Is that mask made of clay?
Working with ceramics can be done professionally (especially since I suspect the people around here have few to no glass producing factories), and shapeshifting would be quite useful for pottery, especially wheel work. You might want to look into that.

yes, clay can be made into amazing shapes if you aren't limited to fingers.

Honestly curious, though. Rote seems to be reluctant to remove the mask for reasons other than its apparent sentimental value. What are they?

I mean, from what we can see of her face already, I can't imagine that her appearance without the mask could be any more unsettling than the unblinking eyes and creepy smile it's got on it.

Darren, do you feel okay for now? We should probably check up on Widde, he seems kinda distant at the moment.

Also we need a forge! We are still acid burned! And kinda broken up a bit from near braindead attempts in the cave earlier.

I'm not happy with this, but I can't go against the majority. And, I suppose, there's you, Darren.

One thing we haven't taken into account, however, is Widde. Do you think he will be moved by her story? Will he accept this outcome?

>>363251

if we ever find that forge, we should install a mechanism that lets us be a pickaxe.

>>363290
Drop that issue

>>363290
Let's install a jackhammer instead. It's easier to make and it'd give us an actual weapon for next time we're in this situation.

>>363290
while if this was possible i would probably support it, i am satisfied with the fact rote could be a pickaxe

in fact, rote, when you can shapeshift again, turn into a pickaxe for us

Darren 2011/11/02(Wed)17:58 No. 363308 ID: c7b6c2
File 132028188054.png - (29.86KB , 500x500 , uhm.png )

>>363228
"No... I can't just change it. I can't."

>>363239
>>363242
"Clay? I don't know how to do any of that stuff. Is there stuff like that in your place?"
Uh- yes. I don't personally know the one that does it, though.

>>363244
"I-I just like having it."

>>363250
I'm okay I guess. He went east, but he shouldn't be too far away. And I agree, he's been a bit odd after we, uh, found Rote.

>>363255
I'm not sure. Widde made it very clear that he did not like Rote at all. I'm not sure how he'll react.

>>363251
We'll fix that when we get to the town.

>>363290
You're not going to let that go? You're a bird, not a pickaxe I can't do anything about that.

>>363301

"What-- what."

Hey, uh, could-- could you let go of me please?

>>363308
oh i just noticed she's still hugging you!

[GROUP HUG]

I wonder if we just killed Daren.

>>363308
>You're a bird, not a pickaxe I can't do anything about that.

*sob* O-okay then DAR-Darren w-w-we'll just be a bIR... bird then ;n;

>>363308
Actually, I think we should take her with us. Others in town might react badly to her (which is the entire reason she turned to highwaymanship), which could cause a relapse, which you don't want. You're probably the only one who actually knows what she's gone through that's guaranteed to listen. It'd be better for the both of you to keep her around, though your other companion might not be too thrilled about this.

Plus, having more people around will help you get used to being a leader, which you're going to need to know how to do if you're going to unite everyone. That's still a thing you're after, right?

Also, Rote: What's the extent of your shapeshifting? Can you make yourself look like someone else, or something like that?

Darren 2011/11/03(Thu)17:42 No. 363482 ID: c7b6c2
File 132036734947.png - (7.13KB , 500x500 , awww group hug.png )

>>363421
You shove your bulky metal form into them, attempting to create a group hug.

Darren 2011/11/03(Thu)20:23 No. 363487 ID: c7b6c2
File 132037703779.png - (42.03KB , 500x500 , can i stop drawing trees now.png )

Please, both of you, stop this!
"H-hey!"

>>363427
I'm sorry. It's just impossible. You'd have to be about three times larger than you already are, and even then you'd make a rather terrible pickaxe. You probably couldn't be a bird anymore, either. Or move anywhere.

>>363456
I am not sure if I'm comfortable with that. The fact that she tried to kill me twice is just a bit too much for me to feel safe around her, and Widde seemed to outright hate her, probably for using his face like a cutting board. But you do have a good point about a relapse. Maybe we should keep an eye on her.

And yes, that's still something on the agenda. The more I think about it, the more moronic it sounds, though. Perhaps I should just leave the region altogether.

"Well, uh, I can do a lot of stuff. I can be pretty much anything a-as long as it isn't too big or small or too weird. Why?"

>>363487
Define "too weird."

>>363495

Sounds like a challenge, to me.

Winston 2011/11/04(Fri)09:06 No. 363573 ID: 0d7a83
File 132042277296.jpg - (14.94KB , 280x280 , triangle.jpg )

>>363495
I think she might be referring to things like this.

>>363573
yes that would be too weird.
anyway, we should get moving.

every king needs a black hand. Rote could be yours.

Suggestion 2011/11/04(Fri)15:05 No. 363638 ID: 78b9fc
File 132044435304.jpg - (678.67KB , 3008x2000 , LargeTribarGotschuchenAustria.jpg )

>>363573

Please. That is child's play to reproduce.

Darren 2011/11/04(Fri)17:44 No. 363693 ID: c7b6c2
File 132045384460.png - (39.72KB , 500x500 , it\'s rote.png )

>>363495
"Well, uh, a-as long as it's a living thing. I can't be a tree or a box or nothin'. And if it's something crazy like some kind of demon thing, then, yeah."

>>363578
Pehol is down the road to the east. Judging by the sun, I'd say we have about an hour, give or take a half, until it gets too dark. That won't be enough time to get there. We, uh, also need to find Widde. He shouldn't take too long, but it might be a bit faster if we go look for him. It takes longer than you'd think to find wood that burns hot enough to-- uh. Do that one thing we were going to do.

>>363604
I thought we were going to try to keep her from killing, not encourage it?

what is the difference between a hero and a murderer? the targets.

>>363693
But trees are living things...

>>363698

this.

>>363698
But she has already shown that she has problems with getting crazy/crazier while fighting. An important part of being a hero is being selective of who you kill.

Darren 2011/11/05(Sat)17:45 No. 363860 ID: c7b6c2
File 132054035730.png - (27.04KB , 500x500 , don\'t mind the background.png )

>>363698
I think you're missing the point.

>>363791
Exactly.

>>363704
"Well, uh, yeah, I guess. But I can't be one anyway. I can only really do fleshy things. I mean, I can try to be a tree, but I can't do it perfectly right. "

CAW CAW! widde no!

>>363860
Uh, rote, you should duck. Or avoid. Or whatever it is you do to prevent being hit by a fireball.

We may be slower, but we can still fly, so [fly over there and try to get Widde to stop]. Caw.

Widde 2011/11/06(Sun)10:33 No. 363959 ID: c7b6c2
File 132060441811.png - (27.60KB , 500x500 , Listening to the B-52s makes me better.png )

>>363861
Widde does not listen to your plea.

>>363863
Rote narrowly ducks out of the way of Widde's flame. She scrambles to cover behind the rock.

You flap your way over to Widde.

Oh, shit, shit, shit! I missed! F-- Bird! You got away from that crazy bitch! Where's whatshisname? Did she do something to him?

>>363959
[Tackle Widde, aiming to knock him down]

WIDDE. STOP. RIGHT NOW. SHE HAS SURRENDERED.

>>363959
Caw caw caw caw caw!

Also stop it! She surrendered. Basically what the other guy said but less dramatic.

Suggestion 2011/11/06(Sun)15:02 No. 364053 ID: 78b9fc
File 132062055927.gif - (8.20KB , 307x138 , caw caw.gif )

CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW
CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW CAW

NO! she hast surrendered! She claims to be a victim of circumstance and we will hear her out...But you SHOULD remain vigilant.

Personally I think it's a travesty of justice, Widdle.

Widde 2011/11/06(Sun)16:18 No. 364125 ID: c7b6c2
File 132062513578.png - (22.68KB , 500x500 , you molest people too much.png )

>>363993
Ow! What the hell, bird?

>>363993
>>364048
Sh-she was standing out in the open! Not tied up or anything! That's not surrendering!

Did she put you up to this? Is she holding that one guy hostage or something?

>>364103
That's bullshit! A "victim of circumstance" does not cut the hell out of people's faces!

>>364053
AAAH SHUT UP!

we got her on a short leash, she moves one tendril out of line BAM she's done.

>>364125
These other fragments are suckers for a sob story. Tell us, what was she saying while she was torturing and robbing you?

think about it... how would you turn out if everyone else you ever met hated you...wanted you to die even....maybe some even tried to kill you...being hunted every day of your life, WHAT WOULD YOU DO!? she had to adapt to survive....We are giveing her a chance to try to return to a normal life, to repent for what she has done. We are keeping an eye out to make sure she won't do anything, but I honestly think she might be honestly repentant.

Widde 2011/11/06(Sun)18:22 No. 364163 ID: c7b6c2
File 132063253506.png - (25.12KB , 500x500 , if it\'s difficult, i don\'t draw it.png )

>>364128
Y-you're letting that bitch just stand around! She should be in chains with a weapon pointed at her!

>>364130
Well, uh... she was yelling at me to stay still, and after I tried to get away, she was laughing... calling me a dumbass.

>>364161
Is that what she told you? I've been in that kind of situation and you don't see me cutting peoples' faces up.

Wait, we're NOT taking her to get hung? What the hell! What are we going to do, cart her around until she kills us and takes our stuff? Because that's what she'll do. She's not "repentant" or any of that shit!

Listen to yourself Widde. You were going to set her on fire when she was doing nothing at all. Remember how she normally did things by ambushing them and using a near lethal to lethal move? You are doing the exact same thing. That's not justice, that's revenge.

Killing her right now isn't going to help the family of those who died from her other than only removing one of a multitude. However, working, paying off societies debts and clearing her own name through labor will at least help the village. Heck, half her reason is basic racism. If that stays, then there is a good chance other bandits will rise due to being chastised for their race.

However, if we improve her, make her a part of the community to make it better and increase relations no matter the race as long as they play nice, we can prevent this from repeating. Should her pass actions be forgiven completely? No. Should she at least be given a chance to prove she's more than a criminal? Yes.

In the end though, you can trust our judgment or not, however, the fact the same person who attacked you before is not only cowering, but avoiding conflict makes you look like the criminal here. That's not something either of us would want. You can be wary, just don't be hostile.

you forget we don't sleep.

>>364163
Dude, we've beaten her twice. The time with you, we didn't even really end up with a scratch. She's not really as powerful as you seem to think she is. I don't think it's too much hubris to say if she tries something, we can handle her as a group.

As such, yeah, I think it's fine to cart her around to a town. If she actually is repentant then we would have achieved a positive result for all involved, both for the town and Rote herself. If not, then the situation would still be salvageable.

Rehabilitation will always be more important than retaliation.

... Wait, why do you think hanging her would help? She is a shapeshifter.

Anyway, let me take care of something. ROTE, STAY WHERE YOU ARE. WE ARE DEFUSING THE SITUATION. PLEASE DON'T MAKE IT WORSE BY ATTACKING.

Widde 2011/11/06(Sun)20:51 No. 364201 ID: c7b6c2
File 132064151319.png - (25.22KB , 500x500 , mad as hell.png )

>>364167
And? What happens when she crushes you and kills me in my sleep?

>>364174
How the hell do you know if she's actually sorry for what she's done? And I'd much rather be wrong and alive then right and dead. We're giving her plenty of chances to kill us.

>>364183
I mean find some way to kill her! Hanging isn't the only option!
>ROTE, STAY WHERE YOU ARE. WE ARE DEFUSING THE SITUATION. PLEASE DON'T MAKE IT WORSE BY ATTACKING.

Something is shouted back, but it too quiet to understand.

>>364165
Nothing at all?! She was standing out there, unrestrained, and completely conscious. For someone who just tried to kill me maybe half an hour ago, THAT IS PRETTY FUCKING SUSPICIOUS. What I did wasn't revenge, it was logic.

Okay. Okay. You know what? I'll play along and act all forgiving. I'll go with your plan. Let's take her to wherever, get her some job that isn't killing people, and hope she doesn't fuck that up or kill us on the way there. Yeah, it'll be just fine.

But if she steps even an inch out of line, does ANYTHING that's even vaguely threatening. I will make perfectly sure that she is too dead to ever do anything like it again. And I will not lose any sleep over it. Okay?

>>364201
That's fine with me. I'd still rather she die.

>And? What happens when she crushes you and kills me in my sleep?
Don't worry about that, I am quite confident our demise would be an extremely noisy one.

>But if she steps even an inch out of line, does ANYTHING that's even vaguely threatening. I will make perfectly sure that she is too dead to ever do anything like it again.
I generally agree with you, and if we do end up having to kill her remember to decapitate her as well as burning.

>>364201

Matter of fact you might be the only one able to kill her. The reason she's not in chains is she could just slip out of them. The reason she doesn't have a weapon pointed at her is because Darren is dumb and it's hard to hug people when you have a rifle pointed at them. But if push comes to shove, about the only thing that could do anything besides just piss her off is fire. Lots of fire.

Very well, this is a perfect compromise. I am glad we could agree.

*fly to Rote*
Well, I have some good news and bad news. Good news is you will not be roasted. Bad news is that you will be watched carefully. I can play back the words he said if you want, but you will have to truly work hard to redeem yourself in his eyes. After all, you did mug him.

>>364213
Well, that's not true. Anything that knocks her unconscious disables her shapeshifting for a period of time.

Widde 2011/11/07(Mon)17:25 No. 364360 ID: c7b6c2
File 132071553458.png - (25.42KB , 500x500 , he mad.png )

>>364202
>>364208
>>364213
Good to know. Wait, hugging? What?

>>364218
"O-okay. I think I remember him. He's not too mad at me, right?"

"Hey, uh--"

Shut up. Just shut the fuck up. Bird, are we done here? I'd really like to get moving.

Yes.

Caw, let's go!

...Uh, Darren, which way are we going anyway? Caw caw

Darren 2011/11/08(Tue)13:37 No. 364541 ID: c7b6c2
File 132078825857.png - (14.80KB , 500x500 , sunset.png )

Hey, this isn't going to be a problem, is it?
"No."

>>364429
We're going back down the road, the way we came. We're already most of the way down the mountain.

I don't think we're going to make it very far before it gets dark, though. The sun's almost down.

>>364541
*begin singing annoyingly cheerful tune*

It's a lovely holiday with Mary! Mary makes your heart so light! When the day is gray and ordinary, Mary makes the sun shine bright!

Darren 2011/11/08(Tue)18:28 No. 364595 ID: c7b6c2
File 132080573322.png - (20.97KB , 500x500 , oh look, shadows.png )

>>364547
>>364558
Who is Mary?
"Hey, uh, does your bird ever... stop being like that? Acting annoying all the time?"

There seems to be... something blocking our path. It's staring at the sunset. If it cares about our presence, it hasn't show it.

everyone behind the tree.
[fly above the thing]
hello!

>>364605
That, with 'above it' meaning 'far enough above it to be out of tentacle range'.

We aren't annoying all the time, we've just got..issues, plus we are trying to cheer things up! it's always so somber.

Clockwork Bird 2011/11/08(Tue)20:39 No. 364621 ID: c7b6c2
File 132081358064.png - (19.08KB , 500x500 , oh my god this is an awkward angle.png )

>>364605
>>364615
>hello!
"...hello yes."

Who are you? What kind of creature are you? You look really cool. Do you like the sunset? Caw!

dude, green is my favorite color.

Clockwork Bird 2011/11/09(Wed)12:16 No. 364712 ID: c7b6c2
File 132086979051.png - (29.90KB , 500x500 , Still haven\'t found a way to smoothly blend .png )

>>364623
i am me. yes good sun.

>>364709
green is good yes.

Where are your traveling to on this fine day, my good sir?

Clockwork Bird 2011/11/09(Wed)16:29 No. 364750 ID: c7b6c2
File 132088499904.png - (25.88KB , 500x500 , how the hell did i forget the sky color last time.png )

>>364713
"no traveling, no. you little bird are asking many questions. why?"

we have friends hidden, you are large and unknown to them, so they hide while we came to you to see if they should fear or not.

We ask questions because we are a curious sort of avian, and you are an unusual looking fellow.

If not travel then might we inquire as to your purpose?

Caw, we are like a great abyss for information. We learn, but it will never fill us, never placate our desire to learn more – to remind us of what we have forgotten; to understand all we are presented with. We ask questions to try to fill that hole even though it may never be filled! Caw caw caw! I'm a bird! Caw!

Clockwork Bird 2011/11/09(Wed)21:03 No. 364802 ID: c7b6c2
File 132090139964.png - (22.93KB , 500x500 , chlorophyll.png )

>>364752
"no. no fear."

>>364763
"okay."

>>364756
"there is good sun here. good."

Well, it was just a plant. No need to be alarmed! Let's go tell Darren.

yeah, let's go tell 'em it's just a talking flower.

...

a really cool one.

...

I wish we had a vase so we could take it with us.

Ah, I see. Good day to you then!

>>364802
...What do you do when the sun is gone?

[besides that yeah darren hi its basically a talking plant, hes pretty bro]

Darren 2011/11/10(Thu)17:41 No. 364939 ID: c7b6c2
File 132097568140.png - (30.25KB , 500x500 , it\'s pretty big.png )

>>364819
"i go find more sun."

>>364818
"goodbye okay."

>>364806
>>364813
>>364818
>>364819
A plant? And it talked to you? I think I know what it is. I have heard of them before. They're called Fleurids. Apparently, they're not all that intelligent. They just crawl around until they decide that a given spot has good enough sunlight.

... Wow, this thing is... very large. I've never seen one in person before.

Resist the urge to climb atop him.

>>364945
don't do this. yay climbing!

It's a neat creature! But yeah, all it really wants is to sun itself, climb it or go around. You can talk to it as well

Climbing them would be rude, I think.

>>364939
Say hi!

Darren 2011/11/10(Thu)21:58 No. 364971 ID: c7b6c2
File 132099110422.png - (11.65KB , 500x500 , i will die happy if i never draw another hand.png )

>>364961
Hello.
yes hello.

>>364945
>>364950
>>364951
Well, it's not blocking our way. We CAN go around it. I'm not sure what purpose climbing it will accomplish, but, ah... I have to admit that it sounds fairly alluring right now.

>>364957
Well, it's not reacting when I touch it, so maybe it wouldn't mind...?

climbing people is rude.

You can just ask, I guess.

Better safe than venus-fly-trapped, caw. No harm in asking! Caw!

Yesss let us ask if we can climb it. :D

I figure it will probably say "okay".

Darren 2011/11/11(Fri)12:30 No. 365070 ID: c7b6c2
File 132104342324.png - (21.99KB , 500x500 , it really is huge.png )

>>364975
I suppose it is, but...

>>364977
>>364991
>>365015
This is going to be a very awkward question.
Widde: "Uh, what... what are you doing?"

Excuse me! Can I ask you something?
"yes okay."
Would you mind if I, uh... climbed you?
Widde: "What...?"
"no. you can."
Uh... okay. Thank you.

So how do you think I should go about doing this? I don't want to break anything on it.
...and why am I even climbing it in the first place?

Widde: "Really, what? Are you seriously going to just climb it?"

You probably shouldn't actually climb him. He looks hard to hold on to.

Climb up the little side thingies one at a time like a ladder!

>>365070
I dunno man, you said it was alluring.

>>365070
Let's all watch the sunset on the top of the fleurid! Caaaaw caw caw!

Darren 2011/11/11(Fri)22:15 No. 365175 ID: c7b6c2
File 132107850104.png - (15.05KB , 500x500 , shoes are hard.png )

>>365086
I spent a good portion of my childhood climbing trees. If I can climb a tree, then I can climb this.

>>365102
That's a good idea. It's better than shimmying up.

>>365103
Oh, uh, you heard what I said just now? I had no idea you had such good hearing.

>>365134
That sounds like a splendid idea.

Okay... this is going to be somewhat difficult with a robe on, but I can manage. It's a good thing that these boots have such good grip. I'll stay near the bases of it's... leaves? So I don't do any damage to it.

Rote: "Wait, WHY is he climbin' it?"
Widde: "I have no idea. I think the bird thing told him to."
Rote: "...wow. I'm gonna sit down over here. Tell me if he falls off or somethin'."
Widde: "Yeah. Hand me that bag. I haven't had anything to eat since noon. We're going to have to find some place to stay the night, too."

Oh, you guys want to find a place to stay the night?

I'll look.
[fly up to survey the terrain]

...let's give the lovebirds some privacy.

Clockwork Bird 2011/11/12(Sat)19:25 No. 365345 ID: c7b6c2
File 132115472558.png - (18.06KB , 500x500 , he\'s goin\' the distance.png )

>>365203
>>365234
Widde: "Yeah, okay go do whatev-- W-what the fuck did you just say?"
Rote: "kkhh-- hahaha"


You fly up high enough to get a mostly unobstructed view of the floodplain. A river flows only a few dozen yards away, on the other side of a gentle slope. Behind you is the forest that you recently emerged from. The floodplain is bare of large vegetation apart from prairie grass and a few shrubs. There is only a few minutes left until the sun sets completely.

Below you, Darren has almost reached the top of the Fleurid. Widde and Rote are arguing.

cute.

let's land on Darren's shoulder.

This quest is now on hiatus. As of late, I have been subject to numerous migraines and other maladies combined with a very stressful schedule and environment that have made writing and drawing very difficult. Clockwork Bird will return in a few weeks. In the meantime, I might start running a less effort-intensive quest. Thank you for understanding.

>>365474
:(! Take however long you need, but get well soon, trout-lips.

Let's go down and see what the heck they're arguing about.

Maybe try to keep them from killing eachother for no good reason.