Rhorta knows a lot about growing plants, so she seems like the best person to talk to since this is gardening related. You can ask a few of your closer neighbors/family for help if the work is a bit much for one little 'bold.

>>1036973
+1 our gnoll friend knows a lot about flowers, and bees like flowers. We'd so best to know what kinds they like, and if proximity to flowers will beeee an issue for our beees. We like someone on some rocky turf i think, so flower patches would be some distance away? It would also be good to get her general advice.
After that i think we should buy the hat, smoker, and maybe a bag to transport all the bees and their queen. If we have a small ink and brush (blue or green) we could use it to make the queen in case we ever need to extract her.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)07:26 No. 1037003 ID: 9ea24b
File 165694478434.png - (183.90KB , 1000x1100 , p26.png )

>Rhortra herself
The gnoll matriarch knows a lot about the plants and fungi that grow on the mountain, and she’ll be able to give you advice on what flowers the bees will like. Since you live on the shadier north side you’re concerned that there won’t be enough food for the bees to make their delicious honey.

After breakfast and your early morning chores, you walk towards Rhortra’s house and spot the gnoll collecting eggs at the chicken coop.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)07:26 No. 1037004 ID: 9ea24b
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You explain the situation and Rhortra agrees to help as long as she gets some honey in the future. The gnoll’s thick fur helps protect her from stings, though her nose and eyes are still vulnerable. She brings a pair of small leather gloves that you can use to scoop the bees into the box and also provides some much needed muscle.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)07:26 No. 1037005 ID: 9ea24b
File 165694480012.png - (270.86KB , 1000x1100 , p28.png )

Rhortra returns to your cave with you, to Worm’s delight. She picks up the box while you hold Worm and Weasel dons the protective equipment. Your party walks to the lake and you quickly notice the buzzing of the hive in an old hollow tree.

Weasel sends white plumes into the hive entrance until the bees are sedated, then starts picking up large handfuls of insects and shaking them gently in the box. She takes a few large sections of comb and places them among the frames.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)07:26 No. 1037006 ID: 9ea24b
File 165694480634.png - (203.53KB , 1000x1100 , p29.png )

After waiting an hour or so for the rest of the bees to follow their queen into the box, Rhortra puts on the beekeeper hat and takes the box back towards your cave. She recommends putting the box in a small clearing near the spring and you thank her profusely for the advice.

The bees have been secured! It’ll be a while before they start producing extra honey, but you feel very proud of your family’s efforts.

With that taken care of, what would you like to focus your energy on for summer home improvements?

We're not done yet!
let's baby/childproof the box so Worm doesn't wander off and go near it and get stung. Build a fence around it or something!

plus it my deter thieves or wild animals stealing our honey and bees

Do you have a crib for Worm built yet? You might feel more comfortable leaving her alone for at least a few minutes at a time if her bed had some bars.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)14:32 No. 1037023 ID: 9ea24b
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>Crib
A box to keep the bees in…perhaps you could make some kind of box to keep the baby in.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)14:32 No. 1037024 ID: 9ea24b
File 165697034026.png - (210.09KB , 1000x1100 , p31.png )

>Fence
A fence to protect your bees from, say, a bear seems prudent. You don’t think the other kobolds would steal your honey, especially since Weasel marked the box with the family initials, but maybe a particularly rude human would see it as a target if there weren’t other signs of civilization.

That said, you only have enough extra nails for one of these options.

Do you:
-Build a crib
-Build a fence
-Return to the town to get more nails for both (someone will recognize you)

Even if we do just one, it's probably important to have spare nails anyways. Yeah, go to town and get more nails. (plus, things might get interesting when we come across someone who might recognize us)

Fence won't keep a bear out (unless it's an electric fence). If you're in bear territory then your best bet is making sure that the apiary can't be knocked over and smashed.

Might as well get more nails so you can attempt a construction that does that, and build a crib.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)16:31 No. 1037040 ID: 9ea24b
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>Town
Curse those darn humans and their sufficiently advanced metalworking technology! Guess you’ll have to go crawling back to buy more nails. You currently have 5s 5c. More nails cost 3c and you’ll buy extra in case you have more projects.

You pack lunch for another long walk around the mountain after checking to make sure Weasel can manage Worm and all the chores.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)16:32 No. 1037041 ID: 9ea24b
File 165697752176.png - (227.15KB , 1000x1100 , p33.png )

Town looks remarkably the same as it did a day ago. You hurry to buy your nails and are alarmed when the blacksmith greets you warmly.

“Will you be coming here more frequently? Ever since Bark joined our town I’ve been wondering when other kobolds will become more familiar.”

You gape at her, snatch the bag of nails, and hurry away.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)16:32 No. 1037042 ID: 9ea24b
File 165697752880.png - (209.90KB , 1000x1100 , p34.png )

You’re about to rush back home when you feel a strange tickling sensation on your scales.

“Hello again! Can I interest you in a quest, young kobold?”

You let out an undignified squeak of alarm when the wizard pops his head around a cottage, now wearing a pointed hat.

Oh no!
Oh wait...
Oh yeah!(?)

we're low on funds, we might need to take this temporary job until our honey farm is set, won't we? ask how much the job pays, and what the quest actually is. Even if it's something we aren't interested in doing, or can't do, we can at least indulge him in this conversation until he's satisfied and goes away.

Oh wait, just reread it, we're not low on funds. We probably don't need the job

Still, just listen to what he has to say, if just out of morbid curiosity if anything.

>>1037042
Quest? Uh. You know what, okay, what's the job? You just spent like half your funds, more money can't hurt.

You did remember to pay for the nails right?

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)17:14 No. 1037050 ID: 9ea24b
File 165698009427.png - (182.35KB , 1000x1100 , p35.png )

>Money?
After buying two helpings of nails you now have 4s 9c. Great dragon, more than half your money is gone after only a day!

>Quest
“What’re you paying?” you ask suspiciously.

Siraman bursts out laughing. “Pay? I don’t pay people to go on quests, if I did I’d be broke in no time!”

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)17:15 No. 1037051 ID: 9ea24b
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He gets closer, towering over you. “You live on the mountain, correct? Well then, I charge you to take this bag of crystals to your dragon.”

He holds out a leather bag glittering with blue powder.

“Uh…and if I say no?”

The wizard sighs. “I suppose I’ll have to make the trip myself one of these days. That kind of epic journey could include an entire novels worth of distractions though and who knows when I’d be able to complete it.”

Ask what the stuff in the bag is

Well, whatever, an errand for your dragon seems like something you should be doing, so accept.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)18:04 No. 1037061 ID: 9ea24b
File 165698308025.png - (154.54KB , 1000x1100 , p37.png )

“What is that stuff? Are you trying to poison the dragon?” you narrow your eyes at Siraman.

“She could certainly get sick if she used all this at once.” Siraman shakes the pouch a little and you hear the crystals clinking around. “Hmm, I’d say it’s a kind of medicine for you magical creatures. Doesn’t work on humans unfortunately, though it’s still quite valuable in some circles so don’t go selling it.”

He plops the sack on your head, taking your continued questioning as acceptance, and trots away without another word.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)18:04 No. 1037062 ID: 9ea24b
File 165698308610.png - (163.37KB , 1000x1100 , p38.png )

You start the journey back to the mountain again. Okay, those goats are definitely watching you, that’s just weird.

Do you:
-Test the crystals by having a small nibble
-Go straight home
-Go straight to the dragon via your parents’ cave

Hmm... if B, we might put our family in danger if the crystals are bad. If C, we might put the dragon in danger.

A. Nom the crystal

should we examine those goats?

bite a crystal.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)19:42 No. 1037068 ID: 9ea24b
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>Test crystals
It’s your duty as a loyal follower of the great dragon to make sure the crystals are safe. You take one of the smaller chunks and put it in your mouth. It tastes bitter and slowly dissolves on your tongue.

As you walk through the pastures, you start to feel strong and powerful. You were tired from the trip but now you want to run up the mountain. A quick check of all your limbs shows nothing has changed physically, but you feel like you could do anything.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)19:42 No. 1037069 ID: 9ea24b
File 165698897548.png - (198.91KB , 1000x1100 , p40.png )

The goats stare at you and now you stare back. Why shouldn’t you improve your family even more by taking a goat back home? Weasel will be so impressed and Worm will have tasty nutritious milk to drink.

You take a running leap and tackle one of the smaller does. She brays with panic and starts to drag you around while the other goats scatter.

Oh, I see, so those crystals would put someone in berserk mode. Man, if the dragon took one of those, they would probably cause havick.

luckily we only took a small bite, so maaaaaybe we can try to snap out of it. Try to get back to your senses, those aren't your goats!

>>1037069
That goat's bigger than you, I don't think stealing it is going to work. Also aren't you not supposed to steal things?
Oh well. RIDE THE GOAT

Hmm, looks like the crystals grant energy, but a possible side effect is aggression.

tippler 2022/07/04(Mon)20:34 No. 1037074 ID: 9ea24b
File 165699207533.png - (266.46KB , 1000x1100 , p41.png )

>This isn’t right!
The goat bucks you off and you instantly flip back onto your feet. You’re about to go in for another attack but hesitate. Stealing is wrong and all these frantic goats will attract a shepherd, then you’ll really be in trouble. Your addled brain is saying you could ride the goat all the way home, screw the humans, and with great difficulty you sprint away instead.

What do you do with the bag of crystals and where do you go? You’re not sure how long these feelings will last and you’re frightened.

>>1037074
Jog through the forest until you feel tired. The crystal gives energy, so once you're tired again it'll have worn off.
You could use your manic energy constructively and do some carpentry at home with the nails you bought? Just tell your family that you're not feeling right in the head at the moment.

Keep the crystals safe until the dose wears off, then deliver them with a description of what happened to you. Could be that even a small one was too much for you.

Go see dragon with crystals. Maybe we can tell her what happened, and let her decide what to do with the crystals after informing her.
If it's possible, try not to go through our dad's cave to get to her so we don't try to hurt anyone... Maybe we can climb the mountain with our newfound energy instead? might be enough to get all our energy out of our system by the time we get there.

>>1037074
Go back home, explain to your wife that a wizard gave you crystals to give to the mighty dragon -which you doubt said wizard wants done out of good will- and ask her to make sure Worm doesn't eat any.

Get some water to drink and wait out your high until you're normal again. Once you're more manageable, you can go to the dragon and explain the crystals to her with some warming. Perhaps she might know what this crystal stuff is?

>>1037078

Yeah, this. I would say as a simple rule: Don't actually go on this quest until you can verify that the wizard is legit. the crystals may not have harmed you, but magic is weird.

The dragon is super important, and the dragon's favor would be good for your family of course. Don't completely throw away the idea of going, just treat it with the skepticism it deserves.

tippler 2022/07/05(Tue)06:57 No. 1037097 ID: 9ea24b
File 165702946981.png - (172.25KB , 1000x1100 , p42.png )

>Jog home
You want to see Weasel and get her advice on the wizard’s request. If you can explain your altered state she won’t be as worried even if you’re acting erratically.

With a new goal, you charge home, taking care to stop and drink water periodically. Your muscles feel no pain and the crystals clink against each other with each stride. The high still hasn’t worn off by the time you reach the cave.

tippler 2022/07/05(Tue)06:58 No. 1037098 ID: 9ea24b
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It’s difficult to talk clearly, you shout for Weasel to come out and then babble to her about the situation and how much you love her and how you tried to steal a goat. You see the fear in her eyes and you feel horrible.

She takes the nails and the bag of crystals and you run around in the forest checking all your traps and gathering firewood until late at night when you finally feel tired.

tippler 2022/07/05(Tue)06:58 No. 1037099 ID: 9ea24b
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>Crash
You have trouble sleeping, but you eventually doze in the nest. You wake up exhausted and depressed, your whole body sore. After some food and water, you take the crystals and stagger through the tunnels deeper into the mountain.

>Dragon
You haven’t seen the dragon since last Thanks Meal and you find her slumbering on her pile of treasure, just like before. Without a plate of tasty food, you’re not sure how to wake her up.

In the traditional way: Singing your heart out.

"I got your speed,
it tastes like weed!
I followed your creed,
and tested the mead,
I have to know the feed,
Does it grow from a seed?
I scared my wife
and she peed
helpme"

>>1037099
Touch scaly tail.

You can make something else with a strong but pleasant smell to wake her up, like the scent of crushed pine needles.
A whiff of the crystals wouldn't hurt, probably.

tippler 2022/07/05(Tue)15:53 No. 1037127 ID: 9ea24b
File 165706158648.png - (148.49KB , 1000x1100 , p45.png )

>Touch tail
You beat your fists uselessly on the dragon’s heavily armored tail.

>Give her a whiff of crystals
That feels kind of skeevy, but it’d probably work. You’ll try singing first.

>Singing check: failure
You sing a silly folk tune about sunning oneself on a rock, to no effect.

tippler 2022/07/05(Tue)15:53 No. 1037128 ID: 9ea24b
File 165706160126.png - (186.35KB , 1000x1100 , p46.png )

With a sigh, you crush a bit of crystal with a rock and let the dragon sniff up the powder. After a minute her huge golden eyes open with an audible clunk.

“I have these blue crystals for you from the wizard Siraman!” you holler.

The dragon moves sluggishly to fix you with her stare, and then gives a sigh that blows you off balance. She shrinks into the familiar anthropomorphic form and gives a huge yawn.

“Thanks.” she mumbles, taking the pouch from you.

>>1037128
...it's magical coffee isn't it.
Well go on and ask what it's supposed to do. You uh, had a tiny bit and it kinda fucked you up.

They make you real peppy so they might help you stay awake, just try not to take too much or you'll start chasing your own tail.

Ask what they are, and why that weird wizard sent you to deliver them.

Also, just ask how the dragon is doing. You don't get to see them much, it's always nice to visit.

tippler 2022/07/05(Tue)17:16 No. 1037148 ID: 9ea24b
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You take a seat next to the dragon, kicking your feet excitedly at the prospect of spending time with her.

“That stuff is really strong.” you say knowledgeably. “What’s it called?”

“Magic methamphetamine.” the dragon says.

“Oh.” That’s not a word you’ve ever heard before and you’re a bit taken aback. “Well don’t have too much or you’ll be chasing your own tail. At least it’ll help you stay awake!”

tippler 2022/07/05(Tue)17:16 No. 1037149 ID: 9ea24b
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She hunches in on herself, looking extremely depressed. You cough awkwardly and fiddle with a bit of armor.

“Are you doing okay? I won’t tell anyone if you’re having problems, you may be our great and powerful leader but sometimes it still helps if you talk to people about what’s going on.” you say.

The dragon is quiet for a moment, tip of her tail twitching lamely. “I’m probably going to die soon, Siraman’s doing me a favor by getting me these crystals so I can settle all my business, but then, yeah, that’s it for me.”

You stare at her, uncomprehending. The dragon leans back in her pile of treasure and closes her eyes.

“Tell him thanks from me when you get the chance. I’m kind of tired, so you should go.”

tippler 2022/07/05(Tue)17:16 No. 1037150 ID: 9ea24b
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Thanks for reading.