Standing near the statue of Ser Franklin, with orcish names on the inscription below, the crowd starts to gather, slowly murmuring, and reading the inscription at the base, as more and more people start crowding around.

Gently, and without thinking, you place a small flower at the base of the monument, and then turn, and start to walk away. Your armor feels... denser, now, and thicker, but not quite as heavy.

Rolled 99

>>21028731
Examine armor with magic

Rolled 780

"W-what? Something happened to my armor just now.." Attempt magical deduction of reasoning.

>>21028778
>nat 780
Woah, and I thought that other guys 99 was good.

>>21028778
hurr finger slipped, whoops
politesage not contriboot

"W-what? Something happened to my armor right now...." You say, and Grayson harrumphed, and nodded.
Making your way back up to the castle, you focus your magic inward, trying to feel for the armor- and what you do feel is sparks of a strange, unnatural magic- one you don't recognize, peppering a field of abjuration magic, bound intimately to the steel and mithril.

>>21028815
Abjuration is good. Protection and wards is just the sort of thing for armour. Unnatural is worrisome, let's go find our magic teacher and see if he knows anything.

Rolled 24

Think of Kaliel. Create a tiny elemental of your desire to Protect her in the palm of your hand. Compare it to what was sensed from armor.

Rolled 68

>>21028815
Rolling to add force beams to our armor gloves

You try to first focus some magic into the palms of your gloves, but the spell goes loose, not adhering to the gauntlets properly- it appears that you can't add more enchantment to the armor. You focus on the spell, and pull it inside yourself- luckily, whatever you did, you cast the spell properly, so you could reabsorb it.

Next, while walking alongside Grayson, you clench your fist, focusing on Kaliel, and your desire to protect her... and you will it to come through, will it in the form of an elementall... and what bursts out of your palm is a simple earth elemental- a golem, made of conjured stone, carved extravagantly. Very interesting, but it feels like a normal elemental, not like one birthed from emotions.

You make your way up the tower to find Zeke, sitting crosslegged, wings spread, his hands held out in front of him, a small red sphere levitating as he chanted. The sphere sparked, and broke, and the evoker sighed.

>>21028888
"Hi Zeke, what are you working on?"

>>21028888
"I take it it wasn't meant to do that? Sorry if I distracted you."

"Hi, Zeke. What are you working on?"
"Force magic." He said. "With little bits of abjuration added. But I don't have the focus for it quite yet." He said, and shrugged.
"I take it it wasn't meant to do that? Sorry if I distracted you."
"No, my control was slipping anyway." He said. "No need to apologize. Hello, Grayson."
The bear nodded to him.
He stretched his wings again, and pulled himself to his feet. "I saw the monument you erected from up here. Looked like a hit."

>>21028933
"I'm pleased with it. While I was erecting it, the magic in my armour changed and I don't know what it does. Could you take a look?"

"I'm pleased with it." You say. "While I was erecting it, the magic in my armor changed and I don't know what it does. Could you take a look?"
"I could." He said, and incanted the magic detection spell. "It looks... mostly like abjuration." He said. "Yeah, it's abjuration. Can't tell what kind, though. Things are too blurry for me, since I'm not good at divination."

He turned back, to someone belowdecks. "Neiriel, can you come by?"
"Of course." Neiriel said, coming up the stairs.
"Can you take a look at Ishelda's armor for me?"
"Right." She said, and incanted the same spell.
"It's a field of abjuration magic, woven into the metal. Looks.... like an artifact, at first glance, and there are little nuggets of... something." She said, and shrugged. "I can't tell, I'm afraid. Romulus would know."

>>21029045
"Well if it is an artifact, there's one easy thing to try."
"Armor, what do you do?"

Rolled 68

>>21029045
who the fuck is romulus

>>21029116
The wizard dude. The one she fucked. Leon's brother.

"Well, if it is an artifact, there's one easy thing to try." You say, and look down. "Armor, what do you do?"
... It said nothing.
"From what little I know about artifacts, only ones with enchantment magic tend to have a real mind." Zeke said. "Maybe Aeriel or Gehenna know more, if it is an artifact. They used to study them with Eidolon, I was told."

>>21029132
<Aeriel, Gehenna, my armor might be an artifact, would you mind taking a look at it?>

>>21029132
"Good idea, I'll go and ask them. And if they don't know, Aeriel can portal me to Romulus."

"Good idea, I'll go and ask them." You say. "And if they don't know, Aeriel can portal me to Romulus."
"Good luck." Zeke said.

You and grayson went down to Gehenna's study, where he was trying to write as Aeriel keeps bothering him, saying random numbers mercilessly.
"Aeriel, Gehenna." You say, and Aeriel shuts up, and the two brothers turn to you. "My armor might be an artifact. Would you mind taking a look at it?"
"Eh, I don't mind." Aeriel said.
The two of them met eyes, and started speaking in kalak for some time.
"It was magical when it was completed, correct?" He asked, and you nod.
"And did it change recently?" Gehenna asked, and you nod again.
"It's protective, obviously, or it'd have more spikes or something." Aeriel said.
"If you don't mind, what did you do to make it change, your majesty?" Gehenna asked.

>>21029240
"It changed while I was creating the monument."

>>21029254
no, it changed after we placed the flower.

>>21029285
No, it changed when we magic'd the monument. We just didn't notice it until we were walking away.

>>21029285
No it didn't.

>Slowly, but surely, something starts poking out from the ground, pale white stone, sticking out of the ground. First, a head... and then shoulders, holding a blade, point-down, up to his chest, clasped in both hands. Heavy armor lay on the statue's body, and the face was Franklin's. A calm, tranquil face, weathered by age and stress and exhaustion, but still ever-determined to continue fighting. Your armor makes a strange noise, and you feel the wild magic within it lock into place, and then vanish from your awareness. Finally, past the heavy boots, a large, square pedestal appeared beneath him, with the following words beneath it, in both Common, Arcturian, and Old Ogrish, for it was the orcish knights who died saving the refugees.

"It changed, while I was creating the monument." You say.
"Monument?" Aeriel asked. "One second."
There was a spell, and he vanished, then reappeared.
"A monument for Arcturus, and for the people who died saving the refugees." He told Gehenna. "Of a knight. It wasn't *him*, but maybe it was close enough..."
"What are you talking about?" Gehenna asked. "Him?"
"Nothing." Aeriel added, and shook his head. "Anyway, it sounds like you picked yourself up a Concept. Or an emotion, or something like that. They're all called concepts. Some kind of energy born from sapient life. Love would be a concept, as would the want for power, or perhaps serenity, or even the desire for a good meal could be a Concept. Mortality and identity was a concept, too, in the case of the Wanderer. Magic deals in that sort of stuff, but only very, very rarely."

"Ah, so the armor was non-specific in its enchantment until it encountered this concept.
Wow, I got lucky then. The concept of a Knight for a suit of armor..."

>>21029334
"So... what does it do?"

>>21029334
"So, what does that actually mean for the armor? Increased protection?"

"So... what does it do?" You ask. "What does that actually mean for the armor?"
"No clue!" Aeriel said, and chuckled. "Artifacts are sometimes consistant, but they all have hidden abilities that they rarely- or never- use. They aren't like enchanted spells, where you can say 'this is sharper!' or 'this is more durable'. Instead, they have entire spheres of powers they can pull from. Hasn't your sword ever done anything unusual?"

>>21029415
"It's done a few things out of the ordinary. Hey, why don't you try hitting me whilst I'm wearing the armor! Surely it'll do something."

>>21029415
"Rikar? It seems to draw on the personality of its wielder more than anything, but yes. I still have very little idea how it determines whom is able to wield it.
Just out of curiosity, would you two try holding it?"

>>21029415
"Uh, I think it ate my elemental."
Pull it out and make it go on fire again.
"Can you tell what concept it is, at least?"

>>21029432
HAHA, NOPE.

>>21029432
and then Ishelda became a Paladin. http://wiki.mabinogiworld.com/view/Paladin_Heavy_Stander

"Rikar? It seems to draw on the personality of it's wielder more than anything, but yes. I still have very little idea how it determines whom is able to wield it." You say, and draw it. "And, uh, I think it ate my astral fire elemental."

It bursts into astral flame for a moment, and then you let it go out.
"Just out of curiosity, would you two try holding it?"
"I'd... best not." Aeriel said, and tapped the side of his head. "The Cage, remember."

Gehenna took the blade, and it went pale, as the sword shifted into straight, perfect angles, with not even a single bend in any angles of the blade, save for the rounded grip- even the pommel of the sword was a crystalline cube.
"Can you tell me what concept it is, at least?"
"The concept is probably something like... upholding the weak, or having raw tenacity when it's important..." Aeriel said, as Gehenna swung Rikar this way and that.

"Now that you mention it, it did seem to be at its most powerful when I attacked the arch-demon for just that reason."

>>21029504
"So there's no way to find out it's abilities other than using it then?"

>>21029504
"Hit me with Rikar, Gehenna! See what happens!"

"Now that you mention it, it did seem to be at it's most powerful when I attacked the arch-demon for just that reason." You say.
"Oh, no, I thought you meant the armor." Aeriel said, and glanced at the sword in Gehenna's hands. "As for Rikar... I don't know about Rikar. It adapts, I suppose."

"So there's no way to find out it's abilities other than using it, then?"
"Not usually. Not with wizardry or conventional knowledge, at least."

Rolled 69

>>21029569
What about with sorcery though?

rolling to find out armor abilities

>>21029569
"Oh well. Thank you for the help."

>>21029580
We already rolled a 99 to identify it, dude. Sorcery doesn't get much better than that.

>>21029596
In fact it can only get one better...

"What about sorcery?"
"I don't know." He responded. "Nobody knows much about sorcery. I don't think so, though, because it seems like 'jack of all trades, master of none' sort of talent, and identifying an artifact is something bigger than that."
"Oh well." You say. "Thank you for the help."
"No problem." He said.
"... Hit me with Rikar, Gehenna! See what happens!"
"Well, um." He said, and looked down to the sword. "Are you certain, your majesty?"

>>21029626
"Not really."

>>21029626
"Yes! It'll be awesome!"

>>21029626
What happens:
>Gehenna doesn't want to hurt us so Rikar is blunt
>The armor just shrugs and goes "why are you bothering me with this shit"
It'll probably make a noise when they hit, so that's something I guess.

>>21029626
No, this is a waste of time at best and Steve-O levels of stupid at worst.

>>21029626
Really Exabyte? You usually ignore the retard/troll suggestions.

"Not really." You say. Gehenna nods, and hands you the blade again, which you sheathe. "Thank you for the help." You say again, and the two of them nod.
"That's what I'm here for, your majesty."
"Eh, I had nothing better to do, Ishelda." Aeriel added. "I guess I'll follow you around from here, now, because Gehenna's probably about to lock me into stasis or something if I keep bugging him."

>>21029694
Hahahahaha, you must not have read Space Cyborg Quest. Exabyte goes with consensus regardless of how stupid the idea is.

>>21029694
I love Exabyte, but no he doesn't.

>>21029708
What happened in Space Cyborg Quest?

>>21029701
Giggle "Ok."

What to do next?
>Ask Mala about the specifics of the dragon sacrifice. Being an ex-dragon, she's the expert and might be able to tell us it's safe to use the crystal.
>Scry for the archdemon. We had a dream about him entering this world, and then learnt that he could actually enter this world. He could also find the gearworks which would be bad, and I don't think nameless guardsmen will be able to stand up to him and I kind of want there to still be a kingdom here when we come back.
>Introduce Carver to Sardriel. She came all this way to learn about the tower. He lived in the tower for a century.

>>21029735
Okay, well imagine that the protagonist has the same sort of bullshit, doesn't-make-any-sense powers that Ishelda has, only over technology instead of magic.
Now imagine he came across a crystallized version of the strange, exotic matter that made this power actually work.

Everyone suggested he lick it. I mean stick out his tongue, and run it across the surface of the exotic matter.
He literally died, and very nearly did not come back.

>>21029768
He didn't die from licking it. He died from being even more stupid and injecting it into his bloodstream to try and get more power after all the other characters told him off for licking it.

>>21029768
You couldn't have exaggerated it any more.

We failed a dice roll and because of it, we died. Not because of silly decisions.

>>21029781
I would class a decision that has a 50% chance of killing you based on a random dice roll as a silly decision.

>>21029792
not when it had a good chance for SUPERIOR BULLSHIT MAGIC POWERS. also, the death chance was 1/20, super magic 1/20, nothing bad 8/20 varying levels of good 10/20.

>If I recall correctly, licking the exotic material made it slice you into ribbons, and the last bits of organics you were made of, literally died. It was a silly decision with only a very slight possibility of not dying horribly, and an even smaller one of getting extra bullshit powers.

You giggle.
"Okay." You say, and give him a smile.
The three of you- Grayson, Aeriel, and yourself, start wandering through the castle. You run into Kell, who is currently hugging Marigold as if he'll never let go, spinning her around in circles.

>>21029847
Laugh, "My, I haven't seen you whisked about so easily since your father used to play with you like that."

>>21029847
let's tie seats to kell and get him to give rides to children and charge them pennies for entry. we've got to start making money some way.

>>21029875
>taking money from children
You sick bastard. Besides, only Marigraw can ride Kell.

As awesome as Kell is, I bet we could get Kaliel to create a more ride-able creature.

Like a cross between an elephant and a horse...

>>21029847
"Somebody looks like he'll miss you."

"My, my." You say, and give her a demure giggle. "I haven't seen you whisked about so easily since your father used to play with you like that."
Kell set Marigold down, and patted her head. Marigold was still giggling.
"Yeah, he's just going to miss me." She said, grinning to you. "Ooh, I like the armor. It makes you look like a queen, dressed for war... Which you are, I suppose." She said, giggling again.

>>21029984
"And it's magic!"

>>21029984
"Yes, I suppose I am. Do you have anything else you want to do? We're loading he Jormugandr right now."

BTW Didn't Rikar speak to us when we were fighting the Archdemon?

>>21029984
Smile at her, "I certainly FEEL like it, now. Redglare has done an incomparable job.
When you get a chance, go check out the main road to the castle. I made an addition there I think you'll enjoy seeing."

>>21029984
"Is he sure he doesn't want to come along?"

>>21030015
yeah, it did.

>>21030027
He is coming, that's why he's going to miss her. She's staying as regent.

"Yes, I certainly *feel* like it, now. Redglare has done an incomparable job.. Do you have anything else you want to do? We're loading the Jormungandr right now." You say.
"Yes!" She said. "There's something I want to show you. Albanon, Edric, and Steve. The three calves from earlier. They're fuzzier, now!" She said, grinning. "I thought you'd want to play with them a bit before you left."

>>21030117
Oh god yes.

>>21030117
"Ooo, of course!"

>>21030117
"I'd love to! I have something to show you on the way as well."
(I assume the calves are out in the fields and that the monument is on the way there)

"Ooh, of course!" You say. "I'd love to! I have something to show you on the way as well."

The two of you, with Grayson's consent, climb onto his back and tromp out into the courtyard, to the gatehouse, and beyond, making your way through the crowd of people surrounding the monument.

"... Oh my." She said, looking up at the statue. "That's... Did you do this?"

>>21030186
"Yes, though to be fair, it was Fellwind and Grayson who came up with the idea."

>>21030186
"It seemed like the right thing to do, so people would remember Franklin and all the rest who died so that the citizens of Arcturus could cross between worlds.

I would have inscribed 'neener neener' on it, but that doesn't fit the tone."

>>21030186
I may have had a pawn in doing it, but it was mostly Fellwind and Grayson.

>>21030239
>may have had a pawn
meant >may have had a paw

"It seemed the right thing to do, so people would remember Franklin, and all the rest who died so that the citizens of Arcturus could cross between worlds." You say. "Though, to be fair, it was Fellwind and Grayson who came up with the idea."
"It's wonderful." She said, and climbed down off of Grayson, reading the inscription... and then she reached for the flowers you set down.
"... Lilacs?" She asked, to herself. "I didn't know there were lilacs in this world."

She closed her eyes, and knelt for a single moment, before getting up and turning back to you, pulling herself up on Grayson.

She didn't seem to notice the small tendrils poking up through the grass surrounding the monument, surrounding the city center.
"... Let's move on, shall we?" She said. "But it's beautiful."

>>21030299
"It is, he was a good man.

Onto the calves and their fluffiness, how did they get named? And why is one of them called Steve, it just doesn't seem to fit with the other two names."

"It is." You say. "He was a good man."

The two of you leave the most populated part of the city, going southward to the farms, where the nervghaul were huffing anxiously as Grayson passed.
"On to the calves and their fluffiness, how did they get named?" You ask. Marigold giggled.
"They let me." Marigold said. "Since I helped deliver them, they said I could name them. And Steve is female, from what the ogres tell me."
Soon enough, the two of you climbed off of Grayson.
"The big lug here will scare the cattle, and I've never been interested in adorable things, sadly," Aeriel said. "We'll just chill here until you two get back."

>>21030384
"Not even me Aeriel? Aren't I adorable?

Take care you two, I'm going to say goodbye to the first natural citizens of New Arcturus."

"Not even me, Aeriel? Aren't I adorable?" You ask, and give him a brilliant smile.
"... A little." He said, tilting his head slightly.
"Take care you two. I'm going to say goodbye to the first natural citizens of New Arcturus." You say, and then you and Marigold enter the ranch.

Marigold starts giggling, as all two of the calves waddle out from behind their mother, squealing and snorting at her, almost like a pig's oink. The third, meanwhile waddles over to your feet, and then rears up on it's hind legs, leaning on your boot to get higher, and starts sniffing at you.
"That's Edric." Marigold said, as she sat down. Immediately, the two calves started climbing on her, much more active than they were a few days ago.

>>21030481
Pet the fluffy, hug the fluffy. Tell them that we'll be going away for a bit, but we'll be back as there's no way we could abandon our new citizens.

>>21030481
Pick Edric up and pet him.

You kneel down and pull Edric into a hug, and he wiggles, the nervghaul's short, stubby tail whipping from side to side as he huffs. You start petting him, and he starts pushing himself closer to you, sniffling even more. You pick him up into your arms, and he starts full on harrumphing as you pet him. Finally, you start tickling him on the belly, and he started squeaking, on his back, writhing uncontrollably.
"I'm going away for a bit." You tell the calf. "But I'll be back soon, because there's no way I could abandon my new citizens."
The calf continues squeaking, and wiggling as you tickle him, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

>>21030671
"Now take good care of your brother and sister, and stay out of trouble. You better grow up big and strong, I want you to be even fluffier when I get back."

Spend a bit more time with each of the calves and then collect Marigold and return home, our need for fluffy sated, for now.

"Now, take good care of your brother and sister, and stay out of trouble." You say. "You better grow up big and strong. I want you to be even fluffier when I get back."
Edric squeaked an affirmative, and then you make your way to Steve and Albanon, where Edric trots off after you, and the two of you start petting the nervghaul calves.

The two of you make your way back to Grayson and Aeriel.
"Were the cubs doing fine?" Aeriel asked, nonchalantly leaning on the dire bear.

>>21030838
"They were, they're growing up big and strong, already fluffy and adorable. I can't wait until we get more like them, we need a growing livestock population to support our expanding population.

Did you and Grayson get along well while we were gone?"

>>21030838
"They appear to be healthy and very happy."

>>21030838
They were, though I presume their godfathers should go and meet them at some point.

"They were." You say. "They're growing up big and strong, already fluffy and adorable. I can't wait until we get more like them. We need a growing livestock population to support our expanding population." You say. "Did you and Grayson get along well while we were gone?"

"Well, I found out that Grayson can beat me in an arm-wrestling match, but he's no good at tic tac toe." Aeriel said.

>>21030933
"Interesting."

>>21030933
"You've defeated my knight? Well then Aeriel, you need only best Marigold at checkers before you may challenge me to chess!"

>>21030933
"You challenged him to arm-wrestling? He's a giant muscly bear and you... don't technically even have any arms."

"You challenged him to arm-wrestling? He's a giant muscly bear, and you... don't technically even have arms."
"They may be talons, but they're still arms." He said. "And he challenged me, after losing quite a bit at tic-tac-toe. He got rather... upset."
Grayson snorted at him.
"You defeated my knight? Well, then, Aeriel, you need only best marigold at checkers before you may challenge me to chess!"
"... But I'm really bad at checkers." Marigold complained.

>>21031077
"And I'm bad at chess."

>>21031077
"Horseriding then?"

Also, going to second that earlier suggestion of telling carver that sardriel is around, with added caveat that we should warn him as well.

>>21031077
"Grayson, if you follow a few simple rules you'll never lose at tic-tac-toe, with two players who know it you always end up with a tie.

Well, I didn't think that through, are there any board games you're good at Marigold?"

"And I'm bad at chess." You say.
"I'm good at all three of those." Aeriel said, and shrugged. "So I'll have to take you all up on that challenge."
The four of you start the long trek back up to the castle- and already, you see small bushes surrounding the monument and city center, slowly growing. Marigold didn't seem to notice, but Aeriel and Grayson sure did. You continue your way back up to the courtyard, where Cassiel was pacing this way and that, the ankh on his neck. When you see it, your armor starts to... shake, somewhat. A crux, you know intuitively.

>>21031210
Back away.
"Cassiel, back up a bit, please."

>>21031210
Two protection artifacts, you see. We should glue them together and become invincible.

"Hello Cass. Why are you pacing like that?"

Rolled 84

>>21031210
draw Rikar.

"crux! reedy yourselves"

>>21031263
That will just make it worse! All we have to do is keep the artifacts away from each other and don't cast ANYTHING until it stops happening.

>>21031263
Dude what. Cruxes don't attack people. They just shake a bit.

>>21031210
Hey Ghenna, are you getting from the Ankh what I'm getting from the armor?

>>21031281
You mean Cassiel

>>21031288
Yeah, they've all got beaks, I get confused.

"Hello, Cass." You say. He takes a few steps forward, but the crux doesn't strengthen.
"Are you getting from the Ankh what I'm getting from the armor?"
"Yeah, I am." He said. "But it's not getting stronger as we get closer, so we should be fine."
"They vibrating?" Aeriel asked. Cassiel nods. "Probably just some resonance or something. Similar concepts. It should be fine."

You nod. "Why are you pacing like that?"
"Zeke asked me to do something rather worrying. To isolate away any wild magic from him, so he can work on something. You never work on something small when you need that sort of thing."

>>21031322
"Any ideas what it could be? Why would he need wild magic isolated?"

>>21031322
"It's probably that force spell he was trying to do earlier. He was having trouble focusing enough."

Rolled 83

>>21031322
"Like... this?"

Create a sphere of magical stability, centred on a Cassiel's hat.

>>21031322
"So he's going to do something dangerous?
Have you figured the Ankh out yet, could that protect him?"

"It's probably that force spell he was trying to do earlier. He was having trouble focusing enough." You say.
"Maybe." He said. "But that means he needs just a single pure discipline. Pure Evocation. That's not a good thing, it sounds like."
"So he's going to do something dangerous? Have you figured the Ankh out yet, could that protect him?"
"It couldn't, because any items with him would contaminate the spell." He said. "And it could be dangerous. Maybe."

>>21031356
Is he wearing a hat?

Rolled 1

>>21031455
Make him a hat!

>>21031469
No hats for Cassiel.

>>21031469
That's a hell of bad hat.

>>21031469
please no

>>21031435
"Get Kristoph on standby then."

>>21031469
You manage to give him hat hair, but forget the hat.

You give Cassiel a strange look...

And he needs a hat, you decide. You close your eyes, prepared to cast your magic-

And you feel something surpressing your power, quite suddenly, forcing it back. You open an eye, and you see both the ankh and your armor gleaming, quite brightly. You stop trying to make cassiel a hat, and the glow fades.

"... What was that?" Cassiel asked, looking down to the ankh around his neck. "That was... rather strange..."

"Keep Kristoph on standby, then." You say, changing the subject, and he nods.
"I'll go get him, then."

>>21031539
"Apparently you don't have a head for hats." *Shrug*

"Can Kristoph nullify certain types of magic? I thought he just cancelled everything."

>>21031573
He does. He cancels everything when Zeke fucks up, hopefully stopping there from being too much damage. Cass will still be doing the interference bit.

"Apparently you don't have a head for hats." You say, cryptically.
"... Right." He said. "Anyway, I'm off to grab Kristoph. If something goes wrong with Zeke's spell, an anti-mage would help."
He bowed, and made his way into the castle, leaving you, Marigold, and Aeriel. You look toward the sun, and see that it's already started to set- today has seemed like quite a short day, in truth.

"You're leaving tomorrow morning, aren't you." Marigold said, her voice softer than normal.

>>21031727
"As long as nothing explodes, yes."

>>21031727
"I am. There are things I need to do that I can't put off. I can't let Tyr destroy wizardry, I can't let him finish whatever he has set in motion, so I need to go.

I'll be back Marigold, I always come back. Just keep New Arcturus safe and happy while I'm gone.

I am a warrior queen and this is my duty."

Give her a hug and lift her off the ground.

>>21031539
So the ankh and the armor stopped us from hurting ourselves with the "hat"?

"I am." You say. "There are things I need to do that can't be put off."
"I know." She said.
"I'll be back, Marigold." You say. "I always come back. Just keep New Arcturus safe and happy while I'm gone."
"I will." She said, nodding.
You give her a hug, and lift her off of the ground, making her laugh.
"Just... be careful." She said. "If you get kell hurt, I'll be very upset, you know." She said, returning your hug. "But if you get hurt, I'll be even more upset. So don't, okay?"

>>21031867
Give her a twirl.

"I'll do my best."

>>21031867
"I'll be fine. I have magic artifact armor now. And Kell regenerates."

>>21031867
"It's okay. I've got this new armor, it seems to be made of protection and all the other knightly qualities Ser Franklin embodied. He'll keep me safe."

"I'll be fine." You say, spinning her around. "I have magic artifact armor now, and Kell regenerates."
"But you don't." She said. "So if you do get hurt, and Fellwind isn't around, ask for help from Kell. He'll know that it's important, and his flesh should help you heal, okay?"
You nod.
"And finally... let's go have dinner." She said, and grinned at you. "It's only bread, dried meat, and some vineapple slices, but I helped with it."

>>21031941
"I'd love some. Shall we?"

Don't put her down, just sling her over our shoulder while we head off to dinner.

"I'd love some." You say. "Shall we?"
"We shall." She said... and you slung her over your shoulder.
"How are you so strong?" She asked, flabbergasted. "You aren't using sorcery, are you?"
You give her a smile, and walk into the dining hall, where the cooks were already serving dinner. You set Marigold down to the side, and, tired, Kaliel slumps into the seat next to you.
"How was your day?" She asked. "And, erm, you don't have a spark handy, do you?"

Rolled 61

>>21032071
"My day was pretty good."
Spark

Rolled 13

>>21032071
"Today I got my armor from Redglare, and then I trained to get used to my armor, then I tried to identify the enchantment on my armor... I've hardly used any magic."
Use the wizardry magic transfer to completely refill her. She needs it for making super-soldiers.

"'Today I got my armor from redglare, and then I trained to get used to my armor, and then I tried to identify the enchantment on my armor..." You say.
"I just got a basic mind for the Berecien, and then carved the crystal." She said. "And stupidly wasted the last of my magic by warping that mutant some more."
You fold your hands up, and, focusing intently, you get rid of the vocal component, and place your palm against Kaliel's shoulder, giving her sparks of magic.
"Much better." She said, taking your hand. "Thank you."

Marigold grinned. "My day was spent singing kobold cubs to sleep, helping the ogres plant pluvash, and then playing with Kell and nervghaul babies."

>>21032155
"Why do you get to have all the fun?"

>>21032155
Give Kal a smooch.

"The nerfs were adorable.

How are the kobolds doing Marigold? Are the new ones adjusting well to New Arcturus?"

>>21032155
"No fair. You're having way more fun than I am"

You give Kaliel a kiss. "The nerfs were adorable." you say, and turn to Marigold. "How are the kobolds doing, Marigold? Are the new ones adjusting well to New Arcturus?"
"The kobolds adjust well anywhere." She said. "It's part of who they are."
"No fair." You say. "You're having way more fun than I am."
"Well, you were the one who ended up with a devilishly attractive young man last night." Marigold said. "Who you *still* haven't introduced me to, by the way. I haven't seen him anywhere today, and I've been looking."

>>21032272
"Marigold, meet Kale. Kale, this is Marigold."

>>21032272
Just start giggling

>>21032272
"I'm afraid you've been taken in by transformation magic once more, dear cousin. That was Kaliel.
Don't worry, I promise I'll set you up with someone eventually, Marigold."

>>21032272
"You're looking at him. You really ought to get used to transformation magic.

Now go find your own handsome man, you shouldn't have much trouble with that. You've got much better 'assets' than I do."

>>21032320
Replace "someone" with "Kristoph"

>>21032346
Instead of this, just say "Unless that is, you already have someone in mind..."

>>21032383
She's already tried going for Kristoph. He turned her down because he was going through a crisis at the time.

You meet Kaliel's eyes, and simultaniously, the two of you start giggling.
"Marigold, meet Kale." You say. "Kale, this is Marigold."
"But that's..." Marigold said, and there was the look of dawning realization on her face.
"I'm afraid you've been taken in by transformation magic once more, dear cousin." You say, and she cusses, before covering her mouth in shame.
"Now, go find your own handsome man. You shouldn't have much trouble with that. You've got much better... assets, than I do." You say.
"I already have one." She said. "But he needs time... So I'll wait. And pine, like all lovestruck noble women should."

>>21032413
"Maybe you should take up weaving, in the stories the woman often made a tapestry while pining away.

You should probably talk to him before we go, maybe do the farewell kiss thing."

>>21032413
"I hope he doesn't make you wait too long. Pining must get terribly boring after a while."

"You should probably talk to him before we go." You say. "Maybe do the farewell kiss thing."
"I planned to." She said, and nodded.
"I hope he doesn't make you wait too long. Pining must get terribly boring after a while."
"Probably." She said. "When I get fed up with it, I'll just drag him off to my bedchambers, if he likes it not." She added, and giggled. Kaliel coughed into her tea.

>>21032539
"Ohoh, you sound so certain you'll have the strength to drag him in the first place."

>>21032539
"That'll be amusing to see. Maybe you'd have to tie him down with vines to accomplish that."

>>21032539
"Sounds like a plan. Try not to wear him out too much, he needs to be able to do knight stuff the next day."

>>21032636
She's a disney princess. She may have no strength at all but she can probably fling her man around with one finger.

>>21032539
"Mar and I *are* related, Kal."

"Ohoh, you sound so certain you'll have the strength to drag him in the first place." You say, giving her a sly grin.
"I'm certain." She said, and sipped at her tea, cryptically.
"Sounds like a plan." You say. "Try not to wear him out too much. He needs to be able to do knight stuff the next day."
"No promises." She responded.

The three of you continued eating dinner; apparently the bread was made with ground striplisk added to the mix, which made it rather bitter... but the application of the incredibly sweet nervghaul butter helped with that.

"Also, I've been taking lessons from Gehenna." Marigold said. "About magic. And apparently Sardriel is really good at the sorts of magic I want to learn, so I'll have to talk to him."

>>21032753
"He's a nice guy overall. Most of the creepiness is unintentional. He really just wants to help his girls who have been hurt more than anyone should have.

He's also extremely skilled with enchantment."

>>21032753
"You'll...want to be careful there. Don't go accepting anything Sardriel offers, just in case."

"I'd prefer not to come back and find you as one of his harem"

>>21032753
"Oh, you're going to learn Enchantment? You should probably give him a couple of days to settle in."

>>21032784
He's unlikely to even extend that offer to her. He only does it to people who look sad, hurt and so on. Marigold literally has flowers bloom wherever she steps, he isn't going to try to fix what isn't broken.

>>21032821
It's less than just unlikely. Marigold came with us to the tower and he told us that exact thing about why he hadn't offered to her.

"He's a nice guy, overall. Most of the creepiness is unintentional. He really just wants to help his girls, who have been hurt more than anyone should have." You say.
"I know." She said. "And... well, I want to help those girls too." She said. "I saw one today, lost, and she looked so... I don't know." She said, and shook her head. "I ended up leading her back to Sardriel's quarters."

>>21032877
"If you can, go ahead. He says he's tried though"

>>21032877
"I wonder why he only helps girls though. You should help guys too."

>>21032877
"I hope one day they can recover.

Maybe interaction with people other than Sardriel and the other girls will help them more than living in his tower.

I think they'll like your gardens, you should ask Sardriel if you can show it to them sometime."

"I hope one day they can recover." You say. "Maybe interaction with people other than Sardriel and the other girls will help them more than living in his tower."
"That's what I think, too." She said.
"If you can, go ahead."
"I don't want to mess with anything until I know more about that magic." She said. "I think I'll talk with him tomorrow." She said. "About being my tutor."

Soon enough, you finished the bread and vinefruit slices, and picked at the dried meat until you were sure you couldn't eat anymore. Kaliel took your hand.
"You want to come to bed?" She asked, quietly.

>>21032979
"you bet I do~"

>>21032979
Don't answer, just pick her up, kiss her and head to our room. We've got an early morning but we ought to be able to have some fun in the meanwhile.

"You bet I do." You murmur, and kiss her again.

The morning came too early. Much, much too early, in your opinion. Kaliel clung to your side, as usual, and your armor and Rikar sat in the corner of the room, alongside the disassembled, hybernating pieces of Kaliel's living armor. You already hear bustling outside, and one of the pages knock on the door.

"Your majesty, I was told by the armsmaster to inform you that everything is prepared."

>>21033072
"Thank you."
Guess we'd better wake Kal.

Rolled 67

>>21033072
"Then we depart."

rolling for massive magical music fanfare

>>21033099
You'll get the accordion again. You know that, right?

Rolled 50

>>21033117
Do you mean to imply with that statement the accordion is not a fitting musical instrument for such an auspicious occasion?

>>21033136
Maybe. What are you going to do about it?

"Thank you." You say.
"Your Majesty." The page said again, and made his way away from the door.

You nudge Kaliel, and she cuddles closer to you.
"Morning." She mumbled, and blinked a few times.
"We depart." You say.

The two of you, fully donned in armor, make your way to Jormungandr, where Zeke is chuckling to himself, a red orb floating between his palms, and you see Marigold and Kristoph standing on the tower, murmuring to one another. Giving Kris a shy grin, Marigold tied some kind of cloth around the upper arm of the knight's armor, and Kell is sitting in the patch of flowers, Grayson laying his head on him, while Raziel leans back on the dire bear, examining her dragontooth spear, which sparks with necromantic energy now and then. One by one, knights, runners, and archers make their way onboard, organized by their captains. One by one, everyone arrives- Everyone except for your father.

When he does arrive, he's joined by two knights- One you recognize as Dame Glenwell, and the other, Ser Jaeden.
"Your Majesty." Your father says, with a nod. "Are we prepared?"

>>21033247
"We are."

Rolled 46

>>21033247
"We are, father. Will you two be joining us?"b

>>21033247
"I believe we are.

Are Fellwind, Lewin, and Jeanne here? I haven't seen them yet."

>>21033247
Oh, shit, Zeke got his orb thing working.

"Hey, Zeke, whatcha laughing about?"

"I believe we are." You say, and the three of them come onboard. "Are Fellwind, Lewin, and Jeanne here?" You ask.
"We're right over here." Lewin said, winking- or blinking, it was hard to tell with his eyepatch- at you. Jeanne, fully armed and armored, complete with her enchanted equipment, gave you a wave.

"Hey, Zeke, whatcha laughing about?" You ask. The orb wobbles, and then he closes his fist, and it vanished.
"You'll see." He said. "I just... well, mastered force magic." He said. "Completely. Everything. The whole thing. Now I have fire, thunder, and erosion to work on."

Gehenna salutes you, and Marigold hugs Kell, gives Kristoph a kiss on the cheek, and then makes her way off of the ship. A softly glowing Kiyara waves to Ell, who blows her back a kiss. The glowing blushes into a dark red, and Jormungandr shuddered, and sailed away from the tower.

<Now.> Aeriel said, his orb sitting in the dragon skull's eyesocket, his body crumpled below. <I have no idea where we'll end up there, so we'll have to be careful, or we may have some extra travel time.>

The airship sailed southward, as you feel translocation magic start to rouse. You raise your magic to magically summon some fanfare, but your father speaks.
"There was a reason I was late." He said. "Listen."

You look over the edge of the ship, and you see refugees, each with... a battered, brass trumpet. They started playing the Arcturian national anthem. They're giving you... fanfare.

>>21033399
Neato. Wave to them.

>>21033399
"Father..."

>>21033399
Wave back to them, look as regal as possible.

>>21033399
Wipe away a tear.

"Father..."
You wave down to them, nostalgia welling up within you... and in the far back, you see an orc with an accordian, playing along as best he can. Of course.
"The Scholar once said that you never know where home is until you leave it." Your father responded. "Until you have a place to go back to. I know how that feels, now, Dove."
You wipe away a tear, and Kaliel puts a hand on your shoulder.

<Watch this.> Aeriel says, and everyone turns to the prow of the ship, where the dragon skull was sitting, half-integrated into the ship.
<Random trivia fact for the day.> He said, strain in his voice. <This is even more difficult than the gap between worlds.> The world itself seemed to refract, for a moment, and an enormous, pure black portal tore open. Without hesitation, Jormungandr shot through.

Nobody notices Quaz, in the crowd, looking up.
"Be careful with that letter." She whispered, in draconian.

>End of thread!

Rolled 84

>>21033399
"It's like fluffiness in my ears."

Force push zeke.

>>21033522
The orccordian strikes again.

>>21033522
>Nobody notices the giant lizard thing
Oh well.
>Draconian
Huh.

>>21033544
They have Draconian names. Makes sense that they speak it.

>>21033532
>Orccordian

DEM PUNS

>>21033551
I know but I'm thinking of the implications. Where'd the learn it in the first place?

>>21033567
The big dragon they worship?

>>21033544
>She's more snakething than lizardthing... but anyway, she was surrounded by lizardmen and, other than the upper torso (where she has snaketits and a woman's face, with a cobra hood instead of hair) she looks rather similar to the lizardman mothers (who have no tits and giant crocodile heads. Or alligator heads, I forget the difference.)

>>21033567
Raziel speaks draconian too, (The ogres, orcs and elves both have history books on it) and every species is essentially encouraged to adopt a non-common tongue as their own, because that way you can teach someone common and another language at the same time, essentially giving your nation their own secret code.

>>21033583
Which isn't sentient and not a dragon?

>>21033616
Well, that makes sense.

>>21033617
Which isn't sentient or a dragon NOW.

>>21033617
I'd be willing to bet that he's "not a dragon" in the same way that the fleshcrafter is "not a dragon"
Although, I doubt he taught them anything.

p>>21033616
Do humans have a super secret language that ishelda can't speak?

>>21033730
The sosarians do, as their tribe/citystate/nation is rather isolated, and the refugees (and Ishelda) have Arcturian, but the provinces were made up of many different humans each with their own languages, and over time, most of the languages dwindled to a word, here or there. The orcs don't have a language of their own, but they have adapted ogrish for their own needs, making it a specific dialect of ogrish, changed to be less harsh on the throat and simpler to speak. however, their system of writing is identical to standard ogrish

Polite sage for off topic.