Monsters of the Forest

[[You]] and your friends are rookie adventurers. So new you haven't picked a name for your group. However, you are confident that together you can handle any trouble. Your current job is to be a caravan escort through a massive forest. The locals warn against going through, but the caravan needs to reach the other side as quickly as possible. You stand in a grassy field having just eaten breakfast. The sun barely peaks over the horizon. The caravan is about to brave the forest and [[your group]] is getting their gear ready in the pre-dawn light. [[Talk to friends]] [[skip to choices->two options]](skip the prologue, get to the so called good stuff.) (set: $skipper to 1) [[Change log]] [[Game progress]] [[credits]] [[Fan art]] [[Cross promotions!]] <script>$('html').removeClass('main shop').addClass('forest')</script> \(set: $statusstart to 0) \(set: $calmstatus to 1) \(set: $gear to 1) \(set: $appearance to 1)

Your group is a bunch of farm boys who decided to try adventuring. Thanks to the [[patient tutelage]] of an experienced adventurer you have managed to avoid the massive casualty rate that normally comes with a backstory like that. [[back->Start]]

Cohen has saved your party from some very embarrassing deaths. The less we mention about that time you nearly died to a snare trap the better, or when Ron almost drowned in three inches of still water, or when Alonso nearly.... It's better not to think about it [[Start]]

Everyone is idling before the caravan starts today's journey. It might be best to see how everyone is doing before you get going. [[Talk to Frederick->talk to thief]] [[Talk to Alonso->talk to hero]] [[Talk to Cohen->Talk to conan]] [[Talk to Ron->talk to mage]] [[Get going]] (set: $skipper to 0)

Double-click this passage to edit it.<<if visited("name_of_passage")>>\ ... this text will only show up if the player has visited the passage named above <<endif>>\

<<print either("this", "that", "yonder")>>

The road through the forest is overgrown, but surprisingly well laid. Perhaps it was part of the queen's road, or maybe something older. Regardless, you make good time. The trees on the edges of the road are massive and a pervasive gloom permeates the forest. Still the caravan is in good enough spirits to take an early [[Lunch]].

Lunch is uneventful and surprisingly good. The caravan's cook has a good store of spices and is kind enough to share. This would be a nice spot to picnic if it wasn't for the pervasive gloom and the fact that you can't see more than a few feet into the woods surrounding the trail. (if: $thieftalk is 1)[ As you get up to get another helping of soup, Frederick conspiratorially whispers to you "The wagons are full of gilded lanterns"] [[This all going rather well->obviously nothing to worry about]]

The group resumes its steady space. Alonso and Frederick look for danger up in the front; you and Ron protect the center and Cohen holds the rear. Frederick starts singing snatches of a favorite drinking song. You smile, this is one of his favorite tricks. Before long the whole caravan has joined in. You glance at Cohen who seems grumpy but he doesn't say anything. As the caravan moves around a bend in the path, Frederick stops singing. You turn quickly to see Alonso slump in front of you. You look to Ron starting to cast a spell of protection; only to see a [[Spider-girl]] to drop behind him and bite him right in the neck. Spider-girls are coming through the surrounding forest and have the caravan surrounded. Frederick is doing his best to protect Alonso but is clearly outmatched Cohen is running to Ron and would reach him at about the same time you do. [[Help Frederick->Help thief]]; He won’t last long on his own [[Help Ron->Help mage]]: You and Cohen can hold off almost anything together \(set: $calmstatus to 0) \(set: $fightingstatus to 1)

Alonso isn’t very far away, but in the middle of combat time seems to slow down. You see a dart catch Frederick's arm and it goes limp. By the time you reach Frederick he is surrounded. With a mighty cleave you force the nearest spider-girls back. Frederick is standing over Alonso fighting as ferociously as he can. But his left arm is limp and he is no match. He turns to look at you and shouts “Run!” You stand conflicted for a moment but see the truth. Injured as he is, the two of you have no chance of holding back the attack. You are cut off from Cohen. You shout a desperate apology as you [[run]]. (set: $frederickhelp to 1)

You and Cohen reach Ron at the same time. Within an instant you are back to back fending off the spider girls together. The fighting is fierce but Cohen is an expert with a blade. The spider-girls soon realize that they can’t defeat the both of you and pull back to focus on wearing you down. The spidergirls don’t let up and you feel yourself starting to tire. Eventually it becomes obvious that Cohen is doing the fighting for the both of you. You stumble and his blade parries the spear that would have gotten your hand. Cohen’s rugged face looks down at you with concern. In a stern voice he says “Run.” You respect Cohen, but you can’t leave him and Ron to these monsters; can you? [[You do what you have to]] [[No way]] (set: $conanhelp to 1)

You sprint blindly, forcing your body through the brush as you shield your eyes. The only heading is away from the caravan. Your mind, consumed with geting distance, and then returning to get revenge. This backfires as you trip. Rolling frantically you find your legs are bound in spider silk. Oh god not again. Hearing a rustle you look up, a spider girl is descending onto you. You scream as it bites you; suddenly you feel limp. [[Things go dark->Whoosh]]

[[Whoosh->Whoosh 1]] \(set: $fightingstatus to 0) \(set: $gear to 0) \(set: $appearance to 0) \(set: $kostatus to 1)

You look up at Cohen solemnly saying. “We need the right moment.” Cohen gives a grim smile “That’s my boy.” He parries another spear thrust. “We can’t let them catch all of us.” Eventually the spiders back off to catch their breath. Cohen gives you a nod and then quietly says “Run.”. As you take off he rushes forward surprising the spidergirls (set: $conanran to 1) [[RUN->conan run]]

You can’t abandon your friends. You look up at Cohen and in a determined voice say “No.” He swears and then nods. "You were always the stubborn one. But remember, we can't let them catch all of us." Eventually a lull comes in the fighting as both sides stop to catch their breath. Without warning Cohen takes you by the scruff of the neck and rushes forward. He manages to push you through the spidergirl lines and shouts “Run goddamnit.” Before attacking the spidergirls next to you. (set: $conanstayed to 1) [[RUN->conan run]]

Frederick: the thief; he has brown hair and is a bit of a shorty. He is also most nimble person you ever met. A trouble maker since birth, you have had to bail him out of trouble many times. He comes from a cattle tending family. (He attributes his quick fingers to lots of milking) He is finishing his meal and greets you. With a roguish smile he asks "Think I should take a look at what we are guarding?" [[It can’t hurt; just don’t take anything this time->thief yes]] [[Frederick, don’t get us in trouble again->thief no]] (set: $thieftalk to 1) [[Talk to someone else->Talk to friends]]

(set: $weapon to 'hands', $armour to 'naked') except needs $ in front 1

Frederick grows defensive, "Hey! That was the one time, and if that guard hadn’t ducked in with that woman they would have never know I was there." [[talk to Frederick->talk to thief]]

Frederick smiles a bit wider, "I’m too good to get caught." You give him a look and he pauses "At least to get caught again." [[talk to Frederick->talk to thief]]

Alonso: the leader of your merry band and the closest thing to a leader of men you have ever met. He has golden hair and looks like you would imagine an inspiring leader to look. You have been friends since childhood. He has always been a peacemaker, and a very good fighter for when he couldn't make peace. His father was a blacksmith, and so Alonso spent a lot of time at the forge. (It gave him killer arms) As you approach he stops talking to some of the caravan guards and smiles at you. "I have been thinking." You nod "After this we should try a dungeon." [[I think we can handle anything->hero yes]] [[Alonso, I don’t know. I have heard some stories->hero no]] [[Talk to someone else->Talk to friends]]

You: you know yourself pretty well; or at least that’s what you like to think. You come from a family of farmers, being a second son or worse. You and a bunch of childhood friends decided to go out and seek adventure as adventurers. Right now that means low grade mercenary work, you hope it will eventually mean dragon slaying. (The narrator would like to apologize but this story assumes you are male) (if: $startblock is 0)[[[back->Start]]]

You smile and confidently say. "I know we can handle anything a dungeon could throw at us." Alonso smiles back and pats you on the shoulder. "That’s the spirit, we stick together and we are invincible" [[back->talk to hero]]

You shake your head "Alonso, I don’t know. I have heard stories" Alonso nods thoughtfully. "I heard the same stories about the strange goo-monsters and witches. But, together we could take them." [[back->talk to hero]]

Cohen: is a very experienced adventurer who has decided to mentor your group. He may be elderly but that proves how good he is. Even in his old age he is such a well-oiled killing machine that he is more dangerous than all of you put together. He is, if you are being technical a northern barbarian, but he has yet to eat his enemies' heart or cut his hair off after killing anything. You like the old man, if only because of the large number of times he has saved your life and/or dignity. You have always figured that him taking care of your group is his version of retirement. He is sitting sharpening his sword as you approach. He looks up with a tight smile. "When we go in there I want everyone to keep up their guard. A forest like this might have monsters in it." [[You always say to keep a watchful eye old man->conan yes]] [[You worry too much old man->conan no]] [[Talk to someone else->Talk to friends]]

You nod thoughtfully. "You have always said keep a watchful eye old man." Cohen gives a much more genuine smile. "Good to see that some of what I have been teaching you has rubbed off. If you younglings keep a good watch and stick together you might all live as long as I have." [[back->Talk to conan]]

You give a wry smile "You worry too much old man." Cohen rolls his eyes almost audibly. "Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer." He shakes his head "I like you younglings a lot and I’d like for you all to survive" [[back->Talk to conan]]

Ron: the wizard; tall lean and has black hair. He was born with magical aptitude and joined because he didn’t want to spend his whole life as a hedge wizard casting fertility spells for farmers. His family worked transporting crops from the farms to market. Which made them slightly richer than the average family. It's the reason his family even had the money for Ron to learn magic. He is hurriedly flipping through his tome and muttering under his breath as he does so. He is a bit shocked when clear your throat behind him. He looks up surprised "Oh, hello. Do you think we need to be worried about the monsters in the forest? There might be something we haven't fought before." [[We can take any monsters->mage yes]] [[We need to watch out and watch each other's backs->mage no]] [[Talk to someone else->Talk to friends]]

You give a confident smile and say in a reassuring tone. "We can take any monsters." Ron perks up a bit. "Of course we can. Thanks for the encouragement." He pauses "Still we should remember what Cohen says about every opponent being different." [[Back->talk to mage]]

You look at the mage gravely, "We need to watch out and watch each other's backs." Ron pales a bit but nods appreciatively. "Forest monsters probably have all kinds of tricks so we need to be careful." [[back->talk to mage]]

Whoosh [[Whoosh->Whoosh 2]]

Whoosh Whoosh You wake up unable to see anything. You hear a slooshing noise and the rustle of foliage. More immediately, you feel wetness all around you and a stomach turning swinging sensation. [[Where the hell are you?]] (set: $kostatus to 2)

(if: $conanran is 1)[You exploit the hole in the spidergirl's defenses. Ducking through their lines and scoring a couple of hits as you do so. From there it's a frantic blind run. Distance is safety.](if: $conanstayed is 1)[You won't let Cohen's effort be in vain. You score a couple of hits to let Cohen pull back and then take off into the forest. It's a blind run, you have no plan except get far enough away to be safe.] You shove yourself through the bush and hear the crashing of a spidergirl chasing you You run as long as you can, but the combat has taken it’s toll and your legs tire quickly. You try to keep running and glance behind you. The spidergirl is following at an almost lazy pace. You try to keep running, but it’s no use. Coming to a slight gap in the underbrush, you turn to face the spidergirl sword drawn. She looms over you with a smug smile. You give a confused look and then a dart hits you in the neck. The spidergirl laughs. [[You quickly lose consciousness.->Whoosh]]

Though now isn't the time to talk you have heard of spider girls before. They are part spider, part woman. All fearsome. More specifically they are tall, have eight eyes, eight legs and unusual hair colors. If you had time to consider them aesthetically, then you might admit that they are beautiful in an intimidating sort of way. [[back->obviously nothing to worry about]]

You try to figure out where you are, but your thoughts are interrupted by a different rustle, a grisly whump, and a fearful [[Free Fall Feeling]].

[[Falling]]

Falling [[Falling->falling 1]]

Falling Falling [[Thump!]]

Everything starts to spin as you... [[Roll?]]

Your world (as it is) turns upside down repeatedly and you get positively coated in whatever the liquid is. Finally you stop. Well that seems as good a signal to [[escape]] as any.

ESCAPE: [[Survey]] [[Kick]] [[Punch]]

You search the darkness for some sort of escape. Besides from the liquid you feel a distinct lack of handles, latches or openings. [[escape]]

Figuring that you have little enough to lose, you kick your surroundings as hard as possible. You hear a slight crack [[Kick again]]

You decide to start with a mighty punch. But, slipping and sliding as you are you can't get a good angle and your punching just makes your hand hurt. [[back->escape]]

You manage to put a foot through whatever is containing you, of course now your foot is stuck but it’s progress. [[Break free]]

With a great deal of effort you kick open your prison and are rewarded with light. You stand up and survey your surroundings. Well, you are still in the forest. A distant ceiling of leaves makes the sunlight scattered and the oppresive trees make it hard to see far. You look back at your prison to see a moonlight silver spider cocoon leaking a suspicious white fluid. Looking past the cocoon you see the hill you must have tumbled down. To look reminds you of your many bruises. You must have taken a pretty bad bump, because you feel rather odd. [[Figure out what happened]] \(set: $kostatus to 0) \(set: $escapestatus to 1) \(set: $cocoongear to 1)

You need to find out what happened, or at least what happened to your gear and supplies. You begin to carefully creep up the hill. You still feel strange, you are weak and unless you are imagining things your hands have gotten smaller. [[At the top of the hill]]

The top of the hill is a small clearing with a tiny brook running through it. It also contains the [[corpse]] of a spider girl; the gore turns your stomach slightly. Finally turning your eyes away from the carnage, you do a quick search of the clearing for your gear. No dice (or armor or weapons for that matter.) Still you have the [[clothes on your back]] and your [[effects]]

The corpse is not pretty, this is because it's in pieces all over the place. The spidergirl's purple blood coats most of the clearing. The spidergirl's head is intact. You crouch down and take a moment to admire how beautiful she was. With a bit of doing you close all eight of her eyes and then stand back up to survey the clearing. Whatever got her must have jumped her as she moved through the trees, which made you both fall. A creature fearsome enough to do this is fearsome indeed. You vaguely remember Cohen mention something... Gorn? Gorm? Morg? that could have done this. [[Right back to business->At the top of the hill]] (set: $gornthought to 1)

Well now that you think about it, even those don't feel quite right. Tighter in some places and looser in others. They are still soaked with the white liquid. That might explain it, but something else feels off... You best [[check yourself]] ...before you wreck yourself. (The narrator would like to apologize for that joke, the people responsible have been fired) \(set: $humangear to 1) \(set: $cocoongear to 0)

Something is wrong; your hair is not normally this long, and your chest seems swollen. Even your hips feel strange. With growing alarm you do a privates check only to find that you are missing your private. Oh hell! You rush over to the brook and try to see your reflection. Your face is now one of great feminine beauty. Your hair is longer and has even changed color. [[Do quick examination]]

You kept your most precious items in a sack tied beneath your belt. You eventually learned how to tie it so it wouldn't hit your [[nut sack]]. A quick check shows that everything is still there. A small pocket knife, a lucky charm, flint, some string, a small mirror but that's it. Better than nothing [[back->At the top of the hill]]

(This is where you kept the nuts you liked to snack on during long marches of course.) [[back->effects]]

You are alone in the forest so modesty is not much of an issue. But getting jumped is, so you will make this quick. Looking with the mirror shows that you have a female face. You jump up and down, the tingling sensation from your chest confirms breasts. They are the perfect size. You have already confirmed that you are down a private Now for the big step, with a deep breath take two fingers and with a gentle force you start to firmly probe yourself. The sensation is unusual and causes a bit of a tingle. Finally after a bit of back and forth, side to side motion you feel something bumpy. A though examination of your abdomen suggests a womb. (What did you think we were talking about?) In short you are your own ideal female. Seeing a girl like this would be a turn on but the fact that it's you kills the effect. The only obvious explanation is that the white stuff in your cocoon did this to you. You had heard the occasional lurid tale about spider-girls. But man, you didn't think they were this kinky. Well you are lost, tired, hungry, and have been turned into a girl. The obvious question is what to do next: [[Step 1: MASTERBATE]] [[Step 1: Survey surrounding]] [[Step 1: Get your mind right]] [[Step 1: Hope it's all a bad dream]] \(set: $escapeapperance to 1) \(set: $escapestatus to 2)

Step 1: MASTERBATE What are you stupid? You are tired, hungry and alone in the forest. You are as far from aroused as it's possible to be. Also from personal experience you know that getting a female to orgasm can be something of an ordeal. Anyway, get your head out of the gutter and get focused. This isn't the time to be distracted [[back->Do quick examination]] (set: $Masterbate to 1)

Cohen often preached the virtues of staying calm and getting your mind right for the situation. In particular, he liked to tell a [[story]], about how keeping his mental focus helped him survive an impossible situation. You repeat his mantra, "Fear is the mind killer Fear is the little death the brings total oblivion I shall face my fear I shall allow it pass through and around me When it is gone only I will remain" Right; important thoughts to the front Unimportant thoughts to back Situation is not hopeless so long as you breathe. What can I do right now? [[Step 2: Survey surroundings->survey real]] \(set: $panicstatus to 0) \(set: $escapestatus to 2)

The story in abbreviated form goes like this. Cohen and Ted, (a thief) once climbed a wizard's tower and killed both the wizard and a misshapen demon at the top. They stole many precious jewels. Trying to get away from the city guard, Cohen stashed the jewels and the pair went into the countryside. In the countryside Ted boasted too loudly about the fabulous riches they stole. (At least Cohen claims it was Ted, you would bet good money it was both of them). This got them picked up by a rival gang of thieves. After torture proved ineffective the gang decided to starve the location out of them. So, they were held without water. Ted gave up after the first day, and Cohen always said that if Ted knew he would have talked. Cohen however got his mind right, and waited for the right moment to escape. Ted finally died after three days. Cohen wasn't much better but had the strength to switch places with Ted and play dead. The gang finding them both dead dumped the bodies and rode off. In Cohen's version; within a month he had tracked the gang down and taken bloody revenge. TLDR: The moment you give up in a survival situation is the moment you are dead [[back->Step 1: Get your mind right]]

Problem 1: You don't know where to go. Well here you got lucky, the brook likely flows to a larger river. A larger river likely flows out of the forest and towards civilization. But why are you here at all? The spider was moving up stream, likely taking you somewhere. The only sensible place she would take a captive is to her nest. The spider's nest where everyone else is. (hopefully) You check the trees, it's subtle but you can see the signs that spidergirls move through here often. The occasional broken branch, a few spots reinforced with spider silk. You could follow the trail. What about rescuing them if you find them? Figure that out when you get there. It seems like you really only have [[two options]] \(set: $deepbreathstatus to 1) \(set: $escapestatus to 0)

The options are very simple. Option 1: Try a daring likely suicidal rescue Option 2: Abandon your friends and try to escape Option 1: If everyone was together and properly equipped, then you could confidently pull off this rescue. Instead it's you with little equipment, no supplies, against a nest of spiders. But this is your best, perhaps only chance to see your friends again. Option 2: Abandon your childhood friends and escape. They wouldn't want you to throw away your life. You can't help anyone if you are also captured. The forest is dangerous and it's going to be difficult to escape as it is. It's a simple choice Up the brook deeper into danger and towards your friends or Down the brook, toward safety away from your friends \(if: $mothcircle is 0)[ [[Option 1]]] \(if: $mothcircle is 1)[ ~~Option 1~~(No, you can't go deeper into the forest, you need to regroup first)] [[Option 2]] \(if: $skipper is 1)[TLDR: You and your four friends have been caught by spidergirls, you yourself have been turned into a girl. It's time to decide if you want to try and rescue them.] \(if: $skip is 1)[(set: $conanhelp to (either: 0,1))] \(if: $skip is 1 and $conanhelp is 0)[(set: $frederickhelp to 1)] \(if: $conanhelp is 1 and $skip is 1)[(set: $conanran to (either: 0,1))] \(if: $skip is 1 and $conanran is 0)[(set: $conanstayed to 1)] \(set: $deepbreathstatus to 1) \(set: $humangear to 1) \(set: $escapeapperance to 1) \(set: $gear to 0) \(set: $calmstatus to 0) \(set: $appearance to 0)

You head up the brook with a skip in your step. If you survive this it's going to be one hell of a story to tell around the camp fire. All your friends would do the same thing as you. Well, maybe not Frederick (Frederick would gear up first). You move slowly but purposefully. You keep an ear out and watch the trees to make sure you are on track. Still your enthusiasm starts to flag as you realize that you are famished. You come to a clearing where the brook has cut through the side of a hill. Your pace slows and you scan around for something, anything to eat. On the bank of the brook, there is a patch of [[white mushrooms]]. You search your [[knowledge of botany]], they should be safe. Additionally you find a dead bee hive on a withered branch. After very carefully poking it with a stick, you break it open to find a medium sized honeycomb. Which to eat first? [[The mushrooms->ant 0]] (It came from the forest) ~~[[The honeycomb->bee 0]]~~ ~~(Yes the bees!)~~ \(set: $deepbreathstatus to 0) \(set: $option1status to 1) \(set: $calmstatus to 0) \(set: $gear to 0) \(set: $appearance to 0) \(set: $rescuestatus to 1)

The first and most important question is do you plan to return? [[I need to gear up and then I'm going to rescue everyone->bravery]] [[The others are lost and I need to save my own skin->guilt]] \(set: $deepbreathstatus to 0) \(set: $Option2Status to 1) \(set: $kitsunecheck to 1)

Cohen knew about a thousand recipes for soup, and more often than not it fell to you to find the ingredients. You are mostly sure the mushrooms would be safe. It'll be fine, Probably (set: $botanythought to 1) [[back->Option 1]]

You very cautiously sample one of the smaller white mushrooms. After waiting a few minutes to no ill effects you begin to eat them in earnest. (if: $botanythought is 1)[ You knew it would be fine ] Once you have eaten them all; You let out a contented sigh. They weren't great but you feel much better for having eaten something. You are about to get up and resume your march when you feel a strange tingle in your foot. [[That might be a bad sign->ant 0 tf]] (Author's note: Mushrooms can be hideously poisonous, please never eat mushrooms unless you are confident that they are safe. The author has enough on conscience, would not like to have accidental deaths.) (set: $antlevel to 0)

You look over the honeycomb again. It's so withered and dead that you are surprised that there is any honey left in it at all. Honey isn't the best survival food, but at least you have some water to wash it down with. Still has to be better than suspicious mushrooms, who knows what those would do to you. The honey is sweet and delicous. You try to be neat but still end up licking your fingers. Feeling the buzz you get ready to continue your march. Then you feel a slight tingle at the tips of your fingers. [[That's odd->bee 0 tf]] (set: $beelevel to 0)

With a sigh you sit and take off your boots. There is a small blackish brown spot on your sole. (Morality non-withstanding.) You poke the brown spot, the texture is far rougher than your skin. It begins to quickly grow. As the spot grows, you have a warm feeling of contentment. The spot feels like someone is gently messaging a growing area of your foot. The spot expands down your foot, with a slight tickle it runs over the joint of your big toe. It slowly envelops your foot and then starts up your ankle. The hair on your leg drops off as the dark brown advances. The gentle messaging sensation continues up your leg and then stops short of your knee. The border between the dark brown material and skin is ticklish. You tap the dark brown (skin?), it is hard and the texture seems like a very fine whetstone. It reminds you of a... carapace? Or something like chitin. You see a similar spot developing on your other foot and attempt not to panic. It won't do any good now. The sensation as the second spot grows is comforting and warm. A bit like a lover running their fingers over your foot. As you feel the growing black spot you notice that one of your fingertips has grown the same dark brown color. Panic raises it's ugly head, but you take a deep breath. The changes haven't hurt you so far. The growing spot on your fingertip subsumes your fingernail. Then moves onto the bottom of your finger. There the sensation is ticklish. But it grows in intensity as it reaches your palm. It feels like someone trying to tickle your palm, and you bite your lip to deal with the sensation. The tickling sensation finally stops as the dark brown moves onto your wrist. You take the opportunity to feel the chitin on your hands, it is softer than the chitin on your shins. Thankfully you can still feel as well. The changes stop short of your elbow and your other hand starts to change. You watch with interest, but a novel sensation on your tail bone distracts you. With the mirror and a bit of twisting you see the mole above your tailbone subsumed by a growing dark brown spot. The feeling begins gently and the growing stops when the black spot is about the size of your palm. Then the sensation becomes a little harder, like someone trying to message a muscle that isn't there. Without warning your legs lose all strength and you drop down. There is a sensation of growth, and you see that there is a new part of you growing from the dark brown spot. There is little to do but wait for it to finish. Long minutes later, the messaging sensation finally ends. It takes a minute but you stand, your balance off. Looking back you see what looks like an insect abdomen growing from you. It seems out of proportion, perhaps half the size it should be. The abdomen's "top" is covered in hard chitin, but the bottom half facing your legs is covered in softer chitin. It sticks out enough so that walking is still easy, but the weight throws off your balance. Man, strange day. You have mixed feelings about the changes, but this is hardly the place or time to deal with them. (if: $botanythought is 1)[You are man enough to admit to yourself that you were wrong about the mushrooms] You tap the chitin on your forearms. It seems very sturdy and should protect you. Your fingers and toes still have the normal range of movement. You are still you and it could have gone a lot worse. You put your shoes back on (although now they seem a bit redundant.) and get ready to [[move out->ant 0 travel]]. \(set: $humanlevel to 0) \(set: $option1status to 0) \(set: $ant0status to 1) \(set: $ant0gear to 1) \(set: $ant0appearance to 1) \(set: $humangear to 0) \(set: $escapeapperance to 0) \(set: $effects to 1)

On a whim you decide to walk on the left side of the stream. It is flat and sandy, the other side rises sharply and forms a wall on one side of the stream. You keep a careful watch on trees to make sure you are following the spider trail. It might veer off and then you would be out of luck. Still circumstances non-withstanding it is a nice day. The brook lets a breeze flow through the forest murk, and the gap in the trees let's some sunlight through. You take a moment to dip your new feet into the water and enjoy the sand between your now chitin covered toes. (Don't look at yourself like that, it only took a minute.) You then refocus on following the spider trail Indeed you are focusing so intently that you almost run straight [[into your next obstacle->ant 1 event]]

A tree has fallen and damned the brook. This wouldn't be a problem if the diameter of the [[tree]] wasn't much taller than you. There must be a pool of water on the other side because the tree is slimy. Walking a short distance you can see a spot where it has fallen across two rocks. You might be able to squeeze under it. Your new hands do seem rather well suited for digging after all. Something calls out to you to solve your problems by digging. Alternatively, you might be able to get around the tree. Unfortunately, the forest has grown in around the tree. It would likely take a good deal of bushwhacking to get any real distance. Finally, you might try to climb the damn thing. Sure, it's slimy but an adventurer like yourself has a lot of experience [[climbing]] things. (to be technical you are more experienced with climbing up them than across them) [[Go over]] [[Go around]] [[Go under]]

You know what kind of tree this is, the big kind. As for which variety it is, you have no idea. (if: $botanythought is 1)[You never learned much about trees that did not have edible fruit.] The important thing is that it's going to stop you from walking along the river. Seriously though, the tree's diameter is a several feet taller than you. The tree itself looks old, and there are no leaves and few branches left on it. The tree must have blown over in a mighty storm. In your experience during storms that bad, caves are the best refuge. Of course then you have to deal with everything else trying to take shelter. [[back->ant 1 event]]

Normally this is when you don't dare chance sleeping on the ground because of wolves. Or because you really need to run away [[back->ant 1 event]]

You judge your climbing spot with care. After a bit of a search you find the that near the stream is where the most sideways branches remain. You get a foot hold and try to pull yourself grabbing the bark. You slip off almost immediately, falling straight down and almost scratch your face. In frustration, you look at your hands wondering if you should try another option. The dark brown chitin has no answers. Hang on. You carefully feel the ends of your fingers, they are not sharp but they are certainly hard. With as much force as you can muster you ram your fingers in to the wood. It yields before your fingers, and with a bit of wiggling you can tell they are in there deep. It's not quite crampons and climbing picks but this could work. Taking off your boots and tying them around your neck, you ram your toes in with similar success. It's slow going as your new boobs are giving you problems but you make steady progress up the tree, and are soon over. On the top you throw your hands up in triumph, this causes you to almost tip over into the small lake on the other side. You walk along the top of the tree until you reach and dry spot and slip down, then you put your boots back on and [[resume your march.->ant 0+0]] (set: $treeclimb to 1) (set: $climb to 1)

Going around is going to be hard. A wall of greenery confronts you as you proceed along the tree. The shrubs, tree and vines have grown thickly to capitalize on the sunlight Figuring there is nothing for it you jump into the mess feet first. It takes quite a lot of doing to force your way through. There is an epidemic of brambles which gives you pause. Luckily your new hands and feet are immune to brambles, making the going much easier. Your pants however are not so lucky and they tear in multiple places. Finally you reach where the tree had been up rooted. The [[Root structure]] is massive, and in the hole made by the tree falling over a small pond has formed. You see motion as you approach and tense up. But then you realize it was a small frog. Sighing you realize that for all the trouble you just went through you will have to go through it again to get back to the stream. You put your right hand to the tree, and start on another tiring bushwhack. [[Finally arriving->ant 0+0]] (set: $climb to 0) (set: $tornpants to 1)

The dirt is moist and there looks to be enough space to squeeze between the rocks and the tree. It shouldn't take very long to do the digging. You set into it with a will. The ground is a little stony, but your new hands seem more or less invulnerable to abuse. Eventually you hit stone and can dig no deeper. After moving some dirt you can see light on the other side. It seems that all that remains is pushing yourself through. You pause, you are fairly certain that Cohen would consider this a bad idea. (Also you have heard stories of bad things happening to adventurers who got stuck with their buts in the air.) You shrug, something about this feels right, and after this much time wasted you might as well as go through with it. [[Into the breach->ant 0+1]]

Finally getting past the tree you continue following the stream. You resume your close watch of the trees; trying to follow the spiders path. This is boring work but the walking helps you catch your breath after the exertions of earlier. You consider eating some of the mushrooms you have stashed away but veto the idea. You have already changed enough for today and aren't that desperate (yet.) Finally the trail stops going forward and arcs off into the deep dark forest. This is going to be difficult, you have been able to follow the trail so far because of the gap in trees created by the stream. In the forest proper it's going to take a lot of work. Without out a doubt, you have to rely on: [[Your adventuring skills]] Better to stick to what you know [[Your new arms and legs]] It might be risky but new solutions for new problems

You put your back to the ground and carefully start to pull yourself through the tunnel. (This should help minimize the amount of boob abuse that happens). The progress is slow but thankfully you don't have claustrophobia. (Yet) As you reach the first third you can tell that there is an ever so slight ridge in the stone. You pass over it smoothly, and continue to pull yourself through. Finally reaching the end you see that you have misjudged the gap between the rock and the tree. It is too small for your shoulders. If you could lift the tree a little you might make it. But you have no way to make that happen. Sighing you start to reverse your course ready to try to something else. As you almost escape you feel your new abdomen catch on something. (Ah hell) The only option is to keep trying. This only results in your abdomen being sandwiched between you and the ground. This produces a peculiarly uncomfortable feeling; like when you almost crushed your balls getting out of a saddle. You move forward again and think through your options. You can contort yourself so that your abdomen doesn't catch or you might try chip away enough of the tree to enable you to escape. You pause as the same gentle massage feeling starts in both arms. (Why now?). Sighing, you pause hoping the feeling will pass quickly. One problem at a time after all. The sensation moves a slow pace up your arms, there is a slight squeezing sensation as it goes over your elbow. You try to distance yourself from the sensation. After covering your shoulder the sensation finally stops. You move closer to the far gap to try and catch a glimpse of what your arms look like. Strangely your elbows seems to taper in instead of bulging out like a regular joint. Well you need to get out of here before more changes come, they might prevent you from escaping the tree. being lost in a deadly forest is bad enough. With your hands you start to chip away at the tree preventing you from getting through the gap. As you start to feel the same gentle massaging in your legs you grow panicked. If your abdomen grows any bigger you will be stuck down here. A truly desperate idea strikes you. You don't know the tree is heavy. (It just look heavy.) You move to try and lift the tree. You will only have the smallest of openings to escape but it's better than nothing. Summoning all your strength you give a mighty push. The tree doesn't move. Frustrated you try to escape through the gap again. As it turns out the changes have made your shoulders significantly slimmer, and now it is only a slight discomfort to [[escape->ant 0+1 TF]]. (set: $treeant0status to 1) (Look you were really caught up in how you might be trapped to rot.) \(set: $ant0status to 0)

The upturned roots must be at least three times your height. This tree was clearly ancient. Bad luck for the tree that it finally fell. While it seems that it must have been a giant to do something like this. It is far more likely that it was simply a storm and age. The small pond is unremarkable. It is shallow and a few ferns grow around it. You played in ponds like this as a child, catching frogs because you could. [[back->Go around]]

You emerge gasping from the dirt. That was likely not one of your better ideas. You examine your new arms in the twilight. They are more slender than your old ones, giving you an even more feminine appearance. The dark brown chitin now extends to a little past your shoulder. You stretch and windmill your arms experimentally. They seem to have the same range of motion as your old ones, and seem to move faster. Perhaps you are now stronger? (Also you can now put your palm to your shoulder.) You examine your legs, the soft messaging feeling is starting to work over your knees. The dark brown chitin climbs y our knees slowly and carefully. There is the same unbearable tickling feeling as it moves across your knees. You bite your lip and bear it. The chitin moves past your knee and you can see how it tapers in. Additionally, a plate of chitin has grown up from your lower leg to cover the joint. The growth stops at your thigh, there the leg slims down and seems to insert sideways into your pelvis. It's a long way from a human leg now. A stronger messaging sensation happens again at your tailbone. It is like someone gripping you very firmly, and then messaging you lightly while keeping that same grip. Your legs lose strength and with an expectation of what's coming you drop to all fours. The strong message feeling resumes as your abdomen grows again. As your abdomen grows your butt shrinks and is over taken by the dark brown chitin; this is accompanied by tickle of arousal. Thankfully this doesn't last long. Finally your abdomen stops growing. You turn onto your back and see that the dark brown chitin from your butt has grown. It now outlines your pelvic region and provides a connection for your insectoid legs. (Man, can this fucking end already?) Unfortunately it doesn't. The soft messaging sensation grows up your spine, and spreads a thin line of dark brown chitin to below your armpits. A stronger messaging sensation as small arms grows out from both sides. They hang limply, obviously not yet fully developed. You wait for a few more suspenseful minutes to see if anything else will change and then stand. Looking yourself over you can see that you now have fully insectoid arms and legs. The dark brown chitin seems very solid and ready to face almost any danger. Your abdomen has grown to be about a third of the length of your legs. However thinner and stronger legs mean this doesn't bother your walking. If anything, you feel faster than you were before. Your cooch seems untouched but your butt has more or less vanished, replaced by just a flat chitin covered place beneath your abdomen. Additionally, your waist seems thinner, about as thin as if you used a corset. Unfortunately the mass was not transfered to your boobs. Your new set of arms is floppy and uncontrollable. You might figure out how to make them work eventually but it's going to take a while. (set: $antlevel to $antlevel + 1) You take a minute to breath and then gather your gear. Time to [[keep moving]] \(set: $treeant0status to 2) \(set: $ant1appearance to 1) \(set: $ant0appearance to 0) \(set: $ant1gear to 1) \(set: $ant0gear to 0)

You may be inexperienced but you have some tracking skills by now dammit. The trick isn't going to be to examine every tree. Instead you need to figure out the pattern of which trees they moved between. Spiders like to either walk across web strung between two close trees, or swing from one tree to another. In the first case you need to look for trees growing unusually close together, or trees that have strong branches reaching out to one another. In the second case you need to look for trees that are a bit shorter than normal and have branches broken off where the spider girl would land. It's going to be difficult but Cohen has taught you well. [[Tracking skills activate]] \(set: $ant0status to 0) \(set: $trackingant0status to 1)

(if: $treeclimb is 1)[You examine the trees carefully, now that you know how good your arms for climbing are you have a huge advantage in tracking. If you ever get lost all you need to do is simply climb up the last tree and look from there. Easy as pie. (If pie involved climbing up moist trees while tracking incredibly dangerous creatures in a dark forest)](if: $treeclimb is 0)[You examine the trees carefully. You tap your fingers against one another making a hard sound. The trees are moist and you doubt you could climb them with your original hands. If you climbed the trees, following the trail should be easy. Just climb the last one you were confident about and look. ] \(if: $treeclimb is 0)[You pick a shorter practice tree, even jumping you can't quite reach the first branch. You take off your shoes and wincing only slightly ram your toes into the bark of the tree. It doesn't hurt and you find it makes a natural foothold to grab the branch. This should be doable.] Your tracking is slow. After your initial enthusiasm you recognize that climbing every suspect tree is not a good idea. If you keep that up you will be too exhausted to rescue your friends. Finally you come to a fork in the trail. The path might go off to the left or the right and you can't see the right way from the ground. \(if: $climb is 1)[With a new found expertise, you take the tree slowly and carefully. When you can't reach the next branch you ram your fingers into the tree as hard as possible and use the new hand hold for leverage. ] The spider's path is higher up the tree than you expected, and you soon stop checking how high you are for fear of vertigo. Finally you reach the top, the path was a spot where the spider girls could swing to another tree. An alabaster strand of web hangs securely in the tree. Turns out you needed to go left. Now for the arduous task of climbing down, you glance down and have to hold yourself steady from the vertigo. Climbing down is going to be difficult. Suddenly you have the most stupid(awesome) idea. [[You grab the strand and try your luck->'tarzan']] \(set: $trackingant0status to 1) \(set: $ant0status to 0)

The going is slow, and more than once you have to backtrack to find the trail. Cohen always said to be slow and steady when tracking. This is so you don't get so focused you blunder into what you are chasing. Or something even worse. You come to a fork in the path, one leads right and the ground slopes down, the other leads left and the ground slopes left. Cohen always stressed the importance of height in static defense. You head left. (It makes sense that spiders would want a height advantage. It would be ironic for something to get the drop on a spider.) You know when you are on the right track when you start to see spiderwebs strung between the trees. Getting caught in one would almost certainly be fatal so you do your best to avoid them. The hours pass and your neck starts to hurt, but the thought of finding your friends keeps you going. Suddenly you hear a rustle, you duck and check your surroundings. The rustling continues without moving. The noise doesn't sound like a spider-girl. You creep forward and come onto a [[small clearing->small clearing ant 0]]

Finally getting past the tree you continue following the stream. You resume your close watch of the trees; trying to follow the spiders path. This is boring work but the walking helps you catch your breath after the exertions of earlier. You consider eating some of the mushrooms you have stashed away but veto the idea. There have enough changes thank you. You aren't that desperate (Yet.) Finally the trail stops, you walk a bit further looking to see if you missed it. But there is no denying, the trail stops going forward and arcs off into the deep dark forest. You have been able to follow the trail so far because of the gap in trees created by the stream. In the forest proper it's going to take a lot of work. It has come time to rely on: [[Your adventuring skills->ant 0+1+0]] You have a learned bit after all. [[Your new arms and legs->ant 0+1+1]] New solutions for new problems.

You may be a pretty new adventurer but you have some tracking skills by now goddammit. The trick isn't going to be to examine every tree. It's going to be to examine the trees most likely to moved to from the previous tree. Spiders like to either walk across web strung between two close trees, or swing from one tree or another. In the first case you need to look for trees growing unusually close together, or trees that have strong branches reaching out to one another. In the second case you need to look for trees that are a bit shorter than normal and have branches broken off where the spider girl would land. It's going to be difficult but Cohen has taught you well. [[Tracking skills activate->tracking skills activate ant 1]] \(set: $treeant0status to 0) \(set: $trackingant1status to 1)

Your new arms and legs feel much stronger than the old ones. It should be easy to climb up any trees you need to. You are confident that you have the skills to track the spiders from the ground. Climbing the trees will be a backup option for when you miss a step. As you steel yourself to enter the deep dark forest a thought occurs to you. It might make sense to check one of the trees in the spider's path now. If you lose the path in there it's going to be hard to find again. Why not climb up a tree now? The trees near the stream are easier to climb anyway. Your second pair of arms gets in the way a few times. But, your newly chitinous arms are strong. With very little difficulty you climb up to the spider's nest. (It's not really a nest more of a path per say) Several strands of spider's thread hang through the tree. To your relief they are not the sticky kind. Instead they work to reinforce a small platform and bridge to a nearby tree. You scan the trees ahead to see the path leading away into the forest. On a whim you take some of the spider's thread and smell it. To your surprise, it has a very unique scent. (set: $climb to 1) [[Sniff deeply]]

You sigh, there can't be that much left to change; can there? The tingle starts on your sides where your second set of arms hangs. It gently goes within your arms, the change is invisible but they feel different. Experimentally you move them, and they respond flawlessly. They are quickly as familiar as your original set. There is a tickle on your back as your shoulder chitin grows to connect with the chitin on your spine. The sensation is like someone gently stroking with their fingertips. Then a slight messaging sensation as the chitin grows up to the base of your head. You have the same side to side range but have a harder time looking directly up. You absent mindedly tap the neck chitin with your new pair of arms, it seems suited for attacks from above. The tingling sensation continues to your face. This is a gentle sensation, close to a lover’s caress (where did that come from?) The feeling moves over your head in it’s entirely, focused on your scalp. You notice that a few of your longer hairs have fallen out. As the experience finally subsides you fish out your mirror. Your face has become much more girlish, making you look fairly young. Additionally in a strange twist your hair has become short and a uniform length. The examination is short because you go blind. Only a terrible fear of being attacked enables you stay silent as you fail about in desperation. But, just as suddenly your vision returns. The gloom now a bit less oppressive. Suddenly overcome by trepidation you examine your eyes. They are now opaque black orbs. You blink a couple of times, this change unsettling you. Looking around you find you can see very well in the gloom. The next sensation is a strong stroking sensation on your sides. It is a strong confident sensation like you have done to the occasional lover. This ignites a fire in your belly. The feeling increases in speed as you see your waist slowly shrink and your new abdomen grow. Your waist shrinks down to be impossibly thin and your abdomen becomes taut and mature. As the feeling approaches a climax you hear a sound a like someone going pop with their mouth. Looking down you see that on the underside of your abdomen near the end a fleshy slit has opened. A gentle probe finds that while the outside is tough and tightly closed; the interior is extremely sensitive. You gasp from just a short exploration. With your legs shaking too much to stand, you sit. You find all of this has brought you very close to climax. You idly consider finishing the job.(if: $Masterbate is 1)[It still isn’t the time though.] However you are sharply pulled out of this mood by what feels like a double noogie to your forehead. Something begins to grow out of your forehead and the mirror shows it to be a pair of small chitin covered antenna. You sigh (no goddamn breaks in this place) and get up. Only to see a wide range of indescribable colors floating in the air all around you. similar to what you saw before but now in amazing clarity. With a twitch of the antenna and a feeling not dissimilar to narrowing your eyes you focus on one. It is like your hand being exposed to a bag made of many fabrics, too much information all at once. You close your eyes and look again, the colors are still there but now muted, with a twitch of the antenna they light up though. You get a confused look and notice that a faint green with a hint of consternation drifts near you. A quick glance down shows that you are excreting this color. Pulling muscles you didn’t know you had makes it stop. Trying to stay focused you look yourself over. You are now a girlish figure with chitin covered arms and legs and a taught full bug’s abdomen poking out from where your but used to be. You have a soft youthful face which contrasts sharply with your opaque eyes and black antenna. In short you look like an ant girl. Looking around you gather up your things. While you still wear clothes for modesty sake, honestly you don’t really need them anymore. You are a long way from having a human figure at this point and your chitin is the best protection you could hope for right now. (set: $antlevel to $antlevel + 1) You have a lot of complicated feelings swirling about the extent of the changes, at least before you still looked mostly human. As much as you want to try to and figure things out you are still on a desperate march and have [[friends to save->small clearing ant 2 approach]] \ \(set: $ant1appearance to 0) \(set: $ant2appearance to 1) \(set: $ant2gear to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 0) \(set: $colorsant2status to 1) \(set: $sniffant1status to 0)

You grab the strand, you are careful to knot it around your hand and belt. Your adventuring experience has taught you to look before you leap. You spy the tree the strand will reach and plan on how you will grab it. (Stupid ideas don't have to be foolish after all). You accidentally look down and imagine the precipitous fall that would no doubt kill you. Then you jump toward the next tree. Your stomach drops as you feel the pendulum motion. For a few exhilarating moments you feel as if you are flying. With frightening speed the target tree comes up. Taking a deep breath you put out your hand to grab the handhold you will need. Your hand slips, and your heart almost stops. But you grasp hard and make it, your new hands seem much stronger than your old ones. With adrenaline pumping through your veins you start to climb down. The climb is easy; your landing spot was lower than where you jumped and the adrenaline makes you feel invincible. As you reach the ground, the adrenaline dies down. The crippling tiredness in your arms and legs reminds you that stupid ideas tend to be stupid. You don't want to but you have to pause to take a breather [[Rest for just a minute->ant tf 0+0+1]] \(set: $tarzanant0status to 1) \(set: $trackingant0status to 0)

You creep forward, your small knife in hand. Unable to see anything you finally enter the clearing. Between two trees a spiderweb has been strung, it's bigger than you. There you find the source of the rustle, an [[ant girl]] has stumbled into the spiderweb. She has been thrashing which has only made her more entangled. She is good and stuck, and it would take a good deal of effort to get her out of there. Upon hearing you enter the clearing she stops and turns to look at you. Her large black eyes look at you hopefully, but this quickly turns to fear. She regards you cautiously, not sure if the situation has taken a turn for the worse. You approach with caution, doing your best to see if some spider-girls are using the ant as bait in a trap. As you reach the middle of the clearing, you pause. It would be difficult but you are confident you could rescue her. On the other hand, you are here to rescue your friends not every trapped monster you meet. You were a captive yourself not long ago, rescued only by luck. But if something goes wrong your friends are doomed. Besides, rescuing the ant might tip off the spiders. [[Rescue]] [[Keep going]] \(set: $trackingant0status to 0) \(set: $clearingant0status to 1) \(set: $beepeak to (random: 1,5))

You creep forward carefully, your small knife in hand. Unable to see anything you finally enter the clearing. Between two trees a spiderweb has been strung, it's bigger than you. There you find the source of the rustle, an [[ant girl]] has stumbled into the web. She has been thrashing which has only made her more entangled. She is good and stuck, and she is completely unable to free herself. Upon hearing you enter the clearing she stops and turns to look at you. Her large black eyes look at you hopefully, which quickly becomes a confused look. As you move closer and she gets a better look at you she seems crestfallen. Afterwards she regards you cautiously, obviously not sure if the situation has just taken a turn for the worse. You approach slowly, doing your best to see if some spider is just using the ant as bait in a trap. As you reach the middle of the clearing, you pause. It would be difficult but you are confident you could rescue her. On the other hand, you are here to rescue your friends; not every trapped monster you meet. You were a captive yourself not long ago, rescued only by luck. But if something goes wrong your friends are doomed, and what's more rescuing the ant might tip off the spiders. [[Rescue her like the hero you are->rescue ant 1]] [[Keep moving the situation is too desperate->keep going ant 1]] \(set: $trackingant1status to 0) \(set: $clearingant1status to 1) \(set: $tarzanant1status to 0)

As you move forward through the dense trees you suddenly hear rustling in front you. You ball up all four hands into fists, ready to face anything about to attack you. The rustling dies down but maintains a low level. Huh. You creep forward; your small knife in hand. The gloom lightens to suggest a clearing ahead. Rushing into a clearing is asking for trouble. Then you have an idea, maybe your new scent-o-vision can help. Your twitch a muscle you didn't have yesterday and a multitude of colors flood your vision. You examine the colors carefully, they don't mean anything to you and precious few are coming from the clearing. Then like an image coming into focus you realize there is something. You can barely detect an extremely subtle scent leaking from the trees ahead. It's like when a large drum is being played in the distance, you don't so much as hear the sound as feel the vibration. It's so subtle a scent that you can't tell the color but you can tell that it carries an inflection of despair. [[Nothing for it but to go see->small clearing ant 2]]

Similar to spider-girls; ant girls are part woman part ant. They have dark brown chitin and unusually thin waists. You haven't seen many ant girls; but this one in particular has a cute girlish face with large opaque black eyes and a pair of long antenna. You have heard tales of the ant-girls. These are almost always from men who claimed to have been captured and taken to their colonies. Supposedly they have grand underground halls far larger and more complex than any castle.(if: $antlevel is 2)[ Now that you are practically an ant girl yourself you give the stories of grand halls and deep burrows more credit. You feel like you could dig for through anything but rock without problems.] You always tended to disbelieve these tales. They almost always devolved into stories of sexual prowess. Without fail the tellers claim to have satisfied many ant girls in succession until he was freed as a reward. (You don't care what they gave him, it is impossible to pleasure a dozen women in a row)(if: $antlevel is 2)[ You still don't believe this though.] (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

You give yourself a short nod and then get to it. The ant-girl stuck in the web has somehow managed to struggle herself up higher in the web. You can’t cut her out of there without running a very good chance of falling into the web yourself. Well, she has cocooned herself in the web, really all you need to do is get the web around her. Fun fact: spiderwebs don’t burn. What ever has been caught in the spiderwebs burns, normally dust if they are cobwebs. These webs are young, it shouldn’t be too dangerous for the ant-girl if you use fire. You cast around looking for the driest wood you can find. This is difficult, woods don’t get this gloomy without a reasonable amount of moisture. The wood you can find is damp, and the tinder isn’t much better. This fire is going to smoke. Smoke is bad for the both of you. With a desperate expression you show the ant-girl the tinder. With a great deal of difficulty she manages to force one of the smaller set of hands out of the webbing. She points at the web itself. You pause trying to figure what the hell she means. Then you realize, she is trying to point at the leaves stuck in the web. The leaves themselves are completely dry, this will make excellent tinder. In a moment you have a small mostly smokeless fire going. Now for the much harder part. You select a thick stick and set it on fire. Moving the stick very carefully (you don't want cooked ant-girl after all) you start to bring the fire to the web around the cocoon. Slowly, and with a bit of standing on tip toe (easier now that your toes are now hard chitin); you manage to get most of the web around the cocoon. The cocoon swings and proves too heavy for the remaining web. It drops to the ground with an undignified thump. (set: $antrescue to 1) [[Open the pinata->ant girl rescue 0]]

This is a suicide mission. You have no real prospects yourself. It would be even more foolish to stop and rescue the ant-girl. You might get caught by the spiders. It would take time you don't have. The spiders would notice the destroyed web. (set: $antrescue to 0) You can make up any number of reasons to not rescue her. The simple fact is that you have chosen not to. You sigh and give a mournful bow to the ant-girl. She looks at you sadly. Perhaps you imagined it but you think the ant-girl gave a short sad nod. Monsters must know the rules of the forest. As you leave the clearing you take one look back, the ant-girl has closed her eyes (if: $beepeak is 5)[[[onward->onward ant 0 bee]]] (else:)[[[onward->onward ant 0]]]

(if: $beepatrol is 0)[As you continue onward it becomes harder and harder to follow the path. There is an abundance of spiderwebs trying to ensnare things walking on the ground. It takes a careful eye but you continually dodge these.] Finally you come to a raised circular plateau (It's similar to a hillock). The gentle slopes having been kept meticulously clear. The huge trees at the top of the plateu are covered in thick yellowed spiderwebs. This is obviously the nest. After a series of trials you have finally made it to where your friends are likely being kept. You sigh. Getting here was hard, getting in is going to be even tougher. The first step is to do recon. And to do it very very carefully, because the spider-girls likely have some guards posted. [[Clockwise->circle 1 ant 0]] \(set: $clearingant0status to 0) \(set: $conferenceant0status to 0) \(set: $climaxant0status to 1)

Using your pocket knife you start to cut open a slit in the cocoon. As you start to clear away the spider web from around the ant-girl, she uses all four arms to pull you down beside her. She starts spooning with you, going all out with her tongue and hands. A part of you is surprised by this, another part of you is happy for some companionship after a lonely trudge through the forest. Do you return the kissing? [[Yes->ant tf 0+0+0+1]] (The tingle at the tips of your fingers says to return the gesture) [[No->ant tf 0+0+0+0]] (Your brain tells you that it's probably a bad idea) (set: $antrescue to 1)

The ant-girl is appreciative to the extreme, and she begins to make out with you extremely hard. Not wishing to be rude you do your best to reciprocate. She wraps her arms around your shoulders and her second pair of arms begin to roam all over your body. This keeps you from realizing that a familiar gentle message sensation has started in both arms. As the dark brown chitin reaches your elbow it slows for a second and there is a slight squeezing sensation as it goes over. Alarmed you look down to see that your chitin is moving past your elbow to your shoulder. The ant-girl takes advantage of your moment of inattention to get you out of your clothes. As you watch the chitin start to cover your shoulder the ant-girl bites your lip and tries to keep making out. As the chitin grows over your armpit it causes an uncomfortable tickling sensation, however your mouth is too occupied to giggle. After covering your shoulder the sensation finally stops. The dark brown chitin now extends to above your shoulder contrasting sharply with the smooth skin that covers your neck. You can’t see this but you can feel the difference between the caress of the ant girl on your skin and on your chitin. You feel the messaging sensation begin in your legs. As much as you need attention from the ant-girl this is hopefully only going to happen once and should be worth watching. Despite her frustration you push the ant-girl away to get a view of the changes. The soft messaging feeling is starting to work on your knees, climbing them slowly and carefully. There is a more intense messaging sensation and an unbearably tickling feeling as it moves across the back of your knees. The ant-girl looks on amused as you bite your lip. As the chitin finally moves past your knee you can see how it tapers in a little. Also, you can see where a plate of chitin has grown up from your lower leg to cover the joint. You don’t get to see much more than that because as the chitin grows up your thigh the ant-girl paves the way with her tongue. The sensation of a tongue in such a sensitive place is amazing. Combined with the generally good sensation of the change it is electrifying. By the time the change finishes you are moaning. She stops short of the best spot though. The chitin has changed all of your leg. It now slims down and inserts sideways into your pelvis. It's a long way from a human leg but you have experimental evidence that it is just as sensitive. Next to change is your new abdomen. The sensation is like someone gripping you very firmly, and then messaging you lightly while keeping that same grip. A stronger messaging sensation compared to what’s earlier. With an expectation of what's coming you roll onto your side. The ant-girl seeing you shaking your butt (and your abdomen) moves to message your abdomen and your butt at the same time. The light rubbing is in sharp contrast with the strong message feeling that resumes as your abdomen grows again. It takes a bit of bending (and shooing the ant-girl out of the way) but the mirror lets you see. As your abdomen grows your butt shrinks and is over taken by the dark brown chitin. (This doesn’t stop the ant-girl from rubbing though). As your abdomen grows your arousal grows. With your new equipment the sensation is foreign. Your arousal is frustratingly high but you don’t know what to do to solve the problem so to speak. As you give a frustrated sigh the ant-girl looks down at you with happy eyes. Pushing your legs gently apart she puts her head at your crotch and attacks the problem directly so to speak. You moan and legs tremble at her first attack. When her attack finally pushes you over the edge you unleash a great cry and your eyes roll back into your head. So that’s what the girls were always trying to get, no wonder. As you gasp the ant-girl gently leads you through it, and then snuggles close to you in the post-orgasm glow. You can feel the soft messaging sensation grow up your spine. The sensation grows and spreads a thin line of dark brown chitin from your spine to your armpit. A small spot forms and the stronger messaging sensation resumes. Tantalizingly slowly a smaller pair of insectoid arms begin to grow from your sides. These are a dead match for the ant-girl’s and from the way she coos over them very cute by her standards. You try to move them but it’s like trying to dance backwards, you can do it slowly and only with much effort. The ant-girl spends a few minutes trying to coax you to practice more. (set: $antintimacy to 1) Finally you stand up, the ant-girl is ready and willing to go again, but you have friends to save godamnit. [[Time to look yourself over->ant tf 0+0+0+1 part 2]] \(set: $loveant0status to 1) \(set: $clearingant0status to 0)

You push her away and stand up quickly. You aren't in the mood for intimate contact, much less from a monster girl. She seems disappointed but gets up herself. She gives a deep curtsy and then looks at you curiously. You return the look, this is getting a little awkward. For a second you catch a hint of smell but then it is gone. Finally she sighs and if she had eyes that could roll she would be rolling them. With exaggerated care she puts up a palm to you. Quickly and confidently she strides off to the edge of the clearing. She roots around the in the leaves there and soon picks out a certain type of plant. Coming back she motions for you to sit down, you do so reluctantly. With a smile she offers you the leaves. You don't want to take them. Another exaggerated sigh. She puts one plant into her mouth and chews slowly and carefully. She offers the plant again. You get the feeling it would be rude to refuse and gingerly put one of the plants in your mouth. Hoping this doesn't cause any further changes; you swallow. The plant tastes like ass, but it's filling and you can feel your strength returning slowly. The ant nods to herself and then smiles. She uses all four arms to make a "well come on then motion." Can she even understand words? You decide to give it a good old adventurer try. Loudly, slowly and maybe a little insultingly you say "I am here because Spiders" Here you splay you 8 fingers. "Took, (you make a grabbing motion) my friends (you point to yourself and hold up four fingers). The ant nods. She points at you and hold up four fingers. Then she lies down. (What?) She opens her eyes to see if you are getting it and then mimes the motion again. (Still not getting it), she sighs again. She sits back up and holds up four fingers again; then she draws a finger across her neck. (Oh! She is saying/asking if your friends are dead.) You shake your head vehemently. You put up four fingers, make the grabbing motion again, put up eight fingers and then point down the trail you were following. She seems surprised by this. She looks puzzled for a second and then pats you on the head. She shakes her head sadly; (She apparently doesn't like your chances). She starts drawing on the ground between you. She draws an arrow from you to a large circle. She makes a dot in the center of the circle and then holds up eight fingers. (This must be where the spiders are). You nod. She then points at the part of the circle closest to her. She catches your eyes and then points to herself, she holds up multiple fingers. She seems to refer to the space around her. (What?) You don't get it. She repeats the motion several times and seems exasperated by your lack of understanding. Finally she points to the part of the circle furthest to your left. Here she makes an X and then makes an ooga-booga face to you. (Must be dangerous) you nod. With that done she leans forward and kisses you on the forehead. (This gives you an excellent view of her small tits so you don't mind. But seriously that was probably a blessing.) She smiles at you and then heads off into the forest back the way you came. You eat some more leaves; do your best to hide the remains of the fire and then (if: $beepeak is 5)[[[head off yourself->onward ant 0 bee]]](else:)[[[head off yourself->onward ant 0]]] \(set: $conferenceant0status to 1) \(set: $clearingant0status to 0) \(set: $anteat to 1)

You sit down with your back to a tree. You need a minute to get your breath back. Also for your legs to stop hurting so much. You breathe deeply and take stock. You are still on track, even if you did just do something really really stupid. (Just another great story to tell around the campfire.) The climb was more exhausting than you realized and you landed harder from your swinging than you thought. Breathing carefully you wonder how you are going to summon the strength necessary to keep going. A familiar gentle massage feeling in both arms begins. Sighing, you resign yourself to wait; there is not much you can do about this after all. The dark brown chitin on both arms begins to reach your elbow and slows for a second. there is a slight squeezing sensation as it goes over your elbow. It’s not quite uncomfortable but you try to distance yourself from the sensation. The chitin continues growing until it reaches your shoulder. Like your elbow it grows over your shoulder joint. The only problem is when it reaches your armpit. There an uncomfortable tickling sensation begins and you are forced to bite your lip. After covering your shoulder the sensation finally stops. The dark brown chitin now extends to just above your shoulder. This contrasts sharply with the smooth skin that covers your neck. Your elbows now taper in instead of out, and your shoulders are much more slender. This gives you an even more female appearance. You experimentally stretch your arms, they have the same range of motion as your old ones, but they seem faster. Perhaps you are now stronger? (Also you can now put your palm to your shoulder.) You feel the massaging sensation begin in your legs. Remembering what happened last time, you ditch your pants so you can see the changes. The soft massaging feeling is starting to work towards your knees. The dark brown chitin climbs your knees slowly and carefully. There is the same unbearable tickling feeling as it moves across the back of your knees. This combined with a more intense messaging sensation makes you bite your lip and try not to giggle. As the chitin finishes your knee, you see how the joint now tapers in. Additionally, a plate of chitin has grown up from your lower leg to cover the joint. The growth stops at your thigh, there the leg slims down and seems to insert sideways into your pelvis. It's a long way from a human leg now. But it seems to have a greater range of motion, and you are certain that it is stronger. Next is your new abdomen. It is like someone gripping you very firmly, and then massaging you lightly while keeping that same grip. You find it slightly reassuring. Your legs lose strength and with an expectation of what's coming you roll onto your side. The strong massage feeling resumes as your abdomen grows again. As your abdomen grows your butt shrinks and is overtaken by the dark brown chitin. The growth causes a pleasant tickle of arousal. It’s a difficult feeling to describe with your new anatomy but, it’s at a manageable level, you won’t orgasm soon although it keeps you comfortably distracted. This doesn't last long though. Finally your abdomen stops growing and you turn over onto your back. Dark brown chitin has expanded from your butt and now frames the smooth skin of your pelvic region. This new chitin provides a suitable connection for your insectoid legs. The soft massaging sensation grows up your spine, and spreads a thin line of dark brown chitin to below your armpit. A stronger massaging sensation as a pair of small cute insectoid arms grows out from your sides. They hang limply, and it takes a good deal of thinking to get them to do anything. You make yourself comfortable as you wait for a few very long minutes to see if any other changes will happen. Finally you get up and examine [[yourself->ant tf 0+0+1 part 2]] \(set: $tarzanant1status to 1) \(set: $tarzanant0status to 0) \(set: $antlevel to $antlevel + 1)

The going is slow, and more than once you have to backtrack to find the trail. Still your new arms and legs mean that you don't have to worry about brambles as much, and your feet don't hurt anymore. (You don't go overboard though, you will likely need unshredded clothes.(if: $tornpants is 1)[Well more torn clothes]) Cohen always said to be slow and steady when tracking. This is so you don't get so focused you blunder into what you are chasing. Or something even worse. You come to a fork in the path, one leads right and the ground slopes down, the other leads left and the ground slopes left. Cohen always stressed the importance of height in static defense. You head left. (It makes sense that spiders would want a height advantage. It would be ironic for something to get the drop on a spider.) You know when you are the right track when you start to see spiderwebs strung between the trees. Getting caught in one would almost certainly be fatal so you do your best to avoid them. The hours pass and your neck starts to hurt, but the thought of finding your friends keeps you going. Suddenly you hear a rustle, you duck and check your surroundings. The rustling continues without moving. The noise doesn't sound like a spider-girl. You creep forward and come onto a [[small clearing->small clearing ant 1]]

You decide to go the right, keeping the clearing to your left. According to Cohen this is the most basic way for navigating mazes. (He was also quick to point out that it is better to keep a map, and leave marks as you go.) You creep along observing how the nest has been fortified. Some of the trees have been converted into watch towers. You notice that each one has a large blind spot underneath it. This is less due to the construction of the watch post and more the size of a spidergirl's abdomen. As you pass through you catch a whiff of a scent. It smells like.... flowers. It's just a whiff and it quickly passes. Hmmm. You sniff again but get nothing. [[You continue onward->circle 2 ant 0]]

As you sniff deeply you realize you can almost see the smell coming off of the web. It smells like purple with an inflection of pride. Looking at the rest of the web in the tree your realize the same smell coming off of all of it. Well this is a bit odd, perhaps you have finally lost it? (if: $imaginethought is 1)[Maybe that spider venom/poison is finally kicking in.] Heading into the forest; you cautiously move close to the tree you suspect to be next in the path. Dimly at the top of the tree you can see the same smell. You look around the forest and realize you can barely perceive an a wide array of smells. Frustratingly they don't mean anything. (Imagine never seeing the color blue and then seeing the sky. It would have no meaning to you without context.) You stay focused on your task though. Your tracking skills help but by simply getting close enough to a tree you can tell if it has any spider's web in it. This serves you well until you almost stumble into a spider's web strung between two trees. Thankfully you stop at the last possible moment. Clever spiders apparently use scentless web to catch monsters trying to do exactly what you are doing. You resolve to be more careful and continue your tracking. After several hours you have made good progress. (Although your neck hurts like a son of a bitch) (set: $webwarning to 1) You sit down for a just a moment's rest when you feel a [[familiar tingle->ant 0+1+1 tf]] \(set: $sniffant1status to 1)

You let out a sigh, make sure you know what has to happen and then get to it. The ant-girl stuck in the web must have struggled herself up pretty high in the web. She is higher up than your current height (although you couldn’t say is she is high in general). You can’t cut her out of there without running a very good chance of tripping into the web yourself. Well she is in a web cocoon, all you need to do is get the web holding her up. Fun fact: spiderwebs don’t burn. What ever has been caught in the spiderwebs burns, normally dust if they are cobwebs. These webs are young and the fire won’t spread too far, so it shouldn’t be dangerous for the ant-girl if you use fire. You cast around looking for the driest wood you can find. This is difficult, woods don’t get this dark and dank without being damp. The wood you can find is almost wet, and the tinder isn’t much better. This fire is going to smoke. Little attracts trouble like smoke. (This you know from experience). With a desperate expression you show the ant-girl the tinder. With a great deal of difficulty she manages to force one of the smaller set of hands out of the webbing. She points at the web itself. You pause trying to figure what the hell she means. Then you realize, she is trying to point at the leaves stuck in the web. The leaves and twigs in the web are completely dry, and should burn fine. In a moment you have a small smokeless fire going. Now for the much harder part. You select a thick stick and set it on fire. Thankfully your new arms are strong enough to easily heft the large stick. Moving the stick very carefully (you don't want cooked ant-girl after all) you start to bring the fire to the web around the cocoon. Very cautiously, and with a bit of standing on tip toe (easier with toes made of hard chitin); you manage to get the web supporting the cocoon. The cocoon swings and proves too much for the web under it; dropping to the ground with an undignified thump. (set: $antrescue to 1) [[Open the pinata->ant girl rescue 1]]

This is a suicide mission. You have no real prospects yourself. It would be even more foolish to stop and rescue the ant-girl. You might get caught by the spiders. It would take time you don't have. The spiders would notice the destroyed web. You can make up any number of reasons to not rescue her. The simple fact is that you have chosen not to. Something tears at your mind, like it is Unconscionable to even consider doing anything but rescue her. You shake your head, it's just your conscience. You sigh and give a mournful bow to the ant-girl. She looks at you with a look of bitter surprise. Finally you see the ant-girl give a short sad nod. Monsters must know the desperate nature of survival in the forest. As you leave the clearing you take one last look back, the ant-girl has resignedly closed her eyes [[onward->onward ant 1]]

You now have thin insectoid arms and legs. The dark brown chitin seems very solid and ready to face almost any danger. Your abdomen now sticks out behind you; if you had to guess it’s about a third of the length of your legs. However the abdomen sticks out far enough to not bother your walking. Additionally your new legs are thinner and stronger. If anything you feel faster than you were before. You don’t have the time or willpower to do a thorough examination of your genitals but they seem all right. Interestingly, you butt has more shrunk away to be replaced by flat chitin beneath your abdomen. Your waist seems thinner, about as thin as if you used a corset. your boobs seem to have avoided the shrinkage though. Your new set of arms resembles your main set; they are as long as the original set but much smaller. They are both capped with simple hand of two fingers and a thumb. Trying to move the second set of arms is like trying to flex a muscle you never knew existed. You might figure out how to use them with as much finesse as your first set but it's going to take a while. You take a minute to breath and then gather your gear. Time to [[keep moving->ant tf 0+0+1 intermediate]] \(set: $ant1appearance to 1) \(set: $ant0appearance to 0) \(set: $ant1gear to 1) \(set: $ant0gear to 0)

You keep moving through the forest carefully. Once or twice you spot a bored looking spider-girl keeping watch. They aren't looking for you though and it's easy to avoid them. Eventually you reach what you would guess to be the furthest point from where you entered the circle. The ground here has been packed a bit tighter than elsewhere. If you squint some and use your imagination you could see a path. But regardless of what made the path, the path itself leads away from your goal. \(if: $antrescue is 1)[ You can't really be sure but this might be the spot the ant-girl was talking about. Shame you still have no idea what she was trying to tell you] You continue [[onward->circle 3 ant 0]]

The 9 o'clock part of the circle is the most heavily defended, there are multiple watchtowers and guards. It takes all your stealth ability to avoid detection. For safety you head deeper into the forest. There the trees have been stripped and the ground shows claw marks. Obviously whatever lives here is feared by the spidergirls. Perhaps, you can use them against the spidergirls? \(if: $antrescue is 1)[You suddenly remember, this is the spot the ant-girl warned you against, she seemed very insistent that this was too dangerous for you.] [[Investigate->gorn nest ant 0]] [[Keep going->circle 4 ant 0]] \(set: $climaxant0status to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 0) \(set: $diedstatus to 0)

You start to follow the trail but then hesitate. Your adventurer's sense is telling you that this is very very bad idea. What ever is down this trail is feared by the spider-girls. If they find you it's unlikely you could defend yourself. You had some abstract plan of luring them towards the spiders but with what? Yourself? That's stupid for a lot of reasons. Even if you could get them to attack the spiders, somehow without getting attacked yourself. Then they would still be an equal threat to you and your friends. [[Try anyway->Bad end 1 ant 0]] [[Try something else-> gorn nest refused ant 0]]

You reach the general area where you began again. Sighing you put your back to a tree and think on what you saw. Well the right side is the least defended, so any plan should probably start from there. But what's the plan? Your end goal is to reach your friends. The plan will need to deal with all the spiderwebs, spiders and spider cocoons. Looks like you have to rely on: [[Your human problem solving->problem solving ant 0]] [[Your new body->leeroy jenkins ant 0]] (set: $planant0status to 1) (set: $climaxant0status to 0)

Bad End! (you knew this was a bad idea) Turns out that this was the nest of the things that killed the spider-girl that held you captive. They are these big scaly lizards called the gorn, way more fierce than you can deal with right now. Turns out they also eat mostly human things. Your tale ends with you being killed and probably eaten afterwards. [[credits]] (now seriously go back and try something different) [[try something different->circle 3 ant 0]] \(set: $climaxant0status to 0) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $diedstatus to 1)

You shake your head, this is seeming enough like a stupid idea that it might actually be stupid. You turn on your heel and head back towards the circle. [[Forward, or wait back?->circle 4 ant 0]]

You are an adventurer after all. This is going to take some human problem solving. You take a deep breath, and try to imagine what your friends would recommend. [[Alonso's advice->hero advice ant 0]] [[Frederick's advice->thief advice ant 0]] [[Ron's advice->mage advice ant 0]] [[Cohen's advice->conan's advice ant 0]] You pause as you try to put together all these different thoughts. However the solution quickly [[comes together->comes together ant 0]]

Your new arms and legs are strong and should protect you from danger. Additionally you feel faster and stronger than before. It should be possible to quickly steal your way into the spider nest, find your friends and sneak right out again. There is nothing that could conceivably go wrong with this plan. [[Boldly onward!->leeroy jenkins 1 ant 0]]

You take a second to imagine Alonso, he flashes you a smile which says "You sure got yourself into a mess didn't you?" "Normally in a situation like this we would stick together and bash our way through. That isn’t an option for only you. Could you get help from somewhere? Regardless any successful plan will cut the amount of fighting you have to do by yourself. Escape is only possible with all of us together." [[back->problem solving ant 0]]

You imagine Frederick, he gives you a roguish smile and sits down in front of you. He leans in as if to give some conspiratorial advice. "You have proved pretty stealthy getting this far. But I’m sure that even if I was here I wouldn’t be able to sneak in. There are too many places where you can be seen from. Generally when this was the case we would make a distraction. Remember when we robbed the storehouse? I made sure the guards were wondering who broke the window across the street." [[back->problem solving ant 0]]

You imagine Ron looking down at you and speaking a bit uncertainly. "I’m a wizard. My problem solving mostly consists of either spells that do what I specifically need or [[fire spells]]. Spiderwebs don’t burn but almost everything else does. Get creative and get destructive." You smile at this advice, that's a bit more bellicose than Ron tends to be, but true to his thought process. [[back->problem solving ant 0]]

You imagine Cohen standing at the ready before you, he has that audacious look in his eyes. He harshly says "Boy there is almost always a way, even if a long shot and unlikely. What ever your plan is, when you do it, speed is of the essence. Hesitate and you will be snared and surrounded almost instantly." [[back->problem solving ant 0]]

Upon the reflection the answer is obvious, it should be done quickly, focus on freeing your friends as fast as possible, use a distraction and involve liberal amounts of shit getting set on fire. Set one of the very large, very dry dead trees on fire. At least one of these trees has to have dry rot. Then use your torch to get to the cocoons during the chaos. If you are lucky, and fast you can probably open the cocoons before the spider-girls realize what is happening. From there you have Ron's magic to help, and a whole lot of determination to fight your way out. [[Get ready for the final push->human rescue ant 0]] \(set: $planant0status to 0) \(set: $pumpedant0status to 1)

Wait, no there is a whole lot that could go wrong with this plan. For the first thing you are attacking spiders, the ground is going to be lousy with spiderwebs. You might be able to avoid them, but if you get caught then it's gonna suck to be you. Second, one does not simply walk into somewhere that heavily defended. The spiders live in the trees around there and it's going to be a full time effort to just avoid being seen. Yeah this is a bad idea [[Rethink->circle 4 ant 0]] [[Leeroy Jenkins!->leeroy jenkins bad end ant 0]]

You take a deep breath, speed and stealth are what you need now. You pick the least defended spot and make your way quickly and quietly through the nest. Right as you are about to breach the outer layer of the nest, and you can see the inner sanctum (where no doubt your friends are being held) when you notice a spider in a tree a few yards infront of you. Moving quickly you slide behind a tree. It's only when your arm hits something sticky that you realize you have screwed up. Your arm is stuck, you begin to desperately try to free yourself. This is a very bad place to get caught. Not wanting to risk a fire you try to free yourself. This leads you to get caught up in the spiderweb not unlike the ant girl you saw earlier. \(set: $planant0status to 0) (set: $leeroyant0status to 1) Once you are well and truly trapped, (if: $antrescue is 1)[you wait a while to see if another human with a vendetta against the spider-girls is coming through.] (if: $antrescue is 0)[you wait for a while painfully aware of how the ant-girl you didn't rescue must be feeling.] Eventually however you start to give yourself a slow clap. Both for the situation you are in and to attract attention so you don't die in the web. With a hideously smug grin, one of the spider-girls comes to [[collect you->leeroy jenkins bad end ant 0 part 1]]

You pick your way around the circle, collecting tinder and looking for the prefect tree to set on fire. (if: $antrescue is 1)[Most of the tinder you pick off the webs you pass.] Finally you spot one, it's lightly guarded and looks so rotten that it's about topple over. As you get closer you recognize that the only thing keeping it from toppling over are the spiderwebs. This should be interesting. With the spot chosen it comes time to make a torch. You find a tree freshly fallen over and still dripping sap. At the moment you don't really need your socks, and sleeves. You still don't have enough fabric so your midriff makes the ultimate sacrifice. Taking care not to get your hands too sticky you bathe the fabric in the sap. You pick up a strong branch of green hardwood and tie the fabric around it. You make a small smokeless fire. Once you put the torch in the fire the sap should catch and then it's go time. Taking a deep breath you [[take the plunge->human rescue ant 0 part 1]] \(set: $ant0torchappearance to 1)

You stand up to examine yourself. The ant-girl looks over you longingly and then gives you multiple thumbs up. She obviously likes the changes You check your still moist lower area; your equipment itself seems unchanged but now your pelvic area is being framed by the dark brown chitin. Additionally your butt has shrunk down to nothing. All the mass has seemingly been transferred to the abdomen. Speaking of things that have shrunk, your waist is also thin. You would have an hourglass figure but neither your tits nor your ass are cooperating. Your abdomen has gotten bigger and now sticks out far enough behind you to stop bother your walking. A rough estimate is that it hangs down to about a third of the length of your legs. Your legs are thin and like your arms feminine, if not very human. The biggest change is your new set of arms. They are similar to your original set but differ only in the hands. These are small and only have two fingers and a thumb. Better for grasping things than really handling them. Moving them with any amount of finesse is difficult, you can do it but it takes a few tries. On the whole you are a lot more insectoid than before. But your chitin and new strength should be handy as you try to rescue your friends. You put on clothes and bow to your ant-girl friend, you try to head off but she grabs your hand and sits you down. \(set: $antlevel to $antlevel + 1) \(set: $ant1appearance to 1) \(set: $ant0appearance to 0) \(set: $ant1gear to 1) \(set: $conferenceant1status to 1) \(set: $anteat to 1) \(set: $loveant0status to 0) [[sit down->ant tf 0+0+0+1 part 3]]

As you sit down she holds up a finger obviously telling you to wait. With a skip in her step she hurries off to the edge of the clearing and busies herself rooting through the leaves there. To be honest your still feeling pretty good and so you don't mind waiting. She comes back with a fistful of leaves and offers you some; you take one and look at it puzzled. She chews it and watches your reaction. It’s not quite breakfast but it’s better than nothing after your recent exertion. You chew and to be honest it tastes terrible. But you feel your energy start to come back. The ant-girl beams at you; she sits cross legged with all four hands on her legs and leans forward attentively. (She must be wondering what the hell you are doing out here.) You hesitate a bit uncertain if she can even understand you. Shrugging you decide to give it a good old adventurer try; maybe it will make you feel better. loudly, slowly and maybe a little insultingly you say "I am here because Spiders" here you splay you 8 fingers. "took, (you make a grabbing motion) my friends (you point to yourself and hold up four fingers). The ant nods. She points at you and hold up four fingers. Then she lies down. (What?) She opens her eyes to see if you are getting it and then mimes the motion again. You suddenly get it, she means dead.) You shake your head vehemently; you won’t believe your friends are dead until you see their cold corpses. You put up four fingers, make the grabbing motion again, put up eight fingers splayed out and then point down the trail you were following. She seems genuinely unhappy about this. She shakes her head, and then pats you on the head. She gives you a pleading look but you stay strong. (she apparently doesn't like your chances). Still looking depressed the ant-girl starts drawing on the ground between you. She draws an arrow from you to a large circle. She makes a dot in the center of the circle and then holds up eight fingers. (This must be where the spiders are). You nod. She then points at the part of the circle closest to her. Watching you intently the ant-girl points to herself and then holds up multiple fingers. She uses both pairs of arms to refer to the space around her. You nod uncertainly. (She must mean that there are a lot of ant-girls there. A nest maybe?) You pause uncertain how to signal that you get it, you nod slowly. The ant-girl is a bit hesitant but continues. finally she points to the part of the circle furthest to your left. here she makes an X and then uses all four hands to make an ooga-booga face to you. (must be dangerous, although what could the danger be?). you nod. With that done she leans forward and kisses you on the lips. (You palm her small perfectly formed tits for a second then break off; you don’t have time to get distracted again.) She smiles at you and then looks depressed. She hands you the rest of the leaves; helps you hide the remains of the fire and then hugs you. As she heads off into the forest you are left with no option but to [[head off yourself->onward ant 1]]

As you continue onward it becomes harder and harder to follow the path. The trail is continually blocked by spider webs. (Damn tricky spider girls) It takes a careful eye but you continually dodge these. Your new arms and legs are abuse resistant which helps because you have to ditch the path almost continually. Finally you come to a slightly raised circular plateau (really it is more of a knoll). The slopes have been kept meticulously clear. (They even mowed the grass) At the top of the plateau there are series of very large trees covered in spiderwebs. This is the nest. After a series of trials you have finally made it to where your friends are likely being kept. You sigh. Getting here was hard, getting in is going to be even tougher. The first step is to do recon. And to do it very very carefully, because the spider-girls likely have some guards posted. [[traverse the circle->circle 1 ant 1]] \(set: $climaxant1status to 1) \(set: $clearingant1status to 0) \(set: $conferenceant1status to 0)

BAD END: Leeroy Jenkins! You are roughly carried to the inner circle of the spider nest. There you see three other cocoons. One is much thicker than the others and covered in burn marks; that must be Ron's. Despite how desperate the situation is you give a smile. Your guards sit you close to the cocoons. you look up at your two guards who have you at spear point. For now escape isn't going to happen. You give them your best smile though. What is likely the [[Spider Queen]] sounds a bell and the inner clearing quickly fills with spider-girls on the ground and in the trees. (if: $antlevel is 0 or it is 1)[The queen spends a while holding court, and then sounds a bell. All eyes turn to you and the cocoons. The queen gives a speech which is unintelligible to you. Gestures at you and company a few times; and then a few spider-girls step forward and start to split the cocoons.](if: $antlevel is 2)[the queen spends a while holding court. It's not directed at you but you are able to glean some information from it. surprisingly the caravan you were originally hired to guard made it through safely. they must have fled as soon as the attack started. you would be excited but you highly doubt you will be paid as you are. the queen congratulates the raiders and then announces that they will start showing the captives. A few spider-girls step forward and start to split the cocoons.] The first cocoon opened is Alonso's. Unsurprisingly he has been turned into a woman. He still looks athletic but his heroic looks have been turned into devastatingly beautiful ones. He also has long blonde hair now and impressive assets. Next is Ron. He has shrunk a bit and look much more slender. His black hair has grown to mid-length and he seems especially disoriented. (He likely tried to burn his way out of a sealed cocoon. Good thing the spiders put air holes.) Finally Frederick emerges from his cocoon. He was short before but he is petite now. Still has his short brown hair, but his face has definitely softened. (if: $antlevel is 0 or it is 1)[Once they have regained their senses somewhat they all look at you and make their displeasure at being captured known. You shrug. (Not your fault they got captured) The spider queen begins pointing from your group to various spider-girl warriors. (Most likely they are giving out captives as loot from the raid.)](if: $antlevel is 2)[Once they have regained their senses somewhat your friends look around curiously. They give you a glance or two but make no effort to communicate. The spider queen begins to assign your friends as booty from the recent raid. When it comes to your turn, the spider queen asks after the most junior hunter available and then assigns you as a "motivation to great deeds in the future." (It's insulting but probably for the best.)] You and your friends are sat down in a circle. A plate of what looks like mashed mushrooms is put in front of you. Checking your friends you see that they have been given similar meals. The guards whack everyone a couple of times to make it clear that not eating is going to be frowned upon. You look up at the guards and ask "Salt?" Your friends (if: $antlevel is 2)[look surprised and then] giggle a little and then you get whacked again. Not eating is not an option right now. [[Down the hatch, past the gums, watch out stomach here it comes->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant start]] \(set: $leeroyant0status to 2) \(set: $leeroyant1status to 2) \(set: $leeroyant2status to 2)

You decide to go the right, keeping the clearing to your left. According to Cohen this is the most basic way for navigating mazes. (He was also quick to point out that it is better to keep a map, and leave marks as you go.) You creep along observing how the nest has been fortified. There are a lot of watch posts. You notice that each one has a large blind spot underneath it. This is less due to the construction of the watch post and more the size of a spidergirl's abdomen. As you pass through you catch a whiff of a scent. It smells like flowers. It lingers for a minute, but it’s a sickly sweet smell. Similar to rotting fruit and borderline unpleasant. Then it passes. Hmmm. You sniff again but get nothing. You continue [[onward->circle 2 ant 1]]

You nod to yourself quietly, you take a step back to make sure you understand the situation. (your neck doesn’t bend as it used to.) Then once you are sure you know what has to happen, you get to it. The other ant-girl has struggled herself into a cocoon. She is pretty high up there (although you can’t say if is she is high in general). You can’t cut her out of there without running a very good chance getting ensnared yourself. Well she is a fruit on the vine. All you need to do is sever the web holding her up. Fun fact: spiderwebs don’t burn. What ever has been caught in the spiderwebs burns, normally dust in cobwebs. These webs are young and the fire won’t spread too far, so it shouldn’t be dangerous for the ant-girl if you use fire. You cast around looking for the driest wood you can find. This is difficult, woods don’t get this dark and dank without being damp. The wood you can find is almost wet, and the tinder isn’t much better. This fire is going to smoke. Little attracts trouble like smoke. (This you know from experience). With a desperate expression you show the ant-girl the tinder. With a great deal of difficulty she manages to force one of the smaller set of hands out of the webbing. She points at the web itself. You pause trying to figure what the hell she means. You sniff carefully, she is putting out a dark woody scent. You look around and realize that half the forest smells like that. (hardly any help there.) Then you sniff again realize that the scent hints at a small size. Looking at her confused you realize, she is trying to point at the leaves stuck in the web. The leaves and twigs in the web are completely dry, and should burn fine. In a moment you have a small smokeless fire going. Now for the much harder part. You select a thick stick and set it on fire. Thankfully four arms make it easy move the large stick. Moving the stick very carefully (you don't want cooked ant-girl after all) you start to bring the fire to the web around the cocoon. (set: $leymoontribute to 0) Very cautiously, and with a bit of standing on tip toe (easier with toes made of hard chitin); you manage to get the web supporting the cocoon. The cocoon swings and proves too much for the web under it; dropping to the ground with an undignified thump. (set: $antrescue to 1) [[Open the pinata->ant girl rescue 2]] \(set: $clearingant2status to 0) \(set: $rescueant2status to 1)

You look at the ant-girl sadly. This is a mission you are probably not going to come back from. Every minute wasted is a fatal minute. You can’t feed yourself and you barely know where you are going. It would be foolish to stop and rescue the ant-girl. You might get caught by the spiders. It would take time you don't have. The spiders would notice the destroyed web. You have your reasons to turn away but it is difficult; the very idea of abandoning her is like considering tearing off one of your (original) arms. You are on a mission of mercy, surely it would not be too big a delay to help her as well? How can you justify not rescuing a fellow sis- er, traveller? [[Reconsider and rescue your sister->rescue ant 2]] (set: $leymoontribute to 1) [[Be resolute->keep going ant 2 part 1]] \(set: $clearingant2status to 0) \(set: $troubledant2status to 1)

Using your pocket knife you start to cut open a slit in the cocoon. As you start to clear away the spider web from around the ant-girl, she grabs both of your left arms with two arms each and pulls you down beside her. She starts spooning with you, going all out with her tongue. Her hands roam over your body making sure to message the underside of your insectoid abdomen. You are a bit surprised by this, another part of you is happy for some companionship after a lonely trudge through the forest. Do you return the kissing? (set: $antrescue to 1) [[Yes->ant tf 0+0+1+1]] [[No->ant tf 0+0+1+0]]

The ant-girl is enthusiastic. She starts by kissing you on the cheeks and lips but before long she begins to slip you some tongue. She uses this distraction to roam over your body with her four hands and help you out of your clothes. Her smaller (harder set) starts to stroke your chitinous thigh, moving upward. With your second set of arms tingling, you are suddenly able to use your smaller set of arms to meet hers. She breaks off making out to pout for a second. You gasp as a tickle on your back starts. The chitin there feels like it’s growing to connect to the chitin on your spine. The ant-girl stares into your eyes as she slowly messages the growing chitin. She continues the tight embrace as the chitin grows up around your neck. The tingling sensation continues to your face. This is a gentle sensation, closer to a lover’s caress. The changes must be visual to some degree because the ant girl starts licking your face as it changes. This is a strange feeling to say the least. The feeling moves over your head. You notice that a few hairs are falling out and you shake them away. As the experience finally subsides you try to grab our mirror and examine yourself. The ant-girl prevents this with her hugging and kissing. You give up, but then it strikes you that she has been doing all the work. That is unacceptable, so you start kissing back and move your hands up and down her abdomen. She moans into your mouth and you bring your smaller pair of hands to gently message her pelvis. This happy state of affairs continues, until suddenly you go blind. The change loss makes you panic, the ant-girl senses this and tries to calm you. She doesn’t say anything but tries to distract you with kissing, and comforting head pats. Then just as suddenly as it began it ends and you can see. You are a little worried about your eyes, (Little is more important to an adventurer than their eyes.) The ant girl looks into your eyes and you feel less nervous. The next sensation is a strong stroking sensation on your sides. It is a strong confident sensation; out of sympathy for the feeling you start doing it to the ant-girl. She seems to like it. The feeling ignites a fire in your belly. The feeling increases in tempo as you see your waist slowly shrink and your new abdomen grow. Your waist shrinks down to be impossibly thin and your abdomen becomes taut and mature. As the feeling approaches a climax you hear a sound a like someone going pop with their mouth. This seems to spook the ant-girl as she abruptly stops spooning. She scampers down to examine the underside of your abdomen with a confused look. You discover that on the underside of your abdomen, near the end a fleshy slit has opened. You reach down to probe but the ant-girl beats you to it. She gently probes with a chitinous finger, and you gasp immediately. The outside is tough and tightly closed while the interior is extremely sensitive. With a devilish grin, the ant-girl probes again bringing another moan. With your legs shaking you sit back feeling pretty damn good. You find yourself very close to climax. You start making eyes at the ant-girl who smiles back knowingly. However you almost immediately put your hands to your head in pain. It feels like a double noogie to your forehead times ten. The ant-girl moves forward in concern. Something begins to grow out of your forehead and you can see them sway at the top of your vision. You gingerly grab one and bring it infront of your eyes. It proves to be a pair of small brown, chitin covered antenna. These are identical to the ones that the ant-girl are sporting. You let out an angry needful sigh. (You were close to being over the edge, and now that’s gone.) You look back to the ant-girl, only to see that she is wreathed in aura of indescribable colors. With a twitch of the antenna and a feeling not dissimilar to narrowing your eyes you focus on one. It is warm happy color that reminds you of infatuation. You turn your attention to the other floating colors, but are interrupted by the ant-girl kissing you. You look at her with an expression of great need. She smiles roguishly at you. Sitting down she motions for you to sit on her lap, (Okay?). You sit down and it briefly occurs to you that if you still had your original legs this would be uncomfortable. You are the same height as her now, so with some difficulty she starts kissing your neck. She uses her larger pair of hands to start gently stroking the outside of your vagina. She traces the chitin framing your pelvis and moves slowly inward until she reaches your pubic mound. You were quite hot and bothered earlier so her first finger enters easily. (You have never been happier for fingers made of hard chitin.) The ant-girl starts to very gently masturbate you. She keeps kissing you, and occasionally messages your new clitoris. You spend a few minutes in happy bliss and then glance over at the ant-girl. She gives you a mischievous smile. Suddenly you feel something enter your abdomen slit. You glance down and see that the ant-girl’s second pair of hands are energetically stimulating your second slit. (Note to self: when dealing with ant-girls always watch the second pair of hands.) In empathy you reach to do the same for the ant-girl only to find that her abdomen has no slit. Then she sticks two of her small fingers into your second slit and you lose focus. The pleasure is intense and last for a few minutes before you are brought to a screaming orgasm. (Well it would have been a screaming orgasm, but you suck a finger to stop yourself.) You flop back in a happy haze. The ant girl takes this as a chance to kiss you and then lie next to you embracing you tightly. (set: $antintimacy to 1) [[Reflect->ant tf 0+0+1+1 part 1]] \(set: $clearingant1status to 0) \(set: $intimacyant1status to 1)

You push her away and stand up quickly. You aren't in the mood for intimate contact, much less from a monster girl. Besides you are already starting to resemble her, maybe the reason why you refuse is that you don’t want to resemble her more? She seems disappointed but then shrugs and gets up herself. She gives a deep curtsy and then looks at you curiously. She walks around you examining from all angles. Gently she touches one of your small arms, she lifts it up and down as if examining the motion. You look at her quizzically, this is getting a little awkward. The she puts one of her small hands on your mostly formed abdomen. This makes you start and turn to face her forcing her hand away. There is a moment where you can vividly smell something and then it’s gone. Finally she sighs and if she had eyes that could roll she would be rolling them. With exaggerated care she puts up a palm to you. Quickly and confidently she strides off to the edge of the clearing. She roots around the in the leaves there and soon picks out a certain type of plant. Coming back she motions for you to sit down, you do so reluctantly. With a smile she offers you the leaves. You don't want to take them. (if: $botanythought is 1)[You might have seen leaves like this before, but you don't really remember.] Another exaggerated sigh. She puts one plant into her mouth and chews slowly and carefully. She offers the plant again. You get the feeling it would be rude to refuse and gingerly put one of the plants in your mouth. Hoping this doesn't cause any further changes; you swallow. The plant tastes like ass, but it's filling and you can feel your strength returning slowly. You hesitate a bit uncertain if she can even understand you. Shrugging you decide to give it a good old adventurer try; maybe it will make you feel better. loudly, slowly and maybe a little insultingly you say "I am here because Spiders" here you splay you 8 fingers. "took, (you make a grabbing motion) my friends (you point to yourself and hold up four fingers). The ant nods. She points at you and hold up four fingers. Then she lies down. (What?) She opens her eyes to see if you are getting it and then mimes the motion again. You suddenly get it, she means dead.) You shake your head vehemently; you won’t believe your friends are dead until you see their cold corpses. You put up four fingers, make the grabbing motion again, put up eight fingers splayed out and then point down the trail you were following. She seems genuinely unhappy about this. She shakes her head, and then pats you on the head. She gives you a pleading look but you stay strong. (she apparently doesn't like your chances). Still looking depressed the ant-girl starts drawing on the ground between you. She draws an arrow from you to a large circle. She makes a dot in the center of the circle and then holds up eight fingers. (This must be where the spiders are). You nod. She then points at the part of the circle closest to her. Watching you intently the ant-girl points to herself and then holds up multiple fingers. She uses both pairs of arms to refer to the space around her. You nod uncertainly. (She must mean that there are a lot of ant-girls there. A nest maybe?) You pause uncertain how to signal that you get it, you nod slowly. The ant-girl is a bit hesitant but continues. Finally she points to the part of the circle furthest to your left. Here she makes an X and then uses all four hands to make an ooga-booga face to you. (Must be dangerous, although what could the danger be?). You nod. With that done she leans forward and kisses you on the forehead. (This gives you an excellent view of her small tits so you don't mind over much. But seriously that was probably a blessing.) She smiles at you, pats you on the shoulder with two hands and then heads off into the forest back the way you came. You eat some more leaves; do your best to hide the remains of the fire and then [[head off yourself->onward ant 1]] \(set: $anteat to 1) \(set: $conferenceant1status to 1) \(set: $clearingant1status to 0)

You figure that this spider is the queen. She has a regal look, a frightening spear and a bitching crown. The fact that she is issuing (if: $antlevel is 0 or it is 1)[something that sounds like] orders helps. Just by looking at her you can tell that she is fearsome. you are no slouch at combat but you seriously doubt you could beat her one on one. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

(If: $webwarning is 0)[Cognizant of the time you have wasted so far you hurry along. This is aided by your new scent-o-vision which allows you to see the scent of the spiders hanging in the air. This makes following the trail trivial until you almost stumble into a large spiderweb. Cursing yourself for relying on something you barely understand, you resolve to be more careful. This is difficult because there are spiderwebs almost constantly.] \(if: $webwarning is 1)[You stride forward cautiously, your journey is nearly complete but that means the danger is more than ever. Thankfully your earlier mishap with the spider-web means that you know what to expect. This is helpful because the spiderwebs form a near solid wall as you get closer to the spider's nest.] Your new insectoid legs make you more resistant to brambles and vines, which helps with ditching the path. The better low-light vision helps you dodge the spiderwebs. Every once in a while you spot a dark umber tone which might have been left as a guide. Finally you come to a slightly raised circular plateau (Really it is more of a small mesa). The slopes have been kept meticulously clear. (They even mowed the grass) At the top of the plateau there are series of very large trees covered in spiderwebs. This is the nest. After a series of trials you have finally made it to where your friends are likely being kept. You sigh. Getting here was hard, getting in is going to be even tougher. The first step is to do recon. And to do it very very carefully, because the spider-girls likely have some guards posted. (set: $leymoontribute to 0) [[traverse the circle->circle 1 ant 2]] \(set: $climaxant2status to 1) \(set: $conferenceant2status to 0) \(set: $troubledant2status to 0)

Once the torch is lit you move as quickly and quietly as you can towards the spider nest. You pick out an undefended spot and move across the clearing at a sprint. Once there the hard work starts. Ducking between trees you are constantly looking up you try to avoid the guards. A blond spider girl with purple highlights flits into view above you. You see her head turning and in a split second leap behind a tree. You congratulate yourself on being slick and then move to wipe your brow. Your left hand won't move. It has been caught in something sticky. Sighing you bring the torch around and quickly free yourself. After a few more close calls, (but thankfully no more webbings) you reach the perfect tree. The tree is massive, but a bit of picking at the base reveals that it's mostly dry rot. Looks like it's only being held up by the web all around it. You give yourself a satisfied smile. If nothing else there will be quite a show. [[Do what you were born to do->human rescue ant 0 part 2]] \(set: $pumpedant0status to 0) \(set: $fightant0status to 1)

The tree goes up like it was coated in pitch. You don't have the time to admire the sight because you are already picking your way deeper into the nest. For obvious reasons and because life can be a real bastard you figure your friends are going to be held in the inner most part of the nest. You make your way deeper, mostly through luck. Once or twice you are almost spotted but the fire is growing behind you and they look worried. As you reach the edge of the inner sanctum you sight a trio of cocoons that look like the one you popped out of. Well one of them is much larger and covered in burn marks. (That must be Ron's) You glance back. The burning tree is casting a flickering orange light all over the nest. The sky is an expanse of smoke. It looks like the fire might spread to some nearby trees. [[let's move it!->human rescue ant 0 part 3]]

You sprint the final distance to the cocoons. Time to decide which one to open. It's not a choice though the only one who can protect you while you open the other two is Ron. His cocoon is going to be the hardest to open though. You bring your torch close trying to soften the outside. (Man you hope you aren't cooking Ron alive in there). Once it has softened a bit, you put the torch aside and drive your small knife in with all your strength. (Man you hope you don't skewer Ron.) You manage to pierce the outside and open a small gap. You glance around, the spiders are still distracted and it looks like they have a bucket line going. You take both hands and with a mighty yell manage to force the crack open a bit more. (Hmmm, not working) You shout into the crack. "Ron, get up. I need you." You hear a groan inside and then you start to shake the cocoon with a slight sloshing noise. "I'm awake!" A slight pause "What the hell is happening?" You roll your eyes. "Not the time Ron, get the hell out of there." "Alright, step back." You scramble back and a few seconds later a gout of fire erupts from the cocoon. Ron sits up out of the cocoon. Ron's face is much more feminine and his black hair has grown to mid-length. He looks at you inquisitively "You look different." You try not to roll your eyes. "So do you Ron. I started a fire to keep the spiders distracted while I rescued you. Do something to keep them off our backs while I free everyone else." Ron smiles, it would normally be a menacing smile but with his new softer features it just looks roguish. "Something?" He starts to fling fire balls into the surrounding trees. "Damnit Ron" (link: "You open the left cocoon")[(set: $left to 1)(goto: " human rescue ant 0 part 4 combo")] (link: "You open the right cocoon")[(set: $right to 1)(goto: " human rescue ant 0 part 4 combo")] (if: $hideme is 1)[[[fuck you-> human rescue ant 0 part 4 combo]]]

The technical term for what you have to do is run and gun, but given the setting, run and melee is going to have to cut it. Ron has to his credit made a right and proper mess of things. This gives you a small window to steal as many supplies and weapons as you can. The spiders are understandably unhappy about this whole sequence of events and give constant chase. What follows is two continuous days of running combat as the spiders try to recapture your group. There are countless close shaves and harrowing escapes. However this is a fair fight; no ambush crap like last time. Your group gives a good account of itself. Alonso keeps everyone going with words of encouragement and knows when to call a rest. Frederick proves an able scout, helping your group to avoid patrols and lay your own ambushes. Ron brings the magic, although he tones down the amount of fire so you don't set the forest on fire. He is notably unhappy about this. You do You. At the end of the second day you are falling asleep in your step and the spidergirls are right behind. Then you stumble into something quite [[unexpected->ant 0 final choices part 2]]. \(set: $fightant0status to 2) \(set: $anteat to 0) \(set: $fightant0status to 1)

(if: $antrescue is 1)[It's Cohen but he's not alone. He is leading a small group of antgirls. You and your friends are too stunned for words, but mostly collapse from exhaustion. To be honest most of the ant-girls look the same to you but one seems familiar. Then it strikes you, it's the ant girl you saved from the web earlier. She looks at you fondly and then pats you on the head. Once your group has it's breath back you all ask Cohen how he got away. Cohen smiles a mostly toothless smile. "What you think an ambush of spider girls could stop me?" You all look at him skeptically. "Oh alright, they forced me back. So I went back to town got some supplies and came back looking for you younglings." You look over at the ant-girl. Cohen nods "Oh yes, as I was tracking the spiders I ran into this patrol. The lead ant says she saw someone like your description, that it was you who rescued her." He nudges you. "Good work by the way." You are shocked "You can talk to her?" Cohen nods "I know the sign language yes." The spidergirls have nearly caught up. Cohen smiles. "Stay behind me and the girls and we will cut our way out of here." You and the rest fall into step confident, that you are [[safe->ant 0 final choices part 3 rescuer]]] (if: $antrescue is 0)[Cohen stands confidently looking ready to take on a legion of demons and then some. he is carrying food and supplies. You and your friends fall to your knees at the sight of him. Cohen looks at you with an expression of tempered happiness. "Good job on getting out of the nest but the escape isn't over yet." Ron breathlessly asks "How did you escape?" Cohen shrugs "You think a few spidergirls are enough to stop me?" Everyone looks at him with an expression of disbelief "Oh alright, I couldn't get them all but couldn't capture me. So I escaped and made my way back to town for supplies. From there I tracked the spiders as best I could. Good job setting so many fires Ron" (The fact that it was Ron goes without saying.) The rustling behind you grows louder, Cohen smiles. "Younglings form up on me, the easy part is over and now the real fighting starts." This is greeted by a groan from your group. Still at least now you have food and real weapons. You are not quite [[safe->ant 0 final choices part 3 survivor]] but you aren't doomed.]

After a relatively easy battle to escape the spiders you pause on the edge of the forest. The ant-girl you rescued smiles at you happily and then kisses you on the forehead. She then waves goodbye and goes back into the forest. Part of you wishes that you will see her again but the rest of you knows that you won't. The first order of business now that you are out of that damn forest is to get to the closest tavern. Your group then toasts your incredible skill in rescuing them from the spiders. With that important business concluded, all eyes turn to Cohen. If there is anyone who knows anything about how to get turned back to normal it's him. He nods "I know a method or two to undo transformations like that. All are difficult, but if you boys are interested then we can make them happen." The implicit question then is how far back do you want to change? [[Not at all.->ant 0, bug]] You like the new hands and feet [[Ditch the ant bits but keep the lady bits.->ant 0, girl]] (They open a wide range of experimentation.) [[As you were thank you.->ant 0, boy]] (if: $skipper is 0)[[[A hidden ending->ant 0 hidden ending]]] \(set: $ant0gear to 2) \(set: $endingant0status to 1) \(set: $fightant0status to 0) \(set: $ant0appearance to 1) \(set: $ant0epilogue to 0) \(set: $humanlevel to 0) \(set: $effects to 1) \(set: $boy0epilogue to 0) \(set: $fightant0status to 0)

The next 24 hours of fighting drive you to the edge. Cohen brought needed supplies and arms. More importantly he is a living killing machine. The spiders know this and so attempt to separate your group from him. They try to flank, they try to distract, they try to drive your group into traps, they back off and shoot arrows at you. They try almost everything under the sun. But your group resists, sticking close to Cohen. Cohen for his part seems to be having the time of his life. He greets every attack with a war whoop and fights like a man a third his age. As the tree cover starts to lessen and you can see sunlight again; the final spider girl attack comes. The Spider Queen heads up this attack. Amusingly her crown has been toasted. Your team is exhausted, you try to rally to fight the queen but you can hardly stand. [[Cohen strides forward with a grin->ant 0 final choices part 3 survivor 1]]

Your chitin covered hands and feet did a lot to get you through that damn forest. You are a professional adventurer and it would be silly to throw away an advantage like that. (Also you would miss the girls) The going is long and you are confident that all your teammates take the chance to get acquainted with their new bodies. (Ron keeps saying he lost the dildo. We all know where it is Ron.) Following many disreputable deals you manage to get access to a satyr toga party. Supposedly by wearing a toga, reciting the magic words (toga! toga! toga!) and getting copiously drunk you will wake up in the morning male. (And most likely epically hungover.) It is a bacchanalian event. Impossible to describe and so it can only be conceived. Your friends all toga up, although Frederick seems unhappy. You however sit back and wave them onward. They look at you curiously "Not coming?" You shake your head "I'm happy like this thank you." Everyone seems dismayed but Frederick smiles. "I think he is right, we have been a little hasty to go back to being male. Let's enjoy being female for a while longer." Ron seems dismayed, but Alonso nods thoughtfully. he turns to Ron, "Don't worry we will turn back eventually; but let's enjoy the other side for a little while." Ron seems relieved by this news. He asks "So what do we do now?" Cohen rolls his eyes "Enjoy yourself boy." Everyone joins the party sans toga and sans most clothes. [[Epilogue->ant 0, bug, ending]]

While the chitin was very useful in the forest you think you would fit in a bit better without it. You resolve to ditch it the first chance you get. The going is long and you are confident that all of your teammates take the chance to get acquainted with their new bodies. (Frederick's tendency to commit theft in awkward places transfers over to self-stimulation) Following a number of dodgy deals with a pink-skinned witch involving finding a large number of stones with holes in them; your group is given a foul smelling brown potion. You mentally calculate how much you should drink and then take a moment to admire your hands. Your chitinous fingers make a tapping noise as you bring them together. Then you take the plunge and sip the potion. Everyone falls to the ground retching. You are dimly aware that you hands and feet are making popping sounds. You are more focused on how much your butt hurts as your abdomen shrinks. You would deny ever being sodomized but damn if this isn't close. As you stand up you see that the chitin has popped off your hands and feet leaving you with baby soft skin. Still everything else is in place and you look like you were born a girl. You look at your friends retching only to see Frederick stand up. He still looks girlish. She smiles at you "What? I can't let you be the only girl and have all the fun. [[Epilogue->ant 0, girl, ending]]

On the whole you would rather be whole as you were when all this mess started. Your group resolves to return to normal and so they set off on a quest. The trip is long and you are confident that your teammates are taking the chance to get acquainted with their new bodies. (Alonso in particular is a screamer) Following a number of dodgy deals you finally track down this pipsqueak kid. He offers to give you an axolotl egg in return performing a "quadruple truffle shuffle". Everyone turns to Cohen for advice, he has covered his eyes. He apologizes saying "I can't be associated with this travesty. I have standards for fucks sake." It falls on you to lead the pack in taking off your shirt and beginning the shuffle. Everyone else joins in. Suddenly, there is a bright light and the universe feels a little less empty. The kid double overs laughing hysterically. Once everyone has put their shirts back on, the kid wipes the tears from his eyes and hands you a large translucent egg saying. "Make an omelet from this, it should patch you guys up." The omelet is unspeakable. Everyone passes out at the table after the first bite and you proceed to have the trippest dreams of your life. When you wake up the first thing you notice is how you are a bit taller. You do a private check and then smile wide. Infact the only people not smiling are Frederick and Cohen. (Cohen to his credit has been an excellent sport while surrounded by young attractive women.) Your group immediately retires to the nearest tavern to attempt to check if your returned equipment works. [[epilogue->ant 0, boy, ending]]

Once your group of adventurers has become established. (You stop nearly dying so much). Cohen gathers you all around and tells you that he is going to move on. Alonso is the only one who seems to have seen this coming; the group is devastated by his departure.(if: $conanhelp is 1)[ At a private moment Cohen takes you aside and tells you that you were always his favorite. That and the others need you to watch over them.] Cohen leaves and while you worry a bit, part of you knows that Cohen is badass enough to fight death and probably win. Your team goes onto great success and you all become famous throughout the land. Your single handed rescue of your friends in the face of impossible odds becomes part of the poetic Edda. (if: $antintimacy is 1 )[A surprising amount of sex makes it in. (if: $antlevel is 1)[ Although it is presented as a flirtatious dilliance.](if: $antlevel is 2)[Although it is presented as doomed star-crossed love.]] Your finest moment is of course when your team bags the first dragon. You slit it's throat with a single swipe and it falls over dead. (So badass)(if: $shrooms is 1)[ After everyone has turned back from being partial ant-girls you find that the increased teamwork has remained. This you enjoy as it helps with cards.](if: $shrooms is 2)[Your improved teamwork remains but mostly in an ability to anticipate what your teammates are going to do. at times you miss the smells and the closeness you felt with your "sisters"](if: $friendsex is 1)[Also your second slit because that shit was amazing.] Your friends make names for themselves as well. Alonso becomes a leader of men, and ends up leading (by accident and inability to say no to a pretty face) an order of knights. (if: $antlevel is 2)[These are coincidentally the same female knights from earlier. Everytime you see him he looks drained and the knights look satisfied.] Ron becomes an archmage desptie his humble origins. He attempts to spread magical knowledge through out the world so that others can have the same chance he did. (Your group constantly looks through his curriculum to make sure nothing "too" dangerous makes it in.) Frederick becomes a master thief. He is famous for forewarning his targets to increase the challenge for himself. (He manages to keep his identity hidden though.)(if: $shrooms is 1)[ He never forgets the help you showed him in the city of the dead. You always tell him it was nothing special.] Despite your success the group is always ready for adventure. You look forward to your next adventure eager and confident that you can face anything. Perhaps one day you will settle down but that day is far off. ENDING 1: A Man Among Men [[credits]] \(set: $boy0epilogue to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $ant0gear to 0) \(set: $effects to 0) \(set: $endingant0status to 0) \(set: $ant0appearance to 0)

This was a game by Aaaac If you have any thoughts or comments please look me up at the tfgamessite forums. http://www.tfgamessite.com/index.php?module=viewgame&id=1205 Thanks: Niku Drill: For drawing lovely anatomically possible monster girls. Dungeon Meshi: For showcasing competent but quirky adventurers. Into the Dungeon by lily: For the idea of a TF dungeon. Nekropolis by Blauz: For giving the idea of a driving goal. Layers of White by Solopipb: Ron's mothgirl design is a tribute. Corruption of Champions by Fenoxo: For the idea of changes after eating. Nakamura Regura: For chitin around the neck, also good designs. Shut Hell a.k.a Shuto Heru by Itoh Yu: I imagine most of the fight scenes as looking like they were from Shut Hell (Also read Shut Hell!) Bungie's Myth: The idea of cutting your way through to make the escape work was taken from Mazzarin's Demise also low fantasy elements. Some of the endings are also tributes. Greyelf: Coding questions and paitience. Frank Gunter: The dragonet webcomic. Saltyjustice's House of Pandemonium Remastered: For a lovely shoutout (also monster girls) Apologies: I apologize if this offends anyone, or if it is especially inaccurate. A seperate apology for the spelling, grammer and punctuation. (I don't feel bad, but I know it's bad enough that I should apologize.) [[I'd like to hear the story again from the start->restart question]]

On the whole you enjoy being a girl. There is an adjustment period of course and you have trouble with more respectable women. (The fact that you are a professional adventurer contributes to this.) But you make friends and Frederick is there is to experience the joys of womanhood with you. Alonso, Cohen, and Ron are all supportive of your choice. You chase the boys and the girls as your fancy suits you. (Old habits die hard). If you have any relationships within the group, they are loving. Once your group of adventurers has become established. (You stop nearly dying so much). Cohen gathers you all around and tells you that he is going to move on. Alonso is the only one who seems to have seen this coming; the group is devastated by his departure. (if: $conanhelp is 1)[ At a private moment Cohen takes you aside and tells you that you were always his favorite. That and the others need you to watch over them.] Cohen leaves and while you worry a bit, part of you knows that Cohen is badass enough to fight death and probably win. (No lie you once saw him kill two men with an arrow. He didn't shoot it through two people, it got stuck in one and then he punched it through into the eye of another guy.) Your team goes onto great success and you all become famous throughout the land. You are often credited as a bad inspiration to young girls; making them want to be adventurers. (To your personal pride.) Your single handed rescue of your friends in the face of impossible odds becomes part of the poetic Edda.(if: $antintimacy is 1 )[A surprising amount of sex makes it in. (if: $antlevel is 1)[Although it is presented as a flirtatious dilliance.](if: $antlevel is 2)[Although it is presented as doomed star-crossed love.]] Your finest moment is of course when your team bags the first dragon. The group decides that you will play the virginal bait. (You have no idea why, Frederick is just as much a virgin. Which is to say not at all) You let it get close and then slit it's throat with a single swipe. It falls over dead and everyone just stares at you. (So badass) Alonso becomes a leader of men, and ends up leading (by accident and inability to say no to a pretty face) an order of knights. Ron becomes an archmage despite his humble origins. He attempts to spread magical knowledge through out the world so that others can have the same chance he did. (Your group constantly looks through his curriculum to make sure nothing "too" dangerous makes it in.) Frederick becomes a master thief. She is always careful to never become famous. This is because she likes to crash royal parties and leave richer than most of the people of the people who arrived. Despite your success the group is always ready for adventure. You look forward to your next adventure eagerly confident that you can face anything. ENDING 2: (Gender equality) [[credits]] \(set: $girl0epilogue to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $ant0gear to 0) \(set: $effects to 0) \(set: $endingant0status to 0) \(set: $ant0appearance to 0)

You take a deep breath and try to take in your surroundings calmly. Let's double check, you are lost in an extremely dangerous forest with no gear, no food and no real hope of rescue. Shit Shit Shit The trees seem to loom in, every sound might be a spider girl about to avenge it's dead sister. You quickly lose control of your breathing and start to shake. This is it, this is where you die. Oh god, even if you survive how will you face your family? You don't even look like yourself any more. Terror black as midnight threatens and then you take a deep breath. [[Step 1: Get your mind right]] (set: $escapestatus to 0) (set: $panicstatus to 1)

Turning into a girl? How ridiculous can things get? This is doubtless a hallucination brought on by spider poison/venom. Hell if that stuff causes people to hallucinate gender bender antics, then there would be good money made in bottling and selling it. All you need to do is take another feel in your privates for your boy and you will realize this is all fake. All that greets your bold hand is a squish. Goddamnit If you are hallucinating it's not your body that you are hallucinating about. [[Back->Do quick examination]] (set: $imaginethought to 1)

.4.25.04: Finished the hidden kitsune 1 ending. Small, milestone update. Minor edits. Kitsune 2 time! Word count: 336952 .4.25.03: finished all but the hidden kitsune 1 endings. Happy new years everybody! Let's hope for a good 2024! Word count: 326,217 .4.25.02: Finished one kitsune 1 ending! Staying alive update. Cracked 300K! Word count: 310,122 .4.25.01: Anniversary release! Progress on kitsune 1, up to the end of the possession content, just short of start of endings. Went up a version! Word count: 296,460 .4.25.011: soft release, kitsune 0 status screen, progress on kitsune 1 story. Word count: 280,215 .4.0.04: Kitsune 1 story progress up until cliff hanger, reached 250K! Sorry it took so long. word count: 250,055 .4.0.03: kitsune 0 curse handling, kitsune 1 content, Added dialogue, editing. Happy anniversary! Wanted to have more done Word count: 229,476 .4.0.02 VN 2: Adds mushroom paths and sisters paths. To get to mushrooms do the escape like normal, to get to sisters rescue the ant-girl. .4.0.02: Kitsune 0 endings added including 1 hidden, 1 hidden meta ending, light editing and revisions. Word count: 222,439 .4.0.01 VN 1: No new content, updated engine, platform support and backgrounds. .4.0.01 VN: This update releases a prototype visual novel that adapts part of the Ant 2 content (full body tf into ant-girl but not the mental component). It's an alpha or pre-alpha release. The character art, backgrounds and music are all place holder. Text should be good though. It was made in the starlight engine (used in HOP Remastered: https://tfgames.site/index.php?module=viewgame&id=843) with an enormous amount of help from Salty Justice. .4.0.01: kitsune 0 to start of endings, princess name option for ant 3, editing, added curse 1,2 for kitsune 0, increased version number, happy anniversary! word count: 208,400 Compressed 4,000 words so word count going into .4.0.01 is 193,265 .3.99.05: kitsune 1 f/m scene done, post sex scenes, worked on kitsune 0 nest approach, man october kicked my ass. word count: 197,298 .3.99.04: Kitsune 1 f/f scene done, worked on kitsune 1 sober and kitsune 0, I wish I had more but that's always true. word count: 190,798 .3.99.03: Progress on kitsune 1, had to rerthym some of the new content, it's probably better now. Stay safe everyone! word count: 186,852 .3.99.02: Progress on kitsune 1, Mostly added to the cohen bathhouse scenes word count: 182,751 .3.99.01: Happy anniversary! Finally finished that friggin ant 3 status screen, also two kitsune 0 sex scenes or whatever. word count: 177,348 .3.75.16: Lots of progress on kitsune 0 bath house. it's structured inverse of how ants were so it's slow going word count: 172,457 .3.75.15: Progress on spider, got kitsune 3 tf written(friggin finally), happy new year, word count: 167,927 .3.75.14: Progress on spider tf, kitsune 1 route until wagon ride, daily word goals might just save the day. word count: 165,469 .3.75.13: focus on the kitsune 1 route, almost to first bad end. Spent a lot of time finding assets for HOP unity. word count: 161,885 .3.75.12: Rejigged spider route, added to the kitsune route; (unusual fatigue may a sign of nutrient deficiency.) word count: 158,810 .3.75.11: Progress on kitsune and spider word count: 155,247 .3.75.1: progress on kitsune and spider, one bad end, happy anniversary: 151,010 .3.75.09: progress on Kitsune and spider word count: 148,015 .3.75.08: Inital TF for kitsune and spider done word count: 144,680 .3.75.07: Finished ant 3, did some editing. word count: 143,114 .3.75.06: progress made on sisters path, a staying alive update, word count: 142,027 .3.75.05: 3 of four ant 3 endings done but not the ending everyone wants, goodbyes are hard, word count: 139,645 .3.75.04: progress on ant 3, fight scene done, 1st bee cameo done, (mostly a staying alive update) word count: 133,619 .3.75.03: one year anniversary! hurray! got more escape done, finished first scene where you fight the queen. word count: 129,562 .3.75.02: ant 3 progress, got tf scene done, some of rescue scenes, word count: 125,179 (eat your greens kids!) .3.75.01: started ant 3, got bath scene done, word count: 119,730 .3.5.11: made status screen, Worship me! word count: 113,037 .3.5.1: finished ant 2, word count: 107,298 .3.5.09: finished ant 2 mushrooms ending, made progress on ant 2 sisters route, word count: 101,162 (broke a hundred thousand!) .3.5.08: fixed missing variable, worked on ant 2 mushroom endings, finished take ant-girl ending, progress on ant 2 sisters route, word count: 96,900 .3.5.07: finished ant 2 mushroom route except endings, finished ant 2 human route endings, word count: 86,532 .3.5.06: finished ant 2 human route except for endings, worked on ant 2 mushroom route, word count: 78,027 (damn low productivity period) .3.5.05: polish, worked on ant 2 human route, word count: 72,955 (this may be the hottest update yet, goddamnit Ron.) .3.5.04: polish, worked on ant 2 paths, made it easier to switch between endings, fixed not identified variables, word count: 63,772 .3.5.03: polish, linked ant 2 to bad end, ant 2 sisters path started, word count: 61,232 .3.5.02: polish, word count: 55,059 .3.5.01: finished ant 2 sex scene, (What took me so long? doing everything but writing) word count: 53,569 .3.5.0: finished ant 1 path, word count: 50,158 .3.25.04: worked on ant 1 mushroom paths, (pro-writing tip: don't watch kolchak and write) word count: 47,606 .3.25.03: worked on ant 1, three endings written, linked to bad ends, (pro-tip don't watch movies and write kids!) word count: 44,245 .3.25.02: worked on ant 1, word count: 40,819 .3.25.01: worked on ant 1, improved variables, word count: 38,070 .3.25.0: finished ant 0 path, and attendant bad ends word count: 31,925 .3.0.07: got one of the bad endings done, polish .3.0.06: worked on bad end .3.0.05: worked on bad end, worked on ant 1 path .3.0.04: introduced all currently planned paths, worked on bad end .3.0.03: integrated Cohen's scene, finished all 3 ant 0 ends .3.0.02: polish .3.0.01: added ant victory ending; polish; removed tf tips; changed anton's name to Ron 21925 words

Your group was never sure why Ron liked fire spells so much. One line of thought went that if one had the capacity to become a dedicated mage then doing anything other than learning fire spells would be a criminal waste. The other went that after spending most of his young life being groomed as a hedge wizard working for farmers; fire spells were as close to the opposite of that as he could find. Either way the number of times he has saved your life attests to his skill with them. (The number of times you lost your eyebrows speaks to his eagerness to use them.) (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

The spider queen moves forward at a run to meet Cohen. Cohen's blade meets the queen's spear with a mighty clash. Their blades meet a few times but then Cohen sidesteps and cuts the queen's spear in two. The queen lets out a cry of frustration but then retreats. Everyone looks at Cohen happily. Cohen himself seems unperturbed. "Not worth killing her." You have never been happier to leave a forest. You greet the clear sky with a loud hello, and do a jig in the sunshine. Once the forest is distant, Alonso drops his knees and Frederick lies down. Cohen snaps at the both of them. "What are you doing? We aren't safe yet!" After a short march your group reaches the town and collapses into beds at the inn. Your group takes a day of rest, and then heads to the local tavern. Your friends order a toast to you and Cohen for saving them. As you sip from your mug you wonder what will happen next. Cohen can no doubt get everyone back to normal, but if he can how much do you want to change? [[Not at all->ant 0, bug]] you like the new hands and feet [[Ditch the ant bits but keep the lady bits->ant 0, girl]] (they open a wide range of experimentation.) [[As you were thank you->ant 0, boy]] \(set: $ant0gear to 2) \(set: $endingant0status to 1) \(set: $fightant0status to 0) \(set: $ant0appearance to 1) \(set: $ant0epilogue to 0) \(set: $humanlevel to 0) \(set: $effects to 1) \(set: $boy0epilogue to 0)

Eventually your group manages to stop cursing the sun and walk in a straight line. Shortly afterwards you go adventuring for fun and profit again. Your first major quest is to rescue a princess from a tower. As you fight your way through the levels you see Alonso's beautiful face become increasingly frustrated. By the time you reach the final room and kill the biggest baddest enemy; Alonso is banging his head on the walls. The princess is a raven haired beauty who greets you at the door of room obviously happy to see everyone. This is Alonso's preferred woman to the extreme and you hear Alonso cursing under his breath. You and Frederick look at each other smiling. then both you introduce Alonso and the princess to a wonderful new world of experimentation. On the whole you enjoy being a girl. There is an adjustment period of course and you have trouble with more respectable women. (The fact that you are a professional adventurer contributes to this.) Your changes also make you stand out, and you attract the occasional odd stare. But, your changes are such that they are covered up with a tactical use of skirt and gloves. The extra armor on your hands and feet saves you the broken fingers and toes that seem endemic to being an adventurer. Eventually, Ron and Alonso turn back, they are supportive of you and Frederick deciding to stay as women. You chase the boys and the girls as your fancy suits you. (Old habits die hard). If you have any relationships within the group, they are loving. Once your group of adventurers has become established. (You stop nearly dying so much). Cohen gathers you all around and tells you that he is going to move on. Alonso is the only one who seems to have seen this coming; the group is devastated by his departure. (if: $conanhelp is 1)[ At a private moment Cohen takes you aside and tells you that you were always his favorite. That and the others need you to watch over them.] Cohen leaves and while you worry a bit, part of you knows that Cohen is badass enough to fight death and probably win. Your team goes onto great success and you all become famous throughout the land. You are often credited as a bad inspiration to young girls; making them want to be adventurers. (To your personal pride.) Your single handed rescue of your friends in the face of impossible odds becomes part of the poetic Edda.(if: $antintimacy is 1 )[A surprising amount of sex makes it in. (if: $antlevel is 1)[although it is presented as a flirtatious dilliance.]] Your finest moment is of course when your team bags the first dragon. The group decides that you will play the virginal bait. (You have no idea why, Frederick is just as much a virgin. Which is to say not at all) You let it get close and then slit it's throat with a single swipe. It falls over dead and everyone just stares at you. (So badass) Alonso becomes a leader of men, and ends up leading( by accident and inability to say no to a pretty face) an order of knights. Ron becomes an archmage despite his humble origins. He attempts to spread magical knowledge through out the world so that others can have the same chance he did. (Your group constantly looks through his curriculum to make sure nothing "too" dangerous makes it in.) Frederick becomes a "respectable" lady who runs a finishing school for girls. You are just as respectable and so help run the school on occasion. You specialize in helping the girls understand the male mind and help them with the finer points of pickpocketing marks. (Running the school doesn't seem to hold Frederick back much when it comes to adventuring.) Despite your success the group is always ready for adventure. You look forward to your next adventure eagerly confident that you can face anything. Ending Ant 0: (If the glove fits) [[credits]] \(set: $ant0epilogue to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $ant0gear to 0) \(set: $effects to 0) \(set: $endingant0status to 0)

You will need some equipment and supplies if you are going to make the rescue. You could also rally others to help. This is not a one man job. (You know Frederick would do the same thing you are doing; which makes you feel better.) (set: $prudence to 1) [[You head down the brook.->the brook]] You move with slow purposeful steps, you need to conserve your energy. The escape is going to push you to the limit, to say nothing of the return. \(set: $Option2Status to 0) \(set: $BraveryStatus to 1)

Coward All is lost, you were a fool to become an adventurer in the first place. You must save yourself so there is at least one survivor. (set: $guilt to 1) [[You hurry down the brook,->the brook]] if you are caught here you are dead. You have no weapons and no supplies, the spidergirl will be missed. The escape is going to be cat and mouse; straining what skills you have. \(set: $Option2Status to 0) \(set: $GuiltStatus to 1)

Not the bees! The Bees are not done yet, go back please!

You uncertainly taste some of the mash. Almost immediately a sparkling array of colors assault you. How wonderful, they drug the food. (Well it is made of mushrooms. Maybe they food the drugs.) You unhappily eat the rest. Then you spend the next twenty minutes tripping balls. (if: $antlevel is 0 or it is 1)[As this goes on you feel the tingle but much stronger than last time. You try to observe any changes but you have other things on your mind.] (if: $antlevel is 2)[the tripping is broadly pleasent, although the parts of you able to keep things in perspective are concerned.] Colors dance through your vision, you feel briefly like you are flying, for a short time you understand the interconnectedness of all things. You stand for reasons you aren't quite sure of and are lead away. When reality quits freaking out you are in a small wooden room. A quick glance out the window tells you that this is one of the spider huts far up in a tree. (Man, today has been one long period of suck.) You still feel pretty disconnected and so glance around the room lazily. A bed dominates the space. Shelves line the walls, all of them full of various curios. The roof is high and you can hardly see the ceiling for all the webbing. Also of curiosity is the red headed spider girl. She is staring at you without blinking; a look of utter fascination on her face. (uh-oh) You know that look, you have given it yourself on occasion. The spider girl is not unattractive. Her imperious beauty is well accentuated by the shocking red of her hair. She also has rocking tits. (if: $antlevel is 0)[You raise your hand to wave. Unexpectedly two arms come up to do the waving. Something seems off about that. You gather what wits you have at the moment and [[examine yourself->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant 0 description]]] \(if: $antlevel is 1)[You raise your hand to wave. Far faster than you expected both arms come up to do the waving. As if it was natural. Something seems off about that. You gather what wits you have at the moment and [[examine yourself->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant 1 description]]] \(if: $antlevel is 2)[you raise your hand to wave and say hello, but then you aren't sure if you actually said hello or just thought about hello. pleasently distracted you try to use your scent-o-vision only to be dazzled by the array of colors. still you should probably attempt to sober up. It takes a few tries but you [[manage to stand.->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant night scene]]]

You produce your pocket knife and get to quick work cutting the rabbit free. This is quick. The poor rabbit almost made it before dying. There is no obvious way to remove the spider venom. It's probably aged into harmlessness anyway. Next, you root around for tinder and sticks. Before long you have a small fire ready to start. Fire is always a dangerous friend, especially when you are being hunted. You skin the rabbit expertly. First is cutting off it's feet, then you make an incision along the back. A mighty heave and a squelching sound later you are left with a skinless rabbit. Then you remove the organs, saving the heart and liver. Not your finest cooking, but you can put it on a spit. you start the fire and make sure the rabbit is in position. then you begin to nervously watch the trees. if anything is hunting you then a fire marks your position. finally the rabbit is cooked enough to eat. it's gamey as all hell but you feel better for something. then you get a sudden driving headache. [[That doesn't bode well->spider 0 tf]]

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The tree is wide enough to cross easily. You watch your breathing and step carefully. It's not hard so long as you don't panic. (if: $guilt is 1)[Your panic keeps rising so you nearly trip once or twice.] You see a clearing a small distance away. If you are going to escape, then your best bet is the river. Fixing it in your mind you explore the clearing. On the left you see a small complex of stone structures. It's moss covered but you see a small red square arch at the entrance. (You might find some small animals nesting there.) On the right you see a large puddle of blue slime. (Yeah you don't want to go over there. You learned your lesson after eating slime the last time.) [[The Left]] (how many tails do you really need?)

The thing that leaps out to you is your arms. You now have two sets instead of the regular one. The original set is now covered in chitin and far more slender than your originals. The second is smaller and ends in small three fingered hands. These move as if you had been born with them. The other important thing you notice is that you are now buck naked. You still feel pretty chill. (A good trip all things considered) So you take a moment to examine yourself. Looking down at your waist it is now inhumanly thin. The mass seems to have been transferred to your abdomen. The abdomen larger and more proportional to your body. Your breasts are the same size though having happily escaped the mass transfer. Like your arms, your legs are now chitin covered and have become slimmer. They insert into your pelvic region directly, you notice this because your butt was another casualty of your abdomen. When ever you move your head, you see movement at the top of your peripheral vision. You experimentally put your hands up to feel. There are two somethings hanging there and you gingerly move them in front of your eyes. You now have a pair of antenna. Your face feels different. It takes a little while to realize but you are seeing a lot better than you should given the light sources in the room. (if: $antrescue is 1)[You resemble that ant-girl you rescued earlier.] \(if: $antrescue is 0)[You resemble that ant-girl you abandoned earlier.] You look back at the spider girl who has been watching all of this with a bemused grin. [[Hello->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant night scene]] \(set: $ant2appearance to 1) \(set: $ant0appearance to 0) \(set: $leeroygear to 1) \(set: $ant0gear to 0)

You keep moving through the forest carefully. Once or twice you spot a bored looking spider-girl keeping watch. They aren't looking for you though and it's easy enough to avoid them. Eventually you reach what you would guess to be the furthest point from where you entered the circle. The ground here has been packed a bit tighter than elsewhere. If you squint some and use your imagination you could see a path. But regardless of what made the path, the path itself leads away from your goal. (if: $antrescue is 1)[This is probably the spot the ant-girl was talking about. It is most likely a nest of ant-girls. The ant-girl seemed insistent that you contact them. But why? You can't communicate with them and while that one ant-girl was cool (if: $antintimacy is 1)[and loving]. That doesn't mean you can count on the others to be the same.] You continue [[onward->circle 3 ant 1]]

The 9 o'clock part of the circle is the most heavily defended, there are multiple watchtowers and guards. It takes all your stealth ability to avoid detection. For safety you head deeper into the forest. There the trees have been stripped and the ground shows claw marks. Obviously whatever lives here is feared by the spidergirls. Perhaps, you can use them against the spidergirls? (if: $antrescue is 1)[The ant-girl seemed to warn you away from this spot. She didn't think your chances were good to begin with but thought this was an especially dangerous spot. She made sure to tell you about the nest so she probably was not lying about how dangerous this spot is.] [[Investigate->gorn nest ant 1]] [[Keep going->circle 4 ant 1]] \(set: $climaxant1status to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 0) \(set: $diedstatus to 0)

The small complex is at most five stone buildings. They are old and overgrown. Two of the buildings are being subsumed by trees. The wooden arch was painted red but is now covered in green moss. Two crumbling statues stand guard on both sides of the arch. This must be a temple. You aren't particularly pious but you hesitate nonetheless. ([[Just associating with Cohen makes you an accessory to sacrilege.]]) \(Set: $KitsuneStartStatus to 1)

You start to follow the trail but then hesitate. Your adventurer's sense (if: $antrescue is 1)[and the warning from the ant-girl] is telling you that this is very very bad idea. What ever is down this trail is feared by the spider-girls(if: $antrescue is 1)[ and ant-girls]. If they find you it's unlikely you could defend yourself; even with your new arms and legs. You had some abstract plan of luring them towards the spiders but with what? Yourself? That's stupid for a lot of reasons. Even if you could get them to attack the spiders, somehow without getting attacked yourself. Then they would still be an equal threat to you and your friends as you escape. [[try anyway->Bad end 1 ant 1]] [[try something else-> gorn nest refused ant 1]]

You reach the general area where you began again. Sighing you put your back to a tree and think on what you saw. Absentmindedly you try to cross both sets of arms. Your original pair is easy, the second pair takes a lot trying and unfolds when you stop thinking about it. Well the right side is the least defended, so any plan should probably start from there. But what's the plan? Your end goal is to reach your friends. The plan will need to deal with all the spiderwebs, spiders and spider cocoons. Looks like you have to rely on: [[Your human problem solving->problem solving ant 1]] [[Your new body->leeroy jenkins ant 1]] (set: $planant1status to 1) (set: $climaxant1status to 0)

(if: $antlevel is 2)[you pat yourself down, making sure everything is still attached. you smack your face a few times. (making sure to mind the antenna.) Then you look back at the spider girl who has been watching all of this with a bemused grin. ]The spider girl nods and speaks up eagerly. "Hello; you are my spoils." Her eyes are a fetching shade of purple you note. "That means you have to do what I say." She says this last bit a little less certainly. (if: $antlevel is 0 or it is 1)[(Hey you can understand spider-girls now. You must have grown into it so to speak.)] You are not the most enthused about being someone's first slave. But your luck has turned ever a little. She seems young and inexperienced, if you play this right it might not suck so bad. "You are right I'm your slave. But you know what?" You try to seem mature and knowledgeable. She stares curiously. "A good master can't mistreat their slaves." The spider-girl nods slowly. You think quickly, escape isn't going to be possible if they think you are a rogue element. Anyone with sense is going to be watching (if: $antlevel is 0 or it is 1)[the guy](if: $antlevel is 2)[the ant-girl] who tried to single-handedly rescue his friends. (Even if you botched the execution.) If you can get this spider-girl on your side things will be a little easier. The spider-girl responds "But, they always tell me that you need to control slaves." Think quick! "Right, you can tell me what to do but that doesn't mean you can abuse me. If you abuse a slave they start to hate you." You try to look cute. "You wouldn't want your first slave to hate you would you?" She shakes her head. "So what should I do?" You offer up a silent thanks to whatever spider god spider-girls worship. You stand up and pull her down from the webbing she is reclining in. As you get onto the bed you say in your best sex-voice "[[I have a few ideas->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant oral scene]]" \(set: $leeroyant0status to 0) \(set: $leeroyant1status to 0) \(set: $leeroyant2status to 0) \(set: $leeroyseductionstatus to 1) \(set: $leeroygear to 1) \(set: $ant2gear to 0)

She follows you to the bed nervously. You stand on the bed so you are the same height. You start french kissing her and notice that she is trembling in excitement. (So adorable.) She responds to the kissing eagerly and lets out a whine as you break it off. She is not disappointed because you start kissing your way down her neck. As you reach where her navel would be she asks "Ahh! What are you doing?" You look up at her reprovingly. "A good master needs to trust their slave." She nods and then moans as you reach her pussy. You have had some experience with pussy licking, and you bring everything you have to bear now. As you reach a particularly sensitive spot she puts both of her hands on the back of your head and pulls you towards her. You use your second pair of arms to rub her legs and underside soothingly. As she reaches the brink of orgasm you stop. She releases her grip on your head and whines "Why did you stop?" You smile and then say officially "A good master makes sure her slaves are satisfied." (This is hard to say because you are becoming a bit bothered yourself.) You splay your legs and point to your own moist snatch. She leans down and starts licking. You use your two larger hands to hold her close, your smaller pair plays with her hair and you coo approvingly. "Good girl, good master." What she lacks in skill she makes up in enthusiasm. You enjoy it but notice that her hands are going to her own pussy. You push her away and hit her lightly on the head saying. "A master's job is to make sure their slave is happy. Isn't that right master?" She moves her hands away; looks at you desperately and nods. You let her finish you off. (Goddamn female orgasms are good.) You enjoy the post-coital glow for a little bit and then look at her panting in need. "Because I'm such a good slave and you are such a thoughtful master I'll finish you off. You make sure she finishes powerfully and are rewarded with a flood of juice. She looks down at you with star stuck eyes. You both go to sleep on the bed with her arms tight around you. As your thoughts grow hazy you muse to yourself that while an adventurer learns many skills to keep themselves safe. You never thought pussy licking would be one of those. [[Sleep->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant day 1]] \(set: $sexleeroyappearance to 1)

Bad End! (you knew this was a bad idea) Turns out that this was the nest of the things that killed the spider-girl that held you captive. They are these big scaly lizards called the gorn, way more fierce than you can deal with right now. Turns out they also eat mostly human things. Your tale ends with you being killed and probably eaten afterwards. [[credits]] (Now seriously go back and try something different) [[Try something different->circle 3 ant 1]] \(set: $climaxant1status to 0) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $diedstatus to 1)

You shake your head, this is seeming enough like a stupid idea that it might actually be stupid. You turn on your heel and head back towards the circle. [[forward, or wait back?->circle 4 ant 1]]

You awake to the beating of a large drum. Looking down you still have tits and the black chitin arms of the spider girl are still wrapped tightly around you. (D'awww) You gently shake her awake. "I think something is happening." She mumbles about letting her sleep longer, so you start poking. Sleepily she looks around "What's happening?" The drum is still being beaten. "There is a drum." Her lilac eyes open wide. "Oh it's reville!" She releases you and tries to get up unsteadily. You both scramble out of bed and you help her get dressed. As you do so you interrogate her about life in the spider's nest. (And coach her about how to act in public when near you.) Once she is dressed you look at her expectantly asking "So what do the slaves wear?" She shakes her head. "Slaves don't wear anything." (Perfect.) As you are about to step outside she perks up and goes "Oh! what's your name?" You tell her your name and then ask "And yours master?" "I'm Scarlet." appropriately named, her hair is really shockingly red. [[You step outside->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant day 1 description]] \(set: $leeroyseductionstatus to 0) \(set: $leeroyslavestatus to 1)

Cohen never met a temple he did not at least consider robbing. If he ever suggested going a service it was a code for "let's case the joint" He viewed robbing snake-god temples as a past time. You are getting distracted. The important thing is that you are feeling a little anxious about even entering temples. Still desperate times and desperate measures. To calm yourself you examine the two statues that are guarding the arch. One has pointed ears and a pointed face, it's holding an arrow in it's mouth? The other has large cheeks and an open vacant smile. (It's a little creepy) [[Pass through the arch]]

The spider's nest is massive. With webs and huts stretching far up into the trees. The early morning sun reflects off the webs giving everything a slightly unreal glow. What is even more surreal is the range of indescribable colors that float through the air. Your spider-girl friend has the color of lilac with a hint of innocence. You sniff experimentally; she smells like the color looks. (if: $antlevel is 0 or it is 1)[All throughout the nest there are similar colors, but they don't mean anything to you. It's like seeing the ocean for the first time; it has no relation to what you know to exist. One explanation is that you are still mildly intoxicated, the other is that you are seeing smells. Time will tell which.] \(if: $antlevel is 2)[you saw a fair share of colors in the forest but near this many insectoids the range is beyond belief. Every single one has a slightly different color inflected by emotion. you see pink tinged with infatuation coming off of Scarlet, to grey suffused with boredom from a bee-girl fixing a lamp. The range is incredible, perhaps seeing the rainbow for the first time was close to this but otherwise nothing could compare.] As a slave you are escorted to where the other ant-girls. It seems that they are expected to take part in cultivation. It's mostly basic planting and weeding in spots where the tree cover has been cleared away. You manage to spot Frederick. Frederick has been turned into an ant-girl the same as you. He hasn't grown any smaller, which is good. He strongly resembles you in the chitin but his hair is still the same dusty brown it always was. Additionally his features are even more girlish than before. (if: $antlevel is 0 or it is 1)[His eyes are now opaque which is probably true for you as well.] (if: $antlevel is 2)[He now has opaque eyes; the same as you] (if: $antlevel is 2)[though he hesitates at first,] Through an exchange of good luck signs you make your mutual desire to escape known. Still the watch is tight and it doesn't look like you will be able to talk. [[Your luck turns at lunch though.->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant lunch]]

At lunch you manage to sit with your teammates. (if: $antlevel is 2)[They are wary at first but you are able to quickly convince them of your identify by insulting their mothers.] Alonso has been turned into a bee-girl. He is still very attractive although his hair is now long and golden. This contrasts sharply with his yellow highlighted black chitin. His gossamer wings are to die for though. Ron is now a moth girl. He has a womanly figure. His hair is short but now luminescently silver. He has two furry antenna sticking off to the side. Curiously his eyes have black sclera but red iris, making him seem vaguely menacing. The first order of business is the food. They serve you a mysterious mash on a plate that looks to be made of webbing. Someone has to taste it. You look at Frederick, everyone looks at you. (Goddamnit) You gingerly taste the food. After waiting a few minutes you don't start tripping balls. (You aren't sure about how to feel about that actually.) You give a short nod and then get the planning. Everyone wants to escape but Ron is being fed something that inhibits his magic. That means this is going to take a bit of planning. (Plan A in almost any capture scenario is for Ron to cause as much damage as possible as you hoof it.) You all agree to squirrel away what food and supplies you can. The conversation turns to seeing if the spider girl masters will be any trouble. Everyone blushes at the mere mention. You blush the same but crack a self-satisfied smile. You squirrel away what food and supplies you can. (Being nude makes this pretty hard) [[You find yourself looking forward to that evening->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant dildo scene]]

Scarlet is happy to see you. You can tell because she is bouncing on all eight of her legs. (She is like a giant adorable puppy.) She runs up to you and hugs you. "What will we do today slave?" You once again thank whatever spider-god rigged things such that you got Scarlet as your "owner". (if: $antlevel is 1 or it is 0)[Then it hits you](if: $antlevel is 2)[The comment about "inspiring to greater deeds" clicks], they gave you to the biggest virgin in camp because they didn't think much of you rushing the barricades. (Their loss) "Oh I can think of something." Well what do you got? The dishes at lunch were slightly springy but still pretty rigid. A devilish idea strikes you. You have Scarlet lean down so you can whisper it to her. She blushes and then nods shyly. You sit back on the bed and idly finger her and yourself as she starts spinning her web. (You are careful that she gets it harder than you. It wouldn't do for her to come without asking and you need to keep your focus to make sure that happens.) Her spinning takes a while, she keeps losing focus as you increase or decrease the pressure. You take the chance to tease her. "Oh and here I heard that spider-girls were good at spinning web." You increase the pressure and she moans slightly. "Ah, it's not that I'm bad." You decrease the tempo. "No, keep going." You smirk and keep up the stimulation. She eventually finishes presenting to you a pale silver dildo. You feel the sponginess. If you are being honest with yourself you don't know what a dildo should feel like. Not the time to hesitate though. "It's perfect." You double check scarlet, she is all hot and bothered. Her cheeks are flushed and she watches the dildo as you absentmindedly move it in your hands. You lead her onto the bed kissing her as you do so. You drag the dildo around her slit as you start kissing her tits. You love how on edge she is. After teasing her nipple, she finally says quietly "Please." Looking at her surprised you stop teasing and ask playfully. "Oh no is something wrong master?" She looks at you with an expression of need. "Please put it in." You adopt your mature look. "A good master needs to be clear in instructions to their slaves. What do you want?" (This is too fun.) "Please put it in." You shake your head. "I'm sorry master I don't think I understand." You bring the dildo up infront of her eyes. "Do you want me to shove this into your pussy and make you scream?" She nods and you shake your head. "Say it for me please." You bite your lip as you feel the butterflies in your stomach. (This is turning you on.) She hesitates and then says. "Slave please shove that into my pussy and make me scream." You kiss her on the cheek and then say "Good girl." You use your two larger hands to put the dildo all the way in and scarlet lets out a scream. You keep kissing and licking her tits; your smaller pair of hands plays with the edge of her vagina as you use your larger pair to pump the dildo in and out of her pussy. Shortly she orgasms powerfully and then falls over. It's hard to tell but you think all of her eyes went up into her head. You consider your own situation, though you didn't think you were the type; all this play is really getting to you. The dildo is still warm as well. Scarlet tightly embraces you with her arms and legs. As you drift off to sleep you think you hear her murmur "I love you." [[The next day->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant day 2]]

you find a set of magically perserved rice balls. given your desperate situation you start eating them. the kitsune who the complex is a satilite temple to comes to stop you. you keep asking her what's wrong as you continue to eat the rice balls. she curses you to not be able to leave the grounds until you pay off the rice balls, this you do with coins you found on the grounds. you then let slip how screwed you are and she "curses" you, really blessing you and insisting that she needs to follow along to monitor the path of the curse. she also insists that you wear a miko uniform. you disagree because it's heavy and cumbersome for the type of hiking you plan to do. the kitsune herself has 10+ tails but only ever expresses 8 of them. to express all 9 essentially starts a 100 year timer that ends with her death. also because she is just so powerful, gender is essentially arbitary for her in mythology a rainshower during a sunny day is a kitsune weding. the temple began to fail about 10 years after the kitsune disappeared. without a direct messenger of the goddess to keep the wards going they organized an orderly withdrawal to a major temple. in some endings the MC is empowered to restablish the temple. there is a cache of weapons in the temple. you complain endlessly about how fragile katannas are. the kitsune is surprised at how good you are with a weapon. you admit that you were guarding the caravan. arguement over whether it's better to use magic or weapons. there are two stats being tracked. one is your transformation counter, the other is how often you agreed with the kitsune. if agreed with the kitsune enough times she helps you out in the run away endings, otherwise you are on your own. perhaps a mechanic where the kitsune will curse you if you do not keep to a certain standard of lady like behavior. there will be an oppotunity to eat the kitsune's rice balls again, if you do there is a bad end where she calls you a total bitch and teleports you to her version of japan. with what ever cosmetic curses she gave you, so you stongly resemble a courtesian. in save friends version of ending, the kitsune insists on coming after you mention that you are going to see cohen. you complain about what a royal pain in the ass miko hair is and she gives you some papers to tie with kitsune pretty much has to have silver/white hair, also probably red eyeliner note to self: should i make the kitsune's hair black or white. or both. after she found religion and is always casting a glamour on herself to make her hair appear white like a proper diving messenger. in moments of extreme stress it drops and revelas hair that is raven black. outline tf endgame: look like standard kitsune tf 0: long miko hair larger breasts maybe transulcent ears and tails tf 1: grow a fox tail and ears (can't control tail) can see magic for the first time tf 2: better understanding of magic mental changes: revere the kitsune control of tail cosmetic endgame: look like a geisha cosmetic 1: Powder white skin (maybe no swearing) cosmetic 2: (you become perfumed) clothing becomes skimper cosmetic 3: graceful look hair is done, complete with tasteful ornament Outline: TF 0 argument 1 Tf 1 (practice the sword) argument 2 TF 2(cornered by the spiders) arugment 3 (who saved who) girl or boy option Chance to eat her rice balls again Option to not rescue your friends: if affection is negative: you run off without the kitsune If affection is positive: you shack up with the kitsune Option to rescue your friends: She knows Cohen so is excited to see him again, option to shack up at night Rescue sequence

Ron accidentally starts a forest fire, if saved ant-girls: have tense session of waiting it out in a small dug shelter if didn't save ant-girls make dash for the river where you float to safety (ants being natural floaters they use you for a life perserver) in either case: the smoke doesn't agree with you and you end up having to be carried by Cohen. alternative sequence of events, for ant 3 maybe? due to your "accidental" mooning of the spider queen she thinks the raid to save your friends was a prooving raid by a queenling, and takes the action as

That morning the spider girl sends you off with a kiss and starry-eyes. You try to discreetly tell her to keep your relationship formal in public. You know Frederick is watching though. During lunch Alonso announces that while he was changing lanterns he saw a blue dove. You try to keep a placid face and ask how many. He says that he saw three. Well that settles it, there was a signal from Cohen. The distraction will come at sunset and then you will have to escape. Your friends quickly go over what supplies and weapons they can put hands to. (not much). Naked as you are you can't hide many supplies so you get another serving of mash. (People often neglect the fact that the most basic way to carry supplies is in your stomach.) As you return to your friends you have an idea. "Ron, is there anyway you can avoid drinking the anti-magic stuff today? He shakes his head "No, my spider-girl feeds it to me." Frederick cuts in "Does she feed it to you via kisses?" Ron's blushing tells you everything you need to know. (if: $antrescue is 1)[ [[Sunset->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant sunset rescue]]](if: $antrescue is 0)[ [[Sunset->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant sunset coward]]]

intro: done ant route: done, except for non-canon parts spider route: introduced, tf 0 + 1 done bee route: introduced river monster route: introduced kitsune route: Kitsune 0 and kitsune 1 done, kitsune 2 remaining

(if: $antrescue is 1)[As the two groups face off you quickly explain the situation to Alonso. He looks at you with a expression of utter disbelief. The spider girls start growling as he repeats it back to you. (Scarlet trying to look menacing is adorable.) "So you have shacked up with that spider-girl. You want to stay so you keep at it." You nod, if he didn't have opaque eyes you can tell he would be doing the biggest eye roll right now. "I trust you, but! If you don't break yourself out in six months then we are going to come and break you out. Deal?" You nod. "Deal." You start to advance on the spider-girls as your friends retreat. Scarlet looks conflicted until you give her a wink. she smiles and then gives a playful roar. You swing your spear and do your fanciest footwork until you have counted to 100 mentally. Then you throw down your spear and put up all four hands. The spiders look at you surprised. (Either they thought you were winning or expected you to fight to the last.)](if: $antrescue is 0)[The situation looks grim and you really only have one option. You step next to Cohen. "I'll cover the escape, rescue in four months?" There is no time. The spiders are about to attack. Cohen gives a short nod and then lets out a primal scream. He charges the surprised spider-girls trying to open a gap for everyone else. You have the less fun job. You imitate his scream, (your voice is higher though) and charge in the opposite direction. Your mission is to engage as many of the spider girls for as long as possible. You attack, feint, dodge and just generally make a nuisance of yourself. The spider-girls are pushed back for a time but they finally get a net over you. By then of course your friends are no doubt far away.] As punishment for helping in the escape you are knocked around a bit (It's a beating but mostly a warning). The next morning you are released back to scarlet. She is overjoyed to see you and as soon as you are in private she starts hugging and kissing your bruises. (if: $antrescue is 0)[Getting to be with her is the one upside to the situation.] [[Then reveille sounds.->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant stay ending]]

(if: $antrescue is 1)[Cohen let's out a war whoop as you ready your spear. He is ready to fight. The spider-girls seem unnerved but they don't back off. A short skirmish follows, Scarlet looks at you pleadingly but finally retreats when she is disarmed by Cohen. From there is a short fighting escape through the outer layer of the spider's nest. From there you meet an ant-girl guide. She is accompanied by a patrol that makes the escape trivial. As you walk Cohen looks at your party with a bemused expression. Ron is the first to speak, blushing hotly. "The spider-girls did this to us." Cohen nods "Oh I know, younglings. It doesn't change the fact that it's funny." Alonso asks next "How did you make contact with ants?" Everyone but you nods in agreement, you simply try to look not guilty. Cohen looks back at you. "the ant-girl you rescued." Everyone looks at him surprised. "I escaped back to town and got more supplies. Then while I was tracking the spiders I ran into a patrol of ant-girls. I asked them if they had seen any of my younglings. They said that someone matching your description had freed an ant-girl near the spider's nest." He nods and then pats you on the back. "Good job making it that far. Of course I have to ask how did you get captured?" It's your turn to blush hotly. You admit that while attempting a discrete rescue you were ensnared. Everyone rolls your eyes at this. Cohen smacks you on the back and loudly asks "Why didn't you set a distraction? I set three fires, and that was mild." You have no good answer and so refocus the conversation on how wonderful it is that everyone escaped. Everyone sighs. After several hours of marching you finally reach the edge of the forest. The ant-girls that accompanied you wave goodbye and silently head back into the forest. Part of you is sad that you didn't get to see your ant-girl again but life is disappointing sometimes. Mostly you are just unbelievably happy to have finally escaped that damn forest.](if: $antrescue is 0)[Cohen let's out a war whoop as you ready your spear. He is ready to fight. The spider-girls let out a group chuckle. This must seem like a bravado filled display. Cohen and you smile at eachother. (if: $conanhelp is 1)[Seems just like old times. (If old times means before you got captured.)] Cohen gets to work making sure that you are not encircled. For your part you lead the break out. You bite scratch, kick, scream, shout insult, and spit. Anything to convince the spider-girls to get out of the way. It’s hard because they are much larger than you but no one wants a spear to the gut. The others do their part by setting fire to just about everything they can get their hands on. Slowly and with much effort you manage to force your way out of the nest. From there it’s constant fighting to escape. The spiders try everything they can think of to trap you. However your group is growing used to their new bodies and they are rising to the challenge. The final attack is lead by the spider queen. Cohen has been letting the younger generation do all of the work but upon seeing the spider queen approach he quite loudly says “Call it.” The spider queen moves forward at a run to meet Cohen. Cohen's blade meets the queen's spear with a mighty clash. Their blades meet a few times but then Cohen sidesteps and cuts the queen's spear in two. The queen lets out a cry of frustation but then retreats. Everyone looks at Cohen a little surprised. Cohen himself seems unperturbed. "Not worth killing her." You have never been happier to leave a forest. You greet the clear sky with a loud hello, and do a jig in the sunshine. As you walk to town, Cohen looks at your party with a bemused expression. Ron is the first to speak, blushing hotly. "The spider-girls did this to us." Cohen nods "Oh I know, younglings. It doesn't change the fact that it's funny."] [[ending->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant ending]]

Your team takes the next few days to recover and get used to your new bodies. Ron claims that his new moth form gives him access to new magic. Most notably mind control and time manipulation. Your team asks him to not use them, as they sound like they have mostly creepy applications. (You are confident that he is using them to cheat at cards though.) Additionally he finds himself able to make small amounts of silk, you never ask too closely after the mechanics involved. He seems to enjoy it though and before long your equipment has silk trim. Alonso, besides from now having a rockin bod has gained the ability to fly. He uses this pretty much constantly. (You can't blame him.) Personally he delights in picking fruit off of trees and tossing it down to your team. He has also gained the ability to make honey. curiously, it creates a euphoric feeling whenever you eat any. This is another one of those things you don't pry into too closely; but it is nice to be able to put honey on your hardtack. For you and Frederick the changes are less drastic. The second pair of hands is useful for a lot of "fine tasks". (People never think to look at where they are.) Your new chitin saves you many bruises. More drastically the two of you eventually work out how to use scents to communicate. (This you definitely use to cheat at cards.) Over some beers everyone admits what happened when they were detained by the spiders. They are into some kinky stuff let me tell you. (if: $antrescue is 1)[After the whole "got yourself captured" debacle they just don't believe that you managed to out-bed a spider-girl. (Their loss.)](if: $antrescue is 0)[You have a badass story to tell. Unfortunately you let slip that you got yourself captured. Your friends naturally assume that the following story of seducing Scarlet is just an attempt to make up for your mistakes. (distrustful bastards)] Finally the day arrives that your group plans to leave on their next adventure. You are dissembling the tent when you hear a shout to look towards the forest. A spider-girl in full war gear is heading towards you group at full speed. A spider-girl with a head of striking red hair. You let out an embarrassed sigh and grab the nearest sword. You set out to meet scarlet at a comfortable jog. She points at you as you reach each other. "You lied to me!" (No doubting that) "And you dishonored me!" (She seemed to enjoy it.) "I'm here to get revenge." (It's like watching an offended six year-old.) You keep the sword in it's scabbard. "If you think a slave is going to be honest you are foolish. Additionally how did I dishonor you?" She blushes furiously, "You know what you did!" All you can do in response is smile wide as she sputters. Finally she raises her spear. "I will regain my honor." You raise your hands to calm her. "You didn't lose your honor in combat" You try not to smile. "If you really want to reclaim your honor it needs to be in the same arena you lost it." She nods slowly. (Standard honor bullshit.) [[Mortal Combat->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant epilogue]]

Half an hour later Scarlet is screaming your name, you figure that probably counts as winning again. Scarlet stays close as your group sets off. After a bit of prodding from the rest of the group you have her travel with you. Having a spider girl around is handy. The silk makes good clothing and she is a talented hunter. (Makes good underwear too) She refuses to admit that she "lost" and keeps insisting that she is the master and you are the slave. Despite all her bluster, she has feelings for you. You care about her in your own way and part of you enjoys telling her what to do. Your group likes having her along and you set off for your next adventure in high spirits. "Bad" end: Leroy Jenkins! [[credits]]

The next two days are spent moving the spider's nest. Apparently two (if: $antrescue is 1)[fairly successful] attacks in three days are enough to make the spider-girls want a change of scenery. Adventuring involves carrying shit. This is an undeniable fact. Carrying spider-girl supplies is still less fun. Particularly because you don't even get to spend the nights with scarlet. Scarlet is running interference from the trees making sure that your little party doesn't get attacked. She only forgets herself and stops to flirt twice. The work load is (if: $antrescue is 1)[heavy. Most of the other ant-girls were rescued and that leaves a lot for you. Man good deeds don't go unpunished.](if: $antrescue is 0)[alright. A few slaves took Cohen's attack as chance to escape. However, most didn't have the chance. As a result the work isn't easy but it's not back breaking.] Still once all the supplies have been moved you settle into your new hut with scarlet. She is overjoyed to see you, but she has a serious look on her face. She leans down to your level and looks you straight in the eyes. Then she brings both hands in front of her face and tries to look serious. (It is unspeakably adorable). "If you really want to escape then I'll help you.". Oh fuck, you might be in love. [[Epilogue->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant stay epilogue]]

About two months later. You take a break from thrusting to wipe your brow. Things are going pretty well all told. You are still a "slave". (Something which Scarlet reminds you of every evening.) You have gained some fame in the nest for improving the local agriculture. The one underappreciated thing about being the son of farmer's family is that you know how to farm. You introduced them to the wonders of irrigation. The system harvests water that condenses on the leaves of the tress, it's pretty neat. The spiders dismissed your ideas at first. Then you rewarded scarlet whenever she supported your ideas. Before long you were doing half the work for a larger crop. (The other ant-girls all glare at you, apparently they had an agreement not to help the spiders when possible.) Living with Scarlett is charming. She has lived a sheltered life with her whole world being her family in the nest. She listens to your stories of the outside world with a look of absolute fascination. (When it does come time to escape, part of you wants to bring her along.) She lets out a needful whine and you are snapped out of your reverie. Right, where were you? Scarlet speaks up. "It shouldn't feel this good to have something in my webbing hole." You start rocking your hips again. Once you described the idea of a strap-on to Scarlet she took to it like a child to candy. You are sodomizing her from behind in the hole where her webbing normally comes out of. At the same time she being rocked forward into a dildo mounted on the floor. She has flushed cheeks and a look of bliss. Well we can't have her too happy, so you take a handful of her hair and give it a light tug. Biting your lip and in a playfully demanding tone you ask "Tell me you love this." In a dreamy tone Scarlet answers "I love it." You pull back on her hair as you thrust particularly deep. "Louder, master!" "Ahhh, ahhh! Yes slave. I love this!" You reward her with more thrusting and slap on her rear. The future may have trouble ahead. You still have to escape after all. But as you and Scarlet climax together; you must admit that a future with her looks good. "Bad" end: Leroy Jenkins! [[credits]]

As the sun sets you brace yourself. Cohen is no stranger into sneaking places. But you doubt that's the approach he is going to take. (Your own experience shows why this is a bad idea.) No, instead it will be a distraction to give your team cover to escape. (if: $antrescue is 1)[The first thing you notice is that the smells look wrong. They dim as if something was obscuring them. Then you see the fire. Three of the largest trees in the nest have caught fire. A loud horn sounds out and Cohen bellows a challenge. The spider girls are confused by this. (Apparently intelligent things dumb enough to attack their nest are rare.) You partner with Frederick and go the arranged meeting spot. Most of the guards are consumed by organizing slaves into bucket lines so escape is possible. You manage to meet up with your friends. Between all of you there is a spear and a few handfuls of food. You get the spear and lead the group. Then another horn sounds, a small group of ant girls has entered the outer layer of the nest. They appear to be mostly focused with freeing enslaved ant-girls. This is predictably pissing off the spider-girls, quite a few move to deal with what seems an insult. You smile as you note that the ant-girl you rescued seems to be leading them. A part of you feels like you should run towards the ant-girls. But Alonso is particularly on it at that moment and he grabs both you and Frederick. He drags you both towards Cohen. Your group sprints towards Cohen and as you reach him a small grouping of spider girls reaches you. Cohen just smiles and readies himself to fight them. You have a spear and so stand next to him. Wait a minute you know the lead spider-girl. It's scarlet. She is pouting over you escaping. (Which is adorably childish.) Once you deal with this group the escape will be possible. There are not that many spider-girls. Most of them are busy fighting the fire or fending off the attack by the ant-girls. Cohen looks ready to fight anything. A thought occurs to you, you don't have to escape right now. You could "cover" your friends escaping and escape on your own later. [[escape now->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant escape]] [[cover the escape->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant stay]]]

As the sun sets you brace yourself. Cohen is no stranger into sneaking places. But you doubt that's the approach he is going to take. (Your own experience shows why this is a bad idea.) No, instead it will be a distraction to give your team cover to escape. (if: $antrescue is 0)[The first thing you notice is that the smells look wrong. They dim as if something was obscuring them. Then you see the fires. Three of the largest trees in the nest have caught fire. A loud horn sounds out and Cohen bellows a challenge. The spider girls are confused by this. (Apparently intelligent things dumb enough to attack their nest are rare.) You partner with Frederick and go the arranged meeting spot. The guards are surprised and what few have their wits are more concerned about organizing bucket lines. This gives you the opening to get away. You manage to meet up with your friends. Between all of you there is a spear and a few handfuls of food. You get the spear and lead the group. Then another horn sounds, there is a sinking feeling as you realize that it’s a spider-horn signaling your escape. While most of the guards are focused on fire fighting, (the fires are spreading so quickly you wonder if Ron helped start them.) more than a few detach to apprehend your group. Thankfully Alonso has memorized the layout of the nest and is able to lead your group’s escape at full speed. You bob and weave your way past the spider-girls, and leap more than a few triplines. Right as your pursuers are about to surround you, Cohen reaches your group. Cohen smiles serenely apparently not knowing or not caring about how out numbered you are. You have the spear and so stand next to him. The leader of your pursuers is scarlet. She is stuck between looking triumphant over how trapped you are and pouting over you escaping. (Which is adorably childish.) Escape is still possible but that window is closing rapidly. A thought quickly occurs to you. If someone were to stay and cover the escape then the chance for everyone else would be much better. Alternatively you could try to lead the breakout, you might get caught but at least it would be all together. Whatever you do, you need to do it quickly. The spider-girls look ready to attack from every angle at once. [[Cover the escape->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant stay]] [[Lead the breakout->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant escape]] ]

Unable to see the source, finally you enter the clearing. Between two trees a spiderweb that’s bigger than you is hanging, normal. But what’s abnormal is the source of the rustle, an [[ant girl]] has stumbled into one. She is well cocooned, you can only barely see her face. Her attempts to escape must have gotten her epically tangled. It would take a good deal of effort to get her out of there. Upon hearing you enter the clearing she stops picking at the web and turns to look at you. Her large black eyes look at you hopefully, which quickly becomes an expectant, happy look. After a short pause where she seems to sniff her look becomes less optimistic, and she regards you carefully. You can see the dark umber scents coming off of her, tinged with despair. She must be sending out a subtle distress signal. (It even worked!) You approach slowly, doing your best to see if some spider-girl is using the ant as bait in a trap. As you reach the middle of the clearing, you pause. It would be difficult but you are confident you could rescue her. On the other hand, you are here to rescue your friends not every trapped monster you meet. Even if you strongly resemble the monster at this point. you were a captive yourself not long ago, rescued only by luck. But if something goes wrong your friends are doomed, and what's more rescuing the ant might tip off the spiders. [[Rescue her like the hero you are->rescue ant 2]] [[You have to keep moving->keep going ant 2]] \(set: $clearingant2status to 1) \(set: $colorsant2status to 0)

You are an adventurer first and foremost. Maybe you don't look like your standard human right now, but human problem solving is what you have a lot of experience with. You take a deep breath, and try to imagine what your friends would recommend. [[Alonso's advice->hero advice ant 1]] [[Frederick's advice->thief advice ant 1]] [[Ron's advice->mage advice ant 1]] [[Cohen's advice->conan's advice ant 1]] You pause as you try to put together all these different thoughts. However the solution quickly [[comes together->comes together ant 1]]

You feel strong and fast with your new legs and arms. If it's for your friends you can take on any odds. It should be trivial to quickly steal your way into the spider nest, find your friends and sneak right out again. There is nothing that could conceivably go wrong with this plan. [[Boldly onward!->leeroy jenkins 2 ant 1]]

Hmm better think about how awesome this is going to be. Well they are spiders, so there are probably going to spiderwebs all over the place. You can probably just avoid most of them, and maybe you can just tear your way out of any get stuck by? (You do have two sets of arms now.) Wait, you have seen evidence that it's super easy for ants to get caught in spiderwebs. Well not thinking about the spiderwebs, it's a spider's nest so there will probably be a lot of spiders on watch. No matter how fast you can run it will be hard to avoid that many. Maybe they won't be on watch? (You doubt it, there were watch towers all over the place.) Generally a plan that involves all the major problems taking care of themselves is a bad plan. So yeah this probably a bad idea. [[this is a stupid, stupid plan->circle 4 ant 1]] [[Things will work out!->leeroy jenkins bad end ant 1]] (Maybe you should shout "I GOT THIS" as you charge.)

You take a deep breath, speed and stealth are what you need now. You pick the least defended spot and make your way quickly and quietly through the nest. Your new legs enable you to cover the clearing faster than you thought possible. (it’s pretty awesome.) In the outer layer of the nest you make your way slowly. You move tree to tree, far more stealthily than you thought possibly. (so awesome.) Then you hear a noise in the trees above. With inhuman speed you duck behind a nearby tree. (Too awesome.) You take a moment to congratulate yourself. The rescue is going swimmingly and very little could conceivably go wrong. You move your left hand into a triumphant pose. It doesn't come. With growing alarm you try to substitute your smaller left arm for the pose. It doesn't move either. You may have a problem. With a sinking feeling you look at both of your left arms. They are stuck in a large spiderweb. (not awesome.) Well you can’t use a fire inside the nest, you would be caught quickly. Alright, time to tear your way out of a spiderweb (Like a boss!) This leads you to get caught up in the spiderweb not unlike the ant girl you saw earlier. (Perhaps you overestimated your awesome in a situation like this.) Once you are well and truly trapped, (if: $antrescue is 1)[you wait a while to see if another human with a vendetta against the spider-girls is coming through. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Maybe the ant-girl will rescue you! Wait she thought going here in the first place was too dangerous.]] (if: $antrescue is 0)[You wait for a while painfully aware of how the ant-girl you didn't rescue must be feeling.] (set: $leeroyant1status to 1) Eventually however you start to give yourself a slow clap. for the situation you are in and to attract attention so you don't dehydrate in the web. Maybe if you are lucky you will be able to overpower the spider-girl that comes. (A desperate man can dream.) With a hideously smug grin, a pair of the spider-girls comes to [[collect you->leeroy jenkins bad end ant 0 part 1]] (set: $antlevel to 1)

You take a second to imagine Alonso, he flashes you a smile which says "you sure got yourself into a mess didn't you?" (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your imaginary Alonso pauses to examine your new chitin and your new set of arms. He gives you a knowing smile. “Nailed down a little something on the way huh? It takes a bit of effort but you manage to give him the Quadruple Deuce. “If we could stay on subject please.” He smiles and nods.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[Alonso has that shit eating grin he gets whenever someone else fucks up. “You look different.” “Do we really have to do this now? I mean I’m imagining you.” Alonso shrugs. “It’s very faithful imagining.” He continues] "You have lost us. If everyone was here I would say let’s party up and bash our way through. Arms you can’t use don’t substitute for teammates. (if: $antrescue is 0)[Could you get help from somewhere?] (if: $antrescue is 1)[Shame we can’t ask the ants for help.] Any plan that has any chance of working will mean you do little to no fighting. So restrain yourself. Escape is only possible with all of us together." [[back->problem solving ant 1]]

You imagine Frederick, he gives you a roguish smile and sits down in front of you. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[He has a smug grin and just looks at you incredibly self-satisfied. “Got something to say Frederick?” He keeps looking smug but finally manages to respond. “Well, you can’t criticize me for poor impulse control now.” “Oh?” “From now on whenever you tell me not to steal something I’m going to remind you about how in the middle of a death march to rescue your friends you stopped to get with a girl.” He points at you with his small hands and starts laughing. You roll your eyes and say “Go to hell Frederick.” He manages to stop laughing and then leans in as if to give some conspiratorial advice.] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[“You look different. I wonder if I would be a better thief with another set of hands?” You shrug. “Hands are a bit of a bust actually, I can hardly get them to move how I want.” He waves his hand. “It’s like when you first learn how to pick locks. You can never get anything to move right. But with a little practice it gets easier.” He nods. “Now let’s get to the greatest heist someone like you is ever going to do.”] "You have proved pretty stealthy getting this far. (if: $antrescue is 1)[Although I’m not sure about rescuing the ant girl. Might tip them off.] If I was here I wouldn’t be able to sneak in at least the way things are now. There are too many places where you can be seen from. Generally when this was the case we would make a distraction. Remember when we robbed that warehouse? I made sure the guards were wondering who broke the window across the street." [[back->problem solving ant 1]]

(if: $antintimacy is 1)[You imagine Ron looking down at you. He starts to blush a bit. You smile. “Something making you uncomfortable, Ron?" He blushes deeper. "No!" "Mhmm. Of course not. Any advice on the situation?” Ron manages to stop blushing and calms himself.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[Ron starts examining your chitin curiously. “You know I have been a mage most of my life. But the things that magic can do always surprise. I wonder why the spider-girls did it at all?” You shrug. “my best guess is that they did it turn something they couldn’t use into something they could.” Ron shakes his head. “hardly a use.” You shrug. “It takes all kinds Ron. What do you think I should do? Ron smiles. “Ah, my favorite subject: destruction.] "I’m a wizard. My problem solving consists of spells for a specific purpose or [[fire spells]]. Spiderwebs don’t burn but almost everything else does.” He smiles fondly. “Get creative and get destructive. Besides it’s unlikely that that a forest this damp will catch fire. What’s the harm in a little fire?" You smile at this advice, that's a bit more bellicose than Ron tends to be, but true to his thought process. [[back->problem solving ant 1]]

You imagine Cohen standing at the ready before you, he has that audacious look in his eyes. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[He smiles knowingly at you. “Ah I can’t judge for seeking comfort. Those with death in their path often find a woman in their arms. Still it had it’s effect on you." You roll your eyes. “it’s just like you to lecture when I ask for help.” “well, then listen.”](if: $antintimacy is 0)[He gives you a smile. “I wouldn’t worry too much about your changes, every adventurer gets hit by polymorph sooner or later. Remember that story I told about getting turned into a little girl? These things work out.” “I appreciate the reassurance but what I really need is advice on how effect the rescue.”] Cohen confidently continues. “There is always a way to win. However it can be impossibly unlikely. For times like this speed is of the essence. What ever you are going to do, do it so fast they don’t have time to realize it can’t work. Hesitate and you will be snared and surrounded almost instantly." (if: $antrescue is 1)[ Also, good job rescuing the ant-girl, I always tell you younglings to act heroic when you it’s not stupid. It’s rarely stupid to rescue someone in distress. A shame we can’t use the ants.”] [[back->problem solving ant 1]]

Upon the reflection the answer is obvious, it should be done quickly, focus on freeing your friends as fast as possible, use a distraction and involve liberal amounts of shit getting set on fire. Set one of the very large, very dry dead trees on fire. At least one of these trees has to have dry rot. Then use your torch to get to the cocoons during the chaos. If you are lucky, and fast you can probably open the cocoons before the spider-girls realize what is happening. From there you have Ron's magic to help, and a whole lot of determination to fight your way out. [[Get ready for the final push->human rescue ant 1]] \(if: $antintimacy is 1)[ Also the guys are probably going to make fun of you when you mention that you had a brief fling with the ant-girl.] \(set: $planant1status to 0) \(set: $pumpedant1status to 1)

Once the torch is lit you move as quickly and quietly as you can towards the spider nest. You pick out an undefended spot and move across the clearing sprinting faster than you thought you could. Once there the hard work starts. Ducking between trees you are constantly looking up you try to avoid the guards. A green haired spider-girl flits into view above you. You see her head turning and in a split second leap behind a tree. You congratulate yourself on being slick and then move to wipe your brow. Both of your left hands won't move. It has been caught in something sticky. It is a freshly spun web. Sighing you bring the torch around and quickly free yourself. After a few more close calls, (but thankfully no more webbings) you reach the good tree. The tree is massive, but a bit of picking at the base reveals that it's mostly dry rot. Looks like it's only being held up by the web all around it. You give yourself a satisfied smile. If nothing else there will be quite a show. [[First rule of adventuring? it's never wrong to set things on fire.->human rescue ant 1 part 2]] \(set: $pumpedant1status to 0) \(set: $fightant1status to 1)

The tree goes up like a dry straw effigy. Life is full of small pleasures, and as much as you would like to enjoy this one, it is neither the time nor place. You start picking your way deeper into the nest. From a logical perspective it would make sense to assume that new captives are in the most secure part of the nest. (Also betting on the suckiest outcome is right more than half the time.) You make your way deeper, your faster legs helping you avoid patrols. Once or twice you are almost spotted but the fire is growing behind you and the spider-girls you see look worried. As you reach the edge of the inner sanctum you sight a trio of cocoons that look like the one you popped out of. Well one of them is much larger and covered in burn marks. (That must be Ron's) You glance back. The burning tree is casting a flickering light all over the nest. The sky is an expanse of orange tinted smoke. Hell, It even looks like the fire might spread to some nearby trees. [[go time->human rescue ant 1 part 3]]

You sprint the final distance to the cocoons. Time to decide which one to open. It's not a choice. The only one who can protect you while you open the other two is Ron. His cocoon is the thickest by far though. You bring your torch close trying to soften the outside. (Man you hope you aren't cooking Ron alive in there). (if: $climb is 0)[Once it has softened a bit, you put the torch aside and drive your small knife in with all your strength. (Man you hope you don't skewer Ron.)](if: $climb is 1)[Once it has softened a bit, you consider your knife. After what’s happened today it’s pretty blunt. Your new fingers are pretty sharp. You grit your teeth and drive your hands into the softened spot.] You manage to pierce the outside and open a small gap. You glance around, the spiders are still distracted and it looks like they have a bucket line going. You put all four hands into the gap and with a mighty yell manage to force the crack open a bit more. (hmm not working) You shout into the crack. "Ron, get up the fuck up. I need you." (Your voice is higher than it used to be) You hear a groan inside and you start to shake the cocoon, it makes a sloshing noise. "I'm awake!" A slight pause "What the hell is happening?" You roll your eyes. "Not the time Ron, you need to get out of this cocoon." "Alright, step back." You scramble back and a few seconds later a gout of fire erupts from the cocoon. Ron sits up out of the cocoon. Ron's face is much more feminine and his black hair has grown to mid-length. He looks at you and pauses. Then he has a realization. "You sure look different. The spiders do that?" You try not to roll your eyes. "Did the same to you Ron. Now focus. I started a fire to keep the spiders distracted while I rescued you. Do something to keep them off our backs while I free everyone else." Ron smiles, it would normally be a menacing smile but with his new softer features it just looks roguish. "Something?" He starts to fling fire balls into the surrounding trees. "Damnit Ron" (link: "You open the left cocoon")[(set: $left to 1)(goto: " human rescue ant 1 part 4 combo")] (link: "You open the right cocoon")[(set: $right to 1)(goto: " human rescue ant 1 part 4 combo")] (if: $hideme is 1)[[[fuck you-> human rescue ant 1 part 4 combo]]]

depending on which choice you made to save BEFORE THE TFS, it gets refrenced in the opening cocoons scene.

You pick your way around the circle while collecting tinder. (if: $antrescue is 1)[The ant-girl was right about the dryest tinder being in the webs.] You keep an eye out for the perfect tree to set on fire. Finally you spot one, it's lightly guarded and looks so rotten that it's about topple over. As you get closer you recognize that the only thing keeping it from toppling over are the spiderwebs. This should be interesting. With the spot chosen it comes time to make a torch. You find a tree freshly fallen over and still dripping sap. At the moment you don't really need your socks, and sleeves. Hell given your new legs you don't need your pants legs either. with a bit of impromptu tailoring you now are the proud owner of a pair of shorts. you take a second to apreciate the better ventilation. Taking care not to get your hands too sticky you bathe the fabric in the sap. You pick up a strong branch of green hardwood and tie the fabric around it. You make a small smokeless fire. Once you put the torch in the fire the sap should catch and then it's go time. Taking a deep breath you [[take the plunge->human rescue ant 1 part 1]] \(set: $ant1torchappearance to 1)

The technical term for what you have to do is run and gun, but given the setting, run and melee is going to have to cut it. Ron has to his credit made a right and proper mess of things. This gives you a small window to steal as many supplies and weapons as you can. The spiders are understandably unhappy about this whole sequence of events and give constant chase. What follows is continuous combat as the spiders try to recapture your group. There are countless close shaves and harrowing escapes. However this is a fair fight; no ambush crap like last time. Your group gives a good account of itself. Alonso keeps everyone going with words of encouragement and knows when to call a rest. Frederick proves an able scout, helping your group to avoid patrols and lay your own ambushes. Ron brings the magic, although he tones down the amount of fire so you don't set the forest on fire. He is notably unhappy about this. You do You. In fact you do you much better than everyone else. Your new arms and legs make you more tireless than your fellows. You continually outpace them, which gives you a chance to set false trails and basic traps to put off your pursuers. At the end of the first day however you start to grow worried. The others are exhausted and you can’t really stop here. Suddenly an idea strikes you. The mushrooms have helped you, they could probably still help your friends. You are confident that the effects can be undone. (well, closer to simply refusing to believe otherwise.) It might be what makes the difference in this escape. [[Tell Alonso->ant 1 mushroom yes]] [[We can do this without them->ant 1 mushroom no]] \(set: $notetiredant1status to 1) \(set: $fightant1status to 0) \(set: $anteat to 0)

During the next small respite you pull Alonso aside and tell him your idea. He listens carefully and then asks "Are you confident that you can find more?" you nod. "how long will it put as out of commission as we change?" You try to think back on how long the inital change took. The whole unreality of the situation made it hard to tell. "15 minutes at most." Alonso nods, the motion carrying through his hair. "Does it hurt?" You shake your head. "It feels pretty good all told." Alonso glances at your chest and then at his own. "You rescuing us doesn't mean anything if we just get captured again." He sighs. (Wonder what he is thinking about?) You stumble onto a small stream which has the same mushrooms growing near it. (At least they look the same as the one you have in your pocket.) You pick a patch of them present them to the group. Someone has to taste test them. You look at Frederick, then everyone looks at you. For a lot of reasons you should be the one to do the taste test, but still you have to ask why is it always you? [[drop shrooms->ant 1 mushroom yes tf]] (set: $shrooms to 1)

You shake your head. There is no telling what sort of long term effect all these changes are going to have on you. Probably better not to spread them to your closest friends. The situation is desperate but far from hopeless. You can do this. Everyone can do this. You redouble your efforts, you lead every counter charge. You scavenge for food, you become so positive your friends start to dread you. (Cohen would be proud.) At the end of the second day however everyone is exhausted. Even you. You are falling asleep in your step and despite your best efforts the spidergirls are right behind. Then you stumble into something quite [[unexpected->ant 1 mushroom final choices part 2]]. \(set: $fightant1status to 2) \(set: $notetiredant1status to 0)

in ant 1 version of events, they become partial ant-girls like yourself in ant 2 version of events, they become full ant-girls in body only two endings available in this sequence of events: stay or full back add an orgy?

(if: $antrescue is 1)[It's Cohen but he's not alone. He is leading a patrol of antgirls. You and your friends are too stunned for words, but mostly collapse from exhaustion. (and relief) The ant-girls all seem a little familiar at this point but one stands out. Then it strikes you, it's the ant girl you saved from the web earlier. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[she comes over to you happily and leans in for a kiss. You start to blush so she just tries to pass it off as a kiss on the cheek. Your friends are unconvinced.] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[She looks at you fondly and then pats you on the head.] Once your group has it's breath back you all ask Cohen how he got away. Cohen smiles a mostly toothless smile. "What you think an ambush of spider girls could stop me?" You all look at him skeptically. "Oh alright, they forced me back. So I went back to town got some supplies and came back looking for you younglings." You look over at the ant-girl. Cohen nods "Oh yes, as I was tracking the spiders I ran into this patrol. The lead ant says she saw someone like your description, that it was you who rescued her." He nudges you. "Good work by the way." You are shocked "You can talk to her?" Cohen nods "I know the sign language yes." The spidergirls have nearly caught up. Cohen smiles. "Stay behind me and the girls while we cut our way out of here." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your ant-girl makes a show of making sure you are behind her as she brandishes her weapon. (Someone wants to look like a protector it seems.)] You and the rest fall into step confident that you are [[safe->ant 1 final choices part 3 rescuer]]] \(if: $antrescue is 0)[Cohen stands confidently looking ready to take on a legion of demons and then some. He is carrying food and supplies. You and your friends fall to your knees at the sight of him. Cohen looks at you with an expression of tempered happiness. "Seems you were all changed a bit by your escape.” His gaze lingers on you as he says this. “Good job on getting out of the nest but the escape isn't over yet." Ron breathlessly asks "How did you escape?" Cohen shrugs "You think a few spidergirls are enough to stop me?" Everyone looks at him with an expression of disbelief "Oh alright, I couldn't get them all but couldn't capture me. So I escaped and made my way back to town for supplies. From there I tracked the spiders as best I could. Good job setting so many fires Ron" (The fact that it was Ron goes without saying.) The rustling behind you grows louder, Cohen smiles. "Younglings form up on me, the easy part is over and now the real fighting starts." This is greeted by a groan from your group. Still at least now you have food and real weapons. You are not quite [[safe->ant 1 final choices part 3 survivor]] but you aren't doomed.]

The remaining fighting to escape is trivial. You have real weapons and supplies. More importantly you have Cohen and a patrol of ant-girls to help. The spiders make a few attempts but these soon grow half-hearted. With your numbers, the most they could hope to do is isolate some of you. (You are too experienced for that to happen though.) The ant-girl you rescued does seem to delight in trying to do all of your fighting for you. Your friends note this with mild amusement. (If: $antintimacy is 0)[You pause on the edge of the forest. The ant-girl you rescued smiles at you happily and then kisses you on the forehead. She then waves goodbye and goes back into the forest.] (If: $antintimacy is 1)[as your reach the edge of the forest, your ant-girl makes a few arcane gestures to Cohen and then drags you behind a tree. there she starts making out with you so hard you are a little afraid she is going to tear your head off. After what seems like a long time, she breaks it off and then sighs unhappily. She stares into your eyes and then finally kisses you on the forehead as her antenna twitch. With that done she leads you back to the others, everyone is looking politely distracted. Everyone waves goodbye and the ant-girls head back into the forest.] Part of you wishes that you will see her again but the rest of you knows that you won't. The first order of business now that you are out of that damn forest is to celebrate as soon as possible. you must seem a strange sight jogging to the town's tavern. Your group then toasts your incredible skill in rescuing them from the spiders. As Frederick goes on at length about your many virtues and how much he loves you. You glance down at your second pair of arms; with a good deal of concentration you manage to make them reach for your mug. You muse on how the forest changed you. Your new arms and legs make you even more dangerous than before; (and that's pretty hard to imagine.) On the other hand as the various strange glances you have received since getting into town remind you, they set you apart. You entertain various scenarios as the celebration continues. After a while the party starts to finally die down. (Being turned into a girl has not hurt Alonso's drinking ability.) Cohen clears his throat to speak. "If you younglings like I can probably get you all back to normal." Everyone quiets down as they think about what to do next. (Not Cohen of course, he spends the silence trying to flirt with the barmaid.) What do you want? [[I want to stay as I am now.->ant 1, bug]] (You like the extra hands and stronger limbs.) [[Become human but stay female.->ant 1, girl]] (Tits, which you have on occasion are now yours.) [[Return to yourself.->ant 1, boy]] (What can you say? it's a classic look.) \(set: $endingant1status to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 2) \(set: $effects to 1) \(set: $fightant1status to 0)

The next 24 hours of fighting drive you to the edge. Cohen brought needed supplies and arms. More importantly he is a living killing machine. The spiders know this and so attempt to separate your group from him. They try to flank, they try to distract, they try to drive your group into traps, they back off and shoot arrows at you. They try almost everything under the sun. But your group resists, sticking close to Cohen. Cohen for his part seems to be having the time of his life. He greets every attack with a war whoop and fights like a man a third his age. The trees thin and you can finally see the golden sun again. There has never been a sight for more sore eyes. Then the horns sound and you turn to see the spider’s final attack. The Spider Queen in full battle regalia and imperial glory leads the charge. (Amusingly her crown has been toasted.) Your team is exhausted and falling asleep in their step. Only you and Cohen have the strength to take her on. [[Call it!->ant 1 final choices part 3 survivor you]] [[Cohen's got this one->ant 1 final choices part 3 survivor Cohen]] (You already did more than your fair share of fighting today)

Your chitin covered legs and arms did a lot to get you through that damn forest. Your second pair of arms will become useful. (eventually) The chitin is the lightest weight armor you can find. You are a professional adventurer you can’t lose advantages like that. (Also you would miss the girls). The going is long and you are confident that all your teammates take the chance to get acquainted with their new bodies. (You know you do!) (if: $Masterbate is 1)[Finally!] Following many disreputable deals you get in touch with the underworld. (The criminal underworld, Cohen has a strict policy of no binding contracts with demons). You contact a pair of twin assassins. They are blond, buxom and terse. (They also have skulls on their shoes.) They charge you with finding a rogue alchemist who skipped on their criminal cartel. In exchange they promise a panacea called "remedy". (You have to keep closing Alonso’s mouth every time they shift their shoulders.) You may not be a hunter but he isn't that hard to track. Poor bald bastard was born without common sense. You lead the assassins to his location. You find him when he is visiting with his wife and two children. The twin assassins prepare to summarily execute him. Witnessing a man killed in-front of his family is one of those things that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Your group decides unanimously to perform a double cross. They turn out to be a pair of demons posing as incredibly attractive women. (Killing demons is one of those things that doesn't get you in trouble with the city guard.) The fighting is hard and they cast a spell that Ron fearfully identifies as "Ultima", still most things die with their heads cut off. As payment the alchemist offers to create a remedy for everyone. Man can cook and before long he has them ready. (Strangely he says that only Cohen has the expertise to use them.) Cohen seems to purposefully pick you first. You put up all four hands saying “I’m fine like this for a while thank you.” Ron and Alonso seem surprised by this news and start to sternly question you. Frederick proves himself a life saver and says. "Now that we have a cure we can turn back whenever we want, Let's enjoy being female for a while longer." This cuts the tension in the room and Alonso pats Ron on the back. "Don't worry we will turn back eventually; but let's enjoy the other side for a little while." Ron nods and examines his own pair. Cohen nods knowingly. “So what should we do now?” The alchemist volunteers “My wife makes a mean sandwich.” [[epilogue->ant 1, bug, ending]]

While you find the arms charming, and your new waist is the height of courtly fashion.(Not even mentioning how good the chitin is for protection.) You have decided you would rather go without. Back to as you were before you did shrooms. The quest for a cure is long and difficult. The travel is mostly safe and therefore becomes tedious. (There are only so many games of "I spy" that can be reasonably played before committing homicide.) You are confident that your fellows are passing some of the time experimenting with their new bodies. (Ron in particular is far too enthusiastic about galloping on his horse.) Eventually however you meet an old friend of Cohen. He is a wizzard who promises a cure in exchange for a protection detail. It's less protection and more keeping up with the bastard. (You have seen people go faster but they were on horseback. On a horse in mortal terror.) After a few minor misunderstandings have turned into catastrophes which then resolved themselves back into minor problems you finally manage to deliver the wizzard to his magical college. His friend the librarian gives you the cure in the form of four bananas. You aren't that surprised given that the librarian is a primate. You eat half of your banana and then give the rest back to the librarian who looks at you happily and then eats rest in a bite. Everyone falls to ground shaking uncontrollably. Your arms and legs itch something terrible and when you rub them you can feel the chitin come off. Your sides feel like someone is licking them and you can see your second set of arms shrink back into your sides. It starts to hurt when your abdomen shrinks and your waist grows, this hurts like the spiciest thing you have ever eaten coating your insides. When it's finally over you stand up unsteadily. Your skin is smoother than before. You do a quick check over with the mirror and you look like you had been born a girl. You look at your friends retching only to see Frederick stand up. He still looks girlish. She smiles at you "What? I can't let you be the only girl and have all the fun. [[epilogue->ant 0, girl, ending]]

You feel like a being a human male again. A strange decision to be sure. Your friends stand by your decision, damn the consequences. Your group resolves to return to normal and so they set off on a quest. Although Frederick seems less enthusiastic The trip is long and you are confident that everyone is trying to adjust to the change. (Cohen is just the best sport about all this. Whenever you mention this he smiles and says “nothing I haven’t seen in my time.”) Following many leads you meet a man not much older than you. He has brown hair and is wearing all blue. He sits in a boat which is strangely in the middle of a field. He claims he will give you a cure all in exchange for a glowing gem. It turns out to be a good proper fashioned dungeon dive. With an elongated puzzle and bad ass boss fight at the end. Of course the shortcut to the entrance opens as soon you take the glowing black gem from it’s pedestal. (Don’t ask how a black gem grows, it’s kind of freaky.) You hand the him the gem and in return he offers you a quartet of small crystals with the instructions to hold them above your head and loudly say “Let’s try this!” You look at him unbelieving, he shrugs and rigs his small boat to sail on the grass? You do as instructed and there is a bright light above your head. Your vision fades out for second and then you are slightly taller. You look yourself over, your waist is back to human size, and you are down a pair of arms. You turn back to look at the man in blue, his boat is already shrinking into the sky. Your friends join in you staring open mouthed. Then with nothing else to do you all shrug. Your group immediately retires to private places to check if your private places work. [[epilogue->ant 0, boy, ending]]

(if: $youfight is 1)[Aw yeah you got this. More so than earlier today when you totally thought you had it but didn't. You have a sword now, and if things are looking bad your backup has weapons.] (if: $youfight is 0)[Aw yeah, you got this. You have a sword and a great need for payback.] You stride forward confidently, twirling the sword only to test it's balance. (Cohen beat useless sword flourishes out of you. Not hyperbole.) Your sword meets the spider queen's spear a few times. You use your youth and energy to try to force your older opponent back. She gives ground and you feel elation at overcoming a superior opponent. Then she feints and you fall for it. In a blink she is half past you and uses one of her mighty legs to kick the underside of your abdomen. It's like being kicked in the balls and gut-punched at once. You drop to your knees trying not to pass out. (See overconfidence is why you can't have nice things.) You faintly hear your teammates behind you giving a battle cry. Alonso attacks the queen's left. As she turns to deal with him Frederick slices at her right legs. She sweeps her spear and prepares to deal with both of them only to be interrupted by a gout of fire. This causes her to leap back while screaming angrily. Alonso and Frederick pair up to give cover to you and Cohen. Cohen helps you to your feet while gently tutting. "You were too eager, she took advantage of your overconfidence." You nod dumbly still feeling the pain. You fend off the final attack by the spiders. The spider-girls make rude gestures and threats as they retreat but this has futile air. They don't dare try a daytime attack beyond the forest. You have never been happier to leave a forest. You greet the clear sky with a loud hello, and do a jig in the sunshine. you put all four hands up like you just don't care. Once the forest is distant, Alonso drops his knees and Frederick lies down. Cohen snaps at the both of them. "What are you doing? We aren't safe yet!" After a short march your group reaches the town and collapses into beds at the inn. Your group takes a day of rest, and then heads to the local tavern. Your friends order a toast to you and Cohen for saving them. As you sip from your mug you wonder what will happen next. Cohen can no doubt get everyone back to normal, but if he can how much do you want to change? [[Not at all->ant 1, bug]] You like the new hands and feet. [[Ditch the ant bits but keep the lady bits->ant 1, girl]] (They open a wide range of experimentation.) (set: $youfinalfight to 1) [[As you were thank you->ant 1, boy]] \(set: $endingant1status to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 2) \(set: $fightant1status to 0)

You shout over to Cohen "You got this one." Cohen smiles. "You always let me have the fun ones. You should do more fighting while you are young." He strides forward confidently. The spider queen moves forward at a run to meet Cohen. Cohen's blade meets the queen's spear with a mighty clash. Their blades meet a few times but then Cohen sidesteps and cuts the queen's spear in two. The queen lets out a cry of frustration but then retreats. The spider girls make a few rude gestures as they retreat. Everyone looks at Cohen a little disappointed. Cohen himself seems unperturbed. "Not worth killing her." You have never been happier to leave a forest. You greet the clear sky with a loud hello, and do a jig in the sunshine. You put all four hands up like you just don't care. Once the forest is distant, Alonso drops his knees and Frederick lies down. Cohen snaps at the both of them. "What are you doing? We aren't safe yet!" After a short march your group reaches the town and collapses into beds at the inn. Your group takes a day of rest, and then heads to the local tavern. Your friends order a toast to you and Cohen for saving them. As you sip from your mug you wonder what will happen next. Cohen can no doubt get everyone back to normal, but if he can how much do you want to change? [[Not at all->ant 1, bug]] you like the new hands and feet [[Ditch the ant bits but keep the lady bits->ant 1, girl]] (they open a wide range of experimentation.) (set: $cohenfight to 1) [[As you were thank you->ant 1, boy]] \(set: $endingant1status to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 2) \(set: $fightant1status to 0)

Everyone watches you as you carefully prepare to eat one of the mushrooms. It is the same white bordering on translucent as the original batch. Well lucky once, lucky twice right? (It doesn't work like that.) You bite gingerly, (not starving as much is making this harder than the first time.) It tastes bland, and dry. You manage to finally choke it down. Well it tastes the same as the first time. Besides from a few side effects they aren't foul just not particularly palatable. You don't suffer any immediately obvious side effects. They give it an hour and you don't die, so it's probably safe. You eventually find the large hollow of a tree. Everyone gets comfortable while you keep watch. They start eating while you politely stare off into forest. You glance back to see that Frederick has ditched his pants. He is watching the black chitin work its way up his inner thigh when you hear a noise from in front. A spider-girl has dropped rather heavily in front of the tree you are hiding in. She is a mature spider-girl, with luminescent silver hair. Frederick has started to moan softly as the chitin works his way up sides. You turn back and whisper "shhhh." He looks at you and bites his finger. You tighten your grip on the spear and watch the spider-girl carefully. She is examining the tracks your group made near the tree. If she finds you then there is going to be a fight. (It's a matter of chance, you would give it even odds.) [[What happens next->ant 1 mushroom yes tf hidden]] (Author's note: randomization not yet implemented.) (set: $mushroomwatchant1status to 1) (set: $notetiredant1status to 0)

You cast your vote to return to being a human, male is implied. Alonso votes that same as you leaving it 3-1. Frederick looks temporarily dismayed but covers it up with a laugh quickly. As a team of equals any vote is binding. Cohen nods his approvingly, he has seen a number of adventuring groups torn apart by internal disagreement. Your questing for a cure is long and everyone takes the opportunity to get acquainted with their new bodies. (Frederick guides everyone through the joys of shopping for new equipment. (if: $antrescue is 1)[Much of it is based off the gear you saw the ant-girls wearing.]) As you are closing on the source of your cure when Cohen looks up suddenly and insists that the group must reverse course. He looks worried which worries you quite a lot. Anything capable of making Cohen worried is more than you can handle. After a frantic trip where Cohen constantly exhorts your group to go faster your reach a colorful tree in the middle of a barren plain. Cohen goes up to the tree and knocks twice, [[suddenly a small fairy emerges.->ant 2, mushrooms human ending part 1]] \(set: $mushroomendingant2appearance to 0) \(set: $mushroomepilogueant2appearance to 1)

Let’s not be crazy here. It’s an okay sandwich. Although she does cut the crust off. (it’s a nice touch.) Your first major quest is to rescue a princess from a tower. As you fight your way through the levels you see Alonso's beautiful face become increasingly frustrated. By the time you reach the final room and kill the biggest baddest enemy; Alonso is banging his head on the walls. The princess is a raven haired beauty who greets you at the door of room obviously happy to see everyone. This is Alonso's preferred woman to the extreme and you hear Alonso cursing under his breath. You and Frederick look at each other smiling. then both you introduce Alonso and the princess to a wonderful new world of experimentation. On the whole you enjoy being a girl. There is an adjustment period of course and you have trouble with more respectable women. (The fact that you are a professional adventurer contributes to this.) Your changes also make you stand out, you are a unique creature. Your changes are such that you can cover your legs and arms with pants and sleeves. But your abdomen could only be conceivably by a hoop skirt. (These don’t mesh well with adventuring.) So you must leave it in the open air. This attracts curious glances and occasional probing question. Your friends always politely deflect interest. Your stronger arms and legs are useful in combat and the chitin is the lightest strongest armor you could hope for. Besides from being shorter you find yourself as capable a warrior as you were before the change. One curious long term effect is that you feel much more comfortable underground than before. Eventually, Ron and Alonso turn back, they are supportive of you and Frederick deciding to stay as women. You chase the boys and the girls as your fancy suits you. (Old habits die hard). If you have any relationships within the group, they are loving. Once your group of adventurers has become established. (You stop nearly dying so much). Cohen gathers you all around and tells you that he is going to move on. Alonso is the only one who seems to have seen this coming; the group is devastated by his departure. (if: $conanhelp is 1)[ At a private moment Cohen takes you aside and tells you that you were always his favorite. That and the others need you to watch over them.] Cohen leaves and while you worry a bit, part of you knows that Cohen is badass enough to fight death and probably win. Your team goes onto great success and you all become famous throughout the land. You are often credited as a bad inspiration to young girls; making them want to be adventurers. (To your personal pride.) Your single handed rescue of your friends in the face of impossible odds becomes part of the poetic Edda. you become a mythologized hero, a man who gave up his humanity for his friends. This is nonsense but it keeps the bards fed so you don't worry to much about it. Your finest moment is of course when your team bags the first dragon. The group decides that you will play the virginal bait. (You have no idea why, Frederick is just as much a virgin. Which is to say not at all) You let it get close and then slit it's throat with a single swipe. It falls over dead and everyone just stares at you. (So badass) Alonso becomes a leader of men, and ends up leading (by accident and inability to say no to a pretty face) an order of knights. Ron becomes an archmage despite his humble origins. He attempts to spread magical knowledge through out the world so that others can have the same chance he did. (Your group constantly looks through his curriculum to make sure nothing "too" dangerous makes it in.) Frederick becomes a "respectable" lady who moves in high society. (And robs them blind during the night.) Despite your success the group is always ready for adventure. You look forward to your next adventure eagerly confident that you can face anything. Ending Ant 1: Excellence in a new form (if: $antrescue is 1 and $antlevel is 1)[[[other endings!->ant 1 final choices part 3 rescuer]]] (if: $antrescue is 0 and $antlevel is 1 and $cohenfight is 1)[[[other endings!->ant 1 final choices part 3 survivor Cohen]]] (if: $antrescue is 0 and $antlevel is 1 and $youfinalfight is 1)[[[other endings!->ant 1 final choices part 3 survivor you]]] [[credits]] \(set: $ant1epilogue to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 0) \(set: $effects to 0) \(set: $endingant1status to 0)

The thing that leaps out to you is your arms. They are the same thin three fingered limbs that you had before. But now they move naturally following your every thought. Handy but unexpected. The other important thing you notice is that you are now buck naked. You still feel pretty chill. (A good trip all things considered) So you take a moment to examine yourself. You feel your neck, the chitin has grown around it. It’s so constricting that you have a hard time looking up. Curious you feel your face. It’s smoother and softer than your remember. Also your hair is now all one length. Looking down at your waist it is now inhumanly thin. The mass seems to have been transferred to your abdomen. The abdomen larger and more proportional to your body. Your breasts are the same size though. Your abdomen is now large and firm, and has gained a fleshy slit. Like your arms your legs are now chitin covered and have become slimmer. They insert into your pelvic region directly, you notice this because your butt was another casualty of your abdomen. When ever you move your head, you see movement at the top of your peripheral vision. You experimentally put your hands up to feel. There are two somethings hanging there and you gingerly move them in front of your eyes. You now have a pair of antenna. Your face feels different. It takes a little while to realize but you are seeing a lot better than you should given the light sources in the room. (if: $antrescue is 1)[You resemble that ant-girl you rescued earlier.] (if: $antrescue is 0)[You resemble that ant-girl you abandoned earlier.] You look back at the spider girl who has been watching all of this with a bemused grin. [[hello->Leeroy jenkins bad end ant night scene]] \(set: $ant2appearance to 1) \(set: $ant1appearance to 0) \(set: $leeroygear to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 0)

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when returning to town at spider levels 0,1 you pick up a long axe at levels 2,3 you choose a more spiderish spear in spider 1,2 cohen throws you his sword during your duel with the spider queen more generally in spider 1,2 cohen has an arc about how we wants to be able to count on you as his replacement cohen's sword is sharp enough to destroy sharpening stones if he isn't paying attention spider flee ending 0: it takes a lot of work but you eventually become an accomplished dress maker. in time your designs are the talk of the capital and you are eventually invited to work for the royal family. spider flee ending 1: 8-legged queen of the sea, you flee to the coast where you find work mending and making nets with your web. eventually you are approached by a commanding woman. she has a captain's hat and a sword at her waist. however it is her, smirk that tells you everything. you take up more space than is strictly comfortable on a ship. however the pirate captain takes you under her wing and before long you are first make. the work is less bloody than you would expect. more often than not you need commit no violence, simply raise the colors. your new form makes you bloody intimidating. in time the captain retires, and you become your own captain. for your own reasons you begin agressively expand your pirate fleet. spider flee ending 2: you use your hunting skills to provide hunts like no other to the nobility. eventually you even take down a dragon. but for some reason it doesn't feel like the victory it should

forma's adventure: you infilatrate a deadly pyramid in search of the excaliclub! masked wrestling for a cure ron enters and wins a magical competiton ron enters a potion brewing contest, you get to be taste-tester you conduct a long grueling campaign of moving tribes of goblins who have settled too close to human towns. It's difficult because you have to go and ask each tribe politely to move and sometimes they don't want to. sometimes they ask you for feats of strength to prove that they should move, never done more drinking or arm wrestling in your life something that is almost but not entirely unlike tea ending idea: you meet atlas who keeps the end of the world from touching the beginning. It's thought that if they touch the circuit of the world will complete and end. variation on the kitsune plot line, you get possesed by a spirit who changes you as you cooperate with her, could be a tanuki spirit? as ant/bee queen you have a crown made of spider silk, why? because fuck em. bee-girls are surprisingly good knife throwers, their ability to read fine motor movement and control their own translates well, also makes you an excellent cavalry man in bee endings, since being a bee makes you good at dancing, your group plans an elaborate heist with alonso and you a the distractions with cohen as the grandfather giving away his bee daughters while Ron and frederick rob them blind during hypothetical tanuki route, the spirit suggests seducing a woodcutter. you refuse but the tanuki starts an imagination spot where you have fairly graphic penis in vagina sex, you snap out of it to realize you have been fignering yourself. Cohen once met a man who quite suddenly lost everything he ever cared about. cohen asked the man why he was smiling while crying. the man said he was crying because of the loss and smiling because it wasn't as painful as the first time it happened. bees use gogo kill bill weapons met someone who sees all the dreams in a city, they are forced to do this as a form a surveillance ninjas in some configuration alrunes?? (plant-girls!) as a bee girl you wind up in a venice style city. you go onto great success as couriers and selling honey. as a high level bee girl you go onto great success as a light cavalrymen. starting your own mercenary company which turns the very talented into fellow bee-girls idea for bees: option to examine the emotions and signal everyone is putting out in a given scene but can only do a small number. being a lamia would enable you to pull off pro-wrestling moves on the spider-girls. kitsune summons a sky-cart and whisks you and cohen away to somewhere palatial, maybe a hotspring (inspired by spirited away) as a bee-girl you are passed a nursing infant, you get the unique sensation of breast feeding a a baby honey sea of rats idea for bees: all the endings tie into resisting the dragon's invasion of the continent you are on. a scene where one of you injured by an arrow has cohen gently guide ron through how to heal the wound. in one of the kitsune endings you meet a childish ghost, that seriouly fucks your shit up but might be no more aware than a child simply playing a game. something something siren game aesthetic during escape scenes, you spend a night sharing a room with cohen. he admits that he worries about his younglings and tells a story about his own sons. a digression on the nature of bandits. adventuerers never go very hard on bandits who just stick to highway robbery. the only thing seperating the two is normally nationallity. it's hideous to be a bandit in your home country, it's a desperate way to get food money in another country. still you have to follow good manners, avoid those too poor to afford it, don't hassle the women, no unnecssary violence. you break the manners then you get hunted down like scum. the biggest exception to this rule is when nobles decide to play at being bandit. the customary thing to do there is to strip them, tie them to back of a mule and find the nearest pawnshop. a possible cure for being a dragonet. you find a grove of beating human hearts, you pluck one and it comes free in your hnad like an overripe peach. during one of the kitsune endings, you help defend a town under attack from fire spirits. Ron has noticibly hard time. You fight your way up an active volcano myth style. Ron has a blushing awstruck look. The spells are uncomfortable and all the water in your canteen turns to steam while your cltohes gently singe. For one trio of endings, each ending had you do a level of a doubles dungeon with a different partenter. The party is caught in a besiged city, the situation looks hopeless but Cohen is suprisingly energetic. He smiles adn tells the party that whenever a true man gets a feeling for the number of his days he unleashes all of his energies as a result become bouncers for the not blues brothers, their music causes rioting. Cohen seems to enjoy it thugh In one kitsune path you ask Cohen why the kitsune makes him so uncomfortable. Cohen mentions that kitsune is magically powerful enough to repeat some of the horros of magic he has seen. Women andchildren torn apart by spectral dogs, men aging to death in minutes. in kitsune 3 you pay special attention to the care of your mistress's kimono nuts During a stressful situation Cohen tells you to hum to yourself to help keep calm. Don't mind the danger think of pleasant things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WZurJy4B9o Dancing bears!

you choose your ground carefully, eventually settingling on a fairly steep ridge. the trees there are sparse which means it will be hard for the spider-girls to attack from above. You pile branches in make-shift barricades and use your strong chitin clad arms to dig ditches as necessary. for once it's Frederick's turn to go first. he shrugs and then eats a good number of the mushrooms. as he starts to grow chitin on his hands the first attack comes So i ditched this because it's a lot in the middle of something that's already a lot. and there is such a thing as too much content. note to self(again) put in randomization for this sequence, just copy the parts in ant 2

You turn back to your friends who are still lying around enjoying the afterglow. (Lazy bums!) Frederick is arguably changed the least by the mushrooms. He was already short and thin as a boy. His brown hair is now a short uniform length. It is well complimented by the black chitin of his arms. You give him a hand up and ask "How are you feeling Frederick?" He looks at your hand and keeps reclining. "I'm not going to lie I feel pretty good right now." He waves you off. You turn to Ron. His black hair has shortened and he seems to have reacted more than Frederick. His face has become more girlish, and he has shrunk a bit. He has a lovely nape though. He smiles up at you like a dope. (Goddamn it guys!) Finally you turn to Alonso. His hair has also shortened, and darkened to a dirty blonde. Alonso is using his new hands to examine his bust. It has unfortunately shrunk. The black chitin makes his legs look lovely though. You smile at him. "Feel any different?" He nods. "I feel stronger." He pauses. "I also feel like I need maybe three or four minutes to take care of something." You roll your eyes. Perhaps this is just the natural result of a bunch of dudes turning into girls. (if: $Masterbate is 1)[It’s a sad day when you are the one with the most self control.)] Ten minutes later everyone is readjusting their clothes and smiling. (Except you because someone has to do watch and you can't self-manipulate during watch duty.) [[look them over->ant 1 mushroom yes tf friends part 1]] (Author's note: maybe add assisting with stimulation and heavy breathing. orgy?)

They all resemble you. (Good looking.) They are part-way to ant-girls. Everyone but Frederick has a hard time moving their second pair of arms. You ask him about it and he keeps telling you to try and think backwards. Everyone seems to take to the changes well enough. It's the pressing danger of the situation that makes them so accepting. They don't seem to mind being stronger and faster. Also your teamwork seems better, although living and working with someone means you have good teamwork. Ron still has his fire spells. With this second wind your group is able to start out-running the spider-girls. Which is a welcome change of pace from all the fighting. You are still going through the forest in zig-zags trying to evade spider-girl patrols. Which means escape while possible isn’t quick. You manage to give your enemies the slip only to hear something come towards you. Your group forms up without thinking, ready to fight anything from a hurricane on down. What does run into you is quite [[unexpected->ant 1 mushroom tf part 2]] (set: $mushroomwatchant1status to 0) (set: $mushroomfightant1status to 1)

(if: $antrescue is 1)[It's Cohen but he's not alone. He is leading a patrol of antgirls. You and your friends equally surprised to run into as they are to run into you. Cohen and the ant girls stand shocked as your group lets out a cry of relief. Cohen can’t quite believe his eyes as everyone rushes forward to embrace him. He blinks twice and then just figures he should go with it. The ant-girls however seem a little unnerved by this sequence of events and keep their distance. (Imagine you were tromping through the forest and were suddenly rushed by a group of not quite humans, you would react much the same I imagine.) The one exception is an ant-girl who is a little bit more familiar than all the rest. She rushes towards you and as she hugs you, you realize who she is. It's the ant girl you saved from the web earlier. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[As she embraces you she leans in for a kiss. You start to blush so she tries to pass it off as a kiss on the cheek. Your friends are unconvinced.] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[She hugs you and looks overjoyed that you are alive. After releasing you she gives you an approving pat on the head.] Cohen seems happy enough with three girls hugging him. But he sobers up quickly. “What the hell happened to all of you?” Alonso looks slightly guilty “Well we were having a hard time getting away from the spiders so we just copied what he did.” He points at you. Despite being in your ant-girl’s arms you still manage to look set on. “I only ended up like this on accident.” (if: $antintimacy is 1)[(A happy accident)] Cohen smiles and ribs you slightly. “Did you rescue her on accident?” (If: $antintimacy is 1)[You blush slightly. “No.”](if: $antintimacy is 0)[You smile confidently, “I rescued her on purpose.”] Cohen nods approvingly. “How the hell did you get away, Cohen?” That is a good question and your team turns and looks at him. Cohen smiles a mostly toothless smile. "I gave that ambush the slip. Poor girls tried but they couldn’t catch me. Once I lost them went back to town to get supplies I so could look for you.” You gesture to the ant girls behind him. Cohen nods "As I tracked the spiders I ran into a patrol of antgirls. The ants told me they were looking for who matches your description. They mentioned that you rescued one of theirs and that they wanted to help you perform a rescue." You are shocked "You can talk to her?" Cohen nods "I know the sign language yes." Once all the introductions are done (and your team has stopped gorging themselves on food.) Cohen stands up and says "We should get going before the spiders finally track us down." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your ant-girl makes a show of making sure you are behind her as she brandishes her weapon. (Someone wants to look like a protector it seems.)] You and the rest fall into step confident that you are [[safe->ant 1 final choices part 3 rescuer team]]] (if: $antrescue is 0)[It’s Cohen and he has food and supplies. Your elation is tempered by the fact that he has his sword at the ready. Everyone smiles at him and his stance softens. “What the hell happened to you?” As a group you surge forward to all hug Cohen. Alonso starts “We were captured by the spiders.” Frederick points at you with all four hands. “This mad bastard managed to rescue us though.” Ron finishes. “To make sure we could escape we ate these mushrooms that made us a bit ant-like.” You give a guilty smile. “It didn’t make sense to rescue them only to get captured again. How did you escape?” Cohen looks at you with a self-satisfied expression. "Those poor girls tried but they were no match for me. Once I got away from them I went back to town to get supplies and come rescue you.” Cohen manages to slip an arm free and pats you on the shoulder. “Good job getting out of there.” He turns to Ron. “Good job setting fires so I could find you.” (The fact that it was Ron goes without saying.) Your group starts to stuff your faces with the food he brought. Cohen looks on puzzled asking. “Why are you younglings stopping?” Alonso looks up happily. “We got away from the spiders, and now that you are here we are safe" Cohen rolls his eyes heavily. “Ah, the folly of youth. We aren’t safe until we are out of the forest. Now get back up and get behind me, we still have some fighting to do.” This is greeted by a groan from your group. The danger has mostly passed but you are not [[safe->ant 1 final choices part 3 survivor team]] yet.]

The remaining escape is a simple walk out of the woods. To be fair you run into a patrol of spider-girls once or twice. These unlucky spider-girls quickly back off. they weren't expecting you to be so heavily armed or in such high numbers. The ant-girl always rushes forward to do what little fighting there is. Your friends note this with mild amusement. Indeed the rest of the ant-girls become more comfortable with your team as you tromp through the forest. They even start to be familiar as the trees thin. You have never been happier to get out a forest. (If: $antintimacy is 0)[You pause on the edge of the forest. The ant-girl you rescued smiles at you happily and then kisses you on the forehead. She then waves goodbye and goes back into the forest.] (If: $antintimacy is 1)[As you reach the edge of the forest, your ant-girl makes a few arcane gestures to Cohen and then drags you behind a tree. There she starts making out with you so hard you are a little afraid she is going to tear your head off. After what seems like a long time, she breaks it off and then sighs unhappily. She stares into your eyes and then finally kisses you on the forehead as her antenna twitch. With that done she leads you back to the others, everyone is looking politely distracted. Farewells are exchanged and the ant-girls head back into the forest.] Part of you wishes that you will see her again but the rest of you knows that you won't. The first order of business now that you are out of that damn forest is to celebrate as soon as possible. Your team must seem a strange sight jogging to the town's tavern. The Barkeeper is surprised but he doesn’t say anything. The Barmaid however is completely nonplussed. (She probably deals with crazier shit in slow day.) As you order a round Alonso suggests that you wait a few days before deciding what to do about the changes. [[you spend the next few days getting used to the changes->ant 1 final choices rescuer team part 4]] \(set: $mushroomfightant1status to 0) \(set: $mushroomsuccessant1status to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 2)

(if: $antrescue is 0)[Your team spends a good deal of time resting after your frantic escape.] (if: $antrescue is 1)[Your team recovers quickly following your masterful rescue.] You personally sleep for a full day. (Desperate rescues are tiring business.) Following that Cohen drives everyone through a series of exhausting drills to make sure you are acquainted with your new bodies. Everyone but Frederick has shed at least half a foot of height which means you move and fight differently. Not to mention that chitin is a long way from skin and muscle. Ron complains almost constantly through this process. (He does it partially on purpose, he is happier with something to complain about.) Everyone finds themselves a bit stronger and faster than they used to be. Fighting has become a little harder because you are shorter. The most concerning change is a subtle thing, but your team work has increased. It's a hard to say exactly what is different, but at times you catch things without looking, or you are able to intuit your sparring partners plan at a glance. Following several tries you finally get Frederick's method for moving your secondary arms. The trick is to think of it same way as you when you put your arm behind your back. After a week of intensive training, Cohen declares that your teams is as dangerous as before your misadventure in the forest. At the tavern that night the conversation turns to future plans. Namely to stay as you are or turn back. Frederick argues at length in favor in staying partial ant-girls. He feels the increased strength and teamwork make you more capable adventurers. He wants you to stay as you are. Ron argues that the changes might be unstable. Additionally the changes mark the four of you apart throughout the world. Something not quite monster not quite human. He feels everyone should change back to how they were. Cohen is out of the argument and a glance at Alonso says that whichever way you vote he will second. [[Vote to stay->ant 1 mushrooms ant ending]] [[Vote to change->ant 1 mushrooms human ending]]

It takes another 24 hours to escape from the forest. Most of this time is spent dodging spider-girl patrols. Frustratingly Cohen restrains you even when they are battles you could win. He says that in situations like this it’s most important to deny the enemy information of where you are. You understand why this is important but you want some payback goddamnit. Cohen can be a patient man for a barbarian. He watches every enemy patrol carefully and often says nothing more than "stop" or "go" to your group. If this is stressing him he isn’t showing it. More than once it seems like he can read the mind of your pursuers. (A lifetime of dodging the guard pays if you live long enough.) The spider-girl patrols grow more and more sporadic as you get closer to the edge of the forest. It’s only bad luck and Frederick’s small bladder that means you are spotted at all. This patrol you lose quickly and it probably isn’t that bad. (No ghost run for you though.) The trees thin and you can finally see the golden sun again. There has never been a sight for more sore eyes. Then the horns sound and you turn to see the spider’s final attack. It makes a perverse kind of sense that the final patrol you encounter would be the largest by far and lead by The Spider Queen. (Amusingly her crown has been toasted.) Your team surges forward like the tide to meet her. (if: $youfight is 1)[You consider revenge only briefly.] [[Fight it out!-> ant 1 final choices part 3 survivor team fight]]

You and Alonso race each other to take the spider-queen on from the front. Frederick and Ron move to hold off the spiders accompanying her. The Spider queen is slick enough to keep up with both you and Alonso attacking from the front. She is borderline magical with that spear and makes sure that you don't both attack at once. What she doesn't expect is Frederick flanking her from behind to tackle into her legs. This forces her to kneeling? position where one side of her abdomen is lower than the other. She sweeps Alonso's legs from out under him, but it gives you a moment where she is open. For a shining second it looks like you finally have her, but then she hits you in the head with the blunt end of her spear. As you reel back she does a complicated rolling maneuver, that involves rolling over Frederick. (He lets out a deadpan "ow" as he is squished.) For a moment you worry that Frederick is about to get pinned to the ground. Then you hear a (if: $youfight is 1)[familar] whoosh, and see her jump back as Ron sends a gout of fire her way. Alonso takes this chance to run forward and tries to cut her spear. His sword gets stuck about halfway through the thick shaft but it's a valiant effort. The spider queen is unable to keep fighting with her spear compromised. she backs off, trying to pull the sword from the spear. Your group fends off the final attack by the rest of the spiders. The spider-girls make rude gestures and threats as they retreat but this has futile air. They don't dare try a daytime attack beyond the forest. You have never been happier to leave a forest. You greet the clear sky with a loud hello, and do a jig in the sunshine. Then you put all four hands up like you just don't care. Once the forest is distant, Alonso drops his knees and Frederick lies down messaging his bruises. Cohen snaps at the both of them. "What did I say earlier? Don't stop until we are safe!" The first order of business now that you are out of that damn forest is to celebrate as soon as possible. Your team must seem a strange sight jogging to the town's tavern. The Barkeeper is surprised but he doesn’t say anything. The Barmaid however is completely nonplussed. (She probably deals with crazier shit in the average slow day.) As you order a round Alonso suggests that you wait a few days before deciding what to do about the changes. [[you spend the next few days getting used to the changes->ant 1 final choices rescuer team part 4]] \(set: $mushroomfightant1status to 0) \(set: $mushroomsuccessant1status to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 2)

You cast your vote to return to remain being an ant, female is required. Alonso votes that same as you leaving it 3-1. Ron looks frustrated and a little hurt. But he accepts the decision, as a team of equals any vote is binding. Cohen nods his approval, he has seen many adventuring groups torn apart by internal disagreement. From there life continues much as it had before the misadventure in the forest. You take adventuring jobs looking for money and adventure (obviously.) Of course things are a little different now, you have a lot more chitin than before and a second pair of arms. At times your groups' appearance draws stares and outright scorn. But that's life, and you always have one another. The change to female is one you both enjoy and curse as the situation changes. Frederick takes to it with gusto and often pushes you to try things you would have never thought to. Ron is often uncomfortable though he grows to enjoy it with Frederick's help. Alonso is one of those people who could get his mind right for pretty much anything, although he does seem to bemoan the fact that his tits have shrunk. Eventually your group finds a lucrative career fighting in the southern swamps. The fighting there is constant and intense. Your ant features give you a leg up on many of the dangers. Your chitinous arms and legs mean you don't need to worry about limb rot. The thick foliage means it's hard to see very far but you always have a sense for where you fellows are. The mosquitoes seem uninterested in fellow insects. (They don't bother Cohen either but he says that's because his skin is too thick.) You prove decisive in deposing the mad king, for a slightly less mad "queen". The most distressing feature of this "queen's" madness is that she sees your group as a squad of attractive ant-boys. This leads to no end of embarassing situations. She gifts you entirely too much money which you take without complaint. (At Cohen's insistence you gift large amounts of it to poor.) Your group set out for your next trip happily. Your understanding of eachother is beyond words and nothing can stop you. ant 1 mushrooms ending: a band of ants (if: $shrooms is 1)[[[other endings!->ant 1 final choices rescuer team part 4]]] [[credits]]

you keep townhopping because your source in one town says the source in the next town knows about a cure eventually you meet a polite blind herbalist who cures you but is surprised that you were all originally men

Easy-peasy to Cohen means sneaking into a highly-fortified city of the dead ruled by a necromancer. (There must be a difference between his understanding of the term and yours.) Step 1: Dig into the city. The walls are huge, and while you could scale them you might get spotted by one of the necromancer's bats. Ironically digging is almost as dangerous. The underside of the of the city is littered with crypts and digging into one of those would be dangerous. (Ever fought ghouls in close quarters? Don't.) Thankfully your team's new hands are very good at digging. Being smaller makes the tunnel easier to dig, (Although Cohen complains constantly.) More importantly everyone now has a very good sense for where they are underground. You manage to successfully construct a tunnel that reaches behind the city's walls. Step 2: Sneak through a city of the dead and climb the tower of the dread wizard! This is easier than it sounds, the wizard has not been keeping an eye on the dead that patrol the city. Over time the patrols have drifted. You see scores of zombies that have mindlessly bashed themselves to pieces against walls. Skeletons that are dragging themselves along because they fell and their legs fractured. Here your improved teamwork comes in handy. You have a subtle sense for where your team is and often only need a word to understand what they are seeing. Cohen provides patient leadership, he is never concerned if a patrols comes close. He stares off into space until it is time to move. Scaling the tower is easy as well. (if: $climb is 1)[As you found in the forest, ant-limbs are well adapted for climbing.] (if: $climb is 0)[Hard chitin fingers, and tireless limbs make the climb quick.] Step 3: Enter the chambers of the evil wizard and steal the magical artifact! The chambers are large but most the space has been given over to potted plants and book-shelves. Apparently, the wizard cultivates his own food and spends most of his time in study. The chambers have that peculiar sense of disorder that come from living alone. There are messes that would be trivial to clean up but without anyone to judge aren't worth dealing with. Ron looks sad and you quietly ask why. Ron has a peculiar half a smile. "He got what he wanted." You think on this for a second and then it hits you. As a fellow wizard Ron understands the necromancer's situation. The wizard did a great act of evil turning this into a city of the dead, but in doing so he has entombed himself. He will spend the rest of his life attended by rotting corpses. Poor bastard was too ambitious and too good at what he did. (Even if it was hideously evil.) The forest taught everyone how to be stealthy, although Frederick gives dirty looks to Alonso on the regular whenever he makes a noise ever so slightly above quiet. In his defense, Frederick has been afraid of the undead ever since he was young. (A zombie broke into his family’s barn and began eating live stock until it's stomach burst. Then it continued eating until it's jaw dropped off.) You pass by the wizards chambers quietly, Alonso wanted to kill him in his sleep but Cohen quickly nixed that idea. "Don't start fights you can't run from if you start to lose." Sound advice. (Fighting your way out of a dead city with an angry wizard chasing you sounds awesome, but would probably end with you dying.) Ron steals a few books and then you move onto the main event. You move to the center of the tower. Here the air is so magically charged that every breath sends out glowing eddies. In fact, the room has more than four right angles despite being square. (Thinking about it too much gives you a killer headache.) The wall is studded with black gemstones at regular intervals. Ron performs an arcane ritual which mostly involves drawing a line between two of the gemstones to make a hypotenuse. With Ron’s blessing, you very carefully pry the excluded gem from the wall. You turn to leave but Ron claims he has one more ritual to perform. [[Step 4: Escape the tower before the wizard awakes!->ant 1 mushrooms human ending part 2]] \(set: $mushroomsuccessant1status to 0) \(set: $ant1gear to 0) \(set: $mushroomendingant1status to 1) \(set: $shroomgear to 1)

Step 4: Escape the tower before the wizard awakes!- As you climb down the tower you ask Ron what the final ritual was. He smiles sheepishly, "He needs something to do, er- I mean I wanted to keep him busy. So, I reset the necromancer's control of his undead. It shouldn't take effect until sunrise though. It will take a few weeks to get them all under his control again." With some urgency in his voice Cohen asks, "You mean that every one of these undead are going to be uncontrolled when the sunrises?" Ron nods placidly "Yep." He notes Cohen’s alarm with confusion. “Problem?” Cohen looks slightly panicked. "Ron, you fool! If we don't get out of here soon then we are going to be trapped in a city full of undead trying to eat one another." Ron looks mildly surprised. "Huh uncontrolled undead eat one another?" He nods as if learning an interesting but unimportant fact. "I didn’t know that." Magic is arguably too important to leave to wizards. You sneak through the city trying to race the sun, Cohen vacillates between urging you onto greater feats of speed and urging caution. You are a few blocks away from your tunnel when see the sun hit the clouds and notice a change in the undead. They have stopped moving and are now sniffing the air. Your group cheers silently as a patrol of zombies starts to devour one-another. Then you see something that makes you pale. Cohen looks afraid. If man like Cohen is afraid you should be terrified. You tighten your [[Ass-kicking bandanna]] and ready your sword. This is going to be do or die with nothing in between. [[Step 5:?????->ant 1 mushrooms human ending part 3]]

Step 5:?????: Then you hear a sound in that silent city that sends a shiver down your spine. It is the sound of hundreds maybe thousands of steps in perfect sync. Easy-peasy my ass. They have caught the scent of life and they are all coming for you. There is a loose crowd of undead seperating you from the cellar your tunnel is in. Knowing how desperate the situation is, Cohen and Alonso dash forward to carve a path through. Alonso turns to Ron and shouts "Stop more from coming." Ron makes a few arcane gestures and chants a mixture of magic words and cursing. Arcane walls of flame sprout up across the roads leading towards your group, creating a corridor to move down. (In a funny that's not funny at all sort of way the undead don't notice the flames at all. They simply walk through at the same pace coming out flaming on the other side. Which is something you will probably see nightly from now on.) You are about to charge forward when something strikes you as wrong. There is a hint of panic in the back of your mind that doesn't feel familiar. You look around trying to understand what you are feeling. There are two important things. One, Alonso in his zeal has managed to get his sword stuck in a corpse, leaving him defenseless. Two, all of this has proved to be too much for Frederick and he has dropped to his knees insensate. A female zombie not much older than a child is approaching him and he does nothing to defend himself. You shout "Sword!" and toss your sword to Alonso. He doesn’t look as he catches it with his smaller pair of arms. He is more focused trying to free his own sword with his larger pair. You draw your boot knife and sprint towards Frederick. The female zombie is just starting to bend down. You jump and put all four arms behind driving the blade into it's neck. A minute of gruesome sawing later and Frederick is saved. (Well for a given value of saved. The undead are coming on like a rotting, flaming, tide.) You kneel down in front of Frederick. He doesn't react. You can feel the panic coming off of him and something tells you that just smacking him isn't going to wake him. You take a deep breath and try to radiate a feeling of calm certainty. "Frederick look at me." He looks at you blankly. "We can do this." You send feelings of calm to him. "Now get up, we need to move." He nods and you can feel his panic start to retreat. With two of Frederick's hands holding one of your small ones, you dash to Alonso. He hands you your sword and you look around. The undead in the way are thinning, but Ron is starting to visibly buckle under the strain of keeping up the walls of fire. And waves of undead still roll in. [[Step 6: profit!->ant 1 mushrooms human ending part 4]]

You take a deep breath, you have your own reasons not to not rescue her. Besides, the fact is that you have chosen not to. You sigh and give a mournful bow to the ant-girl. She looks at you with a look of complete betrayal. This is what hurts the most, the bumps and scrapes are nothing in comparison. This must seem like abandonment by a sister. As you leave the clearing you take one last look back, the ant-girl has resignedly closed her eyes [[onward->onward ant 2]] (set: $leymoontribute to 1)

Step 6: profit! You manage to smash your way through to your escape tunnel. At one point Frederick has to carry to Ron. You spare a minute to barricade the door, you hear the walls creak ominously as the dead pile on. then you are down the stairs as fast as your chitinous legs will carry you. In the tunnel, you get the dubious honor of collapsing the entrance and finally breathe a sigh of relief. Well everyone has a scream, cry and a hug because that was too fucking close. (Even Cohen looks a little rattled.) Everyone takes turns to curse at Ron for almost killing everyone again. he just kind of shrugs and admits that it was his bad. Ron has that frustrating combination of dangerous and just didn't think it through. You love him but he can make it hard. Once you are well outside of the city walls, Ron orders everyone to strip. Normally Frederick would try to make some kind of joke here but everyone is so drained from your escape that he just complies. Ron starts chanting while holding the black gemstone you stole. He uses the magical energy of the gemstone to cast a group polymorph spell. There is a bright light and pounding head-ache. Then you are back to normal. (Although you notice that Ron has made himself a half inch taller.) Your group then proceeds to haul ass for as fast and as far as possible. Robbing a powerful wizard is not the smartest idea. Robbing a powerful wizard and not running away is downright stupid. [[epilogue->ant 0, boy, ending]]

Your group goes onto great success. Your look becomes distinctive and you are known throughout the land. Cohen calls your group together and announces that he is going to leave. You understand but the group is devastated. Part of you worries about Cohen, not even he gets younger with age. But the rest of you knows that Cohen is badass enough to fight death and probably win. Eventually your group is entered into the poetic Edda. The first epic refers to your death-defying rescue of your friends. The second is a dramatized version of what lead to taking the mushrooms. You become referred to as myrmidons, although the more bawdy tales call you ants. Your group is undoubtedly more fearsome as partial ants, and you have become used to the change. You know deep down that ultimatelywill turn himself back though. You look forward to your next adventure.

Using your pocket knife you start to cut open a slit in the cocoon. The ant girl smiles at you, and you start to clear away the spider web from around the ant-girl. She grabs both of your left arms with two arms each and pulls you down beside her. For a second you lie next to her, staring into her opaque eyes. The cocoon is filled with her happy scent. Then she starts spooning with you, going all out with her tongue. Her hands roam over your body making sure to message the underside of your insectoid abdomen. You are a bit surprised by this, but a large part of you is accepting. It only makes sense to get a reward for rescuing a sister after all. Do you return the kissing? (set: $antrescue to 1) [[Yes->ant tf 0+1+1+1]] [[No->ant tf 0+1+1+0]]

You kiss the ant-girl and feel a familar tingle. Perhaps you should lay off? [[ignore it->ant tf 0+1+1+1 sex]] [[stop->ant tf 0+1+1+1 no sex]]

You push her away and stand up quickly. You aren't in the mood for intimate contact, much less from a sister ant-girl. You have dallied from your quest enough and besides you are now identical to her. She seems disappointed and releases a deep blue scent but then shrugs and gets up herself. She gives a deep curtsy and then looks at you happily. She gives you a cursory examination, and then her antenna start to twitch. She looks at you expectantly as a swarm of indiscernible colors fill your smell-o-vision. You smile and shrug politely. She starts to look a little alarmed and then points to herself while emitting an authoritative umber scent. (The same umber scent that she normally gives off.) Hmmmm, you point at yourself and say your name. She blinks in confusion and then repeats her emission. Ah! You point at yourself and try to emit scent you identify as. The result is indescribable. It's like trying to describe how you envision being yourself feels. She gets a confused look and then looks you over carefully. (Her focus is on inspecting your head for some reason.) She holds up two hands and then moves to the edge of the clearing rooting around in the leaves. She come back with a thoughtful air and sits, beckoning you to do the same. She has a few pale leaves in her hand and chews one while absentmindedly offering you the rest. You smile politely. (if: $botanythought is 1)[They don’t resemble any edible leaves that you know.] Another slightly confused look. She looks a bit maternal as she puts one plant into her mouth and chews slowly. She offers the plant again. Feeling a little sheepish, you gingerly put one of the plants in your mouth. You can’t change any more so you swallow. The plant tastes like ass, but it's filling and you can feel your strength returning slowly. You hesitate a bit uncertain if she can even understand you. She seems to communicate through scent, which you can’t understand. Shrugging you decide to give it a good old adventurer try; maybe it will make you feel better. loudly, slowly and maybe a little insultingly you say "I am here because Spiders" (you try to exude the scent you saw on the webbing, the result is a purplish scent with an inflection of pride.) here you splay you 8 fingers. "took, (you make a grabbing motion) my friends (you point to yourself and hold up four fingers) while exuding a familiar scent. The ant looks at you urgently holds up four fingers and exudes an umber scent similar to when she pointed at herself. (What?) You repeat your motion, trying to make the scent that occurs to you when you think of your friends. The ant-girl looks confused and then points at you, replicating the scent you just made. “yes.” You nod. She holds up four fingers, and then points at you making the other umber scent. You shake your head. She wordlessly goes hmmm. Then she brightens up. She points at you and makes a soaring blue scent. Blue skies? You shrug and nod. She looks superior and nods to herself. She points at you and hold up four fingers making the same scent you made earlier. Then she lies down making a dark decaying scent. (ah, she thinks they are dead.) You shake your head vehemently making an angry red scent; you won’t believe your friends are dead until you see their cold corpses. You put up four fingers, make the grabbing motion again, put up eight fingers splayed out and then point down the trail you were following. She seems genuinely unhappy about this exuding a dark sad scent. She shakes her head, and then pats you on the head. She gives you a pleading look but you stay strong. (Her girlish face makes this hard). Still looking depressed the ant-girl starts drawing on the ground between you. She draws an arrow from you to a large circle. She makes a dot in the center of the circle and then holds up eight fingers. (She emits the purple prideful scent). You nod. She then points at the part of the circle closest to her. Watching you intently the ant-girl points to herself and then holds up multiple fingers. She uses both pairs of arms to refer to the space around her while emitting the umber scent from earlier. You nod, she probably means a nest. This however does not satisfy her. she points at you makes a scent that reminds you of yourself, then points at the nest, then points at herself and makes a smell that reminds you of stepping on land after being on a boat. (what?) she stares at you, insistent that you get it. You nod slowly, obviously uncertain. She puts two hands to her forehead. Then she points at you, points at her and the points at the nest. She keeps doing this while giving you an expression that reads dumbass. It finally clicks. She must want you to go there, for some reason. you have to survey the situation but it's not a bad idea to go there. no more so than placing yourself under the power of an ambiguously friendly group is. while this ant girl is friendly, you can't be sure about the others. you nod certainly. finally she points to the part of the circle furthest to your left. here she makes an X and emits a fearful scent. (must be dangerous, although the spiders seem like the most dangerous things around. you nod.) With that done she looks at you sadly, emitting a bittersweet scent. Then she leans forward and kisses you on the forehead. (This gives you an excellent view of her small tits so you don't mind over much. But seriously that was probably a blessing.) She smiles at you, pats you on the shoulder with two hands and then heads off into the forest back the way you came. You eat some more leaves; do your best to hide the remains of the fire and then [[head off yourself->onward ant 2]] \(set: $anteat to 1) \(set: $rescueant2status to 0) \(set: $conferenceant2status to 1)

Name is self explantory

You are in a post-coital bliss, and so your thoughts are lazy. Man today has been the very definition of up and down. Guard a caravan, have a good lunch, get ambushed. Get captured, escape due to luck. Get turned into a girl, get turned into an ant-girl. Have reasonably hot sex with an ant-girl. You could go for a sandwich right now. Alright, time to get up and assess the changes. The first most important change is that you can now see an immense array of colors hanging in the air. Most of these are simply indescribable, they might be a color but they invoke in you an emotion unrelated to how it looks. Looking down at the ant-girl, she is wreathed in warm happy colors. She apparently took your time for reflection as a chance to tend to her own needs. You look at yourself and see that you are emitting colors yourself. You try to focus one and feel your antenna twitch. It is a warm happy pink, the same color of infatuation you saw the ant-girl make earlier. Blushing you try to focus on not emitting colors, flexing muscles you didn't have this morning you manage to stop. You produce your mirror and start to examine yourself. Well you are about to start examining yourself when you realize that you just used your second pair of arms to get the mirror. Apparently you can use them as if you had been born with them now. Your legs were already fully developed, so no change there. Your waist has become thinner than any humans, and it seems that the mass has been transferred to your abdomen. Your abdomen now reaches to about your knees, it is mature and something about it reminds you of a mother's full belly. (There are a lot of disturbing implications in that thought, which you are going to ignore for the time being.) You glance at your chest, for better or worse it is now the same size as the ant girl's. You stretch your neck and are startled to find that you cannot look as directly up as you used to. You feel hard chitin at the back of your neck. Perhaps ants can't look up? This is a ridculous notion of course, it's likely protection for attacks from above. You clean the mirror off on your shirt and carefully examine your face. The most striking thing is that you eyes are now an opaque black. Additionally your face has shrunk to look girlish. Your hair has darkened and become one uniform length. your bowl cut is complimented by a pair of small brown antenna. Together these make you look cute, like your sister ant-girl you think. Infact, you now strongly resemble your sister ant-girl. You are not identical, there are subtle differences. But it's closer to the differences between twins than than between normal sisters. In summary, You are now a girlish figure with chitin covered legs and two pairs of arms. A taught full bug’s abdomen poking out from where your butt used to be. You have a girlish face which contrasts with your opaque eyes and black antenna. You are now fully insectoid and you hope that this will help you rescue your friends. You put on your clothes (not that they do much more than protect your modesty) and give a clumsy curtsy to the ant-girl. you get ready to head off but she grabs your hands and sits you down. (set: $antlevel to $antlevel + 1) [[Sit down->ant tf 0+0+1+1 part 3]] \(set: $antspants to 1) \(set: $ant2gear to 1) \(set: $ant1gear to 0) \(set: $ant2appearance to 1) \(set: $ant1appearance to 0) \(set: $intimacyant1status to 0) \(set: $conferenceant2status to 1)

She looks at you happily. After giving you a cursory examination, she holds up a finger on each hand. She skips over to the edge of the clearing and starts rooting in the shrubs there. Every once in a while she looks back over her shoulder smiling. The colors have died down, but the ant-girl still has a slight aura of warm happy colors and you blush a little. She comes back with a fistful of leaves and offers you some; you take one and look at it puzzled. She pats you on the head and then adopts a motherly air, then she chews slowly while watching your reaction. You are unmoved. Gently she pushes the hand you are holding the leaf in to your mouth. Feeling a little sheepish, you gingerly start to chew. You have a fairly intimate connection so you swallow. It’s not quite breakfast but it’s better than nothing after your recent exertion. The plant tastes like ass, but it's filling and you can feel your strength returning slowly. The ant-girl beams at you; she sits cross legged with all four hands on her legs and leans forward attentively. (She must be wondering what the hell you are doing out here.) You hesitate a bit uncertain if she can even understand you. She seems to communicate through scent, which you can’t converse in. Shrugging you decide to give it a good old adventurer try; maybe it will make you feel better. Loudly, slowly and maybe a little insultingly you say "I am here because Spiders" (You try to make the scent you think of when you saw the spider-girls, you exude a purplish scent with an inflection of pride.) Then you splay you 8 fingers. "Took, (you make a grabbing motion) my friends (you point to yourself and hold up four fingers). The ant looks at you concerned, holds up four fingers and exudes a light blue scent that reminds you of the sky. (She is trying to say something about your friends but damned if you know what.) You give her a puzzled look. She points to herself and then exudes a dark umber scent. Then she points at you and gives off the same blue scent as earlier. Oh! She is asking if they are human like you. You nod excitedly, pointing at yourself and trying to replicate the light blue scent. She points at you and hold up four fingers making the human scent. Then she lies down making a dark decaying scent. (Ah, she thinks they are dead.) You shake your head vehemently making an angry red scent; you won’t believe your friends are dead until you see their cold corpses. You put up four fingers, make the grabbing motion again, put up eight fingers splayed out, point at yourself and then point down the trail you were following. She seems genuinely unhappy about this exuding a dark sad scent. She shakes her head, and then pats you on the head. She gives you a pleading look but you stay strong. (Her girlish face makes this hard). Still looking depressed the ant-girl starts drawing on the ground between you. She draws an arrow from you to a large circle. She makes a dot in the center of the circle and then holds up eight fingers. (She emits the purple prideful scent). You nod. She then points at the part of the circle closest to her. Watching you intently the ant-girl points to herself and then holds up all her fingers. She uses both pairs of arms to refer to the space around her while emitting the umber scent from earlier. You nod, she probably means a nest. This however does not satisfy her. she points at you makes a scent that reminds you of yourself, then points at the nest, then points at herself and makes a smell that reminds you of stepping on land after being on a boat. (What?) She stares at you, insistent that you get it. You nod slowly obviously uncertain. she puts two hands to her forehead. Then she points at you, points at her and the points at the nest. When you don't get it she repeats the motion with a look of obvious concern. It finally clicks. She must want you to go there, for some reason. You have to survey the situation but it's not a bad idea to go there. No more so than placing yourself under the power of an ambiguously friendly group is. While this ant girl is friendly, just “associating” with her transformed you further. You nod certain that you understand. The ant-girl relaxes and then points to the part of the circle furthest to your left. Here she makes an X and emits a fearful scent. (Must be dangerous, although the spiders seem like the most dangerous things around.) You nod. With that done she leans forward and starts kissing you hard. This catches you so off guard that you fall backward. She seems ready to go again, but you gently and firmly push her off. (You do take the chance to palm her small perfectly formed tits and run your smaller hands though her hair though.) You would enjoy another dalliance. But unfortunately your friends are not going to rescue themselves. She smiles at you and then looks depressed. She hands you the rest of the leaves; helps you hide the remains of the fire and then hugs you. As she heads off into the forest you are left with no option but to [[head off yourself->onward ant 2]] \(set: $anteat to 1)

Double-click this passage to edit it.

You decide to go the right, keeping the clearing to your left. This is the most basic way for navigating mazes. (It is better to keep a map, and leave marks as you go.) You creep along observing how the nest has been fortified. There are a lot of watch posts. You notice that each one has a large blind spot underneath it. This is less due to the construction of the watch post and more the size of a spidergirl's abdomen. As you pass through you catch a whiff of a sickly rotting brown scent. It reminds of flowers but more of rotting fruit. It lingers for a minute, and is borderline unpleasant. Then it passes. Hmmm. You sniff again and see that it is coming from your right. Something about it strikes you as dangerous and quickly continue [[onward->circle 2 ant 2]]

You keep moving through the forest carefully. Once or twice you spot a bored looking spider-girl keeping watch. They aren't looking for you though and it's easy enough to avoid them. Eventually you reach what you would guess to be the furthest point from where you entered the circle. The ground here has been packed a bit tighter than elsewhere. If you squint some and use your imagination you could see a path. furthermore a few twitches of the antenna and a bit of poking around reveal more of the same umber tones you saw earlier. there might be ants at the end of that path, but the path itself leads away from your goal. \(if: $antrescue is 1)[This is probably the nest where the ant-girl thought you should meet her. The ant-girl seemed insistent that you contact her. But why? While you want to only assume the best about her, you can barely talk to her. That one ant-girl was friendly (if: $antintimacy is 1)[and loving]. But, That doesn't mean you can count on the others to be the same. Still the situation is desperate and it might be worth chancing it. You'll make up your mind once you have surveyed the nest. ] You continue [[onward->circle 3 ant 2]]

The 9 o'clock part of the circle is the most heavily defended, there are multiple watchtowers and guards. It takes all your stealth ability to avoid detection. For safety you head deeper into the forest. There the trees have been stripped and the ground shows claw marks. Obviously whatever lives here is feared by the spidergirls. Perhaps, you can use them against the spidergirls? \(if: $antrescue is 1)[The ant-girl seemed to warn you away from this spot. She didn't think your chances were good to begin with but thought this was an especially dangerous spot. But, she made sure to tell you about the nest so she probably was not lying about how dangerous this spot is. ] [[Investigate->gorn nest ant 2]] [[Keep going->circle 4 ant 2]] \(set: $climaxant2status to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 0) \(set: $diedstatus to 0)

You start to follow the trail but then hesitate. Your sense of smell is telling you that this is a very bad idea. Blood and decay hang in the air like clouds. (if: $antrescue is 1)[you even sense the same scent the ant-girl gave off when telling you not to come this way. the ants must have marked it for danger.] Something very dangerous is down this path. What ever is down this trail is feared by the spider-girls(if: $antrescue is 1)[and ant-girls]. If they find you it's unlikely you could defend yourself; even with your new arms and legs. You had some abstract plan of luring them towards the spiders but with what? Yourself? That's stupid for a lot of reasons. Even if you could get them to attack the spiders, somehow without getting attacked yourself. Then they would still be an equal threat to you and your friends as you escape. [[try anyway->Bad end 1 ant 2]] [[try something else-> gorn nest refused ant 2]]

You reach the general area where you began. (You also double check against the smells.) Sighing you put your back to a tree and think on what you saw. Absentmindedly you cross both sets of arms and tap them against each other. Well the right side is the least defended, so any plan should probably start from there. But what's the plan? Your end goal is to reach your friends who are likely cocooned like you were. The plan will need to deal with all the spiderwebs, spiders and spider cocoons. Looks like you have to rely on: [[Your human problem solving->problem solving ant 2]] [[Your new body->leeroy jenkins ant 2]] (if: $antrescue is 1)[[[your sister ant girls->sisters ant 2]]] \(set: $planant2status to 1) \(set: $climaxant2status to 0)

Bad End! (you knew this was a bad idea) Your antenna don't lie. Turns out that this was the nest of the things that killed the spider-girl that held you captive. They are these big scaly lizards called the gorn, way more fierce than you can deal with right now. Turns out they also eat ant-girls. Your tale ends with you being killed and probably eaten afterwards. [[credits]] (Now seriously go back and try something different) [[try something different->circle 3 ant 2]] \(set: $climaxant2status to 0) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $diedstatus to 1)

You shake your head, this is seeming enough like a stupid idea that it might actually be stupid. You turn on your heel and head back towards the circle. [[Forward, or wait back?->circle 4 ant 2]]

Monsters of the Forest Yo, this is your standard warning that this game has sex and transformation junk in it. If you are not old enough for things like that: First: Congratulations on finding this game, sexuality can be weird especially when you are young, and honestly pornography is a bad way to learn about sex. You would be much better served by having an honest discussion with someone old enough that you trust and respect. Second: You shouldn't play this game! If you are old enough for this game; then welcome! Stuff this game has: Monster girls Transformation into monster girls Girl on girl sex A smidge of dude on girl Penis-in-Vagina sex Epic, mortal combat Bad jokes Medicore jokes One good joke, maybe (Which one? I will never tell.) Stuff this game doesn't have: Vore Underage sex Your mom The one thing that this game will never ever have in any shape or form: A joke where it zooms out to show that this has just been a DnD game between some guys. Now, Let me tell you of the days of high adventure [[Start]] \(set: $statusstart to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 1)

You are an adventurer first and foremost. Maybe you look like an ant-girl right now, but human problem solving is what you have a lot of experience with. You take a deep breath, and try to imagine what your friends would recommend. [[Alonso's advice->hero advice ant 2]] [[Frederick's advice->thief advice ant 2]] [[Ron's advice->mage advice ant 2]] [[Cohen's advice->conan's advice ant 2]] (if: $alonsoadvice is 1 and $cohensadvice is 1 and $antrescue is 1)[ upon reflection maybe you could use the ants. [[Consider the ants->sisters ant 2]]] You pause as you try to put together all these different thoughts. However the solution quickly [[comes together->comes together ant 2]]

Aw yeah, one ant-girl versus a nest of spider-girls. I think we all know how this is going to go. You have stronger arms and legs, a second pair of arms and scent-o-vision, there is going to be no stopping you. It should be trivial to quickly steal your way into the spider nest, find your friends and sneak right out again. There is nothing that could conceivably go wrong with this plan. [[And what do the spider-girls have?->leeroy jenkins 1 ant 2]]

Grouping up with the ants is a bit of a gamble. While more hands would help (and the ant-girls have no shortage of hands to spare.) There is too much you don't know. Let's start with what you do know. You have heard rumors that the ant-girls abduct men so they can bred the ant-girls. While you wish that applied to you, it doesn't. You know the ant-girl you rescued was (if: $antintimacy is 1)[really] appreciative when you rescued her. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[ You know that "associating" with the ant-girl progressed your changes. That isn't the deal breaker it looks like at first, you need to keep your pants on.] You think that the ant-girl understands that you come from outside the forest, and understands that your friends are the same. After she knew that, she insisted that you meet her at the nest. Furthermore that intel is probably good because she told you about the danger spot. There is always the risk that you misunderstood what the ant-girl was saying. She might actually have malevolent intentions; but that seems unlikely. Upon reflection the ant-girl you saved is probably willing to help. Although you cannot speak for the other ant-girls. You hope that she would only invite you if she had some plan for dealing with the other ant-girls [[Go to the ant nest->sisters ant 2 part 1]] [[Reconsider->circle 4 ant 2]]

You nod to yourself. Getting help from the ant girls is your only real option. Trying to raid the nest singlehandedly is likely suicidal and you didn't come this far to fail here. You retrace your steps (carefully!) to the nest. Following the slightly packed earth you, only to come to nothing. Hmmm, you look again this time watching the scents carefully. The scents form a different path which branches off from the obvious path early. (tricky ants) You follow this path slowly, and are rewarded with a small sloping hole underneath a fallen tree. You scramble down the hole feet first. There is a chamber so small that even at your diminished height you cannot stand up straight. It's nearly pitch dark so you blink a few times to let your eyes adjust. Your new eyes are quite good in low light conditions, with your old ones you doubt you would be able to see at all. The first and most obvious feature are the two ant-girls in a kneeling position with spears raised at you. You smile at them and say hello. They stare at you with a look of confusion. Oh! You try to imagine the most warm and happy greeting you can and then transfer it into a scent. Both of the guards visibly relax but keep there spears raised. They are both emitting a green scent with an undertone of curiosity. You need to step carefully here. The first thing that you can think of is to emit the scent that the ant-girl you rescued emitted when identifying herself. The two ant-girls look at each other and then nod in unison. One of them keeps her spear raised at you while the other steps back and knocks twice on the wooden door they were guarding. (set: $antsisters to 1) Your ant-girl pokes her head out, spoon in her mouth and then emits a wide array of scents. The ant guards relax and [[lead you through the door.->sisters ant 2 part 2]] \(set: $sistersstartant2status to 1) \(set: $planant2status to 0) \(set: $anteat to 0)

Well they are bigger and stronger than you, have actual weapons and probably full bellies. Furthermore they are fighting on their home turf, which if the path getting here was any indication then it is going to full of spiderwebs. If you get caught by a spider or get caught in a spiderweb then you lose. You may be faster and stronger than you used to be but you seriously doubt what advantages you do have will be enough to get you out of either of perdicament. Even if you somehow did reach your friends, it's unlikely you could sneak them out again. This may not be such a good idea. [[This plan needs work let's try something else->circle 4 ant 2]] [[They can't stop you->leeroy jenkins bad end ant 2]]

You look at all four of your hands, if anything is going to get you through this safely, it's your new abilities. You take a deep breath, speed and stealth are what you need now. You pick the least defended spot and make your way quickly and quietly through the nest. Your new legs enable you to cover the clearing faster than you thought possible. In the outer layer of the nest you make your way slowly. You move tree to tree, far more stealthily than you thought possibly. You have to calm yourself constantly, if there is a place where they are going to find you it’s here. Right as you are about to breach the outer layer of the nest, and you can see the inner sanctum (where no doubt your friends are being held) when you notice a spider in a tree a few yards infront of you. She has brown and purple hair, and is about to notice you. Moving faster than you thought yourself capable of you dive behind a tree. The back of your neck hits something sticky and you quickly realize you have fucked up. (set: $leeroyant2status to 1) You calm yourself, the back of your head and your neck are caught. But if you are careful you might break the few critical strands connecting you to the larger web you might still escape. The fact that you can’t see the webs you need to break . You manage to break a few strands only to find that your hands are now stuck in the web. With all other options exhausted you finally give in and struggle. This leads you to get caught up in the spiderweb not unlike the ant girl you saw earlier. Once you are well and truly trapped, (if: $antrescue is 1)[You wait a while to see if another human with a vendetta against the spider-girls is coming through. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Maybe the ant-girl will rescue you! Wait she was planning to meet you at the ant nest.]] (if: $antrescue is 0)[You wait for a while painfully aware of how the ant-girl you didn't rescue must be feeling.] Eventually however you start to give yourself a slow clap. for the situation you are in and to attract attention so you don't dehydrate in the web. Maybe if you are lucky you will be able to overpower the spider-girl that comes. (A desperate man can dream.) (set: $antlevel to 2) With hideously smug grins, a pair of the spider-girls comes to [[collect you->leeroy jenkins bad end ant 0 part 1]]

You step through the door, and you are suddenly hit by a peculiar sensation. From the way the air moved when the door opened, you are now confident that the underground space you entered is not particularly large. A few rooms at most. (It's quite a peculiar thing to be struck by you find.) Your ant-girl leads you down a small hallway. It is dimly lit by carefully tended pods of blue glowing fungus. Then she lets you into a room about the size of a small tent. She opens the shutter on a lantern that contains flying glow bugs and then smiles at you. The room is small and contains a large, thin bags of dried grass. You are about to speak when the ant-girl holds up a finger. She makes the purplish scent, a red sort of scent with the inflection of contest (fighting?), holds up a hand and then mimes sleep. You take her by the shoulders emit the purple scent, and then start shaking while emitting the reddish scent. (You came to the ants to rescue your friends, not delay.) She shakes her head looking at you with a concerned expression. Obviously, she wants you to rest a bit before attempting the rescue. Abandoning the ants now would be foolish. Letting your guard down in an ant nest is a risk, but if they are going to help you rescue your friends then it's a risk you have to take. You nod slowly, and then hesitate. Your biggest fear is sleeping too long. Unfortunately given your limited vocabulary there is nothing you can do. You will have to trust that she will keep you from over-sleeping. You lie on the dried grass. Your ant-girl looks down at you with an expression of motherly concern and then leaves the room. [[sleep->sisters ant 2 part 3]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

You close your eyes and start to drift off to sleep only for the ant-girl to reenter the room. She smiles at you and offers you an earthenware plate of dark brown mushrooms covered in a limpid yellow sauce. Your stomach rumbles and you must admit that you are hungry. However, it seems that mushrooms are disagreeing with you today. Which makes eating them something of a fraught proposition. [[No sense fighting on an empty stomach->sisters ant 2 part 4 antmeal]] [[You have had enough mushrooms for one day->sisters ant 2 part 4 nomeal]]

You take the plate with a smile from the ant-girl. If this rescue is to have any chance of success your stomach can't be getting in the way. The mushrooms are surprisingly rich and are well complimented by the sauce. You wolf down the food, finishing with a burp. Then you watch yourself closely for changes. The only thing that noticeably changes is that you feel a great sense of belonging underground. The walls no longer seem to close in as much and the fact that there are other ant-girls close by seems comforting. Your ant-girl seems surprised by your appetite. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[as you lie down to sleep, she lies next to you and embraces you with all four hands. Remembering what happened last time you got too familiar with an ant-girl you resolve to keep it in your pants. This however is rendered irrelevant by just how quickly you drop off to sleep as she snuggles you.] \(if: $antintimacy is 0)[As you lie down she shuffles into position so you can lie your head on her lap. You drop off to sleep almost immediately, far more tired that you thought.] (set: $antmeal to 1) [[sleep->sisters ant 2 part 5]]

You smile and push the food back to the ant-girl. She has a questioning look for a moment but quickly accepts it. You have changed enough already that you don't want to risk changing anymore. After giving a guilty glance towards the door, the ant-girl begins to eat the food quickly and quietly. She only manages about half of it. (She must still be drained from being trapped in the web.) With that done, you lie down to sleep. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[The ant-girl quickly lies down next to you and wraps all four arms around your waist. Remembering what happened last time you got too familiar with an ant-girl you resolve to not try anything. This however is rendered irrelevant by just how quickly you drop off to sleep in her happy embrace.] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[She remains kneeling; watching over you with a motherly air. You drop off to sleep almost immediately, far more tired that you thought.] (set: $antmeal to 0) [[sleep->sisters ant 2 part 5]]

You are gently shook awake. (if: $antmeal is 0)[Given how damp and dark it is, your immediate thought must be that it is before dawn. Then you see the ant-girl kneeling next to you and the events of yesterday come rushing back.](if: $antmeal is 1)[You awake utterly comfortable, feeling much refreshed for finally getting some sleep. You look up to see the ant-girl kneeling next to you.] The room is dark, illuminated only by the same glow-bug lantern. However, you can see that the ant-girl is kneeling perfectly straight, looking closer to a household retainer than a simple ant-girl. She is radiating warm clouds of happiness(if: $antmeal is 1)[, you get the sensation of someone watching over a sick person]. She helps you up to a sitting position and then produces a bowl of water and a thickly woven cloth. With a gentle touch she begins to wash your face. This is not an unusual act but your face has changed so much, it is still a little shocking. She then proceeds to wash both sets of chitinous hands, and then your feet. Finally she presents you a sturdy woven cuirass and a [[sharpened entrenching tool]]. The cuirass seems to be woven from reeds and packed with a spongy material you cannot quite identify. While no match for metal armor it's more protection than the shirt you are currently wearing. (It's an honest cuirass, not that boob armor you often see in poorly produced plays.) \(if: $antmeal is 0)[You pass on the cuirass, your current shirt has seen you through so much danger that it probably counts as a lucky shirt. The ant-girl seems mildly concerned but drops it without complaint. She does however turn her side to you while her smaller pair of arms pass you the cuirass. It seems she needs help fastening her own protection. You used to do something similar for Alonso, so it's not hard. She taps you once or twice when you tighten the straps too much. (If: $antintimacy is 1)[You would sneak a few glances, but since the ant-girl has been naked since you met her, it would be redundant. You do perhaps smell her hair a little bit longer than appropriate.] ] \(if: $antmeal is 1)[It only seems sensible to take the cuirass. You look it over carefully and realize to your complete lack of surprise that it has been designed for an ant-girl like yourself. The cuirass stops where your chitin begins, is fitted for someone of your exact height, and there is a bit more padding in the chest region so your girls don't get abused. Looking even more like a lady in waiting, the ant-girl helps you get undressed. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[She steals a few familiar glances as she does so.] Then she helps you into the cuirass and tightens the straps expertly. Then she has you do the same for her. ] With that taken care of, she proceeds to carefully comb your hair. Your hair is so short now that this doesn't take long.(if: $antmeal is 1)[You feel a bit like a princess being prepared for battle. (if:$antintimacy is 0)[The ant-girl respectfully hands you a [[crown of white flowers]]. She seems slightly disappointed when all you do is put them upon your head.] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[This is further complimented by the fact that proceeds to place a tightly woven [[crown of white flowers]] upon your head.]] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Once she has finished she kisses you on the cheek.] With everything complete, the ant-girl looks at you, smiles and then leads you [[out the door.->sisters ant 2 part 6]] \(set: $sisterssleep to 1) \(if: $antmeal is 1)[(set: $flowercrownappearance to 1)] \(if: $antmeal is 1)[(set: $sistersant2gear to 1)] \(if: $antmeal is 0)[(set: $luckypants to 1)] \(if: $antmeal is 1)[(set: $ant2gear to 0)]

The author is taking some poetic license to make it sound badass, but let's be honest here. It's a sharpened trowel. That is not to say that a sharpened trowel doesn't make a good weapon. It is heavy and fearfully sharp. You do worry a bit about the weapons' range, especially given that the spider-girls favor spears. It is made of stone edged with metal, a bit primitive but the ant-girls strike you as diggers not miners.

Your ant-girl leads you to a small circular room, that is likely the dining hall. This room is small and has no furniture that isn't carved out of dirt. (if: $antmeal is 0)[You can however sense that it is connected to a much larger chamber; although you have no idea where and how.] (if: $antmeal is 1)[You can sense that it is connected to a long thin tunnel. A quick check of the scents suggests that it's been hidden beneath a shallow layer of dirt. Perhaps it's an escape tunnel?] There are ten ants in the room. Two groups of four sitting against the wall with two ant-girls sitting in front in the center of the room. Your ant-girl leads you to sit with the pair. You look at the two new ant-girls carefully. (if: $antmeal is 0)[They look mostly identical to you, they have their hair styled differently though. One has a top knot despite having short hair and the other wears her hair loose.](if: $antmeal is 1)[One of them is obviously older and looks more experienced than the other. She has her already short hair in a strange top-knot while the other younger girl wears her hair loose.] The two new ant-girls look to you deferentially. Your ant-girl clicks her tongue to get their attention. (if: $antintimacy is 0)[(To your great personal surprise, it's the first sound you have heard her make.](if: $antintimacy is 1)[To your modest surprise, you didn't she could make noises besides from the occasional moan. (You know that she knows how to use her tongue.)] She draws a circle in the dirt with her hard finger, four circles in the center of the circle. She proceeds to emit a wide array of colors and emotions while drawing two triangles, then she draws an arrow from one triangle to the edge of the circle. The two ant-girls give your ant-girl an alarmed look. You catch a hint of a purple smell, and something about her look gives you a feeling that she just suggested something that takes some serious chutzpah. She then points from the with the arrow triangle to the ant-girl with the top-knot. They seem to have a private conference given the smells they are giving off. It's strange and while (if: $antmeal is 0)[you can't follow any of it](if: $antmeal is 1)[you get maybe one concept in six]. You have the strongest feeling that your ant-girl is pulling rank somehow. Like when Cohen orders your group to do something he claims to be too "old" to do. (More like something he can't be assed to do.) The ant-girl with the top-knot finally acquiesces, and your ant-girl resumes drawing. Next she draws two X's, she also points to you and her. She draws an arrow from the X's to the circles within the circle, and then draws an arrow out to the untouched triangle. The ant-girl with the loose hair nods, obviously relieved. Your ant-girl looks back to you for confirmation. (if: $antmeal is 0)[What? Strategic planning is hard if you don't understand anything that is happening. Well what do you know? She wants a team of ant-girls to attack the nest, and that she wants you and her to go after circles in the nest. Well four circles; four missing friends so you are probably the rescue. Then the plan is a simple diversion to pave the way for a smash and grab. (The most basic of adventuring maneuvers.) it's the sort of plan however that requires a good knowledge of the terrain and the soldiers involved. the terrain means that this plan should in theory work. you don't soldiers involved though, so you might as well defer to your ant-girl. you look at her and give your best imperious nod.](if: $antmeal is 1)[This is a diversion tactic so you and your ant-girl can rescue your friends. This sort of thing is bread and butter to adventurers. You surveyed the terrain so you know that this plan can work. However something you heard as an adventurer rings in your mind. It was probably Cohen that said it. "In regular circumstances there is no such thing as too much distraction." You draw a finger from the untouched triangle to the opposite side of the circle where the other team is supposed to attack. The short haired ant-girl looks a little panicked. You smudge out the arrow indicating that you and your ant-girl will meet with the junior team. Then you draw in three arrows indicating that everyone will meet up at a location outside of the nest. Your ant-girl looks at you for a long second and then nods. She unleashes a dazzling array of scents describing the new plan. This plan should work, once you get to Ron your part of the escape becomes trivial. So long as they don't over do it the ant-girl teams should be safe.] With the plan decided all the ant-girls nod. [[everyone stands up->sisters ant 2 part 7]]

You take a second to imagine Alonso, he flashes you a smile which says "you sure got yourself into a mess didn't you?" You pause for a second unable to recall what his eyes looked like. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your imaginary Alonso pauses to examine your new chitin and your new set of arms. He gives you a knowing smile. “Nailed down a little something on the way huh? You give him the Quadruple Deuce; cheeky bastard is not one to talk. “If we could stay on subject please.” He smiles and nods.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[Alonso has that shit eating grin he gets whenever someone else fucks up. “You look different.” “Do we really have to do this now? I mean I’m imagining you.” Alonso shrugs. “It’s very faithful imagining.” He continues] He gives you a meaningful look "You managed to misplace everyone. If everyone was here I would say let’s party up and bash our way through. A second pair of arms is no substitute for teammates. (if: $antrescue is 0)[Could you get help from somewhere?] (if: $antrescue is 1)[Do you trust the ants enough to ask them for help? It’s a risk but the alternative is just as risky.] Any plan that has any chance of working will mean you do little to no fighting. So restrain yourself. Escape is only possible with all of us together." (Set: $alonsoadvice to 1) [[back->problem solving ant 2]]

You imagine Frederick, he gives you a roguish smile and sits down in front of you. Was his hair always so dark? (if: $antintimacy is 1)[He has a smug grin and just looks at you incredibly self-satisfied. “Got something to say Frederick?” He keeps looking smug but finally manages to respond. “Well, you can’t criticize me for poor impulse control now.” “Oh?” “From now on whenever you tell me not to steal something I’m going to remind you about how in the middle of a death march to rescue your friends you stopped to get with a girl.” He points at you with his small hands and starts laughing. You roll your eyes and say “Go to hell Frederick.” He manages to stop laughing and then leans in as if to give some conspiratorial advice.] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[“You look different. I wonder if I would be a better thief with another set of hands?” You shrug. “hands are alright, I’m not sure that they would help you that much. You are already pretty good.” He waves his hand. “Ah, but just imagine that doubled. If you make it out of this I could probably teach you a few tricks.” He nods. “Now let’s get to the greatest heist someone like you is ever going to do.”] "You have proved pretty stealthy getting this far. (if: $antrescue is 1)[although I’m not sure about rescuing the ant girl. She seems nice, but her being missing might tip them off." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[He has a smirk, to be honest she was cute.] "]If I was here I wouldn’t be able to sneak in at least the way things are now. There are too many places where you can be seen from. Generally when this was the case we would make a distraction. Remember when we robbed that warehouse? I made sure the guards were wondering who broke the window across the street." [[back->problem solving ant 2]]

You imagine Ron looking down at you. how tall was he again? (if: $antintimacy is 1)[He starts to blush a bit. You smile. “Something making you uncomfortable, Ron?" He blushes deeper. "No!" "Mhmm. Of course not. Any advice on the situation?” Ron manages to stop blushing and calms himself.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[Ron starts examining your chitin curiously. “You really do look just like the rest of them. I have been a mage most of my life. But the things that magic can do always surprise. I wonder why the spider-girls did it at all?” You can image his voice perfectly but not his expression. You shrug. “My best guess is that they did it turn something they couldn’t use into something they could.” Ron shakes his head. “Hardly a use.” You shrug. “It takes all kinds Ron. What do you think I should do? Ron smiles. “Ah, my favorite subject: destruction.] "I’m a wizard. My problem solving consists of spells for a specific purpose or [[fire spells]]. Spiderwebs don’t burn but almost everything else does.” He smiles fondly. “Get creative and get destructive. Besides it’s unlikely that that a forest this damp will catch fire. What’s the harm in a little fire? You know you want to." You smile at this advice, that's a bit more bellicose than Ron tends to be, but true to his thought process. [[back->problem solving ant 2]]

You imagine Cohen standing at the ready before you, he has that audacious look in his eyes. Although he is perhaps less distinct that he would have been earlier in the day. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[He smiles knowingly at you. “Ah I can’t judge for seeking comfort. Those with death in their path often find a another in their arms. Still it had it’s effect on you." You roll your eyes. “It’s just like you to lecture when I ask for help.” “Well, then listen.”](if: $antintimacy is 0)[He gives you a smile. “I wouldn’t worry too much about your changes, every adventurer gets hit by polymorph sooner or later. Remember that story I told about getting turned into a little girl? These things work out.” “I appreciate the reassurance but what I really need is advice on how effect the rescue.”] Cohen confidently continues “There is always a way to win. However it can be impossibly unlikely. For times like this speed is of the essence. What ever you are going to do, do it so fast they don’t have time to realize it can’t work. Hesitate and you will be snared and surrounded almost instantly." (if: $antrescue is 1)[Also, good job rescuing the ant-girl, I always tell you younglings to act heroic when you it’s not stupid. It’s rarely stupid to rescue someone in distress. I don't know about using the ants though. You don't know them and they would outnumber you.”] (set: $cohensadvice to 1) [[back->problem solving ant 2]]

Upon the reflection the answer is obvious, you need to be fast, the focus on freeing your friends with no fighting till they can help, use misdirection and involve liberal amounts of shit getting burninated. While you were surveying you noted that spider-girl's outer "wall" is set up against a number of huge trees. At least one of these trees has to have dry rot. Set one on first as the distraction. Then use your torch to get to the cocoons during the chaos. If you are lucky, and fast you can probably open the cocoons before the spider-girls realize what is happening. From there you have Ron's magic to help, and a whole lot of determination to fight your way out. [[Get ready for the final push->human rescue ant 2]] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Also the guys are probably going to make fun of you when you mention that you had a tryst with the ant-girl.] \(set: $planant2status to 0) \(set: $pumpedant2status to 1)

(if: $antlevel is 2)[It's a simple decoration. You check to see if they are giving off any scents but they are not. \(if: $antmeal is 1)[The only hint as to it's purpose is that as your ant-girl was putting them on you got the impression of tying a length of ribbon around a favorite arrow.] \(if: $antmeal is 0)[You don't get why the ant-girl is wearing it, but she seems very proud it have it. The only hint you can tell is that as she was putting them on you got an impression. It was like an archer tying a length of ribbon around a favorite arrow.]] (if: $antlevel is 3)[(if: $antcrownstatus is 0)[A questioning smell of the flowers reveals them to scentless. So scentless as to be purposfully so.]] (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

You pick your way around the circle while collecting tinder. (if: $antrescue is 1)[The ant-girl was right about the driest tinder being in the webs.] You keep an eye out for the prefect tree to set on fire. Finally you spot one, it's lightly guarded and looks so rotten that it's about topple over. As you get closer you recognize that the only thing keeping it from toppling over are the spiderwebs. This should be interesting. With the spot chosen it comes time to make a torch. You find a tree freshly fallen over and still dripping sap. Technically you don't really need your clothes. But it's important that your friends recognize them when you rescue them. With a bit of impromptu tailoring you now are the proud owner of a pair of shorts. You ditch your socks and sleeves and well. You take a second to appreciate the better ventilation. Taking care not to get your hands too sticky you bathe the fabric in the sap. You pick up a strong branch of green hardwood and tie the fabric around it. You make a small smokeless fire. Once you put the torch in the fire the sap should catch and then it's go time. [[you pause->human rescue ant 2 intermission]] \(set: $ant2torchappearance to 1)

The other ant girls begin to equip themselves with cuirass (cuirassi? cuirasses?) like (if: $antmeal is 0)[your ant-girl.](if: $antmeal is 1)[yourself.] In each patrol two ant-girls heft shields as large as they are, while the rest carry large spears that seem to take all four hands to use. Likely it's a strategy to compensate for the size difference between ant-girls and spider-girls. As you exit the nest, the ant girls crush together. They don't seem anxious, but you can feel that there is a spirit of quiet resolve. (if: $antmeal is 0)[Your ant-girl makes sure that you tightly hold her hands.] (if: $antmeal is 1)[You suddenly feel an immense familiarity with them. As if you were among your family or your absent comrades. For a moment you are moved to sing Frederick's drinking song. You keep up with your ant-girl easily, moving through your fellow ant-girls easily.] Once you reach the surface the groups separate. (if: $antmeal is 0)[The ant-girl looks at you and smiles. She produces a [[crown of white flowers]], and places it on her head above her antenna. She looks a little silly but who are you to judge? You march a while with the short-haired ant-girl's patrol. when they reach a clearing they stop and begin to fortify the surrounding area. You look to your ant-girl for a sign. She is sniffing the air, her antenna moving purposely. You look at her a little confused. She looks back at you innocently, whatever your problem is she doesn't seem to get it. You roll your eyes and start digging. the ant-girls watch for a while and then take the entrenching tool out of your hands, disgusted. Suddenly your ant-girl stands up looking off into the forest. (This is easy to spot because of the flowers.) You look at her confused, she seems exasperated and then grabs two of your arms and leads you off into the forest.](if: $antmeal is 1)[More than once you see the short-haired ant-girl glance back at you desperately. You try your hardest to look commanding. (You don't manage it.) Your ant-girl motions for you to follow her close. You move to draw your entrenching tool but she holds up two hands, not yet. she leads you through the forest.] [[follow the ant girl->sisters ant 2 part 8]]

Once the torch is lit you move as quickly and quietly as you can towards the spider nest. You pick out an undefended spot and move across the clearing sprinting faster than you thought you could. Once there the hard work starts. Ducking between trees you are constantly looking up you try to avoid the guards. A orange haired spider-girl flits into view above you. You see her head turning, your heart nearly stops but you manage to leap behind a tree. You let out a sigh of relief and then move to wipe your brow. Both of your left hands won't move. It has been caught in something sticky. A quick glance shows it to be a yellowed spider-web. Sighing you bring the torch around and quickly free yourself. After a few more, close calls, (but thankfully no more webbings) you reach a good tree. The tree is massive, but a bit of picking at the base reveals that it's mostly dry rot. Looks like it's only being held up by the web all around it. You give yourself a satisfied smile. If nothing else there will be quite a show. [[First rule of adventuring? it's never wrong to set things on fire.->human rescue ant 2 part 2]] \(set: $pumpedant2status to 0) \(set: $fightant2status to 1)

The odds on this attack are pretty long. To be honest you are feeling the fear. You a single ant-girl about to launch an attack on a nest full of spider-girls. Deep breaths, the time to feel fear is later. Your mind goes back to what Cohen would say right now. Cohen had a god almost as savage and untamed as Cohen himself. The prayer to his god mostly consisted of asking for help and telling that god to go screw himself if he didn't help. One against many, let's do this. If nothing else it will make a good tale and besides who wants to live forever? Taking a deep breath you [[take the plunge->human rescue ant 2 part 1]]

The tree goes up like it was made of sawdust. This is a sight for sore eyes, but you don't have time hesitate. You start picking your way deeper into the nest. From a logical perspective, it would make sense to assume that new captives are in the most secure part of the nest. Assuming they are in cocoons like you were, you would stash those somewhere secure to prevent things from stealing them. (Like you are trying to do.) You make your way deeper, your faster legs helping you avoid patrols. Once or twice you are almost spotted but the fire is growing behind you and the spider-girls you see look worried. As you reach the edge of the inner sanctum you sight a trio of cocoons that look like the one you popped out of. Well one of them is much larger and covered in burn marks. (That must be Ron's) You glance back. The burning tree is casting a flickering orange light all over the nest. The sky is an expanse of orange tinted smoke. Hell, It even looks like the fire might spread to some nearby trees. [[go time->human rescue ant 2 part 3]]

You sprint the final distance to the cocoons. Time to decide which one to open. It's not a choice. The only one who can protect you while you open the other two is Ron. His cocoon is the thickest by far though. You bring your torch close trying to soften the outside. (Man you hope you aren't cooking Ron alive in there). (if: $climb is 0)[Once it has softened a bit, you put the torch aside and drive your small knife in with all your strength and arms. (Man you hope you don't skewer Ron.)](if: $climb is 1)[Once it has softened a bit, you consider your knife. After what’s happened today it’s pretty blunt. Your new fingers are pretty sharp. You grit your teeth and drive your hands into the softened spot.] You manage to pierce the outside and open a small gap. You glance around, the spiders are still distracted and it looks like they have a bucket line going. You put all four hands into the gap and with a mighty yell manage to force the crack open a bit more. (Hmm not working) You pause for a moment to emit a happy warm scent. That should get him out of there. Nothing happens. Oh right, you shout into the crack. "Ron, get up the fuck up. I need you." (Your voice is higher than it used to be). You hear a groan inside and you start to shake the cocoon, it makes a sloshing noise. "I'm awake!" A slight pause "Who the hell are you?" You roll your eyes. "Not the time Ron, I'm the person rescuing you. Get up you lazy bastard." "Alright, step back." You scramble back and a few seconds later a gout of fire erupts from the cocoon. Ron sits up out of the cocoon. Ron's face is much more feminine and his black hair has grown to mid-length. He looks at you and pauses. "You are?" You roll your eyes. Actually can he tell that you are doing that? "I'm rescuing you, now get moving." Ron blinks a few times and then looks at you closer. He seems to be focusing on your clothes; suddenly he has a realization. "The spiders do that?" You try not to roll your eyes. "Did something similar to you Ron. Now focus. I started a fire to keep the spiders distracted while I rescued you. Do something to keep them off our backs while I free everyone else." Ron smiles, it would normally be a menacing smile but with his new softer features it just looks roguish. "Something?" He starts to fling fire balls into the surrounding trees. "Damnit Ron" (link: "You open the left cocoon")[(set: $left to 1)(goto: " human rescue ant 2 part 4 combo")] (link: "You open the right cocoon")[(set: $right to 1)(goto: " human rescue ant 2 part 4 combo")] (if: $hideme is 1)[[[fuck you-> human rescue ant 2 part 4 combo]]]

The technical term for what you have to do is run and gun, but given the setting, run and melee is going to have to cut it. Ron has done what he was arguably born to do; set an unhealthy amount of things on fire. This gives you a small window to steal as many supplies and weapons as you can. The spiders seem to take (if: $youfight is 1)[personal] offense to you setting their home on fire and give constant chase. They chase you far harder than you thought your offense really warrented; seems they take personal offense to a single ant-girl raiding a spider's nest. What follows is continuous combat as the spiders try to recapture your group. There are countless close shaves and harrowing escapes. However this is a fair fight; no ambush crap like last time. Your group proves why they are worthy disciples of Cohen. Alonso showcases his leadership skills. he keeps everyone going with words of encouragement and knows when to call a rest. this is important as the pace is intense and the rests are short. Frederick proves an able scout, helping your group to avoid patrols and lay your own ambushes. you may be lost, but he can still read the lay of the land and navigate you away from the spiders. Ron brings the magic, although he tones down the amount of fire so you don't set the forest on fire. He is notably unhappy about this. You do You. In fact you do you much better than everyone else. Your new body gives you better stamina and makes you a little stronger. You continually outpace your friends and pursurers. Which gives you a chance to set false trails and basic traps to put off your pursuers. Additionally, your better sense of smell gives you the drop on the spiders a few times. the spiders seem to know enough to hide their scent, but you catch a few hints every now and then which helps tip you off to their presence. At the end of the first day however you start to grow worried. The others are exhausted and you can’t really stop here. (this is spider country) Suddenly an idea strikes you. The mushrooms have helped you, they could probably still help your friends. You are confident that the effects can be undone. (well, closer to simply refusing to believe otherwise.) It might be what makes the difference in this escape. [[tell Alonso->ant 2 mushroom yes]] [[we can do this without them->ant 2 mushroom no]] \(set: $anteat to 0) \(set: $nottiredant2status to 1) \(set: $queenfight2status to 0) \(set: $ronfightant2status to 0) \(set: $fightant2appearance to 1)

Among young men of martial standing the discussion of what to do in various combat situations is common. Being strangled from the front with two hands is referred to as a straight strangle. The accepted counter maneuver was to grab the strangler's hands, and try to swing your feet into the enemy's face to free yourself. This was accepted until Ron pointed out that the angle generated by your neck was the angle at which necks tend to break.

During the next small respite you pull Alonso aside and tell him your idea. He listens carefully and then looks you up and down. Finally he asks "Have you noticed any side-effects in yourself?" You pause and then answer "Some memories are less vivid, also I can see smells." Alonso looks at you interested. "What's that like?" You shrug. "Wondrous, I don't know the words to describe it though." Alonso nods and then asks. "How long will it put as out of commission as we change?" You try to think back on how long the initial change took. The whole unreality of the situation made it hard to tell. "15 minutes at most." Alonso puts his hand through his long hair "Does it hurt?" You shake your head. "It feels pretty good all told." Alonso glances at your chest and then at his own. "You rescuing us doesn't mean anything if we get captured again." He sighs. (Wonder what he is thinking about?) You stumble onto a small stream which has the same mushrooms growing near it. (At least they have the same color of smell as the the one you have in your pocket.) (set: $antdiscovery to (either: 0,1)) You pick a patch of them present them to the group. Someone has to taste test them. You look at Frederick, then everyone looks at you. For a lot of reasons you should be the one to do the taste test, but still why does it always seem to be you? (set: $shrooms to 2) [[Drop shrooms->ant 2 mushroom yes tf]]

You shake your head. There is no telling what sort of long term effect all these changes are going to have on you. Most notably your voice has become much quieter. Probably better not to spread strange poorly understood magic to your closest friends. The situation is desperate but far from hopeless. You can do this. Everyone can do this. Your team is solid. You redouble your efforts, you lead every counter charge as a whirling dervish of death and destruction. You scavenge for food (Hoping that what you find won't have the same effects as the mushrooms had on you. Are nuts particularly transformative?), you become so positive your friends start to dread you. (Cohen would be proud.) At the end of the second day however everyone is exhausted. Even you. You are falling asleep in your step and despite your best efforts the spidergirls are right behind. Then you stumble into something quite [[unexpected->ant 2 final choices part 2]]. \(set: $fightant2status to 2)

(if: $antrescue is 1)[It's Cohen but he's not alone. He is leading a patrol of antgirls. You and your friends are too stunned for words, but mostly collapse from exhaustion. (and relief) Though your sister ant-girls all seem a little familiar at this point, one stands out. You recognize her quickly, it's the ant girl you saved from the web earlier. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[She comes over to you happily and leans in for a kiss. You start to blush so she just tries to pass it off as a kiss on the cheek. Your friends are unconvinced.] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[She looks at you fondly and then pats you on the head.] Once your group has it's breath back you all ask Cohen how he got away. Cohen smiles a mostly toothless smile. "What you think an ambush of spider girls could stop me?" You all look at him skeptically. "Oh alright, they forced me back. So I went back to town got some supplies and came back looking for you younglings." You look over at the ant-girl. Cohen nods "Oh yes, as I was tracking the spiders I ran into this patrol. (if: $antintimacy is 0)[The lead ant says the spiders were agitated, i assumed you lot were responsible.](if: $antintimacy is 1)[the lead ant-girl told me that someone close to your description was going to attack the spider's nest.]" He nudges you. "Good work by the way." You are shocked "You can talk to her?" Cohen nods "I know the sign language yes." The spidergirls have nearly caught up. Cohen smiles. "Stay behind me and the girls while we cut our way out of here." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your ant-girl makes a show of making sure you are behind her as she brandishes her weapon. (Someone wants to look like a protector it seems.)] You and the rest fall into step confident that you are [[safe->ant 2 final choices part 3 rescuer]]](if: $antrescue is 0)[Cohen stands confidently looking ready to take on a legion of demons and then some. He is carrying food and supplies. You and your friends fall to your knees at the sight of him. Cohen looks at you with an expression of tempered happiness. "Seems you were all changed a bit by your escape.” His gaze lingers on you especially as he says this. “well done on getting out of the nest but the escape isn't over yet." Ron breathlessly asks "How did you escape?" Cohen shrugs "You think a few spidergirls are enough to stop me?" Everyone looks at him with an expression of disbelief "Oh alright, I couldn't get them all but couldn't capture me. So I escaped and made my way back to town for supplies. From there I tracked the spiders as best I could. Good job setting so many fires Ron" (The fact that it was Ron goes without saying.) The rustling behind you grows louder, Cohen smiles. "Younglings form up on me, the easy part is over and now the real fighting starts." This is greeted by a groan from your group. Still at least now you have food and real weapons. You are not quite [[safe->ant 2 final choices part 3 survivor]] but you aren't doomed.]

For a lot of reasons it's difficult for a group of spider-girls to have a hard on for something. But goddamn if they do not have a hard on for your group. A greater part of the nest must have been mobilized against your group. This is what it must feel like for a cat hunted by a wolf.(gross overkill) (if: $youfight is 1)[the queen must take punches to the box very personally.] The attacks are constant. The ant-girls are helpful but you are constrained by the fact that the only one who can talk to the ant-girls is Cohen. You begin to work out a system with your ant-girl where you emit different colors as short hand for commands. The ant-girl you rescued does seem to delight in trying her best to protect you. The spiders seem to have it out for you, so she is constantly busy. Despite being at a sizable disadvantage, she proves a skilled fighter. The corona of warm happy colors she puts off every time she protects you makes you blush. Your friends note this with mild amusement. This helps your party? (The term seems wrong for a group of more than six.) However they are still pushed back. This is dangerous because it enables them to decide your path. You are worried and then look to Cohen, he has an audacious smile. Eventually things come to a head. The spider-girls are coming in from all sides. Your league? has formed a tight circle around Ron as he brings the magic. You parry a spider-girl's stab heavily, taking three hands to do so. Your remaining arm windmills through the air trying to keep your balance. This ends up jogging Ron's arm as he is casting a spell. He breaks off chanting magic words to say "Oh shit!" a fireball flies up and past the tree line. (Well that won't be important.) You manage to beat off the attack, and then there is bizarre a tower of fire above the horizon. (Weird.) [[Ron seems especially excited->ant 2 final choices part 4 rescuer]]

There is nothing special here, just a decaying arch before a dead temple. Not ominous at all. You brace yourself and step through. Nothing bad happens. You throw up your arms up triumphantly. Perhaps your luck has finally changed. You survey the temple, four small out buildings leading up to a larger central building all arranged around the courtyard. You peek into the smaller building as you pass. One has a large garden of stones, another decaying bookcases with moldering books. A larger building was probably a guest house. You pick through this one, the only thing of any value left is a few coins with a square hole in the middle. You consider taking them but, out here it's a liability. The final one is a large enclosed open area. Probably used for practicing rituals. Your treasure sense tingles and you have a feeling that something is hidden there. But you apply a bit of adventurer common sense. Treasure should be worth the effort, anything that isn't food isn't worth it. Eventually you climb the stairs to the central pagoda. It's a three level pagoda. The altar seems empty, and are about to turn away when you spot something. Moving cautiously you spy a bundle wrapped in rice paper covered in symbols of freshness. (The sort you write on, not the sort that you eat.) As you reach the bundle, you can spy the outline of rice balls. Licking your lips you reach for them but then hesitate. Stealing from a temple is one thing, stealing off the altar of a temple is another. Screw it, desperate circumstances and desperate remedies. You take the bundle and tear open the paper. A thunderclap sounds behind you. [[Turn around, not at all guilty.]] \(set: $TempleKitsune0Status to 1)

You turn to see a tall mature woman looking at you angrily. She has long black hair, trimmed in a royal style. She is wearing a red and white priestess outfit which fails to fully conceal her impressive assets. She has a regal bearing, accented by her fearsome red eyeliner and make up. You can tell that this is a woman used to being in charge. Your opening move to is to shove half of the rice ball in your hand into your mouth. (Today has been full of surprises, for example the rice ball has peanut butter filling.) She is unamused. "Who dares to defile my temple!" You quit chewing long enough to say. "I thought this was a temple to Inari." She seems a little perturbed. "How do you know that! And, how do you know that I am not the goddess?" You force the rest of the rice ball into your mouth and then answer. "I studied a lot of temples, your robes and the arch say Inari to me. Besides, a goddess coming to a ruined temple seems unlikely. (Listen to Cohen long enough and you start to learn something.) The woman seems sheepish "Alright I'm not Inari, but I didn't know the temple was ruined." You bite into the next rice ball, this one has dried plum filling, "Then what kind of servant of Inari are you?" She draws herself up and looks official. "I am a kitsune and my name is-" You cut her off. "Oh a kitsune, I always heard they were powerful and graceful beings." She looks pleased. "How many tails do you have?" You get the other half into your mouth. She keeps looking official, but you can spot a hint of pride. "Why I have 8." You manage to swallow and the eye the final rice ball. To take it with you or to eat it now? "Well if you are so powerful, why is the temple in disrepair?" Fuck it, you are going to go for it. You bite into the final rice ball. Oh, salmon filling! She looks sheepish and blushes a little, which is adorable with how official she looks. "Well, I may have neglected my post a little" You swallow, there is only half a rice ball left. You could run instead of finishing "Did you have a good time?" You don’t quit half way through. She nods. "Oh lovely, shame it took 30 years." You swallow, three rice balls down, now to make your escape. You bow deeply to her. "Well it's been a pleasure to meet you miss kitsune but now I must keep moving." You walk, not run towards the exit. Can’t let her realize what happened. You are half way to the door when she snaps out of it. [["Wait just a second!"]] (This close.) \(set: $BrookStatus to 0) \(set: $KitsuneStartStatus to 1) \(set: $AltarKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 1) \(set: $BaseKitsune0Description to 1)

As soon as it seems safe, Cohen and your ant-girl climb a tree. Both come down with a worried expression. Cohen barks to Ron "Ron, did you dispell that fireball that went wild?" Ron shrugs "My arm was jogged and I put a little bit more power behind it than normal. I figured it would be fine because the forest is so damp." He smiles proudly. "What's wrong?" Cohen quickly signs to your ant-girl and then puts his head in his hands. Your ant-girl copies the motion only using all four hands. "Ron, you have started a forest fire. That fireball must have hit a burial ground." Frederick shakes his head. "I have shoveled enough shit to know what is happening. It hit a dumping ground. Decaying stuff goes up like none other. You speak up a little fearfully. "If the fire starts spreading, we are screwed." Burning to death sounds pretty unpleasant and trying to outrun a forest fire is foolhardy. Alonso talks next "Cohen, ask her if there are any bodies of water nearby." Cohen quickly signs to her and then looks back to your group. "She says the ants have a place where we could ride out the fire." Your ant-girl's antenna twitch a few times an array of indescribable colors fill the air. The other ant-girls all look between one-another worried. You turn back to look at the growing clouds of smoke [[this might be a problem->ant 2 final choices part 5 rescuer]] \(set: $forestfireant2status to 1) \(set: $fightant2status to 0) \(set: $fightant2appearance to 0)

For a lot of reasons it's difficult for a group of spider-girls to have a hard on for something. But goddamn if they do not have a hard on for your group. A greater part of the nest must have been mobilized against you. This is what it must feel like for a mouse hunted by a cat. (gross overkill) (if: $youfight is 1)[The queen must take punches to the box very personally.] The attacks are constant. Your group is pushed to the limit and threatens to be overwhelmed. You have to flee most engagements, and spend most of your time dodging the numerous patrols. This sounds good but is hazardous, it lets the spiders control your path. Worst case scenario they might push you back to the nest. You do your best though. You don't give an inch when not commanded and more than a few patrols find themselves outmatched. However even with your new body you feel yourself growing exhausted. Eventually things come to a head. Two patrols are trying to perform a pincer movement on your group. Cohen leads while you keep guard on the rear. Ron readies magic and you turn to see that not only are the spider-girls chasing you but also using their blowdarts. You quickly push Ron out of the way. (if: $conanhelp is 0)[(You have enough problems without having to carry his ass.)](if: $conanhelp is 1)[The last time you tried to hold off impossible odds above his unconcious body it didn't work out.] This ends up knocking ron over he is casting a spell. He breaks off chanting magic words to say "oh shit!" a fireball flies up and past the tree line. (Well that won't be important.) You manage to beat off the attack, and then you see an unusual tower of fire above the horizon. (Weird.) [[Ron seems unusually excited->ant 2 final choices part 4 survivor]]

The ants lead you to a small earthen hut with thick walls. It is on a raised stone outcrop. No one has bothered to visit this place for a long time, it is overgrown and covered in moss. Your ant-girl leads you to the hut by hand. Your group follows, looking a little too satisfied with themselves. She motions for your group to stay in the hut. The ants get to work clearing the nearby area with feverish intensity. It's a little unnerving to see them perturbed, even when under attack by spiders they kept their cool. You know they mean business when you see them start pulling up bushes and leveling trees. Your group spends the time catching up, you give a brief overview of what happened, (if: $antintimacy is 1)[politely omitting what happened after you rescued your ant-girl.] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[trying to make your various adventures sound impressive.] Cohen gives a better idea of what happened once he reached town. (Apparently you shouldn't bother the shopkeeper too much.) Ron looks to Cohen, "do you know why they turned us into women?" Cohen replies briskly. "to make better slaves." everyone quiets down immediately. Cohen is remarkably calm for someone who commits violence on the daily, but slavery is a sensitive topic for him. "They would of changed the rest of you like him." He nods at you. "It reduces the odds that nearby humans retaliate." Everyone keeps quiet until the conversation slowly resumes. An idea strikes you "Ron did you prepare your fire resist spell?" Ron nods. "well don't you normally prepare it twice?" He nods again. "Yeah but I cast it before we left with the caravan and again once you freed me." Goddamnit. There is little else to do but talk as you watch the fire move towards you. Soon you start feeling unwell. It's a hard feeling to describe, first all the colors in the air start to go wavy and become less clear. Then you start to feel out of breath, like having sprinted and having a hard time getting your breath back. You keep your breathing steady but the feeling persists. You let the conversation go on until Cohen speaks up. "You aren't feeling well are you?" You shake your head. "Ant-girls do some breathing through the skin, so the smoke is going to disagree with you. Keep your breathing even and don't panic." You weakly nod, and Alonso shifts so you can lean on him. (Even as a chick he has pretty broad shoulders.) The fire grows large enough and close enough that the ant-girls give it up. They look just as green as you, and instruct everyone to lie on the floor. Your ant-girl makes sure to lie next to you on the floor. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[She holds you hands, and kisses you on the cheek.] You have a killer headache and can only keep your eyes open with immense difficulty. Panic strikes you "Cohen, what will we do if this doesn't work?" Cohen answers without hesitation "We die here from the smoke." Well good thing you settled that. With nothing else to do you close your eyes and try to relax. [[Pass out->ant 2 final choices part 6 rescuer]] (set: $fireant2status to 1) (set: $forestfireant2status to 0) (set: $fireant2appearance to 1)

Everyone watches you as you carefully prepare to eat one of the mushrooms. it worked out first time, it should work out the second right? (It doesn't work like that.) You bite gingerly, (not starving as much is making this harder than the first time.) to your surpise it tastes rich and flavorful. You eat it eagerly feeling better for having done so. you try not to think about how the taste has changed. You don't suffer any immediately obvious side effects. (after all what more is there to change?) They give it an hour and you don't die, so it's probably safe. You find a place to hide while your friends change. eventually you find a pine tree with a hollow at the base large enough to camp in. Everyone gets comfortable while you keep watch. They start eating while you politely avert your gaze. You hear shuffling and glance back to see that Frederick has ditched his pants. He is watching the black chitin work its way up his inner thigh when you hear a noise from in front. A spider-girl has dropped rather heavily in front of the tree you are hiding in. She is a mature spider-girl, with luminescent silver hair. (and large tits you shyly note.) Frederick has started to moan softly as the chitin works his way up sides. You turn back and whisper "shhhh." He looks at you and bites his finger. You tighten your grip on the spear and watch the spider-girl carefully. She is examining the tracks your group made near the tree. If she finds you then there is going to be a fight. (It's a matter of chance, you would give it even odds.) (if: $antdiscovery is 0)[[[What happens next->ant 2 mushroom yes tf hidden]]](if: $antdiscovery is 1)[[[What happens next->ant 2 mushroom yes tf found]]] \(set: $mushroomwatchant2status to 1) \(set: $nottiredant2status to 0)

You awake with a start. Then you take a deep breath of blissful air. your eyes are still watering as you look around. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your ant-girl is sitting at your side looking down at you with an expression of concern. Your friends are all sitting around looking at you with expressions of concern mixed with shit eating self-satisfaction.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[Your friends, and your ant-girl are all sitting around looking worried.] Your ant-girl naturally says nothing. Frederick speaks up though, "We were worried for a bit." Ron speaks up. "Still we shouldn't have worried, you always were lazy." Your ant-girl helps you to your feet as you flip him off. "I'm not the one who complains every time they see the sunrise." Ron is predictably flustered "It's not my fault the sun rises too goddamn early!" You smile at him. He looks cute flustered. Alonso rolls his eyes. "Gentlemen, if we could finally get out of this goddamn forest?" Looking out of the earthen hut, the surrounding area has been rendered to ash and ruin. The fire however never neared the hut. The ant-girls tearing up anything remotely burnable nearby likely saved your life. What follows is an easy hike through the charred remains of the forest. Everyone keeps shooting dirty looks to Ron. Ron shrugs. Eventually you run into a large stream that served as a fire break. Everyone stops to clean themselves off in the stream. The ant-girls leave large trails of dirt and soot as they wade into the water. You catch Frederick staring and go "Ahem." He smiles back at you. A quick hop over some rocks later you are back into the dense forest. after about an hour you hit a sunken path through the forest. it's long abandoned. for some reason at regular intervals there are empty wooden lanterns. they are seeming untouched by age. it means nothing to you but it must of meant quite a lot to someone. After a few more hours hiking you finally reach the edge of the forest. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. (You are a bit unnerved by this because it's the first sound you have heard the other ant-girls make.) Then it comes time for goodbyes. You are bit surprised to see the ant-girls line up in front of Cohen. It turns out that they all wish to shake his hand. (if: $antintimacy is 0)[You ant girl looks into your eyes. She has a genuinely sad expression and then hugs you. She releases you and carefully maneuvers her antenna into yours. This produces an inexplicable tingling sensation. She gets ready to lead her ant-girls back into the forest. She and her ant-girls all bow to your party in unison.](if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your ant-girl takes this as a opportunity to drag you behind a nearby tree for her own farewell. She starts making out which you in a manner best described as frenzied. Her hands roam all over your body and her smaller pair begin to tease the slit on your abdomen. At the same time she starts to hump our leg. She is obviously ready to go right here right now. You push her away and then smile at her sadly. She returns the look. She obviously wants you to stay. You pat her head comfortingly, and she hugs you with all four arms. (She also takes this as an opportunity to kiss your neck.) You hug her for a while and then kiss her romantically. Perhaps it won't ever be rated one of the greatest kisses in the world, but to you and her it means everything. She releases you and the gives you a deep curtsy. She might be crying a little. The pair of you walk out to where the others are waiting. Your friends have an smug expression. From the ant-girls however, there is a overwhelming cloud of green tinged with impropriety and perhaps envy. The ant-girls all bow to your group in unison and then head back into the forest.] After an exhausting skin of your teeth adventure you finally [[return to town->ant 2 final choices part 7]] \(set: $endingant2status to 1) \(set: $fireant2status to 0) \(set: $antwashant2status to 1) \(set: $fireant2appearance to 0)

As soon you have the next small respite, Cohen directs you to quickly climb a tree. (if: $climb is 1)[Your experience from earlier is going to come in handy. You scale the tree quickly, nice to see something good came out of today. ](if: $climb is 0)[You hadn't considered it but you seem well suited for climbing. You start climbing carefully, but find you have problems because your reach has lessened and though handy your hands aren't perfect.] You reach as high as you trust the tree to hold you and look out. By design this tree can see out over the others. There is an inferno of fire on the horizon, and it seems actively growing. You let out a sigh, can't something go right? You climb down despite your fatigue. Everyone looks at you as you drop the final few feet. "There is a gigantic forest fire." Everyone looks at Ron, he starts to blush. "It wasn't necessarily me." Everyone continues to stare at Ron. "Alright, it was an accident, I messed up the fireball because I got pushed. I did not put that much magic behind it though, what happened? Cohen nods "You get bigger than expected fires at burial grounds some times." Frederick shakes his head. "I have shoveled enough shit to know what is happening. It hit a dumping ground. Decaying shit goes up like none other." You are too exhausted for this shit. "The fire is spreading, I don't mind a funeral pyre but it's too soon." Burning to death sounds pretty unpleasant. Also, you can't out run a forest fire. Alonso talks next "Cohen, what should we do?" Cohen quickly checks his bearings "We need an exposed place to either ride out the fire or a body of water to float in. I don't know any places like that close." You turn back to look at the growing clouds of smoke [[this might be a problem->ant 2 final choices part 5 survivor]] \(set: $fightant2status to 0) \(set: $forestfireant2status to 1) \(set: $fightant2appearance to 0)

You make best possible speed through the forest. Struggling through the dense underbrush, and squeezing through thickets. Trying to head down and away from the fire. This is a frustrating process though, everyone was already at their limit, and you can hardly manage a jog as it is. Still everyone sticks together and keeps their tempers in check. Ominously the spiders have stopped chasing you. As you are scrambling down a thorny hill, Cohen suddenly has an idea. He shouts after you. "Youngling, I heard once that ant-girls have an incredible sense of smell. Can your antener leads us to water?" You nod and wipe the sweat from your brow. "I'll try." Your antenna twitch and the smells become sharper. However they all seem muted, and wave in the air more than usual. Your friends cheer you on and you try again. You empty your mind and twitch your antenna. The colors come into sharper relief but even then you still don't know what to look for. Then you have an idea, you dip your fingers in your canteen and bring them in front of your antenna. A light blue tinged with memories of thirst wafts up from for your fingers. You scan your surrounding for anything similar. There is nothing. You try once more and see a twinkle of blue. Focusing on it, it is gone like a distant star on a cloudy night. You point in the direction it might of been. "That way maybe." You continue on as the fire grows larger. After a while your breath begins to grow short. You keep your breathing steady, and slow down to try and catch your breath. But nothing helps. You fall to the back of the group, trying to keep up. It's like your chest has been filled with cloth. Finally you drop to your knees coughing. You keep signalling for your friends to keep going as they come and stand around you. Everyone looks to Cohen worried. "Figured this might happen. Insect monsters, but ants especially do a lot of breathing through their skin." Ron pipes up "Like frogs?" Cohen nods. "A bit like frogs but they don't need to keep their skin wet. The smoke is interfering with his breathing." You look back at the blaze, it has grown noticeably closer. "Alonso, start to carry him, if it gets too much for you we will switch off." You wave your hand. "I'm fine." You try to stand only to be caught by Frederick. He shakes his head at you. "You rescued us, so it's only fair that we get to rescue you." Alonso lifts you on to his back. Even as a girl he has broad shoulders. "Good thing you are lighter, or this might be difficult." You let out a faint laugh. Your group continues on. As you reach the top of a hill Alonso pauses and asks "Can you smell anything?" You close your eyes and try to bring the smells into focus, there is a hint of blue ahead. [["Onward"->ant 2 final choices part 6 survivor]] \(set: $firerideant2status to 1) \(set: $forestfireant2status to 0) \(set: $fireant2appearance to 1)

The fire grows closer and closer, but the blue smell becomes stronger and stronger. Until to their confusion you lead your friends up a rocky ridge. Finally you reach the source of the blue. It's a rocky out crop with blue flowing over the sides. Frederick runs up to it only to stop suddenly. "It's a river alright." He looks back with a sardonic look. "Although it's about 30 paces down." Goddammit. Cohen runs forward to meet Frederick. "Bah, where has the courage of young men gone? So long as you don't mess up the jump it will be fine." Frederick looks at Cohen incredulously. "And if we miss we will bash ourselves to pieces on the rocks." Alonso looks back at the fire. The air has grown so thick it's hard to breathe much less see. "Well we have to do something. Unless you prefer to die by fire." Your head is pounding and you can barely keep your eyes open. You have had enough of this shit. "Someone throw me down the cliff already. I don't have all day to die." Frederick looks to Ron, everyone looks to Frederick. He sighs, "I'll do it, but if I'm going to be dragging him out of the water I need Ron's help." Ron seems a bit terrified by the prospect. Frederick smiles. Alonso brings you close to the cliff. The drop is precipitous down a straight cliff. But the river at the bottom looks peaceful and deep. Cohen speaks up "Let's do this quickly, the river looks peaceful but I'm willing to be that it's running quite swiftly. Frederick, Ron as soon as he hits the water you need to recover him." Cohen turns to you. "Can you swim?" You shake your head. You can't even stand. Frederick and Ron stand at the edge. Ron is obviously terrified. He tries to take deep breaths and steps back from the cliff. Then he looks back at the fire growing ever closer and at you. Finally he nods. "I'm ready." Frederick, takes two deep breaths, tries not to look and then grabs Ron. They step over the edge together. You can hear Ron scream, while Frederick goes "wahoo", then a splash. Alonso stands you up, and helps you walk to the edge. It's quite a fall and you try not to look. You take a shallow breath so you don't start coughing and then step over the edge yourself. Somehow this fall seems faster than the one from earlier today. Perhaps it's the water rushing up to meet you. In your last glimpse, you can see Frederick and Ron swimming against the current to meet you. Chitinous feet are good for a lot of things but today they let you pierce the water like a rock. You keep your eyes closed and the wet blackness envelops you. You sink and sink and sink. Perhaps if you go low enough you will have the strength to push off the bottom. Then you start to rise like a cork to the top. You almost bob out of the water when you break the surface. Frederick is there with Ron right behind him. He smiles, his short brown hair plastered to his face. "Seems you float." You smile back at him. "Seems I float." You hear two other splashes in rapid succession. Up the river your friends coming to join you. Ron looks at you a bit surprised. "I read about floating islands of ants once, guess it works for you too." Ron's further examination of the issue is cut off by the loud splashes of Cohen and ALonso joining you. It's a bit of a feat floating on your back. But you manage to shrug. "Hell if I know. Grab on and let's float out of here." Everyone grabs one of your hands and tries to enjoy the trip. All that's left to do is to float out of the forest. If you see a town, or other dwelling you will beg for a meal. You are mostly naked and penniless after all. You wash out near the town where you initially geared up for the trip through the forest. Once you have dried off some you head to the tavern for a meal. You attract a few stares but your three female friends in wet clothes get arguably more. [[To the tavern!->ant 2 final choices part 7]] \(set: $firerideant2status to 0) \(set: $endingant2status to 1) \(set: $jumpwashant2status to 1) \(set: $fireant2appearance to 0)

(if: $antsisters is 0)[At the town's tavern Cohen orders meals for everyone. Everyone else takes the time to roundly berate Ron for nearly killing everyone again. Ron looks as guilty as a fisherman who accidentally caught too many fish and in the process caught the biggest one. Once everyone has their frustrations worked out, the barmaid comes up with food and beer. You dig in. Conversation is muted and a quick glance tells you why. They are all examining themselves and chewing thoughtfully. Well except Cohen, he is trying to score with the barmaid.] \(if: $antsisters is 1)[When you finally reach the tavern, Cohen busies himself with ordering the food and the beer. Everyone takes the chance to congratulate you on getting the ant-girls to help. Frederick asks "how the hell did you get those silent ant-girls to help?" (if: $antmeal is 1)[You simply smile and give the silent enigmatic look that the other ant-girls always gave. He giggles in response.](if: $antmeal is 0)[You use all four arms to refer to yourself. "I enthralled them with my raw sex appeal." Everyone cracks up at this one.] Everyone quiets down as the barmaid comes carrying food and beer.]You dig in. Conversation is muted and a quick glance tells you why. They are all examining themselves and chewing thoughtfully. Well except Cohen, he is trying to score with the barmaid. Of course you should probably consider the future as well. (And maybe try to flirt with the barmaid, but I'm going to leave that up to you.) [[A bold new future as you are->ant 2, bug]] You like the new hands and feet. [[A different future as a human woman->ant 2, girl]] (They open a wide range of experimentation.) [[Your old future, the one you worked so hard for->ant 2, boy]] [[(alternative ending)->ant 2, boy alt ending]] \(set: $ant2gear to 2)

You decide that you will stay an ant-girl. Your friends all seem enthusiastic about returning though so you stay mum. Better that they don't know. The next morning Cohen comes back into the room smiling like a maniac. He nods at everyone staring at him. After shrugging "I have an old friend who can help you younglings get back to normal. Bit of a trip though." Bit of a trip means other side of the continent. Then the thickest swamp you have ever seen. The swamp is suck on earth so you pause at a town on the outskirts. When you let slip that you are heading into the swamp, the townspeople warn you of a horrible witch that lives in the forest. Probably who you are going to see. The swamp sucks but you come to a modest hut on the edge of a large shallow lake. As you approach the hut a woman steps out. She is in the traditional black witches dress, complete with large pointy hat. She is also the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. She can't be much older than 25, and she is flawless. Part of your mind recognizes that this must be unnatural in some way. The rest of your mind is preoccupied with dropping to your hands and knees and worshiping her. You hear your friends doing the same, and then Cohen's voice rings out. "Turn down your glamour myrtle, I don't want them killing each other out of jealousy." You look up again and find that the woman is no longer looks like a goddess. The woman smiles. "So these your new apprentices?" You look to Ron who has an expression of awe on his face. Cohen has a calm tone. "Aye, we had a bit of a misadventure. They used to be male." Myrtle laughs "What adventure with you isn't a misadventure? Come on in, I'll put on some tea." You step into the modest hut. It's a crude one room affair, the witch is likely in dire straits. There are three children who watch your group as they enter. Two boys and one girl. The oldest starts sucking his thumb when he sees you. You smile down at him. "hello." He stares up at you wide eyed. He takes his thumb out of his mouth. "Hello. I'm five." He replaces the thumb. Alonso smiles wide. "Well hello five, I'm Alonso." The boy gets frustrated. "My name is Steven." The girl speaks up. "Alonso is a boy's name." Alonso smiles. "It sure is." He picks up the youngest boy and starts throwing and catching him. Cohen looks at the children fondly. "Your grandchildren myrtle?" Myrtle sits down on her stool with some difficulty. "Yeah, been raising them since my daughter died and my good for nothing son-in-law ran away." She puts her head in her hands. "It's tough, when they are so energetic. I'm only getting older." She doesn't look that old. Cohen gives a sad smile. "I'm so sorry myrtle." Frederick starts to talk with the girl, complimenting her dress. Myrtle nods sadly. "Only thing to do is to live. Come closer little ant, I need to make sure I can fix you." You walk over to her. "Move closer child! My eyes aren't what used to be." You lean in closer and are startled by the sudden change in her appearance. She is a wizened woman who looks to be at least 80, she may have been quite attractive once but no longer. She smiles at your reaction. "Age catches up with all of us." She leans back, and looks young again. "I need some special ingredients to brew the potion, Cohen." The ingredients are quite difficult to find taking several weeks. This is for the best however. Myrtle is having a hard time. Frederick and Alonso both grew up in large families, so they love taking care of the grandchildren. Seeing the children reminds you that as a woman you might one day give birth. You know you shouldn't feel that way though, only queen ants are fertile. (Weird; but most likely a strange feeling because you are a dude, turned girl, turned ant-girl.) Your background in farming helps quite a lot. You tend myrtle's crops, and help expand her hut into a proper home. Having four arms makes you handy. You set up a better drainage system, build a proper house and even give it a porch. You instruct the children as you do this, so they know how to do it. Ron starts studying under myrtle. She teaches him many potions. This is good given that he only ever bothered with spoken magic. (Spells set things on fire more immediately.) He insists that she is the second greatest living witch. (This seems a strange thing to insist on but to your surprise Myrtle agrees.) After you manage to steal a pinion feather from a sleeping roc; it comes time for the final ingredient. "You need a live catfish?" You look at Myrtle a bit quizzically. She nods "I need a live catfish." Alonso speaks up. "Well let's go fishing. Hey kids you wanna catch some catfish?" Myrtle shakes her head. "I fished almost all the catfish, only one left is a big ugly Fucker that has learned to not bite at hooks." Frederick speaks up. "That only leaves one option." You look at Frederick, everyone looks at you. "Really?!" Ron shrugs "It would bite our fingers off." You shake your fist. "No, I am not doing this." Everyone looks at you, Cohen raises an eyebrow. Less than ten minutes later you are standing buck naked in the lake. Those guys are brothers to you but goddamn why is it always you? You find a half-submerged log and you can see a hole underneath. It looks like a perfect place for a catfish. You sigh, and stick your hand into the water trying to wiggle it enticingly. After 10 minutes of feeling like a fool, you feel a driving pain in your hand. You grab by the jaw and pull the catfish out of the water. It is massive, easily the size of your torso. It might be a dire catfish, but that's too horrifying to contemplate. The Fucker fights you all the way to shore. This is made harder because you have to keep it in the water. Alonso has that shit eating grin and is helping to carry a huge tub on the shore. You heft the huge catfish into the tub, and then cradle your hand. Fucker's fangs pierced your chitin. Cohen takes the head while Alonso holds the tail. While chanting Myrtle chops off the tail of the fish and let's it slide into the large bubbling pot. The solution foams over and turns green before finally turning brown. You spend the next few hours waiting for the solution to boil down. Myrtle heals your hand and you pass the time with fried fish. Myrtle smiles an inhumanly beautiful smile at you. "So will you drink the potion?" You are quite taken aback by the question and stutter. She smiles at you wickedly. "You weren't planning on it right?" You start to get sheepish. "Well I wanted to try out being like this for a while." Frederick smiles "well, no problem! I'll hold off on the potion for a while so you aren't alone." He smiles. "Join me guys? let's walk on the wild side!" Alonso looks at you with an expression of concern. He asks gently. "Are you sure you want to try this?" You nod, still a little nervous. "Well, then I will happily try it with you." He turns to Ron who is looking set on. "Try it for a while; it'll help you get chicks." Ron is unconvinced. He looks at you with an unreadable expression. "This that important to you?" You nod. "Well, I'll support you then." He then points at you. "But I'm not going to be a girl permanently." [[epilogue->ant 2, bug, ending]] \(set: $noodlingstatus to 1)

You resolve to return back to the woman you were before you sampled the mushrooms. Your friends desire to return to men, and you echo that sentiment. (Although Frederick seems a little reluctant.) That's all well and good as an ambition but things like that takes traveling money. This most recent disaster has left you flat broke, so you take mercenary work to keep food available. it does not escape you that this is the same situation that got you into the mess. After a few jobs you are recommended for what is described as a very lucrative gig. It turns out to be working for a warlord. This wouldn't be so bad but he has you make war on the population. This consists of burning farms, terrorizing villages, and generally making everyone tremble at your approach. If it were possible to better put into a sentence the exact reasons why a group of farm boys did not become adventurers this author doesn't know how. You promptly defect and start guarding a refugee camp. The pay is three square meals a day and all the warm feelings you can carry. (Also the occasional farmer's daughter but that doesn't really count.) Your group wins some fame for being mostly girls. You know that your teammates are taking their down time getting used to the change. (Alonso discovers first hand what trouble long hair can be, and you have to help him brush it out on the regular.) Eventually, a faith healer comes to the camp. He has heard of what you have done and offers his services as a reward. He claims to be able to cure any ailment so long as you truly wish to be cured. It takes a while to convince yourself that changing back would be for the best. After so introspection you are convinced that you would rather be a girl. The faith healer smiles at you, puts his hands on your shoulders and suddenly you are taller and down a pair of arms. you still have the girls though. You look over at your friends, and all of them have changed back; except for Frederick who just shrugs. "i was unconvinced." your group thanks the faith healer and once the camp is safe you head off to other adventures [[epilogue->ant 0, girl, ending]]

You resolve to return back to the man you were. Your friends echo your sentiment. (Although Frederick seems a little reluctant.) You begin questing for money and a cure. You gain some fame as a group of female adventurers. This culminates with foiling a bandit attack on a monastery full of nuns. They are overjoyed by your help and treat you with hospitality. (Even Cohen.) Everyone takes this as time for R&R and to get used to being female. The nuns do a lot of sewing to pass the time. Ron gets to play dress up with various witch outfits. You are nine of ten that Frederick is scoring semi-successfully with at least one nun. The nuns seem to give you a wide berth, although they are nice enough. (Chitin doesn't seem to do it for them.) Still the time to get used to the changes is nice, also three squares a day is pleasant. After all the fighting a chance to modify your equipment and get a feel for your reach is good. The nuns maintain gardens, and you pass some of your spare time gardening. It reminds you of home and feels familiar. As your time comes to end and you make ready to leave. An order of female knights arrives. Having heard of Cohen and your group; They insist on joining you as sisters in arms. They are... interesting. You know for a fact that they are virgins to a woman. Most of their conversation is about sex. Once, you intimate that you have done it, they begin to hound you about it. Their leader is a 33 year old, very competent sword fighter. You are confident that she spends most of her spare time using the pommel of her sword to self stimulate. Still they are nice enough, company on the road is pleasant and they seem to assume you were always women. It would be awkward to correct them especially after rooming with the nuns. You go on a few adventures together, culminating in purifying a forest shrine. The forest has a cleansing pool that would likely function as a cure. Awkwardly, the knights begin to bathe in the pool and quite insistent in your group joining them. Everyone looks to Alonso, he shrugs in defeat. You all strip and gingerly get into the water. (Cohen excuses himself.) As you move to the center of the pool you start to feel a tingle. Your group forms a protective circle in the center of the pool. Then there a great gout of steam and you find yourself taller and packing something extra. You say in a low tone, "Keep calm, don't let them smell your fear." As the steam clears you look out at the female knights. They scream and then begin to eye you like pieces of meat. After an eventful four hours, you are exhausted, triumphant, and very very sore. You bid farewell to knights who are sad to see you leave but love to watch you go. (To be fair you liked them, and you would have liked to stay with them but they were getting clingy. Clingy chicks with sharp weapons is a bad bad combination.) [[epilogue->ant 0, boy, ending]] \(set: $epilogueant2gear to 1)

(if: $antdiscovery is 0)[You turn back to your friends who are still lying around enjoying the afterglow. (Lazy bums!) Frederick is arguably changed the least by the mushrooms. He was already short and thin as a boy. His brown hair is now a short uniform length. additionally, you think that his slender frame is well complimented by a second pair of arms. You give him a hand up and ask "How are you feeling Frederick?" He looks at your hand and keeps reclining. "I'm not going to lie I feel pretty good right now. Although I'm seeing a lot of colors in the air, are you sure these don't get you high?" You shrug. "They might, but it's more likely that you are seeing the smells in the air. If it's bothering you twitch your antenna." Frederick shakes his head. "Fuck no, this is trippy as hell." You turn to Ron. He looks the same as you and Frederick. His black hair has become brown and shortened immensely. His face has become more girlish, and he has shrunk a bit. He has a lovely nape though. He smiles up at you like a dope. (Goddamn it guys!) Finally you turn to Alonso. He also looks like an ant-girl. he has the same short brown hair as everyone else. Alonso is using his new hands to examine his bust. It has unfortunately shrunk. The black chitin makes his legs look lovely though. You smile at him. "Feel any different?" He nods. "I feel stronger." He pauses. "I also feel like I need maybe three or four minutes to take care of something." You roll your eyes. Perhaps this is just the natural result of a bunch of dudes turning into girls. (if: $Masterbate is 1)[It’s a sad day when you are the one with the most self control.)] You keep watch. Then you hear Frederick playfully say "Alonso, don't take this the wrong way but I think Ron needs some help." You look back to see Ron sitting across from you. You can see down his legs and he is blushing fiercely, but he slowly nods. All three of your friends have large pink clouds of arousal streaming off of them. You roll your eyes. Frederick and Alonso smile at each other and begin to gently message each of Ron's breasts. Their second pairs of hands drift lower and they begin to tease his slit. He begins to moan slightly. Frederick is enjoying himself. "Don't leave us out Ron, get those hands to work." Alonso gasps as Ron gets his rigid fingers in action. You try to keep watch but the increasing tempo of moans is making that difficult. You rub your legs together, and try not to notice the growing wetness. Then the moans stop suddenly, only to replaced by a soft whine. You turn around to see that Frederick is making out really hard with Ron, while Alonso whines impatiently. Frederick finally breaks it off and Ron starts moaning into Alonso’s mouth before making out. Frederick looks back at you and smirks. These assholes. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[It's best that they finish soon. Your previous explorations with the ant-girl give you an idea. You turn back and quietly call out. "Try the second slit on the abdomen, that should shut you bastards up." Frederick smiles and gives you a thumbs up. He starts to gently kiss his way up Ron's splayed out abdomen. Ron seems to appreciate the attention, especially when Frederick reaches the slit between Ron’s legs. Frederick pauses to quietly call back to you. "I don't think any of us have one." he gets an amused smile "Do you? How is it?" You turn back to your watch. They need to stop wasting time. Ron is quickly brought over the edge.] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[Whatever the fuck they do they need to do it quickly. This is not your idea of a good time and every minute you delay you are closer to being caught. "If you gentleman could hurry?" Frederick turns back to you. "We are working on it." he begins kissing his way down Ron's stomach, Ron keeps making out with Alonso but you can tell he is enjoying it. Mainly because of the way he starts rubbing his legs together. (You are the expert on how much that doesn't help.) Eventually Frederick reaches the source of the problem so to speak. Ron starts humping Frederick’s face in response. (Which is impressive but you are kind of worried about Frederick's face.) Unsurprisingly Ron climaxes quickly.] This is apparently quite the thing for Ron as he has the expression you would make if your eyes rolled back into his head. (Opaque eyes are inconvenient sometimes.) He lies back happily. Alonso and Frederick give each other a salacious look. They sit-down across from one another. With a bit of shuffling and awkward pushing they start to scissor. They lock the smaller pair of hands while using the larger pair to maneuver and push themselves. They grind with a will and seem to be quite enthusiastically enjoying themselves. Amusingly their abdomens scrap the ground as they go at it. This takes a lot of effort and they are quickly covered in sweat. You have to shush them a few times when their moans grow too loud. They quickly climax, cutting off their screams with each other’s mouths. They lie back, obviously not thinking about much. You look down at your soaked crotch. Maybe it was just watching your sisters go at each other or just how tense the situation is but that really got you going. You shift your legs uncomfortably. Briefly you consider finishing the job, but you didn't go through all of that making sure everyone was safe just to drop the ball now. After a few minutes Frederick manages to get up. "Sorry about that. I uh- Goddamn that's good. Got a little carried away." He looks you over. "Need a bit of relief?" Your crotch is soaked and you really really need a bit. [[Say yes->ant 2 mushroom yes tf friends sex]] Wasn't the time, wasn't the place. Still isn't the time, still isn't the place. [[Say no->ant 2 mushroom yes tf friends no sex]] ](if: $antdiscovery is 1)[Your friends all have a satisfied expression, they seem in good humor and have wide smiles. (Those bastards, here you are busting your abdomen while they were enjoying themselves.) Alonso looks at the still unconscious spider-girl. "How was your date?" "She is into some rough stuff let me tell you." Ron gives you a hand up while Frederick and Alonso work to restrain the spider-girl. Everyone now strongly resembles you and other ant-girls. Ron is experimenting with his second pair of hands. He casts a spark with the smaller pair. Then gives you a quadruple thumbs up. "I'm seeing a lot of col-" The spider-girl wakes up to find herself tied. She looks concerned and then starts trying to free herself. Then she starts grinding against her ropes. It's kind of weird how much she obviously enjoys being tied up. (Kinky though.) Ron blushes and looks away. "I’m seeing a lot colors, is that normal?" You shrug. "I guess so? You are seeing smells. If you twitch your antenna it stops standing out so much." You demonstrate for him. Ron seems to calm some. "Oh that helps a lot." You look over Ron, Alonso and Frederick. They look close to identical so one description will suffice. Their hair is a short uniform length; and mud brown. Large opaque eyes and girlish faces. They have slender shoulders like you, and a cute pair of second hands. Their busts are modest but well complimented by their inhumanly thin waists. They have brown chitinous arms and legs. The look is completed by their large taut abdomens. They are all holding hands and looking at one another like know a secret. While you were risking mortal danger you are pretty confident they were getting to know one another. [[Assess the situation->ant 2 mushroom yes tf friends part 1]] \(set: $mushroomambushant2status to 0) \(set: $mushroomfightant2status to 1) \(set: $mushroomambushant2appearance to 1)]

The spider-girl paces nearby a few times. She examines the tracks, leaning all the way down until her face is less than a foot from the ground. Then she stands up and shrugs. She turns towards the tree suddenly, and you dive back into the hollow. You can hear her move towards the tree. Your heart rate increases and you grip the spear tighter. (if: $youfight is 1)[You might be able to beat her, but your neck still hurts from fighting (losing to) the spider queen. She might shout an alarm to her friends and then life would get unpleasant quickly.] (if: $youfight is 0)[You can probably take her, but it would be a close and loud fight.] Your friends are shut up in the hollow, and it would be trivial for the spiders to starve you out. You stick your head out ever so slowly, trying to move at a speed closer to vegetable than animal. The spider-girl has turned around and is moving away from the tree. You let out a sigh of relief. she leans down and starts following your trail out of the clearing. This is problematic because spider-girls are excellent hunters. It won't take her long to realize that you just walked backwards for a while. (They called you silly!) You have a small window and you don't hesitate to take it. As fast and as quietly as you can you slip out of the tree and make your way into the forest surrounding the tree. You can't allow her to sound the alarm, and she is much larger than you. This leaves only one option of attack: a chokehold. She starts to move towards the tree. Your adrenaline comes on cold and you want to charge her. You feel like you have to do something or she is going to spot you. You let the feeling pass. She continues towards the tree, you move ever so slowly so that you will be behind her when she gets to the tree. finally, as she is about to discover the hollow, she turns her back towards you. You suppress a battle cry and move towards her at your fastest sprint. You leap onto her abdomen, your chitin sliding on hers as you try to pull yourself up. She turns her torso and your eyes lock. There is no fear there, only surprise. Then you find your feet and leap onto her shoulders. Her cry is stopped before it can start by your hand over her mouth, and your elbow around her neck. (Her hair smells of exotic flowers.) She goes to draw her knife while your smaller pair of arms frantically fight her for it. She's a lot stronger than you. Eventually you manage to knock it out of her hands. She then resorts to just punching you in the face and elbowing you in the side. This hurts but you keep an iron grip on the spider-girl. Finally, in desperation she resorts to throwing you and herself against the nearby trees. This nearly knocks you off until you use your smaller set of hands to latch onto her breasts. Finally, her strength starts to fade. She moves throw herself against another tree but stumbles, finally slouching forward. She summons the last of her strength to try to pry your arm away from her throat. You do not relent. Eventually she goes limp. You hold your grip for a few more seconds and then relax enough for her to breathe. She doesn't try to murder you, so you let go. You slide down her abdomen and start to message your various bruises. [[After a few minutes your friends emerge->ant 2 mushroom yes tf friends]] /(set: $mushroomwatchant2status to 0) /(set: $mushroomambushant2status to 1)

You do a quick regroup. Everyone now resembles you. Which means they are all devilishly beautiful. They are ant-girls like you. Their second pairs of arms move like they were born with them. \(if: $antdiscovery is 1)[You get ready to move out only to look back at the still tied up spider-girl. She has flushed cheeks and seems to be enjoying herself grinding against the ropes. Goddammit everyone except you is getting some right now. (The author would like to point out that if this was a straight porn game, there would be bondage lesbian scene here. However while the author admits that would be awesome it would also be atonal.) ] Your sisters seem to take to the changes well enough. You imagine that it is the pressing danger of the situation that makes them so accepting. They certainly don't seem to mind being stronger and faster. The biggest change is that now your friends can see the smells in the air. they like you have a limited understanding of what the smells actually mean. Your teamwork was already exceptional, you have lived and worked with these boobs for a while. (Your teammates not your breasts) Now it is beyond belief. (if: $friendsex is 1)[You have an intimate understanding of the signals they send out.](if: $friendsex is 0)[You quickly workout a system of signals using smells.] The signals mean you can always tell what everyone needs and how they are feeling. Most importantly, Ron still has his fire spells. With this second wind your group is able to start out-running the spider-girls. Which is a welcome change of pace from all the fighting. You are still going through the forest in zig-zags trying to evade spider-girl patrols. Which means escape while possible isn’t quick. You manage to give your enemies the slip only to hear something come towards you. Your group forms up without thinking, ready to fight anything from a typhoon on down. What does run into you is quite [[unexpected->ant 2 mushroom tf part 2]] \(set: $mushroomfightant2status to 1) \(set: $mushroomorgyant2status to 0) \(set: $mushroomcontrolant2status to 0)

(if: $antrescue is 1)[It's Cohen but he's not alone. He is leading a patrol of antgirls. You and your friends equally surprised to run into as they are to run into you. Cohen stands back still at the ready. your group rushes forward to embrace him with a cry of relief. the ant girls pause and they rush forward to embrace your group. Cohen can’t quite believe his eyes as a strange group of ant-girls rushes forward to embrace him. He blinks twice and then just figures he should go with it. The ant-girls however beat him to the embrace. You are quickly in a number of hugs with a series of vaguely familar ant-girls. the air is quickly full of happy bright colored smells. (This seems like a joyous family reunion. Except, of course that the other ant-girls are completely silent) The one exception is an ant-girl who (if: $antintimacy is 1)[you know quite well.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[seems pretty familar.] She doesn't release her hug, (if: $antintimacy is 1)[she instead starts making out with you only to stop when you pull away blushing. (if: $friendsex is 1)[Your friends look on nodding.](if: $friendsex is 0)[Your friends look on smug.] the ant-girl then looks at you questioningly, she probably wondered where you were.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[she holds you with her smaller pair of arms around your waist while her larger hands hold you face and she looks into your eyes happily. she is obviously overjoyed that you are alive. she gives you a lot of approving head pats.] Cohen looks on the celebration with some bemusement. you see a flash of recognition across his face, when you your sisters finally reach him crying out his name. he smiles broadly. “Ah, younglings how wonderful to see you. you look a tad different. well not frederick.” Frederick effects an insulted look while, Alonso looks slightly guilty “Well we were having a hard time getting away from the spiders so we just copied what he did.” He points at you. Despite being in your ant-girl’s arms you still manage to look set on. “I only ended up like this on accident.” (if: $antintimacy is 1)[(A happy accident)] Cohen smiles and ribs you slightly. “Did you rescue her on accident?” (If: $antintimacy is 1)[You blush slightly. “No.”](if: $antintimacy is 0)[You smile confidently, “I rescued her on purpose.”] Cohen nods approvingly. “How the hell did you get away, Cohen?” That is a good question and your team turns and looks at him. Cohen smiles a mostly toothless smile. "I gave that ambush the slip. Poor girls tried but they couldn’t catch me. Once I lost them went back to town to get supplies I so could look for you.” You gesture to the ant girls behind him. Cohen nods "As I tracked the spiders I ran into, I met a patrol of antgirls." He points at the ant-girl still hugging you. "She tells me that (if: $antintimacy is 1)[someone mostly matching your description rescued her. Also said you didn't take them up on offer to help during a rescue." He shrugs "She was acting like she had been left at the altar.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[Another ant-girl that spoke words and was trying a single-handed rescue of some humans rescued her. I figured it was a friend of mine."] You are shocked "You can talk to her?" Cohen nods "I know the sign language yes." Once all the introductions are done (and your team has stopped gorging themselves on food.) Cohen stands up and says "We should get going before the spiders finally track us down." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your ant-girl makes a show of making sure you are behind her as she brandishes her weapon. (Someone wants to look like a protector it seems.)] The ant-girls smile at your sisters, their antenna twitch excitedly and the air fills with dazzling colors. You look at your sisters and just shrug. Your ant-girl steps forward and her antenna twitches, she has an offical look and the rest of the ant-girls quiet down. With a familar feeling you and your sisters fall into step with the other ant-girls. finally you are [[safe->ant 2 final choices part 3 rescuer team]]] \ (if: $antrescue is 0)[It’s Cohen and he has food and supplies. Your elation is tempered by the fact that he has his sword at the ready. Everyone smiles and greets him enthusiastically. his stance softens. “What the hell happened to you?” As a group you surge forward to all hug Cohen. Alonso starts “We were captured by the spiders.” Frederick points at you with all four hands. “This mad bastard managed to rescue us though.” Ron finishes. “To make sure we could escape we ate these mushrooms that made us ant-girls.” You give a guilty smile. “It didn’t make sense to rescue them only to get captured again. How did you escape?” Cohen looks at you with a self-satisfied expression. "Those poor spider-girls tried but they were no match for me. Once I got away from them I went back to town to get supplies and come rescue you.” Cohen manages to slip an arm free and pats you on the shoulder. “Good job getting out of there.” He turns to Ron. “Good job setting fires so I could find you.” (The fact that it was Ron goes without saying.) Your group starts to stuff your faces with the food he brought. Cohen looks on puzzled asking. “Why are you younglings stopping?” Alonso looks up happily. “We got away from the spiders, and now that you are here, we are safe" Cohen rolls his eyes heavily. “Ah, the folly of youth. We aren’t safe until we are out of the forest. Now get back up and get behind me, we still have some fighting to do.” This is greeted by a groan from your group. The danger has mostly passed but you are not [[safe->ant 2 final choices part 3 survivor team]] yet.]

You tarry with myrtle a while longer. The hut is quite nice after all the work you did on it, that and the children beg you not to leave. you feel sorry to leave them too, you enjoyed being around them. But the call of adventure is strong, and you grow restless. Cohen feels it more than anyone. the day to leave finally arrives. Cohen gives Myrtle a huge bag of coins. "this should cover the costs of the potion." Myrtle shakes her head, her long silky hair swaying around her. "You have already sent far too much money." She pushes the bag away. Cohen smiles sadly. He closes Myrtle's hands around the bag. "It's nothing. We have to take care of eachother." Myrtle waves goodbye. "Bye boys! Remember that the potion won't go bad." she then cackles like a witch. As you exit the forest, Cohen turns to your group and says. "remember always younglings, there is no old-age pension for adventurers." On the whole you enjoy being a girl. There is an adjustment period of course and you have trouble with more respectable women. (The fact that you are a professional adventurer contributes to this.) Your changes also make you stand out, you are an ant-girl alone in the world of humans. Your changes are such that you can never really disguise yourself as human. Antenna might be covered by a hat, opaque eyes by tinted glass, your arms and legs by clothes, your abdomen by a hoop skirt. But after all that you end up looking like a conspicuously fashionable leper. (Which doesn’t mesh well with adventuring.) So you wear normal adventuring gear and stand out. This attracts curious glances and questions about the mysterious ant-girls. Occasionally you are invited to bed by a noble looking to experiment. Your friends always politely deflect interest. Your stronger arms and legs are useful in combat and the chitin is the lightest strongest armor you could hope for. Besides from being shorter you find yourself as capable a warrior as you were before the change. The ability to see smells proves somewhat useful. Over time you are able to link the smells to emotions (This you use to cheat at cards.) It also makes you damn good at tracking. One curious long term effect is that you feel much more comfortable underground than before. Eventually, Ron and Alonso turn back, they are supportive of you and Frederick deciding to stay as women. You chase the boys and the girls as your fancy suits you. (Old habits die hard). If you have any relationships within the group, they are loving. Once your group of adventurers has become established. (You stop nearly dying so much). Cohen gathers you all around and tells you that he is going to move on. Alonso is the only one who seems to have seen this coming; the group is devastated by his departure. (if: $conanhelp is 1)[ At a private moment Cohen takes you aside and tells you that you were always his favorite. That and the others need you to watch over them.] Cohen leaves and while you worry a bit, part of you knows that Cohen is badass enough to fight death and probably win. you once saw him kill six goblins in a minute. (you often see it again when you close your eyes.) Your team goes onto great success and you all become famous throughout the land. You are often credited as a bad inspiration to young girls; making them want to be adventurers. it only makes sense after all, if something as non-threatening as an ant-girl can be an adventurer why not a human-girl? Your single handed rescue of your friends in the face of impossible odds becomes part of the poetic Edda. you become a mythologized hero, a man who gave up his humanity for his friends. In time retelling of the story expands the danger. the latest version claims that you were beset with all manner of beasts as soon as you entered the forest. This is nonsense but it keeps the bards fed so you don't worry to much about it. Your finest moment is when you plunder the depths of Atuan labyrinth. it has been long abandoned, it's only guardians are it's deeps, traps and occasional fits of madness. to all of these you find yourself well adapted. your ability to leave behind scents as marks, your nightvision and your refusal to put up with nonsense keep you safe. you emerge reasonably wealthy and famous for returning from where no man has returned from before. perhaps one day you will settle down and try for a family. Alonso becomes a leader of men, and ends up leading (by accident and inability to say no to a pretty face) an order of knights. Ron becomes an archmage despite his humble origins. He attempts to spread magical knowledge through out the world so that others can have the same chance he did. (Your group constantly looks through his curriculum to make sure nothing "too" dangerous makes it in.) Frederick becomes a "respectable" lady who moves in high society. (And robs them blind during the night.) Despite your success the group is always ready for adventure. You look forward to your next adventure eagerly confident that you can face anything. ant 2 bug ending: it takes the right kind of person [[credits]] \ \(set: $epilogueant2gear to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $ant2gear to 0) \(set: $effects to 0) \(set: $endingant2status to 0)

"After putting on a show like that it's the least you owe asshole." You managed to get through today without self-stimulating; so they need to show some self-control. You ditch your pants and point towards your soaked crotch. Frederick seems sheepish. "Again sorry, got carried away."(if: $antintimacy is 1)[He looks at you with an expectant glance. "You mentioned a second slit?" You nod slowly. "Might as well give that a try." You maneuver your abdomen between your legs. Frederick starts to kiss the tip which causes a tingle. He slowly licks and kisses his way to the slit. Once he reaches the slit he pauses.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[He looks at you expectantly. "Let me make it up to you." He does his best to move toward you in a sultry manner. With his girlish frame this is more funny than alluring. He still gives it his best attempt. You maneuver your abdomen between your legs. Frederick starts to kiss the tip which causes a tingle. As he kisses his way up your abdomen, he discovers a slit. "What's this?" You shrug. "Don't know, it's very sensitive though." He gives you a wicked smile and then begins to kiss around the slit. Only to suddenly pause.] You kick him. He smiles and then locks lips with your slit. You hold your breath in anticipation, and put two fingers in your mouth to suck on. Then he sticks his tongue inside. You are filled with lightening, the world collapses down to your slit and his tongue. Your legs tremble, you quickly lose motor control. God fucking damn. Frederick for his part assaults your slit like he has a grudge. There isn't much more to say than it feels good. You are certainly incapable of communicating much more than that. The sensation has no direct comparison to when you were a male and feels far better than your vagina. You climax quickly and messily all over Frederick's hair. When you manage to open your eyes you see both Ron and Alonso looking at you enviously. Everyone has managed to get themselves ready to move. (set: $friendsex to 1) [[Collect self->ant 2 mushroom yes tf friends part 1]] \(set: $mushroomwatchant2status to 0) \(set: $mushroomorgyant2status to 1)

You very quietly lose your shit. "What the fuck guys? I have been going twice as hard, twice as long as you. I'm keeping it in my pants, this is not the time. What is your fucking problem?" Everyone manages to get up into a sitting position. They all look sheepish. Frederick speaks up first. "The escape has been pretty desperate. You have been doing alright, we are having a hard time." You give him a deadpan look and emit something close to grey. "We may have gotten a little carried away." Alonso is blushing a little. "At least for me after I took the mushrooms, I felt a great sense of joy at being together with friends." He pauses for a moment. "Perhaps we could have handled it better." Ron nods. "I felt super horny." They all look at you for forgiveness. You let out a sigh. (if: $antintimacy is 1)["I know what it's like, but we are being actively hunted right now. So get your clothes back on and let's get moving."] (if: $antintimacy is 0)["I understand that the mushrooms get you really wound up, so get it out of your system and get ready to move. We are still being hunted."] They put their clothes back on and then nod respectfully to you. Alonso smiles. "You always have been the toughest of us." You shake your head. "Someone has to watch out for you three knuckleheads. [[Collect yourself->ant 2 mushroom yes tf friends part 1]] \(set: $mushroomwatchant2status to 0) \(set: $mushroomcontrolant2status to 1)

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You resolve to return back to the man you were. Your friends echo your sentiment. (Although Frederick seems a little reluctant.) Cohen claims that he knows a way to return everyone to normal. There is a normalization field outside of a dungeon only he knows about. He also claims that though the dungeon has a few odd traps, there should be enough treasure to make it worthwhile. Your group is a bit anxious about tackling a dungeon but if it's the best way to get back to normal you are game. he says it's a former temple to Echidna mother of monsters but that shouldn't be a problem. TO BE CONTINUED IN: A TF DUNGEON ADVENTURE 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO [[credits]]

The remaining escape is difficult, the spider-girls have a grudge against you. You are able to scare off the first few patrols you meet through superior numbers. But then the spiders begin attack in earnest. Your sisters fight with the other ant-girls well, but after the initial jubilation the other ant-girls keep their distance. The fighting is constant and enjoyable. This is fighting on equal terms, none of that ambush crap. The spiders try to drive you deeper into the forest but the other ant-girls prove to be excellent guides. The ant-girl always rushes forward to help with the fighting. Your friends note this with mild amusement. She is a experienced fighter, and the two of your fight together well. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[She lets you into danger only reluctantly.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[She acts like your bodyguard, which kind of cramps your style.] The rest of the ant-girls slowly become more comfortable with your team. They seem like distant family members hesitant to get too close. They even start to be familiar as you go on. You still have no luck understanding what they are saying via smell though. Being able to observe a group of ant-girls gives you some insight into how and why they use smell. It's nowhere near enough to replicate it but it gives you a better feel for it. It makes you feel like a child learning to speak though. The forest begins to thin and you exclaim happily at the sight. Of course, the spider's final attack comes. You see the spider-queen lead the attack, and she looks fucking pissed. [[Your sisters form up without a thought->ant 2 final choices rescuer team part 4]]

It takes another 24 hours to escape from the forest. Most of this time is spent dodging the numerous spider-girl patrols. This is frustrating, Cohen wants no contact with the enemy. You avoid battles you could win so the enemy has no idea where you are. You understand why this is important but you want some payback goddamnit. Cohen can be a patient man for a barbarian. He watches every enemy patrol carefully and often says nothing more than "stop" or "go" to your group. If this is stressing him he isn’t showing it. More than once it seems like he can read the mind of your pursuers. (A lifetime of dodging the guard pays if you live long enough.) You and your sisters pass the time exploring the strange form of communication that ant-girls use. You barely understand the beginnings of it. With conscious effort you can manage to emit a scent that not only echoes your emotion but invokes a particular emotion in your sisters. They do the same to you. This sounds handy but an ability to put a sense of fear into your teammate does not have a lot of tactical uses. If anything it's something of a liability. The clouds of impatience grow and it takes all you have not to follow them. Still in time it might actually be useful. The spider-girl patrols are thick and let up only slightly as you get closer to the edge of the forest. Bad luck and Frederick’s small bladder means that you are spotted as you reach the edge of the forest. This patrol you lose quickly and despite Cohen's swearing it doesn't seem serious. (No ghost run for you though.) The trees thin and you can finally see the golden sun again. There has never been a sight for more sore eyes. everyone emits happy scents uncontrollably. Then the horns sound and you turn to see the spider’s final attack. It makes a perverse kind of sense that the final patrol you encounter would be the largest by far and lead by The Spider Queen. (Amusingly her crown has been toasted.) There is no thought, Your team surges forward like the tide to meet her. (if: $youfight is 1)[You feel your neck and bury any feelings of fear.] [[Fight it out!-> ant 2 final choices survivor team part 4]]

Alonso smiles and looks at everyone else. He emits a happy confident scent and you do the same. This shushes the fearful scent that Ron is putting out and perhaps drives you to be a little impeteus. Alonso calls out confidently "Cohen, keep them off of us." Cohen lets out a confident chuckle. (if: $youfight is 1)[With a slightly teasing tone Frederick calls out. "don't let her grab you." You give him a look. He smiles at you. ]You and Alonso race each other to take the spider-queen on from the front. Frederick and Ron move to support. The Spider queen is borderline magical with that spear. She is able to keep up with both you and Alonso attacking from the front. The trick is to always prevent you from both attacking at once. What she doesn't expect is Frederick joining the frontal attack. Your timing is perfect, and you manage to slowly force her back. She smiles, and you get a real ominous feeling. Then she starts really trying and forces you back. Your teamwork is good but she knows every maneuver before you start to make it. Finally, you smell a spicy red scent. Everyone ducks at once and a gout of flame roars overhead. The spider queen manages to ward of the worst of it with an expert twirl of her spear. (Her crown however takes the worst of it.) Alonso releases a scent and everyone nods at once, this isn't going to end until you take out that spear. You and Frederick push the attack while Alonso waits for the right moment. Then you make a lunge, which the queen parries into Frederick's face. This gives Alonso an opening to lets out an expert slice into the queen's spear. His sword gets stuck about halfway through the thick shaft but it's a valiant effort. The spider queen is unable to keep fighting with her spear compromised. She backs off, trying to pull the sword from the spear. Your group fends off the final attack by the rest of the spiders. The spider-girls make rude gestures and threats as they retreat but this has futile air. They don't dare try a daytime attack beyond the forest. You have never been happier to leave a forest. You greet the clear sky with a loud hello, and everyone does a jig in the sunshine. Then you put all four hands up like you just don't care. Once the forest is distant, Alonso takes a knee and Frederick collapses onto him. Cohen snaps at the both of them. "What did I say earlier? Don't stop until we are safe!" You let out a "happy to be alive so Cohen can yell at you" scent and then give the both of them two hands up. [[Head into town->ant 2 final choices team part 6]]

Alonso smiles and looks at everyone else. He emits a happy confident scent and you do the same. This shushes the fearful scent that Ron is putting out. Alonso calls out confidently "Cohen, help the ant-girls keep them off of us." Cohen lets out a confident chuckle. Your ant-girl seems to intimate what your plans are. (if: $youfight is 1)[She looks at you obviously concerned,](if: $youfight is 0)[She gives you a look equal parts impetuous and worried,] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[you give her a good natured pat.](if: $antintimacy is 1)[you kiss her on the cheek.] She nods and her ant-girls form up around her. (if: $youfight is 1)[With a wry smile Alonso calls out. "Watch her grapples." You give him a look. He has that shit eating grin. ]You and Alonso race each other to take the spider-queen on from the front. Frederick and Ron move to support. You sync your attacks with Alonso, but the spider-queen keeps up without missing a beat. You focus on making sure that the spider queen doesn't penetrate you. But you can see the other ant-girls keeping the spider-queen's guard busy. A green scent flows from Alonso and you match it. there is a blue scent in confirmation. You redouble your attack to give Frederick an opening to attack from behind. He tackles the queen's legs, and ends up holding on for dear life. This forces her to kneeling? position where one side of her abdomen is lower than the other. She spits in Alonso's face and then hits him in the head with the blunt end of her spear so hard that it knocks him over. Then she turns her attention to you. You try to match her but even stuck, she's pretty fearsome. You give ground, and focus on protecting Alonso. (Alonso is reeling on the ground) The queen grows impatient, and with a slight shuffle pins Frederick with one of her legs. Then she moves to stab Frederick. Frederick starts to release clouds of panic and you panic a little yourself. You get more aggressive trying to keep her distracted. you switch between hands rapidly to try and throw her offguard, but the spider-queen is unimpressed. Then you see a spicy red cloud hang in the air and throw yourself to the ground. A gout of flame sails through the air missing you by a hair. The spider queen manages to deflect most of it with an expert twirl of her spear. Her hair and crown take the worst of it though. Frederick manages to get free and rolls away. For a shining second it looks like you finally have her. You push forward to capitalize on the opening. You swing your sword but the spider-queen blocks with the center of her spear. This traps your sword but also disarms the queen. You glare at the spider queen and she glares right back at you. (if: $youfight is 1)["More than a simple queenling."](if: $youfight is 0)["Such an accident of birth, all four of you."] Then her personal guard breaks though and you pull back. The spiders seem to have enough and conduct a fighting retreat. A quick check makes sure that Alonso is okay. (He is punch drunk but not damaged.) [[Then you flip off the spiders as hard as you can.->ant 2 final choices team part 5]]

Your ant-girl leads you to a secluded spot looking out onto the clearing separating the spider's nest from the forest proper. You both sit down. you sniff and see that there are pale green nervous scents coming from your ant-girl. You touch her gently on the shoulder and try to look confident. You are just as nervous as her so it doesn't get very far. She suppress a laugh and smiles slightly. Then you see a languid brown scent drift through the air. (if: $antmeal is 1)[It reminds you of the signal your ant-girl was giving off when you found her.] Your ant-girl goes back to looking confident. She draws her entrenching tool and you do the same. \(if: $antmeal is 1)[Two horns bellow from beyond the spider's nest and are quickly answered by horns within the spider's nest. You take a moment to wish the ant-girls luck. Especially the junior ant-girl she looks fit to panic.] \(if: $antmeal is 0)[A horn bellows from beyond the spider's nest and are quickly answered by a horn within the spider's nest. You take a moment to wish the ant-girls luck. So long as they don't over commit they should be alright.] You double check that the guards are distracted and then the pair of you sprint across the clearing. You push yourself as fast as you can go and find your ant-girl only barely able to keep up with you. You reach cover on the other side and quickly hide yourself. Your ant-girl does the same and gives you a double thumbs up. As a pair you move deeper into the nest. Rounding a tree you look up and see a figure reclining on a balcony above. The figure is inhumanly pale, perhaps covered in a white fuzz? Her hair is yellowish white and her eyes are black with red pupils. A pair of black feathery antenna and large compound eyes adorn her temple. You look upon her and know fear. Your ant-girl is letting off a powerful cloud of fear behind you. She puts a hand on your shoulder and you take a deep breath. You can't quite tear your eyes away from her though. She smiles cruelly down at you and turns away. You let out a deep breath of relief. You start to move as quickly as you dare. This proves too quick in fact. As you start to move up you glance towards the tree tops to see a silver haired spider-girl about to spot you. With no other options you jump behind a tree and pray to whatever spider-god is involved that she didn't see you. You wait a few heart stopping minutes and no cry of alarm is raised. Your ant-girl comes to check on you and you give her a thumbs up. She gives you a look that says "you have to be kidding me." That doesn't bode well, you try to sit up only to find yourself stuck. A quick glance shows it to be a spider-web. Your ant-girl gives you a look that says she is rolling her eyes and then starts to cut you free. She wipes her entrenching tool clean on your (if: $antmeal is 1)[cuirass. The white is a sharp contrast to the dark brown material.](if: $antmeal is 0)[shirt. It makes a big sticky spot but you have bigger issues.] You hear multiple battle cries of spider-girls and quicken your pace ever so slightly. Finally, you reach the inner sanctum. A quick glance shows three cocoons on the ground. These are the same type of cocoon that you managed to escape from (if: $antmeal is 1)[not that long ago.](if: $antmeal is 0)[earlier today.] This doesn't mean that your friends are contained therein. The prospect makes you panic and then you notice that one is substantially larger than the others and covered in burn marks. (set: $randococoon to (either: 0,1)) Ron, you pyromaniac bastard. He probably only gave up because he ran out of air. You get the ant-girls attention and then point to the cocoons. She gives you a brisk nod which you happily return. [[you take a deep breath and then make the charge.->sisters ant 2 part 9]]

The pair of you sprint the final distance to the cocoons. You reach the cocoons, the ant-girl looks at you questioningly. Time to decide which one to open. It's not a choice. The only one who can protect you while you open the other two is Ron. His cocoon is the thickest by far though. You point at what is probably Ron's cocoon. The ant-girl nods and then plunges her entrenching tool into the cocoon. You look at her shocked. She shrugs nonchalantly. (Man you hope Ron isn't dead.) With some difficulty you retrieve the entrenching tool. This opens a small gap. You glance around, the spiders are still distracted, it seems most of them have gone to watch the fighting. You put all four hands into the gap and pull, your ant-girl does the same. With the silent yell, the pair of you manage to tear the cocoon in two. Ron is lying insensate in a white puddle. Well it's probably Ron, among other changes he is a girl now. His wet clothes make that painfully obvious. His long black hair makes a sharp contrast with the milky white fluid. You emit (if: $antmeal is 1)[a scent that reminds you a joyful reunion.](if: $antmeal is 0)[happy scents light colored scents.] He doesn't stir and you realize your mistake. You go up to him and slap him across the face. (You always wanted to do that.) "Wake up goddamnit!" He stirs groggily, finally opening his eyes while you glance around worried. Finally his eyes open and grow wide. "Ant-girls! Get ready to burn moth-" You shush Ron. "No time for that crap Ron. I'm here to rescue you." He gives you a confused look. "How do you know my name?" You look around again and let out a pained sigh. "We had soup for lunch" He still seems confused. "I'm your buddy, now move. I got the ant-girls to help me rescue you but it's not going to last long and I need a distraction." Ron's black eyes grow as large as saucers. "You really look different."(if: $antmeal is 1)[He gives your crown of flowers a curious look.] You let out another pained sigh. You really don't have time for this. "Yeah and so do you. Now cover me and my (if: $antintimacy is 0)[friend](if: $antintimacy is 1)[partner] While we get the others." "How should I cover you?" You give him a tired look. He smiles "I'll give them something to worry about. He starts throwing fire into the surrounding trees. (Screw the spiders worrying, you are worried about burning to death.) [[Open the closest cocoon->ant 2 sisters combo]] \(set: $sistersattackant2status to 1)

with the spiders gone everyone moves to regroup. you help alonso to his feet, he is unsteady but cognizant enough to be hurting so he is probably okay. you and frederick help support alonso until he can walk unaided. finally you reach the edge of the forest. the sky is blue and the sun has never been more glorious. everyone does a jig of happiness and releases warm happy colors to celebrate. even the ant-girls seems a bit relieved, although they don't show it beyond a few happy colors. as you step out into sunlight the ant-girls stay behind. you ant-girl looks at you fondly from the shade. you go back to her. your friends all smile at eachother. (if: $antintimacy is 0)[You ant girl looks into your eyes. She looks at your sisters with an indescribable expression. (if: $friendsex is 1)[Perhaps a hint of envy?] then she looks back at her own ant-girls. Her expression is bereft and then she hugs you. As she holds you close she carefully maneuvers her antenna into yours. This produces an inexplicable tingling sensation. Then releasing you she composes herself. Finally while emitting an official scent she curtseys low to you. She gets ready to lead her ant-girls back into the forest. She and her ant-girls all bow to your party in unison. (Strangely they also all insist on shaking Cohen’s hand.) [[finally leave that forest->ant 2 final choices team part 6]]](if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your ant-girl pauses and starts to make a few arcane hand gestures, you look behind yourself and see that she is signaling to Cohen. He smiles and nods and she takes this as a opportunity to drag you behind a nearby tree for her own farewell. She starts making out which you in a manner best described as frenzied. Her hands roam all over your body and her smaller pair begin to tease the slit on your abdomen. At the same time she starts to hump our leg. She is obviously ready to go right here right now. (if: $friendsex is 1)[Something about it seems wrong, as if she was trying to tempt you.] You push her away and then smile at her sadly. She returns the look. She obviously wants you to stay. Then she looks in the direction of your sisters and has a pained almost angry look. You pat her head comfortingly, and she hugs you with all four arms. (She also takes this as an opportunity to kiss your neck.) You hug her for a while and then kiss her romantically. Perhaps it won't ever be rated one of the greatest kisses in the world, but to you and her it means everything. She releases you and the gives you a deep curtsy. She cries a little and you know you will miss her terribly. Suddenly an idea strikes you. You already in a posse? Hoard? Of ant-girls, why not add one more? You could invite your ant-girl to come with you. You know that she values her sisters a lot, but she also seems to love you. Something deep within you tells you that it would be a break from everything she knows. In some ways it might even be considered manipulative, she would be completely reliant on you and your friends. Still she was an incredible help to you and your sisters in the forest. You have no doubt that she would be just as much a help in the wider world. It’s not an offer to make lightly and so you pause. [[Offer to take her with you->ant 2 final choices marriage]] [[Leave her be->ant 2 final choices team part 6]] \(set: $mushroomfightant2status to 0) \(set: $mushroomofferant2status to 1)]

(if: $antintimacy is 1)[You shake your head. She is happy here, accidents with spider-webs non-withstanding. It would be cruel to take her from her family. She may love you now, but you hardly know her. She looks at you perhaps unwilling to understand, so you take her hands gently and lead her to where the others are waiting. Your sisters have an smug expression. From the other ant-girls however, there is a overwhelming cloud of green tinged with impropriety and perhaps envy. The ant-girls all bow to your group in unison and then head back into the forest. (Strangely they make sure to all shake Cohen's hands first.) A part of you, a strong part of your hopes that you will see the ant-girl again. But you know you won't. ] Having finally escaped that disaster the first order of business is to celebrate. In this case that means eating your fill and getting as plastred as possible. Your sisters draw stares and open speculation about an invasion of ant-girls as you jog your way to the bar. The Barkeeper is surprised but politness and the look Cohen gives him stays his tongue. The Barmaid however is completely nonplussed and takes your orders with an air of practiced casualness. (She deals with crazier shit in the average slow day.) \(if: $friendsex is 0)[The first toast is to your general amazing in managing a single handed rescue of your friends. After a bit of browbeating the rest sheepishly admit that maybe they got a little carried away in the tree. ] Then the drinking to celebrate being alive begins. You never wondered about what an ant-girl's tolerance for alcohol was but after tonight you know the limits. You finally collapse into a heap with your sisters. (if: $friendsex is 1)[Maybe some drunken groping happens, but you are far too hammered to tell.] The next day bright and early Cohen wakes everyone up with that fiendish grin. [[That means drill-> ant 2 final choices mushroom]] \(set: $mushroomofferant2status to 0) \(set: $mushroomfightant2status to 0) \(set: $mushroomendingant2status to 1) \(set: $fightant2appearance to 0) \(set: $mushroomendingant2appearance to 1) \(set: $ant2gear to 2)

This is no doubt going to be a difficult concept to get across. You kneel down and take her hand. You kiss it once and then look up into her eyes. She looks down at you confused. You make the blue scent, and then hold up four fingers. Then you point away from the forest. Then you point at her make the brown scent, hold up a finger. then you point at her and then yourself. Make the blue scent and hold up five fingers, then you point away from the forest. She blinks at you twice. Then she points at herself, then you and then away from the forest. You nod. She looks at you totally lost. She looks around as if searching for something. Uncertainly streams off her. This is quite the contrast to her earlier attitudes and you are taken aback. She bites her lip and then puts her hands on your shoulders. You look up at her hopefully. Finally, she seems to resolve herself. She brings you up to a standing position. Then she looks into your eyes, her expression is unreadable. Then she kisses you. It is not a romantic kiss but a kiss of someone seeking support and acceptance. You kiss her back in an as understanding manner as you can. Leading her back towards your sisters, she follows shyly. Your sisters have a smug expression. From the other ant-girls however, there is a overwhelming cloud of green tinged with impropriety and perhaps envy. Your ant-girl adopts an imperious look and then makes what is likely the ant-girl version of a speech. She gestures in a restrained way while an indescribable array of colors fills the air. Then your ant-girl steps over to your sisters and curtseys deeply. She looks at them uncertainly, your sisters look at you surprised. The other group of ant-girls looks sad and then bows to your group in unison. Then just as quietly as ever they head back into the forest. (Strangely they make sure to all shake Cohen's hands first.) Having finally escaped that disaster in the forest, the first order of business is to celebrate. In this case that means eating your fill and getting as plastered as possible. Your ant-girl lags behind the group as you jog into town. This many ant-girls at once draws frightened stares and open speculation about an invasion of ant-girls. Alonso dispels this immediately when he starts greeting people. Your ant-girl pauses at walls of the tavern. With a bit of effort and hard chitinous fingers she manages to break off a piece of wood. She shows it to you and then nudges you good naturedly. (Ants must not work in wood.) You get into the bar and order a round. Your ant-girl sniffs her flagon carefully and then begins to drink the beer like water. You quickly restrain her. [[A wasted ant-girl is not what you need right now.->ant 2 final choices marriage part 1]] \(set: $marriageant2 to 1) \(set: $mushroomendingant2appearance to 1) \(set: $mushroommarriageant2status to 1) \(set: $humanlevel to 1) \(set: $mushroomofferant2status to 0)

You cast your vote to return to remain being an ant, female is required. Alonso votes that same as you leaving it 3-1. Ron looks frustrated and a little hurt. But he accepts the decision, as a team of equals any vote is binding. Cohen nods his approval. He has seen many adventuring groups torn apart by internal disagreement. From there life continues much as it had before the misadventure in the forest. You take adventuring jobs looking for money and adventure (obviously.) You have barely managed to get above water again when you hear the most terrifying of rumors. Entire graveyards emptied, homestead destroyed but the crops left untouched, an army of hungry corpses on the march. A pale bone white figure above them wearing a crown of black. All the signs point to a lich having arisen, and there is nothing more dangerous to your sisters. You aren't afraid of course, it's just that there is very little someone like you can do against a lich. Except die. The queen puts out a call for adventurers to help deal with the threat. Your sisters are helpless against something that can cast a spell of disintegration as easily as drink a cup of coffee. Cohen however is the sort that might be able to do something. You beg him not to go but he says something about an incident. Supposedly he got with the queen and then her daughter in short order. He owes the queen a favor for not executing him on the spot. You go to the meeting and see many famous adventurers. Unsurprisingly, you are only tolerated among them. The first step Cohen claims is to find where the lich is keeping the container which holds it's soul. When Frederick cheekily asks how big a jar you need for a soul. Cohen quickly corrects him, it's more likely a valuable object. To do this your sisters help in tracking the patrols of the undead. It's tiresome work because the undead march without tiring. Also, Frederick has a pronounced fear of the undead. (A zombie broke into his family’s barn and began eating live stock until it's stomach burst. Then it continued eating until it's jaw dropped off.) This means he starts putting out a fearful scent whenever you so much as spot one. You figure out how to shush him fairly quickly, but it's annoying. Finally you manage to find the lich's lair. It's a horrifying tomb built into a mesa shaped like a skull. (Which you have to admit is kind of cool.) The most experienced adventurers in the kingdom assemble to challenge the tomb. Right before they are about to enter, Cohen shakes each of your sisters by the hands. Then he says "Younglings, I never thought I would have to say this but, there is a very good chance I am not going to come back. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with you, and I am sad I won't see the great adventurers you will grow up to be." He then gives detailed instructions on multiple treasure caches he has set up. [[The adventurers set off->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 1]] \(set: $mushroomendingant2appearance to 0) \(set: $mushroomepilogueant2appearance to 1) \(set: $mushroomendingant2status to 1)

The two are acquainted, and he introduces the fairy as Nele. Nele looks your sisters over and then asks if they have been partially converted to monsters. he shakes his head and claims it is simply a local illness. The fairy to your surprise swears like a sailor as she explains the situation. You don't quite understand the situation but the gist is as follows. Several years ago a monster from beyond the stars came to your world. Nele and a woman named Marianne came to hunt it down and enlisted Cohen in the effort. To make sure it didn't happen again Cohen and Nele went to some effort to set an alarm should anything come to your world again. Which leaves open the question of how another got here. When you ask this Nele simply sighs and stares off into space. Cohen asks "Marianne was drinking?" Nele doesn't answer but simply puts her tiny head in her even smaller hands. Cohen continues "Really for everyone's sake she needs to stop drinking." Nele looks up and says "Why don't you suggest that to her?" Cohen gets an uncomfortable look and murmers something about how long it took to get back to normal after the last time he contradicted Marianne. Cohen manages to get Nele to promise to turn your group back to normal in return for slaying the "magico" and returning it's “core”. Killing shit and looting it's body is second nature to an adventurer like yourself. Cohen tempers your excitement by saying that monsters from beyond the stars are an order of magnitude more dangerous than you are used to. You have to fight your way through the nest it has made in a forest while being assaulting by a huge number of oversized pests. this is far more challenging than you thought it would be. they come out of the walls, floor and ceiling. your teamwork is pushed to it's limit but you kill them in abundance. (At one point you are on top of a small hill of their corpses.) You manage to face the “magico”. It is a plant monster with female elements and a real bitch to take down. Still after a harrowing fight, you manage to kill it through a generous application of sharp things and fire. You take a shining gem from it's corpse; just holding the gem causes your fingers to tingle and makes you sneeze. Nele gives a sigh of relief when you give her the gem and has everyone line-up as she gets the spell ready. You hear her mumble something about not understanding why Olivia even made a spell to turn someone back to their original shape. She casts the spell and you suddenly fall forward. You struggle to move and are too shocked for a moment to understand what is happening. Eventually you realize that you can't move because your breasts have become so large you are immobilized. You flail your arms and legs helplessly, this is unspeakably uncomfortable. Nele looks as shocked as you and looks again at a piece of paper the same size as her. "Oh, I'm sorry dearie I read it backwards." She casts the spell again and suddenly you feel normal. Standing up you are slightly taller. You look yourself over, your waist is back to human size, and you are down a pair of arms. Cohen smiles and tries to shake Nele’s hand. This is difficult and they settle for high fives. Cohen looks at Nele and says “Let’s hope we don’t meet again.” Nele looks back at him and says “Same here dearie.” While camping you attempt to retire to a private place. This takes a while because everyone else is trying to the same thing. You manage to get the privacy you need and make sure your equipment works though. [[epilogue->ant 0, boy, ending]] (set: $mushroomcameoant2status to 1) (set: $mushroomendingant2status to 0)

Cohen is not a cruel man, but he was always very clear that if you ever drunk to excess he would punish you for it. "your profession is now adventurer, and an adventurer needs to be able to get up in the morning." This rings through your head as Cohen drives everyone through a series of exhausting drills to make sure you are acquainted with your new bodies. Everyone but Frederick has shed at least half a foot of height which means you move and fight differently. Not to mention that chitin is a long way from skin and muscle. Everyone finds themselves a bit stronger and faster than they used to be. you may be just as fieresome but you are too short to be intimidating. The most drastic change is the thing invisible to outsiders. the invisible language of smell is clumsy between your sisters, but it's still there. you refine your ability to communicate until you manage to send emotions. this doesn't seems to have many uses at first but you quickly realize it gives a far greater range of meanings than shouted orders. you are able to catch things without looking, or intuit a plan at a glance. this new sense increases your team work monsterously. normally group spars against Cohen are one sided affairs. they still are but you the bettter teamwork means that you last until Cohen starts really trying. (Mostly you use the better teamwork to clean up at cards.) Curiously the changes comes to everyone naturally, like remembering a dance you knew long ago. This could have been all the fighting in the forest, or perhaps something else. Ron complains almost constantly through this process. however he does it mostly through smell, which keeps Cohen from criticising him. (He complains on purpose, he is happier with something to complain about.) After a week of intensive training, Cohen declares that your sisters are as dangerous as before your misadventure in the forest. At the tavern that night the conversation turns to future plans. Namely to stay as you are or turn back. Frederick argues at length in favor in staying ant-girls. He feels the increased strength and teamwork make you more capable adventurers. You are also confident that he is happier as he is now. He wants you to stay as you are. Ron argues that the changes are not understood. Additionally Ant-girls are a rarity throughout the world, and you will never pass unnoticed. Furthermore, as you are currently you would not even be recognized by your parents. He feels everyone should change back to how they were. you intimate that he feels uncomfortable as a girl. Cohen is out of the argument and a glance at Alonso says that whichever way you vote he will second. (he still feels a little guilty about (if: $antdiscovery is 1)[not helping fight the spider.](if: $antdiscovery is 0)[having the threesome.] [[Vote to stay->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending]] [[Vote to change->ant 2, mushrooms human ending]]

12 hours later they return. two are dead and another missing both arms past the elbow completely. Cohen puts his hand to his head and says "The tomb cannot be plundered from the front, there are traps there that can kill anything. We must try something else, maybe the mages will have something." Everyone looks at each other and then you speak up. "You getting lazy old timer? It's not like you to say a problem needs wizards to solve. We have the solution right here." He looks at you confused. [["What are ants know for?"->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 2]] (The answer is not being awesome although that's also true in this case.)

He smiles. "That's my younglings. Still we need to be careful that place is riddled with traps, and we need to be sneaky in case the lich comes back." So you start to dig around the horrifying tomb. It takes weeks, and Cohen has to keep a constant look out for roving bands of the undead. In the meantime he has the nearest city on the ready so that when you do have the soul vase you can destroy it. Thankfully you and your sisters were made for such a task. Your arms are tireless and your low light vision is helpful in the tunnels. More importantly you find you have an excellent sense for underground spaces. This helps the few times you dare to peak into the tomb itself. There you see some horrible things, and a few traps. What you don't see are all the other traps. You never physically enter the tomb, this is because you like living. Eventually you reach what is undoubtedly the inner sanctum. You say this because you already found the fake one. It's a room with the walls covered in shelves. These shelves are covered with an immense amount of treasure, and knick-nacks. That of course leaves the question of what the soul vase actually is. You ask Ron to give some sort of magical clue but as soon as he cast magic vision he started screaming non-stop. Once Ron stops screaming so much Cohen has everyone take a knee. "Alright younglings I always told you that the mind is the adventurers most dangerous weapon. Let's think this through and figure out what the flactry actually is. What do we know?” Alonso speaks up "The dungeon is designed to punish mistakes." Ron concurs. "Picking the wrong thing is likely to trip the alarm." Frederick nods thoughtfully. "Almost all of the treasure so far has been super trapped. The dungeon punishes greed, so it's probably not anything valuable. Cohen nods. "Making sense so far. My experience tells me that whatever it is it won't trigger an alarm. That way if an adventurer picks it up, they won't try to destroy it to shut off the alarm." Everyone nods to this. So you are looking for something plain. You look through the shelves from multiple angles and find three things that might fit this description. A simple comb, a whittling knife, and a brass ring. Thankfully Cohen has oranges and string. You tie the string around the oranges and them use them to knock the valuable crap off the shelves. (You ask him why oranges and he says it's so you can eat them afterwards. Which you really can't argue with) Then you very carefully grab the objects with hooks. Cohen makes sure that the objects are never touched and kept in burlap bag. Also that no one person every carries more than one at a time. From there you damn near kill your horse riding to the nearest city. Cohen exhorts you to go fast as possible because he is certain that the lich is coming. (This is difficult because Ron doesn't like to mistreat horses.) After a half day of looking over your shoulder and abusing your horse. You finally sight the walls of the city of Ris. They have thick walls and the undead have obviously made a few tries and been beaten back. Their corpse are stacked in smoldering piles outside the walls. The walls are thick and you feel safer within them. The three bags are handed to the local priests who rush off to purify them. Everyone moves to take care of the horses and generally relax. You look to Cohen. [[Cohen isn't smiling.->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 3]]

after a few times of this you break through into an underground cave. it's frederick's turn to dig so he is the one peaking into the space. there he sees a beautiful woman on a gigantic pile of treasure. being frederick he has skewed priorities. "hey, pretty lady." Alonso rushes forward. "frederick who the fuck are you talking to?" frederick gives a shrug. "there is a beautiful lady on a pile of treasure." Alonso looks back to both you and ron. you have simultaneously crossed both sets of arms. "Frederick, leave it. it's just another trap." frederick shakes his head. "nah i got a good feeling." he turned back to the hole. "hey pretty lady." the beautiful woman looked up at him and enthusiastically answered. "hello, how exactly did you get in there?" Frederick looks smug. "we dug. are you stuck in there?" everyone is seriously considering dragging Frederick away and beating some sense into him. the beautiful woman calls back "totally, i'm cursed to stay in this room. i can't say how to break the curse either, i can only ask you to join me in lifting the curse." Frederick nods and manages to fight off you and alonso long enough to shove himself through the hole. both you and alonso look at him panicked and do some mental arithmitic. you point at yourself and then quietly say. "i'll do it, make sure you finish the tunnel."

Your ant-girl begins to gingerly chew the corned beef when Alonso broaches the topic that has been on everyone's minds. He glances over at your ant-girl, "so?" You grin sheepishly. "She helped in the forest. So I figured I would try to get her to join." Ron adds in "I'm a bit surprised she joined at all. Ants are usually very hesitant to leave their sisters." You smile and then shrug. "She adopted us." Cohen clears his throat and then says. "That's darling, but it's not her decision." He surveys the group. "I vote that we allow her to join provisionally." This is quickly seconded and proves unanimous. You smile wide. "Thanks guys." You nudge your ant-girl. She looks up smiling. You nudge her again, she looks at you confused. You give her a desperate look, she seems to get the hint and nods at everyone. Frederick cuts in. "So what do we call her? We can't just say ant-girl for obvious reasons." He uses all four hands to refer to himself. Ron nods. "Why don't we ask her? Cohen ask her name." Cohen shakes his head. "Won't work, she doesn't have a name we would recognize." Alonso calls out. "Try it!" Cohen shrugs and makes some arcane hands symbols. The ant-girl seems confused and then makes some hand signals in response. Cohen rolls his eyes and then says. "She gave me the signs for ant-girl." Everyone pauses to think. Then Frederick has an idea. "Let's get super drunk and see what we come up with." [[get super drunk->ant 2 final choices marriage part 2]]

The next morning you know three things with surpassing clarity. One, never challenge someone who has never drunk before to a drinking contest. Two the ant-girl's name is now forma. Three, Cohen is going to call drill. Cohen is not a cruel man, but he was always very clear that if you ever drunk to excess he would punish you for it. "Your profession is now adventurer, and an adventurer needs to be able to get up in the morning." This rings through your head as Cohen drives everyone through a series of exhausting drills. He is trying to make sure you are acquainted with your new bodies. Forma tries her hardest but is clearly hungover. She often shoots pleading and betrayed looks at you. That night she snuggles up to you and holds you tightly. A strong pink scent tinged with love comes off of her as she does so. The next day however goes much better for her. She is more used to an ant-girl body and is able to aptly instruct your sisters in the finer points of having four arms. Everyone but Frederick has shed at least half a foot of height which means you move and fight differently. Not to mention that chitin is a long way from skin and muscle. Everyone finds themselves a bit stronger and faster than they used to be. You may be just as fearsome but you are too short to be intimidating. With Forma's help you manage to replicate some of the maneuvers you saw the patrol of ant-girls do. The most drastic change is the thing invisible to outsiders. The invisible language of smell is clumsy between your sisters, but it's still there. Then forma gets involved. She helps refine your ability to send scents until you manage to send emotions and occasionally images. This doesn't seems to have many uses at first but you quickly realize it gives a far greater range of meanings than shouted orders. You are able to catch things without looking, or intuit a plan at a glance. This new sense increases your team work monstrously. Normally group spars against Cohen are one sided affairs. With Forma's help you manage to last until Cohen starts fighting dirty. (Mostly you use the better teamwork to clean up at cards.) Curiously many of the things forma instructs you in, come to everyone naturally. It's like remembering a song you knew as a child. This could have been all the fighting in the forest, or perhaps something else. You eventually manage to form a pidgin language with Forma. But you never reach the full measure of communication that you saw the ant-girls in the forest display. Forma may understand speech but never speaks herself. Cohen attributes it to a cultural feature of the ants. After a week of intensive training, Cohen declares that your sisters are as dangerous as before your misadventure in the forest. At the tavern that night the conversation turns to the future. Namely to stay as you are or turn back. Frederick argues at length in favor in staying ant-girls. He feels the increased strength and teamwork make you more capable adventurers. You are also confident that he is happier as he is now. He wants you to stay as you are. Ron argues that the changes are not understood. Additionally, Ant-girls are a rarity throughout the world, and you will never pass unnoticed. Furthermore, as you are currently you would not even be recognized by your parents. He feels everyone should change back to how they were. You intimate that he feels uncomfortable as a girl. Cohen is out of the argument and Forma is not eligible to vote. A glance at Alonso says that whichever way you vote he will second. (He still feels a little guilty about (if: $antdiscovery is 1)[not helping fight the spider.](if: $antdiscovery is 0)[having the threesome.] Your mind was made up when you invited Forma. [[Vote to stay->ant 2 mushrooms ant marriage ending]]

You vote to stay the same. Alonso follows your vote and the issue is settled. Ron shoots you a hurt look. You shrug and look back at Forma. Forma is for her part devouring a loaf of bread. The next day you break camp and head off to your next adventure. As you walk through a field, a gentle rain picks up. Forma shies aways, looking bewildered and moves to cover herself. Your sisters take both of her hands and walk forwards confidently. She looks around surprised and starts to walk confidently. She seems truly happy for the first time since leaving the forest. You have sisters who can understand you better than words. You are part of a band of ant-girls on the loose seeking adventure. What more could you ask for? Ending: Bound by more than blood [[credits]]

You pause and consider running for it. Everything you have heard about kitsunes suggests that legging it won’t work. Also you doubt you could leg it all the way out of the forest. You turn around and innocently as possible ask. "Problem?" The kitsune looks irate. "You know what you did! It takes some guts to rob the altar of a temple." You shrug carefully, you would like to keep your guts. "I curse you to be unable to leave this temple until you give tribute of equal value to what you stole." You give a pained look skyward and groan. The kitsune loudly calls out "No whining!" (set: $kitsunetime to 0) [[Look for something->kitsune search]] \(set: $AltarKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $CaughtKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $TempleKitsune0Description to 1)

Alright you need something to buy off the kitsune so you can keep going. The kitsune follows you as you search, obviously amused by your distress. [[Search the central hall->kitsune search central hall]] [[search the library]] [[Search the store house->kitsune search store room]] [[Search the ritual area->kitsune search ritual area]] [[Try to do a runner->kitsune search run]] [[Search the stone garden->kitsune search stone garden]] (if: $mothcircle is 0)[ [[search the guest house->kitsune search guest house]]] \(if: $mothcircle is 1)[ ~~search the guest house~~(No, not yet. You know you need to checkout the storehouse first.] \(if: $kitsunetimer is 1)[The kitsune taps her foot impatiently. "I don't have anything planned but I don't have all day."] \(if: $kitsunetimer is 2)[She looks at your torn and muddy clothes. "I'm a bit surprised you left home wearing just that."] \(if: $kitsunetimer is 3)[The riceballs were good but now you feel thirsty.] \(if: $kitsunetimer is 4)[The kitsune plays with the end of one her tails, the fluffy white mass evades her fingers time and time again. She finally catches it and then looks at you bored.] \(if: $kitsunetimer is 5)[When she thinks you aren't looking the kitsune produces a small compact and makes sure her fearsome makeup is fearsome enough.] \(if: $kitsunetimer is 6)[The Kitsune gives you an encouraging look. "Come on, one more place to look, you can do this!"]

You search the central hall again. You already ate everything of value there. The kitsune gives you a quizical look. [[back->kitsune search]] \(set: $kitsunetimer to $kitsunetimer + 1)

You eye the red arch and then look back at the kitsune who is eying you. She gets a cruel smile. "Go on try it. I dare you." You can see multiple white fires in the trees around the temple. Time to think of something else. \(set: $kitsunetimer to $kitsunetimer + 1) [[back->kitsune search]]

You know there is something hidden here. Maybe it's the key to your freedom. Tou pace through the room carefully. There were scrolls hanging on the walls, probably detailing rituals. But these have all decayed to piles of moss and dust. Then a floorboard creaks suspciously. You smile and crouch down. A few probing pokes later it springs open. It reveals a magically perserved miko's uniform. Well that's worthless, you might be able to make a tent out of it if you had to. It is completely unfit for the type of hiking you ahead of you. Still old habits die hard and you check the pockets. An unimpressive looking key falls into your hand. You wait until the kitsune is distracted and slip it into your pocket. The kitsune raises an eyebrow as you sigh and get back to looking. [[Back->kitsune search]] \(set: $kitsunetimer to $kitsunetimer + 1) (set: $foundrobes to 1)

There is nothing here but mouldering piles of scrolls and the occasional bound book. Out of idle curiousity you take the time to search a few. Many are pornographic. Poor nuns must have gotten lonely. You also find a few worthless colored stones. No good to you but someone went through a lot of effort to collect them for some reason. Also a stone fox statue, painted garish colors. It might be special but you seriously doubt it will square you with the kitsune. You shrug and get back to your search. [[back->kitsune search]] \(set: $kitsunetimer to $kitsunetimer + 1)

Ah! This is the place to look. The coins should be worth something. Smiling you gather the pile of coins. With a triumphant grin you put them on the altar in place of the rice balls you really really needed. The kitsune gives you a disbelieving look. "That's the best you can do? I figured you had guts not that you were stupid." This is too much. "I apologize about the rice balls. But earlier today my caravan was attacked and I ran. I don't have anything else to give you." The kitsune puts a hand to her mouth and seems genuinely pertrubed. "Oh you poor dear. I thought you were being flippant. Not truly desperate." You nod. (if: $prudence is 1)[You need to get to the nearest bit of civilization](if: $guilt is 1)[You just want to get out of this forest], "I have a long way to go to get out of this forest, can I go?" You have a lot of hiking to get to. The kitsune adopts her official look again, but now there is a hint of a smile. "Very well, you have made up for eating the rice ball." She pauses. "But you still have to make up for interupting me." You let out a pained sigh as she continues. "For that I must curse you. The curse will last at least until you get out of the forest and I will accompany you to supervise the effects." Man today has been the pits! She snaps her fingers and you begin to feel a little strange. [[Cursed!->kitsune TF]] (We are still fighting someone for the copyright on this one) \(set: $CoinsKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $TempleKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $CaughtKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $CaughtKitsune0Status to 1)

The fox gathers her tails behind herself and then conjures a blue flame into her palm. She smiles at you smugly and then blows the flame towards you. It billows out in a comforting blue plume. The flame wraps around you in a comfortingly warm and ticklish glow. Blue light fills your vision. You look down to see your hands soften. There is a tickle by your ear and you reach to see what is happening. Your hair has turned a deep shiny black as it rolls down your shoulders. (Or become an even shinier black if it was already shiny black.) You feel a sudden tickle near your tailbone and turn to look and catch a glimpse of a blue shadow? That's weird, your attention however is consumed by a strange feeling from your new bosom. They feel tingly and sensative. You handle them gingerly, they seem slightly larger. You give a questioning look to the Kitsune. She tries to look innocent. Today has been rather strange, you pat your head only to hit something soft. You try again only to hit your scalp. What the hell is happening? The flames though gentle, seem to have burned off the excess on your body leaving your form slimmer than ever. The kitsune looks self-important and then continues. [["We should make ready to travel.->Kitsune level 0]] \(set: $Kitsune0Appearance to 1) \(set: $escapeapperance to 0) \(set: $BaseKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $CaughtKitsune0Status to 0)

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I like Catgirls, they can be cute and lighthearted. I made this game up on the fly but on reflection a good TF has a few parts that are difficult to apply to Catgirls. This is all off the top of my head so these problems might be surmounted with time. (About half-way through I realized you should become Cheshire cat catgirl) Also I'm going to use the published parts of the ant route as examples so watch out teh spoilers! Tone: We can get around this by going into silly mode, that's essentially what going over the river means in the escape path. Changes how the player interacts with the world: Ant-girl: makes the player slightly faster and stronger, gives them an extra pair of arms, the ability to see smells, and ultimately ant-language telepathy mix Catgirl: gives them catpowers? better sense of smell, hearing, and claws; at final level get Cheshire cat catgirl teleporting! (Bear in mind I would be uncomfortable going beyond anime catgirl) Changes how the player sees the world: Ant-girl: enables players to see smells and pickup hidden messages, come to consider other ant-girls as sisters, not yet written ant 3 mental changes Catgirl: start going nya, start rhyming, become more playful? (Would need to think up a stronger change here.) Story outline: (For convenience sake, and because I haven't written the escape path yet this is assumed to the rescue path) (Also: this is all going to be very very silly.) Initial TF: After fierce struggle you manage to subdue large (like size of your foot mouse), lacking any food you eat the damn thing. (You become cute animesque girl, with tail but no ears) 1st tf choice: Chase the butterfly (changes: start going nya! develop ears, slight cat mental changes) 2nd tf choice: Fool around with other Cheshire cat catgirl in patch of catnip (Changes: Full mental changes, develop stripes on hair and tail, start periodically rhyming in inner monolouge (I'm only human.)) How you deal with the rescue: 0: Similar plan to ant TF 1: Fight your way in? (I'm less confident on this one.) 2: Teleport and trick your way in Endings: 0: Develop many admirers, 1: Become playful if competent adventurer 2: Annoy party with riddles, eventually retire to have kittens Final thoughts: While completely doable, I'm less interested in catgirl TF. It relies on the chesire cat theme to keep it interesting. I need stronger mental changes, that's a large part of what I like the ant route right now. Also it's less gritty and I enjoy writing harrowing adventure. P.S: Feel despair knowing that the time I spent writing this could have been spent writing the game! P.S.S: I got the idea for Cheshire cat-girl from a doujin I read.

Dragon-girl path: Tone: You are being exposed to a high class world of magic and power. Mostly you are bumbling along trying to avoid getting thrown out. (maybe elements of a masquerade) Background: Dragonets were formed due to an alliance between the dragons and the elves. The dragons wanted an intermediate race so they wouldn't have to deal with their slave races directly. (The dragon ruling class is mostly jerks.) The elves were looking for partners in epic magic. You stumble into the yearly meeting where they renew the alliance. And make new dragonets but looking at that directly would be too horrible. Changes how the player interacts with the world: dragon-girl: gives them talons, arms and legs covered in scales, a bad-ass tail. Marginally useful wings, fire-breath. Generally you just become a waking tank. (Vanadis style black horns!) Changes how the player sees the world: Dragon girl: Less confident on this one. Perhaps you become more arrogant and commanding with a regal bearing. Story outline: This is on the escape path Initial TF: your quest to escape the forest stretches into the night. You accidentally wander into the night party of the elves. It’s a grand event with tables of food and dancing. There are ladies in fine dresses. It’s so unlikely that any human would ever wander into this event that they just ignore you. You have been warned multiple times to never eat food offered by elves. So you find an attractive looking rock and rest next to it. The dragon you are resting on contacts you telepathically. The dragon is sympathetic to your plight and offers to bless some food so it’s safe for you eat. This unsurprisingly changes to you a dragon-girl. (the dragon recently lost it’s dragonet offspring to inherited disease so it’s more sympathetic to you.) (You become a elegant, and frightening dragon girl. The dragon maybe gives you a set of clothes.) 1st tf choice: Some kind of contest? Perhaps one of strength or fighting since that’s your primary training. (changes: gain control of tail, wings become slightly useful, gain ability to retch fire, perhaps become arrogant?) 2nd tf choice: Join the dancing, have option to try and seduce a male dragonet to help you rescue your friends. (Changes: Full mental changes, gain noble bearing?) Seduce game: Answer multiple questions, if too successful end up going further than anticipated. How you deal with the rescue: Two options: Hoof it to town and get Cohen’s help. Together the pair of you fight your way into the nest and perform the rescue. Break into the nest with help from your beau (maybe too similar to Cohen route?) Endings: 0: Become slightly better adventurer 1: Become out and out fearsome warrior 2: Parlay your noble bearing into a royal commission. Option to pursue relationship with male dragonet. Final thoughts: Dragonets are doable. Would need a lot more exploratory work to make work though. Anyway thank you for the suggestions, these are fun thought experiments.

your birds eye view of the spider's trail makes following the rest of it easy. you don't repeat your dumbass manuever but you do occasionally climb a bit to get a better lay of the land. You know when you are the right track when you start to see spiderwebs strung between the trees. Getting caught in one would almost certainly be fatal so you do your best to avoid them. The hours pass and your neck starts to hurt, but the thought of finding your friends keeps you going. Suddenly you hear a rustle, you duck and check your surroundings. The rustling continues without moving. The noise doesn't sound like a spider-girl. You creep forward and come onto a [[small clearing->small clearing ant 1]]

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Cohen looks at your sisters with a sad smile. "I know you younglings, love eachother like family, but I need you all to give me your most solomn oath that you will do whatever it takes to prevent this city from falling." everyone gives him a shocked look. he repeats himself. "your oath." you pause it seems impossible to imagine a situation where you would willingly sacrifice one of your sisters. everyone looks at eachother no doubt thinking the same thing. Cohen however is insistent. hesitantly everyone gives him their most solumn oaths. cohen looks around. "in 24 hours, the lich will have three times the number of undead required to take this city." everyone looks to Cohen fightened. Ron is the first to speak. "then we must flee, to stay is to die." Cohen shakes his head. "if we try to run with the flactery we will be run down by the lich. our best and probably only chance to end this is to ride it out." Alonso gives him a disbelieving look. "if there are that many corpses then what can we do?" Cohen smiles. "we can always do something, and things aren't hopeless. some of the queen's legion is here, as well as some of my old adventuring party. we will protect the temple where they are destroying the damn soul vase. you younglings will help hold the walls." frederick looks around at townsfolk who are moving with a purpose. "what about the people living here?" Cohen nods. "anyone strong enough to lift a shovel is going to help hold the walls. everyone else is going to be evacuated to the keep." everyone looks at him aghast. "if this city falls and we don't destroy the flactery then the undead will seige the keep until it falls. then everyone will die." Cohen shakes everyone's hands and then goes off to meet his old adventuring party. you all look at eachother with an expression not far removed from panic. still in for a penny in for a pound. you rest for a while until a cry goes up. you draw the short straw and go up on the walls. there are a couple of guardsmen passing a flask and you take a sip. [[then you look out from the walls.->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 4]] \(set: $mushroomendingant2status to 2)

For a short blissful minute you are confused at what are you seeing. You are reminded of seeing dark insects (perhaps beetles?) from a distance. A great moving swarm, except these are not on the ground but in the fields surrounding the city. Then it hits you, those are not insects, they are corpses. You thought you knew fear, or that you had known true fear. You were mistaken. To see a host of corpses far larger than any host of the living you have ever seen shakes you to your core. The lich’s horde is without end. Still you take a deep breath, it will help no one for you to panic. Frederick is already going to be besides himself with fear. You bring your sisters up to the walls and they share your reaction. Frederick drops to his knees insensate, fear comes off of him like steam off a pot. Everyone moves to comfort him. Alonso smiles. "Just think, this will cure your fear of the undead." Frederick looks up, "Not the way I wanted to cure it." The guardsmen still have the flask and Frederick drains the thing. The undead come on like a rainstorm without end. They throw themselves at the walls, clambering over one another fight the defenders at the top. Individually they are not dangerous but you see more than one man be pulled down into the crowd to be devoured. Your group proves especially effective against them. Your teamwork is unmatched and you don't tire easily. As a group you do well, but you personally spend most of time trying to keep Frederick from panicking, and restraining Ron from using all his magic at once. (He may no longer have a member but he still tends to be premature.) Cohen surveys the walls after a few hours and tells you why they come on like this. The lich seeks to exhaust the defenses so he can punch through and recover his trinkets himself. This is why you spend so much of your time restraining Ron from unleashing hot flaming death. They come and they come and they come.(Insert non-necrophilliac sex joke here!) The problem isn't killing them but just how many of them there are. You blunt a baker's dozen of swords on them. You switch to sharpened shovels to spare the blacksmiths. Frederick proves good at killing the undead. He has the frantic energy needed to keep up with the huge numbers. (Once he stops screaming so much. Then he stops running out of breath so often.) Your group rotates off and onto the walls. You spend most of your time resting in a heap with your sisters. The women incapable of fighting spend their time bringing meals and hot beverages to the defenders. They take great delight in talking with you and your sisters. Many children come up to you and ask to feel your chitin or play multiple games of rock paper scissors at once. You also end up giving a surprising number of shoulder rides. To see children makes you wonder briefly, could you have children? In theory the average ant can't, that's why they have queens. But you wonder. You hold for a day and a half and [[then a bonfire is lit upon the keep and a great cry goes up.->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 5]]

The stones here were probably meticulously combed into concentric patterns. They aren't anymore. You give the room a pacing over. There is nothing valuable here. Well except for some stones with cool holes through them though. The kitsune does however ask you to stop making that infernal noise when you walk on them them though [[Back->kitsune search]] \(set: $kitsunetimer to $kitsunetimer + 1)

You begin to run like all hell through the nest. Ron cuts a path with his fire magic. You and your ant-girl run interference to keep the spider-girls from flanking you. They are pissed. They do everything they can to stop your escape but you are desperate and your teamwork is solid. Once you finally breach the nest and reach the clearing outside; things get complicated. \(if: $antmeal is 1)[Across the clearing you sight the junior patrol of ants. They are surrounded and scents of desperation are coming off of them. The rookies must have over committed]. \(if: $antmeal is 0)[Across the clearing you see the veteran patrol. They are completely surrounding by spider-girls. The ant-girls are trading steely glares with the spider-girls as they circle. Still they are in trouble, they won't get out without help.] Your ant-girl looks conflicted. You turn to Alonso. "We have to save them." You look back to your ant-girl to see her smiling and putting out a brown scent. Alonso takes a deep breath. "We don't have weapons, so you two are the wedge. Ron, keep fire on the tree line so they don't surround us as well. Frederick and I will run interference to keep the gap open. Ron puts out an impressive amount of fireworks. These light up the murky clearing and give you the impression that there are lighting strikes coinciding with your attack. (It's wicked cool.) The spider-girls form a double line. They fight for every inch, no doubt contemptuous of being forced back so close to home. You and your ant-girl fight like a pair with one mind. It's slow and hard but you eventually force your way to the ant-girl patrol. (if: $antmeal is 0)[The veterans seem to realize what you are trying to do and fight to reach you.] (if: $antmeal is 1)[The younger ant-girl has been wounded slightly and her patrol has formed a circle around her. She smiles at you and then her look changes to horror. You turn around to see what has her so spooked.](if: $antmeal is 0)[The older ant-girl has been wounded slightly, but she still fights in the defense. She looks at you, but her expression is one of annoyance not relief. You glance around to see what you have done wrong.] A very large number of spider-girls, perhaps the greater part of the nest is about to charge you. (Huh, you now know what a bug underneath a foot feels like.) You look around, the situation is bad. You are still bogged down in fighting. The injured ant-girl is going to have to be carried if you want to make good time. Your ant-girl looks at you uncertain. You can see Alonso swearing, obviously out of ideas. Frying pans and fires comes to mind. \(if: $antmeal is 1)[However the enemy charge loses heart about halfway through. You only recognize what is happening when you hear a horn and see smug scents streaming through the trees. The veteran patrol has made it's presence known. You toss your entrenching tool to Alonso and put the wounded ant-girl on your back. The spider-girls try to block your escape but Alonso shouts for Ron to shift his fire, and they reconsider.] \(if: $antmeal is 0)[The enemy charge rolls forward and you get ready for a real bad time. Then you hear a half-hearted horn and see scents behind you. The rookie patrol has shown up and they are trying to cover your escape. Alonso shouts for Ron to delay the enemy charge while you escape. You toss Alonso your entrenching tool and put the wounded ant-girl on your back. Alonso and your ant-girl lead a charge through the retreating spider-girls. You carry the veteran ant-girl on your back.] [[Into the forest->ant 2 sisters ant patrol part 1]]

The wall has finally been breached. and that means nothing good. You set as much of the walls on fire as you can and retreat towards prepared barricades. Your group volunteered to help hold the main street of the town. Ron is however recalled to help in the direct defense of the flactery, his magic will help fend off the lich. It's like a leak in a dike. The undead pour in like the tide. A rotting, hungry tide. In the chaos you think you see a figure in silhouette against the moon, but you have bigger concerns. The townspeople know the score. This city falls then they are eaten, or they die slowly trying to hold the keep. Any man, woman or child strong enough to swing a hoe is fighting. You lead a mob of them in holding the central barricade. The fighting in the forest was difficult, the fighting on the walls was long, this is chaos. the mob behind you wishes to live, but they aren't fighters. They swing and step back. The undead flow forward. You set things on fire to keep them back. Eventually most of the city past the barricades is on fire. You kill them only to have the mob step back, your force the mob forward only to have men devoured. It takes every bit of communication through smell to keep the mob coordinated enough to avoid routing. When you can spare a glance back you see flashes of light and the peculiar pearls of thunder that accompany high level magic. You spare a thought for Ron and then turn your attention back to the front. Things begin to stabilize and you are confident that the barricade will hold as long as needed. Then a peculiar umber scent drifts through the air. Ron needs help, and if he needs help then things are serious. [[Alonso gives a tired grin.->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 6]]

You and Frederick give a wordless nod to Alonso. There is a good chance he won't make it. The barricade was barely holding with the three of you. Leaving him is difficult but you know you have to do it. Cohen wouldn't send the signal if he didn't need help. You rush through the deserted streets to the temple where the soul vase is being destroyed. As you round a corner such that you can see the square infront of the temple, you jump back. Likely over a hundred men have died there. You say likely because they are in so many smears and pieces that it cannot be certain. Peaking around the corner you can see a wizards duel between the lich and the surviving defenders. You call it a duel although it seems rather one-sided. The Lich floats among the carnage as all kinds of magic splits around him. Then he snaps his finger and waves of destruction flow towards the defenders. A mage falls dead and it repeats. Both you and Frederick gulp together. This is way above your paygrade, and way beyond what you can deal with. You need to get to Cohen, Cohen will know what to do. You track the umber scent to a ruined and smoldering building. Ron rushes forward and hugs you and Frederick while Cohen gives a grim smile. "You came. It aint' looking good, we need to buy time." Frederick speaks up. "You didn't bring us here to die did you?" Cohen shakes his head. "No, never. We have a plan but it's desperate." He holds up a plain stick of willow. "This is a wand of dispel magic, Ron says that if it touches the lich it will dispel enough of his magic to make him retreat. Problem is getting it there." He hands the wand to Frederick. "Think you can throw that?" Frederick feels it's heft, and then tosses it into the air catching it with his lower pair of hands. "Yes, but I'll need to be inside of fifteen paces." Cohen nods and then starts to draw in the dirt. "It's your standard cover play. Endgame is Frederick making the throw. Someone engages from the building line. Once the Lich has his attention turned, Frederick makes the run from behind, while another makes a run from the front to keep the Lich's attention for as long as possible." You are devastated by this plan, at the very least it means that probably Frederick, and at least Cohen or Ron are going to die. Cohen looks fit to volunteer. If it's the only way, it's the only way. [[unless->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 7]]

Cohen looks around, seeming to get a feel for the air. "I'm old, so I'll make the run. It's be-" You shake your head and cut him off. "I'll make the run." Cohen tries to speak up and you cut him off again. "If this doesn't work we need you to run the defense of the keep." He smiles "I'll take as many of them with me as I can." You look to Ron. "I need you to give me hints about what the lich is going to do." You use one of your smaller hands to point to your antenna. Ron looks at you uncertainly. "I'm not sure it's faster than the lich's magic." You give a dry laugh. "It might help." You seriously doubt that you will get that close anyway. All eyes turn to Frederick. Cohen gives him a nod. "Don't miss." You take a deep breath. Anxiety is coming off Frederick in a powerful way. He says he can do it but he sure doesn't look like it. You search what you know about emitting scents for something that will help keep him calm. You snap your fingers to get Ron's attention. You begin to emit a feeling of calm confidence in abundance, Ron does the same. It's not quite enough as Frederick persists in being afraid. If his hands are shaking he is not going to make the throw. You underlie the feelings of confidence with an order bordering on a compulsion to buck up and calm down. Frederick takes a deep breath, and stops being so anxious. (You didn't know you could do that.) You all shake hands. Cohen ruffles your hair, looks proud and tells you to give the Lich hell. You give an audacious smile to Ron, who sighs unhappily. You nod at Frederick, he nods back. He won't miss that throw if it kills him. You pick your way through the ruined buildings. You find a good spot with a straight shot to the lich and then take a deep breath. A sad blue scent drifts through the air. [[Go time->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 8]]

You sprint as fast as you can through the carnage. This is difficult because there is so much blood that it's quite slick. You spare a glance sideways to see Cohen duck back into cover as waves of devastation go towards him. You let out a yell hoping to distract the lich. It turns it's empty eye sockets to you. On some deep level you acknowledge that you are about to die. A deep purple scent come to your attention and you dive to your left. The corpses where you were standing explode in a red spray. You resume your sprint. The Lich appears ready to snap it's fingers again. A scent with a strong feeling of direction hits your antenna. Which direction takes a precious second to figure. Left? Right? Right! Right! Right! You step right as quickly as you can. You feel a rush of air to your left and see that your sleeve has been clipped. You are within striking distance now, you need to cover these last few feet and you will finally be able to hit the lich. The Lich snaps both it's fingers, bringing it's hands up as it does so. You try to get between his hands but you aren't fast enough. You feel an immense pain in both your right arms and your right leg. You hear something hit the ground and glance down. It's both your right arms. A quick glance shows that your arms end just past your shoulder now. You fall forward, unable to stand. The pain is immense. You are dimly aware of a hollow sound as something hits the lich. You writhe in immense agony, the brown stuff you use for blood flowing freely. The highly trained part of your mind recognizes that you need to do something to stop the bleeding. The other less optimistic part of your mind recognizes that it probably won't make a damn bit of difference. You are dimly aware of the lich flying away. The last thing you see is Frederick’s panicking face. [[Then darkness closes in.->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 9]]

The city falls, two years later the kingdom. After a campaign of many years the neighboring countries manage to isolate and destroy the lich's horde. A wave of human settlers gathers, interested in settling lands that have been untouched by human hands for nearly a decade. They are repulsed by a unified coalition of monsters. The monsters had always been effective at fighting off attacks by the lich on their home turf, and this applies easily to humans. A united nation of monsters arises, sending a beacon throughout the world. Ending: a noble pointless sacrifice [[credits]] [[Alright, now where is the real ending?->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 10]] (Sorry I couldn't help myself.)

You awake quite surprised. It takes you a second to recognize why you are so surprised. Then it hits you, you aren't dead! You look around, you are in a rough bed in a cramped room. Ron is sitting next to your bed. He is so engaged in reading his book that he doesn't notice your polite coughing. Finally you go "Ron." Ron looks up quite surprised. You see the light reflecting off of his opaque eyes. He smiles "I was getting a little worried." You give him a look and he smiles sheepishly. "Worried that you were being lazy." You nod. "What happened after I passed out?" Ron nods. "damndest thing I have ever seen. The lich just fell over." "Glad it was worth it." You glance ever so slightly to your right side. Ron gives an expression that probably means he is rolling his eyes. (You really can't tell!) "For a someone bold enough to charge a lich, you can be a bit chicken." Then he pulls the sheets back. You have both arms and your leg. Looking closer you can see that there is a silvery line where they popped off before. You look at Ron surprised. "How did that happen?" theoretically as a magic user Ron can cast healing spells. In practice it's so far outside of his specialty, that he can only barely do it. (Stings like a mother when does too.) Ron lets out a laugh. "You picked a good place to lose some limbs. There were some healers among the people defending the temple. You still lost a lot of blood though." He seems vulnerable for a second. "It was touch and go." You let out a warm appreciative scent. "I feel pretty good. What happened after the lich fell?" "Did you know that undead that have their master destroyed go feral?" Ron recites this as if it were an interesting fact. "So, we had undead everywhere but it wasn't as bad because they weren’t organized." You smile. "Sounds pretty intense, then what did you do?" Ron looks proud. "We evacuated everyone to the keep. Cohen must have known this was going to happen because he had all the beer in town moved to the keep. We spent the last week getting drunk. Now get up! You are the guest of honor." You spend the next week getting drunk to avoid thinking about the undead that are devouring each other outside the walls. After a week the queen's legion manages to cut through the city to the keep. [[They whisk you away to the capital->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 11]]

You are met at the capital with parades and standing ovations. This is all a quite a lot for a bunch of former farm boys. Your sisters manage to take it well though. You are considered great heroes for managing to penetrate the horrifying tomb, and your bravery in holding the city of Ris. You are invited to a great banquet with the queen in attendance. Cohen spends most it making eyes at the queen, who is making eyes right back. Frederick manages to figure out how to send images via scent. So, your sisters spend most of the banquet imagining various nobles in states of undress. You are given a nice room in the castle. The bed is unspeakably comfortable. Seriously it's like they cut the wings off harpies. The next morning Cohen comes in grinning. He makes sure that everyone is awake and then sits down. "Alright younglings. I had a talk with the queen, and she is going to offer you a boon." Everyone looks at each other excited, this is real adventurer stuff. "What she wants you to say is that you want a place to call your own. Then she will retain you as knights of the realm." Frederick looks a bit surprised. "We are going legit? No more adventures? Cohen lets out a laugh. "Not on your life. It means that queen will call on you to defend the realm from time to time. Same what we did with the tomb. If you get bored with it, skip the country." (Standard Cohen thinking.) Cohen stands up. "Get presentable you are going to be near the queen." You cough and hold up two fingers. He smiles and nods. [[A royal comission->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 12]]

You are given the keep in the city of Ris. The previous owner died in the fighting along the walls. You are considered the saviors of the city. Men and women have begun to dye to their arms brown in a sign of respect. It's a good thing they like you so much. You are indirectly responsible for the destruction of two thirds of the city. You pull up all four sleeves and get to work helping to rebuild the city. Four tireless arms certainly hasn't hurt your carpentry. You go onto great success questing out of the city. You break up undead encampments, discourage trolls from paying a visit and help move a nest of harpies. Eventually, the work starts to become too much for your group. You make the decision to take on more hands. It takes a couple of expeditions to the forest in search the mushrooms which started this whole mess to get enough. You also take the opportunity to teach the spiders why they shouldn't mess with well armed ant-girls. Ron manages to recreate the effect of the white fluid. It only takes him blowing a few holes in the keep. The first man you choose to join your order helped hold the barricades with Alonso. He was a good friend. Your sisters and you stand around him as he drinks the potion. Then you watch over him as he changes. When he stands up he is a sister. You take his hands and smile. For some reason you feel a deep sense of fulfillment. The next evening Cohen gathers everyone around him. He announces that he will be heading off. This news was not unexpected, Cohen's first love is adventure, his second: the road. You are all depressed at the news, you will miss him dearly.(if: $conanhelp is 1)[ At a private moment Cohen takes you aside and tells you that you were always his favorite. That and the others need you to watch over them.] Cohen leaves and while you worry a bit, part of you knows that Cohen is badass enough to fight death and probably win. You once saw him kill a man with his bear hands. (The frightening thing is how he got the hands off the bear.) [[epilogue->ant 2 mushrooms ant ending part 13]] \(set: $mushroomepilogueant2status to 3)

Your order of knights goes onto great success. In time you establish orders in cities throughout the kingdom. The kingdom becomes famous for it's ant-knights. Though you are never quite sure why you feel a deep pride and satisfaction to see so many of your sisters about. Your order is called upon to defend the kingdom many times. The teamwork of your sisters is unmatched. In time you become the personal guard of the queen. (She seems to trust your sisters because you are all women. You don’t point out the flaw in that logic.) You find that you can give scents that function as an order/compulsion. This has many uses in combat, and is great for parties. Your original group of sisters has had great success. You eventually convince all of them to stay as ant-girls. Alonso was always indifferent but you know Ron wanted to turn back. Finally he gives it up, saying he would miss the companionship too much. You look forward to your next adventure eagerly. You know Cohen would be proud of what you have done. Ant 2 mushrooms ending: Myrmidons! [[the other ending-> ant 2 final choices mushroom]] [[credits]]

have both versions of ambush spider-girl scene get refrences to what happened before you open the cocoons in ant 0,1 scene in the stone house where you tell the guys what happened

(if: $antmeal is 1)[Briefly you consider the tunnels beneath the outpost. The ant-girls wouldn't make a tunnel that big and long if it didn't go somewhere important. Still it might lead to more ant-girls and you are not sure that would improve the situation. ] What follows is a desperate escape. The spider-girls seem to have taken your jailbreak personally. They pursue you without rest. The ant-girls had the foresight to bring spare weapons and food. These help because your teammates are just as desperate as you were before all this started. This however is as fair as this sort of battle gets. Your teammates give a good account of themselves. You spend most of your time helping to transport the wounded ant-girl. After the first day of running combat, you attempt to question your ant-girl on the plan. As always her answer is a modest smile and a dazzling array of scents. (if: $antmeal is 1)[Something about what she tells you seems familiar?] The spiders try to flank, they try to distract, they try to drive your group into traps, they back off and shoot arrows at you. They try almost everything under the sun. You work well with the ant-girls, you still don't have a good handle on what they are saying. Your ant-girl however is surprisingly good at intuiting what you are trying to tell her. By the end of the second day even the ant-girls are pretty tired. Taking another step is difficult. You fall to your knees while some ant-girls only a little better than you take watch. (They seem to know how to pace themselves better.) There is rustling ahead. You try to raise your weapon but the scent coming from up ahead seems familiar. [[What exactly it is surprises you though->ant 2 sisters ant patrol part 2]] \(set:$sistersescapeant2status to 1) \(set: $sistersattackant2status to 0) \(set: $sisterssleep to 0)

It’s Cohen looking a bit surprised. You and your friends are too stunned for words, but mostly everyone collapses from exhaustion. (and relief) Once you recover everyone rushes him. There is a group hug. Cohen mostly rolls with it although he looks at you expression of confusion. Once you finally release him he smiles and say. “Ah, it’s good to see you again my younglings. It is impressive that you broke out of the spider-nest all on your own.” Everyone shakes their head. Alonso points to you and says. “it was this mad, bad and dangerous to know bastard.” Frederick pipes up "They got turned into an ant-girl so they could get help. Lucky bastard." Ron finishes. "Then with the ant-girls they busted into the spider's nest. It was very impressive." (if: $antmeal is 0)[Cohen blinks twice and then takes a close look at your clothes.](if: $antmeal is 1)[Cohen has a confused expression, looks to your friends and then at you. Finally he seems to examine your flower crown.] “you look different. Bet you have a story to tell." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[he notices that your ant-girl is still holding a hand with you. he gives you a wink.] Once your group has stopped hugging so much, you all ask Cohen how he got away. Cohen smiles a mostly toothless smile. "What you think an ambush of spider girls could stop me?" You all look at him skeptically. "Oh alright, they forced me back. So I went back to town got some supplies and came back looking for you younglings." You look him over. “how did you find us?” Cohen nods "well I was tracking the spiders, and then I ran into a patrol of bee-girls. They said the spiders were up in arms because of a balls-out proving raid by ants on the spiders nest. I figured that if such a raid was happening you younglings would take the chance to escape. then the fires started." he nods at ron. alonso speaks up. "you know how to get you of here? the spiders have been bugging us without end." everyone looks at him. "oops, dogging us without end." Cohen nods. "you made good time getting this far, and it isn't much further. [[let's form up and cut our way through.->ant 2 sisters ant patrol part 3]]"

Your ant-girl accepts cohen's leadership only reluctantly. but after the first few times he leads an ambush on an ambush she accepts him wholeheartedly. Cohen knows what he is doing even if there are more people around than he is used to. the fighting grows much easier. however with this many, absolute stealth stops being an option. still you are able to outrun or out manuever your pursurers. finally the trees start to thin and you can see clear skies. fittingly this is when the final spider-girl attack comes. you can see the spider-queen leading it. (if: $youfight is 1)[her eyes narrow when she sights you.] You are tired from so long carrying that ant-girl. you look to alonso. "i'm at the end man." alonso nods, he doesn't seem much better. he then turns to cohen his long blond hair swaying as he does so. "Cohen, you got this?" Cohen lets out a harsh laugh. "just clear me a path to the queen." you nudge your ant-girl. she gives you a smile. [[time for the final push->ant 2 sisters ant patrol part 4]]

No words can describe the charge. The fleeting moments of safety and danger, the noises as the spider-girls let out screams and your teammates yell in return, the scents and sights as the ant-girls silently say their status. There is a great crunch as the lines meet. You and your ant-girl stick together; moving like you are a pair of dancers before an audience. (if: $antmeal is 0)[(Albeit fairly clumsy dancers, who tend to bump into one another.)] In between blows you catch a glimpse of Cohen fighting the queen. Their blades are meeting but Cohen is smiling. Finally, you hear the spider-queen let out a curse so foul it could make water boil. You glance over and see her spear in two parts. She retreats, although her guard curses and flips you off. (Some people can be so petty.) [[leave the forest->ant 2 sisters ant patrol part 5]]

You are close to the end. A half-hours more walk and you will be out of this forest. Your ant-girl however seems anxious. Cohen slows his pace to walk next to you. He pats you gently on the back. "The ant-girl (if: $antmeal is 0)[with the flower crown](if: $antmeal is 1)[that seems to follow you everywhere] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[has been making eyes at you.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[seems nervous for an ant-girl.] She is going to make you an offer. You are young and it's a once in a life time thing. We will all support you no matter what you choose." When you reach the edge of the forest, your ant-girl makes arcane hand symbols to Cohen. He winks at her and then she drags you behind a tree. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[She kisses you on the lips.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[She kisses you on the forehead.] She stares into your eyes and then drops to her knees. She begins to kiss each of your hands in turn and then smiles at you. She pauses and then points at you and then points deeper into the forest. (if: $antmeal is 1)[She wants you to go with her!](if: $antmeal is 0)[You blink twice not quite sure what she is saying. She sighs inaudibly. She points at you, makes a blue scent, then points at herself making a brown scent. She holds up two fingers, and then points into the forest making a blue and brown scent. She wants you to go with her!] That's a hell of an offer. You get what Cohen is talking about now. It would be a break with everything you have ever known. You would be completely dependent on your ant-girl. You can't even really talk to them. Still just the audacity of it seems alluring. This would be a unique adventure, something that only comes up once in a lifetime. It would also mean leaving your friends. Still the ant-girl has risked her life and the lives of her sisters for you. You know deeply that if you agree she will take care of you. (if: $antintimacy is 0)[It will also probably be interpreted as a romantic gesture.] (if: $antmeal is 1)[[[Shake your head->ant 2 sisters ant offer antmeal]]] (if: $antmeal is 0)[[[Shake your head->ant 2 sisters ant offer no]]] [[Nod->ant 2 sisters ant offer yes]] \(set: $sistersescapeant2status to 0) \(set: $sistersofferant2status to 1)

You start to shake your head no, only to find yourself stopping for reasons you can't quite understand. Would it be so bad? To be amongst sisters who understand another better than words. To be with your ant-girl who seems to love you. To live a life completely different from anything you have ever known. It seems like a good idea, but it's been a hard day. You take a deep breath, this is an important decision you should think it through carefully. [[Nod->ant 2 sisters ant offer yes]] [[Shake your head->ant 2 sisters ant offer no]]

You think on it. You have gotten along well with the ants. It would be an entry into a whole different world. You know the ant-girl would love for you to come with her. The ant-girls would become your sisters. But in the end you would miss your brothers-in-arms too much. You shake your head, at first hesitantly and then confidently. Your ant-girl looks at you (if: $antmeal is 1)[surprised.](if: $antmeal is 0)[hesitantly.] Then she smiles sadly and nods. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Then she surprises you with a kiss. It is deep and appreciative. Perhaps not the most romantic kiss but she seems to appreciate it. Finally, she breaks it off, looking into your eyes. Then she gives you a deep bow.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[She kneels and kisses your hand again. You give her a questioning look. Then she stands and gives you a deep bow. Finally, she very carefully maneuvers her antenna into yours.] With this as your parting gift she leads you back to your friends. The ant-girls, silent as always wish everyone a fond farewell. (if: $antmeal is 1)[The younger ant-girl in particular kisses your hand and kneels before leaving.](if: $antmeal is 0)[The older ant-girl nods to you respectfully.] You head back to town with a spring in your step. After all you choose to be here. [[To the tavern as quickly as possible!->ant 2 final choices part 7]] \(set: $sistersofferant2status to 0) \(set: $endingant2status to 1)

It seems a mad idea to you at first. But the more you think on it the more it has that audacious appeal. It's an adventure available only once in a lifetime. Besides the ants are cute and you would be in good company on that front. Worst case scenario you can just flee into the forest. (That seems like it would work out.) (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your ant-girl nods and for a second looks fit to kiss you.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[Your ant-girl becomes wildly excited for a moment and then hugs you with all four arms. she looks embarrassed and then regains composure.] With a deep curtsey she kisses your hand, looking up at you, smiling like a kid that knows a secret. Then with a noble bearing adopts a position behind you, both sets of hands folded over one another. [[time to tell your friends.->ant 2 sisters farewells]] \(set: $sistersofferant2status to 0) \(set: $sistersstartant2status to 2) \(set: $sistersjoinant2status to 1)

You return to your friends. The ant-girls are politely watching Frederick demonstrate his knife throwing skills. They look unenthralled. Ron and Alonso are comparing notes on bust size. Cohen gives you a look and you give him a nod. Cohen has your friends line up. Then he gives you the floor. You announce that you are going to go off to live with the ants. Your friends are devastated by the news. You say many things to assuage their fears. They are afraid that you have been drugged or ensorcelled to some degree. You undergo many tests to prove otherwise. Then you amuse them with stories of what you did getting to the rescue. Finally, it comes time for farewells. (if: $frederickfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Frederick->frederick farewell]]] (if: $alonsofarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Alonso->alonso farewell]]] (if: $cohenfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Cohen->cohen farewell]]] (if: $Ronfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Ron->Ron farewell]]] \(if: $alonsofarewell is 1 and $cohenfarewell is 1 and $Ronfarewell is 1 and $frederickfarewell is 1)[ [[Into the forest->ant 2 sisters ending]]]

Frederick shakes your hand, his hand now the same size as as yours, then he hugs you. He looks into your eyes and then says. "you have been a brother and a friend to me. We will meet again, if not in this life then in the next" he smiles a little sheepishly at that. [[Tell him to stop being so dramatic->frederick farewell disagree]] [[Agree->frederick farewell agree]] [[to the others->ant 2 sisters farewells]] (set: $frederickfarewell to 1)

Alonso straightens up as you approach. Then he shakes your hand with both of his. You return the gesture with all four of yours. "It's been a pleasure and I’m going to miss the hell out of you." [[Be good->alonso farewell agree]] [[Have fun->alonso farewell disagree]] [[To the others->ant 2 sisters farewells]] (set: $alonsofarewell to 1)

Cohen shakes your hand heartily and smiles. "Ah, to be young again. To go off on an adventure simply because it's there. Have a good time and be confident in your decision." He pulls you into a bear hug and then whispers. "You will always be welcome among us, and if you want to contact us reach the barkeeper." He releases the hug and you nod. "I’ll remember it." [[Any advice?->cohen farewell agree]] [[I should be fine->cohen farewell disagree]] [[To the others->ant 2 sisters farewells]] (set: $cohenfarewell to 1)

Ron looks at you a little panicked. "If only I had my spellbook, then I could figure out what's wrong with you." His now cute face looks on the verge of tears. You smile at him and put two of your hands on his shoulders. "I’m fine Ron. This is my choice." You try to send out comforting waves but then realize he won't get them. [[Reassure him->Ron farewell agree]] [[Tell him to stay safe->Ron farewell disagree]] [[To the others->ant 2 sisters farewells]] (set: $Ronfarewell to 1)

You wave to them and then head off into the woods with your sisters. Your ant-girl sticks close. For a second you think that the ant-girls are about to go marching. This is dispelled when they stop in front a large toppled tree. The tree is larger on side that you are tall. The ant-girls quickly dig a space underneath the tree. Two unlucky ant-girls are placed as guards and the rest collapse into a sleeping pile. You drift off to sleep in a warm happy cloud as your ant-girl holds your hands. The next morning the ants are as silent as ever but they much better for some sleep. They remain a respectful distance from you all the same though. You wonder what where the ants are going only to find yourself answered as you approach a river. You walk along the bank, until you find a shallow bay next to a cave. The ant-girls strip out of their armor and wash themselves of the mud, blood and ash. (Ron was nothing if not eager.) You follow their example, (if: $antmeal is 1)[your cuirass has served you well. Although it was designed for you, it's still bulky and hot so you start to remove the thing gladly. Your ant-girl insists on helping though which leaves you blushing as she does so. You do get to help her remove her's though.] \(if: $antmeal is 0)[Your lucky shirt is so tattered, burnt and stained with dirt at this point that you doubt it will ever be clean again. Still it feels good to take it off and let the girls breathe.] You have to sit patiently as your ant-girl makes sure you are clean from head to toe. For some reason she is very insistent that she clean you. (if: $anthit is 1 and $antmeal is 0)[she looks over your bruised tit with some concern.](if: $anthit is 1 and $antmeal is 1)[she looks over your bruised midsection with mild concern.] Once that is finally over you get the ant girls started on playfully splashing one another. The ant-girls don't say anything but they smile wide and make happy scents. \(if: $antintimacy is 0)[Once the fun is over the ant-girls get dressed and assemble near the mouth of the cave. They smile at you and your ant-girl. You move to put on your clothes but your ant-girl stays your hand. She looks at you shyly and then leads you by hand to the assembled ant-girls. The ant-girls look at you and smile warmly. They create an arch with their weapons. Your ant-girl leads you through gently and [[you follow her into the cave->ant 2 sisters sex 0]] [[fade to black->ant 2 sisters part 1]]] \(if: $antintimacy is 1)[Once the fun is over the ant-girls gather up all the armor and clothes and pile them near the entrance of the cave. They all have an excited look, and there is a strange pink scent in the air. Your ant girl looks at you enthusiastically. You have a feeling that a 10 person game of bumpee is about to be played. And given the way everyone is looking at you, it's almost certainly going to involve you as a star player. Still you can see two unexcited looking ant-girls. Those poor girls are probably going to have to take watch. If you don't want to participate an orgy, you could insist that you and your ant-girl take watch. The hopeful looks your ant-girl is giving suggest that she will be disappointed though. [[Enter the cave->ant 2 sisters sex 1]] [[take watch->ant 2 sisters no sex]]]

you smile. "in this world or the next we will meet again." Frederick nods. "Later days, and don't do anything I wouldn't." you giggle at the suggestion. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

you give him a playful push. "Quit being so histrionic. We will meet again I know it." Frederick smiles "When we do, you have to tell me about how ant-girls are in the sack. You give him a deadpan look. He glances to your ant-girl. "I know you are going to get a lot in there, and if that is not recorded for future generations it is a great disservice." You roll your eyes. Frederick maybe gets the gesture? (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

"Ron" He looks at you attentively. "Be safe while I’m gone. I know you love fire spells" Ron looks a little guilty but nods enthusiastically. "But be careful you almost started a forest fire back there." Ron seems indignant. "The guys are going to bully me." you shake your head. "We don't bully, you are too much fun to tease." "Am not." He has a look of childish determination. "Are too." This is fun. "Am not!" His now cute face is turning red. You hold up all four hands. "Just take care of yourself and watch where you throw your magic." He nods "I will." (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

Ron still seems to be panicking. He looks at you frantically. "Are you sure you haven't been drugged or something?" (if: $antmeal is 1)[You hesitate slightly.](if: $antmeal is 0)[You don't hesitate.]"I’m in my right mind Ron. Relax, the ant-girls watched out for all of us getting here." Ron looks down. "I just don't want to break up the team." You smile sadly "I’ll miss you Ron, don't get me wrong. But you guys will be fine without me." Ron still looks depressed but he manages to say. "Be safe." You pat him on the shoulder. "You too Ron." (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

You smile. "I’ll miss the hell out of you too. Be good and watch for out for everyone while I’m gone." Alonso looks worried for a second. "We won't have you to watch out for us. Or pull off amazing rescues." He winks at you. You suppress a laugh. "You'll manage, just be more careful next time okay?" (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

"Have some kickass adventures for me while I’m gone." You smile. Alonso shakes his head. "Won't be the same with you gone." “Well then have extra amazing adventures to make up for me not being there.” Man you hope they don't get to kill a dragon while you are not there. Alonso smiles. "Of course." (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

You look back at the ant-girls trying to conceal your anxiety. "Any advice?" Cohen thinks for a second. "I have given you a lot of very good advice while we were together. Give it to the ants. They will probably need it." You nod thoughtfully. Let's hope you can start talking to them. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

You smile at Cohen. "I’ll be fine, after all I’m in good hands." You raise all four. Cohen shakes his head. "I have always told you that overconfidence is a sl-" "Slow and insidious killer. I know old man." He always says this. Cohen nods. "Good to see that something I told you stuck. In my experience ant-girls are reliable fighters. Work with them and you should be safe." You nod. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

There is a stream running through the cave and a hole in the top to let in the sun. The sunlight reflects off the water giving the cave an ethereal feeling. Your ant-girl looks into your eyes and smiles. She brings you to the edge of the stream and sits down across from you. Suddenly you feel embarrassed and begin to blush. Your ant-girl takes your hand begins to message it gently. Your smaller hands meet for second. Then she begins to message your smaller hands with your larger ones, and then she begins to gently message your breast. This continues until she leans forward and begins to kiss your neck. This tickles and feels better than you would expect. You giggle and moan slightly. She keeps up the assault on your neck. You free your hands and begin to message her breast. She stops kissing to moan slightly. Then she resumes harder than before. Your second pair of hands drift lower and you begin to message her thighs. She does the same and before long you are both tracing the outside of each others slits. Her finger slips in and you let out a gasp. Not to be outdone you slip two fingers into her slit. She stops kissing to let out a louder gasp. Your ant-girl has a competitive look in her eyes. She pushes you onto your back and begins to grind on your leg. You get her to stop kissing your neck and begin to kiss her deeply. With a bit of positioning you begin to grind your slits together. This leaves you panting and before long you find yourself over the edge. Your ant-girl is in a similar situation and climaxes with you. You hold your ant-girl close and she does the same. Finally, you move to get up but your ant-girl flashes you a wicked smile and starts to move. The fun won’t stop just yet. [[Eventually->ant 2 sisters part 1]] \(set: $sistersnuptialsant2status to 1)

There is a stream running through the cave and a hole in the top to let in the sun. The sunlight reflects off the water giving the cave an ethereal feeling. The ant-girls surround you and lead you to sit near the stream. They begin by messaging all parts of you. One ant girl for your left hands, one for your right hands, one for your shoulders, one for your abdomen. You are in a state of complete relaxation when your ant-girl starts to kiss you. She kisses you lovingly and you return the favor. You are so consumed with this that you barely notice that she is gently lowering you to the floor. As you lie on the floor two ant-girls take the chance to lick your breasts. Another ant girl begins to message your feet. You are totally relaxed, so relaxed that you barely notice an ant-girl begin to kiss her way down from your navel. The air is full of scents of love. You join in emitting as the ant-girl begins to probe your gash with her tongue. You let out a long happy moan into your ant-girl's mouth. It is difficult to know anything now. But you are confident that the unoccupied ant-girls are tending to one another. Finally, you are pushed over the edge into orgasm. It is a long blissful experience. You close your eyes and your head rolls back. The kissing stops and you lazily look around. Your vision is blocked by the groin of your ant-girl. She is crouching over your face looking flustered. She may be embarrassed but her slit is beckoning you. You begin to lick. Another ant-girl begins to make out with your ant-girl. Your ant-girl gets a similar treatment to what you are receiving. This happy state of affairs continues for a wonderfully long period of time. [[Eventually->ant 2 sisters part 1]] \(set: $sisterorgyant2status to 1)

You shake your head. Your ant-girl gives you a look that suggests you have to be kidding her. You relieve the two ant-girls of their guard. They give you a surprised look. The now nude ant-girls turn and give both you and forma a bow. Then they all skip happily into the cave. Your ant-girl sits down next to you looking exasperated. You shrug. She takes the opportunity to kiss you. Things are growing heated in the cave and just as heated outside as you start to make out with your ant-girl. [[The next day->ant 2 sisters part 1]] \(set: $sistersnuptialsant2status to 1)

After many enjoyable delays the ant-girls finally lead you to an outpost. It is much the same as the one where you met your ant-girl not so long ago. There most of the ant-girls bid farewell, kneeling respectfully to you. Your ant-girl and (if: $antmeal is 1)[the junior patrol leader that you rescued](if: $antmeal is 0)[the senior patrol leader that you rescued] stay however. They lead you through a cramped tunnel. It would be dark and claustrophobic but neither of these apply to you anymore. As you proceed through the tunnel you notice something curious. There is a brown scent coming from up ahead. Not unusual given that the place is lousy with ants. But this one is deeper? richer? Finally, you approach the end of the tunnel. [[What you see as you exit is beyond belief.->ant 2 sisters part 2]] \(set: $sisterorgyant2status to 0) \(set: $sistersnuptialsant2status to 0) \(set: $anthive to 1) \(set: $sistersnakedant2gear to 1)

You see a space that could contain a castle, maybe 2 castles easily. Contained within is an underground city teeming with ant-girls all moving purposefully. Looking above the city you notice many things. The buildings are simple, but there are a whole lot of them. Streets upon streets, upon streets. A whole world beneath the forest and all this time you never suspected. You take this all in and then attempt to examine the smells. The intensity and variety of colors and emotions blinds you. You twitch your antenna and look at your ant-girl. She has a smile that says she is finally home. The pair of ant-girls lead you through the throngs. The ant-girls seem to have some inherent sense of where others are. This enables them to move past each other without jostling one another. The crowds part for you subconsciously. the thing that strikes is that there is no bustle to this city. all of the ants are silent. You see patrols of armed ant-girls stopping fellow ants at random. For a second it looks like they will stop you, but in the end you are waved by. Finally, you reach the heart of the nest. (If were are being technical it would be the liver.) The nest has been mostly unfortified but here there are guards in abundance. You are presented for inspection and the guards look you over carefully. Finally, you are allowed into what is probably the palace. The palace is a village onto itself. it is plain for a place. There are a huge number of dried herbs and flowers fastened to the walls. Additionally, for some strange reason the ceilings have been painted as if they were starry nights. Your ant-girl looks around with a certain familiarity, and she looks at you fondly. (if: $antmeal is 1)[The junior ant-girl looks around as if she can't believe her eyes.](if: $antmeal is 0)[The veteran ant-girl seems to be glad to be here.] You spend far longer than you expected simply walking through the halls. [[Finally you reach the inner sanctum.->ant 2 sisters part 3]] \(set: $sistershiveant2status to 1)

The chamber is large and built around a central space. In the center, reclines the ant-queen. The queen is twice the height of any ant-girl, three times the size in total. Her abdomen alone is the size of two ant-girls put together. She is attended by ant-girls wearing nothing but white headbands and white aprons. Following the example of your ant-girl and (if: $antmeal is 0)[the veteran ant-girl](if: $antmeal is 1)[the rookie ant-girl] you kneel. The queen holds audience with other applicants until her attention turns to you. You are compelled to move forward. At the same time you obviously can't stand in the presence of the queen. So, you do awkward shuffle towards the queen. You get close enough and the queen puts her hand your face. She turns your head this way and that. She gives you the slightest of nods. Then she places her thumb upon her tongue and presses it first upon your forehead and then to each of your antenna. Then you find yourself crying. It takes you a second to realize why. It's like raising your head above water to hear singing from the shore. The scents have true meaning now and it is like nothing you have ever felt. (The author must apologize. It is impossible to fully communicate what it would be like to understand the language of the ants. Imagine being able to perfectly understand another, and what they are saying and feeling. For emotions to be clouds hanging in the air.) Your ant-girl has been desperately pleading with you to put out scents of humility and being honored. (if: $antmeal is 1)[The newbie ant-girl is surprised that they even allowed someone as junior as her into the palace.](if: $antmeal is 0)[The senior ant-girl is besides herself with pride at being allowed into the palace twice.] Your thoughts are cut short when the ant-queen speaks. "YOU ARE NOT OF US, BUT YOU ARE ONE OF US. THESE TWO TESTIFY TO YOUR COURAGE. SECURE THE SURFACE; TEACH THE SPIDERS WHY THEY SHOULD NOT HUNT US." It echoes through you, filling your mind. And then it ends. You glance around yourself dazed. Your ant-girl smiles at you. You have your mission, time to get to it. [[A few days later->ant 2 sisters part 4]]

add header tag (enchant: ?page, (text-colour: black) + (background: white))

You grow tired of calling your ant-girl, "hey you" and attempt to learn her name. Unfortunately, she only understands how to answer the question in the language of the ants. Her answer cannot be simply translated to a spoken word. She tells you roughly when she was born, what she has done, and her relation to you. You attempt to transliterate her answer but ended up with something that sounded like ant-girl. Finally, you start calling her forma. For your impossible task, you are entrusted by your queen with two patrols of your sisters. With their help you attempt an ambush on the spiders. It fails when the second patrol does not push the attack and the spiders are allowed to regroup. You are forced to beat a hasty retreat. You manage to find safety underground. Bruised and sore you begin remove your armor with the help of forma. Your sisters all look at you apologetically. They fought well but they prized the safety of the group too much. So, they held back. A useful trait but not what you need for raiding. Cohen always claimed that trick in ambuscade was a sense of audacity. Forma looks at you hopefully. You shrug. "-Any ideas?-" Forma nods. "-Concept similar to self-examination- -Her memory of you fighting without fear.-" Ah, well what made you so bold? You think back to the many stories and pieces of advice that Cohen gave while you knew him. It occurs to you that, the ant-girls prize the safety of the group so much because they have been taught to do since childhood. In your experience humans are not bold naturally. You remember how you shook in first battle. Then afterwards Cohen took a knee with everyone and told you of how he shook during his first battle. You begin to tell the assembled patrols of how two ant-girls once raided a spider nest with the help of two patrols. The ant-girls all listen attentively, obviously enthralled by the story. You can tell that they think it fiction. Forma however looks at you and smiles. You spend the next few evenings telling every stroy of courage, bravery and martial prowess that you can think of. Stories of your friends, Frederick's mishievousness, Alonso's courage, Ron's intelligence, Cohen's leadership. You make a special point to tell the stories Cohen told. Of his many adventures, of his raids against the dragons who keep slaves across the sea. As you tell of how he fought the evil captain dragonet Rochefort, dueling him as Rochefort's burning ship sank into the sea, Forma pulls your sleeve. Her wide opaque eyes reflect ever so slightly the light of the lantern. -Curiousity- -Concern for safety- -A desire to return home- Forma studies your reaction, ready to elaborate if you don't understand. She's probably asking why Cohen went so far to defeat a single dragonet. The honest answer is that Cohen hates dragonets with a burning passion for being slavers and for indirectly killing his mother. But that probably wouldn't inspire the ant-girls. So you give it a spin that the ant-girls will find more inspiring. Probably something about how the dragonet would go onto do it again if given half the chance, or how it was necessary to show that dragonets could be felled. You can see the story ripple out through the ant-girls as each adds their own thoughts on it silently to the collective. It's an impressive thing to watch. [[A few weeks later->ant 2 sisters part 5]] \(set: $sistershiveant2status to 0) \(set: $sistersspiderant2status to 1) \(set: $sistersnakedant2gear to 2) \(set: $anthit to 0)

Telling Cohen's stories seems to be helping. Your ambushes have been succeeding and although the fighting has been fierce you are on even footing with the spiders. The surprised look when a spider-girl is ambushed is delicious. Still you aren't winning outright and that needs to change. Better weapons would help a lot. the weapons the ant-girls are using are crude; only metal edged. Obviously made from what metal they could salvage. If you had a good source of metal and the tools to work it, you could force those spiders back into their nests. You mention this to forma and she points out that fire underground is a bad idea for a lot of reasons. (No matter what people say about dwarves.) So, mining and refining the metal is likely out. You ponder this for the better part of a week until you are allowed to return to the colony for rest. There you notice a certain type of mushroom under cultivation. You remember this one, you ate it and were not sure what was real for hours afterwards. Well now you have something to trade, but setting this up is going to be hard. [[Months later->ant 2 sisters part 6]]

The town's burghers enter the clearing hesitantly. You can see that despite all the assurances of safety you have given them they are still afraid. Forma stands in front of them. She bows and then says "Welcome friends, we will proceed with the final agreement now." Her accent is terrible. Given their surprise you can tell it's the first time they have heard an ant-girl other than you speak. You smile proudly from the place of honor behind the central table and cheer Forma on silently. It took two months of pleading to even get Forma to make a noise with her mouth. Then it took longer to get her to speak intelligibly. This also gave you the time to make an agreement with the town. You confirm the agreement with town's mayor. It is witnessed by multiple townspeople and multiple ant-girls. It’s the best to keep things verbal, because far as you can tell the ants have no written language. (Also, your letters aren't the best.) They look at you in wonder as you crack a joke. The mayor manages to talk first. "Lived here my whole life and never heard an ant-girl talk before." You smile at him. "Not our fault you guys talk so much. We save it for when we have something to say. Shall we look over the goods?" Your sisters have prepared several wagons of special mushrooms and sheets of a hard malleable white material. In return you will receive a wagon full of iron and a few weapons to copy. As the mayor inspects the mushrooms you do your best impression of the silent ant-girl. The deal is complete but there is a niggling detail. You break decorum to ask the barkeeper if he has heard anything of the adventuring party that came through months earlier. The portly man nods and says "I heard that they were captured for robbing the queen's vault. On their way to the fortress of Nalbina now. Your friends will break out, but you might aid in their rescue. [[It is not right that you are here hobnobbing while your friends are in chains->ant 2 sisters part 6 human]] [[With these weapons you can finally crush the spiders->ant 2 sisters part 6 ant]]

Once the meeting is finished you get to work instructing the ants in how to make weapons. You don't know much to be honest, Alonso was the expert. Still you know something about plowshares and that kind of transfers to metalworking. True to what Forma said, your sisters refuse to have flames underground. You try it yourself and find yourself sick to your stomach. You manage to placate them by relocating close to the surface. To your surprise the ants are endlessly inventive and their ability to make equipment designed for ants is the same in any medium. Once the ants are equipped you petition the queen for leave to lead a patrol in the rescue of your friends. She says nothing and even allows you to pick the ant-girls you take with you. But you know she doubts your loyalty. To your surprise travel with ants is easy. Though you get many stares whenever you enter civilization you rarely have to do so. The ants are fast marchers and think nothing of digging a hole to sleep in at night. The only real downside is that the ants tend to marvel at anything they haven't seen before. Given how insular the hive is, this a lot. You have to sprint after Forma when she goes to pet a bull. You have to urge the entire group onward as they stand entranced by a windmill. Let’s not even get started on what happens when they run into puppies. Finally, you reach Nalbina. There some pointed questions and a bit of strong-arm work reveal where your friends are being held in the dungeons. Getting to the dungeons is easy. You simply dig to the dungeons. Except for the part where you accidentally tunnel into the mines full of monsters. After that it's smooth sailing. In fact your sense of direction underground is so good that you end up tunneling into your friend's cell. They are obviously getting ready to ambush the guard. You poke your head through the wall and say "Hello." You are about to say something else when Frederick and Ron rush forward to hug you. you see Alonso and Cohen smiling at you triumphantly. "Good to see you too Frederick. I brought some ant-girls to spring you guys." [[Epilogue->ant 2 sisters part 6 human ending]] \(set: $sistersfriendsant2status to 1) \(set: $sistersspidersant2status to 0)

The time to finally finish the spiders is now. With better weapons and you in charge you will force those bitches back to their nest. Once the meeting is finished you get to work. You don't know much about how to make weapons. Alonso was the expert. A farm boy like yourself knows plowshares, but you doubt that will help with blades. True to what forma said your sister refuse to have flames underground. You try it and find yourself sick to your stomach. You manage to placate them by relocating close to the surface. You begin by trying to replicate the equipment you used above ground. This doesn't work, the ant-girls are too different physically. However, once you teach the ant-girls the basics of metal working they prove endlessly inventive. Before long you have equipment far better than before. All it takes from there is three years of constant combat. There are weekly reversals. Once the spiders understand what a threat the ants now are, they attack constantly. You lead the ants as well as you can. You called upon to perform feats of bravery that would make even Cohen jealous. Forma performs well as your aide-de-camp. She is an experienced fighter and a capable leader. She lacks your élan but you can't blame her for that. Far more importantly she is very good at explaining your various plans to the other ant-girls. Finally you have the spider-girls shut up in their nest. You control all of the surrounding ground and most of the trees. However, a prolonged siege is going to be impossible in the forest. The ants wish to undermine the entirety of the spider-nest and collapse it into a tangled mess followed by a charge. You prefer to fling fire into the nest and do the dirty work as they attempt to escape. Your deliberations are interrupted by a younger spider-girl with bright red hair emerging holding a scrap of web on a stick. (You giggle to Forma at seeing the proud spiders brought low.) [[A tense negotiation->ant 2 sisters part 6 ant ending]] \(set: $sistersloyaltysant2status to 1) \(set: $sistersspidersant2status to 0)

Your friends are ecstatic to see you. Once you are well away from the fortress you find a nearby city and throw a party to remember. The ant-girls don't know much about drinking but they seem eager to learn. After the riots finally end you, your friends and your sisters are run out of that city on a rail. You resume adventuring except now you have the ant-girls. Cohen seems happy enough to have more pupils and the ant-girls are eager students. Ron even starts to teach two of them, the very basics of magic. They are still skittish to the extreme about fire, which means Ron can't teach them much. You go on many marvelous adventures and in time your company of adventurers are known throughout the land. Eventually Cohen gathers you all around and announces that he is going off on his own. Even the ant-girls are sad to hear this. You know he will be alright though. He is still peerless in close combat. He took you and your patrol on without missing a step. Ultimately you are called back to your colony. Your antgirls are to provide a guard of honor for the establishment of a new colony. It's a great honor and you accept without hesitation. Your friends insist on coming along. You tell them that the work will be long and boring. They brush you off, claiming that this new colony should have a place for non-ants. You and Forma look forward to it. A new adventure awaits. Ant 2 sisters ending: true to where you started [[credits]]

The negotiations happen over a table. You begin negotiations with a mature spider-girl with silver hair. Your first demand is that the spiders to stop hunting near your colony. The spider-girl glares at you. Your second demand is that they to release your fellow sisters. The spider-girl snarls at you but agrees. As a final "screw yourself" you insist that they free the bee-girls as well. This makes the spider-girl so angry that she flips the table and lunges at you. She is restrained by the other spider-girls at the last minute. Finally, you have an audience with the queen to seal the deal. She glares at you. You glare at her. She spits, then you spit. You slowly nod, she does the same. For doing the impossible you will no doubt be brought into the highest levels of power among the ants. As you wait to meet with the queen you turn and ask Forma what she thinks about all of this. She pauses and seems to think. Finally, she answers "I chose wisely." In this and in only this she speaks to you and you are unable to sense her intention. You marvel at this for a moment and then allow it to pass. If it's important she will tell you what she means later. For now your thoughts are consumed with what to do next. Should you try to unite ant colonies throughout the forest? Seek an alliance with the bees? Establish a proper delegation to the humans? Whatever you choose, know that you have made your future by your own hand. Ant 2 sisters ending: A new family [[credits]]

during the negotation with the spiders they attack and you lose an arm

touch up these sex scenes.

The ant-girl begins making out with you enthusiastically and you do your best to return the favor. However she then suddenly breaks it off. You give her a curious look. The ant-girl then begins to rub her forehead against your affectionately, her opaque eyes looking into yours. You feel a sense of intense closeness to her, but why shouldn't you? She is a sister. You begin to feel a light tingle, but you are distracted from looking for the source by your ant-girl resuming her kissing. You let out a gasp as she stimulates the slit on your abdomen. there are no words for the pleasure. You feel somewhat intimidated by how expertly you are being handled so you try to retaliate. You begin to rub her sides with your smaller hands, and gently tease her slit with your larger hands. You have a hard time holding on though, so it is a relief when she pauses in her ministrations. You catch your breath as she helps you out of your now soaked clothes. However she begins to suddenly scissor with you. This catches you off guard and she gains the upper hand. She begins to grind you into the dirt, as waves of pleasure run through you. The tingling suddenly stops, and at the same time the ant-girl suddenly stops grinding. You look at her, she is enshrouded in clouds of love. she suddenly seems shy and withdraws demurely. Well that's not acceptable. With the help of your two sets of hands you manage to get the upperhand on the ant-girl. You begin to grind onto the ant-girl. She releases a low moan. You build higher and higher, just a glance at the scents around the ant-girl tells you that you are both close. Suddenly however, you feel a great release. You grow loose and happy. The ant-girl pats you on the head, and gives you a motherly look. Well that won't do. You force yourself up, and then gently push apart the ant-girl's legs. you begin to gently tease her slit with your mouth. You have some experience with this and before long the ant-girl is moaning and stroking your head. She climaxes suddenly, and you look at her with a rougish grin. She blushes and looks away. You hug her close and she returns the gesture. [[Take stock->ant 3 tf results]] (set: $antlevel to $antlevel + 1) (set: $ant3_status_coital to 1) (set: $ant3_appearance to 1) (set: $ant2appearance to 0)

You stop making out with the ant-girl and gently but firmly push her away. She looks at you curiously as you watch yourself for changes. You feel a tingle and search for a source but, instead it's a generalized feeling. What else could possibly change? The author would like to take a second to apologize. It is very difficult to describe the indescribable. The sensation is subtle. You wouldn't even notice if you weren't looking for it. You look at your arms, thin and covered in chitin, as they should be. You look down at your taught abdomen, not yet ready for it's duty. Nothing is amiss. And then you realize that nothing is amiss tells you what is amiss. You remember that earlier today the very idea of looking as you do now would have been a surprise. But now you are as you should be. It's a shift in how you think. It's like learning what sex is or what stirrups are for. A lot of things that seemed curious before now make perfect sense. You remember thinking the other way, and although it made sense at the time it seems foolish now. You sit up surprised. Looking around the scents finally make sense. This almost moves you to tears. It is like hearing music for the first time. Attempting to describe it in text is like trying to describe a beautiful sunset in clapping. Each cloud of scents is no longer a jumble of colors and emotions. They have instead become clouds of thought. You need but focus on them to feel the message on a deep level. Curious you focus on the dark umber scent that lead you here. It is a cry for help, you follow it to the ant-girl who is sitting looking at you respectfully. Without a thought and without moving your lips you greet her. The ant-girl smiles at you. -my queen- [[Time to figure out what the heck is going on->questions ant 3]] \(set: $antlevel to $antlevel + 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance to 1) \(set: $ant2appearance to 0) \(set: $ant2gear to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_old to 1)

(if: $statusstart is 1)[Shhh! The game is about to start.] \(if: $statusstart is 0)[Status:] \(if: $calmstatus is 1)[You are feeling good, your friends are nearby and this looks to be an uneventful trip.] \(if: $fightingstatus is 1)[You are in a fight for your life.] \(if: $kostatus is 1)[It's implied that you are unconscious.] \(if: $kostatus is 2)[You don't know where you are and you are very wet.] \(if: $escapestatus is 1)[You are disorientated, wet from the white stuff and just generally feeling a bit strange.] \(if: $escapestatus is 2)[Lost in the middle of deadly forest and surprised to find yourself now a woman.] \(if: $panicstatus is 1)[You are losing your shit like a fool.] \(if: $deepbreathstatus is 1)[You took a deep breath and are ready to decide what to do next] \(if: $option1status is 1)[You decided to go a suicide mission to rescue your friends. If nothing else this should be interesting. To make it worse you are really hungry.] \(if: $antlevel is 0 and $humanlevel is 0 and $rescuestatus is 1)[You are an adventurer who has picked up a bit of chitin. (if: $ant0status is 1)[All of these changes are freaking you out a bit, however you are still resolved to rescue your friends.] (if: $trackingant0status is 1)[You are tracking the spiders through the forest.] (if: $clearingant0status is 1)[You are in a clearing with an ant-girl.](if: $loveant0status is 1)[You are a little busy making love.](if: $conferenceant0status is 1)[You are having a tense planning session with the ant-girl.] (if: $climaxant0status is 1)[You are surveying the spider's nest. Very very carefully.] (if: $planant0status is 1)[You have observed the spiders' nest, now you need a plan.](if: $pumpedant0status is 1)[You have a plan. time to roll with it.] (if: $leeroyant0status is 1)[You are caught in a web like a dumbass.] (if: $leeroyant0status is 2)[You are a prisoner of the spidergirls.] (if: $fightant0status is 1)[This is a combat situation, not really the time for self-reflection.] (if: $fightant0status is 2)[This is the hardest fighting of your life, really not the time for self-reflection.] (if: $endingant0status is 1)[You have managed a single-handed rescue of your friends despite incredible odds. In short you feel pretty damn good. The only thing to do now is make a decision] (if: $treeant0status is 1)[In addition to everything that has happened today, you are trapped under a tree.] (if: $tarzanant0status is 1)[You are resting after swinging through the trees like a madman.]] \ \(if: $ant0epilogue is 1)[You have gained great fame as a chitinous adventurer.] \(if: $girl0epilogue is 1)[You have gained great fame a a female adventurer.] \(if: $boy0epilogue is 1)[You are great hero, amongst a band of brothers.] \ \ \ \ \(if: $antlevel is 1 and $humanlevel is 0)[You are an adventurer who is turning into an ant-girl. \(if: $treeant0status is 2)[You have managed to free yourself from the tree, but now you have new problems.] \(if: $tarzanant1status is 1)[You swung through the trees, and changed as a result.] \(if: $trackingant1status is 1)[You are tracking the spiders through the forest.] \(if: $clearingant1status is 1)[You are in a clearing with an ant-girl.] \(if: $conferenceant1status is 1)[You are having a tense planning session with the ant-girl.] \(if: $climaxant1status is 1)[You are surveying the spider's nest. very very carefully.] \(if: $planant1status is 1)[You have observed the spiders' nest, now you need a plan.] \(if: $pumpedant1status is 1)[You have a plan. time to roll with it.] \(if: $leeroyant1status is 1)[You are caught in a web. NOT AWESOME!] \(if: $leeroyant1status is 2)[You are a prisoner of the spidergirls. Super Not Awesome!] \(if: $fightant1status is 1)[The attack is begun! You are committed to the bitter end.] \(if: $notetiredant1status is 1)[The fighting is starting to get to you but you still have the strength to continue.] \(if: $fightant1status is 2)[This is the hardest fighting of your life, really not the time for self-reflection.] \(if: $endingant1status is 1)[You have managed a single-handed rescue of your friends despite incredible odds. Despite a few unexpected changes you feel pretty damn good. The only thing to do now is make a decision.] \ \ \(if: $mushroomwatchant1status is 1)[You are keeping watch over your friends.] \(if: $mushroomfightant1status is 1)[You are leading a patrol of your semi-ant friends.] \(if: $mushroomsuccessant1status is 1)[You managed to successfully rescue your friends from the spiders. You feel pretty good about it, and you have never felt closer to your friends.] \(if: $mushroomendingant1status is 1)[You are doing fine, except for being in a city of the dead.] \(if: $intimacyant1status is 1)[You are canoodling with an ant-girl, you dog you.]] \ \(if: $ant1epilogue is 1)[You have gained great fame as a mostly ant-girl adventurer.] \ \ \ \(if: $antlevel is 2 and $humanlevel is 0)[You are an adventurer who has turned into an ant-girl. (if: $sistersstartant2status is 0)[In addition you occasionally see smells as colors drifting through the air.](if: $sistersstartant2status is 1)[You have decided to seek help from the ants.] (if: $sistersjoinant2status is 1)[You have decided to join the ant-girls.] \(if: $colorsant2status is 1)[You might be tripping really hard, and be somewhere safe. That would explain seeing the colors. Or you are in a forest where you keep changing and you have a lot of problems.] \(if: $rescueant2status is 1)[You are rescuing a trapped ant-girl, it might not be the time for mercy but if not now then when?] \(if: $conferenceant2status is 1)[You are having a tense planning session with the ant-girl.] \(if: $sniffant1status is 1)[You are tracking the spiders by smell. that seems a little odd when you think about it.] \(if: $troubledant2status is 1)[For some reason you feel very troubled. Your heart seems to be tearing in half, but why?] \(if: $planant2status is 1)[You have observed the spiders' nest, now you need a plan.] \(if: $pumpedant2status is 1)[You have a plan. time to roll with it.] \(if: $leeroyant2status is 1)[You probably should have thought this out a bit better. You are caught in a web.] \(if: $leeroyant2status is 2)[You are a prisoner of the spidergirls.] \(if: $fightant2status is 1)[For better or worse it's you against a spider's nest. Time to put on one hell of a show.] \(if: $queenfightant2status is 1)[You are getting straight up murdered by by the spider queen] \(if: $ronfightant2status is 1)[You are making small talk while Ron entertains himself.] \(if: $notetiredant2status is 1)[You are keeping your friends ahead of the spiders by being positively annoying. You are starting to tire but you can keep going.] \(if: $fightant2status is 2)[This is the hardest fighting of your life, really not the time for self-reflection.] \(if: $forestfireant2status is 1)[You are running for your life from a fire you indirectly helped to start. Kind of a metaphor really.] \(if: $firerideant2status is 1)[You can barely move or speak. The fire is coming closer and your only hope is to ride alonso as hard as you can. That probably could have been phrased better.] \(if: $fireant2status is 1)[You can barely move or speak. You are doing your utmost to survive the fire with the ants.] \(if: $endingant2status is 1)[You barely survived a harrowing adventure. It's time to rest and decide what's next.] \(if: $noodlingstatus is 1)[You are seeking a cure to return your friends to normal. Apparently this involves stripping buck naked, wading out to the middle of a fucking lake and convincing a gigantic catfish to bite you. All because your friends are too wimpy to do it themselves. Bastards the lot of them.] \ \ \(if: $mushroomwatchant2status is 1)[You are keeping watch over your friends.] \(if: $mushroomambushant2status is 1)[You are strangling a spider. Not a euphemism] \(if: $mushroomfightant2status is 1)[You are leading a patrol of your best friends. Curiously they have turned into ant-girls like you.] \(if: $mushroomorgyant2status is 1)[You are enjoying a rest with your friends.] \(if: $mushroomcontrolant2status is 1)[You are proving that your friends have no self-control at the worst time.] \(if: $mushroomofferant2status is 1)[You are considering making a very important offer.] \(if: $mushroomendingant2status is 1)[You and your sisters have finally reached safety. Now as a group you will have to decide on the future.] \(if: $mushroomepilogueant2status is 1)[You are working to infiltrate a tomb full of horrors and steal the soul vase within. Unfortunately it's way too dangerous for you.] \(if: $mushroomepilogueant2status is 2)[You are trying to defend a city from a lich and his army of the dead. Is this metal? It seems pretty metal.] \(if: $mushroomepilogueant2status is 3)[Against incredible odds you managed to save the city and have been rewarded by being knighted. This is a lot further than you ever thought you would go.] \(if: $mushroomcameoant2status is 1)[You are working to defend your world against a horror from beyond the stars. Be nice if you had some kind of camp to train for this. Nah, you don't know magic so they probably wouldn't take you.] \ \ \(if: $sistersattackant2status is 1)[The attack has begun, two ant-girls against a nest full of spiders. What can go wrong?] \(if: $sistersescapeant2status is 1)[You have your friends, time to make a desperate escape.] \(if: $sistersofferant2status is 1)[Your ant-girl is making you an important offer.] (if: $sistersnuptialant2status is 1)[You are a little busy consumating a relationship.] \(if: $sisterorgyant2status is 1)[You are doing a team building activity.] \(if: $sistershiveant2status is 1)[It is a difficult feeling to describe but you have the strongest sense that you are finally home. it is a feeling of finally being safe.] \(if: $sistersspiderant2status is 1)[You are bringing war to spiders to the best of your ability.] \(if: $sistersspiderant2status is 1)[Perhaps your old loyalties were too strong, but you chose to rescue your friends.] \(if: $sistersloyaltysant2status is 1)[You were loyal and for this you will be rewarded] \(if: $leeroyseductionstatus is 1)[You have appearently rolled a natural twenty on your seduction roll. Shame your luck is so bad otherwise.] (if: $leeroyslavestatus is 1)[you are a captive of the spider-girls.] ] \(if: $mushroommarriageant2status is 1 and $marriageant2 is 1)[You have decided to take the ant-girl with you. She often gives you a loving looks. With how your sisters look, you must all seem identical.] \ \(if: $antrescue is 1 and $anteat is 1 and $humanlevel is 0)[You feel a little bit better for having something to eat.] \(if: $sisterssleep is 1 and $antmeal is 1)[With a meal and a good nap you feel much better. Maybe even good enough to take on a spider's nest] \(if: $sisterssleep is 1 and $antmeal is 0)[You feel a lot better with a nap. Things are still pretty bleak but you have gone too far to stop now.] \ \(if: $antlevel is 3 and $humanlevel is 0)[You are an ant-girl who was once an adventurer. \(if: $ant3_status_coital is 1)[In this deep dark forest you have found a connection with another ant-girl.] \(if: $ant3_status_intro is 1)[You are awakening to your nobility as you confer with your handmaiden] \(if: $ant3_status_sneak is 1)[With some difficulty you are sneaking past the nest of the contemible spiders.] \(if: $ant3_status_think is 1)[Having got this far, you need to figure out the best way to rescue your friends] \(if: $ant3_status_rest is 1)[You are resting under the care of your handmaiden.] \(if: $ant3_status_cleaning is 1)[After tending to you, it's only right you tend to your handmaiden.] \(if: $ant3_status_fed is 1)[You are rested and fed, time for action.] \(if: $ant3_status_crowned is 1)[You have been crowned, you can only hope to live up to the honor.] \(if: $ant3_status_plan is 1)[Time to figure out how you might best use your sisters to rescue your friends.] \(if: $ant3_status_lead is 1)[You are leading your sisters in a bold action to rescue your friends.] \(if: $ant3_status_rescue is 1)[In the most dangerous place you could imagine, you are freeing your friends.] \(if: $ant3_status_ron is 1)[You are working frantically to rescue the others while Ron deals with the spider queen.] \(if: $ant3_status_queenfight is 1)[Two ants dueling the queen of the spiders. You are trying not to give off too much fear. In the unlikely event you live through this it's going to be a story to tell.] \(if: $ant3_status_flight is 1)[Having rescued your friends you are now trying to desperately lead them and your sisters to safety. You would be worried but your handmaiden keeps giving you audacious looks.] \(if: $ant3_status_cohen is 1)[Having regrouped with Cohen things are looking up. Still the spiders seem set on runing your mood.] \(if: $ant3_status_queenfight1 is 1)[You are in the hardest fighting of your life, to prove your nobility against the queen of the spiders. Let's hope you don't die.] \(if: $ant3_status_queenfight2 is 1)[Against impossible odds you have defeated the spider queen. Your handmaiden gives out scents of unequaled pride and awe.] \(if: $ant3_status_home is 1)[After an incredible adventure you have finally managed to reach a home you have never known. Now what will you do?] \(if: $ant3_status_leave is 1)[It tears at you, brings you to tears, screams out to you as wrong; but you have chosen to leave. Perhaps you are being true to who you were?] \(if: $ant3_status_attractions is 1)[The world outside the forest is a strange lonely place, but thankfully you have your handmaiden.] \(if: $ant3_status_library is 1)[You are visiting an old friend of Cohen in a grand library in search of a cure.] \(if: $ant3_status_boyending is 1)[And after a long adventure you have returned to being an adventurer.] \(if: $ant3_status_bugending is 1)[At cohen's recommendation you are on a final quest for a chalice.] \(if: $ant3_status_bugending1 is 1)[Now you are an ant-girl adventurer. Your friends need some guidance from royalty to make sure they don't get into too much trouble.] \(if: $ant3_status_farewell is 1)[You nature pulls you to stay in the hive, so you are saying farewells. It's hard to part from friends as true as these of course.] \(if: $ant3_status_purpose is 1)[Having found your place you are to meet with a queen who will decide how you might be best used for the colony] \(if: $ant3_status_war is 1)[So charged you are bringing war to the spiders, let them know the pain they have inflicted on your people] \(if: $ant3_status_crowned is 1)[You have become a member of true royalty. Let every sister rejoice at your ascension. Now you just have to do right by your sisters, as hard as that can be.] \(if: $ant3_status_lived is 1)[You have lived well in service of your sisters] ] \(if: $diedstatus is 1)[YOU ARE DEAD] \ \ \ \(if: $statusstart is 0)[Appearance: ] \(if: $appearance is 1)[You strongly resemble yourself.] \(if: $kostatus is 2)[Way too dark to see anything, and besides you have more immediate problems.] \(if: $escapestatus is 1)[Your hands seem a bit thinner but a proper investigation will have to wait. Besides it's probably the light.] \(if: $escapeapperance is 1)[A bit unexpectedly you look like your ideal girl.] \(if: $ant0appearance is 1)[You still look like a girl but a few things have changed. Most obviously you are covered in a hard brown substance on both forearms and forelegs. The other big change is that you have sprouted a brown abdomen from your tailbone. It's not especially large but it throws off your movement a little. Finally you have lost a little bit of height. You would estimate that you are about 1/3 of the way changed. (if: $fightant0status is 2)[The constant fighting has wrecked your look. Your face is powdered with soot from Ron's fires and your hair is more dirt than hair.](if: $endingant0status is 1)[Everyone cleaned up in the stream outside of the town. This attracted many hoops and hollars from the local women doing the laundry. You don't look great but you look better than you did.](if: $ant0epilogue is 1)[As you grow more used to your new form you do a few things to make it look better. You tend towards a cute look but you make it work.]] \(if: $girl0epilogue is 1)[You have reverted to looking like your ideal girl. You don't mind too much and perhaps spend too long in front reflective surfaces.] \(if: $boy0epilogue is 1)[You look like yourself again, for better or worse.] \ \(if: $ant1appearance is 1)[You still have a few human features but the rest are distinctly ant-like. Most obviously your arms and legs are now covered in a hard brown chitin. This has made your shoulders much smaller. In addition you have a brand new pair of mostly useless arms sprouting from your side. Your abdomen has grown, fed by mass from your butt and waist. This has left you butless and with a waist to envy. You have lost some height and just look cuter in general. You would estimate that you are about 2/3 of the way to an ant-girl. (if: $fightant1status is 2)[The constant fighting has wrecked your look. Your face is powdered with soot from Ron's fires and your legs are caked with mud.](if: $endingant1status is 1)[Everyone cleaned up in the stream outside of the town. This attracted many hoops and hollars from the local women doing the laundry. You don't look great but you look better than you did, it took a lot of scrubbing but you finally got the dirt off.](if: $shrooms is 1)[You no longer look quite so unique as you are accompanied by your friends.](if: $ant1epilogue is 1)[Your new form tends towards a cute look naturally. However you eventually find a look you are comfortable with.]] \ \(if: $ant2appearance is 1)[You are now identical to an ant-girl. Your arms and legs are thin and covered in chitin. Your figure is girlish. Complemented by your inhumanly thin waist and a taught full bug’s abdomen poking out from where your but used to be. Your face is soft and youthful, this contrasts sharply with your opaque eyes and black antenna. \(if: $mushroomambushant2appearance is 1)[You are bruised and a bit batter from where the spider-girl was hitting you.] \(if: $fightant2appearance is 1)[The constant fighting has wrecked your look. Your face is powdered with soot from Ron's fires and there is purple on your shirt.] \(if: $fireant2appearance is 1)[The fire filled the air with ash. you are covered in the stuff. It's everywhere turning your chitin an ugly brown-grey.] \(if: $antwashant2appearance is 1)[You look much better for having washed yourself in the stream. The ant-girl made sure to give you a through scrubbing with her hard fingers. As a result you are cleaner than you were when you entered the forest.] \(if: $jumpwashant2appearance is 1)[You look alright. Your sudden dip and velocity you entered the water at got some of the dirt off of you. You considered washing yourself properly but exhaustion dissuaded you.] \(if: $mushroomendingant2appearance is 1)[Everyone washed themselves off in the river near the village. You didn't feel that bad about getting naked. (if: $antmarriage is 1)[For reasons known only to her your ant-girl gives you a hard scrubbing with her chitinous hands. You end up cleaner than when you entered the forest.]] \(if: $mushroomepilogueant2appearance is 1)[In interim while you are questing, you need a new look. People can't tell your sisters apart. Eventually you resort to wearing different colored ribbons on your arm. You get to wear blue.]] \(if: $ant3_appearance is 1)[You are now identical to an ant-girl. Your arms and legs are thin and covered in chitin. Your figure is girlish. Complemented by your inhumanly thin waist and a taught full bug’s abdomen poking out from where your but used to be. Your face is soft and youthful, this contrasts sharply with your opaque eyes and black antenna. Your mental awakening has been matched a slight enlargening of your abdomen, but otherwise no visible changes. Your scents have also changed slightly. \(if: $ant3_appearance_crowned is 1)[Wearing a crown and cuirass you are the very image of nobility in the field. Let's hope they and you prove up to the challenge] \(if: $ant3_appearance_handmaiden is 1)[Your handmaiden has taken a few moments to wipe some of the dirt off of you.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_sneak is 1)[You have gotten pretty muddy trying to keep low to the ground and avoiding being seen.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_washed is 1)[Your handmaiden has gone to some trouble making you about as clean as you have ever been.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_washed1 is 1)[After an indepth washing session with your handmaiden your chitin practically shines.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_web is 1)[You have a bit of web sticking to you, but nothing too bad.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_soot is 1)[You are already covered in the fine dusting of soot that comes for adventuring with ron.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_queenfight is 1)[You are covered in dirt and scratches from fighting the spiderqueen.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_flight is 1)[You are covered in a thick layer of soot from Ron's fires, mud and a little blood from the fighting and the general grim of moving quickly through a forest.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_queenfight1 is 1)[You have a victorious grin plastered to your face.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_parade is 1)[some of the white flower petals have gotten stuck in your hair and armor.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_forma is 1)[As a royal ant attended by her handmaiden you look out of place in the world above. Some element of nobility shines through and you are often the subject of stares. but you don't judge the onlookers too harshly.] \(if: $ant3_appearance_away is 1)[Away from the forest you take a little bit of time to make sure you don't look too rough. It would be unseemly.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_nobility is 1)[In the world above you attract curious looks. You make no effort to disguise your appearance though, why would you pretend to be other than what you are. You carry yourself with nobility and grace.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_bugending is 1)[Time is surprisingly kind to ant-girls. You have gained an element of nobility and grace to your countenance, appearing all the more royal.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_humanending is 1)[You look as you once did. You are certainly going to miss the extra arms, your enhanced strength and your chitin. Still you now pass for human, which has it's own advantages.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_palace is 1)[You have gone to visit the queens, to do this you apparently need to be nude. Your handmaiden certainly doesn't seem to mind.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_war is 1)[You are bringing war to the spiders. As this mostly involves long periods in your armor smeared with blood and mud, you don't look your best. Damn heroic though.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_queen is 1)[Becoming true royalty causes physical changes. You have become a relative giant among your sisters, with your abdomen growing to match. Your tits also look amazing. For whatever reason queens don't seem to wear much. You still have your crown though.] \(if:$ant3_appearance_trueroyalty is 1)[Your truly royal form is large and perpetually pregnant. You have a healthy glow and amazing breasts where you often nurse your grubs. You are the very image of an ant-queen.]] \(if: $anthit is 1 and $antmeal is 0)[You took a heavy hit to the tit, you have a mighty bruise as a result] \(if: $anthit is 1 and $antmeal is 1)[You took a heavy hit to the midsection, the cuirass blocked most of it but you still have some bruising] \ \(if: $flowercrownappearance is 1)[You are wearing the crown of white flowers your ant-girl gave you. After all if you can't kick ass wearing a flower-crown can you really kick ass?] \(if: $flowercrownappearance is 2)[The flower crown eventually wilts, however you take to wearing a white flower in your hair. Your friends tease you about this occasionally, until Cohen stops them.] \(if: $sexleeroyappearance is 1)[you have that healthy post-coital glow.] \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \(if: $statusstart is 0)[Gear:] \(if: $gear is 1)[You are geared up and good to go.] \(if: $kostatus is 2)[There is no light but it feels like you aren't wearing your armor any more.] \(if: $cocoongear is 1)[Your armor and weapons are gone. Furthermore your undershirt and pants rub you a bit strangely.] \(if: $humangear is 1)[You are wearing an ill-fitting shirt and pants. Thank god you still have your boots. Furthermore you have your effects secured in a small pouch. These consist of: 1 small pocket knife, 1 lucky charm, 1 flint, some string, and 1 small mirror.] \(if: $ant0gear is 1)[You are wearing a too large shirt. You had to make a few emergency modifications to your pants to accommodate your new abdomen. Your boots are pretty much useless at this point.] \(if: $ant0gear is 2)[You were gifted a new shirt and rather alarmingly a skirt. The old ladies doing laundry couldn't bear to see you in the rags you were wearing.] \(if: $ant0epilogue is 1)[You can mostly use your old gear. you have to make a few modifications for the girls and your abdomen. Also you save immensely on gauntlets and boots.] \(if: $girl0epilogue is 1)[You keep to your old gear when you can. You avoid the skimpy armor people tend to attribute to female adventurers.] \(if: $boy0epilogue is 1)[You go back to your old equipment. Fits like a glove, or like a cuirass.] \ \ \ \(if: $ant1gear is 1)[You are wearing a too large shirt, you make a pair of holes for your second pair of arms. They just hang limply at your side though. Your pants are completely unable to contain your abdomen. Thankfully the loss of your butt gave you the area and the fabric to pull your belt tight beneth the abdomen. Your boots and most of your pants are not really needed at this point. \(if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your clothes are wrinkled in ways not common to adventuring. Also there is a slight wet spot in the crotch.]] \(if: $ant1gear is 2)[(if: $shrooms is 0)[You were gifted a new shirt and rather alarmingly a skirt. The old ladies doing laundry couldn't bear to see you in the rags you were wearing. Your abdomen sticks out far enough that it makes walking in a skirt awkward.](if: $shrooms is 1)[Everyone was given a shirt and a skirt by the old ladies doing laundry. The old ladies had a hard time containing their laughter as you walked into the town. Everyone had a hard time making the skirt work with your new abdomens. Amusingly, ron does the best, he looks embarrassed and says something about wearing robes.]] \(if: $ant1epilogue is 1)[Your old gear doesn't fit you very well. You improvise a new set, making a few modifications for the girls and your abdomen. In theory you don't need much armor for your arms and legs, but you look funny without it.] \(if: $shroomgear is 1)[For a job like this you are wearing a light chainmail vest and what other light gear you can carry. It's not much. As Cohen says thieves steal stuff, not fight stuff.] \ \ \ \(if: $ant2gear is 1)[You are wearing a too large shirt, you have made a pair of holes for your second pair of arms. They move without you thinking about them. this is surprising the first time it happens and then disconcertingly not surprising after that. Your pants are completely unable to contain your abdomen. (if: $antspants is 0)[your new legs and less prominent hips mean that keeping your pants tight is a constant struggle. good thing you were wearing a belt.][(if: $antspants is 1)[The pants in particular are a problem. Despite the help of the ant-girl, keeping them on is difficult. Your new legs and the loss of any prominence on your hips means they have little to hang onto. Good thing you were wearing a belt.] At this point your clothes won't do much for protection. Still you wear them out of familiarity and to protect your modesty. (if: $luckypants is 1)[By simple fact of what has happened today, your current outfit has to be lucky. In the unlikely event they survive you are going to keep them as a trophy.] \(if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your clothes are wrinkled in ways not common to adventuring. Also there is a slight wet spot in the crotch.]]] \(if: $ant2gear is 2 and $shrooms is 0)[As you approached the town you were offered a new shirt and a skirt by women who were doing their laundry in the river. Your abdomen just plainly does not work with a skirt though. Cohen makes a gap in the skirt so your abdomen hangs out, not covered by the skirt. (if: $sistersant2gear is 1)[You do however keep the cuirass you received from the ant-girls. You don't wear it because it obviously put the townspeople on edge.]] \(if: $epilogueant2gear is 1)[(if: $sistersant2gear is 0)[Your old gear simply doesn't fit anymore. You have lost too much height and grown too thin. You create a new set, making considerations for your breasts and your abdomen. In theory you don't need much armor for your arms and legs, but you look funny without it. You don't even want to get into how much trouble it is to protect you abdomen](if: $sistersant2gear is 1)[The gear you received from the ant-girls is perfectly made for you. It proves more than adequate for your needs. Everyone does mistake you for an ant-girl though.]] \(if: $ant2gear is 2 and $shrooms is 2)[As you walk towards the town you come across some old ladies doing laundry. They are initially somewhat cautious of you and your sisters. Alonso's winning personality quickly shines through though. They give you shirts and skirts, to replace your more or less destroyed clothing. The clothes however don't agree with your new features. Cohen grumbles a little but everyone borrows his sword to make holes for your new arms. The skirts are completely incapable of covering your abdomen. Rather than just wearing the skirt and tripping constantly, you make an incision and with some effort put your abdomen through it. \(if: $marriageant2 is 1)[You offer the clothes to your ant-girl but she shakes her head. she seems to like her woven cuirass.]] \(if: $sistersant2gear is 1 and $ant2gear is 0)[(if: $sistersnakedant2gear is 0)[You have switched from your torn clothes to the gear that the ant-girls favor.] (if: $sistersnakedant2gear is 2)[You are back in your cuirass outside of the hive.]Your armor is a thick woven cuirass that fits you perfectly. You also have been given a sharpened entrenching tool.] \(if: $sistersnakedant2gear is 1)[You left your armor with the guards at the outpost. Like the other ant-girls you are naked.] \(if: $leeroygear is 1)[The spiders took your clothes and effects, leaving you completely naked. Still you enjoy the occasional breeze and it's less constricting.] \(if: $tornpants is 1 and $ant0gear is 1)[The bushwhacking did no favors to your pants. They are torn in quite a few places. Pockets still work though. ] \(if: $tornpants is 1 and $ant1gear is 1 and $ant1torchappearance is 0)[The bushwhacking did no favors to your pants. They are torn in quite a few places. Pockets still work though. ] \(if: $ant0torchappearance is 1 and $ant0gear is 1)[You sacrificed your socks, sleeves, and midriff to make a torch. Needless to say you look a little ragged. ] \(if: $ant1torchappearance is 1 and $ant1gear is 1)[You sacrificed your socks, sleeves and pantslegs to make a torch. (if: $tornpants is 1)[The pants legs weren't doing you much good anymore.] You might look a little rough but you think you look good in shorts. ] \(if: $ant2torchappearance is 1 and $ant2gear is 1)[You sacrificed your socks, sleeves and pantslegs to make a torch. (if: $tornpants is 1)[The pants legs weren't doing you much good anymore.] You might look a little rough but you think you look good in shorts. ] \(if: $ant3_gear_old is 1)[The remnants of your human clothes still determinedly cling to your body. A too large shirt, with a pair of crudely fashioned holes for your smaller arms. Your pants are simililarly destroyed. They were never meant to have to be worn with an abdomen and the only thing keeping them up is your belt. At this point you keep your clothes on more because ditching them might get you found than any real utility.] \(if:$ant3_gear_nude is 1)[The clothing requirements within the outpost are lax, and with no further utility you have ditched your old human clothes. They weren't doing you much good anyway.] \(if:$ant3_gear_cuirass is 1)[You are wearing the standard gear for sisters. A thickly woven cuirass fits you perfectly, protecting your midsection and the areas not covered by chitin. A perfectly tailored design lets you keep as much range of movement for all of your arms as practicable. It's like it was made for you. You also have two weapons from your sisters. An entrenching tool and a hand mattock. Both have fairly long shafts, likely to help counteract the ant-girl's limited reach.] \(if:$ant3_gear_antend is 1)[In the world above you stick to the equipment your sisters gave you. Partially so everyone can see what exactly an ant-girl abroad looks like, partially because it is really tailored for you perfectly. It does make you stick out though.] \(if:$ant3_gear_humanend is 1)[The gear your sisters gave you is well suited for your current form. But it's primative and mostly made of organic materials. You eventually find equipment that while not better made is more effective. You keep the hand mattock though, the ability to grab and control your opponents space in combat is handy, particularly with your reduced size.] \(if:$ant3_gear_human is 1)[As a human you go back to using gear meant for humans. It sounds silly but it works.] \(if:$ant3_gear_palace is 1)[The guards have stripped you of your gear and weapons. This leaves you totally naked, but nudity seems to be pretty common amongst the sisters. Your handmaiden seems certain that you will get them back if you want them though.] \(if:$ant3_gear_battle is 1)[As nobility in the field, you wear much of the same gear. The pace of the battles you fight mean a sister is retained to patch it up almost constantly. Your handmaiden doesn't seem to mind you being out of your armor so much.] \(if:$ant3_gear_queen is 1)[Queens naturally have little need for armor or weapons. You spend most of the time after your crowning wearing the simple white aprons favored by your sisters. Has a lot of pockets though, and you can fit a lot of snacks in there.] \(if:$ant3_gear_queen1 is 1)[True royalty has little use for clothes. They get in the way of your duities mostly. Still you are waited upon hand and foot, so you don't miss the pockets too much.] (IF: $antcrownstatus is 1)[You marked your crown as one of victory] (IF: $antcrownstatus is 2)[You marked your crown as one of justice] (IF: $antcrownstatus is 3)[You marked your crown as one of mercy] [[I'd like to hear the story again from the start->restart question]]

(set: $lastpassage to "")

(if: not ((passage:)'s tags contains "menu"))[(set: $lastPassage to (passage:)'s name)]

(append: ?Sidebar)[(if: $kitsunecheck is 0)[(if: (passage:)'s name is not "Status")[[Status]]](if: $kitsunecheck is 1)[(if: (passage:)'s name is not "Status1")[[Status->Status1]]]]

The scents around the antgirl come into quick focus. They tell you that she is like you but not like you, some subtle difference eludes you for the second. The antgirl is senior, an experienced fighter in her own right. For better or worse she identifies herself as your handmaiden. She looks at you with a motherly expression, obviously at ease. -Are you alright my queen?- [[Ask her why she was so eager to roll in the hay->nookie conversation]] [[Ask how she got to be trapped in a web so far from her sisters->why are you here conversation]] [[What next->conversation part 2 ant 3]] (set: $ant3_status_coital to 0) (set: $ant3_status_intro to 1)

You manage to sit up and begin to feel yourself for the changes. You look at your arms, thin and covered in chitin, as they should be. You look down at your taught abdomen, not yet ready for it's duty. Nothing is amiss. The change is subtle beyond words, like recognizing that the roof of your mouth has gone smooth. The fact that nothing is amiss tells you that something is amiss. It's a shift in how you think. It's like learning what sex is or what stirrups are for. A lot of things that seemed curious before now make perfect sense. You know the full range of movement available to your arms. You know how to dig most efficiently. You remember thinking the other way, and although it made sense at the time it seems foolish now. You give a curious glance to the clearing. Looking around the scents finally make sense. This almost moves you to tears. It is like hearing music for the first time. Attempting to describe it in text is like trying to describe a beautiful sunset in clapping. Each cloud of scents is no longer a jumble of colors and emotions. They have instead become clouds of thought. You need but focus on them to feel the message on a deep level. Curious you focus on the dark umber scent that lead you here. It is a cry for help, quickly clouded out by a haze of love. You see that it is surrounding the ant-girl who is sitting looking at you respectfully. Without a thought and without moving your lips you greet her. The ant-girl smiles at you. -my queen- [[Time to figure out what the heck is going on->questions ant 3]] \(set: $ant2gear to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_old to 1)

Your handmaiden looks rather embarrassed. -My queen this one was in that trap for two days. Your handmaiden had given up all hope of rescue. Then your highness showed up and we were overcome by emotion.- Huh, improper for when above ground but you can hardly blame her. [[Other questions->questions ant 3]]

Your handmaiden looks a bit depressed. She then proceeds to tell you a tale of adventure that would take another game to fully tell. The narrator apologizes but that would be too much writing, so take the short version instead. But be sure that it would be an epic tale. Your handmaiden was on a long patrol between different ant outposts. Her patrol was attacked by these big scaley things. (She made sure to graphically and silently act out how they roared.) Her patrol split when she acted as a diversion so everyone else could escape. Her flight led her into the fire swamps. She tells you that besides from occasional spontaneous gouts of fire, sucking sandpits and rodents of unusual size; it was quite pleasant. After that she managed to avoid a dragonet scouting party. (She didn't know what they were, but you managed to guess based on your memories.) Then while evading the dragonets, she got the attention of a patrol of spiders. Evading those she wandered too close to a spider's nest and got caught in a web. You can practically taste her frustration to be caught after all that. There she was trapped for two days. Her only explanation for why she waited so long without trying to signal the spiders was simple stubbornness and a refusal to allow herself to be captured. As she tells this story, it's obvious that that she would rather tell a more victorious one. You give her a good natured pat on the back and tell her that she did better than any single sister was expected to do. [[Other questions->questions ant 3]]

Your handmaiden looks at you politely inquisitive. -Why are you here without any escort my queen?- You wonder how many details to give the handmaiden. She likely doesn't need many to believe you. Your memories suggest that if you were dealing with another human it would be best to lie, or at least conceal your weakness. Sisters do not lie to one another. You explain exactly what you are and how your goal is to rescue your friends. Your handmaiden smells your story carefully and deliberately. She looks at you with expression halfway amused, halfway resigned. -A difficult task my queen. But, there is a nearby outpost. We can request the sisters to help as part of your proving trial.- If it will allow you to recruit more help to rescue your friends then you will happily undergo any trials. You politely ask where the outpost is. Your handmaiden leads you to sit, and then begins to root around in the shrubs on the edge of the clearing. She returns with a few leaves, she chews the first and then offers the rest to you. -Keep your strength up my queen.- They don't taste like much, but take the edge off your hunger. Your handmaiden sits across from you. She begins to draw on the ground. She draws a circle and then points to the center of it. -My queen, the spider's nest here is built on a raised bit of earth.- She points to the side of the circle closest to her. -The outpost is hidden here.- She then points to the left circle. -There is a nest of lizards here, they know better than to get close to the spiders but I recommend caution all the same.- You nod. The map while crude is functional. You raise the possibility of using the lizards as a diversion. Your handmaiden shakes her head. -While possible, that would require the sacrifice of many sisters for an unproven tactic. Unless you have some method of preventing them from eating the sisters we would have to use as bait.- While your handmaiden kept her same peaceful expression that scent had the slightest inflection of a joke. She smiles at you before beginning to wipe the map away. -With your permission my queen, I would like to withdraw to the outpost. You may wish to survey the nest so we might better make the attack.- [[Why is she referring to you as her queen?->conversation title ant 3]] [[Ask her to accompany you->ant coversation refusal]] [[Get going->onward ant 3]]

Your handmaiden seems to be caught off-guard by the question. She looks at you genuinely confused. -Why does your handmaiden call you my queen?- She pauses and then seems to have an idea. -My apologies, technically you have not passed your proving trial. It would be more accurate to refer to you as a princess. Would it be more pleasing to use that?- [[Queen is fine->conversation title queen ant 3]] [[Princess then->conversation title princess ant 3]] [[Insist that she call you the name you remember->conversation title old ant 3]] author's note: not yet implemented

Your handmaiden looks genuinely unhappy. -I apologize my queen but your handmaiden is two days without any food or water. While it is shameful for you to go into danger without accompaniment, your handmaiden would be more of a liability than anything else.- You nod, it is foolish to fight beyond your strength. She releases a cloud of relief. You give her a good-natured pat on the head and she smiles. [[Other topics->conversation part 2 ant 3]]

Your memories tell you that you used to have a spoken name. It seems ill fitting now, but it was yours. You instruct your handmaiden to call you your name. She looks at you blankly. You instruct her again this time attempting to render your spoken name into smell. She blinks a few times and then responds -Why would your handmaiden call you something other than what you are?- She has a good point, furthermore it seems that there is a strong taboo against speaking above ground. [[Whatever your name was it hardly suits you now.->conversation title ant 3]]

Your handmaiden accompanies you part of the way to the spider’s nest. This is for the best as it becomes harder and harder to follow the path. An abundance of spiderwebs appears trying to ensnare anything dumb enough to walk on the ground. Still you and your handmaiden take this in good spirits, you make a game out of spotting the webs. The brambles and vines don’t trouble you much. Once you figure out the trick the webs are easy to spot. Finally, you come to a raised circular bit of dirt (It's like a small hill). The gentle slopes have been kept meticulously clear. (They even mowed the grass to make it easier to spot intruders) At the top of the plateau there are series of very large trees covered in spiderwebs. These form the walls of the nest, they seem imposing, even in a forest filled with similar sights. This is the nest. After a series of trials, you have finally made it to where your friends are being kept. You sigh. Getting here was hard, getting in is going to be even tougher. You look to handmaiden who is letting out a vengeful scent, she is obviously excited at revenging herself against the spider’s poor hospitality. She heads off around the circle, no doubt towards the outpost. The first step is to do recon. You will have to be careful, the spider-girls likely have some guards posted. [[Clockwise->circle 1 ant 3]] (set: $ant3_status_intro to 0) (set: $ant3_status_sneak to 1) (set: $ant3_appearance_sneak to 1)

If princess is a more accurate title then better that you are called a princess. Your handmaiden nods resolutely. -This one feels you have earned the title of queen, but if that is the title you desire.- She curtseys despite sitting. (set: $antname to 1) [[Back to business->conversation part 2 ant 3]]

You let out a warm feeling and smile at your handmaiden. If she is so attached to calling you a queen then she might as well continue. Your handmaiden lets out a bright cloud of joy -You are already a queen to your handmaiden for rescuing me. Let this title be a signifier of the glories you will win.- [[Back to business->conversation part 2 ant 3]]

You decide to go the right, keeping the clearing to your left. Better to keep your distance from the lizard nest. You creep along observing how the nest has been fortified. There are many watch posts. You notice that each one has a large blind spot underneath it. This is less due to the construction of the watch post and more the spidergirl's ridiculously big abdomen. As you pass through you notice a sickly rotting brown scent covering the air. It has a hint of a forbidden allure. Something about it is dangerous. You are briefly curious about it and then you come to your senses, smells dangerous, is dangerous. You sniff again and see that it is coming from your right. You shrug and continue [[onward->circle 2 ant 3]]

The 9 o'clock part of the circle is the most defended. There are many watchtowers and guards. The webs have been woven into something resembling a wall. It takes all your stealth ability to avoid detection. For safety you head deeper into the forest. There the trees have been stripped and the ground shows claw marks. Many scents have been left by sisters to denote this as an area of danger. It might be worth investigating to see how far away the lizard nest is. But, time is not unlimited, and your handmaiden is awaiting your return. [[Investigate->gorn nest ant 3]] [[Keep moving->circle 4 ant 3]]

You move towards the lizard nest, keeping a careful eye and antenna. Then you hear movement and retreat. Maneuvering on this side is possible, a bit dangerous though. As long as you don't antagonize them you should be okay. [[Keep moving->circle 4 ant 3]]

A quick check of the smells and sights tells you that you have returned to where you reached the nest. You sit against a tree, It takes a bit of shuffling to get your abdomen comfortable and then you begin to think. In intense thought you cross both sets of arms and tap them against each other. Sisters attacking a spider’s nest is long odds no matter the situation. You will need a good plan to make sure this works. Well the right side is the least defended, so your attack should start from there. Your end goal is to reach your friends who are likely cocooned like you were. The plan will need to deal with all the spiderwebs, spiders and spider cocoons. Your sisters are counting on you to have a good plan. Where should you look for guidance? [[Your human problem solving->problem solving ant 3]] [[The innate strengths of the ant-girls->leeroy jenkins ant 3]] [[Your sister ant girls->sisters ant 3]] (set: $ant3_status_sneak to 0) (set: $ant3_status_think to 1)

You were a human adventurer until earlier today. Your experiences there might offers some insight. You take a deep breath and try to summon the memories of your friends so that you could consult with them. You think of Alonso, Frederick, Cohen, and Ron. But they do not come, you can remember interacting with them. You can remember a much different looking version of yourself spending time with them. You try and you try, but for some reason you cannot say what they would recommend doing. They are still very important to you but you no longer know them like you used to. It's almost certainly as a result of your changes Whatever your feelings on the subject, this path is closed to you. [[You refocus your thoughts.->circle 4 ant 3]]

The ant-girls are strong. Perhaps strong enough to lay a straight forward assault. You consider the nest. It's a nightmare of webs, spikes, and watchtowers. A nightmare that the spiders no doubt know intimately. A simple prolonged push will not work and would waste the lives of your sisters. [[You will need another plan.->circle 4 ant 3]] (set: $antleeroythought to 1)

Your sisters are your best and only opportunity to rescue your friends. The problem comes from the fact that the spiders are much better fighters. You need to know how many sisters are available and how well equipped they are. You have done your part to survey the terrain, time to consult with your sisters. [[Consult with your sisters->sisters ant 3 part 1]]

You nod to yourself. Time to return to your sisters. Raiding the nest without them is impossible. You move around the circle back to the nest. You follow the scent your sisters left carefully. It's easy to ignore the trick path your sisters made. The entrance is disguised by a fallen tree. You head down the small sloping hole feet first. The chamber at the bottom so small that you cannot stand up straight. It's pitch dark so you blink a few times to let your eyes adjust. Your eyes adapt quickly, your memories suggest that your old eyes would not be up to the challenge. The first and most obvious feature is the two ant-girls in a kneeling position with spears raised at you. You check their scents. They stare at you with a look of confusion. The one on the right was born in winter, and so is considered tougher for being born during a time of want. The one on the left was born in spring and therefore expected to work hard. The scents tell you this. You greet them calmly. They greet you a little surprised. One of them keeps her spear raised at you while the other steps back and knocks twice on the wooden door they were guarding. Your handmaiden pokes her head out, spoon in her mouth and then emits -(display: "AntName"), I hope you were successful.- The guards relax and [[lead you through the door.->sisters ant 3 part 2]]

You step through the door, into what is no doubt a small outpost. From the way the air moved as you entered, you can tell the underground space is not particularly large. A few rooms at most. Your ant-girl leads you respectfully down a small hallway. It is dimly lit by carefully tended pods of blue glowing fungus. Then she lets you into a small room. She opens the shutter on a lantern that contains flying glow bugs and then smiles at you. The room is small and contains large, thin bags of dried grass. You compliment the room and then begin to discuss what you saw around the spider’s nest. Your handmaiden smiles and then responds -(display: "AntName") let us leave planning for after you have rested.- You press on. You came to the ants to rescue your friends, not delay. Your handmaiden shakes her head. -you have had a hard day. Please (display: "AntName") rest some, we need you to be clearheaded for what is ahead.- You are about to pull rank on her when you look at her again. She is radiating a motherly concern, she has been faithful and forthright this far. Today has pushed you to your limit. A bit of rest before you decide on a dangerous plan will be for the best. You lie down on the grass as your handmaiden leaves the room. [[Rest for a little while->sisters ant 3 part 3]] \(set: $ant3_status_think to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_rest to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_old to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_nude to 1)

You close your eyes and start to drift off to sleep only for your hand-maiden to reenter the room. She smiles at you and offers you an earthenware plate of dark brown mushrooms covered in a limpid yellow sauce. You notice that she is letting out a slightly mischievous scent and you let out a questioning one in response. -I know it's not eating time (display: "AntName"), but you need a good meal.- She gives a guilty glance and then adds -I got the sisters to whip you up a meal.- Your stomach rumbles and you must admit that you are hungry. You take the plate with a smile from the ant-girl. If this rescue is to have any chance of success your stomach can't be getting in the way. Besides how can you refuse food prepared by your handmaiden. The mushrooms are a bit plain, they are rich but lacking in something. the sauce is good though. You wolf down the food, finishing with a burp covered by a hand. For a second you wonder if anything changed, but then are caught wondering why anything would. After all mushrooms are standard fare for sisters. Your ant-girl seems surprised by your appetite and lets out an amused scent in response. As you lie down to sleep, she lies next to you and embraces you with all four hands. (if: $antintimacy is 0)[You drop off to sleep as she snuggles you.](if: $antintimacy is 1)[You drop off to sleep as she motherly presses your head into her breasts.] [[sleep->sisters ant 3 part 4]]

You are gently shook awake. You awake utterly comfortable, feeling much refreshed for finally getting some sleep. You look up to see your handmaiden kneeling over you looking down with a motherly air. The room is dark, illuminated only by the same glow-bug lantern. Your handmaiden is kneeling perfectly straight, looking closer to being in a palace than a simple outpost. She is radiating warm clouds of happiness, and a touch of concern. She helps you up to a sitting position and then produces a bowl of water and a thick woven cloth. With a gentle touch she begins to wash your face. This is not an unusual act, but she does so with a tender caring. Once your face has been cleaned, she moves to wash your hands and then your feet. You blush and take the cloth from her as she finishes. A handmaiden as faithful as this deserves a reward. You begin to wash her as she washed you. Your handmaiden blushes and releases an embarrassed scent. You scrub the dirt from her hands and feet the same as she did for you. You even manage to comb her hair a bit. As you finish cleaning her a naughty idea strikes you. But, you don't have all day to fool around. [[More intimate washing->sisters ant 3 part 4 bathing]] [[Onto business->sisters ant 3 part 5]] (set: $ant3_appearance_sneak to 0) (set: $ant3_appearance_washed to 1)

Your newly cleaned handmaiden, presents you a thickly woven cuirass. The cuirass seems to be woven from reeds and packed with a spongy material you cannot quite identify. A casual glance tells you that it has been specifically tailored fit a sister like yourself. You note that there is padding to make sure the girls don’t get too abused. (It’s an honest piece of armor, not the exposing costumes you remember from plays.) While no match for the metal armor that humans tend to favor, it’s far better protection than the rags you are currently wearing. Your handmaiden helps you fasten it and then asks you to do the same to her. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[She does perhaps linger a little longer on your naked form than necessary.] Your handmaiden lets out a satisfied scent and then presents you an entrenching tool. Though the tool is crude compared to the human weapons you remember you have no doubt that it is well made. You give it an experimental heft, it is well balanced and heavy enough to do some damage. You examine the edge, sharp enough. Next your handmaiden presents you a hand mattock. It is heavy hammer with a dull sickle on the other side. You release a questioning scent. Your handmaiden answers -It was left here following a failed expedition, but I am confident that it is fit for a queen such as yourself.- Well that settles that. Together these must be your [[royal weapons]]. Finally, your handmaiden releases a nervous scent. Then she seems to calm herself. With pomp and circumstance she presents you a [[crown of white flowers]]. As if part of a ritual she places the crown upon your head. You look at her questioningly and [[then it finally makes sense.->sisters ant 3 part 6]] \(set: $ant3_status_rest to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_cleaning to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_fed to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_nude to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_cuirass to 1)

A curved hand ax, and a small hammer sickle combination. Though not traditional weapons, they are well suited for cracking skulls. Probably best at digging though. The grips of both have been lovingly wrapped in a soft cloth to make them easier to hold. Author's note: (If you can tell where I got the idea for the hammer sickle combination, then all the points!)

Your memories tell you that to humans a thing must be crown shaped to be crown. To an ant no matter how humble the vessel a crown needs only be marked with scents that say crown. The crown may be humble by human standards but if you are to be a true queen you must mark it. what should you mark your crown as? (set: $antcrownstatus to 0) |options>[\ (link: "A crown of victory")[ (set: $antcrownstatus to 1) (replace: ?options)[You are about to avenge your defeat, better to mark your crown as one of victory.] (show: ?final) ] (link: "A crown of justice")[ (set: $antcrownstatus to 2) (replace: ?options)[The spiders have been allowed to act with impunity for far too long. It is time they faced consequences for their actions. You will mark your crown as one of justice.] (show: ?final) ] (link: "A crown of mercy")[ (set: $antcrownstatus to 3) (replace: ?options)[You shouldn't forget that this is a mission of mercy after all, you have undertaken these trials to rescue your friends. Your crown will be one of mercy. (You aren't expecting the spiders to have any cause to appeal for the mercy part anyway.)] (show: ?final) ] ] |final)[You flex new muscles and then put your thumb to your tongue and press it to the crown. A scent of (if: $antcrownstatus is 1)[victory](if: $antcrownstatus is 2)[justice](if: $antcrownstatus is 3)[rightous mercy] fills the room. Your handmaiden kneels so low as to press herself into the dirt floor. -Now you are truly a queen. Your handmaiden will serve you loyally no matter the end. (if: $antcrownstatus is 1)[We shall bring defeat to your enemies,](if: $antcrownstatus is 2)[May your reign be marked by justice for all our sisters,](if: $antcrownstatus is 3)[May you save others as you saved your handmaiden,] let every sister rejoice at the coronation of a queen so brave (if: $antintimacy is 1)[and sexy]- Your handmaiden looks at you officially. [[She is ready to discuss the rescue.->sisters ant 3 part 7]]] (set: $ant3_status_fed to 0) (set: $ant3_status_crowned to 1) (set: $ant3_appearance_washed1 to 0) (set: $ant3_appearance_washed to 0) (set: $ant3_appearance_crowned to 1)

You ask your handmaiden how many sisters are available for the rescue. She lets out the slightest scent of disappointment and then contains herself. -Two squads of five (display: "AntName"). Furthermore there may be difficulties.- You give a questioning scent and look. -While all sisters should be happy to assist you. This far from [[home]] sisters become a bit more independent. Your majesty may need to convince them. Your handmaiden recommends a strategy that limits the risk to them.- You raise an eyebrow and ask if she is suggesting a plan that would give them room to escape. Your handmaiden releases an innocent scent. -It is not your handmaiden's place to give plans. But, if a diversionary attack were suggested, our sisters may agree. At this point, not even a royal handmaiden could force them to aid. It is doubtful even (if: $antname is 0)[my queen](if:$antname is 1)[a princess] could compel them to help.- She looks at you ready for any questions. [[Ask what exactly a proving trial is->proving trial]] [[Ask if they have been told who is being rescued->truth about rescue targets]] \(if: $antleeroythought is 1)[ [[Ask her opinion on a frontal attack->sisters ant 3 leeroy]]] [[Meet with your sisters->sisters ant 3 part 8]]

The concept itself is full of longing, given the difficulties your handmaiden has had she must be missing it.

Your handmaiden seems surprised for a second and then recovers. -Apologies (display: "AntName"), I forgot that you are joining us only now. A queen must prove herself by either undertaking perilous acts for the hive or overseeing projects of great importance. Only then will she be welcomed among true royalty.- An explanation to be sure, but it does not explain why such a thing would enable you to request help from the local ants. -All sisters work for the good of the hive and there is little more important than having the best queens possible.- Your handmaiden seems to think that is a suitable explanation. Of course, it raises the question of if your handmaiden is always working for the good of her hive. -Of course (display: "AntName").- [[There is little time and you have other questions->sisters ant 3 part 7]]

Your handmaiden looks at you with the straightest face possible. The scents she is putting out betray no hint of emotion. -I told them that we were going to rescue captives of unique value.- You release a scent of surprise, the very idea that your handmaiden mislead a sister is shocking. She maintains her cool. -As your hand maiden must regretfully inform you, the ants posted here cannot be counted on, they may be too individualistic.- You ask her if she makes a habit of misleading sisters. The slightest hint of being anger creeps out. -Your handmaiden implied, not mislead.- You emit a scent of appreciation, your handmaiden seems offended as a result. [[There is little time and you have other questions->sisters ant 3 part 7]]

You remember considering a frontal attack as you surveyed the spider's nest. Perhaps that would be a workable plan? Your handmaiden pauses and then releases a concerned scent. -(display: "AntName"), while your tactical skills are no doubt beyond approach, you are neglecting a few considerations.- You express curiosity. -We would be outnumbered from the start. Furthermore, any traditional strategy against spiders generally revolves around either outnumbering or outmaneuvering them. Your handmaiden lacks confidence that ant-girls posted here would go along with such a plan.- You acknowledge that she likely has a point and she seems much relieved. [[Other questions->sisters ant 3 part 7]]

Your ant-girl leads you to a small circular room, that is likely the dining hall. This room is small and has no furniture that isn't carved out of dirt. You can sense a long thin tunnel hidden beneath a shallow layer of dirt. A quick check of the scents nearly overwhelms you. it smells familiar, like home. But it’s a home you have never known. There are ten ants in the room. Two groups of four sitting against the wall with two ant-girls sitting in front in the center of the room. Must be the squads in back, and the squad leaders in front. Your ant-girl leads you to sit with the pair. You look at the two new ant-girls carefully. The older one was born in summer and is considered spoiled as a result. She is experienced and wears her hair in a careful top-knot to keep her face as clear as possible. You have no doubt that she has worked to dispel the perception of being spoiled. The younger one was born in fall and is considered blessed to be born among so many sisters. She is inexperienced and seems anxious. However, she must be talented to stand out among so many. The two squad leaders look to you deferentially, although you can tell that they are unhappy to see you. Your handmaiden turns and does the functional equivalent of a whisper. -With your leave (display: "AntName") I will explain the plan.- You give a (if: $antname is 0)[queenly](if: $antname is 1)[princessly] nod. Your handmaiden clicks her tongue and the two squad leaders look at her in surprise. -Our (if: $antname is 0)[queen](if: $antname is 1)[princess] desires your aid in performing a rescue.- She draws a circle in the dirt with her hard finger, four circles in the center of the circle. -The spiders have taken four captives, our queen is going to rescue them.- both of the squad leaders look at you in disbelief. She draws two triangles, then she draws an arrow from one triangle to the edge of the circle. -The honorable veteran will provide a diversionary attack, with the less experienced squad being held in reserve to enable their escape.- The veteran squad leader has a short conference with your handmaiden. The scents you can see suggest that your handmaiden is pulling rank. Your memories remind you of when Cohen ordered your group to do something he claimed to be too "old" to do. (You think it was actually closer to something he couldn’t be assed to do.) The veteran squad leader finally acquiesces, and you handmaiden resumes drawing. Next she draws two X's, -(if: $antname is 0)[My queen](if: $antname is 1)[Our princess] will infiltrate the nest under cover of the attack.- She draws an arrow from the X's to the circles within the circle, and then draws an arrow out to the untouched triangle. -Once the prisoners are secured, there will be a signal and we will escape to meet with the engaged squad.- The younger squad leader nods, obviously relieved. Your ant-girl looks back to you for confirmation. The plan is about as simple as it gets, a simple diversion to pave the way for a smash and grab. It's the sort of plan however that requires a good knowledge of the terrain and the soldiers involved. The terrain means that this plan should in theory work. Your memories suggest that if you were with your friends this sort of plan would be too simple to fail. Of course there is no such thing. You vaguely remember a similar situation in your previous life. The moral of the day was that more distraction was always a good thing. That might be applicable here, although you doubt that the younger squad leader will like it. [[One squad should cut it->sisters ant 3 part 9 one]] [[Two squads to be safe->sisters ant 3 part 9 both]]

You give an imperious nod and your handmaiden lets out an appreciative scent. The veteran squad leader seems unsatisfied. She gives you a slight bow. -While your majesty’s plan is good it lacks an essential component. Where are we to run to once the spiders are pursuing us?- You emit no scents but must admit that is a good point. Your handmaiden answers in a flash. -With captives in hand we must convey our queen to the hive. They will likely stake out this outpost once the attack begins. We will have to fight our way to another outpost and retreat through there.- The older squad leader seems satisfied by this answer. The younger sister speaks up. -What will the signal for your escape be?- Your handmaiden is about to answer but you raise your hand. You smile. [[Fire, lots and lots of fire->sisters ant 3 part 10]] (set: $antsquad to 1)

You release a conspicuous scent of passion, and then sit back with your legs splayed out. Your handmaiden looks at you a bit surprised and then seems to give in. With an embarrassed look she sits with her back to you. You begin to wash her back with meticulous care. Once you are confident that her back is clean you switch to her front. Her inhumanly thin waist makes her quick to clean. Then you move up to her perfectly sized breasts. You take your time cleaning her breasts, you are especially meticulous with her nipples. She begin to pant. You kiss the back of her neck and let out a devilish grin as she blushes. As your cleaning drifts downward, your handmaiden grabs your larger pair of arms. She gently plays at resisting as you make sure her slit is clean. Your larger pair of hands occupied, you use your smaller pair of hands to focus on teasing and tickling her breasts. She starts grinding back into your crotch and releases a low moan. You drop the wash cloth and begin to gently tease her clit only to let out a gasp yourself. Your handmaiden has snuck her smaller pair of hands beneath her abdomen and is using them to tease you. She begins an attack on your slit. You step up your game as a result. This good-natured competition continues until you both climax. (if: $antintimacy is 0)[Finally, you manage to rouse yourself. Your handmaiden is blushing although sitting at attention. (set: $antintimacy to 1)] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[You manage to rouse yourself before your handmaiden. She lays on the ground with her eyes closed. You take a moment to admire her. Her hair is a bit mussed from the love making. You take a moment to smooth it out. She smiles and turns over. By the time she rouses herself you are sitting peacefully. She gathers herself up and you smile.] [[Onto business->sisters ant 3 part 5]] (set: $ant3_status_rest to 0) (set: $ant3_status_cleaning to 1) (set: $ant3_appearance_washed to 0) (set: $ant3_appearance_washed1 to 1)

You shake your head. Your hand maiden looks at your surprised. Both of the squad leaders look at you uncertain. You quickly and authoritatively explain that for the infiltration part to work all possible spiders must be drawn away. So there must be two squads committed to the diversion. You draw a line from the untouched triangle to the opposite side of the circle where the other team is supposed to attack. The short haired ant-girl looks panicked. You smudge out the arrow indicating that you and your ant-girl will meet with the junior team. Then you draw in three arrows indicating that everyone will meet up at a location outside of the nest. Your ant-girl looks at you for a long second and then nods. The younger squad leader is emitting a storm of fearful scents. You look at her and smile. You tell her that so long as she does over-commit she should be fine. This does not seem to give her much comfort. The veteran squad leader releases several scents of careful appreciation. She gives you a slight bow. -While your majesty’s plan is good it lacks an essential component. Where are we to run to once the spiders are pursuing us?- You are caught completely flat-footed by this, and turn to your handmaiden for help. Your handmaiden however answers quickly. -With captives in hand we must convey our queen to the hive. They will likely stake out this outpost once the attack begins. We will have to fight our way to another outpost and retreat through there.- The older squad leader seems satisfied by this answer. The younger however speaks up. -What will the signal for your escape be?- Your handmaiden is about to answer but you raise your hand with a smile. [[Fire, lots and lots of fire->sisters ant 3 part 10]] (set: $antsquad to 2)

Both of the squad leaders look at you a bit surprised but agree nonetheless. Your sisters begin to don their war-gear. This most obviously consists of a cuirass like the one you are wearing. In each patrol two ant-girls heft shields as large as they are, while the rest carry large spears that seem to take all four hands to use. Obviously a way to compensate for the size of the spiders. Once they are ready, all of them kneel as you move to the front. You note that for the most part your sisters are not giving off anxious scents. (if: $antsquad is 2)[The younger squad leader however, is unable to contain herself.] As you exit the nest, the ant girls crush together. They don't seem anxious, but you can feel that there is a spirit of quiet resolve. You feel an immense familiarity with your sisters, after all everyone is about to risk death and possibly enslavement for your sake. You are moved to address them, your first thought is of the song Frederick was signing earlier today. However, you doubt they would join you. \(if: $antcrownstatus is 1)[You emit a scent of pure confidence in their victory. You see your sisters look a bit more confident after that. They reciprocate the emotion, wishing you luck in your fight.] \(if: $antcrownstatus is 2)[You emit a scent of righteous vengeance. Whatever the outcome it has finally come time to avenge so many wrongs from the spiders. You see a few of your sisters straighten up and look ready to deliver some justice.] \(if: $antcrownstatus is 3)[You remind your sisters that you are on a mission of mercy. They are not fighting for glory here, they are fighting to rescue innocents from the dastardly spiders. This has a mixed effect on your sisters, a few of them of them seem relieved the rest are unmoved.] Once you have finished your address the groups separate. (if: $antsquad is 1)[You march a while with the younger squad leader’s patrol. They reach a small, nearby, clearing and stop. without a pause they immediately begin to fortify the clearing. You look to your handmaiden for a sign. She is sniffing the air, her antenna moving purposely. She notices your look and responds. -awaiting the signal to move closer (display: "AntName").- You move to join your sisters in preparing the fortifications but your handmaiden stops you. -(display: "AntName"), you have the hardest most dangerous task. Save your strength.- Suddenly a dark brown scent wafts almost invisibly into the clearing. Both you and your handmaiden look up at once. You both nod and head off into the woods.](if: $antsquad is 2)[as the two squads separate, the younger squad-leader has her squad stop and moves towards you and your handmaiden. You consider keeping a royal distance and allow your handmaiden to handle her. then you think better of the idea, you move to greet the squad leader. your handmaiden tries to insert herself between you and the squad-leader. The squad leader ignores your handmaiden and moves past her with barely a thought. -Your majesty, I understand the importance of my squad’s role but I beg you to reconsider. We are not experienced enough.- Your handmaiden tries to insert herself again, you raise your hand. You reassure the squad-leader, you remind her that you are not asking her to defeat the spiders, merely stall them long enough for the rescue to succeed. In addition, the spiders will likely no consider them a true threat. So long as they do not over-commit they should be safe. The younger-squad leader does not seem much reassured. You emit a scent of pure confidence in the squad-leader, telling her that you believe she can do it. This seems to bolster her resolve a little. With that her squad heads off into the forest. Your handmaiden leads into the forest.] [[Follow your handmaiden->sisters ant 3 part 11]]

Your handmaiden leads you to a secluded spot looking out onto the clearing separating the spider's nest from the forest proper. You both sit down. You sniff and see that despite her best efforts your handmaiden is emitting green nervous scents. You touch her gently on the shoulder and take her smaller hand in yours. You try and tell that everything will work out fine. But you have to admit that you are as nervous. She suppresses a laugh and smiles. -Everyone is afraid (display: "AntName"). But the essence of command is being able to keep calm enough to make decisions.- Then you see a familiar languid brown scent drift through the air. Your ant-girl collects herself, finally looking like a regal handmaiden. She draws her entrenching tool and you do the same. \(if: $antsquad is 2)[Two horns bellow from beyond the spider's nest and are answered by horns within the spider's nest. You take a moment to wish all the ant-girls luck. Especially the younger squad-leader. Still she should be all right as long as she doesn’t overcommit.] \(if: $antsquad is 1)[A horn bellows from beyond the spider's nest and are answered by a horn within the spider's nest. You take a moment to wish the ant-girls luck. So long as you hurry the single squad should do alright.] You double check that the guards are distracted and then the pair of you sprint across the clearing. You push yourself as fast as you can go and find your handmaiden behind you. You reach cover on the other side and hide yourself. Your ant-girl does the same and gives you a double thumbs up. As fast as you dare, you both move deeper into the nest. This proves too quick in fact. As you start to move up you glance towards the tree tops to see a silver haired spider-girl about to spot you. With no other options you jump behind a tree and pray to whatever spider-god is involved that she didn't see you. You wait a few heart stopping minutes and no cry of alarm is raised. Your ant-girl comes to check on you and you give her a thumbs up. She puts two hands to her face. -(display: "AntName"), really?- That doesn't bode well, you try to sit up only to find yourself stuck. A quick glance shows it to be a spider-web. Your ant-girl rolls her eye and then starts to cut you free. You remind her that no queen is anything without her handmaiden. She doesn’t stop rolling her eyes. She wipes her entrenching tool clean on your cuirass. The white is a sharp contrast to the dark brown material. You give her a look and she simply shrugs. You hear multiple battle cries of spider-girls and quicken your pace. Finally, you reach the inner sanctum. A quick glance shows three cocoons on the ground. These are the same type of cocoon that you remember escaping from. This doesn't mean that your friends are contained therein, but one is substantially larger than the others and covered in burn marks. (set: $randococoon to (either: 0,1)) If Ron is the pyro you remember. Then he probably only gave up because he ran out of air. You direct your handmaiden’s attention to the cocoons. She nods. -Your friends? I believe you said there were four?- You consider this unhappily, then shake your head. You explain that while she is right, there isn’t time to look for the final one. Your handmaiden nods. [[You take a deep breath and then make the charge.->sisters climax ant 3 part 1]] (set: $ant3_status_crowned to 0) (set: $ant3_status_lead to 1) (set: $ant3_appearance_web to 1)

The pair of you sprint the final distance to the cocoons. You reach the cocoons, the ant-girl looks at you questioningly. Time to decide which one to open. It's not a choice. The only one who can protect you while you open the other two is Ron. His cocoon is the thickest by far though. You point at what is probably Ron's cocoon. The ant-girl nods and then plunges her entrenching tool into the cocoon. You look at her sharply and ask what she is doing. She shrugs. -with that much padding a sister should be fine.- You remind your handmaiden that the captive contained within, is not a sister. (Man you hope Ron isn't dead.) With some difficulty you retrieve the entrenching tool. This opens a small gap. You glance around, the spiders are still distracted, it seems most of them have gone to watch the fighting. You put all four hands into the gap and pull, your ant-girl does the same. With the silent yell, the pair of you manage to tear the cocoon in two. Ron is lying insensate in a white puddle. Well it's probably Ron, he was the one with the black hair right? Also you are mostly confident that he was originally a boy, but he seems to be a girl now. His wet clothes make that obvious. His long black hair makes a sharp contrast with milky white fluid. You tell Ron to stop sleeping and get up already. He doesn’t stir and you repeat the message. You pause and then realize your mistake. You were using scents. You take a deep breath and try to form the words. It seems foreign at first but eventually you get back into the habit. “Ron wake up.” He doesn’t move. Time for more immediate forms of communication. So, you slap him across the face. (You always wanted to do that.) "Wake up!" He stirs groggily, finally opening his eyes while you glance around worried. Finally his eyes open and grow wide. "Ant-girls! Get ready to burn moth-" You shush Ron. "Hurry Ron. This is a rescue." He gives you a confused look. "How do you know my name?" You look around again and let out a pained sigh. "We had soup for lunch" He still seems confused. "I am an ally, now move. The sister ant-girls won’t be able to provide a distraction for much longer. You need to keep the spiders busy." Ron is confused for a second. Realization dawns and Ron's black eyes grow as large as saucers. "You really look different." He gives your crown of flowers a curious look. “Cute crown.” You give him a bite me look. There isn’t time for this. "Yeah and you are now female. Keep the spiders off of us while we get the others." Ron takes a moment to check himself, he nods in appreciation. "How should I distract them?" You give him a tired look. He smiles "I'll give them something to worry deal with.” He starts throwing fire into the surrounding trees. (You can see the scents waver in the air as he does so. The fire seems like it will disagree with you, so you better keep your distance.) (link: "You open the left cocoon")[(set: $left to 1)(goto: " ant 3 sisters combo")] (link: "You open the right cocoon")[(set: $right to 1)(goto: " ant 3 sisters combo")] (if: $hideme is 1)[[[fuck you-> ant 3 sisters combo]]] \(set: $ant3_status_lead to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_rescue to 1)

You begin to run like all hell through the nest. Ron cuts a path with his fire magic. You and your handmaiden run interference to keep the spider-girls from flanking you. They are pissed. They do everything they can to stop your escape but you are desperate and your teamwork is solid. Your handmaiden has a few problems working with your friends but you interpret for her. Once you finally breach the nest and reach the clearing outside; things get complicated. \(if: $antsquad is 2)[Across the clearing you sight the junior squad leader’s patrol. They are surrounded and scents of desperation are coming off of them. The rookies have over committed and are signaling for help.]. \(if: $antsquad is 1)[Across the clearing you see the veteran patrol. They are completely surrounding by spider-girls. The ant-girls are calmly glaring at the spider-girls as they circle. Still they are in trouble, they won't get out without help. The squad leader is signaling for you to keep going, truly a veteran.] Your handmaiden is worried, and is releasing a conflicted scent. It won’t do for a queen to abandon her soldiers. You turn to Alonso. "We have to save them." You look back to your ant-girl to see her smiling and putting out an appreciative scent. Alonso takes a deep breath. "We don't have weapons, so you two are the wedge. Ron, keep fire on the tree line so they don't surround us as well. Frederick and I will run interference to keep the gap open. Ron puts out an impressive amount of fireworks. These light up the murky clearing and give you the impression that there are lighting strikes coinciding with your attack. (It's wicked cool.) The spider-girls form a double line. They fight for every inch, no doubt contemptuous of being forced back so close to home. You and your handmaiden fight like a pair with one mind. It's slow and hard but you eventually force your way to the ant-girl patrol. (if: $antsquad is 1)[The veterans seem to realize what you are trying to do and fight to break the encirclement.] (if: $antsquad is 2)[The younger ant-girl has been wounded on the leg and her patrol has formed a circle around her. She smiles at you and then emits scents of horror. You turn around to see what has her so spooked.](if: $antsquad is 1)[The older ant-girl has been wounded on the leg, but she still fights in the defense. She looks at you, she is annoyed that you came to rescue her. You glance around to see what you have done wrong.] A very large number of spider-girls, perhaps the greater part of the nest is forming to charge you. (In a very real sense you now know what a bug about so be squished feels like.) You look around, the situation is bad. You are still bogged down in fighting. The injured ant-girl is going to have to be carried if you want to make good time. Your handmaiden is for the first time doubtful. You can see Alonso swearing, obviously out of ideas. Frying pans and fires comes to mind. The panic in the air is so thick you can almost taste it. The squad leader is trying to keep the panic from overwhelming the soldiers’ senses. Despite your handmaiden trying to help the squad leader is about to fail. Then it strikes you, it’s like ducklings trying to lead ducklings. Sometimes they just need a mother duck. As royalty your job is to diffuse panic and tell them what to feel. You release a wave of calming scents. You choose them, they are the brave soldiers of their colony. They can do this. The ant-girls calm, their fighting becomes less frantic. Your handmaiden looks at you admiringly. The spiders charge, and your ants move as one to brace. \(if: $antsquad is 2)[However the enemy charge loses heart about halfway through. You only recognize what is happening when you hear a horn and see smug scents streaming through the trees. The veteran patrol has made it's presence known. You toss your entrenching tool to Alonso and put the wounded rookie on your back. The spider-girls try to block your escape but Alonso shouts for Ron to shift his fire, and they reconsider.] \(if: $antsquad is 1)[The enemy charge rolls forward and you get ready for a real bad time. Then you hear a half-hearted horn and see scents behind you. The rookie patrol has shown up and they are trying to cover your escape. Alonso shouts for Ron to delay the enemy charge while you escape. You toss Alonso your entrenching tool and put the wounded veteran on your back. Alonso and handmaiden lead a charge through the retreating spider-girls. You carry the veteran ant-girl on your back.] [[Into the forest->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 1]] (set: $ant3_status_queenfight to 0) (set: $ant3_status_ron to 0) (set: $ant3_status_flight to 1)

At the edge of the temple complex there is a disused store house. (if: $mothcircle is 0)[Something about it seems odd.](if: $mothcircle is 1)[Oddly, this is familiar to you, as if it were from an old dream, but you can't exactly remember...] You briefly consider looking inside but there is a large lock and chain across the front. \(if: $mothcircle is 0 and $foundrobes is 0)[ You put your hands in your pockets and [[turn away in the search.->kitsune search]] \(if: $mothcircle is 1 and $foundrobes is 0)[ [[There must be a key->kitsune search]]] From the edge of your vision you see the kitsune relax slightly.] \(if: $foundrobes is 1)[You put your hands in your pockets and turn away in the search. However the key in your pocket makes your hand tingle. You turn back towards the storehouse and consider trying the key. The kitsune speaks up. "There is nothing in the storehouse. look somewhere else. [[persist->kitsune search store room part 1]] (if: $mothcircle is 0)[ [[don't look->kitsune search]]] (if: $mothcircle is 1 and $foundrobes is 1)[ ~~don't look->kitsune search~~(The kitsune is the reason you are stuck here, she must be trying to mislead you.)]] \(set: $kitsunetimer to $kitsunetimer + 1)

You take a tenative step towards the storehouse, key in hand. The kitsune speaks again, this time authoritatively. "Don't go in there, nothing good await you." You have a bad feeling about what's inside. On the other hand you are curious about what is causing this feeling of dread. [[Enter->moth circle]] (if: $mothcircle is 0)[ [[Turn back->kitsune search]]] (if: $mothcircle is 1)[ ~~turn back~~ (It's not a choice you have to know why you are so terrified of this place.)]

You unlock the door and step forward into the dark gloom. It's cool and unlike the forest the air is dry and dusty. With the door open you can peer into the gloom. The light lands on a simple wooden doll. (if: $mothcircle is 1)[It is clothed in layers of finely woken silk. It seems familiar for some reason.] You kneel forward to examine it. Perhaps this will square you with the kitsune? [[Suddenly the door shuts behind you.->moth circle part 1]]

You turn frightened. (if: $mothcircle is 0)[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/ikr8YtF.jpg" alt="Moth eye 1" width="800" height="600">] (if: $mothcircle is 1)[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/pquwldh.png" alt="Moth eye 1" width="728" height="264">] Horrible, unspeakable things happen. Finally too exhausted and terified to process what has happened [[you lose conciousness.->moth circle part 2]] (If: $mothcircle is 1)[No end 1: A layer of white with only one side]

You awake with a start and look around terrified. The room you have lived in your entire life greets your eyes. You glance down. Your covers are wrapped around your legs. You are covered in a cold sweet and out of breath. You must of been running away in your nightmare. You shake your head. Most likely you are nervous about tomorrow. That vagrant Cohen is going to lead the men of your village on a preemptive raid against bandits threatening your home. It'll be your first battle. Your friends Frederick and Alonso will be there. Whatever happens you can't lose your nerve tomorrow, it would be too shameful a display. You consider giving yourself a five finger handshake but decide against it. Back to sleep, whatever happens tomorrow happens. [[A while later->Start]] (set: $mothcircle to 1) (set: $foundrobes to 0)

What follows is a desperate escape. The spider-girls pursue with a vengeance. No doubt they are offended by simple ants humiliating them. Many times you see the spider-queen leading the chase. You distribute the spare weapons and food to your friends. They take these happily although they blanch at the mushroom rations a bit. This is as fair as this sort of battle gets. Your teammates give a good account of themselves. You note with some bemusement that the ants have a grudging respect for them. You spend most of your time helping to transport the wounded ant-girl. This is a problem. You cannot fight particularly well with an ant-girl on your back. It’s not necessary for a leader to fight, but it is necessary for you. As soon as you get some distance from the spiders you call a stop to inspect the injured ant-girl’s wound. She took a short sliding cut to the inner thigh. It must have been a pretty heavy blow to pierce her chitin. (if: $antsquad is 1)[the veteran looks a bit ashamed.](if: $antsquad is 2)[The rookie looks at you desperately.]she is using all four of her hands to keep the cut closed and you quickly understand that she is in serious danger of bleeding to death. (if: $antsquad is 2)[-can the leg be saved?- You give her an affirmative scent.](if: $antsquad is 1)[the veteran sighs and then asks -permission to disengage the leg.- It takes your mind a moment to process what she is asking. She wants permission to amputate the leg. (A questioning of your handmaiden reveals that amputations among ant-girls are quick. You twist and pull in the right way.) That might save her life but it will leave her crippled. There is a better solution.] You bring Ron to examine the wound. He gives you a concerned look. "You know I'm not very good at healing." For a second you try to give him an order but remember he can't see it. You tell him that you need him to unbitch himself. He shrugs in response. You search your memories for something to say to him. Finally you tell him that he would heal her if she was a horse. “Don’t bring horses into this.” Ron seems offended that you brought up horses. Ron loves horses. Not working. You call Alonso over and show him the wound. he tuts and then turns to Ron. “Well, what’s the hold up Ron?” Ron looks around and then moves closer to Alonso. You move a deceptively short distance away. You call over your handmaiden. (if: $youfight is 0)[You tell her to look like she is having a conversation with you. She releases a bemused scent and then proceeds to detail the status of the two squads. ](if: $youfight is 1)[You ask for her feedback on how to defeat the spider-queen if you fight her again. She gives you a tired look. -Really (display: "AntName")?- You smile and answer that it’s bound to happen sooner or later. She imperceptibly rolls her eyes. -(display: "AntName") would have been best suited to a crown of audacity. Your handmaiden feels that it is unlikely two ants could defeat her. Perhaps if we brought more sisters into the fight?- No help from there then.] You lean into the conversation between Alonso and Ron. Alonso has that particular smile he gets when someone is fucking up and won’t admit it. “What is the hold up Ron?” Ron looks to Frederick. Frederick is for his part showing some of the sisters magic tricks. They are particularly enamored by the thumb one. “you know I suck at healing.” Alonso gives him a not satisfied look. “look the more I spend on them, the less I have for us.” Alonso gives the slightest of nods. The motion carrying through his hair. “she is injured and needs help. Furthermore he is still our best fighter. We are a lot safer if he can fight freely.” he sighs. "Think of her as a horse if it helps." Ron gives a defeated look and a girlish note of defeat. “Fine.” He rubs his hands together and then takes a deep breath. He pats the patient on the head gently. “It’s going to sting but then it’ll be better.” Then he press his hands on both sides of the cut while chanting some magic words. The wound gives an organic crackle. Then it seals leaving behind a silvery scar. All of the ants look at Ron shocked. Your handmaiden gives you a questioning look. You shrug and tell her it’s magic. [[Time to keep moving.->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 2]] (set: $ant3_appearance_flight to 1) (set: $ant3_appearance_queenfight to 0) (set: $ant3_appearance_soot to 0)

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With the injured taken care of the escape begins again in earnest. The fighting goes on over the course of two days. Your handmaiden leads the way but the spiders do everything they can to box you in. Still you share a few secret grins with Alonso, this is a winnable battle. Even going two days without sleep has not dimmed Alonso tactical skill. His clever plans trick the spiders as often as the spiders trick you. For whatever reason Frederick excels at working with the ant-girls. He leads them on scouting missions, always grinning like a madman. They aren't quite as stealthy as him but the use of scents makes communication easy. Ron brings the fire. He brings the fire so much that you ask him to tone it down. At times it terrifies the sisters so much that you fight to keep them calm. Your handmaiden fights harder than anyone else. She is your second in command and works tirelessly to protect you. Where ever the fighting is thickest there the pair of you are. You giving commands and her trying hopelessly to keep you from danger. You ask her if she is alright. She always responds with a nod and thanks you for your concern. As for you, you begin to grow into your role of command. Your ants will follow whatever command you give them but you have to tailor your order to what they tell you about their condition. Before today sorting through so much information at once would have been difficult. But you find that it comes to you instinctively, like crawling to a babe. Before long you command the two squads together as naturally as using your upper and lower arms together. Though you don't claim to be as tactical as Alonso, you develop an equal partnership between the two of you. The fighting is difficult and constant until it suddenly stops. There is a rustling from the trees ahead and everyone raises their weapons; ready for the worst. [[They come->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 3]]

Cohen steps through the bushes, sword drawn but obviously unworried. Alonso, Ron, and Frederick rush forward and embrace him. You almost join them but then restrain yourself. It is not fitting for you to do so. Once Cohen's surprise fades he smiles at them. "Ah younglings, good job escaping. Although where is your last member?" Alonso turns and points to you. "This mad bastard managed to get the ants to help him." Cohen looks you over. "Seems you changed a bit in the process." His eyes land on your crown. "Never figured you for royalty." You give him a good-natured hug and tell him that you simply tried it on to see if it fit. He laughs at this. "True enough, we all have a phase like that. Proved too heavy for my head though." Ron speaks up next. "How did you find us?" Cohen shrugs. "I followed the flames. Good job setting so many. Now huddle in; I have to tell you all something important." Your friends huddle and you are caught hesitating. Cohen gives you a tired look. "We haven't all day youngling." You join them with a smile. Cohen gives everyone a serious look. "Our royal friend here has pissed the spiders something terrible. I had to penetrate a perimeter to get here, they are leading you somewhere. Where are you running to?" You smile and tell him that you were trying to reach a tunnel back to the hive. Cohen puts his hand to his head. "Not a bad plan, but one they anticipated. We might try to break out and make a dash for the edge of the forest. Thoughts?" Alonso nods. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without help. I say we defer to them, they know the terrain better." All the humans nod in agreement. You pause, breaking out might be an option. All of your sisters are pretty tired though. Fighting to the edge of the forest and then getting home might be a step too far. You confer with your handmaiden. She seems conflicted and then makes up her mind. -(display: "AntName"), our sisters may not be willing to turn from a course that leads home.- Damn that's good point. You inform your friends of the ant's situation. Cohen gets an audacious smile. "It's dangerous but I don't mind doing things the hard way. They want a show down, then we can provide one." \(if: $youfight is 0)[You smile and tell Cohen that you will let him handle the spider queen. Cohen gets a nostalgic smile.] (if: $youfight is 1)[You smile and tell Cohen that you call dibs on the Spider queen. You can practically taste the scents of despair coming from your handmaiden.] The huddle ends as all huddles end, with Cohen reminding everyone to watch out for the others and to not take foolish risks. Your sisters don't quite know what to make of Cohen. They accept your explanation that he is a fearsome warrior but don't quite believe it. You smile, you didn't believe what he said until you saw him in action as well. (if: $youfight is 0)[Once your friends have taken their pick of the weapons Cohen brought. You get moving, [[one last push to make.->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 5]]] (if: $youfight is 1)[Once your friends have taken their pick of the weapons Cohen brought. You get moving, [[one last push to make.->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 4]]] \(set: $ant3_status_flight to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_cohen to 1)

The column moves at a brisk pace. Now that you know the spider's plan their attacks seem less random. They are all part of a plan to nudge you onto the path and drive you towards the tunnel they think you are planning to take. The spiders still make some serious attacks. These you let Cohen handle with relish. The ant-girls watch with a mixture of awe and fear. Their goal is to keep you on your toes and prevent you from getting a chance to recover. Even with Cohen’s help they have some success. Finally you draw near the tunnel back to the outpost. You smile. Time to put the plan into action. \(if: $youfight is 0)[[[showdown->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 5 cohen]]] \(if: $youfight is 1)[[[showdown->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 5 you]]]

As you march you ponder what you will do against the spider-queen. The last fight wasn't promising. Your handmaiden is so against the idea of fighting her that she is unwilling to discuss it. Your memories suggest that if anyone could help it's Cohen. You will need the right way to frame the question though. You move to where Cohen is leading the column. "Old man, any advice for how to deal with the spider queen?" Cohen leans back putting a hand through his wispy beard. "Well youngling remember what I told you about fighting opponents who are better than you. Every fighter has a play arranged in their mind for what will be in a fight. A fighter who thinks, who knows, they are better than you, has a way the fight is going to be. Disrupt that. Should be easy looking the way you do." You admit that he has a point and he lets out a harsh laugh. "Remember my story about how I broke that patrol of spider girls with pigs?" He pauses and gives you a critical eye as you nod. "Spiders don't like stuff getting beneath their legs." You thank him. That gives you a lot to think about. Your handmaiden is looking nervous. You tell her that you have a plan and she sighs. [[The march continues->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 5]]

Your sisters are tired, but they march in a double column with Cohen leading the way. You approach the clearing which holds the tunnel. The spider queen and what is likely her personal guard are waiting. She doesn't look happy. She strides forward, ready for a fight. You nudge Cohen and tell him to draw it out as much as possible. He sighs in response. Cohen walks forward drawing his sword and twirling it a few times. Then he shouts "I am" and adds something unintelligible. The color drains from the spider-queen's face. "I always thought you were a tale told to frighten the young. I take revenge for my people." Cohen, true to form shrugs and starts to fight. You know that he is taking his time. Ron takes deep breathes and tries to recover his energy. The spider queen attacks aggressively. Cohen doesn't give an inch more focused on holding his own. Finally, he cuts the queen's spear in half. The queen's guard rush forward to protect her. Ron takes this as his signal to unleash a wave of fire to keep them back. The sisters in the outpost burst out from the ground and form a perimeter. Your handmaiden grabs your hand leads the mad dash for the tunnel. The spiders' expression of surprise is priceless. [[You get the honor of collapsing the entrance behind you.->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 6]]

The tunnel was designed for the convenience of the ant-girls. As a result Cohen has some difficulty forcing his frame through. His head keeps scraping the ceiling. The tunnel is dark and claustrophobic. This don't bother you anymore but it's starting to get to Alonso. He lets out a nervous chuckle and you can see scents of panic rising off him. Your first impulse is to emit calming scents but then you realize the problem there. Your memories suggest the thing to do is crack a joke. "Hey Alonso, look at Frederick. He is checking out the ant-girl in front of him." Alonso squints in the gloom at Frederick. Frederick's attention is transfixed by the abdomen of the ant-girl in front of him. "See something you like Frederick?" Frederick looks up blushing "The motion caught my eye is all." This gets a chuckle from your friends. Suddenly you are distracted by a scent coming from forward in the tunnel. It transfixes you until Alonso bumps into you. It's indescribable. Most scents reflect a certain color or idea. This is, everything at once, a rainbow in the whole range of emotions. You resume walking but you can smell anticipation from your handmaiden. [[The source of the scent is ahead->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 7]]

Your sisters are tired but you make them march in a double column with your handmaiden leading the way. you come to clearing where the tunnel is located. The spider queen and what is likely her personal guard are waiting. She doesn't look happy. She strides forward ready for a fight. Your handmaiden steps forward, making sure the crown is on securely. You step forward, keeping a respectful distance. The spider-queen levels her spear at your handmaiden. “One or two makes no difference little queenling. I charge you with an attack on my home, my tribe and the threat you will pose to all my people.” Your handmaiden shrugs, you can detect some scents of satisfaction coming off her though. She is ever humble but loving this. She draws her entrenching tool and the hand mattock. The first phase of the fight is little different than the fight at the nest. Your handmaiden leads the attack and you do your utmost to cover her. She is almost as good as you. Almost. The spider-queen maintains her calm demeanor; this must be going as she expects. Without a word you split attacking the spider-queen from both sides. The spider-queen again keeps up with the both of you. She manages to keep up with the both of you flawlessly. She begins to focus on you forcing you to your knees and then knocking you to the ground. Your handmaiden is forced back by the full attention of the spider-queen. Your handmaid tries to toss the hand mattock between the spider-queen's legs. But it is blocked by the queen’s long legs. The spider-queen deals a mighty blow that sends your handmaiden flying. You scramble and sprint, sliding beneath the spider-queen's legs to grab the hand mattock. The spider-queen stabs blindly, unhappy with you being there. You scramble free and grab the spearhead with the hand mattock. With a mighty pull you force the spear towards, the spider queen holds tight and is moved towards you. Standing on tip toe you put your entrenching tool to her neck. You make sure she stays close with one of your arms. [[Her smile is gone.->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 5 you part 1]] (set: $ant3_status_cohen to 0) (set: $ant3_status_queenfight1 to 1)

The spider-queen has a brief look of realization which becomes a glare. You stare right back into her largest pair of eyes. You hear scuffling behind you, a quick glance shows that your sisters are facing off against the queen's personal guard. A tense standoff develops. The spider-queen raises her hand and they relax a fraction. "Such a dangerous little queenling. You have my surrender." You don't move your hand. You should kill her, she is an enemy of your people. You can smell the scents from your handmaiden begging you to do it. Killing her is a matter of principle. Every fiber of your being wants to do it. Then you take a breath. Cohen was no stranger to killing on principle. Frederick wanted to kill a man for cheating him, Ron for mistreating his horse, Alonso for what he did to a woman. Cohen said killing on the principle of a thing was fine. So long as it was a principle you could remember when you were knee deep in blood and surrounded by enemies. You relax your hand and tell her you accept her surrender. The queen is angered by your mercy. "More than I expected a mere ant to be capable of. We will meet again." The spiders allow you free passage into the outpost. Once inside your friends give you pats on the back and your sisters look at you reverentially. Your handmaiden gives you a peck on the check and places the crown on your head. [[You collapse the entrance to the outpost just to be safe.->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 6]] (set: $ant3_status_queenfight1 to 0) (set: $ant3_status_queenfight2 to 1) (set: $ant3_appearance_queenfight1 to 1)

What is at the end of the tunnel leaves you speechless. The smells, the smells. This is the thoughts, the opinions, the dreams of an entire people. To know that one is never alone, to know one’s sisters. All at once endlessly. You begin weeping, the tears of joy won’t stop. This is home. Trying to look away is difficult, it’s like trying to pull away a nursing babe. Your handmaiden places a comforting hand on your shoulder. -we are home.- (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your handmaiden’s singleminded drive to return home makes sense.] You look to your friends who are giving you a curious look. Cohen smiles and then says “No worries, younglings. Ants talk through their antenners, must be a little unnerved to be near so many at once.” The ant colony is huge. The space it’s in could contain a castle or two. The space is filled by a city of the ants. It teems with ant girls moving purposeful. The buildings are simple but the pattern they have been laid out in is staggeringly complex. There are streets upon streets upon streets. A world far larger than you ever suspected was hidden beneath the forest. Your handmaiden has a look of deep satisfaction as she looks out across the city. -(display: "AntName"), allow me to announce our arrival.- Your handmaiden emits a scent explain your victory and the defeat you have inflicted on the spiders as hard as she can. You realize what she is doing and join her, adding your own royal scent. The sisters you fought along side follow your lead. The scents join the cloud and ever so slightly the tone of the cloud changes. If an infinity could be said to change color. As the change spreads you see sisters stop in the streets below you. They look up to you in awe. [[Only one thing to do in a situation like this->ant 3 sisters ant patrol part 8]] (set: $ant3_status_queenfight2 to 0) (set: $ant3_status_cohen to 0) (set: $ant3_status_home to 1)

Your sisters in arms form the honor guard as your handmaiden leads a leisurely parade through the colony. Your sisters crowd around your group trying to catch a glance at, well you. They line your path with white flowers. You note that the crowds are completely silent. But of course that makes sense. A quick glance at the smells informs you that they cheering you (if: $antcrownstatus is 1)[as a queen of victory.](if: $antcrownstatus is 2)[for your act of righteous vengeance.] (if: $antcrownstatus is 3)[as a queen of mercy.] Even amid all this pomp and circumstance, you see armed sisters occasionally stop and search others. They are no doubt looking for signs of fungus or parasites. Your friends form the core of the parade. Cohen has a curious smile as he examines his surroundings in detail. Alonso has a look of supreme personal satisfaction, he always wanted a parade. (Even if it is among ants.) Fredrick is trying to show off, flipping his knife. Ron looks exhausted and is doing his best to avoid stumbling. As you walk Cohen moves close to you and whispers "Never seen it's like in all my days." Your memories tell you to blush scarlet as there is no higher compliment. "Anyway youngling, whatever you decide I’ll explain it to the others." You give him a puzzled look, and smile in response. [[Finally you reach the heart of the nest.->ant 3 sisters final choices]] (You know enough anatomy to recognize that it is probably the liver.) (set: $ant3_appearance_queenfight1 to 0) (set: $ant3_appearance_parade to 1)

As you continue onward it becomes harder and harder to follow the path. There is an abundance of spiderwebs trying to ensnare things walking on the ground. It takes a careful eye but you continually dodge these. As you navigate various hazards you suddenly hear a minute buzzing sound. You pause and look up to see what new trouble this is. You see a trio of bee girls peaking down at you from a startlingly close distance in mid-air. They smile at your shocked expression. They float to the ground silently. Their gossamer wings fold up behind them. One of them keeps a watch as the other two move close to you. Their long golden hair bobs as they poke and prod you. They seem to have a particular fascination for where your chitin meets your skin. They exchange a series of complicated expressions quickly. They seem about to talk to you when the one keeping watch, clears her throat loudly. When the one on guard looks away, one of the bee-girls gives you a good natured pat on the back while the other hands you a baked wafer. They wave good bye as they take flight again. Well that was weird. The wafer is honey flavored though. [[Onward again!->onward ant 0]] \(set: $beepatrol to 1)

There you find the only fortified part of the nest. It is clearly a palace for the queens. At the head of a group of older sisters bearing arms there is a sister clad in a simple white apron and head handkerchief. (She looks a bit like a nurse.) She never quite looks at you. -Young noble, you have proved yourself and will be allowed to claim your birthright.- Your handmaiden moves forward and then turns back to you smiling. -(display: "AntName"), we have earned a rest.- Cohen gets the thread of the conversation even if he cannot scent. He gives you a tired knowing wink. To stay would mean leaving your friends. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[It would mean being with your handmaiden.] [[Stay->ant 3 sisters final choices stay]] [[Leave->ant 3 sisters final choices leave]]

You nod to your ant-girl. She smiles widely at you. You belong here, with your sisters. Turning to your friends you profess that you must stay. They look at you shocked. Alonso is the first to speak up. “Come on, man. Don’t break up the team. If this whole mess taught me anything it's that we are invincible together.” Frederick smiles at you reassuringly. “I can understand staying somewhere with chicks like this but we are nothing without you. Ron gives you a concerned look. "You don't look like yourself, you may not be thinking straight. Come with us, clear air and sunshine will do you good." Cohen gives you a respectful nod "It's whatever you decide youngling, although I would be lying if I said I wouldn't miss you." Your friends give you worried looks while your handmaiden is smiling at you expectantly. [[Reconsider->ant 3 sisters final choices part 1]] [[Be firm in your decision->ant 3 sisters stay]] You only got this far because you were decisive, you wouldn’t welch twice in a row.

After some hesitation you shake your head. It seems wrong at first, you are royalty and you are meant to stay among your sisters. But the longer you think upon it the more certain you become. Earlier today would you have hesitated? Whatever your destiny, it lies outside of this place. You will leave the nest. (if: $antintimacy is 0)[For the only time your handmaiden gives you an angry look. -(display: "AntName"), why? Even after I brought you here.- You give her a curious glance. She calms herself. -(display: "AntName"), your sisters need you. We have accomplished great things for the colony together. We could do greater things still. Come, you were born to be royalty.-] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Your handmaiden looks at you crestfallen. She has tears in her eyes. -(display: "AntName") why would you abandon us when we need you?- She closes her eyes, and then starts to emit a very peculiar scent You focus on the scent. It is a vision of you as a queen. You are cheered in the streets. You have found fulfillment and through it all your handmaiden is by your side. It moves you to tears. (Lots of crying today.)] [[Leave->ant 3 sisters final choices part 1]] [[Stay->ant 3 sisters stay]] (set: $antstay to 1) (set: $ant3_status_home to 0) (set: $ant3_status_leave to 1)

(if: $antstay is 0)[Your handmaiden seems betrayed by your sudden reversal and then calms herself. -Your handmaiden had hoped that your love for your sisters(if: $antintimacy is 1)[ and your handmaiden], would lead you to stay but it seems your love for your friends pulls stronger.- ] Your handmaiden looks at you unhappily and then sighs. -At the very least (display: "AntName"), allow me to accompany you. Above ground is no place for a queen without her handmaiden.- You consider her offer. Your handmaiden has proven an invaluable ally, and a capable warrior. But after coming to the colony, you can see how it would be cruel to separate a sister from her family. Your handmaiden has fought long and hard (if: $antintimacy is 1)[to get here](if: $antintimacy is 0)[to bring you here], can you ask her to leave again so soon? [[Take her with you->ant 3 forma]] [[Leave her with her sisters.->ant 3 sisters final choices part 2]] (set: $ant3_status_home to 0) (set: $ant3_status_leave to 1)

You take a deep breath and explain that you have decided to stay. Your handmaiden is besides herself with joy, while your friends look depressed. Cohen nods his head, "Well if your mind is made up then we must respect it. But that means now is the time for goodbyes." Your friends look to you mournfully. How shall you start your goodbyes? [[A full arm handshake->ant 3 sisters stay handshake]] [[An elegant curtsey->ant 3 sisters stay curtsey]] (set: $ant3_status_home to 0) (set: $ant3_status_leave to 0) (set: $ant3_status_Farewell to 1)

You smile at her warmly. You remind her that a queen is nothing without her loyal handmaiden. She releases scents of joy and turns to the ant in white. The ant in white has been watching all of this impassively. -Should you survive above you may return to us, young noble.- Your handmaiden gathers her gear and moves to stand behind you. Your friends exchange puzzled glances and shrug. A patrol of ants emerges from the crowd to lead you to the exit. Your honor guard seems sad to see you leave and they bid you a group farewell. You are quickly escorted from the nest by several heavily armored patrols of sisters. Your handmiaden however leads the way with the same supreme confidence she showed at the outpost. Finally you emerge out into the sunlight on the edge of the forest. Here your handmaiden is ever so slightly nervous. She shies away as you take a step out beyond the trees. Then she gathers herself up and follows you duitifully, taking comfort from your lead. You spend the walk to town telling your handmaiden everything you can recall about the above ground. Much of it sounds silly to you now, but humans are silly creatures. As you reach the town you recognize just how strange it will seem to humans to see an ant-queen with her handmaiden. But then again, life is just a series of strange things seen often enough. Over dinner Cohen solicts ideas for what to do next. You glance at your handmaiden. You will not become a human again. A queen could not abandon her handmaiden. That night she snuggles next to you. She tells you that she is afraid to be away from the colony. You tell her not to worry for whatever happens you have eachother. Ant 3 ending: A queen and her handmaiden's tale [[credits]] Next time: Cohen and the excaliclub: featuring the errant ant-queen and her handmaiden (What, don't look at me like that; Cohen gets top billing. And yes I will eventually write this.) \(set: $ant3_status_leave to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_attractions to 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance_parade to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_flight to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_forma to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_cuirass to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_antend to 1)

You sigh and explain to your handmaiden that the world above is no place for an honest ant. She begins to sob quietly. Finally she seems to draw herself up. -A simple handmaiden has no place to request anything from a queen, but will you return to me?- [[No->ant 3 sisters final choices part 3]] (link: "Yes")[(set: $antreturn to 1)(goto: "ant 3 sisters final choices part 3")]

The sister in white retires with her retinue into the palace. Your honor guard bids you a farewell. (if: $antsquad is 0)[The senior ant-girl gives a respectful dignifed bow to Ron.](if: $antsquad is 1)[The junior squad leader shakes ron's hand enthusiastically, using four to his one.] Ron doesn't quite know what to make of the thanks, but he seems happy enough. Your handmaiden looks at you sadly. -My queen, what would make you great is what leads you to leave.- She wipes away her tears. -Show the world above what an ant-girl can do. All your handmaiden asks is that you do not forget us.- (if: $antreturn is 0)[With that she disappears into the crowds.](if: $antreturn is 1)[She smiles as you turn to leave.] You and your friends are escorted out of the colony by several heavily armed patrols of sisters. They congratulate you on your exploits but are otherwise not particularly talkative. A general feeling of betrayal prevades the patrols. Alonso messages one of his many bruises. "All that fighting and not much to show for it." Frederick pipes up. "Unlike you to grouse alonso. Besides we got a parade." Alonso replies in a low tone. "Hardly a proper adventure without any reward to show for it." Cohen lets out a harsh laugh. "Youngling you have your life and your freedom. Creatures that fight spiders are rarely so lucky." He audaciously smiles. "Besides we have one hell of a tale from it." Ron puts his arm over your slender shoulders. To comfort you, and to help keep him from falling over. "You are keeping quiet. Are you feeling alright?" You nod. Whatever you are feeling, you doubt your friends would quite understand. The cloud of emotions above the colony has taken on a mournful tone. You look at it one last time and tear your eyes away. after a deceptively short journey through a tunnel, you find yourself on the edge of the forest. the ants guarding you salute and disappear back into the tunnel. Cohen smiles. "Always glad to see the blue sky. Let's get some beer younglings." After so long in the forest and so long underground, [[it is a glory to see the sun again.->ant 3 sisters final choices part 4]]

Cohen leads the group to the nearest tavern like a bloodhound tracking a rabbit. When you see the tavern it seems poorly designed. The walls are too high, and it's not recessed into the ground. Still the smells coming off of the food seem appealing. The beer only smells bitter. As you sit down Cohen orders a round of beers and meals for everyone. Then the attention turns to you. Your friends insist you tell the story of how you rescued them. Some parts don't translate well, although Ron seems to get it. By the end of it they give you all the points for style and ingenueity. Three rounds into the evening you consider what to do next. You might try to turn back to normal. Your memories suggest that is what the you from this morning would have done. On the other hand you are clearly better than you were. You can see scents and have a spare pair of arms. Given how silly humans are most of the time they could use some ant sense up here. (if: $antreturn is 1)[You know it will certainly make finding your handmaiden again a lot easier.] [[Drunkenly anounce you will return to normal-> ant 3 boy]] [[Stay as you are->ant 3 bug]] \(set: $ant3_appearance_flight to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_parade to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_away to 1)

your announcement is met by a drunken cheer from your friends. you do note however that they all turn in early, claiming a pressing need for sleep.(pressing need to experiment is more likely.) the next day you undergo a through examination from Ron. this mostly consists of him occasionally poking you as he consults his book of spells. he declares that turning everyone back is far beyond him. all eyes turn to Cohen, if anyone knows where a way to return to normal is, it's likely Cohen. he pauses to pick at his nose for a moment and then announces that he knows a person or at least a place where a cure might be found. you head towards the bigger library. (so named because it's likely bigger than any other. although you have heard enough stories about the size of the world to know that any claim to be the biggest anything is premature.) the library is set in a bustling sea side town that is situated on a rocky outcrop. Cohen attracts the regular stares that he gets anywhere he has been before. your friends attract a few longing glances and the occasional catcall. you attract curious and sometimes hostile stares. although this is a port town and the occasional oddity is expected. as you reach the grandoise entrance of the library, you are greeted by what must be a librian. she is a fit, younger woman. she has dark hair and far rougher hands than you would expect for a librian. you note with perhaps a touch of envy breasts larger than you would expect for her size. then you look into her eyes, they are like mirrored moonlight. whatever she is, it is not human, at least any more. Cohen and the libraian give each other a friend hug. "younglings this is my good friend Tanith. if anyone knows where the way to get you back to normal is it's her." Tanith smiles and in a soft voice repsonds. "Not my area of speciality but we have just about everything in the stacks." as she leads you into the library; Cohen pulls everyone aside "younglings in the name of all that is holy do not mention fire and the library in the same thought." he glares at Ron. "Last time someone even threatened to set fire to this place, they had to rebuild the entire town. She helped rebuild it but still." [[enter the library->ant 3 boy part 1]] \(set: $ant3_status_leave to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_library to 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance_away to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_nobility to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_cuirass to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_humanend to 1)

Regardless of what you might have chosen yesterday, today you choose to remain as you are. You are stronger and better like this. Better able to protect your friends(if: $antreturn is 1)[ and keep your promise to your handmaiden]. Your friends however seem to be set on returning. Well at least Alonso and Ron. You can smell Frederick's hesitation. Cohen leads you on many quests in search of leads on magical blessed chalice. Your new abilities, especially the extra hands you bring to a fight soon prove themselves. You attract curious stares wherever you go though. Which is fine by you, humans are inherently silly creatures. Besides royalty must be able to deal with onlookers. Finally you track down the chalice to a dragon's horde. The dragon has set up shop outside of Loum the city of fountains. In a happy coincidence the city is hiring adventurers to convince the dragon to move. (Everyone is happy for a job where you finally get paid.) The dragon has proven mostly harmless to the surrounding countryside. However it has so defended it's den with such ferocity that no one has mustered the courage to force the issue. Cohen has some experience with dragons. He quickly comes up with an ingenious plan to lure the dragon. All it will take is a donkey that does a spot on imitation of a dragon's roar. Then you need to collapse lair. This should drive the dragon away. From there it's a bit of digging you to get the horde. It's not a perfect plan but much better than facing a dragon head on. However the lair has no scents of aggression, only scents of motherly protection. These overwhelming scents tell you the plan won't work. You explain your reservations to your friends and they are skeptical. Well except for Cohen. (Humans tend to have a hard time believing what they can not see.) [[Cohen gives you his blessing to try your own plan.->ant 3 bug part 1]] \(set: $ant3_status_leave to 1) \(set: $ant3_status_bugending to 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance_away to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_nobility to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_cuirass to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_antend to 1)

The bigger library is unsurprisingly full of books, the piles and shelves stretch off into the distance. As you move towards the center you see that the earth below has been excavated to provide room for yet more books. You gaze down in the pit and marvel at the sheer number of them. To gaze upon so many books almost makes you sad. You have never been one for letters. You came from a simple household where books are a rarity. Ron claims that each book is a world unto itself. If so then there are probaly a thousand, ten thousand worlds in those books. Pperhaps an answer to every question you could ever think to ask. Then you buck up, you may never know those worlds, but you know your own world better than most. The scents of the harvest, the turning of the seasons(if: $antreturn is 1)[, the love of your handmaiden]. If the worlds of the books are closed to you; all the better to focus your attention on the world around you and the ones open to you. Tanith leads you to a few spartan rooms on the far edge of the library. You have been more comfortable camping. The rooms are stuffed full of books. Tanith lights a lantern and then looks you over. "Hmm, not very many writings on how to raise monsters, but I'm sure there is something in the stacks. Something about needing the correct phase of the moon and large supply of sheep's blood. I'm sure I could figure it out." She starts scribbling notes. Cohen clears his throat. "Tanith." Tanith looks up at him surprised. "I'm trying to get my lads back to normal." She has the blank look of someone caught out of their element. "Oh right, right. It's not my area of expertise but I think saw a spell for something like that in the "Lexicon Transfigure". Cohen nods. "Where exactly is that one Tanith?" Tanith seems briefly uncomfortable. "It wasn't my area so I gave it to one of the junior librarians to file." Cohen continues gently "And how long ago was that Tanith?" Tanith pauses. "A decade ago." She counts on her fingers briefly. "Or maybe two." [[The search begins.->ant 3 boy part 2]]

You spend weeks searching the library. Tanith to her credit did design a fairly innovative system for organizing the library. Unfortunately her interest is so narrowly foccused on her subject that she made little effort to organize anything except for the necromancy books. This means you have an arduous search infront of you. It's not all bad though. (if: $antreturn is 1)[The caverns remind you of the ant-hive.](if: $antreturn is 0)[The library is cool compared to the blazing heat outside.] You adapt to the work well. Your extra arms help in carrying books and your eyes help in the dim light. Your strong arms help you climb the various shelves. Ron very nearly creams? himself at the collection of spellbooks. Tanith when she can be pried away from her books even gives him some lessons. these never touch the subject of fire, but he still applies himself. Frederick finds a few texts on lock picking. He may be a thief but he always was more of the crowbar school for door opening. That and you were always too poor to afford actual lockpicks. Alonso settles in to some books about smithing. He tuts as he mentally corrects them. A smith's son always thinks themselves an expert you suppose. still he copies down more than few notes. You find some books for yourself. These help to pass the time although they take so long compared to smells. Cohen passes the time catching up with Tanith. They talk about multiple adventures together to find the location of a certain necropolis. Something about a bell, a book and a candle. You sense that Cohen has a deep respect for tanith. Finally you manage to find the book. Hidden in a corner of a forgotten dead end. The walls and shelves around it are gently becoming paper. It's even turning the books around it into copies of itself. You leave to get tanith to handle the book. She flips past the multiple warnings about summoning old ones and safety spells to avoid anything going wrong. "Ah, here are the words we need." and says loudly "klatu, varada, niktu!" [[Then all of a sudden you are back to normal->ant 3 boy part 3]]

There is an intense full body tingle. A glance at your arm shows that your chitin is gone. Then the disorientation sets in. The loss of scents is like losing your balance or your nose suddenly being off. Yyou forgot just how blind humans are everyday without realizing it. You stagger a bit and then manage to open your eyes. Frederick is mourning the loss of the girls. Ron is trying to read the magic book over Tanith's shoulder as Cohen compliments her. You are surprised when Alonso pats you on the back. "Pretty different huh?" He will never know what you just lost but you apreciate the sympathy. Your group dallies a few more days in the library. Partially to finish your books, partially to borrow some money from Tanith to get adventuring gear. All the while you contemplate your next adventure. Cohen spins tales about easy money raiding dragonet shipping, Alonso argues in favor of trying a dungeon for once. [[Finally you set off on your next adventure.->ant 3 boy ending]] \(set: $ant3_appearance_nobility to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_humanending to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_humanend to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_human to 1)

In time you become an established group of adventurers. Not quite famous enough that people line the streets but certainly famous enough that you never have to buy your own drinks. (You stop nearly dying so much). Finally one evening, Cohen gathers you all around and tells you that he is going to move on. Your group is devastated by his departure.(if: $conanhelp is 1)[ Cohen admits to you in a private moment that he gained a lot of respect for you back in the forest.] Cohen leaves and you get the feeling that he views it as his final adventure. You sincerely doubt this though. When Cohen finally falls he will almost certainly steal the ride of whatever warrior goddess comes to take him. Your team goes onto great success and you all become famous throughout the land. Your single handed rescue of your friends in the face of impossible odds becomes part of the poetic Edda. You remain something of a controversial figure though. The bards argue and argue if you were a human turned ant, turned human. Or an ant simply turned human. Since they never bother to ask you, the issue remains unsettled. People return for a mystery you figure. Your incredible ability to read people remains and you use this to sniff out suspect deals. It’s never quite what it once was but you get more used to it with time. Your finest moment is when you outbluff a duke with 500 men in the waiting. (So badass) Your friends make names for themselves as well. Alonso becomes a leader of men, and ends up leading (by accident and inability to say no to a pretty face) an order of knights. Ron becomes an archmage despite his humble origins. Through a great deal of magical study he eventually manages to change his specialty from the element of fire to the element of explosions! Frederick becomes a master thief. He is famous for forewarning his targets to increase the challenge for himself. (He manages to keep his identity hidden though.) Despite your success the group is always ready for adventure. You look forward to your next adventure eager and confident that you can face anything. (if: $antreturn is 0)[Your thoughts occasionally stray back to your handmaiden. You hope that she came to a good end, as in the end that’s all anyone can hope for.] (if: $antreturn is 1)[As the years pass there finally comes a moment when you decide to [[keep your promise->ant 3 boy ending return]]] (if: $antreturn is 0)[ant 3 ending: to return to what you were [[credits]]] (set: $ant3_status_library to 0) (set: $ant3_status_boyending to 1)

You buy two huge barrels of beer and a historic amount of beef jerky. With some difficulty you bring them back to camp. You give Ron the usual grief about how he should of learned ice spells so you could have cold beer. He grumbles and acts set upon, but still let's you borrow his spirits (they are for summoning) to spike the beer. You tie one barrel to the back of the donkey and go on a merry walk to the dragon's den. You can see it's red eyes in the dark of the cave. It roars at you and then retches flames into the air. The heat is overpowering a hundred yards away. You wave your hand and announce that you are here to welcome the dragon to the neighborhood. Then you mention that you brought beer and beef jerky. The dragon looks at you curiously, and then beckons you closer with it's tail. You produce a large mug and fill it with beer before passing it to the dragon's tail. The dragon's tongue flicks out and carefully tastes the beer. It thanks you in a voice so deep and menacing you feel fear deep in the pit of your stomach. Still queens are expected to manage their fear. Before long you get to drinking and laughing. You tell stories about how silly humans are; the dragon makes jokes along the same lines. You are very careful to act more drunk than you are and make sure the dragon does the majority of the drinking. As the dragon starts to get tipsy, she admits that she only stopped near the city to take care of her egg. By then you have drained the barrel. You insist that she has to hear this funny voice that Alonso can do, also there is more beer with your friends. The dragon agrees and takes an uncertain step out of the cave. The ground quakes and trees shake. You remind her that your friends might be a little surprised to see a dragon following you. It would better you insist if she changed form. She hiccups and then you taste an immense amount of magic being dispensed. You turn back to see that where the dragon was there is now a blonde woman with enormous breasts. She is clad only in rags, she has a impressive green tail and round blunt horns. She leads the way drunkenly singing. Then with the strength of a score of men, she grabs one of your larger hands. You can't help but join in singing and swinging hands together. Your friends are surprised to when you enter circle around the campfire with a barely dressed woman. They are even more surprised when you introduce her as the dragon you were planning to evict. But, they are quick on the uptake and soon everyone is carousing. Frederick gets to cracking jokes and you see the dragon invading Cohen's personal space. He has the look of man who can't tell if he is too drunk or not drunk enough for what is happening. The dragon lets out a frustrated sigh. Then she starts trying to make out with Alonso. Alonso is but human and reciprocates. After that your memory gets a bit fuzzy. You vaguely remember mentioning the chalice to the dragon, but then there were the laughing fits as she retched fire. [[The next morning->ant 3 bug part 2]]

You awake very very hungover. Ron's spirit's are so powerful that disappear by themselves if you leave the cap off and you drank far too much. A quick glance around shows that you had a hell of a party last night. The dragon is long gone. Alonso has an embarrassed look and won't meet your gaze. You smile and he blushes. The smell of powerful love making last night fills the air. Next to the emptied barrel of beer, sits a solidly made wooden cup. There is also a very rough letter, written on a material you can only guess at. The dragon thanks you for your hospitality. Then she says that you can keep the cup for a short 100 years or until her hatchling comes for it. Cohen takes a long drink from the cup and then bellows at the top of his lungs. "Ah, I feel young again!" Both Ron and Alonso drink deeply of the cup. You and Frederick cringe as they change back. You can hear bones snap and pop as they grow back to their original height. Still they seem fine afterwards. The cup passes to you, you raise all four hands in response and explain that you would rather stay as you are. Cohen isn't surprised. Frederick does the same. "Sorry gents but I can't stand to leave behind the girls." She puts her arm around you, "Besides I can't let her majesty be all by herself." You fist bump. What to do with the cup? You have to get rid of it. To keep an artifact this powerful is an invitation to be murdered in your sleep. Frederick suggests the traditional course of action of hocking it. This is voted down. The cup is likely worth more than you can carry. Besides someone willing to pay that much will likely save the money and have you killed. Just ditching it seems irresponsible. Finally Alonso comes up with an idea. It takes a bit of doing but you sink the cup into the great reservoir of the city. There all water flows in and out. Then you have Ron forge a letter from the dragon to the mayor of the city. He makes sure to use red ink and grand suitably dragony words. The letter claims that the dragon will return in a 100 years looking for it's bejeweled chalice. You and Frederick sneak the letter on the mayor's nightstand. Then you skip town, as you leave you see an old blind beggar regain his eyesight. [[Ending->ant 3 bug ending]]

On the whole you enjoy being among humans. They are silly creatures at the best of times. Once you figure out their internal logic though, they make a strange kind of sense. They lack queens to regulate their emotions. But, they usually follow the feelings of other humans. Their colonies are much smaller limited to the offspring of a single pairing. You do your best to get along with them and overtime become quite proficient at understanding what the scents they put out mean. Still you are ant-girl alone in the world of humans. You make a token effort by dressing like a human, but still stand out a great deal. You attract great fame as a result. This you ignore with regal grace. Despite all the changes you enjoy adventuring. It may not be very Ant-like but to see a new horizon everyday is a spectacular thing. You find that your form is well suited to adventuring. Having four arms makes you fearsome in combat and excel at carrying loot. Your natural chitin protects you from many dangers and scrapes. For obvious reasons you do well in the darkness of the underground. Your friends always insist that you help them win at cards although you don't see the point. In time your group becomes an established group of adventurers. Although people tend to call you myrmidons or the queen's guard to tease you. Eventually Cohen announces that your group doesn't need his help anymore and so he is going to set off on his own. You worry about him, it is dangerous for one to leave their colony. But you did so and came out alright. Everyone else is a bit depressed by the news, but they all agree that if anyone will be alright it's Cohen. You eventually become immortalized in the poetic edda. A mysterious ant-girl wearing a crown of white flowers. You emerged from the eldritch forest to quest among the world of humans. It's wrong but when you try to correct the bards they say the incorrect version plays better. Alonso becomes a leader of men, and ends up leading an order of knights. (By accident and inability to say no to a pretty face.) Ron becomes an archmage despite his humble origins. He attempts to spread magical knowledge through out the world so that others can benefit as he did. (The others constantly look through his curriculum to make sure nothing "too" dangerous makes it in.) Frederick becomes a "respectable" lady who moves in high society. (And robs them blind during the night.) Despite your success the group is always ready for adventure. You look forward to your next adventure eager and confident that you can face anything. (if: $antreturn is 0)[You think of your handmaiden often. You have the occasional human to serve as your squire. but as hard as they try they will never have the understanding you had with your handmaiden. You hope that she came to a good end, in the end that’s all anyone can hope for. The other thing that you wonder about is your royalty. Would it be possible to start a colony by yourself? Perhaps one day you will attempt to raise ants in the sunlight. Ant 3 ending: A queen abroad [[credits]]] \(if: $antreturn is 1)[One day you help to save a village from a terrible demon that was demanding sacrifices of women. You ambush the bastard as he came to collect his prize. The demon enchanted himself to resist most forms of harm, which made the fight long and hard. Eventually you drown him in a half foot of water. As everyone takes a breather, a young girl comes up and places a chain of flowers around your neck. Then you know it's time [[to return to your handmaiden.->ant 3 bug ending return]]] \(set: $ant3_appearance_nobility to 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance_bugending to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_bugending to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_bugending1 to 1)

You host a grand party and announce your decision to your friends. They nod and claims they always knew that you would return to the hive. You bid farewell to all those whose lives you have touched. They toast you and a wild party begins. You borrow a few knights from Alonso and set off on a leisurely tour of the forest where it all began. The ant’s outposts are well hidden but you finally manage to find one. After some tense negotiations in sign language you are allowed entrance. You bid farewell to the knights and they salute you. The colony seems different blinded as you are, less vibrant you guess. The ants have little use for visual decoration you suppose. It is perhaps even larger than you remember. Under heavy escort you reach the center of the colony. Your handmaiden is there, wearing a crown of white flowers. She smiles at you. She looks older but then so do you. You smile back at her. Ant 3 ending: To return to what you were [[credits]]

You gather your friends for a lavish party and announce your decision. Your friends are not surprised. Frederick says he can't blame you. Ron mentions that he figured you would return one day when you didn't return to normal. Alonso tells you that you were always a little different after the adventure in the forest. There is a grand toast of those whose lives you touched. The general agreement is that you are the most talkative ant-girl they ever met. You make your way to the forest, the scents guide you to an ant-girl outpost. The guards are surprised to see you dressed as you are. You explain your situation to them. They tell you that they have heard of you in tales. They lead you into the nest. The cloud above the colony changes into a joyous starburst as you move towards the center. You find your handmaiden waiting for you. She looks older but so do you. She smiles at you -My queen.- Ant 3 ending: A queen abroad [[credits]]

A strong full armhandshake; the same as you did when your group was founded. (if: $frederickfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Frederick->ant 3 frederick farewell]]] (if: $alonsofarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Alonso->ant 3 alonso farewell]]] (if: $cohenfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Cohen->ant 3 cohen farewell]]] (if: $Ronfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Ron->ant 3 ron farewell]]] \(if: $alonsofarewell is 1 and $cohenfarewell is 1 and $Ronfarewell is 1 and $frederickfarewell is 1 and $humanconcern is >= 3)[ [[with that your farewells are complete->ant 3 sisters concern]]] \(if: $alonsofarewell is 1 and $cohenfarewell is 1 and $Ronfarewell is 1 and $frederickfarewell is 1 and $humanconcern is < 3)[ [[with that your farewells are complete->ant 3 sisters no concern]]]

You are nobility and you had best act like it. You will start each farewell with a calm graceful curtsey. (if: $frederickfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Frederick->ant 3 frederick farewell]]] (if: $alonsofarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Alonso->ant 3 alonso farewell]]] (if: $cohenfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Cohen->ant 3 cohen farewell]]] (if: $Ronfarewell is 0)[[[Bid farewell to Ron->ant 3 ron farewell]]] \(if: $alonsofarewell is 1 and $cohenfarewell is 1 and $Ronfarewell is 1 and $frederickfarewell is 1 and $humanconcern is >= 3)[ [[with that your farewells are complete->ant 3 sisters concern]]] \(if: $alonsofarewell is 1 and $cohenfarewell is 1 and $Ronfarewell is 1 and $frederickfarewell is 1 and $humanconcern is < 3)[ [[with that your farewells are complete->ant 3 sisters no concern]]] \(set: $antcurtsey to 1) \(if: $alonsofarewell is 0 and $cohenfarewell is 0 and $Ronfarewell is 0 and $frederickfarewell is 0)[(set: $humanconcern to 1)]

Frederick looks at you with obviously mixed emotions. “I can’t blame you for wanting to stay.” Then he hugs you. He looks into your eyes and then says. "You have been a brother to me. I wish that you could have both so you didn’t have to leave. We will meet again, if not in this life then in the next" He smiles sheepishly. (If: $frederickfarewell is 0)[[[Tell him to avoid danger as much as he can.->frederick farewell ant]]] (If: $frederickfarewell is 0)[[[“we will meet again, don’t be dramatic”->frederick farewell human]]] (If: $frederickfarewell is 1 and $antcurtsey is 0)[[[to the others->ant 3 sisters stay handshake]]] (If: $frederickfarewell is 1 and $antcurtsey is 1)[[[to the others->ant 3 sisters stay curtsey]]]

As you finish your farewells, Alonso has all of your friends huddle around him. You manage to eavesdrop after covertly swapping your crown with your handmaiden. Alonso has that impetuous look in his eyes. "He clearly isn't himself. We need to get him out of here." He looks to Frederick "You know the way out right?" Frederick looks uncertain and then takes a deep breath. "I can lead us out of here." Alonso smiles gratefully and then looks to Ron. "How many spells left?" Ron is visibly trembling and has a hard time standing. "I should be able to cast seven more spells before I start permanently hurting myself." Alonso looks worried but nods. "We will carry the both of you if we have to. The ants seem scared of fire but don't over do it." He quickly draws a diagram in the dirt. "Simplest plan there is, grab him and run like hell." He looks up to Cohen for confirmation. Cohen shakes his head slowly. "I'm sorry younglings but I promised I would never send you into more danger than you could handle. We don't stand a chance in hell of getting him out of here." Alonso looks at him disappointed. Cohen continues. "We are tired, near the end of our strength. Harm a hair on his head and we will be swarmed by ants. All of which will be just as strong and coordinated as the ones we fought with getting here. Alonso looks at Cohen desperately. "He's our friend, we won’t abandon him." Cohen looks sad. "And he's my friend too damnit. But I couldn't get him out of here with a hundred fresh braves much less three exhausted novices. A time like this is when you go home and count yourself lucky to be alive." Perhaps a manly tear trickles down his cheek. Cohen gives you a nod and a wink as your friends break the circle. Your friends are escorted from the colony. They leave you with many sad glances backwards. You hope they come to a good end. Your handmaiden takes you excitedly by the hand towards the palace, you both curtsey to the ant in white. You follow at a respectful distance as the guards allow you admittance to the palace. [[Entering the palace->ant 3 sisters palace]]

You tell him in a calm measured tone to take care of himself and avoid danger as much as possible. He looks at you with confusion in his eyes and then hugs you again. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) (set: $frederickfarewell to 1) (set: $humanconcern to $humanconcern + 1)

You give him a playful slap on the back. "We will meet again. Don’t worry." Frederick smiles "How can I not worry when my best friend is leaving? When we do meet again, you have to tell me about how ant-girls are in the sack.” You give him an enigmatic look. He glances to your ant-girl. "Oh I know you are getting something. Take care and don’t do anything I wouldn’t.” You both giggle at this. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) (set: $frederickfarewell to 1)

Alonso looks at you sadly, "Shame to break up a team of brothers like this." He lets out a deep sigh and then straightens up, adopting his normal more confident look. "It's been fun and I'm going to miss the hell out of you." \(If: $alonsofarewell is 0)[[[Remind him of his duty to watch out for the others.->alonso farewell ant]]] \(If: $alonsofarewell is 0)[[[“It's been a hell of a ride”->alonso farewell human]]] \(If: $alonsofarewell is 1 and $antcurtsey is 0)[[[to the others->ant 3 sisters stay handshake]]] \(If: $alonsofarewell is 1 and $antcurtsey is 1)[[[to the others->ant 3 sisters stay curtsey]]]

As the group's leader he must watch out for the others. You remind him of his duty as he gives you a betrayed look. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) (set: $alonsofarewell to 1) (set: $humanconcern to $humanconcern + 1)

You smile at him. "It's been a hell of a ride." He embraces you tears in his eyes. "Take care of yourself." "Go on and have some even more kickass adventures without me." He shakes his head. "It just won't be the same without you. Have some kickass adventures yourself." You nod. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) (set: $alonsofarewell to 1)

Cohen smiles at you. "I can't fault your decision and it's yours to make. But I will miss the hell out of you youngling. \(if: $cohenfarewell is 0)[[["I'll miss the hell out of you old man."->cohen farewell human]]] \(If: $cohenfarewell is 0)[[[Tell him to take care of himself in his old age.->cohen farewell ant]]] \(If: $cohenfarewell is 1 and $antcurtsey is 0)[[[to the others->ant 3 sisters stay handshake]]] \(If: $cohenfarewell is 1 and $antcurtsey is 1)[[[to the others->ant 3 sisters stay curtsey]]]

Ron looks at you in a state of panic, obviously unsure of what he needs to say. He lands on rightous indignation. As if a parent trying to explain something to a child. "You don't look like yourself, and you aren't acting like yourself. There must be something here affecting your judgement." He smiles good naturedly at you. "Come with us. We can fix you." You swallow your indignation, you hardly need fixing. You take a breath. Ron means well even if he is mistaken. \(If: $Ronfarewell is 0)[[["This is another adventure, one just for me."->ron farewell human]]] \(If: $Ronfarewell is 0)[[[Remind ron to watch out for the others.->ron farewell ant]]] \(If: $Ronfarewell is 1 and $antcurtsey is 0)[[[to the others->ant 3 sisters stay handshake]]] \(If: $Ronfarewell is 1 and $antcurtsey is 1)[[[to the others->ant 3 sisters stay curtsey]]]

You smile at Ron and give him a hardy pat on the back. "This is another adventure, one just for me." He smiles at you. "We all left home for an adventure, didn't we? But we always came back from our adventures." He looks at you concerned. you look impetuous, "And who says I won't. I just want to try something different for a while." Ron looks relieved. You both know it's a lie, but it's a lie you both need to hear. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) (set: $Ronfarewell to 1)

You give Ron a condescending pat on the shoulder. You tell him that he needs to watch out for his magic, everyone nearly got burnt more than once. Ron looks at you crestfallen. "Anything else?" you look at him confused. He is responsible for the others so he must be cautious. He proved himself the most capable of your friends in guaranteeing their safety. You tell him that he fought well and to look out for everyone else. You smile at him not understanding why he looks so depressed. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) (set: $Ronfarewell to 1) (set: $humanconcern to $humanconcern + 1)

He smiles back at you. "A word of advice for the ants. The spiders are tricky but don't have much of a handle on larger strategy. They hunt, not fight wars. You have numbers, use that against them and even that bitch will have a hard time." He looks at you sadly. "Always feels bad to lose an apprentice." You shake your head. "You are not losing me, I'm just moving up to professional adventurer." He smiles and then pats you on the head. "Just be careful youngling. I won't be around to save you this time." You pout as he laughs. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) (set: $cohenfarewell to 1)

He smiles. "I aint old yet." He flexes an arm, which still bulges noticeably. "Take care of yourself youngling." You curtsey to him. (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last) (set: $cohenfarewell to 1) (set: $humanconcern to $humanconcern + 1)

With your goodbyes said, the sisters around you move to escort your friends from the hive when you hold up your hand. You will likely never see them again, hardly the situation for quick goodbyes. If they are too be escorted form the hive it is fitting that you are part of the escort. Your handmaiden looks at you surprised. -(display: "AntName"), we are awaited in the palace.- You smile at your loyal handmaiden, and explain that having already your entire life for them to meet you, they can wait a little longer. Your friends are pleasantly confused and happy for the company. The journey to the edge of the colony is shorter than you would think and you spend it laughing with your friends as you recall various adventures and mishaps. Your handmaiden notes your reticence to leave your friends. -(display: "AntName"), it would be improper but if you wished it, we could have them join our sisterhood.- You give your handmaiden a look so fierce that she takes a step back trembling slightly. -Apologies (display: "AntName").- She means well but misunderstands. They wave you an enthusiastic good bye at the edge of the forest, and you return the favor with all four arms. Your handmaiden stays a respectful distance behind you until your friends are well out of sight. Then she takes you fondly by the hand and leads the way back to the colony. There is no grand ceremony the second time you enter the colony although the crowds still part unconsciously for you. Before long you find yourself outside the palace. You and your handmaiden both curtsey to the ant in white, although you can detect a hint of irritation. You follow at a respectful distance until the guards strip you and examine you dispassionately. [[Entering the palace->ant 3 sisters palace]]

The palace is a village onto itself. You recall the human palaces tended to be richly decorated. This would be plain by comparison. the only obvious decorations are a huge number of dried herbs and flowers fastened to the walls. Curious, you ask your handmaiden. -To help keep the midwives entertained (display: "AntName"). Though the work is very important it can be tedious.- Additionally, the ceilings have been painted as if they were starry nights. This is self-explanatory, the first generation of a colony is considered uniquely capable and chosen for most important work. They are often born in caves and so are comparatively born beneath the stars. To try and encourage newborns to similar feats they add stars to ceiling. Your handmaiden guides you through the halls. It’s strange that she is familiar with the palace. She looks off into the distance and then answers. -Your handmaiden once came here on a woeful errand, (display: "AntName").- She obviously wants to say nothing more. The palace is larger than you expect. [[Finally you reach the inner sanctum->ant 3 sisters palace part 1]] \(set: $ant3_appearance_parade to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_flight to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_palace to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_cuirass to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_palace to 1)

The royal chambers are large and built around a central space. In the center, reclines a queen. The queen is twice the height of any ant-girl, three times the size in total. Her abdomen alone is the size of two ant-girls put together. She is attended by her midwives who wear white headbands and aprons. You kneel to the queen with your handmaiden following suit. The queen holds audience with a few other selected applicants until her attention turns to you. You are compelled to move forward. It seems that queens can give orders to other royalty. You stand, curtsey, move with careful grace, then curtsy and finally kneel again. The queen puts her hand to your face. She turns your head this way and that looking you over imperiously. It is a curious feeling but you feel many subtle commands at once. Without even knowing that you are doing so, you find yourself signaling answers to questions you don’t know are being asked. The questions never reach a level of conscious acknowledgement, your answers being closer to reflex. Some of the questions themselves feel instinctual, like checking if you shy away from a punch. She gives you the slightest of nods. You blush deeply. The beginning of the honor bestowed upon you begins to dawn in your mind. You notice a subtle thing, the cloud of emotions above the colony brought you to tears, but here in the palace it is concentrated. The queens must have their hand on the tiller of emotions within the colony. Your thoughts are cut short when the ant-queen signals. "You Have Proven Your Worth Young Queen. But You Are Not Of Us. Teach The Spiders Fear." The queen attempts to do the equivalent of whisper, but you are unprepared for it. Nothing could prepare you for how her scents fill you. Her commands echo through you from your antenna to you toes. You glance around yourself dazed. Your ant-girl smiles at you. You have your mission, time to get to it. [[To war!->ant 2 sisters palace part 2]]

You bring war to the spiders. Your command of your sisters is like your arms and your legs. But a single commander would be hard pressed to turn the tide. You focus on improving your long-range coordination with other royalty. Before long you are pulling off attacks with incredible timing. The spiders are individually fierce, but your sisters are brave beyond measure. That combined with their exceptional teamwork makes them a match for the spiders. Eventually you force the spiders back. You fail to force a surrender, but they eventually learn that any slave raids will be met with relentless retaliation. Throughout the fighting your handmaiden is by your side. She frets about your safety often but insists that so long as she is there to protect you, you will come out safely. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[More than once you have to restrain her from doing anything too dangerous.] The campaign is long and difficult but you bear the hardships with your sisters. This earns you great fame among them. In time you are viewed as the hope of the colony, put on the same level with great architects and planners. Unplanned celebrations break out when you return to the colony, treating you to silent adulation. For your victories you inducted into true royalty. [[The Ceremony->ant 2 sisters palace part 3]] Author's note: Look you want a full battle saga, imagine it yourself. \(set: $ant3_status_Farewell to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_war to 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance_palace to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_war to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_palace to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_battle to 1)

Before your ceremony your handmaiden takes you to a secluded pool beneath the colony. (small intestine) The pool glows translucently and looking in shows an infinity of light blue glowing mushrooms. The room is constructed in such a way as to draw in the hopes of the colony and they suffuse the air. Your handmaiden carefully removes your mud and blood-stained armor. She smiles at you and washes the dirt from your hair with a floral smelling powder. As she does this, she tells you at length her dreams for the future and how proud of you she is. Once you have been cleaned, She dresses you in a simple white apron. She also makes sure that your crown is on straight and then gives you a kiss on the cheek. From there you are ushered into a central space at the center of the colony. With some difficulty almost all the queens have assembled in a circle. You stand in the middle and they all salute to you. -The Future Of The Colony Is The Future Of The Queens.- And then just like that you are true royalty. A glance at your handmaiden shows her smiling and in tears. The first thing you notice is an inherent feeling. Previously what drove you and your sisters even without thinking was the good of the colony. Now your will defines the good of the colony. It is a humbling feeling. A quick glance at the other queens, no your sisters shows them giving you a knowing smile. For better or worse your daughters rely on you to be in charge. [[There are other subtle changes.->ant 2 sisters palace part 4]] \(set: $ant3_status_war to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_ascent to 1) \(set: $ant3_gear_battle to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_queen to 1)

The most startling change is that now your orders carry the absolute force of command. There is no more hesitation or delay from your junior sisters. As you watch them attempt to follow a command without hesitation, you think of Cohen. As it would be unbefitting of your station, you resist the urge to exploit this for comedic effect. Your handmaiden however does not and more than once you find yourself greeted by mounds of flower crowns. She at least attempts to look innocent. Slowly you retire from operations in the field. This is because that as the days and weeks pass you find yourself slowly growing larger, eventually becoming a relative giant among the daughters of the colony. Your strength grows and enjoy being able to fight the spiders more evenly. However it is difficult to get in and out of the colony Eventually you have grown so much that exiting the colony becomes difficult. Your handmaiden is proud, saying that soon you will be ready to enter true royalty. This doesn’t change that you are bored. Your handmaiden tries to keep you entertained by leading you on endless tours of the colony or politely insisting you meet with the other queens. Finally she gently implies that you use the fact that you are unique from the other queens to benefit the colony. This sets you to thinking, what could you give to the colony that is uniquely yours? \(if: $antcrownstatus is 1)[You tell them the stories Cohen told you, recast with ants. You even tell your own story, making sure to leave in the part where you snared yourself in a web. To see your junior sisters walk around with their heads held high is heartening. Though your individual contributions to the colony will be limited to your lifespan, the stories you have given them and the pride that comes with them will last long after you are gone.] \(if: $antcrownstatus is 2)[You think for a while and decide on trying to set out a series of rules for your sisters. They currently follow the will of the queens but perhaps what they need is a series of rules and standing orders for when they are far from home. Your handmaiden has many insights on the subject, claiming that you can't always rely on a lost ant-girl to be as veteran as she is. In time you develop a series of instructions to help your junior sisters in the dangerous world above. These will save many lives and have an impact long after you are gone.] \(if: $antcrownstatus is 3)[You remember being taught writing by Ron and Cohen. Your sisters for all their virtues have no knowledge of permanent records. Their history and culture is stored in the cloud of emotions above the colony. It will be difficult because you were never one for reading and your sisters lack any sounds to anchor to letters. But in time you develop an pictogramic language, that while perhaps lacking the refinement of human lettering makes up for it with expressiveness. Generations from now your colony will encounter a danger rarely seen, eventually forgotten. Now they will have the voice of the past to guide them. All thanks to you.] [[Finally your transformation completes->ant 2 sisters palace part 5]] [(set: $yourpartner to (either: 0,1))] (set: $ant3_appearance_palace to 0) (set: $ant3_appearance_queen to 1)

Finally you are sexually mature. This change comes suddenly but you know instantly. Your handmaiden smiles and leads you away to a private chamber. The time has come to enter true royalty. \(if: $yourpartner is 1)[Your first partner is an ant-boy. You can smell his nervousness before he enters the room. You can understand it, he was selected from birth and forced to overcome multiple trials for this opportunity. He gives you a desperate look as he comes over. You pet him gently on the head to calm him. He positions himself and begins to thrust. To your mild surprise there is no pain. Given your role in the colony you suppose it makes sense that you would not have a hymen. The sex is brief and mildly pleasurable. The ant-boy gives you a despairing look. You sigh and give him a few reassuring head-pats while he quickly recovers. The second round is better and though it would be unseemly for a queen to enjoy herself over much, you do enjoy it.] \(if: $yourpartner is 0)[Your first partner is a captured human. A closer glance shows him to be a farm boy, not so different from how you once were. He looks at you obviously uncertain. You beckon him over, and he is given a helpful push by your handmaiden. He looks at you frightened, you look down at him smiling gently. You give him comforting headpats, and use your second pair of arms to draw him closer. He understands what you want but gives you helpless look. Oh boy, haven't we all been there? You give him some manual help and he eventually begins thrusting. The sex is pleasurable and to your surprise you feel no pain. He screws like a farmboy, which you are happy to say is pretty damn good. In time you release a few ragged gasps, unqueenly but you find yourself enjoying it.] After you have finished with the first, you can smell multiple other partners lined up outside. Your hand-maiden (if: $antintimacy is 1)[gives them envious stares as she allows into your chamber. You make a mental note to spend some quality time with her once it's over.](if: $antintimacy is 0)[gives you loving motherly glances.] Once you are finished, your handmaiden presents you a crown to replace your simple circlet of flowers. It is simply constructed from wood but ornamented with a lot of spider-silk. (A sign of your triumphs you suppose.) [[In time you bear children->Ant 2 sisters palace ending]] \(set: $ant3_gear_queen to 0) \(set: $ant3_gear_queen1 to 1)

Your first laying is a difficult but euphoric experience. Your handmaiden is comforting as she applies pressure. The feeling of your child moving through your abdomen is like nothing else. Finally as your eyes roll back into your head, it passes through. There will be more but you take the time to hold your very first child in your arms. Looking down as it looks back at you innocently, fills you with a happiness you are convinced you would never have experienced as an adventurer. Ending: Born to be royalty [[credits]] [[A distant finale]] (set: $ant3_appearance_queen to 0) (set: $ant3_appearance_trueroyalty to 1)

After many years and broods of children rumors of a dragon invasion reach your halls. The other queens are dismissive until you point out that rumors capable of reaching your halls must have something to them. Your sister-queens dither and don't understand why an aboveground matter warrants such concern. You point out that dealing with the spiders as local slavers is bad enough, the dragons view everything as not a dragon as beneath them. They also claim to hold dominion over everything not equal to them. The sister-queens reluctantly agree that something must be done, but they do not know what. Cohen loathed dragons, partially because of their long memories. (He felt insulted that their bounties had no expiration dates.) Mostly because they were slavers and he hated nothing so much as those who enslave. You gather your handmaiden and your most promising princesses. You recount to them what you recall of being amongst humans. Much of it seems strange and contradictory to you. Humans are after all strange creatures, perhaps a side effect of their ignorance of their fellow humans. You instruct them to find Cohen. If there is any resistance to the invasion, he is leading it. You send off an expedition under the lead of your most promising daughter. (Advised by your handmaiden, of course.) A season passes and you stop instructing patrols to look for signs of their return. Two seasons pass and stop waiting daily for their return Three seasons pass and you give up hope. At the end of the fourth season you call for a day of mourning. You will miss your handmaiden bitterly. Then as the festivities close your handmaiden returns with half of her sisters. They tell tales of a battle to terrible to fathom, quaking at the simple recounting of it. However despite their losses, they were vital in turning the tide. You bring your handmaiden to your breast and declare a day of celebration. Your handmaiden produces four letters from your friends. The letters, excepting Ron's, have terrible handwriting. They tell you that Alonso managed to get himself married, that Frederick decided to remain female, Cohen is considering one final adventure. Ron's is almost too fancy to read but you think he discovered a new kind of magic. They are simple letters telling of the lives your closest friends choose to lead. When you ask after your friends your handmaiden presents a dragon’s horn that they gave to her. You laugh and are struck by an idea. With little effort you split your crown in half and instruct your ant-girls to deliver it to your old friends, accompanied by a soon to be written letter telling of your life. To live is a choice, you chose this life as they chose theirs and you have no regrets. (set: $ant3_status_ascent to 0) (set: $ant3_status_lived to 1)

(if: $prudence is 1)[Keeping a keen eye out you feel your concentration start to flag.](if: $guilt is 1)[You look around frantic, despite your panic you feel hunger pains.] You haven't had anything to eat since lunch. The pervasive gloom of the forest makes it impossible to tell how long ago that was. Your only working time piece is the rumble your stomach is making. The brook leads to a larger tributary. It's a middle sized body of water, too big to jump over. You scan the tributary, you could be spotted if you leave cover. You crouch and look for something to eat.(if: $guilt is 1)[You keep glancing up to check the tree line for the attack that has to be coming.] There is a yellowed spider web hanging between two bushes. (if: $prudence is 1)[A closer look shows that an unfortunate hare has been caught. Poor bastard was never collected and died on the web.](if: $guilt is 1)[A closer glance shows that an unfortunate hare has been caught. Poor bastard was left to die on the web. Perhaps too apt a metaphor for your situation really.] The hare is a bit gamey but it shouldn't be too bad if you cook it. You take a closer look, it died on the web to be sure but it seems that it also has bite marks. Huh seems some spider stunned it, maybe as bait? On the other hand, there is a small isolated pool. It likely only fills up during substantial rains. There are many smaller fish swimming. If you can catch one it would be trivial to cook it. They all look very slimy though. \(if: $mothcircle is 0)[ [[The hare->spider 0]] (arachnophilia- a love of spiders) ~~[[The fish->river monster 0]]~~ (A silk cloth with no end.)] \(if: $mothcircle is 1)[~~The hare~~(no, meat that gamey would make you sick.) ~~The fish~~(no, you can't risk the fire)] There is a fallen tree that would allow you to get over the stream. Things seem sunnier over there and you are sure it would seem less serious. You aren't a carrion eater so there might be something more palatable on the other side. [[Cross the stream]](s)(if: $mothcircle is 1)[this feels like the way out for some reason] \(set: $GuiltStatus to 0) \(set: $BraveryStatus to 0) \(set: $BrookStatus to 1)

Spider brainstorming: Level 0: Half-spider, legs in the front, arms covered in chitin perhaps a running escape mechanic, where you have to continually out guess the spiders. the idea being that it's reather easy to be recaptured. maybe 3 interspetion events in random order culminating with the do or die event. if a different type of event for each level that works out to 3X3X3, maybe i should make it 1X3x3? So initial TF event Get noticed and quick escape oppoturnity for TF chase event 0,1 TF opporunity chase event 1,2,3 meet captured spider-girl face off against patrol game option to escape or try to get cohen's help (If spider level two do solo rescue) Training with cohen (0,1,2) rescue friends (if 0,1: then you do standard fire rescue) (if 1,2 challenge queen) ending sequence Captured sequence on the side The spider society resembles the freed slave society that cohen sought to establish in his youth.

You fall to you knees with a stabbing pain in your head. the pain lets up as your vision suddenly shifts. things seem clearer? and your range of vision has expanded? that is insane of course. Your attention is however distracted by a sudden tingling in your fingers. You glance down cautiously, for some reason you can see better in the gloom. your knuckles are rapidly turning black and becoming shiny. The blackness spreads rapidly, quickly covering your hands in a hard shiny material. You tap it a few times, it seems sturdy and thankfully you can still feel. Reminds you of a beetle's shell. It mocks you with how naturally it fits your hands. You fall to you knees, your sense of balance is gone. You try to stand only to fall again, you look back and your butt has grown a bit. Your pants are becoming quite constraining. You ditch the pants only to find that your toe knuckles have gone black. The black shiny material grow across your sole with a ticklish feeling. as the material grows it reshapes your foot. It's still human shaped (thankfully) but the shape has become more graceful and pointed. The black material grows up your legs, giving you graceful chitin covered dancer's legs. The material moves up to your butt with a tingling feeling as it encases your butt. You are quite outragous back there. Suddenly it begins to grow with a curious sensation that makes you moan and gasp. Babadonka donk! You couldn't hold it in your hand at this point. it grows and grows forming a large abdomen you couldn't hope to lift. Son of a bitch. You suppose it was just inevitable. random transformations rarely work out well. Crippling yourself was likely you suppose. You momentarily panic, it's seeming like your only hope is either drag yourself out of the forest, float out, or get messily creative. Then you feel an itchy probing pain in your hindquarters, just where your legs meet your ass. the feeling is indescribable and eventually develops into the sensation of a thousand fingers messaging a small palm sized spot. before your eyes a growth pushes out from the chitin. As it grows longer and longer the sensation becomes more and more intense, approaching orgasmic as your new pair of legs fully forms. you stand unsteadily, your four legs are easily able to support your enlarged abdomen. it takes you a few minutes to be able to walk in a straight line. You have never been more aware of the conundrum of the centipede. As you put your hand to your temple, you almost poke yourself in the eye, what? You carefully feel your face, it's more feminine than it used to be. It also seems to have a spare pair of eyes. It's sort of difficult to tell where you eyes are without risking running into them. You feel around carefully, they seem to be located in your temple, looking out to the side meaning you can look far beyond your normal range of vision. You give yourself a once over. Arms covered in black chitin, black chitin covered abdomen, multiple legs. Hmm, you kinda look like a semi-spider girl. You flex and walk a bit, you feel stronger and bit more capable. You also kind of have to pee. [[You head off in search of a private place->meeting scarlet]]

Level 0: legs hang in the front, one spare pair of eyes, spinnerets but not idea how to use them, longer arms and greatly enhanced strength, half formed abdomen, short hair?, maybe slightly enlongated front teeth, six legs counting arms Level 1: full set of eyes, hollow fangs but no venom, eight legs counting arms, level 2: venom, hunter's sense Open question: are legs articulated or not? err rather do legs have hands/toes at the end

The kitsune gives you a patronizing pat on the head. For a second you feel a strange ticklish feeling above your scalp. "Now we must look to making sure that we are comfortable for the trip to come." The kitsune busies herself cleaning the altar and producing a number of wooden sandals. She tries to remove some of the mildew and mold that have accumulated on them. She waits until you aren't looking to use the alter to scrap them clean. You look yourself over again. You are more feminine than before and your breasts are pretty large. More pressing is the whishy feeling behind you you. You finally catch it only to see a light blue and translucent fox-tail. You give the kitsune a questioning look. She shrugs, "A sign that you are my devotee." If being an adventurer has taught you anything, it's to pick your battles. The kitsune produces a surprising number of camping supplies from various hidden panels in the main hall. She gives you a critical appraisal. Then leaves with a promise of a quick return. She comes back with a (if: $foundrobes is 1)[(familiar)] set of miko robes. She smiles in motherly way "There now, you won't be so cold." The robes are voluminous, have a bunch of ribbons that will get caught on stuff and are generally a pain to move in. How to tell her this is a bad idea. (if: $hideme is 1)[[no|kitsune argument one][son of a bith]] (link:"No")[(set: $argumentrobes to 1)(goto:"kitsune argument one")] (link:"Hell no")[(set: $argumentrobes to 2)(goto:"kitsune argument one")] (link:"Attempt to explain why it's horribly impractical")[(set: $argumentrobes to 0)(goto:"kitsune argument one")] (set: $kitsuneanger to -1) \(set: $CoinsKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $RobesKitsune0Description to 1)

(if: $spidertogether is 1)[You and Scarlet make steady progress through the forest. You chat in low whispers. Scarlet is enthusiastic and passes the time steadily telling you various bit of forest lore. However before long you signal for a stop. You wander off for some privacy.] \(If: $spiderabandon is 1)[You sprint until the spider-girl’s cries grow distant. You need to get moving soon. But all the running has made you feel well jostled.] \(If: $spideralone is 1)[You gain a reasonable amount of distance. Still you have to go.] Curse your womanly bladder. You find a good spot and awkwardly try to squat with four legs. Finally you feel a sense of release. A younger spider-girl ambles by, spear on her shoulder, and gives you a business like nod. She keeps walking trying to find a private spot for herself. You can feel all your eyes go wide. Aw hell, that's gonna be a problem. Charge or run? she had her spear so attacking is probably the wrong move. [[Charge->spider 0 capture 1 ]] [[Run->spider 0 part 2]] [[Play it cool->spider 0 capture 0]] (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Worked with scarlet.]

You gather up whats left of your pants and run off. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[You pause to grab scarlet’s hand and drag her along. She runs giggling.] As you leave the clearing you hear a crashing noise that likely means that the spider-girl beat feet. You put some distance and then pause to catch your breath. This is seeming rather familiar. If you panic, you are going to get caught again. The spider-girl likely went to get reinforcements. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet looks at you excitedly, obviously wondering what the plan is.] You might keep them off your trail if you keep crossing the river. Otherwise you mostly just need to keep moving. You will keep the river in sight and hope for the best. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet nods, obviously ready to follow you into anything.] [[You hear a rustling noise->spider escape challenge one]]

You gather up whats left of your pants and run towards where the spider girl is popping a squat. She is briefly surprised and then brings her spear to bear. Hmm, maybe you should have tried surprise. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[As you are hauled away, you catch a glance of scarlet who looks dispapointed.]

You make the best time you can on your unusual leg setup (if: $spidertogether is 1)[and dragging Scarlet behind you]. You run trying mostly in vain to avoid the underbrush. Then you ears pick up dual crashing noises from ahead. They must be trying a pincer movement. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet looks at you panicked. “What do we do! I don’t think we can get away if they catch sight of us.” She adopts a determined look. “We could rush them!” Hopefully the adrenaline talking because that’s seriously stupid.] (if: $spidertogether is 0)[They catch sight of you, then you are as good as caught. Rushing forward is unlikely to work.] [[Cross the river->spider escape challenge one success]] (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Swimming is probably going to reopen Scarlet’s wounds. But deal with that when you get to the otherside.] [[Double back->spider escape challenge one capture]] [[Cause a distraction->spider escape challenge one distraction]] (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet can probably help on this one.]

you stop suddenly, losing your balance and skidding to a stop on your hands and knees? (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet crashes to the ground near you getting up with a grunt.] You don't have long, you get up and start sprinting towards the river. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet follows with no little trepidation. "Umm, spider-girls aren't natural swimmers. You tell her to stop being a wuss and just follow your lead. Water can't be that deep.] You splash through the shallows and try to swim across. You start swimming normally and almost sink until you realize that your legs have changed. Thinking quickly, you switch to a back stroke so that your naturally bouyant abdomen helps you keep above water. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet stops panicking long enough to follow your lead and you pull her along.] You reach the other side and barely manage to hide behind a tree before your purseurs burst onto the far bank. It's a trio, the younger spider-girl her hair is a dark green, you saw before, an older one with silver hair and an impetuous looking one with deep purple. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet manages to catch a glance too and gives you a happy nod. So she knows them, let's hope she doesn't know them well enough to betray you to them.] They confer quickly and then head back into the woods with determined expressions. well hell. [[Onward->spider 0 event 1]]

it's a risky manuever but it might outfox them. You come to a sudden stop nearly losing your balance(if: $spidertogether is 1)[ and Scarlet almost crashes into you]. You turn around unsteadily and sprint in the opposite direction. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet follows with a madcap grin.] Before long you run into the younger spider girl. She still has her spear and points it at you. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet lets out a disappointed whine as she adopts a position of surrender. You don't give up so easily] You try to get past your pursuer only to recieve a crack on the head from the blunt end of her spear. the world swims as you go down.

A distraction is not always a loud noise or fire. Although you have have to admit that those are your two favorites. A distraction at it's essence is something that makes your enemy slow down and take care where they don't need to. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet gives you a blank look as you explain this to her.] You don't have long but you need to make this look convincing. You snap a few branches like you were moving quickly. Thankfully there is a nearby fallen tree. It's not perfect but with a little work you make it look like you hid beneath it.(if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet helps as much as she can..] Then you move towards the river, as fast as you can. Trying to swim across you quickly find that breast stroke is not going to be enough to drag your bulk across the river. You try to do an expelling stroke with your legs only to find them unsuited for the purpose. You eventually manage a backstroke which gets you across the river and very muddy.(If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet stops panicking long enough to follow your lead and you pull her along.] You drag yourself behind a tree just in time. It's a trio, the younger spider-girl her hair is a dark green, you saw before, an older one with silver hair and an impetuous looking one with deep purple.(If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet manages to catch a glance too and gives you a happy nod. So she knows them, let's hope she doesn't know them well enough to betray you to them.] They confer quickly and then head back into the woods with determined expressions. well hell. [[onward->spider 0 event 1]] (set: $spiderdistraction to 1)

(link:"link text")[(set $var to 2)(goto:"passage name")]

(if: $argumentrobes is 0)[For better or worse you stand your ground. the kitsune literally bristles at being corrected, her disguise fails a little beneath her ire. You point out the robes are better suited for ceremony than hiking. The kitsune calms slightly as you explain your point. "Well dear, that is a good point." She gets a worrying grin. "But if the problem is that it's hard to move in all we need to do is change the garment."] \(if: $argumentrobes is 1)[In the most direct terms you say no. This consists of telling her no. The kitsune bristles at your rebellion. She adopts a superior looking smirk. "Mind your elders dear, they know better than you." She gives you a light chop on the head. "A curse as a reminder. You shall at the very least look like a lady." You feel a prickling rubbing sensation all over. In confusion you glance at your hands. Before your eyes your skin turns an powdery, painted white color. It looks a bit like makeup. With a bit of scramble you produce your pocket mirror. Your face is similarly painted, a bit of blush applied to your cheeks making you look like a lady. You are about to loudly complain when a glare from the kitsune silences you. You proceed to explain that you protested because the robes are unfit for hiking. The kitsune rolls her eyes. "My dear if you have a problem with your elder's decision, explain so clearly, butting heads accomplishes nothing." Only your self-preservation instinct stills your tongue.(Set: $kitsunecurse to 1)(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1)] \(if: $argumentrobes is 2)[In the strongest possible terms you tell her no. This mainly involves cursing and telling her that she is acting like a total bitch. Which she is. The kitsune bristles her ears standing up and all her tails going straight for a moment. You might have seen a fang. She gives you a hard chop on the head, "Don't disrepect your elders, girl. They won't always be as nice. A curse so that you learn your place. A more fitting appearance with the hopes your temperment will change to match." You whince and hold your head, as you feel a prickling rubbing sensation all over. In confusion you glance at your hands. Before your eyes your skin turns an powdery, painted white color. It looks a bit like makeup. With a bit of scramble you produce your pocket mirror. Your face is similarly painted, a bit of blush applied to your cheeks making you look like a lady. You are about to continue cursing when your self preservation instinct, sharpened by so many brushes with danger acts up. You do however defiantly note that this has has not solved the problem of the clothes being difficult to move in. The kitsune softens ever so slightly. "Explain yourself clearly in the future and we won't have so many problems."(Set: $kitsunecurse to 1)(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1)] She snaps her fingers and the robes levitate. With a display of likely awesome magical power she tailors them to be both more revealing and less restricting. Still they are fairly modest and at least now fitted for what you need. With that done she gives you some privacy to change. [[with a minimum of griping you do->kitsune 1 event]] (Set: $CurseDisplay to 1) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 0) \(set: $humangear to 0) \(set: $Kitsune0Gear to 1)

(If: $spidertogether is 1)[You take a brief pause to quickly tend to scarlet who is looking pale. Her bandages came loose and you quickly put them back in place. She smiles at you looking a little unsteady "Maybe no more swimming please." ] You try to make good time through the woods but it's difficult, your awkward size and legs don't work with the underbrush. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet is amusingly just as awkward as you at forest traversal. How do spiders normally move then?] The bugs just won't quit. They form an angry swarm that tracks you a lot further than any fly has a right to and agressively bit at anything not covered by chitin. (If: $spidertogether is 0)[In frustration you grab one of them out of the air. You look at your hand surprised. You have managed to grab the bastard by the winds and it buzzes at you insulted. Suddenly a strange hunger stirrs within you. or maybe it's just the normal hunger from a great deal of awkward jogging, fighting and generally being lost in the woods.](If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet does her part to help, pulling them out of the air with a practiced hand. Before long she has handful of the things, buzzing helplessly with their wings trimmed. Your stomach gives a fearful rumble, obviously empty from so much awkward movement, hiding and being lost. With a smile Scarlet offers you one.] Well spiders do eat flies. Should you give it a try? After the rabbit how much worse can you do? [[Eat the fly->spider 0+1 tf]] [[Squish it and move on->spider 0+0]] (if: $spidertogether is 1)[[[ask her why spiders turn people into girls->spider conversation]]]

This is still not the worse thing you have eaten. You put the fly in your mouth and swallow quickly before any gag relfex has the time to catch up. At the very least you can say it doesn't taste like much. (If: $spidertogether is 0)[You keep moving but make the occasional sport out of catching and eating flies. Then you feel a strange tingle. Aw hell.] (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet giggles at the face you make. You roll your eyes at her. She offers you another and you are still thinking when you feel a strange tingle.] (if: $hideme is 1)[outline for the TF grow stronger faster, better, more confident. Extra pair of legs more fearsome? more eyes] This tingle seems familiar. You let out a tired sigh, if your pursuers come now you will probably be out of luck. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[You mention what you are feeling to Scarlet and she looks at you excitedly. "That's great! You will be so much better as a spider." You don't have the time to question what she means by that before the changes start.] You crouch down, doing as much as you can to relax your legs. Short of a stump at a very convenient height you aren't going to be able to sit down though. The first thing you notice is another sudden shift in your range of vision. It's a strange sensation, a sort localized itch inside your face, and then you suddenly have a much better view of the ground around you. Remembering what happened last time you feel gently and discover another pair of eyes has joined your current constellation. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[In the corner of your newly expanded field of vision, you see Scarlet giving you a thumbs up.] Then you feel a strange tingle, run down all four of your newly chitinous legs. It's a borderline unpleasent feeling, like being tickled until it hurts. Your legs slim before your eyes becoming obviously inhuman. They are too thin and have an uncomfortable number of joints, arcing above your abdomen. THey struggle to hold you up and for a moment you panic, can't run with legs that won't work. Then suddenly there is the same gentle massaging sensation on your abdomen butt. Impossibly and a little grusomely the formerly hard chitin contorts and from your rear, almost out of sight another pair of delicate legs emerges. These touch the ground cautiously and you find the chitin is rapidly hardening. You lower yourself up and down, the six legs together are more than capable of supporting your weight. They also give you much more altitude control than your old poorly matched set. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Which has the happy side effect of making Scarlet shorter than you.] Your arms feel briefly warm, you glance at them curiously. The black material which had stalled at your elbows earlier continues it's climb towards your shoulders. It tickles as it advances, and you try to remain the serious look a thing like this demands. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet sees you trying to be serious, and makes a silly face. This makes you giggle a bit.] Finally it stops leaving you with black clad shoulders. You experimentally twist and flex them, they seems stronger than before. They are also a little longer, perhaps to better suit your more elongated body. You are glad it's almost over only for your face to itch a bit. Mindful of your hard fingers you poke and prod. The lack of results almost makes you dismiss it as nothing, until you almost bite your tongue. A quick examination shows that you have sprouted a pair of small hollow fangs. (If: $spidertogether is 0)[With a bit of fidgeting and poking you mange to make them dart out, scratching your lip slightly. Ow! Still they don't seem poisonous. Or maybe it's a case of snake not being vulnerable to it's own poison.] (If: $spidertogether is 1)[You shoot Scarlet a curious glance. She gives you an opened mouth smile, and then proceeds to point out her own pair. "It's to stun prey. I'll teach you how they taught me to control them." She does a complicated series of facial gestures like a reversed wink. You do your best to replicate the motion, feeling more than a little silly. Before long you feel the fangs extend safely within your mouth. Well that's weird.] You produce your mirror from the ruined remains of your pants. A quick examination of your face shows that you have gained a fearsome beauty. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Your general features bear some resemblance to scarlet's although she is certainly the more innocent looking of the two of you.] And why shouldn't you be beautiful. You feel better and stronger than ever. Perhaps you even have the strength to rescue your friend by yourself? For a moment your mind is filled with imaginings of the glory that will win you. Then the more rational parts of your mind take over and ask what the hell you were thinking. You are caught a little off guard by all of this. Today has been full of trials, an you aren't sure how you feel about these changes making your more fit for them. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[You suddenly feel self-conscious when you notice scarlet staring at you. She is looking at you with a blush, all of her eyes fixated on your new form. You consider snapping your fingers, when she suddenly speaks. "I knew you would look good as a full spider, but wow. You look so frightening." That's a compliment? Spiders are weird.] [[Time to refocus->spider 0+1]] (note to self: check picture)

(If: $spidertogether is 1)[You squish one of the the offered bugs and try to teach Scarlet about the importance of mercy in victory. She rolls all her eyes and replies "That sounds nice and all, but they stay good a lot longer whole. If you don't want any I'm going to eat them." In the absence of your affirmation she quickly gulps down the whole bunch.] (If: $spidertogether is 0)[you squish the bug and rub what's left of it on your shirt. This was good shirt too.] You hear a crash in the distance, [[time to get moving.->spider 0 escape two]]

You make the the best speed you can on foot. Forcing yourself through the underbrush pausing only to shield your newly numerous eyes. Your chitin is handy but you find your new body poorly suited to the task. You run like a short legged horse, which in uneven terrain is no blessing. You briefly consider moving through the trees the same as the spiders but there isn't much cover up there. Still you keep moving, stopping isn't an option. Not yet and not with them so close. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet does her best to keep up.] As you run down a hill you spare a glance to the next ridge. you stop suddenly and throw yourself into cover. the younger spider is keeping a determined vigil. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet aims for you, grabbing you in a hug as she dives for cover.] If you can see one the others are close. You hear noise in the distance. Hmm, if she is keeping watch then they are probably sweeping towards her. Same technique, for hunting rabbits with dogs. Which makes you a rabbit. You might try a distraction, see if you can draw the spider-girl on guard forward and slip past her. Alternatively in a situation like this, you might go to ground. Which given how you look at the moment, would be a challenge.(If: $spidertogether is 1)[To say nothing of how hard it's going to be to hide scarlet.] Finally, you could imitate the noble rabbit and just try to run for it. That rarely works for the rabbit though.(If: $spidertogether is 1)[You sincerely doubt that Scarlet is up for much more sprinting.] [[Hide->spider 0 escape two success]] [[run->spider 0 capture 2]] \(if: $spiderdistraction is 0)[[[cause a distraction->spider 0 escape two distraction success]]] \(if: $spiderdistraction is 1)[[[cause a distraction->spider 0 escape two distraction failure]]]

Once when you were younger you dug up an ant's nest. Just below the very heart of the nest there was a small patch of mushrooms that looked eerily similar to these. (With the benefit of adulthood, you would say it was about the liver.) (link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)

Wearing the robes is a strange experience. Skirts you find wear much differently than pants. There is an uncomfortable openess between your legs that takes some getting used to. Still you pace around main hall, testing the give on the skirt so to speak. It won't hold you back too much. When you emerge from the hall you find the Kitsune has tied a few moldering mats to a post and is inspecting a sword. She smiles as she sees you and holds up the [[sword]] to show you. It's a long thin thing that you could probably break over a knee if needed. Not at all like the shorter stouter blades you are used to. "Ah my dear these are true weapons, still sharp enough to cut a hair in half." She gives you pitying look. "I know spears are more feminine but those weren't stored properly." She offers you the blade and directs you to take a swing at the mat. You kind of know how to use the it. Cohen spent many evenings detailing the weapons he had come across in his travels. Something about keeping your wrist steady and shifting the weight between your legs to help your swing. You are more concerned about how fragile it seems. You heft the blade and then look to the kitsune. She looks at you expectantly. You take an experimental swing at the mat, the blade strikes awkwardly. You refuse to put all of your strength behind it for fear of destroying a weapon you need. The kitsune gives your cut an appraising look. "Hmm, we might make a warrior of you yet. However I fear it won't be enough to secure our exit through the forest." \(IF: $kitsunecurse is 0)[You raise the obvious point, if she knows so much about blade work then why not leave it to her. She adopts a haughty expression. "I don't sully my hands with such trivialities." Ron tended to say the same thing, You take a second to wonder if the attiude drives people to become magic users or if becoming a magic user creates the attiude.] \(IF: $kitsunecurse is 1)[ You bite your tongue for fear of pissing her off again.] She proceeds, "If you accept more of my guidence I can make you a better swordswoman and we will be better able to safely leave the forest." Cohen had a saying about this situation. Namely that if they need your permission to do you a favor then it's probably not a favor. Still it might be worth it, you are deep in the forest, lost and stuck with the kitsune [[The less you rely on the kitsune the better->kitsune 0+0]] [[It might be worth trying to get her favor->kitsune TF 1]] \(set: $KitsunePresence to 1) \(set: $Event1Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $RobesKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Event1Kitsune0Status to 1)

You shake your head, and crack a joke about how she is probably out of practice handling swords anyway. The kitsune blushes slightly and says "I'm an expert at that sort of thing, I just haven't had a chance to handle any swords lately." Still the kitsune seems distracted by your joke, distracted enough to not press the issue of her giving you more guidance. After a few more preparations, the kitsune sits you down in the main hall. She smiles at you with a motherly air. She moves behind you as you sit puzzled. You feel her messing with your hair and it disappears from your vision. You feel a gentle pressure behind you. Oh, she is tying up your hair. She kneels across from you, expecting the same. With unsteady hands you try to gather up her hair, so it won't get in the way if there is combat. You make a crude job of it, tying it up with paper tie, the kitsune gave you. You can hear the kitsune comment "Must have been raised amongst boys." She isn't technically wrong. Then she shows you how to tie up your robes so you will have the maximum freedom of movement. You do the same for her, despite her sizable bust. The kitsune then leads you to the edge of the temple compound. She looks back at the decayed temple sadly and then leads you off into the forest with a determined look. [[You keep a sharp eye for any monsters in the forest->kitsune argument two]] \(set: $Event1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $MoveKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 1) \(set: $MoveKitsune0Gear to 1) \(set: $SwordKitsune0Gear to 1) \(set: $Event1Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $MoveKitsune0Description to 1)

(IF: $kitsunecurse is 1)[This crazy kitsune is probably going to invent some other reason to transform you, better to get it over with on your terms than on hers] \(IF: $kitsunecurse is 0)[The kitsune seems at best temperamental, maybe this is your chance to suck up to her? Besides she is your best chance to get out of this forest without being captured.] Man you are probably going to regret this but you nod your head and say in clear calm voice "I accept your guidance. On one condition." The kitsune raises an eyebrow. "Oh?" If you are going to do this you should get something in return. "I want to floof your tail." They are some marvelous tails you have to admit. It's practically a crime you haven't gotten to feel them already. The kitsune rolls her eyes "Fine but be careful, those are sens-" You are already fluffing her tails before she finishes. They are quite the delight, so silky and soft. You really pet the hell out of those things and she seems to enjoy the experience. Her face is flush and she manages to say "sst-op" Do you stop? [[yes->kitsune TF 1 restraint]] [[no->kitsune TF 1 petted]] (Set: $kitsunelevel to 1)

As you leave the temple complex, the kitsune leads the way. She seems to know the path, finding gaps between the trees, and the least underbrush choked way forward. You never figured her for a forester. Slowly you recognize what's happening, you are following the remains of an old overgrown road. It makes for easy traveling but something niggles you as wrong. After a short distance you see a decayed wooden lantern, the Kitsune pauses and brings her hands to her forehead. You can hear her chant softly, and suddenly a small blue flame appears in her hands. She brings the flame to the lantern and it lights there. The kitsune gets a nostalgic smile. "It's not much but at least I can relight the old road." She looks genuinely sad for a moment. Which makes you wonder. "Why did you really neglect that temple for so long?" You aren't sure about the cosmology involved but if she was a servant of a goddess shouldn't she have protected the temple? The kitsune looks deeply guilty for a moment, "I made a mistake, one I shall not repeat." She looks away. Well that's hardly an answer [[Pry further->kitsune argument two part 1]](if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[ (What's the harm?)](if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[ (You should step carefully.)] [[Leave it->kitsune event 2]](IF: $kitsunecurse is 1)[ (Better to avoid antagonizing her.)] \(set: $MoveKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Argument2Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $MoveKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Arguement2Kitsune0Description to 1)

In the politest possible terms you push for more details. The kitsune comes to a sudden stop. Her arrogant and matronly air is punctuated by a sudden moment of uncertainty. She looks genuinely distraught. "I-I grew attached, too attached I suppose." The kitsune grows silent. [[Move on->kitsune event 2]] [[Point out her negligence->kitsune argument two part 2]] \(set: $Arguement2Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Arguement21Kitsune0Description to 1)

Your flight through the forest is easy going. The path is even, going around or through most of the hills. Must be old as the trees have grown up around it. Something is still niggling at you, you can imagine Cohen scowling at you. The Kitsune's pace is casual. As if she is cognizant of the danger but doesn't care. She does try insistently to make small talk with you, asking about your family and the village where you grew up. You humor her questions but are preoccupied trying to figure out what's bugging you. The trees for their part are starting to thin and you must be near the edge of the forest. Finally you pass through a valley where the trees have grown up close together on either side. Then you realize your mistake, you have been running in a straight line and [[You haven't been looking up->kitsune event 2 fight]] \(set: $Event2Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Argument2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Arguement21Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Argument22Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Event2Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Arguement2Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Arguement21Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Arguement22Kitsune0Description to 0)

You intimate that the fall of the satellite temple and it's destroyed state are her fault. The kitsune glares at you, her features suddenly bestial. You know a primeval sort of fear of the sort you haven't felt since you saw that dragon's skeleton. "No lady of any worth mocks those in mourning. (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[Though your personality is rotten at least I can make you easier on my senses."] (if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[I shall at least help you look the part." The kitsune gives you a heavy chop on the head. "I should do worse to you. But I leave you your hands." You feel a prickling rubbing sensation all over.you glance down at your hands, Before your eyes your skin turns an powdery, painted white color. It looks a bit like makeup. With a bit of scramble you produce your pocket mirror. Your face is similarly painted, a bit of blush applied to your cheeks making you look like a lady. The kitsune gives you a taunting look. "Made you look."] (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[ The kitsune snaps her fingers and you feel that peculiar, prickling rubbing feeling. The first thing you notice is that your face itches. Specifically the corners of your eyes and your lips. You reach for mirror with a worryingly practiced hand. The pale white makeup which was already blanketing your face is changing before your eyes. Vivid red lipstick applies itself to the center of your lips, creating a striking contrast. Then there is a tickling feeling near the edges of your eyes. A strong red eyeliner is added to the edge of your eyes, with a nearly unnoticeable red blush applied above your eyes reaching up to your eyebrows. Then black spots appear briefly before your eyes. Your eyebrows are falling out. They are replaced by rounded spots are drawn in much higher. Apparently the kitsune prefers cosmetic eyebrows. You look like a frightening creature indeed. Then a foreign scent assails your nose. It's a subtle thing but you can smell an elegant refined perfume with a hint of cinnamon. it has no clear source and is likely a "gift" from the kitsune. thankfully it doesn't seem to be messing with your regular sense of smelling too much. You line up an array of staggering insults at the kitsune's pettiness. After all what more could she do to you? what emerges is a hilariously g-rated tirade. There are few invasions more personal than limiting what you can say. the kitsune looks fit to explode from smugness. Dying in the forest doesn't seem so bad now.] The kitsune looks self satisfied while you try not to roll your eyes. [[Little to do but bite your tongue and keep going->kitsune event 2]] \(set: $kitsunecurse to $kitsunecurse + 1) \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1) \(set: $Argument2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Argument22Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Arguement21Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Arguement22Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Arguement2had to 1)

A quick glance upward has your gaze met by many sets of eights eyes. (if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[They could of tracked you by smell you have been so obvious.] The (if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[lame] curse leaves you mouth half of a heart beat after you dive to push the kitsune into cover. The kitsune has an undignified look as the darts sail though the air where she was. You glance up and get the feeling the spiders are happy this will be more of a challenge. (if: $guilt is 1)[You just want to go home.] It takes the kitsune a moment to stand in her robes. Finally upright she snarls at the spiders and says "This path is mine." At least two squads of spiders descend from the trees. Their spears at the ready and they have smug grins on their faces as if the battle was already finished. (if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Your visage attracts more than few curious glances from your enemies.] You find the strange sword in your (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[powered] hand and your other hand trying to keep the kitsune behind you. The kitsune however takes your hand and moves to your side "You are a woman warrior indeed." She is grining as if confronting an old foe and there is fire in her hands. [[And so battle is joined!->kitsune event 2 fight part 1]] \(set: $MoveKitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $FightKitsune0Gear to 1) \(set: $Event2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Event21Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Event2Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Event21Kitsune0Description to 1)

The spiders attack cautiously, rolling forward slowly with spears at the ready. They have numbers, why aren't they being more agressive? Oh (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[heck](if: $kitsunecurse <= 1)[hell], they must be waiting for reinforcements. Afraid of a repeat of this morning, you fight viciously to cut a path out of the clearing and down the road. The sword is clumsy in your hand, but you use everything that Cohen taught you to try and force the spiders out of the way. It might even work if the kitsune would follow your lead. The kitsune part stands her ground refusing to yield so much as a step to her assailents. Using copious amounts of fire magic to force the spiders back, she continually grabs you and forces you to keep close to her. Each time just before she casts you see a slight flicker of blue from her fingers. (The fire seems better than Ron's, you aren't even singed yet.) This isn't going to work. You parry a spear and toss some dirt in the offending face for good measure. Then you spin around and demand the kitsune tell you what the plan is right now. Adopting an imperious look the kitsune declares "I will not run from these upstarts." She is either stubborn, stupid or knows something you don't. You parry another spear and spit aiming for their eyes for good measure. Then you demand to know what she is planning. The kitsune gets a mischevious grin. "I am confident we could dispatch them if you would but accept by gift." You almost stop fighting to just stare at her. Really now? Talk about skewed priorities. She doesn't seem to be budging though. You don't have long and you had better do something quick. [[Get creative->kitsune 0+0+0]] [[Give her what she wants->kitsune 0+0+1 TF]] \(set: $Event21Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Event22Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Event21Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Event22Kitsune0Description to 1)

You move back to back with the kitsune, letting her do as much of the fighting as possible. For better or worse it's unlikely that you can escape without her. The spiders have your scent. Between the terrain and the robes the Kitsune has saddled you with outrunning them is not gonna work. You suppose she could get tired and decide that she would rather not get captured. She seems in a word stubborn however and by the time she gives in you would likely have every spider in the forest here. Same goes for letting the situation get bad enough, you might not come out whole enough to still rescue your friends. This is bad. Frying pans and fires comes into mind. You take a deep breath, you need to keep calm. You can't plan if you panic. Cohen had a saying, "The most dangerous weapon an adventurer has is his mind." And as Alonso was fond of pointing out "Audacity gives it's own plan." First part is the situation. The kitsune refuses to move because she wants desperation to drive you to accept her offer. Then the question is why she didn't spring this on you earlier. This must be the best setup she can come up with. So if you can move her, then you are halfway to out of here. Second part is the kitsune. She is an ancient and powerful spell-caster. But she is sticking to her fire magic. Unless you are Ron, someone like that branched out. From what you remember they also did... tricks... Illusions? or was that the racoon dogs? Third part is the spiders, if you are going to get out of here you need them to stop blocking the way. Or at the very least force them back long enough to do a runner. First step seems simple enough: [[Let the spiders set the pace->kitsune 0+0+0 part 1]](for now) \(set: $Event22Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $RefuseKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Event22Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $RefuseKitsune0Description to 1)

You turn the sword over in your hand. It's a plain blade and you have enough experience with these things to say that it's seen some combat. For a second when you first saw the blade, you entertained the fantasy that it held some ornate pattern or decoration. But no it's a simple workmanlike tool. A very very sharp tool.

You feign tiredness and the kitsune makes sympathetic noises. "Hmm I suppose I cannot expect too much from an untrained girl. Fearsome though you may be." (Untrained! You were trained by Cohen! Of northern fame Cohen!) For the most part you just stop exerting yourself so much, letting the kitsune do most the fighting. The kitsune just turns up the amount of magic she was putting up. The spiders have to keep their distance to avoid being singed. (Which of course just begs the question of why she doesn't just make a circle of fire. Magic users!) Her flames have turned blue and she sends waves of flame from her hands. It would probably look really cool if you weren't so desperate. Still the desperation is making her take off the extras, you can feel the heat from the flames now. The spiders are still wheeling around, shouting the occasional insult in a language you don't speak. You shout insults right back, although you aren't certain they understand either.(if: $kitsunecurse is > 1)[These are pretty weak, a lot of telling them to go home and knit. But hopefully your tone gets the message accross.] (if: $kitsunecurse < 2)[(Variations of off are universal, you hope.) ] You wait until she is conjuring a truely large blast of flame and then purposefully jog her shoulder. A tree catches an impressive amount of fire. The spiders give the fire a generous berth. The kitsune turns around suddenly, tails whipping behind her. She seems angry and is probably about to complain at you. You grab her hand while she is off balance and make a mad dash for the burning tree. The kitsune is suitably surprised enough to follow you through the flames and dumbly complies as you shout "Fire now!" The kitsune snaps her fingers and suddenly the trees behind you burst into flame. The heat is overwhelming, and you are reasonably certain Ron would give a few fingers to be able to do that. The kitsune blushes and then admits. "The second one is just an illusion, wouldn't do to burn down the old road." You make your way through the underbrush and reemerge [[a ways down the both path->Kitsune argument three]] (set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 2) (set: $SootKitsune0Gear to 1) (set: $SootKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $RefuseKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Refuse1Kitsune0Status to 1)

The kitsune resumes her ritual of relighting lamps. Although she moves a bit faster than before and you keep a watch on the trees. As she straightens up from lighting a lamp she says to seemingly no one in particular. "A fine rescue." You admit that it wasn't your best work but did as good as could be hoped under the circumstances. The kitsune shoots you a confused look. "A strange thing to say when I did all the rescuing." You neglect to mention that the only reason it took so long to break out of there was that she actively held you back. [[Acknowledge that she brought most of the magical power on the escape->kitsune argument three settle]] [[Cohen always felt that the planner and executer both deserved credit.->kitsune argument three push]] (IF: $kitsunecurse is 1 or 2)[(You will admit that pushing the issue probably isn't the smartest move)] \(set: $RefuseKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Argument3Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Refuse1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Argument3Kitsune0Status to 1)

Easily a third of your most pressing issues are her fault. Might as well get some revenge while you have her at your mercy. You pet the hell out of that bitch. Her tail is indescribably fluffy, and she has 8 of them to pet. The kitsune shivers pleasurably as she makes a range of strange noises. You smile. The kitsune finally collapses into a heap panting. You back off figuring that the stopping before you pee rules probably apply to petting tails. She tries to salvage some of her dignity as she stands up. It's a mostly futile effort given just how disheveled your petting left her. She shoots you an annoyed look and then says "Oh just you wait!" You try to be disarming but she isn't having any of it. She glares at you and [[snaps her fingers.->Kitsune TF 1 part 1]] (set: $kitsunefloof to 1)

You stop and give her a good natured smile. She gives you a business like nod. Her expression gives you the feeling this is far from an unusual occurrence. [[She snaps her fingers.->Kitsune TF 1 part 1]]

She snaps her fingers and you look around, nothing happened. The kitsune gives you a "made you look" face. She forms a complicated lattice with her fingers and then blows through it. The same blue flames blow at you. but instead of going around you, this time they go through you creating a ticklish sensation. You glance down to see that your bosom grows larger still, neatly framed by the growth from your hair. You shoot an annoyed glance at the kitsune who is now shamelessly admiring your frame. You feel a swishing sensation behind you, a quick glance to your rear shows that it has gotten bigger as well. Far more pressingly there is now a red fluffy fox tail poking it's way through your robes. it swishes too and fro independent of your thoughts. For a second you consider trying to catch it. When you glance back to the kitsune you realize that there has been another important change. Before when you saw her, your feelings were at best mixed. now you look at her feel respect? You may not like her, but now each time you look at her you must acknowledge that she has the experience and power to command your respect. (If: $kitsunefloof is 1)[Which is strange especially after you brought her to her knees by petting her tails.] There is another smaller change in how you see your matron. Perviously you saw her hair as the same shiny black she made yours. now it is a glorious shimmering silver. You glance down at the blade in your now petite hands. It's use is simple, none of the thrust and parry of the blades you are used to. Instead the graceful blade is best used by having your legs do the work and shifting your balance to give your swipes strength. Combat becomes a careful game of measured movement. You check your distance to the post and give the blade a careful swing. the blade sings through the mats without so much as scratching the post. The kit- Your matron gives the cut a careful examination. "Expertly executed." (if: $kitsunefloof is 0)[She leaves you to keep practicing as she makes other prepartions for your journey. [[You take a moment to look yourself over->Kitsune TF 1 part 2]]] (if: $kitsunefloof is 1)[She takes the blade back from you, carefully sheathing it. Then she puts the blade down gently and gives you a sinister look. As she makes for your tail, you have to recognize that [[you brought this on yourself.->kitsune tf 1 floofed]]]

You scramble to the cocoon and repeat the same procedure as the first cocoon. It is far easier because it's a lot thinner than Ron's. Once you have made a small hole, you put both hands in and do your best to tear the cocoon apart. A sizable tear opens. (if: $left is 1)[Almost immediately a hand lashes out and grabs yours with an iron grip. It starts trying to pull you into the cocoon. "Calm down, this is a rescue." The hand relaxes. You see Frederick's face peak out cautiously. He has the same short brown hair but now his features have softened into looking quite cute. "Who the hell are you?" You roll your eyes. "It's me. Now get out of there and help us rescue Alonso." (if: $frederickhelp is 0)[Fredrick nods and joins you next to the final cocoon.](if: $frederickhelp is 1)[ Frederick smiles happily. "It's damn good to see you again." He's looking pretty chipper for someone you abandoned earlier today.] [[Of course things aren't that simple->human rescue ant 0 part 5 combo]]] (if: $right is 1)[Almost immediately another set of hands joins you in tearing open the cocoon. Once a large enough gap has been formed you seen Alonso’s face peaking out. His blonde hair has become much longer. “Hello.” “Hello Alonso, this is a rescue.” Alonso seems a bit surprised but works to quickly free himself. He smiles at you “You look different” “So do you.” Alonso fingers his? Hair. “Not too different I hope!” He gets up from the cocoon. “Now let’s get Frederick.” You notice that Alonso is in possession of some sizable assets and a flattering figure. [[Of course things aren't that simple->human rescue ant 0 part 5 combo]]]

What you can only guess to be the [[Spider Queen]] slowly approaches from the edge of the clearing. She looks fucking pissed. All but snarling at you from under her crown and appears ready to murder you and your buddies. Her impressive looking spear is held at the ready. (if: $left is 1)[Frederick managed to keep a knife on him (You aren't surprised to be honest) and is trying to open the final cocoon.](if: $right is 1)[ Alonso has found a rock and seems ready to go one on one if he has to. (You aren't surprised to be honest) He is already shouting insults.] Ron is cackling like a madman and doing his best to spread merry hell among the spiders. Who gets to deal the oncoming threat? (if: $left is 1)[(Frederick is excluded because he has no equipment.)](if: $right is 1)[(Alonso gets a pass because you didn't rescue him so he could be kebabbed.)] (link: "You")[(set: $youfight to 1)(goto: "human rescue ant 0 part 6 combo")] (link: "Ron")[(set: $youfight to 0)(goto: "human rescue ant 0 part 6 combo")] (if: $hideme is 1)[ [[human rescue ant 0 part 6 combo]] ]

The kitsune smiles self-satisfied. "I was pretty spectacular, wasn't I? Still I will admit that the idea to make the fire bigger was a good one." She eyes you optimistically. "If you don't mind accepting a little help, I could probably teach you to do the same." You try not to audibly roll your eyes. [[Onward->kitsune final argument]]

You have nearly reached the edge of the forest, the trees are thinning, and you can finally see the beautiful blue sky. At the edge of the forest you take a moment to drop to your knees. The kitsune looks smiling. "You must have felt desperate in there." Any further sentiments are cut off by a surprisingly loud rumble from her stomach. She looks embarrassed "Excus-" It starts up again and the kitsune gives up on talking. She produces a mat from somewhere. Then finds a reasonably dry patch of dirt in the sun and kneels on the mat happily enough. From the voluminous folds of her robes she produces a rice paper package. She tears it open with a relish revealing a row of dazzling white rice balls. She chows down on these with a relish. She is so distracted that if you were quick you could probably steal one. Of course given the success rate on your other rice ball theft this might not be the best idea. [[The problem last time was that you weren't brazen enough->kitsune final argument warning]] [[Nuh UH! you learned your lesson last time.->kitsune 0 rescue choice]] \(set: $Argument3Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $PushKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Arguement4Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Argument3Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $PushKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Argument4Kitsune0Status to 1)

You are about to reach out for the rice balls when you feel a deep tingle in your brain. You have been in enough danger to know this is the feeling when your mind knows something is a bad idea but you haven't caught on yet. Are you sure you want to do this? [[You know it->kitsune bad end]] [[Now that you think on it perhaps not.->kitsune 0 rescue choice]] \(set: $Argument4Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Argument41Kitsune0Status to 1)

As you stand on the edge of the forest you have never been happier to see the sunset. The question of course is what to do now. (if: $kitsunecurse < 3)[The kitsune looks at you expectantly obviously, as if following her back to her temple was the most natural thing.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[The kitsune seems to have little love for you and makes ready to leave herself.] (if: $kitsunecurse < 3)[If your mind is made up and you won't brave danger to seek your friends, then you might as well take [[advantage of her generosity for a while.->kitsune 0 early kitsune ending]]] \(if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[[[Time to find your own place in the world->kitsune 0 early human ending]]] You never did quite explain yourself to the kitsune. It might not be wise to explain your desperate situation to the kitsune but you need [[all the help you can get.->kitsune 0 town]] \(set: $Arguement41Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Argument4Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $RescueKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Arguement4Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $RescueKitsune0Description to 1)

You admit that she did perform her part admirably, but her timing could have used a little work. The kitsune raises an eyebrow. She remains quiet. You go onto explain how you recognized her plan to put you into danger for no good reason. Indeed you had expected more from the noble kitsune. The kitsune grows angrier and angrier as you explain. Her disguise slipping as her ears flare up and her tails go wild. "A lady admits her mistake. So I admit what I did was wrong. But you need a lesson in humility." (if: $kitsunecurse is 2)["Beauty follows humility dear. I shall give you beauty and poise. Let us hope you learn humility as a result.](if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[”I cannot stand the smell of undue pride and arrogance, so I will make you seem more pleasant even if I can't make you so."] (if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[”I shall give you a gentle reminder of your role." The kitsune gives you a heavy chop on the head. "I should do worse to you. But I leave you your hands." You feel a prickling rubbing sensation all over. In confusion you glance at your hands. Before your eyes your skin turns an powdery, painted white color. It looks a bit like makeup. With a bit of scramble you produce your pocket mirror. Your face is similarly painted, a bit of blush applied to your cheeks making you look like a lady. The kitsune gives teacherly look. “A good shrine maiden is beautiful, elegant and humble."] (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[With a vengeful look the kitsune snaps her fingers and you feel that percuilar, prickling rubbing feeling. The first thing you notice is that your face itches. Specifically the corners of your eyes and your lips. You reach for mirror with a worringly practiced hand. The pale white makeup which was already blanketing your face is rapidly changing before your eyes. vivid red lipstick applies itself to the center of your lips, creating a striking contrast. Then there is a tickling feeling near the edges of your eyes. A strong red eyeliner is added to the edge of your eyes, with a nearly unnoticable red blush applied above your eyes reaching up to your eyebrows. Then black spots appear briefly before your eyes. Your eyebrows are falling out, rounded spots are drawn in much higher apparently your cosmetic eyebrows. You look like a frightening creature indeed. Then a foreign scent assails your nose. It's a subtle thing but you can clearly smell an elegant refined perfume with just a hint of cinnamon. it has no clear source and is likely a "gift" from the kitsune. thankfully it doesn't seem to be messing with your regular sense of smelling too much. You line up an array of staggering insults at the kitsune's pettiness. After all what more could she do to you? what emerges is a hilariously g-rated tirade. The kitsune looks fit to explode from smugness. Dying in the forest doesn't seem so bad now.] (if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[ She snaps her fingers. You are too resigned to duck, what more can she down now? How much more can she seek to reduce you? Your hair begins to tingle as impossible as that is. It moves with a mind of it's own, you can do little but watch awed in your hand mirror as it forms itself into a complicated delicately coiffed bun. Your face gains some delicate makeup, which you can tell is meant to be alluring. You look more delicate than you ever have. A long way from a farm boy now. The biggest change however is when you take a step. You move delicately, putting some sway into your hips as if to be enticing. Even the frustrated sigh you give is more pouting than anything else. The kitsune pats you on the shoulder. She seems pleased with herself. "My lesson may seem to weigh heavily now, but in time you will thank me." It's an effort to not tell her what you think of her lesson.] [[Well this is going to be annoying->kitsune final argument]] \(set: $kitsunecurse to $kitsunecurse + 1) \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1) \(set: $Argument3Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $PushKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Argument3Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $PushKitsune0Status to 1)

You nimbly snatch a rice ball, licking it to make sure she doesn't try to take it back. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[The kitsune](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron] stares at you stunned for a second before snarling angrily saying. "You are just incorrigible!" (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[You can see blue flickers in air behind her as she gathers up all of her tails.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron gathers up all of tails as the world slowly drains of blue.] Then she claps her hands and everything goes white. You find yourself outside of time and space for a second. A most disconcerting feeling of dissociation accompanied by the feeling of being there and not there simultaneously. When you come to it is far darker than it should be for the hour. A quick glance upwards shows stars and the moon in the sky. How did it get so late so quickly? You try to get your bearings and find yourself in an ally. The buildings on both sides are wooden, though the dark you can see light and hear bustle from the street in the distance. You stumble to the street and see women ornately dressed and panted white. The lanterns above are all clad in red paper making the scene flicker in red light. The men are wearing long robes, carrying two swords stuck in their belts. from the way the women eye the men and the men eye the women you can tell that the oldest profession is going on. (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[You have a moment of alarmed realization as you recognized that your skin has been painted the same type of white as the women.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[You realize with growing alarm that your painted skin and face make up are near copies of the styles favored by the working women.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[You realize with growing alarm that your painted skin, makeup and hair are near copies of the styles favored by the working women. What's worse is that your swaying manner and inability to curse mean you will have a hard time deflecting attention.] \(if: $hideme is 1)[(if: $kitsunecurse is > 1)[ You have a sinking feeling as you realize the kitsune's successive curses have left you strongly resembling the women.] ] Not an unusual scene, but the details are unlike any you ever saw at home. Where are you? \(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[ For a moment you have a moment of intense seperation from your matron. You are alone again.] You stumble back into the alley, totally confused. Looking up, you can faintly see the north star. That helps you get your bearings. Wherever you are you can still navigate, and if you can navigate you will eventually find your friends. Kitsune Bad Ending: Pushed your luck too far [[credits]] \(set: $Argument41Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BadEndKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Argument4Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BadEndKitsune0Description to 1)

There is an electric shock as your matron gives your tail a gentle initial caress. It's too late to try and slip free. The sensation climbs as she runs her hands down your tail. She starts by running her hand gently down the length of your tail. She does this a few times, and then starts doing it hard and fast. Your eyes go up into your head and you grow weak in your knees. Her assault is relentless and you finally drop to your knees. Your ears perk up as a moan escapes from your lips. You almost pee yourself and the kitsune finally stops. She looks down at you triumphantly. "That ought to have taught you a lesson." [[Not gonna do that again->Kitsune TF 1 part 2]] [[Yeah, make sure you have an escape route lined up first->Kitsune TF 1 part 2]]

It's not the plan you would like to do, but if you don't make it out of here then no one is going to rescue your friends. If playing the kitsune's game is what it takes then that's what it takes. You parry a spear and then growl that you will accept her gift. The kitsune grins ear to ear. "Oh, really that's just wonderful." Good to see that some of her divine humility is on display. "Hmm, gonna have to rush this one a little." You hear her spitting and then feel something cold on your neck. You suppress a shiver and manage to turn enough to see her drawing back as she wipes a hand clean on her robes. The hell? Your attention is quickly consumed by the spiders in-front of your. You hack and slash to keep them back. But as your cut and step your movements grow more graceful. you start to see the enemy's rhythm and how to parry and slice to counter them. As you swing a measured blow you notice a bit more counter swing from your chest. Thankfully your robes are becoming a bit more lose fitting to accommodate. A quick glance at your hands shows that they are thinning to better fit the sword which is helpful as your skills are being tested. You contort and twist to keep the spider and their spears at bay. You see blue motes drifting through the air. There is a sudden disturbance in the motes to your left and acting on instinct you step to the right. A gout of fire passes through the disturbance. Man if this keeps up you might actaully be able to associate with Ron and not get burned. You move back to the kitsune and urgently ask "What exactly did you do?" The kitsune, no your matron smiles. "Fitted you to the task my dear." She gives you a critical appraisal. "Hmm, probably not for the best to force more right now." There is hardly time to dwell on it but your matron's hair seems to have changed from a rich black to a shimmering silver. Trying to disguise the annoyance in your voice you ask your matron. "You have what you wanted. We should leave." Your matron smiles "Well, pointed out my dear. I don't care for the company here at all." With a feminine giggle you agree "Their hospitality is lacking." [[Your matron claps her hands.->kitsune 0+0+1 after]] (Set: $kitsunelevel to 1)

You put to heels and run as fast as your awkward legs will let you. The terrain makes getting any speed difficult, given how you crash through the underbrush you must be making an awful noise. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet follows your lead, making just as much noise as you do.] In a seeming repeat of this morning a spider drops from the trees infront of you. You already know one is behind you. out of options you charge the one in front of you. the senior spider-girl forces you back onto your abdomen with her spear and you are quickly captured. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet Lets out a disappointed noise, frustrated there won't be a more epic tale.]

You pull up what remains of your pants and saunter past the spider-girl cooly. She stares at you. You flash her a bit of boob, before snapping and pointing giving her your most winning smile as you do so. She blushes and seems like she is going to be cool for a moment. Then she shakes herself out of it and brings her spear to bear. (this close) (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Huh, guess you can't count on that to work twice.]

Hiding is far from your first option, your new form is large and unwieldly. Still you doubt that you can out run them. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet looks at you blankly as you explain that it's time to hide. Apparently, this is and not the other stuff is the crazy part. "So they are sweeping into here and you want to hide." You smile and nod as it becomes obvious that's the last thing a spider would expect. "My friend frederick always said you could hide anything if you put it where they weren't looking." Scarlet raised a few eyebrows. "Sure didn't work out for him did it?" You give her a look and she grows sheepish. "Sorry."] \(If: $spidertogether is 0)[Hell, you think back to various stories Frederick told you. He always claimed that you could hide almost anything if you put it where they wouldn't think to look. Well let's flip things around then. If you were hunting something like yourself what would you assume? A glance at your legs answers that question. Poor mobility, a real hard time with uneven terrain. It's insane but a plan starts to form in your mind.] [[Better move quick->spider 0 escape two success 1]]

(if: $kitsunefloof is 1)[You take a moment to straighten out your clothes, and make sure that your hair isn't too much of a mess. A shrine maiden must look her best afterall. Wait what?] looking yourself over quickly you take stock. Your bust is larger and your hair is longer. More importantly your frame has become more graceful. While you don't feel that much weaker, you have the look of someone who never did true labor a day in their life. Even the calluses on your hands are much reduced. At the same time your hand seems almost fitted to the sword. As if you born to use weapons of that type. You shake your head, it's a silly idea. Still the weapon feels natural in your hand as if you had spent many weeks training with only it. The fox ears and tail are cute but move without any thought on your part. They seem irritated at the moment, and your tail is fanned out angrily. You take a few more practice slashes with the sword before turning to join your matron in making ready for the trip. As you get to work you briefly wonder what [[your matron is shaping you into.->Kitsune 0+1]] note to self: work in curse description.

You plead for the kitsune to stop. The kitsune gives you a confused look and stops with a bemused smile. "What is it my dear?" You try your best smile. Then you proceed to explain your story in full. How you were a farmer's son, who fell in with Cohen in search of adventure. Your misadventure this morning and how your friends were captured. The kitsune nods along. "And here I thought you were runaway from a warrior house. Well you needn't worry about your friends my dear I’m sure they will be fine." (if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[She smiles "Now come along dear, let's get you cleaned up."] She turns away as you shoot her a distressed glance. Then she pauses. "Wait did you say Cohen?" You nod dumbly. Mentioning that you had heard him referred to as a barbarian. Hey eyes widen. "Wears his hair like this" She arranges her hair in a particular way. He doesn't have quite that much hair left but you could imagine it. You nod. She seems excited "Oh I haven't seen him in decades. Does he still have his sword?" You nod, last time you saw him. No telling if he does now. No wait Cohen would sooner kill every spider he saw than be parted from that thing. The kitsune seems genuinely excited. "Do you know where he is?" You shrug, and respond that if he escaped, he would no doubt have gone back to the village to resupply and rearm. The kitsune bounces in place, grabs your hand and leads the way towards [[the village in the distance.->kitsune 0 town 1]] \(set: $RescueKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $TownKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $RescueKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $TownKitsune0Description to 1)

You have had enough of hair-raising adventure. Near death escapes and constant danger tire a person out. Perhaps you should flee now? While you have the chance. Before you don't get the chance. On the other hand you swore an oath to always do whatever you could to keep your friends safe, to face hardships together. Will you leave your friends to their fate? [[Yes->kitsune 0 early human ending 1]] [[No->kitsune 0 rescue choice]]

They knew the risks and you reassure yourself there is no shame in getting yourself killed for the already dead. Coward. The kitsune gives you a mild nod, and then whistles loudly. A flying wagon drawn by monsters more head than body appears and she boards with regal grace. You set off away from the village. If there were any survivors, they would go there. You made your own destiny by your own hand once, perhaps you can do it again. It is understandably difficult for a woman by herself to find good work. Well at least work that's not demeaning. To say nothing of a woman who has translucent fox ears and tail. Thankfully in time the kitsune's curses fade, and you start to look less like someone who just escaped a play. You eventually apprentice under an older apothecary. The woman is no old crone but instead a jolly matron of her family often attended by one of her many sons. She never had any daughters and seeks someone to pass her craft onto. It's not exciting work, mostly find herbs and learning to mix potions. You do find that you have a singular talent for identifying which herbs are safe and which are poisonous. Your potions are also unusually effective. (which makes you enormously popular among the village's wives.) You often hear stories of adventurers braving danger and cover your ears. In the end you have found a peaceful life. Well except for when the apothecary tries to set you up with one of her sons. Bad ending: Ran away [[credits]] \(set: $RescueKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $EarlyHumanKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 0) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 0) \(set: $EarlyHumanKitsune0Appearance to 1) \(set: $Kitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $EarlyHumanKitsune0Gear to 1) \(set: $EarlyEndingStatus to 1)

You very nearly died or lost your freedom in that forest. Near death escapes and constant danger tire a person out. The kitsune offers a life of peace, perhaps you should make a change, while you have the chance. Before you don't get the chance. On the other hand you swore an oath to always do whatever you could to keep your friends safe, to face hardships together. Will you leave your friends to their fate? Abandon them to the spiders? [[yes->kitsune 0 early kitsune ending 1]] [[no->kitsune 0 rescue choice]]

You give in to the kitsune. No sense in getting yourself killed for nothing. They in every real sense were lost to you when the spiders attacked. Coward. The kitsune takes you into her embrace with a smile. She whistles and a cart with flaming wheels drawn by creatures more head than body descends from the heavens. It's a bit of a struggle to get in the damn thing. You eventually sit next to the kitsune. You battle vertigo as the ground flies away and the cart lifts off into the air. A good half-hour of white knuckles and eyes shut you reach the kitsune's temple. It is resplendent, a blizzard of whites and reds. The kitsune is greeted by an crowd of nuns dressed in the same robes as you. You are introduced as their newest sister. Life among the nuns is strictly regimented, full of devotion and pretty damn boring. (IF: $kitsunecurse is 1 or 2)[The kitsune does eventually release her "gifts" allowing you to go back to looking a bit more like yourself.] Though you never reach the same levels of faith as the other nuns you eventually find satisfaction. The kitsune always takes a special interest in your studies and is sympathetic to your discomfort. Perhaps in time you will seek a change but for now you are happy enough. Bad End: Found Religion? [[credits]] \(set: $RescueKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $EarlyNunKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $RescueKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $EarlyNunKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 0) \(set: $EarlyNunKitsune0Appearance to 1) \(set: $Kitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $EarlyNunKitsune0Gear to 1) \(set: $EarlyEndingStatus to 1) (set: $SootKitsune0Description to 0)

The kitsune leads you in a jog through the fields surrounding the village. At the village's center you spot Cohen doing his best to raise funds. He is performing feats of strength and swordplay for onlookers. The townspeople are mostly giving him stares and polite indifference. He is however surrounded by a crowd of star struck children. They are listening as regales them with tales of dragons and faraway lands. You can almost see the universe of their imaginations being expanded. You were like them once. For better or worse it led you here. He stands atop a legendary haul of apples, hay pennies and the occasional shiny pebble. As you and the kitsune draw close, the kitsune calls out "How much for a story about me?" A complicated series of emotions flit across Cohen's face as he recognizes the pair of you. If: (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[It takes a moment but, ]Recognition and surprise as he see you. An expression not unlike a parent seeing a child bring home an unexpected puppy. He adopts a professional expression. "Ah for a woman as beautiful as you, no charge." The children all look back to the kitsune with annoyance melting into surprise. (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[With your painted skin you also stand out to the crowd of tanned farmers.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[You similarly stand out, looking like an exotic visitor from a far away land. Also smell funny.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[You similarly stand out, looking like an exotic visitor from a far away land, complete with a refined scent. The fact that you can't help but sway your hips with every step also attracts attention. Some of the kids start imitating you while giggling.] Cohen spins a dramatic tale of an adventurer seeking a cursed sword. It would to try and possess its user causing misfortune on anyone nearby. The sword was powerful but inherently dangerous. The adventurer finally throws the sword down a well that connected to the underworld. This doesn't seem like Cohen's story, but it seems to be familiar to the kitsune. With his tale told Cohen thanks the children for their audience. He moves through the crowd with a purpose. "Good to see both of you." (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[He smirks upon examining your makeup. Way to rub it in.] He turns to you with concern. [["How did you escape youngling?"->kitsune 0 town 2]] \(set: $Town1Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $TownKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Town1Kitsune0Description to 1)

After a few more preparations, the kitsune sits you down in the main hall. She smiles at you with a motherly air. She moves behind you as you sit puzzled. You feel her gently gathering your hair and clearing your vision. She must be tying up your hair, so it won’t get in the way during your travel. The sudden change in the weight makes you feel off for a second. With a bit of shuffling, she gathers up her robes and kneels with her back to you. Obviously expecting the same. With inexperienced hands you gather up her hair, not bothering to even try to style it. You make a simple job of it, gathering it up into a ponytail, tying it with a paper tie from your matron. You can hear the kitsune comment "Must have been raised amongst boys." She isn't technically wrong. Then she shows you how to tie up your robes so you will have the maximum freedom of movement despite your sizable bust. You do the same for her, despite her even more sizable bust. Your matron then leads you to the edge of the temple compound. She looks back at the decayed temple sadly, you can just feel her sorrow. Then she turns towards the forest and leads with a determined look. [[You keep a sharp eye for any monsters in the forest->kitsune 1 argument two]]

As you leave the temple complex, your matron leads the way. She seems to know the path, finding gaps between the trees, and the easiest way through the dense underbrush. Your matron is many things, but you never figured her for a pathfinder. Slowly you recognize what's happening. She is following the remains of an old overgrown road. It makes for easy traveling but something bothers you. As you pass through the forest you become gradually aware of clouds of translucent blue floating through the air. They are nothing quite like you have ever seen. You are so distracted that for a second you lose track of everything and wander off by yourself. Your matron calls you back but then ruffles your ears good naturedly. "Don't wander off dear." Your matron keeps you close as you approach a decayed wooden lantern hanging from a worn post. "Follow my movements dear." Your matron pauses and brings her hands to her forehead. You can hear her chant softly, and suddenly a small blue flame appears in her hands. She brings the flame to the lantern and it lights there. The kitsune gets a sad smile. "It's not much but at least I can relight the old road." She looks genuinely sad for a moment. " I'll lead you in lighting the next one." She seems happier at the thought. The next lantern isn't far, and your matron guides through each motion of the ritual. Something about performing it seems correct, although you don't really get it. Finally you perform the ritual perfectly and you see the translucent blue coalesce in your hands forming a flame which jumps into the lantern. (You think briefly of Ron. He would be underwhelmed.) In that moment you feel as if you are conduit for something much larger than yourself. You also have the briefest headache which passes. The kitsune looks on smiling. "Remember dear, when we pass on a tradition we become part of something larger. To contribute to a tradition is to be part of it's renewal." Your matron makes fair point, but it makes you wonder. "Why did you neglect the temple for so long?" Dereliction of duty hardly seems to be in line with what she is trying to teach you. If she was a servant of a goddess shouldn't she have protected the temple? The kitsune looks deeply guilty for a moment, "I made a mistake, one I shall not repeat." She looks away. Well that's hardly an answer [[Pry further->kitsune 1 argument two part 1]](IF: $kitsunecurse is 0)[ What's the harm?](IF: $kitsunecurse is 1)[You should probably step carefully.] [[Leave it->kitsune 1 event 2]](IF: $kitsunecurse is 1)[Probably better to avoid antagonizing her.)]

The trio of spiders converges exchanging a few confused glances. They scan the ground looking for your tracks. The tracks lead nowhere, you made sure of that. The older silver haired spider speaks first. "Any chance it got past you?" She glares at the green haired one. The green haired spider looks troubled. "I heard nothing, saw nothing. Perhaps it can fly?" She seems serious as she says this. The purpled hair one glances around, nearly seeing your vantage point above them. "Unlikely. It must have slipped past one of us. Double back." She leads the trio back into the woods. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[You and Scarlet exchange enthuastic grins.](If: $spidertogether is 0)[You let out a sigh of relief and slowly climb down the tree you had been hiding in.] Good thing they figured you couldn't climb trees. [[Onward it can't be much further now.->spider 0 event 2]]

You get to running, the edge of the forest must be close now. You see the occasional hunters mark and trap. The trees are more spaced apart and you see where the occasional tree was felled for lumber. Still these are far from obvious, perhaps they were poaching? \(if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet directs your attention to a lethal looking trap. A tree is tied back to provide the spring force necessary to drive forward a sharpened wooden spike. "I shouldn't like to get caught in that. Yeah it might sting a bit.] \(if: $spidertogether is 0)[You catch sight of the occasional Maneater. (A large wooden spike tied to a sapling to give tension.) Might kill you if it hit your abdomen, but you would have to be distracted to run into it.] Your heart rises at any sign that you are almost out of this damn forest \(if: $spidertogether is 1)[You glance at Scarlet who is slightly flushed and keeps looking at you. You raise an eyebrow and ask if something is wrong. "Umm, well there has been all this running and fighting and we keep almost escaping and it's just so, um and you are so." You look at her her surprised. "Can we make out or something? I am super turned on right now." Wait spider-girls get turned on by combat and hunting? This makes almost too much sense. [[Hot girl wants to make out->spider 0 together makeout]] [[The middle of a life and death escape isn't the best time->spider 0 event 2 focused]]] \(if: $spidertogether is 0)[Your pursuers aren't here yet so you take a moment catch your breath before [[pushing on.->spider 0 escape 3]]]

If you want to escape all you need to do is get past the spider-girl blocking the way. If you want to get past her all you need to do is keep her looking the wrong way long enough. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet gives you a disbelieving look as you explain the plan. "I don't think it will work. Us spider-girls are fiercely attn-." She looks behind you, transfixed by something. You turn to look, some rather fetching purple flowers are swaying in a nearby tree. "Attentive hunters. I doubt they would fall for a trick as simple as that." Nonplussed you keep looking for something to distract the guard. Your chitinous fingers make a hard sound as they tap your abdomen. Oh right, spiders and silk. You look to scarlet hopefully, could she pass you some string? Scarlet shakes her head. "Nu-uh if you are going to be a spider you should learn how to make silk. I'll teach you it's super easy." You give her a look not dissimilar to getting your first erection explained. Scarlet rolls her eyes. "Look down there." You look at her blankly. She grabs you by the neck and with gentle pressure pushes your head forward. You have a surprising amount of forward flexibility. It's trivial to see under your abdomen. Huh, there is an extra hole down there with a pair of small chitinous appendages in front of it. It's always an awkward thing to discover new parts of yourself. You give Scarlet a confused look, she smiles at you comfortingly. "Those are your spinnerets, they weave silk. With a bit of effort you can do patterns and textures. If you need string it, all you need to do is pull." You go back under the hood and gingerly pull the string, marveling at how your longer arms can reach. It's an awkward sensation to flex muscles you didn't have this morning. You test the milkwhite string a few times between your hands, it's springy and resilient. Scarlet gives you a few comforting heat pats. "Silk is a sister's most reliable tool and best friend when in danger." You wind a good amount of silk around your fingers as a basic spool and make ready. ] (if: $spidertogether is 0)[Of course that raises the question of what to cause the distraction with. Setting a fire would take too long. You need to keep moving. Well what else can you use? As you think you tap your new abdomen absentmindedly. Spiders are famous for their silk afterall. With a disconcerting amount of forward flexibility, you look under your abdomen. Sure enough there is spare hole down there with an pair of little fingers infront of it. Which is an awkward thing to see on yourself. It's a very awkward sensation, flexing muscles you didn't have this morning hoping that the right thing happens. After a couple of false starts you produce a white thread that your spinnerets? winds into a simple string. It takes a couple of grabs but you retrieve the string.] All it takes is to find a likely looking sapling. You tie the string and get some distance. You pull the string and wait for the spider-girl to spot the motion. The spider-girl goes on guard for a moment, and then seems to realize something. She rushes forward towards the sapling. You almost feel embarrassed for her as [[you dash away.->spider 0 event 2]]

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You give her a respectful nod, and a sad smile. You are in no position to help, and who's to say she wouldn't betray you the moment you helped. She will be rescued most likely, and with any luck that will keep them off of you. Poor girl is probably safer than you. She is obviously in a lot of pain, and has little paitience for anything but immediate relief. She cries for help and you start in a sprint, nothing attracts trouble like cries for help. [[Time to get some distance->spider 0 part 1]] (set: $spiderabandon to 1)

Your matron has stopped partway in teaching a lesson, surely she has more to share? Your matron stops walking. Her unflagging confidence punctuated by a sudden moment of uncertainty. She looks distraught. "I-I feel in love, I think. Her love was outside of the abby. I didn't want to leave her, So I watched over their family. To make sure that she came to a good end you understand. It was wrong to do." She gathers her self, "But I came back and now I am ready to fulfill my duty." [[Let the conversation quietly lapse->kitsune 1 event 2]] [[She neglected her duty, for something as trival as love?->kitsune 1 argument two part 2]]

Your flight through the forest is fairly easy going. The path is even, going around or through most of the hills. A cursory glance reveals the care with which it was laid. The road is so old, the trees have grown up around it. The lanterns are newer but each was carefully placed an even distance apart. Something is still niggling at you, you matron is missing something but she doesn’t know it. Your matron moves at a casual pace, although she keeps a watchful eye out. As if she is cognizant of the danger but doesn't care. She asks a bit about where and how you were raised. You answer her questions, honored that your matron is so interested in your upbringing. She then proceeds to tell you of the wonder and splendors of her temple. Of the miracles she has performed for her goddess, and the people she has helped. You listen to her tales eager to hear more. Something is still bugging you though. The trees are starting to thin and you must be near the edge of the forest. Finally you pass through a valley where the trees have grown up thickly on either side. Something is wrong, the blue currents in the air are stirring. Finally, it hits you [[you haven't been looking up->kitsune 2 event 2 fight]]

The kitsune's ear go up and all her tails flare out behind her. She speaks softly to herself "As trivial as love?" She grows ominously calm. She gains an imperious look and speaks in a cold tone "My dear. love, is never trivial. Any disciple of mine must understand that." She gives you a disappointed look. (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[A strong reminder."] (if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[A mild reminder." Your matron gives you a playful chop on the head. "May you attract adoration one day." You look at her puzzled until she glances at your hands. Following her gaze to your hands, you see that they have become white as if powdered. Quickly you produce your pocket mirror. Your face is beautifully made up as well, making you look like a lady hoping to attract attention. Your matron smiles at you playfully.] \(if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[Your matron smiles. “A priestess to be would do well to know what it takes to attract attention from a lover.” She snaps her fingers and your clothes shift around you. Your robes were already more revealing than the average for their type, but they become more revealing still. You blush as you see how little your skirt covers and how your new underwear manages to cover even less. Then you notice a new scent. You sniff, trying to identify it. It’s an elegant and refined, obviously mixed by a skilled hand. a hint of cinnamon and perhaps clove. You glance at your matron confused. “That should lead them by their noses my dear.”] [[There is little to do but continue.->kitsune 1 event 2]] \(set: $kitsunecurse to $kitsunecurse + 1) \(set: $Arguement2had to 1)

You admit to your inglorious capture, and the misadventures following your lucky escape. Cohen suppresses a laugh when you admit to eating the rice balls in front of the kitsune. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[You do your best to smooth over what you did to get cursed but you can tell Cohen is sympathetic.] The kitsune seems a bit snubbed and her tails wag happily as Cohen turns to her. He smiles. "Been a long time my dear." She smiles back. "You went a little grey while I was gone didn't you?" Cohen puts a hand through what's left of his hair. "Happens to the best of us." He gives you quick appraisal. "Glad to see you in one piece, if a bit smoother youngling." He checks the position of the sun, soon to set. "Hmm we had better find somewhere to rest for the night, and something to eat." He seems to realize and quickly adds "If that's alright with your grace?" You can almost see him fighting to not sound sarcastic. The kitsune nods imperially. "I look forward to seeing what rustic charms are available." She turns to leave and you are about to follow when Cohen calls out. "Help me gather the haul youngling." Cohen is kneeling to gather up the apples and occasional coin. He's even taking up some of the better looking pebbles. (Admittedly they are good looking pebbles.) [[Off to the nearest inn->kitsune 0 town 3]]

You finally see sunlight. Oh sweet blessed sunlight. After many trials you have finally reached almost safety. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[You give Scarlet a warm smile and she smiles back hesitantly.] If you can just get beyond here (if: $guilt is 1)[your escape is secured] (if: $prudence is 1)[ your plan to rescue your friends can start]. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet seems genuinely curious to see so much clear sky.] Unfortunately you can see the trio of spider girls guarding the edge of the forest, keeping watch and in sight of one another. They patroling carefully inward from the edge of the forest. You will most likely be spotted if you try to go around. It's going to be a real trick to get past them. You hide yourself behind a tree and pause to think. What would your [[friends recommend?->spider 0 problem solving]] (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet gives you an excited look, obviously thrilled to see what the climax of the tale looks like.]

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(if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet gives you a curious look as sit with your back to the tree. "What are you doing?" You try not to roll glare with all of your eyes. "I'm thinking."] Your first thought is of Frederick, he always had a talent for getting into situations like this. And was almost as good at getting out of them. You imagine him infront of you. He gives you an audacious smile. "And I thought I had a talent for getting into trouble. Three chicks after you? You always did have a way for attracting the girls." You try not to roll your eyes. "Trick to getting past anybody or anything is be where they aren't looking. Once you figure out where they are going to be looking, be somewhere else." You almost ask the question lingering on the tip of your tongue. "I'm here alone because of your guilt." The advice is simple, move as quickly and quietly as you can through where they aren't looking. [[If you don't hesitate and play it safe you might make it.->spider 0 stealth]] (if: $spidertogether is 1)[You might have to split with scarlet to get out of here.] You have never been much of one for stealth, perhaps you could [[fight your way out?->spider 0 violence]] (if: $spidertogether is 1)[You have been playing around with Scarlet but this is your freedom, and that of your friends at stake.]

(if: $spidertogether is 1)[You smile at Scarlet and tell her of your intention to escape. With a slow raise of your eyebrows you ask if she plans to stop you. Scarlet seems to be surprised by the idea. "Should I?" You admit that if things were swapped you would probably be compelled to try and capture her. Scarlet suddenly looks very serious. "Oh, well what should I do?" You give her a goofy smile. She might try to grab you. You move a few steps away and turn your back to her. Her wound makes her steps heavy and loud. You hear her behind you and move away quickly. She crashes to the dirt where you were. You help her to her feet. She smiles at you happily. "I Scarlet tried to recapture my prisoner." You pat her on the head, it was a noble attempt. You help her up, she gives you a forlorn look. "I probably won't be able to keep up." A part of ways is always sad. In another life you probably would have been friends. "It's a shame. You would make a good adventurer" She nods. "You would have made a good spider girl. good luck and make sure you escape. It's gonna be a legendary tale." Sort of depends on whether or not you can stick the landing] (if: $spidertogether is 0)[Alright you will need to pick your moment carefully. You can probably get away with a few near misses but after all this hunting your pursurers won't give up till you are well out of the forest.]

You take a deep breath trying to plan out your attack. With the benefit of surprise you might succed in an inital attack, that would get you a spear and from there you might fend off your attackers longer enough to escape. To make it work you would almost certainly have to attack with the aim to kill or disable your first target. You glance down at your new set of legs. It might be a tough fight with your uncertain limbs. Even then you would be up against two determined fighters who would have a hell of a grudge against you. Cohen always cautioued against starting fights you didn't expect to win. (if: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet seems to figure out your intentions. She gives you a aghast look.] [[commit->spider 0 violence 1]] [[reconsider->spider 0 problem solving]]

A quick glance upward has your gaze met by many sets of eights eyes. You don’t have time to curse, diving to push your matron into safety. Your matron has a mixture of surprise and shock as you tackle her. Her discomfort is justified as you hear the darts sail through the air where she was. A quick glance up shows the spiders looking pleased their hunt wont be over too quickly. (if: $guilt is 1)[You just want to get out of here.] It takes your matron a moment to stand in her robes, offering a hand to you good naturedly. Finally, upright she snarls at the spiders and says "This path is mine. Come my dear, let’s put them to flight." At least two squads of spiders descend from the trees, spears at the ready and smug grins on their faces as if you are outmatched. The katana is in your hand and you have already moved in front of your matron to keep her safe. Your matron, however puts her hand on your shoulder and moves to your side. "We are all equals in combat my dear." She is grinning as if confronting an old foe and there is fire in her hands. [[And so the battle is joined!->kitsune 1 event 2 fight part 1]]

(if: $spidertogether is 1)[Your expression makes your plan clear. Scarlet gives you a pleading look, and you simply shake your head. Gently you push her aside and she looks away. ] You pick your moment carefully, hiding with rock in hand you make ready to surprise the youngest spider girl. You take a deep breath, this isn't going to be pretty. Finally the moment arrives and you spring up with a shriek. Your first heavy blow hits the girl's windpipe, likely crushing it. she falls scrabbing at her throat and you pick up her spear. The other two spider girls are on you in an instant. You fight like a creture trying to stay free, they fight to avenge their friend. In the end however, you are inexperienced and there is two of them. After more than a few cuts they force you [[to your knees.->spider 0 violence 2]]

The injured spider girl goes deathly still and the pair of spider-girls begin to argue with oneanother. likely over what to do with you. A quick glance upwards shows they are looking at you like a mad dog. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[You see Scarlet in the distance, staring at you desperately.] Finally they come to a decision and force you to look at the ground. You suppose not every adventurer comes back. There a ragged pain across the front of your neck, a wet feeling down your front, and the sound of your blood hitting the ground. Your last thoughts are of home and then of your friends. [[YOU ARE DEAD->spider 0 problem solving]] Now go back and do the not stupid thing. [[credits]]

The spiders attack cautiously, rolling forward slowly with spears at the ready. Must be arrogance slowing them. They probably figure they have you right where they want you and your matron. Well if they want a lesson then it’s your duty to teach them. You cut and parry in defense of your matron. The spider-girls are skilled but spears are a poor weapon to use against a katana. They do have the numbers though, and your goal is to drive them off rather than deliver vengeance. Your matron however seems restrained. She refuses to yield any ground to her assailants. She does however use copious amounts of fire magic to both cover you and prevent any attacks on her person. with every use of her fire magic, you distantly see ripples through the blue clouds. it forms a surreal contrast, not that you have much time to admire it. As skilled as your fighting is you can't quite force them back on your own. You have righteousness and the favor of your matron. They have numbers and range with their spears. You cast more than a few imploring glances back to your matron, with more aid you could clear a path. She smiles mysteriously, and keeps up her performance. You grow winded and your matron finally speaks. "If you were to accept but a little bit more of my power we could dispatch them easily." So that's how it is, is it? Your matron smiles good naturedly. "Trust me." [[get creative->kitsune 0+1+0]] [[give in->kitsune 0+1+1]]

If you have to give in to get out of here alive then that's what you have to do. Your matron has your best interests at heart, doesn't she? How could she have anything else? You can't do anything for your friends if you don't make it out of here. Your agreement slips from your lips. Your matron grins wide and faces you. "Excellent, I'm proud of you for making the right choice." Your matron unleashes a fearsome blossom of fire that would make Ron green with envy. The spiders dart back for fear of outright incineration. The flames stabilize into a ring of cold fire surrounding the pair of you. Your matron smiles at your confusion and then gently embraces you. You can't help but look into her dark eyes as she gently kisses you. She releases you and you feel tingly, a swelling lifting in your chest robbing you of your speech. (Which is way more tingly than you would normally feel after being kissed by an attractive woman.) A glance shows that your your hair has gotten longer still, threatening to overwhelm the tie that your matron gave you. Your breasts grow a little bit more as you watch, becoming on the large size for your frame. Your suprise at your matron wanting your breasts still larger almost makes you miss the internal changes. A foreign thought slips unbidden into the flower of your mind. You can almost watch it go by. "Why shouldn't you respect your matron?" She is older than you, more experienced. She has done much to save you. Aren't those same reasons why you adored Cohen when you met him? The implications flow from the stem and reach out to every petal of thought. Your matron has done so much for you, why should you refer to her as your matron? She is your mistresss, it is only right that you should serve and learn from someone as wise as she is. This realization gives you a strange feeling which washes over your being. Your eyes prick and you rub them confused. You look out again, the flames which before intimidated you more than a little are now moving to some magnificent greater beat. A glance at your mistress fills your heart with joy, you can now see her in her true radiance. Words fail to capture the extent of what you can now see. She is simply sublime. Your eyes prick again and you take a moment to examine them in your mirror. They have changed, the color has deepened and your iris has lengthened. These are the eyes of a predator, a searcher, a scavenger, a trickster. A fox. The spell that keeps the spiders at bay whispers silent notes, a song of flame. Each instrument merges to the whole as each wick of fire sears at your attackers. You wonder briefly if this applies to all magic or just that of your mistress. Finally you understand what the feeling is. You are part of something greater than yourself, to behold your matron is to know there is a higher power than yourself. You are at peace, and would fight impossible odds to defend this feeling. ~~[[You look yourself over->kitsune 0+1+1 part 1]]~~

You let out an annoyed sigh, resolute in not giving your matron more of what she wants. This is hardly the time or the place, and you don't want reward any more of her bad behavior. Your matron seems serene, obviously not considering the situation that dangerous. She is doing her part of the fighting but for the most part looks at you with a smug grin. Hmmm, she must be counting on you accepting her offer sooner or later. You give some ground as you consider how to get yourself out of your predicament. The problem is the spiders. Just grabbing your matron and running won't get you far enough to get away from the spiders. To say nothing of your speed in your robes. If only your matron would solve the problem. She surely has the ability to chase away the spiders with a wave of her hand. Well if that's solution how to get her there? Hanging back probably won't work. It's shameful to let the spiders dictate the pace and your matron has extended her benevolence once already. She will probably bail you out if the situation grows dangerous. Which of course leaves the funnest option. [[You can already feel the smile forming on your face.->kitsune 0+1+0 part 1]]

Cohen leads you to the town's inn/bar/hostel. It's a rundown place with moldering thatch, the bar is well polished though. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[You can see the barmaid peering at you and the kitsune curiously from inside] The kitsune pauses in front of the tavern and seems unwilling to go further. Cohen gets a "what now" look and then raises an eyebrow. "Some difficulty your grace?" The kitsune's expression settles on one of revulsion. "I have no desire to spend my first night after returning to my duties in a hovel like this." Cohen nods and then takes a furtive step towards the tavern. "Well, then we should meet tomorrow morning. Come along youngling." The kitsune smiles. "I have a better idea." She gives a piercing whistle. A cart with flaming wheels drawn by creatures more head than body descends from the heavens. Cohen sighs heavily, obviously not impressed. "I have your word my grace that we will return here after a single human night?" The kitsune smiles and teases "So paranoid in your old age." In a display of fox like agility she leaps upon the wagon. Cohen grows sincere. "My younglings are in jeopardy. It wouldn't do to abandon them no matter how blissful our destination." The kitsune nods and then offers you a hand up. In no time at all the wagon is whisking you away far into the sky. Cohen seems unaffected but it's a struggle to keep your apples down. [[Then something comes into view->the bathhouse]] \(set: $TownKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Town1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Town3Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 1) \(set: $Town1Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Town3Kitsune0Description to 1)

The complex is a huge tangle of buildings, made up of styles that clash with one another. There is a general bustle about the buildings as a menagerie of monsters are attended to by another smaller menagerie of monsters. (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[Your make up doesn't seem so exotic in comparison to the range of colors the monsters have.] The whole place is a riot of color, every monster has robes in a variety of hues. Above the whole an impossible cherry tree blooms from nothing.(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron's great love for your robes, no matter how impractical makes a bit more sense.] (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[The kitune’s](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron’s] wagon lands and she steps off briskly. You attempt to follow although far less briskly. Cohen anchors you as everything swims. “Deep breaths, focus on a single point.” You look at him, wondering if asking how he is so calm will give you a better answer than “I have had worse.”. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[Once you have recovered your land legs, you look around amazed at the variety of creatures. Nothing like any you have seen before.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Once you can walk in a straight line for more than a few steps, you look around curiously. There is a menegerie of monsters the likes of which you have never seen before. Well, you saw yourself so mostly like you have never seen before.] You remember Alonso telling you once that the real treasure of adventure wasn’t the treasure or occasional pair of warm arms. It was the sights you could never see anywhere else. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[This thought depresses you. Being here is part of rescuing them but darn if it doesn’t feel like a detour.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Being here isn't helping you rescue your friends. But still who would of thought that meeting your matron would treat you to sights light this.] (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[The kitsune](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron] is walking with a prim looking older woman who is following with fawning attention. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[The kitsune speaks “These are my two guests, they should be treated as you would treat me.”](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron speaks "My disciple and my guest will be staying with me. They should be treated with due respect. You glower at being called her disciple.] The prim woman looks over Cohen with carefully mitigated disgust. “I suppose this is a bath house.” Cohen gives her a mud stained grin in response, that’s going to make him do something drastic. She gives you a critical appraisal trying to figure your ranking in some unknown hierarchy. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[Her tone is curt, and dismissive. "Stick close to your patron, I won't have any trouble form the likes of you."](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Her tone is formal. "Conduct yourself with proper decorum and you will have no trouble here."] The woman speaks up with “Will milady be adding this to her *ahem* tab?” (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[The Kitsune](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron] speaks “No worries I will be paying accounts today. She produces the coins you saw back in the temple. The woman looks at them with [[undisguised surprise.->bath house part 1]] (Huh guess you should stolen those when you had the chance. Maybe if they had been made of (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[chocolate](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[bread].) \(set: $kitsunemadcounter to 0) \(set: $kitsuneoffense to 0) \(set: $kitsunesecondoffense to 0) \(set: $Town3Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BathHouseKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Town3Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $BathHouseKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 0)

As you potter along trying not to think too hard about how all your new legs are working together. Then you hear something. On reflex you duck, which doesn't work as well when it involves having to squish your abdomen against the forest floor. You hear irregular footseps, an occasional scraping sound and moans of pain. All of these speak of trouble and it's trouble you probably can't handle. You are just considering running when something crashs through the trees nearby. It's a greviously injuried spider girl, her purple blood streaked across her carapace. She crumples to the ground, trying to stop the flow of blood with her hands. You take a step back, breaking a stick. She looks at you desperately, all of her eyes pleading beneath her scarlet hair. For some reason you think of the rabbit you so recently made a meal of. She is one of your enemies and helping her will no doubt making escaping harder. Still she is badly injuried and looks to be the same age as you. Were you that injuried you would give anything for help. If there is one here, there might be more can you really spare the time rescue her? [[help her->spider rescue]] [[Her sisters are proably already on their way->spider 0 event 2 don't rescue]]

You let out a sigh. This is obviously a bad idea, it's gonna slow you down and it's downright optomistic to think she will be greatful. Still you might die today, and that makes it a great time for flights of fancy. And if you don't help and live until tomorrow you will regret it. Biggest problem is stopping the bleeding. A closer look shows that a claw has come loose in the injury. Pulling it is going to make the bleeding worse. You try to smile reassuingly at the spider-girl, and then tear what was left of your pants into bandages. The spider-girl gives you a thankful nod. This is going to be messy, you wish was Ron here. He didn't stand blood well but some magic to help the internal damage would make you feel a lot better about things. You move close and then put a hand on the claw. You give the spider girl an uncertain smile. She looks back at you all of her eyes meeting yours. "This is going to hurt isn't it?" You give her a gentle pat on the head and tell her "Be a big girl for me okay?" She tries to give you a brave smile. No time to hesitate, you pull the claw with strong yank. It makes an ugly squelching sound, and a generous amount of purple blood follows. You hear the spider-girl let out a gasp of pain and shock. You stuff as many bandages as you can into the gap, shredding your shirt when it proves to not be enough. The spider-girl offers you some of her own freshly woven thread to help bind her injury. It’s brutal but short work. Before long the Spider-girl is standing gingerly on uncertain legs. She looks at you with undisguised gratitude and apprecaition. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She lunges to hug you and tries to follow up with a numberous kisses. More than a few land and her tongue gets in your mouth before you push her off. She blushes happily and then asks "So how exactly did you get here?" [[explain yourself->spider rescue 1]]

The spider-girl looks at you intently, blushing slightly as she meets all of your eyes. You aren't used to anybody paying this much attention to you so intently. You trip over your words a little, but quickly recount how you were captured by her sisters. Your miraculous escape and subsequent spidering. She smiles at you amazed. "I never thought something as weak as a human would try all that by themselves. How lucky that you became part spider. Still courage like that is the stuff of tales. How epic! Tell me some more about your adventures." You recount a few more of your adventures and she hangs off your every word about the outside world. "So much adventure outside of the forest. What an odyssey it will be to escape." You give her a disbeliving look. It's kind of uncanny you suppose. You probably look at Cohen the same way. But her naievity is impressive, she seems to think nothing of the danger you are both in. Still every moment you delay lessens your chance of escaping. You try to break off the conversation, and turn away. The spider-girl pulls you back. "I'm scarlet, and it would be an honor to chronicle your escape." You blink a few times, trying to decide if it she plans to trick you or is just that eager. She looks so transparently naive that it's hard to imagine she would trick you. Additionally given how unsteady she is on her feet it would be a stretch to imagine she would attack you. Still she might make noise which could give you away. You let out a sigh. [[An epic tale deserves to be told->spider rescue together]] [[Her version will probably be more heroic than the truth->spider rescue alone]]

You smile, an escape as great as this requires a chronicler. If Scarlet wants to volunteer who are you to deny her the opportunity? You nod and she all but cheers. Then you calm her down. If this is going to work you need to lay some ground rules. Scarlet looks at you intently and then nods. She has to do what you say, she has to stay quiet as much as she can, and so help her if signals to anybody chasing you. She nods and then kisses you on the cheek. “You did save my life after all.” Well so long as she understands. Time to get this escape underway. [[Right after you find a place to pee.->spider 0 part 1]] Stories often leave out the importance of going before the exciting parts. (set: $spidertogether to 1)

You give her an affectionate pat on the shoulder. With a smile you tell her that her version will probably be cooler than what actually happens. She pouts adorably. “why can’t I come?” You try to dance around the whole can’t trust her issue, and point out that she is still pretty unsteady on her feet. Probably not at all ready for the amount of running, hiding and fighting that it will take. She pouts slightly less, and then cheekily. “Tell me how it turns out.” You roll your eyes and mention that with any luck you won’t meet again. She just smiles apparently not thinking much of your chances against her sisters. She lunges forward and kisses you deepily before smiling at you. Then she turns and heads unsteadily off into the forest. Time to get moving yourself. [[You still have to pee->spider 0 part 1]] (set: $spideralone to 1)

outline: challenging scene; size difference and two nonhuman bodies. Maybe ahve Scarlet be physically affectionate as she leads the MC though every new part of their body?

You turn down Scarlet with a gentle smile. She pouts and then adds. "It's not well me is it?" You give her a confused look. "I know I failed on my first hunt, but it's not my fault." There is a bit of a petulant whine to that. "I can do better. I'll be a great hunter someday" She looks guilty. You aren't quite sure how to unpack this. You give her a supportive head pat, and try to be reassuring that it's not her. More that you are still being actively hunted and a moment's pause will get you captured. You do raise an eyebrow and ask if she feels bad about her companion. Scarlet looks despondent for a moment and then adds. "Yes, she was the senior hunter. But we all do our part when it comes to listening for danger." She looks especially desperate "What more could I have done?" She refocuses on you and tries to smile. You take a moment to catch your breath and double check Scarlet's dressings. [[Alright time to rock and roll->spider 0 escape 3]]

A cloud of smoke billows out from her hands. Making it impossible to see anything around you. Your matron gets a naughty grin, and puts a finger to her lips. She leads you gently by the hand through the smoke and past a number of coughing and hacking spider-girls. You are both unaffected by the smoke and before long are past the spider girls. You give your matron a curious look. "Simple illusion. I'll put a pair of illusions that look like us to complete the trick. Still we should probably hurry." Once you have gotten a reasonable distance you both take a breather, your matron grins at you audaciously. "I forgot how adventures could be fun in their own way." She gives you an enthuasiastic thumbs up. A part of you wonders, if is she happy that you escaped or happy that you gave in? You move away from your matron for a moment, you need to look yourself over. Your new sleeves are tied back but still cavernous, and it takes more than a bit of searching to find your hand mirror. Though the robes are elegent, they are still quite inconvient. Still you finally manage to find the damn thing and look yourself over more than a little curious to see how you have been shaped. During your daring escape, you noted that your bosom grew a bit. You give them a curious heft, yep bigger but just as pert as before. You hear a movement in the bushes and look over to see your matron trying to look innocent, apparently unable to control the wagging of at least three of her tails. You pause to look at your matron, she has a refined beauty herself. You hear a noise directly behind you and jump shocked. A quick glance to your rear shows a red fluffy fox tail impertinetly poking it's way through your robes. Your heart trills involuntarily for a moment as you recognize that you are becoming more like your matron. Wait a minute, more like your matron? You put a hand gently to your head and feel fur. A curious glance in the mirror shows that you have spout a similarly red furred set of fox ears. They look tense. Your tail has also risen of it's own accord. You must be tense? You take a moment to straighten out your clothes, and then examine your hair. it's much longer and works to frame your face. (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[The contrast between your darker hair and your made up face is unexpectedly alluring.] Sheesh you need a comb, a shrine maiden must look her best afterall. Now where did that come from? looking yourself over quickly you take stock. Your bust is larger and your hair is longer. More importantly your frame has become more graceful. While you don't feel that much weaker, you have the look of someone who never did true labor a day in their life. Even the calluses on your hands and feet are much reduced. You can't quite be angry with the kit- your matron. She forced the situation that put you into danger but you couldn't have gotten yourself out of it without her. You know you should be furious, like you are regularly with ron for similar reasons but the anger doesn't come. Still you can exact some small measure of satisifaction here. Her tails are so very soft and fluffy. You smile disarmingly at the kitusne. She smiles fondly back at you. [[After so many gifts, can you trouble her for one more?->kitsune 0+0+1 petting]]

Scarlet gets a guilt by association look. It was told to me as a story when I was young. Scarlet gets a goofy smile, and you get the distinct feeling that ti's probably story time. Scarlet creates a bowl with her hands. "Within the forest us spiders reign supreme. It is natural that the strong should control the weak. For a long time we pretyed upon the weak two legged creatures beyond the forest, fighting them for captives and raiding" Scarlet grows unexpectedly fearsome "But many years ago our patrols began to be routed by a lone figure. It looked like a normal human, but it fought like a demon possesed by another even angrier demon. It hates right of the strong to control the weak and fought where ever it finds such things." "One day after a battle where many sisters were routed, it told us to stop taking slaves or it would invite the ire of the two legged queen." She holds a finger to each temple to represent queen. "Our queen in in her qisdom, decided it was better to prey on weaker creatures closer to home. In time we developed a way to make sure the demon won't find out." She puts two fingers to each temple to represent the spider's queen. Scarlet shrugs increduously. "It seems crazy to me, but i was told that we do it to keep our tribe safe. Whenever a human enters our forest we transform them so the demon won't find out. The substance makes your form more mutable." an interseting story but a lot less pleasent when you are on the recieving end. Scarlet takes your silence for discomfort. "Don't worry I think you look great as a spider." She blushes a bit. "Err I'm sure you looked good as a human girl too." [[You are too lost in thought to corrrect her.->spider 0 event 1]]

You scramble to the cocoon and repeat the same procedure as the first cocoon. It is far easier because it's a lot thinner than Ron's. \(if: $left is 1)[Once you have the made a small hole you put all your hands in and do your best to tear the cocoon apart. you tear the thing mostly open. Almost immediately a hand lashes out and grabs yours with an iron grip. It starts trying to pull you into the cocoon. you put all your hands up and say "Calm down, this is a rescue." The hand relaxes. You see Frederick's face peak out cautiously. He has the same short brown hair but now his features have softened from boyish to cute now. "What the hell are you?" You roll your eyes. "It's me. Now get out of there and help us rescue Alonso." (if: $frederickhelp is 0)[Fredrick nods and joins you next to the final cocoon.] \(if: $frederickhelp is 1)[Frederick smiles happily. "it's damn good to see you again." he's looking pretty chipper for someone you abandoned earlier today. ]](if: $right is 1)[Once you have the made a small hole you put all your hands in and do your best to tear the cocoon apart. A sizable tear opens. Almost immediately another set of hands joins you in tearing open the cocoon. Once a large enough gap has been formed you seen Alonso’s face peaking out. His blonde hair has become much longer. “Hello.” “Hello Alonso, this is a rescue.” Alonso seems a bit surprised but works to quickly free himself. He smiles at you “You are?” you make a disappointed face at him. “Oh, good to see you. Damn you look different.” “So do you.” Alonso fingers his? Hair. “Not as different as you!” He gets up from the cocoon. “Now let’s get Frederick.” You notice that Alonso is in possession of some sizable assets and a flattering figure. ] [[Of course things aren't that simple->human rescue ant 1 part 5 combo]]]

You have fought hard, and managed to escape the spiders as result. After all that you don't think it's forward to ask your matron for a boon. Your matron looks at you curiously. "What sort of boon?" In your most supplicating voice you say you want some time with the girls. Your matron looks down at her deliciously fully breasts and then puts her hands on her hips. "Oh you! But wait until we get somewhere a little more private." She winks. You roll your eyes and clarify that you were hoping to pet her tails. (although you might take her up on her offer later.) Your matron pauses and then says "Fine, just not too rough. my darlings are sensative. She turns and you put a tenative hand on one of her large, fluffy and full. She trembles as you move your hand gently up and down. Now the real question is how much force you should put into it. [[heavy petting->kitsune 0+0+1 petting hard]](bow chicka wowow) [[just get a feel for it->kitsune 0+0+1 petting soft]](Tails are like kittens, you don't want to scare them with too much force.)

so this should be a totally mental change: magic makes sense matron into ??? (mistress name) not quite subservience but loyalty and adoration breasts get a little bigger The kitsune is satisfied and simply ends the fight

You have been through a lot and she pulled a rather mean spirited trick. If your matron's tails are as sensitive as she says, then it's time for a little payback. You take a moment to appreciate each of your mistresses tails. They are marvelously fluffy, a shimmering silver with layers of fur, the creating a sort of compression as you handle them ever so gently. Your matron shivers as you test the springiness of the tails. A quick squeeze shows that they spring back to the correct shape almost immediately. The shininess of the silver fur and the pleasant sensation makes this a enjoyable pastime. After a bit of this your matron finally says “Well get on with it then.” Well she told you too, might as well oblige her. You pet strongly, grabbing firmly at the fluff. Your matron lets out a gasp and shivers. You continue petting gradually increasing the pressure and observing her reaction. Having caught her by the tail so to speak, she can’t do much as you pet those tails mercilessly. Before long she starts to giggle and get into it. She moans slightly and starts to push back towards you. You keep going until she looks about to pee. You aren’t sure about the rules here but that seems like a good place to stop. Your matron turns looking seriously pissed off at you. There is a hint of a smile in her anger. “Nothing you didn’t bring on yourself.” You try to scramble away but she is just a hair faster and she catches you from behind. [[Something about turn about and fair play comes to mind.->kitsune 0+0+1 petting hard part 1]] (set: $kitsunefloof to 1)

No need to get rough. Just get aquainted with the tails. You have one yourself now, and this can be a learning experience. You stroke up and down watching your matron's reaction carefully. she flinches at your first gentle touch. you fluff the fluff, and gently ever so gently draw your hand up and down the soft silver mass. She lets out a gentle gasp. The tails are just so amazingly soft. you gather them up in arms and rest your head on them. Man to have softness like this on demand must be heaven. Also probably makes camping a lot easier. You close your eyes and take a quiet breather. The smell is a little strange but not unpleasent. Your matron makes alarmed noises. "Hey don't fall asleep back there." you grip the beauties tighter and make an exagerated snoring noise. Your matron lets out an alarmed whine. She shuffles urgently, and her tails move within her grasp. You open an eye to see her with a look of childish alarm. supressing a giggle, you tighten your grip. She fidgets some more, and the motion is apparently too much for her sensitive tails as she releases a moan. "Stop already." Laughing you finally let go. Your matron gives you a playful look and seems willing to let it go. After handling fluff like that you feel refreshed. [[Time to keep moving.->kitsune 1 argument 3]]

Cohen always stressed practicality in combat. the first bit of advice he ever gave you, was him saying that stories tend to speak of shining blades twirling and spinning he had survived many battles by not doing that. You can almost hear Cohen tut at you mentally, he wouldn't approve of what's coming next. With your most heroic voice (although a bit more feminine now) you call out "Don't worry mistress, I'll clear the way." You let you a roar and charge the nearest spider. Your blade was made to cut and parry precisely. You slash wildly shouting insults and frothing at the mouth. The spiders react with bemusement and growing concern as you get closer and closer. You curse and grab at the spider's spears; doing everything you can to force your enemies off balance. The spiders are on guard though and you are encircled. You move from side to side trying to keep them from from finally getting you. Your impalement or at least capture seems imminent. Then to your surprise, they back off . You feel a blast of hot air from behind you and glance back to see what's happening. Your matron is rushing forwards to catch up with you, her robes billowing against her tails. Her expression is one of genuine terror. She reaches you and then asks panicked "What are you doing?" You try not giggle. "Driving back your enemies, mistress. We shall not let them befoul the path." Combat always makes time flow a bit weirdly, you take a second to admire the fluffy hair of her ears reared up in worry. "That's not as important as you staying safe." Good thing you are here then." You parry a spear thrust and rush forward again. Out of the corner of your eye you see your matron unleash magic to put Ron to shame. Amazingly, impossibly your plan actually works. The spiders exchange a few shouts and then seem to decide that being roasted alive isn't worth the glory that capturing you or your matron might gain them. Cowards. They do make many lewd gestures as the leave though. Once you are alone your matron grabs you and looks at you a combination of worried and angry. “Don’t you ever do that again.” You pause before answering. “It seemed the only to ensure my freedom.” Your matron answers immediately. “Even that’s not worth endangering yourself. I’m here to protect you.” “I wasn’t sure.” The world around you seems drained of blue. Although it filters back in as you move away from the ambush. She pouts, all her tails drooping. “You are no good to me dead. I will protect you so you don’t need to push yourself like that.” (set: $wonambush to 1) [[That’s as close to an apology as you are going to get.->kitsune 1 argument 3]]

There is an electric shock as your matron grabs your tail. She gives a gentle initial caress. If she’s being nice now she’s planning on being mean later. It’s too late to try and slip free. A quick glance at your matron shows that she is sporting a devilish grin. The sensation climbs as she gently runs her hands down your tail. She does this a few times, and then suddenly she switches to doing it hard and fast. Your eyes start to go up into your head and you grow weak in your knees. You manage to moan a few pleas for her to stop. Her assault is relentless and you finally drop to your knees. Your ears perk up and you are powerless to do anything but moan. You come damn close to peeing yourself only for your matron to finally stop. She looks down at you you triumphantly. "Let that teach you a lesson." [[Don't start it if you can't take it->kitsune 1 argument 3]] [[Yeah, pet then dash->kitsune 1 argument 3]]

Your matron resumes relighting the path. Although she moves a bit faster than before and you keep a careful watch on the trees. (if: $ambushwon is 1)[The spiders might be stubborn enough to try again, although they will need to bring a lot more.] As she straightens up from lighting a lamp she says to no one in particular. "A fine rescue." (if: $ambushwon is 0)[If that's what she wants to call putting you in danger for petty reasons, sure.](if: $ambushwon is 1)[She's right if you hadn't pushed the attack, you would have never gotten out of there.] You admit that it wasn't your best work but did as good as could be hoped under the circumstances. Your matron shoots you a confused look. "A strange thing to say when I did all the rescuing." (if:$ambushwon is 0)[A biased way to see it to be sure.](if:$ambushwon is 1)[You wouldn't have gotten out without her help to be sure, but you had to practically force her to do it.] [[Probably better to let sleeping foxes lie->kitsune 1 argument three settle]] [[Maybe your matron would benefit from an honest telling?.->kitsune 1 argument three push]] (IF: $kitsunecurse is 1 or 2)[(Based on how she has acted so far, she seems very attached to her version of events.)]

You indirectly compliment your matron’s performance, figuring it the better option. Your matron smiles happy at your acceptance. "I was pretty spectacular, wasn't I? Still I will admit that you played an important role.” (if: $ambushwon is 1)[Understatement of the year right there.] She eyes you optimistically. "A bit more of my guidance and you won't need me to rescue you." She has a hint of a smile and her tails perk at the thought. The offer might be tempting, but now and here so close to your escape? Not on your life. You murmur an excuse and focus on finally escaping this accursed forest. [[Onward->kitsune 1 final argument]]

You admit that she did perform her part admirably, but her timing could have used a little work. The kitsune raises an eyebrow. She remains quiet. (if: $ambushwon is 1)[Had she taken a more active role; you wouldn’t have needed to put yourself into so much danger to force her to act.] (if: $ambushwon is 0)[Your matron’s plan while perhaps having a noble aim was still childish. If she believes in her teachings then she shouldn’t use threats of harm to force others to accept them.] You expect more from your matron. The kitsune is growing angrier and angrier her disguise slipping as her ears flare up and her tails go wild. "A good teacher admits her mistakes. So I admit what I did was wrong. But let me teach you a lesson in humility." She snaps her fingers. Your hair seemingly gains a mind of it's own, you watch awed in a mirror as it forms itself into a complicated bun. Your face gains some delicate makeup, which you can tell is meant to be alluring. The biggest change however is when you take a step. You move delicately, putting some sway into your hips as if to be enticing. Even the frustrated sigh you give is more pouting than anything else. [[Well this is going to be annoying->kitsune 1 final argument]] (set: $kitsunecurse to $kitsunecurse + 1) note: may need to rewrite to be less hostile

The trees thin, and you can finally see the beautiful blue sky. Your ears perk and you are fairly certain your tail starts to wag in joy. At the edge of the forest you take a moment to drop to your knees. Your matron looks at you smiling. "I can’t imagine your desperation." She moves forward and pets your head affectionately. A part of you remembers to fight the urge to nuzzle her hand. “But I’m here now.” Any further sentiments are cut off by a surprisingly loud rumble from her stomach. She looks embarrassed and blushes more than you would have thought her regal countenance capable of. "Excus-" It starts up again, echoing off of the trees and she gives up on talking. She finds a dry patch of dirt in the sun and sits down content. From the voluminous folds of her robes she produces a rice paper package. She tears it open with a relish revealing a row of dazzling white rice balls. She chows down on these with a relish. She is so distracted that if you might sneak one away from her. Of course given the success rate on your other rice ball theft this might not be the best idea. [[Stealing a rice ball last time had decidedly mixed results->kitsune 1 final argument warning]] [[Discretion is probably the better part of staying alive.->kitsune 1 rescue choice]] Note to self: future choice version is just asking.

You find the hair on your tails and ears standing up as you contemplate stealing the rice balls. Your matron wouldn't hurt you would she? No probably not, not hurting you is a very different thing than punishing you (if curse is greater than 1)[she has already proved pretty darn creative when it comes to that.] Given that taking rice balls pissed her off so much the first time, you can't expect it to work out much better the second time. [[Go for it, damn the consequences->kitsune bad end]] [[maybe this isn't the best idea->kitsune 1 rescue choice]]

You take in your surroundings as your matron devours the rice balls with a speed that is unladylike. The sun is setting and dying the sky a blazing orange. In the distance you see a town, if you desire to rescue your friends, that’s where you should regroup and rearm. On the other hand your matron no doubt has plans for you. Your matron stands up and (if: $kitsunecurse is < 3)[is looking at you expectantly, probably waiting for you to follow her back to her temple.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[with disinterest and seems eager to say goodbye.] (if: $kitsunecurse is < 3)[Part of you wants to simply follow your matron’s lead. Perhaps you have had your fill of danger, and want [[the peace she offers.->kitsune 1 early kitsune ending]]] (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[[[You nearly died and if your matron won’t have you it’s time to find a new life->kitsune 1 early human ending]]] Your matron is wise, if you explain yourself she will understand and help. [[With her on your side it will be simple.->kitsune 1 town]]

It’s difficult to resist your matron’s will, and ultimately it’s just easier to give her what she wants. She undoubtedly has your best interests at heart. Your friends are lost to you, they might escape, they can certainly escape without your help. Why put yourself at further risk? Coward. Your matron embraces you, smiling like you were a lost child returned home. You feel safe, at ease. She whistles and a cart with flaming wheels drawn by creatures more head than body descends from the heavens. Your matron hops onto it neatly, and then offers you a gentle hand up. You sit next to your matron and she bounces excitedly. You battle vertigo as the ground flies away and the cart lifts off into the air. You close your eyes and grip the cart as hard as you can. Your matron comforts you with headpats, it helps a little. A half-hour of suffering later you reach your matron's temple. It is resplendent, a blizzard of whites and reds. Your matron is greeted by a crowd of nuns dressed in the same robes as you. You become their newest sister. Life among the nuns is regimented, full of devotion, ritual and prayers. You find you have a talent for this life, even if it is at times boring. You eventually become a fine nun, even if your heart isn’t entirely in it. Your matron seems to note your discomfort, and always makes every effort to make sure you feel at home. After many promises of a surprise you are finally brought before her and the most senior priestesses. You kneel and thank her for her benevolence. She bids you rise and you can see her smile. “I have a task of utmost importance that only you can perform. You are to lead a group of sisters to another fallen temple.” The temple is being besieged by monsters of the desert. To restore it is a holy duty and part of you longs for the change of pace. But it will no doubt be difficult. The nuns are ferociously trained fighters but naive. Perhaps this adventure will turn out better than your last one. Bad End: Missionary [[credits]]

You try to rationalize it to yourself, everyone knew the risks when they signed on. Cohen even said most adventurers don’t die of old age. Coward Your matron looks at you disappointed, mutters something about you being unteachable. She gives a loud shrill whistle which seems especially punishing to your new ears. A flying wagon drawn by monsters more head than body appears and she boards with regal grace. You are alone by yourself on the edges of the field. You look towards the village, if there were any survivors they would go there. You set off into the twilight away from the village, looking for a road. You made your own destiny by your own hand once. Perhaps despite how much it pains you, it can be done again. It is difficult for a woman by herself to find good work. Well at least work that's not demeaning. To say nothing of a woman who has fox ears and tail. Thankfully while on the road you meet a band of traveling entertainers. They are nice enough people and they take you on as performer. Your acting leaves much too desired, but you find yourself able to conjure crude illusions and impossible fireworks. With some guidance you might be better but you are good enough to wow the provincial crowds. You practice constantly, much to consternation of your troupe. Your beauty attracts many suitors and helps your stage presence. In time you grow to enjoy performing, it doesn’t give you quite the rush of combat but it’s something. You do always cover your ears when they tell the heroic epics and the poetic edda. It’s an enjoyable life, except when it comes time to load everything back on the wagon. Kitsune 1: apostasy [[credits]]

You signal to your matron that you need to talk. She gives you a motherly look, if slightly condescending. “What worries you my dear?” You smile trying to seem vulnerable. Despite yourself it makes you a little nervous to ask her for help. You take a deep breath and then explain your story in full. How you were a farmer's son, who fell in with Cohen in search of adventure. your misadventure this morning and how your friends were captured. You do your best to smooth over your thought process in eating the rice balls. The kitsune nods which makes the hair in her ears sway a bit. “And here I thought you must be a runaway supplicant, to find my temple. But you need not worry, I’m sure the spiders won’t be too harsh on your friends.” She starts to turn and you do your best pout. She stops and looks at you concerned. “I’m sorry my dear, but making sure you are safe is more important. Now come along dear, you have so much more(if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[ to learn.](if: $kitsunecurse is > 0)[to be taught.]” Not the response you were hoping for, she pauses. “Wait did you say Cohen?” You nod happy she is paying attention. Thinking quickly you add that you have heard him referred to as a barbarian. Hey eyes widen. "Looks a bit like this?" With a few complicated movements she manages to render his outline in the shimmery blue. You nod, he is a lot older than that to be sure. She seems excited "Oh I haven't seen him in decades. Does he still have his sword?" You nod slowly, last time you saw him. No telling if he does now. No wait Cohen would sooner kill every spider he saw than part from that thing. The kitsune seems excited. "Do you know where he is?" You shrug, and respond that if he escaped, he would no doubt have gone back to the village to resupply and rearm. The kitsune bounces in place, grabs your hand and leads the way towards [[the village in the distance.->kitsune 1 town 1]] (if: $hidden is 1)[Note to self: kitsune 2 probably has something about how you need to be respectful when petitioning a divine representative. Also the kitsune probably asks about Cohen’s smell.]

Your matron leads you at a dignified pace through the fields surrounding the village. At the village's center you spot Cohen doing his best to raise funds. He is performing feats of strength and swordplay for onlookers. The townspeople are mostly giving him stares and polite indifference. He is however surrounded by a crowd of star struck children. They are listening as he regales them with tales of fighting dragons and pillaging faraway lands. You can almost see the universe of their imaginations being expanded. Perhaps you were like them once. (if: $prudence is 1)[Thankfully](if: $coward is 1)[For better or worse] it led you here. He stands atop a legendary haul of apples, hay pennies and the occasional shiny pebble. Your matron leads the way to the edge of the crowd and then calls out "How much for a story about me?" A complicated series of emotions flit across Cohen's face as he recognizes your matron. It takes him a second to understand as he sees you, his eyes flit up to your ears twice before he seems to understand. He has a tired expression, like a man’s wagon rolling away from him. He adopts a professional expression. "Ah for a woman as beautiful as you, no charge." The children all look back to your matron with annoyance melting into enthusiasm. It must seem like a tale come to life to see a pair of fox-eared women. Cohen spins a dramatic tale of an man cursed with superhuman strength. But everytime he performed a feat the curse asked for something, The requests started out innocuous, to kill one of his neighbor’s chickens. But gradually grew darker, more demanding. Finally the man attempting to preserve his sanity, sought benediction and received it. This doesn't seem like Cohen's story, but it seems to be familiar to the kitsune. With his tale told Cohen thanks the children for their audience. They accept magnanimously. He moves through the crowd with a purpose. "Good to see both of you." He eyes your matron cautiously and then turns to you with concern. [["How did you escape youngling?"->kitsune 1 town 2]]

You admit to your inglorious capture, and your misadventures following your lucky escape. With your matron right there you don’t have much of an option but to praise her for your “rescue”. Cohen suppresses a laugh when you admit to eating the rice balls in front of the kitsune. Your matron seems ignored and you see her tails wag happily as Cohen turns to her. He smiles. "Been a long time my dear." She smiles back just as widely. "You went a little grey while I was gone didn't you?" Cohen puts a hand through what's left of his beard. "Happens to the best of us." He gives you quick appraisal. "Glad to see you in one piece, if with a bit more hair youngling." He checks the position of the sun, soon to set. "Hmm we had better find somewhere to rest for the night, and something to eat." He seems to realize and quickly adds "If that's alright with your grace?" He seems hesitant to give your matron any reverence, probably doesn’t want it to go to her head. The kitsune nods imperially, "I look forward to seeing what rustic charms are available." She turns to leave and you are about to follow when Cohen calls out. "Help me gather the haul youngling." Cohen is kneeling to gather up the apples and occasional coin. He's even taking up some of the better-looking pebbles. [[Off to the nearest inn->kitsune 1 town 3]]

Cohen leads you to the town's inn/bar/hostel. It's a rundown place with moldering thatch. Something about it bugs you, although you have stayed at similar places before. It seems improper maybe unworthy? The kitsune pauses in front of the tavern and seems unwilling to go further. Cohen gets an annoyed look and then raises an eyebrow. "Some difficulty your grace?" The kitsune's expression settles on one of revulsion. "I have no desire to spend my first night after returning to my duties in a hovel like this." Cohen nods and then takes a furtive step towards the tavern. "Well, then we should meet tomorrow morning. Come along youngling." He gives you a desperate glance and you are unexpectedly torn. The kitsune smiles. "I have a better idea." She gives a whistle so loud you have to flatten your ears against your skull. A cart with flaming wheels drawn by creatures more head than body descends from the heavens. Cohen sighs heavily, some how unimpressed. "I have your word my grace that we will return here after a single human night?" The kitsune smiles and teases "So paranoid in your old age." In a display of fox like agility she leaps upon the wagon. Cohen unexpectedly sincere. "My younglings are in jeopardy. It wouldn't do to abandon them no matter how blissful our destination." The kitsune nods and then offers you a hand up. In no time at all the wagon is whisking you away far into the sky. Cohen seems unaffected but it's a struggle to keep your apples down. [[Then something comes into view->the bathhouse]]

Klaysee's advice: I think purely mental ones should be slow, and make the person think it was their own decision to change. And then they look back at their old self and wonder how could they have possibly been like that. Salty's advice: you basically get the choice of brainwashing or choice, as those are the only two options that lead to the outcome in question if the outcome is determined, you get their willingly or unwillingly to make it natural in either case is a different question, because a slow change of perspective is just how people naturally change so to do it the way Klaysee suggested: As the character becomes accustomed to their body, they find thoughts entering their head that didn't before. After a while it becomes hard to ignore, and the character confronts the elder kitsune about it it seems nefarious, but it isn't. Those thoughts are natural, you're just in tune with a new sort of worldview and this is the natural way of changing to meet it. if someone says something that really sticks with you, you know how this goes. And then a week later you ask them about it and they explain themselves.

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You take a moment to feel yourself over. you are a full spider girl (If: $spidertogether is 1)[like scarlet, but without the sucking wound and generally more awesome.] You cut a fearsome figure atop 6 multi jointed legs. Your arms are covered in chitin up to the shoulder. Your arms are also noticably longer, it would probably be diconcerting on a human figure but it seems proprotional on your frame. You have sprouted a few more pairs of eyes to help you see around your much larger form better. Your balance and walking speed are much improved. Bending forward as if to touch your toes allows you to see under your abdomen, There you have a pair of smaller "fingers" enabling you to spin web without thinking about it. Perhaps more importantly despite the trials of the day you feel stronger and more capable than before. You feel like you could run down a rabbit and then take it's head mid-stride. Which is a bit unnerving to feel when you think about it. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet is giving your form approving looks and trying to stand on "Tiptoe" To match your height. It's adorable in a little sister sort of way.] Right time to get get things to gether and keep moving. You gather the ruined remains of your clothes, tyring mostly in vain to preserve your modesty. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet fusses over your appearance a bit, trying to fashion your rags into a vest similar to hers. "We don't have enough time to put your hair into a war bun, but the least I can do is tie it back for you. Now if I just had a spear for you." You give her a look and she grows sheepish. "Before you get senior enough to hunt you have to help the hunters prepare." You roll all of your eyes and let her secure your hair with a tie of spider-silk. She gives you an enthuiastic pat on the back and you get ready to keep running.] (If: $spidertogether is 0)[You turn your head scanning for sound in the middle distance only to have to blink one pair of eyes rapidly. Your hair has also gotten longer and with this many eyes it's a miracle you got any distance at all with out being blinded. Fuck you have to do something. Moving on some primal instinct you retrive abit of thread from the fingers beneath your abdomen and clumsily tie a bit of your hair. It's pretty far down thorugh so it smacks you in the face more than once. Still it's the best you can do right now and you get ready to resume the fleeing.] (link:"link text")[(set $var to 2)(goto:"passage name")] (If: $spidertogether is 1)[(link:"Tease scarlet and ask if this makes her your squire")(set: $spidertease to 1)(goto:"spider 1 escape two")] [[keep running->spider 1 escape two]]

The reason people like the kitsune is because she gives off a dom vibe

(If: $spidertease is 1)[Scarlet blushes a lot more deeply than you would expect for a comment like that. "No I wasn't trying to imply anything" She straightens up. "Anyway you should complete a hunt successfully before expecting me to really attend to you." She tries to give you a flirtous wink. She doesn't really have the bearing for it."] You make the the best speed you can on foot. Forcing yourself through the underbrush pausing only to shield your newly numerous eyes. Your chitin is scratch resistent but you find your enlarged form poorly suited to the task. Your long flexible legs enable you to move quickly, but have the side effect of making it easy to get to get caugh oon branches and logs as you move. In this uneven terrain it's a mixed blessing. With a minimal head movement you examine the trees above you. That's how your purseurs are chasing you but there isn't much cover up there(If: $spidertogether is 1)[, and trying to get Scarlet up there would be a fool's errand.]. Still you keep moving, stopping isn't an option. Not yet and not with them so close. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet does her best to keep up, but you running at a healthy speed is proving too much for her.] As you run down a hill you spot movement on the next ridge. You stop suddenly and throw yourself into cover. The younger spider is keeping a determined vigil. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet aims for you, grabbing you in a hug as she dives for cover.] If you can see one the others are close, the spdiers are definitely smart enough to not split up in the forest. You hear noise in the distance. Hmm, if she is keeping watch then they are probably sweeping towards her. Classic hunting technique, drive the prey towards a waiting hunter. You suddenly feel a bit like a rabbit with dogs at it's heels and like you have just as many options. You briefly consider your limited options. The spider-girl ahead of you seems junior, she might be coaxed forwards you and you try to get past her. Alternatively, if you know what they are doing you could try to hide from them. They are probably counting on you being afraid and disoriented. (only half of that is true.) It won't be easy but it might be your best chance. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[To say nothing of hiding Scarlet.] Finally, you could imitate the noble rabbit and just try to run for it. That rarely works for the rabbit though.(If: $spidertogether is 1)[You sincerely doubt that Scarlet is up for much more sprinting.] Some part of your mind rebels at this prospect though. Why shouldn't you fight them, as strong as you feel. Then the sensible parts come back to the fore and you recognize that won't end well. [[Hide->spider 1 escape two success]] [[run->spider 1 capture 2]] \(if: $spiderdistraction is 0)[[[cause a distraction->spider 1 escape two distraction success]]] \(if: $spiderdistraction is 1)[[[cause a distraction->spider 1 escape two distraction failure]]]

Hiding is far from your first option, your new form while strong and elegant is still large and difficult to conceal. Still you doubt that you can out run them, even with the same number of legs they know the terrain better and probably aren't as hungry. You take a breath, if you hurry you won't have any time at all until you are caught. What do you know about your pursurers? Assuming they were part of the initial ambush they have been ranging far. You have been running fast and without much stopping. They are probably tired and hungry. Not in the mood to properly follow your trail. Which means they are more likely to think they didn't follow your trail properly. You smile to yourself as the plan forms. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet flatly says "You want to do what?" You try to give her your most winning smile. It is a little funny that after everything else, she thinks that this is the crazy part. "They will sweep into here, and what's to stop them from finding us? You give her a wink, "How well we are going to hide of course." The spiders obviously won't expect it. "My companion frederick always said you could hide anything if you put it where they weren't looking." Scarlet raised a few eyebrows. Didn't seem to do much for him did it?" You give her a fierce look, anger radiation from all sets of your eyes and she grows sheepish. "Sorry."] \(If: $spidertogether is 0)[Cohen was a born hunter, but you aren't hunting animals. You are the hunted, which means you need to take a page from Frederick's book. Getting into and out of as much trouble as he did gave him a keen insight into the mind of pursuers. Frederick was always claimed that you could hide almost anything if you put it where they wouldn't think to look. Well let's flip things around then. If you were hunting something like yourself what would you assume? They have probably seen enough of your tracks to figure that you have become a full spider at this point. Hmm, that might make this harder or easier. Too close to call. Either way, they will probably figure something as big as you won't hide anywhere too cramped.] [[Better move quick->spider 1 escape two success 1]]

You put to heels and run with your strong graceful legs. The terrain is difficult, but the freedom you feel in running makes you feel invincible. You almost don't notice just how much noise you make as you crash through the underbrush. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet tries to follow your pace, but she is gasping for breath before long. Still she must be making just as much noise as you.] In an unhappy echo of this morning a spider drops from the trees infront of you. If there is one in front of you then there is almost another one flanking you. You let out a frustrated growl and charge the one in front of you almost on instinct. the senior spider-girl forces you back onto your abdomen with her spear and you are quickly captured. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[Scarlet lets out a disappointed noise, frustrated there won't be a more epic tale.]

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Your viewpoint isn't great but you can tell the three spiders are meeting from the markings on their feet. From the way the way they keep treading over the same pieces of ground, they are looking for your tracks. It took some doing but you managed to cover your tracks. One speaks up. "Any chance it got past you?" The responder sounds troubled. "I heard nothing, saw nothing. Perhaps it's in the trees?" She seems serious as she says this. The final one speaks. "Unlikely, we would have seen or heard it up there. espcially if they hadn't used the trees before. It must have slipped past one of us. Double back." The trio heads back into the woods. (If: $spidertogether is 1)[You and Scarlet and crushed together beneath the log you are hiding under. Your boobs are rubbing and Scarlet is failing to be casual about it. It takes more than a bit of struggling and scraping to free yourself. You are covered in dirt by the end of it and Scarlet does her best to clean you off. (If: $spidertogether is 0)[You let out a sigh of relief and start to dig yourself out from under the tree they were hiding under.] The spiders must of figured nothing as large as you could hide in a hole that small. Probably never had to consider hiding like that, if only you had that strenghth. [[Onward it can't be much further now.->spider 1 event 2]]

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Looking yourself over you realize you have been shaped into something greater by your mistress.

The lady turns and leads your party through the hallways and up multiple floors. The hallways form a square around a vast central courtyard. It’s slow going as (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[the kitsune stops to greet creatures she seems to know. You and Cohen take in the sights, often gazing over the side to admire the large ornate baths on the bottom floor.] (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron often stops and introduces you to the various monsters she seems to know. You keep getting shushed when you try to ask questions, which annoys you to no end. In between shushing sessions you gaze over the side, looking at the large ornate baths at the bottom.](if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[ You spot a gaggle of women wearing makeup similar to yours. They are smiling and giggling at passerbys obviously hoping to pratice the world's oldest profession. Your cheeks burn with embarassment.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[As you walk by swaying your hips, they look you over, wondering if you are competition.] As (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[the kitsune](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron] greets a large radish shaped creature, you (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[take a moment](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You momentarily retreat] to ask Cohen “Have you ever seen such a place before?” Cohen nods “I have been here once, with our mutual friend. It's all a bit fuzzy. I still remember the best parts.” He gives a (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[grin which signals that he definitely got laid.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[rougish grin.] You finally reach a large private room. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[You wonder how private it can be with a sliding paper door. Still the chance of a brawl breaking out is small so it should be okay.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[A sliding door provides privacy, although you wonder what the odds are of Cohen accidentally putting a hand though it are.] The room is sparse but lavishly decorated in what it does has. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[No beds or straw though.] The room is dominated by a rocky bath with a view of the stars. The fact that this is happening despite being on a high floor can probably be chocked up to magic. (if: $hideme is 1)[at Kitsune 2 have a comment about how the kitsune's magic is probably superior.] Cohen bounds forward at the sight though. “Ah youngling have you ever seen one of these before? The water is nice and warm.” You give him a confused look. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[The kitsune speaks up matter of factly](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron take a moment to instruct you] “A hot spring, the water is heated far below the surface and comes up warm.” Cohen has already stripped and is soaking with an appreciative sigh. “These are wonderful for your joints.” He has a blissful look. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[The kitsune](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron] rolls her eyes and then speaks up, “We should probably order food and drinks. It might be better if you stay in the room Cohen. I have been a away a long time and will take my meal elsewhere.” She gives you an expectant look.(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[No telling the amount of trouble Cohen might make for your matron if he wandered the halls.] Cohen shrugs, trying to clean behind his ears. “Whatever you prefer milady. Probably better that the youngling isn’t unaccompanied though. Do whatever makes you comfortable youngling.” (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[Seems pretty obvious that cohen is trying to give you space to refuse going with the kitsune if you so choose.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Cohen seems apprehensive about pushing you into a situation where you feel like you need to be with your matron.] (if: $hideme is 1)[the kitsune 1 line needs fixing] [[Stay with cohen->bath house cohen]] [[Go with the kitsune->bath house kitsune]] \(set: $BathHouseKitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $BathHouseKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Description to 1)

(if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[Cohen smiles wide at you, the kitsune seems hurt and leaves sliding the door shut behind her.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron seems momentarily betrayed and perhaps a shadow of doubt crosses your face. This is quickly dispelled by Cohen managing to squirt you with water despite the distance.](if: $hideme is 1)[Maybe have for kitsune 2 a comment about how you aren't who your matron needs right now. ] \(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You quickly remove your robes, struggling momentarily with knots. You then hesitate for a moment, for a bath like this you are probably required to wash off before getting in. Cohen looks like he's in heaven in though, so you split the difference and bring a scrub brush and soap as you get in. The bath is spacious, probably large enough for three people. Cohen has started to spread out immediately, still there is more than enough space to enjoy yourself in what's left. The warm water brings up some unexpected feelings, particularly as you have to deal with your sodden tail. It's already sensitive, soaking it in warm water and squishing it against the wall behind you isn't helping. Thankfully any awkward noises on your end are easily covered by the belabored almost forced sighs Cohen is making at soaking in the warm water.] (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[ You shuck your robes and follow Cohen's example in getting into the water. There is probably space for three people to fit comfortably in the bath. You and Cohen both spread out, your new anatomy makes the warm water feel a little awkward but any discomfort is covered by the loud sighs of enjoyment Cohen makes.(if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[The kitsune's curse makes you pose yourself alluringly at first but then you realize what you are doing. Cohen doesn't seem to notice.] (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[You take a moment to examine your still powdered skin. You hadn't had a chance to look earlier but the painted white effect isn't limited to your hands and face. All of your skin has been painted that unearthly white color.] (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[You look a bit like a not very frightenting ghost. To make things worse no amount of scrubbing is getting the white paint off. Cohen notes your consternation with a smile. "I wouldn't worry too much youngling. Our friend was probably more trying to make a point than doing anything lasting. I'll talk to her in the morning."](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[In between your painted skin and alluring makeup, you look like a foreign courtesian. You scrub and you scrub but make no progress at all in removing the it. Finally you sigh defeated. At least you don't need soap to smell nice. Cohen giggles at your frustration. "You must of kept pushing your luck huh youngling? It's generally easier to redirect our friend than go against her." Yeah yeah laugh it up. Then you mention that you can't swear. Cohen's face changes immediately. "Hmm, that's over the line. I'll have a talk with her in the morning. Still don't worry too much youngling.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[In between the painted skin, makeup and immaculate hair do you can't help but think you look like a high class lady of the night. That's no way for an adventurer such as yourself to look so you scrub and scrape trying to get off the unnatural white color. It's hopeless, you'd have to remove your skin to get anywhere. At least your coifed hair surrenders to be washed when you hit it with some soap. Perhaps most insulting your personal scent is better than the soap! Cohen watches with great amusement. "You must of really tried to annoy her didn't you youngling. It's been a long time since I've seen her use that many spells on someone. Take a lesson from all this and work on handling her better. You won't win trying to take her head on." You quickly question him on the other spells the kitsune has used. Does she always curse people to be inable to swear and move alluringly? Cohen grows concerned immediately. This is apparently a step further than he's ever seen the kitsune go. "That's further than I'll stand for. I'll talk to her in the morning. You won't get get very far in the fighting to come if you swing your hips with every step." He smiles reassuringly. "Don't worry we will get you fixed up youngling."]] The water is however heavenly, and unbidden a number of deep sighs falls from your mouth. It is also murky enough to thankfully cover the most horrific of [[Cohen's scars.]] (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Maybe your matron could do something for those?] (if: $hideme is 1)[(curse descriptions here:)] Your muscles stop being quite so sore in the warm water. You are thankfully mostly whole for all the fighting today(if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[, but you have your fair share of bruises]. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[Your white painted skin is hiding the purples and blues of your bruises. They still hurt though.] To say nothing of how tired you are after so much running and fighting. You lie back, gently examining how your newly long hair floats in the water around you (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[and absentmindedly running your fingers over where your eyebrows used to be.]. Your eyes grow heavy and you almost nod off only to be awoken by the sudden trundling noise of the opening of the door. A server enters the room with a tray. She is wearing a plain robe accented by a pair of racoon ears and bit of dark makeup around her eyes. She kneels down to place the floating trey onto the water. Cohen catches her eye with his most winning smile. She blushes and looks away. [[Oh boy it's gonna be a long night.->bath house cohen 1]] (set: $bathhousecohen to 1) \(if: $hideme is 1)[ Insert bathing scene here, make mention of curse level Cohen reminds the player that it’s generally easier to go along with things like the kitsune than oppose them. (At higher tf levels remember to wash before entering)] \(set: $kitsunemadcounter to it + 1) \(set: $kitsuneoffense to 5) \(set: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $CohenKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 0) \(set: $Kitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $Cohen0Gear to 1) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 0) \(set: $BathHouseKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Description to 0)

(if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[How can you not? You look different, keep catching echoes of a blue light behind you and had to put with that kitsune for an uncomfortable amount of time.(if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[To say nothing of the effects of the kitsune's curse.] (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[You can't even swear.]] (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Of course you feel different, you have sprouted ears and a tail. That's to say nothing to the strange blue light that so often suffuses things. And you keep referring to your matron as "your matron". Still given your matron's power it could be a lot worse.] [[You nod “I’m managing.”->bath house cohen tree]]

(if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[Hell you came here with her, and she is paying for all the food and drink, least you can do is keep her company. It doesn’t have to get awkward.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron despite everying is being a gracious host. The least you can do is spend sometime with her. The desire to explore and see new creatures is strong, beside you doubt that even a new setting will keep Cohen from trotting out the same old stories.] (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[The kitsune leads you to a large outdoor bath, beneath a picturesque starry sky. There is a small table and cushions to sit upon, racooned ear servers quickly layout an elaborate meal. You eat next to the bath as the kitsune points out the various constellations. Well that and drinks a copious amount. Her cheeks are rosy by the time you finish the first course and given the way the racoon eared waitresses keep coming you won’t finish soon. You sample the alcohol, it’s not the strongest but either your new form doesn’t do well with alcohol or you don’t have much tolerance as a girl. You don’t drink much. You haven’t trusted the kitsune so far, why on earth would you trust her enough to get drunk with? (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[Your powder white hands make it hard to make nice.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Your powdered hands and made up face are straining your sympathy.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Your powdered hands, inability to curse and how you keep absentmindedly pushing forward your new cleveage are keeping you from feeling too trusting.] By the third course the kitsune is starting to ugly cry. She is all but bawling and keeps hugging you to her chest. “I miss her, I really miss her.” She sobs. It’s super awkward, and more than a little uncomfortable. Then she chokes out the most uncomfortable thing. “You look just like her you know.” Words fail to describe just how awkward this is. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[Is this why she wanted you in make up?] The kitsune starts disrobing apropos of absolutely nothing. “Should we have fun like we used to?” She eyes the bath optimistically, and you can’t help but notice that she looks even better with her clothes off. Her tails keep moving her soft hair out of her frace as she looks at you. Man if life has taught you anything it’s that drunken hook ups rarely make life simpler. On the other hand, this is a once in a lifetime chance. [[Do the responsible thing->bath house kitsune sober]] [[Go for it->bath house kitsune fun]]] (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[The kitsune leads you to a large outdoor bath, beneath a picturesque starry sky. This is framed by the large impossible branches of the blooming cherry tree. It's beautiful beyond words. Your matron smiles at you serenly as you take in the sights. The bath would easily be large enough to swim in. By it's side are a low table and coushins to sit on. It's sort of awkward to kneel on them but you manage. Your matron kneels with a practiced air of grace and looks almost regal with her tails fanned out behind her. A racooned ear server approaches and you let out a giggle at her expression as your matron orders. Before long she returns with a veritble army of companions who serve an impressively varied meal with an array of drink. You recongize very little of the food, it's mostly fish? It's tough to say. Your matron invites you to try everything and tells you what combinations go best together. It's a little intimidating. Served with the meal are a pair of mysterious sticks. They don't seem sharp enough to spear food with and don't seem to have any cleaning purpose. Your matron slips an arm loose of her robe and gently demonstrates how to properly hold them for eating. You suppose it's better than everyone putting their hands in everything but it's still damnsome inconvient. She also starts sipping her drink early. It doesn't smell especially alcoholic, and it's been a hard day. What's the harm in letting down your guard a little? You sip and are rewarded with a subtle sweet taste. Still Cohen's warnings about good and bad times to get drunk ring your mind. So you only sample the drink. Which is good because apparently you don't have much tolerance as a girl. After a few courses of the meal you can't help but notice that your matron's robe keeps slipping low exposing her nape and hinting at her cleaveage. This is accentuated by how she sits, somehow pulling her robe tight enough to highlight the curve of her hips and waist. It'd probably look silly if you weren't tipsy. Regardless of your feelings towards her it's hard to deny that she has the figure of a messenger of a goddess of fertility. You focus on the food though if only to avoid seeming rude. Finally she seems to get tired of teasing and broaches the issue. "I have taught you much already, would you be interested in a more a intimate lesson?" As she speaks her robe slips low, nearly exposing her breasts. The smooth skin on display creates an eyecatching contrast with the pattern of her robe. It's an intriguing offer. A natural curiousity about your new form is to be expected. The more rational part of your mind says something about how she has tried to tempt you all day, and that likely this is just another attempt. On the otherhand you can sense a glimmer of lonliness in her, and this seems unusually forward even for her. [[Accept the offer->bath house kitsune 1 fun]] [[Clarify that you aren't interested, at least for tonight.->bath house kitsune 1 sober]] ](set: $kitsunebath to 1) \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1) \(set: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $BathHouse2Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Kitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $BathHouse0Gear to 1) \(set: $BathHouseKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Status to 1)

(if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[You might look different(if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[, painted white, (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[and wearing makeup](if: $kitsunecurse > 2)[and have a weird hairdo]], might even be different but you are still you. There is still a continuous strand of you leading all the way back to when this crazy day started. ] \(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You look different, and to be honest you might even feel different. You keep referrring to the kitsune as your matron for one thing. But there is still that essential you-ness that makes you yourself.] [[You shake your head.->bath house cohen tree]]

Cohen nods at your response. “We will see what happens youngling, she is difficult to deal with and we can’t really risk pissing her off until we have everyone together. You have an opportunity to ask a question in return. What do you ask? [[Nothing->bath house cohen tree 1]] [[Why don’t you trust the Kitsune?->bath house cohen tree 2]] [[How did you get here the last time?->bath house cohen tree 3]] (if: $coward is 1)[[[Why aren't you afraid?->bath house cohen tree 4]]]

The moment passes as Cohen finishes what’s left of the drink. (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You twitch as one of your ears itches.] Cohen speaks up “You should probably go to sleep youngling. It’s going to be a hard day tomorrow. I’ll keep our friend from making too much noise when she comes back.” [[Lay down->bath house cohen sleep]]

Cohen looks troubled. “What besides from her arrogance, power and tendency to assume she knows best? I don’t really trust magic I suppose.” [[Don't pry->bath house cohen tree 1]] [[Pry->bath house cohen tree pry]] (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[[[Try to defend the kitsune->bath house cohen tree defend]]]

Cohen smiles a bit. “Long time ago, When I was younger. I was part of a party that was slaying dragons.” Your ears prick up. You always wanted to kill a dragon. "We heard reports of this dragon that was taking a couple of town hostage. The towns were snowed up in into the mountains. The legion didn't think they could get up there until the snows melted. Me and my party felt we could get there faster. We saw the dragon hiking up the mountain side. It was this great multiheaded thing, not like the dragons we had seen at all. No wings, but still massive. It moved across the moutain side sliding sort of, making this unearthly noise. Lost a man after it caused avalanches moving across the mountainside. (Cohen's stories always feature the sounds and smells that leapt out to him. What sticks with you after a life time of adventure you suppose.) When we got there the story turned out to be a bit more complicated. The dragon had started by munching on a family of bandits who were hiding out in a cave system. Then once the towns were snowed in, it began to demand tributes of daughters. Furthermore it tried to play the villages against eachother. We met the kitsune in the center of the largest town, she was trying to encourage them to rise up. They had refused, it had eaten the bandits and destroyed a town to make a point. Still we knew our people a bit better than she did and manged to get the towns to band together if we had a good plan. "The kitsune suggested we sneak somebody in as the sacrifice and get it roaring drunk." Cohen gets a slightly embarrassed look. "I volunteered and the kitsune cast an illusion you could of sworn was real. I made sure it was disspellable. I never much held with magic but” He shakes his fist to punctuate the point.” It has the occasional use.” You aren’t sure if Cohen is being sincere about his hatred of magic or trying to cover for embarrassment that he made such a convincing girl. "Anyway they dress me up, get me all made up etcetra." (if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[You can't help but wonder if he was also painted white.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Perhaps his makeup was like yours.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Hopefully he didn't have to sway his hips with every step.] "and I’m delivered with an immense amount of alcohol. Long story short, I challenge the thing to a drinking contest, to keep it fair each of it’s heads has to drink as much as I do." Cohen smiles. “By the time the back up arrived we were both roaring drunk. It was hard long fighting, the kitsune helping to protect us from the flames, doing her own part to fire flames back. I don’t remember most of it honestly. Either way in the morning it was dead, half the mountainside was destroyed and the kitsune took my party and a good number of the villagers here for some hair of the dog. We stumbled out a week later, I met her a few times after that but that was the first. With the story finished Cohen smiles and musses your hair. “Anyway youngling, go to sleep, it’s gonna be a long day tomorrow. I’ll make sure to keep our friend from making too much noise.” [[lay down->bath house cohen sleep]]

He works with a magic user, Ron as he tends to be annoyingly persistent about reminding people. Cohen scoffs “Please Ron uses magic with the same level of subtly you use an axe or a sword.” He pauses “I told you before that I used to free slaves on the southern coast.” You nod, he mentioned it mostly in the context of why they no longer practiced slavery down there. (Were Cohen a mage he would probably be an arch mage.) “I was young, headstrong, felt invincible. Some asshole wizard was doing experiments on people. I freed the slaves but didn’t get the wizard. The wizard repaid me with a pack of spectral hounds that tracked us no matter the terrain.” Cohen’s eyes go distant. “I killed mine in about a stroke, died screaming. But I couldn’t kill the others. Sword just went through them.” He lets out a hollow laugh. “Killed the bastard the next day, he died trying to conjure some spell. Fat lot of good it did him in the end.” His eyes refocus and he looks back at you. “That’s why I worry so when one of my youngling gets afflicted by magic.” He gives you a gentle smile. (if: $hideme is 1)[(Vary response based on yes/no)] [[lay down->bath house cohen sleep]]

Cohen lays out these padded mats that you are expected to sleep on. You suppose it's cleaner than straw. The comforters seem like they will be nice and warm though. \(If: $kitsunelevel is 0)[ It’s a bit awkward to lay down. Your figure is much changed and the hair keeps getting in the way. To say nothing of strange beds, sheets and clothes. You wish for your modest bedroll and then remember how hard it was.] \(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[ Your new form is different, softer for one. It takes a bit of fussing to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Your tail is the real problem. It's fluffy but still too sensitive to sleep directly on. You giggle thinking of your matron cocooning herself in her tails. It would probably be toasty now that you think of it. Still after a bit of fussing you find a comfortable position. For a second you think of how different the bedroll you woke up on is than the padded mat you are falling asleep on.] You give a momentary prayer that your friends are still safe, and that come the next day you will be able to find them. Either way you manage to count enough sheep to experience that intoxicating falling feeling. Before long your sleep is (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[[[deep and dreamless.->bath house morning]]](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[[[deep and dreamless.->bath house kitsune 1 morning]]] Or you might wait until you hear Cohen's gentle snores. Hmm he might be faking those to give you your privacy. Your body has changed much and if there was ever a time to feel how much it's now. Given how Cohen is sleeping, going all the way seems to be a bad idea. Still if you do it's a private experience. (set: $mussed to 1) (if: $Masterbate is 1)[Finally!] \(set: $Cohen1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Cohen2Kitsune0Status to 1)

You sigh life is hard, often thankless. In this case the right thing is not taking advantage of the babe who really wants to get it on right now. She's quite drunk and you shouldn't take advantage of that. Also she's going to be super awkward when she sobers up. This is to say nothing of the inherent logistical problems. You smile winningly at her. “Let’s just get clean okay.” You wink, “We can do the fun stuff tomorrow.” The kitsune seems suitably chastised. “Okay, if that’s what you want to do. Help me get out of these clothes though.” You try not to roll your eyes. It’s just easier to go with the flow with someone this drunk and depressed though. Her robes have a silly number of layers and it’s something of a chore to get them all off. Still she does the same for you. (if:$kitsunecurse is 0)[Apparently the local custom is to sponge bath before getting in to the water. This strikes you as silly, but what the hey.](if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[As the layers of robes drop off your changed form you realize something. It's not just your face and hands that have been painted white, but your whole skin from head to toe. The kitsune just giggles like it's a joke when ever you give her a questioning look. Apparently you don't even do the real washing in the gargantuan tub. Instead you are supposed to sponge bath before hand.] In between the bouts of undressing the kitsune keeps giving you hopeful looks, you smile gently but are firm in your refusal. Her tails and ears droop. Still before long you are washing each other off. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[To the kitsune's increasing enjoyement, no matter how much your scrub the painted white of your skin stays the same. (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[You don't have your mirror handy but you have a sinking feeling your facial makeup will be similarly stubborn.] You hope it's not permanent.(if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Your hair resists uncoifing at all for a second. It relents only when you hit it with some soap, uncoifing into a loose mass you can actually clean.]] The kitsune has gotten the message by this point but you still take the opportunity to admire her frame. Her robes are by design meant to conceal her frame. Out of them it’s obvious just how much she goes in and out at the right places. It’s not a surprise she might be mistaken for a goddess. As you both get ready to relax in the large bath, you lower yourself carefully into the water. It’s an awkward feeling as your slit enters the water. Still it’s not bad, just unusual. The stranger part occurs as your pelvis is submerged. You have a sense of wet hair, something soaking up water. You turn trying to understand what’s happening only to meet the eyes of the kitsune who is looking smug. Her tails unavoidably displace a lot of water, soaking it up and looking a bit silly afterwards. The water temperature is perfect and you can’t help but feel the tension leave your muscles as you settle into the water. The atmosphere is quiet, the kitsune seems more consumed with her own thoughts. On a whim you swim across the pool once or twice. The kitsune speaks up in a playful tone, "No splashing the water". You settle down near the kitsune, pausing to admire the stars. They are different which is a bit alarming. Still it’s all probably an illusion anyway. The kitsune finally speaks “I like to bring mortals here as a celebration, the purity helps to guarantee their health.” She gives you a sorrowful look. “I had hoped that meeting you would be an occasion to celebrate.” That's a backhanded compliment if you ever heard one. [[Let it pass->bath house kitsune tree 1]] [[Confront her about it->bath house kitsune tree 2]] [[Start a splash fight->bath house kitsune tree 3]] [[Ask if that's why she brought cohen->bath house kitsune tree 4]] \(set: $BathHouse2Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $SoberKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $NakedKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $BathHouse0Gear to 0) \(set: $Sober0Gear to 1) \(set: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $SoberKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $CleanKitsune0Appearance to 1) \(set: $SootKitsune0Gear to 0)

What the hey, she is lonely and in need of comfort. She also initiated and seems to be reasonably lucid. This is about as okay as it’s gonna get. You let out a sigh, there is almost no likelihood that you won’t regret this later. Still that’s true for most things, and there is a reasonable chance you might die tomorrow. Better to do it now you suppose. You gulp down your drink, it won’t hurt to be a bit tipsy. The kitsune breaks out into a full smile as you agree. “Oh it’s been so long since we had fun together.(if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[You even got powdered for me.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Your make up looks lovely" she pauses to sniff the air. "And your perfume elegant.]”(if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[You look and smell like a vision of beauty. Your hair is wonderful." She smiles teasingly at you adding. "You have been tempting me for a while now.]” She begins to disrobe, putting on a show for you. The robes are large and cumbersome, but they fall off like a splitting cocoon. This treats you to a view of her figure that goes in and out in just the right places. Still she pauses at the final layer, a thin kind of transparent robe that you suppose works as an undershirt. The humidity near the warm bath is making it almost transparent. “Should we have fun with us girls or should I fill in for your husband again?” Wait what? How kinky did the kitsune get? [[Only us girls->bath house kitsune fun female]] This strikes you as the safer option [[have her fill in for the husband?->bath house kitsune fun male]] What? \(set: $whoopie to 1) \(set: $kitsunefun to 1) \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1) \(set: $BathHouse2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $FunKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $SoberKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $RobeKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $NakedKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $SootKitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $BathHouse2Kitsune0Description to 0)

Why bother bringing it up? The kitsune is old enough that she won’t admit she did anything wrong, much less actually feel bad about what she did.(if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[ She certainly doesn't feel bad about cursing you.] The pair of you look out over the bath. Somewhere in the distance there is a flowing water sound. Then a clunking noise sounds and the flowing water sound resumes. The water is warm and you starting to feel a little drowsy. Finally the kitsune speaks. “Let me at least teach you how to braid your hair so it doesn’t get in the way so in the way so much.” You grumble a little and then pay attention as the kitsune demonstrates on herself. (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[You try to start with your hair but it refuses to budge. The kitsune gives a self-satisfied chuckle and releases her gift, enough that your hair uncoifs so you can tend to it.]It's a frustrating art, taking a great level of manual dexterity. Still after a few tries you manage to get something that will stay out of your eyes. The kitsune looks at you with maternal pride. "Well done, before long you the boys won't be able to keep their hands off of you." You try not to roll your eyes. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[You already stick out thanks to her curses.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[ The kitsune is nothing if not consistent though, and recoifs your hair as you leave the baths. You sincerely miss your ability to curse.] [[Head back to the room->bath house kitsune room]] \(set: $Tree1Kitsune0Appearance to 1)

For a moment your pulse races and you wonder if it would be wisest to stay silent. Then you speak. “It’s wrong to reshape people without asking them as you do.” The kitsune seems caught off guard but rebounds quickly. “It’s the right thing if it shapes them into something better.” You shake your head. “If you were so sure of that why wouldn’t you ask?” The kitsune grows seriously pissed off. In her drunken rage her disguise slips and for a second you grasp her true form more clearly. Fear crashes down your spine. She waves her hands as if to cast magic. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[This is all seeming tragically familiar, she is preparing one hell of a curse.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[What more can should do?] Then she stops and seems to mutter to herself. “Cohen wouldn’t like it.” She looks you in the eyes and then adds. “Such a strong will. You would make an exceptional sister.” After she looks away you stop trembling. Good thing the bath water is already warm. After a while longer the pair of you are getting pruney. [[Head back to the room->bath house kitsune room]] (set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1) \(set: $SoberKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Tree2Kitsune0Status to 1)

You grin to yourself. You both came here to relax and this is hardly relaxing. You splash the bath water at her. She looks at you surprised. So you send a big wave her way. “Why you!” her hair is drench and her ears stick wetly to her skull. She starts to splash back, so you try to get away moving awkwardly in the deep bath water. Once you have the range you unleash a barrage of splashes certain to prove your victory. As the water vapor dies down you see the kitsune grinning ominously at you. She begins to splash back using her tails to help. A worthy opponent indeed. After quite a bit of this you both look at each other giggling. [[Head back to the room->bath house kitsune room]] \(set: $SoberKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Tree3Kitsune0Status to 1)

Brainstorming: at the end of the kitsune lines, the kitsune always offers to give cohen a gift of youth or at least more life. Cohen refuses, as he thinks it will make a better tale if he doesn’t. Then he subtly reminds her that a messenger of the goddess of harvest should remember that death is a natural part of life. The player gets he feeling that regardless Cohen is going to wake up a bit healthier and bit less aches the next morning Alonso was the only one who wasn’t a second son. His younger brother isn’t good for much outside of running a blacksmith shop of Alonso decided to trust fortune.

After you finished you can’t help but feel refreshed. The warm water made most of your tension melt away. (if: $kitsunehappy is 1)[The kitsune takes the time to help you dry your hair, you have to help her dry hers in return though. this is a bother and a half.](if: $kitsunehappy is 0)[You end up having to dry yourself, given your newly long hair this is a challenge. Still at least you don't have it as bad the kitsune. (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Once dry your hair coifs itself again to spite you.]] Thankfully you ditch the kitsune's cumbersome robes and wear soft warm robes on the way back to the room. The walk back to the room is roundabout. The various creatures are in various states of inebriation and the kitsune takes the opportunity to point out many of them. You return to find Cohen sleeping peacefully in the arms of one of the racoon eared waitresses. (if: $whoopie is 0)[You might even be slightly envious of Cohen, he managed to have a pretty good time all alone.](if: $whoopie is 1)[Cohen always had an almost supernatural ability to get laid. You offer a silent prayer that your hookup will be as drama free as his.] The kitsune instructs you on the proper way to lay out a futon and the covers. (if: $kitsunehappy is 1)[She offers to sleep next to you, it's difficult to tell if she is joking or not.](if: $kitsunehappy is 0)[The kitsune sets up her futon some distance away from you and Cohen.] Then she leaves you to sleep. The bed is actually pretty comfy but for a moment you are intensely nostalgic for sleeping by a campfire with your friends. Then you remember just how uncomfortable those damn bedrolls are and quit it. You give a simple prayer that your friends are fine and that come the next day you will be able to find them. \(if: $whoopie is 0)[ With Cohen asleep and the kitsune quickly sawing logs, you are alone for the first time since you stumbled onto the kitsune in the forest. There is a particular thing that strapping young people like to do when alone. If you choose to get a feel for yourself when a long it's hardly our business.] Finally you manage to fall alseep. [[Your sleep is deep and dreamless.->bath house morning]] \(set: $Baths0Gear to 1) \(set: $BathHouse2Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $BathHouse3Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $NakedKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Fun1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Fun3Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Fun0Gear to 0) \(set: $Tree2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Tree3Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $SoberKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $SoberKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Sober0Gear to 0)

Cohen probably doesn't have a palm's space of his body clear of scars. Which you suppose might make him sound accident prone but consider that he has scars where most of his enemies are dead. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[When you first met him, it was exciting to hear about the stories behind each one. By now it's somewhat tiresome. He earned all of them through feats of valor though.]

Cohen is obviously in a mood to make trouble or at the very least act rowdy. This starts by enticing the racoon eared server to bring her friends. (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You can't help but roll your eyes at his "natural" attempt to bring it up. She seems interested though.] They soon arrive with a veritable feast and plenty of drink. Cohen dives into flirting with the racoon eared servers. They take it in good spirits though, joining in when the food and drink has been served. (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[The servers at first don't know what to make of you. You smiles wide at them, and give them a disarming wink. They all giggle at how corny you are.](if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[(if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[They glance at you a couple of times, perhaps wondering if Cohen has "hired" you. You quickly make it clear that's not the case by trying to flirt.]] They don't serve beer but this milky liquid in tall thin jugs to drink though. (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You watch the servers carefully and finally recongize that you are meant to pour the jugs into these thin bowls. Seems like an extra step but okay. The food is served on trays and meant to be shared among the group. They also pass out stick to eat it with. You suppose this is so no one contaminates the food, but you are in a bath house.] (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[Similarly the meals are mostly meant to be eaten by hand, although they also pass out pairs of sticks for no discernible purpose.] Before long you have joined in the flirting and trouble making, that much hasn’t changed with your form. (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You feel a bit of hesistation, perhaps due to your new form. Perhaps due to how the waitresses seem ever so slightly hesitant around you.] The waitresses are all great fun, no doubt receiving a lot of this. At least that's the feeling you get given their skill at drinking games.(if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[ One of the junior looking waitresses pulls you aside. You blush at the sudden attention. Then she begins asking you for tips on how you mix your perfume. When you can't do much more than smile confusedly, she giggles and then drops her question.] One of the servers strings up a long necked lute and another starts singing and playing the drum. The rest begin to dance, their robes loosening ever so slightly, to Cohen's immense enjoyment. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[You join in the dancing although your dancing isn’t that great. You manage to shimmy halfway out of your robes to their amusement though. (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[While moving alluringly comes naturally to you, the kitsune did not gift you with a great sense of rythem, especially in your changed frame.]](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You join in the dancing naturally, although for some reason (and nothing to do with all the drinking) you can't quite match their step, always half a turn off. Finally one of the servers whispers into the fluffy ear of another and they all seem to get it. They proceed to crowd around you, it's a comfortable if awkward experience. Cohen does look on with envy though] This is to say nothing of the copious amounts of drinking going on. The servers apparently thought themselves fairly experienced drinkers. Cohen disproves them of that notion, taking the milky beverage like it's nothing. The servers get giggly and affectionate as they try and fail to match Cohen. You might be that you are out of practice, or perhaps a female(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[ fox] version of you doesn’t have much alcohol tolerance, but it doesn't take much to get a pleasant buzz going on. (if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[You keep catching sight of something just out of your vision. Your reactions are a bit slow, and by the time you manage to turn you realize it's your tail again.] Cohen eventually has enough of the fun, and politely shoos them out, citing the real likelihood of combat the next day. He seems to have been mostly unmoved by the amount of drinking. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[(if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Despite your earlier insistance that you aren't hired by Cohen, the looks some of the servers give you as they leave tells you that they think you are staying for a singular reason.]] Both you and Cohen are sitting relaxed among the cushions(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[, well you are on your side and your tail keeps swishing between your legs tiredly]. Cohen finally speaks “So youngling do you feel much different?” He is looking you in the eyes intently, and waiting for your response carefully. [[Yes->bath house cohen yes]] [[No->bath house cohen no]] \(set: $CohenKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Cohen1Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Cohen0Gear to 0) \(set: $Baths0Gear to 1) \(set: $CleanKitsune0Appearance to 1)

You smile good naturally a little tipsy yourself. "Just us girls sounds good" The kitsune smiles, "Whatever you want my dear." She rubs your head affectionately. "Oh it's been so long since we had fun together." She smiles at you. "I'll get ready for you, so don't take too long." She winks at you. The kitsune strides into the bath confidently, sliding off her robe before she steps into the water. It makes for a delightful sight, although you can't help but notice the way her tails soak up the water. You move over to the edge of the bath not quite sure how this is going to proceed. The logistical problems combined with your inexperience mean you aren't sure how to start. You figure the best way to get ready is to watch the kitsune The kitsune washes herself, slowly if a little clumsily. She seems to be trying to make it an alluring experience what with the way she keeps sudsing her bosom, but is also a bit too drunk to pull it off. Still she isn't bad looking and before long your cheeks are pink, not quite sure where to feel your arousal. The kitsune glances back at you, managing an unsteady wave. She winks and you feel yourself blush despite the heat. The kitsune sashays, putting an exaggerated swing to her hips. This seems sexy until she stumbles into the water, flailing and giggling at the same time. For everyone's sake it's best she gets out. (if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[You strip down from your own robes and wade out into the pool.](if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[You strip out of your robes, to your surprise all of your skin has been turned the powder white that your hands were. With nothing to do you wade out into the pool.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[You do sashay with every step annoyingly.] The warm water is awkward on your new privates, to say nothing of moving through the waist deep water with your new physique. You lead her by the hand to the edge of the pool and sit down next to her. She turns to you with goofy smile. You smile back putting a hand on her thigh. "Someone is feeling aggressive today. I guess a change of pace could be nice." The kitsune sweeps forward putting one hand on your breast. It's an awkward sensation, to suddenly have so much mass where you didn't before. Still you let out a stifled sound as she begins to put attention on your (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[painted white ]nipple. You lean forward, drawing close to her. The soap she used smells floral, and sweet. (if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[The scent mixes wonderfully with your own perfume.] She (if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[blushes as she] reciprocates, your lips meeting. Her lips are marvelously soft, almost as soft as how her inner thigh feels to your fingers. The kitsune kisses aggressively and not quite sure of yourself, you match her. (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[To your surprise the last of kitsune's gifts has made you quite the kisser.] This provides a few seconds of fun until the kitsune breaks it off without warning. This close you can't help but admire every detail of her beautiful face. Dark eyes framed beneath her proud fox ears. A complicated mix of emotions flits across her face. It starts at joy mixed with surprise, falls to realization and ends at despair. Her body language stiffens immediately, the kitsune pulls back. You move your hand away, only to find one of the kitsune's tails wrapped around your arm. She won't meet your eyes, but her hand moves up your thigh. She brings your (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[powdered] hand close to her slit. Body language aside the implication is obvious. You stroke her gently, trying to get a feel for her reactions. She seems almost disinterested in you, having turned to face the baths. She is beautiful even in profile though. A shame she is so haunted by what she can't have. Her hand is certainly not disinterested. She starts gently tracing the outlines, like she is trying to get familiar with your pussy. Then she starts to trace your slit, increasing in pressure. You can't help but release a surprised noise. You aren't one to be upstaged and increase your own dexterity. The kitsune softens ever so slightly, a slight blush coming to her cheeks. The kitsune's ministrations are making you grow bold and you slip a finger into her. The kitsune's increases her speed and an electric tingle begins to creep up your spine. Your legs try to close on her hand. If she seems to mind your thighs trying to crush her she doesn't say anything only increasing the intensity of her touch. You try to give as good as you get but the kitsune is incalculably experienced. Before long you are beginning to moan. Then she teases your cliterous ever so gently, never quite enough. Then when your legs are shaking and you must be close she stops. She continues this infuriating pattern, bringing you close to release, teasing you intensely and then quieting her fingers. A hint of a smile dances on her lips. You try to step up your strokes, but you lack the experience to compete with the kitsune. Her cheeks grow ever so slightly flush, and her nipples stand at attention but you can't seem to get much more reaction. Plus whenever you seem set to make progress, she begins in earnest and you lose focus. Finally you grab the kitsune's hand and hold it in place, shooting her an annoyed look. The kitsune's smile is immeasurably smug. But before long, you can't help but release a long deep moan, your body going slack. The kitsune stops her passive resistance and you do a job good enough for an amateur. Her face goes deeply flush, and she lets out a short quiet moan. Then she turns back to her grief, unwilling to share even that moment with you. [[All this and you haven't even really enjoyed the baths->bath house kitsune fun female part 1]] \(set: $RobeKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $NakedKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $FunKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Fun1Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $BathHouse0Gear to 0) \(set: $Fun0Gear to 1)

You aren't quite sure what to expect when you agree to have the kitsune "Fill in for the husband." The kitsune smiles "She always used to love this." Her hand adopts a mystic posture, and you wonder for a second if she is going to target you again. (if: $kitsunecurse is > 0)[You haven't done anything to annoy her, but she's unpredictable at the best of times.] Then she snaps at herself. The bath steam surges forward, whiting out your vision for a second. When you can see again, you are looking at a male version of the kitsune. You suppose it's more interesting what didn't change. She still has the eight gloriously fluffy tails and the fox ears. Her hair is shorter but is still a rich black. Most importantly she still has the unmistakable air of arrogance. She is a tall masculine figure. Her beauty has been replaced by handsome features, broad shoulders, a strong chin and she is a few inches taller. Her brow is as strong as you would expect. Looking downward you can also see through her thin robe that she gave herself a large johnson. Good to see that the feminine and masculine sensibilities are similar in that respect. You let out a sigh. From the way the kitsune is looking at you, she wants to have a good time. You are not particularly interested in what she wants. The kitsune takes your reticence for hesitation. With a smile she helps you disrobe, which is the proper term because you have a heck of a lot of robes to get through. She caresses you gently, if a touch impatiently as she helps get remove the heavy robes. It's a sort of strange feeling to have her hands suddenly be so broad and strong. particularly on your newly thin shoulders and nape.(if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[ To your surprise you find that it's not only your hands that have painted white. From head to toe you have been painted an unearthly white. If the kitsune's reaction is anything to go by this is only turning her on more.] She grins at you, her tails wagging. (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)["You look beautiful today."] She takes you by the hand and insistently leads you into the large bathwater. The water is the perfect temperature and despite everything you relax slightly. The kitsune raises an eyebrow, as you stand across from each other. Her thin robe floats in the bathwater and the humidity makes it stick to her skin, subtly highlighting her muscles. The question you suppose is how to start when there isn't even a pretense of romance here. Well heck you have been on the other side of the equation often enough, start gently. Your hand drifts downwards, you weren't lying about the kitsune's johnson though. It's large and firm in your (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[painted white] hand. You are about to tease her about it, when you gasp suddenly. The kitsune is mirroring your movement, her hands teasing your slit. You grow more aggressive as a result, stroking and playing with her member. She gives you a naughty grin. Her hands speeds up and you find yourself growing flush. It's like an itch you can't quite scratch. Still experience has taught you to watch the speed of your hand, better that things don't end prematurely. You stop and the kitsune gives you a desperate look. It's nice to be the one in charge for once. With a smug smile you say "Don't want things to end too quickly, especially before I have a good time." The kitsune gives an annoyed look, "I can continue for quite a while if that's what’s worrying you." She is trying to be convincing, but anyone would make a similar boast. Especially in the heat of the moment. You give her a promising smile. "Maybe we should switch positions?" The kitsune lets out a sigh and leads you over to the edge of the bath. She sits down parallel to the edge and beckons for you to sit on her lap. Thankfully, despite your reduced frame, the water only rises to your shoulders. You lean back against the kitsune's broad shoulders, perhaps thinking about when you used to be the one with the broad shoulders.(if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[ The kitsune takes a moment to sniff your hair. She says mostly to herself "Such a nostalgic smell." She gently caresses your sides and the small of your back.] You take a moment to enjoy the warm, slightly tingly water all around you. This reverie is interrupted by a sudden intrusion near your crotch. A quick glance down into the cloudy water, shows the kitsune's fingers gently but clinically feeling you. She looks you over and seems to decide that you aren't quite ready. She never quite looks you in the eyes. But her gentle messaging speeds up and acting on impulse you gently grind your hips forward. (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[It's the most natural thing in the world to find a steady rythem for your grinding.] This increases the sensation and you let out a few happy moans. This seems good enough for the kitsune, and she withdraws her fingers. You give her a puzzled look only to feel her hands on your hips as she scooches you further onto her thighs. She rocks your hips and you feel yourself grinding against her member. This produces a stronger warmer sensation, and you grind back happy enough. For a wild second you wonder what it would feel like to have such a thing inside of you and your stomach does a flip. The kitsune is still looking past you, her eyes closed. There is a faint smile on her face and you have a sudden familiar premonition. The speed of your hips has accelerated and she has to be close. You push back against her hands, and put some distance away from her. She lets out a deeply annoyed grumble and you smirk at her. She looks at you with legitimate annoyance. Her soaked tails have flared up behind her. It might be an intimidating effect, if they weren't dripping. You give her a winning smile. The kitsune's hands find your (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[painted ]breasts and she gently brings up one to her mouth. You message her legs and midsection as she teases your nipples. You are breathing hard when you feel her hands on your hips again. Time to move to the main event. It's not quite the angle you are used to for this sort of approach. You give the kitsune a desperate look, and she rolls her eyes. You lift yourself off the ground and lean forward. Her hands are reassuringly strong and she lifts you by your thighs easily, then gently, ever so slowly she lowers you towards her crotch. You breathe in sharply as she enters you.(if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[ The difference between your painted sex and her blood engorged phallus is mesmerizing.] The attention she paid to giving herself a large johnson certainly didn't go to waste. The sensation is difficult to describe. It's warm, comforting, awkward, and amazing all at once. The kitsune lets out a chuckle as she sees your reaction. You might be blushing, but you have also spent a long time in warm water. You begin to rock your hips, trying to get a handle on this new sensation. (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[The kitsune's lesson has seemingly gvien you a crash course in just how to move your hips in response to the kitsune's ministrations.] The kitsune isn't quite so patient and she begins to thrust hard but skillfully. Rocking her hips in a natural experienced rhythm. She seems to know just where to rub you. In no time at all moans are escaping your lips. The combination of her size and skill is quite intoxicating. A great feeling wells up within you. You feel at ease, content, life is pretty darn good. Heck even the kitsune might not be so bad. You look at her, almost as flushed as you are. She is certainly having a good time even if she won't look at you. As you observe the kitsune she speaks to herself. "Oh natsume it's been so long." Great she is saying someone else's name. Figures. Still you are having a good time. Under the kitsune's tender ministrations, you have a great feeling of release. You let out a long deep moan of contentment. The kitsune also seems to be having a good time and there is telltale tremble and then she goes slack. Wait what? Telltale tremble? Did she just fucking finish inside you? What the fuck? (Farmer's sons are strident practitioners of coitus interruptus. It's a shame no one has yet invented a 98% effective, portable form of pregnancy prevention.) [[Make your displeasure known->bath house kitsune fun male less mad]] (set: $malenookie to 1) [[Make your displeasure very known->bath house kitsune fun male mad]] (if: $hideme is 1)[ Suggestions on descritpions for attractiveness: broad shoulders strong chin tall handsome features describe amount of muscles stubble/facial hair/hairstyle pilosity brows build like a brick shithouse super man] \(set: $FunKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Fun2Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $SoberKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $NakedKitsune0Description to 2) \(set: $BathHouse0Gear to 0) \(set: $Fun0Gear to 1)

You wake up to a gentle shaking of your arm. You feel well rested and your temples are only pounding a little. "Come on youngling." The room is surprisingly well lit. Something like sunlight is gently peaking in over the stone bath. Cohen is smiling at you, already dressed. You give him a quizzical look not quite sure why he is so ready to leave. Then your quest comes flooding back all at once. You scramble. "What time is it?" Cohen smiles. "I'd be willing to bet you that this place is out of time, but it feels like morning. So let's get going." You glance around; the kitsune is sawing logs off to one side, having made a mess of her bedding. Oh boy, something about sleeping foxes comes to mind. You cast a hopeful glance to Cohen. He gets that pointedly distracted look when it comes to chores he doesn't want to do. Figures. Still you do your best to get dressed first, you make a mess of it though. Your robes are such a complicated mess that they need expertise to put on. You sidle up close to the kitsune. Her black hair is tasseled all over her gently sleeping features. Her tails twitch as she moves ever so slightly in her sleep. You clap your hands as loud as possible. The kitsune, sits up like a shot, tails all spiked out, and her ears flared as she tries to identify the danger. Cohen tries and fails to hide his smile. She blinks a few times, her slitted eyes trying to adjust. She gives you annoyed look. "Why did you do that? Awfully mean thing to do." She looks you and Cohen up and down, confused. "What's the hurry? I wanted to get a message and maybe drink beneath the tree a little" She smiles "We still have plenty of money." Cohen tries to keep a compassionate look on his face. "Milady might remember that she gave me her word she would only keep the pair of us here the night." He pauses. "My younglings still need rescuing, if milady will recall." The kitsune blinks and rubs her temples a few times. "Oh right, right right right. Your younglings. Still I'm sure a delay of another day won't hurt anything." You join Cohen in giving a stone faced response. Her ears and tails droop. "Fine" She looks you over, "Let me fix your robes first dear." [[With a sigh you let her fix your robe->bath house morning 1]] \(if: $Tree1Kitsune0Appearance is 1)[(set: $Tree1Kitsune0Appearance to 2)] \(set: $BathHouse2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BathHouse3Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $BathHouse3Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Baths0Gear to 0) \(set: $Kitsune0Gear to 1) \(set: $Awake0Gear to 1) \(set: $BathHouse4Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 1) \(set: $FightKitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $Cohen2Kitsune0Status to 0)

cosmetic 1: Powder white skin cosmetic 2: you become perfumed can't curse make up added to your face (plucked and drawn in eyebrows, red lip gloss and red eyeshadow on the corners.) cosmetic 3: move sensually when not thinking about it hair is done, complete with graceful hair ornamnet clothing skimper cosmetic 1: (if: $kitsunecurse is 1) You whince and hold your head which brings your hands into sight. They have become pale white as if you were powdered. You quickly produce your pocket mirror which shows your face similarly made up.

Sex scene notes: 1st: sort of a mutual standoff 2nd: Kitsune is trying to help you get more comformtable in your form. 3rd: gentle dom in full swing AaaacYesterday at 2:30 PM Generic descriptors for attractiveness in dudes? So far all I can think of is broad shoulders and strong chin. Salty JusticeYesterday at 2:30 PM apparently, tall dudes are megahot AaaacYesterday at 2:31 PM Huh, I suppose I could also just say handsome features Ouroboros9Yesterday at 2:31 PM That makes it easier ^^ AaaacYesterday at 2:36 PM Also interestingly discord apparently listens for sound and terminates a stream when there are none. Salty JusticeYesterday at 2:37 PM sounds reasonable Ouroboros9Yesterday at 2:37 PM That saves processing capacity for your computer AaaacYesterday at 2:38 PM Well, certainly but not if you turned off your microphone and are streaming typing. tlYesterday at 2:39 PM Probably describe amount of muscles? Stubble/facial hair/hairstyle depending (there's a few masculine attractive ones for hair 'thick head of hair', being overboard about the colour, etc.) AaaacYesterday at 2:41 PM that might work Ouroboros9Yesterday at 2:44 PM The pilosity of the whole body is also meaningful, the brows are apparently also a good way to describe a man AaaacYesterday at 2:45 PM How much hair they have? Ouroboros9Yesterday at 2:45 PM No like on the torso, legs and arms Marionette For men, in my own "research" (aka, reading romance novels to improve my smut writing ability), three things that came up all the bloody time were full lips, woodsy / stony / outdoorsy scents (and scents in general), and the "V" muscles in the lower abdomen that basically point right down at the guy's crotch. Ouroboros9Yesterday at 4:14 PM Yes just above the hips bone MarioneTTeYesterday at 4:14 PM Well-trimmed nails were mentioned surprisingly frequently, as well, as in the women protagonists were always surprised when the men had well-trimmed nails. AaaacYesterday at 4:19 PM Huh, I'll keep those in mind. I've heard the v thing before. I guess I can work in some sort of scent thing despite it being a bathing scene. MarioneTTeYesterday at 4:21 PM That would be pretty easy if it's a woman watching a man bath (which happens in, no joke, at least half of all romance novels I read). The guy running his hands down his chest and sides, then along that V, was a fairly frequent mention in them.

By the amazing Seph786: https://imgur.com/a/eDGyXCe https://imgur.com/a/D8k7n6X Comissioned by the author and drawn by the fantastic koops!(https://twitter.com/seyton19) The ant-girl/forma/handmaiden(mild spoiler): https://imgur.com/a/YqVb9tG The kitsune/matron: https://imgur.com/a/5EYwjIu, https://imgur.com/a/E5s4eUV Scarlet: https://imgur.com/a/n0PIa7u An ant-queen (which is possibly a spoiler): https://imgur.com/a/7ooIUwn Bonus bee girl art! https://imgur.com/a/8BaGBi2

The kitsune's tails are slowly wagging and she is looking at you happily. One hand begins to gladly pet your head. Your (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[painted] hands find her neck and you say in a very serious tone "What did you just do?" (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[You don't doubt that your make up helps you look even more fearsome.] The kitsune manages to look a little abashed "Sorry, but you don't need to worry." Don't need to worry. She is the servant of a fertility goddes and she is telling you not to worry after finishing inside. You begin to squeeze her neck to punctuate your point. "Fix it." (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Such a shame you cannot curse.] The kitsune's grin drops as she tries to determine how serious your strangling is. "Fine." You slacken your grip, but keep the kitsune within easy retribution distance. She has an annoyed look, but she snaps her fingers at you. "You needen't worry. Shame we had to spoil the mood." She gives you an accusatory look. Hell she's the one who didn't follow basic manners. The kitsune might want to spend her time being upset but you might as well enjoy the baths. The water is warm and after your pervious exertion you feel pretty darn relaxed. You do a bit of washing, making sure to get all of the kitsune's gift that you can. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[No amount of washing seems to fix the kitsune's gift of whitened skin though.(if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[You don't doubt that the facial makeup will be similarly stubbon.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Your magically coiffed hair does surrender briefly so you can give it a token wash.]]Still after so long in the water you are already pruney and you finish quickly. As she moves to leave the water, the steam surges again and the kitsune returns to her female form. It's difficult to say if it's a matter of convience or comfort. [[Back to the room->bath house kitsune room]] \(set: $FunKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Fun2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Fun3Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Fun0Gear to 2) \(set: $CleanKitsune0Appearance to 1)

the kitsune at this point is trying to be more friendly/entincing to the player so they try to have a good time with the player. This includes inviting the player to sample food and drink. if you with the kitsune; she's more friendly with the player instructing them in different foods to try; how to use chopsticks sex scenes: have the kitsune not as drunk and actually tries to couch the enocunter as a poitive learning experience for the player sex encounters: the kitsune is a lot less drunk so she takes the time to teache the player the ins and outs of a female body probably a gentle exploration for f/f maybe like guided masturbation or something for f/m more of a genlte scene where the kitsuneis more focused on giving than recieving in both she istrying to temp the player; accept her as a motherly figure

The kitsune adjusts her robe and then claims she needs some privacy to do her makeup and prepare herself. Both you and Cohen shrug and take the chance to warm your feet in the footbath. (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[Your skin is still the painted white from yesterday and a quick glance in the mirror shows that you are still wearing your fearsome makeup. Which you suppose means you don't need to do your makeup.](if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[You can't help but wonder briefly if doing her makeup means she will dye herself the same unearthly white she has dyed you.] The kitsune emerges from behind the screens. Her hair is pulled into a tight bun, and her makeup especially fearsome.(if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[Almost as fearsome as yours.] (if: $hidden is 1)[(note to self, have this moment changed if different kitsune level)] As you make to leave the bathhouse you are quickly met by the stern faced woman moving quickly down a hallway. As you see her approach you note that she allows herself a moment of surprise before her professionalism take over. "An unusually short stay madam." The kitsune looks annoyed and has a very unladylike eye roll. "Prior commitments unfortunately." Her ears perk up. "Still I'm sure I will be back." The stern faced woman nods and then leads everyone to the flying carts. Oh boy, you aren't looking forward to this part. \(if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[Cohen steps towards the carts and then seems to remember something. He turns looking you up and down. He lets out a sigh. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[Even after a night's sleep your skin is still painted the same unearthly white. You wonder what the spiders will say when they see you at a great distance.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[That's nothing to say of when they smell you. You aren't looking forward to fighting the spiders as you are. They won't take you seriously looking like this and you won't be able to curse at them. Cursing is of a course a vital tactical maneuver.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[That's to say nothing of when they smell you. Under the weight of the kitsune's gifts, you aren't even sure you can fight right. What if you swing a sword at them and try to sway your hips instead? You can't even make up the difference in curses.] He turns towards the kitsune. "If you will please return the youngling to normal." The kitsune seems unexpectedly serious. "She is being punished, and I can't say she learned her lesson yet." Cohen lets out a pained sigh. "Milady, as she is currently she won't fight her best. We would be remiss to not bring everything to bear.(if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[Painted white is not especially good camoflague for where we are going.]" The kitsune pouts puffing out her cheeks, Cohen seems especially supplicant. "(if: $kitsunecurse is > 1)[I'd say not being able to curse is a heavy punishment indeed.(if: $kitsunecurse is > 2)[Much less not even being able to walk straight. They can't fight well like this and I have need of their skills.]Milady, please." The kitsune grumbles and then says "Fine, but as a favor to you Cohen." She gives you a glare, then snaps her fingers. \(if: $kitsunecurse is 1)[The curse undoing itself is a strange feeling. before your eyes the white paint becomes visibly wet and then finally drips off into nothing. The sensation is warm. In no time at all your skin is back to normal. You smile at the kitsune cautiously, if you complain she will probably just curse you again.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Your curse being undone is an unusual feeling. It starts with the skin paint, before your eyes it becomes visibly wet and drips off into nothing with a warm sensation. As that happens you can feel your facial makeup sliding off all at once. It makes a face mid air that winks at you before disappearing. You quickly sniff your pits. You smell soapy but not magically so. Then you unleash a horrendous torrent of curses to the sky glad to have your tongue untied.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[The curse being uncursed is an unusual particular feeling, a bit like an invisible weight being lifted. It starts with the skin paint, before your eyes it becomes visibly wet and drips off into nothing with a warm sensation. As that happens you can feel your facial makeup sliding off all at once. It makes a face mid air that winks at you before disappearing. Your hair quite alarmingly waves it goodbye, before going limp. You quickly test if you can curse, and upon unleashing a foul curse follow it up with a dozen more in glee. Then you sniff the air, you no longer smell of delicate cinnamon. Finally you strut about enjoying how you no longer sway your hips or stick your chest out like a strange featherless chicken. The kitsune is obviously annoyed at your delight but stays silent after a pointed look from Cohen.]]] [[The most terrifying part is still to come->bath house morning 2]] \(set: $Tree1Kitsune0Appearance to 0) \(set: $HideCurse to 1) \(set: $BathHouse3Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BathHouse4Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $SootKitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $BathHouse4Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $BathHouse5Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Awake0Gear to 2)

The wagon floats off into the sky, passing through the clouds. There is a lovely view of the impossibly blooming cherry tree. You miss all of this curled into one corner with your eyes closed. The wagon rocks in a manner almost entirely unlike a boat rocking. This makes your stomach drop every time. Cohen puts his strong hand on your shoulder, and the kitsune gently holds your hands. Suddenly Cohen stands and moves across the cart. This makes the whole thing swing and you swear you can feel something curl protectively against your leg. Cohen calls out. "Put us down near that town, we need to pick up some supplies." The kitsune calls back "As you say." The cart sinks suddenly and you are in serious danger of loosing your lunch. Cohen seems excited? "I always forget how big the forest is." The kitsune calls back. "Your queen's road crosses the narrowest part, but never doubt it's size." Finally, blissfully the cart touches solid ground. You let out a sigh of relief. [[The town looks much the same->town morning 1]] \(set: $BathHouse4Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $MorningKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $BathHouse5Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $MorningKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Awake0Gear to 0)

It's a small town dominated by the paved road which runs into through it. They built the village green next to it, and the cart attracts a crowd of interested onlookers as it touches down. It's a reassuring sight to see the true sun instead of a replication. The kitsune hopes off the cart authoritatively and help you step off unsteadily. Cohen steps down to a series of young cheers, he takes a bow to his young admirers from yesterday. Cohen spots the small trading post and leads the way. The onlookers watch with mixed interest. This is probably the most exciting thing to happen in town for months. He pauses outside the door, then leans in to whisper to you. "I'm going to sweat the trader." He looks you over "Has to be better than staying out here." The kitsune's ears twitch and she smiles. "Cohen, catch!" She tosses him a small bag. Cohen weighs the bag experimentally, and then opens it and then impossibly puts his arm up to the elbow into it. "A generous boon milady. I'll make sure to return it." The kitsune turns back to you. "As a messenger for my goddess I'm going to spread the word a bit. Lend me a hand." [[Go with cohen->town morning 2 cohen]] [[Lend a hand with the kitsune->town morning 2 kitsune]] \(set: $MorningKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Morning1Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $MorningKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Morning1Kitsune0Description to 1)

kitsune wake up scene: awkward and normal versions normal: cohen wakes up player; mentions that while where they are is outside of time, he feels like they should be going. Their friends still need them after all awkward: cohen wakes you up with a shit eating grin and a few suggestive eyebrow raises. Privately you realize that while recognizes that it might be a bad diea, cohen always admire audacity. The kitsune blushes and won't meet your eyes. (extra bit if husband subsituting about how she should be ashamed) the bill is smaller than the kitsune expects. Cohen mock apologizes, and claims that if they really want to do it right they need more people if cursed, before getting on the flying cart Cohen looks you up and down. He then asks the kitusne to "quit messing with the youngling." The kitsune looks like she might refuse, but then relents when cohen mentions that you will need every bit of strength in the forest. the wagon ride is still terrifying Cohen tells the kitsune to stop at the town so he can stock up on food and weapons. you volunteer to help intimidate the shopkeeper, but he maybe tells you to stay outside on account of you not being very threatening at the moment. The kitsune volunteers a bag of holding, admitting she uses them to hide a lot of snacks in her sleeves. on the way to the forest, the pair argue about whether or not to take the flying car The kitsune rather practically doesn't want to get her clothes dirty, and do a lot of walking. Cohen acknowledges that it's inconvient but then states that taking the cart will destroy any chance of surprise. The forest looms ahead of you. forest journey is probably pretty short. Both cohen and the kitsune know what they are doing, and despite their normal differences work together well. kitsune starts working the crowd; not unlike cohen earlier but with a missionary bent in kitsune 1 have an option either help cohen or work the corwd (maybe expand to all three?) cohen shakes down the trader; talking about how he is leading an expecdition. Shows a little coin bangs the table a blittle. Shopkeeper finally relents (it's implied that the weapons and armor he does have are bought/salavaged from caravans similarly ambushed) the kitsune working the crowd is mostly doing ilusion and offering blessing/charms. She doesn't have any serious expectations of converts with 10 tails the kitsune becomes a "tenko" which is a ten tailed golden fox. comes up in kitsune 2

You give the kitsune a winning smile and then follow Cohen into the trading post. She harrumphs and then turns back to the crowd. The trading post also doubles as the town's general store. It's small, surprisingly well lit, and chaotic. The shelves are over stuffed with a variety of goods. There is a large section of goods for traveling. Boots, rope, spare waterskins, etc. They probably do a reasonable trade with caravans stocking up in preparation for moving through the forest. Cohen's face lights up as he spots the man in charge of the store. The trader is a large portly man, with an impressive beard obviously cultivated to hid his weak chin. The merchant approaches what must make for a strange pair. You a woman in strange robes, and Cohen an aged adventurer. He gulps and then asks. "Can I help you?" Cohen puts his arm around the man. "Why of course my friend, you see we are planing an expedition into the nearby forest and we need to purchase some supplies." He flashes a gold coin, probably his only one. "What's your name friend?" The merchant squirms under Cohen's embrace, "Harold, now why don-" Cohen lets out a dark chuckle. "Why Harold I get the feeling we will be the best of friends. Now why don't you show us your weapons?" Harold leads you to the weapons and armor. It's a mishmash of different styles and makers. Some are a lot more professional than any village blacksmith would make. Cohen lifts a sword, admiring it's workmanship and then gives it an experimental flourish. It's a testament to his skill that he doesn't knock anything over. "Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Now Harold I hate to say it but I'm going to need to purchase a few of these on credit." Harold seems to realize that he is quickly losing control of this transaction. "I'm sorry but I-" Cohen cuts him off again. "Oh but I expect a high return on this expedition, Three strong young lads." You begin pointedly examining another sword to help get the point across. Harold tries to look tough. "I'll call the guard." Cohen's smile becomes devilish "You wouldn't do that to a friend now would you Harold? It might make me angry." Harold begins to tremble. "I don't want any trouble." Cohen nods. "Good. Let's get to work youngling." You start picking out equipment, so long adventuring with your friends has given you an eye for what they will need. You eye a couple good looking swords for yourself but mentally nix the idea. The kitsune will be even more insufferable if you don't use the sword she gave you. Cohen loads up on food and tells you to take a few gambesons. It all disappears quietly into the kitsune's small bag. He puts the coin on Harold's desk as he you leave. As you head towards the door, you whisper to Cohen. "You scared him pretty bad Cohen." "You saw the gear they have. Whole town probably loots what's left from the attacked caravans. His contribution is the least they could do." [[Rejoin the kitsune->town morning 2 cohen 1]] \(set: $kitsunemadcounter to it + 1) \(if:$kitsuneoffense < 2)[(set: $kitsuneoffense to 2)] \(if:$kitsunemadcounter > 1)[(set: $kitsunesecondoffense to 2)] \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1) \(set: $Morning1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Morning2Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 0)

The kitsune has many bored onlookers. She seems to be performing some sort of play, using copies of herself as players. Her acting hasn't moved the crowd though and she seems happy to drop the illusions upon sighting you and Cohen. She keeps her attention on the crowd though. Barely turning she asks "Get everything you need Cohen?" Cohen nods. "Aye milady, at your leisure." He takes advantage of the kitsune's back being turned to eye roll. The kitsune concludes her business by urging the crowd to put shrines in their homes for better health and crops. Then she gives an elegant curtsy, her tails fanned out behind her. She follows you and Cohen away from the village green. [[The forest is deceptively close to the town->town morning 3]] \(set: $KitsunePresence to 1) \(set: $Morning1Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Morning2Kitsune0Description to 1)

The kitsune's tails are slowly wagging and she is looking at you happily. One hand begins to gladly pet your head. You give her a royally annoyed look and ask teeth clenched "What did you just do?" The kitsune seems sheepish. "Sorry, it just felt good." (if: $kitsunecurse < 2)[with a steely glare](if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[Your makeup combined with your furious look take the kitsune aback slightly.] you repeat the question, pushing a (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[white] finger into her surprisingly broad chest. The kitsune blushes. "Oh you don't need to worry." She tries to resume cuddling. Don't need to worry? She is a messenger of a fertility goddess. She could probably impregnate someone by starting at them particularly hard. You give her a (if: $kitsunecurse < 2)[particularly threatening](if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[fearsome] glare and tell her in no uncertain terms "to fix it" She looks annoyed but finally relents under your glare. She snaps her fingers at you. "There you should be fine now." She tries to resume her cuddling and you allow it. The water is warm and after your pervious exertion you feel pretty darn relaxed. When you finally seperate from the kitsune you proceed to do a bit of washing, trying to make sure that none of the kitsune's gift is stuck in there. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[No amount of washing gets the painted white off your skin though. (if: $kitsunecurse > 1)[You have a sneaking suspicion that the facial makeup will be similarly stubbon.] (if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Your magically coiffed hair does surrender briefly so you can give it a token wash.]] After so long in the water you are pruney and more than ready to get out. As she moves to leave the water, the steam surges again and the kitsune returns to her female form. It's difficult to say if it's a matter of convience or comfort. [[Back to the room->bath house kitsune room]] (set: $kitsunehappy to 1) \(set: $FunKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Fun2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Fun3Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Fun0Gear to 2) \(set: $CleanKitsune0Appearance to 1)

The water is warm and now that you have a chance to enjoy it, you find your muscles quickly relaxing. The floaty feeling helps that too. After a while of relaxing in the water, you make a token effort to wash. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[No amount of effect makes your skin seem less white and powdered though.](if: $kitsunecurse is 2)[You don't have a mirror handy but you are willing to bet your face is similarly stubborn. You will look pretty silly if you manage to rub off your new eybrows though.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[You don't have a mirror handy is but no doubt your face retains it's makeup. Hopefully you didn't rub off your eyebrows, you'd look quite silly without them. Your hair does surrender to your ministrations, uncoiling long enough to allow a token washing. You do find yourself absentmindedly sudsing your bosom while the kitsune glances at you.] It's far from serious though, more an excuse to explore the monsterishly large baths. However when you return to where you started with soap and something to scrub with, the kitsune is there looking at you expectantly. She helps you wash, but it's without the slightest hint of contrition or tenderness. She is still too consumed by what was making her depressed to do much more than the rote necessity. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[Your sense of self-preservation makes you think that asking her to undo the curse right now would be a bad idea.] Still getting washed by a beautiful woman, in a warm bath isn't the worse thing to ever happen to you. Before long you are finished, and by the time you are ready to get out of the water the kitsune seems to have buried her grief. [[Back to the room->bath house kitsune room]] \(set: $CleanKitsune0Appearance to 1)

The kitsune smiles as you accept her offer. Cohen shrugs and gets down to business. The kitsune starts by introducing herself and you. You bristle a little when she calls you her assistant. You survey the crowd which is giving you and the kitsune a mix of bored and curious glances. These are very much your people. You grew up in a small farming community not much different than this one. You look so very out of place now. The kitsune attracts the majority of the glances. Although you attract some looks yourself. hard to tell if it's figure or robes the kitsune gave you. For whatever reason many of the glances stray towards the top of your head. Maybe it's your hair? Though it's hard to believe it becomes obvious that she is an experienced missionary. She starts with an impressive display of illusion and foxfire. (Keep in mind that this impressive despite normally adventuring with Ron) Then she delivers a short sermon about how her goddess can deliver better crops, more fertile animals and health for mothers. The audience starts paying more attention during this part. A farming community is always willing to try new things if it will help the harvest. After that she begins to offer blessings of fertility for men and women. She also proceeds to hand out good fortune charms. These she claims will do everything from help cows make more milk to ensure the wearer will be safe in traffic. She does this was such a gentleness tempered by belief that you are for a moment surprised. The kitsune has seemed far from professional but she seems passionate about this part. Your job in all this is terribly mundane. You help hand out charms and make sure those who are seeking the kitsune's blessing keep an orderly line. You are about to hide a particularly rambunctious child for trying to take a handful of charms when you hear a loud noise. You turn to see the kitsune squealing with excitement as she attends to a pregnant couple. Her eyes have lightened up and her tails are wagging happily as she gently feels the woman's heavy stomach. The kitsune takes the woman's hand and says "I bless your child. It should grow up strong and healthy." Both the man and the woman look awestruck. A hale and hearty child is always a blessing, particularly to a farming family. \(if: $malenookie is 1)[Given her response it's probably for the best you made sure she took care of her unwanted blessing.] By the time you look back, you hand is empty and the child is running at full speed away. [[Cohen returns as you throw some curses after the kid.->town morning 2 kitsune part 1]] (set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1) \(set: $Morning1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Morning3Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Morning1Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Morning3Kitsune0Description to 1)

Cohen looks at your distress, a smile on his face. "Problem youngling?" You grumble a little and reply that there is no real problem. Then you ask him if he got everything. He tosses you a small bag, you catch it out of the air with practiced ease. It's light in your hand and feels almost empty. You give Cohen a curious look. He laughs. "Put your hand inside youngling." You do so and feel no resistance at all until your elbow has disappeared. You look at Cohen and remark that it is a princely treasure. He nods. "It's a damn handy thing to have, easy to lose though." You get the feeling he is speaking from experience. The kitsune is still working the crowd. Despite his impatience Cohen seems willing to let her finish. Still she sights you not managing things and draws her audience short. She gives an impassioned speech about how her god might be able to help the town. This seems to even move a few, but you know from experience farmers will try anything at least once. With that finished she gives Cohen a business like nod, and the as trio you set out from the village green. [[The forest is deceptively close to the town->town morning 3]]

The forest looms in front of you, it's massive trees easily blotting out the sky beyond. You can't help but have a foreboding feeling. After eyeing the dense underbrush, the kitsune looks to her robes and then her shoes. With an opportunistic smile she asks. "If speed is important Cohen, then surely we should take my cart? It will have to be faster than trying to bushwhack through that?" Cohen gives a faint laugh before shaking his head. "I apologize milady, but while your cart is impressive it is also quite noticeable. If the spiders saw it coming I have no doubt they would take what captives they had and run rather than confront us." The kitsune grumbles something about illusions and then relents. Cohen produces the kitsune's small colored bag, and with an experienced hand retrieves a thickly woven gambeson. "Strap that on youngling. Should help to keep you from getting caught on anything." The gamebeson is heavy, moth eaten and smells a bit funny. You can't help but smile. It reminds you of your missing one immensely. You excitedly strap it on with the expertise of someone who has gone weeks wearing one. The weight is comfortingly familiar and for a brief moment it seems like old times. Cohen helps pull the knots tight. You breathe sharply as an unexpected constriction in your front reminds you of what's changed. The kitsune makes an annoyed face. Then grumbles that you look better in your robes. Both she and Cohen take steps towards the forest. For a moment your legs refuse to move. Cohen turns to see that you are still standing. He gives you kindly smile. "Buck up youngling, marching to vengeance always seems quick." (if: $coward is 1)[As you ponder the deep shadows between the gargantuan trees, you can't help if it would have been wiser to let the kitsune spirit you away.](if: $prudence is 1)[You are armed, armored, in dangerous company and are on a righteous quest. Taking a deep breath you gird yourself, you can do this.] [[Once more unto the breach-> kitsune 0 forest]] \(set: $Morning3Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Morning2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $ForestKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Kitsune0Gear to 0) \(set: $Gambeson0Gear to 1) \(set: $Morning3Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Morning2Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $ForestKitsune0Description to 1)

The path is as well paved as you remember. You walk along it nervously, now paying the attention you should have the first time. Despite the danger Cohen sets a fast pace. The kitsune grumbles a bit, she claims her sandals aren't fit for moving so quickly. She huffs when Cohen suggest that she go barefoot. Thanks to Cohen's relentless urging you make far better time than you did when you were walking alongside the wagons. (less unregulated emissions too). Before long you have reached the spot where the ambush occurred. The site has been stripped clean with almost clinical care by the spiders. One of the wagons was waylaid. It has been left empty and parked by the side of the road. Cohen lets out a dry laugh. "Some lucky farmer is going home with a new wagon." He points at the tracks leading away from the battle site. "Seems the riders got away though." You wonder aloud if the spiders ate the horses. The kitsune shakes her head. "Unlikely dear. The only way to move the horses quickly would have been to kill them here and take the meat with them. I'd smell the blood." Spiders don't know how much trouble they saved themselves letting the horses go. Few things piss off Ron as much as killing horses. Cohen steps into the dense forest, sword at the ready. He turns back to you. "Caution always youngling. It might seem hard to imagine but there are more dangerous things in this forest than the spiders." [[His gaze strays to the kitsune.->kitsune 0 forest 01]] \(set: $ForestKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Forest1Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Forest1Kitsune0Description to 1)

Movements that are halting and look as if they were being done underwater. Actions (and especially reactions) are delayed, and things like vision are are "laggy" in that you turn your head or eyes but your vision takes a moment to catch up. This leads to unfocused eyes that sort of stare out into space or look behind what they're trying to look at for a few moments after turning their attention to it. Depending on the level of drunkeness, getting giggly or at least smiley is good, and for some folks, they get goosebumps. If they're really drunk, most movements will be pretty exaggerated, as well, as they try to maintain balance (even when sitting).

Your matron may not be your favorite person but she has shown you kindness in a time of hardship. Surely that requires a defense. "She did help me escape the forest, she isn't all bad." Cohen looks you over. "She took a price for her help." He pauses to sip his drink. "I'm not saying she's malicious. She'll fight evil where ever she finds it. But on the side of good doesn't mean pleasent to deal with. Or safe to be under the power of." You raise an objection, Cohen listens patiently. "I won't tell you what to feel youngling, but please exercise caution. Even when she means well, she tends towards control. It's how she feels secure." In Cohen's mind this warning finishes the issue, and he lets the conversation lapse into silence. Finally with a sigh, he drains his drink and finishes the food. "It's gonna be a long day tomorrow youngling. You should go to sleep. I'll make sure our friend doesn't make too much noise." [[Regardless of your feelings, you will need rest.->bath house cohen sleep]]

You have always known Cohen to be a brave man, frighteninly so. But despite his strength and your friends being on guard you were quickly swept away by the spiders. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)[Even with the kitsune's help going up against more of them seems suicidal.](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[Your matron is undoubtedly strong, but even with her help attacking the spiders seems foolish.] Why is he doing this? You sip your drink, and then speak "Why are you so ready to go rescue everyone? Even with the kitsune it's gonna be dangerous." Cohen admires the false stars twinkling above the rocky bath. "Makes for a better tale I suppose. Trust me we will rescue them." You shift your shoulders and pull at your robe a bit. (if: $kitsunelevel is 0)["I doubt the bards will sing tales of a bunch of fools getting caught by monsters. Not enough princesses or dragons."](if: $kitsunelevel is 1)["If any tale is going to be told it probably won't feature a bunch of no name adventurers. I guess they could make one out of the barbarian hero reuniting with the exotic priestess.] Cohen looks at you surprised. "Bards? No youngling, the tale I tell myself every night. I said I would protect you youngsters and I intend to keep that promise. Couldn't live with myself if I didn't." He looks you over fondly, his wrinkles crease gently. "You are frightened aren't you?" You can't help but look away.(if: $kitsunelevel is 1)[ Your ears have flattened against your scalp in shame.] Cohen lets outs a gentle chuckle. "No shame in that. We all get afraid sometimes, it's natural. There is shame however in abandoning those in need, in not opposing evil where you can. You can rise to the challenge youngling." You hope he's right. [[The conversation fades into silence->bath house cohen tree 1]]

To do outline: kitsune baths scene: finish eating scene sex: female: sits behind you and fingers you to completion while teaching you male: gentle bath sex, mostly about getting you comfortable with the concept bath: kitsune is not as drunk so probably more her musing? more of the pre-bathing ritual and the kitsune being friendly need the kitsune to make some sort of comment?

(IF: $hideme is 1)[brainstorming: So in kitsune 1 version of this event, she's trying to tempt the player. Trying to convince them that she has much to teach. Whether this is out of frustration of the player not converting all the way, an honest interest in the player, an attempt to show up cohen, her desire to convert the player as a way to feel in control, or their resemblance to a lost love is up to interpretation. Maybe have the argument grow out of the kitsune trying to "teach" the player. ideas: she talks about her religion She tries to instruct in magic some minor thing? arguement starts because the player feels infantilized due to the kitsune's overbearing nature. (Will it be possible to use this structure for kitsune 2?) Her teaching magic badly and then trying to use that as a reason for the PC to convert seems very on brand, but at the same time too obvious. it follows naturally from the sword thing, but I might be using the same theme too much. I'll think on it. What the kitsune will tell the player is that it's a way to make them better, to which the player might ask why they need to be improved. "A field needs cultivation to produce, you have such potential that could be realized.' This couches her as someone who truly believes in the player but is too arrogant to see that their approach is wrong. Relgion I have to make up backstory which is harder] As much as you are curious the fact remains that your matron has a hard time being professional in general. Add in lovemaking and she's likely to be worse. You gently refuse her offer. Citing the hour, the amount of drink and anything else but her. For a second your matron's confidence falters. "Did I do something wrong?" She says this to herself. She takes a moment to check herself over, making sure robe hangs the appropriate length down, and that her hips are properly highlighted. Then her ears twitch and she address you. "You got that I'm interested in going to be together right?" You nod and communicate that she is quite the foxy lady and if things were different you might take her up on her offer. And who knows maybe things will be different later, but right now isn't the time. She shakes her head, the tremors going through her long silky hair. "It's been decades since I seduced anyone. I'm out of practice is all." Her eyes focus again on you and she gives you a commanding look. "The things I could teach you. Someone as young as you would obviously be afraid of my experience and expertise. Why else would you refuse?" You are not touching that with a ten foot adventurer's pole. So you lean back in silence to admire the blossoms gently floating down. through some bit of magic they don't wind up in the bath. Your matron regains her confidence and speaks in a teacher's tone. "Come let's wash up, I should show you how to care for your hair. A woman's charm is bound to her hair." She has thankfully stopped rolling her shoulders with every word. Earlier today you would of probably rolled your eyes at this. Beauty tips are far from practical for an adventurer. But now your ears perk up, if you are to be stuck like this for a while, it only makes sense to look your best. Your matron helps you undress. The robes are as cumbersome as ever and this close to a warm bath you were sweating something terrible. Your large fluffy tail isn't helping either. She then turns obviously expecting you to do the same. You do so with a sigh. It seems wrong to discard such elaborate robes haphazardly. You find yourself carefully folding them to avoid getting creases. Your matron, instructs you to wash before entering the large soaking pool. Part of you wonders what the point of having so much hot water is if that's not where you do the bathing. The more sensible part recognizes that it's foolish to bring the dirt to communal water. The delightfully warm water washing over you creates an awkward feeling. Which is only made more awkward as your matron helps to suds you up. Still she expects you to do the same to her which has it's own benefits. The combined effects of your capture and so long fighting in such heavy robes means that you did actually need a wash. By the end of your scrub down you are noticeably cleaner. You matron says something about cleanliness being next to godliness and then makes you clean under your fingernails. She also makes you wash your tail. Given it's sensitivity this a difficult task. As a side effect though you get more familiar with the appendage. Something about it seems to compliment your looks. You can't work the fur too hard or the tingles it sends up your spine become too intense. Your matron deals with her 8 tails with an experienced efficiency. You follow her example of sudsing them, and then gently brushing them straight. It's a damn bother, you aren't looking forward to drying them. Thankfully your matron says to wait until after you soak. The way water keeps dripping off it is a little distracting though. Finally it's time to deal with your hair. Regardless of it's length before this is probably about as long as you ever had it. It takes many attempts to tie it up, eventually your matron has you turn and ties it for you. You can't help but shiver at the feeling of her hands on your back. [[You never thought you would have to work so hard to bathe.->bath house kitsune 1 sober 1]]

it's one of those ideas that you know is stupid but don't care. Your matron is a good looking woman, and you deserve to something enjoyable after a long hard day. You nod, a blush coming to your cheeks. You shouldn't really feel shy now, but for some reason you can't help yourself. The kitsune smiles wide, her tails all wagging excitedly. "Oh really? The things I could show you." She puts a finger to her lips, thinking exageratedly. "Now what kind of lesson would a fresh young girl like you enjoy? A familar lesson or a new experience? She obviously wants you to pick something. Come this far, might as well play along now. What do you say? [[a familar lesson->bath house kitsune 1 female fun]] [[A new experience->bath house kitsune 1 male fun]] (set: $kitsunenoookie to 1)

It's worth all the work though. The water is blissfully, heavenly, warm. You can almost feel the tension leech out of your muscles as you slide into the water. You do let out a surprised squeak as your tail enters the water though. It soaks up a surprising amount of water. Your matron matches your pleased sighs. For a while you are both content to enjoy the warm water. She sits close to you, smiling at you. It's not quite shoulder to shoulder. Sitting that close would probably involve a tail getting squished. Finally your energy gets the better of you and you begin to wade through the warm water. It's big enough to swim in if you so wish. All stone though so it's a bad idea. Your matron softly laughs and then beckons you over. "Come I might as well teach you some magic. Our kind is famous for our tricks. You can't get into too much trouble with some of the basic ones." She leads you through a few basic exercises. She starts with breathing and finding your focus. To an adventurer like yourself this comes easy. Finally she leads you into conjuring a simple blue flame with your hand. She ignites the flame with a complicated snapping motion. You try to replicate the motion, but can't quite nail it. Your matron however always obscures her hand as she snaps. You keep trying and she keeps teaching you badly. Finally she gives a foxish smile. "If you would just accept a bit more of my tutelage I'm sure you could get it." Good to see her measured calculated methods to tempt you haven't changed. You aren't going to go for it, you shouldn't reward bad behavior. If nothing else Cohen would never let you hear the end of it. [[Distract her->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 1]] [[Confront her about it->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 2]] [[Distract her by asking about Cohen->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 5]]

You sigh inward, you already know how much of a pain she can be when she wants a particular something. (if: $curse is 1)[And just how dangerous pushing something she doesn't want to deal with can be.] What would distract her? You look around as she is busy failing to teach you once again. You catch sight of something red and bushy behind you. Ah! She turns back to you, her eyes narrow as she hopes to trick you. "Something the matter?" You shift uncomfortably, squishing your tail against the stone wall on accident. "Not used to the tail. How do you get used to having a tail?" How she manages so many boggles the mind. Your matron laughs. "Hah! Get used to your tail!. I forget sometimes that not everyone is like me. I started long ago as a fox, so I had to get used to these." She shows her hands proudly, doing jazz hands to emphasize that she has fingers. "I still think of them as paws sometimes." (if: $hideme is 1)[so in kitsune 2 she will probably tell the story of how she became kitsune. The early draft is that she was regular fox who in the longest winter she had ever seen received a gift of food from the goddess. (she couldn't directly perceive the goddess at this point.) That spring at great personal difficulty she brought an offering to the goddess's shrine. (maybe a bird? that's an indirect reference to that touhou doujin I really liked). A shimmering figure of light petted her, which she admits felt nice. Later when she finally died she found herself in a form she didn't understand in front of the goddess. She then says how excited she is to introduce the player character to the goddess. This has the extra benefit of giving her saving the player at the start of the route more emotional resonance.] She straightens up, and brings her dazzling tails in front of her. Even wet they are eye catching. "But speaking of tails as a kitsune you should know of their importance." You strongly consider trying to fake sleep. But that same curiosity from earlier picks at you. You are a kitsune now, anything you learn might help you rescue your friends. Your matron notes your interest and continues with a smile. "Tails are a manifestation of the power we can draw into ourselves and release. With each one you gain the capacity for greater and greater magic. You gain more as you age. Although the rate varies depending on the kitsune. Mine took about a hundred years each." She pets one of her tails fondly as she continues. "Their utility and how difficult they are to obtain makes them dear for any kitsune." Her tails undulate around her slightly, she's try to use them to make her seem dramatic. It just makes her look like she's trying too hard. "They are also good for grabbing things, although you need more than one for that to really be an option." She continues a note of warning in her voice. "but for all their benefits, they are also dangerous. A kitsune cannot live for long with 10 tails. The power they draw into the kitsune proves too much and kills them." (if: $hideme is 1)[For kitsune 2: that's why I always keep my extra tails in a safe, near place.] She smiles at you. "That won't be a problem for you for a long time though." At a hundred years per tail the kitsune is truly ancient. How much would the world change around if you lived as long as that? Would you want to live that long? [[These and other idle thoughts consume you as you soak.->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree room]] (set: $tailbath to 1)

You let out an annoyed sigh. With a careful tone you ask her to stop hiding her hand. She pouts, puffing her cheeks in a way that belies her normally mature face. She sighs and looks annoyed, but she finally relents. She shows you the trick, conjuring a small flame in her hand. She looks at you and then finally speaks. "Just give in it's for your own good. It will make you better. You can be assured I have your best interests at heart." At least she's truthful about it. How do you respond? [[ask her why she is so insistent->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree explanation]] [[Try to get her to deal with you plainly->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree confrontation]] [[use what you learned as a distraction for a sneak attack->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree splash]]

You go quiet, performing the illusory flame on hand with a flourish. You repeat the motion idly. Ron is going to be mildly envious, although you wouldn't be surprised if he thinks his flames are better. Your matron looks off into the distance thinking her own private thoughts. You glance at her out of the corner of your eye. She seems distracted, almost sorrowful. Perfect. You playfully splash water at her. "Hah." Giggling like a girl your matron rises to the challenge splashing you back. Your newly slender hands don't have splash capacity they used to but you try your best regardless. Your matron is content for a while to use her hands, then she adds in her tails to churn the water. You try a lateral move to keep away but it's hard to move in the milky bath water. Before long you are both soaked. Your matron's and your hair, so carefully put up is ruined. You can't help but smile. Both of you start to over heat so you rest by the side of the pool. Your matron smiles at you and puts her arm around your shoulder. You rest against her side breathing deeply. It's a pleasant moment. [[The water is blissfully warm and fragrant.->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 3]]

You feel utterly relaxed in the warm bath water. But you are starting to get pruney. Your matron looks like she has had as much of the heat as she can handle. Your back is already hotter from your tail, you can't imagine how bad it might be for her. [[There is only so much warm bathwater you can take->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 3]]

Your matron has been relentless, she clearly feels that you should accept her "tutelage". Maybe if you can try to figure out why you can get her to stop or at least understand that you aren't interested. You consider ways to phrase the question delicately and then just say it. "Why is it so important to you that I am improved?" Your matron pauses, it looks for a second like she is going to go for sanctimony, but then she bites her lip. Finally she speaks "A messenger for a goddess of the harvest always seeks to improve things around them. A field only produces when cultivated, people only eat and enjoy life when there has been an effort made to enrich their lives." She softens, looking at you fondly. "You have such potential, I see it within you. If you would let me cultivate it for you I could make you into a wonderful servant for my goddess. Please give in, by the time I'm done you won't even remember having hesitations about it." You shake your head. Your feelings about her offer are ambivalent but it's not a choice to make a little tipsy while looking at a beautiful woman. That's generally when people do things they regret. Your matron's face falls as you refuse, but then she smiles. "I'm sure I will be able to help you in time, a young girl like you needs the guidance I can provide." She puts an arm around your shoulders. She takes a moment to finally teach the trick, perhaps realizing that she's not going to get you to agree for tonight at least. She leads you through a few basic exercises. She starts with breathing and finding your focus. To an adventurer like yourself this comes easy. Finally she leads you into conjuring a simple blue flame with your hand. She ignites the flame with a complicated snapping motion. It takes you a few tries and a slightly sore wrist but you finally manage to nail it. It's an exhilerating feeling to do something you feel was impossible, much is less impossible for most people. (set: $kitsunetrick to 1) You look out across the bath, the false stars are twinkling wonderfully. Cohen talked a lot about helping you improve, but it was never him doing the work. He would provide the tools and try to encourage you, but at the end of the day it was you who did it. [[The bath is warm->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 3]]

Whatever her reasons it's obvious that your matron feels strongly that you should give into her. So strongly that she has indirectly endangered your life more than once. You need to put a stop to this before she pushes things so far that not even her power can fix it. You draw yourself up. You aren't an especially frightening figure anymore, but you marshal everything you have to look stern. (you might be frightening if someone was afraid of fox-eared women but this isn't that kind of game.) You look at your matron and address her plainly. "You are desperate to get me to give in. Stop it. I have made myself clear. All you are doing is embarrassing yourself." Your matron's ears flair and her tails stand up straight behind her. "You dare. You dare to tell me what I should and shouldn't do!" (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[You think of earlier today when you spoke carelessly towards your matron. It's looking like that punishment will be nothing compared what's coming though.] For a awful burning second your matron's anger is so strong her disguise slips. You grasp her true terrible form, it's impossible shape burned into your eyes. Then she quiets, looking superior. "You are young and impudent, I shouldn't be so rash. In time you will see that I'm right, it's always that way." Her ears perk and she looks royally smug. You are too terrified to move. She walks silently through the pool, thinking to herself. You take deep breaths until your pulse stops thundering. You stop panicking as your matron lets out a depressed sigh and relaxes against the side of the pool. Her tails form a veritable wall, isolating her from you. [[You enjoy the silence and the warm water.->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 3]] (set: $kitsuneantagonist to 1)

For the middle path there needs to be a dyanmic where the player is getting along with the kitsune. needs to be hard and soft Maybe the solution is to have the pc to be interested in the kitsune has to teach despite themselves

The reason is simple, the spiders moving through the trees can ignore the terrain below. What would be a simple jaunt for them, becomes an arduous hike across steams and valleys. No wonder they were able to chase you down, their mobility is unmatched. Cohen notes your frustration. "Pay attention Youngling. The spider's ability to move through trees means that their reinforcements can come quickly and from nearly any direction. We will need to move fast and decisively during the escape." He pauses a hint of a smile playing at his lips. "Rarely though will they jump onto you, has a bad habit of getting them skewered on spears." The kitsune looks imperious and announces in an uncaring tone. "No matter the number of reinforcements, the spiders are a distraction." Cohen's smile grows tired. (if: $hidden is 1)[(If kitsune level is 1,2)(Rarely does he have to put with being directly contradicted.)] "Milady is of course above the character flaw of underestimating her opponents?" The kitsune's expression doesn't change. "Of course." You and Cohen take turns watching the trees to avoid neck strain. It still sucks. [[The forest seems infinite->kitsune 0 forest 2]]

Probably have the kttsune and cohen split, maybe a choice of who the player goes with. the other provides the distraction. the kitsune tries to use a disguise to infiltrate as spiders, might have problems balancing tone cohen just sneaks in barbarian style. Sets a fire and lets that work as a distraction. this has it's own problems, splitting the climax makes it so I have to do the fight scene in some form twice Additionally it still leaves the larger problem of how to keep the falling action engaging with the kitsune in play. Maybe take the approach that while the kitsune is powerful she absolutely sucks at teamwork. maybe have the kitsune get hit by a lot of tranq darts? escape sequences: 0: kitsune gets tranked and you have to work with your team to carry her to safety 1: maybe have to jump a waterfall to escape which the kitsune is seriously afraid of? 2: kitsune prime time, you and her are unstoppable alternatively: 0: player gets tranked, and anti-magiced. unable to heal the player, the kitsune goes rambo for a day and the player has to work with a tired exahusted kitsune who clearly cares for the player 1: kitsune gets anti-magicked, kitsune aligned player has to work to push her out of her magic using comfort zone 2: kitsune gets tranked, the player has to become her temporary avatar to make the escape work. maybe swap 1 and 2? question: Should I work in an everyone gets transformed sequence?

As you get deeper into the forest, the light seems to fade. Your stomach tells you it hasn't been long enough for the sun to set. You almost trip into the answer. The spider web is larger than you are tall and as least as thick. It's cleverly disguised and placed between two trees. Cohen grabs you by your collar as you almost tread into it. "Careful youngling." The kitsune looks around carefully, then she sniffs the air experimentally. Finally she makes an arcane shape with her hands. She blows upon her hands and two small balls of flame fly up illuminating the web in unearthly colors. The kitsune examines the web with a practiced eye. "I'd say we are on the right track." Cohen nods managing not to roll his eyes. "Aye." You glance around, there are many webs hidden all around you. So many it's working to blot out what light reaches the forest floor. Oh dear. The webs only increase infrequency as you travel onward. Despite her best efforts the kitsune's robes get caught on the webs more than once. She roasts these webs no matter how many abstract comments Cohen makes about how this might be noticed. Finally the webs become almost solid. [[The nest is found->kitsune 0 forest 3]] \(set: $ForestKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Forest2Kitsune0Description to 1)

Cohen leads the way cautiously, he insists that the nest must be close. he even manages the kitsune to tie back her robes a bit so that she won't accidentally make some noise and betray all. He leads you towards a large circular clearing. in the middle there is the spider's nest. It's situated on a rise (really more of a hillock), the trees there are covered in walls of yellowed web. In the trees themselves are multiple platforms where the occasional bored spider looks out into the forest. Cohen smiles and then quietly says. "Hard part is over. Now all we have to do is get in there and get out of the forest alive. Now what's the first step youngling?" Despite the need for stealth you pop up like a student called upon unexpectedly. The answer is easy though. "We need to survey the area before deciding on the plan." Cohen smiles warmly as the kitsune makes a bored noise. Cohen very carefully leads the way around the circle. You have to scrape and hide behind trees. The kitsune quietly smacks two of her palms together and then says something about having cast an illusion. Cohen rolls his eyes and then reminds her illusions don't work so well against someone looking for them. [[You head right along the clearing.->kitsune 0 forest 4]] (It's an ancient adventurer tradition to keep the unknown to your left) \(set: $Forest1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Forest2Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Forest2Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Forest3Kitsune0Description to 1)

So for parsimony I'm going to have to break fucking choronology here. So I want the nest to be pretty far in the forest, but at the same time that means the assault is starting on the third day. In the capture ending that means everybody has been tfed. Which in turn complicates endings. I'll think on it.

With a hint of a smile you answer that you would prefer a familiar lesson. Perhaps you are looking for something where you might be better able to please the other person. After all a sexual encounter where only one person has a good time reflects badly on you. Your matron smiles wide, "Oh? I never thought a maiden like yourself could be so licentious." You give her a deadpan look. She giggles, “sorry force of habit dear. I've known a great number of girls who loved that line." It doesn't take her long to disrobe, not hard given that she was about halfway to undressed. Still as her robes drop away she obviously works to show off her curves. You almost succeed in not staring. Your matron stands nude before you, looking every bit like an avatar of a fertility goddess. A hint of a blush graces her cheeks. Suddenly, unexpectantly you can't help but feel a little hesitant, perhaps a touch out of your depth. Raising an eyebrow your matron asks "Oh am I the only one getting naked?" Your hesitation surprises you, by this point Frederick's would be naked and diving headfirst towards your matron. But in the face of her beauty and maturity you feel lost. You cannot quite say why you feel so overwhelmed, maybe it’s only natural in the face of her experience. Your matron takes you gently by the hand and smiling says "Don't worry I'll take the lead." Just her taking your hand makes your heart flutter and your stomach turn over. She helps you undress slowly, interspersing gentle caresses as she goes. Never too strong, just enough to make you intensely aware of your newly sensitive bits. All the while she stays close almost rubbing herself against you. At this range her intoxicating scent, makes your stomach do flips. Finally, as the last robe falls away, she pets between your ears gently. "A good little kit like you deserves a reward." She kisses you deeply, her tongue gently leads you in a mindblowing series of exercises. You didn’t even know tongues could do that. Your foot would pop if you were not surrounded by a mountain of discarded robes. Once the initial shock fade, you kiss back strongly. Some creativity now might cover for your earlier hesitation. This sudden effort catches your matron by surprise. In appreciation she proceeds to really show off. You make a sound of muffled surprise which fades into a muffled moan. Finally your matron breaks off the kiss. Both of you are blushing and panting and you can’t help but look into her eyes. The way she raises her eyebrow would make a priest quit the cloth "Time for the real lesson." Your matron captures you by a finger and then gently leads you to the edge of the water. She sits and with a bit of careful scooching has you sit between her legs. You sit as comfortably as you can on the edge of the bath. Your head fits comfortably between her breasts. Her tails spread out in an impressive explosion of floof that dances at the edge of your vision and then come back to caress you. The tails feel sinfully soft as they gently message your arms, thighs and hands. Your matron hands gently stroke your stomach and abdomen. She lingers for just a moment on a spot a little bit below your navel. You feel utterly relaxed from all this messaging. It seems the most natural thing in the world to relax your head back into the motherly softness of your matrons chest. You manage to nestle yourself between her breasts, she giggles a little as the hair of your ears tickles her. For a moment you just enjoy feeling totally safe and secure. Your heart is at ease. Your matron coos softly and says comforting nothings. She gently kisses your neck as her hand drifts lower. She begins to tender message your slit. It feels good, a distant comforting pleasure. Your matron however takes this as an opportunity to teach, slowly increasing the pressure as she gives you a hands on lesson of where a woman is sensitive. Slowly you begin to breathe heavier, this is not helped by your matron using her other hand to tease your breast. Your excitement slowly builds, and you let loose a few pleasurable moans. Then your matron slips her finger inside. You let out a surprised gasp as she messages you internally, adding another finger as she goes. She knows just the locations and intensity for the greatest reactions. The effect is only heightened by her other hand and her tails stroking in sync with her two fingers. The world becomes the softness of her tails on your skin and the way her two fingers move. In no time at all you are close. Your matron whispers naughtily into your ear. "Come for me like a good girl." You couldn't resist if you wanted to. With a long loud moan and trembling feeling you climax. Everything feels floaty and wonderful. You feel utterly satisfied, your muscles are so loose you doubt you could move them if you wanted to. For a long while you simply bask in the afterglow. Your matron gently pets and scratches between your ears and you find yourself enjoying it more than you should. Finally your matron gently but insistently clears her throat. "It's only good manners that I get some attention too you know." Crap she's got a point, a sexual encounter where only one person has a good time isn't much of an encounter at all. There technically isn't much sex you can do sitting in her lap but you give it a try regardless. Your rub your back against her while messaging her thighs. Even you will admit that's pretty miserable though. So like a good student you ask what she should like. You can almost hear her smile. She rubs your head approvingly. "Good girl, use your mouth." Well you never been one to shy away from a lady’s request. You carefully slip off the edge into the water. Your matron scoots forward a bit and spreads her legs expectantly. From your position down in the water she seems to tower over you. You can't help but notice that her breasts seem even larger from this angle. Her womanhood is on full display, awaiting your attention eagerly. It’s scent wafts towards you tantalizingly. You do have some experience in this area.(If you don't I won't tell.) You start by gently kissing your way up her thighs. The water around you is warm and relaxing but your mission keeps you from nodding off. Just short of her womanhood you stop, teasing by kissing where her thighs meet her pelvis. You stay purposefully away from her most sensitive areas. Your matron flicks you playfully on the forehead. "Quit stalling." Well she said so. You start by licking her pussy as strongly as possible. her moans float down from above. She will have a better time if you draw out the encounter. Seized by a sudden idea, you try to replicate your matron's lessons. Focusing your attention in the same places and similar intensity she used. This seems to work for a while as you are rewarded with pleasurable sighs and pats on the head. You too faithfully recreate your matron's ministrations though, and she eventually becomes impatient. She pulls you towards her and locks her thighs behind your head. She isn't forcing you into her slit, she holds you firmly just before it. Even with the warm bath water at your shoulders you can feel the warmth radiating off of it. You have all the choice in the world, your choices are to either struggle helplessly or get to licking. In a position like that you have no choice but to attack aggressively. Your tongue enters your matron's slit and you lick as deeply and strongly as you can. You can't hear much with your matron's thighs covering your ears, but she pats your head when you are on target and pulls your hair when you miss the mark. For some reason the simple act of being so focused on giving your matron pleasure is making your body feel hotter and hotter. And it's not just the warm bathwater and thighs on your neck. You feel your nipples harden and cheeks grow flush. From the way your matron is driving her pelvis into your face she must be close. you consider withdrawing your ministrations at the last moment but reconsider, that would be cruel even to do to her. Instead you redouble efforts using everything you have learned to give her pleasure. It’s almost an act of worshipping her most intimate place. Your matron finishes explosively, you can feel her shakes almost reverberate through your head. Your matron caught up in the pleasurable feelings and lies back her tails splayed out around her. You take that as your sign to get out. You don't want to get pruney after all. raising out of the water you can't help but notice the way water runs off your form. Your matron looks up at you content and motions for you to join. The knowledge that you have done so much to pleasure your matron fills you with sexual contentment. You lay next to your matron, the glorious softness of her tails forming a comfortable bed. You gently spoon together, and her skilled carresses bring you to another climax. (set: $whoopie to 1) [[You enjoy a close intimate moment.->bath house kitsune 1 fun female part 1]] (set: $kitsunefemalesex to 1)

(if: $kitsunenookie is 1)[ (if: $kitsunemalesex is 1)[Both of you are blushing from the heat, and you feel wonderfully lightheaded from all your exertions in the warm bath water. Your matron is panting absentmindedly, wavering as she stands. Even her tails are drooping from the heat. Your matron manages to escape the kitsune trap first. (you never knew warm baths were so dangerous) She offers a hand to you and helps pull you out of the water. The sucking of the warm water makes you intensely aware of the water running off of your form. You shiver at the warm air around the bath. Your matron smiles "let me get comfortable dear and we will dry off" You raise an eyebrow wondering what "get comfortable" means. Your matron takes a deep breath, she holds it and puts her hands infront of her stomach. As she expells the breath the steam from the bath surges foward obscuring your vision. When it finally clears your matron is in her old womanly form again. She smiles and rolls her shoulders seductively watching for response. She giggles, "one form is as good as another i suppose." She smiles "But I prefer to be like this." ] (if: $kitsunefemalesex is 1)[Eventually however your matron gently nudges you. "We should get out dear, you are going to get pruney." From the way she's sweating and fruitlessly trying to fan herself with her tails that's not the only reason. You blink yourself awake, it would probably be dangerous to fall asleep in the bath, as relaxing as it seems. Your matron gently helps you out of the water, offering a hand when you prove a bit unsteady trying to step out of the water. you can't help but admire how the water runs off your form. Your skin also seems so healthy that it shines. You have that healthy post-coital glow. NOTE TO SELF: have something about having a hard time bringing your legs together for malesex. You gently work to towel dry your matron, you mostly restrict your self from any intimate carresses. Then it's your matron's turn to help you get dry, the towels are wonderfully soft. Your matron doesn't have your reticence when it comes to caresses. She gently traces long senuous lines over your newly dry form, using both her fingers and her tails. After many shivers you finally get her to focus on getting you dry.] ] (if: $kitsuneantagonist is 0)[ The heat finally proves too much for both you and your matron. Your tail is the worst, you can even imagine how hot that many tails is making your matron. Also starting to get pruney. You exchange glances and make the unanimous decision that there might be too much of a good thing. As you get both get out, you can't help but admire how the water runs off your form. Your skin also seems so healthy that it shines. Your matron helps you dry off, toweling you down softly. You do the same for your matron. This leaves your tail to consider. It's sensitive and soaking. (Unlike another area). (if: $kitsunefloof is 0)[For a moment you consider just grabbing your tail and doing a twist and squeeze. That or shaking it out seems like the fastest way to get it dry. You grab it experimentally, it's still sensitive. Your matron puts a hand on your shoulder. "Let me show you the right way to take care of that my dear." She gently holds and then towels dry your tail. It's a strange sensation, to have something that sensitive in someone else's hands. It's comforting to know that you can trust something that vulnerable to someone else. When she finishes you wag your tail too and fro, it definitely seems glossier. Your matron looks at you hopefully, her tails splayed out around her. "Help me with half of them?" Figures. It takes a while but on the upside you get a lot of time with fluffy tails.] (if: $kitsunefloof is 1)[For a moment you consider just grabbing your tail and doing a twist and squeeze. That or shaking it out seems like the fastest way to get it dry. You grab it experimentally, it's still sensitive. You glance back at your matron, she has a mischievous grin. You feel like you are about to make a mistake. Still you can hardly walk around with it wet. You'd be dripping everywhere and not in the sexy way. You hold it with both hands and then give a combination squeeze and twist trying to wring out the water. The sensation is indescribable and you make something between a yipe and a moan. Your matron giggles and then helps you stand. "You need to treat your tails more gently my dear. Now let me show you the right way."]] (if: $kitsuneantagonist is 1)[ The heat finally proves to be too much. You are sweating and feel more than a little faint. Your tail makes it so much worse, concentrating heat on your back. You can't imagine how bad it is for your matron. Also you are getting pruney. The heat is clearly effecting your matron but she is trying her hardest to not show it. She gives you a contemptuous look as you move to get out. Oh is that how it is? You sit down, crossing your arms wondering how much heat you can take. Your matron notices this and follows suit. The water is wonderfully warm, but growing hotter the long you sit in it. Before long you are sweating and splayed out. It's too damn hot. Your matron is suffering as much as you are. Her composure has slipped. Rather than sitting prim and proper she is fanning herself and panting. Finally she gives a look that distantly approaches humility. You aren't doing much better and so you get out as a pair. You are super pruney. As you get both get out, you can't help but admire how the water runs off your form. Your skin also seems so healthy that it shines. Your matron leaves you to towel off. Thankfully the towels are some of the fluffiest and softest you have ever felt. Before long you are dry. Your matron takes longer, grumbling the entire time. Your skin might be dry and your hair tied up, but your tail is still sopping wet behind you. Toweling it dry is going to take forever. A faster approach would be nice. You can't imagine how long it will take your matron to get her tails dry. Experimentally you grip your tail and get ready to twist and squeeze dry. A glance at your matron shows her smirking. Uh oh, you get the feeling you are about to make a mistake. Still what else is there to do? You hold it with both hands and then give a combination squeeze and twist trying to wring out the water. The sensation is indescribable and you make something between a yipe and a moan. As you get back to your feet your matron laughs and then gets back to drying her own tails. Good to see that she's not being petty. Still your watch as she carefully towel dries her tails and copy her example. Before long they are at least not wet to the touch.] You gingerly let down your hair not quite sure what to expect. The humidity has made a bit of a mess of your hair. Your feelings about this are mixed, but a person of action like yourself has had more than a few bad hair days. (if: $kitsuneantagonist is 1)[Your matron however is aghast at what's happened to your hair. "No, no that won't do. I'll help you comb your hair if you help me comb mine." Your matron seems insistent and it's probably not worth pissing her off more. You still have to make the rescue tomorrow.] (if: $kitsuneantagonist is 0)[Your matron touches you on your shoulder gently. "Let me help comb your hair dear. We must look our best, we represent our goddess after all."] Your matron produces a pair of sturdy jade combs and begins to gently comb your hair straight. Her hair is so long that even sitting with her behind you, it's still possible to help comb her hair straight. (Even if it does involve getting more than little draped in her hair. It's a quiet comfortable moment. Your matron's skill shows and she gently teases apart every snagle and tangle in your hair. It's reassuring to have a gentle comfortable presence behind you. You, well you try your best. Your matron is understanding that this isn't in the average adventurer skill set. (You get the feeling Frederick would be fantastic at it though.) Your matron passes the time gossiping. Mostly this is about far off figures and spirits you have never met before. Your matron has an old lady's talent for involving you in conversations though. Before long you are talking about your friends to keep the conversation going. It feels a bit like parent taking an interest in a child's friends but you don't mind too much. Eventually your matron finishes combing your hair, a bit after that you get far enough on your matron's hair. Your matron produces a mirror so you can admire your hair. It's long, shiny and glossier than it's ever been. You do look quite groomed. Let's hope the others recognize you. (if: $hideme is 1)[note to self: work in curse description here] (set: $mussed to 0) [[Finally it's time to return to the room->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 4]]

Thankfully you don't have to wear the cumbersome robes your matron so favors back to the room. Instead you wear clean soft striped robes. Your discarded robes are taken to be cleaned. They weren't nearly as dirty as you get adventuring with Ron but still pretty dirty. In between your relaxed muscles and the thinner robes you feel lighter on your feet. (if: $hidden is 1)[if post coital add something about how you feel happy and floaty after sex.] Your matron moves at leisurely pace. She has mostly sobered up herself. (if: $hidden is 1)[Mention something about how she has a post coital glow. Also how you feel like you should stick close to her? I don't know sex.] As you walk you pass a wide variety of monsters. A few of these you recognize from Your matron's gossip. She stops and greets politely a few of these. You mostly hang back, behind the kitsune to avoid too much notice. Cohen always preached caution in the worlds beyond. (if: $kitsuneantagonist is 0)[For a few of these Your matron steps aside and prevents you from hiding long enough to introduce you. There isn't much to do but smile and nod. Every time your matron smiles and rubs your head affectionately.] When you finally reach the room you find Cohen asleep in the arms of a racoon eared server. (if: $whoopie is 0)[It's good that he found some companionship. Sort of impressive if you are being honest.](if: $whoopie is 1)[For once he's not the only one who got laid. Man has a near magical ability to attract partners.] Your matron smiles at Cohen's sleeping form and together you quickly lay you futons to sleep on. (if: $whoopie is 0)[(if: $kitsuneantagonist is 1)[The kitsune lays out her futon some distance from you and Cohen. Well at least you don't have to deal with her accidentally hitting you while you sleep.](if: $kitsuneantagonist is 0)[The kitsune lays her futon next to yours, insisting that you sleep together. She even offers to hold hands as you go to sleep. On the upside if you get cold you can just use her tails as covers.]](if: $whoopie is 1)[The kitsune lays her futon next to yours and makes clear that she'd like to go to sleep spooning with you. Her embrace is wonderfully soft. Even is her tails do make you a bit warm.] (if: $hidden is 1)[Maybe have spooning or cuddling for kitsune sex version.] The futon is as soft as futons get but for a moment you are nostalgic for your bedroll. Then the memory of just how stiff you were in the morning comes back and you stop missing it. The day is finished and despite some setbacks you finally have the means to rescue your friends. You give a simple prayer that your friends are fine and that come the next day you will be able to find them. For a moment you even idly consider praying to your matron's goddess. She is probably the wrong authority and things aren't that desperate yet though. As you drift to sleep you wonder if counting tails works as well as [[sheep->bath house kitsune 1 morning]] (if: $whoopie is 0 and $kitsuneantagonist is 0)[If you were so inclined you might you might consider taking the soft bedding and relative privacy to perform an intimate examination of yourself. But the close proximity of your matron makes that undesirable. (Look masturbating next to sleeping people is just trashy.)](if: $whoopie is 0 and $kitsuneantagonist is 1)[Before long your matron has joined Cohen in sawing logs. After a day full of fighting, terror and even a bath you have a moment for an intimate examination. Now might be the time to take it. If you do it's a very personal experience.]

You wake up to a gentle poking of your shoulder. Despite the exertion of the day yesterday you feel pretty darn good and only a little hung over. Looking up you see Cohen standing over you with a smile, his silver beard catching the "dawn" light. You can't help put let out a mighty yawn. Cohen says in a gentle voice. "Up and at em youngling. We need to get moving." (if: $whoopie is 0)[You glance around the surprisingly well lit room. Something like sunlight is gently peaking in over the walls around the stone bath. Cohen's geared up and ready to go. Why is he prepared to leave already. Then all of a sudden the disasterous events of yesterday come flooding back. The ambush, your capture and escape. Meeting and accepting your matron's help. Oh shit. The others. You look back to Cohen in a panic. "What time is it?" Cohen smiles, obviously happy that you are as worried as he is. "I'd be willing to bet you that this place is out of time, but it feels like morning. So let's get going." (if: $kitsuneantagonist is 0)[Your matron is sawing logs off to one edge of the room.](if: $kitsuneantagonist is 1)[Your matron is sawing logs next to you, obviously untroubled by the noise you and Cohen were making.] Her snoring is strange, she makes a "kon kon kon" sound as her breath falls.](if: $whoopie is 1)[You try to raise your head to glance around the room only to find a weight on your arm. Glancing down you see that your arm is pinned by your matron's sleeping body. Her features are bathed in what might be the morning light. All at once yesterday comes rushing back to you. The ambush, the failed escape, meeting your matron, having sex with your matron. And now you are trapped under her. Cohen seems to think this the height of humor. Oh so it's only funny when you get laid? You briefly consider just gnawing your arm off, but you can't help but feel that it's going to be one of those days where you need two arm. Desperately you look to Cohen for help. He shrugs helplessly, not much he can do either. Gently ever so gently you try to move your arm free. Your matron is snoring, the falling of her breath punctuated by saying "Kon kon kon" gently. Suddenly as you pull your arm free, her snoring stops. Your heart races. She mutters something about missing someone and turns over, freeing you. Alright most difficult part of the day is over. It's all smooth failing from here. Cohen's trying not to crack up. He whispers to you quietly. "As impetuous as ever youngling." You grumble. "What time is it?" Cohen shrugs "No telling, that bright thing in the sky isn't the sun. Still I feel like breakfest and that's as close to telling as I can figure. We need to move." As you and cohen glance at the sleeping figure, her tails twitch slightly.] Oh boy, something about letting sleeping messengers of goddesses lie comes to mind. You look to Cohen hopefully. He's stareing off into space with that particular disinterest that comes over him when it's something he's going to make you do. Still she seems the very picture of serenity her silver hair spread over her gently sleeping features. It catches the light in just the right way to seem as if it's shining. It makes her look her look quite beautiful actually. You scooch over to her and very gently shake on of her arm. She shakes her head a few times. Finally she snorts in a very unlady like manner and rubs her eyes while her tails move hair out of her face. (if: $whoopie is 0)[She blinks as her slitted eyes try to adjust. "What is it dear? Kind of early to wake up." She looks at Cohen. who is giving her a stonefaced look. She smiles at him disarmingly. "Oh what's the hurry Cohen? There's this great tree we can drink under, it's beautiful!" She adds in a conspiratorial tone. "We still have plenty of money to have fun with."](if: $whoopie is 1)[She blinks as her slitted eyes try to adjust, then she lands at looking at you. There's a very particular expression someone has when they are remembering what you look like naked and in the heat of coitus. She has that expression and you can't help but blush. "Oh good morning dear. You look really beau-" She's about to launch into a pitch for some just woken up sex but Cohen clears his throat loudly.] Cohen tries to keep a compassionate look on his face. "Milady might remember that she gave me her word she would only keep the pair of us here the night." He pauses. "My younglings still need rescuing, if milady will recall." Your matron blinks and rubs her temples a few times. "Oh right, right right right. Your younglings. Still I'm sure a delay of another day won't hurt anything. I haven't seen you for many years Cohen, and might not see you after this."(if: $whoopie is 1)[ She gives you a very particularly hopeful look.] You join Cohen in giving a stone faced response. She screws up her lips, she's looking like she wants to be stubborn. You put a gentle hand on her arm. (if: $whoopie is 0)["Surely it's an act worthy of our goddess?"](if: $whoopie is 1)[In an alluring tone you whisper "I'll make it worth your while." She's obviously affected for a second.] Her ears and tails droop. "Fine" She looks you over, "I can't go to battle looking like a mess, or with my disciple looking like a mess." Disciple nothing but yes [[you could use some help with your robes.->bath house kitsune 1 morning 1]]

You might find yourself suprrised to say you want a new lesson. (or not, we ain't judging.) Your matron smiles wide "oh I suppose such desires are natural for a maiden like yourself. I shall make you a woman." You try not to roll your eyes. This fails and you end up giving her a deadpan look. It was her idea after all, bit strange for her to put on airs. She giggles, "Sorry dear, that normally gets the girls blushing." She takes a deep breath then exhales while clapping her hands. The steam from the bath surges forward, whiting out your vision for a second. When things clear enough to see, you are looking at a male version of your matron. You suppose it's more interesting what didn't change. She still has the eight gloriously fluffy tails and the fox ears. Her hair is shorter but still has that almost shimmery silver color. Her hair and ears now frame strong handsome features. Most importantly she still has the unmistakable air of arrogance. She is a tall masculine figure. Her beauty has been replaced by handsome features, broad shoulders, a strong chin and she is a few inches taller. Her brow is as strong as you would expect. Her robes are the same level of half-off as they were and you can see her tit. It's a strong tit. She has a grin at your open mouthed reaction. Despite yourself you have to admit she is sort of handsome. She gives you licentous look. Suddenly you feel quite self-concious. Is this really about happen, are you seriously about to do this? Your matron, quickly removes most of her robes, leaving her just a thin robe. You glance down at the robes puddles at her feet and as your glance back up you note that she has given herself an impressively large johnson. You suppose you can't blame her, if you had the option you would probably do the same thing. Lord knows Frederick would. Your hesitation seems so strange after your earlier enthuiasm. Maybe it's just a natural reaction to her likely immense experience and maturity. That or the way your stomach drops upon seeing a johnson like that. Your matron takes you by the hand gently. "Don't worry kit, we will go slow. Just tell me if you get uncomfortable." Despite knowing exactly what dudes want, this is a bit reassuring. You sit on the edge of the grand bath, soaking your feet in warm water. You feel the tension reduce slightly. Your matron gently messages your thighs, your hands and everywhere in between. She seems trying to work out any tension you might have. This close you can smell her, her normally floral scent seems stronger, more masculine. This brings a gentle blush to your cheeks. It's not really sexual, but it's calming to feel her strong touch everywhere. You beging to touch her back, sneaking hand into her robe to feel her chest and stomach muscles. Your matron seems to take this as a sign, she leans forward and starts to kiss gently you. You kiss back, and your matron begins to give you a hands on lesson of how intense kissing can be. She does things with her tounge and gentle biting that you didn't think were possible. By the time she breaks content you are blushing and gasping a bit. She seems especially pleased with herself and then gets a grin that looks she's going to ask you for something. "So is there any chance you could give me some attention." She points towards her crotch. You guess that proves what they say, people with penises all want the same thing. You give her the driest look possible. She deflates slightly. With an exaggerated sigh she reconsiders. "Fine, here I'll help you get warmed up. Trust me when I say I know the importance of that." She removes her thin robe with exagerated care trying to show off her musculature. It's okay musculature, you have definitely seen more impressive muscles. Still something about her bare chest makes your pulse quicken slightly. Your matron slips into water with quiet plop. She takes a moment to run some water over chest, making her muscles shine slightly. Your eyes couldn't roll much harder. She moves in front of you and gently helps you discard you heavy robes. She keeps caressing you gently inbetween layers of robes falling away. Finally you are totally nude, your hard nipples exposed to the warm air. The kitsune reaches up and gently caresses your face. "You are so beautiful." The sudden compliment catches you off guard. "Now lie back and me really teach you something." She gently pushes you back. Your discarded robes are thick enough to be comfortable to lie on. So you lie back not entirely sure what to expect. The impossible cherry tree and the false stars past them are stunningly beautiful. Good time for a drink really. Your thoughts are interrupted by your matron kissing the back of your knee. It's an intensely ticklish feeling. Your matron is however not entirely satisfied with tickling you. She begins to kiss her way up your thighs gently. Then she teases at your slit. Her teases start gentle but gradually grow stronger. For better or worse your matron's pacing is excellent. Gentle waves of pleasure gradually grow into electric feelings down your spine. Then her tongue enters your sex. With you on your back she can reach quite deep. She does. She licks and teases with an intimate knowledge of your sensitive spots. It's almost uncanny how quickly she hits the best spots. The feeling is intense and in no time at all long deep moans are spilling from your mouth. You can't help but rock your hips in time with her licks. Before long you are desperately close. Your matron stops for just a second and kiss your pelvice region. Then she resumes, pushing you over the edge. It's a floaty relaxing feeling. We can wax poetic all you like but the truth is that it feels really good. It's a slightly different flavor than a male orgasm but still delicious. Your matron gets out of the water and gently move to sit next to you. She gently pets your head. You are too caught in the afterglow to do much more than smile. It takes a while but you manage to recover. Your matron smiles down at you. You let out an annoyed sigh. A sexual encounter where only one person has a good time reflects badly only you. Which means you are going to have to give the succ. She is over the moon at this news and has the biggest most shit-eating grin. When strength returns to your limbs you slide into the water and your matron takes up place on the edge of the bath. You give yourself a mental pep-talk, once again we ain't judging if you have given the succ before. It's just a very large johnson. Your matron pets your head gently and says broadly reassuring things. Her knees are on either side of your head and her johnson is right in front of your face. Unsurprisingly you get a full whiff of her masculine scent, it's oddly affecting. You start gently kissing the tip and then gently working the shaft. You contine from there, taking it into your mouth. The taste is oddly affecting. You can't really see her face from this angle, but from the sounds she's making she's having a good time. It's monotonous work, you would keep your self entertained but your matron's position means you need both arms to keep stable on the edge of the bath. Still just something about servicing your matron like this is making your sex twinge and your stomach do slow flips. Before long you are getting kind of turned on, every movement making you feel hotter and hotter. Your matron is pretty close, you have an intimate knowledge of the tell tale signs of being near orgasm. You grin (internally) and increase your intensity her moan and head pats increase in intensity. Before long you feel a telltale twitch. As deep as you are on the subject matter there isn't much you can do to avoid getting a mouth full. Spitting out in the water seems gross and so despite the strong taste you do your best to swallow. It's thick stuff. Your matron slips into the water next to you and you sit together holding eachother for a while. Your matron has that goofy smile that has at times been plastered on your face, so you let her enjoy it. Before too long however you feel something poking your leg. Your matron says in mature tone "You know this has hardly been a real lesson at all. I still have something else to teach." She lays her rapidly hardening johnson across your thigh to emphasize your point. The same curiousity from before strikes you. You can't really say you had the full experience unless you try it. Your matron smiles and pets your head saying "Good kit, I'll make sure it's an enjoyable lesson." She gets up apparently thinking about the best way to do this. She has you scoot to the edge of the bath. She puts her strong hands under your thighs and with a general bemusement you put your arms around her neck. She makes you a spirited effort to lift you. It's a bad lifting posture and she doesn't look that strong. Still she manages to lift you from the side of the pool. It's when she tries to take a step that she almost falls over, wavering as she exerts herself. You loosen your grip a bit, trying to get more into the water to make it easier on her. She grunts with effort as she walks slowly, finally she manages to reach a part of the bath that's deep enough to cover the both of your to your solar plexus. She leans you against the wall, and her tails disappear under the water. She straightens a bit, her tails obviously bracing her. You strengthen your grip face to face with her. (note to self: check the mechanics of this scene. may not be physically possibly) She smiles a bit sheepishly. "I'll admit I'm not quite as strong as I thought. But I'm sure I can make tha-" In between the anticipation and how her johnson kept rubbing you as she walked you are seriously turned on. So you kiss her to get her to shut up. She kisses back enthuiastically obviously getting the message. She hasn't gotten worse at kissing and before long the exchange is hot and heavy. You pull on her neck to grind against her, taking a preverse pleasure in rubbing your nipples against her chest. the sensation gives tingles of pleasure. From how hard her member is and how enthusiastically she's grinding against you, she's obviously having a good time. Finally she breaks the kiss, she's the one panting this time. You give her a silent expectant look. She smiles. Actually getting tab 1 into slot A is going to be something of a challenge though. For obviously reasons you don't want to come down too hard on it. Even the thought makes you cringe in anticipation of how much that would hurt. Your matron however has a solution, she hoists you up slightly. Then pauses. Your momentary confusion is interrupted by something wet and furry near your sex. then you feel her weiner insistently feeling for the correct aperture. She must be using her tail as a guide. She pauses before entering the chamber though. She gives a silent look for approval. You nod desperately, pretty damned turned on at this point. She enters and you release a sharp gasp. Then somewhat inevitably you begin to slide down your matron's pole. To your matron's credit she tries to hold you up. But your arms have no strength. Eventually the cavity is filled. Your matron with the strength of self preservation, finds the strength to prevent disaster. The sensation of being totally filled is difficult to describe. It feels good.(obviously) if you were capable of waking poetic you might say it feels like a key fitting in to a lock. Everything gets happy and floaty. You must have a dopey smile on your face from the way your matron giggles to look at you. She stays quiet though, content to begin moving her hips and lift you slightly. You try to help, using what strength you can muster to lift yourself in time with your matron's thrusts. For the most part though your matron in charge driving you into the wall. This feels natural? For some reason it's immensely satisfying to have someone else set the pace, to know that you don't always need to be charge. It helps immensely that your matron's techique is excellent. The pace she sets is easy to follow and she seems to know exactly where you will be the most sensitive. Before long the whole world gradually falls away. You are unable to think of almost anything but the motion of your matron's johnson and how you body moves almost instinctually in reponse. You would give alost anything to keep this from ending. You bite your lip and try to think of farming to keep the finish distant. Your matron is close as well, Her johnson has swelled even larger and her thrusts are aquiring a frantic tone. a quick glance shows that she has that distinctive biting her lip trying to think of kitsune things expression. You exchange a wordless look, you are both desperate. She switches approaches, pounding you forcefully for her last few thrusts. Then she holds you close. Your body moves in reponse, trying to get as close to her as possible. You feel a warmth flow into you. Oh fuck, warmth flowing into you is a hazard you didn't have to worry about as a male adventurer. [[express your discontentment, violently->bath house kitsune 1 male fun mad]] [[Let it pass->bath house kitsune 1 male fun not mad]] (set: $kitsunemalesex to 1) (set: $whoopie to 1) (if: $hidden is 1)[ so what kind of male sex are we going for tandem masturbation. maybe some oral? definitely not finishing in the player's mouth maybe have the kitsune perform so light oral? I'm going for more intimate but the kitsune is still in charge what's a m/f position that's intermidiately dominant? it was suggested that an intermediate position is against the wall. The magic bath could easily get deep enough for the kitsune to lift up the player and then do them against the wall as they face eachother. Sequence: Kitsune suggests the player perform oral (weird curiosity isn't enough) Kitsune does some light groping, maybe advances to oral stops short Player is finally coerced (is this rapey?) into performing oral. Stops short themself as revenge The kitsune advances to PIV, lifts up the player (the player is momentarily surprised, but then the kitsune staggers a bit The kitsune does the player against the wall, facing eachother, to their surprise the player finds themselves enjoying the lack of control.]

You feel happy and quite relaxed gently being held by your matron. You almost make a disappointed sound when she moves to get up. She pets you between the ears with a smile. "Join me in the bath? It seems silly to come all this way and not soak." She gently helps you sit up. She pauses for a moment to tend to your hair. Gently she teases all the strands back under your towel. While you were administering to her she messed up your hair something terrible. You blush just thinking about it. Your matron holds your hand and keeps skin contact as you both slip gently into the bath. You make a surprised face to feel your tail fully submerged in the water, Your matron giggles at it. There you sit together just enjoyin the warm bath water. You were already pretty relaxed but the warm water seem to leach the fatigue out of your muscles. You are letting out a plesurable sigh when your matron suddenly brings your hand out of the water. "Here let me read your palm." You manage not to roll your eyes. She gently brings your hand out of the water and begins to intensely study your palm. She also messages your hand as she goes along, which makes you blush a little. As your busies herself you pause to study your hand. It's still recognizably yours, smaller, more feminine but yours. A quick glance reminds that growing up a farm boy left you with thick callouses. Your matron looks up with a smile. She gently traces over your hand claiming that each line has a meaning. She keeps insisting that there is not a hint of adventure in your future, instead it will be filled with love and peace. You roll your eyes now. She smiles at your disbelief. "My predictions come true eventually. I'm great with paper fortunes too. Hmm what else to do?" Her eyes lighten. "Ah! Our kind is famous for our tricks. I will teach you enough magic to do one of the basic ones." She leads you through a few basic exercises. She starts with breathing and finding your focus. To an adventurer like yourself this comes easy. Finally she leads you into conjuring a simple blue flame with your hand. She ignites the flame with a complicated snapping motion. It takes you a few tries and a slightly sore wrist but you finally manage to nail it. It's an exhilerating feeling to do something you feel was impossible, much is less impossible for most people. Your matron smiles with pride. "You have such a potential within you. With my help we might realize it someday." She quiets happy to just enjoy the intimate moment. (set: $kitsunetrick to 1) [[The water is so warm it's making you a bit drowsy.->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 3]]

This one probably needs to go into bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 3 gotta do a conditional there, maybe something about how the kitsune keeps being overly affectionate? outline: if dudesex then after so much fooling around and wrestling you are very hot and both you are very happy to get out of the water. also soaked, she turns back first, a poof tf because I'm just human. she is affectionate. she will tend to your hair, and gently chide you for getting it messed up. if female you get out with mutual agreement, she is super affectionate

After some distance the kitsune sniffs the air experimentally. She adopts a slgihtly serious look and adds "Something a bit dangerous in that direction Cohen." Cohen nods "We can't retreat that way then." Looking back towards the spider's nest you note that the spider's watch towers have an unavoidably large blind spot beneath them. The spiders can't see directly beneath their abdomens of course. You continue moving along the circle, eventually reaching the spot furtherest from where you approached the circle. Here Cohen calls a stop. He carefully investigates the ground and then looks up into the trees. You follow his gaze, it's nothing special but you might see a spot which is relatively web free. Best way to learn is to ask. "Something up Cohen?" Cohen rubs his chin. "Nothing we can use youngling, we had better keep moving." You nod, staying this near the nest is a risk. Finally you continue along the circle, reaching a spot to the left of where you first approached the spider's nest. The nest on this side is the most heavily fortified, makeshift defenses and spikey webs postively bustle beneath a watch tower in every tree. You and Cohen go to great lengths to avoid keeping line of sight to the nest for any length of time. The forest side isn't much better. The trees there are marked with numerous scratches and the branches closest to the ground have been broken off. Even the kitsune shifts to being on guard here. Cohen lets out a low chuckle. "Hah, that's just like the spiders to set up near a dangerous enemy. These are the marks of a gorn hunting ground youngling. Big dangerous scaley things, claws and teeth like you wouldn't believe. We'd be damn fools to try and use them against the spiders though." The kitsune nods along. "Trying to use wild animals as weapons rarely works well. Especially with a small group like we have. Still maybe with some illusions?" Cohen's stare puts an end to her speculation. [[It's a short walk to where you first approached the nest->kitsune 0 plans]] \(set: $Leaf0Gear to 1)

You shelter some distance from the nest itself. Cohen insists on this even after the kitsune offers to cast an illusion. He sits down and beckons for you to join him. You sit on a not too muddy piece of dirt. The kitsune looks a bit disgusted, with an expert hand she reaches into her small bag and produces a straw mat to kneel on. Cohen calls a council. Everyone leans in, and whispers conspiratorially. It'd be damn awkard to get caught now. With a smile Cohen asks "Alright youngling, what is our goal?" You nod certainly. "To rescue the others." Cohen draws a circle in the dirt. With something approaching a smile he asks the kitsune. "Now milady where would you hide a treasure most valuable?" The kitsune considers the question for a moment, her tails swishing behind her. "Somewhere near but secure. So that you can keep an eye on it." She glances at you as she speaks, but looks away quickly. Cohen nods at her response. He looks at you. "This is a bit of adventurer's experience for you youngling. But particularly when a leader doesn't have a vault they keep their most valuable things near where they hold court. Reminds subjects of their power." Your eyes widen. "So they will be near where the spider's leader is?" The kitsune speaks up. "Spiders have a queen, no real authority but among spiders." Cohen rolls his eyes at this. Cohen draws an x at the center of the circle. "They might of opened the cocoons after this long. No way to tell though." He glances towards the kitsune. "Would milady be willing to send a covert sign? If they are being held not in cocoons them knowing we are coming might make the difference." The kitsune nods. "Makes sense, might take some thinking to get something you would call covert." Cohen smiles. "Right, now we need a plan that will give us a chance to penetrate the spider's queen court. Do you think a straight assault will work youngling?" You shake your head. "The defenses are too strong for a straight assault." You pause and then delicately add "And you pointed out that if they felt like they were losing they would grab the captives and run." Cohen nods. "Our plan needs to avoid looking too strong until we reach the middle." With a cruel grin he adds "What would Ron suggest?" The answer springs to mind immediately. "He'd start a fire, preferably on the nest once." Cohen chuckles, "He's eager but sometimes a distraction like that is the best idea. We get close, start fire. Spiders scramble to contain the fire, our friends if still restained are easy pickings or corraled with the other captives." You speak up, "We use distraction to rescue them and then keep running. With some luck they care more for saving the nest than stopping us." With a smile cohen responds. "Well said youngling. Not the most complicated plan, but when the numbers and terrain are like this it's the most you can do." The kitsune speaks up. "A good plan to be sure but I might offer a modification. Fire is dangerous unpredictable, better that we are close at hand." Cohen lets out a pained sigh, "Oh milady please don't suggest what I think you are." The kitsune shoots him an annoyed look. "With surprise, a little bit of help, and a cunning illusion by yours truly. We could sneak into the nest with no trouble at all, once the distraction starts we need but stride a short distance to rescue your younglings." She gives you a promising glance. She obviously wants your help. Cohen puts his hand to his head. "Milady, I have had my younglings stolen once. Your plan while cunning has us split up. Perhaps being a bit closer will make a difference. But I have fought spiders, they seek to save the web, their home before caring much for captives." He looks again the kitsune, her expression hasn't changed a whit. "I leave it to your discreation youngling." The prospect of coming so close only to split up the team is a daunting one. What if you lose Cohen? The kitsune's ears straighten in a hint of annoyance. "That's acceptable. Shall we make up our minds later?" It's hardly a question. [[The plan is mostly set.->kitsune 0 plans 1]] \(set: $Forest2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Forest3Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Forest3Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Forest4Kitsune0Description to 1)

Your matron lets out a sigh of relief as you sepearate. She shakes her arms as she wades slowly through the bath. You mumble something about needing to stretch your legs, and walk a little dazed away from your matron. When her back is turned you begin a quick exploration and remove your matron's "gift". In between your precautions and the warm water you should be okay. You aren't necessarily opposed to having children, but Cohen would never let you adventure while carrying child. It might seem paranoid but your matron is the messenger of a fertility goddes, so she probably doen't think much of knocking up people. Once you are done, and have actually stretched your legs [[you join your matron sitting in the water.->bath house kitsune 1 fun male part 1]]

Did she seriously just finish inside of you? What the fuck. Farm boys are strident particioners of pulling out. To not do so is like killing someone else's cow. It's just not done. Your matron's ears flick surprised as she examines your expression. You take advantage of her surprise and put your hands around her neck to drive home your disappointment. She blinks and manages to croak out "Why?" You explain with a calm fury that she had better fix what she just did to you. A look of realization flows over her face. You slacken your grip enough to let her speak. "Oh, are you sure? You would make a magnificent mother. To carry a child is wonderful." You aren't necessarily opposed to having children, but Cohen would never let you adventure while carrying child. Getting preggers would mean you pretty much have to retire, to leave a child without it's parent seems unconscionable. As the messenger of a fertility goddess it just makes sense that your matron has some damn potent seed. Heck she could probably impregnate someone at a distance. You strengthen your grip and she starts to struggle again. You reiterate that she should take care of what she did to you. She looks defeated and then snaps at you. "Fine, that should take care of it." You smile and then just to tease, give her a peck on the cheek. Her expression softens. Your matron lets out a long sigh of relief to release you. She shakes her arms trying to get feeling back. You wade through the warm water slowly, after so much being squished up again your matron you need to stretch your legs. [[Then you join your matron in sitting against the wall.->bath house kitsune 1 fun male part 1]] Note to self: maybe change neck squeezing to just threating to drop down and hurt her johnson.

You sit next to your matron. It's unexpectedly comforting to be able to lean against a broad shoulder. She cuddles with you, having you sit on her lap and hugging you to her. You would never admit to her but she's pretty damn attractive as a dude. Being pressed up against her chest like this is still making you feel tingly. for a while you just stay like this. you feel deeply satisfied and fromt he way she keeps gently petting your head your matron feels the same. You gently feel her stomach muscles. admiring the definition. You absentmindedly comment that like this she seems so different from her normal form. Your matron blushes a little. "It's a basic trick for a kitsune, maybe I'll teach it to you someday. Sadly it only makes you a little stronger." You give her a surprised look. If it doesn't make her much strong then you have a fun idea. After making love you feel surprisingly energetic, it's like all the tension in your body has melted away and left you with purpose. With a smile you gently lead her to where the water is as about waist deep. Your matron's tails and ears flick confused as she eyes you. You gently explain that you are going to wrestle! Farm boys do a lot of wrestling, it helps to pass the time. You don't want to brag but back home you were alonso's equal when it came to wrestling. Your matron gets a bit sheepish. "I mean I've seen wrestling at the odd festival but it's not really something expected of someone at my station." You giggle and say that's a weird way to cover up being chicken. She smiles and adopts what might be a wrestingling position. You mirror her movements and the wrestling begins! note to self: if cursed add a joke about professional wrestling. She wasn't lying when she said she didn't know squat about wrestling. You face off with her, for fun you match hands with her, she's a bit stronger. Then you sweep a knee and she falls, wet tails splaying out behind backwards into the water. You giggle as she gets up, her hair absolutely soaked. To her credit she keeps trying, but despite her size you beat her easily. It's fun to tease her when she normally tries so hard to seem in control. You let her win, then see how she crows about it being no challenge and really take her down a peg. You have a moment of satisifaction? For all her experience you were able to finally take her down a peg. by the time you have both finished you are absolutely soaked and giggling. Your matron looks at you with geniune fondness. "I'll admit that you taught me something." She looks immensely superior, and it's hard to tell if she's being sarcastic "So let me teach you something." Wait is she panting? Ahh you totally got her. You move close to her, heat is almost radiating off of her skin. She adopts a self important look. "Our kind is famous for our tricks. Let me teach you enough magic to do one of the basic ones." She leads you through a few basic exercises. She starts with breathing and finding your focus. To an adventurer like yourself this comes easy. The heat nonwithstanding. Finally she leads you into conjuring a simple blue flame with your hand. She ignites the flame with a complicated snapping motion. It takes you a few tries and a slightly sore wrist but you finally manage to nail it. It's an exhilerating feeling to do something you feel was impossible, much is less impossible for most people. (set: $kitsunetrick to 1) Your matron smiles with pride. "You have such a potential within you. With my help we might realize it someday." She to pet you on the head, smiling slightly. that's literally touching but the heat is [[cooking you alive->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 3]] (if: $hidden is 1)[ post sex scene: The player might inwardly admit that the kitsune makes a good looking dude Maybe a scene where the player advises them on a proper sword swing? Reminds me of that one scene in fudoki, could then probably lead into the hand flame scene for parsimony]

(if: $youfight is 1)[Aw yeah, time to get payback for today. You shout to Frederick to open the cocoon while you buy time. You are a mostly humanoid up against a very large very pissed Spider Queen. You have a knife that is not as big as a finger, she has a big badass spear. Winning isn't the objective here. Keeping her back for a minute or two is. She moves towards you quickly, starting with a lightning thrust you barely dodge. She retracts the spear and spins it around quickly trying to crack you in the head with the blunt end. You just manage to block it with your palm, it hurts like a son of a bitch but doesn't do any lasting damage. You move forward trying to bait her into a thrust where you can grab the spear. It's probably stupid but if you can get the spear things should turn around. She obliges you with a thrust, you dodge by an inch. Thinking quickly you grab the spear. The spider queen smiles at you. Oh dear One of her legs rears around and knocks you to the ground. She pins you with a foot. (It takes both hands to keep it from crushing you.) She is about to stick you with the spear when a gout of flame roars overhead. The Spider Queen backs off, her lust for vengeance not enough to justify getting charred. (if: $left is 1)[Alonso gives you a hand up and you notice her smaller hands and long blonde hair. And her impressive assets. "Damn good job rescuing us. Do you know the way out of this forest?"](if: $right is 1)[ Frederick has shrunk even more and now has short boyish brown hair. You notice this and her pert assets as she gives you a hand up. "Man am I glad to see you. So what's the plan to escape the forest?"]](If: $youfight is 0)[The fact that you don't have any goddamn weapons or any real armor means that this is one of those problems magic is better suited for. You shout over at Ron who is cackling like a mad man. "Ron, protect the two of us while we get Alonso." Ron turns to look at the spider queen like a butcher eyeing a pig. The queen isn't unnerved but cautious. (if: $left is 1)[Frederick uses his knife to make the hole. you use your chitinous hands to pull apart the cocoon. As you work Frederick asks in a casual tone. (if: $frederickhelp is 1)["Were you able to get away from the spiders?] (if: $frederickhelp is 0)["So how has your day been?"] (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[you shake your head. "no I didn't get away. still i'm alive and only got turned into a chick." You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself, although maybe running low on spells.](if: $frederickhelp is 0)["Oh, still alive, turned into a chick so there's that." You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself, although maybe running low on spells.] "Not unusual it seems. I like the chitin by the way." You stop working to look at Frederick. "Really?" "Goes well with your hair I think, oh hello Alonso." Alonso's heroic looks have been changed into attractive ones. his hair is still blonde but much longer, and he has well formed boobs. Alonso seems a little startled by this whole sequence of events but as always he adopts quickly. "Spiders, so what's the plan to get out of here?"](if: $right is 1)[Alonso has you hold the knife while he uses the rock to pound it in. (The chitin keeps it from hurting too much.) Alonso asks in a conversational tone. "So I get that the spiders turned us into women, but what is with the brown?" "Seems that we need to watch what we eat." You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself, although maybe running low on spells. "Ah, well that opens up a wide range of possibilities. Still you look good as a girl." You pause for a second but have the grace to respond "Thank you, you look good as well." "I know; have you seen these tits? I can't wait to see what Frederick looks like. Oh hello." Frederick always had that boyish charm that was either a turn off or a major turn on for the women. This has become a young girlish charm complete with short brown hair and a cute pair of assets. Frederick seems a little out of it and says. "Two hot chicks freeing me from the spiders? This dream is shaping up to be pretty good already." Alonso lets out a short laugh. "Maybe if you hadn't become a chick yourself Frederick." Frederick looks down at himself and seems disappointed "Oh, well thanks for the rescue guys. What's the plan now?" Both Frederick and Alonso turn to look at you.]] [[Nothing is ever good enough for these people->ant 0 final choices part 1]]

What you can only guess to be the [[Spider Queen]] slowly approaches from the edge of the clearing. She looks pissed. She snarls at you from under her crown and appears ready to commit murder. Her spear is impressive looking and even has a gleam. (if: $left is 1)[Frederick managed to keep a knife on him (you aren't surprised to be honest) and is trying to open the final cocoon.] (if: $right is 1)[Alonso has found a rock and seems ready to go one on one if he has to. (You aren't surprised to be honest) He is already shouting insults.] Ron is cackling like a madman and doing his best to spread merry hell among the spiders. Who gets to deal the oncoming threat? (if: $left is 1)[(Frederick is excluded because he has no equipment.)] (if: $right is 1)[(Alonso gets a pass because you didn't rescue him so he could be kebabbed.)] (link: "You")[(set: $youfight to 1)(goto: "human rescue ant 1 part 6 combo")] (link: "Ron")[(set: $youfight to 0)(goto: "human rescue ant 1 part 6 combo")] (if: $hideme is 1)[ [[human rescue ant 1 part 6 combo]] ]

(if: $youfight is 1)[Aw yeah, time to get payback for today. You shout to (if: $left is 1)[Frederick] (if: $right is 1)[Alonso] to open the cocoon while you buy time. (if: $left is 1)[He gets to work with his knife quickly.] (if: $right is 1)[He grumbles a bit but starts gently bashing open the final cocoon.] You absentmindedly try to use both pairs of arms to pat the other as you consider the situation. You are a Partial ant-girl up against a very large very pissed Spider Queen. Your new arms and legs are stronger and you have a small knife. She has a big badass spear. You can not win this. At best you can delay her for a minute or two. Time to show everyone what you can do. She moves towards you quickly, starting with a lightning thrust that you dodge. As she retracts her spear, you dash to your left trying to get under her. (Maybe if you can grab a leg or something you can stop her.) You spend a few precious seconds inside of her reach, feeling a little safer. That illusion is shattered when she back hands you with her right hand. the world spins for a second as you try to right yourself. She tries to sweep your legs with the spear and you jump back barely in time. She feints a stab which you avoid. Then she barrels into you with her abdomen. You are sent flying. As soon as you land you start trying to roll on reflex. It’s not fast enough though as the spider queen pins both of your legs. She stands over you triumphant about to impale you on the spear. Time slows down and you see a sneer form on her face. Then a gout of flame roars overhead. The Spider Queen backs off, her lust for vengeance not enough to justify getting charred. (if: $left is 1)[Alonso gives you a hand up and you notice her smaller hands and long blonde hair. And her impressive assets. "Damn good job rescuing us. Do you know the way out of this forest?"](if: $right is 1)[Frederick has shrunk even more and now has short boyish brown hair. You notice this and her pert assets as she gives you a hand up. "Man am I glad to see you. So what's the plan to escape the forest?"]] (If: $youfight is 0)[ The fact that you don't have any goddamn weapons or any real armor means that this is one of those problems magic is better suited for. Two arms you can barely use just aren’t going to cut it. You shout over at Ron who is cackling like a mad man. "Ron, protect the two of us while we get (if: $left is 1)[Alonso](if: $right is 1)[Frederick]." Ron turns to look at the spider queen like a butcher eyeing a pig. The queen to her credit doesn’t seem to be unnerved by this. (if: $left is 1)[Frederick uses his knife to make the hole. you use your all of your chitinous hands to pull apart the cocoon. As you work Frederick asks in a casual tone. (if: $frederickhelp is 1)["Were you able to get away from the spiders?” he looks you over again, “I’m guessing no.”] (if: $frederickhelp is 0)["So how has your day been?" he looks you over “looks like it was eventful.”] \(if: $frederickhelp is 1)[you shake your head. "The spiders turned everyone into a chick. I got myself turned into an ant. (If: $antintimacy is 1)[The how is not important] Still I'm still alive so things arent’ that bad." You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself, although burning through his fireballs at a frightening rate. ] \(if: $frederickhelp is 0)["Escaped from the spiders that captured me and had an epic adventure. But I made it." You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself. Although, burning through his fireballs at a frightening rate. ] "I can’t wait to hear about it. I like the chitin and your new arms are cute." You stop working to look at Frederick. "Really?" "Goes well with your hair and the arms accentuate your breasts. Oh hello Alonso." Alonso's heroic looks have been changed into attractive ones. Her hair is still blonde but much longer, and she has well formed boobs. Alonso is unsurprised to see Frederick but stumbles upon seeing you. "okay being rescued by Frederick and a kind of ant-girl.” You cough and say “it’s me.” "Oh, it is you. So what’s the plan?"] (if: $right is 1)[Alonso has you hold the knife steady while he uses the rock to pound it in. (The chitin keeps it from hurting too much.) Alonso asks in a conversational tone. "So I get that the spiders turned us into women, but what is with the brown and the arms?" "Seems that we need to watch what we eat." You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself, although burning through his fireballs at a frightening rate. "Ah, well that opens up a wide range of possibilities. Still you look good as a girl, your face has grown very cute." You pause for a second but have the grace to respond "Thank you, you look good as well." "I know; have you seen these tits? I can't wait to see what Frederick looks like. Oh hello." Frederick always had that boyish charm that was either a turn off or a major turn on for the women. This has become a young girlish charm complete with short brown hair and a cute pair of assets. Frederick seems a little out of it and says. "A hot chick and mostly human chick freeing me from the spiders? This dream is shaping up to be pretty good already." Alonso lets out a short laugh. "Maybe if you hadn't become a chick yourself Frederick." Frederick looks down at himself and seems disappointed "I’m always willing to try new things with my friends.” He points at both of you, you both just look back at him. “Anyway, thank you for the rescue. What's the plan now?" Both Frederick and Alonso turn to look at you.]] [[Nothing is ever good enough for these people->ant 1 Mushroom choice]]

You scramble to the cocoon and repeat the same procedure as the first cocoon. It is far easier because it's a lot thinner than Ron's. Once you have the made a small hole you put all your hands in and do your best to tear the cocoon apart. (if: $left is 1)[A sizable tear opens. Almost immediately another set of hands joins you in tearing open the cocoon. Once a large enough gap has opened you seen Alonso’s face peaking out. His blonde hair has become much longer. “Hello.” He retreats back into the cocoon upon seeing you. “Hello Alonso, this is a rescue.” Alonso looks up at you cautiously, not sure if his situation has gotten worse or better. "Have we met?" "I was there when Cohen rescued you after you nearly..." You let the suggestive tone of your voice say more than your words. "The less we talk about that the better. good to see you again." He waves his hand over his face. "You look different." “So do you.” Alonso fingers his? Hair. “Not as different as you!” He gets up from the cocoon. “Now let’s get Frederick.” You notice that Alonso is in possession of some sizable assets and a flattering figure.] (If: $right is 1)[You tear the thing mostly open. Almost immediately a hand lashes out and grabs yours with an iron grip. It starts trying to pull you into the cocoon. You put all your hands up and say "Calm down, this is a rescue." The hand relaxes. You see Frederick's face peak out cautiously. He has the same short brown hair but now his features have softened from boyish to cute now. "Rescued by a mysterious ant-girl? Allow me to introduce you to the strange emotion we humans call love." Frederick had better be joking. You roll your eyes. "I'm not a mysterious ant-girl so stop flirting Frederick, I'm here to rescue you. Now get out of there and help us rescue Alonso." (if: $frederickhelp is 0)[Fredrick nods and joins you next to the final cocoon.] (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[ Frederick smiles happily. "It's damn good to see you again." He's looking pretty chipper for someone you abandoned earlier today.]] [[Of course things aren't that simple->human rescue ant 2 part 5 combo]]

A regal looking spider-girl wearing an impressive crown and smile is approaching. She is no doubt the [[Spider Queen]] ready to punish you for trespassing on her domain. She looks fucking pissed. She snarls at you from under her crown and appears ready to commit murder. Her spear is impressive looking and even gleams in the twilight (if: $left is 1)[Alonso has found a rock and seems ready to go one on one if he has to. (You aren't surprised to be honest) He is already shouting insults and smiling.](if: $right is 1)[ Frederick managed to keep a knife on him (you aren't surprised to be honest) and is trying to open the final cocoon.] Ron is cackling like a madman and doing his best to spread merry hell among the spiders. Who gets to deal the oncoming threat? (if: $left is 1)[(Alonso gets a pass because you didn't rescue him so he could be kebabbed.)](if: $right is 1)[(Frederick is excluded because he has no armor and a single knife isn’t going to cut it.)] (link: "You")[(set: $youfight to 1)(goto: "human rescue ant 2 part 6 combo")] (link: "Ron")[(set: $youfight to 0)(goto: "human rescue ant 2 part 6 combo")] (if: $hideme is 1)[ [[human rescue ant 2 part 6 combo]] ]

(if: $youfight is 1)[Aw yeah, time to get payback for today. (if: $left is 1)[You shout to Alonso to open the cocoon while you buy time. He grumbles a bit in disappointment but starts gently hammering open the final cocoon.](if: $right is 1)[ You shout to Frederick to open the cocoon while you buy time. He gets to work using his knife with a nervous energy.] You absentmindedly try to use both pairs of arms to pat the other as you consider the situation. You are an ant-girl up against a very large very pissed Spider Queen. Your new arms and legs are stronger than they used to be and you even have a small knife. She has a big badass spear. You do not like these odds. You are unlikely to win this. Your only real chance is to disarm her and hope that she retreats. Failing that, the best you can delay her for a minute or two. Keep an opening for the escape and avoid getting a spear to the gut. Time to show everyone what you can do. She moves towards you quickly, a dismissive smirk on her perfect face. She starts with a lighting sweep. You duck under this and try to move closer. If you can reach her, your might be able to stall her. As she readies another blow, you dash to your right trying to get under her. (The only safe place when fighting something this much bigger than you is where she can't reach or step on you.) You spend a few precious seconds inside of her reach, feeling a little safer. That illusion is shattered when she jumps back, kicking you in the process for good measure. The world spins for a second as you try to right yourself. She tries to sweep your legs with the spear and you jump back barely in time. She feints a stab which you manage to exploit by catching the spear. You grab on with all four arms. She tries to wrench the spear out of grip while you hold on for dear life. This is hardly ideal. You need to change the situation or she is going to lift you up into the air as you hold onto the spear. In desperation, you let go with one arm and then punch her right in the box. She lets out a gasp, and releases her grip on the spear. Desperate to deny her the spear you toss it away. The spider-queen looks at you with an expression of mild surprise and anger. "Well done little queenling." Then she punches you in the face and wraps her two hands around your neck and starts to strangle you. She has an iron grip and it hurts. Oh gods it hurts. She lifts you up into the air, and you kick your feet helplessly. She has you in a [[straight strangle]] and it hurts. The traditional counter maneuver for a situation like this is to try and use your neck as leverage to kick her face. There is however a good chance that you will break your neck in the process. You hear the chitin on your neck crack and your vision is going red around the edges. You have to do something soon. She is sneering at you and you don't want to die with that as your final image. Then a gout of flame roars overhead. You drop to the ground unceremoniously, landing on your abdomen and sprawling out. The Spider Queen backs off, her lust for vengeance not enough to justify getting charred. (if: $left is 1)[Frederick has shrunk even more and now has short boyish brown hair. You notice this and her pert assets as she gives you a hand up. "Seems like that one got away from you." You cough a few times before you finally laugh. Fredrick gives you a happy smile. "Man am I glad to see you. So what's the plan to escape the forest?"](if: $right is 1)[ Alonso gives you a hand up and you notice her smaller hands and long blonde hair. Additionally he has impressive assets. "Damn good job rescuing us." You take the hand while gasping for air. "What have we told you about trying to take the big ones on by yourself?" You both smile at each other, while you message your neck. Then he asks "Do you know the way out of this forest?"] \(set: $queenfightant2status to 1) \(set: $fightant2status to 0)] (if: $youfight is 0)[ The fact is that you don't have any goddamn weapons and your only armor is the chitin you are currently wearing. This is one of those problems magic is better suited for. A second pair of arms are handy but not going to cut it. You shout over at Ron who is cackling like a mad man. (if: $left is 1)["Ron, protect the two of us while we get Frederick."](if: $right is 1)[ "Ron, protect the two of us while we get Alonso."] Ron turns to look at the spider queen like a butcher eyeing a pig. The queen to her credit doesn’t seem to be unnerved by this. (if: $left is 1)[Alonso has you hold the knife steady while he uses the rock to pound it in. (The chitin keeps it from hurting too much.) Alonso asks in a conversational tone. "So I get that the spiders turned us into women, but how are you an ant-girl?" (if: $antintimacy is 0)["Seems that we need to watch what we eat."](if: $antintimacy is 1)[A combination of not watching what I ate," you pause a little guiltily, "and poor impulse control.] You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself, although burning through his fireballs at a frightening rate. (if: $antintimacy is 0)["Ah, well that opens up a wide range of possibilities. Still you look good as an ant-girl, you are very slender."](if: $antintimacy is 1)["Well, I can't blame you. I would do something similar if the right girl popped up. Besides you look good as an ant-girl, your hair is cute."] You pause for a second but have the grace to respond "Thank you, you look good as well." "I know; have you seen these tits? I can't wait to see what Frederick looks like. Oh hello." Frederick always had that boyish charm that was either a turn off or a major turn on for the women. This has become a young girlish charm complete with short brown hair and a cute pair of assets. Frederick seems a little out of it and says. "A hot chick and an ant-girl freeing me from the spiders? This dream is shaping up to be pretty good already." Alonso lets out a short laugh. "If you hadn't become a chick yourself Frederick." Frederick looks down at himself and seems disappointed but the brightens up. "I’m always willing to try new things with my friends. And the occasional stranger.” You punch his shoulder "Frederick!" He stops looking so excited. “Oh! Anyway, thank you for the rescue. What's the plan now?" Both Frederick and Alonso turn to look at you.](if: $right is 1)[Frederick uses his knife to make the hole. You use your all your chitinous hands to pull apart the cocoon. As you work Frederick asks in a casual tone. (if: $frederickhelp is 1)["Were you able to get away from the spiders?” He looks you over again, “I’m guessing no.”] (if: $frederickhelp is 0)["So how has your day been?" He looks you over “Looks like it was eventful.”] (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[You shake your head. "The spiders turned everyone into a chick. I got myself turned into an ant. (If: $antintimacy is 1)[The how is not important] Still I'm still alive so things arent’ that bad."](if: $frederickhelp is 0)["Escaped from the spiders that captured me and had an epic adventure. But I made it(if: $antintimacy is 1)[, with a little bit of sidetracking]."] You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself. Although, burning through his fireballs at a frightening rate. "I can’t wait to hear about it. You look ravishing as an ant-girl by the way." You stop working to look at Frederick. "Really?" "You have a cute face, and your breasts aren't too big. Oh hello Alonso." Alonso's heroic looks have changed into attractive ones. Her hair is still blonde but much longer, and she has well formed boobs. Alonso is unsurprising to see Frederick but stumbles upon seeing you. "Okay being rescued by Frederick and an ant-girl. That's gonna be a hell of a story.” You cough and say “It’s me, Alonso.” He looks at you blankly. "You at one point got your head stuck between the legs of a horse." "Oh, you look different. So what’s the plan?"] \(set:$ronfightant2status to 1) \(set: $fightant2status to 0)] [[Nothing is ever good enough for these people->ant 2 Mushroom choice]]

You scramble to the closest cocoon. Ron is going to do his very best to keep the spiders distracted. Most likely it's just going to piss the spiders off enough to rush him. You need to get the others as fast as possible. Your ant-girl joins you at cocoon. She makes a far more careful incision with her entrenching tool. You get ready to pull it open. (if: $antmeal is 0)[Your ant-girl joins you, only pausing to adjust her flower crown.](if: $antmeal is 1)[Your ant-girl pauses to readjust your flower crown.] With a mighty heave and a bit of swearing the pair of you manage to rip the cocoon in half. (if: $randococoon is 1)[This exposes Alonso looking quite surprised. He now has long blonde hair and sizable assets. These are well complimented by how wet he is from the cocoon. He shakes his head "Spiders then ants! There is no end. I'm not going down easy this time!" You shoot him a dour look. "Chill your tits, this is a rescue." (They are an impressive pair of tits. It makes you feel a little inadequate.) He gives you a confused look. "I'm sorry have we met before?" You smile. "Only this morning, when (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[We got our ass kicked by some spiders.](if: $frederickhelp is 0)[We had some soup for lunch.] He suddenly has a strike of realization. "(if: $antmeal is 1)[If you are one of my friends ]looking good." You avoid rolling your eyes. "And you look good with tits like that, Alonso." He looks down surprised then shrugs. "We have bigger problems right now. What's the plan?"](if: $randococoon is 0)[ This exposes Frederick looking quite surprised. He is as short as before but his brown hair is a little longer and he has a small pair. More importantly he is absolutely coated in the white fluid. He smiles "Aw yeah time for three some with some ant-girls" You shoot him a dour look. "Sorry I don't do shorties." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[It's more this shorty in particular. There are some shorties that are very charming.] He gives you a confused look. "I'm sorry have we met before?" You smile. "Only this morning, when (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[you got your ass kicked by some spiders.](if: $frederickhelp is 0)[we had some soup for lunch.] He has a flash of realization. "(if: $antmeal is 1)[If you are one of my friends] you look pretty good like that." You avoid rolling your eyes. "And you look good with tits, Frederick." He looks down surprised. "Sure, do from this angle. What's the plan?"] [[You look around, that's a pretty good question.->ant 2 sisters combo part 1]]

Ron is using fire magic like it's going out of style. He cackles like a madman and deep down you know that he is one of the few people that could enjoy this. You watch the flames for a second and hear horns in the distance. The ant-girls must be at the end of their rope by now. It won't be long before the rest of the nest returns and escape becomes impossible. Then you smell a wave of fear come from your ant-girl. She is staring off into the distance and you turn to see what has her so spooked. A regal looking spider-girl wearing an imposing crown and a grim smile is slowly approaching. She is no doubt the [[Spider Queen]] ready to punish you for trespassing on her domain. She looks fucking pissed. She snarls at you from under her crown and appears ready to commit murder. Her spear is impressive looking and even gleams in the twilight (if: $randococoon is 1)[Alonso has found a rock and seems ready to go one on one if he has to. (You aren't surprised to be honest) He smiles a mad smile at you, ready to capitalize on escaping death once.](if: $randococoon is 0)[ Frederick managed to keep a knife on him (you aren't surprised to be honest) and is trying to open the final cocoon. He obviously wants to grab Alonso and do a runner.] Ron turns obviously unafraid of the queen. Your ant-girl is shaking slightly and gives you a frantic look. She obviously feels the queen is too dangerous for you. Who gets to deal the oncoming threat? (if: $randococoon is 1)[(Alonso gets a pass because you didn't rescue him so he could be kebabbed.)](if: $randococoon is 0)[(Frederick gets a pass because you didn't rescue him so he could get his short-ass kebabbed.)] (link: " You and your ant-girl ")[(set: $youfight to 1)(goto: "ant 2 sisters combo part 2")](she came this far you seriously doubt she will abandon you now.) (link: "Ron")[(set: $youfight to 0)(goto: "ant 2 sisters combo part 2")] (if: $hideme is 1)[[[fuck you->ant 2 sisters combo part 2]]]

(if: $youfight is 1)[You put your hand on the ant-girl's shoulder to calm her. (if: $antmeal is 1)[The situation seems hopeless, two ant-girls are just not equal to a spider-queen. even on your best day.](if: $antmeal is 0)[You want payback for today really bad. Still your ant-girl is clearly freaked out and is probably right to be so. You need to play this defensively.] You absentmindedly pat the ant-girls head as you consider the situation. You are a pair of ant-girls up against a very large, very pissed Spider Queen. She has a big badass spear and is defending her home. (if: $antmeal is 1)[You are rested, fed and have equipment. Furthermore, you are stronger than you used to be. Hell, you even have a weapon and a partner to fight with. As good as odds are going to be this is it. You might not be able to win but it's not hopeless.] (if: $antmeal is 0)[You are rested and have a weapon, you are stronger than you used to be. Time to teach the spider-queen not to mess with adventurers.] This isn’t a straight fight and you don’t need to win this. (if: $antmeal is 1)[The two patrols won't keep the spiders occupied for long. That poor rookie looked fit to panic.](if: $antmeal is 0)[The single patrol might be experienced but it's just five ant-girls against a spiders nest. You can't expect them to keep the spiders occupied for long.] The fastest way to end this is to disarm her and have the spider-queen retreat. Failing that, you need only delay her for a minute or two. Just keep an opening for the escape and avoid getting a spear to the gut. Time to show everyone what ant-girls can do. You let out a warm audacious scent. Your ant-girl looks back at you wide eyed. You smile at her. She gives you a desperate look, you keep smiling. She gets an exasperated expression. (if: $randococoon is 1)[You call back to Alonso. "Alonso, get the last cocoon open and let's get the hell out of here." Alonso nods and brings his rock to bear on the final cocoon.] (if: $randococoon is 0)[You call back to Frederick. "Frederick, get the last cocoon open and let's get the hell out of here." Frederick begins to frantically try to open the final cocoon.] You rush forward together. The spider-queen smiles as you meet her in battle. Your fundamental weakness is that the spider-queen greatly outranges you. Your only real counter is that it's two on one. Your ant-girl knows your moves before you make them. (if: $antmeal is 0)[Unfortunately you don't share her knowledge of what she is going to do.](if: $antmeal is 1)[You have a feeling for what she is going to do. not as strong as her, but you are able to anticipate to some of her maneuvers.] You are able to see a pattern in what she is doing though, she is trying to disable the spider-queen's spear. This enables you to force the spider-queen to fight defensively. You never get close to actually hitting her but she never gets that close to hitting you. The queen however smiles a smile that suggests that this is not an unfamiliar experience. She lures your ant-girl in a lunge towards the spearhead. You stumble forward trying to catch the back of her cuirass. The spider-queen takes this as an opportunity to body check your ant-girl and then she uses your opening to swing the blunt end of the spear around and into your (if: $antmeal is 0)[tits. There isn't much there but the force and lack of protection means that it hurts a lot. You are sent staggering to the side. She then kicks you in the head knocking you over and leaving you stunned. Then she turns her attention to your ant-girl. Frantic, you try to stand up but your limbs won't listen. By the time you pull yourself up to a sitting position the spider-queen is pinning your ant-girl to ground with her feet, spear raised above her. You let out a cry only to be cut off by a gout of flame. This toasts the spider-queen's crown. She turns snarling to face Ron. Ron has that madcap grin and brings enough fire that the spider-queen is forced to retreat for the moment. (if: $randococoon is 1)[Frederick jogs up to you smiling. "Bringing a girl nobody knows on an adventure. You dog." Your vision is still swimming a bit but you manage to flip off one of the Fredericks. "Still good job not dying." Alonso helps the ant-girl to her feet and they both come over to you. He smiles "What's the plan?"](if: $randococoon is 0)[Alonso jogs up to you smiling. "It's amazing that you got the ants to help. Your fighting still needs some work though." He has that shit eating grin. Your vision is still swimming a bit but you manage to flip off one of the Alonsos. "Good job on the rescue." Frederick helps the ant-girl to her feet and they both come over to you. He roguishly smiles, "What's the plan to get out of here?"]](if: $antmeal is 1)[midsection. The cuirass catches most of it. But the blow is still heavy and you stumble a bit. You do have the presence of mind however to grab the spear with two arms. The spider-queen narrows her eyes. You start trying to run around the spider-queen while holding onto her spear. This doesn't work, and the spider-queen stands fast. An impasse. You stare at the spider-queen. Your ant-girl takes this as a chance to get some distance. Suddenly the spider-queen releases her spear throwing you off balance. Then she catches you in an elbow charge which knocks you to your knees. She fully knocks you to the ground with a punch to the head. She turns to recover her spear only to face your ant-girl standing over it looking determined. The queen speaks. "A lady-in-waiting so willing to throw away her life neglects duty." Then she looms over the ant-girl menacingly. Whatever is about to happen is thankfully interrupted by gouts of flame. This toasts the spider-queen's crown. She turns snarling to face Ron. Ron has that madcap grin and brings enough fire that the spider-queen is forced to retreat for the moment. (if: $randococoon is 1)[Frederick jogs over to your ant-girl. He offers his hand. "You mad bastard, you almost lost that one. Good job on the rescue though. Your ant-girl looks at him blankly. You get up onto your knees. "You cow fucker, I'm over here." He looks guilty and helps you to your feet. "First, the cow thing was alleged by an asshole. Second, you two look a lot alike." He nods at your ant-girl who is looking over your bruises. You use one of your smaller hands to point towards your flower crown. "Oh that does help." Alonso and Ron come over looking at you intently. Alonso speaks up. "What's the plan to get out of here?"] (if: $randococoon is 0)[Alonso jogs over to your ant-girl. He offers his hand. "Hard fighting today huh? Good job on the rescue though." Your ant-girl looks at him blankly. You get up onto your knees. "Your arms only got so big because you spent so much time jerking it. I'm over here." Alonso laughs and then helps you to your feet. "Your new features seem to have help but it does make you a little hard to distinguish." He nods at your ant-girl who is looking over your bruises. You use one of your smaller hands to point towards your flower crown. "Oh, that is what that is for. I thought it was an accessory." Frederick and Ron come over looking at you intently. Alonso speaks up. "What's the plan to get out of here?"]] \(set: $anthit to 1)] (if: $youfight is 0)[You didn’t come all this way to expose yourself to unnecessary danger. You might stand a chance of beating the spider queen but your ant-girl doesn’t like it. She has been a good guide so far, she’s probably right about this. This is one of those problems magic is better suited for. Furthermore the faster you open the last cocoon the faster you can get away. You shout over at Ron who is cackling like a mad man. (if: $randococoon is 1)["Ron, protect us while we get Frederick." Your ant-girl doesn’t seem to understand what you are saying, but she seems relieved by the fact that you aren’t charging the queen. Alonso has you hold the entrenching tool steady while he uses the rock to pound it in. (The chitin keeps it from hurting too much when he hits your hands.) Alonso asks in a conversational tone. "So I get that the spiders turned us into women, but why do you look like that and what is with the ant-girl?" (if: $antintimacy is 0)["ate something strange and rescued her from a web. I think we can trust her to be grateful, if nothing else."](if: $antintimacy is 1)[“tried some mushrooms, that I shouldn’t have.” you pause a little, "she’s here because I rescued her.” Alonso gives you a grin.] You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself, although using fireballs at a frightening rate. (if: $antintimacy is 0)["her being here should help with the escape. I hope we can trust her outside of this nest.](if: $antintimacy is 1)["don’t be ashamed if you got a little sidetracked. I can’t say I wouldn’t do something similar if I had the opportunity.] you look cute as a pair of ant-girls.” You pause for a second but have the grace to respond "Thank you, (if: $antmeal is 0)[I’m kind of envious of her flower crown though.”](if: $antmeal is 1)[I thought the flower crown made me the cute one.” Alonso gives a feminine giggle.] you give Alonso another look over, he is stunning. “You look good as well." "I know; have you seen these tits? I can't wait to see what Frederick looks like. Oh hello." Frederick always had that boyish charm that was either a turn off or a major turn on for the women. This has become a young girlish charm complete with short brown hair and a cute pair of assets. Frederick seems excited. "A hot chick and a pair of ant-girls freeing me from the spiders? I suggest an immediate four-way.” Alonso lets out a short laugh. "You aren’t quite equipped for that at the moment Frederick." Frederick looks down at himself and seems disappointed but then brightens up. "I’m always willing to experiment.” (if: $antmeal is 1)[you turn back to watch the spider-queen fight Ron. Ron’s footwork is lousy but he is tenacious with his magic. “Still if you are Alonso, then that must be our fourth member.” He pats your ant-girl on the shoulder. “how did you get to look like that?” Your ant-girl looks at him surprised. You roll your eyes and point to your flower crown. “over here dumbass.” Frederick looks embarrassed. “Sorry you look a lot alike. What’s the plan?”] (if: $antmeal is 0)[you punch his shoulder "frederick!" he stops looking so excited. “Oh! Anyway, thank you for the rescue. What's the plan now?" Both Frederick and Alonso turn to look at you.]](if: $randocoon is 0)["Ron, protect us while we get Alonso." Your ant-girl doesn’t seem to understand what you are saying, but she certainly seems relieved by the fact that you aren’t charging the queen. Ron turns to look at the spider queen like a butcher eyeing a pig. The queen to her credit doesn’t seem to be unnerved by this. Frederick starts to uses his knife to make the hole then you pass him your entrenching tool. Your ant-girl adopts a defensive posture behind you and Frederick. Frederick starts to make a hole while you use your all of your chitinous hands to pull apart the cocoon. As you work Frederick asks in a casual tone. (if: $frederickhelp is 1)["looks like you had a harder day than mine." He looks at your ant-girl. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[she seems rather attached to you](if: $antintimacy is 0)[can we trust her?]] (if: $frederickhelp is 0)["So how has your day been?" he looks you over and then looks at your ant-girl “looks like you made a friend.] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[she seems pretty interested in making sure you are safe.”] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[just about the last thing I expected, can we trust her?”] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[“making use of allies as I found them frederick.” Frederick gives a giggle. “whatever you say.”](if: $antintimacy is 0)[we can trust her frederick. We would not be much use to them if they kidnapped us anyway.” Frederick gives a giggle. “not that I wouldn’t try anyway.”]You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself. Although, burning through his fireballs at a frightening rate. "You look cute as a pair of ant-girls." You stop working to look at Frederick. (if: $antmeal is 0)[“thanks Frederick, I was worried I looked a bit funny.”](if: $antmeal is 1)[Aw, I thought I was cuter ant-girl. “ you smile and blush a little.] (If: $antmeal is 1)[Frederick nods. “the flower crown does help.”] he pats your shoulder. "You both have cute faces, and your tits are just the right size. Oh hello Alonso." Alonso's heroic looks have been changed into attractive ones. his hair is still blonde but much longer, and his wet clothes do a lot to highlight has well formed boobs. Alonso is unsurprised to see Frederick but stumbles upon seeing you. "Okay being rescued by Frederick and a pair of ant-girls. That's gonna be a hell of a story.” You cough and say “It’s me, Alonso.” He looks at you blankly. "You at one point got your head stuck between the legs of a horse." (if: $antmeal is 0)["Oh, you look different. So what’s the plan?"](if: $antmeal is 1)[“you look real different, I can hardly tell the two of you apart.” You find one of your smaller hands absentmindedly pointing to your flower crown. “oh, so what’s the plan?”]]] [[Hook up with the ant patrol, get the fuck out of here.->ant 2 sisters ant patrol]]

You double check your weapons and armor, ready for glory and rescuing your friends. Cohen notes your preparation with a smile. "We have spent most of the day already youngling. Your desire to rescue your friends is admirable but we need to wait." You are floored. Another day wasted? "Seriously?" "In the tales it's better to have everything happen at once. But think carefully youngling." He smiles reassuringly, obviously please at your eagerness. "We have only one shot at this, if we don't rescue them on the first try we might never find them again." The kitsune speaks up. "We need to be fresh as possible. I'd be happy to return us to the inn to rest, cohen." She smiles seductively. Cohen shakes his head. "I think Milady, that it would be better if we bivouac here. It's rough to be sure but I find camping has it's own rustic charms." The kitsune grumbles. "Are you quite sure Cohen? We could take my cart. There and back in time for fighting in the morning." "Milady's cart would not survive the trees I think, to say nothing of the beasts. It won't kill you to sleep rough for a night." The kitsune grumbles that the messenger of a goddess shouldn't have to camp outside, but she relents. You set up a basic camp site, finding a small stream and a comfortable enough tree to sleep against. Cohen and the kitsune spend their spare time with Cohen updating her on what has been happening in the kingdom. The dragons are threatening war again, the queen has been introducing reforms. You only pay cursory attention. The kitsune however laps it up. Her knowledge seems to be a few decades out of date. She has a spirited time following up on who is still in the royal court and who has fallen out of favor. Cohen darkens a tad under the weight of so many friends long gone. Still he doesn't hold it against the kitsune. As the gloom darkens Cohen breaks out the travel rations. You find that your changes haven't made the plain travel rations taste any better. The kitsune for her part produces a wooden box from her bag. She opens it with a bit of difficulty, you see a small flare of blue. The food is exotic and seems to have been magically preserved. The kitsune eats with an appetite that belies her frame. As the gloom darkens there is little to do but sleep. Risking fire and light this close to the spiders is definitely suicidal. The kitsune busies herself tracing a line in the dirt around your camp site. You look to Cohen questioningly, he responds with a smile "She's casting an illusion to help hide us." Finally the kitsune chants and does a few careful steps in time to music only she can hear. Then she summons a blue bird that shimmers like embers. It's a fascinating sight. She whispers something to it and then it takes off a with a relish. it's too dark to see, but you can tell Cohen is rolling his eyes and wishing he could ask how that qualified as covert. the kitsune and Cohen get ready to sleep against the tree. Who do you sleep next to? [[Cohen->kitsune 0 plans 1 cohen]] [[The kitsune->kitsune 0 plans 1 foxy]] [[In the middle->kitsune 0 plans 1 middle]] \(set: $Forest3Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Forest4Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Forest4Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Forest5Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Leaf0Gear to 2)

Cohen has produced a blanket from the kitsune's bag and has wrapped it around himself. It's probably going to be cold tonight, so you follow his example and sleep butt to butt with him. Sleeping on the cold hard ground isn't very comfortable, but you spent most of the day hiking and sneaking. You are excited but manage to get to sleep. Cohen is already awake when the pale light hits your eyes. He is sitting looking pensive. He keeps rubbing his legs and taking deep breaths. You ask him what he is up to. He keeps rubbing, barely paying attention to you. "Summoning strength in my arms and legs. Preparing myself if today's the day I don't make it." Your eyes widen. "You think it's gonna be that bad?" He smiles. "I doubt it, but when you live our kind of life you have to always be ready to die. Can't fight well if you aren't." It's too early for meditations on death. Before long the kitsune is stirring. She yawns loudly. She must of used magic to keep her hair looking that great. As she blinks she beckons you over and then apparently on instinct begins to comb your hair. As she wakes up more she gives you a sheepish look. You roll your eyes. [[Time to finalize the plan.->kitsune 0 plans choice]] \(set: $kitsunemadcounter to it + 1) \(if:$kitsuneoffense < 3)[(set: $kitsuneoffense to 3)] \(if:$kitsuneoffense is not 3)[(if:$kitsunesecondoffense < 3)[(set: $kitsunesecondoffense to 3)]] \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1) \(set: $Forest4Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $SleepKitsune0Status to 3) \(set: $Forest5Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $SleepKitsune0Description to 1)

As you eat breakfast, Cohen has you and the kitsune gather around. "Alright, time to teach these spiders a lesson. We know the plan, we have the tools, all we need now is our courage." He looks to the kitsune. "I know Milady might think herself above harm but we are fighting the spider's on their home turf and few things are as clever as a spider on it's web. Speed is what will save us." The kitsune seems to take it to heart ever so slightly. He smiles at you. "I doubt I need to remind you to be careful youngling. When we free the others get them to speed and get moving." The kitsune speaks up "I don't believe we settled if we will use my plan or yours Cohen." She gives you a meaningful look. Her plan has it's risks to be sure but you can think of nothing more frustrating than attacking the nest only to have your friends spirited away. [[The kitsune's plan->kitsune 0 stealth]] [[Cohen's plan->kitsune 0 attack]] \(set: $SleepKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Forest5Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $SleepKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Forest6Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 3)

The kitsune has pulled her robes around her and produced a straw mat to sleep on. She seems a bit surprised when you try to lie next to her. \(if: $kitsunefun is 1)[She opens her robes and beckons you to sleep nestled in her arms. Despite your better judgement you accept the offer. Nothing sexual should happen. As you snuggle up against the kitsune she wraps her tails around the both you. It's wonderfully soft and warm. You drift off to sleep feeling like you are on a cloud.] \(if: $kitsunefun is 0)[She looks at you with hesitation. then turns her back to you and offers half of her tails to sleep under. You wrap yourself in a blanket and then gently pull her tails over you. They are wonderfully warm and before long you find yourself drifting off to sleep.] When the light begins to hit your eyes you find yourself no longer wrapped in the kitsune's tails. They have a particular scent. You look around in confusion. The kitsune has a brush in her hand, an ink bowl hovering in the air nearby and is carefully writing upon a small scroll. She smiles upon seeing you. "Good morning." You shoot a curious glance towards the scroll. The kitsune smiles even wider. "I'm just making a list of all the places and things I'd like to show you. I know these oni who make some excellent drink. I'm sure you will love it." You get up carefully, Cohen is either meditating or fallen asleep sitting up. He is perfectly, concerningly still. He opens his eyes suddenly startling you. He laughs at your reaction. [[Time to finalize the plan.->kitsune 0 plans choice]] (set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1) \(set: $Forest4Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $SleepKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Forest5Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $SleepKitsune0Description to 1)

You decide to just sleep in the middle. There isn't much thought to it, although it might be you are afraid of being found in the forest. You wrap yourself in a blanket and try to get to sleep. You have a miserable time of it. The kitsune's tails whap back and forth as she sleeps. Not hard enough to hurt but enough to awaken you from not particularly deep sleep. This isn't helped by Cohen's snoring sounding like a man trying to sharpen a stone. it's never quite rythmic enough to get used to. By the time you need to take up watch you have hardly slept a wink. You stare out into the darkness listening to the rich sounds of the forest, wishing desperately you could be asleep. You have no more luck when you try again. Finally the rosy fingered dawn comes. You give up trying to sleep and wait for the other two to get up. If they notice your frustrated looks they have the good sense to not say anthing. Still both of them get ready quickly and then it's [[Time to finalize the plan.->kitsune 0 plans choice]] \(set: $Forest4Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $SleepKitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $Forest5Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $SleepKitsune0Description to 1)

Cohen shrugs in defeat as you back the kitsune's plan. The kitsune to your personal surprise manages to act gracious about it. "Don't worry Cohen, I'll find your younglings." You can see Cohen's worry battle his concern. Still he is not willing to argue over it. Your campsite was a safe distance from the spider's nest. So it's a hike back. As you approach the clearing surrounding the spider's nest Cohen holds up a hand and examines the light in the forest. He's trying to tell the time. If he can tell what time it is in this gloom he's a better outdoorsman than you. In frustration he finally puts his cheek against the dirt. He smiles. "Excellent the hunting patrols should be a good distance from the nest by now." He puts a strong hand on your shoulder. "Pick the moment to reveal yourself carefully. Once the distraction starts it will take a little while for the spiders to panic." He turns to the kitsune. "I'll start the distraction in half an hour. If milady will excuse me." The kitsune smiles at Cohen's sudden etiquette. "Only on the promise that we will soon be reunited. Take caution yourself Cohen." He bows and strides off into the forest, [[excited to go to battle.->kitsune 0 stealth 1]] \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1) \(set: $Forest5Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $StealthKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Forest6Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $StealthKitsune0Description to 1)

The kitsune has you stand nearby and with rummages in her bag. With a flourish and notable care she produces a large white shimmering sheet. She holds it in her hands trying to keep it from touching the ground. "Hold this over yourself dear." You do so and find to your surprise that you can see through it. Everything is a bit shimmery, and moves while staying still. You rub the material between your fingers. It's silk. A bolt this large is worth your home village. The kitsune stands behind you, holding the sheet over herself as well. You resemble a lumpy spooky ghost. "I'm going to cast an illusion that will make us look like a spider girl. The sheet works like a painted screen. My magic will be the light behind the screen and it will cast the illusion towards onlookers." \(if: $hideme is 1)[in higher kitsunelevel versions of this screen have the player ask about how the screen helps. It diffuses the magic, otherwise an illusion of the power the kitsune is using and necessary to defeat guards looking for trouble would start to affect the subjects. An illusion that's too strong begins to change reality, by convincing it that it's wrong.] Yeah you that doesn't make any sense to you. Best to think of it as a costume you suppose. Wait if you are imitating a spider-girl why are you in front? The kitsune is taller than you after all. You ask as much. The kitsune answers matter of factly. "You don't have the tails for it my dear. I'm using them to make up the bulk of a spidergirl's body. You glance around the kitsune's waist and see that ridiculously her tails are trying to replicate a spidergirl's shape. You take a deep breath and then lead the kitsune over the clearing, If you get made it's gonna be a bad time. If there wasn't an illusion you suppose you look so ridiculous the spidergirls might let you in. As you approach the nest you sidestep webs. The kitsune is mumbling to herself as you walk. Finally you reach the nest. You are challenged almost immediately by an red haired spidergirl. She climbs down her tree smiling. She stumbles a little as she reaches the ground and then says something you don't understand. You throw a frantic glance to the kitsune. She nods and then mumbles a little louder. Suddenly the red haired spidergirl's words resolve into sense. "I said it's a bit strange for sister to return by herself. What's up?" Quick think of an excuse! (link: "You were masturbating")[(set: $kitsuneanswer to 2)(goto: "kitsune 0 stealth 2")] (link: "You had to take a dump")[(set: $kitsuneanswer to 1)(goto: "kitsune 0 stealth 2")] [["I came here to see you"->kitsune 0 stealth 2]] \(set: $StealthKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Stealth1Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $StealthKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Stealth1Kitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Stealth0Gear to 1)

(If: $kitsuneanswer is 1)[You say the first thing you think of, which is something about how you had to find some privacy. This you manage to spin into how you had to take a dump really bad and couldn't wait. The kitsune gives a muffled laugh. The spider-girl nods sagely. "Yeah the lines to the pits can be pretty long and wrapping and tossing it can be gross." The spider-girl gives you a bright smile. "Have a great day!" She waves you into the nest.] \(If: $kitsuneanswer is 2)[The first thing that comes to mind is how you really needed to be alone. which of course begs the question of why you needed privacy. Seizing on the awkwardness you created you try to sound coy, you needed to be alone for the reason that all people occasionally need to be alone. The kitsune only barely manages to keep from laughing out-loud. the spider-girl blushes. "Oh yeah, that's understandable. I generally go high up in the trees when I need some alone time. Still most sisters aren't that picky about it." She gives you a conspiratorial glance. "I'll keep this between us okay." You nod. Convincing a spider-girl you need privacy to orgasm was not what you expected when you thought of rescuing your friends. The spider-girl waves you into the nest with a coy smile.] \(If: $kitsuneanswer is 0)[You search your mind for an answer, in desperation you ask yourself what Frederick would do. You snap and give the spider-girl finger guns. "I came here to see you of course." You can feel the kitsune's eyes boring into the back of your neck. The spider-girl blushes as deeply as her hair. "Oh um, well I can't make time right now you know. We'd both get in trouble if someone found me slacking off." She gives you a hopeful look. "But we could meet up in the trees when the moon is rising?" Despite yourself you nod. "I can't wait." It kind of sucks to lead her on like this. Still blushing and stunned the spider-girl waves you into the nest.] Entering the nest is a strange experience. It seems natural that the spider's nest would be a dark, spiky and ominous place. Instead it's coated in a soft diffuse light. A glance up shows why, you can distantly see the sky. But the roof of the nest is made up of incalculable crisscrossing webs. The webs are heavy with dew making a jumble of rainbows above. It's a breathtaking sight. The nest itself is the size of a small village. Perhaps bigger than village where you grew up. The most unnerving thing is how mundane it all is. You can see the occasional cooking fire being dutifully fed. From above you can hear the laughter of children playing. The trees themselves are ornately carved and adorned with the occasional hunting trophy. It's a nice place. The veneer comes off when you see the fields being tended by ant-girls and bee-girls. A few fierce looking overseerers are close at hand, spider silk whips prominently displayed. There is a defeated look to the slaves. Remember why you are here. You examine the slaves carefully, if your friends are here they might be transformed into one of them. It's a bit of a stretch, but you don't see any other slaves laboring. You don't want to sound mean but you doubt the guys would qualify as bed room slave material. The ant-girls all look the same, a uniform cute look. If the others saw the signal they would do something to stand out. The bee-girls are more distinct but none of them resemble your friends. The nest is noticeably empty, the majority of the nest must be on the hunt. Cohen always had an eye for that sort of thing. [[You move carefully deeper into the nest.->kitsune 0 stealth 3]]

The webs above only grow thicker as you move deeper into the nest. The light dims a bit. You look around feverishly, your newly long hair swishing too and fro. Who knows when the kitsune's illusion might fail? If it does you will probably be the last to know. Looking up you sight an inhumanly pale figure relaxing on a balcony above. Her hair is a yellowish white and her eyes are black with red pupils. A pair of black feathery antenna and large compound eyes adorn her temple. Despite all the danger around you upon sighting her you are truly terrified to your soul. She blinks once and then meets your eyes. Your breath stops. Given that your head is a good foot and half below the illusion's, she must be able to see through it. Your hands shake involuntarily, and it's an effort to keep your knees from knocking. She gives you a cruel smile and then turns and walks away from the balcony. You let out an involuntary sigh of relief. If the kitsune noticed the figure she doesn't say anything. Finally you reach the deepest part of the nest. The light here is almost nonexistent. You look up trying to figure out what is blocking out the light. Far above you can see what might be a throne. It's sort of hard to tell from below. Well if that's the throne then this must be the court of the spider-queen. You scan the gloom frantically. You sight a trio of cocoons that look like the one you popped out of so long ago. Well one of them is much larger and covered in burn marks. (Ron is consistent if nothing else.) You get the kitsune's attention and point to the cocoons. "That's them." The kitsune's ears flare up. She asks quietly. "Are you sure?" You smile. "See the burn marks? Ron would of definitely tried to burn his way out." You pause and then add. "I hope he didn't hurt himself by burning up all his air again." The kitsune tries to lead you towards the cocoons before remembering that she has to follow you. "Let's rescue them! I'd rather not spend more time here than we have to." You shake your head recalling Cohen's advice. "We need to wait for the distraction to start." Nodding the kitsune bumps into you. "Alright then let's walk around. Just walk casual." [[Walk casual->kitsune 0 stealth 4]] \(set: $Stealth1Kitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $Stealth0Appearance to 1) \(set: $Stealth0Gear to 2)

You walk trying very hard to not seem like you trying to be inconspicuous. If you get stopped and asked why you aren't working you get the feeling that it won't be so easy to bluff your way out of it. Still it's interesting to take in the spider's nest. The spiders seem to mostly live up in the trees, but there are a good number of them on the ground. It's almost bittersweet, for better or worse Cohen's fire is going to rip through this place. The trees which dominate the nest are almost all dead, and held up by the webs. The craved trees are pretty to look at but doing that kills the tree. For a moment you feel bad about the lives that will be displaced in your raid. Then your eyes land on the ant-girls and bee-girls tending the fields with purposeful neglect. The spiders might not be inherently evil but, they have kidnapped your friends and practice slavery. It's only due to luck you aren't there yourself. It won't be long until Cohen starts. As you think this, you see the small buffs of smoke on the edge of the nest. You keep walking trying to look busy as the fires grow. Finally the spider-girls react with a shout. They start to form bucket lines and work on evacuating the young and elderly spider-girls. Cohen didn't do half measures with the fires, there is a quickly growing inferno on one side of the nest. The fire is terrible, ugly and fascinating. You and the kitsune move somewhere inconspicuous. You wouldn't want to be exposed by some well meaning spider-girl wondering why you aren't evacuating. Finally you call the moment, the majority of the spider-girls are occupied. It's better to act early to make sure you aren't consumed in the flames yourself. You flip open the sheet and charge forward ready for death or glory. Only to stop mid charge, you don't hear the kitsune behind you. You turn to see that she is carefully folding and stowing the sheet. She seems bemused by your frustration. Once that's taken care of you move quickly and stealthily into the heart of the spider's nest. You are joined by Cohen sprinting from the shadows. "You find them youngling?" You give an enthusiastic nod. [[In no time at all you reach the cocoons.->kitsune 0 cocoons]] \(set: $Stealth1Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Stealth0Appearance to 0) \(set: $Stealth0Gear to 1)

Rule 1 of adventuring don't split the party when it's not absolutely necessary. Splitting off to go into the spider's nest with the kitsune seems foolhardy. No matter how much magic she is packing. The kitsune seems annoyed by your reticence. "What you don't trust me?" There are a lot of ways to answer that question. As you try to figure out the answer that won't piss her off she snorts. "Fine I'll reconnoiter." (What the hell does reconnoiter mean?) Cohen hides a smile. "I'll give milady half an hour to scout. Milady will of course refrain from starting too much trouble before we start the distraction?" She gives a slight imperious nod. Then quick as a wink her form is one of a fox and loping silently into the forest. Hopefully her magic will keep the spider's from wondering what the hell a silver fox is doing in their nest. Cohen rolls his eyes and mutters something about the ego of messengers of gods. Your campsite was some distance from the spider's nest. Cohen leads you on a swift hike. You circumnavigate the nest, before long finding a secluded space nearby. The plan is to start a fire here and then make a dash across with a burning torch. All that's left to do is wait. You pace too and fro, wondering if you will be spotted here and all will be lost. Cohen reclines against a tree and then smiles to himself. "Some times the waiting is worse than the fighting. Calm down Youngling the time for action will be soon enough." You sit frustrated. Not much to do but wait. In frustration you ask Cohen for advice. Cohen pauses. "Hmm, advice. Spiders tend to fight like riders with spears but you already know that. I'd say the most important thing to keep in mind is that this is basically a cattle raid. You ever do those youngling?" You shake your head. "Marvelous fun, common up north." He lies back against the tree, getting comfortable. You sigh, listening to one of his stories is technically better than waiting anxiously. "Most of your time is spent either corralling the cattle or running. No need to fight except to get away. Besides if you kill someone on accident you might start a blood feud and that's bad for everyone." He gives you a pointed look. "You have every reason to hate the spiders, and I don't blame you for it. But don't kill any if you can help it. The sooner they give up, the more likely we are to get away." He goes on to recount a story about the time while on a far away island he ran into some burning cattle. He claims they shone like embers and snorted smoke. It was quite hard to steal cattle you couldn't touch he found. Still he managed it and was rewarded with a unique smoky taste. With the story finished, instructs you to make the fire while he relieves himself again. By the time he has finished, you have made a small smokeless fire. Then you make a torch out of a few resin soaked scraps of fabric and sturdy green stick, and are about to light the thing. "Well done Youngling. I don't give our friend the best odds of finding the others. She doesn't know what they look like for one. Still it's good for the mage to know the layout of the terrain in any plan." You light the torch and [[cohen leads the stealthy charge across the clearing.->kitsune 0 attack 1]] \(set: $kitsunemadcounter to it + 1) \(if:$kitsuneoffense < 4)[(set: $kitsuneoffense to 4)] \(if:$kitsuneoffense is not 4)[(if:$kitsunesecondoffense < 4)[(set: $kitsunesecondoffense to 4)]] \(if: $hideme is 1)[kitsune 1: You ask him if he ever fought spiders before. With a smile he recounts that he fought spider-girls as a young man trying to gain the fame required to force the queen to outlaw slavery to the south. Then recalls that he thinks he told you that story before. kitsune 2: the player expresses concern over the kitsune, something about the way the player expresses the concern makes cohen wonder if the player is still themselves. alternatively the player indirectly accuses Cohen of loving violence. Cohen takes offense, claiming that his age it's less the love of violence than the love of what it protects that motivates him.] \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 0) \(set: $Forest5Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $AttackKitsune0Status to 1)

Your heart is in your throat as you sprint. Will you be spotted now? Is all your effort about to go to waste? Cohen however pick the moment well and you cross the clearing without accident. He leads you carefully to a trio of ancient trees. the trees are more rot than wood at this point. The only thing holding them up is the ever present webs choking out any light from above. Cohen gets a wicked smile as you bring your torch to the base of the trees. They go up like kindling. You are prepared to sneak deeper but Cohen holds you back for a minute. The trees won't fall until the fire reaches the webs above he says. It's a fascinating, terrifying sight. Fire is a greedy greedy friend. Before long the flames have reached the core of the trees. Cohen then leads you in sneaking deeper into the nest. You don't get far before the spiders raise cries of alarm. The distraction works, most of the spiders move to fight the growing blaze. The rest work to evacuate the young and elderly. The chaos makes avoiding notice easy. As you hide behind a tree, you spy a silver fox loping up. Cohen suppresses a curse as the kitsune appears next to him. She seems smug about it. He rolls his eyes. "Milady." The kitsune's expression grows concerned. "I'm sorry Cohen I didn't spot your younglings. None of the captives had anything that looked like an identifying symbol. What should we do?" Her voice has a touch of panic. Cohen nods calmly. "Lead us to the innermost part of the nest would you?" He casts a glance back at the growing inferno behind him. "With haste if you will." [[Deeper into the nest->kitsune 0 attack 2]] \(set: $AttackKitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 1) \(set: $Forest6Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $AttackKitsune0Description to 1)

As a trio you more or less abandon stealth. The kitsune's brightly colored robes make mundane stealth next to impossible for her anyway. Thankfully the spiders are in such disarray that no one makes any effort to stop you. The kitsune leads you to the deepest part of the nest. The light here is almost nonexistent. You look up trying to figure out what is blocking out the light. Far above you can see what might be a throne. It's sort of hard to tell from below. Well if that's the throne then this must be the court of the spider-queen. You scan the gloom frantically. You sight a trio of cocoons that look like the one you popped out of so long ago. Well one of them is much larger and covered in burn marks. Both you and Cohen chuckle at the sight. The kitsune looks confused "Something funny?" Cohen speaks up "That's my younglings." You nod. "Yeah Ron can't help himself. Let's hope he didn't hurt himself by burning up all the air this time." A dark cloud crosses Cohen's face. "Make haste youngling." [[In no time at all you reach the cocoons.->kitsune 0 cocoons]]In the chaos these unguarded.

With stealth abandoned it's an all out dash for the cocoons. It's a bit hard to hear over your breathing but the kitsune calls out "Which one do we open first?" You and Cohen both reply "Ron's!" He will be happy to enhance an already fiery distraction. The kitsune watches over you and Cohen as you scramble with the cocoon. Her ears and tails are flared in awareness. Ron's cocoon is much thicker than yours was. This time you have something sharp to help open it though. Cohen holds the cocoon steady and you (very carefully) use the kitsune's strange blade to cut it open. It's a bit of an effort but before long you have cut open a slit wide enough to pull the cocoon apart. Ron blinks and looks around slowly in the twilight. Ron's face is much more feminine and his black hair has grown to mid-length. Cohen is overjoyed to see Ron and immediately helps him up to a sitting position. Once he's done taking deep breaths of air, Ron gives Cohen a happy look and then looks at you with confusion. Finally he has a look of realization. "I don't remember you having blue fox ears." This catches you off guard. You have blue fox ears? You put your hands to your head and can feel ears that aren't quite there. Huh, must be like your ghostly tail. You smile feeling a bit foolish. "A gift from a friend I made. You will like her." You gesture back to the kitsune, who is still watching with a look of concern. Ron takes in the kitsune's figure with surprise. He has a characteristic double blink he does whenever he's looking at something magically. His eyes grow wide. "Oh wow. I've never seen it's like." His expression tells you that he must be seeing something you can't even comprehend. Cohen smiles. "It's damn good to see you Ron but we don't have a lot of time." Ron nods. As if to punctuate Cohen's point you hear a loud horn sound from above. Mean looking spider girls drop down from the webs above. They are lead by an older spider queen wearing an 8 pointed crown. (Well you assume she's the queen, what with the crown and all.) The spider queen is giving the kitsune a look of purest hatred. In epics this would be one of those looks that could drive men mad. The kitsune looks more smug than normal in response. You and Cohen exchange a silent look. The kitsune needs backup, if she gets split off from the group it's gonna be bad news. Ron's fire magic will help with opening the cocoons. Who gets to back up the kitsune? [[You->kitsune 0 cocoons you]] [[Cohen->kitsune 0 cocoons Cohen]] (set: $kitsunecocoon to (either: 0,1)) \(set: $Stealth1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $AttackKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $CocoonsKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Stealth0Gear to 0) \(set: $AttackKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $CocoonsKitsune0Description to 1)

Time is of the essence here, if Cohen can get the others a second sooner he needs to be the one opening the cocoons. The kitsune smiles as you tug one of her tails to announce your presence. As you stand ready to help support the kitsune, the royal guard splits in half. You ready your sword, reading yourself to fend off a flanking maneuver. To your surprise the spider girls that split off aren't the least bit interested in attacking you. They move to assist in fighting the fire and evacuating what spider girls are still in the nest. (You note they also move to apprehend some of the fleeing captives.) You look again at the spider queen, she is still giving the kitsune a murderous look. Underneath there might be the slightest hint of fear. Suddenly you have a flash of insight. The spider queen will seek revenge. If she's not willing to engage in her burning nest, then when will she be willing to fight? You are distracted by a shout from behind you. [[The others are free, it's time to get the hell out of here.->kitsune 0 cocoons escape]] (set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1) \(set: $CocoonsKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Cocoons1Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $CocoonsKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Cocoons1Kitsune0Description to 1)

Cohen gives you a silent nod and moves like a flash to support the kitsune. Ron scrambles to the nearest cocoon. You hold it steady as he conjures a flame in his hand. Despite the need for urgency you can tell that Ron is burning to ask a question. "Yes, Ron?" "What did you do for her to transform you?" There isn't enough time to pretty it up. "I robbed the altar of her temple and she cursed me a result." Even Ron giggles at that. \(if: $kitsunecocoon is 0)[There has been enough time for Ron to melt the cocoon open. Frederick has also been turned into a girl. He has the same short brown hair but now his features have softened from boyish to cute now. Frederick smiles at seeing Ron. "Damn good to see you Ron, even if you are a bit more female than last time." As Ron looks down in surprise, Frederick gaze lands on you. He gets a slight smile on his face. "I never thought you the type to pick up some very familiar nuns." His joke to Ron deflates as he recognizes you. You shake your head at Frederick's antics. "You gotta commit Frederick." He mumbles something about how he always commits, and then smiles. "It's good to see you." "It's good to see you too. Now let's get Alonso." Ron is still a bit stunned by being turned into a girl, but you manage to get him focused on freeing Alonso. With three people Alonso's cocoon is no real obstacle. As you work to open it, you notice Frederick eyeing the kitsune with a hopeful look. (if: $kitsunebath is 1)[You roll your eyes, it would be like him to try and flirt with her. "I hate to break it to you Frederick but I'm pretty sure she has a type."](if: $kitsunebath is 0)[You laugh "Don't bit off more than you can chew Frederick." Frederick gets an audacious look.] Once a large enough gap has been formed you seen Alonso’s face peaking out. Alonso has also been turned into a girl. (The spiders had a theme you suppose.) His blonde hair has become much longer. He is in possession of some sizable assets and a flattering figure. He is a bit surprised to see three good looking female faces waiting to greet him. Still Alonso has always been pretty good at staying on focus and swallows his surprise. "What the hell happened to you guys?" Everyone smiles. You get him up to speed quickly. "Long story, we made a new friend and are getting the hell out of here."] (if: $kitsunecocoon is 1)[There has been enough time for Ron to melt the cocoon open. Alonso has also been turned into a girl. His blonde hair has become much longer. He is in possession of some sizable assets and a flattering figure. Alonso shakes off the cocoon goop and smiles upon recognizing Ron. "Good to see you Ron, I like the hair." Ron catches a strand of much lengthened hair and then examines himself with growing surprise. It takes Alonso a moment to recognize you. He smiles wide upon recognizing you. "Oh wow, I'm guessing you had a real misadventure." He doesn't know the half of it. You smile. "Oh you know, going interesting places meeting fascinating people." Alonso nods. "You can tell me about it later. I'm glad you came back though." He glances around. "Let's get Frederick quick!" With three people Frederick's cocoon is no real obstacle. Although Ron is still a little stunned by the realization that he has been turned into a girl. As you work to open it, you notice Alonso eyeing the kitsune wide eyed. "Like I said it was a pretty crazy day." Alonso nods. "No doubt. I think Cohen mentioned women with fox tails a couple times but it's much different to see one." he sneaks a sly glance at you after saying this. (if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[You nod. "I have so many things to tell you about, but we need to get out of here first." Alonso's eyes grow wide with wonder. "I can't wait."] (if: $kitsunecurse is > 0)[You looked at the kitsune that way once. After the kitsune's curses it's tempered with a bit of caution. "She's as fantastic as she look. Fair warning though, avoid making her angry if you can help it." With a small laugh Alonso answers "Hey I'm not that dumb!" Rare wisdom.] Frederick's cocoon opens with a sickening squelching sound. Frederick is shivering in the remains of the cocoon. He has the same short brown hair but now his features have softened from boyish to cute now. Frederick's surprise melts into a familiar smile. "I was expecting a lot of things. I wasn't expecting this. I love adventuring." Alonso shakes his head. "Well don't sit and bask in the feeling Ron we need to get moving." You get Frederick up to speed, though in classic Frederick fashion he's not too concerned with the details.] (set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1) [[Escape!->kitsune 0 cocoons escape]] \(set: $kitsunemadcounter to it + 1) \(if: $kitsuneoffense < 1)[(set: $kitsuneoffense to 1)] \(if:$kitsuneoffense is not 1)[(if:$kitsunesecondoffense < 1)[(set: $kitsunesecondoffense to 1)]] \(set: $CocoonsKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Cocoons2Kitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $CocoonsKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Cocoons2Kitsune0Description to 1)

@Aaaac i have played it. While i will say the transformations were interesting i think you should expand more on the transformations as well as go more in detail. can you expand on what that means? do you mean more detailed sequences? do you mean more radical transformations? More detailed sequences (mainly longer passages this is a personal thing as i love reading). And also more radical transformations would be awesome. Expand on the number of transformations as right now you only have spider and ant from what i have found and a start to a bee one but that is not even fully started. Also i think a fish one Also the fox one almost forgot that one I'll consider the more detailed sequences, for second person where the player can put themselves into the main character you have to keep things pretty general. But i'll consider it. As for more transformations, I'm doing them one at a time because nothing peeves me more when a game cuts out halfway through. So it's more a matter of time than anything else. But thanks! that's more feedback than I got in the year 2020. I normally keep to myself on this so yea. It seems you have the ant one fully finished from what i can tell it is obvious the spider one is your main focus. I will say i kinda hope for a plant girl. it definitely is Nandi, I'll consider plant girl. my great love is insect girls and I made the game because there just isn't much of that. But plant girls fits naturally enough with the setting. I did notice you had a lot on the kitsune one but it felt rushed. It did? crap. The kitsune stuff was the only part that got any feedback so I switched focus to it it. rushed how? Well in the sense of it being linear. Like barely any choices or alternate paths It felt like there was one path i had to follow and no way to get seperate endings. With the ant girl one i got about 4 good endings but the kitsune one only 1 from what i noticed Yeah I can see that, the kitsune stuff just isn't finished yet. It's also something of a constraint in the story. If the kitsune is going to aggressively accompany you she will probably make it so there is only one way to do the finale. I'll think on it. That's gonna be hard to address all the fun of game development! You could go a slow change route where you escape from the kitsune after the initial transformation then as you travel to try and save your friend you slowly transform more and more until you have the choice to continue with your friends in your new form or return to the kitsune. Possibly being punnished by the kitsune for running away from her the punnishment could include anything even age regression or something like that forcing the character to have to stay with the kitsune. Hmm, an interesting idea. A bit outside the themes I'm strong with but I'll consider it. It could be an attack the nest by yourself path, while dealing with new found kitsune powers/urges etc. Yea Kinda like the ant girl route as i love having mental battles where you have two choices and your mind is split between those two choices. Stay with the ant girls or go with your friends It's a solid idea. Sort of depends on how much writing I can reliably do. it'd be fun but it would also make the kitsune route twice the size. Still I'll keep it in mind, Thanks! Np just dm if you ever need ideas I love helping people. If you give me a few hours i could probably double the size of the ant girl route as well lol My brain comes up with crazy ideas that people just use. Oh i'm happy with it as is. If i had been a bit smarter you would meet the handmaiden at the beginning instead of the end. That's basically what I realized doing kitsune and then adapted to spiders. Still it's the premier twine game about ant-girls. Also only so much writing hours in a lifetime (Not to keep you up, but one suggestion might be to let the player choose approaches or at least their reaction to things, and then give them a different ending at the end depending on what they chose the majority of) (Like, each choice gives +1 to resistant or accepting, then the total determines staying with the kitsune or going) (More possible reactions for more possible endings) (Then you don't even need to write two different paths, just alter slightly the players reaction to things and have it lead to different endings) There is a mild version of that already, I'll consider adapting it more strictly to the endings. Currently you have the option of antagonizing your traveling partner. Do it every time and you can get a differenting bad ending. Doing that for the good endings wouldn't be that hard (Or one path goes along with the kitsune to lull them into a false sense of security, one is resisting but being forced to do it anyway, one is eagerly accepting, and then when the time comes to turn the tables they give different results, but use a lot of the same stuff to get there) It would let you reuse some content while still changing the character interactions and the ending, which would be less effort than a full seperate path but still provide variety

The blaze is well and truly underway. The flames have spread to multiple trees and the light reflecting off of the smoke tints everything an ominous orange. You have to grab Ron to stop him from being transfixed by the blaze. The queen and her guard surprisingly let you flee the nest. They give you looks that could kill and you don't doubt that they would like to string you up for the blaze though. You duck into the smoke and use the blaze as cover. It's a frantic test to navigate the tangle of webs that make up the walls of the nest. Once you are outside you have a moment to turn back and admire the destruction. The flames have reached far up into the canopy and you can see a tree fall over with a massive crash. Your admiring is interrupted by a squad of spidergirls staring back at you silently. Their dark eyes reflect the lights of the fires. They make no aggressive movements, they simply stare at you from a respectful distance. Once you have put some distance between you and the nest you take a quick stop. The former prisoners take a moment to gulp down some food and water. Frederick in particular makes an exaggerated noise as he finally gets some food in his belly. Then it comes time to distribute weapons and armor. You help everyone strap on gambesons, and pass out spears. Good thing the kitsune let you use her bag, carrying those without it would be a true pain. As you prepare for the fighting to come your friends catch up with Cohen. Cohen for his part embellishes his escape and meeting you and the kitsune. He then turns over the floor to how you met the kitsune. You try to make the story sound better than it was. The kitsune laughs and tells a much less flattering version of the story. This punctures the tension a bit and your friends begin to make small talk with the kitsune. (This seems small but hey, it might help everyone work together.) (if: $hideme is 1)[In other versions, the player will first introduce the kitsune. then tell the flattering story. in kitsune 2, the player only speaks after the kitsune induces them to.] You keep running, resolving to put as much distance between you and the spider's nest as possible. As nice as it would be to summon the kitsune's cart, Cohen insists that they would kill the creature rather than let you escape. The kitsune refuses to risk that. (If: $hideme is 1)[Should I mention this at all?] The spiders keep up the silent pursuit. You make a game out of waving hello to them as you march. In time the number of pursuers grows larger and larger. The take up positions around you, matching your pace. Cohen spurs you onto a greater speed in an attempt to escape them. It's not that the kitsune is particularly slow. She moves at a respectable speed for someone on foot. It's more that four recently captured adventurers and Cohen go at a speed that defies description in an attempt to retain their freedom. A bunch of spider girls with a grudge also go pretty darn fast. Which makes for a harried pursuit. Your attempts to outpace the pursuers unsuccessful, Cohen is left with little to do but curse as you slowly surrounded. This terrifies you, a cohen who can do nothing is a frightenting sight. The spiders never make an aggressive movement though. They are content to pursue, which is unnerving. Finally you are well and truely surrounded. Cohen has everyone prepare for battle, this will be a true contest. You draw up around Ron and the kitsune. Ron has a look like an apprentice meeting a master craftsman. Frederick and Alonso have a look like this is gonna suck. Horns sound all around you making for an uncanny experience. This must be how the fox feels before the hunt. Terror raises it's ugly head but you take a deep breath and take comfort from your friends. [[The spider's charge!->kitsune 0 cocoons escape 1]] \(set: $Cocoons1Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $Cocoons2Kitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Leaf0Gear to 3) \(set: $Cocoons1Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Cocoons2Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $Forest1Kitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $DirtyKitsune0Description to 1)

Battles always seemed so clean in the poetic Edda, heroic figures cleaving their foes with righteous blades. You have been in enough fights to know that's far from true. Still the battle that starts puts your experience to shame. It is a scene of epic chaos. The spider's charge drives up so much dust and leaf matterthat you can barely see a body length's ahead of you. The constant flashes from the spells destroy your ability to see in the gloom. You swear you can hear trees crash around you. You strike to keep the spiders back. You spit, swear and use the kitsune's blade in a desperate attempt to give the magic users enough space to do their terrible work. Ron sets things on fire with gusto, flinging fireballs with a mad smile on his face. The kitsune uses her blue flames to similar effect. She also you notes seems to cast illusions all around you. They don't last long but seem to keep the spiders from ever being quite sure where you are. So much of her magic at once drains the blue from your vision, giving everything an unearthly half-real tint. You can see Cohen's sword flashing in the light of the flames. Whenever he swings spiders flee with their spears cut in half, obviously glad to have their lives. Alonso and Frederick do their best to force the spiders back with the spears you brought. The spiders are brave but not excited to get a spear in the gut. Despite your courage the spiders are striking with one mind. They charge trying to restrain or kill the magic casters. You don't have the numbers to stop them. You get ready to fight to the bitter end. Then you are pulled by your arm. You fight for a second but then turn and see Frederick giving you a desperate look. Your party escapes through the confusion of the fight. How many skin of the teeth escapes can an adventure have? [[You flee again, as fast you as you can.->kitsune 0 cocoons escape 2]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Description to 2)

The kitsune now fully grasps the danger and pushes herself to the limit to escape. She removes her sandals and runs. She runs until her feet are battered and she is gasping. Her tails are limp with exhaustion and her cheeks are flush. You openly debate just lifting her up and carrying her more than once. and yet you keep going. The spider's pursue relentlessly. However thanks to the kitsune's illusions and hauling ass they never manage to pin you down completely again. Still the fighting is constant and hurried. You push your skill with the kitsune's blade to it's limit. You manage to break away and everyone collapses trying to recapture their breath near a small brook. Frederick and Alonso collapse to either side of you, both exhausted as you are. You all exchange a silent look look. Something is wrong, the spiders are pursuing you far more than they should. This has the air of a vendetta. Alonso tries to drink the brook while Frederick eats with a purpose. Looks like you have to break the ice. You stop gasping long enough to ask Cohen what's up. Cohen nods. "You have a point youngling. This is more of a war footing than I've ever seen the spiders on. They seem to be focusing on trying to take out our friend." He takes a deep breath. "Is there something you would like to say milady?" The kitsune has enough self-consciousness to look away. "Milady wouldn't have some experience fighting this particular band of spiders would she?" Everyone stares the kitsune and she blushes ever so slightly. "Fine I fought the spiders of this forest more than once. I was helping to establish my goddesses' temple in this forest. I didn't think it worth mentioning." Cohen sighs heavily and puts his hand to his face. Alonso pipes up. "Why does that make a difference Cohen? We attacked their nest all the same." Cohen gives a tired smile. "It changes how they view attack. The spiders do not think it a raid for captives but an attempt by our friend to establish supremcy." He takes a moment to message his muscles. "It's too late now but if I had known, I would of had her stay hidden. Is there a reason milady did not tell us of her history?" The kitsune looks ever so slightly contrite. "I will restablish my temple. It fell because of me and I will see it rebuilt. if the spiders know fear now they won't contest it's ressurection. Besides spiders are surely no threat to you and me. I have absolute confidence that in no time at all you will deliver us from this danger." (if: $hideme is 1)[(different kitsunelevels have different reactions to the news.)] Cohen looks annoyed. You can tell he wants to say something pithy about arrogance but doesn't think it worth the effort. An awkward mood preveils over the group. It's one thing to get everyone killed, it's another to act self-rightous about it. Alonso is about to speak up when you put a hand on his shoulder. He wants to confront the kitsune and if there is anything you have learned by now it's that it's not worth the effort. He sighs heavily as you give him a sympathetic look. Ron speaks up suddenly, his wide eyes breaking the tension. He goes up to where the kitsune is resting and says in a tone of admiration. "I just want to say that your magic is amazing and I've never seen it's like and and..." He trails off not quite sure what to say to a magic user as accomplished as the kitsune. THe kitsune smiles. "And you are pretty accomplished for a novice, young wizard." Ron has all but stars in his eyes. He'd follow the kitsune to the ends of the earth just for calling him a wizard. Everyone laughs, Ron really is that easy. Alonso shakes his head, then turns to you. "Let me see your sword. If I don't see it before we are captured again it's gonna bug me." You hand it over wondering what he's so curious about. He turns it this way and that, peering closely at the edge. He hmms and haws at the sword. You turn and find Frederick staring intensely at you butt. That's kind of awkward. It hasn't come up but you are pretty sure relationships in the party are a bad idea. With a smile you ask Frederick "Like what you see?" Fredick giggles girlishly and answers "I've seen better butts. Your tail is very interesting though." It flicks without instinctively, it's translucent glow defying the gloom of the forest. Frederick tries to pluck a hair from your tail, the sudden ghostly sensation make you squeak. With a smile frederick proclaims "So you can feel through it." He shows you the hair he plucked. The translucent blue hair quickly fades into nothingness. Frederick looks intenty at your temples. He's not going to let it go until he gets to feel them. You let out a defeated agreement and Frederick begins to enthusiastically pet your head. it feels nice and you can distantly feel your new ears being petted. Frederick gets a goofy smile and asks. "Think I'd look good with ears and a tail?" You giggle, he'd have gotten them the same as you. "I'm not sure you have figure for it frederick." Like it or hate your bust is bigger than his. Frederick's face softens on seeing you laugh. He waggles his eyebrows. "I guess we will see after we finally get out of here. We always do get out of this sort of thing." "Of course Frederick" He's just trying to cheer you up. Alonso hands back your sword. He has you peer at it in the gloom. "You don't get that kind of worksmanship at home." They hammer the edge see? Sharp but fragile." You smile, it's his fault your first thought on seeing it was about breaking it over the knee. Being a blacksmith's son makes him always expound on smithing at length. Cohen's getting antsy at resting for this long. Everyone drinks up, and then it's time to move. [[Doom won't find itself->kitsune 0 cocoons escape 3]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 3) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Description to 3) \(set: $DirtyKitsune0Description to 2)

The spider's stalk you as you leave the nest. You can see the nest burning. The spiders have apprently abandoned saving the nest itself. You have a very very bad feeling about this. you pass out weapons to everyone and ask Cohen about the plan. He smiles and says there can't be much plan besides from escape. The kitsune's wagon is probably not usable. the fighting is hard and constant. the spiders have obviously moved every fighter they ahve. But what has pissed them off so much. The kitsune seems to feel that it's her, that this is a chance to remove any threat she might pose to the spiders. Cohen to your surprise agrees. The kitsune

You scramble to the closest cocoon. Ron is going to do his very best to keep the spiders distracted. An individual operating by themselves is likely to be rushed from behind. You need to get the others as fast as possible. Your handmaiden joins you at cocoon. She seems set to plunge in her entrenching tool when you release angry scents. She lets out a scent of humor and then makes a far more careful incision. You get ready to pull it open. Your handmaiden pauses to readjust your flower crown. -Can’t let the spiders see you at anything but your best after all.- With a mighty pull the pair of you manage to rip the cocoon in half. (if: $left is 1)[This exposes a long blond haired female human looking quite surprised. Alonso was the one with blond hair you recall, He now sizable assets though. These are put into sharp relief by how wet he is from the cocoon. He shakes his head "Spiders then ants! There is no end. I will not be a captive again!" You release calming scents and then realize your mistake. Instead you smile down at him. “Relax Alonso, you are in safe hands.“ you hold up all four to complete the pun. He gives you a confused look. "I'm sorry have we met before?" You nod. "Only this morning, when (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[we were overrun by the spiders.](if: $frederickhelp is 0)[you complained about soup for lunch.] He has a strike of realization. "If you are one of my friends then you look good." He glances over at your handmaiden who obviously doesn't have time for this. "And it's good to see that you are in capable hands." You avoid rolling your eyes. "That was hardly a pun. At least I don't got the big tits like you." He looks down surprised then shrugs. "We have even bigger problems right now. What's the plan?"] (if: $right is 1)[This exposes a short female figure with brown hair. For a second you mistakenly think that you have liberated a sister. Then you come to your senses, it has enough soft parts to be human. Given how short the figure is it must be Frederick. He looks quite surprised. He is as short as before but his brown hair is a little longer and he has a small pair. More importantly he is absolutely coated in the white fluid. He smiles "Aw yeah time for three some with some ant-girls" You shoot him a confused look. "Hardly a point to it.” Then you smile. “Besides, I don't do shorties. Especially shorties named Frederick." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[There are some shorties that are very charming.] He gives you a confused look. "I'm sorry have we met before?" You smile. "Only this morning, when (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[you got your ass kicked by some spiders.](if: $frederickhelp is 0)[we had some soup for lunch.] He has a flash of realization. If you are one of my friends you look pretty good like that." You avoid rolling your eyes. "Thank you, you look pretty close to perfect yourself." He looks down surprised. "thanks, wasn’t expecting that.” He pauses. “Wait is this a joke about how I look like you?" You smile noncommittally. “Anyway, what’s the plan genius?] [[You look around, the plan seems to be working.->ant 3 sisters combo part 2]]

Ron is using fire magic like it's going out of style. He cackles like a madman and deep down you know that even if everything else goes wrong he will look back on this moment as a personal victory. You watch the flames for a second and hear horns in the distance. More spiders must be joining the battle. What scents you can see, your sisters must be near the end of their rope. It won't be long before the escape becomes impossible. Then you smell a wave of fear come from your ant-girl. She is staring off into the distance and you turn to see what has her so spooked. A regal looking spider-girl wearing an imposing crown and a grim smile is slowly approaching. She twirls a fearsome spear, and snarls at you. She is no doubt the [[Spider Queen]] ready to punish you for trespassing on her domain. (if: $left is 1)[Alonso has found a rock and seems ready to go one on one if he has to. (A prime example of human bravado) He smiles a mad smile at you, ready to capitalize on escaping death once.](if: $right is 1)[ Frederick managed to keep a knife on him (you aren't surprised to be honest) and is trying to open the final cocoon. He wants to grab Alonso and do a runner.] Ron turns obviously unafraid of the queen. Your ant-girl is shaking and gives you a frantic look. -We have two of them (display: "AntName"), we must retreat.- She feels the queen is too dangerous for you. Running isn't an option so, who gets to deal with the queen? (if: $left is 1)[(Alonso gets a pass because you didn't rescue him so he could be kebabbed.)](if: $right is 1)[(Frederick gets a pass because you didn't rescue him so he could get his short-ass kebabbed.)] (link: " You and your handmaiden ")[(set: $youfight to 1)(goto: "ant 3 sisters combo part 3")](she came this far you seriously doubt she will abandon you now.) (link: "Ron")[(set: $youfight to 0)(goto: "ant 3 sisters combo part 3")] (if: $hideme is 1)[[[fuck you->ant 3 sisters combo part 3]]]

(if: $youfight is 1)[You put your hand on your handmaiden’s shoulder to handle her tremors. She isn’t wrong to be afraid, the spider queen is large, fearsome and armed with a threatening spear. You are an accessory to setting most of her home on fire, so she is unlikely to go easy on you. However, you a release a spark of audacity. If there was ever a situation where you stood a chance of defeating her, it’s now. You are rested, fed, and armed. You even have your handmaiden by your side to help. You grin at your handmaiden. She looks at you desperately and then releases an exasperated scent. -(display: "AntName"), your handmaiden would be neglecting her duties to your highness if you were to fight that enemy.- You tell her to buck up. You don’t need to win in a straight fight. (if: $left is 1)[You only need to delay her for a minute or two so Alonso has time to open the last cocoon.](if: $right is 1)[You only really need to delay her for a minute or two so Frederick has time to open the last cocoon.] (if: $antsquad is 2)[Both patrols of your sisters are engaged. You can count on them to fight bravely, but it won’t be long before they are overrun. That poor rookie looked fit to panic.](if: $antsquad is 1)[The single patrol is made of experienced sisters. but it's five against a nest. You can't expect them to keep the spiders occupied for long.] Just keep an opening for the escape and avoid getting a spear to the gut. You let out a warm audacious scent. Your ant-girl looks back at you wide eyed. You smile at her. She gives you a desperate look, you keep smiling. She gets an exasperated expression. (if: $left is 1)[You call back to Alonso. "Alonso, get the last cocoon open and let's get the hell out of here." Alonso nods and brings his rock to bear on the final cocoon.](if: $right is 1)[ You call back to Frederick. "Frederick, get the last cocoon open and let's get the hell out of here." Frederick begins to frantically try to open the final cocoon with his knife.] You let out an audacious smile. Your ant-girl gives you a pained look. -we might still escape (display: "AntName").- you shake your head with a smile. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[-Your handmaiden will follow you where you lead-](if: $antintimacy is 0)[-Your handmaiden would like to register hesitation with this plan.-] There is a resigned air to that. You draw your royal weapons and rush forward with your handmaiden. The spider-queen gives you a vicious smile as you meet her in battle. She has the range, but you have the numbers. Fighting with your handmaiden resembles a complicated ballet. You attack fiercely and your handmaiden is right there to cover your openings. Your handmaiden signals her intention and you do the same. However you can sense at the edge of her scents an undercurrent of fear, a sense that things are about to go very wrong. You reassure her the best you can. Her plan is simple enough, disable the spider queen’s spear and she will naturally be forced to retreat. Despite your best attempts the spider queen takes all of this in stride. The fact that she keeps her smile is unnerving. Your ferocious attack forces the queen to fight defensively. She keeps her distance so you never get that close to hitting her, but at the same time she never gets close to hitting you. Something nags you though. The spider-queen’s smile isn’t worried, in fact it seems closer to smiling at an old friend. She lures your handmaiden into a lunge towards her spearhead. You signal a warning and grab the back of her cuirass with your sickle, pulling her towards you. The spider-queen tries tackle your handmaiden only to miss by inches. This isn’t working, she is going to skewer the both of you if you don’t get creative. You tell your handmaiden to split up and take her from both sides. Your handmaiden tries to refuse but you give her an order with the force of a command. She unwillingly complies and you have the spider-queen flanked. The spider queen’s smile remains though. She feints a blow towards your head only to turn and bring the blunt end of her spear down on your handmaiden. Your handmaiden blocks it with all four arms, but the sheer energy of the blow forces her to her knees. Your rush forward to exploit the opening but you reel back as there is dirt in your face. The spider-queen takes advantage of distraction to throw her abdomen into you. You sense a release of alarmed smells that is no doubt your handmaiden being kicked over. You get the dirt out of your eyes and look up at the spider queen. “Such a capable little queenling, you must be captured or you will be a thorn in the side of all spiders.” Suddenly there is a gout of flame overhead and the spider queen is forced back. You make sure your crown is safe on your head and then pull yourself into a sitting position. A quick check of your handmaiden shows her to be safe if a bit stunned. (if: $left is 1)[You note with amusement that Frederick is jogging over to help you. You are amused because he is the same height as a girl. Still his short brown hair frames his face well. That and how wet his clothes are works to highlight his tits. He hesitates and then cracks a wide smile. “You alright? You got your ass kicked pretty hard.” He’s really asking if you are still you. You search your memories and within a second you have the answer. You smile back at him. “Me? I’m as fine as a shepard’s favorite sheep.” Frederick let’s out a chuckle at the old joke as he helps your handmaiden to her feet. Frederick and Ron join you quickly. Alonso has a concerned look. “We don’t have long. What is our way out?”](if: $right is 1)[You are distracted however by what is no doubt Alonso jogging over to help you. You are distracted because his clothes are very wet, which does a lot to showcase his assets. Namely his long blonde hair. You see a flash of uncertainty cross his face before he offers a hand. “you mad bastard, what have we told you about fights you can’t win.” You recognize this as a call and response challenge. You search your memories and within a second you have the answer. you meet his hand with three of yours. “Not my fault that all the fun fights can’t be won.” Alonso gives you an audacious smile. Frederick and Ron join you quickly. Frederick has a concerned look. “What’s the plan to get out of here?”] \(set: $ant3_status_rescue to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_queenfight to 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance_web to 0) \(set: $ant3_appearance_queenfight to 1) ](if: $youfight is 0)[Your handmaiden has a point, facing off against the spider queen is dangerous to the extreme. Besides you have been running around all day while Ron has been comfortably unconscious in his cocoon. It's his turn to do some work. Finally the faster you get the final cocoon open the faster you can make sure your sisters are safe. Also experience has taught you not to interrupt Ron when he is on a roll. You shout over at Ron who is cackling like a mad man. (if: $left is 1)["Ron, protect us while we get Frederick."](if: $right is 1)["Ron, protect us while we get Alonso."] You tell your handmaiden the plan. Your handmaiden is relieved and equal parts frightened. -Are you sure that human won’t turn on us?- You reassure your handmaiden that Ron has an acceptable record of avoiding friendly fire. (if: $left is 1)[Alonso has you hold the entrenching tool steady while he uses the rock to pound it in. (The chitin keeps it from hurting too much when he hits your hands.) Alonso asks in a conversational tone. "So I get that the spiders turned us into women, but why do you look like that and what is with the ant-girl?" “That’s my handmaiden, we can rely on her. All this started when I ate some mushrooms after escaping the spiders. Rescued her from a web and here we are." (if: $antintimacy is 1)[Alonso raises an eyebrow “That’s the only reason she is following you?” You give an ant-girl’s noncommittal expression.] Alonso pauses “Handmaiden, huh? Never figured you for nobility. Can we trust her to get us out of this forest? You nod. “I trust her with my life.” You glance back at Ron who is still enjoying himself, although using fireballs at a frightening rate. Alonso gives a slight nod, and lets out a grin that highlights his features. “Then I’ll trust her. I have to say the pair of you look good together. Particularly with the flower crown, makes you look like a couple of lasses. “I’ll take that as a compliment. You look good as well Alonso.” "I know; have you seen these tits? I can't wait to see what Frederick looks like. Oh hello." Frederick always had that boyish charm that was either a turn off or a major turn on for the women. This has become a young girlish charm complete with short brown hair and a cute pair of assets. Frederick seems excited. "A hot chick and a pair of ant-girls freeing me from the spiders? I suggest an immediate four-way.” Alonso lets out a short laugh. "You aren’t quite equipped for that at the moment Frederick." Frederick looks down at himself and seems disappointed but then brightens up. "I’m always willing to experiment.” You turn back to watch the spider-queen fight Ron. Ron’s footwork is lousy but he is tenacious with his magic. “Hey Alonso, how did you get antgirls to help? I know you can talk your way out of anything but this is extraordinary.” Alonso rolls his eyes. “Our missing member is right here.” He pats you on the shoulder. Frederick looks at you surprised. “Wow, you look different. How did that happen?” Your ant-girl frantically signals about the need to escape. You admit she has a point. “Tell you later, let’s get the hell out of here.”] (if: $right is 1)[Frederick starts to uses his knife to make the hole then you pass him your entrenching tool. Your ant-girl adopts a defensive posture behind you and Frederick. Frederick works on the hole while you use your all your chitinous hands to pull apart the cocoon. As you work Frederick asks in a casual tone. (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[Looks like you had a harder day than mine. He looks at your ant-girl. (if: $antintimacy is 1)[she seems rather attached to you](if: $antintimacy is 0)[can we trust her?]] (if: $frederickhelp is 0)["So how has your day been?" He looks you over and then looks at your ant-girl “Looks like you made a friend.] (if: $antintimacy is 1)[She seems pretty interested in making sure you are safe.”] (if: $antintimacy is 0)[Just about the last thing I expected, can we trust her?”] You nod, “To say I have had an interesting day is an understatement. This is my handmaiden.” You use your smaller pair of arms to point. “I trust her with my life.” Frederick raises an eyebrow. “That her only name?” you nod. Frederick gets a smug smile. “So the only reason you trust her is because she is your handmaiden?” You smile noncommittally. “Ant-girls are mysterious at the best of times.” You look back to Ron, he is enjoying himself. The number of spider-girls watching wide-eyed probably doesn’t bode well though. Frederick rolls his eyes. " Whatever you say. Still as a pair you look cute. Kind of a lady and her servant look." You stop working to look at Frederick. “Why thank you, I was a bit worried I looked silly.“ You smile and blush a little. Frederick nods. “The crown really does complete the look.” He pats your shoulder. "You both have cute faces, and your tits are just the right size. You look fine. Oh hello Alonso." Alonso's heroic looks have been changed into attractive ones. His hair is still blonde but much longer, and his wet clothes do a lot to highlight has well formed boobs. Alonso is unsurprised to see Frederick but stumbles upon seeing you. "Okay being rescued by Frederick and a pair of ant-girls. That's gonna be a hell of a story.” You cough and say “It’s me, Alonso.” He looks at you blankly. "You at one point got your head stuck between the legs of a horse." Alonso blinks twice then looks to Frederick. “What the hell?” Frederick shrugs “He won’t tell me either. It’s him in the crown though.” Alonso seems surprised. “Nice crown.” Your ant-girl frantically signals about the need to escape. You admit she has a point. “Compliment my amazing crown later, let’s get the hell out of here.”] Both humans nod in agreement and then ask in unison “What’s the plan?” \(set: $ant3_status_rescue to 0) \(set: $ant3_status_ron to 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance_soot to 1) \(set: $ant3_appearance_web to 0)] [[Hook up with your sisters, egress as fast as possible.->ant 3 sisters ant patrol]]

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The fighting continues. The spiders are relentless. It's a lot of close escapes and near defeats. Despite everything you are having a good time. It's not looking good on the actually escaping part though. A niggling concern forms in the back of your mind. What would the spiders do if they captured the kitsune? As good as she is with illusions, she will probably figure out a way to escape. As you crash through the underbrush, the kitsune suddenly looks up and sniffs the air. A wide smile forms on her perfect face. "We are near the road, the magic there will help us fend off the spiders. We just need to reach it. Follow me!" Cohen gives her a skeptical look. "Milady, perhaps caution is wiser. If we are as close to the road as you think the spiders no doubt know it. They will set an ambush as sure as water runs downhill." The kitsune shakes her head. "Nonsense. We will push through regardless." She has a look of supreme confidence. This scares you more than any number of spiders. A groan emmanates from the group. The kitsune seems surprised that you aren't immediately following her. Frederick moves forward quickly. "Cohen, I have an idea. It's a lot easier to escape when your chasers are distracted. If she splits the spider's attention we might finally get the distance and escape." He looks a little sheepish. "I know she's your friend but it might be our best chance." Cohen puts a hand to his forehead with a pained expression. Finally he shakes his head. "No it's a novel idea but I'd never forgive myself if she got hurt doing it." He gives everyone an audacious look. "What's a little more punishment?" Everyone laughs, it's too late to start doing smart things now. [[What's one more risk?->kitsune 0 cocoons escape 4]]

You make a strong drive following the kitsune's lead. The spiders meet you with enthusiasm. Still the kitsune's magic and everyone's courage gives you the strength to move forward. Rather unfortunately there is a wide, shallow creek seperating you from your goal. It's not dangerous by itself, but the bottom is silty. You would get stuck in it and fighting would be a nightmare. There is a broad fallen tree forming a makeshift bridge across. It's too perfect a trap. The kitsune however insists that Cohen is being paranoid. To her the road and salavation are too close to be concerned with caution. She leads a foolish charge across the creek and you find yourself following her without thinking. Cohen always stressed protecting the spell casters. It's part of the reason you have lost so many sets of eyebrows to Ron. You thunder across the fallen tree, expecting to take an arrow in the back at any moment. The kitsune turns and smiles proudly at you as she reaches the other side. She puts out her hand to help you down from the tree. You don't really see this. Instead you see the spider-girl in the tree above her. She has a blow dart in her mouth and is about to puff. Time speeds up again as you tackle the kitsune to the ground. You feel a pain in your neck and as fast as you can you remove the two darts. They are painted a vivid striking color. That's a bad sign. The kitsune pushes you off of her and then looks at you confused. Her eyes go wide as she sees the darts in your neck. Then she relaxes. "Don't worry my magic can cure most things." Frederick has managed to sprint across the tree in a blink and he gives you a happy smile. "Hah, I think that establishes you as either a fool or too brave to live." He tries to help you to your feet. You stand and then stumble losing your balance. The kitsune looks concerned and mumbles to herself as her hands glow blue. You don't feel better, in fact you throw up. There is shouting, noise, fighting, you cannot focus on it. You try to raise your sword but arms are weak. Your head grows too heavy to move. Your world grows smaller and smaller as chaos breaks out around you. [[unconciousness->kitsune 0 cocoons escape 5]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 4) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Description to 4)

You awake coughing, spitting up great quantities of phlem from your newly clear breathing passages. You look around and you find cohen sitting on a log and sharpening his sword calmly. Something is wrong. He smiles at you "About time you woke up youngling." He helps you to a sitting position and then offers you some water. You drink and look around trying to orient yourself. You haven't moved but it takes you a second to realize. The surrounding forest has been destroyed. Trees are strewn around haphazardly and the ground is turned up all around you. the creek is choked by an avalanche by mud and ash. On top of it all for the first time since you entered the forest you can clearly see the sky. Something is very wrong. It looks like a cataclysm happened all around you, leaving only you untouched. You give Cohen a questioning smile. Cohen nods. "Our friend took you getting downed poorly." He puts a hand to his head. "She fended off the spiders at great cost to herself. I've never seen her like that." You stand unsteadily, strength returning to your legs. You turn to Cohen. "What do you need me to do?" Cohen thinks for a moment. "She might benefit from talking to you. I don't know though." You have never seen Cohen look so uncertain. You have had a few bites of food and then ask Cohen what happened to the spiders. Cohen answers matter of factly. "She insisted you shouldn't be moved. So she fended off the spiders here. Any of them that had sense fled. Didn't see what happened to the queen." He paces impatiently as you eat. [[Finally, he leads you a short way into the woods.->kitsune 0 cocoons escape 6]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 5) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 0) \(set: $DirtyKitsune0Description to 0)

Your friends are keep vigil near a small valley. Frederick is clearly winning at cards again. They stand up glad to see you. They embrace you all at once. Alonso whinces, not used to his new bosom being squashed like that. Once he's recovered he smiles. "It's good to see you up and about. I knew poison couldn't keep you down for long." Ron smiles sheepishly. "Sorry i couldn't heal you. The dart they stuck you with had some anti-magic substance. It was strong stuff, even the fox couldn't do anything." Frederick smiles too, but then it resolves into terror as he looks back towards the valley the kitsune must be in. Still he manages to address you happily. "Now see if you hadn't take the dart I'd be forced to call you smart." He turns back to the valley, obviously afraid. "Still I don't envy you if you have to go in there." Cohen is unexpectedly humble. "I know you didn't get along best with her. She's far from perfect, hell she can be a terrible pain in the ass. But please help my friend, I owe her at least that much." It's not even really a choice. Frederick produces a wine flask from the kitsune's bag and you take a long swig before returning it. Your friends shake your hand, while Cohen looks on, worriedly fidgeting with his beard while trying not to look concerned. [[it's all downhill from here->kitsune 0 cocoons escape 7]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 6)

As you step down into the valley the first thing that strikes you is the stillness. The air seems to refuse to move, there is no breeze just perfect calmness. Sound seems muted as if that's afraid to move too. The trees are all bent inward, all point towards a central spot. It's an uncanny sight. As you continue into the valley, your finely tuned survival insticts begin to scream at you. This is a dangerous place. Perhaps the most dangerous place you have ever been. Before long a wolf is going to be licking your brains out of your skull. You swallow deeply and continue. The flowers on the trees have all begun to bloom uncontrollably. Several of the trees are withering under the effort, rotting as they stand. It's when you sight the kitsune that you understand. Her true terrible form is shining through what you percieve her as like a bonfire through a cheap costume. To gaze upon it is to have a moment of dire impossible revelation. To be what the kitsune is for as long as she has been has made her beyond what a mortal mind could handle. You take a deep breath and focus, it takes a lot of effort to limit your perception. But for sanity's sake you manage. The kitsune is sitting looking despondant with her arms wrapped around her knees. She is the very picture of defeat, her normally vibrant tails are laying limp behind her and her hair is noticably unkempt. Her red rimmed eyes are look forward blankly. How does one comfort a god? Then she turns to look at you and can feel her grief all around you. She smiles overjoyed for a second, her ears perking up her tails flaring forward. Then she has a look of despair. Her sorrow rebounds around her, catching you in it. The feeling is so powerful you almost choke on it, your throat closing involuntarily. She focuses inward again and you take a few gasping ragged breaths. So much combat and this might be what kills you. Trying desperately to keep your tone even you ask her what's wrong. The kitsune sounds tired, fed up. Her response is matter of fact. "It's all a waste. I've lost her, you will never be her. You hate me. In the end I'm always alone and it was for nothing." She barely moves as she speaks. You take a deep breath and ask why she thinks you hate her. Your feelings matter less than making sure she doesn't feel sad again. "(if: $kitsunemadcounter is 0)[I guess you don't hate me, but you won't let me help you. Even when I try to help I am spurned."](if: $kitsunemadcounter is 1 or 2)[You think I don't notice when you try to avoid me? You are only playing along because I frighten you.](if: $kitsunemadcounter is 3 or 4)[You have been avoiding me as much as you can. You must really hate me.](if: $kitsunemadcounter is 5)[You haven't interacted with me since you got back to Cohen. You will leave the first chance you get. Like all the others.] (if: $kitsuneoffense is 5)[You didn't join me in the baths. I brought you there for a reason.](if: $kitsuneoffense is 4)[You left me alone to scout out the spider's nest. It was dangerous and you let me go alone.](if: $kitsuneoffense is 3)[You wouldn't sleep next to me. Am I really so terrible?](if: $kitsuneoffense is 2)[Missionary work is important and fulfilling and you wouldn't do it with me.](if: $kitsuneoffense is 1)[You didn't try to defend me in the nest.](if: $kitsunemadcounter >1)[(if: $kitsunesecondoffense is 4)[And you didn't even follow me into the spider's nest either.](if: $kitsunesecondoffense is 3)[You wouldn't sleep next to me either. I was lonely.](if: $kitsunesecondoffense is 2)[You didn't help me in town either.](if: $kitsunesecondoffense is 1)[You won't even raise a sword in my defense.]]" She looks despondant Her grief flows out from her, like water from a breaking dam. Every echo of sadness bounces around the clearing, makes your head ring and you begin to taste blood in your mouth. You start coughing, spraying blood onto your hands. The pain gives you a epiphany. The kitsune in her grief is undoing herself. Perhaps it's on purpose? You doubt you will leave the clearing alive if she keeps going. After a hacking cough, you try again. Your hands shake, but you gently take the kitsune's hands. She's cold to the touch. You smile and warmly say [["Tell me of them, they should be remembered."->kitsune 0 cocoons escape 71]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 7) \(set: $Leaf0Gear to 4) \(set: $Wither0Appearance to 1) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 0) \(set: $TrueKitsune0Description to 1)

by importance: Curse crap X1, X2, 3 handmaiden getting hands on scene

The others give you a look of awe tinged with concern when they see your blood stained clothes. You give them a silent smile and they wisely don't ask any questions. Cohen gives you a grateful nod though. You resume your hike out of the forest. If any of the spiders survived the kitsune's rampage, they have the wisdom to not tangle with you again. It starts silently at first, but little can keep frederick silent. He starts making small talk and before long everyone is joining in. You talk and laugh like you did before you entered the forest. Slowly bit by bit the kitsune joins in. The hike to the edge of the forest is long but not particularly difficult. everyone cheers upon finally leaving the forest. It's wonderful to see the sun again. Cohen has a smile as he asks if the kitsune's offer of hospitality is still in effect. It's almost embarassing how much she agrees to take everyone to the bathhouse again. You guess that she really wants to blow off steam. As you watch the kitsune's impossible wagon descend from the sky you realize something. your last time there is already a bit indistinct. You should probably make up your mind on what you want for yourself before you get on the wagon. Well what do you want for yourself? (link: "To remain as you are (having glowing tails and ears is a heck of a party trick)")[(set: $kitsunefinishkitsune to 1)(goto: "kitsune 0 endings part 1")] (link: "To lose the kitsune's blessing but remain female (You look darn good as a woman)")[(set: $kitsunefinishfemale to 1)(goto: "kitsune 0 endings part 1")] (link: "Back to the way you were please (It's a comforting thing to recognize your own face.)")[(set: $kitsunefinishmale to 1)(goto: "kitsune 0 endings part 1")] (if: $kitsuneanger is > 0 or $testskip is 1)[[[Rebuke the kitsune->kitsune 0 hidden ending]]] (if: $hideme is 1)[ [[kitsune 0 endings part 1]]] \(set: $TrueKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 1) \(set: $TrueKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $Wither0Appearance to 2) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 8) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Description to 5) \(set: $RebukeKitsune0Status to 0)

(if: $antname is 0)[My Queen](if: $antname is 1)[Princess]

alternative leeroy jenkins sequence with older dom silver haired spider girl

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offense 5: You didn't join me in the baths. I brought you there for a reason. offense 4: You left me alone to scout out the spider's nest. It was dangerous and you let me go alone. offense 3: You wouldn't sleep next to me. Am I really so terrible? Offense 2: Missionary work is important and fulfilling and you wouldn't do it with me. Offense 1: You didn't try to defend me in the nest. second offense 4: And you didn't even follow me into the spider's nest either. second offense 3: You wouldn't sleep next to me either. I was lonely. second offense 2: You didn't help me in town either. second offense 1: You won't even raise a sword in my defense.

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(if: $kitsunefinishfemale is 1)[In the course of your adventure you got turned into a woman. That wasn't intrinsically a bad thing. For your own reasons you do want to lose the kitsune's curse though. The effect is mild and you aren't giving up anything substantial.](if: $kitsunefinishmale is 1)[Fantastic adventures transform people fantastically. But it'd be nice to get back to the old you, the you you were at least in appearance.] (if: $kitsunefinishkitsune is 0)[Also you get the feeling that the kitsune is going to be really annoying about enhancing the amount you are cursed.](if: $kitsunefinishkitsune is 1)[Your current form isn't a bad one, if a bit more showy than you are used to. Perhaps you like it? Nothing wrong with that. Or maybe it's because the kitsune is more likely to help your friends. Still at least for now you will keep your current kitsune flavored form.] You make sure to keep this thought fixed in your mind as you get into the kitsune's cart. Your friends are looking around the cart excited at whatever is coming next. Poor bastards. Amusingly the only one who manages to keep his lunch is Ron, and that's because he managed to fall asleep. Otherwise everyone lies in a clump holding hands and trying not throw up with every lurch of the cart. Once you finally arrive, your friends are in open mouthed awe at the sights and sounds of the bathhouse. You proudly try to explain everything to them. You have to admit that it's still quite impressive even the second time. You have a bacchanalian time at the bathhouse. After your previous edge of your teeth escape everyone needs to relax. You drink and eat with everyone else to excess. (if ate with kitsune maybe but a conditional here?) Everyone gets up to various kinds of mischief. Frederick makes time with the servers, turns out edge of the teeth escapes make excellent bedroom talk. More than once the kitsune has to intercede to keep him from getting abducted by some covetous spirit. Alonso is speechless by the wondrous creatures enjoying the bathhouse. He insists at length that when you return to your homeland have to tell tales about all these creatures. When you explain to him how this places makes memories go funny, he decides to write it down. His lettering is as rough as ever, but he recruits Ron and occasionally you to serve as his scribe during his interviews. Cohen lives in the baths claiming it does wonders for his joints, when he's not looking like a prune it's to make time with the servers. He and the kitsune have a grand time drinking reminiscing and generally enjoying all the bathhouse has to offer. Together they don't do much besides from relax and play the occasional boardgame. Old people!(if: $bathhousecohen is 1)[ The racoon eared server he scored with the first time you visited stays sweet on him surprisingly. They have a wonderful time together, she listening to his war stories with fresh ears and him listening to her tales and gossip attentively. He takes up trying to teach her chess, and some strange game played with black and white stones. He chortles with joy whenever she outwits him. He tries to introduce everyone to her friends to mixed success. Frederick sure doesn't mind.] Ron keeps pestering the kitsune for magical lessons. When she's not too tipsy she teaches him with a smile. Everyone views this development with cautious optimism, will he finally learn precision? The kitsune spends her time trying to convince you to accept more of her gifts. (if: $kitsunefinishkitsune is 1)[You have quite enough of those thank you.](if: $kitsunefinishkitsune is 0)[That's quite plainly not happening.] But she is quite persistent, working it into unrelated conversations, at times going on at length about how great her temple is and of course how much she wants to show it to you. Even in the pleasant haze of the bathhouse you keep your mind fixed and so stay committed to your goal.(if: $kitsunebath is 1)[ (if: $kitsunefun is 1)[The kitsune is annoying persistent about trying to visit the pleasure you shared in the bath. It wasn't unpleasant but the number of strings attached is only going to increase. Still perhaps you induldge her? You are on vaccation after all.](if: $kitsunefun is 0)[The kitsune makes a point of inviting you to join her in the baths everytime she goes to relax. She's unsubtle about her desire to see you naked again. With her permission you invite Frederick to join you. As she starts to disrobe Frederick shoots you a glance that tells you he will be eternally greatful.]] It's damn good time. But eventually it looks like the kitsune's tab might come due and nobody wants to be around for that. Thankfully adventurers always pack light, adventurers without anything but their gear to their name more so. In the timeless morning of the bathhouse everyone gathers near where the carts land. Time to talk through your next step.(if: $kitsunefinishfemale is 1)[[[Let's hope the kitsune isn't too angry at your decision.->kitsune 0 female ending part 1]]](if: $kitsunefinishmale is 1)[[[You aren't looking forward to how the kitsune's going to react.->kitsune 0 male ending part 1]]](if: $kitsunefinishkitsune is 1)[[[The thing now is to get everyone else back to normal.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 1]]] (if: $kitsuneanger is < 1)[[Hey wait there is a hidden ending this release right? I want to see it!->testskip]] \(set: $Leaf0Gear to 0) \(set: $Wither0Appearance to 0) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 0) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance to 1) \(set: $Gambeson0Gear to 0) \(set: $Finale0Gear to 1) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 1)

Taking a deep breath, you state your desire to no longer be cursed by the kitsune. The kitsune gives a very long sigh and gazes off into the distance, perhaps hoping to just ignore you. Cohen gives her a hard look and clears his throat loudly. The kitsune blushes slightly and gives another labored sigh. Cohen takes a step forward. The kitsune finally slumps her shoulders, her ears and tails low. "Fine." She snaps at you quickly. You are for a moment bathed in a blue flames. The blue flames burn off you, dissipating off into nothing. Your hair remains as long as it ever was. However it's no longer a shiny black, you have your original hair color back.(Which might just be a normal slightly less shiny black.) You move about a bit checking for anything different, it takes a moment, but you finally realize that your girls are a bit smaller. Your friends also inform you that you are down a pair of ghostly blue ears and a ghostly blue tail. You must admit that they looked cool, even if they weren't good for much. Cohen grumbles loudly about the others. Everyone looks at the kitsune expectantly. The kitsune flatly refuses. "I can do it surely, but you have to understand it's nice to have some strapping girls around." The consensus is you can't fault for her that logic. The kitsune adds with a smile. "I do know a way to get your younglings back to normal Cohen, and I'll admit that I do enjoy your company." Cohen puts a hand to his forehead. "Of course milady, your aid would be appreciated." His tone is pained but what can you do? The other downside is that it's cart ride to where the kitsune's cure is. Everyone's still hungover and no one's excited for another cart ride. [[You messily lose your lunch over the side.->kitsune 0 female ending part 2]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BaseKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $FemaleKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Kitsune0Appearance to 0) \(set: $Female0Appearance to 1) \(set: $Gambeson0Gear to 1) \(set: $FemaleKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 0)

When you finally touch down you are in the middle of a grassy plain. The long grasses grow taller than a man and are whipped by winds blowing across the plain. A clearing has been stomped out of the grasses and in the center is a simple stone shrine, no bigger than what could hold a candle. Around the shrine numerous people are sitting and watching intensely an assortment of cards, tiles and dice. They are obviously gamblers. The kitsune explains that the shrine grants wishes, but only if one does enough gambling in it's presence. It's a strange system to be sure but at this point you are pretty much inured to the kitsune's strangeness. Everyone sets in with a will gambling with what pocket change you have. This goes badly. Frederick could bluff a dragon without breaking a sweat, and Alonso has an incredible memory for cards and the like. They both almost lose their shirts to this one long nosed guy who can practically read their minds. It's uncanny to watch him pass up multiple good hands for the perfect hand. Everyone looks to the kitsune and Cohen for help. The kitsune shrugs and says the magic of the shrine prevents her from helping you cheat magically. Cohen pulls his beard and looks sheepish, "I've lost a lot of treasure gambling. One time it was so bad I almost gambled my sword. But I realized that if I lost my sword, I couldn't get more treasure." It's looking like you are going to have start gambling your hair, nails, pieces of your soul and perhaps most terribly your weapons. Then Ron has an epiphany. You don't need to gamble against the expert gamblers assembled around the shrine. You only need to gamble amongst your friends. All you have left to gamble is your clothes. With your previous experience you hope to not lose your shirt. Frederick and Alonso however quickly sweep the table, eventually dueling one another. When one of them is sitting on everyone's clothes, the clothes get handed back and the cycle begins again. The low stakes mean you don't accumulate the little metal balls you need to get your prize quickly, but they add up. Eventually everyone has enough to make their respective wishes. Alonso wishes himself back to being male, making himself a little bit more handsome you note. Ron does the same thing, although making himself a touch taller. Frederick stays a girl, wishing only to enhance his assets a bit. As you make the wish to return, you might make a few changes yourself, or perhaps you only wish for good fortune. [[Still after a bit of trial everyone is back to normal!->kitsune 0 female ending]]

You resume adventuring much the same as before. Everyone is excited to get back into the swing of things after your epic misadventure. It's good times and you find that being female doesn't hurt your adventuring abilities. The kitsune joins you for a couple of adventures, but she's not much of one for rough living and dungeon dives. You can tell she's growing more disinterested and keeps guiltily muttering something about getting back to her temple. When it comes time for her to leave she gives Cohen a sad look. "I am sorry Cohen, but I have other obligations." She bites her lip, her tails low. "We might not meet again, time just gets away from us. I could perhaps give a gift to ensure you would be around?" Her ears perk cautiously. Cohen shakes his head sadly. "My dear it has been an honor. But a messenger for a goddess of the harvest should know that there is a cycle to all things. Can't keep the stage from my younglings for ever." He smiles at her. The kitsune gives Cohen a pained look, and to your personal surprise gives him a deep onto the ground bow. At the edge of your vision you see a blue flicker. You suspect that although Cohen will only ever have his natural vigor, he will at least have a less miserable time making water on command. Ron is sad to see the kitsune go. She pets his head and tells him that he will be a great mage someday. She gives you a longing look but doesn't say anything. Then she gets back into her flaming cart and is away into the clouds. Perhaps you will miss her? You go on to be a great adventurer. After your dalliance in the bathhouses everyone's constitution seems improved, even Ron is a bit stronger than before. Your finest moment is when you fend off an attack by a three headed dragon that crawls along the ground. It shouts upon attacking that Cohen slew it's uncle. Cohen responds by shouting that it's uncle was a knob who had it coming. You manage to cut off one of it's heads only to find that it's grown two smaller heads. You get to chopping and before long the weight of new heads leave it immobile. The dragon sobs, a lake of tears flowing from it's many eyes. Cohen roars with laughter at the dragon's plight and prepares to cold bloodedly kill it. Alonso points out that a greater message might be provided by keeping it alive. Cohen grumbles but sees the wisdom there. The dragon can keep it's life if it promises to drop the feud and free all it's slaves. The dragon agrees, and begins to eat it's own heads. When it's down to manageable number of heads, it flees with it's tail between it's legs. In time Cohen gathers everyone together and says it's time for him to move on. You have stopped almost dying or being captured all the time. Everyone is depressed by the news, but knew it was going happen sooner or later. You worry about him terribly but he's slain monsters you have never know of, in lands you have never heard of. He will face whatever he finds next and triumph. Your spirited rescue of your friends with the kitsune's help becomes a popular tale. Although it does tend to focus on Cohen and the exotic kitsune more than you. Still it's quite a thing to know that you were in a tale at all. Alonso goes onto great fame as a leader of men. He starts a band of knights who go onto right wrongs and battle evil. His fame almost rivals yours. He also becomes quite known for his book of fantastic creatures and tales, recounting what you heard in the bathhouse. It's a bit strange for a blacksmith's son to be a famous author but such is life. Frederick becomes a great thief, sneaking into royal balls and robbing them blind. He keeps recruiting everyone to help him without asking, although it's quite fun. Ron becomes an archmage specializing in fire! and throwing in the occasional illusion. He does his best to promote learning of magic wherever he goes, hoping others will have the chance to have their lives changed like he did. You look forward to your next adventure, ready to face whatever comes. Kitsune 0 Ending: A woman of adventure [[credits]] \(set: $FemaleKitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $FemaleKitsune0Description to 2) \(set: $Female0Gear to 1) \(set: $Gambeson0Gear to 0)

You take a deep breath and look to Cohen for support. He gives you a gentle smile, even if you have to hijack a cart out of here, he'll make it happen. You state cleanly your desire to not only stop being cursed by the kitsune, and in fact get back to being a man. The kitsune bristles momentarily, her ears and tails rise with her fury. You smile at her, hoping for mercy. Then she calms a bit, but still upset looks off to the side. "I refuse. My gi-curse has not yet taught the lesson it's supposed to teach. I'd be contradicting myself to break it." Cohen sighs heavily. He gives you a meaningful look. There will be no changing her mind now. "My other younglings also wish to get back to normal. Perhaps Milady could help them?" The kitsune considers your friends carefully. Alonso blushes a bit you note. "Hmm, perhaps. I could do it, but it'd take a lot. Settling the score with the spiders took a not insignificant amount of effort." She seems to have an idea and looks at you hopefully. "I know of a better solution though, and it'll give your youngling time to reconsider." Well, if that's going to be what it takes. Nobody's excited to get into the cart, the morning hangover is still going strong. (nobody knew quite how to pace themselves as a girl.) [[You messily lose your lunch over the side.->kitsune 0 male ending part 2]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $BaseKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $MaleKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Gambeson0Gear to 1) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $MaleKitsune0Description to 1)

When you land again it's near a small village in the middle of rice paddies. The village consists of a few buildings arranged around a square. It reminds you of the small farming village of your birth. The villagers greet the kitsune and the spectacle of you landing in a flaming cart warmly, as if it was the most common thing in the world. The kitsune explains that you need a special rice wine(sake) to function as a cure and that for the cure to have any potency you must be involved in its production. Everyone groans. Figures that out of everything you might have to do to get back to normal it's friggin farming. The village welcomes your help. Before long you are eating, breathing, and drinking rice cultivation. It's different from what you know, not better just different. Growing rice is back breaking work but everyone takes to it with a will. Well not Cohen, he mutters something about not becoming an adventurer to farm and spends most of his time hunting or fishing. The community is tightly knit. Everyone knows everyone else and the cramped houses leave little room for secrets. The villagers seem enthralled by the stories of your adventures. In time you develop a strong bond with the village, good people you find. You manage to impress upon Frederick the importance of keeping it in his pants. It'd be a damn shame to lose him to a pitchfork and torches wedding. For once in his life, he actually gets the message, and keeps his dalliances restrained. The only strange thing is how unstrange the villagers find the kitsune. They know her, and refer often to the previous times she has visited. But it's hard not to look at woman like her and grasp how unusual and important she might be. If she's the messenger of a goddess of the harvest, shouldn't they be venerating her every step? Try as you might you can never find quite the right moment to bring it up in the conversation. The conversation never reaches a good moment to ask about it. The kitsune does everything she can to make sure that you enjoy your time in the village. She introduces you to some of the local girls and boys, she provides minor miracles and delicacies to awe you, and tells various stories in an effort to entertain you. She keeps trying to offer this community, and belonging in it to you. There are setbacks and boons as you farm, a dam bursts but the harvest is unexpectedly good. You spend countless hours scythe in hand harvesting the rice and then even more time beating and polishing it. Before long however it's ready to make rice wine with. This is it's own grueling process. Alonso proves unexpectedly skilled at this process, claiming following a lot of annoying steps is what he grew up doing as a blacksmith. It's also a bit less grueling to have Ron around to help with the heating and cooling. [[Finally after an incredible amount of work you have the wine made.->kitsune 0 male ending part 3]] \(set: $MaleKitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance to 0) \(set: $Male0Appearance to 1) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $MaleKitsune0Description to 1)

(if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[The kitsune does not join your merry making. Once the sun rises it's time to bid farewell to the village. The villagers wish you a passionate goodbye. It'd be nice to visit them again, but you doubt you could find the place again without the kitsune's help. A turbulent cart ride later you find yourself once again the in world you know. The kitsune barely looks at you as you get off the cart. She stands in front of Cohen looking at him sadly. Cohen smiles back knowingly. I am sorry Cohen, but I have other obligations." She bites her lip, her tails low. "We might not meet again, time just gets away from us. I could perhaps give a gift to ensure you would be around?" Her ears perk cautiously. Cohen shakes his head simply. "My dear it has been an honor. But a messenger for a goddess of the harvest should know that there is a cycle to all things. Can't keep the stage from my younglings forever." He smiles at her. The kitsune gives Cohen a pained look, and to your surprise gives him a deep onto the ground bow. At the edge of your vision you see a blue flicker. You suspect that although Cohen will only ever have his natural vigor, he will at least have a less miserable time making water on command. Ron is sad to see the kitsune go. She pets his head and tells him that he will be a great mage someday. Then she gets back into her flaming cart and is away into the clouds. Perhaps you will miss her?](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[The parade is a good time, and the town breaks out in general celebration afterwards. You do a fair amount of partying and smooching, enjoying your returned form and all that it offers. Everyone else sure is!] From there you resume adventuring much as before, if a touch more cautious of spiders and fox temples. Everyone is excited to get back into the swing of things after your epic misadventure. You go onto become a great adventurer. (If: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[After your dalliance in the bathhouses everyone's constitution seems improved, even Ron is a bit stronger than before.](If: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[Your form seems not much changed by having been cursed by the kitsune. You are perhaps a touch more handsome.] Your greatest moment is the frantic race to spread the information about a newly discovered cure for river blindness during a time of plague. You race between towns putting a poster with the recipe for the cure and then waiting impatiently as Ron reads it to everyone. Once they can repeat it to you, you race off to the next town. It's not quite as glamorous as monster slaying but it saves incalculably more lives and prevents more suffering. They make statues of everyone in a couple of towns. Alonso for his part seems to be having the time of his life in doing so much good. In time Cohen has everyone together and says it's time for him to move on. You have stopped almost dying or being captured all the time. Everyone is depressed by the news, but knew it was going happen sooner or later. You worry about him but he's survived much, he'll survive a bit longer still. Death if it comes for him, will have to wait until he's sleeping. Your spirited rescue of your friends with the kitsune's help becomes a popular tale, although it does tend to focus on Cohen and the exotic kitsune more than you. (if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[You do your best to make the truth of the kitsune's behavior be told.] Still it's quite a thing to know that you were in a tale at all. (put conditional here) Alonso goes onto great fame as a leader of men. He starts a band of knights who go onto right wrongs and battle evil. His fame almost rivals yours. He also becomes quite known for his book of fantastic creatures and tales, written during your sojourn in the bathhouse. It's a bit strange for a blacksmith's son to be a famous author but such is life. Frederick becomes a great thief, forewarning targets to increase the challenge. he also keeps recruiting you and your friends to help make his plans work. It's a fun time. Ron becomes an archmage specializing in fire! and throwing in the occasional illusion. He does his best to promote learning of magic wherever he goes, hoping others will have the chance to have their lives changed like he did. You look forward to your next adventure, ready to face whatever comes. Kitsune 0 Ending: A human, no greater no less [[credits]] \(set: $MaleKitsune0Status to 4) \(set: $Male0Appearance to 3) \(set: $Male0Gear to 2) \(set: $MaleKitsune0Description to 3)

The others announce their desire to return to the way they were. You can't help but notice the kitsune looking at you out of the edge of her eyes. She's trying to seem bored by fidgeting with her tail. You keep mum about getting back to normal. Subtly is not the kitsune's specialty. She breaks out in a wide-eyed smile at your deflection of the issue. Still smiling she asks what you plan to do about getting back to normal. Cohen puts a hand to his forehead. You deflect again stating your desire to stay like this at least for now. Cohen tries futilely to convince the kitsune not to make a big to-do about the whole thing. The kitsune has a far off look in her eyes and you can tell she's fantasizing about you staying as you are. Your friends look at you questioningly and can't help but give a good-natured shrug. The kitsune claims she knows just the place and just the goddess. Which of course means another cart ride there. Everyone groans in dread. A week-long party gives a mighty hangover. Nobody knew how to pace themselves as girls and so they aren't feeling great already. The ride isn't great, with every swing and judder of the cart your stomach drops. Still you get used to it enough to look out at the realm above the clouds. It's very blue and grey, although looking down at land below is a jaw dropping sight. Even Cohen admits it's not a thing he often sees. As the cart descends you sight a pleasant looking valley nestled in mountains. Above the valley is a thick ominous looking cloud. Ominous doesn't do it justice. The cloud is made of a dark oily substance and that roils as it gradually builds. Ron examines the cloud and then with complete sincerity says, "You know, I have a bad feeling about that cloud." Everyone puts their palms to their heads. [[Friggin Ron.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 2]] \(set: $BaseKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 1) \(set: $Gambeson0Gear to 1) \(set: $Finale0Gear to 0) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance to 2) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 2)

You resume adventuring much the same as before. Everyone is excited to get back into the swing of things after your epic misadventure and weathering disaster. To your surprise the kitsune joins you for many more adventures, she's handy to have around even if she does hog the spotlight. Whenever you ask why she mentions something about needing to keep an eye on you. She does however spend more and more time away, claiming that she needs to do her duties to her temple. Still she keeps making her presence known, whether you like it or not. It takes a while but she does eventually stop bugging you about accepting more of her blessings. In time you become adventurers of renown! Well, you stop almost dying or getting captured so often. Your greatest moment is probably saving the valley. But since nobody near you ever heard of the valley and tend to roll their eyes when you tell them it doesn't count. Your most famous moment is when you free a local fort that had been taken over by demons, bandits and demon possessed bandits. It's hard fighting requiring many distractions and illusions. (And if you are being truthful getting many of them dead drunk first.) But for six people to take a fort is a triumph no matter how you slice it. A while after that, Cohen gathers everyone together and announces that it's time for him to go. He says that he's very proud of everyone and is confident that they will go onto greatness. The kitsune takes this news hard. She gives Cohen a sad look. "I am sorry Cohen." She bites her lip, her tails low. "We might not meet again, time just gets away from us. I could perhaps give a gift to ensure you would be around?" Her ears perk cautiously. Cohen shakes his head. "My dear it has been an honor. But a messenger for a goddess of the harvest should know that there is a cycle to all things. Can't keep the stage from my younglings forever." He smiles at her. The kitsune gives Cohen a pained look, and to your personal surprise gives him a deep onto the ground bow. You see a blue prominence rising from the kitsune. You couldn't even imagine what it means in magic. You suspect that although Cohen will only ever have his natural vigor, he will at least have a less miserable time making water on command. With that he wanders off humming some tune you have never heard before. Everyone is sad to see him go, the kitsune privately sheds many tears. Still that was his way, and besides you aren't too worried. He once knocked out a man behind him without looking, the impressive part was with how he didn't touch him. Your spirited rescue of your friends with the kitsune's help becomes a popular tale. Although it does tend to focus on Cohen and the exotic kitsune more than you. Still it's quite a thing to know that you were in a tale at all. There are a number of spinoff tales recounting the new adventures the kitsune and Cohen. You feature minorly in some of these, although they tend to paint the kitsune in a sinister bewitching light. As a beautiful female adventurer with ghostly fox ears and tail you attract a lot of attention and celebrity. This you back up with your sword expertise. It takes a while and some careful teaching from the kitsune but you eventually master magical sword strikes. These aren't anything battlefield changing but do let you strike that little bit harder and faster. Also look super cool. Alonso goes onto great fame as a leader of men and women. She never does wind up turning back to being a man. When you ask why she replies that her gender never concerned her that much one way or another. She eventually starts a band of knights who go onto right wrongs and battle evil. Her fame almost rivals yours. She also becomes quite known for her book of fantastic creatures and tales from the bathhouse. It's a bit strange for a blacksmith's daughter to be a famous author but such is life. Frederick becomes a great thief, sneaking into royal balls and robbing them blind. She keeps recruiting everyone to help her, which proves to be marvelous fun. The kitsune never quite approves of this, to which Frederick normally responds by sticking out his tongue. Ron eventually returns to normal. He's pleased as punch when he does it himself with only a little help from the kitsune. He’s only minorly singed and smoking in the process. Eventually Ron becomes an archmage, his specialty is fire although he does pick up a bit of magic from the kitsune's tutelage. He does his best to promote learning of magic wherever he goes, hoping others will have the chance to have their lives changed like he did. You look forward to your next adventure, ready to face whatever comes. Kitsune 0 ending: Changed but true [[credits]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 10) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance to 4) \(set: $Wet0Gear to 5) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 8)

The kitsune is dangerous, and she doesn't respect your person-hood. She's powerful to be sure and a friend of Cohen's. But that doesn't justify how she acts or how she treats you. From the moment you met her she's been transparent about using you to placate her grief. Adventuring is about compromising with different people and personalities. But there must be a limit. It's risky but it might be best to make it clear you aren't interested in being near her anymore. The others will back you up but there is no telling how she will react. It's a simple question. Do you trust her? Trust the kitsune? [[Yes->kitsune 0 cocoons escape ending choices]] [[No->kitsune 0 hidden ending part 1]] \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Status to 0) \(set: $RebukeKitsune0Status to 1)

You start quietly, gaining volume as you go along. The kitsune is about to help everyone get onto her cart when you speak up. You apologize but you aren't going anywhere with the kitsune. You don't trust her, and you don't adventure with those you don't trust. Your friends look at you surprised. The kitsune's eyes go wide. Cohen puts a hand through his beard, and says matter of factly "Explain your reasons youngling, and we will hear you." The kitsune transformed you when you met, but fair's fair on that one. You rob the altar of a temple you can stand bad things happening. But she let you fight against the spiders hopelessly to try and convince you to get more transformed. The kitsune lips screw together as she looks upset and maybe even ashamed. "I had that well under control." Yeah she did, and she used her control of the situation to try and get what she wanted from you. Alonso gives her a look that says she's dead to him and comes and puts a hand on your shoulder. Back in the forest now, she almost killed you. She didn't mean to, but she couldn't help it. On top of that she refused to follow Cohen’s orders and put everyone at risk. Frederick gives the cart a sad look, it's obvious he wanted to ride into it. Still he comes and stands by your side. The kitsune begins to wring her robes with her hands. "I haven't been in much combat and I was distressed. It could have happened to anyone." That you may note is not an apology. On top of everything else, she only decided to help rescue everyone else when she heard Cohen was involved. Not because your friends were in danger, not because the spiders were taking slaves, but because she wanted to see Cohen. Ron shakes his head, mumbling something about how she might leave everyone to hang. Even he has a limit it seems. The kitsune has switched to getting angry. As you keep talking her tails and ears start to flare in rage. Cohen finally speaks "Youngling." He gives you a concerned look, and then glances at the kitsune. [[No stopping now.->kitsune 0 hidden ending part 2]] \(set: $RebukeKitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $EscapeKitsune0Description to 0) \(set: $RebukeKitsune0Description to 1) \(set: $kitsunerebuke to 1)

You keep going. The kitsune might be powerful and it worked out in the end, but right now you don't trust her as far as you could throw her. The kitsune's disguise begins to slip. Her true terrifying form starts to shine through her cheap costume of a form. Words cannot describe what she is, nothing human. Alonso's hand on your shoulder starts to tremble. She needs to work through her own problems rather than foist them on others. She needs to restore her temples and tend to her people rather than seek out others to transform to placate her own problems. Once she has done that and apologizes you might trust her. The sky has grown dark and the clouds are parting into rings over head. It hurts to look at the kitsune, the light sears your eyes. There is a pressure in your chest, like what you felt earlier when you comforted the kitsune. Breathing is becoming difficult. There is a long ominous pause, finally Cohen speaks. "It might be best if milady left." He puts one hand to his head and the other to his sword. He'll draw in your defense if need be. The kitsune takes a deep breath, the pressure in your chest subsides. "I gave you a curse when met. Now let me give you a blessing to mark our parting. I bless you to be hidden from my sight and to be ever an arriving guest to followers of my goddess. May you enjoy your new form." She turns to Cohen softening a touch. "Till we met again." Cohen nods. "Likewise milady." With that she gets into her cart and takes off into in the sky. The moment passed, your legs tremble super hard. Cohen shakes his head. "Let it never be said of you youngling that you lack courage. Still that's part of being your own person." [[He watches the cart disappear into a cloud with a slight frown.->kitsune 0 hidden ending part 3]] \(set: $RebukeKitsune0Description to 2)

After that you want nothing to do with any of the kitsune's "gifts" and so you begin questing for a way to return to normal. Cohen claims to know a way in his adopted homeland the far north of the kingdom. It's up a damn mountain and on a damn glacier he claims, is called the "roof of the world" No one's excited to go there but that's the breaks sometimes. Frederick in particular is dreading it, his short slender frame means he loathes cold weather. It's a long journey, you take small adventuring gigs as you go along to help raise money. Skin of your teeth escapes also tend to leave you broke. No one's excited to guard caravans let me tell you. The north is a cold, starkly beautiful and dangerous place. This becomes apparent as trek across a glacier. Cohen adopted this place after escaping from dragon slavery, and spent many years of his youth adventuring here. It was where his family had come from and despite everything, he loves his homeland like life itself. In a later age you might call him a patriot. So long adventuring up here had left him with an eye for the weather and as you trek across the glacier he calls a stop. He points up at an nondescript cloud. "See that cloud younglings? That cloud means it's going to snow and hard tonight, starting in the evening. If we aren't careful we might be snowed in for days." He scans the horizon. "There is a strand of trees, that'll be a better place than the open." It's a race against the sun to reach the trees in time but you barely make it. True to what Cohen said it begins to snow lightly. Still before long you have felled trees and set up a basic camp to withstand the snow. It's beginning to snow in earnest, the dusk light making the flurries almost shine. Frederick is studying the horizon biting his adorable lip. You ask him what's wrong. "I think I saw someone, but it might be my eyes playing tricks on me. Cohen, should we check? I don't want to lead everyone on a wild goose chase." Cohen thinks for a moment then smiles. "I'd never forgive myself for abandoning a countryman to weather like this. Come on younglings." He has everyone but Ron tie themselves together and rush out into the snow. Ron stays behind to make sure the fire doesn't go out. You get picked to lead the party, hoping that your shining ears and tail will be a touch easier to spot. Alonso is right behind you, helping you when you stumble in the rapidly deepening snow. The cold wind whips at you and the snow keeps blowing into your face. The light is almost gone, and you can barely see your hand in front of your face for the thick snow flurries. You can barely hear Frederick creatively curse at the snow and cold. Distantly however you see two figures struggling against the weather illuminated by a torch. You shout back to Alonso and before long everyone is raising an unholy clamor. You do your best to get their attention with your torch. The two figures see you and make their way towards you. Bundled up as everyone is you can't tell anything about the figures. Looking back you can see that Ron stayed true to his passion. [[Despite the blizzard Ron built such a towering bonfire that it's visible through the snow.->kitsune 0 hidden ending part 4]] \(set: $RebukeKitsune0Status to 3) \(set: $Leaf0Gear to 0) \(set: $Gambeson0Gear to 0) \(set: $Rebuke0Gear to 1) \(set: $Wither0Appearance to 0) \(set: $TiedKitsune0Appearance to 0) \(set: $Rebuke0Appearance to 1)

As you sit as close as is comfortable to the fire, the strangers reveal themselves. It's two women, one you note with caution has fox ears and a tail. There is a round of introductions, everyone is a bit crestfallen when the two haven't heard of anyone, not even surprisingly Cohen. The kitsune is Izuna and introduces her human companion as Sanya Pavletic. No one's heard of the town of Pavletic. She claims that Sanya was teleported to Pandemonium from a world called Earth. Which raises several questions, what the hell is a Pandemonium? and who would call a world dirt? That's setting a perfectly innocent world up for failure. Sanya's eyes go wide and she mumbles something about being lost two worlds over. Izuna immediately starts to comfort Sanya. Being lost from your own world would be miserable, being two worlds over must be worse. Cohen has a far off look in his eyes. "Take comfort Miss, I think I know a solution to at least your most recent problem. Once when I was a young man we lost a man in a snow storm. The next morning we found him, bastard should of been dead but he survived. Claimed he had been found by our group, but in another world where he was a woman and so was I. Called me red something, red blade? No, it started with an S I'm sure." Alonso nudges Cohen back on topic. "Ah yes, anyway. He managed to return by walking through the snow backwards. It seems silly but things without explanation often do." He glances up at the heavy clouds barely visible through the snow. "I'd say the storm will break towards the morning, clouds should blow away by dawn. Try retracing your steps then, so you can use the stars to check." He smiles. "Tell me of your adventures miss, this Pandemonium place sounds exciting." Everyone gathers around the two aliens, excited to while away the cold night listening to them. [[Also makes passing around the wine skin Ron brought that much easier.->kitsune 0 hidden ending part 5]] \(set: $RebukeKitsune0Status to 4)

Pandemonium is a world infested with monster girls that reproduce by irreversibly transforming humans. Sanya was transported onto glacier not so different than the one you find yourself upon and currently quests for a way to return home. She’s been in danger many times, but despite never fighting before she has found herself unexpectedly good at it. Furthermore she found herself with a runestone that enables her to change form. She demonstrates, quickly transforming with a flash of light into a fox eared woman like Izuna. Curiously the runestone also teleports her to safety every time she comes across a danger which might keep her from returning home. It’s clearly driving her towards some greater destiny. Everyone pales a bit at the thought of that, what does a person have if not their destiny? After the demonstration everyone insists on trying to use it. She parts with it only hesitatingly, it's a rock with a curious rune on it but otherwise unremarkable. everyone takes turns holding the rock and bellowing out into the dark some variation of "Transform!". It doesn't work for anyone but does get some laughs. The duo speaks of their adventures, Sanya stating the plain facts before being coaxed into adding more details by Izuna's teasing. The duo are obviously fast friends, not so different from your group. You brag of your adventures in turn. Sanya's adventures are perhaps the more vividly told, and more exciting in their imagining but you take a measure of satisfaction in what you have accomplished. For what you are, for what you have done, they are grand tales indeed. It’s late and the conversation quiets somewhat as Frederick battles to stay awake and Alonso ladles out the last of the dinner. Suddenly Cohen speaks up “If you don’t mind miss I’d like to examine your weapon.” He points to the curious blunt metal cylinder affixed with wood. Sanya seems more protective of that than her runestone. Still Cohen manages to convince her, saying she can put his sword to his neck if that will reasure her. Sanya performs a quick series of motions, removing a metal trinket from the weapon before allowing Cohen to handle it. He turns it this way and that, examining it, the cylinder turns out to be hollow and Cohen rests the weapon against his shoulder before shouting "Aha!" He smiles satisfied. "I'm guessing it launches a missle of some kind. Probably quite far and fast or you would use a bow." He hands it back to Sanya with a look of disgust. "Ah, I can only imagine the stories of bravery the warriors that use such weapons tell. How they killed without using their strength and without meeting the measure of their enemy." He shakes himself against the cold. "You mentioned you were good at fighting suddenly? I’d watch that, and not get too in love with battle. I knew a man to whom killing others with a sword came to him like breathing. It ultimately rotted him from the inside out. Easy to fall into something similar, especially with a weapon like that.” Sanya glares at Cohen, her rage obviously building. Cohen grows sheepish, and talks in a calming tone. "I’m sorry miss, I didn’t mean to insult you. I'm sure you are quite brave and noble. I'm old and nostalgic, and I see the likely future of my profession in your weapon. Although I’ve killed with insufficiently sharp rocks and that wasn’t so noble or glorious as I like to recall.” Any hard feelings left in sanya are cut off by Izuna pointing to the sky and exclaiming. The clouds have cleared enough to spot the stars and Izuna doesn’t recognize any of them. Sanya quickly busies herself in calming her friend. In time the weather clears and the sky lightens. Everyone wishes the duo luck in returning to their world. They tromp off backwards into the snow trying and failing to not look ridiculous as they do so. They’ll come to a good end you feel. [[You head off yourself into the snow.->kitsune 0 hidden ending part 6]]

The cure Cohen promised is a large floating spire of ice in the middle of a otherwise unremarkable mountain town. The spire of ice refracts the sunlight into a dazzling rainbow. The shard is perpetually melting before your eyes, somehow replenishing itself at the same time. The runoff is the clearest pool of water you have ever seen. Bathing in the very very cold water will return you to your original form. The pool is watched over by an old woman wearing an ornate dress ornamented with fish tails. She's running a hot drink stand and offers towels. Cohen claims he'd join in the cold water bath but is mobbed by the town. They are forming a parade with him at the head. Supposedly in his youth he helped protect the town from these man sized lizards. Quite clever girls with sharp claws but no match for Cohen. As he is being toasted by the town you have to get in freezing water. The water is fearsomely, bone chatteringly cold. It fucking sucks. Oh it sucks. It's bracing though, and for a moment you feel truly terrifyingly alive. Ron hates cold water in particular and has to be pushed into the water. Then suddenly your tackle is back and in imminent danger of being frozen off. A quick glance shows everyone else is in similar straits. Thankfully the lady doesn't charge too much for hot drinks and before long you are joining the parade going through the town. (set: $kitsunerebuke to 1) [[Join in->kitsune 0 male ending]]

The kitsune requests to see you in private. The various village women titter over you, trying to decide on which combination of robes and makeup provided by the kitsune will work the best. It's a long process for them to get you ready, they comb the ever-loving hell out of your hair for one. When they finally finish you are an elegant beauty. You hardly recognize yourself in the polished silver mirror. The kitsune meets you in a dimly lit room. She is also made up, wearing a vivid red and white robe with gold accents. Her black hair is expertly coiffed and accentuated by an gold and jade hair pin. Her tails fan out behind her, her fur reflecting the low light slightly and giving her an almost glowing appearance. She gives you a look of indescribable longing as you enter the room. Oh boy. You sit across from her on a cushion, it's hard to move in the heavy robes and you start to get hot underneath them. The kitsune makes smalltalk, thanking you for helping with the harvest. You do your best to reciprocate. You need to not piss her off and you will be back to normal! As you make conversation, the kitsune keeps staring at you, all of you. Still distracted by your looks she launches into one final sales pitch. She claims she has so much to offer you if you will take it. You’ve made up your mind though. The kitsune looks at you like her heart is breaking and then forces a smile. Finally she sighs and stops trying to delay. With a bit of ceremony she pours the rice wine into a shallow wooden box. She lifts up the box with both hands and gestures you forward to drink from it while she holds its. You can't help but sigh. With both hands you have the kitsune place the box on the ground and then pick it up and drink from it yourself. The taste is sweet and full, enhanced a bit by the knowledge that you worked hard to make it. The change is sudden, and indescribable. Your limbs lengthen, your chest shrinks and before long you are back to who you were. Admittedly wearing makeup and in female robes. You leave the kitsune and check on your friends. They are all back to normal and celebrating to mark the occasion. [[There is nothing to do but join in!->kitsune 0 male ending]] \(set: $MaleKitsune0Status to 3) \(set: $Male0Appearance to 2) \(set: $Gambeson0Gear to 0) \(set: $Male0Gear to 1) \(set: $MaleKitsune0Description to 2)

Everyone watches the ominous cloud with interest as the cart drifts closer. Then you see the birds. Well, they might be birds. They look like how a blind man might imagine a bird. Oversized beaks, wings that don't flap and are split at seemingly random impossible angles, and no eyes. They swoop towards the cart obviously ready to attack. It's very hard to melee anything while in mid-air. Your arms are not as long as you might think. The cart makes up its mind on fighting or fleeing. It tumbles and rolls in midair in a way that's sickening. The kitsune grabs everyone and bundles them up in her tails as padding. Everyone except for Frederick. In a staggering display of dexterity Frederick manages for a few seconds to remain upright by jumping and running off the walls of the cart. The whole time he's shouting something about needing to "Bank and evade". You grab him for his own safety though, he's likely to break his neck doing that. The cart drops altitude rapidly, and the birds break off pursuit. Everyone has lost their lunches by then though. You mostly manage to keep it out of the kitsune's tails. As the kitsune grumbles angrily and cleans off her tails, you take another look at your destination. It's a stepped town built around a small castle. The castle is different than the ones you know. Itstill follows the same basic principles of high place and walls. But it's open to air with no roof and lacks the stone walls you see in some of the newer castles. You land it the castle's central field, it's raining, and the field is about a foot deep in mud. Despite the cloud the rain seems normal. At least until you get wet. The rain makes things seem blurry and grey, losing detail somehow. You can't see where your fingernail separates from your finger for example. You can still feel the separation though. Alonso puts out his tongue and catches one of the fat droplets. He swishes it for a second and then says "That's strange, it's salty." Everyone looks at him surprised. Salty rain is a bit odd. Alonso then looks a bit sheepish. "Oh shouldn't have done that." The kitsune's arrival raises up a cry of alarm and you are quickly stewarded into the main hall by some servants. The kitsune's smiles at this treatment and says, [["Finally a place where they know the proper way to treat a divine messenger."->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 3]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 2) \(set: $Wet0Gear to 1) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 3)

The great hall is a modestly decorated space, more austere than ornamental. You are greeted by the lord and lady of the castle. The lady is hidden behind a gauzy curtain, to protect her modesty assumedly. Although you can tell that Frederick’s imagination is running away with she might look like. The pair bow deeply to the kitsune and thank her profusely for coming. Her self-satisfied smile grows a bit larger. They seem to know the kitsune as a god mother, referring to her being present at the birth of both of them. The lord rises and leads everyone in looking out the windows as he paces. The cloud has been building for a month and the rain has fallen for the better part of two weeks. It's a strange unnatural rain that raises an impossible amount of mist. More concerningly there have been many sightings of creatures in the mist. Fearing for his people the lord has had everyone withdraw to the walls of the town. But now he doesn't know what to do next. He makes a plea for the kitsune's help. Cohen and the kitsune exchange worried glances. It's obvious that both don't know what to make of the rain. The kitsune quickly asks if they have consulted the local goddess. If anyone knows what is causing this it's the goddess of the valley. The lord shakes his head. The goddess has been missing for a while. That's not unusual and so he hasn't yet risked anyone to consult with her in person. You can't help but wonder if she's more reliable than the kitsune. The kitsune's ears flick with concern. Further talk is interrupted by a messenger entering the hall. There are creatures assaulting the walls of the town. [[Well, that's a problem you know how to solve.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 4]]

The creatures are trying to tear their way through the walls relying on brute strength. Their figures are shrouded in the mist, and they move with a deceptive silence. Whatever else they might be they seem strong. Still, it's a towns worth of people and they know enough to form a wall of spears. Your party forces your way to the front and with Cohen’s help begin to take down the creatures. They fight with no regard to their safety, striking like a cat at a mouse. As a result, they aren't difficult to fight but you get the feeling they could shatter your bones with a thought. Cutting into them is strange, it's squishy and undefined not at all like flesh should feel. After a great deal of hacking, fire and kitsune magic they withdraw. It is only once the fighting has ended that you can finally examine one of your fallen opponents. it's a dead person. Not just a dead regular dead person but a long dead corpse. This one was probably an aged grandmother. But her body is wrong. It's smooth, robbed of detail overall, and her hands are little more than blobs. On top of that parts of her have just dissolved away it looks like. She shoved bits of random material to fill in the missing spaces, thatch for her knees and gravel for part of her face. The strangest thing is that it apparently worked just like her original parts. Cohen turns over the body, poking and prodding it curiously. "Hmm can't saw I've seen it's like before. Curious." It then suddenly tries to get up again despite missing an arm, a leg, a heart and a head. "Hmm resilient if nothing else." Frederick lets out a terrified shout and Ron either thinking quickly or in a panic incinerates the body. It doesn't get up from that. The others though get up and try to repair their bodies with dirt and anything else they can grab. You get to a frantic spree of stopping them long enough for Ron to burn them. Some get away however, you get the feeling you will be seeing them and the rest of the creatures again soon. Alonso puts a calming hand on the panicking Frederick's shoulder, "It's going to be alright Frederick." In a respectful tone he asks the kitsune. "How many should we expect?" The kitsune purses her lips in thought. "It's customary to cremate bodies here. These are probably people who died and didn't get found. Still it should be fine." Cohen shakes his head. "Milady, we will be visited by anyone who died in this attack, and I would bet you money that someone was outside the walls when this started. We are in a dangerous spot." Everyone nods in agreement; if Cohen says it's a dangerous spot it's a dangerous spot indeed. The kitsune looks puzzled. "Let me study the records they have here, perhaps such a thing has happened before." She looks a bit sheepish. "What do you advise we do to keep them at bay Cohen?" Cohen puts a hand through his beard. "Fire and spears are the best tools we have. Tell everyone to focus on keeping them at bay. No heroics younglings. Killing them all outright probably isn't possible." The kitsune nods. You look up the roiling black cloud. Distantly through the rain you can the setting sun's light can be against its growing edge. Then the rain intensifies, and you can't see anything through the mist. [[Looks like it's going to be a long night.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 5]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 3) \(set: $Wet0Gear to 2) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance to 3)

The battle is long and hard. The creatures have no strategy beyond attacking but are inhumanly strong and basically unkillable without fire. You chop one in half only for the ever-present mud to fill in the gap. It's frustrating to say the least. You spend most of the battle covering for your friends, and trying desperately to keep them together. After so much work in rescuing them, it wouldn't do to have to bury them. Frederick is so terrified he's zoned out; more reacting than doing anything else. This helps him stay and fight for once so you don't mind too much. He’s had a terrible fear of the undead ever since a zombie broke into his family’s animal pen and ate until it’s jaw dropped off and it’s stomach burst. Ron teams up with a few of the other local magic users to burn the bodies, although the omnipresent rain isn't helping. Alonso directs the towns people near you in the defense while Cohen directs the defense across the town. You are gradually pushed back. It's sort of an inevitable outcome when fighting with this many noncombatants. Every loss is their gain and they gain faster than they lose. Still, you do your best to cheer everyone on. The villagers seem relieved to see you in particular for some reason. You hope it's not the wet robes. Finally, Frederick’s resolve breaks. A wave of freshly dead with the strength to shatter stone is too much. He flees down an alley as far from the undead as he can get. You exchange a quick glance with Alonso and grab Ron for back up. Frederick's gaze is distant as he pants next to a wall. You help him up and try to steady him. Your reassurance is interrupted by Ron making a concerned noise behind you. The street behind you is full of shuffling creatures. They'll cut off your escape at this rate. You shout for Frederick to find you a way out and take your sword in hand. You do your best, landing some good blows, however even with Ron's help they refuse to stay dead. You let out a desperate curse, commanding them to die as you lop off the head of one of them. The blow feels different, like you are cutting into flesh instead of an undefined blob. To your surprise it staggers back, and as surprised as you topples down dead. Not one to let an opportunity to pass you do the same again and again. Your arm aches but they keep dying. When the street is clear you examine your sword curiously. Cutting their heads off wasn't working earlier, what's changed now? Frederick looks at you amazed. "Your ears and tails are glowing. Its, well its beautiful." With a bit of twisting, you manage to see your not quite there tail. It's shimmering an impossible blue, like liquid embers suspended in mid-air. The blue light you cast is illuminating the whole street in a ghostly light, shimmering and shining off the droplets of rain. It's a transfixing sight. Ron is apparently jealous as he a conjures a flame of his own as he jogs up after burning the bodies. "We need to get you to the kitsune right now!" Both you and Frederick give him a questioning look. "I'm not exactly sure but it's a complicated magic thing you wouldn't understand." [[Okay he's not wrong but he didn't need to be a jerk about it.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 6]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 4) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 0)

You tell Alonso what's happening and then do your best to run up the muddy stairs to the keep where the kitsune is. It's a slippy slidey journey, not helped by having to pull the wheezing Ron along. He claims it's the rain making the air more liquid than gas. The kitsune has multiple scrolls arrayed desperately around her. Her tails are twitching angrily, and she's let her black hair go to a mess. She looks up at you confused and worried. When Ron stops wheezing, he says in a desperate tone "They don't know they should be dead." The kitsune's tails wag slowly, she needs more to go on. Ron manages to take a deep breath and tries to collect himself. He points at you. "They did magic, without thinking about it. No wait, they used your magic to command one of the things to die. And it worked. They don't know they should be dead!" This is gibberish but it seems to have an effect on the kitsune. Her eyes open in shock. "That could only happen if the goddess of this valley is actively disbelieving it." Her ears turn forward as she focuses. "An excellent observation young wizard. Come let us inform Cohen so we can make plans." As you prepare to run out into the rain you can hear the kitsune fret over whether she has the magic to spare on making herself waterproof. Cohen is in consultation with the lord, they are anxiously marking incursions on a hand drawn map and giving feverish orders. The lord is near panicking, while Cohen is his usual resigned calm. A wave of relief washes over the lord's face as he sees the kitsune approach, Cohen is more guarded. Cutting to the point, the kitsune speaks quickly. "We need to reach the shrine of the valley's goddess. The sooner the better. I don't think the cart will make it. It's half a day's journey on foot." Cohen puts a hand through his beard. "Difficult to make a journey like that in the middle of a siege, in the middle of the night and in the middle of a deluge." He twitches his shoulders, trying to drive off an errant drop of rain. "We will need to bring my younglings. Things have every chance of going bad and I'm not losing them to this place." The lord is terrified by this news. He moves forward kneeling and grasping the kitsune's hand desperately. The defense lines will collapse if Cohen and the kitsune leave. He pleads like a child for the kitsune to save him and his wife. Everyone looks away embarrassed. It's understandable but damn. Cohen allows an hour of rest before your death march. As Cohen tries to rest himself against a wall Frederick looks at him nervously. In a timid tone Frederick asks “How can you be so calm? We are going to die here. The dead are everywhere and we are trapped in this valley.” His eyes race, Frederick always did count on being able to get away. Cohen shrugs. “It’s when a man looks death in the face that he is the most alive. Nothing brings you focus like the knowledge this might be your last hour. Face death with no hesitation you will drive it into your enemies.” He closes his eyes, smiling softly to himself as he recalls some far away place and time. Frederick calms a bit but is still obviously nervous. You rest your weary body where the women too old and too young to fight are hiding. A baby is crying until a mother shushes it. Your friends are too tired to do much talking. It's a fraught hour, pondering what might happen next. As calm as Cohen is you can’t quite manage it. The ladies note that you will be going out in the rain again and weave everyone straw hats so at least it won't be in your eyes. Your hat has a pair of peaks with one side cut out near the tip of it. You regard these curiously, trying to discern their purpose. Then suddenly it strikes you they are for your not quite there ears. It's curious but you note that the hat does in fact feel a bit more comfortable with an accommodation for your ears. [[You decide to keep your pants on though, your tail will have to tough it out.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 7]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 5) \(set: $Wet0Gear to 3) \(set: $KitsunePresence to 1) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 4)

The kitsune has produced a parasol from her magic bag, but looks at the rain with concern. "Keep close Cohen, I'll use a bit of my magic to neutralize the rain. The rain isn't rain but instead sadness infused tears." Ron naturally pipes up. "Are there other kinds of tears?" Alonso answers him. "Smoke certainly causes tears, not that you'd know Ron. Should we be concerned if we get exposed to it?" The kitsune bites her lip as she thinks, her self assured aura is punctuated. "You should be fine so long as you keep focused. Lose your focus, sleep or die and it might overtake you. If it does all we will be able to do is hope that ending the rain helps you." Everyone swallows, no one wants to receive lethal aid. The situation is deteriorating at the walls, the townspeople need leadership to be effective, and now that they don't have it they are starting to be forced back. After the walls the last line of defense is the keep and nobody wants to be squeezed into that. You do your best to help relieve the siege as you force your way through. Everyone shouts and raises a great clamor, trying to get the attention of as many of the creatures as possible. The kitsune aids this effort by summoning several illusions of fantastic beasts, wooden men and flaming demons. A few of the creatures are moved by this display but many more turn away. As you fight you find it easier and easier to force your will into your sword. Soon your very presence is enough to weaken the creatures as they begin to pant, and their ramshackle parts lose cohesion. Your phantom ears and tail shine brighter and brighter as this happens. At times they seem almost solid. The kitsune keeps looking at you proudly and you aren't sure how to feel about that. The effect from the kitsune is stronger of course. With a snap of her fingers she can make a creature realize it's dead and drop back into it's constituent parts. But there are so many it's no solution at all. That doesn’t make it any less awe inspiring to watch. After you force your way past the besieging creatures they lose interest in you. The majority turn back to trying to topple the walls. A few mill around the deserted streets, mindlessly reenacting parts of lives long gone. You advance forward sword in hand in case any of them get ideas. Suddenly you hear cursing from behind you. You turn ready to face any danger. In your haste you are almost blinded. The kitsune, her tails especially are like a miniature sun. Everyone asks her to turn it down, she just shrugs. "Look away, this is how I neutralize the rain." It doesn't seem to bother her, but it hurts to look at. Your march to shrine is a grueling one. The rain is only intensifying, reaching something short of a monsoon. The ground has turned to mud, and the wind is beginning to blow. It's a perilous journey to the shrine going as fast as you dare. In the distance, past the kitsune's radiance you can see the illuminated town. You can't help but offer a simple prayer for their safety. you don't know them, but no one deserves what's happening. After a few hours the sun begins to rise. It doesn't do much, although now you can see the black roiling cloud. It seems to have descended, being barely above the treetops. With the extra light you can see the landscape around you through the clouds of obscuring mist. It's washed out, or maybe generic is a better term? The trees have begun to melt under the rain as the branches begin to fuse with the trunks. Pebbles are fusing into larger rocks as everything starts to lose detail. It's an uncanny sight. Finally you reach the local goddess's shrine. It's not at all what you expected. A pair of large pine trees next to a rock with a rope tied around it. Behind it is a cliff face, covered in a few murals and adored with small statues. In-front is a small stone structure that might hold a candle. These seem to have been at least partially spared by the rain. Although at the edges the blurring is starting to creep in. The kitsune nods to Cohen, "I'll have a word with her and together we might find an answer. Use my parasol and stick close to my disciple. That should offer you some protection." Hey! You never agreed to be her disciple. She steps between the two pine trees, running a gentle hand along the rock and then quite suddenly disappears. An awkward silence follows, as there is nothing to do but listen to roar of the rain and wind and try not to feel too cold. [[Everyone’s too tired for small talk.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 8]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 6) \(set: $Wet0Gear to 4) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 5)

Then as suddenly the kitsune reappears, she's red in the face looking quite angry. In a terse voice she says "I can't say I know what her problem is but she refused to speak to me." A hint of anger creeps into her tone. "Even when I identified myself." Cohen has no time for the kitsune's petty squabble. "Lead the way and we will figure out something, milady." Passing between the trees, and making sure to feel the cold surface of the rock you are surprised to find that the cliff face is not covered in murals and statues. Instead, it has an ornate glass door. That wasn't there before. The glass is faceted such that you cannot look in while you are sure that what's inside can look out. Frederick examines the door from every angle and then reaches out to touch it. The kitsune catches his hand with one of her tails before he can. "Wisest if you don't thief." Frederick nods. The kitsune looks dejected, she bites her lip. "I don't know what to do. The goddess won't see up but she's the cause. I could not fix this devastation even if I consecrated a shrine here now." Putting a hand on his sword Cohen speaks "We might force an audience. Milady is quite the door opener at times." He gives the kitsune a tired look. The kitsune shakes her head and tails "I don't doubt your courage Cohen but it wouldn't work. Goddesses are strongest in their homes." Alonso considers the problem carefully. "So all of this is happening because she's sad right? The rain is tears, everything is turning into a blur, even her home is starting to go to neglect. We need to cheer her up a bit and things will improve at least a bit." The kitsune is thoughtful. "Maybe, if we could get her to even a bit better, she might entertain an audience. But how would you do that?" Alonso smiles a bit. "You ever hear a joke so funny you can't help but laugh at it?" Frederick beams, he must think it's his time to shine. Everyone does their best comedy in front of the glass door. You do the funniest thing you can think of. Alonso tells his best jokes, some of them make your sides hurt. Frederick does pratfalls in the mud and looks even more ridiculous than normal. Ron tells long meandering anecdotes that he keeps laughing at too much to deliver the punchlines properly. Cohen does impressions of funny people long dead, his delivery is good but he doesn't remember all of the jokes. The kitsune recruits you to be her straight man in a comedy act. The rain lightens a tad but it's still not what you need. Cohen rubs himself for warmth in the rain. "Hmm, desperate times call for desperate measures. Younglings, someone is going to have to show some leg." Ron looks confused. "How would that help?" Cohen smiles to himself. "Because all of you younglings are freshly made girls. You trying to look sexy will be a hoot." He might have a point there. You look at Alonso, everyone looks at you. You keep looking at Alonso, they keep looking at you. Bastards. Everyone helps you clean off the mud, and the kitsune passes you what she claims is the most flattering robe she has. You get your hair under control and take a deep breath. Then you try to act sexy infront of the glass door, also trying to avoid noticing your friends who are losing it. For a minute or two you gyrate and feel ridiculous. But then to your surprise the rain lifts becoming only a light drizzle. The dark cloud is still there, a particularly funny joke isn't enough to dispel a bad feeling that big. A figure comes to the glass door and opens it a smidge. An inhumanly clear voice rings out. "I'll be with you in a moment." Time to get dressed, the kitsune is giving you an expectant look like she expects you to help get her presentable to meet the goddess. You might be too tired to fight her, [[although some things are worth opposing on principle.”->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 9]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 7)

The goddess’s home is small bare cavern within the cliff. Despite that it manages to be a homely space. Through some strange trick of the glass door reflects and refracts the pale light from outside to illuminate the goddesses hall. The decorations mostly consist of some vividly painted wall hangings and a small diorama in a pot. A quick glance shows that the diorama is an immaculately trimmed representation of the valley you are within. The plants look alive impressively enough. The goddesses’ servants place some straw mats to sit upon. Something about her pair of servants seems familiar. Then it strikes you they are blurred and withered the same as the pine trees outside. The goddess is a small figure. She has the posture and body of a wizened old woman. Her lively vitality belies that. Though she took the time to do her makeup it's obvious that she has been crying at length. The kitsune nods "It can happen to the best of us at times. May we ask what troubles you so?" You have never heard the kitsune sound so carefully formal. She has never been this polite to you. The goddess begins to weep again. "They didn't offer a pheasant to my shrine this year. I asked for it and I did not receive it. They are forgetting about me I know it." Your party is about to start cursing at her, but Cohen puts up a desperate hand. The kitsune nods. "I am sure they have not forgotten about you. Humans are forgetful at the best of times. Your tendency to wait between visits might contribute. Perhaps we should discuss in private?" You tense up, perhaps expecting to be called by the kitsune to join them. To your surprise you aren't. Instead the two leave and your party occupies themselves drying out their clothes and tending to their soaked weapons. You also catch quick naps, it was a tough march. The pair eventually returns, the goddess is much relieved and the kitsune has a satisfied smile on her face. The goddess announces that at the kitsune request she will turn whoever wishes back to normal. She will have to kiss them though. Everyone looks at you expectedly. You blush under the sudden attention. Finally you decide against it, if nothing else your new form has it's own uses. Your magic sword play might have a use you never expected. Alonso puts a hand on your shoulder "No worries, I'd say you are as dangerous as ever. Besides it's whatever. However you look you are still our friend." Frederick smiles. "I'm totally going to steal your idea. I look great like this!" Ron seems sheepish. "Is it wrong if I say I really want to kiss a goddess? Like I don't want to say the wrong thing but at the same time I really want to smooch a goddess. Alonso lets out a gentle laugh. "If you want to turn back to normal we totally get it Ron. However, you look you are also still our friend." Ron seems as indecisive as he always is. He’s hemming and hawing. The kitsune has no patience for his indecision. “If you change your mind later young wizard, it would be my pleasure to assist you in returning to your form.” Ron nods, mind made up. "Oh, well I guess I'll wait to turn back. If it gets to be a bother, I'll find another way." The goddess seems unbothered by not having to smooch anyone. That settles the issue it seems. It's a sunny noon as you leave the goddess's domain. The kitsune left her cart in the town so you must return on foot. The landscape is slowly returning to normal, [[although it's obvious it will bear the scars of the disaster that happened.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending part 10]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 8) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 6)

When you finally return to the ruined town it's littered with the gently melting corpses of the creatures. They attempted to breach the walls but it barely held. Still some of the defenders died. The kitsune rushes off to check on the lord and lady. The town itself is destroyed at seeming random, as if some great monster uncaringly trod upon the buildings. This leaves your party to help gather the dead. The local custom is to burn the bodies and so you get busy preparing for the funeral bonfires. Ron finally has a use. The tone throughout the town is muted, everyone is happy to be alive of course but there was much death. As you stack wood Alonso suddenly speaks "All this death and destruction." He surveys the exhausted townspeople. "All because a goddess didn't get a pheasant." Cohen looks pensive. "I wouldn't say it was just the pheasant youngling. No mortal ever knows the full mind of a force of nature. Too big." He sounds more sad than anything. "As for what happened, well youngling, disaster is a part of life. They can be prevented but they happen sooner or later. In time the corpses will be burnt and buried, the town repaired and the people stronger than before. Or at least that's what I choose to believe. You have to save what's worth saving, even if it might all go to disaster." When the corpses are all burnt it's late into the night. The townspeople not working on the bonfires prepared several paper lanterns. When lit, to your surprise they take off into the sky. It's an inspiring sight to see the lanterns against the stars. The kitsune explains, perhaps to herself. "So the spirits can find their way." After that there is a great feast. People eat and drink with abandon to celebrate being alive. The lord and lady toast you and quickly followed by the town. The kitsune rarely looks so smug. Still you leave the town quickly enough. None of your friends excited to dwell there after so much strife. [[After that you resume adventuring.->kitsune 0 kitsune ending]] \(set: $EndingKitsune0Status to 9) \(set: $FinaleKitsune0Description to 7)

Even if you don't wish to return to the way you were, your friends certainly do. Cohen claims he knows of just the place to get back to normal. Rather surprisingly the cure is a spring near the rural farming village you were born in. Riding through the town you realize it seems so much smaller than you remember. The world is so much bigger than the little village, to think you thought this was whole world before you left. Your group changed as you are attracts stares. Alonso is proud of his changes, Frederick tries to show off and Ron hides behind his hat afraid anyone will recognize him. You react like you think you would. Perhaps part of you feels proud of your changes. Still you can tell that your friends are happy to return home, even if briefly. Frederick talks absentmindedly about how the animals are getting alon. Alonso wants to see how his little brother is doing. Ron wants to show his parents that there is more to magic than farming spells. You can't help but wonder how your parents are doing. The cure itself is surrounded by a pile moldering boots and a haphazardedly discarded crown. Your friends drink and after a great amount of shivering are restored to their old forms. You might drink to be restored or perhaps you enjoy form. Either way you can be proud of what you have done and experienced. Hidden ending 1: A hero and a journey [[credits]]

Are you sure? You will like it more if you find it yourself. I'll even give you a hint. You have to anger or ignore the kitsune consistently. (link: "I still want to see it!")[(set: $testskip to 1)(goto: "kitsune 0 cocoons escape ending choices")] [[It's whatever->kitsune 0 endings part 1]] Heads up, the director is getting rid of this next release. Says it'll seem more earned if you have to find it.

Moth-girl is the darkest path and fulfills the role the originally planned merman path was going to be. It's the path where progressing makes you weaker and less able to make the escape. Moth girls are not harbingers of death, they are death. Cohen met a moth-girl once, she shook his hand and thanked him. Also was kind of weirdly sexual. Cohen once met a man who hypothesized about what moth-girls are. Magic is the belief that a living thing creates. It's the ability to collapse a waveform via observation made manifest. The magic people use is their own belief coupled with the natural ability to sway the belief of the world around them. Think then of magic like a candle's flame. If you are looking at the candle and it's blown out the moths are live on the afterglow, the negation of magic caused by death. When you meet Cohen there is a tense scene where you are forced to admit that you probably don't have the strength neccessary to make the escape. At the very least you aren't as strong as you used to be. Cohen asks if you still desire to rescue your friends no matter what it takes. You answer yes, Cohen says he'll make it work. Maybe a change to the normal structure, where you change during the approach to the nest with cohen? or during the escape? To look at Cohen is to see the death flow off him like mist rising from a lake. What causes the TF and what are it's effects? One of the choices is to redo a failed rescue, to rewind time instead of accept setbacks to see the silken strand of time and desire to grasp it and return to when your friends might be saved. All you need but do is reach out and grasp the cord. Perhaps the TF is caused by wearing the moth-girls robe? the powers being tied to it more than anything else a moth girl and spider-girl dead togther and the player has the option to decide their relationsip It's kind of important, but unlike the scents with ants you cannot turn off moth vision, only learn to live with it.

In a late kitsune path you see Cohen angry and react the same way you have all the times the kitsune's disguise has slipped. in kitsune 2 kitsune ending, you face the jigoroumo a flaming cave spider that can make uncanny replicas of dolls. This is your matron's natural enemy, a servant of the goddess of death and she fights it gladly.

At the start of the bathhouse event the kitsune asks a question that the player spends the whole time pondering.

cohen dialogue options don't catch for kitsune 1

Curse 3 handling in kitsune 3 option to ask the kitsune what she thinks about cohen as much of kistune 1 as pracitble

This is unspeakably awkward. Now she's more or less insulting you. Better to bring the conversation to someone she actually likes. Maybe she's being genuine about Cohen? His health is excellent but he's old and every bit helps. Beyond that they are old friends aren't they? Might as well ask her about him. Better than just sitting here while she makes things uncomfortable. "Is that why you brought Cohen here?" The kitsune giggles to herself. "I brought him here because he's always a good time. We will have even more fun tomorrow dear." She pauses to sip from a cup on a floating tray. "Few braver and none finer." She giggles to herself. "Did you know that I once tried to set him up with one of my goddaughters? I should of realized that it wouldn't work as soon as I suggested it." You giggle a bit yourself. Cohen is definitely not the type to settle down. The idea of him marrying anyone the kitsune suggests sounds close to the set up for a farce. You glance back at the kitsune, she's grown solemn again as she considers her cup. "Poor bastard, he'll never be happy." She glances at you and down at her cup and then quietly adds. "Neither will you." Not much you can say to that. The pair of you look out over the bath. Somewhere in the distance there is a flowing water sound. Then a clunking noise sounds and the flowing water sound resumes. The water is warm and you starting to feel a little drowsy. The kitsune nods off herself for a touch. [[Head back to the room->bath house kitsune room]]

She's playing games again. She won't show you because she wants you to give in. Same as before. Why she's so desperate seems like it'll be it's own can of worms. You sigh inward, you already know how much of a pain she can be when she wants a particular something. (if: $curse is 1)[And just how dangerous pushing something she doesn't want to deal with can be.] What would distract her? Well she likes Cohen, she's only here because she heard Cohen was about. Maybe ask about him. "What do you think of Cohen?" The kitsune's soaked tails wave around her head as she tries to parse the sudden shift in topic. She smiles slightly. "Few braver, none finer." She smiles at you, obviously ready to try and teach you again. You persist "How did you meet him?" THe kitsune sighs and lowers her hands, giving up for the moment. "I had been commanded by my goddess to help protect a number of villages. They were duitiful worshippers of my goddess, and didn't deserve disaster. No one does." She smiles to herself. "They had been attack by a group of dragons, which demanded worship and dominion. I rallied armies and brought lords under a single banner to drive them out. It was a gay old time until the battle." Here her throat closes as she recalls some distant unhappy memory. "After the battle one of worms fled. It had absconded with a child and a supplicant asked that I returned with the boy's ashes" Something about the way she says that makes you suspect that she's lying. Her eyes dart to the side and her tails lower ever so slightly. "It took much doing to find the worm. The dragon empire sought to hide him from me. By my goddess is a strong one, and she gave me the insight to find it." She smiles proudly at saying this. "It had hidden itself up in snowy mountains far from my home and was terrorizing the villages there. It demanded tribute like some common bandit." The kitsune stands looking proud and doing nothing for her modesty. "I could slay the worm of course. But it might it hide in some mountain tunnel and it escape me. So I thought to rally the people of the villages it terrorized to block off every entrance to the mountain and so drive the monster to me so I could slay it." she looks at you fondly and then talks like sharing a cooking tip. "Doing great deeds is a great way to spread the word of our goddess dear." "but they hadn't ever heard of my goddess, and had no faith in me or her nobility. So I stayed there a time, unwilling to allow the worm to escape but unable to trap it. I prayed to my goddess for help, she isn't much for military matters but she delivered all the same." She smiles a warm blush coming to her cheeks. "Then Cohen and his party appeared. He was quite young, and had been traveling for a while so he looked pretty rough. I'm happy to say I was right when I predicted that he'd look good into his old age." The kitsune seems to realize something. "You've never known him as a young man have you dear? As bold as he is now, he was bolder then." She conjures a momentary illusion in the fog, tracing the outline of strapping hero. She smiles sadly. "I was taken a touch with him." She looks at you seriously. "Knew better though. He'd never be the kind to settle down. Maidens like you would do well to avoid such men." "He and his party figured out a quite clever plan to get the worm drunk. I supplied the illusion to make sure that the worm would accept him as a gift along with a great deal of drink. Cohen would figure out some way to get the worm to drink and we would attack while it was drunk." She smiles to herself at the recollection. (if: $curse is 1)[You can't help but wonder if he ended up looking a bit like you do now.] All across the mountain rang out the sound of the two making merry. When they were both thoroughly drunk we launched our attack. The worm was fearsome, but I was there and so it was no obstacle to us." She pauses. "It was hard fought though, and Cohen is quite good at leading adventuring parties. Even blind drunk." She sits back down, reaching for a cup of sake she left on the side of the bath. "After that we journeyed together a few more times, we got along well." She looks at her cup before draining it in a smooth motion. "If he's anything of the man I knew in his youth he's spent the time I was away questing tirelessly." She chuckles. "Those dragons never expected the trouble they made for themselves." She looks up at you. Her ears and tails raising confidently. "And that youngling is why you should accept my guidance. "Cohen will never stop questing, he will never let himself stop. And that's a miserable way to live. True happiness is in building a community, raising a family. You do just as much good that way as going out and fighting evil." She's as persistent and wrong as she always is. Cohen is a hero, you've seen it with your own eyes. To claim that the only way to do good is by being passive, by never seeking to right wrongs or punish evil is foolish. You doubt you could convince her of anything but you might still argue the point for it's own sake. [[Defend cohen->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 5 defend]] [[Let it pass->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree 5 pass]]

It won't make a difference but you feel you must defend Cohen. He is a hero, like you hear of in the tales of the poetic edda. So you launch into his defence. The kitsune may be right that he won't let himself stop but the good he does requires a man like that. To go out and fight evil and injustice is a goal noble onto itself. The kitsune smiles sadly. "But look at the cost to Cohen, he's questing the same as he was 30 years ago." On this she's plainly wrong, he's teaching. He's taught you and your friends to be heroes. If there is evil to go out and oppose, he gives others the tools to oppose it. He might be driven but that doesn't mean it need be self destructive. The kitsune is as stubborn as ever. "He's driven but at what point does that tip over into self-destruction? Is the pursuit of good worth neglecting your own happiness?" You argue a bit further, the kitsune seems genuinely unwilling to abandon her point. Perhaps she's envious of Cohen's drive or remorseful of neglecting her own temple? Then you spy her lowered ears and tail and it strikes you. She's sad, that her friend will never experience what she considers best in life. In her own self-centered way she seeks to make sure that you will settle down and build a community because that's what happiness is to her. This is all well and good but the decision of what's good in life is for you to make. Besides you've traveled with Cohen, he loves nothing more than adventure. You let the conversation lapse after a while. The kitsune is obviously not convinced but she wasn't moved to anger over it. Given how quick to temper she is normally she must really respect Cohen. You soak in the wonderfully warm water. The kitsune busies herself rubbing at one of her ears, and occasionally sneaking what she thinks are private glances at you. [[In the distance you hear a wooden clunking sound and water pours.->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree room]]

(if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[Everything you know about the kitsune suggests that you won't be able to convince her. Better that she should simply be allowed to be wrong than anger her pointlessly.](if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[When you strongly disagree with the kitsune she gets super pissed and curses you for it. Better to simply let this be another spot where she thinks you agree than give her cause to be angry.] The conversation lapses briefly. The kitsune makes another effort to teach you her "trick" but again hides her hand when you need to see it. You can't help but smile to yourself. For all her frustration with Cohen she is in her own way as singlemindedly determined. Something must drive her to be so annoying resolute like that. Perhaps it's love, or maybe simply fidelity to her goddes? Regardless which it makes her quite annoying. The conversation lapses fully into silence, as you soak in the wonderfully warm water. The kitsune busies herself rubbing at one of her ears, and occasionally sneaking what she thinks are private glances at you. [[In the distance you hear a wooden clunking sound and water pours.->bath house kitsune 1 sober tree room]]

You have a better handle on the robes your matron gave you, but they are still a multilayered mess of madness. With a superior grin your matron helps you fasten them properly. You feel a bit like a child whose mother is helping with their coat. When your robes are in order, she gives you a commanding look. "Be a dear and help me get ready." You give her a questioning look. "A lady should not go into battle looking anything but her best." Cohen's warming his feet in the footbath so no help there. There is a series of screen set up in one corner of the bedroom, these conceal a low lying vanity. The kitsune sits before the vanity and has you sit nearby. It's subtle but she relaxes ever so slighty when she's behind the screen, her tails perk ever so slightly. She also lets her robes slip slightly to make it easier to reach her face. She hands you an ornately carved jade comb. (if: $mussed is 1)["Be a dear and comb out my hair while I do my makeup." The kitsune's hair is as voluminous as ever, easily reaching down to her waist. How she ever gets it combed is beyond you. Still you aren't getting out of here until she's happy.](if: $mussed is 0)[You look at her with confusion. You spent a great deal of effort last night combing her hair, does it never end? "Be a dear and make sure that the ends are alright while I do my makeup.] You are about to start combing when you realize something important. She's a friggin wizard. Can't she just magic herself into readiness? You ask your matron as much. The matron looks at you with annoyance. "I desire it done by you. That should be answer enough dear." You try not to roll your eyes. (if: $mussed is 1)[You comb but are no expert at it. Your matron's tails flick you when it's too hard.](if: $mussed is 0)[You use what you learned last night to great effect. Thankfully just the ends isn't too bad a task.] (if: $mussed is 1)[As you busy yourself with the sisyphian task of combing all of your matron's hair she busies herself with applying makeup.](if: $mussed is 0)[Your matron applies her makeup while you work. She keeps it in a small compact made from a glittering shell. She's unsurprisingly an expert hand at applying it, doing so quickly and with little waste.] The red of her rouge is striking and serves to highlight her slitted eyes. It makes her look fearsome, which is probably what's shes going for? Then with a detached air, she produces another comb and starts to comb the hair she can reach. She's experienced at combing and before long it's making her hair shiny and poofy. For some reason you are just a touch jealous of her luxious silver locks, they do make her look beautiful. (if: $mussed is 0)[You get the feeling it's more her finishing off the last details than a serious effort.] With her hair and makeup done she shuffles to the side and beckons you to take her place. You have had to do many distasteful things in the course of adventuring. One time you drew the short straw and had to retrieve the key to a chest from a shit bog for example. Fucking frederick. Anyway while you feel a similar hesitation to shuffling infront of the mirror, there is also a slight curiousity about what it'll be like. It seems to matter to your matron an awful lot. Your matron notes your hesitation and rolls her eyes. She pauses her combing and draws herself up, looking fairly regal. "Mark my words well dear. Femininity is not weakness, no matter how much boys like to paint it as so. We are preparing ourselves to face my enemies, it is only right that we look our best. Take pride in that." She scooches you infront of the mirror. "Now stay still." The kitsune's grip on your face is tender but firm. There is little to do but try not to fidget as she gently paints your face. The makeup is at least magically warm so it's a comfortable sensation. Checking your relfection in the mirror you can see that your makeup is noticible but definitely not as dramatic as your matron's. Some blush on your cheeks, a bit of rouge to your lips. Your makeup matches your fox ears and tail you note. With your makeup done your matron turns your attention to combing your hair. (if: $mussed is 1)[Your matron lets out a sigh of frustration. "You didn't wash your hair correctly dear." She adopts an official look, her ears flared in annoyance behind you. "A woman's beauty is tied up in her hair don't you know." She bites her lip as she thinks. "Not enough time to be gentle. It's your own fault dear." She uses her tails to brush the crap out of your hair in a way that's far from gentle. in her hands she uses a comb that's a twin of the one you were using on her hair. You find have a great deal of sympathy for the sheep being sheared. There is little you can do but withstand her assault. Still the longer she combs the shinier and fluffier it gets.](if: $mussed is 0)[Your matron seems especially pleased with herself, her tails wagging slightly. "I did an excellent job of washing your hair." She produces another comb, a twin of the one you were using and begins to gently comb your hair patiently chasing out every tangle that appeared while you slept. It's an awkwardly comforting feeling. Your hair has never been this long and now it's worthy of such attention? You can't help but be a little self-concious about it. Still the longer she combs the shinier and fluffier it gets.] When she's finished your hair looks pretty good actually, it is a shiny voluminous black. You have also managed to finish combing your matron's hair which we aren't saying is worth a line in the poetic edda but she has a lot of silver hair. Your matron ties back your hair tightly so it won't get in the way. With a gentle smile she sticks the comb she was using in as an accessory. She then turns so that you can tie up her hair. You do a better job than you did yesterday but, well it's functional. With a smile your matron pulls it into a tight bun. Finally complete she admires you in the mirror. "Now there's a sight to be proud of." Does she mean she's proud or you should be proud? [[Finally you are ready->bath house kitsune 1 morning 1 1]]

Cohen to his credit doesn't seem to care much about your changed appearance. He simple gives you a nod and gets ready to go. As you make to leave the bathhouse, there is a general tittering at your party from the other bathhouse guests. you are quickly met by the stern faced bathhouse madam moving down the main hallway. Looking out over the edge you can see that despite being "morning" the largest baths are in use. As the madam approaches you note that she allows herself a moment of surprise before her professionalism take over. "An unusually short stay madam." Your matron looks annoyed and has a very unladylike eye roll. "Prior commitments unfortunately." Her ears perk up. "Still I'm sure I will be back." She glances at you. "There are sights still to show my friends." The stern faced woman nods and then leads everyone to the flying carts. Oh boy, you aren't looking forward to this part. Author's note: Curse handling not in yet [[The most terrifying part is still to come->bath house kitsune 1 morning 2]]

The wagon floats off into the sky, passing through the clouds. There is a lovely view of the impossibly blooming cherry tree. You miss all of this curled into one corner with your eyes closed. The wagon rocks in a manner almost entirely unlike a boat rocking. This makes your stomach drop every time. Cohen puts his strong hand on your shoulder, reaching up to occasionally pet your ears. Your matron gently holds your hands curling one of her tails around yours to help. It helps a bit. Suddenly Cohen stands and moves across the cart. This makes the whole thing swing and for a second your breakfest is in serious dangerous of leaving. Cohen calls out. "Put us down near that town, we need to pick up some supplies." Your matron calls back "As you say." The cart sinks suddenly and you are in serious danger of loosing your lunch. Cohen sounds excited? "I always forget how big the forest is." Your matron calls back. "Your queen's road crosses the narrowest part, but never doubt it's size." Finally, blissfully the cart touches solid ground. You let out a sigh of relief. [[The town looks much the same->kitsune 1 town morning 1]]

It's a small town dominated by the paved road which runs into through it. They built the village green next to it, and the cart attracts a crowd of interested onlookers as it touches down. You've seen towns like this for most of your life, Ron once joked that it was so there weren't so many empty spaces on maps. It unavoidably seems plain after the riot of colors that was the bathhouse. But you can see the wildflowers in bloom and that gives you a nostalgic smile. Still it's a comfort to look up and know those are the real sun and couds. The kitsune hopes off the cart authoritatively and takes your hand to help you down. Cohen steps down to a series of young cheers, he takes a bow to his young admirers from yesterday. He's a bit cleaner than normal but otherwise looks very much the part of a hero from tales. Cohen spots the small trading post and leads the way. The onlookers watch with mixed interest and muted concern. This is probably the most exciting thing to happen in town for months. As Cohen walks you pass the town's square. Your matron stops and calls out. "Cohen, catch!" She tosses him a small fesitvely decorated bag. Cohen weighs the bag experimentally, and then opens it and then impossibly puts his arm up to the elbow into it. There is a great out pouring of blue vapor from the bag, sparking occasionally. "A generous boon milady. I'll make sure to return it." Cohen pauses, then leans in to whisper to you. "I'm going to sweat the trader." He looks you over "Has to be better than staying out here, listening to her." Cohen never had much patience for religon. Your matron's ears twitch but her are often twitching. She doesn't say anything if she hears him. The kitsune turns to you with a smile. "Come dear, let me show you the most basic and most important role of service to our goddess." [[Go with cohen->kitsune 1 town morning 2 cohen]] [[Missionary work isn't what you expected to be doing two days ago.->kitsune 1 town morning 2 kitsune]]

Your matron is visibly excited as you accept her offer. This seems to be something she very much enjoys. Cohen shrugs and heads into the general store with a smile that suggests he's out to cause trouble. Your matron has the various townspeople gather around. She introduces herself as a messenger of her goddess and you as her disciple. Your ears and tails bristle a little at that though. The townspeople are giving you a mix of curious and awestruck glances. You grew up in a farming village like this, the people are different but the lifestyle is similar. You feel a bit detached from them now, to say nothing of how different you look. Your changed appearance attracts some looks. A beautiful maiden, wearing foreign robes and having fox ears and tails on top of that. You notice a few of the men giving you longing looks which is awkward. Can't really blame them though. Your matron however attracts the lion share of the looks. She seems a regal figure in comparions to the hodgepodge of farmers. her silver hair and luxiours robes set her apart, and that's not getting into her figure. For a second you find yourself envious of the looks and attention she is recieving. Your matron do her missionary work with an infectious enthusiasm. She starts by producing an impressive display of illusion and foxfire. (Keep in mind that this impressive despite normally adventuring with Ron) Then she delivers a short sermon about the greatness of her goddess and how she can help deliver better crops, more fertile animals and health for mothers. This is mostly a series of short tales that have a sensible message wrapped up in some humor. It's harder to be afraid of what you laugh at you suppose. Still beyond the simple life lessons there's a poignant message, a desire to trust and help your neighbor, the need to plan for the future. For the last of these tales, she has you stand next to her. Then as she hold her your hand she conjures a grand series of illusions. These depict a great battle between a noble warrior and the goddess of the dead. There is a series of shocked gasps from the audience. From your angle they look slightly off, but to just look at them is to be convinced of their reality. It's sort of curious, when you look away you recognize they are illusions but to look at them directly flips a switch to being at least willing to believe in them. Your matron's delivery thunders to new highs as she implores everyone to have lots of children and so defeat death through legacy. It's well, well it makes sense from what you know of her. Then your matron offers blessings of fertility for men and women. This mostly equates to crowd work. Greeting and "blessing" some of the assembled audience. Your part in this mostly works out to passing out these light blue slips of paper covered in symbols. Your matron insists that these charms will do everything from help cows make more milk to ensure the wearer will be safe in traffic. Though she didn't bother to use it with you your matron has a passion tempered by belief when it comes to blessing others. She does some light healing of the injured, fixing a few rashes and coughs. Although the town has a witch or a wizard so that alone doesn't impress them. One couple is heavily with child. She lets out an excited squal upon meeting them. Her eyes have lightened up and her tails are wagging happily as she gently feels the woman's heavy stomach. your matron takes the woman's hand and says "I bless your child. It should grow up strong and healthy." There is a great out pouring of pale blue flame into the woman. Both the man and the woman look awestruck. A hale and hearty child is always a blessing, particularly to a farming family. \(if: $malenookie is 1)[Given her response it's probably for the best you made sure she took care of her unwanted blessing.] [[Cohen returns as the couple walk away discussing names.->town morning 2 kitsune 1 part 1]](You can't help but wonder if the child will be changed like your matron has changed you.)

Cohen smiles and notes your expression. "Enjoying yourself youngling?" You grumble a little, your matron's good for impressive tricks even if you don't enjoy being her second fiddle. The real question is if he got everything. He tosses you your matron's small bag, you catch it out of the air with only a touch of difficulty. It's light in your hand and feels almost empty, you pause to juggle it between hands. Then you open it. There is a bright corona of blue light, but it seems like nothing more than a simple bag. You glance at Cohen questioningly. He laughs. "It just looks normal. Put your hand inside and feel around youngling." You do so and feel no resistance at all until your elbow has disappeared. Waggling your hand off to one side you can feel an incredible variety of shapes and textures. You feel what's probably a sword and are thankful that the bag doesn't give it enough resitance to cut you. You look at Cohen and remark that it is a princely treasure. He nods. "It's a damn handy thing to have, easy to lose though." You get the feeling he is speaking from experience. Knowing how absentminded he can be it's not hard to imagine him leaving it on a wagon. Your matron is still working the crowd. Despite the urgency of your quest Cohen seems willing to let her finish. You get the feeling that she'll be unbearable if you interrupt her. Still she sights you relaxing with Cohen and finishes with a flourish. She gives an impassioned speech about how your god might be able to help the town. This seems to even move a few, but you know from experience farmers will try anything at least once. You can't help but be moved a touch by the purity of her belief. She at her core thinks it would be the best for everyone. With that finished she gives Cohen a business like nod, and then as a trio you set out from the village green. [[The forest is deceptively close to the town->town morning 3 kitsune 1]]

The forest looms in front of you, it's massive trees easily blotting out the sky beyond. You can't help but have a foreboding feeling. Despite all that you have done to get here panic raises its ugly head. Things got quite close in there. Your matron misses your panic as she eyes the dense underbrush. She looks to her robes and then her shoes. With a smile she asks. "If speed is important Cohen, then surely we should take my cart? It will have to be faster than trying to bushwhack through the forest?" Cohen gives a faint laugh before shaking his head. "I apologize milady, but while your cart is impressive it is also quite noticeable. If the spiders saw it coming, I have no doubt they would take what captives they had and run rather than confront us." Your matron grumbles and mentions something about illusions, perhaps they could just tow the cart? Cohen is unmoved and looks ready to be insistent. Finally, she relents. Your matron moves to her cart drawn by a creature more head than body. It had been dutifully following along from behind since when you left the village. Your matron takes a moment to scratch the semi-translucent skin along one of its pseudopods. Then she dismisses it with a word, and it impossibly floats back up into the clouds. Cohen produces your matron's small, patterned bag, and with an experienced hand retrieves a thickly woven gambeson. He offers it to you. "Best to change now youngling, terrible to get caught unawares in there." The gambeson is heavy, moth eaten and smells a bit funny. You've worn similar garments for as long as you've been an adventurer. But now it seems a bit plain in comparison to your robes. Your matron seems unimpressed. "If you wish dear, I have a more flattering piece of armor. Given your matron's tendency towards pageantry, it might not be the most practical piece of armor. [[Wear the gambeson->town morning 3 kitsune 1 gambeson]] [[Take your matron's offer->town morning 3 kitsune 1 robe]]

You feel perhaps a pang of guilt at abandoning your matron to her work. But doing missionary work isn't going to help save the day. Having good equipment will. You give a guilty smile and then follow Cohen into the trading post. She harrumphs and then turns back to the crowd. The trading post also doubles as the town's general store. It's small, surprisingly well lit via some well positioned windows, and a chaotic mess. The shelves are over stuffed with a variety of goods and reach up to the thatch ceiling. There is a large section of goods for traveling. Boots, rope, spare waterskins, etc. They probably do a reasonable trade with caravans stocking up in preparation for moving through the forest. Cohen's face lights up in a sinister way as he spots the man in charge of the store. The trader is a large portly man, with an impressive beard obviously cultivated to hid his weak chin. He's married you get the feeling. The merchant approaches what must make for a strange pair. You a fox-woman in strange robes, and Cohen an aged adventurer. He gulps and then asks. "Can I help you?" Cohen puts his arm around the man. "Why of course my friend, you see we are planing an expedition into the nearby forest and we need to purchase some supplies." He flashes a gold coin, probably his only one. "What's your name friend?" His smile is full of teeth. The merchant squirms under Cohen's embrace, "Harold, now why don-" Cohen lets out a dark chuckle. "Why Harold I get the feeling we will be the best of friends. Now why don't you show us your weapons?" Harold leads you to the weapons and armor. It's a mishmash of different styles and makers, almost a random hodgepodge. Some are a lot more professional than any village blacksmith would make. Spears dominate but few weapons are more reliable than spears. Cohen lifts one of the swords, admiring it's workmanship and then gives it an experimental flourish the blade almost shining in his hands. It's a testament to his skill that he doesn't knock anything over. "Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Now Harold I hate to say it but I'm going to need to purchase a few of these on credit." Harold seems to realize that he is quickly losing control of this transaction. "I'm sorry but I-" Cohen cuts him off again. "Oh but I expect a high return on this expedition, Three strong young lads." You stare at him, ears and tails flared to help get the post across. (if: $kitsunetrick is 1)[you very carefully conjure a flame for added effect. You'd super screw yourself if anything caught fire.] Harold tries to gather himself and look fearsome. "I'll call the guard." Cohen's smile becomes devilish promising violence if something goes wrong. "You wouldn't do that to a friend now would you Harold? It might make me angry." Harold begins to tremble. "I don't want any trouble." Cohen nods. "Good. Let's get to work youngling." You start picking out equipment, so long adventuring with your friends has given you an eye for what they will need. You eye a couple good looking swords for yourself but mentally nix the idea. The kitsune will be even more insufferable if you don't use the sword she gave you. Cohen loads up on food and tells you to take a few gambesons. It all disappears quietly into the kitsune's small bag. He puts the coin on Harold's desk as he you leave. As you head towards the door, you whisper to Cohen. "You were pretty harsh Cohen. You might of been a touch too hard" "You saw the gear they have. Whole town probably loots what's left from the attacked caravans. His contribution is the least they could do. Spiders are slavers in my experience. He's just guilty by association." [[Rejoin the kitsune->kitsune 1 town morning 2 cohen 1]] \(set: $kitsunemadcounter to it + 1) \(if:$kitsuneoffense < 2)[(set: $kitsuneoffense to 2)] \(if:$kitsunemadcounter > 1)[(set: $kitsunesecondoffense to 2)] \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1)

Your matron is surrounded by a crowd of moderately interested townsfolk. She is performing a quick cycle of performances, using illusiary doubles of herself as the actors. The novelty and perhaps her enthusiasm is getting some response from the crowd. You see a couple of kids acting out the play themselves as they watch. She spots you leaving the general store, she redoubles her efforts perhaps trying to impress you. She pulls out some genuinely jaw dropping illusions, at one point producing a dragon you would of sworn was real. As the crowd is admiring the dragon she turns and asks "Get everything you need Cohen?" Cohen nods. "Aye milady, at your leisure." He takes advantage of the kitsune's back being turned to eye roll. He must think she's trying too hard. The kitsune concludes her business by urging the crowd to put shrines in their homes for better health and crops. Then she gives an elegant curtsy, her tails fanned out behind her. She follows you and Cohen away from the village green. [[The forest is deceptively close to the town->town morning 3 kitsune 1]]

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The gambeson is what you know, and if you are being honest probably a more pratical piece of protection. It reminds you a bit of your friends if you are being honest. You excitedly strap it on with the expertise of someone who has gone weeks wearing one. The weight is comfortingly familiar and for a moment it seems like old times. It smells bad though, lots of sweat in this thing. Cohen helps pull the knots tight. You breathe sharply as an unexpected constriction in your front reminds you of what's changed. Cohen ties it as he always does, and you take an experimental step forward. It is staggeringly uncomfortable to walk. Cohen is surprised by your cursing and then realizes his mistake. He bound up your tail in the gambeson. It takes a bit of crude sawing at the thick material but he creates a hole for your tail to breath. With a smile he adds "Let's just hope that the spiders don't think to catch a fox by it's tail." The kitsune makes a concerned face. Then grumbles that you look better in your robes. [[The forest looms ahead.->kitsune 1 forest]]

The gambeson is what you know, but if we are being honest what you know is what got you into this mess. For better or worse your matron wouldn't offer it if she didn't think it good protection. Your matron's smile is satisfied as you agree to wear her armor. She motions for Cohen to throw her the bag. After catching it she hikes up her sleeves and roots around in the bag. She then pulls free a robe that has similar colors to the one you are currently wearing. The weaving and stitching are perhaps a touch finer. However it's thickly spun, resembling in it's own way the gambesons you just refused. It'll make fine protection if terrible camouflage. You take it from her hands. It's a robe in a similar colors to the robes your matron so loves. The material is funny though, it takes a moment of rubbing to recognize what it is. Finally it strikes you, the whole thing is made out of silk. This much silk could buy the entire village you grew up in. Your matron notes your wide eyes and adds with a touch of embarrassment. "You may borrow this dear." You turn to look back and see what Cohen thinks. He's sitting on the side of the road turned away from you and your matron. Likely feeling your eyes on his back he calls out. "If milady could limit her changes of wardrobe to two a day I would be most appreciative. We are on something of a schedule here." Your matron takes the comment in good humor. "A lady and her attendant must always look their best Cohen." You try not to roll your eyes at her calling you an attendant. Still this is little different than the other times you have gotten ready for battle. Cohen has a point, and you begin to strip quickly. The best policy for stripping where you might be seen is to normally do it quickly. Your matron helps you change, excitedly talking about where and how she acquired the silk armor. "The silk is excellent for helping to catch missiles dear, very useful for if you are fighting on horse back." So it makes you a better target? Given the colors you don't doubt that. (Set: $armor to 1) It doesn't take long and you are finally armed and armored for the task ahead. The armor seems tailor made for someone with your figure and a tail like you have. It lets your tail swing free which is no small feat. Your matron does seems especially self-satisfied though. (if: $hidden is 1)[this sets wearing robe, which is a small detail that only comes up rarely. if wearing gambeson during the possessions sequence the raw power of the kitsune warps your gambeson into the robe.] [[The forest looms ahead.->kitsune 1 forest]]

Your matron and Cohen take steps towards the forest. You try to follow but your legs refuse to move. You are no coward (if: $coward is 1)[or if you are have certainly managed to ignore it for so far.] The events of yesterday prove as much. But your blood still runs cold. The duo notices your reticence. Cohen gives you kindly smile. "Buck up youngling, marching to vengeance always seems quick." Your matron gives you a gentle smile as well, "Don't worry dear we will be right beside you." (if: $coward is 1)[As you ponder the deep shadows between the gargantuan trees, you can't help if it would have been wiser to let the kitsune spirit you away.](if: $prudence is 1)[You are armed, armored, in dangerous company and are on a righteous quest. Taking a deep breath you gird yourself, you can do this.] Your matron's hand is soft as she hold yours, and Cohen's hand is strong on your back. Men have fought dragons less prepared; or at least that's what you tell yourself. [[Once more unto the breach-> kitsune 1 forest 1]]

The path is as well laid and clear as you remember. You can't help but glance from side to side, trying to peer into the forest beyond. Perhaps had everyone paid this much attention the first time you wouldn't be in this mess. Cohen takes point, he's clearly cognizant of the danger but moves quickly. There is little time to delay you suppose. Your matron is less than pleased by the pace he sets. She grumbles that while her wooden clogs while finely made, are not quite suited for moving so quickly. She can only huff annoyed when Cohen suggests that she go barefoot. (if: $armor is 1)[Your armor is pretty heavy, but compared to some of the running you have had to do this is a brisk walk.](if: $armor is 0)[Your gambeson is thick to be sure but you are well versed in moving in one.] Thanks to Cohen's pace you make far better time than you did when you were walking along the wagon. (far less chance of an earthy surprise too) In good time you reach the spot where the ambush occurred. The site has been stripped clean of almost everything that could have any conceivable use. They even picked up much of the grain from an overturned basket. There is one exception, the cart you were nearest when the ambush started has been stripped clean, but it is still there. They even left the horse's saddle and bridle. No sign of the horses though. Cohen lets out a scornful laugh. "Ah some lucky farmer is going to have a new wagon to take home." He crouches down and examines the tracks leftover from the battle. "Rider managed to get to the other guards though. See here youngling." He points at an indiscernible bit of the track. Your matron seems incensed. "Hmm my temple has been neglected too long if the spiders are openly collaborating with those outside of the forest." Cohen shakes his head. "I'd save the locals your wrath. It's not quite a collaboration, probably closer to an understanding. They don't tell caravans entering the forest what might happen, and gifts turn up." Your matron fumes either way. You can't help but wonder what became of the horses. Did the spiders eat them? Quite a thing to eat a whole horse. Your matron shakes her head, her long silver hair swaying. "You can answer that yourself dear. Take a sniff." She closes her eyes and gives an exaggerated sniff. Then she opens and eye to see if you are actually doing it. You take a deep sniff. You smell the trees, a couple of days old horse droppings. Sniffing deeper you can smell faintly broken wood and the humidity of the forest. You look at your matron confused. She smiles gently like someone trying to explain a lesson. "You don't smell a great quantity of blood. The spiders would have had to butcher the horses here." Spiders don't know how much trouble themselves by letting the horses go. Ron is difficult to goad into anger, but you harm a horse and you have a deadly enemy. Cohen draws his sword with a quiet smile. Then he steps into the dense forest sword at the ready. "Caution always youngling. It might be hard to imagine but there are things in this forest even more dangerous than the spiders." It might have been your imagination but his gaze could of strayed to your matron. Cohen spots the spider's trail quickly. He looks deferentially to your matron, she sniffs the air a few times and then nods. The travel is difficult. The forest is dense, and branches almost reach out to grab your gambeson. (if: $armor is 1)[The robe even tied back is at constant risk of being snagged on a number of branches and loads up with leaves.] The forest has the occasional biting midge which makes your ears twitch and your tails flick to try and ward them off. Thankfully you have an instinctive feeling for how to avoid hitting your ears on anything, scraping those would suck. For all your difficulties your matron is having a less pleasant time. Her voluminous robes mean she isn't scratched, but almost constantly she must reach out to free her robes from an errant stick or vine. You can see her ears twitch with increasing annoyance. The other miserable part is the heat and humidity. Under the thick gambeson you are sweating. (if $armor is 1)[The dense silk of your armored robe breathes a little, but for the most part you are sweltering.] The fabric quickly becomes your own private swamp. Cohen doesn't seem to mind the heat, or the biting bugs. When you ask him why he responds with a smile. "My skin is too thick for either." As you sweat, you glance at the kitsune. As hot as you are she must be worse. Especially with her long full silver hair and 8 fluffy tails behind her. In seeming defiance, a bead of sweat forms for on her powdered brow. she snaps her fingers quietly and the sweat disappears. You can faintly smell a slight floral scent. (if: $armor is 0)[Cheater. You stick her tongue out at her. She looks incredibly smug in response.](if: $armor is 1)[She seems to realize something and looks over at you practically panting. She seems slightly concerned. Then she mutters something about trying to keep you from ruining your robes. She snaps at you, you don't stop sweating exactly. Instead, your sweat seems to evaporate more quickly despite the humidity, which cools you a bit. No helping the smell though.] [[You grow to resent the spider's trail.->kitsune 1 forest 2]]

The reason is simple, the spiders moving through the trees can ignore the terrain below. What would be a simple jaunt for them, becomes an arduous hike across steams and valleys. No wonder they were able to chase you down, their mobility is unmatched. Cohen notes your frustration. "Pay attention Youngling. The spider's ability to move through trees means that their reinforcements can come quickly and from nearly any direction. We will need to move fast and decisively during the escape." He pauses a hint of a smile playing at his lips. "Rarely though will they jump onto you, has a bad habit of getting them skewered on spears." You'd have to be a special kind of brave to do that. You absentmindedly wonder if Frederick would try it. Your matron seems unmoved by Cohen's warning. She announces in an unconcerned tone. "No matter the number of reinforcements, the spiders are a distraction. They will not be able to touch me or my disciple." Cohen's smile grows tired. Rarely does he have to put with being directly contradicted. (If:$hidden is 1)[ kitsune level is 1,2)(Rarely does he have to put with being directly contradicted.)] "Milady is of course above the character flaw of underestimating her opponents?" Your matron's expression doesn't change from her imperious look. "Of course." You and Cohen take turns watching the trees to avoid neck strain. It still sucks. [[The forest seems infinite->kitsune 1 forest 3]]

As you get deeper into the forest, the light fades reaching a soft almost twilight like level. Your stomach tells you it hasn't been long enough for the sun to set and the weather was clear before you entered the forest. You almost trip into the answer. The spider web is larger than you are tall and as least as thick. It's cleverly placed between two trees so that's nearly invisible unless you are directly in front of it. Cohen grabs you by your collar as you almost tread into it. "Careful youngling." your matron looks around carefully, then she sniffs the air experimentally. Finally she makes an arcane shape with her hands. She blows upon her hands and two small balls of flame fly up illuminating the web in an shimmering blue color. Your matron examines the web with a practiced eye. "I'd say we are on the right track. Haven't seen webs like these for quite a while." Cohen nods managing not to roll his eyes. "Aye. Spiders everywhere like to make webs it seems." You glance around, now that you know to look for them you can see that there are many such webs. They are hidden all around you, and checking the trees above this is what blotting out the light from above. So many webs must of taken many spiders to make. Oh dear. The webs only increase infrequency as you travel onward. Despite her best efforts your matron's robes get caught on the webs more than once. (If: $armor is 1)[This happens to you once or twice, you can't help but wince to get silk this beautiful dirty.] She roasts these webs no matter how many abstract comments Cohen makes about how this might be noticed. Finally the webs become almost solid, seeming to choke off even the air around them. [[The nest is found->kitsune 1 forest 4]]

Cohen leads the way cautiously, he insists that the with the webs this dense the nest must be close. he turns back to your matron and attempts to impress on her the need to be totally silent. Your matron tsks her tongue but does tie back her robes a bit more, and promises to not snap any twigs if she can help it. He leads you towards a large circular clearing. In the middle there is the spider's nest. It's situated on a small hill (really more of a rise). The trees there are covered in walls of yellowed web rising up like the walls of a temple. In the trees themselves are multiple platforms where the occasional bored spider looks out into the forest. The clearing separating the nest from the forest proper has been meticulously tamped down, likely to help make sure any attackers might be spotted. Cohen smiles and then quietly says. "Hard part is over. Now all we have to do is get in there and get out of the forest alive. Now what's the first step youngling?" Despite the need for stealth you pop up like a student called upon unexpectedly. The answer comes after a moment of thought. "We need to survey the area before deciding on the plan." Cohen smiles warmly as your matron makes a bored noise. Cohen very carefully leads the way around the circle. You have to scrape and hide behind trees. Your matron quietly smacks two of her palms together, unleashing a momentary corona of blue light and then says something about having cast an illusion. Cohen rolls his eyes and then reminds her illusions don't work so well against someone looking for them. [[You head right along the clearing.->kitsune 0 forest 5]] (You remember Cohen saying something once about how adventurers should always keep the unknown to your left.)

Cohen is an expert at moving unseen, and you do his best to follow his lead. (if: $armor is 1)[The silliness of trying to sneak while wearing bright red and white clothes is quickly becoming apparent. Just not forest colors red and white.](if: $armor is 0)[Your gambeson is thankfully a dirty brown color that blends well with the forest.] After some distance Your matron sniffs the air experimentally. She adopts a slightly serious look and adds "Something a bit dangerous in that direction Cohen." Following your matron's lead you close your eyes and sniff. It smells sweet? No it smells poisonous? It's a curious scent that you can't quite identify. Cohen nods "We can't retreat that way then." Looking back towards the spider's nest you note that the spider's watch towers have an unavoidably large blind spot beneath them. The spiders can't see directly beneath their abdomens of course. You continue moving along the circle, eventually reaching the spot furthest from where you approached the circle. Here Cohen calls a stop. He carefully investigates the ground and then looks up into the trees. You follow his gaze, it's nothing special but you might see a spot which is relatively web free. Cohen is generally good about explaining things. "Something up Cohen?" Cohen rubs his chin. "Nothing we can use youngling, we had better keep moving." You nod, staying this near the nest is a risk. You pause to sniff, there's an earthy scent and a seemingly sweet one. Finally you continue along the circle, reaching a spot to the left of where you first approached the spider's nest. The nest on this side is the most heavily fortified, makeshift defenses and spikey webs positively bustle beneath a watch tower in every tree. You and Cohen go to great lengths to avoid keeping line of sight to the nest for any length of time. The spider-girls here look to be paying more attention to guarding than elsewhere. The forest side isn't much better. The trees there are marked with numerous scratches and the branches closest to the ground have been broken off. Even your matron shifts to being on guard here. She sniffs and then her tails and ears flare. You can't smell anything unusual which is puzzling. Cohen lets out a low chuckle. "Hah, that's just like the spiders to set up near a dangerous enemy. These are the marks of a Gorn hunting ground youngling. Big dangerous scaley things, claws and teeth like you wouldn't believe. We'd be damn fools to try and use them against the spiders though." He makes sure to demonstrate how big and scaley they are with arms. Your matron nods along. "Trying to use wild animals as weapons rarely works well. Especially with a small group like we have. Still maybe with some illusions?" Cohen's stare puts an end to her speculation. [[It's a short walk to where you first approached the nest->kitsune 1 plans]]

You shelter some distance from the nest itself. Cohen insists on a good deal of distance even after your matron offers to cast an illusion. He sits down and beckons for you to join him. (If: $armor is 0)[You sit on a not too muddy piece of dirt.](if: $armor is 1)[Getting silk this valuable ground in with dirt is a troubling thought.] Your matron looks a bit disgusted, with an expert hand she reaches into her small bag and produces a straw mat to kneel on. (If: $armor is 1)[You join her on the mat, she manages to keep her tails mostly out of your face.] Cohen calls a council. Everyone leans in, and whispers conspiratorially. It'd be damn awkward to get caught now. With a smile Cohen asks "Alright youngling, what is our goal?" You nod certainly. "To rescue the others." Cohen draws a circle in the dirt. With something approaching a nostalgic smile he asks your matron. "Now milady where would you hide a treasure most valuable?" Your maton considers the question for a moment, her tails swishing behind her. (if: $armor is 1)[this only bats you in the face once.] "Somewhere near but secure. So that you can keep an eye on it." She glances at you as she speaks, no behind you? Cohen nods at her response. He looks at you. "This is a bit of adventurer's experience for you youngling. But particularly when a leader doesn't have a vault they keep their most valuable things near where they hold court. Reminds subjects of their power and lets them keep an eye on them." Your eyes widen. "So they will be near where the spider's leader is?" The kitsune speaks up. "Spiders have a queen, no real authority but among spiders." Cohen rolls his eyes at this, she seems unusually insistent that their authority is no good. Cohen draws an x at the center of the circle. "They might of opened the cocoons after this long. No way to tell though." He glances towards your matron. "Would milady be willing to send a covert sign? If they are being held not in cocoons, them knowing we are coming might make the difference." Your matron nods. "Makes sense, might take some thinking to get something you would call covert." There's no doubt she tends towards extravagance in her magic. Cohen smiles. "Right, now we need a plan that will give us a chance to penetrate the spider's queen court. Do you think a straight assault will work youngling?" You pause, your matron has magical power to spare. You know that much from your own experience. Finally you shake your head. "The defenses are too strong for a straight assault." You pause and then delicately add "And you pointed out that if they felt like they were losing they would grab the captives and run." Cohen nods. "Our plan needs to avoid looking too strong until we reach the middle." With a cruel grin he adds "What would Ron suggest?" The answer springs to mind immediately. "He'd start a fire, preferably on the nest itself." Cohen chuckles, "He's eager but sometimes a distraction like that is the best idea. We get close, start fire. Spiders scramble to contain the fire, our friends if still restrained are easy pickings to rescue or corralled with the other captives." You speak up, "We use distraction to rescue them and then keep running. With some luck they care more for saving the nest than stopping us." With a smile Cohen responds. "Well said youngling. Not the most complicated plan, but when the numbers and terrain are like this it's the most you can do." Your matron speaks up. "A good plan as always Cohen but a modification would better. Fire is dangerous unpredictable, better that we are close at hand." Cohen lets out a pained sigh, "Oh milady please don't suggest what I think you are." There's a familiar tiredness in his sigh. Your matron shoots him an annoyed look. "With surprise, a little bit of help, and a cunning illusion by yours truly. We could sneak into the nest with no trouble at all, once the distraction starts we need but stride a short distance to rescue your younglings." She gives you an expectant glance. She obviously wants your help. Cohen puts his hand to his head. "Milady, I have had my younglings stolen once. Your plan while cunning has us split up. Perhaps being a bit closer will make a difference. But I have fought spiders, they seek to save the web, their home before caring much for captives." He looks again your matron, her expression hasn't changed a whit. "I leave it to your discretion youngling." You have a duty to both no doubt. Your matron’s ears straighten in a hint of annoyance, and her look is imperious. "That's acceptable. Shall we make up our minds later?" It's hardly a question. [[The plan is mostly set.->kitsune 1 plans 1]]

You double check your weapons and armor, ready for glory and rescuing your friends. You are a touch softer, definitely better endowed but you are still an adventurer ready to risk life and limb for your friends. Cohen notes your preparation with a smile. "We have spent most of the day already youngling. I want to rescue the others just as badly as you but we need to wait." How he can tell what time it is in this messy twilight is beyond you. You are floored. Another day wasted? "Seriously?" "In the tales it's better to have everything happen at once. But think carefully youngling." He smiles reassuringly, obviously pleased at your eagerness. "We have only one shot at this, if we don't rescue them on the first try we might never find them again." Your matron speaks up. "Quite right, We need to be fresh as possible. I'd be happy to return us to the inn to rest." She smiles seductively. Cohen shakes his head. "I think Milady, that it would be better if we bivouac here. It's rough to be sure but I find camping has it's own rustic charms." The kitsune grumbles. "Are you quite sure Cohen? We could take my cart. There and back in time for fighting in the morning." Her ears flare hopefully, but you know Cohen's answer already. "Milady's cart would not survive the trees I think, to say nothing of the beasts. It won't kill you to sleep rough for a night." It's perhaps a bit impudent to suggest this to your matron, but he's right. A bit of rough living might do her some good. Your matron grumbles that the messenger of a goddess shouldn't have to camp outside, but she relents. For a second you want to grumble that a disciple of a messenger of a goddess shouldn't have to camp either but you catch yourself. You set up a basic camp site, finding a small stream and a comfortable enough tree to sleep against. Cohen and your matron spend their spare time talking. Cohen updates her on what has been happening in the kingdom. The dragons are threatening war again, those formerly slaver bastards down to the south are agitating as always for the reinstatement of slavery and the queen has been introducing reforms. You only pay cursory attention, you have spent many such nights with Cohen. your matron however laps it up. Her knowledge seems to be a few decades out of date. She has a spirited time following up on who is still in the royal court and who has fallen out of favor. Cohen darkens a tad under the weight of so many friends long gone to the march of time. Still he doesn't hold it against her. As the gloom darkens Cohen breaks out the travel rations. You find that your changes make you balk for a second at the travel rations. At the best of times they are an aquired taste. Cohen who at all times looks wild enough to drink from a mother wolf eats without hesitation. Your matron for her part produces a wooden box from her bag. She opens it with a bit of difficulty, you see a small flare of blue. The food is exotic and seems to have been magically preserved. Your matron notes your hesitation at digging into the travel rations and with a smile produces a second wooden box. "We can share bentos dear." It's tasty stuff you find. As the gloom darkens the modest exertions of the day begin to catch up with you. Thankfully there is little that needs doing but sleeping. Risking fire and light this close to the spiders is definitely suicidal. Your matron busies herself tracing a line in the dirt around your camp site. As she draws there is momentary shimmering blue wall that raises up and then disperses. You look to Cohen questioningly, he responds with a smile "She's casting an illusion to help hide us." Finally the kitsune chants and does a few careful steps in time to music only she can hear. Then she summons a blue bird that shimmers like embers, it's eyes like the full moon. It's a fascinating sight. She whispers something to it and then it takes off a with a relish. It's too dark to see, but you can tell Cohen is rolling his eyes and wishing he could ask how that qualified as covert. Your matron and Cohen get ready to sleep against the tree. Who do you sleep next to? [[Cohen->kitsune 1 plans 1 cohen]] [[your matron->kitsune 1 plans 1 foxy]] [[In the middle->kitsune 1 plans 1 middle]]

Cohen has produced a blanket from the kitsune's bag and has wrapped it around himself. It's probably going to be cold tonight, so you follow his example and sleep butt to butt with him. You lay your tail across him, that will hopefully help keep the old man warm. Sleeping on the cold hard ground isn't very comfortable, but you spent most of the day hiking and sneaking. (if: $coward is 1)[You are nervous about tomorrow, the forest itself is full of terrors but the spiders nest will be even worse. Finally blissfully you manage to find sleep.](if: $prudence is 1)[You are excited for tomorrow. Tomorrow you get revenge, and more importantly free the others. You have such tales to tell them of your adventures. Finally you calm yourself enough for sleep.] Cohen is already awake when the pale twilight hits your eyes. He is sitting looking pensive. He keeps rubbing his legs and taking deep breaths. You ask him what he is up to. He keeps rubbing, barely paying attention to you. "Summoning strength in my arms and legs. Preparing myself if today's the day I don't make it. Gotta have my story straight to tell my friends when if I see them." Your eyes widen. "You think it's gonna be that bad?" Cohen's had a relaxed attitude towards dying, you suppose it's a side effect of being as old as he is. He smiles. "I doubt it, but when you live our kind of life you have to always be ready to die. Can't fight well if you aren't ready to look death in the face." It's too early for meditations on death. It's too early for most things. Before long your matron is stirring. She yawns loudly. She must of used magic to keep her silver hair shining that much and that straight. As she blinks she beckons you over and then apparently on instinct begins to comb your hair. You almost start to comb hers before you catch yourself. As she wakes up more she gives you a sheepish look. You roll your eyes. [[Time to finalize the plan.->kitsune 1 plans choice]]

You decide to just sleep in the middle. There isn't much thought to it (if: $coward is 1)[, although it might be you are afraid of being found in the forest]. You wrap yourself in a blanket, taking care not to squish your tail, and try to get to sleep. You have a miserable time of it. The kitsune's tails whap back and forth as she sleeps. Not hard enough to hurt but enough to awaken you from not particularly deep sleep. This isn't helped by Cohen's snoring sounding like a man trying to sharpen a stone. it's never quite rhythmic enough to get used to. By the time you need to take up watch you have hardly slept a wink. You stare out into the darkness listening to the rich sounds of the forest, wishing desperately you could be asleep. You have no more luck when you try again. Finally the rosy fingered dawn comes. You give up trying to sleep and wait for the other two to get up. If they notice your frustrated looks they have the good sense to not say anything. Most important day of adventuring so far and you couldn't sleep a wink. Tale as old as time. Still both of them get ready quickly and then it's [[Time to finalize the plan.->kitsune 1 plans choice]]

Your matron has pulled her robes around her and produced a straw mat to sleep on. She smiles warmly when you move to sleep next to her, she pets your ears affectionately. /(if: $kitsunenoookie is 1)[She's got a particularly self-satisfied grin. She opens her blanket and then her robes inviting you to sleep nestled in her arms. You can't help but give her a questioning glance. She adopts a look of mock innocence. "Don't worry dear, I won't do anything you don't want me to." (if: $kitsunefemalesex is 1)[She has at least that many manners you suppose.](if: $kitsunemalesex is 1)[She had better or she's going to find herself down something, transformation or not.]] /(if: $kitsunenoookie is 0)[She looks at you with a slightly victorious look. She opens her blanket and then robes, inviting you to sleep nestled in her arms. You for a second wonder if you should be suspicious, then dismiss your concerns. She won't try anything with Cohen here. Your matron mistakes your momentary hesitation for nervousness. "Don't worry dear, I used to do snuggle up with all the new converts to my temple. It's a great way to help girls relax.] You end up in your matron's soft embrace. She wraps you in her tails, cradling you and keeping you quite warm. Your matron seems to notice your nerves. This close to her you can't help but smell her fragrant perfume. "Nervous dear?" You pause to consider the question. Tomorrow's going to be a day of violence and action. There's a good chance you might be injured or killed tomorrow. You'd be a fool not to be nervous. [[Admit your nervousness->kitsune 1 plans 1 foxy yes]] [[Put on a strong face->kitsune 1 plans 1 foxy no]] (set: $kitsune1sleep to 1)

The question isn't if you are nervous, but if you are willing to admit that you are. Cohen always claimed that there's nothing wrong with being afraid only what it makes you do. You admit your nerves. If she can feel it, it seems foolish to deny it. Your matron takes a second to squeeze you tight with her tails. "Don't worry dear, I'll be right behind you." Before long you find yourself drifting off to sleep, as comfortable as a baby in it's mother's embrace. [[kitsune 1 plans 1 foxy end]]

The question isn't if you are nervous, but if you are willing to admit that you are. Cohen always claimed that there's nothing wrong with being afraid only what it makes you do. You put on a brave face. Of course you aren't afraid and if you were you wouldn't admit as much to her. Your matron takes a second to squeeze you tight with her tails. "Such a brave little kit. It'll be all right, with me and Cohen here we can't lose." for a second you are briefly reminded of what Cohen always says about overconfidence. Your matron makes every effort to keep you comfortable, and before long you find yourself drifting off to sleep, as relaxed as a baby in it's mother's embrace. [[kitsune 1 plans 1 foxy end]]

When the light begins to hit your eyes you find yourself no longer wrapped in the kitsune's tails. You shiver for a moment in the early dawn air. You look around in confusion your newly long hair waving back and forth. Your matron is sitting off to the side, having already combed out her hair you note. She is drinking a cup of what's probably tea, attended by a floating steaming tea pot. Taking a sip, she then takes a deep breath the motion carrying through all of her tails. She notes that you have woken up and smiles at you. "Good morning dear. Best to start your day with a cup of tea." (if: $armor is 1)[You join her on her straw mat.](if: $armor is 0)[You scooch over to her.] She produces a tea cup from the depths of her sleeves and you accept some tea from the teapot. It's a delicate taste, but a warm drink in the morning rarely goes amiss. At your matron's urging you drink your tea slowly and taking deep breathes the whole time. Your matron chats lightly, talking at length about everyone she's excited to introduce you to. You mostly block it out. You get up carefully, Cohen is either meditating or fallen asleep sitting up. He is perfectly, concerningly still. On one of his legs is an emptied tea cup. He opens his eyes suddenly startling you. He laughs at your reaction. [[Time to finalize the plan.->kitsune 1 plans choice]] (set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1)

Your matron produces a large breakfast from her bag and digs in with a will. You can identify some of what it is, there's this paste looking stuff that smells foul. Cohen produces travel rations, which are as unappetizing as ever. You eat readily, you'll need to keep your strength up today. As you eat breakfast, Cohen has you and your matron gather around. "Alright, time to teach these spiders a lesson. We know the plan, we have the tools, all we need now is our courage." He looks to your matron. "I know Milady might think herself above harm but we are fighting the spider's on their home turf and few things are as clever as a spider on it's web. Speed is what will save us. Plans aren't much good if they don't know where we are." Your matron seems to appreciate what Cohen is saying slightly. He smiles at you. "I doubt I need to remind you to be careful youngling. When we free the others get them to speed and get moving." (If: $armor is 1)[He looks you up and down. "when they staring at you."] Your matron speaks up, her tone serious "I don't believe we settled if we will use my plan or yours Cohen." She gives you a meaningful look. Her plan has it's risks to be sure but you can think of nothing more frustrating than attacking the nest only to have your friends spirited away. [[Your matron's plan->kitsune 1 stealth]] [[Cohen's plan->kitsune 1 attack]]

Rule 1 of adventuring don't split the party when it's not absolutely necessary. The ambush proved how vulnerable anyone is when split up. Splitting off to go into the spider's nest with your matron seems foolhardy. No matter how much magic she is packing. The kitsune seems disappointed in your refusal, her ears and tails flattening. "What dear you don't trust me? I'll be right behind you." There are a lot of reasons to refuse. You quickly try to figure out the answer that's most flattering. (if: $kitsunecurse > 0)[Outright disagreeing with her has shown itself to be a bad idea.](if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[She's quick to anger, even when it's not to her advantage.] You quickly seize on an answer that might work. Cohen in his old age and infirmness needs watching. Your matron's face screws up as she tries to disagree but then gives up. "A good point. I'll reconnoiter." (That probably means the same thing as scout?) Cohen hides a smile. "I'll give milady half an hour to scout. Milady will of course refrain from starting too much trouble before we start the distraction?" You add that she should be on the lookout for silken cocoons. She gives a slight imperious nod. Then quick as a wink her form is one of a silver fox and loping silently into the forest. Hopefully her magic will keep the spider's from wondering what the hell a silver fox is doing in their nest. Cohen rolls his eyes and mutters something about the ego of messengers of gods. Then he gives you a smile. "That's the way to do it youngling, get out of her way in doing what you want her to do." Your campsite was some distance from the spider's nest, you destroy it quickly just to be safe though. Cohen leads you on a swift hike. You circumnavigate the nest, before long finding a secluded space nearby. The huge tree trunks make a natural gap, their massive roots fending off each other. The plan is to start a fire here and then make a dash across with a burning torch. All that's left to do is wait. You tap a finger against your leg, your tail swishing too and fro annoyed. If you will be spotted here and all will be lost. For some reason you find yourself troubled by the absence of your matron. Cohen reclines against a giant tree and then smiles to himself. "Sometimes the waiting is worse than the fighting. Calm down Youngling the time for action will be soon enough." You sit frustrated. Not much to do but wait. Trying to take your mind off it you ask Cohen if he has fought spiders before. Cohen smiles wide, his scarred face momentarily lost in a memory of triumph. "Oh, I fought them a fair bit youngling. They fight like riders, their long legs mean they have to maneuver a bit like horses. Horses that can climb mind you, but horses all the same." He puts a hand through what's left of his silver beard. "The most famous time I fought I them was when I was a young man. Back then slavery hadn't yet been outlawed in the south. I would not stand for that, so I sought to do great deeds, to gain enough fame that I could pressure the queen to end slavery by fiat. So I quested without end." He shifts his shoulders, pausing to scratch an itch. "In my questing I came across a group of villages that had been terrorized by some spider girls." He pauses in thought. "Hmm on another side of this forest now that I think about it. Anyway, they had been running rampant disarming villages and taking captives to ensure their compliance." He stretches back on the tree and then continues. "They had been taking captives to help fortify an abandoned fort. By the time I got there it was more web than stone." He laughs to himself. "To taunt the captives they had hung the stolen weapons far up in the web, they made a pretty sound when the wind blew as I recall. I didn't want to sneak into the fort for fear of getting stuck, so I called them out from the gate." He gives you an audacious smile. "I said that for each one that I beat in single combat they would let someone go. Spiders tend to feel strong and confident and so they didn't think anything of me. The first five I barely broke a sweat on." You can't help but feel your heart race at an adventure like this recounted. Your ears perk up and your tail wags. That wasn't his whole plan of course. He chuckles. "Of course, that wasn't my whole plan youngling. Heroism is best served by multiple plans. I had a friend along, his name was Tyler I think? Excellent at the lyre and a singing voice that could charm a siren. While I had all the spiders distracted and betting on who would get me. He freed a good number of captives and together they got the weapons." He stands up and then pauses to put his cheek against the dirt. "Perfect, they should of left to go hunting by now." He turns back to you. "With so many freed and armed the spiders had no chance of recapturing us, and we were easily able to burn the fort and force them back into the forest. It's funny if they hadn't taken captives nobody would of cared. But some are just like that." With the story finished, instructs you to make the fire while he relieves himself again. (if: $kitsunetrick is 0)[By the time he has finished, you have made a small smokeless fire.](if: $kitsunetrick is 1)[You light a small smokeless fire with a hint of pride by using the trick your matron taught you. It's a neat thing to be able to conjure a flame in your hand. Cohen takes a moment to relieve himself again.] Cohen returns with a slightly concerned look. "I didn't tell you that story already did I?" You make a torch out of a few resin soaked scraps of fabric and sturdy green stick, and are about to light the thing. "Well done Youngling. I don't give our friend the best odds of finding the others. She doesn't know what they look like for one. Still it's good for the mage to know the layout of the terrain in any plan." (if: $kitsunetrick is 1)[you light your torch with the kitsune's trick,](if: $kitsunetrick is 0)[You light the torch,] and [[cohen leads the stealthy charge across the clearing.->kitsune 1 attack 1]] \(if: $hideme is 1)[kitsune 1: You ask him if he ever fought spiders before. With a smile he recounts that he fought spider-girls as a young man trying to gain the fame required to force the queen to outlaw slavery to the south. Then recalls that he thinks he told you that story before. kitsune 2: the player expresses concern over the kitsune, something about the way the player expresses the concern makes cohen wonder if the player is still themselves. alternatively the player indirectly accuses Cohen of loving violence. Cohen takes offense, claiming that his age it's less the love of violence than the love of what it protects that motivates him.] \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1)

Your heart is in your throat as you sprint. Will you be spotted now? Is all your effort about to go to waste? (if: $armor is 1)[You can't help but in this moment feel slightly foolish for wearing brightly colored armor.] Cohen however picked the moment well and you cross the clearing without accident. He leads you carefully to a trio of ancient trees. The trees are more rot than wood at this point. The only thing holding them up is the ever present webs choking out any light from above. You both keep a careful eye on the trees above, thankfully this is the less fortified part of the nest. Cohen gets a wicked smile as you bring your torch to the base of the trees. They go up like kindling. You are prepared to sneak deeper but Cohen holds you back for a minute. The trees won't fall until the fire reaches the webs above he says. It's a fascinating, terrifying sight. Fire is a greedy greedy friend. Before long the flames have reached the core of the trees. Cohen then leads you in sneaking deeper into the nest. You don't get far before the spiders raise cries of alarm. The distraction works, most of the spiders move to fight the growing blaze. The rest work to evacuate the young and elderly. The chaos makes avoiding notice easy. As you hide behind a tree, you spy a silver fox loping up. A blue flame burns off of it brightly. Cohen suppresses a curse as your matron appears next to him. She seems smug about it. He rolls his eyes. "Milady." Your matron's expression grows concerned. "I'm sorry Cohen I didn't spot your younglings. None of the captives had anything that looked like an identifying symbol. What should we do?" Her voice has a touch of panic. Cohen nods calmly. "Lead us to the innermost part of the nest would you? Probably still in the cocoons my youngling managed to escape." He casts a glance back at the growing inferno behind him. "With haste if you will." [[Deeper into the nest->kitsune 1 attack 2]]

As a trio you more or less abandon stealth. (if: $armor is 0)[Your matron's brightly colored robes make mundane stealth next to impossible for her anyway.](if: $armor is 1)[You could sort of manage to sneak in brightly colored armor. Your matron isn't even making an attempt. At least you don't have to worry about getting it dirty any more. Thankfully the spiders are in such disarray that no one makes any effort to stop you.] Your matron carefully leads you to the deepest part of the nest. The light here is almost nonexistent. You look up trying to figure out what is making it go dark so suddenly. Far above you can see what might be a throne. It's sort of hard to tell from below. Well if that's the throne then this must be the court of the spider-queen. You scan the gloom frantically. You sight a trio of cocoons that look like the one you popped out of so long ago. One of them is much larger and covered in burn marks. Both you and Cohen chuckle at the sight. Your matron looks confused "Something funny?" Cohen speaks up "That's my younglings." You nod. "Yeah Ron can't help himself. You'll like him, loves magic especially fire magic." You pause. "Let's hope he didn't hurt himself by burning up all the air this time." A dark cloud crosses Cohen's face. "Make haste youngling." [[In no time at all you reach the cocoons.->kitsune 1 cocoons]]In the chaos these are unguarded.

Cohen shrugs in resignation as you back your matron's plan. Your matron is of course gracious about it. Her tails wag a bit though. "Don't worry Cohen, I'll find your younglings." You can see Cohen's worry battle his concern. Still he is not willing to argue over it. Your campsite was a safe distance from the spider's nest. So you have to hike back to it. As you approach the clearing surrounding the spider's nest Cohen holds up a hand. He pauses looking around at the light in the forest and then peering up at the distant forest canopy. He's trying to tell the time. If he can tell what time it is in this gloom he's a better outdoorsman than you. In frustration he finally puts his cheek against the dirt. He smiles. "Excellent the hunting patrols should be a good distance from the nest by now." He puts a strong hand on your now fairly slender shoulder. "Pick the moment to reveal yourself carefully. Once the distraction starts it will take a little while for the spiders to panic." He turns to your matron. "I'll start the distraction in half an hour. If milady will excuse me." Your matron smiles at Cohen's sudden etiquette. "Only on the promise that we will soon be reunited. Take caution yourself Cohen." He gives a grand bow, smiling mischeviously and strides off into the forest, [[humming a war tune to himself.->kitsune 1 stealth 1]] \(set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1)

Your matron has you hold her bag as she rummages into it. She can't find what she's looking for and ends up half in the bag, her tails looking a bit like an uprooted plant. Finally with a flourish and notable care she produces a large white shimmering sheet. She holds it in her hands trying to keep it from touching the ground. "Hold this over yourself dear." You do so and find to your surprise that you can see through it. Everything is a bit shimmery, and moves while staying still. It's a neat effect. You rub the material between your fingers. It's silk. (if: $armor is 0)[ A bolt this large is worth your home village.] (if $armor is 1)[ You can't help but wonder for a moment at your matron's wealth. A bolt this large would also buy your village and she pulls it out like it's nothing.] Your matron stands behind you, holding the sheet over herself as well. You resemble a large, lumpy, spooky ghost. "I'm going to cast an illusion that will make us look like a spider girl. The sheet works like a painted screen. My magic will be the light behind the screen and it will cast the illusion towards onlookers." \(if: $hideme is 1)[in higher kitsunelevel versions of this screen have the player ask about how the screen helps. It diffuses the magic, otherwise an illusion of the power the kitsune is using and necessary to defeat guards looking for trouble would start to affect the subjects. An illusion that's too strong begins to change reality, by convincing it that it's wrong.] You grapple with what she's saying, trying to parse it into something sensible. Your matron's magic is the light and sheet is the screen. Maybe if your matron's magic is the fire, then you need the screen to make it look like the same thing to all of the onlookers? Otherwise it'd look a bit different like how fire looks different to everyone? You are missing something but you don't know enough to know what you don't know. Best to think of it as an especially convincing costume you suppose. Wait if you are imitating a spider-girl why are you in front? The kitsune is taller than you after all. Friggin spider girls are annoyingly tall. You ask as much. The kitsune answers matter of factly. "You don't have the tails for it my dear. I'm using them to make up the bulk of a spidergirl's body. You glance around your matron waist, your ears feeling a bit funny to scrape on the sheet. You can see that ridiculously her tails are trying to replicate a spidergirl's shape. You take a deep breath and then lead your matron over the clearing, If you get made it's gonna be a bad time. If there wasn't an illusion you suppose you might look so ridiculous the spidergirls might let you in. As you approach the nest you sidestep webs. The kitsune is mumbling to herself as you walk. Finally you reach the nest. You are challenged almost immediately by a red haired spider girl. She climbs down her tree smiling. She stumbles a little as she reaches the ground and then says something you don't understand. She seems happy to see you. You throw a frantic glance to your matron. She nods and then mumbles a little louder. Suddenly the red haired spidergirl's words resolve into sense. "I said it's a bit strange for sister to return by herself. What's up?" Quick think of an excuse! (link: "You were masturbating")[(set: $kitsuneanswer to 2)(goto: "kitsune 1 stealth 2")] (link: "You had to take a dump")[(set: $kitsuneanswer to 1)(goto: "kitsune 1 stealth 2")] [["I came here to see you"->kitsune 1 stealth 2]]

(If: $kitsuneanswer is 1)[You say the first thing you think of, which is something about how you had to find some privacy. This you manage to spin into how you had to take a dump really bad and couldn't wait. For some reason your cheeks burn at the prospect of something so crude. Your matron gives a muffled laugh at your impropriety. The spider-girl nods sagely. "Yeah the lines to the pits can be pretty long and wrapping and tossing it can be gross." The spider-girl gives you a bright smile. "Have a great day!" She waves you into the nest.] \(If: $kitsuneanswer is 2)[The first thing that comes to mind is how you really needed to be alone. Which of course begs the question of why you needed privacy. Seizing on the awkwardness you created you try to sound coy, you needed to be alone for the reason that all people occasionally need to be alone. You can't help but act demure and keep from meeting the spider-girl's many eyes. Your matron only barely manages to keep from laughing out-loud. The spider-girl blushes. "Oh yeah, that's understandable. I generally go high up in the trees when I need some alone time. Still most sisters aren't that picky about it." She gives you a conspiratorial glance. "I'll keep this between us okay." You nod. Convincing a spider-girl you need privacy to orgasm was not what you expected when you thought of rescuing your friends. The spider-girl waves you into the nest with a coy smile.] \(If: $kitsuneanswer is 0)[You search your mind for an answer, in desperation you ask yourself what Frederick would do. You snap and give the spider-girl finger guns. "I came here to see you of course." You can feel the kitsune's eyes boring into the back of your neck and can't help but jump as she places a possessive hand on your shoulder. (if $kitsuneintimacy is 1)[The air around you seems to grow foreboding.] The spider-girl blushes as deeply as her hair. "Oh um, well I can't make time right now you know. We'd both get in trouble if someone found me slacking off." She gives you a hopeful look. "But we could meet up in the trees when the moon is rising? I know a great spot where we could be alone." Despite yourself you nod. "I can't wait." It kind of sucks to lead her on like this. Still blushing and stunned the spider-girl waves you into the nest.] Entering the nest is a strange experience. It seems natural that the spider's nest would be a dark, spiky and ominous place. Instead it's coated in a soft diffuse light that makes it seem like something out of a pleasant dream. A glance up shows why, the roof of the nest is made up of incalculable crisscrossing webs. The webs are heavy with dew making a jumble of rainbows above as they diffuse the distant sunlight. It's a breathtaking sight. The nest itself is the size of a small village. Perhaps bigger than village where you grew up. The most unnerving thing is how mundane it all is. You can see the occasional cooking fire being dutifully fed. From above you can hear the laughter of children playing. The trees themselves are ornately carved and adorned with the occasional hunting trophy. It's a nice place. On instinct you sniff deeply, there is meat being cooked on the fire and they probably need to dig out their commodes. You guess with the whole village up in the trees they give it less thought than you would at home. The veneer comes off when you see the fields being tended by ant-girls and bee-girls. A few fierce looking overseers are close at hand, spider silk whips prominently displayed. There is a defeated look to the slaves. Your wonder gives way to a cold eyed remembrance of why you are here. You watch the slaves carefully, if your friends are here they might be transformed into one of them. It's a bit of a stretch, but the spiders turned you into a girl, and you sure as shit don't see any humans about. This seems to be the main group of slaves. (You don't want to sound mean but you doubt the guys would qualify as bed room slave material. Okay maybe Alonso, he was damn handsome.) The ant-girls all look the same, a uniform cute look. If the others saw the signal they would do something to stand out. The bee-girls are more distinct but none of them resemble your friends. The nest is noticeably empty, the majority of the spiders must be on the hunt. Cohen always had a timing for that sort of thing. [[You move carefully deeper into the nest.->kitsune 1 stealth 3]]

The webs above only grow thicker as you move deeper into the nest. The light dims. Just how many webs did they make? You look around feverishly, your ears scraping against the sheet and your tail wapping too and fro anxiously. You trust your matron's magic if nothing else, but Cohen always said illusion didn't work well against those looking for them. What if one of the already fierce spiders is especially on guard. If they spot you, you will be the last to know. Looking up you sight an inhumanly pale figure relaxing on a balcony above. Her hair is a yellowish white and her eyes are black with red pupils. A pair of black feathery antenna and large compound eyes adorn her temple. You feel a primal, almost instinctual terror grasp your throat. To look upon her is to know mortal fear. She blinks once and then meets your eyes. Given that your head is a good foot and half below the illusion's, she must be able to see through it. You stop in your tracks, transfixed. Your matron bumps into you and stops her murmuring long enough to whisper "What is it? Why have you stopped dear?" Your matron is a comforting presence behind you. But you can't help but be annoyed. Can't she see it! Doesn't she feel the same fear you do? You whisper back frantically, "It's right there, above us." You hear your matron shift behind you, her sleeve hits your neck as she puts a hand to her eyes. "Nothing there dear. Your nerves must be getting better than you." The figure on the balcony gives you a cruel smile and then turns and walks away from the balcony. You let out an involuntary sigh of relief, thankfully your bladder held. Your matron gives you a comforting pat on the back and you keep walking, hoping distance will keep you safe from that. Finally, you reach the deepest part of the nest. The light here is almost nonexistent. You look up trying to figure out what is blocking out the light. Far above you can see what might be a throne and a good number of withered cocoons in the webs. Shit, you hope those aren't people. Well if that's the throne then this must be the court of the spider-queen. You scan the gloom frantically. You sight a trio of cocoons on the ground that look like the one you popped out of so long ago. Well one of them is much larger and covered in burn marks. (Ron is consistent if nothing else.) You get your matron's attention and point to the cocoons. "That's them." Your matron's ears flare up. She asks quietly. "Are you sure?" You smile. "See the burn marks? Ron would of definitely tried to burn his way out." You pause and then add. "I hope he didn't hurt himself by burning up all his air again." Your matron tries to lead you towards the cocoons before, you give the sheet a tug. She pulls to hard it's gonna tear. She stops and looks sheepish remembering all at once that she has to follow you. "Let's rescue them! I'd rather not spend more time here than we have to." You shake your head recalling Cohen's advice. "We need to wait for the distraction to start." Nodding your matrons takes her place behind you. "Alright then let's walk around. Just walk casual." [[Walk casual->kitsune 1 stealth 4]]

You walk trying very hard to not seem like you trying to be inconspicuous. If you get stopped and asked why you aren't working you get the feeling that it won't be so easy to bluff your way out of it. Still it's interesting to take in the spider's nest. The spiders seem to mostly live up in the trees, but there are a good number of them on the ground. It's almost bittersweet, for better or worse Cohen’s fire is going to rip through this place. The trees are carved artfully but carving up the bark of a tree is an excellent way to kill it. Additionally, the webs which make up the spider's village proper are yellowed with age and likely full of flammable branches. The trees which dominate the nest are almost all dead, and held up by the webs. You've seen handfuls of kindling that are less flammable. For a moment you feel bad about the lives that will be displaced in your raid. Then your eyes land on the ant-girls and bee-girls tending the fields with purposeful neglect. The spiders might not be inherently evil but, they have kidnapped your friends and practice slavery. It's only due to luck you aren't there yourself. You've been doing your best to keep track of the time, it can't be long until Cohen starts. As you think this, you see the small buffs of smoke on the edge of the nest. You keep walking trying to look busy as the fires grow. Finally the spider-girls react with a shout. They start to form bucket lines and work on evacuating the young and elderly spider-girls. You and the kitsune move somewhere inconspicuous. You wouldn't want to be exposed by some well meaning spider-girl wondering why you aren't evacuating. Cohen didn't do half measures with the fires, there is a quickly growing inferno on one side of the nest. The fire is terrible, ugly and fascinating. Finally you call the moment, the majority of the spider-girls are occupied. It's better to act early to make sure you and your friends aren't consumed by the flames. You give a glance back at your matron, she's watching the fire with a knowing hesitation. She must of seen the horrors fire can inflict. You flip open the sheet and almost charge. Your matron stops you with a hand on your shoulder. "Help me fold this dear." You resist rolling your eyes as you help her carefully fold it so it won't crease. Once that's taken care of you move quickly and stealthily into the heart of the spider's nest. (If: $armor is 1)[Well as stealthily as you can wearing bright white and red robes. This was a bad idea.] You are joined by Cohen sprinting from direction of the flames. "You find them youngling?" You give an enthusiastic nod. [[In no time at all you reach the cocoons.->kitsune 1 cocoons]]

With stealth abandoned it's an all out dash for the cocoons. It's a bit hard to hear over your breathing but your matron calls out "Which one do we open first?" You and Cohen both reply "Ron's!" He will be happy to enhance an already fiery distraction. Your matron watches over you and Cohen as you scramble with the cocoon. Her ears and tails are flared in a protective awareness. Ron's cocoon is much thicker than yours was. This time you have something sharp to help open it though, no kicking and punch for you. Cohen holds the cocoon steady and you (very carefully) use your matron's katana to cut it open. It's a bit of an effort but before long you have cut open a slit wide enough to pull the cocoon apart. You don't have the arms you used to, but you and Cohen manage it with a bit of grunting. Ron blinks and looks around slowly in the twilight. Ron's face is much more feminine and his black hair has grown to mid-length. Cohen is overjoyed to see Ron and immediately helps him up to a sitting position. Once he's done taking deep breaths of air, Ron gives Cohen a happy look and then looks at you with confusion. (if: $armor is 1)[He speaks carefully, obviously afraid of offending you. "When we last met you didn't have Fox ears and a tail?" His tone is such that he's ready to play it off as him being awkward if you aren't who he thinks you are. Why is he being so polite? He's nervous at the best of times but still. "Yes Ron, before we got ambushed I didn't have fox ears and a tail." Ron blushes a bit and then smiles in relief. "I, I think they make you look very nice. Your robes are very impressive as well." He blushes again, pausing awkwardly. Something's making Ron act even more awkward than usual but the middle of an escape is the wrong time to try and figure out what.](if: $armor is 0)[He suddenly has a look of realization. "Where did you get the fox ears and tail? You didn't always have them and were just holding out on me were you?" You can't help but chuckle. "Yes Ron, i always had a fox ears and tail and I was hiding them the same place I was hiding these." Your present your breasts with both hands, even through the thick fabric of the gambeson they are pretty rude tits. Ron looks down with surprise. "Oh yes! You definitely didn't have those. You look nice with them. The ears and tail not the other things." He blushes awkwardly. You can't help but chuckle again.] You gesture back at your matron. "Both were a gift from a friend I made. You will like her." Your matron is smiling at the both of you when you glance back at her. Ron takes in your matron's figure with a look of wonder. He has a characteristic double blink he does whenever he's looking at something magically. His eyes grow wide. "Oh wow. I've never seen her like." You never had the training to see magic properly, but you have a momentary realization about what ron must be seeing, something like the blue flames you keep seeing come off your matron. You barely have the words to describe what you see, a quick glance at Ron suggests he's having the same problem. Cohen smiles. "It's damn good to see you Ron but we don't have a lot of time." Ron manages to refocus and nods. As if to punctuate Cohen's point you hear a loud horn sound from above. Mean looking spider girls drop down from the webs above. They are lead by an older spider queen wearing an 8 pointed crown. (Well you assume she's the queen, what with the crown and all.) The spider queen is giving your matron a look of purest hatred. In epics this would be one of those looks that could drive men mad. your matron is notably uncowed by such a display. She looks a touch smug in response. You and Cohen exchange a silent look. Your matron needs your help, if she gets split off from the group it's gonna be bad news. Ron's fire magic will help with opening the cocoons. You move almost automatically to protect your matron. Cohen exchanges a glance with you, he'll protect her if that's your preference. [[You will protect her->kitsune 1 cocoons you]] [[Cohen should do it->kitsune 1 cocoons Cohen]] (set: $kitsunecocoon to (either: 0,1))

You take a deep breath. Time is of the essence here, if Cohen can get the others a second sooner he needs to be the one opening the cocoons. You say this but you feel a hint of pride? satisfaction maybe in moving to defend your matron. You give a silent nod to cohen and move to reach your matron. Cohen lets out a war whoop as you head off. Your matron smiles broadly as you tug one of her tails to announce your presence. Your sword is in your hand as you stand ready to help support the kitsune. What must be the spider the royal guard splits in half. You raise your sword, reading yourself to fend off a flanking maneuver. To your surprise the spider girls that split off aren't the least bit interested in attacking you. They move to assist in fighting the fire and evacuating what spider girls are still in the nest. (You note they also move to apprehend some of the fleeing captives.) You look again at the spider queen, she is still giving the kitsune a murderous look. Underneath there might be the slightest hint of fear. You can certainly understand the spider queen's fear. Your matron is a fearsome opponent. The spider's don't press the attack, seemingly content to keep you in place. Which is curious. You are distracted by a shout from behind you. [[The others are free, it's time to get the hell out of here.->kitsune 1 cocoons escape]] (set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger- 1)

You are about to give the nod to Cohen to protect your matron when you pause. Wouldn't it be better for you to protect your matron? You are a bit in more in sync with her and this whole thing falls apart if she's not safe. It's an almost automatic urge to protect her but at the same time, the prospect of seeing your friends again after so many trials is appealing. [[Protect your matron->kitsune 1 cocoons you]] [[Rescue your friends!->kitsune 1 cocoons Cohen 1]]

You make up your mind, your matron should be okay. You'll be fast in rescuing your friends so you can be sure she's safe. You give the nod to Cohen. Cohen gives a silent nod in return and moves like a flash to protect your matron. Ron scrambles to the nearest cocoon. You hold it steady as he conjures a flame in his hand. Despite the need for urgency you can tell that Ron is burning to ask a question. "Yes, Ron?" (if: $armor is 1)[He gives you an openly envious look. "Did she ah teach you any magic? Is that why she transformed you?" He swallows heavily. "Learning her magic doesn't transform you does it?" You can't help but laugh even at a time like this Ron is thinking about magic. (if: $kitsunetrick is 0)[She transformed me for robbing the alter of her temple Ron. This is her "curse". She also hasn't actually taught me in any magic so far." Ron deflates slightly, "aww. Bet she knows some great magic."] (if: $kitsunetrick is 0)[With a flourish you reveal your matron's trick, conjuring a flame in your hand and then using it to help melt open the cocoon you are working on. "She taught me just this." Ron is notably impressed, and examines your hand carefully. "I wonder if she'd teach me that." end if Oh yeah, Ron was mostly trained by witches. No wonder he likes your matron so much. Ron pauses and then adds in a shy voice. "There are worse things to be cursed to look like I suppose."] ](if: $armor is 0)[Ron gives you a look like his question is going burn his mouth. "Does she know magic? Does she know any cool spells? Would she teach me them?" You can't help but smile. Of course Ron is excited about your matron. He was trained by witches and is always a bit insecure about how much magic he knows. "She knows some impressive magic Ron. She transformed me to look like this after all. Also some good fire spells." Ron's eyes go wide. "She might teach you? She's tough to deal with." Ron nods intently.] \(if: $kitsunecocoon is 0)[There has been enough time for Ron to melt the cocoon open. Frederick is lying in a puddle of what looks like liquid moonlight. He's thankfully in one piece, but has also been turned into a girl. He has the same short brown hair but now his features have softened from boyish to cute now. You and Ron shake him awake quickly. He wakes with a start and then smiles at seeing Ron. "Damn good to see you Ron, even if you are a bit more female than last time." As Ron looks down in surprise, Frederick gaze lands on you. (if: $armor is 0)[And who's this foxy babe that's with you? You can't help but put a hand to your face. Of course that's the line he uses. "I'm guessing you got a lot of those Frederick? Frederick gets a goofy smile, obviously having a hard time not laughing at his own joke. "Yip!" Even Ron thinks that one is bad.You manage to not roll your eyes. "Save it for later Frederick. You can tell me them if we get out of here alive. Let's get alonso and get running.](if: $armor is 1)["He studies you carefully, his large eyes moving too and fro. "Ron's not the type to pick up a nun." He laughs to himself. "Definitely doesn't have the confidence at least. You got into some trouble didn't you?" Frederick is as percpetive as ever. "That's just the start of it Frederick. Still I look good." Frederick smiles happily. "You look great! The robes definitely go with your ears and tail!" You blush a bit at his sincere enthusiasm.] Ron is still a bit stunned by being turned into a girl, but you manage to get him focused on freeing Alonso. With three people Alonso's cocoon is no real obstacle. As you work to open it, you notice Frederick eyeing the kitsune with a look between lust and appreciation. He's always been willing to flirt with just about anything. (if: $kitsuneintimacy is 1)[You feel a sudden defensive pang. Oh dear you aren't feeling protective are you? Ugh. If it really bothers you Frederick will back off, he's pretty cool like that.] (if: $kitsuneintimacy is 0)[Heh of course Frederick wants to shoot his shot. He'd hit on a dragon if he ever met one. She definitely has a type though. "I'd watch out Frederick She definitely has a type." You point to yourself. Frederick deflates slightly. "Still no harm in trying eh?" So long as he's polite about it, it should be okay.](if: $hidden is 1)[hmm feel jealous here? Definitely in kitsune 2. Feel jealous in kitsune 2 even if intimacy is 0] Once a large enough gap has been formed you seen Alonso’s face peaking out. Alonso has also been turned into a girl. (The spiders perfer girl captives you suppose.) His blonde hair has become much longer. He is in possession of some sizable assets and a flattering figure. He is a bit surprised to see three good looking female faces waiting to greet him. Still Alonso has always been pretty good at staying on focus and swallows his surprise. "What the hell happened to you guys? (if: $armor is 1)[And where did you steal a nun from?" They stole none nuns! "Wow that's how you greet someone? Maybe we should put you back in the cocoon eh Frederick?" Frederick giggls. "Lots happened." He elbows you. "Our nun here made a new friend but we don't have to time to talk. Let's get the hell out of here.](if: $armor is 1)[And why do only you have fox ears?" You hestiate trying to think of an answer to that question which makes you sound impressive. "I met a Foxy lady." That's almost impressive right? Frederick giggles. "Yeah and I'm sure she gave you fox ears out of affection" He elbows you. "We don't have to time to talk. Let's get the hell out of here.]] \(if: $kitsunecocoon is 1)[There has been enough time for Ron to melt the cocoon open. Alonso is lying in a puddle of what looks like liquid shimmering moonlight. Alonso is thankfully not visibly harmed he has been turned into a girl though. His blonde hair has become much longer and he is in possession of some sizable assets and a flattering figure. He was always handsome, but now he's beautiful. You and Ron shake him awake quickly. He wakes with a start and seems ready to fight his way out from lying down start then he recognizes Ron with a smile. "Good to see you Ron, I like the hair." Ron catches a strand of his much lengthened hair and then examines himself with growing surprise. (if: $armor is 0)[Oh wow, you look different?" He smiles smugly. "Did you get in over your head again?" He right but he doesn't have to be smug about it. You smile. "I had a real ball, ran into a friend of Cohen of all people."](if: $armor is 1)[Oh dear, I'd say you are in the wrong company Miss." he turns back to Ron. "Ron where did you find a nun and how did the hell did you get her to follow you here? He glances around as if to confirm the level of crap he's in. Ron is still a bit off balance with his new form and doesn't manage a response. Ron's not managed to mislead a nun. You aren't even sure he could mislead a nun if he tried. You cough loudly. Alonso looks at you again and seems to have a realization. "Oh! We are both girls but wow! I'm guessing something went really wrong for you." It had it's good parts and it's bad parts, but it's annoying that's the first thing he guesses. "It's a bit of a story, ran into someone out of Cohen's stories actually. I think I came out okay though." Alonso nods, "Your ears and tails do go with the robes.] He manages to pull himself to a kneeling position. "It's good to see you but we need to get frederick quick!" With three people Frederick's cocoon is no real obstacle. Although Ron is still a little stunned by the realization that he has been turned into a girl. As you work to open it, you notice Alonso looking at the kitsune wide eyed. "Like I said something like Cohen talks about." Alonso nods. "No doubt. Cohen talked about her but it's different to see her." he sneaks a sly glance at you after saying this. (if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[You nod. "I have so many things to tell you about, but we need to get out of here first." Alonso's eyes grow wide with wonder. "I can't wait."] (if: $kitsunecurse is > 0)[You looked at your matron like that. After knowing your matron's displeasure it's tempered with a bit of caution. "She's as fantastic as she look. Fair warning though, avoid making her angry if you can help it." With a small laugh Alonso answers "Hey I'm not that dumb!" Rare wisdom.] Frederick's cocoon opens with a sickening squelching sound. Frederick is shivering in the remains of the cocoon. He has the same short brown hair but now his features have softened from boyish to cute now. Frederick's surprise melts into a familiar smile. "I was expecting a lot of things. I wasn't expecting this. I love adventuring." Alonso shakes his head. "Well don't sit and bask in the feeling. Ron! We need to get moving." You get Frederick up to speed, though in classic Frederick fashion he's not too concerned with the details.] (set: $kitsuneanger to $kitsuneanger+ 1) [[Escape!->kitsune 1 cocoons escape]] \(set: $kitsunemadcounter to it + 1) \(if: $kitsuneoffense < 1)[(set: $kitsuneoffense to 1)] \(if:$kitsuneoffense is not 1)[(if:$kitsunesecondoffense < 1)[(set: $kitsunesecondoffense to 1)]] (if: $hidden is 1)[Alonso nods and glances around, he sees Cohen and your matron and his eyes go wide. "Wake up and it's work work work. Tell me about your adventure later. I'm glad to see you though." He glances around. "Let's get Frederick quick!"]

As you start running you can see that the blaze is well and truly underway. The flames have spread to multiple trees and the light reflecting off of the smoke tints everything an ominous orange. The smell of wood smoke is inescapable. You have to grab Ron to stop him from being transfixed by the blaze. The queen and her guard surprisingly let you flee the nest. They give you looks that could kill and you don't doubt that they would like to string you up for the blaze though. Cohen leads the way ducking into the smoke and using the blaze as cover from any ambushes within the nest itself. It's a frantic test to navigate the tangle of webs that make up the walls of the nest. Once you are outside the nest and across the clearing, you have a moment to turn back and admire the destruction. The flames have reached far up into the canopy and you can see a tree fall over with a massive crash. Your admiring is interrupted by a squad of spidergirls staring back at you silently. Their dark eyes reflect the lights of the fires. They make no aggressive movements, they simply stare at you from a respectful distance. You have a bad feeling. Once you have put some distance between you and the nest you take a quick stop. The former prisoners take a moment to gulp down some food and water. Frederick in particular makes an exaggerated noise as he finally gets some food in his belly. You can't help but flinch a little as he lets out an echoing burp. Then it comes time to distribute weapons and armor. You help everyone strap on gambesons, and pass out spears. (if: $armor is 1)[It's probably the for the best you don't have any spare robes. Sneaking is hard enough as if with this many people. Especially with your matron refusing to crouch.] Your matron's bag is invaluable. You aren't sure you could carry all the equipment without it. As you prepare for the fighting to come your friends catch up with Cohen. Cohen for his part embellishes his escape and meeting you and the kitsune. He claims to have wiped the floor with the spiders that ambushed you, and loudly harrumphs when you remind him of the earlier version of his story. He then turns over the floor to how you met your matron. You start by introducing your friends to your matron. For a moment you are worried about your friends embarrassing you in front of her and then realize it's much more sensible to worry that she will embarrass you in front of them. She seems to like Ron praising him as a magic user of the first order. She smiles warmly at Alonso, complimenting the courage and leadership he has shown so far. Your matron however flat out doesn't like Frederick, especially when you mention that he is the treasure acquisition specialist of the group. Frederick takes it with his normal sunny disposition though. You then tell the story of how you met your matron. You try to make your initial meeting sound more flattering than it is, although your matron laughs and hints at a truer version of what happens. Then you detail your own escape from the forest and the misadventures that happened there. Your friends raise a few eyebrows at you when you refer to your matron. Still as fraught as things are they seem content to let it slide. (If: $armor is 1)[The fact that you are wearing the same impractical armor as her is probably not helping things.] (if: $hideme is 1)[In other versions, the player will first introduce the kitsune. then tell the flattering story. in kitsune 2, the player only speaks after the kitsune induces them to.] With everyone brought up to speed you run [[as fast as you can.->kitsune 1 cocoons escape 1]]

You keep running, resolving to put as much distance between you and the spider's nest as possible. As nice as it would be to summon your matron's cart (an idea she points out at length.), Cohen insists that they would kill the creature rather than let you escape. Your matron refuses to risk a creature so loyal so needlessly after that. (If: $hideme is 1)[Should I mention this at all?] The spiders keep up the silent pursuit. You make a game out of waving hello to them as you march. In time the number of pursuers grows larger and larger. The take up positions around you, matching your pace. Cohen spurs you onto a greater speed in an attempt to escape them. Your matron is confident that she could take them all but you have to wonder. Your matron isn't slow. She moves at a good speed for someone on foot. It's more that four recently captured adventurers and Cohen attempting to retain their freedom go at a speed that defies description. A bunch of spider girls with a grudge also go pretty darn fast. Which makes for a harried pursuit. You make a few attempts to convince your matron to move faster, but she simply pets you between the ears and says "You needn't worry dear." The forest becomes a green, biting blur as you run. More than once Cohen points upward and you can see the spiders swinging between trees, seemingly without a care in the world. Everyone takes a chance to curse at them when you see them do this. Well except for your matron who is too refined for such things. Your attempts to outpace the pursuers unsuccessful, Cohen is left with little to do but curse as you slowly surrounded. This terrifies you, your matron is strong but Cohen who can do nothing shakes you. The spiders never make an aggressive movement though. They are content to pursue, which is unnerving. As Cohen makes another plea for your matron to pick up the pace you notice something about the way her ears go down and her tail twitches. You'd do much the same if you were hiding something. [[What could she be hiding?.->kitsune 1 cocoons escape 2]]

You tell Cohen as much the next time you get a chance to speak to him in private. Cohen strokes his beard and licks his lips in thought. "Hmm there is something that's wrong, these spiders should not be pursuing us so strongly." He sniffs the air carefully. "Has the feeling of a grudge. And grudges tend to end in death." The spiders are gathering their forces by the minute but a council of war is called. (look when you spend all day doing adventure you like to dress up the quiet parts so it flows better in tales.) There is a moment's peace to talk through what's happening. Your matron sits on one side, sitting alone on her straw mat. Cohen and your friends on the other. You sit near the middle. Your matron senses something is up, her ears and tails flaring defensively. "Why have we stopped Cohen? You kept insisting we needed to hurry." Cohen's face is impassive, his tone is delicate but firm. "Milady has not been truthful with us has she?" Your matron's eyes slide away slightly and she remains silent. Cohen continues. "This is more of a war footing than I've ever seen the spiders on. They seem to be focusing on trying to take out you out." Your matron manages a smile, still looking like a guilty child. "If the spiders were to attack anyone I would be the natural target." Cohen takes a deep breath. "If the spiders had sense they would leave us well enough alone. This has the air of a grudge." He leans forward slightly. "Milady wouldn't have some experience fighting this particular band of spiders would she?" Everyone stares at your matron and she blushes ever so slightly. "Fine servants of my goddess fought the spiders of this forest more than once. I was helping to establish my goddesses' temple in this forest. I didn't think it worth mentioning." Cohen sighs heavily and puts his hand to his face. Alonso pipes up. "Why does that make a difference Cohen? We attacked their nest all the same." Cohen gives a tired smile. "It changes how they view attack. The spiders do not think it a raid for captives but an attempt by our friend to establish supremacy." He takes a moment to examine the cloth tied around his sword's hilt. "It's too late now but if I had known, I would of had her stay hidden. Is there a reason milady did not tell us of her history?" Your matron smiles and leans forward. "You are the greatest swordsman I have ever known. It will be just like old times and together we might reestablish my temple." For a moment she seems guilty, perhaps guilty enough to puncture her self assurance. "It fell because of me and I will see it rebuilt." She smiles again. "If the spiders know fear now they won't contest it's resurrection." I have absolute confidence that in no time at all you will deliver us from this danger." (if: $hideme is 1)[(different kitsunelevels have different reactions to the news.)] Cohen looks annoyed. You can tell he wants to say something pithy about arrogance but doesn't think it worth the effort. An awkward mood prevails over the group. Your matron's goal might be noble, you have very little love for the spiders after all. But her method is short sighted, this is not a good fight. Alonso is about to speak up when you put a hand on his shoulder. He wants to confront your matron and if there is anything you have learned by now it's that it's not worth the effort. He sighs heavily as you give him a sympathetic look. Cohen gets up with a sigh. He forces a smile that quickly looks genuine. "Come lads, let us show these spiders our courage." Alonso quickly launches into a hurried argument in favor of just lifting the kitsune and carrying her at the speed needed. Cohen feels she might be more amenable after a clash, assuming everyone survives it. Your matron rises, naturally confident. For a second you wonder if you might convince her otherwise. If Cohen in all his experience thinks the fight to come is not a wise, it's probably not wise. Hmm probably not doable. [[There is nothing to do but prepare for the battle to come.->kitsune 1 cocoons escape 3]]

You start running but more carefully this time. Cohen watches the ground carefully looking for the best possible space to fight a pitched do or die battle. Mostly this consists of terrain you won't get stuck in, and might flee through easily. Finally you are well and truly surrounded. Cohen has everyone prepare for battle, this will be a true contest. You draw up around Ron and the kitsune. Ron has a look like an apprentice meeting a master craftsman. Frederick and Alonso have a look like this is gonna suck. Frederick is shaking before the fighting. He normally shakes before the fighting so this is nothing new. Still you put a hand on his shoulder and smile. He swallows deeply and shakes a bit less. Alonso is next to you, hefting his spear. He nods and you nod back. Just another great day of adventure. Cohen shouts a few basic orders, protect the caster, watch out for each other, don't get separated. But what more is there to say? Your matron seems ready to punish the spiders with a vengeance. Horns sound all around you making for an uncanny experience. This must be how the fox feels before the hunt. Terror raises it's ugly head but you take a deep breath and take comfort from your friends. [[The spider's charge!->kitsune 1 cocoons escape 4]]

Battles always seemed so clean in tales, heroic figures cleaving their foes with righteous blades. You have been in enough fights to know that's far from true. Still the battle that starts puts your experience to shame. It is a scene of epic chaos. The spider's charge drives up so much dust and leaf matter that you can barely see a body length's ahead of you. The constant flashes from the spells destroy your ability to see in the gloom. You swear you can hear trees crash around you. The world begins to drain of blue, and what plants you can see begin to bloom impossibly. You strike to keep the spiders back. You spit, swear and use your matron's blade in a desperate attempt to give the magic users enough space to do their terrible work. Thankfully you were already pretty good with it, and have only gotten better. Ron sets things on fire with gusto, flinging fireballs with a mad smile on his face. your matron uses her blue flames to similar effect. She also casts illusions all around you. They don't last long but seem to keep the spiders from ever being quite sure where you are. You can see Cohen's sword flashing in the light of the flames. Whenever he swings spiders flee with their spears cut in half, obviously glad to have their lives. Alonso and Frederick do their best to force the spiders back with the spears you brought. The spiders are brave but not excited to get a spear in the gut. Despite your courage the spiders are striking with one mind. They charge trying to restrain or kill the magic casters. You don't have the numbers to stop them. You get ready to fight to the bitter end. Cohen always stressed the importance of protecting the casters, and enough adventures with Ron has taught you the importance of making sure that you give them enough room while doing so. You push forward sword in hand striking to defend your matron. The spiders give way beneath your assault and you can't help but have a moment of heady euphoria at your success. Unfortunately your joy in defending your matron means you keep pushing, splitting off a bit from the main group. Not fatal, you just need to back up. Your matron moves forward herself, moving out of position. You turn back to see her, she'll be happy at what you've done no doubt. (if: $hidden is 1)[rework rework rework] She's smiling at you, like a delighted parent. There's an uncurrent of tension though, she's worried about your safety away from the group. You feel a moment of pride. Then you see a spider in the trees above her. you shout a warning and sprint back, to make sure that's she safe. Time stretches out as you blood runs cold. Your sleeve safely catches one of the darts, but the other finds it's mark in [[the base of your matron's neck.->kitsune 1 cocoons escape 5]]

She pulls the vividly painted dart in a flash. Then heals the cut in her neck on reflex. She looks at you with a smile. "It'll take more than a dart to stop me. Besides my magic can heal most things." Cohen has everyone form a defense around your matron. She laughs. "Don't worry Cohen, I'm fine." She stumbles and then suddenly throws up all over self. She almost falls over but you catch her, and her eyes waver as she tries to keep them open. "It's funny I'm tired dear." Her eyes close. She's not dead, just unconscious. Cohen hauls you up by your neck and shouts for Ron to make a distraction. Your blade almost sings as you try your hardest to keep back the surging spiders. Ron's distraction goes off with a popping noise and a blinding flash of light. Frederick and Alonso simply lift your matron and carry her as you and Cohen provide desperate cover. It's a desperate running battle for a time. The spiders almost have victory and they know it. Without your matron's magic you have no chance against the weight of numbers. The situation is hopeless and the spiders are out for blood. [[and yet you keep going.->kitsune 1 cocoons escape 6]]

With a nod you agree, no backing out now. your vision is sucked back through your eyes, your mind following it into the blackness beyond. you are fal li n g [[.->kitsune 1 Possession]]

[Falling]<1| (click-replace: ?1)[Falling [Falling]<2|] (click-replace: ?2)[Falling [[Except you've fallen before haven't you?->kitsune 1 Possession 1]]]

Status the kitsune/matron appearance gear

Thanks to Cohen's leadership, Frederick’s ability to find a way through ambushes and honestly a bit of luck you manage to get away, hiding near a small brook. Everyone's tired and your matron hasn't stirred a bit. The group breaks up slightly, each tending to their own needs. You collapse to your knees, despair as much as fatigue weighing you down. Without your matron escape seems unlikely. You take a deep breath and drag yourself back to your feet. It's been worse than this, as remarkable as that seems. Ron sits next to her trying to heal whatever the dart did. It might just be a trick of a light but your matron almost seems to shine in the gloom of the forest, her silver hair and tails seem a bit like starlight. It's not sunlight, the forest canopy is impenetrable as always. Ron looks a bit out of place next to her with his dark hair and his singed gambeson. Ron's tried to heal her during the escape, but it didn't work. He's pouring what magic he can spare into her, wilting a bit under the effort. If he exhausts his magic all will be lost. You put a hand on his shoulder and he tries to smile. Your ears and tails are droopy yourself. Frederick is trying to drink the stream. When he's taken in his fill he starts rooting around with both hands in your matron's bag. He produces what are several priceless treasures but nothing that seems likely to magically save the day. Cohen and Alonso are having a hurried conference about the group's next move. Cohen's a perpetual optimist but Alonso feels the odds are long. They are debating simply trying to hide away in some crevice until the spiders give up. But if you get caught doing that, all the courage in the world won't save you. The spiders will do nothing good if they capture your matron. Situation's bad. Perhaps hoping for a bit of reassurance you take your matron's hand. "Finally!" You drop your matron's hand and look around for who spoke. Frederick gives you a goofy grin as he tries on what's probably a very valuable mask. You take up your matron’s hand again "Don't drop me! Just as I am a messenger for my goddess you are my messenger. Well an imperfect messenger." You call everyone over to hear what she has to say. You repeat her words, although even with a bit of trying you can't quite nail her tone. "The dart they hit me with had something in it that suppresses magic, which is why our gallant young mage can't heal me." Ron blushes a bit as you repeat her words. "But I have a magnificent plan." She can't see anyone obviously, but from the way you grip her hand she must be able to tell the dismayed expression that everyone is making. "Don't be like that. It's very simple. You will be my messenger and draw me into yourself. Then with my magic we will put the spiders to rout." She adds in a tone of incredible confidence "It'll be good for you." You of course have to wonder if it's safe. "It's perfectly safe. Mostly, you are an imperfect vessel. You don't have the training a daughter would need to do it completely safely but the worst it could do is make you better." Given the general arc that your matron making things better follows you are naturally a bit worried. Cohen puts a hand through his beard thoughtfully. Finally he sighs and puts a hand to his forehead. "Youngling please she's my friend. If the spiders catch her they are going to kill her. No two ways about it." He tries to smile, "We will be right beside you." With a request like that you can hardly refuse. Your matron rings out in your ears. "It's important that you agree though. You have to agree or it doesn't work." What was it that Cohen said? If they have to ask you it's probably not good. [[You agree->kitsune 1 cocoons escape 7]]

you can take two wrong decisions, the third one is an instant lose. Checking fox lady the fox only describes things in terms of other things, especially for color, go with that for the kitsune interludes a kitsune interlude is right justified instead of left justified if didn't sleep with the kitsune, the kitsune sees something in Alonso's jawline that reminds her of the man that her lost lenore married. see a phesant or think of something pleasant and get caught up in the memory of hunting a phesant as a fox. This is the phesant that's most important. the rebuke the kitsune ending is unlocked by doing the following two things: 1. figuring out what the tail is for, why only when combined with the kitsune do you have 9 of them. 2. discovering her obsession with a return to the way things were, likely by looking at Cohen and recognizing that she's only seeing him in the heady days of his youth. if you get dinged twice you have the option to try and convert your friends to the kitsune's religion. There's been a bit of bleed over, and you have to be at least partially unconverted to be a good missionary the kitsune suggests at the start going deeper into the forest to try and double back on the spiders. this leads to a double bad choice because wow the kitsune is not great at combat tactics. In this her fox bit comes out the most as she's trapped which any wild animal with sense fears. When reaching the road you have the option to tap into the magic there as hard as you can for an instant lose, because of course it is. For a moment you have a terrible vision of the kitsune's true form, two ear peaks above eyes like infinity. You have a hard time not hiding Frederick as soon as the kitsune sees him handling her treasures. There's an option to stop her which counts as a lose. The sight of magic, raw life as the kitsune sees, thrumming around you moving to a pattern so easy to follow nearly brings you to tears. It moves to a song, you can't quite hear it but you can feel it's thum. (same song you heard during the falling sequence.) how do your friends react: Frederick thinks you look nice, but views such an invasion as very icky. Ron is out and out envious of you. Alonso is mostly concerned about you, although he admits that fire power that will follow orders will make the suckitude that's about to come easier. Cohen's heard of such things and urges caution for both of your sakes. how the kitsune became human, or at least as close to human as she is was a series of steps of better understanding facets of human life. For her this was mostly centered around the rituals of her goddess, which is why she places so much importance on them. (this is taken pretty directly from fox lady, which is fitting.) Ron's long black hair makes the kitsune think briefly of the various sisters she has waiting for her. You can almost sense her have a moment of self-doubt before her confidence kicks in. More things happen, the battle continues, but since it does not in the most true sense really involve you anymore we will close things here. Try again! (hint most options have at least one safe choice.) The kitsune has of course fairly graphically imagined doing the hell out of cohen. Work in something about how she'd finally get him to settle down (which is less her doing a domestication thing and more her helping her friend find what she considers happiness) and warm syrup spilling from a cup. The player is notably unhappy as she starts to fillout the fantasy's details. A memory of the empress? (all authority figures in monsters are girls because why not?) The player contemplates the difference between the queen that they have heard of and the empress that the kitsune adores. You can't quite see the goddess in the kitsune's memories, she's too divine for you to percieve. If didn't bathe with kitsune: she thinks in a negative manner about how dirty everyone is getting. If didn't sleep next to the kitsune: She has a remembrance of curled up in her lover's arms, and how safe she felt there. if didn't defend the kitsune (let Cohen do it.): She notes with envy how quick your friends are to defend you, when you are in the caster role. She thinks for a second of the adoration she gets from her nuns. There is a great stillness in the place where she was raised. The kitsune feels a real burning hatred for the spider queen, imagining a number of unpleasant and graphic things. The player cannot tell if it's is a hatred for attacking your friends, or for challening her temple and by extension her goddess. The kitsune remembers being annoyed with having to write a response poem, being unable to think of a good opening. You feel like a collar around the middle of a horse. It either takes a heck of a dog or a strange looking horse. This is a farmer's metaphor so Cohen doesn't get it. after the possession event ends the player has a slightly better feeling for what the kitsune's thinking. an event where you use the kitsune's illusions to bypass a spider-girl patrol. have the choice of using the illusions to just look like greenery which fails because Ron starts to cough up leaves, or to imitate a spider patrol which feels weird but works. after narrowly defeating the spider-queen the kitsune screams at you from within your ears to purse, to and finish her. (conditional reference to strength of the wall.) You shake your head. The petty rivalries of power will cover the world in blood. Should there be a call back to the ant version of the this scene? The realest call back should be in the ultimate kitsune path, to help establish that the player can resist the kitsune to some degree. This is also where the style changes back to the traditional monsters style instead the rambling kitsune narration. The player upon imitating ron's double blink is swept away with the thrumming life all around them. (this is a call forward to the moth path, which sees the death tinged version of this) Maybe an option to weaken the wall if you don't immediately close your eyes. Ron asks you about magic, to which you can barely reply. To the kitsune it's basically instinctual at this point, and you can't know much more than you immediately need for your own safety. Scene where you ask Cohen for advice on fighting the spider-queen. The spider-queen is going to try and go for the quick finish, the longer a caster remains in combat the more confusion they can generate. upon seeing cohen while possessed, you involuntarily flash back to when he was in his prime. So young, so much hair. Exotic, and the one thing you might never possess. The kitsune really doesn't like frederick, correctly identifying him as the type of person who might actually rob one of her temples. More broadly the kitsune is far away from the trickster part of the kitsune archetype, having gone respectable. The feeling of touched the downed kitsune is electric, like you are touching a charged thing. Your hair stands on end too. In a late kitsune path you see Cohen angry and react the same way you have all the times the kitsune's disguise has slipped. The illusion slips for you for a moment and you see everyone looking silly. 1. the body horror of illusions: "You clack your chitinous fingers together, and for a second spin a web with the practiced ease of an expert hunter. Except you have never spun web before" 2. why cohen really hates illusions: "A man sits in a dark chamber, convinced that dark is light and that madness is sense. His every action strikes a great blow against evil, his words ringing through time. No one can prove him wrong because we all make sense of madness anyway." Female ending brainstorming: Shrine maidens doing purity stuff, maybe cleansing what's totally not pollution. Too princess monoke? How would the opinions on pollution/industrial explotation differ?

So the challenge of moths is how to get Solopipb's mashiro and sally davis in the same story without totally breaking things. The way I decided to do it is via the wonders of depression. All of the paths in monsters of the forest have an emotional theme, when I can be bothered to stick to it. Ants is about just how wonderful it is to be loved and understood (which makes sense when I was writing while feeling alone and unloved.) Kitsune is at it's core about how a desire for stasis leads even good people to be bastards Spiders is probably going to be about how emotional ties color how you view things, and probably the inherent trap of hero worship. Bees I don't fucking know, probably something about the secret language of friends. Moths is going to be about how managing depression colors how you see the world. Moths are the closest thing the setting has to psychopomps. They are literally sustained by the act of things dying. So pretty much everything alive fears them. I decided against having an after life in the setting, monsters is low fantasy as is and afterlifes are just more setting which isn't relevant in the story Any moths can see how things die, or as the player eventually realizes how things might die This is meant to be a parallel to ants, where you would see scents everywhere at times overwhelmingly so, but could instinctively turn it off. Moths can't. Anyway the player is going to discover a moth body next to a spider body, and have a choice in deciding what happened (if they killed eachother, suicided together etc.) this isn't an important choice it's just something the player can latch onto. I'm not sure about the tf itself, I'll figure that out when I get there. anyway, the first tf choice is during the leave the forest path you have the option to lean into seeing how crap will die to escape the spiders chasing you or just ignore it. Moth 0 is supposed to represent how the most common strategy to deal with depression is just try really hard not to think about it. Player character escapes the forest and due to being weaker as a moth, meets cohen right as he's about to enter the forest. Moths is the thematic end of monsters of the forest. Due to it's structure it can't have a proper ending. But this as closes it gets. Anyway, in this cohen moves from a mentor figure to an equal. This partially because the moth player is one of the few things that scare cohen, and partially because without the raw strength of the unmothed player he can now longer count on goading your youthful enthusiasm There's a whole subtext about how cohen uses the player is sort of explotative, it's minor as the player did choose to adventure with cohen and trusts completely. But at the same time the narrative never acknowledges that cohen's leadership is the reason why you are trapped in the forest in the first place. (this is a fun little trick of the narration I like.) Anyway in this path the attack on the nest fails. and the spiders get away with your friends. which presents the second tf choice. The player character sees the silken strand of time, which is supposed to similar to how mashiro can manipulate time in layers of white. They have the option to pull it, reverting things to before the attack happened and try to do things better. If the player is already tfed this locks in their tf, and if they aren't pulling it tfs them. This is the second level of TF, which call moth 1, because moth 0 already involves some tf (even if I don't know what it is yet.) Anyway this is the mashiro path. where not managing depression well the player becomes consumed with preventing the bad things they see everywhere happening to their friends. It's implied that time travel by it's own nature sort of drives the player character mad. If the player doesn't pull the strand as moth 1 they reach moth 2 which is the sammy davis sort of moth. Who sees despair around them and uses that to refocus on what's best in life. That is a good answer. Generally a given path has a single sort climax/block buster ending which is super long and is a whole nother adventure designed to showcase what a given form can do. For moth, it's the dragon invasion of the kingdom where everything has happened in the story. This gets referenced in each the full conversion endings as something they hear about and convince their new monster-girl species to help out with. In moth 1, the player character fights in the battle directly and seeing their friends almost buy it. Unwilling to even risking losing anything, they pull the stand of time repeatedly trying again and again to find the however unlikely series of events that will let the battle be won without risk. I got a whole twine thing I'm gonna do for that, it'll be neat. In moth 2, the battle goes quite badly the first day and then on the second the monster-girls from all the other paths show up to turn the tide. The player character has managed to see past the lines and the boxes, past perhaps even the words and found the meaning. And so the battle is won. They gave the ants the weapons to defend themselves, the kitsune her temple, the spiders not having to do slavery, the bees accord.

(restart:)

Are you sure? There's no undoing this. [[I'm quite sure->restart]]

(if: $statusstart is 0)[Status:] \(if: $deepbreathstatus is 1)[You took a deep breath and are ready to decide what to do next] \(if: $Option2Status is 1)[You have resolved to escape, but why and for what?] \(if: $GuiltStatus is 1)[You have resolved to escape, to save your own skin. It's going to take all you have to escape. Let's hope the spiders don't get you in the back.] \(if: $BraveryStatus is 1)[You have resolved to escape, to get what you need to rescue the others. It's going to take all you have to escape. It'll make a hell of a tale.] \(if: $BrookStatus is 1)[(if: $prudence is 1)[You have vowed vengeance and are trying to escape. Now if you weren't just so hungry.](if: $guilt is 1)[You are seeing to escape and save yourself. Sadly your progress is interrupted by your search for something to eat.] (if: $KitsuneStartStatus is 1)[ You are dithering in front of a temple, surely there must be a limit on how much can go wrong in a day right?]] \(if: $TempleKitsune0Status is 1)[(if: $prudence is 1)[You have vowed vengeance and are trying to escape.](if: $guilt is 1)[You are seeing to escape and save yourself.] \(if: $AltarKitsune0Status is 1)[You are committing an act of theft so brazen that even Frederick would be proud. Bold strategy, lets see how it works out!] \(if: $CaughtKitsune0Status is 1)[You are being held not quite hostage by a kitsune. Hopefully you can figure out some way to keep her from getting too angry.] \(if: $SnapKitsune0Status is 1)[You found what you were looking for, doesn’t' look like the fox lady is going to leave alone just yet.]] \(if: $BaseKitsune0Status is 1)[(if: $EarlyEndingStatus is 0)[You are an adventurer who has been cursed by a kitsune.](if: $EarlyEndingStatus is 1)[You were an adventurer who had been cursed by a kitsune.] \(if: $Event1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are weighing the kitsune’s sword and her offer.(If: $kitsunecurse is 1)[Given her enthusiasm for changing you this is probably not going to be her last offer.]] \(if: $MoveKitsune0Status is 1)[You are getting ready to leave the temple and reenter the forest. For a moment you are reminded of getting ready with the others this morning.] \(if: $Argument2Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are moving along an overgrown road through the forest. You have a distantly concerned feeling but can’t quite pin it down.] \(if: $Argument22Kitsune0Status is 1)[You pushed your luck too far and are terrified! Also being cursed by the kitsune. Maybe don’t make a habit of this okay? (If: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Wow so you went for it again? That tracks with what's happened so far.]] \ \(if: $Event2Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are moving along an overgrown road through the forest. The kitsune is making small talk, but you finally realized what you forgot.] \(if: $Event21Kitsune0Status is 1)[And it was all going so well. You are engaged in battle with the spiders. let's hope that the kitsune is as willing to punish them as she is to punish you.] \(if: $Event22Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are trying not call out the kitsune's bullshit. I mean seriously.] \(if: $RefuseKitsune0Status is 1)[You decided against playing into the kitsune's hands. She wants to make a mess? She can help you get out of this one.] \(if: $Refuse1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You decided against playing into the kitsune's hands. She made a mess and helped you clean it up. Thankfully it seems like your plan worked.] \(if: $Argument3Kitsune0Status is 1)[You managed to escape the spiders ambush. Alive, unharmed and free! Nothing could go wrong now. (if: $kitsunecurse is 1 or 2)[You definitely aren't about to start anything are you?]] \(if: $PushKitsune0Status is 1)[You have rather foolishly pushed an argument the kitsune was expecting to win. She is cursing you, which you probably should of seen coming. (If: $kitsunecurse is 1)[You just don't learn do you?](If: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Wow first time wasn't enough for you was it?](If: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Surely this as as cursed as you can get? What more could she do?]] \(if: $Argument4Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are considering doing something deeply, deeply stupid.] \(if: $Argument41Kitsune0Status is 1)[Come on! You can't be this stupid.(If: $kitsunecurse > 0)[ You have an ominous feeling, something tells you she won't go easy on you this time.] ] \(if: $BadEndKitsune0Status is 1)[You are utterly lost, without the faintest idea of where you are. There's no telling if you are even still in your homeland. That won't stop you from finding your friends though.] \(if: $RescueKitsune0Status is 1)[Your exaultation at escaping the forest is fading as you ponder what to do next. Do you have it in you to do more? Do you have it into you to abandon your friends?] \(if: $EarlyHumanKitsune0Status is 1)[You chose to save yourself and seek a different life far from adventuring. Only you can say if this was the wrong choice or the correct one. You do manage to find a measure of satisfaction in your life as an apothecary though.] \(if: $EarlyNunKitsune0Status is 1)[You chose to save yourself and seek a different life far from adventuring. Only you can say if this was the wrong choice or the correct one. Life in the kitsune's temple is lavish, although quite unexciting. Perhaps unexciting is what you need, or maybe you will seek something else.] \ \(if: $TownKitsune0Status is 1)[You are resolved to rescue your friend and have gotten the kitsune to help in this. Let's hope you can find Cohen. (if: $prudence is 1)[The kitsune's help will make this go easier, but once you get geared up there's no stopping you.](if: $guilt is 1)[With the kitsune's firepower perhaps you can really do this.]] \(if: $Town1Kitsune0Status is 1)[ You can't help but smile, Cohen has been found.] \(if: $Town3Kitsune0Status is 1)[You have never experienced flight before, you find you don't much enjoy it even if it is the sort of thing that happens in adventures.] \(if: $BathHouseKitsune0Status is 1)[You are looking around wide eyed at this magical place the kitsune has brought you. You've never seen it's like.] \(if: $BathHouseKitsune0Status is 2)[You are pondering what to do with your evening. This place is wondrous but likely dangerous.] \(if: $CohenKitsune0Status is 1)[You have chosen to relax in your room at the bathhouse with Cohen. Currently you are relaxing and making a token effort to get clean in the fairly large stone bath in the room's floor. Cohen's acting silly to help you relax.] \(if: $Cohen1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You have chosen to relax in your room at the bathhouse with Cohen. You have had a good deal of fun carousing with the servers. Every adventurer knows how to carouse after all. Now you are talking with Cohen.] \(if: $Cohen2Kitsune0Status is 1)[After a day of disasterous adventure and getting transformed you are laying down to rest. The bath has soothed your sore muscles, and you have a mild buzz going. Falling asleep should be easy.] \(if: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You've chosen to bathe with the kitsune, it's already turning hella awkward.] \(if: $SoberKitsune0Status is 1)[You have chosen to chastely bathe with the kitsune. If this is out of manners or wisdom is up to you. At the moment you are relaxing in the enormous stone bath.] \(if: $Tree2Kitsune0Status is 1)[You have chosen to chastely bathe with the kitsune. If this is out of manners or wisdom is up to you. You are still shaking a bit from witnessing the kitsune's displeasure.] \(if: $Tree3Kitsune0Status is 1)[You have chosen to chastely bathe with the kitsune. If this is out of manners or wisdom is up to you. You are currently engaged in epic splash combat!] \(if: $FunKitsune0Status is 1)[You have chosen to induldge the kitsune and bathe sensually. Let's hope this seems as good an idea tomorrow. She's asking indirectly if you'd like a female or male partner.] \(if: $Fun1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You have chosen to induldge the kitsune and bathe sensually. You decided to ask the kitsune to keep a female figure. She's a skilled lover, but totally unwilling to be there for you emotionally, which is hardly making love.] \(if: $Fun2Kitsune0Status is 1)[You have chosen to induldge the kitsune and bathe sensually. You decided to ask the kitsune to gain a male figure. Hey no judging.] \(if: $Fun3Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are still angry. I mean who does that, honestly?] \(if: $BathHouse2Kitsune0Status is 1)[After a day of disasterous adventure and getting transformed you are laying down to rest. The bath was warm and after so much running and fighting sleep comes quickly.] \(if: $BathHouse3Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are awake in a place outside of time and a bit hungover. Let's hope today goes better than yesterday.] \(if: $BathHouse4Kitsune0Status is 1)[(if: $kitsunecurse is > 0)[you are fit to dance having finally gotten rid of the kitsune's curse.](if: $kitsunecurse is 0)[You are finally ready to leave the bathhouse. It was a nice place, maybe you will be able to bring your friends here?]] \(if: $MorningKitsune0Status is 1)[You find you still do not enjoy flight. The whole unearthly apparatus swings and bobs untethered from the earth.] \(if: $Morning1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are on sweet merciful ground.] \(if: $Morning2Kitsune0Status is 1)[You chose to get equipment with Cohen. Sweating a trader isn't pleasant work, but easy in the big scheme of things. Thankfully you know what everyone else is going to need gear wise.] \(if: $Morning3Kitsune0Status is 1)[You chose to help the kitsune in her missionary work. Despite everything you have to admire her zeal for it. Having to hand out paper is hardly converting you though.] \(if: $ForestKitsune0Status is 1)[The forest looms ahead of you and for a moment your courage is tested. (if: $prudence is 1)[You try and remind yourself that you fled to get geared up, now you are you need but stride forward for victory!](if: $guilt is 1)[You fled earlier to save yourself, to return to such a place especially when given the option to flee speaks to your courage even if you won't admit it.]] \(if: $Forest1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are moving through the forest, doing your best to keep an eye out while watching the trail. It's a tiring journey but better than the blind fleeing you were doing earlier.] \(if: $Forest2Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are snaking around the spider's nest doing your very best to not be seen by any of the many guards. It'd be a huge let down to get caught now.] \(if: $Forest3Kitsune0Status is 1)[After surveying the nest it's time to come up with a plan. Cohen always claimed that the mind was the most dangerous weapon. You do wish the others were here to liven it up though.] \(if: $Forest4Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are trying to decide where to sleep as you waste another day in preparation for the attack.] \(if: $SleepKitsune0Status is 1)[After a day of hiking you decided to sleep with the kitsune. (if: $kitsunefun is 1)[You slept well wrapped in her arms.](if: $kitsunefun is 0)[You slept next to her, turns out her tails are good for warmth if not much else.] Now is the day of action.] \(if: $SleepKitsune0Status is 2)[After a day of hiking you decided to sleep between your two compatriots. You slept badly and the dawn is an unwelcome sight. Perhaps the spiders will regret your grumpiness. Still today is the day of action.] \(if: $SleepKitsune0Status is 3)[After a day of hiking you decided to sleep next to cohen. It's not the first time you've camped with the old man and so you slept fine. By morning he's saying cryptic things about death which means he slept well. Today is going to be a day of action and blood. Let's see if the spiders are ready for you.] \(if: $Forest5Kitsune0Status is 1)[It's time to decide on the plan to use to enter the spider's nest. Both are bold, one might be foolish?] \(if: $StealthKitsune0Status is 1)[You decided to follow the kitsune's plan of sneaking into the spider's nest with the help of *illusions*. Let's hope it works.] \(if: $Stealth1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You decided to follow the kitsune's plan of sneaking into the spider's nest. Currently that involves holding a sheet over your head and hoping desperately that the kitsune's illusions keep you hidden. This might be the silliest thing you've done while adventuring. No wait, you've done sillier.] \(if: $Stealth1Kitsune0Status is 2)[you have faced terror] \(if: $AttackKitsune0Status is 1)[You chose to follow Cohen’s plan of creating a distraction and then sneaking in during the chaos. Now is the waiting, which can be its own trial.] \(if: $AttackKitsune0Status is 2)[You chose to follow cohen's plan of creating a distraction and then sneaking in during the chaos. The attack has begun! Now is the time for courage.] \(if: $CocoonsKitsune0Status is 1)[After much fighting and effort you have finally reached your friends. You still have to escape, but this is a triumph all the same.] \(if: $Cocoons1Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are fighting back to back with the kitsune, working to protect everyone else while they are rescued from the cocoons. Surprisingly little fighting actually, kind of a let down.] \(if: $Cocoons2Kitsune0Status is 1)[You are helping to spring your friends from cocoons. You were trapped in one not so long ago. Let's hope that helps you go fast because this is not a place you want to linger.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Status is 1)[You are fleeing through the forest, trying as hard as you might to escape the pursuing spider-girls. You have the kitsune, but they have numbers and rage. Let's hope that you don't have to see which is stronger.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Status is 2)[The spider's attack has begun. They have numbers and come from every angle. You push your skills to the limits. It doesn't look good.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Status is 3)[You are exhausted. The fighting is relentless and seemingly without end. Still you are in good company for such a hopeless battle. You'll have good spirits if nothing else.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Status is 4)[You have fought hard and were injured defending the casters like you should. It's funny it seems all so far away now.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Status is 5)[You are alive which is something. The air is unnaturally still and you feel like something is misplaced inside of you.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Status is 6)[You can feel your skin prickle when ever you turn towards the valley. Your ears and tails keep pulsing suddenly sending out a blue flash around you.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Status is 7)[You are in danger, perhaps the most danger you have ever been in. But even in the depths of the valley of the shadow of death, you kept your humanity and that's a victory itself.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Status is 8)[after so much trial and danger you have escaped the forest and rescued your friends. You cannot help but smile in triumph. Now the question is what to do next. The immediate answer is of course party. \ \(if: $kitsunefinishfemale is 1)[You have resolved to lose the kitsune's "curse" but will remain a woman.] \(if: $kitsunefinishmale is 1)[You have resolved to try and get turned back into yourself. A fantastic transformation can be interesting, but there's no shame in being something simple.] \(if: $kitsunefinishkitsune is 1)[You have decided to keep the kitsune's "curse"] ] \ \ \(if: $RebukeKitsune0Status is 1)[You are considering the most basic and perhaps most important question about the kitsune. Can you trust her?] \(if: $RebukeKitsune0Status is 2)[You have abjured the hell out of the kitsune.] \(if: $RebukeKitsune0Status is 3)[You have rebuked the kitsune and are now questing for a way to return to normal. Cohen claims that he knows of a cure on a glacier to the north.] \(if: $RebukeKitsune0Status is 4)[You have rebuked the kitsune and are now questing for a way to return to normal. Impossibly you have met someone from another world. This Sanya seems strong enough to face whatever fate awaits her.] \ \(if: $HideCurse is 0)[ (If: $kitsunecurse is 2)[Thanks to the kitsune's curse you can't swear which bleeping sucks.] (If: $kitsunecurse is 3)[Thanks to the kitsune's curse you can't swear which bleeping sucks. On top of that every step and movement is a sexy sway, it's the least practical way to do anything. Well except for seduce people but you are on an adventure!]] ] \(if: $FemaleKitsune0Status is 1)[You were a male adventurer. Then you got cursed, after a great deal of adventure you decided to become a woman, uncursed by the kitsune. She lifted her curse after a bit of prodding. Everyone else wants to get to normal though.] \(if: $FemaleKitsune0Status is 2)[You go onto be a hero of tales, an adventurer ready to face whatever challenge you meet next. You are widely considered a bad example for girls everywhere.] \(if: $MaleKitsune0Status is 1)[You were a male adventurer and have been cursed by a Kitsune. You have decided to return to being a man. Given what the kitsune seems to enjoy, that's going to be a bit of a challenge.] \(if: $MaleKitsune0Status is 2)[You were a male adventurer and have been cursed by a Kitsune. You have decided to return to being a man. This involves of all things rice farming, and eventually making rice wine. Couldn't it be something easier? Like life threating adventure?] \(if: $MaleKitsune0Status is 3)[You were a male adventurer and have been cursed by a Kitsune. You have decided to return to being a man. You are being given one last entreaty by the kitsune. Perhaps it's nice to be pampered, but you are decided.] \(if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[(if: $MaleKitsune0Status is 4)[It took some doing but you have finally escaped the kitsune's "curse" and managed to return to normal. You become a hero of tales.]] \(if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[(if: $MaleKitsune0Status is 4)[It took some doing but you have finally broke the kitsune's "curse" and managed to return to how you were. You go onto become a hero of tales.]] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 1)[You were an adventurer who was cursed by a kitsune. You have decided not to seek an escape to her curse, it has it's perks after all. Getting everyone else back to normal should be simple right?] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 2)[You have decided to return to not seek an escape to the kitsune's curse and are working to get everyone back to normal. Despite the omnipresent rain, the air is suspiciously still. It's a touch uncanny.] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 3)[You have decided to return to not seek an escape to the kitsune's curse and are working to get everyone back to normal. You are busy fighting these curious formerly human creatures, they seem to be losing their definition as the night wears on.] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 4)[You are fighting desperately to keep the strange creatures back. Your arms ache, and your breath grows short. But you keep fighting.] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 5)[You are fighting desperately to keep the strange creatures back. The situation is bad but you can't help but take heart from what Cohen said.] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 6)[A march through hostile terrain to an uncertain goal. This is seeming familar. You are far too tired and busy watching every step to really notice though.] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 7)[Someone how even as the land melts around you, you still have to lose your clothes. Why is it always you?] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 8)[It was difficult, but the day has been saved. Violence is not always what it takes to save the land. You chose to remain as you were. No shame in liking the way you are.] (if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 9)[It was difficult but the day has been saved. Violence is not always what it takes to save the land. The town was saved but destroyed in the process. For some reason a bit of the poetic edda sticks in your mind. "we live as we will live, with the mighty grief that was ours and theirs"] \(if: $EndingKitsune0Status is 10)[You chose to retain the kitsune's "curse". You went on to become an adventurer of renown! Your ghostly fox ears and tails become the subject of many tails, and something of an artistic motif for a while.] \ \ \(if: $statusstart is 0)[Appearance: ] \(if: $escapeapperance is 1)[A bit unexpectedly you look like your ideal girl.] \(if: $Kitsune0Appearance is 1)[The kitsune's "curse" has shifted your appearance slightly from your ideal girl. Your hands and frame are softer. Your boobs are definitely bigger. On top of that you keep catching shimmers of blue and the occasional blue light around your shadow. It’s probably nothing though.(if: $Wither0Appearance is 1)[You are abnormally waxen and wan. The kitsune's effect on the plants around her to seems to be replicated to a lesser degree with you. You can feel things wilting inside. It hurts.](if: $Wither0Appearance is 2)[The kitsune's improved mood has let you recover some what. You are still a bit pale though and hair has lost it's luster for the moment.](if: $Rebuke0Appearance is 1)[Your ears and tail dim a bit in the absence of the kitsune.]](if: $CurseDisplay is 1)[ \(if: $HideCurse is 0)[ \(If: $kitsunecurse is 1)[The kitsune has cursed you for angering her. She for reasons known only to her has dyed your skin a powdery white. Your skin might be a touch softer for it?] \(If: $kitsunecurse is 2)[The kitsune has enhanced her already present curse. Your powdered white skin, is now enhanced by some expertly applied facial makeup. On top of that she's given you a delicate perfume. You'd never admit it but you look quite elegant.] \(If: $kitsunecurse is 3)[The kitsune has enhanced her already present curse. Your powdered white skin, is now enhanced by some expertly applied facial makeup. Your hair is now delicately coiffed to enhance the look. You even smell nice as she's given you a delicate perfume. You'd never admit it but you look like a refined lady, perhaps the most beautiful that you have ever looked.]]] \(if: $CleanKitsune0Appearance is 1)[You are clean, which is a change of pace. Your hair is long enough to float in the bathwater now.] \ \(If: $EarlyHumanKitsune0Appearance is 1)[You remain "cursed" by the kitsune. The only obvious change is that your phantom ears and tail dim, although they do tend to grow brighter when you are in the forest looking for ingredients. You perhaps you will seek out potions to change your appearance but those are also a royal pain in the ass to make. You'd need some serious stones to get a Roc's feather after all.] \(If: $EarlyNunKitsune0Appearance is 1)[You remain "cursed" by the kitsune, she claims that you look better this way. Curiously it's only the rare nun that has fox tails or ears.] \(if: $TiedKitsune0Appearance is 1)[Your newly long hair has been tied back by the kitsune, let’s hope it holds.] \(if: $TiedKitsune0Appearance is 2)[The fighting has disturbed the kitsune's careful hair ties so your hair looks like a bit of a mess.] \(if: $Tree1Kitsune0Appearance is 1)[The kitsune has helped out put a simple braid into your hair. It'll be handy to keep your hair out of eyes in combat at least.] \(if: $Tree1Kitsune0Appearance is 2)[Your braid came loose while you were sleeping, maybe the kitsune can comb it out of your hair?] \(if: $TiedKitsune0Appearance is 3)[The kitsune has carefully tied back your hair, binding it as tightly as she can with several paper ties. Last thing you want is hair in your face in combat.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance is 1)[You are flush with triumph, also a lot of alcohol.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance is 2)[In embracing the kitsune's curse you also let her style your hair and apply a bit of make up. It's a damn bother, but it does make you look good.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance is 3)[Your hair is a mess and your face is splotched with mud. Within in the strange rain your ears and tails shine more brightly than before, casting light on those around you. It helps them standout in the mist you find.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Appearance is 3)[In time your ears and tails shine a bit more brightly, and you do eventually manage to get a handle on your newly long hair. You look like quite the adventurous beauty.] \(if: $MaleKitsune0Appearance is 1)[You are getting swole for doing this much farming, and have lost a bit of your smoothness] \(if: $MaleKitsune0Appearance is 2)[You have been washed, combed, made up and attended to. You are perhaps as beautiful as you could be made to look. (Natural beauty is it's own thing of course.)] \ \(if: $Stealth0Appearance is 1)[white knuckles and racked by shaky breaths] \ \(if: $Female0Appearance is 1)[You strongly resemble yourself as a girl, if perhaps a touch more beautiful.] \(if: $Male0Appearance is 3)[You strongly resemble yourself, if perhaps a touch more handsome.] \ \(if: $statusstart is 0)[Gear:] \(if: $humangear is 1)[You are wearing an ill-fitting shirt and pants. Thank god you still have your boots. Furthermore you have your effects secured in a small pouch. These consist of: 1 small pocket knife, 1 lucky charm, 1 flint, some string, and 1 small mirror.] \(if: $Kitsune0Gear is 1)[You have switched from your underclothes to the kitsune’s robes. They are long nun’s robes in a dazzling red and white. The sleeves are handy for holding things you find. (if: $MoveKitsune0Gear is 0)[With the kitsune’s magic they aren’t as miserable as travel gear as they might be, but they still catch with annoying regularity.](if: $MoveKitsune0Gear is 1)[inbetween the kitsune’s magic and her tying them up; the robes aren’t as miserable as travel gear as they might be, but they still catch with annoying regularity.](if: $FightKitsune0Gear is 1)[Your robe is stained with (if: $SootKitsune0Gear is 0)[a bit of mud and blood.](if: $SootKitsune0Gear is 1)[mud, blood and soot.] Which is about what'd you expect from wearing white into combat. Less soot than when adventuring with Ron though.] (if: $SwordKitsune0Gear is 1)[You are using one of the kitsune’s swords. It’s a long thin thing, of a style you have never used before. A bit heavy but wickedly sharp and that’s good enough for you.]] \(if: $EarlyHumanKitsune0Gear is 1)[You switch to a more sensible dress and apron combo, although you do make a point of keeping a knife whenever you venture into the woods for ingredients. The kitsune's robes are at best a painful reminder, perhaps you will sell them to a theater troupe] \(if: $EarlyHumanKitsune0Gear is 1)[You have to keep wearing the kitsune's robes, the ones not modified for travel are heavy and hideously impractical for most things.] \(if: $Cohen0Gear is 1)[You are butt naked, thankfully free of the kitsune's cumbersome robe.] \(if: $Baths0Gear is 1)[The bathhouse supplies these soft striped robes to wear after you bathe. They are quite comfortable you find, if a bit thin and hug your figure closely.] \(if: $BathHouse0Gear is 1)[You've discarded the outer most layers of the kitsune's robe. There is still more robe to lose and this close to a warm bath that large it's pretty hot.] \(if: $Sober0Gear is 1)[You are equipped with precisely nothing.] \(if: $Fun0Gear is 1)[You are equipped with your wits, and a good deal of bathwater.] \(if: $Fun0Gear is 2)[You are equipped with your wits, and a good deal of bathwater. You are pretty sure that you aren't carrying any of the kitsune's gift. You were thorough in your washing. Better safe than sorry.] \(if: $Awake0Gear is 1)[ The kitsune's robes are the only clothing available. Damn things are almost impossible to put on though. So they hang on your frame and you have to constantly hold them closed.] \(if: $Awake0Gear is 2)[The kitsune's robes are the only clothing available. They are so complicated they kitsune had to tie em on for you. Who wears clothes like this willingly?] \(if: $Gambeson0Gear is 1)[You are wearing an old, off color, moth eaten gambeson. It's a familar relief although a touch awkward with your new bust. Still you can manage. It's certainly better camoflauge than those bright robes. Wearing this the spiders will have to flee! You stuck with the kitsune's long thin sword. It's a well made blade and a lighter weapon fits you slightly better at the moment. She will also pout interminably if you stop using it. \(if: $Leaf0Gear is 1)[Your gambeson is covered in a great deal of dirt and leaf matter as your crouch against trees and occasionally crawl along the ground to avoid being seen.](if: $Leaf0Gear is 2)[You took the time brush off as much dirt and leaf matter from your gambeson as practicable. Not much else to prepare.](if: $Leaf0Gear is 3)[You are covered in dirt, leaf matter and ash (Ron and the kitsune share the same enthusiasm for fire.).](if: $Leaf0Gear is 4)[You are covered in dirt, leaf matter and ash. On top of this is a fresh layer of the blood you keep coughing up on yourself.] \(if: $Stealth0Gear is 1)[You are also holding a large silken sheet up and over head. Good thing it's transparent or you would be running into things constantly. It's something of a struggle to not trip on the end of it.] \(if: $Stealth0Gear is 2)[can anything protect you?] \(if: $Rebuke0Gear is 1)[You do eventually find a gambeson that fits a touch better. This you customize with as many warm layers as you can find. Which makes you end up looking quite lumpy. You don't wear the skimpy armor you see in particularly inaccurate plays though.] \(if: $Finale0Gear is 1)[You mostly wear the robes that the bathhouse offers. No sense in getting all dressed up.] \(if: $Male0Gear is 1)[You are wearing lavish robes, it reminds you perhaps of bridal clothes.] (if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[(if: $Male0Gear is 2)[You manage to replace most of your old gear. You eventually pass on the kitsune's robes, they seem a good enough stand in for a magician's robes.]] (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[(if: $Male0Gear is 2)[You manage to replace most of your old gear. You leave your robes with the kitsune, she seems glad to have them back.]] (if: $kitsunefinishkitsune is 1)[The kitsune seems annoyed you don't wear her robes, but even cursed you can tell those things are friggin impractical.] \(if: $Wet0Gear is 1)[You are getting rapidly soaked by the strange salty rain.] \(if: $Wet0Gear is 2)[You are soaked head to toe with salt rain and mud.] \(if: $Wet0Gear is 3)[You managed to wring your clothes dry, and have added a peaked hat to help keep the rain off.] \(if: $Wet0Gear is 4)[You are soaked again, your hat let's your vision keep clear though and keeps water from running down your back.] \(if: $Wet0Gear is 5)[You eventually get a better new gambeson. You style it with a few fox patterned patches, and do put a bit of red and white on the sleeve. You also keep your peaked ear hat, it's handy.] ] \(if: $Female0Gear is 1)[You manage to replace your armor and sword to something that works better with your changed form. You keep the things the kitsune gave you as gifts, they make a good costume at times and if nothing else are finely made.] \(if: $KitsunePresence is 1)[The kitsune: \(if: $BaseKitsune0Description is 1)[The kitsune is a fox woman, complete with fox ears and 8 tails (you had to count to be sure.) Her face is adorened with red rouge which complements her long shiny black hair. (if: $NakedKitsune0Description is 0)[She is wearing a red and white religous robe, which fails to conceal her impressive figure. ](if: $NakedKitsune0Description is 1)[She is also nude. Her figure is more impressive than you could of dreamed, and she has some impressive curves. She very much looks like the messenger of a fertility goddess.](if: $NakedKitsune0Description is 2)[She has taken on a male appearance, it's still clearly her though. Something about the eyes remains much the same. To say nothing of her abundance of tails and fox ears. She is also totally in the nude. She's tall, dark and sort of generically handsome. She also is well hung, which you suppose should be expected from a messenger of a fertility goddess.] (if: $RobeKitsune0Description is 1)[She's wearing a thin almost transparent robe, she's shapely and you clearly has the figure associated with icons of fertility.] \(if: $TempleKitsune0Description is 1)[Currently she is following you around like an angry parent] \(if: $CoinsKitsune0Description is 1)[The kitsune is giving you a look that says like she's about to make you regret some things.] \(if: $RobesKitsune0Description is 1)[She was busy tidying up the ruined temple. Now she’s holding a wearable tent and looking at you expectantly.] \(if: $Event1Kitsune0Description is 1)[She’s looking at you expectantly. From outward appearances it really does seem like she think this offer is in your best interest.] \(if: $MoveKitsune0Description is 1)[Is getting ready to leave. She has all the carefree manner of someone preparing for a picnic.] \(if: $Arguement2Kitsune0Description is 1)[Is busying herself leading the way, although she pauses at times to relight long dark wooden lanterns. The blue light they make is hauntingly beautiful.] \(if: $Arguement21Kitsune0Description is 1)[She has paused, her normal composure suddenly punctured by something, likely some regret. (If: $kitsunecurse is 1)[You have a bit of deja vu, maybe it'd be better to not press it?]] \(if: $Arguement21Kitsune0Description is 1)[Her anger is making her human form slip slightly. She seems equal parts guilty and indigant.] \(if: $Event2Kitsune0Description is 1)[She has taken up small talk with you, walking as if on her way to picnic] \(if: $Event21Kitsune0Description is 1)[She has joined you in battle. However despite her enthusiasm, her poise isn't one of an experienced warrior.] \(if: $Event22Kitsune0Description is 1)[She is fighting back to back with you. Her magic is powerful to be sure but she's obviously not trained in the finer points of combat. Her friggin tails keep getting in your face for one. You are sure she has a smug grin though.] \(if: $RefuseKitsune0Description is 1)[She is fighting back to back with you. Her magic is powerful to be sure but she's obviously not trained in the finer points of combat. Her friggin tails keep getting in your face for one. Her attempts to defend you seem sincere at least.] \(if: $Argument3Kitsune0Description is 1)[She's talking about who's responsible for getting away in such manner that you with your tightly tuned survival instincts can tell is the tone of voice she uses when she expects you to agree] \(if: $PushKitsune0Description is 1)[Her anger is making her human form slip slightly.] \(if: $Argument4Kitsune0Description is 1)[She's pausing to eat, you never thought you'd hear her stomach make that loud a noise.] \(if: $BadEndKitsune0Description is 1)[Wherever she is she is probably laughing.] \(if: $RescueKitsune0Description is 1)[(if: $kitsunecurse < 3)She is looking at you with a motherly expectation, like you are a lost duckling who simply needs a bit of coaxing to follow her where ever she leads. If you are going to make the rescue you need her help, and if you are going to move her to help now's the time.](if: $kitsunecurse is 3)[She is checking the sunset and barely gives you a glance. She's obviously not going to offer to take you with her, but might still be moved if you mention your plight.]] \(if: $EarlyNunKitsune0Description is 1)[Is the abbess of her temple. She's good at her job but seems to have neglected even her main temple. She does make time for you though.] \(if: $TownKitsune0Description is 1)[She is leading the way grasping your hand.] \(if: $Town1Kitsune0Description is 1)[Her tails are wagging happily and she has a nostalgic smile.] \(if: $Town3Kitsune0Description is 1)[Is tying back your hair to try and calm you. It's not doing much.] \(if: $BathHouseKitsune0Description is 1)[She has an excited smile, and seems to be actively scanning the crowd for those she might recongize.] \(if: $BathHouse1Kitsune0Description is 1)[She is giving you an expectant smile, as if the question is already decided.] \(if: $BathHouse2Kitsune0Description is 1)[Her cheeks are rosy and she's getting pretty wasted. She is also sobbing and now propositioning you for sex. You might be regretting your decision.] \(if: $SoberKitsune0Description is 1)[Her cheeks are rosy and she's obviously a bit tipsy. But she's stopped crying and that's a relief.] \(if: $BathHouse3Kitsune0Description is 1)[For the most part she's sobered up. She is wearing a striped robe similar to yours, although she manages to make even this look good. She almost seems to glow from how clean she is.] \(if: $BathHouse4Kitsune0Description is 1)[She is a surprisingly messy sleeper. Which is funny given how she always tries to look prim and proper while awake.] \(if: $BathHouse5Kitsune0Description is 1)[She seems sad to leave the bathhouse. Still you note that she did her hair and makeup especially fearsome for today's trials.] \(if: $MorningKitsune0Description is 1)[She is holding your hands to help keep you calm.] \(if: $Morning1Kitsune0Description is 1)[She is examining the farming village with a hopeful look, like she's planning something.] \(if: $Morning2Kitsune0Description is 1)[She has been busy wearing illusions to try and get converts. For a moment she seems quite impressive but then it settles back to how she normally looks.] \(if: $Morning3Kitsune0Description is 1)[She persues missionary work with a happy enthusiasm. Perhaps she truly believes in her goddess and her bounty. She's using a good number of illusions to try and convince onlookers.] \(if: $ForestKitsune0Description is 1)[She is pouting at the speed with which you discarded your robes. Still she seems understanding when your courage sticks for a moment.] \(if: $Forest2Kitsune0Description is 1)[She seems to be making a sport of out toasting the webs she finds, damn the consequences.] \(if: $Forest3Kitsune0Description is 1)[She claims that the spiders will not be able to see through her illusion. She does have the common curtesy to keep behind trees most of the time though. You can only hope it's enough.] \(if: $Forest4Kitsune0Description is 1)[She is kneeling in the war council, apparently offended by the omni-present mud.] \(if: $Forest5Kitsune0Description is 1)[She is having an animated conversation with Cohen. They maybe very different people but they seem good friends.] \(if: $SleepKitsune0Description is 1)[She is tending to her last bits of preening. Even in the field she feels the need to look good. Maybe the spiders will appreciate it.] \(if: $Forest6Kitsune0Description is 1)[She is giving you that expectant look she uses when she expects you to agree with her.] \(if: $StealthKitsune0Description is 1)[Seems pleased as punch that you agreed to her plan over Cohen's, how petty can you be?] \(if: $Stealth1Kitsune0Description is 1)[She Is chanting to help her cast magic and using her voluminous tails to help make up a spider-girl's bulk under the silken sheet.] \(if: $AttackKitsune0Description is 1)[She is nearby, and on guard.] \(if: $CocoonsKitsune0Description is 1)[She is using her magic to cover the rescue. The flashes of blue are at times almost blinding.] \(if: $Cocoons1Kitsune0Description is 1)[She Is back to back with you. Her tails are a warm presence on your back, and keep tickling your neck.] \(if: $Cocoons2Kitsune0Description is 1)[She is back to back with Cohen fighting like heroes to protect everyone else. It looks like something out of a tale.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Description is 1)[She keeps her air of calm nobility. Frustratingly she won't go any faster than would be elegant. She seems convinced that the spiders are nothing more than a trifle.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Description is 2)[She is furiously casting magic and illusions to try and force the spiders back. Even in the midst of this maelstrom she seems undaunted.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Description is 3)[Finally she grasps the danger that she refused to see earlier. She is pushing herself to her limit to try and escape. She is gasping for breath and her hair is a mess. Still she seems unafraid.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Description is 4)[She is safe, thanks to you.] \(if: $EscapeKitsune0Description is 5)[Her eyes are stained a bit red and her smile is a bit less wide. But she seems unharmed by her earlier grief.] \(if: $RebukeKitsune0Description is 1)[She will say anything but an apology.] \(if: $RebukeKitsune0Description is 2)[She gave you a final "blessing" and left. Hopefully she will find peace and perhaps a healthier way to deal with her grief.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Description is 1)[The kitsune joins you in revelry, enjoying the many comforts that the bathhouse has to offer. Thankfully whenever her tab comes due isn't your problem.] \(if: $FemaleKitsune0Description is 1)[Seems disappointed that you renounced her "curse" but still enjoys hanging around.] \(if: $FemaleKitsune0Description is 2)[In time she returns to her duties, she seems sad? disappointed? Perhaps you will meet her again.] \(if: $MaleKitsune0Description is 1)[Seems to be making every effort she can to change your mind. This mostly boils down to small comforts. She's almost charming, but your mind is made up.] \(if: $MaleKitsune0Description is 2)[She is making a last desperate plea, for you to remain as you are or perhaps accept her gifts. It reminds you of a mother trying to control a daughter's relationship.] \(if: $MaleKitsune0Description is 3)[With a sad smile the kitsune has returned to her duties.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Description is 2)[She is brimming with barely concealed self-satisfaction. Beneath that is some genuine fondness though. She really does think she has improved you.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Description is 3)[Her tails are flicking uncertainly, and she looks concerned. Something is wrong.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Description is 4)[She is looking worried, and perhaps a touch out of her depth. She seems to almost shine from within, a comforting light suffusing the air around her.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Description is 5)[She is surprisingly not soaked. The light from her tails casts everything around her in sharp relief. It stings a touch to look directly at, so you don't look at it.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Description is 6)[She is looking especially self-satisified. She does give you a proud glance though.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Description is 7)[She is looking especially self-satisified, she seems as distraught as everyone else about the loss of life.] \(if: $FinaleKitsune0Description is 8)[She remains a figure in your life. She's as fickle as she always is, but she seems proud of what you've done.] \(if: $Forest1Kitsune0Description is 1)[ Her clothes make her not particularly suited for the sort of hard hiking so common to adventures. Still she is managing to keep herself what she'd considered presentable.] \(if: $DirtyKitsune0Description is 1)[ Despite the pressing need for speed, the kitsune is unwilling to allow her dazzling robes to get dirty.] \(if: $DirtyKitsune0Description is 2)[ The kitsune's fromer reluctance has evaporate in the face of the spider's assault. Her robes are quickly stained with mud and her feet look battered from pushing herself to her limit.] (if: $SootKitsune0Gear is 1)[ Her robes are stained with mud and soot.]] \(if: $TrueKitsune0Description is 1)[The kitsune burns from within. She Is/Being/Becoming Unmade. So long as what she is has made her a thing beyond understanding. Her true form shines through what you thought she was, it scalds your eyes to perceive and defies description.](if: $TrueKitsune0Description is 2)[The kitsune burns from within. She Is/Being/Becoming Unmade. So long as what she is has made her a thing beyond understanding. Her true form shines through what you thought she was, it burns to perceive and defies description. Despite all of this she is simply old and sad.] [[I'd like to hear the story again from the start->restart question]]

Cohen spots the spider's trail quickly. He looks deferentially to the kitsune, she sniffs the air a few times and then nods. The spider's trail is high above in the trees. Tree branches are carefully reinforced allowing them to swing between the trees. It looks like marvelous fun, assuming you have a strong tolerance for heights. Cohen leads the way cautiously. With a smile he reminds you that while rescuing everyone else is important, it's even more important to not get captured. The travel is difficult. The forest is dense and branches almost reach out to grab your gambeson. Once or twice you feel as if something is grabbing something senisitive near the top of your head. When you reach up you don't find anything in your hair though. The kitsune is having a far worse time though. Her voluminous robes mean she isn't scratched, but almost constantly she has to reach out to free her robes from an errant stick or vine. You can see her ears twitch with increasing annoyance. The other miserable part is the heat and humidity. Under the thick gambeson you are sweating. Cohen doesn't seem to mind the heat, or the bugs. As you start to sweat you glance at the kitsune, she's suffering more than you, especially with her long full hair. However, as soon as a bead of sweat forms she snaps her fingers quietly and the sweat disappears. You can faintly smell a slight floral scent. Cheater. You stick her tongue out at her. She looks incredibly smug in repsonse. [[You grow to resent the spider's trail.->kitsune 0 forest 1]] \(set: $CleanKitsune0Appearance to 0)

Her language is grandoise and poetic. You can barely follow it, but you get the feeling she repeats it to herself constantly. It has that overcomplication of being too familar that all the stories one tells to themselves has. Her story is a tale of tales, an immense record of her loves. Her loves were many and the kitsune knew all of them intimately. Her way of talking about them is strange. She tells the stories in a curious and fragmented way. The places and times are all foreign to you and never explained. The throughline is always the person. Their habits, the ways they talked and acted. What they liked and hated. How they were in bed. The sort of intimate details you would gain from knowing a person for years or decades. The stories always end the same way. The person leaves or dies. The coda is always the kitsune doing some great deed for her goddess. Dedicating a temple, making a particularly important convert or vanquishing some great evil. You have a realization as tells you of a long dead noble woman, who hated being noble and loved to write of a cat turned woman, turned warrior. Whatever joy the kitsune takes in recollecting the life of her friends is always overwritten by the pain of the ending. She pushed herself to greater and greater heights seeking to finally put herself beyond the possibility of pain. You very carefully hide your smile. What a problem to have. Have to be careful though. It's doubtful you will survive another round of her grief. When you find an opportune moment you ever so slightly shift the focus to your own tales of loss. They are no doubt less epic than hers, you have been in less burning castles for one. But the life of a farmer's son has it's share of loss. (if: $hidden is 1)[(NOTE TO SELF: the player dealt with loss earlier when their friends will kidnapped, maybe work that in.)] You tell your stories with confidence. Then you humbly suggest, that if you can take joy from the experience and look beyond the loss then perhaps the kitsune can do the same. The kitsune goes silent for a long while. Her lips are screwed together like a small child struggling with a hard lesson. You can feel her grief swell, could you survive to the edge of the clearing? Finally the kitsune sighs. Then she looks at you dead on. There is something mirrored in her slitted eyes making them seem so much deeper than any normal eyes. You don't think she has ever looked at you so seriously. For a moment you can see the woman she is, instead of the creature you know her as. A hint of a smile appears on her lips. "Perhaps". The air unstills, and you can distantly hear birds sing. Then she quietly dries her eyes, and with a practiced hand fixes her hair. Her tails gather up around her returned to their regal glory. Then she stands up proudly and leads you back [[to where the others are waiting.->kitsune 0 cocoons escape ending choices]] \(set: $TrueKitsune0Description to 2)

Notes: Start kitsune interludes with a description of a person or bodily habits if not alone, if alone vivid description of something She will tend to express herself through metaphor, or memory only "speaking" directly to the player when it's really important. She prefers a metaphor about things ending or leaving, she's still very very sad Scenes after being possessed by the kitsune don't use the traditonal end at the end structure, instead it's more rambling with the player not having a clear idea which link will lead out. Everything seems a bit unreal as the kitsune, which means the tone dips into tense as the action comes closer and relaxes as it grows more distant. Start: meet the kitsune in the dark room: hear the beat of life you are fixed in space there the gate/wall the kitsune needs to you to ask her permission (inversion of how it normally goes) That comforting feeling of being part of a grand design fades quickly Climb up and through the darkness wake up: everyone is looking at you worried, except for frederick who is checking you out They help you to your feet, the kitsune is gone. well she's here and she makes herself heard first kitsune interlude: make sure to change the formatting in a distinctive way, I'm feeling right justified and maybe a new font? Examine self scene: describe here: hair is silver edged with "your" black. Your boobs got bigger still. Your clothes regardless of what you picked are tranformed. it's a bit neat to be able to pick out the odd thread from your now totally transformed gambeson. In the description screen you can look at your tails and recognize that something is odd. call back to bath house, she said something about tails? You have nine now, which must be magical because otherwise just the mass by itself would knock you off your balance. 1st scene: describe self standing in the clearing (examine tails?) Cohen is summoning his strength (something's off when you examine him but you can't put your finger on it) Ron wants to know what it feels like (a recollection about the kitsune first performing magic? with maybe a variation on not learning her trick?) Alonso is concerned if you feel alright and wonders what to call you, something about him makes you sad. (you call a vivid sunset but nothing else) But with that settled you get back to it. (exit) Frederick's stuffing treasures back into the kitsune's bag. (you have the option to tan his hide or resist, resist counts as a hit) how do your friends react: Frederick thinks you look nice, but views such an invasion as very icky. Ron is out and out envious of you. Alonso is mostly concerned about you, although he admits that fire power that will follow orders will make the suckitude that's about to come easier. Cohen's heard of such things and urges caution for both of your sakes. You feel like a collar around the middle of a horse. It either takes a heck of a dog or a strange looking horse. This is a farmer's metaphor so Cohen doesn't get it. 2nd scene: plans Cohen suggests doubling back, it's the last thing the spiders could expect on top of that everyone is tired. you yourself feel uncertain just walking around the kitsune moves your lips, in a way that looks and sounds uncanny. If she can just reach the road. Cohen's plan proceeds THe kitsune's plan has a disasterous effect and counts as a fail In this her fox bit comes out the most as she's trapped which any wild animal with sense fears. She thinks briefly of death, which she was near to once. This reenergizes her to fight with little to no concern for your safety. It works but you take damage as a result. You recognize as a result that she more than most things fears death, because she thinks herself beyond it. how the kitsune became human, or at least as close to human as she is was a series of steps of better understanding facets of human life. For her this was mostly centered around the rituals of her goddess, which is why she places so much importance on them. (this is taken pretty directly from fox lady, which is fitting.) 3rd scene: initial fight: you lay a pho ambush to see if the spiders are still interested in offering battle. Frederick and alonso flee from an ambush to lure the patrol into attacking you. the ambush proceeds apace: Ron's long black hair makes the kitsune think briefly of the various sisters she has waiting for her. You can almost sense her have a moment of self-doubt before her confidence kicks in./Looking at ron has the kitsune experience a brief moment of uncertainty option to examine cohen, you see his sword shine as he performs feats of heroism like something out of tales. For some reason your eyes keep straying to his muscles (slight implication of how the kitsune is forcibly visualizing Cohen as a young man here.) You find a blush creeping onto your cheeks, and your rub your thighs together. You realize that your matron is some what attracted to Cohen. You are lost in a momentary kitsune interlude. The kitsune has spent a lot of time fantasizing about doing cohen. The kitsune has of course fairly graphically imagined doing the hell out of cohen. Work in something about how she'd finally get him to settle down (which is less her doing a domestication thing and more her helping her friend find what she considers happiness) and warm syrup spilling from a cup. The player is notably unhappy as she starts to fillout the fantasy's details. Examining Alonso, has your eyes linger on on something about his jawline. Something familar about his jaw line. You return to the castle and veranda, the castle of clouds overhead. The sun has fallen enough that you are in twilight, but there's false sunlight from the sunlight reflecting off the clouds above. Your women are all gathered around you. There is a crush to see the men returning from hunting, your attention is lost as the men drag (some great beast? Maybe make this an actual refence, otherwise could probably make it a tsuchinko joke.) You catch sight of one your women. The recollection ends and you realized that you are are weeping. Unavoidable take damage. The sight of magic, raw life as the kitsune sees, thrumming around you moving to a pattern so easy to follow nearly brings you to tears. It moves to a song, you can't quite hear it but you can feel it's thum. (same song you heard during the falling sequence.) You find you don't much enjoy the backline of fighting, even if your matron does. You keep having to battle the urge to draw your sword and rush into danger. Frederick examination option: Frederick's fighting his best but the kitsune still has a negative opinion of him. How to avoid keeping this from getting too similar to the heal frederick scene that's in the bridge? you are split up, focusing on yourself is the exit. You are attacked by another nearby patrol of spiders focusing not surprisingly on you as the others fight. Frederick sprints at full speed to your defense. if didn't defend the kitsune (let Cohen do it.): She notes with envy how quick your friends are to defend you, when you are in the caster role. She thinks for a second of the adoration she gets from her nuns. If didn't bathe with kitsune: she thinks in a negative manner about how dirty everyone is getting. The player upon imitating ron's double blink is swept away with the thrumming life all around them. (this is a call forward to the moth path, which sees the death tinged version of this) Maybe an option to weaken the wall if you don't immediately close your eyes. 4th scene cover up using illusions choice in which illusion to use an event where you use the kitsune's illusions to bypass a spider-girl patrol. have the choice of using the illusions to just look like greenery which fails because Ron starts to cough up leaves (over the garden wall refence), or to imitate a spider patrol which feels weird but works. The illusion slips for you for a moment and you see everyone looking silly. 1. the body horror of illusions: "You clack your chitinous fingers together, and for a second spin a web with the practiced ease of an expert hunter. Except you have never spun web before" 2. why cohen really hates illusions: "A man sits in a dark chamber, convinced that dark is light and that madness is sense. His every action strikes a great blow against evil, his words ringing through time. No one can prove him wrong because we all make sense of madness anyway." 5th scene? ambush possibly too long? an ambush that goes bad which in turn leads directly the final battle? Foxes hunt by jumping, this an ambush seems similar as a result see a phesant or think of something pleasant and get caught up in the memory of hunting a phesant as a fox. This is the phesant that's most important. pre final battle: you get asked if you are managing, with a small conditional based on number of dings. Either way this is clearly the final effort. It's do or die. Final forest scene final battle against the queen if didn't sleep with the kitsune, the kitsune sees something in Alonso's jawline that reminds her of the man that her lost lenore married. If slept with the kitsune seeing the Alonso's jawline reminds you of the girl, and concurrently of you (put in reference here) When reaching the road you have the option to tap into the magic there as hard as you can for an instant lose, because of course it is. For a moment you have a terrible vision of the kitsune's true form, two ear peaks above eyes like infinity. The correct thing to do is channel as much of it is as safe into Ron, who much enjoys the experience. The kitsune feels a real burning hatred for the spider queen, imagining a number of unpleasant and graphic things. The player cannot tell if it's is a hatred for attacking your friends, or for challening her temple and by extension her goddess. (Relate back to frederick's stealing stuff scene. The lack of reverence for what she respects) Scene where you ask Cohen for advice on fighting the spider-queen. The spider-queen is going to try and go for the quick finish, the longer a caster remains in combat the more confusion they can generate. Looking at Cohen during the final battle, lets you see in a moment of empathy how the spiders see him. This description should likely reflect the "angry kitsune" descriptions. a creature that should not be, a two legged thing which fights like an angry battalion. the kitsune quickly counters with her own warm memories, of either Cohen or perhaps what she associates humanity with (Buildings maybe?) and of course how her goddess is "atop" humanity. after narrowly defeating the spider-queen the kitsune screams at you from within your ears to pursue, to and finish her. (conditional reference to strength of the wall.) You shake your head. The petty rivalries of power will cover the world in blood. Should there be a call back to the ant version of the this scene? The realest call back should be in the ultimate kitsune path, to help establish that the player can resist the kitsune to some degree. This is also where the style changes back to the traditional monsters style instead the rambling kitsune narration. seperation here is where you can realize that she looks at Cohen funny Forcing her to Look at Cohen truthfully makes you the kitsune think of her beloved funeral, so many funerals. "Perhaps the first death really is in the heart. Perhaps this time she will never love again, never live again" after the possession event ends the player has a slightly better feeling for what the kitsune's thinking. endings the rebuke the kitsune ending is unlocked by doing the following two things: 1. figuring out what the tail is for, why only when combined with the kitsune do you have 9 of them. 2. discovering her obsession with a return to the way things were, likely by looking at Cohen and recognizing that she's only seeing him in the heady days of his youth. if you get dinged twice you have the option to try and convert your friends to the kitsune's religion. There's been a bit of bleed over, and you have to be at least partially unconverted to be a good missionary you can take two wrong decisions, the third one is an instant lose. Checking fox lady the fox only describes things in terms of other things, especially for color, go with that for the kitsune interludes a kitsune interlude is right justified instead of left justified if didn't sleep with the kitsune, the kitsune sees something in Alonso's jawline that reminds her of the man that her lost lenore married. see a phesant or think of something pleasant and get caught up in the memory of hunting a phesant as a fox. This is the phesant that's most important. the rebuke the kitsune ending is unlocked by doing the following two things: 1. figuring out what the tail is for, why only when combined with the kitsune do you have 9 of them. 2. discovering her obsession with a return to the way things were, likely by looking at Cohen and recognizing that she's only seeing him in the heady days of his youth. if you get dinged twice you have the option to try and convert your friends to the kitsune's religion. There's been a bit of bleed over, and you have to be at least partially unconverted to be a good missionary the kitsune suggests at the start going deeper into the forest to try and double back on the spiders. this leads to a double bad choice because wow the kitsune is not great at combat tactics. In this her fox bit comes out the most as she's trapped which any wild animal with sense fears. When reaching the road you have the option to tap into the magic there as hard as you can for an instant lose, because of course it is. For a moment you have a terrible vision of the kitsune's true form, two ear peaks above eyes like infinity. You have a hard time not hiding Frederick as soon as the kitsune sees him handling her treasures. There's an option to stop her which counts as a lose. The sight of magic, raw life as the kitsune sees, thrumming around you moving to a pattern so easy to follow nearly brings you to tears. It moves to a song, you can't quite hear it but you can feel it's thum. (same song you heard during the falling sequence.) how do your friends react: Frederick thinks you look nice, but views such an invasion as very icky. Ron is out and out envious of you. Alonso is mostly concerned about you, although he admits that fire power that will follow orders will make the suckitude that's about to come easier. Cohen's heard of such things and urges caution for both of your sakes. how the kitsune became human, or at least as close to human as she is was a series of steps of better understanding facets of human life. For her this was mostly centered around the rituals of her goddess, which is why she places so much importance on them. (this is taken pretty directly from fox lady, which is fitting.) Ron's long black hair makes the kitsune think briefly of the various sisters she has waiting for her. You can almost sense her have a moment of self-doubt before her confidence kicks in. More things happen, the battle continues, but since it does not in the most true sense really involve you anymore we will close things here. Try again! (hint most options have at least one safe choice.) The kitsune has of course fairly graphically imagined doing the hell out of cohen. Work in something about how she'd finally get him to settle down (which is less her doing a domestication thing and more her helping her friend find what she considers happiness) and warm syrup spilling from a cup. The player is notably unhappy as she starts to fillout the fantasy's details. A memory of the empress? (all authority figures in monsters are girls because why not?) The player contemplates the difference between the queen that they have heard of and the empress that the kitsune adores. You can't quite see the goddess in the kitsune's memories, she's too divine for you to percieve. If didn't bathe with kitsune: she thinks in a negative manner about how dirty everyone is getting. If didn't sleep next to the kitsune: She has a remembrance of curled up in her lover's arms, and how safe she felt there. if didn't defend the kitsune (let Cohen do it.): She notes with envy how quick your friends are to defend you, when you are in the caster role. She thinks for a second of the adoration she gets from her nuns. There is a great stillness in the place where she was raised. The kitsune feels a real burning hatred for the spider queen, imagining a number of unpleasant and graphic things. The player cannot tell if it's is a hatred for attacking your friends, or for challening her temple and by extension her goddess. The kitsune remembers being annoyed with having to write a response poem, being unable to think of a good opening. You feel like a collar around the middle of a horse. It either takes a heck of a dog or a strange looking horse. This is a farmer's metaphor so Cohen doesn't get it. after the possession event ends the player has a slightly better feeling for what the kitsune's thinking. an event where you use the kitsune's illusions to bypass a spider-girl patrol. have the choice of using the illusions to just look like greenery which fails because Ron starts to cough up leaves, or to imitate a spider patrol which feels weird but works. after narrowly defeating the spider-queen the kitsune screams at you from within your ears to purse, to and finish her. (conditional reference to strength of the wall.) You shake your head. The petty rivalries of power will cover the world in blood. Should there be a call back to the ant version of the this scene? The realest call back should be in the ultimate kitsune path, to help establish that the player can resist the kitsune to some degree. This is also where the style changes back to the traditional monsters style instead the rambling kitsune narration. The player upon imitating ron's double blink is swept away with the thrumming life all around them. (this is a call forward to the moth path, which sees the death tinged version of this) Maybe an option to weaken the wall if you don't immediately close your eyes. Ron asks you about magic, to which you can barely reply. To the kitsune it's basically instinctual at this point, and you can't know much more than you immediately need for your own safety. Scene where you ask Cohen for advice on fighting the spider-queen. The spider-queen is going to try and go for the quick finish, the longer a caster remains in combat the more confusion they can generate. upon seeing cohen while possessed, you involuntarily flash back to when he was in his prime. So young, so much hair. Exotic, and the one thing you might never possess. The kitsune really doesn't like frederick, correctly identifying him as the type of person who might actually rob one of her temples. More broadly the kitsune is far away from the trickster part of the kitsune archetype, having gone respectable. The feeling of touched the downed kitsune is electric, like you are touching a charged thing. Your hair stands on end too. In a late kitsune path you see Cohen angry and react the same way you have all the times the kitsune's disguise has slipped. The illusion slips for you for a moment and you see everyone looking silly. 1. the body horror of illusions: "You clack your chitinous fingers together, and for a second spin a web with the practiced ease of an expert hunter. Except you have never spun web before" 2. why cohen really hates illusions: "A man sits in a dark chamber, convinced that dark is light and that madness is sense. His every action strikes a great blow against evil, his words ringing through time. No one can prove him wrong because we all make sense of madness anyway." things which piss off the kitsune? curse 1: Tried to aggressively disagree with her, curse 2: confronting her about neglecting her duties curse 3: Didn't give her enough credit anger 1: don't bath with her anger 2: disagree with her about cohen is anger 3: tell her to stop fucking with you on the kitsune's trick anger 4: Don't sleep with her

For a dream like eternity you relieve the fear and confusion of that fall. The bottom never quite comes, even when the fall should of stopped. As you fall you hear distantly a song, you can't quite understand the instruments or melody, it just dances a touch beyond your understanding. Something about it's persistence is admirable though, that there is music instead of silence is a triumph. Finally you realize what's happening, it's like waking up halfway through a dream. In jumping you must eventually land, that's just how it works. You come back to yourself in a room, the furningishings are perfectly familar as if you have seen them everyday of your life. There is no roof on this room, only the darkness that you fell through. To your side and behind you are similar rooms, less familar. It occurs to you that these rooms are all that you are. Perhaps if you could turn your head you could see your recollections of childhood, of earlier today, of taking the kitsune's hand. But you can't turn your head. In front of you lies a wall, no a gate? It shimmers a pale blue and moves like a mirage whenever you try to look at it. The style of it reminds you of your matron suddenly. Then a pin hole opens in it, something about a gap as small as even that strikes you as unsafe, as it the gate/wall were secretly made of sand and a single gap might be all that it takes to crumble. Again unable to move your head, the pinhole moves in front of your eye and you are suddenly able to see through it as if your head was through it. Beyond in a richly furnished room lies a fox on a cushion. The fox is wearing your matron's robe and pauses to lick from bowl. Occasionally she hums to the distant song. You recognize those bowls from the bathhouse. They were used to serve alcohol. The scene's mood is intimate. You suddenly feel slightly embarassed to intrude as much as you have. The fox looks at you over it's shoulder, it's golden eyes looking at you fondly. You suddenly hear your Matron's voice. "Be careful dear, it is difficult for even me to do this without hurting you." The fox's tail wags slightly and she looks through you with her golden eyes. The fox looks at you again. "You would make such a fine daughter. But that's for the future. To make this work you need my permission, I need to accept your gift dear. You need but ask and you have a command of my power." The need for permission cuts both ways it seems. You ask her to follow your guidence, you might even manage to do it without sounding as smug as she did. If your matron gets the joke, she doesn't seem to appreciate it. "I give you leave to use my power, for a time. However, you are improperly prepared and if you use it too much it will consume you from within." She nods ever so slightly and you feel different? Like you've brushed up against a stone statue rough by the rain and years outside, no like you've brushed up against something so much bigger than yourself. For a moment you have a feeling of religious ectasy, that comforting feeling of being part of a grand design. "Now take care of the others. Do me proud." You take a deep breath trying to control the feeling. Then you focus. If there is some grand design at work, you know it's chief planner and that's enough to make you recognize that your work isn't even half done. The fox, your matron releases you. The wall/gate recedes and you are in your room again. Distantly you can feel the fox waving good bye with her tail. Finally you can move your head. Your hands are already changing ever so slightly so you better hurry. Ultimate power and using it might destroy you. [[Story of your friggin life->kitsune 1 Possession 2]]

Now how to get back? You don't have any time to waste. You look for a way out, the gate stays in front of you but you are mostly surrounded by the familar rooms. Think! Think! Think! The others could be fighting right now and you aren't there. Clouds of worry drift up from the floor. Finally in despiration you reach for the ceiling. The dark nothingness obliges by lowering to meet your hands. You climb up through the black nothingness above. It's a hard climb, growing only harder as you get further up. As you climb and climb it becomes harder and harder to move. You have to eventually force your will into your leaden limbs. Curiously as you dig the music doesn't grow quieter, it's still there in the background. Everything else justs gets louder. But finally your eyes open as you come back to yourself. Everyone is arrayed around you looking at you worried. A wave of smiles is unleashed as you look around confusedly. Gently Alonso asks "How do you feel?" You try to answer, you feel strange for sure (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[Your goddess smiles at you in that motherly way she always does when she is about to teach you, or later to congratulate you on some great deed done in her name. [[You]] cannot quite percieve her, only you know that she is smiling. She steps carefully, and moves gracefully to a rythm only she can hear. She repeats this a few times, ringing her golden Kagura-suzu bells each time. The multiudinous peals of the bells ring through the silent, still air. When her dance is finished, she offers the Kagura-suzu bells to you. "Dance just like that dear. it's part of your duties as a priestess." You'd do anything for your goddess, so you gently take the stick from her hands and do your best to replicate her dance. You hear dainty laughter from your side and turn to see your goddess hiding her smile lady like. "With your hands dear." You look down at your hands, and then gingerly move the handle from your mouth.] Alonso is looking at you concerned. "You doing alright? you sort of faded out for a second there." You shake your head trying to focus on the here and now. "I feel like a collar around the middle of a horse." Everyone but [[cohen laughs->kitsune 1 possession scene 1]] Cohen raises an eyebrow. "Must be a farmer's joke, I don't get it." Frederick manages a smile. "It either takes a heck of a dog or a strange looking horse." Cohen nods like he understands it in theory. Cohen refocuses "Let's get you up youngling. We have a moment and you are much changed by what's happened." You are? You check your hands, they are slightly longer and more delicate than they used to be. for a moment you are reminded of the dance, of your matron's confusion of looking at them. To be melded with the kitsune is a dream like experience, literally dream like. Things seem to fade in and out of your perception as you focus on them. It's quite distracting. \(set: $startblock to 1) \(set: $WallDamage to 1)

Standing you take in the clearing, you are where everyone dragged your matron. Come to think of it where is your matron? Her robes aren't here. \(if: $Arguement2had is 1)[For a moment you cleanly feel your matron's sorrow. Neglect has cost her so much, her satellite temple and now it puts her, you, cohen in danger. It's as if it were your feeling, but it's not. ]\(if: $Arguement2had is 0)[Despite everything, the bad situation and the overwhelming odds, you can distantly feel your matron's amusement. You really don't know where she is?] You glance down at your hands again, she's here with you? Who is outside and who is inside? Perhaps it's like dirt in water where both the whole substance of mud. With a practiced hand you reach for your compact, it has a small polished silver mirror and bit of vividly red rouge. You are immediately struck by the changes. The first and most drastic is that your face is much different, you only faintly resemble yourself. Now your face has obvious traits of your matron, you look like you might be related to her. A daughter or grand daughter perhaps. It's a shocking change. There are other notable changes as well. Your hair is much different, perviously it was the shiny black that your matron so loved. Now it's the same shiny black but edged with the silver of your matron's hair. It's a transfixing, otherworldly sight. Complimenting your new hair you've also gained her makeup. Vivid red eye shadow goes well with your redish fox ears and glorious tails. You also now have a few lines on the cheek to stand in for whiskers. It makes you look fearsome. With a smile you can't help but note that your breasts are bigger still, and you have a hint of your matron's "messenger of a fertility goddess figure". She can't help it you guess. You have also [[inhereited her tails it seems.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 tails]] They form a large orange mass behind you, thankfully they don't seem to get in your way that much. Going to make it hard to watch your back though. (if: $armor is 0)[Your clothes have been transformed as well. Your noble, steadfast gambeson has been transformed into the red and white robes your matron so adores. You can pick out the occasional brown thread that escaped the magic.](if: $armor is 1)[You wore robes before but they are nothing compared to the robes now.] Your robes are as sumptuous as you could imagine. They are a brillant red and dazzling white. The material has shifted into silk, with a bit of gold thread accoutrements to enhance the total effect. You look close to royalty and quite out of place in the deep dankness of the forest. You wonder if your matron transformed her clothes to hid her ealier defeat. Sort of makes you concerned actually. If she can do that to fabric, what can she do to you? Cohen is leaning against a tree. He's thrust a knife into the tree and is listening [[against the hilt with his eyes closed.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge]] It's to listen for footsteps but has the pleasant side effect of letting him rest with his eyes closed. He's gathering his strength for the trials to come. At the far end of the clearing from Cohen, Alonso is keeping an eye out as he prepares the remaining rations and refills the waterflasks from a trickle thin stream. [[He's tired but doing alright under the stress.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 Alonso]] He shoots you a worried glance and tries to smile. The waterflasks are going to be mostly mud with how small the stream is. Frederick is sitting on a fallen tree, [[stuffing your matron's most valuable treasures back into her magically large bag.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 Frederick]] Perhaps the thief entertains some thought of stealing one, but even he recognizes that this is neither the time nor the place for looting. In the center of the clearing, where the kitsune was lying Ron is [[lying on his back trying to regain as much of breath as possible.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 Ron]] He spent a lot of magic covering the escape after your matron was incapacitated. He's running low and is feeling the brunt of the effort. Colors shift and bend as you take in the gloom of the forest. For a moment you are caught in a happy recollection of the bath house. If only you had thought to pack a picnic. They'd probably enjoy the food.

It's a disconcerting sensation to have your number of tails suddenly multiply. They must be magic or something because they should be heavy enough to make you off balance. They aren't though, instead they feel as light as a single tail. With a bit of effort you can move them, it's a bit off. You could maybe use them to grab stuff but it'd be task. They aren't that strong individually and you'd need to use them in concert. You can with a bit of effort use them as impromptu chair, is quite uncomfortable though. \(if: $tailbath is 1)[ Your matron said they were used for something magical? It comes to you with a bit of nudging from your matron. They are used to channel magical power which sounds neat. Perhaps you will be able to do magic to rival your matron?] Hang on, that's a lot of tails. You do a quick count with your fingers, and then double check your count to be sure. Yep nine tails. Something is off about that, there's something that niggles at you. \(if: $tailbath is 0)[ You vaguely remember hearing that kitsunes max out at nine tails. They just didn't normally have more than that. She definitely had 8 before this. You guess it's just a simple additon of your tail to her own.] You take a second to try and ask your matron if she has any input. [[She's curiously silent.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1]] [[Suspiciously silent.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 tails 1]] You can't see so much as feel the way she's turning away from you. What is she so concerned about hiding?

She's as connected to you as you are to her. It's hard for either of you to have secrets from eachother. You pry, and prying becomes tearing into her. You can feel it distantly, to tear like this is weakening the wall between you two. \(if: $K1Tails is 0)[(set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1)] You can feel her growl at you internally, the effects of her displeasure rippling through your form. Your robe becomes wrinkled, your hair goes dry and dull, your makeup runs. You didn't get far this by giving up so you keep going. Finally like removing an arrow head buried in flesh you recieve an answer. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[A flash of a locked chest, a cellar carefully hidden beneath a bamboo mat, a safehouse under guard, this and thousand more such thoughts flood your vision.] The images flash almost too fast to catch, but you make a gradual sense of them. The tail or tails is a treasure, a treasure under guard by you having them. With this knowledge you dig further, the effort making you have to sit down as your breath gradually runs out. As if you you were fighting a battle internally. You feel a stabbing pain in your midsection. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[A box of treasure, inside a treasure most valuable, a treasure most controlling. It resembles for a second a collar you might put on a dog, but turns before your eyes into a blue flame. For a moment you see your reflection, your matron's reflection with 9 tails. There's something off about her appearance, her features and dull and lifeless without out her makeup, and instead of her vivid red and white robes. She wears the clean whites of funeral garb.] The tail is valuable but dangerous? It's hard to do anything but lay down now. Your strength has left you, and your insides just hurt. Your skin looks and feels like parchetment. You have the sneaking suspicion that you could tear off your skin by just pulling on it. You swallow more blood than is comfortable and make a final effort. Why? \(if: $hidden is 1)[second interlude outline: it's a control, but also a treasure most valuable, a gift. But a gift that in giving she keeps herself from ten tails] (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[You see for a second your matron's goddess, in her majestic splendor. Radiant in her love and glory. Then a large wooden box, with a drawn picture inside of it, incense lit before it. A dance, and then the wooden floor beneath it, worn from countless repitions of the same dance. The purpose behind the moves long forgotten. The glory of a temple restored.] (if: $WallDamage < 4)[ Your breath gradually returns, with strength returning to your limbs as you gradually right yourself. That cost you, it hurt and it cost you. But you learned something. She gave you a tail to help herself somehow, she perhaps belived it was a gift but she had another motive. There's a lot to unpack, and even if you do unpack it you still have a [[forest full of spiders->kitsune 1 possession scene 1]] to deal with. Still knowing this, gives you the start of an arguement against her. Perhaps you will find the other half of the arguement somewhere else? \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ Your effort as uncomfortable as it was had an internal effect as well. You can distantly feel the wall keeping you from your matron, begin to crack and fray under the effort. It can't safely take much more. Right now this manifesting as a slight headache, and an increased familarity with your new form. You are taller than you were, and your strides are coming more naturally. Your tails keep preening your hair when you aren't thinking about it. Beyond that you begin to heal back the damage the prying did, but your make up is slightly off, your robe slightly frayed. You can't fix all of it.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[ The wall keeping you from your matron is already under strain. Pushing that boundry further is reckless and perhaps foolhardy. You can feel the wall tremble and groan and finally begin to crumble. It can't take much more abuse. Right now this shows itself in how your eyes keep flickering as if dreaming. Occasionally you can taste the sweet taste of rice wine on your tongue. Your mannerisms are occasionally more lady like than you intend, and you find yourself absentmindedly preening your apperance when you have a spare moment. You represent your goddess after all. Beyond that you begin to heal back the damage the prying did, but your make up is slightly off, your robe slightly frayed. You can't fix all of it.]] \(if: $WallDamage is 4)[ The wall between you and your mistress creaks and groans ominously, and then as naturally as cracking a joint it gives way. You are swept away like a bubble on a river. In a few minutes, someone will get up. They will look like you, talk like you, but not in the most basic sense be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. Your matron's secrets will take a careful approach to reveal.] \(set: $K1Tails to 1) \(set: $KitsuneKey to 1)

Cohen's eyes all but snap open as you approach. "You doing alright, the both of you?" There's something off about how he looks, something you can't quite nail down. It bends away whenever you look for it directly. You nod. "She's doing alright I think. Not happy but she's okay. You ever hear of such things Cohen?" Cohen is still leaned against the tree and closes his eyes again in thought. There is an uncomfortably long silence and for a moment you think he might of just fallen asleep. Then his eyes snap open again. "Aye, I've heard of such things. Though never in circumstances as desperate as ours. It's not uncommon in the land of kitsunes to channel gods and the like. If you aren't careful it can have unpleasant effects on both though." You take a breath. Unpleasant effects is likely a code word for nothing good for you. "I'll be careful Cohen. Said I'd help her wouldn't I?" Cohen nods. "That you did. [[You good to move?->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 1]] We can't wait much longer." (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The air is still, so dreadfully still. The sharp divisions between the sunlight and the darkness of the room make it seem as if there two rooms, one alive, one dead. The light only serves to highlight the gently curling smoke from the nearly burnt out incense. The incense burned so long and pungently that you thought it would burn forever. But here it is, it's self exhausted leaving behind only smoke and a soon to be dispersed smell.]

He smiles as you approach. You speak first "You look tired." He rubs a bit of tiredness from his eyes and proudly says "I can keep going for as long as it takes. We will make it." He smiles. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The cloud is a vivid tower of purples and oranges as it catches the late summer sunset. It seems so large and permanent, distantly you can see a flash of thunder within it. It seems a fortress in the sky, as if up there lived a lord of storms and thunder as well. The women are in the other room, doing a bit of sewing. You stand, catching sight of the many layers your ni-hito. Their immacuately chosen patterns and colors compliment one another in the colors of late summer. You wonder briefly if the castle in the sky has a fox and ladies in waiting to tend to her too. None so faithful, graceful or accomplished as your own you bet. Distantly you hear shouting that the men have returned from hunting.] He looks you up and down. "You doing alright? All that can't be easy." It's not but you are managing. Be sort of nice if everything could stop doing that sort of dream like tilt. Alonso smiles. "You've always been the toughest. You can do this." He has an unwavering faith in that [[if nothing else.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1]] With a smile he adds. "Won't hurt to have a caster that might actually listen to orders for once." You both giggle at that, your voice sounding alien to you. He turns back to his task, producing a scrap of cloth to help filter out the mud. It's still going to taste awful when you drink it though. Curiously you don't feel that thirsty, or even hungry.

You feel a sudden furious rising anger. How can he treat your goddesses' things so roughly? Where does he get the gall? This feeling is more from within you, than anything caused by you. You can feel your cheeks go red, your ears dart forward suddenly alert and your tails flare behind you. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The girl looks at you cautiously, she has a rice ball in her hand. She can't be too old, must have run away from her family to be dressed in so little. She's obviously hungry and licks her lips as she considers the rice ball. Your attention is diverted by the state of the satellite temple. It's ruined, abandoned. For a moment you are lost in recalling it's old glory. The shiny laqured wood, the silken hangings. The devotion and admiration of the sisters living there. It was a monument to your goddes, you recall your pride in building it. And here it is in ruins, the wood cracked and hangings lost in the dirt. How long did you dally? What else has been neglected? Your attention is brought back to the girl shoving half of the rice ball into her mouth. Bold to say the least. Where did she get the rice ball? Your eyes go wide and your tails flare as you realize that she must of taken it from the altar of the temple. In the face of all this desecration she furthers it? Where does she have the gall?] Your matron practically (link: "moves your limbs for you")[(set: $kitsunepush to 1)(goto: "kitsune 1 possession scene 1 Frederick 1")], pushing from within. [[It'd be a struggle to stop her.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 Frederick 1]] She wants nothing more than to rush forward and tan frederick's hide.

(if: $kitsunepush is 0)[You try to resist your matron's pushing. She is unfathomably angry though. You grind your teeth, and try to stroke your tails to calm down. They are fluffy but even touching fluffy tail isn't enough. Distantly you can feel the wall between you and your matron start to crumble. This is dangerous, how much more can it take? Finally a damn breaks loose and you rush forward.(if: $K1Frederick is 0)[(set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1)]](if: $kitsunepush is 1)[You take a moment to offer a silent apology to frederick. Still this isn't the first time that him putting his hands where he shouldn't have has gotten him into trouble. He probably won't hold it against you. You rush forward.] (if: $WallDamage < 4)[Frederick's smile turns into a look of alarm as you dash towards him. Your matron is used to giving out discipline so in no time at all his thin frame is over your knee as you spank the crap out of him. He cries out, as loud as he dares. "Ow! ow! I'm sorry, I didn't even take anything!" When your matron works it out of your system you finally put him down with a guilty look. "Sorry she was super pissed about that. I couldn't really stop her." Frederick shrugs "I didn't find anything actually useful but is all probably pretty valuable. Sort of wish she'd of just talked about it." She's quick to rush judgement, as well you know. "You doing alright." He looks you up and down. "You look spectacular! But I can't imagine it's easy." You nod your head, your long hair swaying as you do so. "It's really not. Kind of unsettling really." You pause trying to figure out how describe what it's like to see through someone else's eyes intermittenly. "Don't have the words for it sadly. It's a bit like mud I guess." Frederick lets out a dry laugh. "And here I thought Alonso was being silly when he said we should of brought along a bard. But I think I get what you mean." He looks away, not wanting to seem serious. "I couldn't stand it, someone's thoughts should be their own. [[Either way it's out of your hands.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1]] You do take a moment to ask your matron if there is anything useful in there. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The snowstorm is fierce, the snow has piled as high as your head around the store house. The store house has been emptied, the woven baskets cleared of every grain of rice. You feel so warm though. You look down, you are carrying the stores yourself. Your arms full to bursting.] Nope.] (if: $WallDamage is 4)[Your discord with your matron makes you pause midstep as she makes you rush forward. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. There is a sudden feeling of something breaking, like a bowl sliding off a table. The wall keeping you from your matron has broken. The last thing you sense before you are washed away like blood in a river is a look of abject horror from your matron. She didn't mean to push so hard. In a second someone will run forward and spank the hell out of Frederick. They will look like you, talk like you, but not in the most basic sense be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. Your matron is... self-assured to say the least. When she things someone is deserving of punishment she will punish them damn the consequences.] (if: $kitsunepush is 0)[ (if: $WallDamage < 4)[ \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ Your struggle to contain your matron's displeasure makes the internal wall bend and bulge in a way that reminds you of a rabbit being skinned. You can feel how it begins to stretch and tear. Distantly you can feel your matron's surprise and shock. She thought to discipline the thief, not to put you in danger. The wall is weakened but still holding. Right now this manifesting as a slight headache, and an increased familarity with your new form. You are taller than you were, and your strides are coming more naturally. Your tails keep preening your hair when you aren't thinking about it.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[ Your resistance to the matron's rage, rightly or wrongly is putting stresses on the wall that keeps you from her. It bulges and begins to tear like a poorly dressed deer pelt, the paper thin wall coming appart like ligament from bone. You can feel your matron's shock and concern. Her rage got the better of her but she never wished to harm you. Currently the strain on the wall shows it self in several minute small ways. Your eyes keep flickering as if dreaming. Occasionally you can taste the sweet taste of rice wine on your tongue. Your mannerisms are occasionally more lady like than you intend, and you find yourself absentmindedly preening your apperance when you have a spare moment. You represent your goddess after all.] \(set: $K1Frederick to 1)]]

You lay down next to Ron, he opens his eyes and looks over at you. He blushes suddenly biting his lip for some reason. "Oh!" He sits up and seems to look for something for you to lay on. (if: $kitsune1sleep is 1)[You can distantly feel your matron's light disapproval. How quick you are to lay down with Ron. Still she's not too upset, She seems to like Ron.](if: $kitsune1sleep is 0)[Your matron seems annoyed, perhaps at how quick you were to lay down to rest with Ron, but wouldn't sleep next to her?] You wave an arm so he will calm down. It's a bit of a struggle to not get your, your matrons? long hair caught under your back. Ron fidgets are a bit uncomfortably. "Are you sure? I could probably find a mat or get you one of the bed rolls if you want to lay down." "We aren't stopping that long anyway and it's more important that you regain your strength. We will do better with two casters than one." Ron looks like you just nominated him for high emperor hedge wizard above all others. He breaks out in a wide smile at being in the same category as you suppose your matron. "You are right, of course you are right." He lays back down trying to take as deep breaths as he can to rest. In all of about a minute he speaks up again. "What's it like?" You blink trying to keep things from shifting and sliding too much. "What's what like?" Ron pauses himself, playing with his long black hair as he tries to phase his question. "Being with her? Err which one is on the outside and which one is on the inside." (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[i am within AND I AM WITHOUT] You manage to croak out "It's tough to describe, a bit like mud I guess?" Ron sits up, his girlish face annoyed. "But that doesn't explain anything! Can you access her memories? No! can you access her magic? That'd make things easier." You flick one of your fox ears curiously, that is a good question. You internally ask as much. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The koi is a vivid white and red, it's scales reflect a shimmering blue beneath the water's surface. It bumps up against a wooden divider on the edge of it's pool. Beyond the divider is something larger, wilder. An ocean beyond the pond that the carp lives in. Occasionally more water is poured into the pond. So much water might be poured that if someone was careless, it might overflow the divider and the koi would be swept away.] "I don't think so, or she'll only let me know what I need to know for the moment. I think. It's complicated." Ron nods. "You put off a lot of magic just now. How interesting!" You raise an eyebrow. Ron did that double blink he likes to do when he "sees" magic. "I did? I can't see it." Ron smiles wide. "Here let me teach you the trick I was taught to see magic. Then you won't need to rely on her." Despite his fatigue he bounces in place a bit. "It's nice to teach someone." There's a cautious stirring within you. Something makes you think it might be [[a bad idea.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1]] On the other hand you are genuinely curious. You've seen flashes of blue which is probably much the same [[as what Ron's talking about->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 Ron 1]], but to do so in an organized way might be helpful. Ron yawns, and drinks a bit more of his water. He's looking a bit haggard from all of the casting. He's excited that you are laying next to him, but you can tell that he longs for sleep.

Well hell, you've done a lot of very silly things today. What's one more? Ron smiles as you agree. He looks proud at teaching someone something. "The way it was taught to me involves a nursery rhyme so don't look at me like I'm silly." Certain breaths, in a certain pattern and then you blink. The fact that Ron remembers the pattern by humming a nursery rhyme actually makes a lot of sense. You can't help but wonder if your matron's chanting might fulfill a similar purpose. You do the same, humming as you do so. Then you do a double blink. \(if: $K1Ron is 0)[(set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1)] Magic is all around, a glance at your hands shows the shimmering blue of your matron's magic is coming off of you like steam off a roiling pot. The song from before, is here. It's always been here but it begins to grow fractionally louder. It's persistence is beautiful but, trying to describe it still eludes you. You take in the waving canopy of trees above. The shimmering blue exudes from the trees as well. The air is just filled with blue, perhaps it's not magic but something else instead? Damn pretty what ever it is. As you take in your bewitching surroundings you notice something about the blue light. It seems to react just to you looking at it, swelling under your gaze. Suddenly you realize that your voluminous tails are moving unconciously. What would happen if you moved all of your tails at once? The song and the brightness grows louder and louder until it's unbearable. In despiration you close your eyes but it does nothing, the blue brightness burning through your eyelids. Weeping you squeeze Ron's shoulder begging him to tell you how to make it stop. You need to turn it off right fucking now. Ron's voice squeaks with alarm. "Repeat it, errr, blink your eyes again!" Even through your panic you momentarily worry about Ron being too loud. (if: $WallDamage < 4)[ \(set: $K1Ron to 1) You manage to open your eyes again, it's like looking straight at the sun, the music is at a deafening roar. Your eyes weep, and you tremble with the effort. Finally in an act of supreme effort you manage to do the [[double blink. ->kitsune 1 possession scene 1]] Things return to normal. Not gonna do that again. You can feel your matron's concern, but at the same time she's a touch happy that you were willing to embrace magic. When you blink the tears out of your eyes you manage to look at Ron. He's turned as white as a sheet. "Sorry. I guess I should of mentioned how to turn it off at the start. I don't think I could make that happen to me if I tried." It wasn't really his fault. He's as out of his depth as everyone else. \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ The room where you sit across from your matron is always distantly with you. Being there is part of what makes things seem so continually dream like. You can see the cracks trace themselves through the impossible wall, probing for where they might appear and then willing themselves into existance. There is an unearthly ripping noise as the paper thin wall cracks. Right now this manifesting as a slight headache, and an increased familarity with your new form. You are taller than you were, and your strides are coming more naturally. Your tails keep preening your hair when you aren't thinking about it. ] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[ The room where you last saw your matron is always here in an etherial not quite there way. you can occasionally feel your chair beneath your legs, the visions of what you've seen before flitting across your eyes occasionally. The impossible wall is there as well, bending and contorting in ways it could never have been designed for, it makes a sound like like the strings of a harp snapping. You should not stress it again if you can help it. Right now the damage shows itself in how your eyes keep flickering as if dreaming. Occasionally you can taste the sweet taste of rice wine on your tongue. Your mannerisms are occasionally more lady like than you intend, and you find yourself absentmindedly preening your apperance when you have a spare moment. You represent your goddess after all.]] \(if: $WallDamage is 4)[ Distantly through the pain of the light and roar of the music you can feel the wall keeping you from your matron groan and stretch under the assault of percieving/manipulating this much magic. In desperation you can feel your matron force your eyes to do the double blink. But sadly it's too little late. The wall between you and your matron gives way as naturally as sand castle before a flood. You disperse like mist before sunshine. In second someone will blink their eyes twice while reciting a nursury rhyme. They will look like you, talk like you, but not in the most basic sense be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. Your natural ability with magic far outstrips your ability to use it safely, Play smart with magic kids.]

You nod, you can walk reliably. Though everything is a bit floaty in your mind you get the feeling the stresses of combat will bring things into a more real focus. You hope anyway. Cohen nods and pulls himself up to a kneeling position. He motions for everyone to gather around for another council of war. Alonso raises an eyebrow. "How many councils do we really need Cohen?" Cohen shrugs. "We are not getting out of here without a good plan youngling. So as many as it takes until we are captured or escaped." You sit on Cohen's right as everyone kneels nearby. Everyone's slumped over a bit, or leaning on something. Cohen clears his throat. "Alright younglings we can still do this." He turns to you. "With your help mil-youngling we should be able to pull this off." Everyone giggles at Cohen's mistake. Stroking his beard Cohen asks "Is there something you'd like to be called? I'm sure I could figure out some combination name if that would set the both of you at ease." You can distantly feel matron being more insulted that he won't just refer to you as her. You'll stick with your own name thank you. Cohen nods. "Right you are on backline." You put a hand to the kitsune's katana. Looking down you realize that it's gotten very fancy. The hilt is in the shape of a blooming flower which is of questionable utility but looks nice. You are pretty sure that despite how dream like everything is, you can probably fight though. Cohen shakes his head. "I don't need you on the frontline. Her powers could win battles larger than this with the right support. We will keep you safe and you keep them at bay." Cohen knows these things better than anyone else, so [[you'll trust him.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 2]] He turns to Frederick, whose thin frame blanches under the attention. "You are on frontline Frederick. Stick between me and Alonso so we can cover you from both sides." He smiles warmly. "Don't worry we will be right there Frederick to cover you." Alonso pats Frederick on the shoulder. "I'll be right next to you Frederick. You can do this." Frederick nods, despite his exhaustion he forces a smile. "If someone's going to be relaxing in the back, then I gotta step up." Your matron doesn't like it, but he needs to cover his fear so you laugh. Alonso speaks up "What's the plan Cohen?"

[[Cohen->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 3]] puts a hand through what's left of his beard, a breeze above makes the trees sway and tremble. "We are being hunted. But with some luck they think my friend is unable to fight. So they will be in smaller groups looking to finish us off or at least find us for the main group." He gives a grim chuckle. "I'm willing to bet that the spider queen wants to deal the final blow. What would do you think Alonso?" Alonso plays with his now long golden hair. "They'll hear us if we just try to dash out of here. I'm not sure we are in the right condition to do so anyway. So we have to do something else." [[Cohen->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 3]] nods proudly. "Quite right youngling. We will double back." Everyone groans at the suggestion. Even your matron makes her displeasure known internally. [[Cohen->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 3]] puts his hands up gently. "I know younglings, but when fleeing like this the smartest thing to do is to be where your pursuers aren't." Alonso speaks up. "Cohen please, we've gone zigged, zagged, curved, up, down and across this forest. There has to be another way." [[Your matron->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 detour]] speaks through you, moving your jaws and lips for you. It's an uncanny sensation, like the voice is coming from above and behind you rather than you. "We need but reach the road Cohen. Once there I can use the power of it to crush these spiders." It's not pleasant to her hear booming voice this way. Frederick notes your displeasure and puts a reassuring hand on yours. Your matron doesn't like it but, any reassurance is nice. Cohen puts a hand to his forehead, then looking a bit uncertain he speaks like someone might try to a ghost. "Milady, we have tried as much. It has not worked you may recall." [[Your matron->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 detour]] speaks again. "I will not ignore so immediate a solution. We should not seek a difficult remedy when the correct one is right there." Cohen looks at you? Through you? "Milady I will not, unless it is absolutely necessary lead my younglings into such danger twice." He looks at you. "If you truly think it a workable idea I'll follow your lead youngling. But we are near the end of our strength, and I'm not sure we could get away twice." You nod, to your personal joy you find you can finally speak on your own. "I'll think on it Cohen." Cohen nods at you. "Not for long youngling, we need to move." He looks through you again and loudly says. "I ask that you stop speaking through my youngling, Milady. It distresses them terribly." [[Your matron->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 detour]] seems expectant again, you aren't sure her plan will work. Author's note: your matron option not implement yet.

(if: $detour is 0)[You nod at Cohen while your matron pouts internally. His plan should work? ](if: $detour is 1)[After that epic misadventure subterfuge is your only real hope of losing the spiders. Any plan Cohen has is better than what your matron could be planning.] (if: $detour is 0)[You nod again. Your matron is disappointed but it's out of her hands] Cohen smiles a grim smile. "Right younglings. I've lead you zigged, zagged, curved, up, down and across this forest to escape, and I'll happily lead you zigged, zagged, curved, up, down, across, backwards, forwards and sideways if that's what it takes. Group up, front line protect the back line and backline watch out for the front line. Focus on stealth for now and as soon as they spot our friend here expect a lot more trouble." Everyone groups up with Cohen leading the way. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[Your traveling companion looks at you intensely from across the recessed go board. You can't help but admire how her hair frames her beautiful eyes. She keeps moving her piece dexterously between her fingers as she considers her next move. Finally she places it down. A good move but you figured out her strategy long ago. You place yours barely looking at what she just did. Your opponent is clever, constantly trying to trick you. Go at first was a difficult game for you, so many subtle intricacies that you never needed to consider before entering your goddess's service. Still you have become quite good at the game. Your opponent is playing with her piece as she thinks, and you look out the window of the flying carriage. Far below beneath the clouds being tinted a gentle pink by the sunrise, you can see a truly massive forest. What sort of monsters and beasts reside in you wonder. Not really your concern beyond the establishment of the temple for your goddess. She picked the spot and so that's where the temple will stand forever more. How wonderful to fly above the petty concerns of the forest. You hear the gentle click of the piece upon the board, and ever so lady like your opponent clears her throat. You scan the board and then look up at your opponent, her smile has grown ever so slightly smug. Your eyes widen and your tails flare slightly. She's tricked you!](if: $hidden is 1)[NTS: she's conflating memories here, which is meant to make an artistic point. The temple in the forest was likely finished before she met her ingenuine. She's been gone for ~30 years, and she likely knew Cohen before meeting her love.] Something about the woman's hair, no something about how it framed her eyes reminded you of yourself. Or at least yourself before you met the kitsune. You are so caught up into pondering this that you walk directly into Frederick who has stopped. He's so on edge that he jumps about a foot into the air. He gives you an accusatory look. You try to seem innocent. "Why have we stopped? Frederick nods towards Cohen. "Says he heard spiders up ahead. Planning something with Alonso." You can feel Ron peering over your shoulder carefully, his hair cascading down your shoulder. You nod, and make an internal plea for your matron to stop with the constant assaults of images. She's sympathetic but you get the feeling she has as little control over it as you do. Alonso and Cohen have everyone gather around. "Right, it's risky but we are going to try and pull the enemy patrol. I only hear two, and I don't think there are any in the trees. If we can capture them we can mislead them." Frederick gulps heavily "You sure this is wise Cohen? Longer we stay without getting seen better our odds are I think." Cohen nods. "You aren't wrong Frederick. But they are combing the area, and if they can isolate where we ain't they can focus on where we are. If we capture them, then run away and double back we might pull them out of position. Beyond that we need to make sure our friend here can actually magic for beans." Ron speaks up quickly. "I, she's so full of magic I can’t even describe. She should be quite useful." Cohen checks that his sword is at hand. "I have a feeling we will be in a big fight before this is over. Damn queen is tearing apart the forest looking for us. Rather test our mettle in a small fight that we can get away from." He gives a deferential look to Alonso as he messages his muscles. Alonso nods "We won't have much room for error once this starts. Frederick stick with me. Plan is we "wander" into them, act real scared and shout something about abandoning the others. Then haul ass towards here. Others ambush." Frederick goes whiter than a sheet. "Oh wow. Okay." He manages another smile, then nods towards you. "Now I know what it feels like to be them." Everyone laughs at that. Your matron smiles internally, [[she's excited for the ambush.->kitsune 1 possession scene 2]] You take up a location behind a tree. With some luck you needn’t fight at all. In the best case scenario, the ambush succeeds and the spiders think your matron has left the group. The others take up positions nearby, they'll jump out when it's time. You find yourself losing your focus tracing the patterns in the bark. Realizing what you are doing, you drive your now quite long nails into your palm trying to stay focused.

Your matron is powerful, she has the most magic you've even seen. She makes Ron look like a match in comparison. Perhaps she could make a frontal attack work, even when it didn't before. you are kind of in charge at the moment after all. It might be worth chancing. Your current state is unstable and the sooner the spiders are seen off the faster you might get to normal. Cohen looks at you carefully, making sure to catch your eyes. "Are you sure youngling? Any attack on the spiders is a gamble, perhaps a gamble bordering on foolish. There is every chance things might go very wrong." Cohen's eyes are as fierce and energetic as ever. They even sparkle with confidence. Wait do they? He looks past you, at your tails you quickly realize. "Milady has misread the situation, ever so slightly in the past." You can feel your matron pushing you to go for it, you can almost feel her. It's like a hand outstretching trying to reach something with the tip of it's finger before it goes spiraling off into the darkness. \(if: $WallDamage is 1)[[[The hand stretches out again, it's full length extended in a desperate attempt to finally grasp the thing.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 detour 1]][[ This final effort sends it further than might ever be reached, like pushing something off into a river.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 3]]] \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[The wall keeping you from your matron is suddenly in the forefront of you mind. It's been stressed before, if you matron relies on raw magical power to make this attack work, can you be sure that it will hold? [[You don't want to think about what will happen if it fails.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 3]] [[Your matron however is totally convinced of it's success.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 detour 1]] If this goes as bad as it did last time she tried this plan, are you sure you want to risk it as you are now?] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[[[You have a sudden dark omen flit across your mind.->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 3]] The impossible gossamer wall which keeps you from your matron is already stress to be near it's breaking point. [[Your matron will spend as much magic as it takes to make this attack work,->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 detour 1]] of this you can be sure. Do you really want to risk all damaged as you currently are? Nothing good will happen if that wall breaks.]

Your matron is interestingly happy for the ambush to come. You aren't quite sure why. Everyone's tired and it's risky thing. You take cover behind a tree, crouching down for cover. From here you can see Ron behind a tree on the other side of the ambush zone. He's trying to comb his hair with hands but has failed to consider his now much longer hair as he tries to put it into a simple comb over. Distantly you hear a branch snap, and a bird take sudden flight. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The grasses are bent with the exertion of holding the recent snow. You creep through them, stepping carefully with your paws to avoid making any sounds. The grouse is close, pecking at the ground carefully. It's shimmering white feathers make it seem like it's made from snow itself. But you know their taste, warm and savory. Wolves hunt by smell and through coordination with their family, dogs through the sheer terror of their noise and size. But Foxes hunt through ambush, by jumping as far as they can manage. You will make this jump you think. After all it's the most important grouse.] If there was any more to that it's lost in the noise and violence as Frederick tears into where the ambush is to happen like his heels are on fire. He's followed by Alonso, who in a burst of speed manages to catch Frederick. They turn obviously ready to fight. Poor Frederick is holding his spear with both hands, obviously white knuckling on both. Alonso is more calm, taking a deep breath and turning to face whatever's coming with a tired smile. With a conscious effort you manage to keep yourself from joining them. You are backline you gotta supply the magic. Not long later a trio of spider-girls crash into the clearing, using their armored bodies to break through the underbrush. More than you figured for but not more than you can handle. They seem confident, the unusual colors of their hair standing out against the muted tones of the forest. One's a gentle lilac, one's a moonlight silver and the third is a blood red. Just to look at them you can feel your matron's displeasure. Your haunches raise and you can't help but grind your teeth slightly. The spider-girls have an initial look of confusion, obviously unsure why their quarry has decided to stand and fight. This quickly switches to a victorious one. They must think that the pair is either too exhausted to run or thinks they can carry the day despite the odds. You can't help but feel your matron's pleasure at being able to wipe that off their faces. Cohen flanks the spidergirls, stepping out from behind the trees, sword in hand. He's smiling himself. The spider-girls are not so overconfident that they aren't paying attention to what's going on behind them. They quickly form out a fighting triangle, fighting back-to-back. They aren't ready to quit just because their chase turned into an ambush. The fighting begins in earnest. The murky clearing is rapidly illuminated by the light of Ron's fire magic. He's enthusiastic if nothing else. The light looks strange against the [[dark black of his hair.->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 ron]] It's a mesmerizing sight and for a second it catches your attention. Frederick's strangled combat yell catches your attention. Right gotta prove you can magic for beans. Your hands move more or less on their own. Your matron makes you blink double and for a second you can see the light blue of magic. Words or perhaps language fail to truly describe it. We can describe in parts but not the whole, a sunset is more than a disc moving below a horizon. The blue light is all around you, suffusing and making up everything you can see. It pulses to a warm, regular, impossible beat. The rhythm reminds you of the music you heard when you gained your matron's power. The warmth and beauty of it almost move you to tears. For a second the blue light surges almost threatening to overwhelm you. But then your eyes narrow the intensity of the blue dimming. The trees all around you are just coated in the light blue light. Your tails behind you wag slightly and then the blue light is concentrated in your hands. It's so simple to know just what to do to make it do what you want. Your hands move by themselves, and your lips form a chant you don't know. The discomfort you should be feeling is undone by the awe of the process. It's easy enough to form a blue fire to help keep the spider-girls off their guard. It's not much, especially compared to the flames you are seeing Ron put out. You can't help but think of the thin wall keeping you from your matron. Perhaps smaller displays of magic will help you keep safe? It's hard to avoid toasting your friends when it's like this. You have to perhaps give Ron a touch of credit for not singing his party members more than he does. Still in a situation like this you can't help but feel you could do more on the front line. There wouldn't be much of a fight if the spider-girls knew they were properly outnumbered. You keep having to battle the urge to draw your sword and rush into danger. The fighting is hard but Cohen's taking on the brunt of it. [[His sword shines almost in time->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 Cohen]] with the flares of Ron's magic. It looks like something out of a tale of old. If he wasn't so tired and the spider-girls so determined, the fight would have been over already. Alonso is doing his best as well. He doesn't have the experience of Cohen, but he shouts orders and does his level best to keep Frederick from getting into too much trouble. As Ron's flames flare you spot something on Alonso’s face. No, it is his face. [[Something about his jawline.->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 Alonso]] It seems so very familiar. So very sad. Even Frederick who you can feel your matron's displeasure for is giving his best account. He's screaming a bit, and his stabs and slashes have a frantic air. But [[he's not running->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 Frederick]] and that's not nothing. The magic is so pretty to watch as the fighting continues, the shapes and colors defy description. You manage to focus yourself again. The fight is going well, the spiders are outnumbered and soon to be overpowered. [[You->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge]] breathe a sigh of relief, things at last seem to be going well. Something strikes you as wrong, as if you are forgetting something important, some lesson learned and then forgotten. You look out at your friends. While you are staying relatively clean, Ron's already getting covered in soot from his own fires. The others were pretty dirty already but the leaf matter and dirt the spiders are throwing up is sure not helping. (if: $hidden is 1)[if didn't wash with cohen: After all that trouble to finally get Cohen clean. After all that trouble to get you clean.]

There's something more to the hair, it reminds you, your matron of something. For a moment you keenly feel how far from home your matron is. The situation is bad, and these spiders might be what finally kills her. For a moment you feel her despair, dark as midnight. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The breath within the room is baited. The mikos filling the temple's hall around you are all doing their best to be mouse quiet. Mikos have a particular talent for being quiet you have found. Makes them good listeners, better able to receive your goddesses teachings. You look around at the mikos all bowed on the ground making multiple concentric circles of bodies. The temple is grand to be sure, the wood is lacquered and the silken hangings luxurious. But your mikos are the greatest monument to your goddesses glory. You let out a polite giggle and like it was rehearsed they all raise their heads, revealing their eyes looking at you adoringly all at once. The whites of their eyes contrast the deep darkness of their hair. That's your girls. You have quested long and fought hard on their behalf. You won't fall here. They are waiting for you to return after all.] Your matron feels distinctly proud at her recollection. She enjoyed being the center of such adoration, and [[can't quite get why->kitsune 1 possession scene 2]] you don't join the chorus. You take a deep breath and refocus. You can do this. You had better be able to do this. Easiest thing in the world. Still you can't help but feel a bit of concern. Magic users work best with support and back here you don't have any.

There's something off about him as you look closer, you still can't quite tell what it is. But it's there. Was his hair always so long? Still as you look at him you realize that a blush is creeping onto your cheeks. He's quite strong and capable. So wild. Is your heart beating faster? The unpleasant realization of what's happening is slow. Your matron is somewhat attracted to Cohen. Not in a serious sense, but more a gentle admiration. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[There's something in the man's smile that you will never forget. It's such a small thing, but something about he does it. The smile promises triumph, maybe not your triumph, but it promises that if you follow that smile you will receive victory in a way you never dreamed possible. The barbarian is steaming in snowy weather, he rode hard up the mountain, forgoing a shirt. He's the very figure of an adventurer, even if he is not wearing a piece of rokugu, his muscles are quite impressive. His hand went to his sword when he first spotted you, but now? He's giving you that smile. So much strife and so much frustration trying to rouse the villagers to help you. But with him here your prayers have been answered. Could you tame him? Could you have tamed him? Not likely, not even if you set him up with one of your girls. Hah! That's funny to think of. One of your blushing demure girls next to Cohen. You wish in the depths of your heart that you could though. He above all other men deserves rest and happiness. How would you do it though? The best way to start would be to go with a not made up look, something closer to what a peasant might wear. Then you'd tease him. Make him rise to the occasion, in both ways. Then as you lean into kiss enjoy the scent of his sweat and masculinity. Kiss him, enjoy his hardness against your softness. It'll be like warm syrup spilling from a cup. And then] You manage to break out of your matron's fairly graphic sexual fantasy, covering your ears and closing your eyes and trying desperately hard to think of something, anything else. It takes a little while but it finally mercifully stops. Thankfully you aren't on [[the front line of combat->kitsune 1 possession scene 2]] or this might of been a fatal maneuver. You can feel that your matron is a little embarrassed and an bright blush graces your cheeks. Thankfully everyone is too distracted to notice anything amiss. When you uncover your ears you can hear something distantly behind you.

1. kitsune 1 content up to endings 2. test status screen 3. editing pass

Frederick is doing his level best. But even from here you can tell he's afraid. You can't really blame him, he's only lost height as a girl, and the spiders tower above him. Anyone who has been in a fight knows fear, especially in between the ebbs and flows of wild adrenaline. You've been afraid at times, especially since entering this forest. The fact that Frederick keeps fighting despite his fear is only a mark in his credit. You can feel your matron's displeasure from within. Which is strange, Frederick's a fine sort and good company at the best of times. Someone who can keep good humor in the face of death is always handy to have. So, you absentmindedly probe deeper into your Matron's displeasure. She disapproves, not particularly of him. But more particularly of those who take what's not theirs. Frederick's guilty enough of that, but he always shares afterwards. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[It's been long enough that you don't recall the man's face. You recall his hands and his hair though. His hair was tied up against the side of his head with bows as was the style at the time. He wore an elegant eboshi on top if it but could never get the knot to keep it on just right. His hands were too large and rough to tie the knot delicately, so whenever he got a spare moment he would remove his hat and retie it. This man, in the light of the early morning is leading you through the battle site. It was a small battle and only a few died. You can smell their blood in the air though. The man has you step carefully over a corpse, and then points up the hill. "If her divine excellency will look, you can see where they rolled down the burning logs and brambles." You give the man curious look, your tail swishing too and fro curiously. "This was to frighten the horses, your divine excellency. Horses, and well most things with sense have a fear of fire." He points at a rough foot path through the grasses on the hill. "With the horses frightened they rush down the hill and attacked. Scared horses will generally not stay where their riders don't want to be. So off they ran." You nod, this in it's particular way of humans is making it's own sense. You aren't sure why they would attack at all though. The man continues, stepping carefully over a dead rider. "They bypassed the palanquins with your ladies in them. I was told you were with them? Did you attempt to stop the bandits?" Your ears flare defensively, even then you had a reasonable command of magic. "I sought to protect my women. I did not kno-" The man puts up his rough hand, it's smooth across the palm where he most holds the sword. "I do not dare question the wisdom of you, or your goddess. You acted as your goddess bid." Did your goddess bid you protect the women? Were you simply afraid or confused? This you do not recall. He walks a few steps further. "Your divine excellency may recall the straw bags that accompanied the procession? In the carts drawn by oxen?" You nod, another quaint thing you didn't quite understand. He nods. "They were full of rice, that's what the bandits sought to steal. And did." The man leads you a few more steps, down the path that the procession followed. There lies one of the bandits, he is shot with arrows and his throat has been slit bleeding his life's blood all over his meager vest. You can see the man's ribs sticking tightly against his skin. The man speaks up. "This one stayed and fought to make sure the other bandits might escape with the rice. The guards did not panic for long you see." You follow the logic so far, but why steal the rice at all? Your goddess is one of harvest and fertility. Surely plenty can be guaranteed through fidelity to her. The man has crouched down, making sure his sword does not stick into the ground. He is fiddling with his cap, the knot still bedevils him. "Surely enough your divine excellency. But despite the divine blessings of your goddess, the crops have failed this year and disaster is around us. The people go hungry, and in times such as those banditry is assured." You nod again, you used to hunt for your food. You know the urgency of hunger well. But why they must steal it is still unclear. There must be a reason. Why didn't they just farm with their neighbors or buy food? You still aren't quite sure what buying is, but you've heard it mentioned. He shrugs, still intently focused on the knot. "Their neighbors crops failed as well most likely. As for buying it, what with? Money to a peasant is rice. They must first pay their taxes." He pauses to anxiously pulling at the knot. "and give contributions to the temple." Your temple. "Then they may eat." Your tail swishes too and fro anxiously. You almost understand. "Do they deserve it? Do they deserve this disaster?" The man stands, putting back on his hat and securing the bows that keep his greying locks tied to the side of his head. "No one deserves disaster your divine excellency. But it happens all the same." You bit your lip.] When you manage to focus again you see that despite his vigor Frederick has received more than a few cuts during his fighting. You'll have to heal him once this [[group of spiders is dealt with.->kitsune 1 possession scene 2]] How frustrating that despite his courage your matron is still unwilling to soften her opinion. She's old right? Maybe she's just stuck in her ways, Cohen is like that sometimes. The smooth, almost not there hairs on the back of your neck stick up and your hackles go up. You have a feel like someone is watching you.

He's as brave and noble looking as ever you note. His long golden hair is only enhancing his looks. It's something about his face that reminds you of his male appaerance. Would you look so noble if you were out there swinging your sword instead of back here? Distantly you can feel your matron's opinion of him, he's not her type, although you get the feeling she could understand the appeal. (if: $K2Alonso is 0)[(set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1)] (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[Behind you, there are the soft thumps of your women hurrying along the wooden hallway. The men are coming back from the hunt, distantly, even above the perfumes of your ladies you can smell the horses. The hunters have supposedly slain some great beast and the women are all in a titter to see it. The wood halls are meticulously clean, the result of some very hard working maids. This might be the cleanest castle you've ever been in. The sun is setting however, and they have yet to light the lamps so the hall is shrouded in twilight. Finally you reach the courtyard. Your women all crush around you, taking care not to step on each others long kurokami hair trailing in the trains of their robes. Many of them producing fans and screens to help preserve their modesty. You can hear the neighing of horses. Your attention is momentarily distracted by the clouds above. The great cloud castle above is still there, having shifted closer slightly. The sun has nearly set, but the clouds above reflect the light creating false sunlight. The courtyard is illuminated far brigher than it should. The gates to the courtyard open and there is the general confusion of a large group of horses. The horses haul in a gigantic boar, only a little smaller than a horse itself. The riders are generally congratulating eachother, one man stands out. He was obviously the one to fell the beast. You know the man distantly, you bounced him in your lap at one point, having been the god mother to his grandparents at one point. There's almost light from around the clouds shining down on him. You turn back to look at your women.] You begin to weep uncontrollably. (if: $WallDamage < 4)[The tears rolling down your cheeks freely as you sob. Your makeup must no doubt be running freely. There is an ocean of sadness, as large and infinite as the sky. There are so few words to describe the sense of loss you feel. The emptiness, the grief. As if a part of yourself was gone to only ever be poorly substituted. For a few long moments you lose yourself in the well of sadness. Crying as if it were [[your grief.->kitsune 1 possession scene 2]] Perhaps in part it is? \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ Your matron's grief shakes the wall that keeps you from your matron, roiling it's surface like it were the surface of a roiling pot. you try to calm the waters, pushing on it to try and force the bubbles back down. But it's like splashed sap, never to return to it's smooth perfect surface. The damage shows itself as a slight headache, and an increased familiarity with your new form. You are taller than you were, and your strides are coming more naturally. Your tails keep preening your hair when you aren't thinking about it.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[ The grief is so very deep, it strikes the trembling paper thin wall that keeps you safe from your matron like a massive rock throw into a lake. But the wall contorts inward, not turning to it's former shape. You suddenly have a dark premonition, that the wall can take no more damage. What damage there is, thankfully spreads no further. But it's had it's effects. Occasionally you can taste the sweet taste of rice wine on your tongue. Your mannerisms are occasionally more lady like than you intend, and you find yourself absentmindedly preening your appearance when you have a spare moment. You represent your goddess after all.] Finally you gather yourself, the fight continues and it's all you can do to bury your grief. Distantly you can feel your tails perk slightly from a gust of wind behind you. \(Set: $K2Alonso to 1)](if: $WallDamage is 4)[You keep crying, sobbing helplessly like a child for it's mother. Finally you stop. Distantly, in the room within you can feel your matron's grief descend overflowing the wall like water over a dyke. The grief is endless, bottomless and dark. The last thing you see before you are washed away, destroyed, is the light of hope and love that drives your matron to such grief. BAD END: For there is at least an end to grief Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. Beneath it all she is so very sad, there might be a time for healing but in the middle of combat is what we like to call a bad time.] (set: $alonsolooked to 1)

You have a sudden feeling of falling, like one too many nightmares. That inescapable doom foretold, that you can see but never prevent. You blink a few times, you've had nightmares that have made more sense than today. On reflex you duck behind a tree and feel the hollow thud of something hit it. Carefully rounding the tree again, you examine the brightly colored darts which have sprouted from the bark of the tree. Something about those darts seems familiar. You look up and see several groupings of 8 eyes looking at you with a mild curiosity. One of them gives a polite wave that you almost return. The spiders apparently take some humor in your total lack of concern. What's happening finally penetrates through the fog of confusion. You were in the back line and they flanked you! You shout an alarm and your sword is in hand. You draw it as you jump backwards towards your friends. Your tails spread out behind you, perhaps making for a fearsome sight. The spiders rush forward. You are not so lethal using a sword and magic at the same time as you might of hoped. To cast your matron's magic requires either a great deal of concentration or a chant to help guide the magic. Neither are desirable during fencing, especially with a katana's thin heavy blade. Still you do your best, summoning up fires and general mayhem to help cover for your clumsy steps and shortness of breath. With more practice and well drilled pattern of breathing you might be as good at swordsmanship as you used to be. Thankfully you can hear [[Frederick hauling ass behind you, his light footsteps and girlish battle cry making your ears twitch.->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge frederick]] In a flash he's next to you swinging his spear wildly, doing his utmost to keep the spiders from swarming you. (if protected the kitsune: You can feel your matron's pride that you, and by extension her have friends so quick to rush to your defense.)(if didn't protect the kitsune: Your matron is momentarily sad. Why would you not rush to her defense?) It becomes a fair fight then. Before long Cohen joins you. He announces his arrival by grabbing you by the scruff of the neck and throwing you behind him. Freed from melee you get back to doing your best to cast magic. Here with a patrol of spiders in front of you, there is the room to let your matron's truly shine. Your magic is effective and before long the second spider patrol is being forced back. Frederick isn't contributing that much but he certainly keeps the spider-girls off guard long enough. [[Cohen's bladework->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge cohen]] is even more impressive to watch up close. He steps and his sword catches a bit of a shine and a spider jumps for her life. Beneath that you can feel [[your matron->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge matron]] pushing internally. She'd like to end the fight now, here. To scatter the spiders all at once so you can flee with haste. As you try to land on your feet, you see Alonso behind you, he's watching [[the captured spider girls->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge spiders]]. He took one of the warrior's spears as a trophy. You can't help but absentmindedly wonder how he'd look as a spider girl for a moment. His long hair would go well with the height that form would give him. He's got the bust for it at least. \(if: $hidden is 1)[ So what's the plan Aaaac? You get attacked by another spider group, frederick rushes to your defense. (if protected the kitsune she's momentarily happy that you ahve friends as happy to defend her as you were to defend her. if you didn't protect the kitsune she's annoyed that you were not so ready to defend her.) Frederick has a link here where your perception of time is fucked so you see after this fight to when you are healing him (second part of kitsune interlude about thieves.) Your sword is in your hand, but the kitsune's style of casting magic requires a bit of chanting. so it's tough going. Still your friends give a good account of themselves. Your matron wants you to simply finish the fight with her magic. (counts as a fail) and you manage to get away safely.]

The cuts on Frederick's arm are deeper than they looked at first. They mostly avoided his muscle, but the skin hangs loosely and has been visibly torn by his wild swings. There is some blood staining his gambeson a deep red, but not a profusion so he will likely avoid the worst of the dizziness that comes with blood loss. He squirms a bit under your touch, and your noise itches from the humidity. He withdraws at first as you gently probe the wound making sure it's not worse than it looks. Still he manages a smile and stops squirming so much. "I never thought you could be so gentle, or so caring a nurse." He smiles as he makes the lame joke. You can't help but respond that you thought he had more sense than to get injured. He can still joke which is a good sign. Your matron doesn't like Frederick, but even she feels a duty to tend to his wounds. You do a double blink, and then immediately narrow your eyes. Everything takes on a shimmery blue affect. You can see the red natural magic of Frederick’s body dance through his arm, how it flows, pools and is being released with his blood. You have a feeling that your matron has tended to the injured many many times, and so this feels almost routine to her. Your tails wag behind you, too and fro. They twitch occasionally when a droplet of water hits them. Healing does not seem to be an especially complicated magical task, the body wishes to be whole and supplying external magical power can simply push it finish healing faster. That's how Ron does it, and you have the scars and swears to attest to just how much that hurts most of the time. Comparing Ron to your matron is like comparing the sun to the moon. Your hands move and you chant quietly. The magic isolates the nerves, heals the flesh first, and then heals the nerves so that Frederick only feels a mild tickle. He breaks out in a wide smile "Any chance you could teach Ron that trick? I wouldn't mind not having to find something to bite every time he does any healing." Your matron takes his lack of immediate thanks a something to be offended by. She really does seem dedicated to being offended by Frederick. But why? He's a good sort and [[ran frantically to your defense->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge]] not an hour ago. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The peasants you really don't remember outside of a common mass of humanity. A particularly warm smile or a certain profile sticks in your memory but beyond that you don't remember anything about them except for their gratitude. You do recall the surprise of your nuns and the hesitation of the man whose face you can't recall. The plan was not received well, even if you were a divine excellency. The man had managed to finally tie his eboshi hat's knot well and was obviously anxious to toy with his hat, but unwilling to remove his hat. Instead his fingers played with the tassel on the end of the hilt of his tanto. You recall the hair against the sides of his head being much grayer, perhaps age, perhaps you. "But your divine excellency, to feed the peasants will eat up our rice. Without rice we will not have the money to enhance the temple, to enhance the glory of your goddess." You pretend to look wise, really you are just tired of the argument. "The glory of my goddess is in it's worshippers. I was converted after an act of deserving charity by my goddess. We will do the same." The man plays with the tassel and then falls silent. Finally he says "As you wish your divine excellency. Let us pray that it does not come back to bite us." And so you led your mikos in giving food to the starving. This you find is enjoyable work, to see the smiles, and hear the prayers after feeding the hungry. What you do not count on is the number of the starving. People from provinces over come in search of things to eat, so bad is the disaster. For a while things are fine, but on the edges of the great camp that develops there are thieves, perverting your goddesses benevolence. They mostly steal from those who have just received food or are tending to the sick. This you will not stand, so you root out the thieves and punish them appropriately. You spare killing them for the most part, but your patience runs thin if they threaten one of your mikos. Thieves and those who might thieve are all alike you find. Finally the famine ends, the disaster is weathered. The adulation is immense, and thanks to your temple. And to you as it's head.]

The idea of scattering all the spiders at once is tempting, but it's hard to imagine how you couldn't do that without so much sound and noise that it wouldn't just multiply your problems. Hmm that's something of an idea to test actually. Your greatest strength at the moment is definitely your command of your matron's magical power. But if you stop casting and focus entirely on the swordplay can you still hold your own? Everyone was definitely too tired to spar with you. it'd help a bit if everything stopped rolling. Perhaps you will even find a use for your matron's voluminous tails? You weren't doing great before but the chanting wasn't helping. You cast a few more spells to give cover for cohen, and then draw your matron's sword with a practiced hand. Then the melee is joined. The fighting is not especially fierce, the spider patrol isn't hemmed in, and have no fear of taking steps back when pressured. Which even through your haze you can tell means they are stalling for reinforcenments. You can still swing a sword you find. Your strokes are unsteady though, and your matron's restored robe is so voluminious that it's close to impossible to move in. Beyond even that, being in a dream like haze is a bad friggin situation to be in while fighting. Your thoughts flow just a second too slow, like trying to talk underwater. A close thrust makes everything seem more real for a second and you find the meele that much easier. You might be able to manage it, but only in a moment of utmost need, when thing seem as real as normal. This isn't working, you can see Frederick bleeding and every moment wasted is a moment closer to disaster. You duck under the cover of Cohen's sword swipe. You try to think, the second patrol is out matched, you might be able to disperse them with a spell but that's what you were avoiding in the first place. Your eyes land on Alonso, his beautiful face has a worried expression and he's hoping from one foot to another anxiously. His spider prisoners are eying him carefully obviously ready for a chance to escape. Your matron has a sudden idea, it's an old trick one she used to do with Cohen. Sword in hand you run to Alonso. He gives you a concerned look and asks "What's the plan?" With a madcap smile, you respond "Not sure, let's find out!" You follow your hands, casting a spell without truly knowing what it is. It settles over Alonso like a light shroud of shimmering blue starlight. He's hard to look at directly, your eyes seem to slide off of him. Ah! It's an illusion. An illusion for what? Alonso gives you a questioning look. "What's different? What did you do?" The answer finally dawns you. "You are hard to look at, like magically so. You don't look that bad actually. Flank the spiders!" Alonso smiles and runs off with a will. You feel like you are forgetting something. You are forgeting something. You look down at the spiders, one of whom is trying to quietly shuffle towards her spear. Your raise your sword and she gives you a "well you can't blame me for trying" look. You really can't but still. It's difficult to watch Alonso's progress through the forest because your eyes keep sliding off of him. You blink twice and look for the spell you cast, but this is difficult as well but you can see Alonso moving at full speed through the forest, around the spiders. With a high pitched shriek he pops out of the woods behind the attacking patrol. They jump like scared cats, and flee! Everyone is much too tired to chase him. As your friends return Alonso gives you a thankful smile and says "My throat hurts.". He gets a few pats on the back for a job well done. You quickly rob the captured spider-girls, you bind their hands too so they won't get up to too much trouble. [[This plan is basically scuppered->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge 1]] but no reason to stretch the supplies any futher. With a smirk you also put the spider-girl's spears into your matron's bag. They give you murderous glances in response but keep quiet. You don't have long, the spiders that ran will be getting help soon. (set: $scene2bridgemagic to 0)

You can feel your matron's fatigue, she wishes for the fighting to be over. She's uncomfortable, perhaps afraid in this deep dark forest. She has the most basic of urges to be free from the danger. You can feel distantly her desire from before to simply reach the road and use her command of it's magic to solve her problems. To move the heavy stone and then plow the field. Perhaps your matron's magic can win this skirmish and let you get away quickly. Every second you delay puts everyone in further danger. You let Cohen do the fighting and lose a few more spells to help keep the attack at bay. (set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1) Your matron seems to sense your acquiesce. She leads your hands in conjuring up grander and grander magic. Distantly you can feel her working through her frustration at the whole situation. There is no self-reflection just her anger at the spiders for standing in the way. As she grows angrier and angrier, her magic takes on a more and more threatening tone. The blue flames you conjure grow redder and redder, the amount of magic you seem to leech from the surrounding trees. The chanting she's doing is even so much to focus her magic but to keep her time with the distant impossible music. (if: $hidden is 1)[(NTS check if that's already been established. It was!)] Your spells become more and more dangerous, eventually threatening both your allies and the spiders. She's taking it too far, you can feel her losing her temper. If you think things are bad now, wait until your matron's rage has killed one of the spiders. Looking at your hands bending magic into spells you realize with a faint horror that your matron's human costume is starting to slip. The impossible, burning form beyond that is beginning to show. You might be mud but you are mud sculpted by your matron. If she stops caring enough to sculpt the mud what will happen to her? What will happen to you? You take a deep breath and try to calm your matron internally, she needs to stop. It's a slow agonizing effort, she feels her own feeling quite strongly. Her righteous fury seems so justified to her. She's also just plain old not interested in listening. Finally she conjures up a truly frightening spell, the ball of magical fire crackling with blue lightning. This will either end the fight or kill everyone. You aren't going to risk it, after all you run that gamble with Ron every day and all you have to show for it is an impressive number of missing eyebrows. Flexing internally you try and keep your hands from moving, to stop your chanting. Your matron struggles, like trying to restrain someone without hurting them. This makes you lose your concentration on the spell. The accumulated magic is released all at once, dissipating in a blinding flash of light and an unearthly booming noise like a bubble made of leather popping. T he spider patrol looks at you, all eight of their eyes very very wide. They hightail it, running off into the forest in a silent unanimous agreement. (if: $hidden is 1)[Hmm too similar to finale?] Something's wrong though. (if: $WallDamage < 4)[ \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ Your matron's rage burns hot, so hot that you can feel the heat within the room across from your matron. It burns righteously, in your defense, in the defense of your friends. The wall bubbles, and pops like wax occasionally under her wrath. You stopped her, kept her from using her rage but the wall has become more brittle as a result, it bends awkwardly like fabric left too long in the sun. The damage shows itself as a slight headache, and an increased familiarity with your new form. You are taller than you were, and your strides are coming more naturally. Your tails keep preening your hair when you aren't thinking about it.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[ Your matron's rage is omnipresent, making you flush from head to toe your tails behind you raised in alertness. It's a touch at you from stopping her, but mostly at the spiders. The majority of her anger is at threatening you, and your friends to a lesser degree. But there is something beyond that, although you can't quite guess at what. in the internal room, where you found yourself in the darkness before you can see the wall. It's melting a touch under her anger, the gossomer thin, impossible structure blurring as it loses detail. Suddenly you realize how fragile it is, if you wish to stay safe, it cannot take any more damage. The wall is clearly weak, and it's effects are constant. Occasionally you can taste the sweet taste of rice wine on your tongue. Your mannerisms are occasionally more lady like than you intend, and you find yourself absentmindedly preening your appearance when you have a spare moment. You represent your goddess after all.] Cohen looks back from watching the spiders flee to you. He's obviously ready to curse and shout. That must have alerted every spider within a mile to your position. His face softens as he sees you though, he is slightly puzzled but even he can tell something is wrong even if he isn't sure what. He slaps your shoulder as he runs to you. "Fine job, but not so loud and bright next time okay?" You nod, trying to keep it together. Your form has thankfully quieted down a bit. Everyone runs to relieve Alonso, who is still watching over the captured spider girl patrol. He gives you a worried look as you approach and despite yourself you try to smile. You quickly rob the captured spider-girls, you bind their hands too so they won't get up to too much trouble. [[This plan is basically scuppered->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge 1]] but no reason to stretch the supplies any further. With a smirk you also put the spider-girl's spears into your matron's bag. They give you fearful glances and keep quiet. You don't have long, the spiders that ran will be getting help soon.] (if: $WallDamage is 4)[ It is a supreme effort to restrain your matron as you have. Her rage is at times blinding. But you can't help but smile, you kept her from making it worse. The wall that keeps you from your matron, that makes you safe. You can feel it freeze, from the intensity of your matron's rage taking up all the heat in the room. And then as simply as a mount of flower, it crumbles. Your matron will be quite sad, but blame spiders. You in the most basic sense do not survive. In a second someone will fall back into rank and file, looking desperately for a way out of this forest. They will look like you, talk like you, but not be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. Your matron's rage is rarely reasonable. She will use magic to solve problems, regardless of the aftermath. No wonder she gets along with Ron so well.] (set: $scene2bridgemagic to 1)

Your flight into the forest is just as blind as before. Frederick however was injured in the fighting and so you seek at least a temporary place to hide while you heal him. You eventually find one in a peculiar place. The waterfall is not especially large, perhaps falling some five feet. However it spills onto a mighty fallen tree stretched across the small stream. The water has gotten to quick work carving a path through the tree, but has not yet fully rotted it away. There is as a result a a slight enclosure between the two, if you don't mind getting soaked getting in there and the damp smell of rotting wood. But it's well hidden, and should be difficult for the spiders to spot. (if: $hidden is 1)[(PUT CONDITIONAL BASED ON ESCAPE METHOD HERE)] Your can feel your matron's displeasure at you as you drag her exquisite robes and tail through the muddy stream bed. It's a tight fight but with a bit of pulling from your friends you manage to squeeze your mass of tails beneath the tree and into the enclosure. Alonso and Cohen have a quick conference while you busy yourself with healing Frederick. Water keeps plinking off the fallen tree and landing on your neck which makes you jump slightly. When the pair have finished they turn to you. Cohen says (if: $scene2bridgemagic is 0)["Smart thinking youngling. I don't normally hold with illusions but that was pretty clever." I'm guessing it also spared you from using too much magic. He glances over at Ron, who is drinking what water he can and looking like someone who hasn't slept for two days. "Maybe you can teach Ron restraint?"](if: $scene2bridgemagic is 0)["A bit too loud and too bright Youngling. It's going to take a lot of magic to get out of here." He tries to smile. "So pace yourself. We are going to be out of luck if you end up like Ron." He glances over at Ron who is practically passed out against the wet cliff face.] With a smile he says "Well youngling I think you have proved that you can magic for beans. Alonso smiles "I'd say they can magic for a whole beanstalk." Cohen looks at Alonso with a look of complete confusion. "Must be a farmer's joke again. Anyway how are you holding up youngling? Can you keep up the pace without hurting yourself?" \(if: $WallDamage is 1)[ As alien and dream like being joined with your matron like this is, you are managing. You can feel the danger, it hangs over your head like a sword on a string but for the moment the string holds strong and the danger is manageable. Let's hope that holds.] \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ You can feel distantly, and then closely the strain of being joined with your matron like this. The paper wall as thin as it seemed before must be even closer to tearing now. It manifests in sudden, subtle things. You will suddenly feel one of your matron's idle thoughts with unexpected intensity. If she was willing to call it dangerous, it must be pretty damn dangerous. If you'd like to get out of this alive, try to be more careful.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[ Your mind is distantly aware of the immenent danger, like being in a building which might at any moment collapse. For your own sake, to make sure that you don't keep everyone else from escaping, you try desperately to keep it out of your mind. This danger manifests in a thousand small ways. You keep seeing magic without looking for it, your tails move and wag as naturally as if you had always had them. You keep thinking you are reclining against a table, enjoying a drink. The paper wall you saw earlier is likely in tatters, held together only by your matron's will. This is like a dam about to burst. You might still escape the flood but only if you are careful.] You manage a smile and say [[you are managing.->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge 2]] Cohen nods. "Well we should be counting on you even more from here on out. Be careful, I don't want to get captured but I don't think it's worth your life. You swallow heavily. He pauses to drink from a water sack and then looks to Alonso. "This is mostly mud youngling." Alonso tries to look innocent. Cohen lets out a short curse as he tries to find water clean enough to refill the water sack, or at least dilute the mud. As he fills the sack he looks at you again. "I can't imagine what you are going through but do be a bit more careful next time youngling. Those spiders got behind you and got damn close before you noticed them. We are outnumbered, in foreign terrain and likely to get surrounded. Awareness of the situation will help everyone." He rubs the tiredness from his eyes. \(if: $hidden is 1)[(if didn't have initial argument with the kitsune, you let it pass without it bothering you. If did have initial argument with kitsune: the kitsune is annoyed that even Cohen tries to correct you and by extension her.)] (if: $scene2bridgemagic is 1)[ Ron's exhausted but in a lull he pulls your mud stained sleeve. "Are you alright?" He fidgets awkwardly, then leans into whisper. "You didn't hurt youself casting just then did you?" You look at him surprised. He gives a worried smile. "When you cast in such way that hurts yourself it looks a particular way. I've been trying really hard to avoid it myself." He plays with his hands. "If you need help with the casting just ask me. I've still got a bit left to use." You get the feeling he's lying. Still you try to reassure him.](if: $scene2bridgemagic is 0)[ Once he's finished discussing plans with Cohen, Alonso pulls you aside. He has an apologetic smile. "Sorry I wasn't there to do the fighting, Frederick beats me on the running." It takes a second to realize what he's apologizing for. He's front line, his job was to protect you. He felt that same strongly drilled impulse that made you try to cover your matron. You try to smile, not his fault. You shouldn't of let them get that close. He fought well, hard to tell if you would of gotten out of there at all if he hadn't been as brave as he was.]

There isn't much time to rest, and a place you can only escape from with a great deal of scrabbling and scraping is no good for hiding. You have just as much trouble getting out of the damn enclosed space as you had getting into it. With some difficulty you scoot along the stream bed again only to find that you are stuck. Frederick giggles at your difficulty. "I've heard of big butts before but I think this is pushing it." You shoot Frederick a poisonous glance. The problem is that your, your matrons? gigantic mass of tails is caught on the log. This leaves you struggling to keep your head above water as you try in vain pull against the sandy stream bed and pull yourself through. Finally Frederick and Alonso take your arms and pull. With a slight popping noise you finally are forced through the gap. Tails! Who needs em? Soaking and sodden you flee into the forest, making sure to cover your tracks first. Your tails however have a mind of their own, making sure to shake themselves dry not matter what you tell them. Poor Alonso takes the worst of it, he's going to end up smelling a bit like a wet dog you suspect. You creep forward into the woods, Frederick is the forward scout with Cohen. Leaving just Alonso to guard you and Ron. Not as your matron reminds that you need guarding. Alonso is ever one to keep busy, he uses what's left of his strength to look for something to eat in the nearby forest. There's nothing, you know there's nothing. He knows there is nothing. You calm him, a handful of barely palatable food won't make a difference. He gives you a tired smile. "You know I don't even know what I look like. Let me borrow your mirror." You hand him your matron's compact, Alonso looks at his own face with a childlike curiosity. His long golden locks obscure the mirror itself. (if: $alonsolooked is 0)[You can't look at him directly. Every time you try your eyes slide away as if trying to avoid looking at a corpse.](if: $alonsolooked is 1)[For a moment your eyes catch on his catching features. It reminds you a bit of a hero of old. Then you remember what happened before and how it hurt you. Quickly, you look away for your own safety.] How strange is magic that you can't even look at someone. "I'm a lot more beautiful than I would of suspected." He's always been handsome. Ron is keeping himself busy holding your hand. (if: $WallDamage is 1)[He blushes as he does so and given that he's close to exhausted you are more supporting him.](if: $WallDamage > 1)[He's squeezing your hand and trying to be supportive.]. In no time at however both of them pop back through underbrush. Cohen has a calm look while Frederick is cursing to himself. No good news. There is as it turns out a spider-girl patrol ahead. The obvious solution is to reverse course and then move up the stream. Which is rarely the safest action but much better than being sandwiched when everyone is this tired. However Frederick has cause to curse even more when you again reach the stream. A patrol of spiders is studying the sandy ground carefully. Damn! Cohen leads everyone back into the underbrush and then puts his hand through his beard. "A tight spot, a tight spot indeed. Attack one and the other comes running." Alonso pipes up. "We are all pretty tired Cohen. It'd be a tough fight." Cohen nods, the problem has not escaped him. Frederick adds on. "Then we might just hide, hope they miss us." Ron's too tired to add his opinion. Your hand moves on it's own, grabbing Cohen's sleeve. As much of a whisper as your matron can manage emerges from your lips. "Let's try an illusion Cohen." You can tell your matron is feeling smug that she might finally be proven right. Cohen rolls his eyes. "Milady, you know I hate illusions. And that I asked you to not speak through my youngling." Your matron is still smug, you can feel your face move to adopt a superior grin. Even in the depths of disaster she remains confident you suppose. "And yet Cohen you must admit it is our best option." Your tails flick with a signature superiority. Ron pipes up. "A bit more rest wouldn't hurt Cohen." Cohen nods. "You promise milady, that it won't hurt my youngling?" Your matron's composure slips slightly, "I'll make every effort to spare them Cohen." (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[Your goddess's smile is always bright and perfect. A miniature sunrise every time you pleased her. She taught you magic, with an easy confidence that came to a goddess. But as she said with a smile that it was not magic that made goddesses, or even messengers of goddesses. It was an ability to provide, an ability to care for others. To give them not what they wanted but what they needed. You see her in front of you now. As much as you can perceive her at least. She conjures what must be a simple illusion, you see exactly what you in the moment want to see the most. You can feel her looking at her and her smile brightens up the room.] Frederick speaks up. "But what sort of illusion? I don't want to sound paranoid but after as much magic as I've seen the past couple days [[I'd really rather a low key approach.->kitsune 1 possession scene 3 fail]] Maybe make us look like plants or something?" Frederick has always been good at hiding. He might have a point. Ron gets a determined look in his eyes. "[[No, if you are going to do magic it should be big and grand.->kitsune 1 possession scene 3 succeed]] Disguise us as spiders, they'll never expect it." Of course Ron would argue for that. Frederick looks at Ron with a look of apprehension. "Is, is that safe?" (if: $hidden is 1)[(put a condition here if you infiltrated the nest.)You vaguely remember something about why she used the silken sheet. It was to diffuse the magic somehow? This is Ron's area of expertise and the fact that it's like trying to remember a dream from a week ago is not helping.)] Ron shrugs "I trust her magic if nothing else." Alonso has a sudden urgent look. "Why do you dislike illusions so much Cohen?" Cohen smiles a tired smile. "It's more a general case, than what she might do. A man sits in a dark chamber, convinced that dark is light and that madness is sense. His every action strikes a great blow against evil, his words ringing through time. No one can prove him wrong because we all make sense of madness anyway. There is less distance between that and illusions than I'm comfortable with." Makes sense, especially if like Cohen you've spent much of life striving to do great deeds for acclaim. Your matron thinks he's being paranoid however. (if: $hidden is 1)[Outline: Move out, but are quickly approached by a spider patrol. It'd be damn helpful to avoid this one and Cohen asks for ideas. Everyone has ideas of questionable quality. The kitsune moves you internally again, cohen is visibly unhappy about this. She claims her illusions can keep your party safe, everyone including you winces a bit at this. Cohen explains that he doesn't hold much truck with illusions, asks if your matron can do an illusion that big and that intensive safely. She's evasive about it, but can probably do it? Cohen's got no better ideas, and is trying to limit exposure as much as possible. The idea of what to disguise yourself as comes up. The player has two options. Plants or another spider patrol]

There's no time, you shouldn't lose your focus. You do of course, the world waves slightly as if it might step outside if you stopped looking at directly. Your vision lands on the captured spider-girls. To see them captured is a glad sight indeed. They need to not be given an inch or things will go even more sideways than they have. kitsune interlude: (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[Wolves eyes reflect moonlight, looking like glowing jewels above dark saucers. Did they, do they? perhaps your certainty that they do comes from the tales your mikos so enjoy telling. Those always have a dramatic flair. What you do remember is on a moonlight night looking out across a snowed over clearing. Your father nipped your heels and told you to hide yourself. He claimed that across the clearing, come down from the mountain was a family of wolves driven here by the hard winter. Did you see them? Or were you too afraid? A wolf is naturally a predator to a fox. Bigger, stronger, and hunts in groups. They will eat kits when they get the chance. You remember seeing a chewed up kit, the unavoidable understanding that you are the same as that. Your ladies always thought wolves the lords of the forest. As if such a thing might have a lord besides from your goddess. You don't like wolves. But you are so much more than a fox. And you can protect your kits now.] end of kitsune interlude you come to [[balling your fists and gritting your teeth->kitsune 1 possession scene 2 bridge]] as you look at the captured spiders. Let's hope you didn't lose too much time. (if: $hidden is 1)[ NTS: the kitsune will tend to confuse when something happened when the memory is mostly her imagination. Her memory of being a fox is also tied to heavily to imagry of winter/snow to partially represent the season of plenty that came afterwards. outline: the spider-girls remind the kitsune a touch of wolves, they hunt together. Beyond that they like the spiders are bigger and stronger than the foxes. She thinks of herself defending kits and is implied to quite dislike spiders for that. (She's lying, it's ultimately about control.)]

Frederick's not wise in magic but normally pretty clever about these things. On top of that after so much fighting and running just stopping and letting magic do the work seems pretty appealing. You nod at Frederick, Ron takes it in good humor. You can distantly feel your matron's disappointment. She also it seems was more than willing to put on a grand display of magic. Cohen leads everyone carefully into the forest. With some luck the spiders will pass by without even drawing close. You cover your tracks carefully and Frederick lays a couple of false trails to hopefully put them off the scent. Cohen lands on an inconspicuous tree to sit against. He claims that it's just common sense to hide like this while sitting, as falling over will definitely disrupt an illusion. You stand before everyone sitting around the tree. Alonso is sitting next to Ron to make sure he doesn't nod off and give away all by snoring. Your matron tells you that doing a work of magic of this size and complexity is inherently dangerous. Still what did Cohen say about illusions? They work best when no one is looking for them? It should be fine. Your tails waver, and your lips chant words you don't know as your hands shape the magic into forms impossibly complex. When it finishes, the tree looks a bit like an extra wide at the bottom tree. Which is you suppose the point. You hear movement through the underbrush and hustle yourself. You have to sit a bit away from the tree, the motion of your tails is apparently essential to the workings of the illusion. Thankfully, the large mass of tails behinds you is a natural thing to make up the shape of a bush. A spider patrol enters the space near your picked tree. The lead spider-girl's hair is a bright, blue that reminds you a bit of lighting. She's watching the ground ahead of her carefully as she slowly walks forward. Her long upper body bent well below her large spider abdomen. The other spider-girls in the patrol are keeping a careful watch on the trees, obviously wary for any ambush. She follows the tracks you were sure you got rid of to the tree which now has an unusually large bottom. It's a strange thing to see all eight of her eyes follow the trail and then slide away as they land on the tree. You can feel the spell take a touch more magic as she tries to focus through the confusion and find everyone. Your pulse quickens slightly, your chanting becomes slightly more strained as your tails waver a touch harder. She walks around the tree carefully, and you can see each of your friends tense in turn as she draws close to them. Finally she looks at the rest of the patrol and shrugs. Thankfully your sigh of relief doesn't interrupt your quiet chanting too bad. The other spiders are annoyed but you can distantly sense their relief. They are obviously tired as well. They turn to head back into the forest when predictably the worst happens. The other spider patrol, the one that Cohen and Frederick saw. It draws close and sights the first patrol. It's being led by a spider-girl who's hair is a delicate shade of magenta. They exchange a series of waves and fist bumps obviously over joyed to see one another. Most importantly they loiter before the tree everyone is hiding next to. They trade food and begin to commiserate about the lack of success in their hunt. You find yourself understanding them thanks to bit of magic. You can distantly feel their desires. They no longer desire for safety and companionship but instead desire to find you and your friends. You can feel the magic start to strain under their simple desire. (set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1) \(if: $WallDamage < 4)[ The spell begins to warp and strain in ugly ways. But you keep chanting, there's little else to do at this point. The spider-girl's eyes keep sliding away from the tree base even as they sit to rest nearby. You get the feeling that this would be a spell that even your matron would be hard pressed to keep up. Perhaps if you had conjured a bit of fog? Things begin to come to a head. You distantly feel blood on one of your fronds. Wait, you feel blood on your face. The power required to maintain this illusion is so strong that's beginning to convince you that you are a bush. The others are beginning to blend into the tree trunk a bit too naturally as well. You recall everything you can to convince yourself you are not a bush, while convincing the spiders you are a bush. This splitting of your mind on top of everything else is what almost undoes you. You can feel the wall between you and your matron groan, and tear like paper pulled taut. \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ You breathe heavily, the chant your matron requires to keep her magic is exhausting your breath faster than any amount of breathing through your nose can replenish. It's a feeling like doing a heavy sprint, or as you can't move a feeling of slowly drowning as your breath runs out under the effort. It's monstrously uncomfortable. Internally the wall begins to splinter and fracture like hitting a wooden board with a dull axe. Every refrain of magic is like another swing of the axe, hitting across from you in a tired rhythmic fashion. The wall is holding though.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[ The wall is taut, like a rope keeping a man from plummeting off a cliff. every time the spiders glance at you or the tree the rope saws it's way across the cliff edge with a terrible noise like someone sawing glass. The wall is beginning to fray before you eyes, it can't take much more. The spell becomes physically harder to cast, your tails become harder to move each gentle undulation taking more and more effort, your tongue becoming almost wooden in your mouth. You can't keep this up.] Thankfully however the spider girls finally stop talking and move to leave the nearby area. You keep up the spell for as long as you can as after they leave. [[Finally it seems safe and you release it.->kitsune 1 possession scene 3 bridge]] Immediately splay backwards into your matron's luxurious fronds. Err. tails. \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ The wall held, although it'd be better to not stress it again. The damage has spread outwards in rough concentric circles of spiderwebs. You can feel the damage as a slight headache, and an increased familiarity with your new form. You are taller than you were, and your strides are coming more naturally. Your tails keep preening your hair when you aren't thinking about it. Any further examination is quickly cut off.](if: $WallDamage is 3)[ The wall teeters on the edge of toppling. If you'd like to get through this, you had better not stress it again if you can help. The damage is fractaling outwards, like cracks in a stone or lighting. Occasionally you can taste the sweet taste of rice wine on your tongue. Your mannerisms are occasionally more lady like than you intend, and you find yourself absentmindedly preening your appearance when you have a spare moment. You represent your goddess after all.] You can hear Ron coughing so get up as fast as you can though. Alonso is looking supremely concerned. "Oh no, he's coughing up leaves. Do, do you think they were growing inside of him?" Ron coughs up the last of the leaves and then says matter of factly. "No I was just eatin leaves." Everyone is that mixture of annoyed, bemused and unsurprised that you get when dealing with Ron.] (if: $WallDamage is 4)[ You can feel your matron straining to keep the spell going. She'd be hard pressed to keep a spell this complex going normally. The wall strains, and the spell almost fails for a second. You can feel the fox looking at you sympathetically, desperately. Then she lets go. The wall between you and her slides free like a rope untied. You are undone as a result. In a second someone will resume casting the spell, they might just pull it off assuming the frigging spiders ever leave. They will look like you, talk like you, but not be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. Bad luck happens with any plan, this might be a case of that if you aren't looking for clues.]

Perhaps the greatest sign of your distress is that you find yourself agreeing with Ron. You can feel your matron signaling her agreement internally as well, which also doesn't bode great. But there's a certain mad appeal to the plan. Your matron has awesome magic power, and all you really need to do is say hello them and be on your way. Cohen has everyone line up distributing what spears you've been able to steal to help complete the "costume". When that's done he takes up position at the head of the line and then turns back to you a cautious smile on his face. "At your own speed youngling." Your tails waver, and your lips chant words you don't know as your hands shape the magic into forms impossibly complex. You can almost feel the magic around you lightly convince everyone that while they are still themselves, they are also spiders. You can see Cohen in front of you gain a few feet of height, his hair regrows and he begins to sprout chitin. It's an awe inspiring sight. Eventually legs and a spider-girl's abdomen replace his legs and midsection. By the time he looks back at you gaping, he's the very model of a veteran spider-girl, his hair is an almost moonlight silver. His chitin is even scored and rough in the same way as his scars. Your matron's magic however has made him both look female, and a great deal younger. He would have been good looking in his youth. You can hear Cohen chuckle. "Don't look at the illusion's eye's youngling. I'm the same as I ever was under here." His chitinous fingers tap his way down, feeling for his eyes. They wind up being about where the illusion's generous breasts are. You both chuckle at that. A glance backwards shows that your friends have all been similarly effected. They are still recognizably themselves, but spider-girlified. Taller, more fearsome looking and perhaps most notably with eclectic hair colors. Alonso's blonde hair has become a light shade of pink. Ron's black hair has deepened to a regal purple. The spell didn't seem to know what to make Frederick's brown hair and so dyed it orange and gave it swirls of starlight. The spell perhaps most impressively managed to make the normally unimposing Frederick look threatening. Looking down at your own hands, you can see both the illusion and the truth at the same time, like your eyes going double. Your newly soft hands and long nails, at the same time they are sharp chitinous hands well suited for spinning web and climbing. It's a dizzying effect and you try not to focus on it too much for fear of breaking the spell. Everyone else is as awed as you, Alonso and Frederick are quickly comparing bust sizes. Frederick is still losing. Ron is looking at you star-eyed. Cohen clears his throat. "Try to stay focused younglings. First rule of not getting detected while in disguise is to not give the other party anything to latch onto to prove you are where you shouldn't be. If we meet the other patrol, be generally agreeable and stress that you are too tired to talk. for everyone's sake don't talk about the nest." His voice has changed, losing it's gruff tone. But his diction hasn't changed, he's still obviously speaking something other than his native tongue. It's curious that stays the same. "Behind me younglings, look like you know what you are doing." Everyone sets out into the underbrush a touch uncertainly. It's awkward because you keep thinking you should have [[8 legs but take the strides of 2.->kitsune 1 possession scene 3 succeed 1]] As you are under the illusion you have a sudden idle fancy, if you had be born a spider-girl would you be hunting the captives just as fiercely as you seek to escape them? Surely there are some spider-girls as faithful to whatever they worship as your matron is to her goddess. You can feel her bristle at that thought.

(align: "<==>")[The evening breeze is cool on your cheek. The work of the day went late and you are sweating. The journey home is long, but you are almost there. You can smell distantly cooking food, it will be a filling meal. In the the distance past the sunset, a woman begins to sing.] [[The trees ahead rustle->kitsune 1 possession scene 3 succeed 2]]

You come back to yourself, driving your long chitinous fingers into your soft palms. The one with the silver hair? (Oh crap you can't remember their name.) The hero one, you know. Has everyone behind him spears raised towards the trees rustling before. He turns and mouths "It's the spider-girl patrol, act natural." The spider girl patrol is lead by a spider-girl whose hair is a delicate shade of magenta. She has a wide smile beneath her eight eyes upon sighting your "patrol". She bounds forward happily to fist pump Cohen. "It's always good to see fellow hunters in the midst of danger." You can see the hero through the illusion for a second, he's got a what the hell expression. "Sadly barren hunters, for our hunt was unsuccessful. Any luck for you cousin?" The patrol leader shakes her head. Her spiders and standing behind her anxiously obviously annoyed by the lack of news. They are tired, but one is always on guard. "We found tracks for what we think were two or three, but not for five for six. You really found nothing?" The spell you are weaving is making you seem specifically inconspicuous. But the effect of so large an illusion is still uncanny. In a completely natural movement you are tapping your hard chitinous fingers together. It'd be simple enough to reach down and spin silk, although you are pretty sure that wouldn't work. The hero's paused for a moment, he's tucked on hard chitinous arm under his bust and the other is tapping his cheek. Beneath the illusion you can see him putting a hand through his beard. "Hmm one of the junior sisters in arms thought she saw something. Get up here!" He motions towards, oh damn. The thief. The one with the brown hair, that's now got starlight in it. With a goofy smile they come up to the front of the line. "Problem chief?" You can feel distantly the desires of the other spiders. No the only spider patrol. They want in part to find your friends. But beyond that they are tired and far from home. Obviously they are happy to find family in a place as dangerous as this. You can tell that this is what's enabling the illusion work. What gives it away is that despite the complexity of the spell you are weaving it's still working and hasn't melted you. Big sign that. The hero shoots him a poisonous glance. "There is no chief except for the queen mother. You thought the things we are hunting turned in, instead of running further away. Tell her what you saw." The hero doesn’t' quite wink, but the thief wouldn't need it. You can feel your matron's anger at how readily he might lie. The thief begins to spin what's probably a believable lie, something about how the heel of a step was turned in, like someone was leaping to throw off a trail. The thief is trying as hard as he can to not exaggerate things to his credit. He is still gesticulating widely a youthful grin on his fearsome face. The other patrol leader nods. "Hmm, it might be something junior. But to turn in? It stretches belief that any chattel might be so bold." You turn back worriedly, your friends are just as worried as you. You do not, if you enjoy keeping your head on your shoulders say chattel in front of the hero. You glance back at him. His face is contorted into a look of pure rage. He'd kill her, kill all the spiders and not have a whit of regret about it. You can acutely feel his rage. It's so strong that it makes the spell pause, it unable to see any desire to stay hidden in his bloodlust. For a terrifying second you can't chant the next word, your tails staying still. You manage to fight your rapidly freezing muscles to look around though. The thief is standing on tiptoe in a valiant effort to keep up with the height of the illusion, he's on the verge of panic desperately looking at the hero. The hero's hand has gone to his sword. He'd tied up his hair and put flowers in it trying to match the spirit of the illusion at least. His cool remove is in sharp contrast to his rage. You fight your neck to look back at the other two. Your own tails are arranged in a vaguely spider like shape. You have enough to form the legs after all. It winds up looking a great deal more like a wilted fern than anything arachnid. The mage is exhausted, but he fixed his grin to what he would consider fearsome. It looks more silly than anything else. The warrior is already shoving the mage behind him, his hand bolting to his sword. He's taken off his gambeson and tied up his ruined clothes in a vain attempt to mimic the spider-girl style of armor. His face is worried. You can almost feel the hero take a breath. His rage cools a touch and the spell resumes working again, your muscles unfreezing like a water wheel becoming unstuck. A glance down at your hands, shows the illusion layered over them. The spider squad leader blinks a few time, and then with a practiced hand rubs sleep from all eight of her eyes. "I think the long patrol might be getting to me." The hero's rage might have cooled the bare minimum to let the spell work, but his hand still hovers near his sword. The warrior steps in quickly. "All of us are tired. I just dropped my spear. But they were bold enough to attack our nest with just a handful. They might have the insane courage to flee towards us instead of away." He shoots an uncertain glance at the hero. The hero nods. "You can never tell how prey will react when being pursued. Little things turn on big things sometimes." The squad leader, looks at the two and then nods apparently unwilling to fight the group consensus. "Will you join us in hunting them? Hunting such as this is always better with company." The hero shakes his head. "My girls are tired, near exhausted. We will follow this trail a bit further and then take a rest. If you do see our quarry drive them towards us would you? I'd much like to see an end to this." The squad leader nods. "We are tired ourselves but we can't let such an insult go unanswered. Holler if you see anything we missed." She sweeps back her magenta hair, shoulders her spear and then leads her patrol off into the forest. Everyone lets out a sigh of relief as the last spider abdomen disappears into the gloom. You gently, carefully drop the spell. Like how someone might put down fine pottery or glass. Everyone begins to strongly resemble themselves again, which is something of a comfort. You can spy the thief looking down at his chest with disappointment though. The mage is beside himself with smugness. "For once it wasn't me who almost blew everything." The hero pats the mage on the back. "Aye, for once it wasn't you." He turns to you. "My apologizes youngling. My great hatred of slavers got the better of me for a moment. Another reason I can't stand illusions." He tries to smile. "I hope it didn't make the spell weaving too difficult." You try not to make a big deal of it. Even your matron pushes at you internally to understand, but she'll give the hero a lot of slack. The warrior speaks up suddenly. "Cohen, what was that queen mother bit about?" The hero nods. "An educated guess youngling. The spiders live in a tribe with a queen. Didn't seem like much of a stretch she's mother to the rest." The thief is already peering ahead [[into the woods.->kitsune 1 possession scene 3 bridge]] "Let's not push our luck here any further. I'm getting tired of standing on tiptoe." Everyone chuckles gently at that. Ah! The hero's name is Cohen. He named himself as you recall.

The world fades gently, like a candle receading into the darkness. You find yourself again in the room. It's almost comforting, you are yourself here whatever form that might be. wall description, leaking like sand? Hmm think on it, She has a comment on how much damage she took. She's proud of you in any configuration but mentions you were cutting it close. Variation if you have have the key? Maybe in something you realize about her? outline: look back down the road. Think of carrying the grouse as a fox. (Look up the fox's hunting schedule, they went all through the off period carrying that grouse. Recollection ends as they approach a small wooden shrine.) Look at Cohen: for a moment you see him as the hero he was in his youth. ..end here the road is distant if the spiders have a lick of sense they have a forward line and a couple of trip lines down. The question is whether this line will attack or wait until you penetrate it. Ron trips and starts toasting the spider's webs out of reflex. The forward line drops and everyone gets real goddamn violent to drive them back. You hear a horn sound in the distance. That's the time limit, let's go! Whether through luck or the simple fact that you are never as sneaky as you think the queen and her guard are there waiting for you at the road. Go to stretched time here, it's the progression and danger to finally brutally thrust you forward and onto the road. Go through character moments one by one. Remember to work in a just how much the kitsune hates the queen moment. -frederick: fights bravely but is obviously about to be overwhelmed; what's his memory/recollection? -Cohen: a whirling dervish of blades and chaos, the spiders however are passing spears forward for everyone he cuts in half. for a moment you see him as the spiders might an almost unnameabble nemesis. A creture on two legs that fights like a monster -Alonso: trying his goddamn hardest to force you forward; the final bit of the kitsune recollection about her lover Ron: right behind you, trying to keep the spiders at bay with raw magic output. the spider queen: the last effort, the final grouse and the kitsune's hatred for the spider queen. The bit about the petty rivalties of royalty should be in the main passage. you are finally thrust into touching the lanterns. You have choice to put the spiders to flight immediately, outline: NTS: remember to include the song of life motif NTS: each recollection should include a foreign word or concept Outline: short rest scene? Do I really need one? Maybe rest scene becomes combat scene? Cohen's advice is short. we are close to the kitsune's road younglings. One final push, across instead of the against the group of spiders. The malformed youngling must reach the kitsune's road and then draw on the power there. (your matron is naturally offended that Cohen considers her form less than perfect.) If we can do that, and the spiders have half a wit they will flee. In other battles, Alonso would tease and taunt to help amp everyone up for the violence to come. There's none of this now, this is do or die. A grim silence hangs over the group, the violence to come will be the last final effort. No room for mistakes or wasted energy. Your strength will simply be enough or it won't. Let's hope it's enough. How is the player doing through all of this? Probably a good place for a status conditional. (check against earlier conditionals, am i doing this too much?) The final attack is across the enemy line, you can see the queen rallying her soldiers. Soon you will be surrounded and all hope lost. Everyone fights and fights trying to resist the tide long enough to get you to the road. You take a deep breath and feel as your hands weave spells you couldnt hope to understand. The light in the gloom, is like lightening no like the flash flash of twilight before the flashbacks left to include: Everyone getting dirty and the matron thinks about a happy day doing laundry in the sun with her love. the smell of the sunshine, how nice to felt to be clean and free of the dust which tickled your nose. You recall with a blush, the kitsune's love in her wet clothes as you played in the stream. Alonso's final look, which devolves into utter grief. Take damage "She does not love, she does not love you, she does not love you." In all caps, big text block. The final grouse? Maybe the feeling of completing the most important hunt, which then gets explained in an ending A moment of literal empathy for the spiders which shows them how they view cohen, which in turn illuminates how the kitsune views cohen slightly. Cohen in blood fury is something close to the namless, indescriable terror you get when you see when the angry kitsune. The moment when you realize that the kitsune doesn't see Cohen as he is, but rather him in his prime. A return to the funeral motif, maybe when the kitsune is considering death? Or perhaps that's how the recollection of Cohen ends.

Everyone gathers up themselves, their bits and their gear. You creep further into the forest, thankfully there doesn't seem to be any spiders ahead. Your trick (if: $hidden is 1)[(put conditional here: (cunning illusion/ misadventure that nearly failed spectacularly)] threw the spiders off the scent. You move quickly, but purposefully. There is even a small bit of time to rest which everyone sorely needs. Cohen reconnoiters forward, he is tired as everyone else but as he explains with a smile, he can fight better tired than most men fresh. His smile gleams like polished metal. He returns cursing like someone extinguished the moon. He takes a deep breath and drains a water flask. Finally he speaks. "Alright younglings. Not too much further ahead is the road our fox friend wanted so badly and risked so much to reach. Spiders have been driving us towards it, but they never expected us to get this close." Alonso pats you on the back. You can feel distantly your matron's displeasure at his dirty hand on her brilliantly white robe. You can't help but smile a bit proud. if patrol illusion: your illusion was well picked and clever, it might be what makes the difference. if plant illusion: your illusion was difficult, but despite the difficulty your resolve held and you managed to make it work. Cohen continues, "In light of that, our best and probably only chance of getting out of here is to get the malformed youngling to draw on the power of the road. If they can do that, the spiders will flee if they have a whit of sense in their heads. Same plan as she tried before, but smarter this time." You can feel your matron bristle and then grow angry from a hot pang of embarrassment. Her form is perfect, it was sculpted by her goddess. If Cohen notices he's far too tired to care. "We aren't going to force our way through the enemy force this time. Instead it's across. The spiders have set up a line of sentries ahead of the road. Push through them and keep running, you see a major group of spiders, go around. We must convey the casters to the road proper." His tone is grim. "Don't get split up, nothing save the queen's legion dropping from a cloud could save you then." Everyone gulps at once. Cohen always promised to keep everyone safe. If he can't do that now, then things are as desperate as they seem. Cohen suddenly smiles, splitting his jowls and white beard with a truly glad smile. "Don't throw away your lives though. I've rarely fought with braver warriors, your strength and your courage has been exceptional throughout all of this. To take up arms is to risk death, and I couldn't ask for finer companions. [[Whatever happens I am truly proud of you.->kitsune 1 possession scene 3 bridge 1]]" Everyone smiles. You can even distantly feel your matron's joy. (if: $hidden is 1)[(note to self: fuck up Cohen’s description here to reference how the kitsune sees him?)] The smiles quickly fade. Everyone is bone tired. Ron's long eyelashes are fluttering like a moth's wings and Frederick keeps agreeing with everything said to cover for how little he's paying attention. Well except for you, you feel as if this were all a dream and things are as disconnected from your body as a cloud from the ground \(if: $WallDamage is 1)[You are here and within at the same time. The wall is as fragile as it ever was, but it's holding. Still it reminds you for a moment of an earthen berm. A strong pickaxe might destroy all.](if: $WallDamage is 2)[You feel fine? no not fine. Deeply wrong. For a moment the unnaturalness of your current state is strongly evident. You only barely resemble yourself at the moment. You can feel keenly how you shouldn't know how to move in your robes, swing your sword. Then things settle down. You can feel the paper thing wall, it's creaking like a bridge over troubled water.](if: $WallDamage is 3)[You don't feel good. Your stomach hurts, on top of that your attention keeps wandering. When your attention wanders, some of your matron's mannerisms assert themselves, your hands picking at stray hairs, or tails moving to where you might comb them. It's disconcerting. In the back of your mind you can feel the paper wall creaking and groaning under the strain. Another strain might break it completely. Nothing good will happen then.] Normally before battles, or even small fights Alonso will be busy trying to cajole everyone into courage. Telling jokes or making wry observations in hopes of pushing your friends to do acts of courage. He's quiet now, his beautiful face in quiet restful repose. He jumps up like a shot when you clap your hands. There's no time left to waste, victory or defeat will come all the same. Alonso gives you a smile. "Come let us go be a magnificent hunt for them." Why does his teasing make you so sad?

(text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The room is dark, the only light being the oil candles everyone is crouched around, and your own blue fox fire hanging above. You handle the scroll with due care, you are reading the histories, the fudoki, the war annals, stories of gallant heroes and despicable villains. You read them joyously, conjuring the occasional illusion to compliment the tales told. The younger ladies being overly emotional, bursting into tears or fainting from fear when appropriate. Such is the manner of court. The older ladies have dispensed with such theatrics, instead they listen to your tales intently. You were there when more than one of these were written, and you add in your own notes such as you recall. Your ladies react with appropriate awe and wonder at your recounting. All but one. She, her, your lady in waiting she listens intently and then asks questions. Pondering the motives of a villain, or wondering if a hero is as heroic as described or if this is the invention of some clever historian. But beyond that she asks questions of you. If you were afraid or worried. Why you did what you did. The reality of heroics is often much divorced from the tales. The epics often have the good taste not to mention the times you picked through the dead looking for the survivors. Or the impolite truth that dead men so often smell of effluence. Or the times you spent as much time keeping horses from panicking as charging. Your answers are always some mix of the truth and invention. In truth you sometimes don't recall the reality. Memory is always somewhat a casualty of recollection after all. But there is one thing that is always true. When you fought and did heroic deeds it was for your goddess. (If: $hidden is 1)[as usual the kitsune is lying here.] [[She->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 Alonso]] always smiles to hear this.] It's a good thing you are a student of Cohen. So much confusion and things jumping around so much might make life hard otherwise. Your experience of heroics seems a far cry from the tales your matron was recalling. Lot more being unconscious for one. Either way you come back to yourself running, which is awkward. But Alonso [[has his hand on your shoulder->kitsune 1 possession scene 4]] to keep you from running into any trees or breaking your ankle. You look back, through the fuzz of your tails to see him smiling. He's got a smug grin. "You are pretty predictable you know." this isn't the time or place to grumble about how it's not you doing it.

Everyone is making best speed toward where Cohen thinks the road is. It's just short of a jog. Cohen leads the formation, sword in hand and with the resigned look of a man who knows all the ways this might go wrong. Your friends are around you, Ron's next to you, with Frederick right behind Cohen so his courage doesn't fail him. Alonso is behind you, trying his hardest to not trip into your voluminous tails. Cohen whispers back in a stage whisper "It's ahead younglings. I can see it now. Weapons out and watch your swings so you don't hurt each other." The road is visible, well not really visible. It's a distant gap in the dense underbrush of the forest. Still after so long scanning for some sign, it practically jumps out to you. Problem is that if there's the road, then the spiders are going to be near by. In all likelihood they have a forward line set up on both sides of. You can however feel your matron's elation at finally being within striking distance of the thing. She has an absolute confidence that she need but touch it and everything will turn out alright. Magic users. They expect to just wave their hands and see problems solved. Let's hope she's right or this is going to go badly. You stop jogging for a moment for Cohen to step carefully over something. As you move forward you see that it's a simple trip wire made of silken spider silk. Say what you want about the spiders but they aren't stupid. Still that's just a trip line, the spiders must be spread thin or they'd make an actual barrier. You step over, making sure to carefully bundle up your matron's large robes and her many tails. You keep moving forward only to hear a great clatter of sticks falling from the tree canopy above. Turning back you can see that Ron tripped over trip line. Say what you want about Ron but he's the dumbest smart guy you know. You give him a hand up and he manages to look embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm just so tired." You have to practically pull him to standing position. Despite however you might feel, your matron is sympathetic to his plight. Cohen's too tired to even bother being angry. "Well there's that then. Fast as you can younglings. The pickets are either going to try and stop us or they are going for help. Both are bad news." You rush forward, moving as fast as you can in your matron's cumbersome robe. a few pretty surprised looking spiders drop down from the trees above. They must have decided to try and at least stall you. Your hands weave magic, your lips chant. You don't have much time to get a spell off before you hear a horn sound in the distance. Well shit that's not good, speed is all at this point. Your attackers are just a handful of spiders and so everyone gets real violent to drive them back. Even Frederick swings his spear with an uncommon enthusiasm. You are about to unleash an awesome display of magic, you can feel your matron's growing enthusiasm for such a feat. Then Cohen slices through the spears of the spider girls in a single flowing movement. He looks back at everyone, for a second you think he might be trying to show off, that's what you matron certainly expects. But no, his look is concerned, making sure that everyone is okay. Your attackers flee for their lives, letting you advance a bit further. From here you can see the road, and your heart drops. It teams with spider-girls in war gear, their arms and armor are in as many colors as their hair. At their head is the spider-queen, her crown glittering in soft light of the path. Which makes the spiders behind the queen her royal guard. Well everything else has gone wrong today, although this might just be because you weren't as stealthy as you thought. The spiders raise a great cheer upon sighting you and your friends. They must think their hunt is at the end. Everyone moves in a single desperate rush to try and convey you the last two hundred or so paces to reach the road. You take a deep breath and then begin to chant, the awkwardly too natural feeling of your hands weaving spells you couldn’t hope to understand. The light in the gloom of your spells coupled with Rons is like lightening, no beyond that like the last flash of twilight before the night. As the battle begins in earnest time seems to slow down in that dream like state you keep wading into. Perhaps your matron's concern for Cohen, or maybe just simple fear causes it. It's disconcerting all the same, things run slower but you must keep running and fighting all the same. For a moment you can see every brown hair on Frederick’s head as he jumps in fear. The clash is as desperate as it's ever been. Everyone fights with a final desperate vigor. [[Cohen leads the fighting striking desperate flowing blow after desperate flowing blow->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 Cohen]] in an attempt to drive the spider's back. they however have set up a line to pass spears forward to replace the ones he splits. Past that Frederick tries frantically to buy the space you need to reach the road. He's on the verge of panic, and his fighting is suffering as a result. His form is sloppy and he's on [[the verge of being surrounded.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 Frederick]] There will be no rescuing him then. \(if: $hidden is 1)[Need recollection/examination here, but what? Maybe she thinks of defending sisters? Maybe thinks of fighting demons or training sisters?] Alonso is fighting with dogged determination just past that. If you can just push forward a touch you will be on the road and in safety. He had the sense to tie back his golden hair, but his tie is starting to come undone, making him look as hectic and harried as the battle itself. [[He is streaming sweat and his sword stroke is stuttering.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 Alonso]] He's at the end of his strength. Ron is next you, for a moment he looks around with wide eyed confusion, like someone picked up a simple grain merchant and dropped him into the middle of a maelstrom of magic and fighting. you grab his hand and drag him forward the last dozen feet to reach the road. This wakes him up, or at least makes him awake enough to panic. His eyes go wide and he starts to burn [[the last embers of his magic->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 Ron]] in a desperate attempt to keep the spiders back and deliver you the last final distance. Spider queen is on the road, surrounded by her personal guard. She is watching and directing the chaos of battle from a distance. Your teeth beginning to grind involuntarily. Your matron truly hates the spider queen, something about her makes her ball her fists and your fox ears dart aggressively forward. You momentarily catch yourself growling. If she gets the chance you are certain that [[she will kill the spider-queen.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 spider queen]] There's very little that would make things worse. The petty rivalries of royalty will cover the earth in blood you suppose. She raises a spear and the spider girls charge, trying to stop you. You dive duck and roll through the charging spider-girls, spinning spells as you can. A few final desperate illusions come out only partially formed, looking more like shadows than objects. Finally you manage to cover the last few steps and put your hand on the weathered wooden lantern. For a moment you can feel the rough texture of the wood and it's a comforting certainty. Then beyond that, you can feel the magic it's channeling. There is a river of magic, no an ocean or maybe an abyss of magic. The power makes your matron all but sing internally. Now she has the power [[to put the spiders to flight->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 revenge]], to avenge the ruination of her temple. All she need but do is to simply use it. You take a breath, your matron would ruin the world for revenge. There has to be another way. [[Ron is right next to you->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge]], about to burn the last of his magic and perhaps start hurting himself in keeping the spiders back. He's a wizard, mostly. Perhaps he could use the magic?

Magic is as strange as it ever is. As you conjure an illusion for a moment you are given a window into the wants and desires of the attacking spider-girls. Unsurprisingly what they would really want is to not be attack, for the hunt to end successfully. This want is mostly centered around not having to fight Cohen, who has made a terrifying impression on the spiders. He is something fundamentally wrong, a terror out of tales. On just two legs he fights fiercer than any spider. He should be a simple prey, weak, slow and easily scared. An impossible cunning, and a boundless fury bound up in the figure of a mouse. You can feel their fear, how to grow up hearing tales as children of the misplaced savagery of the two legs. Now as adults, as hunters, the protectors of their tribe they find to their terror, that what they thought were just tales are true. There does exist a lesser creature that can make them kneel, could carve through them if it wished. They wish to be at home, tending to what matters not out here exposed to some ancient terror thought long dead. You can't help but feel they deserve to be scared at this point though, he's quite impressive to watch. [[But you are forgetting something.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4]] You are seized by a sudden panic, there's no time to waste!

Alonso looks like a hero from tales. The strongest, the best. His courage in the face of overwhelming odds is admirable. He'd fight to the bitter end for you. (if: $K4Alonso is 0)[(set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1)] (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[Your eyes catch sight of the cloud fortress (if $hidden is 1)[(look japanese word for fortress/castle)] It's a golden sight, reflecting the last rays of sunshine. But you note with a dawning comprehension, it's beginning to break up. The clouds are scattering as clouds you suppose must eventually. You turn back, your ladies in waiting are admiring the hunters in the courtyard. But there's something wrong? No, nothing wrong. Some of them look at the hunters dragging the dead boar with awe, some fear and perhaps disgust at their appearances, but one, the most important one, the one you l- admire is looking with pure infatuation. You trace the line of her eyes, did you do this? Or did you just know? She is looking at the lead hunter and blushing. Then you realize. SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM SHE LOVES HIM She might also love you in time, but never again will you be the sole object of her affection. In time perhaps she will love the both of you. Will that be as good? In time she might have children, his children. Will that be as good? Whatever the result things will never be the same. In that moment you did not know. You only knew overwhelming grief. A sadness strong enough to crytalize the moment, sadness such that for all the weakness of memory you would never forget her look.] (if: $WallDamage < 4)[ You find yourself weeping. No not weeping, that sort of ugly racked with gasps sobbing. this throws you off balance, it's a struggle but you find your balance with the next step. [[Perhaps the spiders->kitsune 1 possession scene 4]] will see the tears streaming down your face and realize they should go easy on you. \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[Your matron's grief is like a resounding boom of silence. You sob in the silence in the room, the sound echoing off of the wall that keeps you from your matron. The impossible music is silent here. You are suddenly seized on an attempt to make some noise, any noise. Anything to distract from the sobbing and silence. You cannot. The wall fades in the silence, it's impossible structure fading as a result. It's damaged by your matron's grief to be sure. There are likely other effects from this damage. Right now you just have headache. You don't have the time or space to understand, there is combat happening.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[The first thing you notice is the silence. The impossible music is gone. Normally it's pretty loud as your matron casts magic, but instead there is only an infinite endless silence. In the room where the wall that's keeping you from your matron is, you can see the wall strain and contort like a living thing caught in a trap. It strains to escape and in the process hurts itself, bleeding in a shimmering shower of dust. The wall cannot take more damage if it is to hold. There will be effects from this damage, you can feel it in your bones. But as for what the damage will be beyond the taste of rice wine on your tongue you cannot say. There's is combat happening after all.] You can feel your matron's grief so keenly, how such a grief might be an all consuming thing. Whether she simply can't or won't move on from her grief is hard to tell, but you feel how the enormity of it bends the paper wall. It creaks under such pressure. Alonso doesn't have time to look back to see why you are crying, you had better hurry or the odds really will be overwhelming and all the courage in the world won't make a bit of difference. (Set: $K4Alonso to 1)] (if: $WallDamage is 4)[There is silence, you are still. Whatever is happening around you is gradually fading from view. You find yourself in the room where the wall keeps you from your matron. The wall is pale and lifeless, it has turned the white of funeral garb. There is only silence, the roaring impossible music that so often accompanied your matron's spell casting has disappeared. The wall dies, taking you in the most basic sense with it. The last thing you see can percieve before it ends is a pair of golden hands comforting you with love and compassion. BAD END: For there is at least an end to grief Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. If you didn't get it the first time, thinking of our golden haired hero makes your matron very very sad.]

(text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[you can't help but recall the laughter of your nuns, how pale they were beneath the warmth of the sunshine. and with a grin how your mikos shone almost like the moon in it. Everyone is wearing very little, their Fundoshi tied up so that they might wade thigh deep in the river. They were all quite pale you recall, the long winter had given little opportunities for exposure to sunshine. It's the first stretch of warm weather after a long brutal winter. One of your nuns suggested perhaps in jest suggested that they all go the river to do washing. But everyone was bored, the prospect of reading tales or giving prayers unappealing compared to enjoying the warmth. So you lead a grand procession of mikos to the nearby river. The wash was a serious matter of course. To look the best for your goddess is a natural way to honor her. But when the wash was done, there was time to cavort and play in the water. You remember splashing the nuns, and being splashed in turn. You laughed and played and for a moment there was nothing else. Before long everyone was soaked, their thin robes turning transparent.] You can feel your matron conjuring the memory of the warmth and sunshine to help motivate herself [[in this last desperate push.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4]] In a way she's proud to always have that to draw upon. As dark and terrible as things might be, she's proud of what she's done even as it lead her here. Ron is looking at you, his own eyes as wide as the full moon in concern. You paused for a second, and even a second is too long. You start running, the last essential distance.

Ron that beautiful and brave bastard managed to stay next to you during the fearsome melee. You latch onto him, fighting through his long black hair and putting your hand on the back of his neck. You can feel your matron's internal alarm at what you plan to do. Apparently directly transferring magic like this is difficult, and more often than not foolish. Well that's tough, she's just gonna have to make do. She pout internally. Ron jumps as he feels your thin hand. Then as he feels the magic flow through him he begins to laugh. You for a moment can see every inch of Ron's veins and nerves through his skin and clothes as the magic flows into them. He begins to hoot and perhaps moan a touch. You have seen many terrible things, many of them today. What Ron does with a limitless amount of magic being forced into him will stay with you always. His fires split the gloom of the forest like clouds being suddenly annihilated by a blazing noon sun. The only reason that everyone is not incinerated on the spot is that his aim is as terrible as ever and he directs almost all of the fires upwards, incinerating a hole through the canopy over head. Ron sounds the entire time as if he is having the longest hardest orgasm of his life. His screams of pleasure echoing against the trees grown up along the road. The spiders flee as one body with one mind. There is a general confusion, but they run as fast as they can. You can hardly blame him. A few of them duck behind trees and seem ready to try and charge him. Then he blacks to charred a few tree trunks and they choose to live. Slumping to your knees, Ron begins to hug you, and also fairly roughly hump your leg. Dazed, he tries to kiss you but is so out of it misses and starts kissing your shoulder. "Fuck, can, can we do that again? I just need like a minute. Fuck." You can't help but giggle slightly. Everyone is rapidly getting coated in the soot and the occasional burning ember from Ron's display. Cohen pauses before finally speaking. "Impressive display Ron." Ron's face is flush and he lets out a few moans before answering. "Best adventure ever, fuck. Worth it. Totally worth it." Alonso breaks out laughing. "You going to be able to stand Ron? You seem like you were pretty excited there." Frederick is laughing even harder than Alonso Ron doesn't stop hugging you. "I might need a couple of minutes before I can go. Are you sure you won't do it again? Just real quick." Fucking Ron. Cohen however has little time for levity. "All very amusing, but we should get going. Our foes might regroup." Taking a moment you pat Ron on the head, and then gently push him off of you. Standing your matron's voice rings out from your lips. "Rest Cohen. you and the others need it. We will stand watch and if the spiders are stupid enough to attack again they will deserve what I do to them. Cohen puts a hand through what's left of his beard. He blinks a few times. "Aye, we need rest." He gives a worried look. "You see a hint of them, yell and I'll be up like a shot." You can feel your matron's warm smile break out across your face. "Don't worry Cohen, they come again and we can drive them off together." Everyone sits at the base of a nearby tree. There have been other rests, but those were a few snatched moments of sitting or laying down. Ron pouts for a moment, he has some insane notion about going to sleep holding your hand. In the space of a few breaths just about everyone has dropped off to sleep. (if: $hidden is 1)[(NTS: do I need a kitsune interlude here. Maybe something about the kitsune grieving. Disco elysium had the bad dreams during sleep.)] (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[You remember briefly the warmth of another besides you. She was always so warm, even on winter nights, when she would be wrapped up in your tails. With every even breath, she whistled slightly. It always calmed you, the knowledge that you would just need to turn over and she would be there. You missed the sound, when she was gone. You missed her warmth and her softness. Your sleep grew so much worse afterwards. (if: $hidden is 1)[(Put in reference to player sleep option.)] You'd never say it to him, but there is some comfort in having Cohen so close at hand again. For a moment you feel like a child missing it's mother. You should return to your goddess soon, she must be missing you.] You spend much of the time watching over your friends enjoying the floating colors and the occasional fleetingly vivid daydream. It's a curious state to be in. You don't feel tired, hell you barely feel the breeze on your cheek. You refrain from casting any magic to amuse yourself, you've gotten this far, no need to endanger all now. Still the spiders have learned their lesson. [[They don't attack again.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 1]] When everyone rouses themselves you head down the road at a steady clip.

Alonso is especially smug. "You know there was a while there that I thought it was going to go wrong. But we did it!" Your matron pushes you internally to claim most of the credit. It was at the very least a group effort. Cohen smiles despite the fact that you aren't out of the forest. "A fine feat younglings. The spiders will remember that. There are few endeavours greater than to free those who might be slaves. To give someone their lives back. Let's hope the spiders learn their folly and abandon such evil." You can feel your matron, she's heard Cohen make such grand pronouncements before. She can't help but think them a bit corny to come from a man as wild as him. Frederick finally punctures the moment. "Yeah we are pretty bad ass. I would like to see our foxy friend return to normal. If only so Ron stops trying to put the moves on them." Ron blushes to his ears. "I'm not, honest! They are super pretty but I wouldn't dare." Everyone laughs at that, except for Ron who puffs out his cheeks in a girlish pout. The rest of the trip down the road is thankfully uneventful. You can't help but break out in a smile just to walk with your friends like this. Frederick starts to sing a drinking song, and you eventually realize it's the one he started before you were captured. Finally distantly you can see blue skies at the end of the road. Cohen laughs triumphantly, "I'll admit i was worried for a moment I wouldn't see blue skies again. Nothing quite as grand as a horizon to reach for." He puts his hand through his long flowing mane of hair and smiles with perfect even teeth. Okay that proves it something's definitely wrong. [[Cohen hasn't had that much hair in all the time you've known him->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 1 Cohen]] and certainly not teeth that even. You can't help but smile as you look down the road back into the forest. It's blissfully spider free. Your matron clearly feels that this is a [[triumph.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 1 Kitsune]] The first step to restablishing her fallen temple. On this edge of the forest as well the demarcation between the forest and the fields beyond are marked with pulled up stones. Your matron has you pause, not quite stepping out past the shadow of the trees. The road terminates at the boundary as well. The last lantern is facing outwards, you can feel that it points towards your matron's home temple however impossibly distant. The fields infront of the lantern seem to be ever so slightly more vibrant however. Your perception of time is funny. It's twilight but hard as you try you cannot tell if it's early morning or late evening. You watch the sun's position for a second and to your annoyance it remains perfectly still. Cohen turns back looking at you concerned. "I'm guessing you need to undo what's been done milady?" Your matron pushes you to nod and you do. Cohen puts a worried hand through his beard. "Do be careful milady, it would be unfortunate to come so far only to face disaster now." Frederick and Alonso both give you concerned looks but are obviously trying to stay positive. Ron looks worried, which is normal but probably not a great sign. Your matron's voice rings out from your mouth. "Hmm, better to have the magic of the road on hand if something goes wrong. Young wizard I require your assistance." Ron jumps a bit and then looks super worried. "But you are a witch, err spell caster of excellence. What could I do?" Your face breaks out into a smile without your input. "You have a long way to go to be sure, but you needn't put yourself down wizard. Another pair of hands incase something goes wrong will be invaluable." She beckons Ron, back into the woods with him. Standing behind a tree but still quite close to the road, you begin to absentmindedly remove your thick robes, untying your sash and kicking off your tall sandles. You do so with a practiced care, making sure not to crease the fabric. It's only when you see Ron blushing to beat the band that you realize what you are doing. You can't help but wonder for a moment if she's going to sample his wares, but you can smell the soot and ash coming of Ron from here so that seems unlikely. Your matron's voice rings out again. "I apologize for my impropriety dear wizard. Two bodies in one robe is usually a recipe for disaster. Or love making now that I think about it." Ron manages to blush even deeper. "Be on hand incase something goes wrong, it's difficult to unweave something like this from within it." Ron gives a determined nod, there can be few compliments higher to him. For once he looks at you, instead of obviously admiring your matron. He gives you his best thumbs up. "I got this, don't worry!" You can't help but worry if he's that enthusiastic. When your robes are hanging loose, you take a deep breath. You begin to step carefully, doing a strange almost angular dance to a silent impossible beat. As you finish you see a biting midge hang infront of your vision. Suddenly you are seized with the realization that you might be about to die, that all that you are might be snuffed out as easily as you might squish a midge. It's not entirely your thought. The world fades gently, like a candle receding into the darkness. You find yourself again in the room. You've been half there for a while, but now you are totally present there. It's an unexpected sensation to shift from standing to sitting without anything inbetween, a bit like taking a heavy blow to the head. On both sides are images from earlier today, close to hand being as fresh in your mind as they are. The wall is in front of you, and as impossible as it ever was. (Put wall damage here) You can see for a second the fox behind the undulating wall. It's obviously bored, and has clearly finished off serveral bottles of rice wine. It looks back at you, golden eyes and smiles. Despite everything she's quite proud of you. \(if: $WallDamage is 0)[You can hear your matron, she only sounds a little bit like a fox. Her tone is warm. "You did well dear. It's a shame you were an adventurer before I found you. You would make an excellent daughter, we are very much in beat with one another. Still there's always hope for the future, our goddess will like you I think. I can't wait to introduce you.] \(if: $WallDamage is 1)[ You can hear your matron, she sounds a touch like a fox you note although what exactly a fox sounds like beyond yipping is hard to say. She's warm, and supportive. "You got into a tight spot there didn't you? But thankfully I kept the spell going, do try and avoid doing the same thing when we do this again. You would make an exceptional daughter. I'd hate to lose you. (if: $K1Tails is 1)[There's a slight hesitation in how she stops speaking, as if she knows something and is wondering if you might bring it up. The moment passes though.] (if: $K4Cohen is 1)[There's a slight hesitation in how she stops speaking, as if she knows something and is wondering if you might bring it up. The moment passes though.]] \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[You can hear your matron, she sound very much like a fox. Although you suppose it'd be more accurate to say that a fox sounds a good deal like your matron. She's looking at you with concern. "That was a very close one dear. Are you alright? It was perhaps the closest I've ever seen a daughter come to disaster." She smiles at you. "But you did it! A shame you are so stubborn, you would make a fantastic daugther. Perhaps once this is over.] (if: $KeyHad is 1)[ The fox is looking at you with concern, fear? It's a wary look however you slice it. "You did well." The voice sounds a bit like a fox imitating your matron, there's an undercurrent of fear there, like a child who has been found out and is praying the other doesn't tell. Her composure slips. "Don't tell Cohen, please don't tell Cohen." Maybe you will, maybe you won't either way this isn't the time or place for that conversation. Swallowing her fear your matron adopts an official tone. She sounds a touch more comfortable speaking from authority like this. "You did well, despite everything. If circumstances were different you might make a fine daughter. Perhaps you might still make a fine one?" Her composure slips again and she gives you a look like this is an offer to consider.] Your matron is suddenly a woman with fox ears instead of a fox. A nude woman you can't help but note. She stands before the wall on her side of it. Suddenly you are standing in a position to mirror her. She moves her hands gently and you find that your hands mimic the movement. She looks at you, her eyes are different, like they are mirrored infinity. It's an awe inspiring sight. "We have to undo the wall, and untangle ourselves together. It's a lot easier to join than part sadly." She begins to unweave the wall that's seperating you from her but the process is slow and painstaking, your matron must have done this before but it's like the first time some one ever sews. You follow her movements unwillingly at first, then as she clumsily unwraps a knot you quickly untangle it. Together you both look down at your hands surprised. You find that you can control her just as much as she can control you. She blushes perhaps the most you've ever seen her blush as you discover this. Together, increasingly in time with one another you begin to unweave the impossible gossamer threads of the wall. Slowly and then with increasing speed you find yourself being drawn away from your matron. At first a single step and then another. By the time the wall begins to fade to nothingness your matron is quite distant, almost out of view. Suddenly you can feel yourself smiling, despite everything your matron enjoyed her time with you. Finally there is only darkness, and [[things begin to make sense again.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 2]] (if: $hidden is 1)[ You find yourself again in the room. It's almost comforting, you are yourself here whatever form that might be. wall description, leaking like sand? Hmm think on it, She has a comment on how much damage she took. She's proud of you in any configuration but mentions you were cutting it close. Variation if you have have the key? Maybe in something you realize about her? She appears before you at first as a fox. she makes light conversation, like this. Complimenting you based on the amount of damage the wall took. (this will have a minor variation based on having 1 key, and a major variation based on having both keys. The she shifts to the more normal humanish form you know. You are grasped by a sudden insight that she's been both for so long that neither of them is more true than the other. With a resigned smile she disrobes and then leads you in unweaving the wall, literally untangling you from her. It's a delicate and perhaps intimate process. She's supportive and treats the whole thing, no matter what's happened before as a learning exercise. ]

Something about how your matron sees him is wrong? No, wrong isn't the right word. Untrue, deceptive maybe. If Cohen notices you staring at him he doesn't say anything. You can percieve that there's something wrong in how you see him, but not what it is. Every time you ask your matron she slides away like a drop of oil on a stove. (align: "<===>")[The dog is old and its fur, once sharp red, has blurred with age. But its days of hunting are over; it can stop and rest. The dog's leg reaches up to scratch at an old scar from hunting. [[You could stop the scratching->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 1 Cohen 1]] or [[you could just let the dog be.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 1]]] oh damn now you've started to do it. Let's hope you don't keep doing it once you get back to normal, or getting anywhere is going to take forever.

It's obvious after spending so long with vision tinted by your matron that she either refuses to or simply can't see Cohen as he truly looks. She keeps visualizing him with hair, so maybe instead she's seeing him as the young adventurer she likely knew him as. But why? Cohen's supreme skills and his wisdom won him those whiskers and scars. Surely something as old as your matron can stand to deal with the process of age? If you are going to find out now is the time. You can't help but feel she will simply deny it to your face once this is all over. You ask internally only to find that she does simply refuse to acknowledge it. (if: $K4Cohen is 0)[(set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1)] You ask more forcefully, using your shared bond to help get an answer. She resists stubbornly, almost childlike in her refusal to even entertain the question. you persist, your tugging on the hem of her robe becomes pulling with balled fists to demand her attention. Finally her composure breaks a touch. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[Her eyes are closed as if she might be dreaming pleasantly, as if they might at any moment open again. Her face has the creases of age but her beauty remains. She is wearing the pure white of funeral garb, laying in her casket and everyone acts as if this perfectly normal. The room is dark, but the sunlight just beyond the drawn screens leaks through creating a distinct contrast. She lies in the shade, the darkness of death. You have been crying, and crying and crying. You feel as if a part of yourself, the best part of yourself is lying there. Never again will you be able to start a thought and she will complete it in a way more clever than you would have ever considered. Soon they will cremate her, and hopefully she will go the pure world. Perhaps there love might truly be eternal. She will go without you, now you have finally been separated. In time perhaps you will find another love, just as great. But there was no one like her, another could never be perfectly like her. Even you with your goddess, and your magic and all your devoted mikos can not have that. Suddenly you want to run from the dark room, to flee, to forget.] The sudden effort of your labor, makes you sit. Your breathing become wracked and labored like you had just been sobbing. You suddenly cough up some dark black matter, it tastes tangy on your tongue. Bitter, like grief. You keep going, something about how hard she's fighting you to resist remembering suggests that this is important. That there is something you need to know hidden behind her grief. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The man, no Cohen is decrepit with age. Did he always have so many scars? Did he always slump to one side slightly from where his back was likely broken? Where has his hair gone? He's old, so very old. You spent a lifetime away from your duties. The girl was so insistent that she knew Cohen that you humored her. And for better or worse here he is. Perhaps this is a good thing, perhaps you can recapture the happiness and adventures you had before. It's not hard to see how she subconsciously smoothes his wrinkles, how his every sword stroke is again with the vigor and enthusiasm of youth. Striking as he did against slavery, with his boundless determination and very nearly limitless hatred.] \(if: $WallDamage < 4)[ \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[ Your matron 's refusal takes on the air of a petulant child, she bellows from behind her wall. She is not wrong, she cannot be wrong, she will not be told she is wrong by you at the very least! The wall ripples with each of her angry assertions, bits of it spill over the edge with each shout of rage. The wall is being damaged by her simple denial, a denial so strong it might be what enables her to change reality so much. You give up, drop the issue when you know what you came to find out. You can see the tears on her cheeks as the fox puffs out her cheeks. The wall was damaged by her display. The damage shows itself as a slight headache, and an increased familiarity with your new form. You are taller than you were, and your strides are coming more naturally. Your tails keep preening your hair when you aren't thinking about it.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[ Your matron's refusal takes on the air of a desperately deluded person. They cannot fact the truth so they must refuse the truth. Your pushing for the reason simply serves as a painful reminder. Her anger is tired, and fearful slicing through the impossible wall that keeps you from her like a sliding a knife through parchment. But thankfully the hacking is random and half hearted more out of a defensiveness than aggression. You still drop the issue when you find out what you sought to know. You aren't willing to die just yet, the wall cannot take any more damage.] you find out what you sought to know. You aren't willing to die just yet, the wall cannot take any more damage.(if: $K1Tails is 1)[You are panting with the effort of confronting your matron while she is within? around you? like mud. You can't help but think back to the first time you did this. You learned something important there. That the tail she gifted you with has another purpose. Now you know that she willnot percieve Cohen as he truly is. There is a distant realization. If you take these two things together, they form a terrible secret. The key to the lock of your matron. What exact shape that key takes is still not quite clear to you. You can feel her eyes widen within you. She knows that you know and this terrfies her. She pleads internally that you do not tell Cohen. Like a child caught in mischief and afraid of their parent. You'll perhaps put it together in a moment, but for right now you need to get up.(Set: $KeyHad to 1)] But she's wrong. Cohen may not be the man he was in his youth, but that doesn't mean he's worse or less canny in his age. He still has the courage and unyielding will that your matron so admired in him. She's deluding herself, thinking that things can be as they were with [[no respect for what's changed.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 1]] This is dangerous to the extreme. She pissed off the spiders and then blindly assumed it would be alright without consulting anyone because she was so convinced of her and Cohen's invincibility. You and your friends came close to dying or losing your freedom as a result. \(Set: $K4Cohen to 1)]] \(if: $WallDamage is 4)[ Your matron's refusal to tell you is stubborn almost childish. But at it's core is tired and sad. But she takes your insistence to confront the truth as an attack. Her rage at being attacked, at your temerity to challenge her of all people; stresses the wall that keeps you separate. It sublimes under her rage, in this she will not challenged. She will not be denied her peace. And so the wall disappears leaving you a mere second to lock eyes with the fox. Her expression is unreadable. And then in the most basic sense you cease to exist. In a second someone will resume their confident strides towards the sunlight. They will look like you, talk like you, but not be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. So close and it ended here. Your matron's secret will take a careful approach to reach.] \(if: $hidden is 1)[ need a variation here: you either think of this as a problem that can be overcome, or with the other half you realize that she's not someone you trust. Not enough to adventure with. Her desire to force things to be a certain way will end up killing everyone, and she's not willing or able to communicate to avoid that. She needs to heal rather than run away. if don't have any of the key: The way she blinds herself is maybe understandable. Maybe it could be worked with. You have a sudden flash of insight that she's obscuring something else. It's not something about her sight or how she views the world, but something she is hiding from you. You can't help but sigh, you don't dare to push things further than this. She's old right, she's probably hiding all kinds of stuff. if have the other half of the key:]

(text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[The snow on the grass made it the same gray color as the sky. Your snout and whiskers keep brushing the grass as you draw the body of the grouse along. This is uncomfortable and you keep wishing to stop and sneeze. You can see the early evening light on the snow covered branches above. Did you really drag this grouse from the dawn till now. You are tired, so very tired. The best times to hunt are the dawn and the evening. But this is a very important grouse. Pulling the uncompliant body along you finally round a bend in the rough fox path. Ahead there is strange thing. It's made of wood you think, but despite being at the base of a tree it's not part of the tree. The structure is too regular to be organic. Your tail wags to see it, and finally you be able to offer the grouse. This is after all the most important grouse.] She was a fox during that clearly, but how much she valued that dead bird is unmistakable. Your pondering of the actual connection between your matron's thoughts and recollections is [[interrupted by Cohen.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 1]] You turn and keep walking, not much further to go now! The sunshine as distant as it is makes you smile. You can feel your matron internally trying to be prim and proper but failing.

2. damage and loss textX 1. scene 1 RonX TailsX FrederickX Detour 2. scene 2 AlonsoX MatronX 3. scene 3 failX 4. scene 4 alonsoX revengeX frederick Cohen 5. scene 4 bridge 1 cohenX 3. rerythm and finish missing ones rerythmX make sure everything done can reach backX finish missing ones

(text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[ Two of the spider's eight eyes keep watching you as she drinks. The eyes of the spiders are not perfectly opaque you note. They differ from the bottomless wells of the ants, or the almost shiny reflective black of the bees. Instead they are a soft two tone red, the center of the eyes slightly darker while the edges slightly lighter. The emissary is sitting across from you, her large abdomen carefully lowered to the ground with her legs carefully folded below her in an attempt to replicate your kneeling. Between you is a masterfully set tray as you break bread in an attempt to negotiate peace. She stops sipping her drink and smiles amicably at you. The deep red of her eyes is in sharp contrast to her hair, which is in the colors of the sunset. She's older and the sunset is flecked with silver though. "Your goddess sounds nice. Why establish a temple here though? There is blessed little for even regular two legs, much less ones chosen by a goddess." You shrug. "Sadly I am her messenger, not my goddess herself. My goddess commanded it, I need no more. I think it is to preserve this place somehow." The spider raises an eyebrow, how strange that she only has two eyebrows and eight eyes. "Preserve the place? The forest you mean?" You nod, making sure your tails still project power. "Our temple is only a single building. In time there might be a complex of buildings, but the forest at large will remain undisturbed." You give a meaningful pause. "It therefore might be in your best interest to leave us unbothered." The spider laughs into her hard chitinous hand. "We have spoken a great deal of your goddess. Let me tell you of mine." In an act of supreme self-control you keep your ears from darting forward. She smiles proudly. "The goddess of the spiders challenges them to over come fearsome challenges, prove our greatness in many ways. We seem cruel perhaps as a result, but we simply seek to prove our virtue. Spiders all work together for that result." You swallow, your throat suddenly dry. "Your goddess seems to care very little for you then." All eight of her eyes dart to look at you. "You work together to be sure, so why must your endeveaour be violent? Why not work together for the common good?" The spider smiles fondly, you can see her fangs for a moment. "Two reasons I suppose. We require violence to survive in this place, our daily duties sharpen us, and so it makes sense that is how we honor our goddess. But there's a better reason. We fight to give thanks to our goddess, for giving us bodies perfectly suited to rule in this forest." You sigh heavily. How terrible they will not see reason. The spider gives you a look of almost legitimate concern. "Come, there is no need to be sad about what's inevitable." She raises her drinking dish in a toast. "Let us see whose goddess is the stronger" Rage clouds your vision, your goddess is supreme and if the spiders cannot see that then they must be your enemies.] Things come back to you, [[a spear trailing through your long black, silver edged hair.->kitsune 1 possession scene 4]] It's not going great, and you are out of time and distance. Your matron's rage rears it's head. Even now she still cannot bear the insult. You bare your teeth and let out something similar to bark as you cast more desperate magic to keep the spiders back.

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You start to use the magic of the road and your matron brays with joy. She weaves a spell, and then another. driving the spiders to flight and then ruin. In her desire for revenge, she momentarily forgets you. Before long the wall separating you and her is but a memory. The last thing you recall before you cease to be is what your matron looks like. Eyes of infinity beneath twin peaks of flaming ears, the most primal version of what you knew your matron as. You cease to be yourself in any meaningful sense, and so we will stop the story here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: If you thought this was going to go any other way I don't know what to tell you. Go back and try again? Perhaps a friend work the magic instead?

2. parts i didn't actually do frederick kitsune interlude detourX Detour conditionals Description of Cohen and friends from the spider's point of view 3. variables based on when and if you disagreed with the kitsune curse 1: Tried to aggressively disagree with her, curse 2: confronting her about neglecting her duties curse 3: Didn't give her enough credit anger 1: don't bath with her anger 2: disagree with her about cohen is anger 3: tell her to stop fucking with you on the kitsune's trick anger 4: Don't sleep with her Don't go with her illusion plan missionary work 4. key sequence 5. endings choice/key part 6. add indents to possesed passages

you awake with a gasping start, the inside of your mouth tastes for all the world like you've been eating moth wings. (you can't say that you've eaten moth wings before but it tastes like what you imagine that would taste like.) The swaying canopy of trees is above you, although light enough that you must still be near the edge of the forest. You are covered in a soft blanket to hid your nakedness. You move to sit up when the pain hits. Every muscle in your body, including some you didn't even know you had hurts. You wouldn't hurt this much if you tried to pull a plow by yourself. Glancing around you can see your matron sitting up. She has produced her compact, and is touching up her make up. Her robes are still the gilded ornate robes they were. She has only eight tails you note. You glance back as quickly as you can without pulling anything. One tail. Ron is next to you gently, he offers you a small hand mirror. Thankfully you look a lot more like yourself again, the only visible change from playing host to your matron is that your shiny black hair is now ends in silver. Not at the end like it was dyed but on the ending edge, as if you stuck the bristles of a brush into paint. It's a strange effect. Taking a moment to feel yourself, you note that your breasts might also be a touch larger. Ron is blushing, but he hands you a set of clothes to wear and holds the sheet while looking away so you might have some privacy to change. You get dressed, leaving off the gambeson this time. The battle is over and cumbersome armor is just going to make you hurt more. You turn and look at your matron who seems mostly unharmed for all the tribulations you endured with her. Her hair is a touch wilder, she has a visible hint of muscle on her otherwise thin frame. She notices your obvious discomfort and then says "My apologies child, the spell was crude and despite your enthusiasm it was a difficult thing to pull of. You'll feel better with some rest" You have a sudden flash of insight looking at her expression. Not as vivid as the images from before but still there to some degree. Your discomfort reminds her perhaps of looking at an over worked warhorse. You join the others. They all cheer to see you well. Alonso gives you a hearty pat on the back, this makes you jump and howl in pain though. He looks sheepish and then says "Sorry, still it's glad to se you looking more like yourself." Adopting a more confident grin he adds. "Now let's go get drunk, I want to forget this whole misadventure." Everyone cheers to that, although Ron is looking at you strangely. You raise an eyebrow and ask Ron what's up. He seems startled by the sudden attention. "Oh nothing!" You give him a probing look. He switches to his more usual sheepish look. "Sorry I was just comparing how you look now to how you looked before." He adopts what he probably thinks is a charming expression. "You look lovely now matter how you are." Huh that's an unusually smooth line for Ron, what's got him to turn on the charm? Still you can't help but push him playfully, you look different but still aren't going to fall for any line he has. It's Ron after all. Frederick cracks up laughing. "Quite a pair you too, now let's get walking. I'm hungry, tired and most painfully sober." Cohen nods along, come along younglings. I'm sure our foxy friend has an excellent place for us to retire to." He gives your matron a hopeful look. (if: $KeyHad is 1)[Everyone turns and you can tell that your matron will keep quiet about what you discovered. This is probably the best time to confront her about it. Drinks and fond memories of struggle will do alot to disarm any accusations you care to make. [[Confront her?->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge confront]]] Your matron smiles and then whistles sharply (is that how she did it before?) her cart with flaming wheels descends from the clouds above. The creature that's more head than body and draws the damn thing does seem happy to see your matron. It licks it's barbed, furry tongue on her hand, the 8th color of it's saliva making her hand turn partially transparent. You suddenly recall with an almost crystal clarity Cohen mentioning that the bathhouse is a confusing place. Your own memories of it are better than you might expect from what he said.You had better fix in your mind what you'd like to do before you go there. You get the feeling that your matron is going to do everything she can to convince you. Better to make up your mind while sober. (link: "Stay a woman but without her gifts. (You might keep her bounty though.)")[(set: $kitsunefinishfemale to 1)(goto: "[kitsune 1 kitsune ending bridge")] (link: "Back to the way you were when all this started (It's a comforting thing to be able to recognize your own shilloutte.)")[(set: $kitsunefinishmale to 1)(goto: "[kitsune 1 kitsune ending bridge")] [[fox ears, they are pretty cool. You will keep the kitsune's gifts. (Also honestly? Complete most looks.)->kitsune 1 kitsune ending]] (if: $hidden is 1)[[[kitsune 1 kitsune ending bridge]]] (if: $hidden is 1)[outline: hidden ending: Cohen takes you deep into the desert, stopping before to visit with his friend. On the edge of the desert is a great aquaduct built in the time of the dragons to provide water for a dragonsized pool so they might relax and contemplate the vastness of the desert. to the mustaba of black obsidian. He checks in with his friend Od, first. Od is a hero of tales who once defeated a great serpent with only his wits. Put in the outlining for od here The joke is that Cohen take you to a place just as important to him as the kitsune might take you. It's carved in with the name of slaves who freed themselves. It's so old that there is no telling honestly if it was originally for a slave who freed themselves. Cohen insists that it's the burial mound of the man who threw the dragons out of your homeland. A spring flows off the side of it, and to bathe in it is to be returned to your undamaged state. Even cohen loses a scar or two. ]

Frederick is waving his spear too and fro, shouting as the spiders around him grow ever closer to ensnaring him. He shouldn't be alone, poor frederick. Not much call for a thief in an adventure like this one. (if: $K4Frederick is 0)[(set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 1)] You know distantly that you need to keep running forward. But in your dream like state simply looking at frederick makes you reminesce. He's always been a good sort, every group needs someone to make light when things get tough. He'll laugh at any joke, no matter how badly delivered. In a sudden flash of realization you figure out that he looks for the body language someone gets when making a joke, instead of listening for anything joke like. That's gotta be how it works, or he'd never figure out when to laugh at Ron's terrible jokes. Your matron seems to have encountered a similar sort before. As a man, he was youthful. He had a boyish smile and almost child-like overconfidence. That sort of unimpeachable sense that things would turn out okay, for him at least. He's kept these qualities even with his gender changed. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[ The first times you took up arms against men was quite long ago. So long ago it dwells uncertainly in your memory, like a bucket about to take on too much water and sink beneath the waves. You had taken up arms before of course. Against demons and the like as the needs of your matron had demanded. But men were different, your goddess is a protector of many of them. A group of bandits had decided to raid the temple where you were staying. It was dusk, falling into night and one of the guards had after performing a deep scraping dogenza and given you a sword. He was shaking? you recall he was, obviously young and afraid. He'd told you that he was uncertain that the temple could be defended. The nuns of the temple were behind you all crowding behind you, peering over your shoulders anxious for some news. Even now you can distantly remember each name family history of the nuns that crowded behind you. So you'd conjured flames and then hidden them as far up in the rafters as you dared and swung the sword a few times to get the heft of it. You remember the growing darkness, Before you entered your matron's service you had little thought of protecting. Well, more accurately protection was to run away, dig, or growl and make that which might hurt you or your family back off. Now you can take up teeth in your hands. How different things are. Then in gloom you see a reflection. Stepping forward, her eyes catching the light, so beautifully framed by her hair. It's your love. It's her. But she could not have been there, this would of been long before even her line began. Her eyes plead with you silently to do all that you can. The sword seems lighter in your hands. your cause must suceed! How can you do anything but your best now! The nuns crowd behind you, and then scream all at once as a man noisly clambers over a nearby garden wall. You could hear the women begging you to protect them. The sword was so light in your hand. To strike to protect is a wonderful thing indeed.] You come to, you could not have been out of yourself for very long. A moment or two at most. Still too long, the spiders are only growing closer around frederick. Your matron pushes at you to rescue him, no matter the danger. How can you not? It's Frederick, he's not strong enough to protect himself. There's no time you have to reach the road or all is lost. But your matron pauses to chant and conjures a half dozen silver, almost see through foxes. It's a challenging illusion to perform with this many eyes on you. But she digs deep and manages it. The foxes are conjured and dart through the legs of the spiders surrounding frederick, they seem to be burning, and so causes utter pandemonium in the spiders surrounding frederick. Buying him another few seconds of safety. It took it's toll though. You can feel the wall keeping you from your matron buckles and strains under the sudden pronounced effort. Your throat is dry from the sudden chanting, and every msucles in your hands tingles slightly as if you'd cut off the blood flow. (if: $WallDamage < 4)[ It took it's toll though. You can feel the wall keeping you from your matron buckles and strains under the sudden pronounced effort. Your throat is dry from the sudden chanting, and every msucles in your hands tingles slightly as if you'd cut off the blood flow. You can't keep this up. [[But there's no time to waste!->kitsune 1 possession scene 4]] The road is so close. \(if: $WallDamage is 2)[The wall is bubbling? It's like a thick layer of oil over a container of water. Slowly the mixture is being stirred and the layers gradually intermix. What happens when the solution is fully mixed is nothing good for you. The wall is making a strange hollow noise as this happens. There are likely other effects from this damage. Right now you just have headache and your voice is hoarse. You don't have the time or space to understand, there is combat happening.] \(if: $WallDamage is 3)[The wall is flecked through with what's beyond it. Like a thick layer of oil above a slowly boiling pot of water. In time the bubbles from the water will break through and there will be one mixture instead of two. The wall is making a resounding hollow noise as this happens, the sound distorted like across a gigantic cave.. There will be effects from this damage, you can feel it in your bones. But as for what the damage will be beyond the taste of rice wine on your tongue and muddled head you cannot say. There's is combat happening after all.] Frederick gives a shout of thanks and redoubles his reckless swining of his spear which likely accomplishes very little. You've got to move! (Set: $K4Alonso to 1)] (if: $WallDamage is 4)[You feel off, funny. Everything sounds distant, as if you were beneath water. You realize the wall is bubbling, if it was a layer of oil keeping you seperate from your matron it's rapidly being mixed into one thing. The last thing you see sense before you cease to be you is a dispairing look from your matron. This close to triumph she failed you. In a second someone will run forward and hopefully reach the road. They will look like you, talk like you, but not in the most basic sense be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: it's three strikes and you are out, go back if you'd like to try again. Your matron is... self-assured to say the least. When she things someone is deserving of punishment she will punish them damn the consequences.]

You give a certain nod to Cohen. He breathes deeply and then nods to you. "Very well youngling. Let's hope it doesn't get us all killed." Alonso quickly pulls Cohen aside, he tired enough that he doesn't give a shit if you can hear. "Is there nothing we can do to convince her?" Cohen shakes his head. "She's always been a creature of a singular stubborness. I hope you aren't thinking of abandoning them." Alonso looks perhaps the angriest you've ever seen him. "What? Of course not. My friend is in there." Your matron is almost giddy as you lead everyone back towards the road you so recently fled from. This time she is quite confident it will be different. Her tails wag happily, and your ears are fix foreward determinedly. A grin fixes on your face with very little imput from you. It seems that vengence will bring a smile to her face. Your friends are following along in varying degrees of terror. Cohen has very little terror, instead there is a resigned grin etched on his face. Alonso is looking at you with out and out concern, obviously ready to drag you to safety by the scruff of your neck the moment he gets the chance. Frederick is trembling with fear, only his word and perhaps affection for everyone else keeping him from bolting. Ron is perhaps the only one with a sincere grin, his grin says that whatever magic he is about to witness will be forever etched on him memory. He must think that whatever magic your matron will conjure will force the spiders to flee. After only a short distance you encounter the first spider-girl patrol. They have an almost disbeliving look, which quickly turns into a series of predatory looks. They were clearly waiting for you. Your matron is convinced that the spiders have no magic, which seems foolish to you; everything has a magic of it's own. Still even if they undertand very little of magic they clearly understand how important the road is. Cohen lets out a war whoop, calling everyone to battle. Your friends rush to your defense. You take a deep breath, all you have to do is perform magic as good or better than your matron was performing before. A giggle that's not yours escapes your lips, your matron thinks aspiring to imitate her cute. Your hands begin to weave magic, as your lips chant words you don't know seemingly in time with the indescribable music. And then like a spark catching on tinder a flame forms in your hand. You throw it at a pair of spider-girls threatening to abscond with frederick. They flee and you cannot help but smile, perhaps this is doable after all. The first patrol of the spiders is dispatched quickly. They flee, suspiciously easily. They don't even try and make you stop where you stand, simply running when you give strong resistance. Your matron's elation is almost tangible, you can taste victory on your tongue. Your tails wag triumphantly and she is convinced from head to toe that victory is within grasp. You have a sudden terrible premonition, like when you suddenly realize how a dream will end from the middle of it. You've felt this feeling before, this feeling of everything going just fine and then crashing terribly. It's a bit like a nightmare in how the doom is foretold. (set: $WallDamage to $WallDamage + 2) Distantly you can hear a horn sound. The ground doesn't quite rumble but you can hear distantly the sound of a lot of underbrush being crashed through. Before long there is a small sea of opaque eyes staring back at you, the light from your matron's conjured magic reflected in their eyes. With a distant fear you notice the patrol you put to flight before. You can feel the fear begin to distantly dawn on yoour matron, it starts like a sunrise on a deep winter morning, so distant as to be barely there. But surely as the receding of night, it's growing like a wildfire just beyond the horizon. You can't help but wonder what will happen when the light of terror reaches you. A trio of patrols appears meaning you are already outnumbered. You can see the patrol that fled from you earlier looking at you with an unbearable smugness. You are quickly surrounded and in the distance you can hear underbrush breaking. This is bad, for a moment you see Cohen without his hair. This is really bad. Your hands move without your input, your tails wave too and fro. The world around you starts to drain of blue. Your matron conjures spells that leave Ron open mouth and illusions of things so terrifying that your stomach starts to turn. The sudden channeling of so much magic is starting to stress the wall that keeps you from your matron. (if: $WallDamage is 2)[ The room where you might look across and see the wall keeping you from your matron is always distantly with you. Even in the midst of a battle as fraught as this you can go there internally. The wall is different, woody? It's contorted into a single bar, but still there, like bunched up fabric stretched thin. It's smoking slightly and as the smoke rises off of it. As the smoke rises, the distant impossible music grows fractionally louder. In a flash of realization you realize that it's like a spear of wood, being fire blackend into being sharp. It's trivial to imagine your matron on the otherside, looking at it with a grim anticipation of it's use. But what will happen to you when the spear is complete?](if: $WallDamage is 3)[The room where you your matron dwells is always there. Distantly in the back of your mind, like a coversation in another room. You can feel the wall ripple and swell up like a wind on a lake. Looking inward the thin wall the seperates you from your matron is caught in a gigantic splash, like when you tossed a giant rock into a lake. Your matron is in her fervor straining against the wall. The wall was already stressed, how much more can it safely take on top of this? Let's hope for the best. You can feel your matron fretting] (if: $WallDamage is 4)[Your matron is panicked. Afraid. Dangerous. She feels death might be close and you can tell internally that she'll be anywhere else when it might come. So she steps. She dances. She fights. All with no concern for you and your well being. The wall keeping you from your matron coils, wraps and then forms the magic in your hand. You can feel your matron look at you horrified for a second before she sets her face into a determined look. She has to save the others. Without the wall your matron floods forward and you cease to be. In a second someone will keep up the fight against the spiders, trying their hardest to salvage a bad situation. They will look like you, talk like you, but not in the most basic sense be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: If it wasn't obvious already this is a bad plan. It's even more of a bad plan when the wall is already damaged.] ] (if: $WallDamage < 4)[ She is in for a a blidning moment of magical terror a one woman army, lashing too and fro bucking and prancing not unlike a horse as she attempts to drive back the attacking spiders by herself. There is little to do but hold on and try not to think about what might happen if you fall off. The enemy patrols flee rather than die and your legs make you rush forward. You can hear your friends hauling ass and cursing as they are forced to follow. Your matron is convinced the road must be close, that the end of this dark and terrible nightmare is at hand. You burst through a bush and sight the road itself. For a moment that is all you can see. The magic there almost at hand. Then your vision widens, the spiders are there in force. Some of them are carrying these heavy woven mats of spider silk, others are strung up carefully between the trees. The mats are whiter than white, so impossibly pale that they begin to bend the light around their edges creating a mesermizing effect. Your heart pounds in your chest, and you feel your blood run cold. For a moment all you can think of is warm blood in your mouth. Your matron has a moment of optimism. She directs you to throw fire at the mats, if they can catch fire then sure the spiders will be thrown in disarray. Spiderwebs don't catch fire, it's what in them that does. Still your hands move without your input and your throw a ball of blue fire at the closest mat. The fire hangs infront of the mat, and then begins to slowly dwindle to nothing without ever touching it. Shit. Her fear is all but standing behind you. Your hands shake and you can barely stand. Your matron fears death more than most. The spiders rush forward and the fighting is truly desperate. The mats are not a perfect solution to your matron's magic. Their effect is limited and they are clearly quite heavy. But still even partially neutralizing your only advantage does much to allow your enemies to push forward. Everyone fights their best, but you are quickly surrounded. A glance at Cohen shows him looking hopeless with terrifies you more than anything else. (text-style: "italic")+(font:"Arial")+(size:1.2)+(align: "==>")+(hover-style:(text-style: "bold"))[You remember the heat of the summer. The heat was so intense that it made every breath seem that much harder. Your chest rises and falls with slow painful motions, each breath an effort. You lay your tail curled around you, next to the strange wooden box at the base of the tree. You are so very tired, old though you don't like to think of it. This morning might be your last dawn, the clouds so beautiful. You know as much as a simple fox can know anything that you won't see the sunset, you are deeply deeply afraid. But there is nothing you can do. Perhaps you will see your kits again. The world gently recedes around, the pain gradually fades, your breath draws short. You hear motion above you, and with the last of your strength open your eye to look up. there are a pair of golden hands, an indescribable figure leans down to you.] Your matron seizes with fear and she bucks frantically like a terrified horse. Then she reaches a final desperate decision. She will not die here, no matter what it takes. Your well being hardly figures into it. Shit. All of your tails go straight out and then curl back in like fingers reaching for something. You find yourself shouting the magical chant that your matron so favors. The impossible music is the loudest it’s ever been, the sound of it almost defening as it chokes out the sounds of battle. Then unleashes a spell of impossible, boggling complexity. For a second your vision goes totally dark, and you wonder if this what dying looks like. The the spell finishes. The forest around you has been transformed. The trees have been turned into withered decaying wooden pillars, like what might hold up a ruined house. the humid murk of the forest is gone, the air is now dry and dead. Each breath bites at you a bit. You look up and your eyes go wide. The distant canopy of tree branches that has accompanied you since you entered the forest is gone replaced by a dark and vaulted ceiling of earth. This is a dead place, where things go to die. There is a strange silence that quickly falls over the forest as everyone examines the changes that have just occured. More than a few spider-girls are examining the pillars curiously. You take advantage of the general confusion to strongly kick over the nearest pillar and lead a desperate charge to escape. the pillar falls like a tree crashing over, for a second you catch a flickering glance of leaves. But despite it's true form, it crashes into another and another starting a chain reaction of pillar/trees collapsing. Then like being struck in the chest the full effect of the effort needed to cast the spell hits you. That was a spell that would normally take all of your matron's skill and power. She did it while inhabiting you. You can feel the wall keeping you from your matron crack and groan. (if: $WallDamage is > 2)[The paper thin wall that keeps your matron from you was already under stress. Now it groans like a tree about to fall over. You can feel your matron internally trying her hardest to push the tree back up right. However every push she makes just worsens the situation. Finally your matron errupts through the wall like lightening out of a tree. The final thing you see before you cease to be is the regretful look of your matron. She won't ever admit this was her fault, but she'll know. In a second someone will come too not quite sure what just happened. They will look like you, talk like you, but not in the most basic sense be you. This is a story about you, so we will close here. BAD END: Subsumed into something greater Hint: If it wasn't obvious already this is a bad plan. It can't work if the wall has been damaged at all.] (if: $WallDamage is 2)[The wall that keeps you from your matron, is blackened by the fire, sharp but obviously good for very little except being a spear. Protecting you would just be an after thought. It cannot take any more abuse if you are to remain yourself. Distantly you can feel your matron's passive excitement at a tool to wield against the spiders.] Any futher internal examinations will have to wait. You come back to yourself seeing the vaulted stone ceiling. It's close to what you might imagine the ceiling of a massive cave would look like. A quick glance downwards shows that Alonso lost his patience and simply picked you up and is carrying you as fast as his legs will allow. The longer you stare at the ceiling the more you realize it's slowly resolving back into the leafy canopy again. You eventually regroup not too far from where you whole disasterous expedition began. You are about to glance at Ron who is no doubt starstruck. You don’t however because Cohen is putting his finger in your face. “Your coin is spent milady. We will not court disaster like that again.” The wall keeping you from you from your matron is strained, and have more than a few tears in it like a worn shirt. You find your ears and tails flattening involuntarily. Like a scolded dog. Your matron as much as she’s willing to admit she might be wrong, is willing to admit that her plan was a mistake. She attempts to whisper through your lips, but it comes out in the same booming tone as before “Of course Cohen. It was an overconfident manuever.” Ron is infact looking at you star struck. “Grandest illusion I ever saw. You must even convinced the trees they weren’t trees.” Your matron is happy to hear that, but something about how she responds, some almost guilty feeling makes you wonder if it was truly an illusion or something even grander. Some feat of magic that even your matron isn't proud of. Frederick is peering back through the trees anxiously, perhaps looking for chasing spiders. “Where was that?” Cohen answers as he stands up. “A land of the dead. Most who see such a place never leave.” We need to move younglings. "Group up, front line protect the back line and backline watch out for the front line. Focus on stealth for now and as soon as they spot our friend here again expect a lot more trouble." [[Once things are safe cohen calls for a rest->kitsune 1 possession scene 1 bridge 3]] ] (set: $detour to 1)

You decide to remain as you are. In the course of your adventure you channeled a power far beyond that anything you could ever possess. You have the love? affection? favor, of the messenger of a goddess. Perhaps you simply like fox ears and a tail? They are very stylish. Whatever your reason, you fix this resolution in your mind as everyone gets into your matron's cart. Cohen is helping Frederick into cart, making sure he doesn't singe himself on the flaming wheels. Your matron pauses next to Alonso, who is still marveling at the impossibly blooming tree. "You are a farmers son, aren't you? How soon is the rice harvest." Alonso blinks a few times caught off guard by the sudden question. "It was close to eight weeks when we left, maybe six and half weeks now? Depends on the rains I imagine." A farmer's son knows such things to an almost written percision. Your matron nods carefully. Her ears flick carefully, as she ponders something. She's weighing options in her mind, something she feels honor bound to do. "It alright if we change the plan Cohen? There is a duty I must attend to. I promise a fine time either way." Cohen shrugs, "So long as we get around to fixing my younglings eventually I don't mind milady. We are likely far too filthy after such an adventure for any duty you might require." Everyone except for your matron is filthy, covered in the dirt and ash that comes from days of fighting and running. Your matron's tails flick around her, she licks her lips. In her usual fashion she's fixed her mind onto something, with little concern for what happens next. "Hmm a duty for the sisters. I suppose." With a gentle hand she helps you onto the cart, it hurts. Even lifting your legs up to get onto the cart, sends pain through your overworked muscles. She's not having any difficulty you note. Still she all but lifts you into the cart. The cart lifts off into the sky, much unlike a feather drifting to the ground. Your friends seems to have much the same reaction you did to the cart. Alonso turns whiter than you ever saw him in the forest as the cart rocks, Ron simply closes his eyes and holds your matron's hand. Frederick actually seems to enjoy the rocking, striding too and fro in time with the rocking to help keep him from getting too sick. You can't say you enjoy it, but your matron cocoons you within her tails and pets your ears in an effort to help keep it from being too bad. [[Cohen keeps on hand on the cart and then hangs his feet off the side watching the clouds with a smile.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 1]]

(if: $kitsunefinishfemale is 1)[In the course of your adventure you got turned into a woman. That wasn't intrinsically a bad thing, perhaps you even enjoyed it!. For your own reasons you do want to lose your matron's curse though. You played host to her, or she you. Either way that might be enough to make someone reconsider a "gift". Still being a girl seems lit it's worth keeping.](if: $kitsunefinishmale is 1)[Fantastic adventures transform people fantastically. But it'd be nice to get back to the old you, the you you were at least in appearance. You can't help but feel that no matter what happens some changes are going to persist after playing host to something as powerful as your matron.] You know her well enough at this point that you are pretty sure that even after everything that's happened she's going to try and "finish" her curse. Probably be really annoying about it too. You keep your decision fixed in your mind as you move to climb into your matron's cart. Your friends are mostly too tired to be excited. Alonso managed to walk around the cart examining it from every angle, as if trying to burn it into his memory. He compliments the handiwork that went into making it, the wood is finely inlaid in a mesmerizing pattern. He is however quite careful around the creature that is more had than body though. Frederick however lacks his caution, and treats the creature not unlike a horse. It seems to appreciate the attention. Ron pauses to try and light something on fire using the cart's flaming wheels and then slumps against it, trying not to pass out. You help ron into the cart, your muscles only screaming at you a bit while Cohen shouts at the other two to stop wasting time. Everyone gets into the cart excited. Poor bastards. The cart takes off into the sky with all the nonchalance of a stone sinking into a pond. The only one who manages to keep his lunch is Ron, and that's because he's asleep quite quickly. Blushing to his ears he asks if he can hold your tail as he drops off to sleep. He did sort of save the day at the end there. Quick as a wink he's asleep with a look of bliss on his face. After the first lurch of the cart, [[everyone lies in a clump trying not to lose their lunch.->kitsune 1 ending bridge 2]]

Broken link and conditional here

(link:"Fresh starts!")[(gotoURL:"https://tfgames.site/?module=viewgame&id=2160")] A feminization life sim game. (link:"<img src='https://i.imgur.com/fLVq3XO.jpg' title='Click here to check it out!' width=100%>")[(gotoURL:"https://tfgames.site/?module=viewgame&id=2160")] They were asking for silly banner ads to fill out the browsing internet section of their game. I thought it would be a great time to make some and it was. Spoilers ahead! <img src="https://i.imgur.com/wQymuOR.png"> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ah17s7C.png">

Still you remember enough of your last visit to rouse everyone when the whole of the bathhouse will come into view from the air. Even the second time it's still an awe inspiring sight. The impossibly blooming cherry tree catches light from above, coating the whole bathhouse complex in a shimmery, almost pink light. Your friends are caught in open mouthed awe at the sights and sounds of the bathhouse. They watch the various creatures enjoying the bathhouse with an almost child like wonder, exclaiming like children at the various colors and costumes on display. Frederick is of course quick to comment on the various beauties as well. You do your best to explain what you remember from your last visit. Your matron is on hand to correct you quickly if you get what exactly everything is too wrong. She is immensely smug about it. After nearly dying, (put wall damage conditional here), fighting hopeless battles and generally living out an epic everyone needs to relax. So you have a bacchanalian time at the bathhouse, eating and drinking to excess. The food is as good as ever, the drink flows freely and [[the baths are warm.->kitsune 1 ending bridge 3]]

Everyone gets up to various kinds of mischief. Frederick does his best to woo just about everyone and everything in sight. He has adventures to recount, and tales of foreign lands to share. He has his usual amount of success, and more than once you have to use your closeness to your matron to keep him from being absconded with by some covetous spirit. He is of course magnanimous when you do, although he does tend to reuse his joke about you being secretly in love with him a bit too often. Seeing wonderous sights and going exotic places is about half of what Alonso wanted from adventuring. The other half is some combination of getting a parade and helping people it seems. The saddest look you've seen him have in a while crosses his face when you mention how the bathhouse obscures memory. He quickly resolves to write down as much as he can so he can share it back home. Alonso does interviews of the various creatures lounging in baths, copies down the plots of the various plays being performed, and gets downright poetic in describing the various sights, sounds, and smell of the bath house. There's no telling how much of the stories is true, and how much is the teller simply humoring him. He often recruits you or Ron to be his scribe. An amusing side effect of your matron's gifts is that it makes your letters more regular. Cohen all but lives in the baths or partaking in the feats of strength and wrestling that some of the mightier guests do when overheated. He claims that the warm waters are wonderful for his joints. When he's not looking like a prune, or slipping through someone's hold, he flits gently with the various servers. You note that while he is still friendly with your matron, there is an initial wariness that never quite fades. Still your matron doesn't seem to pick up on it, and they have a good enough time drinking and reminiscing. They often spend their time playing board games of varying complexity. Old people!(if: $bathhousecohen is 1)[ The racoon eared server he scored with the first time you visited stays sweet on him surprisingly. They have a wonderful time together, she listening to his war stories with fresh ears and him listening to her tales and gossip attentively. He takes up trying to teach her chess, and she teaches him Go. He chortles with joy whenever she outwits him. He tries to introduce everyone to her friends to mixed success. Frederick sure doesn't mind.] Despite his natural shyness Ron has a good time as well. He gets along famously with your matron. Whenever she's not too tipsy to teach, she teaches him some of the finer points of magic. She claims that he has a great promise as a wizard, and Ron utterly adores her as a result. thankfully they do most of their magic above the baths so that the risk of setting things on fire is relatively low. There is some hope that he might finally learn control of his magic, or at the very least not repeat some of your matron's mistakes. He also dotes on you. He spends as much time with you as he can, and always volunteers to help you get wash up and look presentable. He seems to like just being in your company for what it's worth, even if he is as miserable at making conversation as ever. your matron spend some of her time trying to convince you to another of her gifts. Your mind however is made up. But she is persistent, working it into unrelated conversations, at times going on at length about how great her temple is and of course how much she wants to show it to you. At times she makes a naked appeal to a desire for power, offering to teach you the most powerful magic, or even play host to her again and do it right this time. She quits this line of attack after the first few eye rolls. (put wall damage conditional here) Even in the pleasant haze of the bathhouse you keep your mind fixed and so stay committed to your goal. (if: $kitsunefun is 1)[She also makes more than a few entireties to have fun again in the bath. You know her well enough at this point to tell that it comes at least partially from an intense loneliness, that pricks her at seeming random. Like almost everything that your matron offers you have the feeling that it doesn't come without strings. Perhaps you do join her? The best part of life is it's forbidden pleasures after all.](if: $kitsunefun is 0)[Your matron makes a point of inviting you to join her in the baths everytime she goes to relax alone. You know her well enough that she is desperate to see you naked again, she seems to view seeing her naked as a fair trade. You cannot deny that your matron is very beautiful, you've experienced that first hand. You do finally agree after an entreaty from Alonso. He'd like to interview her and it's hard to find her in a place quiet enough and when she's sober enough to make sense. Your matron views his exercises with a fond bemusement, and so allows it. Alonso spends most of the interview desperately squishing his not immodest bosom against the side of the bath as he tries to keep his pad dry enough to write on. Still your matron looks at you with a smile and then answers his questions in full. The full text of her answers would be an another tale entirely, and so they have been omitted here for brevity. Be assured however that it is a very long interview.] It's damn good time. But eventually it looks like the kitsune's tab might come due and nobody wants to be around for that. Thankfully adventurers always pack light, (if: $kitsunefinishmale is 1)[[[adventurers without anything but their gear to their name more so.->kitsune 1 male ending]]](if: $kitsunefinishfemale is 1)[[[adventurers without anything but their gear to their name more so.->Kitsune 1 female ending]]]

In the timeless morning of the bathhouse everyone gathers near where the carts land. Time to talk through your next step. You take a deep breath, you made up your mind, no going back now. You give a certain nod to Cohen, who nods back supportively. He'll make it happen, even if he has to pet your matron's tails till she's a shaking giggling mess. You announce to everyone that you will return to normal. You turn to look at your matron, who looks like someone seeing a prized horse riding away. She stammers for a second, seems about to reach and then glances at everyone else. Finally she looks at you. You give her your most disarming smile. She softens. "I hate to deprive you of anything dear. However the nature of gi-curse is such that I cannot undo it easily. The power invested is difficult for even me to unwind." She smiles fondly. "I must return to my home to do it. It won't be much trouble to host the rest of you." Alonso nods. "And for the rest of us? We all saw you in the forest, surely turning us back into men will be a trifle." Frederick seems to realize something. "Hey yeah what about Ron!" Ron looks surprised. Your matron hides a smile with her hand lady like. "It will be easier, after I tend to this one." She almost sounds sincere. Everyone except for Ron trades a disbelieving look. Cohen shrugs. "Just so long as you return us to the kingdom once it's over. These younglings aren't ready for an odyssey like that." The matter seemingly settled, everyone board your matron's cart. You make sure to watch the branches of cherry tree as they disappear into the clouds. Turns out that hangovers and impossible floating vehicles really don't mix. [[It was bad the first time, and is somehow worse the second.->kitsune 1 male ending 1]]

You spend most of the trip feeling miserable. Still your matron pulls you close protectively, almost smothering you in between her bosom and her tails. It's a comfy restraint. Everyone else huddles close too, trying to get some comfort. When the world stops shaking so much, and your pulse evens out you look out from the cart carefully. You are above an incredibly green and verdant valley bordered on one side by a sudden, almost sheer mountain rising up. At the base of mountain is a large, tiered temple complex, rising up with the base of the mountain. The temple shines from the air, in a brilliant combination of red and whites. Around it is a number of fields, and what is obviously a refugee camp. The buildings are well built but crowded together. You can smell the camp even from the air. The cart touches down near the top of the temple complex. The courtyard where it lands is full of neatly raked, almost reflectively pure sand. While battling your vertigo you sight multiple people in the temple drop to their knees in prayer. As the cart touches the sweet, blessed, not swimming ground; there is a mass procession of Mikos, in red and white robes. The mikos are on the whole younger, a few senior faces here and there but many of them are as fresh faced as you and your friends. You for a moment expect them to be as pure and clean as your matron always tried to keep you. But no, many of them are in dirty aprons and were clearly working. A few of them are clearly sobbing from joy. They all in one movement kneel together, prostrating themselves before your matron. (And Cohen who is helping Alonso take an unsteady step off the cart.) Your matron battles a complex tangle of emotions across her face for a moment. Finally she wipes away a tear and fixes a smile on her face. "I'm sorry, but I'm home now." The mikos begin to cry in earnest, many of the them hugging each other, or kissing the hem of your matron's robes. There is a flurry of activity as the mikos drop everything, in preparation for a grand celebration. Your matron is quickly surrounded by a number of nuns asking where she has been, and her opinion on countless things You and your friends are swept up in their general bustle. You are clean enough for the miko's standards, but they quickly enough put you to work in carrying, organizing, cleaning etc. You in particular are treated with a special reverence by the Mikos. They insist you don't work at all, which is a bit frustrating. Still they get the message after trying to separate you from your friends. The hardest task is helping to feed the refugee camp. The camp is full of the displaced, the dispossessed and those unable to farm their own food. There is a great sense of community in the camp, the mikos are making an almost superhuman effort to feed those who might otherwise starve, and the refugees are grateful. The refugees are generally overjoyed to see the Mikos. The struggle comes from hauling the pots and rice required to feed hundreds of people. The nuns are clearly glad to make someone else do it for once. The meal is just rice, but you are instructed to feed everyone that comes. As the day ends, they prepare as grand a dinner as they can for everyone. Your matron presides over the ceremony like something close to matriarch, or perhaps a local deity. [[She seems to almost shine in the twilight.->kitsune 1 male ending 2]]

Clearly your matron has not returned home for many years, the initial elation at her return quickly shifts to demands for her attention. So she sets to work with a will. There are countless matters that need her personal touch, from simple acts of planning to religious rituals that need performing. The mikos worked hard to keep up the temple in her absence. The matter of utmost importance is tending to the magic which enables the rice patties to be farmed all year round. This magic is primeval and so strong that you can feel it's distant thrum at any place within the valley. She keeps you by her side through all of her labors. She treats you like a favored daughter, attempting to spoil you with both importance and responsibility. It's nice to have your opinion constantly asked for, and to be treated with respect for once. But at the same time, your matron is as subtle as always in her attempts to convince you to accept more gifts. The need for magic for miraculous magic is answered by the giant refugee camp all about the temple. There would never be enough food without a field that grew all year. Your friends have an alright time at the temple. Frederick flirts with as many of the nuns as he can manage. His success rate is poor, but it's obvious that at least here much of his enjoyment comes from the hunt rather than any real success on those lines. Alonso was a blacksmith's son, and so quite enjoys being called upon to fix things and help in the ongoing repair of the wooden buildings. Ron is for a time quite jealous of your proximity to your matron. But many of the Mikos know at least some magic, and he quite enjoys learning from them. Even if his access to your matron is now limited. Their magic is all clearly derived from your matron’s. Cohen however is bored, almost lethally bored. He flatly refuses to contribute to the constant farming in the rice patties, claiming as he often does that he did not take up arms only to farm. He attempts to fill his time hunting, but many of the animals are protected by your matron's goddess and so he is continually unsuccessful. When the amount of claims on your matron's attention die down, and Cohen's already thin patience runs short, your friends begin to clamor for your matron to fulfill her promise on returning you to normal, and then them to normal. She resists of course. Eventually however, she can't come up with any more excuses. So she organizes her mikos in a grand holy procession up the mountain. It takes you a while to realize that she is essentially organizing a very large picnic. Before the procession leaves, she makes an impassioned plea for you to change your mind. [[Your opinion remains as fixed as ever.->kitsune 1 male ending 3]]

You are carried up the mountain, in a hand carried palanquin. It's an awkward, claustrophobic way to travel, especially with the lack of windows. You sit next to your matron, in close quarters. She can tell that you are uncomfortable, so she lets you pet her tails to keep yourself occupied. Finally the palanquin stops, the attendants silently excuse themselves. Your matron leads the way up the sparsely forested mountain, finally coming to a red arch in the middle of the almost wilderness, it's of the same type you encountered so long ago upon first reaching your matron's temple. She strides through the center boldly, you much more sensibly stick to one edge. After a bit more travel you reach a secluded lake, in the midst of a small clearing of trees. You can hear distantly the impossible tune you heard before while being visited by your matron. This is a place of great natural magic, the biggest tell is that it should be impossible for a lake this large, or trees this verdant to be this high up the mountain. Your matron produces a picnic, and a few straw mats to relax upon. She pours you a drink and then begins to sample the food she brought. The lunch is contained in this compact, cleverly designed wooden boxes. You can tell that she's waiting for you to start eating so she can tell a story without giving you a chance to interrupt. Finally with a sigh, you sample the food. It's quite delicious indeed. Your matron speaks. "Here, or about here anyway is where my Goddess raised me up into her service." She looks across the lake with a smile. "I was just a fox then, with no knowledge of much outside of what it took to be a fox. As a fox I had eaten the offerings at once of my goddess's shrines. It was a very hard winter, and I had no knowledge of what it meant to do such a thing." She takes a moment to feel one of her own tails. "But there was something about the shrine, or maybe I sensed my goddess even then. So I caught a grouse and dragged it to the shrine, as repayment I suppose." She smiles fondly. "This quite pleased my goddess, and so she marked me with a spot of silver fur right on my forehead." Your matron takes a moment to feel her own forehead as if remembering how it felt. "But as I was just a fox at the time, I had no way to know what this meant, or that it was even there. She told me of it afterwards." She pauses, biting her lip. "My goddess has never much concerned herself with the trivialities of her gifts. She simply acts in the expectation that it will turn out well." "Later at the end of my life as a fox I returned here. Perhaps I hoped for another gift. Dying hurts, it's terrifying for even a fox to understand that the world around you is fading. Finally as my breath slowed for the last time, my goddess lifted me up with golden hands and into her service." Your matron takes a second to drink, you can smell the alcohol from here. "This place was the result." "I had hoped that you might change your mind. That I might lift you up into my service, provide for you as my goddess did for me." She gives you a final desperate look. She knows you won't change your mind, with as much certainy as you know her mind at this moment. She drinks again. "Even if you won't change your mind, perhaps you will grant me one final indulgance?" She's asking if you'd like to have a drunken tryst with her. The idea has a certain mad appeal. She is very beautiful after all. Go for it? [[Nope->kitsune 1 male ending 4]] ~~Well she is offering->kitsune 1 male ending 3.1~~ (Not done!)

You shake your head. Among other things you can't be entirely certain how her goddess, as nice as she is will respond to you profaning her sacred mountain. Your matron looks at you for a long time, staring with an almost frightening intensity. She's trying to memorize every detail of your face you realize. Finally she sighs. "Very well." She stands up and then offers her hand. "I request the return of what was given." You take her hand, [[here's hoping it won't sting too badly.->kitsune 1 male ending 5]]

It's a curious thing for your matron to reclaim her power. It reminds you of how a cup must feel to be emptied, or if you wanted to be crude about it; that sort of fleeting emptiness you feel after taking a massive piss. You held something, something almost larger than yourself and now it's gone. Perhaps you will miss it? You look down at your hands, they are smoother than they were, but are now recognizably yours. Your hair is back to it's original color (or just regular black instead of shiny black, if it was originally black.) It's still edged at the end with silver though, some marks from playing host to your matron will remain it seems. Your robes also hang loose, at least in your chest and hips. Although your shoulders are wider than they were. A quick glance in lake shows that the water is too pure to be reflective. Thankfully you brought you hand mirror. You strongly resemble yourself, a touch more handsome than when you started maybe. Your elation at going through so much strife just to return to yourself is quickly undercut by your matron's quiet sobbing. For a second it looks like she has nine tails, but it must be a trick of the light. Just by looking at her you can tell that she feels like you deserted her. [[Sadly in life, you cannot make everyone happy.->kitsune 1 male ending 6]]

You return down the mountain, your matron barely looking at you as she leads the way. It might hurt a bit that she's basically uninterested in you being the person you want to be, but your friends will be more understanding. The mikos all exclaim at once upon seeing you returned to normal, proclaiming it a great miracle. Cohen nudges your still depressed matron and mentions that your friends still need changing back to normal. Grumbling your matron does so, gently holding hands with each of your friends and caressing their faces as she returns them to normal. The mikos proclaim your friends all being returned to normal a great miracle as well. You can see Frederick quietly bemoaning the loss of his girls, Alonso seems to view it as a moderately entertaining diversion, only Ron seems genuinely conflicted. Then he tries to style his now much shorter hair the same way as your matron has hers. He doesn't manage it, but still seems to feel better for the effort. You and your friends dally a bit longer at your matron's temple. As you are no longer women, the mikos insist firmly that you can no longer bunk in the temple. The refugee camp isn't a bad place and they are grateful for your earlier labors on their behalf. You spend a few days helping with the constant back breaking farming required to feed the camp. During this time you see your matron only rarely, she has apparently retreated to seclusion for a time. [[Finally however Cohen's patience runs completely dry.->kitsune 1 male ending 7]]

He takes you in tow and begins to be as rude as it takes to reach your matron. It helps a bit that you skip the outer gates by climbing a one of the temple's thick walls. From there you sneak through the grounds of the temple. It's an odd sensation to sneak through, previously you were welcomed as an honored guest, but now the nuns that do spot you make a point of politely ignoring you. Perhaps it's simply a part of becoming something other than what your matron wished you to be. He finally reaches the inner most sanctum. You checked already there is nothing worth stealing there. There are however a few nuns sitting worried in shifts by the door. There is an air of desperation among them, and they all watch the door with concern. Cohen studies the situation from down the hall for a few moments, then he gently nudges you. "Nothing for it, you'll need to stay outside. If you hear me whacking my sword against my scabbard, come running. Don't stop for nothing, reach me." He licks his hand then smooths back what's left of his hair. "I look official enough?" He looks real official. Fixing a worried smile on his face he approaches the door confidently, while you keep hiding down the hall. He then begins to lie, plead, politely cajole, and do whatever might convince the nuns to let him pass. He finally hits on a winning lie in promising to broker a reproachment between you and your matron. The nuns exchange desperate glances and allow him to pass. For a long time there is only silence, then you are surprised by a nun carrying a tray coming up behind you. Once you help her pick up her tray, you join the nuns in waiting by the door. There is a respectful, boring silence. Occasionally, at the edge of your perception you see a flicking blue light creep out from under the door. Eventually, as you are about to nod off in the warmth of the temple the door opens suddenly. Your matron emerges with something like a smile on her face, but her sleeves are stained with tears. Cohen is dutifully in tow, with a quiet smile. Just by looking at her you can tell that her sadness is still there, it might never truly leave her but [[it can be overcome for a time.->kitsune 1 male ending 8]]

With that taken care of, the temple has a grand festival to send you off. You and your friends had become popular in the temple and it's surrounding camp. So there is a grand celebration, as they toast you and your matron. Then finally, she returns you back to the land you know. She stands next to Cohen looking at him with a smile. She'll miss him, is afraid of never seeing him again. Like so many other heroes lost to the ages. Cohen smiles back, perhaps thinking similarly deep thoughts. She speaks suddenly. "It was good to see you again. You are as energetic as ever. Perhaps you might accept a blessing so we might see each other again?" Cohen lets out a short barking laugh. "I think not milady. I should rather the stories they tell of me have my strength only ever be my own. Besides from that, a messenger for a goddess of the harvest should know that there is a cycle to all things. Gotta let my younglings stand on their own at some point. As for if we will meet again? Why that's up to us isn't it?" Your matron bites her lip. "My temple needs rebuilding, and I need to reestablish my satellite temple. I haven't seen my goddess for a while either. There's much to do." Cohen shrugs. "You always insist that things be just one thing, things can be a lot of things." Your matron doesn't quite get it, but as always she trusts Cohen. You see a brief flicker of blue as your matron casts a spell. Looking at your matron you are sure that she will respect his wishes, but he'll at least have an easier time making water on command, and be a bit less likely to piss himself in the night. She waves to him at least as she gets into her cart. Ron waves back with both hands and as much of his body as he can. Frederick of all people seems pensive for a moment. "They'll never stop farming there, it's a burden in a way." Everyone shivers at the thought of having to constantly farm. Cohen manages a smile. "Ah, but you see youngling as long as she will live that will be her task. Feeding all those who come seeking help." He looks out towards the horizon. "You might of noticed that we are very different people." Alonso laughs at that. "But I'll break bread with anyone who strives to make the world a better place. She strives for that tirelessly in her own way. As short sighted as it might seem at times." [[There's a gentle smile on his face as he looks towards where your matron's cart disappeared into the sky.->kitsune 1 male ending 9]]

From there you resume adventuring much as before. If perhaps bit more cautious of taking deals, and a bit more respectful when looting temples. (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[Everyone is excited to stop the farming and get back into the swing of epic adventure, after so long of a detour.](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[The desert has it's charms and the raid on the slavers was an adventure but everyone longs for more familar territory.] You go onto become a great adventurer. You aren't quite as strong or as rough as before. However you are certainly a bit more sly, and retain a small ability to conjure magic. (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[This ability is nowhere near the heights of your matron, or even the level of Ron. But you aren't as old as dirt, or a pyromaniac so that's understandable.](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[This ability never approaches what you channeled with the kitsune or even the more mundane types of magic that Ron practices.] (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[Your greatest moment is in freeing the magical city of nod. The whole town is being held not quite in thrall by a single very rich wizard. He controls all the food of the town, and to reinforce his dominion he keeps it all in a magically clear vault, so that everyone can see what they lack. Many have tried before you to crack the vault. You take a simpler approach and merely scale his tower to steal his key. The scaling of the tower is no easy feat, as it is kept from simply floating off into the sky by a number of oiled chains. The wealthy always love to fly away you suppose. Upon reaching the top, you find many tried that as well. Still for adventurers as experienced as you, well as enthusiastic as you, it's almost simple to steal the key. The hard part is of course then substituting the imitation key. Later when the wizard tries to open the vault and pay his guards. The key fails. The guards stand back as the crowd surges forward. He deserved what he got. With the wizard taken care of, you open the vault and feed everyone as much as you can. Seems only fair after seeing people starve to death in the streets, able to see what might save them but never reach it.](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[Your greatest moment was arguably freeing the captives, five men taking on some fifty in total is nothing to sneeze at. But you go onto other successes against the dragonet raiding parties. You gain great fame for the time you captured three of their ships using little more than cleverness and the tides. ] In time Cohen has everyone together and says it's time for him to move on. You have stopped almost dying or being captured all the time. Everyone is depressed by the news, but knew it was going happen sooner or later. You worry about him of course. (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[But he can catch blades barehanded, he'll be okay.](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[You saw him slay more than a score of men without over much difficulty, he'll likely be okay.] Your spirited rescue of your friends with (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[your matron's](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[the kitsune's] help becomes a popular tale, although it does tend to focus on Cohen and the exotic kitsune more than you. You have a bit role in the story, although the bards tend to disagree about whether you were a servant of the fox that came with her, or merely ensorcelled by the fox and broke free. (if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[You do your best to make the truth of the kitsune's behavior be told.] Still it's quite a thing to know that you were in a tale at all. Alonso goes onto great fame as a leader of men. He starts a band of knights who go onto right wrongs and battle evil. His fame almost rivals yours. (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[He also becomes quite known for his book of fantastic creatures and tales, written during your sojourn in the bathhouse. It's a bit strange for a blacksmith's son to be a famous author but such is life.](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[He gains some fame for eventually leading the expeditionary forces against the spiders to finally make them give up slavery. You help with campaign and it's a tough fought thing. But eventually even the spiders realize that it's simply easier to abandon slavery than fight the world.] (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[These stories he tells at length, and tends to exaggerate in countless ways.](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[He also does much to popularize stories about the kitsune and your time with her. When you ask him why, he insists that the risk you took should not be forgotten.] The tales about your matron's life and the descriptions of just what an effect playing host to her had are popular indeed. Needless to say some of these become part of the poetic edda, the structure stolen and more familiar heroes substituted in. But that's story telling. Frederick becomes a great thief, forewarning targets to increase the challenge. He also keeps recruiting you and your friends to help make his plans work. He often complains at length about how much easier it might be if you could simply summon illusions like (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[your matron](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[the kitsune]. You know that he has another motive in wishing (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[your matron](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[the kitsune] was around and can't help but tease back in turn that the only illusion he'd get out of you is to turn him back into a girl. It's a fun time. Ron is perhaps the most changed by your time in the forest. (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[He maintains a correspondence with your matron for the rest of his life. He excitedly updates everyone as to the happenings with her and her temple whenever one of her letters arrives.](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[He never quite forgives your as he puts it "driving her away". To someone like Ron he'd forgive her for almost anything because who she was and what she offtered. You are confident he maintains a private correspondance with her for the rest of his life.] It's not hard to see how much he treasured her instruction and guidance in magic. He goes onto become a famous wizard, doing his best to spread knowledge of magic whenever he can. He also finally expands his repertoire of spells beyond simply setting everything on fire. His skill in illusion never approaches (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[your matron](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[the kitsune], but he does seem to have a knack for using them to entertain creating great bursts of color to while away the time. (if: $kitsunerebuke is 0)[Your matron reminds a presence in your life. She obviously is frustrated by your decision to return to being a man. Still she seems to have some fondness for you, and does adventure wtih you on occasion. Having the messenger of a goddess for magical aid never stops being useful. She does try to tempt you with more of her guidance of course.](if: $kitsunerebuke is 1)[You do eventually hear from the kitsune again. She wishes to apologize for what she did, and perhaps rekindle a relationship with you. It's difficult to tell how sincere she is. Perhaps you entertain her offer?] You look forward to your next adventure, ready to face whatever comes. Kitsune 1 Ending: A return to form. [[credits]]

After several long days of partying, no one is as it turns out that excited for another ride in your matron's cart. Still as ever Cohen tries to lead the way, telling everyone to chin up. Looking back at the bathhouse you notice many of the racoon eared servers there are wishing Frederick of all people an enthusiastic goodbye. He takes this with his usual humility. A few are directing their waves to Alonso, who is responding with a few polite waves of his own and obviously hoping you won't notice. Still, there's no delaying the uncomfortable inevitable forever. Finally, you get into your matron's enameled cart, and it takes off. It drifts off into the sky, not unlike a flower being carried by a stream. The bath house, beneath the impossibly blooming cherry tree is as stunning a sight flying away from it as towards it. The cart lurches, and you feel your stomach drop. Your matron holds your hand tightly, obviously aware of your discomfort. Ron looks at you insistently, offering his hand. It takes a second for you to get it, but you finally offer yours, which he clasps gladly and then lays next you. He's obviously not enjoying this either. To help distract everyone from the uncanny, impossible way the cart moves with every push of the breeze, your matron begins to talk of the place you are heading to. She smiles warmly. "My goddess creates and guarantees many beautiful things, but the wilderness of a revered mountain god is a beauty of its own." From glancing at her, the way she smiles proudly to speak of the mountain god, it's obvious that mentioning the two in the same breath is a type of high compliment. She talks at length of the great beauty of the mountain. Of it's vibrant forests, its wonderful views, the beauty of the beasts you might see there and the flowers that dot the mountain side. The part that seems to entrance her most is the shining streams and the village that grew up along them. She claims in all serious that there are river fish "larger than her tails" there and more delicious than you can imagine. From the way she emphasizes that last part you can't help but wonder if that is not the real purpose of your visit. [[Freshly caught fish is delicious though.->Kitsune 1 female ending 1]]

The ride is longer than you were expecting, but eventually Cohen calls out for everyone to look out the window. You are sinking towards a fairly large city, not in the style that you are familar with but a city all the same. It's dominated by what must be a palace, although it's not got the walls one would expect for such a thing, they are only made of wood. The palace looks a bit stubby as result, but it's carefully laid out according to some meticulous pattern. Even from the air you can see the bustle of the city, people moving between small houses purposefully. Where you were born must look so small from the air. Your musings are interrupted by Cohen shouting above the wind. "When you get a city that large around a palace that size younglings it's almost always a capitol. People always like to be near power if they can help it." Your matron makes an affirmative noise, she seems to be quickly and carefully copying something onto a large folded piece of what must be rice paper. The last bit of your trip in the cart is bumpy, as if the land itself was pushing up against you from a distance. Still when you can bear to open your eyes you find yourself in an ornate courtyard. There are a few carefully tended trees and carefully raked sand speaking to the opulance of the place. There's also a young guard who looks like he's just seen a ghost and is too stunned to speak. Your matron steps off the cart lightly turning back to offer a hand to you. You step gingerly, the rest helped but damn if you are still not sore. She smiles at the guard who has moved to kneeling hands clasped in religious reverance. "Properly reverant, but it's not time for me to make an introduction yet Shiro. Arrange a palaquinn for my companions and I. Something discreet, I haven't even finished copying the prayer to use as a gift. Your matron is convinced she knows him. The guard pauses carefully. "Shiro was my father. He retired and I took his post. " Your matron's tails and ears droop momentarily. "Ah then you must be Daiichi, at least that's what I recall your mother favoring as a name for her first boy. Your line has guarded this place well for many generations." The guard speaks again "Actually that was my brother, my na-" Turning back to your friends your matron cuts him off. "We will visit my temple in the capitol. Then make our introductions properly." Cohen speaks up. "To the king?" Your matron shakes her head. "To the emperor and his courtiers. We will need the royal family's blessing to restore your younglings." Everyone starts looking uncomfortable at the mention of this emperor. There isn't a child in your homeland who has not recieved at least some instruction in arms in preparation for the day that the dragon empire will try and invade again. Has she delivered you to them? How many more escapes can you pull off? Cohen laughs quietly. "An emperor of humans younglings. Any ruler of kings is called an emperor. Shake a leg, won't do to embarass milady infront of her emperor if you ever want to get back to normal. The guard, whatever his name is leads you out of the palace via a side gate. Almost everyone who does lay eyes on your matron drops to their knees in reverence though. You can tell from the way her ears flick that she'd hoped for no one at all. How the hell she thought that was going to be discreet, you couldn't say. A palaquinn as it happens is a sort of large carriage sized basket that you ride in while it's carried. It seems strange to you but that's life, and it's far less bumpy than wagons you find. You spare a moment for those who have to carry the palaquinn, the roads here are mainly sucking mud. Everyone except for your matron however smells to high heaven and in the confined space it's not great. That Frederick spends the time cracking the worst jokes he can think of is also not great. [[You have the stink of success and must be about to reach the high heavens->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 2]]

Your matron's temple within the city is large and ornate, and busier than one might expect for a temple to be. If it wasn't obvious already, to have a temple this large in the capitol itself must mean that your matron's goddess is quite popular here. The palanquin delivers you to the front of the temple, someone must of talked because there is a great assemblage of nuns waiting to greet you. Your matron is clearly once again in her element as she smiles widely to see so many of her mikos assembled. She addresses them briefly, apologizing for being gone for so long. It's a tedious speech as tired as you are. You do notice something about the assembled nuns though, they skew older, many of them seeming to be near the end of their lives. These older nuns look at your matron with a particular reverence. You are also a feature of much interest, with the nuns reaching out to stroke your ears and pet your tails. You are like the second biggest cow in town compared to your matron. A few even begin to pray to you only to be sharply reprimanded by their superiors. With her address done you are hustled by the mikos into the temple complex proper. They are strict on the ceremony you must perform to enter, washing your hand, clapping and bowing. It helps, but at this point there's nothing to do for it but to give you a proper bath. They shoot borderline murderous looks at Cohen as he blithely tracks dirt everywhere. The baths are small, mostly a series of warm water tubs and a few convenient seats to wash yourself off with cloth. Still the mikos are fastidiously attentive in making sure you get as clean as possible. You barely have to lift a hand to get clean, which is nice because you are still unspeakably sore. Frederick cracks a joke about being serviced by beautiful women. This results in a surprising number of cackles from the mikos. Frederick cracks a few more unspeakably foul jokes and before long the ice has been broken. As it turns out many of the mikos here are noble ladies from the court, or their ladies in waiting. Some are here in retreat from polite society during their courses. More of them are here to "retire". When someone is near death it is considered the height of impoliteness to pollute the purity of the royal household by dying. So royal ladies are expected to go the temple and become nuns, their ladies in waiting are often expected to follow suit. As a result many of the nuns are far from the true believers you might expect in a temple this large and this prestigious. It seems a common pastime in the court itself is poetry, various arts and sexual misadventure. Cohen is for his part like a pig in clover. Many of the ladies skimped on any oaths of chastity, and Cohen is not one to remind them. They are older, and receptive to his charm and flattery. Before long he has retired with two of the ladies to "wash". Lucky bastard. After you have been washed, and heard old ladies tell stories that would make a stone blush; you are presented to your matron again. She's writing with ink and brush, amusingly she's barely paying attention to whatever she's writing. She smiles to see everyone clean. It seems that the trick to finally getting Cohen to comb what's left of his beard is to be in his arms. "It is important to me Cohen, that your younglings do not embarrass me in court. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior." Rather than staring at you as she says this you can tell that she's glaring at Frederick. Frederick manages a smile. Your matron sighs. "The royal family has ruled for a thousand years, maybe longer. They were chosen by my goddess to rule. Looking badly in front of them reflects badly on my goddess. I have some tolerance, but that I cannot stand my goddess being diminished." Your friends all look at each other surprised. A thousand years with the same ruling family? If you wanted to be generous the current royal family has been there for about a hundred years. The fiefdoms picked a new one, or so you heard, you are an adventurer not a historian. Hell, Cohen's even told you the queen killed the king which probably screws the royal lines a bit more. Ron speaks first. "Are you sure it's the same royal family? They didn't swap babies at some point did they?" He blushes a bit. "Or you know make a substitution in the bedroom." Frederick follows up "Or pick up an urchin off the street to replace a weak heir. Oh there could of been a body double, they them just swapped em." Alonso nods. "A bout of illness, guy drinks himself to death you gotta find someone. Get a distant cousin, good enough to be a royal." Your matron's tails raise annoyed, almost insulted. "No, a single line blessed by my goddess. I am sworn to protect them and what they protect. So best behavior children." The Mikos pull together what clothes they can to make sure that you and your friends are dressed in fashionable attire for the palace. Well, what they knew as fashionable, fashion changes with the season and on a whim. The local fashion is to wear a ponderous number of robes in intricate color combinations. Wearing seven layers of robes seems foolish at the best of times. Cohen looks at the robes and cap prepared for him. "Milady please. I am what am I, no number of fancy clothes will make me fit in here. Why not present my younglings and I as barbarians from a foreign land? That way we can be amusements and the number of gifts you have brought will be doubled?" Cohen must know something about amusing faraway courts from his adventures. Your matron's ears raise in joy and a few of her tails start to wag. "A fantastic idea." She motions to you. "This one however will need to look like my follower, so she should probably wear more suitable robes." The more things change the more they stay the same it seems, especially when it comes to you getting shafted. The mikos however seem overjoyed to dress you, and before long you are wearing the most resplendent miko robes you can imagine. There are still an ungodly number of layers though. [[Now you must make a proper introduction to the court.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 3]]

Your matron it seems cannot travel anywhere without attracting attention. There is a grand procession of bowing courtiers, and even what might be the occasional lord ready to greet you at the palace's gate. Your matron is about as smug as you can imagine. The procession moves in a slow rhythmic fashion, with every step measured to music. Even for the short distance up to the royal court it's an annoying way to travel. Being your matron's scion, you have to travel directly next to her, keeping your head bowed the whole way. [[Mostly you just end up getting a tail to the face when ever you lose the rhythm.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 4]]

Finally near the top of the palace you reach the imperial court. It's a long mostly empty hall, with few decorations. There's not even any chairs or a fire pit for feasting. The most notable feature however is a few raised platforms ensconced in thick gauzy curtains. With as much ritual as you had getting there, the courtiers all sit in a meticulous order and then turning to face the raised platform bow in unison. That must be where the emperor is. Presumably he's far too holy to been seen. The emperor is happy to see your matron, and they quickly get to talking. Apparently, the emperor is fairly young, the last emperor having died from illness. You can see your matron's tails droop for a moment in grief. They spend some time reminiscing of the past, apparently your matron bounced this new emperor on her knee when he was just a lad. This conversation catches many of the courtiers off guard you can tell. The court seems to be a place for rigid formalities and this personal connection makes many of them shift uncomfortably. The conversation finally shifts to your friends. (You don't warrant a discussion looking as you do.) Your matron speaks of them as heroes from a faraway land she picked up while performing an errand for her goddess. They acquired a curse that might be easily dispelled by imperial favor. The implication is obvious. One of the lords? The kings that the emperor rules, intercedes. You obviously don't know him, but he has an exceedingly impressive mustache. He claims that imperial favor should not be handed out so recklessly and especially to foreigners. Your matron glares at him, her tails flaring. Impressively he doesn't back down, continuing that the imperial diviner has stressed that the purity and health of the royal family must be protected at all costs. You cannot see your matron's face, she is sitting in front of you. But the rage practically pours off of her. The lord continues, there is no proof that any of the foreigners following her are heroes at all. He at least demands a demonstration that they are worthy of being here. This is rude even by the standards of your home. Your matron looks back to Cohen who gives a bored shrug. "If a demonstration will convince you, allow my companion to catch a blade with his hands." There are a few murmurs in the court. The courtiers are doubtful. You blink a few times, he hasn't done that since you joined up with him, and he's not half as drunk as he was then. A blade is chosen, and a guard is selected. Cohen kneels in front of him hands at his side. You can tell from his grin that he wants to crack wise, and maybe even show off. But this isn't the place sadly. The guard is probably not a bad man, but when a king tells you to do something you generally need a really good excuse to get out of it. He poses sword above his head theatrically and brings it down not as quickly as you would if you trying to kill someone. In a supreme display of skill Cohen catches it between his palms, and then topples the guard over by twisting the blade to one side. He looks a bit sheepish. "Sorry, that was how it was taught to me." The lord's eyes go wide, he clearly didn't think a man as old Cohen could do anything quite so impressive. With the quality of heroes in tow proven, your matron requests to address the imperial diviner, the role is traditionally held by someone from her temple. The lord interjects that with the absence of your matron, and the death of the last emperor the current emperor had chosen a new tack. The imperial diviner is presented. She looks like a mad woman, her skin caked with dirt and her greying hair a ragged leaf full mess. She has the thin almost skeletal frame that clearly comes from hard times. She garbles something almost unintelligible; you say almost because it's clearly mixed between a threat and an accusation. Your matron is so insulted that she goes quiet for a second. Finally she speaks again. "Let us reconvene when the diviner is in a better mood. It is traditional for someone from my temple to bless the coming harvest." The lord is about to speak when she continues. "I'm sure the emperor will make his final decision later. With your permission we will retire to rest after our my travel." Your matron is far too important to be snubbed a room and so you are given a guest room to retire too. Your matron is indescribably angry, [[ranting and raving as quietly as she can to avoid seeming too impolite.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 5]]

Cohen has everyone gather around him. "Alright younglings, figures something like this might happen. Amongst kings there's power in simply being close to the king themselves. A king will give out favors and what not based on who he knows and trusts. Amongst emperors power comes from being close to the royal family and controlling the burraccy." Ron is surprised "What does burraccy mean?" It's rare to encounter a word he doesn't know. Cohen turns his hand in a circle like he doesn't know exactly either. "The people in charge of knowing how much of things there is, making decisions, tending to the affairs of gods, that sort of thing. Fucking dragons had a lot of it from what I remember. Anyway, our lord is using the diviners to get access to the emperor." Alonso raises an eyebrow "So what do we do? I sincerely doubt that we'd get away with trying to intimidate a king, even if you do repeat your performance from earlier." Cohen smiles "We gotta take a subtler approach. Make yourselves popular, work the ladies and impress the men when you can. Foreigners have an in because everyone here knows everyone else, we are new, act exotic but not so exotic it scares anybody. Frederick be charming." Frederick does a mock salute. "I'll try to be something other than my prickly old self." Frederick could reasonably be expected to charm the legs off a donkey, and then convince the donkey to go for a walk afterwards. Ron bites his lip deep in thought. "But how will this convince the lord? We might be popular but I sincerely doubt we will change his mind." Alonso laughs slightly. "We aren't trying to convince the lord Ron. We gotta be so popular and the lady with the fox ears so essential to court life that he can't oppose us getting what we want without looking like a total nonce. Your matron has mostly calmed down. Mostly in that she's capable of speech even if her tails and ears are still rigid with rage. She's still copying something even as everyone talks through the next step. She's happy with the plan, if her goddess is no longer supreme in the royal court it's a problem she is duty bound to solve. [[She'll write letters and make introductions.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 6]]

The first step of the plan is to get in good with the court ladies. This falls to your matron, with you and Frederick as her back up. Unsurprisingly your matron knows almost everyone above a certain age, and knows almost everyone else's parents. She's quickly welcomed into the circles surrounding the empress. Royal women lead small lives, shut up within the imperial palace. To some degree it's the trade off for the excess of courtly life, that they must be ornaments to the court and accessories to the intrigues of the men. At home they would likely have more independence but more responsibility in running households. Here their days are full of art, gossip, and discussion. As if to drive the point home, the fashion is for women to never cut their hair, tying them down with long tresses. For an adventurer like you it can't help but feel claustrophobic. Their art is indeed beautiful, their wit is always cutting, they produce some of the most beautiful needle work you have ever seen, and they can all read. Beyond even that many of them know magic. Their magic is one of refinement, party tricks at times, but healing, the ability to conjure great images, to shape the growing of plants. They make a common game of forming a doll's clothes in exquisite detail from things one might find in a garden, spinning robes from cobwebs, shaping stone into fantastically thin cloth. Ron would be unspeakably jealous. Amongst any group of people there will be games played, often for position, sometimes for enjoyment. Here they like to play literary games, who can compose the best poem, make the best joke. With the empress and your matron in the room, the games are skewed towards who might impress them. The empress is a touch younger than the emperor, and deeply loves the court and it's people. Her duty is to provide an heir, which she has achieved some success at, being in the early part of her first pregnancy. As a result she's overjoyed to see your matron, hoping for some guarantee of a safe pregnancy. Your matron is of course happy to provide this, especially when previously she had been religiously relying on the advice of the lord's diviner. Frederick with all his charm is pretty good at these games, even without much schooling. Wit is enhanced by learning rather than provided by it. He knows just how to make a joke, or when to make a cutting remark to deflect criticism. For your part you learn a trick to help cheat at the games. Your matron always goes last in the games, so that everyone might politely compliment her poem or remark. You can generally get a pretty good feeling for what she might be thinking by looking at her, so you study her carefully as the game progress. When it comes your turn you do your best to improvise something based on what your matron might have been thinking. This annoys her to no end, but earns you a good amount of polite tittering. After a few days of this you are well liked within the group. [[Well liked enough to be invited to the empresses’ quarters at night to join in a game of telling scary stories.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 7]]

The empresses quarters are as bare as the rest of the palace. Little furniture, but some very soft silken cushions for reclining on and a well crafted fire pit to keep warm at night with. They have also procured several flat candles, supposedly a full hundred although you aren't so bored as to count. Many of the most notable ladies of the court have assembled. With every scary story a candle is extinguished, making the room darker and the stories seem more dramatic. You and Ron tell many of the classics from home, of the boy who didn't know fear, of the bloody queen who appeared at night, of the stalking liver eater. The assembled ladies tell many of their own, of courtesans who hung themselves and reappeared, of warriors separated from their heads only to have their eyes open. Your matron of course has lived many frightening stories and so is able to recount them expertly. The hour grows late and you are gradually running dry of stories to recount. It's important to make a good showing though. Finally there are only a few candles remaining, everyone is leaning together closely so any shock makes everyone jump. As your turn comes around, the only story that you can think to tell is of your playing host to your matron. So you draw everyone in, doing your best to make your flight from the spiders scary instead of badass. Then you recount what you can recall, your sudden shift in appearance, the shifting confusing visions, dancing always with being destroyed by something unknowable. The creeping alienness of your matron. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when you finally escape mostly unharmed. It looks like it worked. Your matron however is shooting you daggers, but hey she didn't tell the story. Your story is quite popular amongst the women, and despite your novelty as a group you are considered quite indispensable. [[The empress, in her indirect way promises to impose upon the emperor the necessity of getting everyone back to normal.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 8]]

You check in with Ron, Alonso and Cohen. They are working the male side of the equation, but having a far tougher time of it. The men are far prouder and more self important than the women. This makes them more resistant to flattery, especially from foreigners. Still many of them are stationed here as guards to assure the loyalties of distant relatives. Beyond that, Cohen would have a hard time to not be recognized as the cream of any group of fighting men. Cohen reports some success, his strategy is to fall in with the veterans who get to the recounting of campaigns. His stories of adventure are good for greybeards who have all heard each others war stories a dozen times at least. They appreciate some new stories, and someone new to inflict their stories on. Alonso cultivates a good relationship with the guards. They are a bit hesitant to be friendly with a warrior woman, even one who claims to have originally been a man. This changes when he challenges one to practice fencing with him. For all his changes his skill with a sword is undiminished. Before long he reports that he has cultivated quite the rapport with the younger guards, constantly challenging one another. His popularity is also enhanced by the fact that he wears very little when fencing. The cumbersome robes are not great for sword work. His long golden locks certainly don't hurt. Amusingly even working from the girl's side you can tell that he is the subject of many younger guards infatuation. The poems circulating from the men’s side for a time keep praising the beauty of strength. Ron joins in with the court's official mages. He reports limited success. The current family of diviners has fostered many of the younger mages and worked studiously to sideline the older ones. Beyond that well, Ron is Ron. Still he's as usual to detached to notice their attempts to stub him, and very much enjoys a chance to be amongst "real learned types". They do eventually figure out a way to keep him from getting so excited that he sets everything on fire. Success amongst the men in cultivating support is more limited than among the women. The lord's influence is more direct there, installing the diviner's family was no mean feat and he's willing to give land and titles to buy off the most influential men. Still progress is made. One evening the men of the court are headed off into the surrounding city to find "entertainment." Alonso is never one to leave out his friends so he drops word surreptitiously to the other half of the group. Your matron clearly disapproves, the empress is to host another story telling competition. Frederick is feel cooped up, and he implores you to implore your matron. He's perfected the trick of making his eyes seem quite round and vulnerable so you can barely deny him. Your matron sighs and then agrees. [[She does caution that the mud will get quite high, and helps you tie up your robes to avoid stains.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 9]]

Your matron leads the way through the streets, although she does grumble that it would be better to take palanquin. She passes the time pointing out when various buildings were erected, if they buildings are originals or were claimed by fire at some point, and the streets you walk upon were laid. Frederick looks at her in mild disbelief, wondering how she knows trivia like that in such detail. Your matron looks unbelievably smug. She knows the trivia because she was there when these streets were laid, and beaming widely she notes that she blessed the streets to be safe as well. You now well just how dark the night is. In a city there are a good number of lanterns at regular intervals, but somehow these pools of light just make the darkness seem darker. Your matron nudges you and you manage to conjure a bit of fox fire. It hangs in the air, casting an unearthly blue light. Distantly you can see a likely unsafe flame blazing next to a trio of figures. [[That must be Ron.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 10]]

It's good to see the other half of your party again. They tease you for wearing the layers and layers of robes so favored by the royal women. Frederick has taken to shaving his eyebrows and painting them back on in the way popular in court, which is a good vein of comedy. You tease them for wear the silly caps so favored by men in the court. Ron finally found a robe that doesn't have burnt sleeves. It's a good time, until Cohen stops suddenly. He's got a smile you remember from the forest on his face. "Hear that younglings?" Everyone, even your matron stops and listens for a second. Little stands out, even the bustle of the city seems unusually distant, a cat is distantly meowing. Oh crap. Alonso speaks first. "Nothing, where there should be something." Cohen smiles proudly. "Exactly youngling. Pass out your spare swords" The fashion is for men to carry at least short swords in the court, which is damn handy. Frederick of course doesn't need one, he's never found without a knife, and Cohen’s just been carrying around his sword. Very little could separate him from it and remain alive. Knife in hand, you ready yourself, scanning the dark street. A few of the lanterns that should be lit have been extinguished, perhaps the most sure sign of an ambush. [[Then all at once warriors clad in black attack from the shadows->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 11]]

To be fair to your attackers they fight well. It was as well planned an ambush as could be hoped for considering the terrain and the dark of the night. The assailants however clearly didn't expect your matron to be here, glowing slightly in the darkness. They do everything they can to avoid harming, or even facing your matron. However, they were facing Cohen and your matron. Beyond even that after so long in the forest, where ambushes were common and defeat a hairs breadth away has hardened you such that the ambush never really had a chance of success. Your attackers have the common sense to tell they can't win this battle without fighting to the last man. Cohen disarms one with a mighty clash of blades knocking his opponent's sword from his hand. Alonso is as quick witted in combat as ever and grabs the face covering of the assailant. He squirms, but you recognize him, he is funnily enough the guard who attempted the downward chop on Cohen. Orders from lords must be hard to ignore. His face goes white as a sheet upon realizing he's been recognized. He twists away and flees into the darkness. You can't help but wonder if you will ever see him alive again. There's the general high fiving and checking to make sure that you aren't bleeding on anything important that comes from victory. You glance at your matron to see if she wants to join the revelry and she is very close to the angriest you've ever seen her. Her ears and tails are flared and for a second you think you can see fangs in her mouth. Frederick is about to resume the trek to the inn, when Alonso catches his shoulder. [[He pouts of course.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 12]]

Even your matron as important as she is cannot demand an audience of the emperor. What she can do is raise such hell that giving her an audience seems the wisest course of action. The court is hastily assembled, many of the courtiers rubbing sleep from their eyes when they think no one is looking. Your matron's rage has only cooled slightly. It is not done, she insists to attempt to assassinate each other in the night like common bandits. She goes onto demand that she might face the diviner in a straightforward contest to prove who is the better fitted to the task. The emperor's veils make him unreadable of course. But a few of his advisors exchange careful glances and then nod towards the curtains. You don't know the advisors personally, but with a smile you can recall each of their concubines. Frederick is fast friends with all of them you note. Your matron's request is granted. There will be a magical contest of some ceremony between her and the diviner. [[You are naturally selected to be her assistant. ->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 13]]

The contest is on its surface quite simple. Two stones are selected and place beneath bowls. The magicians will make a flower bloom from the stone. After some of the magic you've seen your matron do, it's hard for this to not seem anti-climactic. The room is dark, and there's some heavy incense burning. Your matron starts a complicated stepping dance, her tails flared out behind her as she gathers magical power. The diviner still hasn't bathed and if anything looks even rougher than before, as if she was simply wilting by existing. Her assistant seems to be a relation, a daughter or cousin perhaps. She is kneeling and cheering on the diviner. Then suddenly a stick with a string tied to it pokes you in the leg. Glance to the side you can see Frederick’s eye peaking at you from beneath the paper wall. You wave with your fingers. You check the diviner's assistant, she's too focused on the diviner to notice you surreptitiously sneak your hand beneath the bowl for the diviner's stone and steal it quickly. You only have a second to glance at the stone before you need to get to work. The flower is in a shining iridescent color which is beyond sight, it's petals forming an endless spiral inwards that is so deep that you cannot see the bottom. For a second it reminds you of something out of a dream, when you know something is without knowing why. Then you tie the flowering stone to the stick with the string, and then give the stick a gentle tug. Frederick tugs back and then pulls the rock back under the paper wall. The waiting might be the worst part. If either of the two contestants finish their spells soon, you'll be caught out as a fraud and getting away will be quite difficult. Despite yourself you might pray for your matron's success. Finally, you feel something poking you in the leg. It's Frederick's stick with a new, almost identical rock tied to. It'll be close enough in the dark and the haze. You wait until the diviner's second is distracted and innocently enough place it back under the bowl. Eventually both of the diviners finish, and it's time to show the results to the court and [[most importantly the emperor.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 14]]

The bowls containing the flowing stones are placed carefully. Your matron has leaned on the person chosen to do the reveal such that she might have her creation seen first. The flower revealed is spectacular, growing up and out of the stone, in impossible colors and in improbable shapes it speaks of two people in love. They are in a warm embrace. To look at is to long for the touch of another. You can tell that your matron is quite smug at the gasps it gathers. The second stone is revealed. There is a much smaller flower blooming just as impossibly from a stone. It looks like an incomplete version of the first flower. Same pattern, just smaller, like seeing half a nut shell. The diviner's eyes go the widest you've ever seen eyes go. She shoots a poisonous look at your matron. Your matron has a genuine look of surprise which quickly turns into equally genuine smugness. The victor is clear. The emperor speaks, he will bestow his favor once your matron forecasts the coming rice harvest as the imperial diviner must. There might be a hint of reproach in his voice. Surely your matron's absence had them wondering. With barely concealed conceit your matron bows deeply and accepts. Looking as you do, you will no doubt be her assistant. Well let's hope this doesn't add too much time. [[Cohen's itching for his next adventure you have no doubt.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 15]]

A few days later you are ritually cleansed. You hadn't quite gathered just how important this ceremony is to your matron. You are shipped back to her temple to be part of a grand procession. The nuns scrub you down, change your robes to the most luxurious ones they have, and then teach you the basics of procession dance. Dancing is generally not that far off from drill, and so you learn quickly. It's another frustrating delay though. Finally it comes time to perform in the procession. The procession is lavish beyond belief, a blizzard of silken robes and gold laced fans. An impossibly intricate dance performed to music. Your matron is the centerpiece of course. She is not above using illusions to make things seem even more splendid than they were already. There is a sea of awed onlookers. You are made up almost as fearsomely as your matron and are behind her in an important role. As you bob, weave, and step something important occurs. This whole production is not for you matron's ego, it's probably not even for the emperor's ego. This is to show that something as otherworldly as your matron supports the emperor, to convince anyone who might doubt it. The procession finally finishes in the imperial court, your matron tries noticeably harder there. Her illusions are so impressive that they cause the real objects underneath to vibrate slightly, as if they might change simply to fit the mood. The emperor still hidden gives a short speech. It's tiresome. Finally, after much delay your matron leads you into a secluded part of the palace near the center. There is a small fire pit there, and a set of gauzy veils around the fire pit. She flops down upon the prepared cushions. As she messages her shoulders and removes her ornate headdress she commands you to start a small fire. She writes names on a good number of rice stalks and then prepares rice, as the rice cooks she puts in the rice talks. The rice stalks correspond to different places, depending on how much rice sticks to each stalk she claims that it's possible to tell how the rice harvest will be in each place. If your matron is weaving some grand spell to go along with this prediction, you don't see it. Beyond that this is clearly a routine to your matron, she must have done it uncountable times before. The rice harvest will be good, although only adequate in the south. She says this with such confidence that you almost believe her. [[Which is probably the important part of making predictions like this.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 16]]

You return to the emperor. The court has cleared out, and it's just your friends trying not to fall asleep while Cohen spins tails for the emperor. There is some polite laughter whenever he reaches a funny part. Your matron announces the rice harvest, the emperor takes note carefully, asking after each fiefdom by name and making sure he has the prediction thoroughly memorized. Your matron then smiles proudly, she's been waiting for this for a while you can tell. She presents a great sheaf of rice paper, absolutely covered with her hand writing. "I present a gift for your divinity, a set of prayers to my goddess copied by her messenger." She slides the papers carefully within the wall of veils, the paper has a light blue tint. The emperor's voice is timid in response. "Your gift is kind, but we have a storeroom full to the bursting of these already." Your matron's surprise is total. "Oh, I see. Your great-great grandfather quite enjoyed receiving those. I assumed that all of his line must." It's a bit like a grand mother giving a gift and being surprised and chastised when it's not well received. It's hard not to wonder if the great great grandfather was simply too polite to refuse all those years ago. The emperor offers his hand and his blessing to all those who might accept it. His pale, thin hand is the first you have seen of the emperor in all of your time in court. Even amongst a group as improper as yours, a sort of respectful silence falls. The emperor sort of wags his hand in the air, obviously in a pose where he can't see if anyone's actually taking it. As silly as it looks, you can't help but wonder if the expectation that the emperor can perform miracles is as important to the performance of miracles as anything else. Alonso takes it gladly, giving the emperor a firm hand shake that he was apparently not expecting from the slight squeak he makes. There is a slight distortion of the air, like seeing a cloud slip into nothing at all. Then Alonso is returned to his masculine broad shouldered self. Ron is a touch more circumspect, obviously somewhat nervous about taking a hand as important as the emperors. Still he reaches out gently, and then summoning his courage takes it too strongly. His form blurs, and then like sunlight fading from view he's himself again. It's strange to see him with suddenly short hair. Frederick looks at you, motions to his bosom and then gives you a roguish smile. He won't be changing back, he enjoys being a girl too much to consider it. All eyes turn to you. You made your mind up a while ago, you quietly signal that you will remain as you are. Your matron is overjoyed of course, her tails wagging triumphantly. Frederick is supportive of course. Alonso is happy for you but clearly doesn't have much of an opinion one way or another. Ron has stars in his eyes, and is blushing weirdly. Cohen has a look of concern for a moment but quickly hides it. [[Time to bid farewells.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 17]]

Your matron takes yet another day to mingle. Rather more importantly she spends most of her time with the expectant empress. Listening carefully to the baby, and giving detailed instructions how to manage her rapidly advancing pregnancy. She also promises to be there for the delivery, and you have a sudden premonition that you'll be roped into that as well. The various ladies of the court are all very sad to see Frederick go. He was quite popular, he asks your help in writing a great number of farewell poems, you must recruit your matron in turn. But they come out well. You gather the boys and return to the manicured courtyard where you first arrived, the beast was left to graze on clouds and birds while you attended to your business. Frederick's womanly bladder however acts up, and he claims the need to make a truly massive dump. He heads off looking for the nearest pit. He must be constipated, as it takes longer than you would expect. You find yourself being greeted by the lord with the impressive mustache. He is accompanied by the diviner, looking worse than ever, and a good number of guards in tow. The guards are all looking quite pale as they sight your matron. He's clearly here to settle business, violently if he has to, which seems insane on it's face. There will be talking of course, lords always talk before they fight you find, it makes them feel important. Everyone takes this as a chance to put on gambesons, and for Cohen to pass out weapons. (All this and Frederick’s not even here! Some one has to provide the screaming during fights or it barely counts as a fight.) Your matron clearly doesn't even consider the lord a threat. She smiles and greets him warmly. "Good evening lord Mori. There is unity under the rule of the emperor. Your family was given to manage the capital's nightsoil and there is honor there." Well that explains why he's been such a pain in the ass, a farmer who became an adventurer can understand the frustration with shoveling shit every day. The lord seems foolishly to think he has the upper hand. He fixes an arrogant smile on his face. "You gave my family such a duty, I was told as a child. I see to rise above. And have found power that might allow me to reach such heights." Your matron is still entirely unconcerned, the very obvious fact that he's about to attack far from her mind. "There is no glory in being selfish lord Mori. Come let us reach an accord." The lord speaks "I shall reach an accord, between the emperor and I. Yours is not the only goddess." Your matron blinks a few times, she thinks what has just been said is patently foolish. The meaning of the words begins to dawn on her and her ears start to flare in anger. The diviner however doesn't let whatever retort she had ready escape from her. She chants quickly, and for a second the sun is eclipsed, shrouding everything in twilight. Your matron shines, her inner luminescence reflecting off the carefully tended sand. Her tails not so bright as you recall, reminding you of a shaded lamp. (All this and Frederick is still not here! Assuming you survive the next few minutes he's really gonna get it.) Her surprise is total and she goes shock white. The lord yells for the guards to attack and they do so hesitantly. This second fight goes worse without your matron's magic, although everyone gives a good account of themselves. You strike well and strongly in defense of your matron. Ron quickly illuminates the twilight with an enthusiastic display of magic. You have picked up a few illusions here and there and cast them to at least help see in the darkness. Cohen sword shines and with as much practice as he's had Alonso strikes well. The lord however is desperate and leads his guards in a desperate charge against you. Cohen yells out "Deal with the caster!" You feel bad for a moment to abandon your matron, but whatever the diviner is doing to her isn't good. Thing about fights is that's quite hard to slip away without showing your back to the enemy. You generally don't show your back to your enemy if you like the number of limbs you have, and living in general. Still, you send a few cunning illusions into the guard's faces, they are not so invested in whatever the lord has promised them to risk blindness and so reel back. You slip forward with a will, slipping and sliding through the guards to reach the diviner. For a second all of this reminds you of a game that a child might play. Still, you manage it, and punch her strongly to silence her chanting. It might be your imagination, but your own tail and ears shine as you do so. This forces her to the ground. She looks up at you with total surprise, as suddenly as it came on the twilight lifts. You turn around expecting to see a triumphant scene. The lord is bleeding more than is advisable but has his blade at your matron's neck. His voice isn't as loud as he's trying to make it. "Stand back or I will kill her. She might be a messenger of a goddess but that'll get even her." Your matron is still in something of a fugue state. You glance to Cohen. Cohen can't get him, might be able to throw something though. "An inescapable truth of this world is that very little can live without it's head. We are at an impasse sir." Alonso speaks up. "She dies and the court will have you boiled alive, think about what you are doing." Ron is less cogent. "NOBODY HAS TO DIE. But if you hurt her I will incinerate you!" The lord manages to shout out. "Stand back, bring my associate to me and we will leave this place." He must hope for the diviner to finish whatever she began. There is a heavy noise. The lord falls to the ground, Frederick is standing behind him looking triumphant. "You guys have to stop starting fights without me there to save the day." Ron immediately dives to your matron who is returning to her senses, you are quick behind him. She's mostly unharmed, a few scratches from the fight, a cut where the lord's blade pressed tighter than was wise. Alonso retrieves the diviner; she looks several years younger and is looking around like she hasn't the slightest idea of what's going on. Her face is much changed, she looks like another person all together. Cohen considers the diviner. "Hmm, I'll leave you for the authorities, you've clearly not here by choice. Bind her hands would you." He hauls the lord to his feet; rage is writ clearly on his face. "I suppose I might kill you on the principle of the thing. You did try to kill my friend, and my younglings. She'll demand your head, I think. I care little for the lives of lords, and I can't imagine the court has much planned for you besides death." He releases the man and takes a step back. "Us or them? Your choice. Who knows you do well enough you might escape. I cannot think it likely though." The lord looks at you, then at your matron. [["You."->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 18]]

Cohen nods, then looks back at you. "You want him or should I take him?" |3>[(link-rerun:"You")[(show:?1)(hide:?2)(hide:?3)]] |1)[He deserves a man's death, better that you give it to him. The fact that he almost butchered your matron, might not be related, it might. You announce your name and give yourself a title, like the heroes of old. Cohen tosses the lord a discarded sword as you draw your own. The lord swings his sword a few times and then you square off. The lord must mistake your youth for inexperience. He attacks aggressively, hoping to throw you off balance. Even with his injuries his skill with a sword isn't dimmed much. you take a step back and counter him with a righteous fury, cutting and stepping carefully to make the most of your blade. Finally, you see your moment stepping and swinging such that you wind up a few steps past the lord. You hold your sword tightly, carefully listening for the lord to turn and attempt to stab you in the tail. Nothing happens. Nothing still happens, finally Frederick calls out. "What did you miss?" You turn to tell him to shut up, and see the lord erupt in a geyser of blood from where you slashed him. That wasn't supposed to happen. Cohen comes forward and puts his hand on your shoulder. "Nicely done youngling. First time you killed a noble? The important thing to remember is that nobles are just men, bleed like men, die like men. No matter what they call themselves. Glory comes from killing dragons and their ilk."] |3>[(link-rerun:"Cohen")[(show:?2)(hide:?1)(hide:?3)]] |2)[Cohen nods and then turns to the lord. "You face Cohen of northern fame." he tosses the lord a discarded sword and then draws his own. The lord swings his sword a few times and then they square off. Finally they clash. Cohen steps beyond the lord, cleaning and sheathing his sword in a single fluid movement. The lord is clenching his sword to keep from falling over, after a pause he spits up some blood and then falls over dead. Cohen turns back and considers the lord, his lifeblood forming a puddle on the tiled path beneath him. "Killed men more deserving, but he had it coming all the same." He puts his hand through what's left of his beard. "Had he a whit of sense he would of just ran. Not willing to lose I guess."] Your matron is finally roused, she surveys the battle, the corpse and everyone's various scratches. "A terrible thing to spill blood on the palace's grounds, but the matter is settled. I'll need to tend to funary rites." Your matron busies herself cleaning things up. She's confident that there won't be much trouble over this. She was clearly attacked, and if the lord had any hopes of twisting the situation to his advantage it died with him. While she tends to things, Alonso looks over at Frederick and asks with a smile "Say Frederick, what held you up so long to take a shit?" Frederick looks around carefully, your matron and any other concerned party are well out of hearing distance. "I was treasure finding. There's not much worth stealing in here, but I figured that the most highly guarded things had to be worth stealing." (if wagon)[Ugh classic Frederick, this is just like the wagons.] Alonso raises an eyebrow. "And was there anything worth stealing?" Frederick shakes his head "Nah, the most highly guarded things aren't worth pawning." He then reaches into his borrowed robe. After a bit of fishing he produces a short sword of raw iron, a small mirror, and a gem of unexceptional quality. Cohen coughs heavily, obviously surprised. "I'll buy those from you Frederick, you can have my next three shares of the haul." Frederick seems close to offended by the suggestion. "You can just have them Cohen. They can't be worth much." Cohen shakes his head. "No you did a fine job in stealing them Frederick. A theft like that should be rewarded. Pass them to me now though." You have a strong feeling that those treasures will wind up in your matron's bag of holding. Finally, your matron conducts everyone onto her cart, and you drift off into the sky. In time you reach the world you know. Your matron claims that she must attend to her goddess's temple, and perhaps to a great meeting of the gods. [[From there your adventures continue much as before.->kitsune 1 kitsune ending 19]]

Everyone is excited to get back into the swing of things. You have emerged changed by your adventures, the ears and the tails are new. Beyond even that you are a bit less rough and tumble than before, but in exchange have gained a bit of wit and maybe even wisdom. A few weeks later your matron returns, obviously excited to see you. She looks unbearably smug, and you are sure that she has some truth adjacent story about how she struck boldly for her goddess. Adventuring with her is not unbearable as you might have feared, her humbling in the forest means she will occasionally listen to sense. In time you become great adventurers! Your never master the heights of magic you had while in possession of matron's power, but given how close that came to killing you this is probably for the best. You find a few illusions and a fire or two to add to your swordsmanship and that is damn handy. Your greatest moment is in reestablishing your matron's temple within the deep dark forest. Your matron insists that since her goddess demands it, it simply must be done regardless of the difficulty or expense. She is unwilling to accept your explanation of the difficulties involved, and any explanation about how the spiders might easily choke off the temple is dismissed. She even goes so far as to offer to lend you her power to finish what was started before. Perhaps more convincingly she says money is no object. You might even consider such an offer, power like that can have an intoxication of it's own. But Cohen dismisses such a plan out of hand. He insists that if the temple is to have any real chance of success there will need to be a local coalition of the locals who dislike the spiders. The search of the forest is an epic by itself. The ant-girls simply refuse to use speech, and the only way to talk to them at all is with a trade language spoken via hands that Cohen knows. The bee-girls are uncannily perceptive, and so their conversations jump around at nearly random. There are others with their own difficulties. One is like the moon. Still convincing them isn't hard. The spider's practice of slavery has made them notably unpopular and the establish the temple will be to spit in their face. Which makes it an easy sell. In time and with a great amount of help the temple is resurrected. The monsters of the forest do their utmost to contain the aggression of the spiders and are rewarded in turn. But beyond that it's a great deal of work to make the ruined buildings habitable. Late nights spent on guard against attacks, carpentry to replace the ruined floors, attending to your matron as she undertakes rituals to again sanctify the space. But finally you are done, and it looks like a sister of your matron's grand shrine in the far off capital. Your matron takes an immense joy in touring the grounds of the restored with you, the site of where you first met. The rice balls are just as delicious as you remember, and she "rewards" you if that's what you wish. (if: $hidden is 1)[(Put in a slept with the kitsune conditional here.)] In time Cohen has everyone together and says it's time for him to move on. You have stopped almost dying or being captured all the time. Your matron is beyond words at the thought of such a parting. (if: $hidden is 1)[(Put a know the secret conditional here) If don't know:] She seemed to be pleased beyond belief at the chance of adventuring with her old friend Cohen again. She stands next to Cohen looking at him with a sad smile. She'll miss him, she might never see him again. Hell you might never see him again. Like so many other heroes lost to time. Cohen smiles back, perhaps thinking similarly deep thoughts. She speaks suddenly. "It was good to see you again. You are as energetic as ever. Perhaps you might accept a blessing so we might see each other again?" She is thinking for a second of a creaking, groaning tree withered with age. Then time itself reversing, the tree again it's proud, proper self. Cohen lets out a short barking laugh. "I think not milady. I should rather the stories they tell of me have my strength only ever be my own. Besides from that, a messenger for a goddess of the harvest should know that there is a cycle to all things. Gotta let my younglings stand on their own at some point. As for if we will meet again? Why that's up to us isn't it?" Your matron bites her lip and then nods. There is a small confluence of light blue magic, dispersing and rapidly focusing around Cohen. You have a feeling that while she didn't deliver even half of the magic she'd of liked to, your matron did bless Cohen at least a bit. Perhaps now he'll have an easier time making water on command, and not need to get up so many times during the night. He heads off, you see him reach a fork in the road and he throws a stick to decide on his path. You worry for him of course, but if Cohen met a monster that stole faces he'd make it cry with a face it didn't even have. Your spirited rescue of your friends with your matron's help becomes a popular tale, although it does tend to focus on Cohen and the exotic kitsune more than you. You have a bit role in the story, the bards tend to disagree about whether you were a servant of the fox that came with her, or merely ensorcelled by the fox and turned into her servant. The first telling often focuses on your beauty and cunning, while the second is more of a cautionary tale. In time it becomes part of the poetic edda, the figure of your matron recast in a thousand stories. Alonso goes onto great fame as a leader of men. He starts a band of knights who go onto right wrongs and battle evil. His fame almost rivals yours. Amusingly he becomes well known for a series of swordsmanship handbooks focusing on the tricks he picked up practicing in the imperial palace. The technique is best suited to the heavy slashing swords favored there so it's more or a curiosity than a widely accepted style. Still it becomes the sort of book every lord has to have a copy of to show refinement. This is as you can imagine profitable, if only for the free meals. Frederick seems to enjoy the female form very much, although his personal style does quiet down a bit from the heavy robes and makeup of the imperial court. He becomes a great thief, forewarning targets to increase the challenge. To your surprise he becomes fast friends with your matron. (if: $hidden is 1)[nts: put a conditional based on wall damage.] Perhaps it was so much time hanging out in the imperial court, or maybe some of you rubbed off on your matron. She never joins in with his theft, but she often enjoys his tales and giving a bit of covert help. He recruits you for the occasional heist, he claims that illusions make things too easy. Ron is perhaps the most changed by your time in the forest. He maintains correspondence with your matron for the rest of his life. He excitedly updates everyone as to the happenings with her and her temple whenever one of her letters arrives. It's not hard to see how much he treasured her instruction and guidance in magic. He goes onto become a famous wizard, doing his best to spread knowledge of magic whenever he can. He also finally expands his repertoire of spells beyond simply setting everything on fire. His skill in illusion never approaches your matron, but he does seem to have a knack for using them to entertain creating great bursts of color to while away the time. He also brings some of the magics of refinement from the imperial court, nothing practical but maybe one day he'll retire to sell dolls. Your matron remains a presence in your life. She is supportive in whatever you choose to do, although she does often attempt to rope you into duties for her temple. She clearly hopes to finish whatever gift she had offered, and who knows perhaps one day you will take her up on it. You look forward to your next adventure, ready to face whatever comes. Kitsune 1 Ending: To be changed but not diminished. [[credits]]

She's about to start another epic verse about this one fish she caught, which no doubt fought her terribly only to be triumphed over in the end, when the clouds part. Looking out of the cart you can in the distance see a mighty mountain rising from the hills surrounding it. But even from the distance of the clouds above you can see something wrong with the mountain. The trees are not green, instead they are barren and the leaves that remain are dyed a cloudy gold color, like an early fall. What fields there are on the hills are desolate and barren. Your matron's eyes widen, and you can tell that she's thinking of the ruined temple. "Better we land at the base and find out what's going on." She looks back to Cohen for confirmation. Cohen shrugs then puts a hand through what's left of his beard. "Likely safer to be sure. Make ready you younglings." Alonso is better than you'd expect in the shifting cart and manages to tie on everyone else's armor with a bit of help from you. [[He smiles at you, obviously happy for something out of a tale like this.->Kitsune 1 female ending 2]]

You step out to a small dying town. A peasant turned adventurer is no stranger to the perils of hunger and failed crops. But this is a place apart, a seemingly cursed land. The air is heavy with the scent of decay. Some of the buildings have been clearly dismantled for firewood. The stream next to the village is stagnant and lifeless. There is very little growing on the village green, and the crops have clearly failed. You are almost immediately surrounded by villagers desperately begging your matron from help. They scrape and bow before her, reaching out to kiss the edge of her robe. They clearly need help. You calm them, even if your matron seems to appreciate the attention. Many of the villagers are obviously starving and some are visibly ill. A man emerges from the crowd, he's a touch better fed than the rest and must be the town elder. You glance at your matron and realize she never quite looks at him. This man, and by extension the crowd are nothing more than a single mass of humanity to her. Ants swarming from a diseased colony. The man kneels and then throws himself to the ground in a full body kneel begging for help. There can be no other explanation for the town's misfortune than the god of the mountain being displeased with them he explains. All attempts at placating the mountain have failed and so they must beg for your matron's help. Seeing these people it is hard not to understand their plight. A town without food is not a town, it is a grave. Your matron again looks past the people, towards the peak of the mountain. She is uncertain, about what you aren’t quite sure. Cohen takes your matron’s silence for permission to lead and begins to ask a hundred and one questions as to what might be the source of the trouble. Had they suddenly discovered any spare beds in the town? had there been trouble with faeries and the like? Had they done anything to offend the god of the mountain? It is Frederick who finally stumbles onto a question of some use. He asks if the taste of the water in the local river has changed. This was after a long discussion of if the fish had gotten smaller. There were markedly fewer fish and so it was hard to tell if they were smaller. The water is no longer sweet, moving to an almost metallic taste the further up the river you go. It is disagreeing with the local livestock as well, who will most often refuse to drink it. Cohen listens carefully, putting a hand through what’s left of his beard. He turns towards the village elder, giving him a hard stare. “So, the trouble flows down from above. And you are sure you did nothing to anger the mountain, nothing to disturb anything?” The village elder, seems a bit startled by so direct a question. He’s a touch nervous, but nods. “Yes, we have done nothing but venerate the god of the mountain. Perhaps he is sick?” Your matron looks from staring at the peak of the mountain. “No, that is impossible.” Well, whatever the problem this is exactly the sort of situation that adventurous young men long for. To go forth and solve problems. Cohen smiles to see his students looking at him expectantly. “Aye younglings, we shall have to climb the mountain to look. Perhaps we will find our friend’s mountain god in the process.” Ron all but skips over to your matron’s cart. He has as little love for the shuddering, stomach turning sensation of flight but as a symbol of the power of magic he’s obviously quite enamored with the thing. He takes a moment to stroke the creature that draws the cart’s mane. It’s hairs bend and twist in sympathy for the movement, each flexing on their own. Your matron smiles at Ron happily. “Sorry dear wizard but that would be an insult beyond compare. To pay homage to the mountain we must meet its strength against ours and climb it. Normally I ride a palanquin though.” She gives Cohen a hopeful look. “Say Cohen you’ve got some strapping youn-“ Cohen answers with a deadpan “No.” [[Your matron flats her fluffy ears against her head in annoyance while turning so Cohen won’t see.->Kitsune 1 female ending 3]]

You move up the mountain slowly, the village gives way to rolling hills. The determined rice patties stopping suddenly as the brush and then trees start up. As bad as things looked in the ruined village, things get worse as you keep moving. Perhaps the most notable thing is the silence. You saw a forest primeval in the place where you met your matron. There was always some distant noise of life, a bird chirping, some unknown horror slithering along the ground, a spider-girl barking orders or giving cries of battle. Even if there was motile nothing moving, the canopy above would sway in the distant wind, a branch would crash and fall, a distant stream would bubble. Here is it quiet, the trees are all riven with gold and very dead. While not quite as frightening as the forest from before, it is dreadful in it’s own way. As you crest the hills around the village you do discover something surprising. Among the dying grasses there is a track cut into the mountain side. It’s a small track, enough for perhaps a good-sized wheelbarrow. One that might be pushed or pulled by two people, or maybe a draft animal. The track is not deeply cut, but clearly well used. Someone has dug out where the wheels would go. It’s the sort of thing you might see on the outskirts of a mine, or large digging project. Your matron examines it carefully. “This should not be. It disfigures the mountain.” Alonso examines the track carefully. “It’s not permanent, the track isn’t cut deeply enough to reach the stone. In time it’ll get grown over with plants or washed away by rain.” He tries to smile comfortingly. Your matron bites her nail, and then leads the way up the mountain. The track does make for easier traveling, having obviously been carefully laid to follow the natural contours of the mountain. It zigzags but it’s still better than having to summit hill after hill directly. It however doesn’t take long for you to encounter the first landslide. The side of the hill suddenly gave way and unleashed a torrent of earth. The landslide is however old, the track is neatly cut around it. Looking up to where the landslide came from, you have a sudden uncanny feeling. It must be a trick of the eyes, but you suddenly see a face in the trees and bushes, with the peak of the mountain forming a nose. As if some great thing was look at you. It must be your imagination though. There are many landslides as you continue to follow the track. In all but the newest, the track goes around over the landslide. There are many trees and plants swept up in these landslides, where the dirt was exposes the bare, bald rock. [[The bald rock will take much longer to heal than any dirt track cut into the mountain.->Kitsune 1 female ending 4]]

You reach the mountain proper, to scale it will likely involve circling around the mountain. It’s going to be a proper hike. At the base of the mountain find a simple wooden shrine. It’s set upon a small mound, the nearly dead trees arching above it makes a natural temple of a sort. There were offerings here once, but these are long gone. The only remarkable thing about it is that around the shrine the trees and plants are a touch more alive, a touch more vibrant. You even see a few rabbits and other game animals clinging to life. It’s an island of normality among the steadily worsening desolation. Your matron regards the shrine carefully. “They ate the offerings? But they claim to revere the mountain god.” Cohen shrugs. “They surely do revere the mountain god. But stomachs have an insistent greed of their own. Beyond even that of the divine.” Cohen has no doubt seen men pushed beyond desperation before. Your matron looks troubled and then looks up at the mountain again. She is thinking of, someone from long ago. Something about disaster you think. You follow her gaze, looking at the now looming close mountain and are struck again by a feeling that the mountain is staring at you. The trees bend ever so slightly to make, eyes and you can almost see a distant mouth in the cracks of the mountain side. It’s a terrifying feeling, like how a mouse must feel to be stared at by a wolf. You notice Ron giving you a worried look, his eyes as round as buckets. You smile so at least he will be at ease. He blushes for some reason? [[Ron's always acting weird, so that's no different.->Kitsune 1 female ending 5]]

Things grow worse as you move up the mountain. The trees thin more, reminding you of exposed ribs more than anything made of wood. Your matron claims that the mountain had many vibrant streams, swarming with fish and frogs. These are eerily still. What’s worse is that have begun to cloud over like infected wounds, the infection-tinged gold. You find a handful more of shrines to the mountain god. Around each the local plants and wildlife are a touch more vibrant. All of the shrines frame the mountain you note. But not at all of them you feel the pressure of being stared at. At one you pause. It’s next to a sheer cliff, so that you can look past it at the valley below. Distantly below you can see the edge of the village you came from. A careful examination of the bones left at the altar suggest they used to give dried fish here. Your matron pauses next to the shrine, she pauses to admire some of the mountain flowers growing there against all odds. She takes a moment to boast of the resiliency of life, it’s majesty and supremacy. She’s clearly worried. Finally you reach what must be the main shrine of the mountain. It’s not at the peak, instead it’s on a ridge below. Perhaps the last practical place to build full building for worship. For someone reason looking at the mountain wall past it, you think you see eyes. Which would make this the “nose” or maybe the “mouth” of the mountain. There is little left alive up here, but the cut track ends here so it must have been important. The building itself is humble. Certainly, compared to the ruined temple where you met your matron. But it’s well built, every board was laid with care. Inside is the real surprise. The walls are painted in brilliant but faded colors, depicting the various plants and animals of the mountain. For a second the painting blurs and you feel you could almost reach out and touch the various creatures. There are several low tables, these were likely once piled high with offerings. But are now empty, only the oversized plates left to mark the generosity of the offerings. You slowly realize, the scenes depict the various shrines you passed on the way up. But they are all universally from happier times, when the flowers still bloomed, and the wildlife was still abundant. Closer examination shows that the walls are clad in gold leaf. The eyes of the animals all sparkle, and the hair of the animals has been given a gentle addition of gold as well. Frederick looks fit to make a spirited attempt to peel the gold leaf from the walls when Cohen stops him. “Leave it youngling. These people don’t need to be robbed.” Alonso looks at the walls carefully. “It’s fine art. But where did a town this poor get gold leaf, the paint or find the artisans to apply it?” Cohen nods at Alonso who is looking proud. “A fine question youngling. [[Come let us widen our search.”->Kitsune 1 female ending 6]] Your matron takes a second to admire the paintings on the walls before turning to leave. This must all seem quite proper to her you suppose, that the divine be venerated with as much opulence as possible.

You spread out around the temple; Cohen claims you’ll know what you are looking for when you see it. This doesn’t seem that far from what he says when doesn’t know but doesn’t want to admit it. The ridge the temple is on isn’t that large. As you stride towards the edge, a purposeful breeze catches your sleeve. You have the feeling of being stared at again, and with no other clues you follow the breeze. It leads you to the edge of the cliff, and then to a rough footpath, barely on the mountain at this point. The path leads to the blind side of the mountain, where the village could not see it. Every couple of feet are metal spikes hammered into the side of the cliff for ropes to be tied for safety. You take a deep breath and follow the path as quickly as you dare. Adventurers need to be willing to face danger after all. t’s slow work and you find your tail has curled around your leg protectively. Eventually though you find the path’s end. There lies an ominous portal deep into the mountain side. There is no light within that dread portal, it dies as soon as it tries to enter. It could be finger deep or stretch beyond the world. There is a terrible yawning feeling just to gaze upon it and an audible groan creaks out of it. Finally, you tear your eyes away and shout for your friends. They join you after both cursing the fall and a bit of amazement you risked the path. Frederick seems convinced that you climbing along the mountain is a bit, and he admires your dedication. [[Your matron stares at the portal her eyes wide.->Kitsune 1 female ending 7]]

Alonso looks at it carefully and then nods. “Saw such a thing with my Pa once. It’s a mine shaft.” He’s sensibly afraid of the damn thing. Once he and his brother had to hide in a mine shaft for two full days. Alonso has never liked the underground much since. He regards it carefully. “Not unusual to see a mountain town try their hands at mining.” Your matron shakes her head. “No, the god of the mountain would not allow it. The people would not do it if they revered their god.” Ron adopts an excited look. “The answer must be inside. Shall we look?” You can hear Frederick giggling at Ron’s usual lack of common sense. Ron’s looking at your matron, perhaps he believes that she could literally move mountains. Your matron pats Ron’s head, the motion carrying through his long black hair. “Sadly, dear wizard, it would be a very bad idea for me to go underground to any degree. There are some things that being a servant of a goddess of the sun prevents me from doing.” Ron would be taking notes if he had paper. Her gaze turns to you, in that particular way that generally means it’s about to become your problem. Her tails wag slightly, as if she can appreciate the joke. “A regular man like you Cohen, or your younglings wouldn’t fare well in there. But my disciple is enough unlike me and enough unlike regular mortals to enter without being harmed. They will investigate.” You look at the dark portal, it reminds you for a moment of the way the tall trees framed the entrance to the forest where you met your matron. Yeah, this is gonna suck. Cohen sees your fear and then pats you on the shoulder. "The choice is ultimately yours, but the town below is dying." Well you've come this far. Your matron produces a great quantity of cord from her magic bag. She loops this around you gently and then pulls it concerningly tight. Cohen tells you to pull the cord repeatedly if you come to trouble and he'll be right after you. The others crowd around, telling you what they remember about caving, which is admittedly not that much. Frederick claims that if you step slowly and carefully, you'll be able to fall back if you hit a cliff and step off it. Ron is the opinion that simply make a blazing flame and any problems you encounter will melt away. Alonso suggest clicking your tongue to help "hear" the walls. [[None of it really helps quiet the fear you feel to just look at the hole.->Kitsune 1 female ending 8]]

You are about to step into the darkness when Cohen suddenly catches your shoulder. "One thing to try first youngling." He borrows a sword from Alonso and sticks it into the impenetrable darkness. It emerges unharmed. Cohen suddenly looks very sheepish. "I heard once of a devouring darkness, would feel quite foolish to march you into that." Then swallowing deeply, you set off into the hole. A single step in, the darkness is absolute. Dark perhaps does not capture it. a night is dark, except for the light of the stars. This is as dark as a grave. You cannot see your hand in front of your face. The air inside is moist and dank, it doesn't smell but the humidity almost makes you sneeze. You feel suddenly afraid, your hair standing on end with your tail flared out behind you in terror. You conjure a flame gently, hand held forward as you try to peer into the darkness. You cannot see very far, a step or two. Still it's better than walking blind. The mine shaft is small, the miners were only human and making a mine on the side of a cliff is a tall order. One or two people abreast at most. The walls of the tunnel are dimly lit, and you cannot from here tell what the miners were mining. From what you can see the mine only narrows as you go forward. [[At least you won't get lost.->Kitsune 1 female ending 9]]

Moving forward the mine shaft eventually closes to a tight gap. You've yet to see anything that could have caused the devastation you saw outside. The only way to get through is to sidle through sideways. The prospect of getting stuck rears it's ugly head. It's an awkward fit. Your matron's gift of a large bosom doesn't compress well, even when under a heavy robe. (if: $hidden is 1)[NTS: Go back and check if you changed clothes] After some genuinely uncomfortable squeezing you manage to get through. Your flame has gone out, and no amount of cursing of snapping or cursing will revive it. It's likely foolish to continue if you can't see. even if you could find the source of the problem what can you do in the darkness? On the other hand, magic is always a bit silly, perhaps you'll heal whatever is wrong just by being there? Any further pondering is cut off by a sparkle in the distance, well closer to a white dot. That's something. The white dot blinks in and out of existence, it's a bit like an eye floater. It swims as you move your eyes. But every time you think it might just be a trick of your eyes there it is. You still must grope blindly along the walls to avoid breaking your nose on the rock wall. You blink twice, hoping to see if there is some magic in this place. It works kind of, you see floating phantasms in the air, like floaters but made of light. These seem to bob and dip through the air as if in a river. Following the motion of the floaters, you manage to avoid the cave walls. Slowly, ever so slowly the floaters coalesce into a few recognizable shapes. A round disc with and indentation in the middle. A patch works of crisscross shapes. Round spiked blobs. The purpose of these is lost to you. Occasionally, a great shutter goes through the mountain, and all the shapes flow forward at once. You hear with each crash and shutter the waves of a sunless sea. You've long last count of your steps, hell you might have been down here for hours or days. Perhaps when you emerge it will be a new age. But finally, you reach the glimmer. The rock around it seems to glow green for a second, although that might just be your eyes. Your reach carefully for the glimmer, feeling at first the cold, moist rock wall beyond it. The glimmer is attached to a small pebble, perhaps the size of a pea. You feel the cord still tightly wrapped around your middle, as reassuringly real as always, [[and turn back.->Kitsune 1 female ending 10]]

Then suddenly there is a great shudder, like thunder before lightning and the cave is illuminated as if it by a mid-day sun. It can't be as you'd be struck blind, but you can briefly see. The walls of the mineshaft are riven with thin lines of gold, barely there at all. The rock around it looks wrong, soggy like rotting fruit. Something about the yellow color reminds you of the murky pools of water you saw on the way up the mountain. The mining obviously wounded the mountain greatly. In the last moment of light, you see the pea in your hand. In your hand is a grain of golden sand, a pea sized pebble of what might be gold if you crushed the rock parts and melted out the gold. For a moment you wonder if all the damage might be simply reversed by removing the golden pea. Then sense returns, you walked in here, a great wound in the living rock. This is the same as removing a splinter from a ragged wound. Helpful but not the same as stitching it closed. You follow the cord out, stepping lightly through the darkness. Your fear has gone even in the total darkness. The darkness did not seek to harm you, the inexplicable nature of this place need not be feared. Some things can simply be beyond understanding. You again cannot quite say how long the distance is. If feels like you've walked somewhere between miles and a few steps. At the same time just how long you've been walking is a mystery to you. You haven't had to relieve yourself, at least you've got that. Thankfully moving against the floaters is no more difficult than moving with them. Finally you reach the squeezy gap, and beyond that your flame works. From there it’s not hard to reach the entrance. For some reason the twilight of the evening doesn't sting your eyes as you step out of the darkness. Everyone crowds around you, perhaps a touch worried but overjoyed to see you safe. The pebble is even smaller in the light than it felt. It's nothing more than a small rock riven with a tiny bit of gold. Cohen nods satisfied. "I thought as much at the base of the mountain. Explains why they didn't know exactly when it started. Mountain's been sick since they started." Your matron looks at him sharply. "If you suspected down there, why didn't you say anything?" Cohen shrugs. "Good for the younglings. Good mystery to stretch their minds. If they figure it out, it's a lesson." He looks down the mountain disapprovingly. "Villagers wouldn't admit to it if I accused to them there. Besides just knowing the problem at the base of the mountain rarely solves the problem at the top of it. Alonso nods along. "I knew they had to get the gold foil for the temple from somewhere." Your matron looks at Cohen sharply. "But why did you suspect them? The lord of the mountain would surely provide for the people, and prohibits any mining." She pauses and bites her lip. "Why did they do it? There god was, no is here." Cohen chuckles softly. "Because they were human. I'm sure they have some reason. Some great cause or pressing need. A man, might always see how things could be better. A rare man considers what might be trampled in reaching that vision. I'm sure they were confident for a long time that this was what the god of the mountain wanted." All of your friends, except for your matron, nod along to what Cohen says. Adventurers know better than most the foibles and failings that even a whiff of gold can induce in otherwise sensible men. Your matron looks deeply uncertain for a moment and then fixes an imperious look on her face. She looks back at the mountain's wound and then turns towards the path downwards. She clearly doesn't like the idea of a mountain being brought low by something as humble as a stone cutter. But there's something beyond that, a concern perhaps about what the desires of men will drive them to without supervision. The twilight is just starting, but no one is much enthused by the idea of staying on a mountain this diseased. So, you make torches and head down the mountain fast as you dare. Journeys down mountains are almost always easier than journeys up them. [[But still this time you have a wind at your back.->Kitsune 1 female ending 11]]

The next day you confront the villagers in the light of the morning. Your matron wanted to do it immediately. Cohen waved his hand and said something about how he did not want to have to avoid an angry mob after hiking up and down a mountain. The villagers are overjoyed to see you return. They crowd around you desperately, begging for some good news, anything that might break the terrible disaster gripping their town. They'd worship you as a new god of the mountain if you could make the fish return. Cohen turns and gives everyone a stern look. He must suspect that Frederick would play into their worship at extreme peril to everyone. It’d be a good bit but, frightened desperate people rarely have much patience for being misled. Your matron has no patience for caution of course. She begins to rail against the crowd. She begins by talking of the great benevolence of the mountain, how it cared for the village for generations. Her concern that suddenly the mountain might harm it's dutiful, noble worshippers. Then she reveals the pebble. There is perhaps a hint of an illusion in how it shines. It was just a pebble, but it is illuminated. The townspeople scramble back before the light of truth. Your matron thunders on, did the god of the mountain not give pronouncement against defiling the mountain? Did they really think they could lie to her of all people and not be discovered. They carved a grand hole in the mountain and expected nothing to happen? The crowd speaks all at once but is perhaps best exemplified by the town elder you saw earlier. They are alternatingly rude and contrite. They claim that they never sought to defile the mountain and did not in the spirit of things violate the god of the mountain's proclamation. They did all of it, including making the bloody big hold to simply venerate the mountain better. The mountain was so grand, so strong how could they ever harm it? And furthermore, how dare she doubt their god! And so yes, they mined the gold, and so opened the terrible wound. The town had been only surviving not thriving, and they desired more. They had given due to the mountain, constructed a fine temple and given thanks with every swing of the pickaxe. Your matron is incensed beyond words at the double accusation that she could be wrong, and that she is not in the position to judge. The town elder bows deeply to Cohen. There is you note a touch of gold sewn into the hem of his robe. As adventurers as clever, and beyond that as mighty as you. Is there nothing you can do? Some sacrifice they could arrange to heal the mountain, or failing that could they slay the god of mountain and reap the final bounty it owed them? Cohen laughs and laughs and laughs. Tears stream down his cheeks and for a second you worry he might choke. Finally, he manages to speak. "I have seen such short sightedness rarely before, and only then in dragons. But dragons will live to see their own ruin, so they only did it where they would not experience the consequences. A man cannot kill a mountain, and there is little wisdom in doing so." The village elder then asks in a quiet voice. "Then what shall become of us? Of our village? Of our people?" Your friends all shrug and the villagers are [[seized with an uncomfortable look.->Kitsune 1 female ending 12]]

Your matron is unexpectedly silent. A glance at her shows that she is thinking carefully. She has you realize, spent many quiet moments long in thought of how to repair what seems irreparable. Then surprisingly she looks to you for seeming inspiration. Finally, she speaks, she starts to shout her tails flared in anger, her ears alert, and then pauses to calm herself. "The damage is done; no amount of crying or anger will undo what's been done. The damage you did will be passed onto your children. But if you take action today, as hard as it might be perhaps it will better for your children." She outlines a plan to divert the poisoned water down the mountain, and away from the streams that feed their village. She goes on at length of the steps the villagers can take to protect themselves from the poisoned water. If they do that and refill the hole the best they can, the worst of the damage might be lessened. She looks stern. "The waters will likely never again be perfectly clear; the fish will never be as large. The bounty of the mountain is forever lessened." She smiles slightly. "But if you work hard, then your children might enjoy a bounty like you enjoyed." The villagers are not happy with this answer, and for a moment it looks like you might actually be run out of town. But even their shortsightedness will not conquer what their eyes are telling them. The distraction and comfort that the gold extracted from the mountain bought them are spent. Now they have only the ruin around them. This land, this mountain is their world, it is all they know. The town splits. There are those willing to work to remediate the damage done to the mountain and those who would deny it and make plans to leave. The old, the young and the infirm have no choice to leave. To them there is no choice but to defend. Alonso looks at the town splitting and looks troubled. "How tragic. Maybe they had the best of intentions at the start." Frederick shrugs. "Yeah, it's really sad. What are gonna do about us?" Alonso rolls his eyes but stays quiet as everyone looks to Cohen. Cohen looks to your matron as Ron cheers. Your matron nods, and then looks up at the mountain. She breathes deeply, seeming to taste the air. "We will find a cure up for your younglings up there." [[To say no one is enthused to climb the mountain twice is an understatement.->Kitsune 1 female ending 13]]

The second trip up the mountain is at a faster pace but more relaxed. It's nothing you could put a finger on, but the mountain seems more welcoming. Perhaps you are now simply not looking for the source of disaster. As you leave the village Ron pulls your Matron’s sleeve. “But why didn’t the villagers have such a hard time mining the mountain as we did entering it?” Your matron looks indescribably sad. “It loved them.” Your matron keeps you quite busy on the way up the mountain. She has those who can't cast spells spread seeds she produces from her magic bag. It seems unlikely any of those will take, but it calms your matron and that its own value. She leads you and Ron in healing the land as best you can. You channel a bit of magic and give a healing pass over diseased plant life. This would be difficult for an accomplished mage, it's basically beyond you. Perhaps the occasional branch or leaf perks from your efforts but it's hard to tell. Your matron has more success, bringing the occasional plant to bloom, and reviving a few bushes at a time. Even this effort taxes her and she gives it up as you enter the worst parts of the devastation. Only time and careful stewardship will heal this mountain. By mid-day you reach the temple at the mountain's nose. Everyone looks to your matron expectantly. She looks further up the mountain, at the peak and then begins walking further up the mountain. Everyone grumbles but follows her. As you move up the mountain, the remains of what vegetation there was grows sparser and sparser. Until finally you reach very nearly the bald top of the mountain. It is hotter than you expect that far up the mountain, the sun shines from overhead with its full strength and the bare rock seems to reflect heat upwards. In your travel gear it is hard not to sweat, to say nothing of the long full locks your matron has gifted you. Finally, can see the peak of the mountain. There is a small pool of water, almost a puddle. Next to it panting heavily in the heat is a majestic elk, it's horns blooming with the flowers of the mountain. Your matron leads you to it, and then sits next to it with great ceremony. The Elk is visibly sick, its eyes wavering, and every motion of its chest is a visible effort. Up close you can see multiple infected sores on its sides, leaking a golden pus. There is a sickly metallic smell around it. Your matron is trying to be ceremonious, but she is distressed. With a stern look, she briefly dips her hand into the water, and then rubs it on the fuzzy, blooming antlers of the great elk. She beckons you closer and then messily smears the combination on your forehead. The change is at first subtle, there's a reduction of pressure just above your butt. Your travel gear fits differently, and you can suddenly feel the cloth in places you couldn't. Then the changes stop being subtle. Words exactly fail but imagine stepping from the ground into a rollicking tempest. The sense of certainty of where down is, where your footing was and what might happen next is lost all at once as suddenly as the sun being blown out like a candle. Even sitting you stagger slightly trying to comprehend this uncertainty. You knew it once, and perhaps its absence was comforting. Either way it's gone now. Your matron looks at you worried. She purses her lips and mutters to herself quietly. "Even less than I thought. Just made you a girl, instead of what you were." She moves her hand towards the pool of water again, but you stop her. You made up your mind that you'd rather remain a girl. She seems a touch surprised, optimistic maybe. She regains her stern expression only to be startled by a loud noise from Frederick. Frederick is looking at you admiringly, stars in his almond shaped brown eyes, like you've said the smartest thing he's ever heard. As the others shuffle into place you look yourself over. You look much like yourself, if a girl. Your hair is the color and length it once was (Or just shorter if it was originally shiny black.) You did you retain a bit of your matron's gifts in the bosom and hips department, but less exaggerated than she apparently prefers. Your skin is a touch smoother too. Frederick unsurprisingly refuses your matron's gift. The moment is solemn, so this is the rare moment he can't say what he's thinking. But a glance at the way he's looking at you tells you that he was inspired by you. Alonso is obviously happy to return to being a man. "The hair and the girls are nice but way more trouble than it's worth." The surprising thing is that Ron hesitates. He keeps looking between you and your matron a frustrated look on his face. Finally, he seems to make up his mind and is returned to normal. He smiles deeply at you, blushing slightly. You all bow to the majestic elk and then make your way down the mountain. The elk watches you leave, as silently as ever. Ron tries to hold your hand, and then talks about how clever and generally great you were in the forest. Oh, he's flirting with you. This is what he thinks flirting is. Well maybe you'll humor him, maybe you won't. The view from the mountain as you climb down is interesting. At this range you can see how the withering of the mountain gradually spreads out into the valleys and fields around it. The devastation is worst on the mountain of course, but there is damage far further than you'd imagine. A gradual diminishing of the trees and poisoning of the fields. How it must seem to leave this dead place for the healthy world beyond. You see a broad winged bird, move to land near you, only to reconsider as it grows closer. Where would it land if the whole world was like this. You look off the mountain and are seized by a horrible vision of the devastation not being limited to just this mountain, but over taking the whole world. Where would the bird land then? Would it just fly forever? What of the people? Frederick begins to sing, and you are freed from vision. The same drinking song you realize that started this whole mess. With a smile you cannot help but sing along. The world might end someday, [[but you'll never know as you'll strive to the last breath to save it.->Kitsune 1 female ending 14]]

From there, after another terrifying cart ride, you resume adventuring much as before. Everyone is excited to get back into the swing of things. Hiking is definitely adventure adjacent but not an adventure by itself. You find being a woman not that much different than being a man. You've been some quite unearthly things at this point and merely losing some fox ears and a tail seems quite mundane at this point. you are a bit less rough and tumble than before, but in exchange have gained a bit of wit and maybe even wisdom. You do occasionally find yourself reach up to your scalp to cover your ears or worried that your tails might knock something over. A sort of phantom sense you suppose. You go onto become a great adventurer. You aren't quite as strong or as rough as before. However you are certainly a bit more sly, and retain a small ability to conjure magic. This ability is nowhere near the heights of your matron, or even the level of Ron. But you aren't as old as dirt, or a pyromaniac so that's understandable. Your greatest moment is dealing with the raids precipitated by the fell Jorōgumo. A few months after your adventure on the mountain, there are reports of raids by the local monster girls. These are reported as lead by spiders which naturally perks up everyone looking for a chance to prove themselves against the spiders once again. The raids themselves are strange. The world is a big dangerous place, relations with the various types of monster girls are normally neutral if they exist at all. You investigate and find that the raids are being lead by an outsiders. A creature from a foreign land preaching a foreign religion. Each act of violence she claims as proof of the supremacy of her faith. Everyone starts to give your matron a hard look after you hear that. The leader of these raids is a cave dwelling spider girl that is apparently an old enemy of your matrons. She has not real name, instead being called what she is a Jorōgumo. They have apparently fought before. No one wishes to see their homeland become the settling ground for other's disputes, and so you set about hunting this creature. She is clever beyond words and possesses magic you have never seen before. She can cast flames in her webs, but she can also create dolls from her webs that seem so life like you are never quite sure they aren't alive. You cross swords with her dolls several times but only succeed in driving the fell spider away. She had promised much and delivered remarkably little to those swept up in executing her raids. They are mostly spared from reprisal, they hadn't had much success. But still you are celebrated through the land for bravery. Your matron is predictably smug. In time Cohen has everyone together and says it's time for him to move on. You have stopped almost dying or being captured all the time. Your matron is beyond words at the thought of such a parting. (Put a know the secret conditional here) If don't know: She seemed to be pleased beyond belief at the chance of adventuring with her old friend Cohen again. She stands next to Cohen looking at him with a sad smile. She'll miss him, she might never see him again. Hell you might never see him again. Like so many other heroes lost to time. Cohen smiles back, perhaps thinking similarly deep thoughts. She speaks suddenly. "It was good to see you again. You are as energetic as ever. Perhaps you might accept a blessing so we might see each other again?" She is thinking for a second of a creaking, groaning tree withered with age. Then time itself reversing, the tree again it's proud, proper self. Cohen lets out a short barking laugh. "I think not milady. I should rather the stories they tell of me have my strength only ever be my own. Besides from that, a messenger for a goddess of the harvest should know that there is a cycle to all things. Gotta let my younglings stand on their own at some point. As for if we will meet again? Why that's up to us isn't it?" Your matron bites her lip and then nods. There is a small confluence of light blue magic, dispersing and rapidly focusing around Cohen. You have a feeling that while she didn't deliver even half of the magic she'd of liked to, your matron did bless Cohen at least a bit. Perhaps now he'll have an easier time making water on command, and not need to get up so many times during the night. He heads off, you see him reach a fork in the road and he throws a stick to decide on his path. You worry for him of course, can move from a deep sleep to killing a man in about the space of a breath so he'll probably be alright. Your spirited rescue of your friends with your matron's help becomes a popular tale, although it does tend to focus on Cohen and the exotic kitsune more than you. You make up one of the minor, comic relief characters. A brave foolish hero that had his manhood spirited away by the tricky mischievous kitsune. Not exactly what you hoped for, but bards rarely have the right of it. Still it's a tale, and you are in it! You'll get one about you properly soon enough. Alonso goes onto great fame as a leader of men. He starts a band of knights who go onto right wrongs and battle evil. His fame almost rivals yours. He also becomes quite known for his book of fantastic creatures and tales, written during your sojourn in the bathhouse. It's a bit strange for a blacksmith's son to be a famous author but such is life. These stories he tells at length, and tends to exaggerate in countless ways. The tales about your matron's life and the descriptions of your just what an effect playing host to her had are popular indeed. Needless to say some of these stories and the things he saw are adapted into other stories, forming part of the wider tapestry of folk lore. Frederick becomes a great thief, forewarning targets to increase the challenge. He also keeps recruiting you and your friends to help make his plans work. Your matron refuses out of hand to actually help him commit the crime, although she does enjoy humoring him and helping to craft the occasional disguise. Ron is perhaps the most changed by your time in the forest. He maintains a correspondence with your matron for the rest of his life. He excitedly updates everyone as to the happenings with her and her temple whenever one of her letters arrives. It's not hard to see how much he treasured her instruction and guidance in magic. He goes onto become a famous wizard, doing his best to spread knowledge of magic whenever he can. He also finally expands his repertoire of spells beyond simply setting everything on fire. His skill in illusion never approaches your matron, but he does seem to have a knack for using them to entertain creating great bursts of color to while away the time. He for a time entertains replicating the feat of playing host to your matron, but finally discards it after you explain just how friggin dangerous it was. He remains quite attracted to you after your display of magic in the forest. He's as honest as they come, and courts you as best he can. Generally it's not wise to maintain relationships within a group such as you have with your friends, but maybe you do something unwise? Your matron remains a presence in your life. She is obviously a touch reproachful that you chose to renounce her gift, but seems to have convinced herself that you might one day change your mind. She's handy to have around to say the least. You look forward to your next adventure, ready to face whatever comes. Kitsune 1 girl Ending: No need for guidance [[credits]]

She looks back at you, obviously terrified of what you might say next. How you might ruin things for her. You know distantly what she was trying to hide. Clearing your mind you try and put it together. The tail she gifted you, it's a part of herself, a method to control you. But something deeper, something which threatens her. The answer dawns slowly. She's indescribably old, kitsunes like her max out at nine tails because gaining the tenth tail kills them. She gifted you a tail so that might never happen. She's missing someone dear terribly. This has been obvious for a while. But it's as much wrapped up in the rest as anything else. You could feel how she'd do anything to get that person back. There'd be no deed too dark, no line she wouldn't cross. Finally, she cannot perceive Cohen in his age. Only as the youthful hero he once was. But it's deeper than that. You've regularly felt her bottomless fear at the prospect of dying. An adventurer must take a somewhat cavalier attitude towards death. She’d similarly do almost anything to escape having to think of it, or what she’s lost. Foolishness if not a disqualifying characteristic in your party. You'd be down Frederick and Ron (and maybe yourself) Taking others as loving slaves, so you don't have to think about bad things or ever risk death is disqualifying. That's fucking dragon behavior and that Cohen would never tolerate. If you keep quiet now, it'll likely fall by the wayside. Just one more misadventure in her long life and a day full of misadventures. It might not be worth angering her, she gifts power and adoration and maybe that is enough to forgive. Or maybe being respected and valued as you are, not as what you might be is more important. (she shared an embrace with you, and would likely do so again.) Cut ties with your matron? [[yes ->kitsune 1 hidden ending]] [[no->kitsune 1 possession scene 4 bridge 2]]

You look back at your matron, with a sad smile. Her eyes go wide. Her tails flare in fear. Cohen notices that you've stopped walking. "Ho! What's this Youngling?" You look at him solemnly and he catches your seriousness and takes a deep breath. "Something important from the looks of it." Your matron speaks quickly. "Come, we are so close to leaving this place. You must remember the bath house Cohen. The drinks there flow like water and the baths warm any bones." Her tone is quickly veering into pleading, anything to keep you from talking. Cohen raises his hand. "Soon enough Milady. Come let's hear what the youngling has to say." Your friends stop and look towards you. It's hard to start naturally. The feeling of playing host to your matron swims in your mind even now. Beyond that you are at the end of your strength with every muscle and bone singing songs of pain. You manage to blurt out that your matron is acting like a dragon. Cohen's eyebrows raise. "A serious accusation indeed youngling. Take it slow youngling, we are all tired." Your matron looks terrified and takes a step back like she might run away. Nothing would kill her deader in Cohen's estimation than being considered to act like a dragon. You do your best to recount the events of the past few days? (Time is a serious jumble for the moment. It might have been hours.) Alonso comes over to your side as soon as you mention that she held you hostage against the spiders before you even found Cohen. He'd never forgive trying to threaten someone like that. He makes sure you drink some water before you keep talking. Frederick hears how you recognized that the tails were meant to control you. How you can only think of her as "your matron". His eyes widen with out and out fear. He's as free spirited as they come and such an idea is repulsive to him. He moves to your side, putting a hand on your shoulder to steady you and then holding your hand comfortingly. Cohen stops fidgeting as your tale nears it's end and you recount how she cannot perceive him as anything but the man he was in his youth. There's a look of dawning realization and his eyes keep darting to your matron. Clearly several important things are clicking into place. He interrupts you more than once to ask for clarification. Even now he wants to give his friend the benefit of the doubt. You answer the best you can. But you were her as much as she was you, like mud. That makes your word hard to doubt. With every word, your matron flinches more and more. She holds her tails in her hands, flatting her ears against her head, eyes closed as if she could just wish this all away. She doesn't dare to interrupt you, you realize. She's terrified that anything she might say would only be taken as better evidence of her guilt. Only Ron remains unconvinced by the end of your tale. He keeps turning to your matron, looking desperately for some sign from her. She turns away from him each time. But he keeps shooting her pleading looks. He steadfastly insists that she must have had some good reason, and that all will be explained if she just gives her reason. Finally Cohen puts a hand on Ron's shoulder "She had a reason lad. No great reason but an understandable one." He turns to your matron, his expression is neutral bordering on disappointed. "Do you have anything to say in your defense milady? The youngling's words and your actions are strong proof already." Your matron looks utterly uncertain. She tries to speak, and then stops, then tries again and then stops. Cohen is stone-faced. If she has an answer he'll hear it. In looking at her you, you can tell intuit what she's thinking. This had been a hard series of days. She had come from tragedy only to find Cohen again. She had been among the warmth of companionship, improper as they might be she had friends! Cohen had been found! The fall of evening had once again been reversed so that she could enjoy the noon-day sun. And now it was tumbling away from her, just beyond the reach of her fingertips. You can see the thought form on her face as she decides to lunge for her happiness. The notion, turns to an idea, turns to the certainty that she must double down. So, she does. Her actions might have been questionable but they worked out didn't they? She helped you find Cohen. Helped Cohen find his younglings and spat in the eyes of the spiders all the while. Surely in the light of that her actions could be forgiven. And furthermore why was what she did wrong at all? She improved you. Was there ever a student that didn't resent their teacher? She was just following the teachings of her goddess. The day was won, they had had another adventure together, it was just like old times, why spoil it? What she did is in the past. For a moment she believes it’ll work, how could it not work? Her deeds were great. Cohen smiles warmly, and then puts a hand on his sword. "A fine point milady. The day is won. It was nice to fight alongside with you again. But I think we should part here. You have things to attend to." Your matron can see that happiness has slipped beyond her grasp once again. For a second all she can think of is the dark shadow and the white robe within it. "But we will meet again, won't we? We will travel together again?" Cohen's old and she's ageless, such a meeting seems unlikely. Cohen shrugs. "That is up to us, isn't it? But let me get my younglings fixed up first." The part about getting them away from her is unspoken. Your matron practically wilts, her tails going low and her ears going down despondently. "If you say so Cohen. Until next time." Cohen nods. "Until next time." He pauses and adds. "Ask next time." Your matron has already turned to whistle for her cart. If she hears him, you can't tell. Then on flaming wheels she is gone up into the clouds. Cohen watches the cart until it is out of view. Then with a wry grin he turns back to you. "You never pick easy enemies do you youngling?" Hey, you didn't start that one. Alonso gives you an awe-struck look. "All that, and she just left. I was a bit scared after what we saw in the forest." Cohen shakes his head. "Nah, she'd never force the issue. She can't help but protect what she loves. Makes her reliable." You glance back at Ron, who is looking sad that your matron is gone. "I'll miss her." Classic Ron. Frederick speaks up. "What now Cohen?" Cohen checks the sky, and then looks around. "Find a village, find something to eat. Then when we can travel get you younglings fixed." [[Even the idea of walking to the nearest inn is sounding damn unappealing.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 1]] The group strides out confidently from the shade of the forest into the light of the setting sun. You try to follow only to find you can barely lift your feet. Alonso looks back with concern and then carries you on his back. \(set: $kitsunerebuke to 1)

Like many port towns, marsillia is built into a natural cove. The rocky coast giving way sharply to the water. This makes for a tightly built town. Curiously it is absolutely draped in white sheets, and flower petals cover the streets. The answer becomes obvious when you sight the revelry in the streets. This is a wedding celebration, having apparently just started. Cohen introduces himself as being of northern fame, and you as his apprentices. You are welcomed to the wedding. It is arranged around the great pool of water that the aqueduct feeds and flows through the town. The water is fresh and ice blue. There is a great toast all along the feasting tables and the bride and groom both salute. Then at the center of the festivities is the great hero Od, famed for his cleverness. Od is a fat balding man who laughs upon sighting Cohen, and when shaking his arm says something about trouble always coming in twos. Cohen laughs at that himself. You spend some time amongst the celebration. The drink flows freely, and the food is delicious. You are the object of much curiosity from the crowd. You lose count of the number of children who pick inopportune times to pet your tail. As a foreign beauty, you also receive a good number of propositions ranging from drunken to serious. People much enjoy to celebrate love at weddings. These you entertain at your discretion. Ron acts odd himself, starting at first by complimenting your awesome magical power. It was awesome indeed. Then he wanders off takes a drink and compliments your beautiful hair. This repeats a few times until he's thoroughly sloshed. It's a fine day of celebration although as the sun sets Od takes you and your friends aside. He is about to get to business when he notices you and your friends staring at him. He laughs and slaps his belly. [["Would you lads like to know the tale of how I gained my fame?"->kitsune 1 hidden ending 1 side]] His story told he turns again to Cohen. "I'd say you got yourself into a real mess this time Cohen." Cohen shrugs. "They are alive and whole. Practically unharmed." Od has a habit of pausing in the middle of conversations, his lips moving slightly as if he was telling what had just happened to someone else. Part of what makes him odd you suppose. This time he looks at each of your friends in turn as if describing them to someone else. Finally he speaks. "If a touch changed by your association. I suppose you wish to go to the tomb?" Cohen takes a moment to sip his wine. "Aye. A tough journey but an important one." Od nods. "Must of been tough if you are driven there again. There's something I need your help with. Help me and I'll loan you the horses and water to make the journey." Cohen nods. "There was a dragonet ship sighted putting ashore in a cove two days ride from here. A family was also reported missing on the edge of the arable land around the city." Cohen is on his feet in an instant. He starts to bark orders to you and your friends. "We leave now." Od raises his hands, visibly annoyed. "I were not done talking Cohen." Cohen sits back down a touch sheepishly. "Ah sorry Od, I know it takes you a minute." Od nods. "Aye and normally I'd have the guard in a couple boats down there to cut off the boat so they can't get away. But due to the wedding I can't find enough sober men to make the journey. A veteran and a few strapping lasses might get there ahead of us though. Especially if they left tonight." Cohen smiles a bitter vindictive smile. "And if upon reaching the boat, the captives had been freed would you mind over much?" Od smiles back. "Wouldn't trouble me all. Do make sure the boat doesn't get away. We'd never find them on the seas." [[Everyone rises at once.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 2]] You turn back to Od who seems to be listening to someone else talk again. He catches your shoulder. "Sorry, I must ask. The one who transformed you. what did she look like?" His eyes go wide with anticipation, which is a bit unexpected. You do your best to recount your matron, in all her beauty and her fury. He smiles and then silently repeats what you said.

Od has clearly told this story many times before, he grins to tell it. He had been young once. Bold and adventurous he like so many other young men had set out to do great deeds and change the world for the better. He had grown up on the docks and the city of marsillia. With the coming of the tide and new moon a great sea serpent had appeared. It had held up the shipping and was demanding grand tribute that would eventually choke the city into nothing. It had even entertained the notion of ruling the city from the grand pool at the center of it. That would not stand. There had been many attempts to engage the beast in naval combat, but it is difficult for men on ships to contend with something that can simply avoid missiles by diving beneath the waves and could tear any nets. Cleverness would be required to win the day. This was where Od came into his own. He claims that he remade the whole of marsillia as it looks from sea in miniature and then towed the miniature city behind him on a simple oared boat. This he had used to lure the terrible sea serpent into beaching itself on the shoals. You aren't sure you believe his story; his smile make it seem like he might be telling a mighty fib. When the beast was struggling on the shoals, he had carved a great and bloody hole into it's head with his knife. The blood he claims was blue and smelled of copper. Finally, the beast had given a terrible shudder and then died. He was hailed as the hero of marsillia and claims with a smile had received a kiss from every maiden. You aren't sure that part is true either. Then the next time the moon was new and the tide as high as it got, the beast had returned with a spare head to wreak terrible vengeance. He had found some renown in leading the defense. After a few more clever plans the beast had four heads and showed no sign of stopping. Od was now known as the protector of marsillia and it fell to him to finally put an end to the terrible beast. He had worked as a sea diver before becoming an adventurer, and so when the sea calmed, he dived down to the lair of the sea monster. Knife is his teeth he notes wryly. Finally in the depths of the ocean, at the bottom of the world he claims, he found the lair of the sea serpent. The serpent would circle the entrance to the lair and then swim off occasionally, as it was afraid to enter. The lair was a cave where there was air underneath the water. This sounds fantastic to you, but as your tails wag and your ears turn to hear his story better, you realize fantastic is relative. Od found the sea serpent resting, licking it's wounds. He considered attacking with the advantage of surprise. But he notes with a smile, he had grown to respect the serpent's cunning. Beyond that what could he with his little fishing knife do against something so large? The serpent was unexpectedly excited to talk to the man who had bested it so many times. Od claims it took the shape of a beautiful woman with horns. This you don't believe. The serpent was lonely, and claimed it only attacked the town and tried to rule it for the company. It was old and possibly the last of it's kind, descended from a type of dragon that attempted to rule the waves. It's grief and anger had caused it to split, and this had made the creature that had caused so much trouble and Od had bested. Which left them at an impasse. The serpent could not keep attacking the city, and since it had started with violence the city would likely never open its doors to the serpent no matter it's form. The serpent however had an idea that even Od thought was clever. Just as the serpent could split itself, it could duplicate Od. One would stay with her, and the other would return to the world above to quest as a great hero. Od thought the whole thing a trick and had accepted that he was likely about to die. But as he notes with a look towards Cohen. "You have to have a certain amount of fatalism when fighting giant inhuman monsters." The serpent had cast the spell, and then there had been another Od in front of him. He could distantly see what that Od saw, and distantly feel what that Od felt. The two Ods worked together to lure back the Sea serpent's angry half. It had raged and raged, and chased each Od in turn so that they could finally make it return to it's home. Then the serpents had reunited, the woman made whole although with several more scars. Then the serpent had placed before him two rocks. One marked once, one marked twice. The Od that picked the rock with one mark would be the Od to leave. The Od before you, picked the odd rock and so adopted the name Odd. He claims even now he can feel the other Odwald, with the serpent. He had quested long and far, but had always had a place to return to in his mind. This he claims cannot be underestimated. He often pauses as if to talk to her you note. [[It's a fine story, and very much like something out of the myths you heard as a child.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 1]]

None of you are great riders, well Ron has enough practice to be good. But he's well lubricated from his curious ritual earlier in the day. Still the full moon reflects off the sands of the deepening desert as you drive your horse onward. It's quite the sight. Cohen leads the way, exhorting you to go faster. There's a lust in his eyes, a burning desire to find the ship that you've rarely seen in him. You ride a full day, the desert was sparse grasses, more dirt and rock than plant life. By the time the sun is setting again you've been traversing dunes of sand for a while, intermixed with the occasional rocky outcrop. It's alien terrain to a farmer like you. Finally though, you sight the cove and the ship. Here Cohen has you dismount your tired horses. Then crawling on your bellies over the hot sand you reach a lip of rock from which to examine the enemy camp. The men clearly mean to stay for a while. They've erected a rough stockade, really more of a simple screen of what wood they could find and set up a tents laid out in regular patterns. All of this is arranged to defend access to the ship, and its moorings. Cohen surveys all of this silently until Alonso seeing the size of the camp speaks up. "Just how many men can a ship that size hold Cohen?" Cohen doesn't turn. "30-40, with more in the hold. But we should be good on that account. Camp would be bigger if they brough regulars." Alonso exchanges worried glances with everyone else. "You expect us to contend with that many men?" Cohen seems to find his senses again, and scoots down the rock face slightly. "Aye, although it'll be easier since about half of them are slaves who can't fight for shit. and the other half will be freedmen who will only care for themselves. The dragonets will be the real problem." He's trying to make it sound simple but being outnumbered 10 to 1 isn't your idea of a good time. Cohen can see the hesitation plain on your face. "Look younglings. I'm going. I won't force you to help me. But there is no cause more righteous, and no fight worth fighting more than opposing a true evil like slavery." Is it confidence or respect that keeps him from mentioning that he can't possibly do this alone? Alonso nods. Ron smiles. Frederick gulps heavily. [[You agree of course.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 3]]

Cohen scoots up the rock face and after fixing the camp in his mind, scoots down again and draws out the camp in the sand. His initial plan is quite simple. You'll swim around and clamber up the side of the boat, you'll secure the boat and cut its moorings. Then you'll use Ron to set the camp aflame and hunt the men down as they flee. In between the advantages of surprise and the cruelties of the desert the men won't stand much of a chance. Alonso is the first to note that none of you have ever swam in the ocean before. Cohen claims that the great motions of the ocean are called waves. But from the way they crash into the rocky coast you seriously doubt they are friendly. Frederick also notes that if the captives are in the camp, setting fire to it might endanger them. Cohen smiles proudly as he thinks. His second plan is more dangerous than the first. He'll lead Alonso and you through the camp and onto the boat. Then you'll hold the boat while he searches the camp. When and if he gets discovered Frederick and Ron will set the camp aflame and make a great distraction. It puts Cohen at considerable risk but should work. Alonso exchanges a glance with you. Ron and Frederick need guards to operate effectively normally. It's Ron who speaks up though. Either plan will involve a great deal of killing. More so than you've done before. Cohen shrugs. "These men’s lives ended when they decided to come here where I have prohibited slavery. It is simply a question of how. I choose it to be by my hand, they deserve no better. You might have to do a touch of fighting, but I'll be doing most of the killing." Well you've come this far. There is not a person in your homeland who has not received at least basic training in arms to fight the empire of the dragons. Cohen has you sleep until the dead of night. The moon is still full above and lights your way. The stockade was made for keeping out wild animals instead of any determined attack. How arrogant they must be. Even in his old age Cohen is a tall imposing man. But when needs to be he can be quiet as a mouse and stealthy as a cat. You steal your way up the gang plank and battle the feelings of vertigo that come as the "ground" rocks beneath you. There are a few guards on the boat itself. Cohen disposes of these quickly, dumping their bodies into the sea. He cautions Alonso and you to not draw up the gangplank. Says that they'll run for that instead of trying to clamber up all around you. Then with knife in hand he disappears into the in the camp proper. Alonso goes "Ah!" You look at him surprised. "He's off to trim their numbers by slitting throats." [[Generally the heroic epics left out that detail.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 4]]

It's an anxious thing to wait on the boat. You don't dare to light a candle or conjure a flame for fear of alerting someone. You crouch with Alonso, beneath the edge of the boat. Alonso looks over and asks “Afraid?” How could you not be. If this goes bad there will be no running away into the forest, simply death or enslavement. Alonso nods. “Yeah I’m afraid too.” Finally as the sky begins to lighten from the coming dawn, there is a great shout raised up in the camp. The shout spreads and confusion erupts. Ron and Frederick take that as their sign. They begin to throw fire into the tents and raise as much noise as they can. You unshoulder your katana heavy as it is, and exchange a knowing glance with Alonso. This will be hard desperate work, but at least you aren't fighting alone. True to Cohen's word the first thought of the slavers is to reach the boat. They run unarmed at first towards their home. They rear back and shout foreign curses as they see you and Alonso. There is a great crush among the slavers as they search for weapons. One is even bold enough to try and force their way past unarmed. As if two people brandishing weapons and shouting curses at them was a simple mistake. He retreats quickly down the gangplank when you swing your sword at him. Many of the slavers look at the rapidly spreading fires, with a desert beyond them, and then back at you. They decide you are the safer option. You almost foolishly lose your life, in the partial darkness it's hard to see your enemies’ weapons, and one man was smart enough to step off to side and use a long thin spear to try and get you. Alonso's guard is as ever on point, and he hauls you back by the scruff of your neck. You realize your mistake and conjure the blue flames your matron was so fond of above your enemies. So, you can see them well, but they cannot see you and lose their night vision. The slavers make another desperate rush and are driven back in confusion. True to Cohen's word you do much fighting but little killing. You get the lucky swipe occasionally which will ruin someone's day. But otherwise, it's a desperate attempt to keep them back without getting hit, while they try to force you back and not get hit yourself. Then from the mass of bodies emerge two figures. These must be the dragonets, the dragon's preferred agents. Dragonets are a mix of humans and dragons. They look much as you might imagine. Tall muscular figures with their arms and legs covered in thick, shining scales. They have darting tails as well, and shining horns that rise almost vertically from their foreheads. They are clearly in charge, barking orders and forcing discipline among the confused slavers. They from a basic spear wall and for a moment it looks like they might drive you away from the edge of the boat. Being surrounded and likely death is all that awaits you then. Then from the dust of the confusion emerges Cohen. Sword in hand and murder on his mind. He shouts a challenge as he charges into the slavers and they turn to meet him. You've seen many fearful things in your life. (if: $frederickhelp is 1)[The spider girl dropping down from above to bite you, as you struggle helplessly against your bound legs.] (if: $cohenhelp is 1)[The smug look and cruel laugh of the spider girl as you felt the dart in your neck.] You often see the final display of magic your matron produced in your nightmares. The light and heat of being a conduit to something so powerful. The feeling of being an inch away from oblivion. This is worse. Cohen, kind, supportive Cohen is a vision of bloody death. He raises his hand, his sword shines and a man falls down dying in a geyser of blood. Then he does it again, and again. The slavers let out a cry of terror and find themselves caught between the sea and death. A few of them at this point throw down their weapons in a desperate attempt to keep their lives. The dragonets kill on the spot the first man to do that and the rest pick up their weapons. The dragonets rush the boat again. But you and Alonso are far from amateurs at driving back overwhelming odds at this point. You cut thrust and block the best you can. Alonso is right there with his sword to watch your back and cover your openings. Cohen is drawing closer to the dragonets, striking down anyone that dares do anything but run from him. The dragonets seeing that they cannot hope to reach the boat, draw their jeweled cutlasses and charge Cohen. Cohen duels the both, he looks moderately interested as if hearing a noteworthy rhyme instead of being caught up in a cut and thrust battle. The slavers finally realizing that they cannot hope to pass you or Alonso begin to dive into the water, obviously intending to clamber up the sides of the boat. Distantly you hear a curse as Cohen narrowly dodges a swipe. [[You and Alonso exchange a desperate glance.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 5]]

Throwing caution to the wind you rush the few slavers still standing on shore, they are so surprised they barely resist as you run past to help Cohen. One of the dragonets shouts to the other and he turns to meet your blade. The dragonet is a difficult opponent. He's clearly far more experienced than you, and has a grabby tail to try and snare your feet. You do your best to keep him off balance with illusions and the occasional conjured flame. But it's obvious that you are simply buying time. The dragonet unleashes a true flurry of attacks, that is difficult to counter with your heavy blade. He almost disarms you, and you give ground to save your skin. For a moment things seem truly perilous. Then you hear a triumphant cry as Cohen beheads the other dragon with a sweep of his blade. The head flies up, the dragonet's final look of terror frozen there, his eyes widening. The other dragonet turns and find Cohen's blade in his heart. He dies uttering a final curse. By this time Frederick and Ron have finally appeared. You shout that Alonso needs help and run up the gang plank to find him doing his best to swashbuckle against a half dozen men. He's not far from being backed into a corner. Seeing that Cohen is on the ship proper, the remaining slavers either surrender on the spot or dive into the sea. Cohen pats everyone on the backs. "Fine work younglings. I couldn't have asked for better help. But we aren't done yet. I figured out what was in the hold of the ship." Distantly you can hear the beating of hooves and the neighing of horses. The riders that had left the camp for a night time raid return with the dawn. [[The fight against them is just as hazardous but less dramatic.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 6]]

It is markedly difficult for a group of men on foot to hurt armored men on armored horses. Their vitals are annoyingly far away. Even Ron simply hosing them with fire doesn't work well as the horse has enough sense to flee. The thin spears the sailors favor help, but the riders merely wheel away when you get close with them. At the same time, they can barely hurt you. Up on the boat they cannot use the weight or speed of their horses and cannot hope to get on the boat without abandoning the advantages their horses give them. Cohen remains as skilled as ever at killing, and so manages to behead two of them. The rest withdraw to calculate their odds, and then seeing that they have little hope of success scavenge what supplies they can and flee into the desert. You don't envy them, to be lost in a land that wants their blood. Everyone is exhausted and at least mildly injured after driving off the slavers. What sailors could run took the chance when the riders returned. There are a few remaining that were too injured to move. [[Much more pressing are the slaver's captives.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 7]]

The slavers had far more success than you had figured. Scooping up several families from along the coast. These were shut up in the ship's hold or held in chains about the camp. The ones in the camp had the general sense to flee the fires once Cohen freed them. All the captives are in rough shape. The slavers had been denying them water to help keep them from trying to escape, and a number of them are maimed from the beatings or injuries sustained in their capture. A few of them have even been disfigured to mark them as property, which is sickening. One had died. They had kidnapped an expectant mother, and she had delivered in the darkness of the hold. The slavers didn't care to supply food, water or medicine and so she had died in childbirth. If you keep people where there are not the things to support life, then they will die. It’s that simple. Upon opening the hold and catching sight of this, tears begin to stream to down Cohen's cheeks and he asks for a private moment. He must have seen such a sight before. You busy yourself with the care for the captives. Rescues are one thing, but the care of the sick and wounded is just as important. There are still some supplies in the camp, and enough water for a while longer. Your friends get to work. Alonso is quickly making shelters out of the ruined tents. Frederick is trying to keep everyone calm and entertained. Ron is doing his best to heal the injured. Your memory of the time you spent playing host to your matron is never clear, it swims in and out of focus like a fish in murky water. Still you try to make out how she did healing, and do your best to replicate it. You aren't happy to call upon even her memory but the cause is too important. It's a tiring effort, perhaps with more formal training it would be simple. Still, you can't help but be proud of the aid and comfort you provide. When the living are cared for it comes time to count and tend to the dead. There are many, and it will only let disease fester among the already weak captives to not tend to the bodies. The slave soldiers will all be buried of course, it was hardly their fault they were dragged to a foreign land to die. Cohen however flatly refuses to help bury the dragonets and the freedmen, loudly bragging about how if he had the salt he'd send the dragonet's heads to the queen as a gift. In the land of the dragons he claims humans are buried by feeding them to dragons or left for the beasts. This is not the land of the dragons so you bury both the dragonets and the freedmen. Finally after a day, you sight Od's promised ship. It approaches cautiously until Cohen unfurls a sail on the moored ship. Od gives Cohen a full body hug, lifting him from the ground, upon discovering what has been done. "Ah, never too old for a bit of piracy are we?" Cohen shrugs. "Takes too long if you do it on the land. Much easier to just sail up and kill them all." He gives a wry smile. The last concern is what to do with the slave soldiers taken captive. They look no older than you and your friends. Cohen insists that they be given every opportunity to start a new life. His adopted homeland is marvelous for that he claims, it was for him at least. A glance at your friends suggests that they are all thinking of the woman who died in childbirth and how it's more likely that a noose awaits them in Marsillia. You never do find out what happens to them. Od’s men busy themselves with caring for the rescued captives and tracking down the escaped slavers. He also brought more water and fresh horses. The place you are to go is deep in the interior of the desert and it will be a hard journey. As you wait for night to fall, Frederick offers to cut your hair. "It's gonna be hot as hell in there. Might as well be comfortable. The luxurious shiny silver edged black locks your matron "gifted" you with are quite warm you find. Better to make a clean break. Your head will at least feel lighter. Ron is of course predictably devastated when he sees you with short hair. As you set out, Cohen says happily that there is no need to conserve water. There will be water where you arrive. It's one of the few times that Alonso ever gives a counter order. He insists that everyone conserve water. Cohen gives a sharp barking laugh. "Ha, a fine point youngling. No need to condemn yourselves all to a slow death if I turn out to have led you astray." He adds with a wry smile. "Foolish old man that I am." Cohen also directs everyone to find a good-looking rock from the coast before you leave. You find a wide smooth stone, likely weathered by countless waves. It'll do. [[Finally you set out in the nearly endless seeming desert.->kitsune 1 hidden ending 8]]

To cross a desert is different from other kinds of travel. You mostly travel at night for one. Starting in the early evening, as the sun dims and going as hard and as long as you dare into the morning. Cohen explains this as both being the overwhelming heat, and that he is navigating mostly by stars. The ocean behind you is quickly lost behind a sand dune, and though you can see mountains in the distance, they are so far away they only grow imperceptibly with travel. This makes for as monotonous experience as you might imagine. Still you are in good company, and your ears do much displace the heat you find. Amusingly the person having the worst time is Alonso. He cleanly refuses to cut his long blonde locks, and is a sweating mess for the journey. The desert is not entirely lifeless, the mice of the desert are quite active in the morning and the evening. There are a good number of reptiles and a few grasses. But to come from the verdant farmland to this is quite different. Finally, after three days of travel you reach your destination. As you crest a hill you look down into a rocky oasis. Amongst the sudden outburst of life is a squat tomb made of piled obsidian rocks. In the early morning, the obsidian tomb looks like something from another world, as if it would eat the light out of this world. Cohen smiles quite deeply to see the oasis. As you grow closer to the tomb, you realize the air is cooled by it and the water feeding the oasis is not bubbling up from below but running off the tomb itself. Cohen has everyone tie off the horses such that they can drink. and then sits beneath the shade of one of the palm trees with a smile. "Once I sought to make my own fief, where slavery was outlawed, and all men lived as equals. It ended badly after the slavers hired a great cabal of wizards to oppose me." He considers the desert surrounding the oasis for a moment. "I had been badly wounded in the fighting and lost many friends. In desperation I lost my pursuers in the desert. I was ready for death, I think. Then I stumbled upon this oasis, and upon bathing in the shower where it hits the water I was revived, and my wounds healed. I took that as a sign to resume my struggle." He smiles at you, "It should get you back to normal youngling." Ron is as always curious. "But what is this place? What made the tomb?" Cohen nods. "Supposedly it's the tomb of the first human to raise his hands against the dragons in our kingdom. They started the struggle which eventually drove them away. The tomb was if you believe it, erected in gratitude to them." Alonso looks at Cohen curiously. "You don't believe that?" Cohen shrugs. "Humans would have resisted dragons as soon as they sighted them. The tomb would be from nearly prehistory if that was the exact legend. Perhaps it is, it's only piled stone after all." Compared to the warm air of the desert, the water around the tomb is delightfully cool. For a while everyone is simply content to float, and allow the sand and grit to soak off. The water is almost sweet to drink. Then they each in turn swim to the shower and are returned to their original forms. It's apparently quite cold from the way that Frederick's teeth chatter and his lips turn blue. You go last. Ron does insist that he get one last pet of the tail in. You swim into the shower and find that it's not cold at all, instead like a comforting embrace. The changes your matron made to you, seem to melt off, being steadily replaced by your old masculine form. Finally, you are returned to yourself. You dally a little while longer by the tomb. But as night falls Cohen has everyone produce their rock. "What I did, and is supposedly customary to do is to write a name upon the rock before you cast it upon the cairn. I carved many rocks, for those I had lost and then set to figuring out how I could convince the queen to outlaw slavery. Perhaps it will spur you younglings on to similar deeds." You write a name upon the rock. (Whose is your secret.) and then cast it upon the cairn. It sparkles slightly and then turns to the same light absorbing obsidian as the rest of the tomb. Then you ride off into the desert and your adventures continue [[much as before.->kitsune 1 male ending 9]]

if no sex before: It's an appeal prospect. If bathed with the kitsune: She offered before, similarly drunk in the bathhouse. You refused then. Perhaps now that the adventure is over and you are about to return to normal it'll be fine to accept her offer. if didn't bathe with the kitsune: It's been a long tiring adventure. Might as well snag one last treasure of a new experience before you leave this form. If sex before: You've dallied with your matron before. For all her faults, she is pretty damn good at making love. Perhaps you seek to regain that pleasure, before it'll be lost to you? Your matron's face lights up and her tails wag briefly as you signal your willingness. "A fine gift indeed, dear." She looks like she might be about to say thank you but stops herself. If no sex: With a slight smile she asks. "So how would you like to do this? I can provide female companionship just as easily as male. I'll let you pick, as my boon to you." She'll never let herself feel at disadvantage, even in something as small as this. If male sex: She smiles smugly for a second. "Would you like a repeat performance or to try the other way." It takes you a second to pin exactly what kind of smug she is. The smug of any man who realizes that a woman is lusting after them, and their member. Ugh. If female sex: She smiles, looking at you with deep fondness. "It's always pleasant when a blushing maiden appreciates my company. But if you'd like to switch things up to, that is also within my power." She pauses to examine her nails meaningfully. She can cool it with the blushing maiden thing. Still you didn't have a bad time last time. With her as a man With her as just girls Male outlining: if malesex: The kitsune seems smug for a moment, you battle to not roll your eyes. other: Your matron smiles, she doesn't seem to be judging you for your decision. She strides into the water of the impossible mountain lake. Her tails float on the surface of the water, sending ripples out into the water. She returns to the shore, changed into the man. (Put the bit about how it's interesting what doesn't change.) She shakes and jumps a bit to get dry. It's sort of hard to not see her johnson flopping about she she does so. With that out of the way she looks at you curiously. There is an intense hunger in her look. It's not predatory, like you expect, instead it's an almost indescribable sense of longing, like someone looking at a home they can never return to. if malesex: You have a sudden dark premonition, she's already shown herself immune to good manners, with a look like that you have to be certain that she doesn't finish inside of you. She interrupts the moment by coughing slightly. You move to disrobe and she helps you. She also takes the chance to trace gentle lines on your neck and sides. Her hands are quite soft you find. outline for kitsune a male ending sex scene Two main variations: made love before, didn't make love before, with minor variations in made love before based on which sex kitsune will do male or female kitsune male: male prior, female prior, no prior kitsune female: male prior, female prior, no prior body language over all in the scene. THe kitsune is hungry, almost desperate in her love making. If male scene: She has you lie back on the tail she gave you. and after a bit of desperate making out, thrust deeply into you, rocking her hips so that she might reach as deeply as possible. For all her faults the kitsune is pretty darn good at love making. if male prior: you recognize from the kitsune's hungry look at basically the start that she'd like nothing more than to thread the needle so to speak and so resolve to make sure she doesn't finish inside. There's no telling what getting the messenger of a fertility goddess's seed in the most sanctified place to her goddess in you will do. Super duper pregnant probably. It also doesn't say anything about anything that you went for the male version twice. Even if she does keep giving herself above average members. if female prior: Having tasted the joys of female companionship, you decide to try the male version. It's different. Not necessarily better but different certainly. IT's a curious feeling to be on the otherside of what you've doneon occasion. if no prior: It was a long tiring adventure, and you barely got much time to enjoy what might be good about your new form. Sex as a woman is different, softer for one. Different parts are sensitive than a man. Who knew nipples could feel so good? Well women know, but they don't advertise that. female version: Hmm fingering and then grinding probably. It'll be a bit different in that the kitsune is doing everything she can to keep you and your form in sight as she makes love. Staring at your face in an almost discomforting way. if male prior: reference to the old male cuscene and how her approach is different. Don't remember need to look. Mechanically it's pretty different, and with your matron's almost desperate focus on your body and form it's a different experience. if female prior: She's definitely more hungry this time. Perhaps last time she entertained the notion that she still might have you in the end. Her love making is a touch more greedy as well. if no prior: it's not uncommon for men to wonder at how women might make love to women. Perhaps this curiousity is what drives you to try now. It was a long tiring adventure, and you barely got much time to enjoy what might be good about your new form. Sex as a woman is different, softer for one. Different parts are sensitive than a man. Who knew nipples could feel so good? Well women know, but they don't advertise that. Notes on female previous scene: It was the kitsune gently, mommy dom style teaching you the in and outs of female pleasure Notes on male previous scene: the kitsune has to first goad you, by giving oral, then you give oral, then she awkwardly carries you for standing sex in the water. You find it strangely relaxing to not have to be the one in charge.