Hat Quest: an OOTS-shaped adventure

[Proteus Risen]

>Grab hat from the place you put it after casting the packing spell. Wear it and strike a pose.

[kd7sov]

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Uuuugh, you guys, just ask the question. "Why don't you have a hat?" or "What's so important about a hat?" Not that hard.

You don't ask about his hat, you don't ask about his shirt changing, you didn't ask about what was going on outside the window when there was something going on out there, you don't ask about the marks on his face... Are you just not curious at all? Heck, if you wanted you could even ask me questions.

In other news, the last picture for this update has more layers than any other single picture I've ever made.

By the by, is the new title any better?

Make a hat out of some paper or a sheet.

> Rip a page out of a book and fold yourself a paper hat.

What!? No way! Even if you were willing to be stuck with that forever, and even if it's not on the list, you'd have to fold it exactly the same way every time. No, you'd much rather go on the quest.

And anyway, no wizard would ever dream of desecrating a book that way.

All right, what's the deal with hats?

Oh, that? It's pretty simple. There's a law that says no wizard is allowed to do any spellcasting unless they've got a registered hat, and every hat on the list has to be easy to tell apart from all the others. The only exceptions are students and members of the Magicorps, and you're not likely to fit into either of those categories again soon. Since wizards can't make a living without casting spells, most new graduates go on a big quest to -

Someone: Knock and ask if "you're ready to move yet."

...Hold that thought.

Who's there?

Oh, hey! It's... Well, you don't know her name any more. She's a good friend of yours who graduated with you this morning, and you don't know what name she picked.

Come to think of it, how does she know your... Oh, of course. She's always had a way with stone-spirits; one of the ones in the castle walls probably told her.

Say, do the spirits you've been talking to happen to know her new name?

[Navigatorblack]

Wonko the Sane

[Reecer6]

>No
>...That's her name

[Doorhandle]

okay, fine, Sonko the Wane.

[kd7sov]

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Sigh. I wish Inkscape were a little more stable, a little less prone to crashing just before I'm about to save my work.

In other news, this update adds something I've never so much as attempted before: animation. It's not that great, but I think it works all right as a first try.

For the record, I have no idea if my headpronunciation of the girl's name is anything like correct. If I'm both right and a little lucky, it should mean something like "powerful speaker of truth", although that's mostly just how she wants the world to see her.

>No
>...That's her name

What, really? You doubt that...

Oh. There's the namebox. You guess you were wrong to doubt.

But something's up, it doesn't look like it's done...

=>

...Huh, that's a weird name. And... uh-oh.

>Uh-oh?

You really did break it. It looks a little bit fixed, but you broke it. You and your indiscriminate acceptance of absurdly long names. And...

Is she laughing at you?

Conversation

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Did you really do this, Hiero?

Well, uh, uhm...
Yes.

HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, that's great! I didn't think you had it in you!

Uh, yeah, thanks. So, should I call you No now? Or Noor, or...?

Yeah, I'm No. How about it? Are you ready to go?

You remember the two of you had made plans to start your hat quests together. There's no way of knowing whether you'd finish at the same time, but it'd be nice to have familiar company when you start out.

So, are you ready?

[Doopliss]

>Away we go! Look for unskilled jobs to scrounge up some money for a tailor.

>Begin fantasizing about what type of hat you'll end up with.

[Snowyowl]

> Explain what you intend to use the bow for.
> Go to town and acquire a meat shield.

[MultiversalInk]

> Ask her why her ponytail defies gravity and how she is going to get a hat on top of that.

[PriffyViole]

> Ask her why her ponytail defies gravity and how she is going to get a hat on top of that.

Magic. Obviously.

[kd7sov]

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Huh, somehow my image numbers got out of line here; it appears I didn't make an 0019.

In other news, after contemplating the magic system a bit more, I now have some idea what the Hat Quest involves!

> Explain what you intend to use the bow for.

What, really?

A bow is for shooting things. Probably game and bandits, but there might be some monsters that need taking care of.

Combat is pretty much the only way someone can earn any kind of a living without magic, so Isaakiah's makes sure every student is good at at least one weapon. But it's not what you want to do with the entire rest of your life.

> Go to town and acquire a meat shield.

Right-oh!

You're not really sure you need a "meat shield", but it could be a good idea to hire someone who isn't a wizard to come along.

> Ask her why her ponytail defies gravity and how she is going to get a hat on top of that.

Magic. Obviously.

Pretty much. There's no specific Charm, Spell, or Hex involved, but it is magical. Hair is pretty easy to adjust.



See? Not hard at all.



It does take a bit of concentration and effort to get it exactly like you want, though.

[Xander]

How are you able to lift that chest? And how can she carry that huge JRPG sword?

[Doorhandle]

... five spell slots says it's through use of ant haul.

[Oroborobo]

Quickly retrieve a robe to cover up your invisible pants, if you're even wearing any

this is no way for a wizard to dress

[Navigatorblack]

For merciful Bod's sake man, where's your robe!

[PriffyViole]

> Hula-hoop with your bow while no-one is looking

[September]

Go to the inn.

[kd7sov]

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Just so you guys know, the next update is almost ready. At least, from certain points of view. The last image, I would like to have animated in a particular way that is well beyond what I can easily do now. I'm investigating various avenues, but if one of you thinks you'd be willing and able to help, by all means shoot me a PM.

[September]

Cool, I was hoping this adventure wouldn't die.
Wonder what the animation will look like.

[kd7sov]

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Ugh. I don't want to do this. I don't want to give you just part of an update, especially when it was supposed to end with the "end of part 1". But if I leave you hanging, the words for this part are going to fall out of my head well before the animation gets done. And that would probably be even worse for business. So.

On another note, not everything Our Hiero says about magic is necessarily accurate. It's what he believes, what he's been taught, but some of it's wrong. For instance, what he said last update about Charms, Spells, and Hexes? There's actually no such thing as Hexes. Which is related to the hat law, but I don't think I'll say more at the moment.

How are you able to lift that chest?

That's actually a big part of the Packing Spell. It puts most of the chest into another layer of reality, so there's less weight to carry around in this layer. It also increases the amount of space you can put stuff into, but the weight aspect is arguably more convenient.

And how can she carry that huge JRPG sword?

Well, it's obvious there are enchantments on the sword. In fact, if it's like most swords, it's had a huge variety of enchantments from the moment its ore was dug out of the ground. Some of those would conflict with each other, or with its functioning as a sword, so they're turned off, but no one would buy a sword this size without something to make it transportable.

Go to the inn.

This is it. It's time to get going. Beyond those doors is your future - the rest of your life.

>Go

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Incidentally, if you want to submit suggestions for hat designs, feel free. I've got some vague ideas, but absolutely nothing is pinned down yet. And there will always be opportunity to stick minor wizards in the background, like the two outside Hiero's window earlier.

[Treehugger]

Hieronymus: concentrate to adjust your robe to ankle-length. No-one will bat an eyelid if you walk around casually on school grounds, but going out bare-legged would be unseemly.

Hat suggestion: bearskin hat or feather bonnet. I'd also like something in the spirit of Deep Blue Sea showing up sometime.

[PriffyViole]

Hieronymus: concentrate to adjust your robe to ankle-length. No-one will bat an eyelid if you walk around casually on school grounds, but going out bare-legged would be unseemly.

Hat suggestion: bearskin hat or feather bonnet. I'd also like something in the spirit of Deep Blue Sea showing up sometime.

Or that rediculous hat that one lady wore at the Royal Wedding.

You know the one.

[Treehugger]

[Hats]
Or that rediculous hat that one lady wore at the Royal Wedding.

You know the one.

Spoilered for OT

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You mean this one? Ahaha, that was really funny.

Hmm. OP, do you need suggestions less obsessed with wizardly fashion?

Hieronymus & Noor-uz-zoha Ganem: turn back once outside to take in the view of the magic school that's been your home for so long.
Mischievous fairy: see the two young wizards, carrying heavy packs, setting out at dusk and not yet authorised to cast spells! What an opportunity to meddle!

[aspiringHelpfulness]

The hat should be as long as your name. That's pretty much it.

[Crazy Turtle]

A cowl that puts your face in shade.
and a disco wig that is as poofy as the day is long.