no, thinking alone should not cause a headache. you may have been cursed or something.

>>190715
Well it conceivably could, but that's only a matter of stress and it wouldn't do anything like that. Something external may be effecting you, be it physically or magically.

Was your headaches like this before you started taking the feverfew mix? If you had a headache for other reasons and started taking it... well I'm not sure. Being tied to thinking is still weird.

When did it start happening to you? Did anything else happen around then?

>>190715
>I might trigger my headache back if I think about it again. Happened to me a couple of times before, wouldn't want to experience that again.
That magnifies makes my earlier suspicions. I'd guess that it means someone doesn't want you thinking about certain things, and that someone doesn't have your well-being in mind. This is all the more reason to think about whatever it is that's being blocked.

>>190715
Think about how cute Mika is, and how great a couple you two would make.

>>190715

A screw-type pump is a simple way to deal with a flooded mine, though it's not terribly efficient and needs to be rather large to move a significant amount of water. There are other pump designs that waste less energy, or which are smaller, but which are correspondingly more complicated.

When you work on new things and get a headache, are you actively doodling the diagram out?

Are those goggles just protective, or do they correct your vision as well?

If it's thinking about the mine that triggers the headaches, there may be a good reason why the mine is flooded. Too deep. Too greedy. Some things are better left buried.

>>190818
that's a good idea. draw while you think so after the headache you can pick up right where you started instead of having to start over.

Agga 2010/06/16(Wed)16:20 No. 194667 ID: f35d0a
File 127673043649.png - (47.33KB , 640x400 , 12.png )

I was planning on making a diagram for my idea, but I wasn't able to think of anything to draw before my headache appeared. Maybe you can give me something that I can work on, now that you're here?

>>190818
I have very sensitive eyes. Even a small amount of dust irritates them. I wear my goggles almost all the time because of this.

Mama: "Since you are here, why not come inside the hut? It's been three weeks since your last visit here. Can't I have some quality time with you, at least for awhile?"

Aww, be with your ma.

>>194667
Multitask. Be with your mom while thinking about a pump system for the mine. And remember that you can use draft animals in the plans.

>>190715

An interesting thing about headaches is they are not usually in the brain! The circulatory system that feeds the brain is the most common culprit, with strained or constricted blood vessels causing pain. Second from that are the sinus passages, irritated by allergies or other toxins. The brain itself has no built in way to sense when it's being squeezed poked or prodded it has to rely on the senses from your eyes nose ears and skin. Bypassing those senses directly to the brain can cause... very strange effects. Nothing to toy with, since it could partially eject your soul and that gets very nasty!

Anyway my point is that the brain can cause headaches, even simply by working too hard, but the pain is from the blood vessels at the surface who were overly taxed by the mighty machine therein.

>>194667
Do you have tiny eyes? All the other goblins have much larger eyes than you.

Agga 2010/06/17(Thu)18:43 No. 195083 ID: f35d0a
File 127682541720.png - (60.41KB , 640x400 , 13.png )

>>194678
I will, once I get back to my house. For now, we go inside Mama's house.

>>194751
I'm not sure how that will clarify the cause of my headaches. What you said is general information of them, right?

>>194935
Oh, they really think I have small eyes, but I wouldn't be covering them if they weren't sensitive in the first place.

You haven't seen my eyes yet, have you?

>>195083
Nope. Maybe you could show them to us?

Agga 2010/06/17(Thu)19:27 No. 195089 ID: f35d0a
File 127682803429.png - (41.89KB , 640x400 , 14.png )

>>195084
No, I'm just asking. My eyes aren't something that one would normally see, you know. Besides, it's no use having seen them if I always cover them with my goggles.

Mama: "Hon, what do you want for lunch?"
"... I have nothing specific in mind."
Mama: "Okay then, I'll just steam some vegetables for you. A growing kid like you need lots of nourishment, you know!"

Mama really cares for me. She's rather overprotective about it, but I know she's worried for my health. She told me that I was the reason she started 'experimenting' with medicinal herbs and such, but to be honest, she hasn't gotten that far compared to the clerics that pass through our village.

What about you? Ever think about trying to help yourself?

>>195089
Maybe the strap on the goggles is putting pressure on your head, giving you the headaches. Better take them off.

>>195091
addendum: you can close your eyes when you do, just need to see if you have any pressure marks.

>>195091

Imperfectly crafted lenses for the goggles could be another potential source for the headaches, though if you've been using them a long time it seems unlikely. Bear it in mind should we happen to meet an optics expert, since such a person could confirm if your lenses would cause such trouble or not.

Agga 2010/06/17(Thu)20:35 No. 195098 ID: f35d0a
File 127683210297.png - (90.50KB , 640x400 , 15.png )

>>195090
I can't really help myself. I'm still too young to live on my own, but my expertise requires me to be far away from the village so I can work in peace. Mika always brings to my house some food, sometimes from Mama herself.

... I guess they want me to have my entire attention on what I want to do.

>>195091
>>195093
... If you really want me to take my goggles off for that reason, I guess there isn't much choice. But I get to keep my eyes shut! I don't want to irritate them.

Agga 2010/06/17(Thu)20:35 No. 195099 ID: f35d0a
File 127683214210.png - (46.53KB , 640x400 , 16.png )

... Okay, here it goes...

... Is it okay? No pressure marks from the goggles, right?

>>195099
OH FUCK IT'S SO WRONG WHAT ABOMINATION SPAWNED THAT HELL OF A- no, there are none.

Doesn't look like it. What about the back of your head?

Say... are your eyes yellow, or a different color?

>>195099
You look fine.
Now, go hug Mika.

>>195099
That bit about your sinuses that was mentioned before.. those goggles put constant pressure on them, even if it's not that heavy, the passages inside your head are very narrow in places, so it could be restricting your circulation in ways that could cause headaches..

Of course, at the same time it could be some sort of force that despises technology that's trying to ruin you before you make a breakthrough. >.>

Agga 2010/06/17(Thu)21:24 No. 195118 ID: f35d0a
File 127683509568.png - (31.93KB , 640x400 , 17.png )

>>195108
My eyes are yellow, silly! I'm a goblin! Though I kind of figure out where you're going with this...

I swear, I just have a weird set of eyes for a goblin!

>>195107
The back of the head's the least of my worries. I doubt there would be any significance of it being the cause of my headache.

Looks like my goggles are in the clear, then. I get to keep it, right?

>>195111
Then I'll just make my goggles loose, then. Instead of having it snapped around my head, I'll just start using my old one that I have to tie around.

Would that be better?

>>195118
They're probably fine. I was just curious about your eye color because if they're a strange size they might be a strange color too.

Anyway, how'd you get goggles like that? Seems pretty sophisticated.

>>195118
Did the headaches happen with your old goggles?

Also, go hug Mika.

>>195111
Sinuses?

HE HAS NO NOSE

>>195118
Where did you get those goggles?

Mneme!CRITTerXzI 2010/06/17(Thu)22:12 No. 195144 ID: c4c313
File 127683795721.jpg - (132.94KB , 942x466 , Hypercium.jpg )

The cause of your headache is probably simply, stress. (That and Feverfew.) Thinking too hard. It doesn't matter so much what causes the headaches, unless it's something you can eliminate from your life like chocolate or cheese. It's good to pay attention, to see if there is something external causing it, not just overthinking, but the question we really need to answer is what to do to help with the pain?

I was reading some more into the process of such a severe headache. They said that it happens when a spasm of the blood vessels feeding the brain cuts off the blood, causing what they call "aura" which is vision acting oddly producing spots, flashes or rings of light around things. Then the blood vessels open up, but too much, and the increasing pressure causes the headache, despite the brain now getting enough blood.

When blood vessels open up too much, that's called "inflammation" so any anti-inflammatory plants should help, like willow bark, turmeric or licorice. Willow bark also is a pain reliever so that's good. I would also recommend you get some Hypericum perforatum. It's a very well known herb around here to help with mental overload. It has yellow flowers with long stamens, and thin round leaves with little dotted perforations in them. Finally simply something to help you relax such as chamomile or valerian should help. Cultivating a relaxed steady state of mind is the best way to avoid the horror of those kinds of headaches.

Oh uh, and you probably should just find some Hypercium and ask your mother innocently what kind of plant it is. She can fill in the details after that. Unless you want to try to explain that the voices in your head are researching how to help your headache.

Agga 2010/06/25(Fri)16:09 No. 198928 ID: 7c97d9
File 127750735728.png - (57.77KB , 640x400 , 18.png )

>>195120
>>195130
Mama got both sets for me. She said she found them when she used to be a traveller in some faraway land. When I started as a Tinker, she gave both of them to me so I could protect my sensitive eyes.

Other than that, she's rather reluctant on giving me more information.

>>195121
I've only used the second set of goggles twice ever. I figured it's faster and more efficient to just have one around my head most of the time. So yeah, I can't answer you straight on that.

>>195144
I'll remember that later when Mama's actually focused in trying to improve my medicine.

Mama: "It's here! My ultra-mega-deluxe steamed spinach!"
Mika: "Now that's what I got here for! You make the best food around here, Mama!"

Mama might not be a great herbalist, but she does make some awesome food. I'll chow down to this anytime!

... wait, do you get a lot of sugar and/or meat? a brain runs almost entirely on sugars.

>>198928
>Mama might not be a great herbalist, but she does make some awesome food. I'll chow down to this anytime!

Actually, aside from seasoning, chemical reactions and whatnot play a big part in the kitchen! So.... there's more overlap than you might think. |3

you know, i do recognize foreshadowning when i see it.

eat it up, we gon get back to work.

Agga 2010/06/25(Fri)17:54 No. 199001 ID: 7c97d9
File 127751365869.png - (53.17KB , 640x400 , 19.png )

>>198931
Mama grows sugarcane just behind her hut. She uses the extract to sweeten some of her delicacies.

We rarely eat meat, though. There isn't a lot of livestock around here, so we rely mainly on crops and vegetables. And of course, fishes.

>>198932
So it seems.

"Mama, were you inspired by cooking to take up herbal and medicinal studies?"
"Not really. I once met an alchemist who needed some help getting herbs for his experiment. I learned a lot about herbs from him, and I thanked him by fetching him some of his needed ingredients."
"Do you think I'll be able to meet that guy?"
"... Not if you're sickly and unfit for travelling! Now eat up and be healthy. Mama wants you to grow big and strong!"

as long as you are getting a good diet then it can't be a vitamin deficiency. down to only two causes left, just thinking to hard, and magic.

>>199002
you are forgetting foreshadowning and the fact that his eyes may be suffering a disease. or magical transformation.

you know, foreshadowning. lets get the plot moving.

Atu 2010/06/25(Fri)21:11 No. 199071 ID: 8c0848
File 127752550629.png - (8.10KB , 392x289 , whattheshit.png )

>We rarely eat meat.

You call yourself a goblin? Don`t you get meat when you bite people? Just, like... accidentally gnaw off a piece of someone? HOW DO YOU NOT EAT MEAT? EAT MEAT! EAT IT!

>>199001

thhhh fishes are meat.

>>199071
>>199078
Ehh, fine line. Doubt their diet is biologically problematic at least.

>>199071
Oh, Atu... Your antics warm the cockles of my cold and withered heart...

>>199236
Your heart, or your nether regions?
With Atu, it might as well be both.

>>199001
Ask her how long ago she it was she met this guy. By the way, how old are you?

Agga 2010/07/04(Sun)18:30 No. 203346 ID: 7c97d9
File 127829341787.png - (38.84KB , 640x400 , 20.png )

>>199292
I am young by goblin standards, though I do not know my exact age. I can try asking Mama about it, if you want.

"Mama, how long ago did you last meet this guy?"

Mama lets out a sigh and slouches a bit.

"Let's see... about twelve years or so? That's a year before I met your father, but I can't be pretty sure."
"Hey... How come you got interested in this alchemist all of a sudden?"

>>203346
Well tinkering does have some relation to alchemy, boompowder, pyrotechnics and such.

Also, wouldn't have taken you for being quite so young, although you are pretty short.

just idle curiosity, for all we know over focusing on one subject could be the cause of the headaches.

>>203364
wait... did you get the headaches before you started as tinker? if not then it definitely could be stress related.

>>203346

Master Reynald said he would be able to get me some more metal, so I can make things with it!

Agga 2010/07/04(Sun)20:37 No. 203405 ID: 7c97d9
File 127830103310.png - (45.43KB , 640x400 , 21.png )

>>203367
I wouldn't know. I wasn't subjected to much mental labor before the whole tinker job. I never had a headache then.

"I'm just curious, Mama. I never knew you helped someone with alchemy. Why, that's a word I've never even heard of! But it sounds so exciting!"
"Alchemy is somehow like tinkering, only with chemicals and such. I'm not surprised your attention's all on it."
"But Agga my dear, for one to learn more about their profession, you have to travel and meet other people who shares the same interest. Sometimes, I don't think we should be restricting you to working in this village."
"If you want, you can go to the Bar and ask Shirly to get you someone to help you with your profession. Maybe you'd get to travel someday. But make sure to tell Mama before you do that, okay? Don't get me worried!"

>>203405
Wow, your mom is pretty laid back.

in that case, yeah, it's just stress. you start thinking too hard but can't get anything so you get stressed. when we get back to your house you can just ask us about any of the things you don't understand so you don't get so stressed.

anyway, agree to tell her if you ever go anywhere. but you wont right now, you just got an official job helping the smiths and backing out of an already made agreement would be bad.

Uhm, this is kinda awkward to ask but, how is your father? I just realized we haven't seen him, and we haven't asked about that so...

This isn't going to be one of those happy answers is it?

Agga 2010/07/04(Sun)21:07 No. 203428 ID: 7c97d9
File 127830285452.png - (28.86KB , 640x400 , 22.png )

>>203411
"I actually have an agreement with someone near the village... I'll be staying here for a bit longer, I think."
"No worries, dear. Just be careful, and always stick to Mika for help if you need to, okay?"

>>203416
It's not a happy one, but it's definitely not a sad one, either. I mean, I can't even remember what my dad looked like before he just... left me with Mama.

It's hard to get sad by something you haven't experienced.

>>203428
well that's good, at least you didn't suffer that heartbreak.

and tell her 'okay'

anyway, it looks to be about time to get going, thank mom for the lovely meal and one more hug and say goodbye.

>>203428
Still would be smart to check up on making some possible connections with peers in the same field.

Even if you have a contract to stay here others may be able to supply you with more exotic materials, ideas, and processes without you having to leave yourself.

Most tinkerers and alchemists get adventurers to do those 'fetch me this random thing' quest when they can.

Hey kid, is there anywhere in the village that makes jelly doughnuts?

Agga 2010/07/12(Mon)20:55 No. 207012 ID: 7c97d9
File 127899333461.png - (125.68KB , 640x400 , 23.png )

>>203476
You're right on that. Sadly, I'm the only one around the village who is in this kind of profession, so my only chance is to meet a non-goblin tinker.

"You know Mika's like a big sister to me, Mama. I'll always be near her!"
"Good to know. Now, I don't want to keep you here for too long. You must be ecstatic about going back to your work. Be careful, and good luck."
"See ya sometime, Mama!"

... Now I remember Mama suggesting us to go to the Bar and talk to Shirly. We could do that, unless you have other plans.

i suppose asking Shirly if she knows of any other tinkers couldn't hurt.

Agga 2010/07/12(Mon)21:35 No. 207026 ID: 7c97d9
File 127899571462.png - (38.95KB , 640x400 , 24.png )

To the Bar, then!

Shirly: "What's up, you two?"
Mika: "We're looking for tinkers. Agga wants to meet one."
Shirly: "... Well it's rare to see a wandering tinkers, actually. They usually settle down in places where they'd get the best resources. There's this pair of a Tonberry and a Kobold who came here before, and I've heard the Tonberry is actually a scholar. They're probably your best bet."
"Too bad they've already gone back to Sutaria due to an emergency case. I can probably get you a party who's going there, but it will take awhile."

Did they say what the emergency is? We don't want to walk into a situation that might endanger our cranium!

yes ask if they said anything about why they left. and yeah a while sounds like it would be good. get a few things for the smiths and when you say you are going someplace to get better at being a tinker they wont mind because having you BETTER at it would be good for them too.

>>207026
Sure, go ahead.
Meanwhile, seduce Mika.

Agga 2010/07/12(Mon)23:08 No. 207069 ID: 7c97d9
File 127900131551.png - (83.73KB , 640x400 , 25.png )

Mika: "An emergency?"
Shirly: "Something about water shortage. Since Sutaria's in the desert, they're always on the lookout for water supply."
Mika: "You think they'll be fine?"
Shirly: "The Tonberry told me it's just a break in their system, and it caused some minor spillage. He said it's easy to fix, though it needed his supervision."

... Okay, if we go to Sutaria, we'll have to start packing up, right? So maybe we should head back to my house, unless you have something to ask Shirly...

well, not quite yet. after we get your pump done then we can go. just get clear schematics so that if the smiths need it they can make one. then you will be fine to head out.

>>207069
Looking a bit shy all of a sudden Agga. Shirly's being very helpful, and hiding like that is childish, and a little disrespectful. You'll be stronger for talking to her directly. And be sure to thank her, too. Mika is still there to help you if you're worried.

As for packing, for a trip across the desert, you'll want head covering, some warm clothing for nighttime (sand transfers heat easily, so its hot when the sun's out, but suddenly becomes very cold when night comes. Come to think of it some blacksmith techniques use sand to quench hot metal. )
And of course, you'll need extra water, firewood, since any tree growing out there better serves as shade, and a harem girl outfit to blend in with the local culture. Mika will need one too. And yes, this applies no matter what your gender is, you cheeky thing.

>and a harem girl outfit to blend in with the local culture. Mika will need one too. And yes, this applies no matter what your gender is, you cheeky thing.

no no no no. why the hell would you assume what the culture is like out there? just be out of towners. unless the place is invested with bandits you will be fine. especially since you wont be traveling alone.

They have water problems, do they?

...Hm. Maybe you could do something about that.

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)19:38 No. 207424 ID: 7c97d9
File 127907511385.png - (40.34KB , 640x400 , 26.png )

>>207200
I don't mean to... It's just... I can't see Shirly in the same light after that accident that made her look this way... I can't help but be afraid of her...

"I'm... I'm sorry, Shirly... I'm scared... But thank you for everything..."
"Don't thank me yet, sweetie. I still have to get you two to Sutaria someday. After that, you can thank me."

>>207302
My design for our village well only works because we're on solid ground. I think stuff works differently in a desert, and so I'll have to change the schematics, or even make a new one.

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)19:38 No. 207425 ID: 7c97d9
File 127907512882.png - (90.25KB , 640x400 , 27.png )

We go back to our house... But Mister Raynald is there. He looks dirty...

Raynald: "How's the walk, girls? Having fun? Well I'm not here to dilly-dally on that matter, 'coz I have some bad news."

He sounds a bit furious, but he seems to be trying to calm himself down.

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)19:39 No. 207426 ID: 7c97d9
File 127907514246.png - (57.04KB , 640x400 , 28.png )

Raynald: "... Seems your friend's right. After striking on some veins of iron, we got ourselves into an underground cave. Worse, it has a lake in it, so we had to stop working on it in fear of polluting a nearby water source."
"Looks like we'll have to get you two to examine the cave and see what you can do about it. I don't want to abandon the mine; it has a lot of igneous rocks in it that we can extract some ores from, and it'll take months to find another potential mine like this."

>>207424
What happened to Shirly?

>>207424
Tell us more about the accident.

Also, agree to inspect the mine.

yes, let's go look at it. got any small mirrors and a few bits of glass along with an adhesive? if you have all that then take it with you. make a little item that helps with under water surveying when you get there. if not then we'll have to try something else.

Well shoot. Bring some tools and go check out that cave.

What happened to Shirly? She seems pretty peppy for someone that suffered an accident, I don't think you need to be afraid of her.

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)20:41 No. 207468 ID: 7c97d9
File 127907886167.png - (94.67KB , 640x400 , 29.png )

>>207427
>>207429
>>207440
They said she got caught in an explosion when she was out scouting the nearby area for bandits. Mama tried her best to fix her face, but all she could do was disinfect her wounds and bandage her up.

We go to Mister Raynald's place. He shows us the cave with the underground lake. What caught my attention are the plants near the edge.

>>207468

Wow, plants? How are they growing without sunlight?

Inspect those plants closer up, is the ground slippery?

>>207468
This place rises and lowers with the tide. There's an outlet to the sea or something.

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)21:01 No. 207485 ID: 7c97d9
File 127908011257.png - (39.63KB , 640x400 , 30.png )

>>207474
The ground's all dry up to a certain portion, then it gets a bit slippery. Not enough to stop me from inspecting the plants by the side, though.

>>207472
I have no idea how they're still surviving without sunlight, though they look a bit wilted. They most certainly won't grow a lot in this environment.

... The water seems to go pretty deep, as well.

taste the water, and do you know how to swim? if so then you can get partially undressed and swim down, the robe is the only part that needs to come off, large flowy clothing makes it hard to swim. with those goggles you can open your eyes underwater and look around.

Do you know what they are? Maybe you should take some samples.

If that's seawater, the problem should be easy enough to fix. Find where it's coming from and seal it off.

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)22:13 No. 207547 ID: 7c97d9
File 127908441498.png - (110.92KB , 640x400 , 31.png )

>>207495
I don't really know what they are. Maybe Mama knows. I'll take some samples.

Obtained UNKNOWN PLANT SAMPLES.

>>207490
I don't actually know how to swim, but Mika does. I tell her to check the water for me.

"It's freshwater! At least, it used to be... Looks a bit murky, but still reasonably clean!"
"Come on, Agga! The water's lukewarm, but it feels good!"
"Maybe not, Mika... Maybe you shouldn't be staying there for too long..."

Anything else?

Where'd the seeds come from...? This water didn't just seep in here. There MUST be a relatively large fissure somewhere.

Hey you're wearing goggles, why don't you try looking under the water?

yes you can try that. look around under there. a source is indeed needed for plants. regardless, get a good enough pump and we can drain this out. pump it right into the stream.

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)22:58 No. 207561 ID: 7c97d9
File 127908710782.png - (94.98KB , 640x400 , 32.png )

>>207549
>>207557
I told you, I can't swim! What about I just give my goggles to Mika-

Hey, where'd she go?

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)22:58 No. 207562 ID: 7c97d9
File 127908711962.png - (117.17KB , 640x400 , 33.png )

... Even Mister Raynald's missing!

"... Mika? Mister Raynald? Where are you?"

It feels a bit hot around here all of a sudde-

Agga 2010/07/13(Tue)22:58 No. 207563 ID: 7c97d9
File 12790871337.png - (152.99KB , 640x400 , 34.png )

!

BITE IT! Use your teeth!

BITE IT! use you teeth and rip and tear it apart! just get REALLY REALLY mad!

Agga 2010/07/14(Wed)00:11 No. 207588 ID: 7c97d9
File 127909150051.png - (152.73KB , 640x400 , 35.png )

>>207565
>>207566
I try to bite whatever's pulling me into the water, but I can't! It's like ethereal or something!

I can't sink my teeth into it!

Agga 2010/07/14(Wed)00:11 No. 207589 ID: 7c97d9
File 127909151168.png - (107.01KB , 640x400 , 36.png )

I see Mister Raynald and Mika now, they got pulled down as well.

... And those creatures around them... They're glowing...

"-plsshh sebbbr hhh, wrrr chhhn hlp yyyy-"

... Is that Mika pleading?

Agga 2010/07/14(Wed)00:12 No. 207590 ID: 7c97d9
File 127909152362.png - (136.22KB , 640x400 , 37.png )

Urgh, I can't hold my breath much longer...

I feel warmer and warmer...

END OF CHAPTER

SON OF A BITCH!! god damn water monsters.

I wasn't expecting this at all!

>>207563
>>207588
>>207589
DOMAIN CONTROL?!

>>207590
... And when Agga woke up, she realized she had to change the sheets again.

>>207656
>she

:3