tippler 2021/12/26(Sun)17:02 No. 1018456 ID: eedbeb
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“I’m one of the town shamans and we recently heard a very disturbing rumor about dragon magic in these parts.” The woman peers around like she expects the magic to show itself from behind a tree.

-Invite the old woman into your cave to get warm
-Tell her there’s no such magic and not to worry
-Tell her there is such magic and to worry

Groan and ask why it matters, pointing out, if she forgot, that the last time the humans got quite uppity, the dragon retaliated, and was in fact not slain, so this is STILL her domain that she *allows* you all to live in.

Thats my interpretation of:

There is such magic, she should worry

You can invite her to the cave while you talk too, even. Because you'll have to lease with them anyway given how everyone else is like "what noooo why should we bother they're way more numerous than us"

Of course there's dragon magic, there's a big ol' dragon around here. Can't have dragon magic without a dragon

>Invite the old woman into your cave to get poked with sticks get warm

"Tell her there’s no such magic and not to worry."
"Does a tiny little creature like me look capable of using powerful and harmful magic?"

tippler 2021/12/26(Sun)20:31 No. 1018484 ID: eedbeb
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>All three???

“Of course there’s dragon magic ma’am, this mountain is the home of a very fierce dragon.” you remind the shaman curtly.

“Oh that old thing is always sleeping, we don’t worry about her. Gregory said a kobold was using magic to fly, glowing red and everything! Have you heard of such a thing?”

tippler 2021/12/26(Sun)20:31 No. 1018485 ID: eedbeb
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You sigh very heavily. “Ma’am, even if that were true it doesn’t sound at all harmful. How about you stop by my cave and get warmed up, and then you can be on your way.”

“Thank you, you’re very kind.” the shaman simpers.

tippler 2021/12/26(Sun)20:31 No. 1018486 ID: eedbeb
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Weasel isn’t happy when you bring the hooded woman to the cave and explain the situation.

“Germ, now all the humans will know where we live!” she hisses. “Worse, they’ll suspect we have magic.”

“Well I didn’t want to leave her to die out there.” you grumble. “Look, I’ll tell her to respect our privacy.”

What do you say to the woman to earn her silence?

Heed my warning, hooded creature. The dragon's magic watches over us forest critters. The dragon knows who's naughty or nice. If you ever come back here uninvited, so too will the dragon.

Bribe the old shaman with rabbits

These are not the kobolds you are looking for.
I wouldn't want to wake up my mom either.
I'd like for our races to get along (from way over there). Do you want some wood? I could try to cut down a tree, I guess.

Don't disrespect mo- er, the dragon, lest she catch you napping.

tippler 2021/12/27(Mon)09:00 No. 1018509 ID: eedbeb
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You fetch the finished rabbit and prepare a tasting plate of jerky with some tea. The shaman happily accepts and starts eating.

“The dragon may be asleep, but her magic watches over her favored critters.” you begin. “If you think you can take over our land, you’re wrong. Tell your people that our races should get along, but not interfere with each other.”

tippler 2021/12/27(Mon)09:00 No. 1018510 ID: eedbeb
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“Very wise, kobold. I had no intention of taking over this mountain but I will tell Gregory and the others to be more mindful of where they get their Necromas trees.”

The shaman stuffs a handful of jerky in her mouth and chugs the scalding tea.

tippler 2021/12/27(Mon)09:00 No. 1018511 ID: eedbeb
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“Would you like to join me for my family’s celebration dinner? As a show of good faith.” she continues.

-Visit the human town with the shaman
-Politely refuse

Tell her that you appreciate the offer, but would rather spend the holiday with your loving wife and the friends you've made here in the forest already.

Also like, that's some kidnapper second location bullshit, we do not trust her enough for that. That's the kind of offer where we feel like we'll celebrate as stuffed heads mounted on a wall if we take her up on that, be sure to let her know that you aren't actually trustful of her yet.

>>1018512
Basically this, she’s also being real dismissive of what amounts to basically a genuine diety of yours that exists, which you do not like, what’s their necromancy holiday about?

tippler 2021/12/27(Mon)12:37 No. 1018527 ID: eedbeb
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“Can you tell me a little more about Necromas? I know it’s a big human holiday but that’s it.” you say.

“It’s a lovely time, gifts are exchanged and family gathers for merriment and a feast.” the woman explains. “We celebrate the birth of a legendary human lich who spread his teachings across the world.”

tippler 2021/12/27(Mon)12:37 No. 1018528 ID: eedbeb
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Sounds very suspicious, like you’re going to be kidnapped and mounted on the wall.

“Thanks for the offer but I have a lot of work to do.” you say lamely.

“That’s fine, I appreciate the hospitality.” The woman gets to her feet and you point her toward the best way to the river.

tippler 2021/12/27(Mon)12:37 No. 1018529 ID: eedbeb
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“I hope we don’t have any more trouble.” Weasel grumbles. She kisses you firmly on the head and helps you put together the wattlework door that you place in the cave opening, leaving enough gaps that smoke can escape.

What do you eat for dinner?

Eat the remaining rabbit jerky with berries you plucked the other day.

Old lady. -Wait, dammit.

Whatever remains of our rabbit.

tippler 2021/12/28(Tue)07:14 No. 1018569 ID: eedbeb
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“We should have eaten that old lady.” you say suddenly as you’re preparing the rest of the rabbit and a berry sauce for dinner.

Weasel snorts. “I couldn’t see her under that cloak, what if she didn’t have much meat on her bones?”

“I can work with bones. We’d boil them to make a jelly soup!”

tippler 2021/12/28(Tue)07:14 No. 1018570 ID: eedbeb
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You spend the rest of the evening joking and laughing with Weasel by the fire until she pulls you into the warm nest.

Snuggle with Weasel!

>>1018570
Follow her into the nest. See what she wants to do.

tippler 2021/12/28(Tue)14:29 No. 1018610 ID: eedbeb
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You snuggle with Weasel in your cozy nest, taking the necessary precautions to avoid an unplanned egg. Once you’re tired and ready to sleep, Weasel murmurs in your ear.

tippler 2021/12/28(Tue)14:29 No. 1018611 ID: eedbeb
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“Would you want to have a kid sometime next spring? It’s a big commitment so no pressure. I think once we have a little more furniture and start a chicken coop we’ll have plenty of food and room.”

What do you think about having children?

>>1018611
Once you're ready? Yeah.

>>1018611
Yes. But only when we're ready to have children.

Would be nice to have some extra hands around so you can go flying more.

Hell yeah we're up for having a little 'bold running around.

tippler 2021/12/28(Tue)20:34 No. 1018648 ID: eedbeb
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“Yes, I’d love to once we’re ready.” You kiss Weasel on the horn and go to sleep. Your dreams are filled with little red whelps flying around your head while you call for them to come to dinner.

tippler 2021/12/28(Tue)20:34 No. 1018649 ID: eedbeb
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Due to the unfortunate circumstances of the previous morning, you sleep in. Long after Weasel’s left the nest to tend to the fire and make breakfast, you’re still curled snug in the bed, chasing shreds of your dream children.

You jolt upright when you hear a masculine voice calling from the woods.

“Kobold! Kobold are you there?”

I guess that's enough sleep. Grab a bite to eat and munch on it while you see what he has to say.

He better have a good reason to wake you up this early in the morning, otherwise… you’ll be kinda upset. Go see what’s so important that he’s actually seeking you out.

Grab spear and prepare to poke

Be careful. He could have brought an "army" now.

tippler 2021/12/29(Wed)07:02 No. 1018683 ID: eedbeb
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What does Gregory want? At least it’s light outside this time. You drag yourself to your feet, have some bone broth to fill your stomach, then strap on your snowshoes and grab your spear.

You stealthily approach the tree where you found the human last time, checking to make sure he hasn’t brought any friends.

tippler 2021/12/29(Wed)07:02 No. 1018684 ID: eedbeb
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When you see he’s alone, you clear your throat.

“Yes?”

Gregory yelps and turns to face you with a vaguely spherical wrapped brown package in his hands. He holds it out to you.

“As thanks for helping our shaman yesterday and apologies for my rudeness I wanted to give you this gift. It’s a Necromas skull.” he stutters.

Accept his gift, but open it right in front of him, and check it thoroughly when you get away before bringing it to your cave. Make sure this isn't some sort of trojan horse and he's actually being a good guy. If it's all safe, cool! What a swell guy showing his respects. If it's a trap, end his life right here for threatening you and your mate under the pretense of an apology.

tippler 2021/12/29(Wed)09:44 No. 1018690 ID: eedbeb
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You take the package and unwrap it to reveal a clean skull missing its mandible.

“That belonged to my neighbor’s daughter, poor little Yori, she died of pox a few years ago and we exhumed her body for the holiday.”

Humans are bizarre. You turn over the skull in your paws but don’t notice anything suspicious.

tippler 2021/12/29(Wed)09:44 No. 1018691 ID: eedbeb
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“Does it do anything?”

“We place the skulls above our Necromas trees so they can absorb the tree’s life essence, then we keep them as a good luck charm the rest of the year.” Gregory explains.

-Keep skull
-Destroy it once Gregory has left

Ok keep it. Tell him you accept his apology and to just come later in the day if he wants to chop wood.

>>1018696
This, I mean I think that as a kobold keeping skulls and stuff should be pretty rad to you all, just put it in your bone pile!

tippler 2021/12/29(Wed)11:40 No. 1018702 ID: eedbeb
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Little weird to have a human skull lying around the cave, but on the other hand it’ll make for a rad conversation starter when you have the in-laws over.

“Thank you for the gift, Gregory.” you say firmly.

“Let me know if you’re ever in the village, I’d be happy to show you around.” Gregory looks eager and slightly nervous, like he’s still expecting to be poked.

tippler 2021/12/29(Wed)11:40 No. 1018703 ID: eedbeb
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You bid Gregory farewell with the gnawing feeling that you’ve made a friend. You go about your tasks for the day with the skull at your hip and a strange optimism in your heart.

tippler 2021/12/29(Wed)11:40 No. 1018704 ID: eedbeb
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Thanks for reading.