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Hope you had a good trip or whatever over the weekend, echo.

I'll just be over here, doing my thing.

Cutting it a little close aren't ya Echo?

Anyways I think we've got a bit of a consensus on what we want to do from the Q&A and the last story thread.

IIRC it was go to White Tree and get stuff done with the Elves and pick up Jullian, hit up River's Crossing to visit Dad's grave and have another good time with the church then hit up stone hall and make fun of Isen.

>>25384737
we also have to visit bronze peak, too. The harpy queen wanted to have a talk with us about how safe her people would be with the dramatae at large. We have at least three good talking points now.

>>25384764
Old One needs his heads delivered as well

>>25384764
>we also have to visit bronze peak, too.

Plus we have a special delivery for Old One.

I was trying to write a long summation of everything that had happened, it took a little longer than I thought it would, so I decided to scrap it. Today we'll wrap up any loose ends you'd like to cover, which includes having time fly by as you train/research/etc. Later in the week, we begin the invasion.

You have won. Kind of.

The Dramatae are dead, and Citadel no longer has any sway over the kingdom, nor does it intend on swallowing it up.

Also, the plots of the Dragon Who Was As Shadow, the land spirit known as The Fifth Humor, and Peace are now in shattered ruins. A lesson to all masterminds, if your plan requires you to turn off the device that regulates destiny...don't count on the heroes not just shooting you in the face when they get a chance.

Unfortunately, Citadel still exists, and all the people and souls that were within it, are now trapped within. A giant dome separates the city from the rest of the world.

Still, you, the Dawnchasers, and Her Illuminated Self, are free of the place. Now that you have freed it, the future is now yours, young lamia. Good luck.

>>25384798
Off to White Tree!

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>>25384798

>>25384798
>future is now yours, young lamia. Good luck
Oh, AGAIN with this! All this future nonsense, we shoulda stayed home.

>>25384851
No, first wood is on the road before white tree, so we visit it first. We should break the news about citadel to all the towns on our route- the birds got eaten too, so nothing gets a message around faster now than us on our devil horse.

>>25384880
Is it? We don't got map right now

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>>25384798
Sweeet. Also reposting out of the Q&A thread.

>>25384798
Lea halts Lightmare at a crossroads. One way will take you to First Wood, the other will go to White Tree.

Mage lets out a low whistle as he looks at the fields. Citadel's magic is gone, so now the air reeks of rotting grain and stale dust. You can see some of the fields have already withered away into dry fields, and those that haven't are rotting as you stare.

"This land is going to take years to recover." Mage says. "And His Light forbid that there be a storm or a tornado. This place would turn into a giant puddle of mud."

"We need to go to First Wood." Peri says. "Julian and the others trapped in the Grove need to be freed. Plus, we have to check to see what the situation is with Mab and the Court."

"I agree, but we should go White Tree first." Mari says. "Those people are directly affected by this." She gestures to the dying fields. "Plus, they have my body. I think now's a good time as any to move it."

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>>25384890
We have this. It's sorta accurate, though missing all the towns and cities not mentioned in this quest. There's probably all sorts of places that Ssen hasn't visited yet because they weren't being eaten by ghouls.

In all seriousness, we ARE visiting River's Crossing and we ARE giving dad the good news.

We have time now...

>>25384798
>I was trying to write a long summation of everything that had happened, it took a little longer than I thought it would, so I decided to scrap it.

Would still be awesome to see later, if not right at the beginning of the thread.

> Today we'll wrap up any loose ends you'd like to cover, which includes having time fly by as you train/research/etc.

On the order of days, not months, I hope. We don't have *that* long; Citadel is imploding, and its citizens are in full lotus-eater mode now.

> Still, you, the Dawnchasers, and Her Illuminated Self, are free of the place. Now that you have freed it, the future is now yours, young lamia. Good luck.

>>25384913


I wonder if Comedy's death also killed her resurrected shades?

Off the top of my head, spatially ordered in the direction we need to go:

- Talk to HIS

- We need to go pick up Julian from Comedy's forest. Hopefully she wasn't load-bearing for that forest.

- We should visit Mab and see how the elven courts and are faring, and then give her a ride to Stone Hall if there's nothing more for her to do there.

- Visit White Tree, help out there, get Mari's body and take it somewhere safer.

- Visit River's Crossing on the way home.

- Stone Hall.

- Bronze Peak.

>>25384913
>"I agree, but we should go White Tree first." Mari says. "Those people are directly affected by this." She gestures to the dying fields. "Plus, they have my body. I think now's a good time as any to move it."

We're headed all the way across the continent to the east; First Wood makes more sense to visit first, to minimize backtracking.

>>25384913
We need to hit up First Wood anyways to pick up Mab and Jullian if they want a ride, it wouldn't make sense to go back after hitting up White Tree.

Currently reading the Sunday Q&A thread; wish I'd known that was going to happen, I assumed there'd be no quest until Tuesday.

>>25384987
Echo said he might do something.

Are you not on /tg/ 24/7 or something so you can check for anything?

>capatcha: HIS iedctte\

Okay then

Responding to one thing in the QA thread:
>Oh, and one little bit of fluff that I made that sadly, you'll not have a natural way to discover now.
> That dragon that Dagda mentioned? The Dragon Who's Name is Dragon because she IS what a Dragon IS. That was Ssen's Dragon Ancestor. Her great-great-great-etc-grandmother.

We could potentially find that out in-character via Old One, if he decides to do a little scrying or necromancy with his new heads.

>>25385052
>Echo said he might do something.

Missed that.

>>25385052
>Are you not on /tg/ 24/7 or something so you can check for anything?

I wish, but no.

>>25384913
Goddamn, it took me forever to word this properly at all.

"While it's entirely true the people of white tree need to be told of this with absolute haste, first wood would be very close to on our way there. How about if whatever we have to do there would take longer than an afternoon, we'll continue on to white tree, inform them, dispatch messengers, and secure your body, and return to first wood?"

Fucking geological proximity to one another. It's only a day's travel between either town, anyway, lightmare and all. we have a slightly more lenient time budget.

>>25385070
So, you're suggesting we go to First Wood, and if something time-consuming comes up we leave for White Tree rather than completing it? Sounds reasonable.

>>25385103
well, it's not SO reasonable. It's a bit of a gamble, considering we could lose twice to thrice as much time as we save in travel time to such a decision.

Also I'm a wordy motherfucker, jesus.

>>25385070
I don't know. I can of want to get Maris body out before shit hits the fan at White Tree. We don't need to stay there at White Tree just grab the body and bolt.

>>25385116
>well, it's not SO reasonable. It's a bit of a gamble, considering we could lose twice to thrice as much time as we save in travel time to such a decision.

I still think it makes sense to head to First Wood first for travel distance reasons. We can make the call about how long to stay there once we find out what's up.

>>25385131
well, I too want to go to white tree first.

I'm just being a time-jew over travel distance.

Want to just say "screw it" and go to white tree? I mean, first wood will have some legitimate issues we are going to have to deal with, almost certainly.

Another response to the QA thread:

>Okay, have to go. WOndering what theme song I'm gonna use. I'd like to use something that's NOT from an anime or was unsed in another work...

If we're going with the invasion of the Phoenix Empire, I can think of a few possibilities for that. Do you strongly prefer something with lyrics like the ones so far, or would you be OK with something instrumental?

>>25385147
Yeah, I mean really. For once time isn't the enemy here and personally getting Maris body out rates a little higher than issues in First Wood for time being.

>>25385169
in light of that, let me make some alternate dialogue for echo marking us going to white tree, and he'll decide by whatever mechanic he decides by.

>>25384913
"Let's go to white tree, why not. They need to know about the food concerns, and mari's body needs to be shipped somewhere secure. Not to mention that whatever we have to do in first wood will take a while. "

>>25385169
>Yeah, I mean really. For once time isn't the enemy here and personally getting Maris body out rates a little higher than issues in First Wood for time being.

Can we safely transport it in stasis, though, or do we need to rush it straight to somewhere else that can put it in stasis?

>>25385191
I think it's a stasis-coffin, which will be OK to transport.

Our biggest problem will be keeping the party members/ourselves from storing perishable snacks in there along with mari.

>>25385204
Ahahaha. I can see it now.

>GUYS! Knock it off! Stop putting fruits in with my body. Who the hell put dried meat in there too!

"While it's entirely true the people of White Tree need to be told of this with absolute haste, first wood would be very close to on our way there. How about if whatever we have to do there would take longer than an afternoon, we'll continue on to White Tree, inform them, dispatch messengers, and secure your body, and return to First Wood?" You say.

"Sounds like a plan." Lea says, and turns the cart off.

Her Illuminated Self, Deborah, is sitting there looking very out-of-her-depth. She watches the world pass by.

"This is the first time I've ever been outside of Citadel." She says.

>>25385162
>Do you strongly prefer something with lyrics like the ones so far, or would you be OK with something instrumental?

Either, let me hear 'em all.

>>25385232
"Really, this is the first time ANY of us have ever been outside of Citadel if you think about it."

>>25385271
seconding this

>>25385271
>"Really, this is the first time ANY of us have ever been outside of Citadel if you think about it."

Nah, we've been to Stone Hall and Bronze Peak. But I like the spirit you're going for.

>>25385232
"In more ways than one, I think; many who physically have left Citadel's presence have never left it either. How does it feel to not have its voice in your ear anymore?"

I'd also like to talk to her about almost all the Paladins being in Citadel right now.

>>25385232

I'm going to raise a concern that was raised in the QA thread.

Whatever happened to Princess and our mantle and circlet?

>>25385299
>"In more ways than one, I think; many who physically have left Citadel's presence have never left it either. How does it feel to not have its voice in your ear anymore?"

Rephrasing this:

"In more ways than one, I think; many who physically left Citadel's presence have never truly been outside it either. How does it feel to not have its voice in your ear anymore?"

>>25385232
"I can assure you any prior experience would be of little help now anyway."

>>25385306
>Whatever happened to Princess and our mantle and circlet?

Princess is likely still in Citadel, fate unknown. Likewise our mantle and circlet, but those are not irreplaceable. (We still have the medallion, fortunately.)

>>25385232
"Hey Mage, why don't you sing this song I've just come up with:"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kl4hJ4j48s

(Actually, this is kind of the theme of the new Season, isn't it? Going to all the places outside the Citadel Kingdom.)

>>25385232
"Too bad it's under such strange circumstances, isn't it? With any luck, it won't be a very somber time for you. I had hoped to show you a few sights, maybe my hometown while you were under my protection, some new places might help a bit."
We already told her we're going to free citadel, so I'm not going to re-iterate that here.

>>25385328
poor mage

we need to ask her about our circlet, as well.

We lost ours, didn't we? Is that a pali-crime?

>>25385352
And we stuck them on a pet...

>>25385340
We've been putting our levels in poison. Mage, on the other hand, put his in swag.

>>25385373
yeah, we might need to do a confession over this. Also the small matter of the whole... citadel... implosion?

>>25385377
He seems to have misclicked at some point, as he doesn't seem to like cougars as much as his talent tree would say.

>>25385386
"Please forgive me, Your Illuminated Self, for I have sinned; I caused your city to implode and turn itself into a giant bubble of doom."

"I accept your confession, but I don't think that's against any of the teachings..."

Maybe we should consult Lea on what the Teachings have to say about this?

>>25385386
The Mantle was lost in the course of our duties. As for Citadel imploding, might call for a confession. HIS could certainly help with that, and it would probably make her feel more useful.

>>25385408
>"Please forgive me, Your Illuminated Self, for I have sinned; I caused your city to implode and turn itself into a giant bubble of doom."

OK, that's worth a chuckle. Though not so much "caused" as "killed the thing doing something worse and left that as the default".

>>25385413
>>25385408
also, it would be our chance to tell her how we... er... fabricated a miracle. that one time.

>>25385408
It's not about any particular teaching, it's about doing the right thing. And given that our actions caused Citadel to seal itself off with an unknown but probably large number of souls inside, and likely lead to a lot of deaths before we even got there, some doubts on the "right thing" count wouldn't be unreasonable.

Heyo, fellow Dawnchasers. I'm building us a new map of the world using a trial version of Fractal Mapper.

It's fiddly, but it seems to be a good tool. What do we know about this continent?

>>25385434
>>25385457
So, confession time is a go?

>>25385472
well, that there are mountains/hills next to first wood. Most likely to the south/southeast, given desert patterns in comparison to ocean location.

But fuck if I know.

>>25385472

It has land. And water. Some trees too. Grass maybe.

>>25385507
Not so much anymore I think.

>>25385494
if we really want to tell HIS about all that.

The miracle one, at least, is a pretty big fucking secret.

>Whatever happened to Princess and our mantle and circlet?
Princess and her owner made a fake mantle and circlet for them to wear. You still have yours. They wouldn't fit around Princess anyway.

As for what happened to them...that's something to find out later.

"In more ways than one, I think; many who physically left Citadel's presence have never truly been outside it either.

Too bad it's under such strange circumstances, isn't it? With any luck, it won't be a very somber time for you. I had hoped to show you a few sights, maybe my hometown while you were under my protection, some new places might help a bit. Either way, I can assure you any prior experience would be of little help now anyway. How does it feel to not have its voice in your ear anymore?"

"Strange." Deborah says. "It feels as if part of me is empty, but I only realize that it's gone because it's gone." She frowns. "It's a cold, unpleasant feeling. As if your parents suddenly stopped telling you that it was okay, and everything will be alright." She looks out at the destruction that surrounds you.

"I don't think there will be many who will thank you for this." She sighs. "Part of me resents you a little as well...I suppose." She shrugs. "I know that's foolish, after all they were going to do something vile to me, weren't they? But..." She gestures to the dead fields. "I know there will be some who will say that it was my place. What value is one person's body and soul versus that of a kingdom?" She shakes her head. "And when I say those words, my blood runs cold with fear."

>>25385527
To be fair, the day doesn't exist anymore

>>25385494
No. Please. No.

>>25385541

"The needs of the many outwiegh the needs of the few. The question is, which few? It was that logic that allowed Citadel to flourish in the first place."

>>25385541
Hey I'm used to being hated! However right now the Kingdom needs you to help keep everyone as calm as possible as the only remaining member of the royal family is intersting to say the very least.

>>25385541
"Citadel was fueled by bodies, souls, and the sacrifice of innocents. It had to stop sometime."

"Don't hold yourself responsible."

>>25385541
"I didn't quite expect all of this to play out like it did. The crops and such, perhaps, but the rest was out of the blue. Don't concern yourself so much about one soul versus a kingdom here- what we're working for is freeing a kingdom's worth of souls. The fact that I could help a few living ones like yourself along the way is a much appreciated bonus, though."

>>25385541

Incidentally, Echo, do you mind giving me a few important tidbits with regards to world-building?

>general shape of the continent
>name of the continent (assuming it's not Citadel)
>size of the continent
>locations of major landmarks (mountains, rivers, lakes)

once i have those i can throw something together.

>>25385673
>>general shape of the continent
>>name of the continent (assuming it's not Citadel)
>>size of the continent
>>locations of major landmarks (mountains, rivers, lakes)

Give me some time to figure that out. I need to sit down and doodle. I'll have some solid stuff by Thursday, hopefully.

>>25385541
We should show HIS Citadel's maw. She'll see what it took for Citadel to be so prosperous.

>>25385673
See >25384915
This is what we know in-game.

>>25385715
Good plan. The scale of the whole affair is kind of a "see-it-to-believe-it" sort of thing.

>>25384915
We could also use some approximate terrain types through regions. Yeah Bronze peak is surrounded by mountains to the north, but do those mountains stretch across the continent? Does the chain extend inland?

What is the extent of the area in which the crops instantly failed when Citadel went turtle?

Would also be handy to have indicator markers next to each major area showing who controls it as it becomes known to us. Especially important once Phoenix Empire gets all up in this.

>>25385714

You don't have to draw anything, I was going to do that. I just needed a basic idea of the scale and shape of things.

>>25385757
>>25385764
Gentlemen, can't we deal with this some other time? You know, like maybe at the end of the thread?

>>25385832
Yes. Please. Time and place, people. Time and place.

"I didn't quite expect all of this to play out like it did. The crops and such, perhaps, but the rest was out of the blue. Don't concern yourself so much about one soul versus a kingdom here- what we're working for is freeing a kingdom's worth of souls. The fact that I could help a few living ones like yourself along the way is a much appreciated bonus, though." You say.

HIS nods. "Though, I think not claiming credit for this right away, may be a prudent step." She says.

You make camp as comfortable as you can for Deborah, but she's still a little phased by the idea of camp food, sleeping on the ground, and using the bushes.

Still exhaustion and hunger seem to help the woman along, and the day passes.

You arrive at First Wood.

"You know," Peri says. "I'm honestly not surprised anymore. We can't go anywhere nice. Ever."

Apparently, Mab got the Grove gateway open quicker than you thought she would. They Fey Court Army, though not huge, is still big enough to have control over the city.

Thankfully, you don't see many people filled with arrows, just two. The rest you see all gathered up in the village square. You see Julian tied to a post, gag in his mouth.

"Hold!" A soldier says. "This is elven lands, turn aro-"

"Wait!" Another says. "That's the Paladin Serpent. Her Majesty said we were to let her in...but her alone."

"But I am Dagda!" Mage says.

"Yes, she said you say that." The second soldier says. "She says that we should tell you that 'She sends her love, but she needs some space.' You aren't to enter." He nods at you. "Leave your weapons on the cart, and we will take you to her Majesty."

>>25385849
Take clang on our back, even if we leave our weapons. Shields totally don't count.

>>25385849
Why'd you have to go and open your big mouth Peri?
>>25385873
We get a good bonus for being completely unarmed, might as well ditch clang if we can't have beacon

>>25385849
"The last time I agreed to meet an elf alone his men took my group hostage. If yours try anything similar they will die in the attempt. Consider yourselves fairly warned."

"And take the gag out of Paladin Graves' mouth. That looks terribly uncomfortable."

>>25385849
>Wow, Mab. Leave you for two fucking seconds and you pull this?

Not like we don't have other weapons built in or anything so lets get this over with.

>>25385904
Let's not make any threats right now, okay?

>>25385849
At least allow HIS to go in also. We just want to show her Citadel's Maw.

>>25385849
"Looks like I'll have to field this one on my own, fellows. Walking into traps is my stock and trade, after all."

Hand beacon and clang and twang to our comrades, and gesture for the elves to lead on. If things get nasty, we're not COMPLETELY unarmed, but we're way outnumbered.

>>25385849
"I ask permission to bring one distinguished guest to meet with Mab, diplomatically. I will take full responsibility for her, and for Mab's ire if any."

>>25385926
Lets save that for after we get Mab to stop being crazy

>>25385918
Think of it as a "warning". Our track record with elvish diplomacy doesn't lend itself well to trust.

>>25385937
They said one person
>>25385943
Comedy was involved last time, she's in your head bag now

>>25385939
This may or may not be entirely her doing; she might just be trying to regain some semblance of control to keep things from falling apart, and her group of elven guerillas aside, most of First Wood was massing an army to take on the world. Such things are not quickly diffused.

>>25385952
>They said one person

I'm aware. Negotiation. Worth a try.

>>25385952
>Comedy was involved last time, she's in your head bag now

Mab should be pleased to see that, though we'd better not show it to anyone else unless we know that they know "Thistleblossom" was fake.

Speaking of which, did we ever ask "Mab" why she had Robin and friends out looking for us and for Thistleblossom?

>>25385952
And before that it was Donovan.

The point stands that the Fey Court elves are hostile, and seem inclined towards backstabbing. And if they try it, a lot of them WILL likely die, as our fellow travelers are far better at this than they were with Donovan's band. It'd be as much a public service announcement as anything else.

>>25385993
We're quite capable of dealing with whatever stunts they pull; the warning may do more harm than good.

Captcha: notorieties

>>25386008
And the entire POINT of warning them is so that they aren't tempted to pull any stunts.

But I'll let it drop, because I can see I'm in the clear minority here.

>>25385714
Okay, okay. Give me a bit.

>general shape of the continent
The area you see in the map is about a third of the continent. With the tundra above being less in size than the desert below. The tundra doesn't have a solid land mass. It's a bunch of largish to smallish islands, but there's a lot of ice fields there, so if the weather is right you can walk from island to island.

The southern side keeps getting wider then it sharply turns into a horn. There's a lot of desert from Purple Sands down, but nothing is known more than 40 miles beyond Purple Sands.

>>>name of the continent (assuming it's not Citadel)
It's just the Continent, and it WAS known as Citadel Kingdom. Mark the east side of the map as Menagerie Kingdom, from Bronze Peak to Coral Gate.

>>>size of the continent
Comparable to North America plus half of South America.

>>>locations of major landmarks (mountains, rivers, lakes)
There's a large lake by First Wood, a Mountain Range that's between First Wood and Purple Sands, The range runs in a Y shape, both ends ending at least 5 miles away from White Tree.

There's also a group of Key Islands that's between Stone Hall and Coral Gate.

But two or three small fishing villages along the east coast. There's also a few smaller villages that are in the kingdom, but White Tree and First Wood are the closest settlements to Citadel. As of now, that area might as well be marked 'Citadel Wasteland' as it's land that's long been totally reliant on Citadel's Magic.

First Wood is surrounded by Trees up until the Citadel Wasteland. The Fey Court hideout is closer to the mountains.

Put two rivers that cross at River's Crossing, have one run up to the north, then bend towards White Tree, and have the other run all the way to the East Coast.

>>25386040
Paladining is part diplomacy after all

Do we still have our copy of the treaty we signed with Mab?

>>25386104
probably

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1MyBQeoFHAe

>>25385849
"Sorry friends, I can't actually leave my weapons on the cart, they're quite attached to me. I'll leave the big ones behind, though."

This should get the point across.

>>25386104
don't worry, we're bringing up the treaty.

"signed in blood and sap" is a big deal, I hear.

>>25386110
Hopefully it isn't soaking wet with seawater.

>>25386120
>"Sorry friends, I can't actually leave my weapons on the cart, they're quite attached to me. I'll leave the big ones behind, though."

Cute.

>>25386120
Can we not fucking make threats and tell everyone about our holdouts?

>>25386131

Yeah... don't really need to make any snippy or clever one-liners about our natural weapons. Let them find out for themselves if the need arises.

>>25386043

>north america + half of south america
that comes to approx. 4000 miles. got it.

>turns sharply into a horn
which way does the horn face/curve? is the whole continent basically a triangle, with the southern tip being the horn?

Also, RP-wise, seconding >>25385873. we can do a lot of damage without a weapon, but Clang has no substitute.

>>25386156
We can have one liners when we unsheath the claws if need be

>>25386163
>Also, RP-wise, seconding >>25385873. we can do a lot of damage without a weapon, but Clang has no substitute.

It's also perfectly reasonable; Clang is *not* a weapon.

>>25386156
>>25386131
they totally already know about at least one of 'em, if mab shared the corpse sphere story. three, if they have studied the citadel-lamia guides.

We don't have to make the one liner, but don't be shocked when they already know.

>>25386176
You can fuck people up pretty well with just a shield.

>>25385904
"The last time I agreed to meet an elf alone his men took my group hostage. If yours try anything similar they will die in the attempt. Consider yourselves fairly warned." You say.

They nod. "Mab said that anyone stupid enough to attack the Dawnchasers, would be executed by her if you didn't kill them." The second one says.

"I ask permission to bring one distinguished guest to meet with Mab, diplomatically. I will take full responsibility for her, and for Mab's ire if any." You say.

The second elf shakes his head. "We're not supposed to listen to anything you offer or bargain. Her Majesty warned us about your ability to warp people's minds with your tongue alone. Alone."

HIS shakes her head. "I...I wouldn't know what to say anyway." She's terrified.

Lea puts a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine. We've done this countless times."

>>25385936
"Looks like I'll have to field this one on my own, fellows. Walking into traps is my stock and trade, after all." You say.

"See?" Lea says. "Nothing to worry about."

You put Beacon and Twang in the wagon, and allow the elves to lead you down the hill into the town square.

"Could you please, take the gag out of Paladin Graves' mouth. That looks terribly uncomfortable." You say.

"Only if he promises to stop shouting and using horrific language." A soldier says.

Julian nods.

They remove the gag.

"Ungrateful bastards." He mutters. He nods at you. "Ssen. You're looking well." He sighs. "The monsters and the Sea Queens have ben sent back to the East Coast." He says. "Mab got all the gates working in the grove. I saw them off." He jerks his head at the soldiers. "I was planning to go with them, but they requested that I remain. That apology and everything...then this." He growls.

"It's nothing personal." You hear a voice. You turn around and you see Mab walking towards you with a royal guard. Her hair is tied up in many loops and curls like before. "Just taking advantage of the new situation."

(cont)

>>25386163
>which way does the horn face/curve? is the whole continent basically a triangle, with the southern tip being the horn?

Not a perfectly straight one, and the horn is a bunch of smaller islands in a group, but roughly, yes

Oh mab, you silly girl. If you don't keep contracts with us, we won't make contracts with you. Which is a bad place to be in.

>>25386217
>"It's nothing personal." You hear a voice. You turn around and you see Mab walking towards you with a royal guard. Her hair is tied up in many loops and curls like before. "Just taking advantage of the new situation."

And, what, we're just supposed to pray she does not take advantage of it further?

We so need to remind her of the agreement, which, among other things, said that folks not under Citadel's control would be as welcome in elven lands as elves would be in other lands. Unless they're hoping to never visit anywhere else, ever, then keeping us out is not a good idea.

>>25386264
>Oh mab, you silly girl. If you don't keep contracts with us, we won't make contracts with you. Which is a bad place to be in.

Or, if you don't keep contracts with us, we'll take out contracts *on* you...

>>25386283
No, we're not the type to take out contracts on someone.

We'll do some stupid crazy plan to improve their healthcare system and their kingdom will be aflame by the time we are done.

>>25386217
"Lady Paladin Ssen Patrick." Mab says bowing. "Many thanks are owed to you, you have saved my people from a horrific threat."

"You can drop the act." Julian says.

"It's not an act." Mab says. "I really am thankful, and that's why you aren't dead, Julian Elfslayer. Same with the others here."

"And what of them?" He gestures to the two dead men on the ground.

"You saw, they charged at us with blades drawn." Mab says. "We were within our right, and it keep others from being foolish."

"A fish gutting knife and a butcher's cleaver are not swords." Julian says.

"Foolishness is deadly." Mab says. She turns to you. "I'll allow everyone to walk out of here. Unharmed, even him. You can escort them out of the woods, and then do whatever you will."

>>25386217
>The monsters and the Sea Queens have ben sent back to the East Coast.

I wonder if the Mer will be somewhat less hostile to us since we helped free the corrupted Mer?

>>25386315

Seems a good deal, which means she's got an angle. Be aware, fellows.

>>25386315
>"Foolishness is deadly." Mab says. She turns to you. "I'll allow everyone to walk out of here. Unharmed, even him. You can escort them out of the woods, and then do whatever you will."

"I would remind you of the treaty we signed, in blood and sap. Or do you plan to abrogate it already? There was to be no action taken against Julian beyond requiring an apology; that includes banishment."

And if she presses the point we're going to enforce the bit that will require an apology from her as well.

>>25386315
"I do hope that you don't have any ambitions to spread the Fey Court's influence outside of First Wood. Such a thing would be extremely inconvenient for everybody involved.

>>25386315
Just what have you done Mab? What of our treaty?

>>25386315
"I'll take them and leave, of course. Though I am very curious why you'd go about things like this- we had a good deal worked out, and you've gotten little you wouldn't have had anyway. I suppose the retirement package wasn't sweet enough?"

>>25386315
"Your Majesty, you are too kind, but may we continue this conversation in private? I'd rather any accidental indescretions on my part not reflect poorly on my companions.

>>25386315
By the way, at this point I'd also like to show her the heads of Comedy and Peace. She should know that that nightmare is over for good. Perhaps it might improve her mood.

We should probably get her in private to see how much of this is fey court bullshit and how much of it is her altering the deal, and telling us to pray she not alter it further

>>25386473
>We should probably get her in private to see how much of this is fey court bullshit and how much of it is her altering the deal, and telling us to pray she not alter it further

That would be good to know, actually. I could believe that a certain part of it is her grandstanding as required for her role.

>>25386473
In the meantime, we can put "Find spell that can turn First Wood into First Desert" on Mage's to-do list (or maybe we should get our artificer friends working on lumber processing technology). Maxine might just be grandstanding, but there will be other Mabs in the future.

(I'm not so worried about having to do this, but "turn First Wood into First Desert" sounds too badass not to mention at least once.)

"I would remind you of the treaty we signed, in blood and sap. Or do you plan to abrogate it already? There was to be no action taken against Julian beyond requiring an apology; that includes banishment." You say. "Was the retirement package not sweet enough?"

She shakes her head. "No. The contract was fine. The terms were fair and the retirement deal was sweet...and then things changed." She smiled. "Now, you don't have an army. I do. And as for the contract, the only word an Elf need hold sacred is one that they give to another Elf." She shrugs. "Lamias don't count, and neither does that quarter-blood lich you work with."

Julian shakes his head. "We know things about you, Maxine." He growls.

Mab nods. "Yep, you do." She puts a finger to her lips and looks skywards. "Although, I seem to remember that a lot of the heads of the old elven families were killed off all at once. The only people who are left are Fey Court soldiers, and cells. Who don't really give a crap about traditions, but want this stupid war over and our land back." She smirks. "So, you'll be happy to know that I'm open to talks about trade, negotiation, and abolishing crap that assholes like Donovan pulled off, but right now? I'm winning this conflict and First Wood is returning to the people who BUILT it."

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>>25386500

SHAZAM. as a placeholder i named it The Lamia Quest Setting, or TheLaQuS for short.

This is a basic outline of the continent, with rivers, lakes, mountains and civilization omitted. I want to get the shape right.

The two lines indicate the upper and lower limits of our 'old' map, and thus the limits of Citadel Kingdom pre-fall.

>>25386586

"Right. You're winning. You recall what we did to Tragedy, do you? Wasn't he about to win with that big ball of corpses?"

>>25386586

It appears this negotiation needs a Draconic display of strength. Whip out Comedy's severed head. The decapitated noggin of the lady who wiped the floor with their entire army should prove quite intimidating.

>>25386586
"Did you think we *didn't* want this war over? This could have been ended without bloodshed and without an army; the treaty already said that First Wood belonged to your people. And what part of that requires making us, personally, unwelcome here?"

Also still advocating we show her proof that "Thistleblossom" will never darken her door again.

>>25386586
you know this REALLY isn't that much different than the other deal, other than we don't have to pay for mab's retirement now and the people who have to leave have to leave now might not be able to come back.

>>25386639
I don't think we're quite to the threatening portion of the negotiation yet.

>>25386598
Nice! I'd love to see that with the towns and other features in place.

>>25386586
That's acceptable. What about your retirement plan though? I thought you wanted out?
captcha: obfine pleasures

>>25386586
>Mab nods. "Yep, you do." She puts a finger to her lips and looks skywards. "Although, I seem to remember that a lot of the heads of the old elven families were killed off all at once. The only people who are left are Fey Court soldiers, and cells. Who don't really give a crap about traditions, but want this stupid war over and our land back." She smirks. "So, you'll be happy to know that I'm open to talks about trade, negotiation, and abolishing crap that assholes like Donovan pulled off, but right now? I'm winning this conflict and First Wood is returning to the people who BUILT it."

"It's not like we didn't promise that First Wood was yours in the first place. The portions of the treaty you're refusing to honor are extremely petty. Are they really worth tainting the strength of any future negotiations anyone might have with you? Rest assured that anyone negotiating with you will be seeing a copy of this treaty and reminded what your word is worth to a non-elf."

>>25386586
"I'm disappointed, Mab. This could have all gone over much smoother. We all wanted peace. Have your promised kingdom, run it as well as you can. I'll see to helping the rest of these folk rebuild. It will be up to people like them to determine how trade and such goes."

>>25386586
You would start a war against those whom you owe a debt to? I've taken care of the bitch who had the nobles killed as well as her other little masked girlfriend.

I've turned the Citadel into a whimpering lump and wrecked the plans of every single being invested in the outcome of it. You saw me kill Tragedy, and I've killed Peace and Comedy mere days ago.

You. Are. Nothing.

Take your retirement Maxine, I honestly want you to. There is no need for further bloodshed.

>>25386586
1. What's she even doing? I thought the elves getting First Wood back was part of the contract anyway.
2. How does she know about Citadel's fall already when we came straight here on Nightmare after it happened?

>>25386598
that plateau-thing in the middle was a representation of citadel literally building out into sea.

It will probably sink, soon.

>>25386586

"yes, you built it. But there have been people born and raised here that had no part in that conflict. In stone hall the populace is working at integrating the inhabitants together, lizard people and human alike. I see no reason why this can't be handled diplomatically, and after killing fate itself, a self-proclaimed angel, a citadel-powered lich, citadel, and Light knows what else, I don't think we want to be enemies here."

>>25386738
don't get super mad over this, the deal is actually better for us now, slightly. We don't owe them shit now.

>>25386751
>1. What's she even doing? I thought the elves getting First Wood back was part of the contract anyway.

Yeah, that's what I'd like to know.

>>25386751
>2. How does she know about Citadel's fall already when we came straight here on Nightmare after it happened?

I doubt there's anyone on the entire continent that doesn't know Citadel fell. Seems like the kind of event that you could *feel*.

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>>25386738

YES!!! Boast like The Doctor!

>>25386769
>>25386738
don't do that, this is inappropriate boasting. We don't even know WHY they're doing this yet, the doctor would know why.

>>25386586
"Remember that it is only through the actions of my group that you have this "advantage", and try not to take it too far. People who commit crimes against the people of this land have a funny habit of ending up as heads in a bag. Like Comedy, and her even more powerful boss Peace."

"There can be negotiation and cooperation, but there will be no revenge, there will be no oppression, there will be no aggression. From now on it's strictly to be live and let live."

>>25386768
>Seems like the kind of event that you could *feel*
If you were inside it's influence, sure, although you probably wouldn't know what the feeling meant. If you were outside it like the fae court, nothing's changed.

I'm still really confused about what Mab MEANS by all this. I mean, weren't we originally going to take these people out of their homes?

Is she... taking the public opinion backlash for this one on purpose?

>>25386586
"The ride never ends... I hope things go well for you despite giving up
your way out."

>>25386777
She's doing it because she thinks she isn't beholden to us anymore. She thinks that giving us leave is all we are due. She thinks she is perhaps merciful for doing so.

One need not me a timelord to see that.
>capatcha: monarch entsqr
Fitting

>>25386751
>2.
Elf court has whisper flute technology. They have fast messenging ability.

"Did you think we *didn't* want this war over? This could have been ended without bloodshed and without an army; the treaty already said that First Wood belonged to your people. And what part of that requires making us, personally, unwelcome here?" You say through gritted teeth.

"It's a matter of strength." Mab says. "Before, that was us asking you for favors, now it's us TELLING you what's going to happen." She shrugs. "This is politics, Paladin Serpent. Why should I negotiate and be the one asking for favors, when I'm the one with the bows, right now?" She nods. "Now I'm hoping to have a pleasant relationship with the king of that menagerie you've got on the East coast. But, it's going to be one of equals, not of a good king bending over to grant his mercy to us poor little elves." She nods. "This is us, proving that we're not to be fucked with. We took our city back, and we're happy to trade with you, and be good neighbors. But if you march against us, we'll burn it to the ground." She smirks. "I'm already pissing off enough of my own people by letting the Elfslayer go. But, I owe him, and you."

"What about your retirement plan though? I thought you wanted out?" You ask.

"As I said, things changed when I don't have to worry about a million strong army, and that the majority of the people who WOULD stab me in the back were killed." Mab shrugs. "I don't need it at the moment, and I do enjoy being in charge."

>>25386778
"Not to mention that citadel isn't going to remain like that forever. We'd hate to see the cycle of hatred to start anew, wouldn't we?"

"Well that's disappointing, I was hoping we could be friends. You know, at least Peace and Comedy kept their word."

>>25386811
but... it means we're not beholden to her any more. I guess pali-favors aren't as valuable as I thought.

>>25386586
A few phrase ideas:

"Max, I've just imploded a city into a giant bubble of doom. I want to go home and have an honest-to-Light break."

"Are we going to settle this amiably, or are we going to settle this permanently?"

After we reveal Comedy's head: "Oh, and your daughter says 'hi'."

>>25386834
"You do realize that Citadel's dome is growing? And that your city is the closest to it? You have an army, but I have time on my side."

>>25386848
I mean, you living so close to Citadel. Who knows what might happen?"

>>25386834
And you would stab me in the back? You disappoint me Maxine.
>>25386882
Don't say daughter, say comedy.

>>25386834
"If you're hoping to have a pleasant relationship, respecting the people you want to respect you is your best bet. Not seizing perceived "opportunities" and antagonizing the people who made them possible by killing things stronger than you could ever hope to be."

>>25386738
I think now this is a good time to use this

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>>25386834
Shrug your shoulders, with your palms upwards.

"I suppose you're free to perform shows of force against nobody, if you want. I suppose I'll never understand the mind of politicians."

"Have the people already gathered what goods they can take with them? being homeless is one thing, but homeless and destitute another."

>>25386834
"I understand politics all too well, and I understand wanting to be equals in this. Trust me, I know what it's like to be negotiating for a nation in an asymmetric position; you probably heard about the Stone Hall lizard people already.

But in the spirit of politics, do you *really* want your first major act as an equal nation to be a demonstration of how little your word is worth in all future negotiations? If you want to spin this to make your people look good, I can help you with that. I doubt Julian has a burning desire to come visit First Wood anytime soon, given the welcome he'd get; we don't have to make an issue of that one. As for the rest of it, I'd be more than happy to make it clear how much help Queen Mab was in the downfall of one of the Dramatae.

I don't mind renegotiating this; after all, you don't exactly need to retire anymore. What do you say we leave the bits about your retirement out of this, as well as the banishment (though rest assured that we're diplomatic enough not to come visiting without warning), but balance out the rest into something that could serve as the foundation for a peaceful beginning here, rather than as notarized proof that future negotiations may lead to backstabbing?"

>>25386971
seconding this.

We really don't need to deal with this right now.

>>25386971
>"Have the people already gathered what goods they can take with them? being homeless is one thing, but homeless and destitute another."

Definitely seconding this bit, though I'd still like to precede further negotiations with
>>25386998
trying to convince her that breaking her word is not a good foundation for future relations between equal nations.

>>25387006
and she's not really doing anything super terrible, anyway. Just the minor kind of awful things nobility do, like going to war and such.

really, I just feel bad about the two who died. Unnecessary.

>>25386834
Laugh.
"Citadel was a lot better at shows of force than you. We fucked with it anyway. And then we did in less than a year what your little fae court have been trying to do for centuries. But if you really think this is the right way to open relations with your new neighbour, then fine. I'll make sure to remember what your word is worth."

>>25387047
>really, I just feel bad about the two who died. Unnecessary.

They won't be the last if we don't get this sorted out here and now.

>>25387060
are you implying that the elves are going to start killing themselves, or that the humans will refuse to leave with us and die via elf?

Ruthlesslamiabrain reminder:

If we let the elves follow through on this, we will have an easy excuse against making any more promises to them.

>>25386834
"I'll be blunt here. I'm not in the mood for politics. I've never been in the mood for politics. I didn't save your people from Citadel with politics. I didn't kill the Dramatae with politics. I didn't cause citadel to implode on itself into some kind of enormous doom-zit with politics. Really, I don't give a damn about your shows of force so long as you're not hurting anyone. I've dealt with bigger problems. And the second you start hurting people, the second you start HINTING that you might start another regime of hate and bigotry in this world, I swear that I will personally ensure that it crumbles around you. And unlike you, I do keep my word when dealing with people outside my species."

>>25386998
"I understand politics all too well, and I understand wanting to be equals in this. Trust me, I know what it's like to be negotiating for a nation in an asymmetric position; you probably heard about the Stone Hall lizard people already.

"But in the spirit of politics, do you *really* want your first major act as an equal nation to be a demonstration of how little your word is worth in all future negotiations? If you want to spin this to make your people look good, I can help you with that. I doubt Julian has a burning desire to come visit First Wood anytime soon, given the welcome he'd get; we don't have to make an issue of that one. As for the rest of it, I'd be more than happy to make it clear how much help Queen Mab was in the downfall of one of the Dramatae.

"I don't mind renegotiating this; after all, you don't exactly need to retire anymore. What do you say we leave the bits about your retirement out of this, as well as the banishment (though rest assured that we're diplomatic enough not to come visiting without warning), but balance out the rest into something that could serve as the foundation for a peaceful beginning here, rather than as notarized proof that future negotiations may lead to backstabbing?"

"Let me explain something to you, Serpent." Mab gets up close to you. "This is also to ensure that my people follow me, you twit!" She hisses. "You think Elves are going to listen to a ruler who says that we should negotiate or even bow to a human, let alone a lamia? I AM trying to honor our deal...but I'm also trying to make it so that I'm still in charge, you REALLY want one of these other overly aggressive psychos to be in charge? Trust me, Donovan was restrained compared to these people. So, shut up, look cowed, take everyone and your Uncle and their crap and go, and then, when I've figured out who needs to disappear and who can follow the line, we can talk like adults."

I just realized a bit about Ssen's hoarding instinct. If you've read/watched Full Metal Alchemist, you should know about Greed and how in the end all he wanted was friends that "belonged" to him and that is how he felt about his minions in his first life

I wonder if our gas acts as a defoliant.

>>25387119
>"Let me explain something to you, Serpent." Mab gets up close to you. "This is also to ensure that my people follow me, you twit!" She hisses. "You think Elves are going to listen to a ruler who says that we should negotiate or even bow to a human, let alone a lamia? I AM trying to honor our deal...but I'm also trying to make it so that I'm still in charge, you REALLY want one of these other overly aggressive psychos to be in charge? Trust me, Donovan was restrained compared to these people. So, shut up, look cowed, take everyone and your Uncle and their crap and go, and then, when I've figured out who needs to disappear and who can follow the line, we can talk like adults."

Whisper back: "Next time you need to tell me that you're trying to weed out the backstabbers and need to put on a show for them, say that *first*."

Then, more loudly, for the crowd, acquiesce.

>>25387119
"You've got a year. If you can't clean this up, I will."

>>25386834
"I'll bet Tragedy, Comedy, and Peace enjoyed being in charge, too. Their heads are in a bag now, by the way. Too many innocent people died because of their actions."

"And do try to remember that Citadel won't be bubbled off forever. Keep that in mind, Max."

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>>25387119

>elf Mikhail Gorbachev

BAAAA HAW HAW HAW HAW!!

Alright. Let's roll.

Also, Echo, any thoughts on >>25386598 ?

>>25387119
"Look, if you expect me to be anything but stupid, you really need to re-assess what you know about me. I'm all about discrediting leaders in front of large crowds. I'll back off on this one though, since you didn't really mean it. Clean this up, I would hate to have to interfere with sovereign affairs later on."

Then, once mab gets further away, do this shrug
>>25386971
"Fine. None of us want war, and I'd be a fool to start one over something as small as an insult. Have these people gather as much as they can from their homes, and I'll escort them somewhere they can start over."

>>25387156
>Then, more loudly, for the crowd, acquiesce.

Trying to think of a good way for us to overdramatically do so.

>>25387119
>>25387156
I'd also add:
"Keep me apprised whenever you can."

>>25386586
>the only word an Elf need hold sacred is one that they give to another Elf." She shrugs. "Lamias don't count, and neither does that quarter-blood lich you work with."
And neither does Mage, apparently. I guess those trials were for nothing.

>>25387156

As distasteful as this entire affair is, I'd have to agree with this. Posturing and image are the lifeblood of politics, and they're anything BUT nice.

We can deal with this later. Right now, we need to get Graves and whomever else to safety.

>>25387203
You do realize that's a picture of Nikita Kruschev, right? And that it says so in the file name?

>>25386598
Is the part sticking out of the west coast supposed to be Citadel? Cause if it is, then fine, otherwise it's a bit too far out and too wide, also you need the islands on the east side. I've mentioned them being the source of the ever illusive pineapple.

>>25387229
they were mostly for comedy's sake.

Also, to get our foot in the door, which is really all a religious person like us needs.

>>25387249
I'm the original mapmaker, and that part sticking out of the west WAS the citadel ocean district, yes.

The new mapper doesn't know that though.

>>25387156
>Whisper back: "Next time you need to tell me that you're trying to weed out the backstabbers and need to put on a show for them, say that *first*."

To Mab, further, before talking to the crowd: "Fine, get your own court in order, but don't take too long getting some diplomatic envoys over to Stone Hall. If we have to have the negotiations in private at first, fine, but better that we have them sooner rather than later lest there be misunderstandings by freshly evicted people."

Then, for the crowd: "Very well, *Queen* Mab, we won't soon forget this. We'll be on our way. And don't think we've forgotten about the two who died needlessly. Make sure they're the last, if you have any hope of peace between our peoples."

>>25387119
Then I will be expecting results Maxine. I will not hesitate to turn First Wood on it's head if that is what it takes to get everyone to play nice together and act as equals.

>>25387262
>>25387249

The central west peninsula IS intended to be the location of citadel. is it too large? Adding the eastern archipelago now.

>>25387119
Also, ask Mab privately how her new court felt about Thistlebottom: since they don't care much for ceremony, did they fear her and know she seemed fake? Would they kill us for having Comedy's head in a bag, or cheer?

Yeah, back off on mab. I knew it was a suspiciously-good-for-our-side doublecross.

"Look, if you expect me to be anything but stupid, you really need to re-assess what you know about me. I'm all about discrediting leaders in front of large crowds. I'll back off on this one though, since you didn't really mean it. Clean this up, I would hate to have to interfere with sovereign affairs later on."

"I know I know." She whispers. "Why do you think your Uncle isn't breaking free of those cheap ropes I put him in?"

"You've got a year, if you can't clean this up. I will." You say. "I will not hesitate to turn First Wood on it's head if that is what it takes to get everyone to play nice together and act as equals."

"If I don't have this under control in a year, that means I'm dead." She says. "Done. Uhhh, you HAD to get rid of the ENTIRE army, didn't you? Now I CAN'T retire!"

You step back. "Very well, *Queen* Mab, we won't soon forget this, but we don't want a war, and I'd be a fool to start one over something as small as an insult. We'll be on our way. And don't think we've forgotten about the two who died needlessly. Make sure they're the last, if you have any hope of peace between our peoples. Have these people gather as much as they can from their homes, and I'll escort them somewhere they can start over."

"Agreed!" She says. "See? Even the great Paladins bow to me, my strength, and my schemes!"

It takes a while, but you end up at the start of a very disgruntled group of people heading towards Stone Hall.

Julian rides next to you. He groans. "I'm sorry, this has turned into such a mess. This was actually my idea. If you heard her talk to some of those other Fey Court leaders, you'd do the same." He shakes his head. "When we could threaten to destroy First Wood in a day with the army, we had something. Now, it's this, or we go back to night raids, and caravan attacks." He shakes his head. "I should have figured out a way to warn you. I'm sorry."

I don't know about being cowed, but certainly put on an act of leaving in a huff.

>>25387416
I'd still prefer to be able to talk to her in private. Shit's going to be hitting the fan in a lot of places going forward, and it would help for her to know what's going on outside her kingdom, and what we're doing. Likewise, knowing what's going on inside her kingdom helps us.

>>25387458
It's alright. I trust you, and I understand. I'm just glad everyone got out of the Garden.

>>25387458
We're going to need to clean up the Maw at some point. It's unfortunate that we couldn't take the opportunity to show HIS one of the most blatant bits of ugliness underneath Citadel.

>>25387458
"Don't be sorry; with plans like that one we'll make a Dawnchaser out of you yet."

>>25387458
On the bright side, you can finally visit Dad's grave. Also we've pretty much gotten most everyone of any threat to us dead. Also I've got a surprise guest for you to meet!

>>25387458
"To be fair I wasn't expecting Citadel to turn in on itself like it did, so we'll just have to make do for now."

>>25387458
>Julian rides next to you. He groans. "I'm sorry, this has turned into such a mess. This was actually my idea. If you heard her talk to some of those other Fey Court leaders, you'd do the same." He shakes his head. "When we could threaten to destroy First Wood in a day with the army, we had something. Now, it's this, or we go back to night raids, and caravan attacks." He shakes his head. "I should have figured out a way to warn you. I'm sorry."

>>25387526
>"Don't be sorry; with plans like that one we'll make a Dawnchaser out of you yet."

Oh, and after staying behind in the Garden and surviving, and us finally having a moment's peace, I think Julian needs a lamia hug.

>>25387458
"I don't mind much- I'm not angry or anything like that. Though, I've made my career setting off powder kegs like that one, so it would be wise to tell me in advance next time.

It's good to see you without it being a deadly emergency, uncle. Have you talked to Her Illuminated Self? We have her with us on our trip. Maybe she'll be helpful in getting the inhabitants of first wood moving with a minimum of riots."

>>25387541
>Also I've got a surprise guest for you to meet!

Yeah, I'm all for singing Julian's praises here.

>>25387458
I wanted to show HIS the Maw. You know, show her what we are fighting against and that we can win against overwhelming odds.

>>25387458
"Don't be. We have bigger things to worry about."

Then we really need to get him caught up.

>>25387571
>Then we really need to get him caught up.

If he doesn't already know, which he might.

>>25387555
>Maybe she'll be helpful in getting the inhabitants of first wood moving with a minimum of riots.

Certainly we could ask for no better benediction for our travels.

In any case, onward to White Tree. We need to see a Conclave about a body.

>>25387571
Where do we need to go for the other two last requests again? The manifesto and the black rose.

>>25387599
manifesto is in bronze peaks. The black rose needs to be planted under a white oak in the coral city.

We will probably need to purchase both the black rose AND the white oak from stone hall.

>>25387589
How much could he know? Only what the sources of Maxine's report could see, which can't be much.

>>25387599
>Where do we need to go for the other two last requests again? The manifesto and the black rose.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/24827644/#p24839380
>"I have a manifesto in my locker in the Coins at Bronze Peak." Ryan says. "You have that printing thing...I want everyone to read it and understand the plight of the masses."

>"Plant a black rosebush under a white oak tree at midnight for me...and my ghost will break free and I will haunt most impressively." Jessi says. "Please...oh but not in White Tree or Bronze Peak. If you could do the ruins of Coral Gate...oh now THAT is a place for a ghost."

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>>25387550

This, and call him Uncle Jul for extra lovings.

Also, SHAZAM! Citadel peninsula shrunk down so it's only a few hundred miles across, and an island chicane added between Coral Gate and Stone Hall (or where they'll be, anyway). I feel like it needs more islands, but this is Echo's world, not mine.

>>25387526
"Don't be sorry; with plans like that one we'll make a Dawnchaser out of you yet." You say, your tail wraps around his arm and shoulder and you give him a reassuring hug.

"I actually don't mind much- I'm not angry or anything like that. Though, I've made my career setting off powder kegs like that one, so it would be wise to tell me in advance next time.

"It's good to see you without it being a deadly emergency, uncle. Have you talked to Her Illuminated Self? We have her with us on our trip. Maybe she'll be helpful in getting the inhabitants of first wood moving with a minimum of riots."

Julian stares at you opened mouth. "You...you rescued Her Illuminated Self?" He shakes his head. "I need to speak to her. Now."

"Yeah, I wish I could have shown her the Maw." You say.

"I'll speak to her about it." He grins at hugs you. "But you just gave us a massively useful tool. She's going to be the difference between a riot and peace!" He nods. "I'll go speak with her and have her talk to the people. Then you need to tell me EVERYTHING about what happened."

>>25387635
>>"I have a manifesto in my locker in the Coins at Bronze Peak." Ryan says. "You have that printing thing...I want everyone to read it and understand the plight of the masses."

So, that one we'll pick up while we're in Bronze Peak, then take it to Barney to get printed and distributed.

>>25387635
>>"Plant a black rosebush under a white oak tree at midnight for me...and my ghost will break free and I will haunt most impressively." Jessi says. "Please...oh but not in White Tree or Bronze Peak. If you could do the ruins of Coral Gate...oh now THAT is a place for a ghost."

Should we visit Coral Gate on our way back, or is that too far out of our way from taking the people of First Wood to Stone Hall? Perhaps we should head south after we get there. Not that far out of our way with Nightmare, but quite a bit out of our way with a townful of people in tow.

>>25387660
This is perfect!

>>25387665
>"I'll speak to her about it." He grins at hugs you. "But you just gave us a massively useful tool. She's going to be the difference between a riot and peace!" He nods. "I'll go speak with her and have her talk to the people. Then you need to tell me EVERYTHING about what happened."

"Sounds like a plan. Mind letting me introduce you and sing your praises, O noble sacrifice to the Garden?"

>>25387660
let's just say that the islands are undiscovered, or too small for the map. Citadel HAS been prevent treks to the north, south, and too deep into the ocean.

>>25387665
Yeah, the rescue was not easy, dignified or as helpful as you would think.

Please promise to never tell anyone about it.

>>25387665
You know speaking of HIS I can actually imagine Ssen being given the title of Her Illuminated Serpent when HIS passes away.

>>25387665
"Get helping the people. Stories can wait for after we've got everyone moving and words said for the dead."

>>25387743
Oh no, I hope not. That'd be almost as bad as being made queen.

We keep getting wrangled into positions of escalating eternal responsibility. First the paladinhood, then keeping the land spirits at bay, and you want to add running the worldly affairs of the light to that?

Oh, incidentally:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/24827644/#p24839755
> "Oh, what do you want me to do with your gold?"
>"Give it to the First Wood war orphans...I dunno. Something trite like that.

Perhaps we can use it to help Stone Hall help the First Wood refugees get started making a new life for themselves.

>>25387788
yes. That's perfect.

>>25387715
>"Sounds like a plan. Mind letting me introduce you and sing your praises, O noble sacrifice to the Garden?"

This should have said "Grove", by the way.

>>25387769
>>25387743
We just wanted to get our mind off of our Dad dying. Now we just want to lay on a warm rock, troll paladins in training of our order (Also Mage) and have kinky lesbian relations with Trisha.

>>25387458
>It takes a while, but you end up at the start of a very disgruntled group of people heading towards Stone Hall.

How many people are we talking about here? And did the First Wood non-elves have a mayor or other community leader?

>>25387743
>Her Illuminated Serpent

There's a serious problem with an immortal being taking titles that last for life. If anything like that ever *did* happen, we'd have to make sure that the title can be passed on while still living.

Wait, are we going to Stone Hall or white tree first?

>>25387746
"Get helping the people. Stories can wait for after we've got everyone moving and words said for the dead." You say.

Julian shakes his head. "I TOLD them not to do anything stupid." He says as he goes to address the crowd.

The herd of people slowly exit the townadn the forest with their stuff, and the few at the front start to see HIS standing there in a wagon. More than a few drop to their knees.

Julian and you, run up to her. She looks at you and Julian confused.

"Paladin Patrick, Paladin Graves?" She asks. "What's going on? Why are all these people here?"

"It's...a complicated story, you holiness." Julian says. "I am...not the best with words...we had to evict everyone on the order of the Elves, but it was really my order, but I had to pretend that it wasn't." He looks at you. "Help?"

>>25387841
HIS is like the Pope and considering the Pope can step down (even if doesn't happen that often) ... yeah.

>>25387858
White Tree; it's on the way and we can pick up Mari's body.

>>25387858
white tree. Then stone hall.

We may or may not take a crowd of refugees through river's cross. I don't know how I feel about that.

>>25387858
Yeah we need to hit White Tree for Mari's body. Yknow before we cannot get back in again.

>>25387841
Imagine the new Pope kept going on CRAZY ADVENTURES. And fought EVIL ORGANIZATIONS. With HOLY LIGHT.

>>25387871
Big smile
"You're on your own uncle"

>>25387883
And was also satan

>>25387892
No he's not, we helped with this

>>25387871
"Mab, the current Fey Court leader, had to exile the humans in order to save face in front of the rest of the Fey Court, at least until she can get everything sorted out. Trust me, her rivals would have done MUCH worse."

>>25387871
"We're trying to move these people into the surrounding cities with whatever goods they can bring with them, so as to avoid yet another war with the elves, this time lacking the armies of citadel. Two have died needlessly already, and we're trying to prevent any further deaths. I believe that's about the gist of it."

>>25387883
>>25387893
"In other news, the pope slew 5 assassins today. They were bathed in a white light, wielded flaming swords, and were described to be "flying on wings of fire". Occuli are still investigating the source of this mysterious harpy threat."

>>25387871
"The self-styled Queen Mab of the elves, or Maxine to her friends, is more or less on our side. She had to put on a little play to not get stabbed in the back by people who aren't. Part of that involves throwing her weight around with her new army, which no longer had Citadel's army to stop it. So, First Wood now belongs to the elves as their sovereign territory, and rather than leaving its other residents in place as we'd originally hoped, any non-elf is currently persona non grata. Which means all these folks are now refugees, and soon to be citizens of Stone Hall, the closest thing the non-Citadel part of this continent has to a capital city."

>>25387958
(This is an explanation for HIS's benefit. Obviously we'll be explaining it slightly differently to the folks of First Wood, and not telling operational security details to them.)

>>25387958
I'm thinking we explain it to HIS, and then let her address the crowd this time, not us.

>>25387957
I am now imagining a comedy series starring the long-suffering personal assistant to HIS as she refuses to act with the dignity of her station, gallivants across the land solving problems with her hard-headed stubbornness and her fists, get personally involved in incredibly dangerous situations, come up with madness-inspired ideas, and insists on a steady relationship with some sort of bug-witch.

Here's a possible theme song for the new Citadel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQPS3wD_o_M

>>25388103
I'm fond of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pURJDToKA0k

>>25388179
if we accidentally make citadel start rolling, I will lose my shit.

A rolling sphere-city-demon.

We will have finally won our bet with tricia.

>>25388213
We've still won that. She just won't admit defeat.

>>25388008
yeah, whatever explanation we use, HIS is the one talking to the crowd this time.

A bit more work on echo's part. Maybe we should develop a system through which we can dictate what NPCs do in certain situations to keep writing pressure off of him, but that would be complicated and invite metagaming.

"The self-styled Queen Mab of the elves, or Maxine to her friends, is more or less on our side. She had to put on a little play to not get stabbed in the back by people who aren't. Part of that involves throwing her weight around with her new army, which no longer had Citadel's army to stop it.

"So, First Wood now belongs to the elves as their sovereign territory, and rather than leaving its other residents in place as we'd originally hoped, any non-elf is currently persona non grata. Which means all these folks are now refugees."

"Any other method would have resulted in a lot of unneeded bloodshed." Julian says.

"I can't..." She shakes her head. "How can you two claim to be Paladins, in service to His Light, and allow creatures who have no respect for..." She looks out at the gathering crowd of people, and then back at you and Julian's glaring and stern faces, and she deflates. She curls up her knees and puts her head in her hands. "I can't do this...no no no." She shivers.

"Your holiness...they need to hear something from you." Julian says.

"I can't! It's too much, and too hard." She moans. "Tell them to go away! You're my Paladins, you're supposed to do these things for me!"

>>25388246
We've had big NPC speeches and monologues before; I'm confident it'll turn out extremely well.

>>25388268
I think we broke her.

>>25388268
>>25388310
Great, we broke her illuminated self. We're awful paladins.

>>25388321
Since when was that not a fact?

>>25388268
Well SHIT!!! Yknow has this woman EVER done anything like this before? Did Citadel really pull this much wool over peoples eyes?

MOTIVATING SPEECH TIME!!!!!
(I cant write worth a fuck but here it goes.)
Your Holiness, we dont HAVE the power and respect that you command. Its your office that allows us to do our jobs. These people are starving and desperate, please just reassure them that things will be taken care of so as to avoid a riot and prevent these people from charging back into first wood to reclaim their former homes from the elves.

>>25388268
>"I can't! It's too much, and too hard." She moans. "Tell them to go away! You're my Paladins, you're supposed to do these things for me!"

"These people just lost their homes and their lands, and they're moving somewhere to start a whole new life. And despite all that, they're falling to their knees in front of you, as one sane thing left in their lives. They don't need the Paladin Serpent right now; they need Her Illuminated Self.

And you need this right now, too. You're going to have to start functioning without that voice of confidence in the back of your mind. You don't have to be perfect; they'll love you anyway. And you don't have to tell them this is fair or right; it's all the better if they go on believing that the elves kicked them out for now. All they need is a blessing for their journey and for the new lives they're about to embark upon, that kind of thing.

We'll take care of the details afterward, but they need a few words. Please."

>>25388268

"They need you, you are probably the only link they have to any sort of structure or normality."

>>25388268
Miss a single beat, because that caught us off guard, and then move on.
"Darn, and I had thought I'd get away without having to give a speech this time. As you will, your illuminatedness. I hope they don't mind hearing the bad news from me."

Then I write up a speech for the people, jeez, gimme a minute I'm slow

>>25388268
"Holiness, Uncle Julian is more likely to scare them into scattering with his language. And I'm a 300 pound Snakewoman with a devious mind and bone melting venom. Right now they don't need me or him. They need you."

>>25388390

Actually, this.

>>25388411
we're more like 900~ pounds.

We're fucking huge

>>25388411
>>25388397
>>25388390
Something like this.

Let's just have her give her blessing to these people and this trip, and then we'll do the rest for her.

She needn't be a great public speaker, just a standard, every day blessing. She can shift the rest to us, all the logistics, planning, and where-are-we-going is up to the paladins, s'true.

>>25388390
>We'll take care of the details afterward, but they need a few words. Please."

This is so that she can give a blessing and turn it over to us for the motivational speeches people are already writing. We can then follow up with telling them more about Stone Hall and Citadel and what's going on, and then ending with the good news that thanks to Robin's selflessness they won't be starting from nothing. That will also serve the purpose of showing them some elven generosity and telling others of his sacrifice, which will go a long way towards mollifying their resentment towards elves right now.

>>25388444
>>25388411
We've not weighed ourself since we were less than 600 pounds.

So we're less than 600 pounds. Don't let Ssen catch you positing otherwise.

How many refugees are there in total, echo?

2,500 might not be much. if there's a true city full, then it'll really only cover the trip.

>>25388480
It's all muscle, Ssen isn't sensitive about that.

Augh, telling people they're refugees now, pack their things, we're leaving is hard. I really hope we get a blesshelp.

"Holiness, Uncle Julian is more likely to scare them into scattering with his language. And I'm a 300 pound Snakewoman with a devious mind and bone melting venom. Right now they don't need me or him. They need you.

Your Holiness, we don't HAVE the power and respect that you command. Its your office that allows us to do our jobs. These people are starving and desperate, please just reassure them that things will be taken care of so as to avoid a riot and prevent these people from charging back into First Wood to reclaim their former homes from the elves.

"And you need this right now, too. You're going to have to start functioning without that voice of confidence in the back of your mind. You don't have to be perfect; they'll love you anyway. And you don't have to tell them this is fair or right; it's all the better if they go on believing that the elves kicked them out for now. All they need is a blessing for their journey and for the new lives they're about to embark upon, that kind of thing.

"We'll take care of the details afterward, but they need a few words. Please." You say.

"Please, your holiness." Julian says.

Deborah glares at the two of you. You have the unmistakable feeling that you've made another enemy for life.

She stands up and sneers at the two of you as she walks past you.

"People!" She says. "We are here today to speak to you. Today, you have you lost your homes to the elves. Your Citadel, your beautiful city has fallen, reclaimed by dark magic, and We...sadly...were unable to stop it...as were your Paladins." She glares at the two of you. Then she takes takes a deep breath, she's gotten her shot in. "But we are a strong people! We are a united people, and we are pure in our faith and power!" There's an applause and cheering. HIS' eyes light up and she nods. "Yes...yes...you believe in me and His Light! This was not your fault! This is merely a test! A true test of your Faith!" She says.

(cont)

>>25388499
>How many refugees are there in total, echo?
Just under 2000.

>>25388634

Fuck. WHY?

>>25388634
damn, too late. Oh well, I wasn't nearly done with a single paragraph of mine, such was my displeasure with it.

>>25388634
Aren't we much heavier than that?

It's been ages since we've gotten a weighing and measuring, how big are we?

>>25388661
because we were having a hard time coming up with a speech for the people. By the crowd's reaction, this is going to cause approximately 60% less riots than mine would have.

>>25388634
Well shit this can only end TERRIBLY. Ah well such is life. Maybe if we throw Mage at her hard enough she will forgive us.....i hope.

>>25388680
I think it was somewhere around 600-800.

>>25388711

No, I mean why would HIS turn on us for a request as simple as that?

That's incredibly unfair.

>>25388661
and don't worry, last "enemy for life" we made was ted, and he's our best bud now. And let's not even get started on tricia, our first "lifelong sworn enemy"

>>25388680
Also can Uncle still lift us? I'm still surprised he could way before we were a Paladin

>>25388634
"You will be happy, and blessed, and you'll all be very happy and get what you want. Because you deserve it! Now, listen to my Paladins and they'll be sure to help you get to your happiness and your new home!" She smiles and comes back to you two. "Okay?"

Julian just nods.

Deborah goes back into the Wagon and sits next to Mage.

Julian just opens his mouth and looks at you. At a total loss of words or commentary. Then he finally finds it.

"We're doomed."

>>25388752
Never stopped me before Uncle.

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>>25388268

SHAZAM, round 3. Now we get into the details.

On the western coast we have the Citadel, now a massive stone dome a staggering 300 miles wide. (we can make it smaller if you like, but that's how the scaling turned out). stretching just over 325 miles to the east are the Deadlands, once fertile farmland meant to feed the ravenous Citadel, now abandoned by its master and left to rot.

Sandwiched between that and the Great lake is First Wood, so named because of the Great Forest to the north. it is through this that the primary highway passes to the east and the rest of Citadel Kingdom, or the Menagerie Kingdom, as it is now known. If one follows this road, the next major city they would reach would be White Tree.

Just to the northeast of White tree, at the meeting of the two primary tributaries of the Great North River (i'm sticking with deliberately unimaginative names because that's how Citadel rolls, apparently) is the tiny village of River's Crossing. Nearly 400 miles directly north of here is the mountain city of Bronze Peak.

Far to the south, isolated by deserts to the south and mountains to the west, is the city of Purple sands. It is likely this isolation which made it such a juicy target for the Dramatae.

On the east coast there is one major city, Stone Hall, in the north. a number of fishing villages occupy the Great North River delta, and in the south lie the ruins of the once-proud Coral Gate.

In the far north, the winter brings ice floes, joining together the many Tundra Islands. the white represents the southernmost extent of the winter freeze.

Now the important question: What's wrong with it?

>>25388745
She's lived in Citadel her whole life. The place where it raining was the worst thing that's happened in living memory. She's never had to do anything like this before.

>>25388634

For our own followup after HIS's..."blessing" (that one was a shock, perhaps that corrupting ceremony wasn't entirely ineffective):

"We're going to be escorting you to Stone Hall, with a couple of short stops along the way. Either Stone Hall or Bronze Peak is a fine place to build a new life. Both of them are still being rebuilt, physically in Stone Hall's case or economically in Bronze Peak's; both of them have many opportunities for anyone with able hands or useful skills.

I don't know how much you've heard already about the troubles in Citadel. I've just come from there, and the city has sealed itself off. And I mean that literally when I say "the city has"; it magically clammed up before our eyes, with everyone inside. Let us all thank the Light that we are not there. We'll be taking care of that problem soon enough.

There are others who are fighting the evil in Citadel as well. There are those who have died fighting it. Three such heroes, Robin, Ryan, and Jessi, as their last act of generosity, left some gold that we'll be using to help people get on their feet in Stone Hall. You may resent the elves right now for kicking you out of your own lands, and I cannot say you would be wrong to do so. But there are still many who wish peace, and it is thanks to them that we are leaving in peace, alive and whole. And thanks in no small part to the sacrifice of the three I mentioned, Citadel is contained, and not spreading across the continent like a plague.

May the Light watch over our journey, and over your new lives. And if the Light sees fit to make our Journey longer, then may it also give us the strength to see it through."

>>25388752

I was rather hoping she'd be less vindictive and more inspired and inspiring.

But on the bright side, at least she seems to be coping well from suddenly being transplanted from a fake paradise powered by unspeakable horrors.

>>25388803
That looks amazing.

One thing that stood out at first glance: I don't think Citadel should be a perfectly round circle; the edges on the continent side should smoothly go inward and taper into the coast, rather than having a taper of ocean between parts of the city and the continent.

>>25388803
Move Bronze Peak closer to the east coast by 200 miles or so.

Have a road go through the mountains to connect First Wood and Purple Sands.

Other than that. This is great.

>>25388827

Not sure if we should be springing the revelation about Citadel being evil right away. They're probably nowhere near as in the loop about these things as we are. Nor will they know who the hell Robin, Ryan, or Jessi are.

>>25388827
This sounds pretty good; let's hope we don't get pelted with tomatoes halfway through.

>>25388881
Yeah, Citadel should be more eggish in shape, like Stitcher says.

>>25388827
they don't know what citadel was, don't mention that part. instead of

"Citadel is contained, and not spreading across the continent like a plague"

try

"the darkness that has sealed grand citadel will spread no farther"

>>25388907
>>25388881
Can we got a size update on Ssen? Been a while.

>>25388752
to julian

"No, no, no, we're blessed. Adversity and challenges and all that."

then to the crowd

"Yes, as her illuminated self has said, the capital has fallen and dark times are upon us. You will all return to your homes and gather what belongings you can carry, marshal what pack animals and wagons you can, and carry as much of your lives as you are able. When you are finished, we will leave this place heading east, stopping at towns along the way, destined for stone hall, on the opposite shore. You will be free to pick up a new life at a place of your choosing along our path, and we will actively work to settle anyone who is still wandering once we arrive at our destination. Work together and move with peace, and we will get through this with no more bloodshed, and there will be time to rebuild. Light be upon all of you."

>>25388901
>Not sure if we should be springing the revelation about Citadel being evil right away. They're probably nowhere near as in the loop about these things as we are.

That's why I said "the evil in Citadel"; they don't have to know about the malicious land spirit yet, but they know there's *something* wrong there. This is enough to help them know what's up.

> Nor will they know who the hell Robin, Ryan, or Jessi are.

No, they won't, but I think the story of their sacrifice (and how they're about to benefit from it) might help them not hate elves for the rest of their lives.

>>25388953
(Sorry, this is me.)

>>25388927
>"the darkness that has sealed grand citadel will spread no farther"

Good call; I like that better as well.

"We're going to be escorting you to Stone Hall, with a couple of short stops along the way. Either Stone Hall or Bronze Peak is a fine place to build a new life. Both of them are still being rebuilt, physically in Stone Hall's case or economically in Bronze Peak's; both of them have many opportunities for anyone with able hands or useful skills.

I don't know how much you've heard already about the troubles in Citadel. I've just come from there, and the city has sealed itself off. And I mean that literally when I say "the city has"; it magically clammed up before our eyes, with everyone inside. Let us all thank the Light that we are not there. We'll be taking care of that problem soon enough.

There are others who are fighting the evil in Citadel as well. There are those who have died fighting it. Three such heroes, Robin, Ryan, and Jessi, as their last act of generosity, left some gold that we'll be using to help people get on their feet in Stone Hall. You may resent the elves right now for kicking you out of your own lands, and I cannot say you would be wrong to do so. But there are still many who wish peace, and it is thanks to them that we are leaving in peace, alive and whole. And thanks in no small part to the sacrifice of the three I mentioned, the darkness that has sealed grand citadel will spread no farther.

May the Light watch over our journey, and over your new lives. And if the Light sees fit to make our Journey longer, then may it also give us the strength to see it through.

>>25388907
>Yeah, Citadel should be more eggish in shape, like Stitcher says.

Do you mean an oval with the long direction aligned with the coast or perpendicular to it? I'd think the former.

"We're going to be escorting you to Stone Hall, with a couple of short stops along the way. Either Stone Hall or Bronze Peak is a fine place to build a new life. Both of them are still being rebuilt, physically in Stone Hall's case or economically in Bronze Peak's; both of them have many opportunities for anyone with able hands or useful skills.

"I don't know how much you've heard already about the troubles in Citadel. I've just come from there, and the city has sealed itself off. And I mean that literally when I say "the city has"; it magically clammed up before our eyes, with everyone inside. Let us all thank the Light that we are not there. We'll be taking care of that problem soon enough.

"There are others who are fighting the evil in Citadel as well. There are those who have died fighting it. Three such heroes, Robin, Ryan, and Jessi, as their last act of generosity, left some gold that we'll be using to help people get on their feet in Stone Hall. You may resent the elves right now for kicking you out of your own lands, and I cannot say you would be wrong to do so. But there are still many who wish peace, and it is thanks to them that we are leaving in peace, alive and whole. And thanks in no small part to the sacrifice of the three I mentioned, the darkness that has sealed Grand Citadel will spread no farther.

"Yes, as her illuminated self has said, the capital has fallen and dark times are upon us.
May the Light watch over our journey, and over your new lives. And if the Light sees fit to make our Journey longer, then may it also give us the strength to see it through."

"Amen!" HIS says from the Wagon.

"Amen." You hear the crowd mumble.

Julian lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank His Light that you are better at that than I am." He shakes his head as you lead the large group forward. "I don't know if there's going to be a place for me in this new world." He shakes his head. "We're going to need to keep an eye on Her Illuminated Self."

>>25388907
Are there any known cities or outposts in the frozen wastes to the north?

Does the southern peninsula/archipelago have a name?

>>25389027
>Julian lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank His Light that you are better at that than I am."

"It's not that hard; you should listen to the voices in your head more."

>>25389027
We may need to purge the fuck out of HIS when we get to Stone Hall. Send a message to Isen, get them purging spells ready.

>>25389027
"Uncle, in his Light, all people have a place, even if they lose it for a bit."

>>25389027
"Swords to plowshares uncle. Swords to plowshares."

>>25388752
>"You will be happy, and blessed, and you'll all be very happy and get what you want. Because you deserve it! Now, listen to my Paladins and they'll be sure to help you get to your happiness and your new home!" She smiles and comes back to you two. "Okay?"

Sounds a lot like Lea when she got caught up giving sermons in Grand Citadel. Might I suggest that we have Lea chat with HIS a bit about what it was like? We can't relate as well to being under that influence.

Also, I find myself wondering: how did Deborah become HIS, anyway? How does that work?

>>25389027
"The key, my dear uncle, Is to talk to them about the issues before they get the pitchforks and torches out. And she's been through a great deal, it's a lot to take in I imagine. We might've put pressure on her too soon."

After that, get directing funerary services for the two who died, and directing folks to pick up their stuff and their wagons and carts and all that.