
- A Place In History: Vastly Unreliable
- 2 rats, crushed
- 1 rat, strangled
- 1 rat, live
- Doomstones: So High Up But Such A Bitter View
- The Majordomo: A Great Divide Between Us Now
- The Voracious Dark: Decreasing Demand
- The Voracious Dark: More Specific Requests
- The Vault of Heavens: Special Treatment
- Scars of Time: Meticulously Analyzed
- The Night Sky: How Very, Very Quaint
- Petty Crimes: Minded For Safety
- Fires, Pines & Day, Minions At Law: Dan Duty
- Body Count: 3
Thomas Minstep, Insurance Agent
- A Word: ABSENCE
- A Word: GOODBYE
- A Word: WORM
- A Weapon: The Sword They Fear
- Insurance contracts, signed in triplicate: 12
- Nobody Cares
- Helen Clampitt
- Lily
- Undine and Prosper Eke
- Silver
- Tabernacle, treefisher scout
- Treefisher elder
- 4 treefishers
- Make A Man Out Of You: Battle-Tested
- The Grip of Tharn: Insurance Against The Storm
- Ranging fork
- 2 feet of sinew-thread
- Tooth-needle
- A Bowl, Black and Knobby
- Tight Leather Pants (worn)
- Incredibly Tight Blue Dress (worn, mutilated, mildly provocative)
- The Queen's Guard: A Reward Well Earned
- The New Queen: Lasting Gratitude
- The Box: Absolutely Delightful
- The Voracious Dark: The Place of Lost Souls
- The Voracious Dark: Testing Run
- Proof of Concept: An Interesting Student
- Body Count: 12
Oscar Wilde, Chemistry Teacher
- A Word: REVELATION
- A Word: THANKS
- The Wicked King's Missive On Economic Reform (in massive silver scroll case)
- Traces of Mischief: Glowing Facial Rift
- The Serpent's Egg: Dissemination
- Body Count: 4
- Cornerstone Helm (worn, out of light, collecting)
- Bottle of aspirin
- Time-ender's measure (wrapped, processing? stopping?)
- 10 m of rope
- Half a candle
- 1 rat, skinless and smoked
- 4 gp
- Lock of Hair (unidentified)
- Iron nail, unused
- An Inauspicious Key
- Burlap Foot Wrappings (worn)
- Burlap Hand Wrappings (worn)
- Moth-Eaten Hat (worn)
- Respectable Brown Skirt (worn)
- Old Brown Waistcoat (worn)
- Bright Yellow Tunic (worn)
- A Wealth of Burlap Ribbons
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: The Less Dangerous Friend
- The King's Court: The Greatest Gift of All
- The King's Court: The North Wind's Gift
- The King's Court: Makala's Old Glory
- The King's Court: The South Wind's Gift
- The King's Court: The West Wind's Gift
- The King's Court: A Gift For The Wicked King
- Wizzards Bargins: Copper Springs from Old Bobbleparts
- Wizzards Bargins: A Roll of Your Finest Sticky Tape
- Wizzards Bargins: Styli of Ancient Plumbago
- In High Spirits: But Not Very Useful In The Lab