Breakfast is a mostly silent affair. You all eat as quick as you can, giving less chance of a bitten tongue. Ryara eats little and immediately begins work at her whetstone. Horry holds his short sword, sheathed, in both hands and uses it to steady himself, looking somewhat queasy from the motion of the ride. Elly simply leans back against the side of the vehicle, stretching her legs out and closing her eyes. From the gentle rock of one boot, you can tell she's not sleeping, but rather enjoying the morning sun.

Before long, a canopy of leaves begin to shade you from the warmth. The path is taking you into a wood, a sudden, but small, growth, one you've not seen before and, at one point, you cross a wooden bridge over a noisy brook.

It will be four days until you reach the Bandit's Wood, Hoskeep estimates. You can take this time to get to know your companions better, or keep a quiet vigil on your surroundings and let the days pass. At some point, you'll have to take turn at riding the chocobo. As you began, Ser Hoskeep informed you that the birds could go on pulling for five days with only rest for water and seed, if need be. All meals and sleep for the humans (and elf) involved would be done in the wagon.

>>25533035
I suppose we should get to know our companions a little better.

>>25533177

Any in particular? Feel free to strike up a conversation with one.

>>25533035
>>25533177

Let's try talking to Ryara. Just the usual stuff, like how she came to be a ranger.

>>25533221
This right here. And let us never speak of the previous night again.

>>25533035
So I gotta ask, does this uses tactics and skills a la FFT? Or is it the original Incarnation of Red Mage in FF.

Ask Ryara how it is to be an elf, she's an elf right? Also see what items everyone has in their inventory, good to know who you need to loot for the phoenix down when shit gets heavy.

>>25533035
OP, don't forget to post a time when you'll check back, keeping the anons in suspense at non suspenseful moments is dickish.
10 minutes/20 minutes, whatever, just do it.

>>25533399

(Sorry bros, there was an interruption and I'm currently typing up.)

>>25533295

"How is it to be a human?" she shoots back curtly.

>>25533257
>>25533221

She looks somewhat vexed that your questions are interrupting the maintenance of her arrowheads, but she must, too, realise the length of journey ahead. The elf sighs, and focuses a little less on her hands.

"I was elected to it. That's how most of us become what we become. The Elders measure our talents, assign us and elect us to a position. My position is Warden of the Incanting Woods and has been for the past fifty years. However, since the War of Queen and King, you humans have taken to calling it the Bandit's Wood. That's the manner of your kind. If you don't build over it, you infest it and give it a new name."

Her whetstone works along the flint a little more furiously.

"I've entreated four kings to give me leave to rid the forest, thanks to the laws that forbid elf-kind from shedding human blood without bounty or decree. Occasionally, I managed to pick up on one of the leaders when a price was finally put on their head, but otherwise, I had to watch and grind my teeth while they butchered the forest that my people had grown on their ancient pilgrimage."

She turns to regard you icily with moss coloured eyes.

"And how did -you- become a Red Mage?"

>>25533465
Lie, lie through our teeth, lie like we never lied before, nobody must know we were too weak to be a soldier, nor that we had probems with the white and black schools of magic's methods.

>>25533465
"Oh, that's simple. I grew, fought, studied, and bartered my way into it."

Not really understanding the pathological desire to lie, here.

>>25533465
"Magic."

>>25533257
Why not? I mean we're in a bit too much of a hurry on the way there to really repeat the events from last night with Elly, but there's no reason not to bring it up later. Besides, it was fun with her and she looks good in our hat.

>>25533465
"It's the kind of thing that just happens. You have an overgrown sense of wanderlust and enough talent in various fields to become good at them, but love too many things to become great.

Besides, I could never be a Black or White mage, too restrictive and I'd either be stuck indoors all day studying ancient tomes, or constantly fixing up people without anything else to do. So I've wandered the world, seen a lot of interesting sights, and learned magic and swordplay from wherever I could on the way.

Also, we get the snazziest hats, I knew the moment I saw a Red Mage hat that I would have to become one."

>>25533465
Well, I just had sex with Elly there last night, it was pretty good. Humans tend to be pretty free with their emotions and desires, Red Mages more so.

I was born to be a Red Mage, my brothers and sisters across the world will testify to that statement, you're not made a mage, you're born one. It's in you, it pervades every aspect of your life, you're destined to be the best kind of mage. Martial combatants look on in envy at your magic, if they're not blinded. And mages look on in terror as you bear down on them rapier flashing like lightning.

There's also the fact that we're animals in the bedroom. Hey Elly, how's that limp?

>>25533501
>>25533465
I traveled around, found some books and learned a few fighting techniques. I got a lot to learn, but mind you, I won't be cowering in the back like a White Mage".

>>25533501

Why would it be so harmful to let them know that we just did some adventuring and bought some lessons from both schools? There are magic shops in Corneria that teach the basics of White/Black magic in FF1, as I recall. Unless that's not how things go here.

>>25533538

Let's not announce the bedroom antics to the world. It's pretty tacky.

>>25533538
I'm not sure we should randomly start telling her about sexing up Elly, I mean it could become obvious, but it really has nothing to do with what she asked. Besides, if we want to get her as well we'll need to take a more subtle long-term approach.

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>>25533538
I approve of this, we'll turn Elly of Tenclocks into a red thief with our comments alone.

>>25533579

(Need a consensus, go with >>25533538 or another suggestion?)

>>25533538
Really not seeing an advantage to bringing up last night in front of Ryara.

>>25533579
Yeah, nah, that's pretty stupid. With the way that Elly was the one to drag us into her room, she'll just make fun of our lack of stamina and sexual virility.
You really want that?

>>25533540
Seconding this.

>>25533530
Because we all know how it ends. There's no way either of us will want to be tied down to a place, do we really want to be Cecil P. Mycroft Sr. or Jr.? Do you actually think she wants that?

>>25533540
Oh good, this.

>>25533554
From what i gathererd it's a little like all the ones before 7 (with maybe a little 9 thrown in) and seems like magic is closer to say 4.

>>25533538
No we are not detailing our exploits. It's crass, and we're not bards.

>>25533608
I'm ok with this bit
Anonymous 06/19/13(Wed)17:57 No.25533538
Replies: >>25533554 >>25533558 >>25533579 >>25533608 >>25533612

>>25533465

>Humans tend to be pretty free with their emotions and desires, Red Mages more so.

>I was born to be a Red Mage, my brothers and sisters across the world will testify to that statement, you're not made a mage, you're born one. It's in you, it pervades every aspect of your life, you're destined to be the best kind of mage. Martial combatants look on in envy at your magic, if they're not blinded. And mages look on in terror as you bear down on them rapier flashing like lightning.

>There's also the fact that we're animals in the bedroom. Shoot a glance at Elly on the sly.

>>25533655
I don't even know what I copied there. Basically leave out the bit's about the bedroom conquest and it's good.

>>25533608
Consensus is to NOT go with >>25533538
and instead with >>25533540

>>25533633
Well yeah, neither of us are planning on getting tied down at the moment, doesn't mean we can't repeat the experience some time when we're both free. No reason to pretend it didn't happen in front of her.

>>25533686
Okay how about we wont talk about it unless she brings it up, we do have standards and being a crass braggart bard is one of them.

>>25533721
*not being oh spirits of the crystals what have I done

You end up deliberating sharing your exploits with the thief so much that this narrator begins to wonder whether a woman of Tenclocks was the first you've had use of. In the end, you decide not to.

>>25533540

"A few fighting techniques," the elf curls her lip, unimpressed. "I told the innkeep, 'remove the posters and allow me to summon three of my kind from Elfheim'. But instead I get you three."

With that, she turns down to continue whetting her arrowheads. And then Horry, getting used to the motion of the ride, speaks up.

"And there's the part where the witch cast a curse on the first Cecil, so you have to become a great magic warrior to rescue your family from their lives as turnip farmers, right?"

That catches the elf's attention. Even the knight holding the reigns casts his one eye back. Elly sits up straight, grinning wider than ever before.

"What?" She's already thoroughly enjoying this.

>>25533758
I'd like to know why we messed with the dumb, naive fighter in the one way that would come back to bite us in the ass.

>>25533758
"You may not know the legend, but it's true: the curse was passed down through generations until it has finally come to me to change the fate of my clan. I would rather die in battle than share their fate!"

OR we can come clean and crush Horry's trust in us. I choose the former.

>>25533758

"Yes, there is that as well. Although it's not so much saving them from BEING turnip farmers as it is allowing them to diversify into other careers and earn a name for themselves. Nothing wrong with turnip farming, if that's one's calling."

>>25533785

Because we will alter the tale whenever we're asked to bring it up, and feign innocence when someone mentions a discrepancy.

>>25533758
"Yup, old family curse. It's why the Mycroft line has fallen so far from where it used to be. It's a tragedy really.

Passed down from generation to generation, I decided to break it and go on an adventure. I try not to make a big deal out of it.

Why, are bloodline carried curses not common where the rest of you are from?"

>>25533818
I think everyone knows that it's pure bullshit, they just want to see how much deeper the hole of shit we dig, because Horry is really that stupid to believe it.

>>25533834
I CHOOSE VAGUENESS

>>25533854
Besides we're telling tales, and it's better than a bard could do.

Also toss in something else, screw it, lets impress Elly.

>>25533885
>and it's better than a bard could do.
No, that's EXACTLY what a Bard would do. You're making us into a fucking Bard.

You're pretty much proving Horry's ma right; that Red Mages are just prancing fools.

(Can I get a second vote on a course of action?)

>>25533900
No a bard would tell tales, and screw bi... oh wow we are, abort action, lets just lie about the P,and maybe have this be a sort of true story, I mean this is Final Fantasy Quest after all.

Just tell the tale dangit, we were asked, and it works.

>>25533909

Let's go with

>>25533840

>>25533973
Yeah this. And lets stop lying, except about the P, you know how embarrassing it is that the P. just means P?

>>25533840
this, downplay it, if our crew is worried about some curse, then it's a problem, down play it to nothing, and it's no problem

>>25533963
We know where we're from, we've got an actual hometown.
First thread:
>Your home was the trading town of Loitha, in the verdant Kingdom of Silinlund, to the east. You began as a White Magic adherent in the local Temple of Harmony, after your parents had abandoned you.

>>25534002
Well crap. We are in a corner here.

Yeah lets just stick with it, better than the original.

>>25533963
>>25533840

You recount the tale, wearing your best deceitful expression. Elly's remaining grin suggests that she sees right through it, Ser Hoskeep turns back to the road with a single 'harrumph' but Horry smiles at you earnestly, as interested in the telling of it a second time.

You have your first inkling that the balance between the Gods is breaking when Ryara smiles at Horry.

"You sweet fool." She shrugs. "I suppose bloodline curses are not unheard of."

Elly looks on in disbelief, before shrugging. Horry grins at Ryara confusedly, not quite knowing what to do with the compliment-insult hybrid.

"Another Hoskeep branch once had a curse that every boy grew into a kappa as opposed to a man," speaks up the old knight. "There are no more Hoskeeps of that branch, anymore. The daughters became wives of Mylamonds, Seacarriers and Jonagonds and lost the name. If it weren't for my great-grandfather being such a prolific breeder, my family might not exist at all."

You come out on the other side of the small wood. You can continue talking if you still feel bold enough, or you can watch the surroundings, or even offer to take over the reigns for Ser Hoskeep.

>>25534036
And we can explain why we don't talk much about our family or why we spent our life travelling with this lie. It's not a hard lie to keep up, its vague enough to be difficult to disprove, and it works for our character.

>>25533963
If anything Elly is the bard, she came onto us.

>>25534036
Apparently someone confused being a Red Mage meant being a Bard and put us in this situation.

>>25534050
So Elly, what do you think of that, curses. and hexes, and other things that make your blood boil?

>>25534055
Well there was the fact that Elly dragged us into the room.

Either way, she might be the only one to know the reality. That's if she doesn't meet a FuSoYa/Gaulf/General Leo fate.

>>25534055

You remember something a snide harpist once told you: 'A bard's paid to be a braggart, but a Red Mage'll do it for free.' It's a sadly prolific saying. Honestly, the reputation is deserved. Red Mages tend to live from bounty to bounty and thus, need to be loud about their skills, often flourishing their tales to win the more simple of folks, or more particularly, their coin.

>>25534050

Ask Ser Hoskeep if there's anything in particular we should know about the bandits. Tactics, armaments, possible camps, that sort of thing. They're not elves, but if they've been settled in the forest for some time and have grown bold enough to kidnap nobles, they're bound to have a good lay of the land. It'd be nice if we could be briefed about it early so we can get an idea of what we're up against.

>>25534114
This right here, we may be braggarts, but we're not idiots.

>>25534050
Keep on chatting, but shift the conversation to other topics.

Talk to Hoskeep about anything known about the bandits, and bring Elly into the conversation for her input on how they are most likely organized.

Also get details on when the daughter was captured, where she was at the time, how they pulled it off. That sort of thing.

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>>25534092

>>25534114
We need to start being smart somewhere.

>>25534168
This right here.

>>25534114
This, but first ask Elly this >>25534092

I'm curious how she will react, if she knows it's a lie, and if so will she back it up. If she decides to tell the truth then we can admit that we're a Red Mage, the story is a bit of a way to harken to the panache, in truth we're just a Red Mage who didn't make it as a white mage, didn't make it as a fighter, and didn't make it as a black mage, so we took the best of all 3 and make our way in the world.

>>25534101
Ha! So we're considered worse than Bards, and we've been playing to the stereotype all along?

>>25534211
But if we tell the truth we'll break Horry's heart, can you look into his innocent blue eyes and tell him that we lied to him like that?

>>25534236
We'll keep it up just for him. Besides I think I know what's going to happen with Elly, she'll keep her mouth shut.

>>25534211
I'm alright with this as long as it gives us insight into her character, will she play along with us, or one up us? If she plays along, we can milk that, if she one up's us, game on sister.

>>25534325
Besides she looks good in our hat.

>>25534092

"Safer not to ask that of a Amarestan girl," she titters. "We're famed for being witches and hexers, ourselves." Amarestes is famous for being the home of the Yellow Eyed Council, the highest order of the Black Mystics.

>>25534114

"We'll be up against the Lucky Dogs, primarily," he informs. "But the Bandit's Wood, if you'll forgive my use of it, Lady Ryara, is aptly named." The elf nods, seeming to expect the courtesy. "It's teeming with bands. Some live up in the trees, some under the roots, some even have a wood fort that can travel the river. If we're not careful, we'll be running into deserters, Odin's Bastards, Hanged Women, all kinds. It's best we travel by foot once we get in. Communicate only in signals, minimise the chance of being spotted before we spot. Some bands'll avoid us entirely, but we can't rely on that. Especially not with the Lucky Dogs. They're a large bunch that rove in simple tents and, as you said, getting bolder. Ryara's the ranger, so she'll be scouting the wood, whilst we slowly proceed behind. Once we locate the lady, I'll need Elly to get into position that she might be able to secure her. At that point, me, Horry and Cecil will storm the guards and Ryara, you'll pick off any who seem to threaten Elly's safety. We know they'll not harm the lady, so its our backs you'll have. Any questions, the lot of you?"

>>25534383
"Do we have any idea of their numbers? Do we know anything about their leader? Do they have any odd or strange tactics, weapons, or gimmicks? How did they manage to kidnap the lady in the first place? Do they know who and what she is?"

>>25534383
Cant think of anything more.

Also smile at Elly's comment.

>>25534383
What items does everyone have, an anon mentioned it earlier, it's good to know where the potions are if someone needs them.

"You hear that Horry, maybe we'll pick up some scars to impress the ladies later. I wager 50 gil that I'll take more bandits than you. How's that sound a friendly wager between warriors?"

>>25534426

Seconding this.

Also:

How did that many bandits came to settle down in the woods in the first place?

How many of them are we going to be seeing, here?

>>25534383
You certainly enchanted me, after all this is done, we'll have to go get drinks with everyone.

>>25534426

"Between twenty and thirty," Ryara spoke up. "They're a well disciplined group, never staying in one place. Once led by the Hellhound, but he was killed in a recent coup, and since then I've been unable to gather who the leader is. As for weapons, they use sword and board, for the most part. However, they have a few standouts. An archer more than proficient and a Black Mage. Should we happen upon the latter, you're the best suited to combat him, Cecil."

"The Hellhound... Ser Rommin Oarsman," frowned Ser Hoskeep. "A commoner who won himself a knighthood for hunting outlaws, then turned outlaw himself. Black as his heart turned, I grieve for the man he was when I fought alongside him. Before greed took him."

When you ask as to how they grabbed the lady, Ser Hoskeep grumbles, displeased at the question.

"The lady was on the Merchant's Road, built to bypass the Bandit's Wood. What put her on that road, I am at no liberty to tell you, but she was snatched and her entire entourage slain, guard and noble alike. It was a well planned attack, and they were clear in their objective."

<continued>

>>25534478
This + >>25534426

Lets make Horry our bro, good to have someone tough at your back, and not quite bright enough to know when to leave you behind. Not that we would leave Horry behind, ever, right, even if it meant our life?

>>25534575
Never, Nobody is going down if we have anything to say about it.

please no kids who save us from beingcrushed y walls by turning themselves to stone until it's allover, I'm still dealing with those emotions 20 years later.

>>25534571

(tripcode plz)

>>25534478

At your suggestion, whilst Ser Hoskeep explains further, your party puts together their pot of items. Alongside your potion, Ryara adds two of her own, Horry four and Elly one. Furthermore, Elly adds three antidotes. Ryara adds an antidote, some eye drops and three softs. Horry puts in a phoenix down, the only to do so. When he realises what's being done, Ser Hoskeep gestures to an object wrapped in cloth, as big as a man and as wide as Elly's torso.

"That's all I need," he states. Elly reaches up, pulling aside the cloth to reveal the same sword hilt you saw poking from his cloak beforehand, which was now wrapped about the monstrous blade.

At your challenge, Horry grins, his cheeks gaining a bit of colour when you mention impressing ladies.

"I doubt I'll be able to beat you, but I'll take that wager, so long as you promise to buy me an ale should you win." An ale commonly costing 50gil.

<continued>

>>25534833
>>25534505

"Seems you need a history lesson, boy," chuckled the old knight. "I'm not surprised you haven't heard of the War of Queen and King, but it was a short, and all too brutal, war, here. For three years, the kingdom was split. The twins Odenna and Levios won about the same amount of houses to their sides when the line of succession was disputed some hundred years ago. That war saw plenty of names erased and more innocent blood than has been shed in all wars since. Those who sought shelter from the horror took refuge in the Incanting Woods, under the protection of the good elf warden Miamond. As soon as it was known the Woods were a haven, however, every scoundrel, deserter and man with bounty on his head took to hiding there. Before the war ended, there were more thieves than innocents. The warden was killed, and ever since, its been a place for cutthroats alone. Plenty a king has wanted to burn it down."

"The Elders of Elfheim will never allow it, no matter how much your kind defiles it. The Incanting Wood is Hallowed. Humans have erased too many of our sacred grounds, already."

(An aside, but in case anyone wants a little mood music for the road, this just came on Shuffle in my media player: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zak0vY0nv3A )

>>25534842
Oh god, War of the Roses.

Well I have to agree there, I mean it's a very lovely wood, very... forresty, lots of trees, and roots.

>>25534842
"That's rough Ryara, sorry to hear about that. At least we'll be making a dent in the bandit population today, might not matter that much in the long run, but it's a start.

They are nice woods though if you ignore some of the less than pleasant inhabitants."

>>25534914
Seconding this.

>>25534833
Horry confirmed for Brotier. Shake on it.
We gotta get him a woman now, it's our obligation to a fellow bro.


To Ryara, well, we'll just have to take that small portion of the wood back then I should like to see some true Elven Magic, as rare as it is powerful and beautiful.

Do these bandits use poison? If so, the majority of the antidotes would make sense to go with the ones charging in, and one with Elly should she get poisoned somehow. 2 Potions each to us, Horry, and Hoskeep, and one for Ryara, and Elly. Ryara should keep the eye drops incast that mage tries to blind her, I hope we don't need the softs, but spread them around, one for Ryara, Elly, and Hoskeep, and I really hope we don't need the Phoenix Down.


Hey sage, what status effects are there in this setting. I know they vary game by game so I'm just curious. Also, is Death in this one?

>>25534914

"This isn't the Bandit's Wood," chuckles Elly. "This is just a little sapling of a place."

"Owned by Lord Erstspear," intones Ser Hoskeep. "They're his family's hunting grounds, but that didn't stop travellers of old from making a road from it. We're still three days and a half from reaching the wood we seek. Speaking of which, you'll find some more salted pork, bread and cheese in the bag. We're stopping to eat dinner while I tend to the chocobo."

As promised, you find the same as you had for breakfast in the bag beside the wrapped zweihander. All four of you eat, Ser Hoskeep grabbing some as the chocobo peck at the seed bags attached to their beaks.

>>25534962

"If you've never seen some, how can you make such a claim?" She quips back. Although you notice both her tone and harsh countenance have softened somewhat. Perhaps you're wearing her down. "All the same, I'm afraid I'm no Geomancer. I was not able to hear the voice as best as others. That didn't stop me from becoming Warden, however." She nursed the pride she hurt, herself. When you ask about whether the bandits use poison, she nods. "I've seen the Black Mage use Bio to torture members of other bands he captures. As for the softs, we won't need them. A cockatrice was once spotted in the Wood, but he is long slain."

(As for status effects, as far you know, Poison, Blind, Silence, Berserk, Doom, Petrification and Curse are those oft encountered in the wild or told of in tales. You know there are also some mages able to transform people into frogs, pigs, kappa or even miniaturized versions of themselves. Needless to say, the nature of magic is diverse, so you are bound to see plenty more in future travels.)

So how did we come by being a Red Mage? Blue Mage too awesome for everyone?

>>25535106

If this Black Mage can so casually toss around Bio spells, he's either pretty powerful or very wasteful and vindictive. Possibly both.

In either case, perhaps a head-on confrontation would be best avoided. Maybe it would be a wiser idea to do a hit-and-fade strategy to deal with him, pinging him with arrows and spells until he crumples.

>>25535106
Are we there yet?
>>25535166
ikr We only had the original FF choices.

>>25535106
Doom and curse are the ones on that list that are scary to me.

Let's eat and timeskip, I think we got all we need here.

>>25535106
"Ryana, I've traveled a fair bit and learned magic from a variety of sources, so I pick up rumors about various schools of magic.

Though Bio, that's a nasty one, not the biggest danger in the heat of battle if we can take down the enemy quickly enough, and thankfully we have some antidotes. I'll do what I can to take the Mage down quickly, and Blind their Leader and Archer before they can cause too much trouble.

What sort of beasts are we likely to encounter on our way there?"

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>>25535166

It wasn't an option at the start but we all hope we can learn Blue Magic eventually.

>>25535191
That or Geomancy

>>25535213

What if we become the reddest Mage and dabble in every magic school ever?

Time to add Summoning, Bard Song and Time to the list.

>>25535191
>>25535213
>Not wanting to be a calculator summoner
>Absolutely Disgusting.xml

>>25535171
>>25535175

(Jobs aren't so rigid in this setting, you don't have to be a Red Mage for life. However, it's a bit late for you to become a White Wizard. Others will be open.)

>>25535186

Your curt reply sews the elf's lips shut on the matter of Elven Magic, or Geomancy as its better known. Beyond that, she nods to your tactics when it comes to blades. As you ask about beasts, she regains her tongue.

"None wild, only those the bandits might have brought in, like the cockatrice that once roamed. I hear the River Kings have a talking squid that pulls their fort up and down the waters, but I've never been close enough to see.... Otherwise, the Wood is Hallowed, blessed by Cosmos. Magic beasts and fiends are the work of Chaos, so they avoid the place as best they can.

>>25535180

A timeskip is available whenever you'd like.

>>25535243
>Choosing slowest mage
> Choosing weakest mage
>Getting at least one ally in your math spells
>Math

>>25535261
Timeskip, lets kick some forest bandit ass before the session is up.

>>25535261
"Well that's convenient, it'll let me sleep easier at night."

I think we should goof off some with Elly and get some witty banter going as we timeskip towards the next interesting stuff. Maybe take a nap as well.

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>>25535261
>>25535296
>>25535307
Seconding Timeskip and banter

>talking squid
HIDE YO KIDS

>>25535296
>>25535307
>>25535355

You and your companions travel further northeast. Turns are taken behind the chocobo, although Horry has to be taught how to control them by Ser Hoskeep. You and Elly share more than a little banter about the colour of your cloak and the colour of her hair and she flashes you more than one furtive wink. Ryara teaches Horry about the ancestral home of her kind, Elfheim, the only elven settlement in the entire Realm of Spring, nestled amongst the mountains that dwell on the border of the three nations, Erelund, Silinlund and Velarya. At one point, Elly and Horry are playing at dice. Whomever gets closest to the number on both dice wins 500 gil from the other's reward. There's a lot of back and forth, but before long Horry owes Elly 8,600 of his future earnings. At that point, Ser Hoskeep smacks the thieve's hand. From beneath her glove, several dice fall to the floor of the wagon. Horry, still confused, waits as Ser Hoskeep shows him that each die is destined to land with the same number face up each time. From then on, Horry is cross with Elly, even as she allows to let the debt go. You imagine the chocobo enjoy their regular feed of seed and water much more than the bread, cheese and salted ham you continuously. At one point, you almost fall asleep whilst controlling the chocobo, but luckily, the villagers you pass by shout to rouse you.

<continued>

>>25535493

Finally, you see the forest that is your destination. As Elly said before, the wood beforehand was but a sapling compared to the great, wild green before you. Right before it is a stone tower, where your wagon comes to a stop.

"Out," commands Ser Hoskeep, as a withered crone steps out of the tower. She is as bent and lacking in teeth as she is old, but the knight speaks to her both kindly and familiarly, before she leads the chocobo and wagon alike inside the tower, muttering soft words to the tired birds. Ser Hoskeep turns to you all. "We go the rest of the way on foot."

It's not too long a walk until you come to the entrance of the forest, less than thirty minutes. The road you have been following vanishes all too quickly beneath the roots and carpet of long fallen leaves that make the forest floor. The musty smell of wood, fungi and weed soon fill your eyes, as the light dims from a dense canopy of trees. At least your footing remains even, the trees spaced out enough to allow travel. Still, you and Horry are at times required to cut growths out of your way. You and the party travel in silence, until Ryara stops all of you with a hand help up in gesture. She then turns.

"Alright," she speaks low. "This is where we separate. Continue to travel north, and if you see a great rock above the river, stay west of it. The Lucky Dogs rarely move past it. Slowly advance, as I scout as much as I can. Listen out for this call." The elf reaches into one of the pouches on her series of belts. Retrieving a seashell with several holes hollowed into it, she blows. It makes the sound of a bird call, a 'tululuo' sound. You think you've heard it before.

"That's the Mysidian Wren. They don't live in Erelund at all, so unless there's an elf or a birdwatcher in the bandit groups, you lot and I will be the only ones to recognise it. If you hear it, stop. It means I have aught to share, and I'll find you to tell it."

<continued>

>>25535719

Then, you are left with the other three. Ser Hoskeep adjusts the sheathed zweihander strapped to his back.

"Alright. From here on, we'll move in groups of two. East and west, until we're just out of sight of one another. That way we cover more ground. Unless you're spotted, speak not at all."

"I think I should go with Cecil," perks up Elly. "Physically, I'm weaker than all of you, I fear I shall need his magic better than either of our brave knights."

"What say you, Cecil?" Hoskeep turns his singular, grey eye upon you now.

>>25535760
Alright. Perfect team for an ambush. We blind and she kills.

>>25535760
Yes, gotta keep dat ass protected

>>25535760
"It should work rather well. We're both quieter than the two of you which works for her tactics, not wearing as much armor.

I can Blind people so she can hamstring them and stab them in the back. We have good synergy together, she'd work better with me than she would with either of you in a combat scenario in case we run into anything.

>>25535802
>>25535807
>>25535855

"A fine plan." Horry nods emphatically.

"Alright, you two head west, the boy and I shall take east. Stop as soon as we're no longer in sight, then head north. If you have trouble telling where that is, look for moss. Most of it'll be growing of the north side of moss and rocks. Best of luck to you both."

"I expect you to keep an honest tally if you fell any bandits without me." Horry grins, reaching out to give your hand a shake.

>>25535760

Stick with Elly, we compliment each other.

>>25535910
"Don't worry, Elly will keep me honest even if she isn't always the most honest herself. I think she finds joy in puncturing any ego I have in her presence."

Shake his hand back, give him a smile, and then it's time to head off into the woods.

>>25535760
"It would be best if you went with Horry, Elly. I will go with Sir Hoskeep incase he needs my magic, and then like Horry, I have my blade as well. Besides, you payback Horry by watching out for him."

>>25535910
"But of course"
Then shake his hand

>>25535910
On my honor as a warrior Horry. I'll see you at the camp.

Slap Elly on the rump, quietly, to get her moving.

>>25535978
We may be worse than bards at lying and bragging, but we are not crass. We are Cecil P. Mycroft III, we are refined.

That said keep the ass slapping low key.

>>25535946
Ignore me, I was too slow.

>>25535978
We can slap her ass once we're out of sight, and mainly we keep focused on the job, we may be a braggart, a liar, and bit crazy, but we are damned effective and devoted to our job.

>>25535943

"Oh, so -I'm- the one who finds joy in 'puncturing'?" She grins, to Horry's confusion and your titilation. Ser Hoskeep seems not to notice as he pulls Horry along, telling him to tap his shoulder as soon as you're out of sight. It's of great importance that you remain close enough to band together should danger arise, he reminds you before the other two head off.

>>25535978

Elly gives a half-squeak, half-chuckle at the slap. You may not be crass, but Chaos damn you, she's been flirting for the past four days and this is the first kind of recourse you've had.

She turns with a crescent of a smirk. "I have the better eyes, you go ahead and I'll tell you when they're out of sight."

>>25536038
"Why do I think you just want to look at my ass?"

Head out ahead, keep our footsteps light and our eyes open and looking around, we can snark and banter with her as we go, but we still get the job done.

>>25536073
I approve this comment.

>>25536073
>>25536114

Isn't it a bad idea to split up in cases like this?

>>25536073
Lets do this.

It's like Locke and Celes, only without it being subtext. Also Stealing these two for my TT FFRPG.

>>25536138
seems to be less, split up even further than, keeping a distance between us in case we need to pincer.

>>25536114
>>25536073

"It's your hat I like the best." She teases as you head deeper into the forest. For four minutes, you continue further west. At this point, the trees might be tall, but they are sparse and not too thick. Then, she taps upon your shoulder. When next she speaks, it's in a near whisper. "Now north."

Using the moss trick Hoskeep taught you, it's easy enough to move on ahead. With her keen eyes, Elly leads the way. Although you best be quiet, if you have anything to say, now's a good time, as the forest grows thicker and denser around you. Otherwise, feel free to timeskip.

>>25536138
I'm certain Elly has a plan, likely a double cross, but she won't do it, probably won't do it, if we stay with her, all we can do is keep our heads down, move a little quicker and see if we can get over to a point where we can catch eye of Horry and Hoskeep, they shouldn't be too hard to spot in the woods. Ryara and Elly on the other hand, good luck.

>>25536170
In a whisper, "Take care of yourself Elly. Don't do anything overly stupid and risky, especially not for my sake."

>>25536170

(My trip constantly removes itself. It's not even every post, either.)

>>25536229
This plus timeskip. Hopefully it gets cut short by a random goblin/bandit/wolf anything but a spider, or goblin captain squad.

>>25536155
That feeling of shame when I should have seen that a mile away, especially since we're playing FF6 as a TTRPG right now. Setzer's airship was just destroyed when Kefka cast an epic level meteor swarm at the planet after we failed to stop him from gaining the power of the 3 statues. Our session ended on a cliffhanger, not sure what's going to happen next. Our party is Shadow, Sabin, Cyan, Celes, Gau, and Terra, Leo just got murdered. So sad, but Leo's player is now playing Relm. Maybe, we'll see.

Timeskip, listen for the birdcall.

>>25536229

"Have you ever known a Thief to not be cautious?" She reproaches warmly as she deflty steps ahead, peering around trees and slicing weeds aside with the daggers at her waist. Every time you come to a thicket too thick, a dead pool of water or a cropping of great rocks, she chooses to err on the side of caution, taking the eastern path. Still, you catch no sight of your companions and hear no Mysidian wren.

<continued>

>>25536303

Wait, you're playing Final Fantasy VI and sticking to the plot? Why not do something completely off the rails like making Locke slit Terra's throat as soon as he finds her to see what happens?

>>25536337

Elly stays four steps ahead, her steps sprightly, a little too much for you to keep up with without jogging, so occasionally, you softly tell her to slow down. Soon enough, you come across a thinner line of tall trees, all of them bedraggled by heavy vines that mingle amongst their roots. They make a most uncomfortable walkway beneath your feet. But as the aches and complaints of the forest distract you, suddenly Elly throws up a gloved hand, her head turned beyond you, another hand at her dagger.

"Wait!" She hisses, almost inaudibly.

>>25536391

Flinch.

>>25536391

Stop in our tracks.

>>25536391
Stop in our tracks, survey our surroundings, put a hand on our sword ready to draw, say nothing wait for her to inform us.

>>25536498
this

>>25536391
Stop and fall over, gracefully. Also do we even know what a Mysidian Wren sounds like?

>>25536366
because the group has never played FF6, and we're quite content to follow the story. The guy playing Shadow is the son of the person that was playing Relm and Leo. That was hilarious.

>>25536562
not even killing kefka on sight? for shame.

>>25536562

So... did Sabin's player do the suplex trick on the Ghost Train or did he not know about that?

>>25536457
>>25536488

Flinching is all you have time to do. But two seconds after you freeze, the roots beneath your feet move, wrapping up over your boots and pulling between your legs, even catching your sword arm between their embrace before you can manage to draw your blade. Your first thought is Ochu or, even worse, Malboro. Then you feel the vines constrict around you, rubbing raw against your cheek as you're lifted into the air. It's not vine at all. It's rope. You dangle uselessly between six trees. Now that you look from each to each, you see where ropes have been slung over the sturdier branches, hidden amongst the natural vines.

As you look below, you see Elly with a smirk, but it looks strained. Others crawl out from the trees surrounding you. One, a tall man with a cleft lip and a leather skull cap has an arrow aimed right at your eyes.

"Quiet now, Red. Call your friends and it's over for you."

"We're a fair distance from them," Elly spoke up. "I made well sure of that. Give me the osmotion, I want father to recognise me when he sees me."

The bowman chuckles. "One down and not an arrow loosed. You Odin's Bastards are a tricky lot, to be sure." He wiggles a hip, another bandit plucking a bottle from it and tossing it to Elly. She opens the bottle and empties it over her head. As if washing away dirt, the blue fades from her hair, leaving a muddy blonde behind and revealing the pale white where once there was olive. She looks up at you, smiling despite the wariness in her eye.

"Will you come peacefully?"

>>25536693

All in all, six, including the archer and Elly, surround you.

>>25536693
....
Damnit

>>25536585
we've tried, but kefka is statted as an 18th level wizard, and has been for the entire game till now, and our DM told us out of character that Kefka is now an epic character.

I'm playing Terra myself, she's a Sorcerer with a thing for elemental spells. I also have finger of death, Channeled Pyroburst (Meltdown), and I always forget the name of it, but it's like arcane synostodweomer that lets me heal others by converting spell levels to d6s of positive healing, we've been having a blast, Celes is obviously a paladin, between her, gau a barbarian ranger, and cyan a rogue/fighter, our frontline is a monster. This game has been so fun.

>>25536391
Freeze, like a popsicle.

>>25536693

Your archer friend makes a compelling argument.

I will come along peacefully.

>>25536693
"Huh, still cute with blonde hair and white skin, though I will admit the blue was rather fetching.

Don't really have much choice now do I.

So how did the Bastards end up working with the Dogs?"

>>25536721

"Elly, I'll give you my hat if you let me go."

She doesn't know we have like twenty of those things

>>25536693
IT WAS A RUSE AND I KNEW IT.
We might as well go peacefully.

>>25536693
I FUCKING CALLED IT, RIGHT HERE>>25536180


GOD DAMNIT ELLY!

"Elly...tell me this, what do you think of curses, hexes, and other things that make your blood boil?"

If she says the same thing as before, I think we should trust her since it might mean she is still looking out for us, if she says something totally different, don't trust her.

and don't say anything at all to the bandits.

>>25536804
>Guy thinks we're a part of another bandit gang

Perhaps Elly is attempting to aid another faction in the forest. This could go to our advantage if we play our cards right.

>>25536652
Sabin is a monk/barbarian, he has lost his barbarian powers when he found his serenity and inner focus. As for the suplex trick, I don't even know what you're talking about, when we fought the Phantom Train, it was actually a dread wraith that came out of the boiler of the locomotive. In the train cars, when we were in tunnels, there were shit loads of 1hd shadows swarming us. It was scary dawg.

>>25536860
Hmm, that has some merit to it, I say we still go peacefully, but do ask Elly that.

>>25536927

A glitch in the original game allowed Sabin to suplex the Ghost Train. It's a funny mental image and Sabin is infamous for that glitch. Check Youtube.

>>25536693
At least it wasn't an Ochu or Malboro.

Go along with it, we're a liar and a braggrt, why not.

At least it was a chick.

>>25536779
>>25536792

The archer's shoulders shake violently. You can see he's surpressing laughter.

"She makes an expensive whore, no? One of Ser Hoskeep's hired rats for a spell between her legs. She'll lose custom if she doesn't open them a little cheaper."

Elly glowers at the man, her smirk gone in a second. You wonder whether it's anger or shame you see there. The bowman goes on, notching his arrow further.

"Who says anything about Dogs or Bastards?!" He hisses.

"You said I was an Odin's Bastard, you idiot." Elly bites back. "They know about you and Arcturus. They haven't figured out who's in the lead, now, though."

"Good... good." The stupid bowman calmed, fortifying his speech with some undeserved confidence. "Cut the ropes, but make sure you lower 'im slowly. Leave a Mage out of your sight for 'alf a second and he'll have your face on fire, even a Red one."

>>25536860

You ask Elly the question as you're slowly lowered. The archer immediately casts her a suspicious eye. She scowls.

"I think all men are cursed with a cock, and for all women, a cunt."

By the time you reach the forest floor, three men have spear, sword and axe drawn, at the ready, as the fourth untangles from the ropes.

"Need no damage..." Says the small, bald man, grinning a silver toothed grin at you as if he were merely helping you dismount a chocobo. "Net's as good a second time, net's is."

When you're untangled, your sword is pulled off your belt, sheath and all. Unless you try stop this, you are commanded to stand and follow Elly further in the forest. She heads northwest as the archer remains behind you.

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>>25536927
>>25537012
>Not posting the gif

>>25537062
Well that response wasn't very conclusive.

Happily follow, make no effort to be quiet, whistle a jaunty tune.

>>25537144
we must whistle the jauntiest tune of them all.

>>25537144
Can we whistle that bird tune?

>>25537163
we need to sing a bawdy song

>>25537062
>This is what we get for trying to outbard a bard.

You know, something tells me somebody isn't being honest, and not just Kai... er Elly.

>>25537163
Say isn't a Mysidian Wren's song a jaunty little tune?

>>25537062
Nope. We're a Red Mage, a warrior we are, a fighter we are not. Lets not get tangled in something liable to remove several important organs, I happen to like my organs, especially when they're in the right spot, without any suspicious holes.

OP, you should post the spells we have in the opening blurb for everyone's quick reference.

>>25537163

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlVV9vF0adM

>>25537277
I think it sounds like this without the low pitch or marimba.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwtdCcviYl4

Posting for others

Spells:
>Cure
>Antidota
>Fire
>Blizzard
>Blind

>>25537144
>>25537163
>>25537171

You get no more than two notes out before you are cracked across the face with the butt of a spear.

"No funny business." Spoke the heavily haired, scratchy voiced spearman. You are marched deep still into the forest, your legs beginning to ache as you make your way up the long rise of a hill. To your left is a much steeper incline, a tumble of bluebells with a dead pond at the bottom.

"That'll do. No-one'll hear 'im now." Said the bowman, and the company came to a stop. Elly turned hard on her heel, her face paling.

"Wait, Longpoint. We don't need to kill him." She maintains a degree of calm in her voice, her expression more serious than you've ever seen. Not a hint of a grin.

"I declare... our Bastard wants a bastard in her! Or is it you already have one?"

"We can -use- him, you idiot. Did you miss the hat? He's a Mage. And when it's discovered he's missing, not -dead-, he'll be thought a turncloak, like me. After all, we took our marks together. So we keep him alive, he'll have nowhere else to go and we'll have another Mage. The River King's have three Mages, but we only have one. Don't you think we could use another?"

"Hrrm..." He sneers. "Or we could hide the body -really- well, and they'll think he turned cloak anyway, but we won't have no feathered fool to worry about."

"He has spells," Elly imposed, calm but straight off the mark. "Spells that Arcturus doesn't. If you ruin that one's chance of learning a new spell, he'll turn your blood to venom and you know it. Tell him, Cecil." She turns to you. "Tell him what spells you know."

All eyes are on you, now.

>>25537339

"M-m-meteor... Death... and Raise?"

>>25537339
Well if he does turn your blood to venom, I can cure you, get you back in fighting shape, blind him, then burn and freeze him. Is that good enough?

Now would someone tell me what in the name of the Crystals and Chaos is going on here? This was supposed to be a simple get in, retake a noble's daughter and collevt money.

>>25537339
"Fine, fine. I'll guess I'll start by telling you my favorite...

BLIND!"

Blind all of them as all eyes are on you and run like hell

>>25537339
whatever we decide to say, just make sure we dont mention blind.

>>25537400

(I want to make a quick note now, so no confusion is cast later. Not that you know Confuse. Ba-dum-tish. But Raise and Phoenix Down, in this world, cure most fatal wounds and restore consciousness. They don't raise the dead. There's another spell for that. Or so you heard when you were very little.)

>>25537339
"So, Arcturus, Black Mage I presume? He's in charge now isn't he.

What, he knows Bio, Fire, Blizzard, that sort of thing? Couldn't handle a sword to save his life, looks at white magic and is confused by it.

Man, I'm sure you bandits love being in the middle of the woods with no healing spells or ability to deal with poison.

Say, Archer guy, whatever your name is. How does this Arcturus keep people in check? Is he well liked? Does he rule because he's able to poison people to death and you can't do a thing about it."

>>25537437

(Blind is a single foe spell. It's the nature of it.)

>>25537467
>Going the becoming king of the River Kings.
>Take this shit down from the inside
This was supposed to be a simple Echo Screen run.

>>25537484
Ah, was sure it hit all foes

Changing mine too >>25537430
but don't tell them about Blind

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This quest is lacking something.

>>25537489
>>25537467
This. And This.

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>>25537507

I agree. Also seconding this.

>>25537467

>>25537339
I know you can go suck an egg

>>25537489
Nah, the River Kings have 3 mages and have a squid, we're right now dealing with the Lucky Dogs who are currently working with Odin's Bastards as evidenced by them being with Elly.

But yes, I figure it'd be hilarious to take control of this bandit gang.

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(We have two votes on two courses of action. First third gets it. Here's a not-so-pretty map to look at while you decide, because I like making not-so-pretty maps.)

>>25537550

(Nevermind, I see our third.)

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>>25537339
In b4 pic

>>25537550

I think it's pretty.

>>25537578
ha! trip has abandoned you yet again!

>>25537580

Well Horry is the Fighter...

>>25537580

Maybe it can be a shortcut to class changing to a Dark Knight.

Wait a second, this is Final Fantasy, not Tactics Ogre.

>>25537467

The archer grins widely, as if staring at the biggest fool on the planet. "You bloody idiot! Arcturus isn't our leader! Our leader's--"

The spearman does what he does best, smacking the wooden end of his shaft against the archer's side. An arrow is loosed, flying past your head. Best think of something else. And quick.

>>25537545
Oh right, still, lets do this long term, it'll make getting that bounty easier.

As for spells, mention in some way everything but blind.

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>>25537580

>>25537638

Blind Archie McArchhole and run away forever.

>>25537682
dude, we are a caster, and these are sneeky types. they can outrun us.

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>>25537638
FIRE, DOUBLE CAST FIRE, FIRE ALL OF THE FIRE
Oh blinding the spear guy is probably a good thing too.
Maybe some blizzard's while we're at it.

>>25537701
this is true, but can they out BURN US!
FIRE THE WORLD

>>25537743
NOOOOO we play cool now, and release our BLINDSPAM when they aren't already pointing weapons at us!!!

>>25537638
Jump down to the left and cover your head as you tumble down into the pond

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>>25537743

SLASH AND BURN! WE'LL SHOW THE TRUE POWER OF BEING ABOVE AVERAGE AT EVERYTHING!

Well, shit. Guess we might have to fib a bit about our spellcasting ability.

This Arcturus guy can cast Bio. That means he's a mid-level Black Mage of some sort. If we follow the FFV progression spell chart, it might be that it puts him above the Fira/Blizzara/Thundara spell tier if he's learned everything before Bio.

He may have ignored some status afflicting effects in favor of pure elemental damage, however. This leaves us with: Break (petrify spell, might appeal to his sadistic side), and possibly Aero, if he neglected his wind spell school.

>>25537550

(In case anyone's wondering the scale, I'm thinking hex = 10 miles, with some allowance made for villages. Look how much you made those poor chocobo go without rest. Can I get a consensus? Or you can feel free to take your time and figure it out.)

>>25537638
"Oh well, worth a shot. Temper, temper. Ought to keep that in check Mr. Archer. You got a name or should I just call you Archer dude, Spear dude, and the rest of you lot.

So, no chance of you telling me who took over after the Hellhound got taken out."

Keep our calm.

>>25537682
>>25537725
>>25537743
>>25537775
People, calm your tits. Stay calm, we'll strike at a good time. There's still internal tension to exploit in the group and Elly doesn't seem happy with her current working arrangements. Wait and opportunity will present itself.

>>25537844

It seems to me that they're champing at the bit to kill us and be done with it, and Elly is giving us our only opportunity to remain alive.

>>25537879
exactly. and these chucklefucks want to throw that out the window in a vastly outnumbered fight, at close range, against high-damage high-evasiveness types. its fucktarded I tell ya.

>>25537507
>>25537525
?

>>25537879
And by running or starting fires we'll give them an excuse, we stay calm they won't due to Elly and the fear of Arcturus using Bio on them because we kept him from learning new spells. We have plenty to exploit if we stay with them, we run we'll get chased down by experienced woodsmen and die.

>>25537913

But if we keep poking them in an attempt to get information, they'll see it for what we're doing and kill us for sure. The archer's a dumbass, but we saw that the spear guy isn't; he already saw what we were trying to do and hushed up the archer.

We may need to lie about our spellcasting ability here and see if there's another chance to make a break for it.

>>25537940

Strawberries are tasty.
Anyways, can we try fleeing?

>>25537998
It's been pretty solidly evidenced that we're not that good at woodsy stuff, running won't work in these circumstances.

>>25537984
exactly!

>>25538015

So no fighting, no talking, no fleeing just do what they say? Lame.

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>>25538015
It's ok, you just have a summoner cast chocobo.

You don't have one do you.

Little Three Wheeled Sally,
A-comin' o'er the bend,
A-whibblin', a-whobblin',
Looking for a mend,
Wi' plenty grease but no fourth wheel,
She only needs a friend,
A'fore little three wheeled Sally,
Goes wobblin' a-gain!

(In case anyone wanted to know. Also, to keep things going, I'm going to take the first course of action that recieves two votes, starting now.)

>>25538047
dude, we hide that we know blind, and wait for our chance.

>>25538079

Blind Archer and run for it.

>>25538047
Well we need a better opportunity than this for sure.

>>25538079
Keep our calm, smile, rattle off a few spells we know, keep Blind secret, don't try to run without a good opportunity.

Ask why they're so defensive about telling us anything.

>>25538118
nonononononono. we have established that this will get us killed.

>>25538119
>Keep our calm, smile, rattle off a few spells we know, keep Blind secret, don't try to run without a good opportunity.

backing

>>25538119
backing!

>>25538079

We're kind of busy thinking of how to NOT DIE.

I think that fibbing about our spellcasting is the most expedient way of getting out of this, one way or another. Start out small, then work our way up.

If he's not a clever black mage, he's probably focused on pure damage spells with the holy trinity of elements. We may reasonably lie with "Hold" or "Aero"; "Break" is a bit out of our reach for now, but we should've heard rumors if Arcturus was turning anyone to stone.

>>25538159
>>25538119

The dread on Elly's face is painfully clear as you rattle off the spells you know, excluding Blind. The archer scoffs, nocking another arrow.

"Beginner's piddle and White Magic! Elly, you've gone soft if you think Arcturus ever 'eard the White Voice. This caped fool's no use to us!"

The bowman aims his arrow at your head. For a moment, the fear of your approaching death freezes the blood in your vains, locking you in place.

<continued>

>>25538327
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Elly please!
Don't let a good ReD be lost to you forever!

>>25538327

As quick as a dart, Elly bowls over the archer on her way to you. Her arms outstretched, she manages to give you a shove, hefty enough to launch you from the hill. As you're airborne for a few feet, you hear the arrow whizz harmlessly, somewhere far from you. Then you see Elly, back arched and mouth wide as a spear is shoved through her from behind, jutting red from the taut, narrow belly you had been stroking just five nights past.

And then you start to tumble.

<continued>

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>>25538327

>>25538395
Fuck, fuck, fuck.

>>25538327
Say something about Break, or Aero.

>>25538395
well dammit

>>25538395

Your vision is a blur of red, blue and green as bluebells scatter and your curled body bounces time and time again, the force of the dirt smacking you hard despite the softness above. It doesn't hurt, but it's difficult to breathe. What hurts is how you smack the water at the bottom of the hill. Your hat is immediately lost to you as you float just beneath the surface. You can swim, but all is murky in this wide pond, but for the light above and the red cloth fluttering before your eyes. You can hear muffled shouts far off in the distance. You know you must act or you will die here. Something tears through the water, but its far from you.

>>25538327
>>25538395
See what happens when we don't lie? Do you SEE?

>>25538453

Shoulda lied, I think. If Arcturus knew Bio and was casting it rather casually, he was already an experienced black mage. He'd know everything a level 1 red mage would.

>>25538395
>>25537580
This anon is a prophet, Elly is the one in the pool at the bottom of the hill. She will be wearing our hat, the one she liked better than our Butt as she sinks beneath the cold crystalline surface.


A reckoning has come for these assholes, take cover and light the world.

>>25538481
Well not much we can do, don't just pop out of the water, move from our falling point, poke our head up, survey the situation.

>>25538594

Perhaps take off our cape, letting it float up while we swim to another place in the pond and surface, ready to flame people coming down the hill?

>>25538594
We have a Phoenix down in our group, Elly might not die, but we have to get her to Hoskeep, we're not going to be able to do that with spear guy, and archer guy attacking us.

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVOOzlmrdjg Some mood music from my shufflin' playlist for y'all to come to a decision to.)

>>25538658

(Some mood music from my playlist a-shufflin' for y'all to come to a conclusion. First to take second vote)

>>25538611
>>25538496
A combination of these, let the cloak float, then rambo out of the water immolating anyone that's not our ally.

>>25538710
make sure to check before flaming though

How long does it take to cast cure, and how effective is it?

>>25538710
Also lets try and move close to where that other splash was to grab Elly's body before it sinks

>>25538747

(Cure will staunch bleeding, restore bloodloss and close smaller slices and punctures. All of your current spells are instant casts.)

>>25538496
It's her fault we are in this mess though.

>>25538761

The splash wasn't big enough to be Elly's body.

>>25538710
>>25538611

You shed your red cloak, letting it float above you as you swim further from the bank. As frozen as you blood was, it now accelerates with an electric heat. You're a strong swimmer, and you surface quickly. It doesn't take you long to glimpse the situation. Your eyes are first drawn to where you fell. The bowman is cursing and frothing, holding his arm as the one who helped you from the net is trying to wrap fabric about the limb. Further down the hill, you see the three other bandits. Two are sliding down the hill, one with axe in hand, the other in spear. An arrow whizzes from halfway up. The one previously wielding the sword aimed a shot at where your cloak had risen, but even so it missed wide. You take your opportunity and thrust your hand up from beneath the water. The words resound in your mind before a ball of flame shoots forth. it glows vicious in the gloom cast over this low place. You have a moment to direct it. First target to get two votes will surely be hit.

>>25538887
Take our the spearman. He's smarter than the rest.

>>25538887
Archer, the other two guys will be in trouble if they dive in with us, because we've got the range right now. Blinding someone underwater could be pretty damn dangerous as well.

>>25538912
kill the spearman!

>>25538922
Second. Archer has range.

>>25538937
but archer can't hit for shit.

>>25538969
Do you want to put our life on that?
I maintain my vote for archer>>25538922
Vote as you will though

>>25539000
the way I see it, we should kill the smartest fucker of the bunch first, also, he speared Elly.

>>25538933
>>25538912

The men realise the situation late. By the time he starts to react, the spearman is launched from his feet by the force of the fireball. It explodes up his chest, catching the cloth beneath his leather, as well as the hair beneath his cap.

"The bastard's there!" The axeman points his weapon at you as the spearman writhes and rolls on the spot. The axeman continues to slide down the hill as the archer shakily nocks another arrow. You can cast another two spells without rest. The axeman reaches the bottom of the hill before diving in the water after you. What do you do?

>>25539027
hit the archer. can't really swing axes in the water

>>25539027
Blizzard any mother fucker who comes into the water after us.

>>25539027
blast the archer, our sword will take care of the axeman in the water.

>>25539027
Cast Blizzard on the axeman, then dive under the water to avoid the incoming arrow, and we'll stab the frozen axeman right in the throat after that.

>>25539070
>>25539067

We are currently lacking a sword, unless we somehow recovered it in the fall.

>>25539070
seconding this

>>25539067
>>25539070

Thoughts of your sword soon leave a sour tang on your tongue. Your trusty blade was taken from you immediately after you were let down from the bandits' trap. The axeman had it, but no longer has it, so you can only assume it's on one of the others.

>>25539103
Damn, right. Well if the axeman is frozen in the water we can probably rip his axe from his frozen hands and kill him with it.

>>25539087
good point, still for blasting the archer.

Then we blind the axeman, swim up behind him and drag him under, tangle him in our cloak and let him drown.

>>25539103
is the axeman wearing armor and anything that makes him heavier than us? and how is he holding the axe

>>25539134

Only leather. And angrily. His knuckles are white, wrapped tight just beneath the cleaving blade. As he jumps into the water, proving himself a strong swimmer too, it becomes clear he doesn't intend to swing it, but simply dash your brains out with it.

>>25539129
I'm ok with this, we'll be out of spells, but if we're dead we'll be out of life. Better to be out of spells than out of life.

>>25539129

Not sure if we can take a burly enraged bandit in hand-to-hand combat in the water.

Perhaps we should blizzard the axeman, let him sink under the weight of the ice, then dive and resurface for another go at the archer?

>>25539129
>>25539215

You fire a quick ball of flame at the archer. It hits his outstretched arm and the bow he holds. The wood splinters and shatters immediately, as he quickly starts to roll on his immolated arm. Wasting no time, you cast you last spell at the axeman. From your fingertip a black spark flies, dancing in the air like a manic butterfly before shooting into the axeman's eyes, covering them in a black film. His rage is all too audible in the great scream he lets out, splashing his way towards you. You dive under water, kicking all the way down to the bed of weeds, and swim far enough to place you behind him. You make to surface.

<continued>

Hmmm, that thing that hit the water earlier, could it have been our sword?

>>25539307

But your cloak has floated far away. And the sound you make upon surfacing has caught the attention of the axeman. He thrashes as he turns vaguely in your direction, but he can't quite fathom where you are yet. Still, his axehead chops fearfully into the water. If he were to catch you, even by chance, it would be a grisly wound.

>>25539358
Get some distance from him, let him flail around, throw a rock into his stupid fucking skull.

>>25539358

Swim carefully and quietly away, checking back at him constantly, and see if the coast is clear (literally). Try to locate a weapon we can use.

>>25539409
This is a great idea, throw a rock at the water to distract him, instead of hitting him with it, when he's splashing climb out quickly find a weapon. There's a spear nearby right?

>>25539489
Why not just hit him with the rock? A solid rock to the face will break his skull.

>>25539513

That's assuming that we can throw a heavy enough rock accurately enough to hit him.

(Consensus time, ladies and gentlemen. First to be seconded.)

>>25539489
this

>>25539513
Can you break a man's skull by throwing a rock at it? We're a red mage, we're not that strong. Sure it will hurt, but I'm going to lean in favor of the distraction, >>25539489
then get up that hill before it's too late. Elly could be bleeding out right now, the axeman is going to have a hard time getting anywhere while blinded.

>>25539489
>>25539513
What are we squires now?

>>25539679
Distraction, and face full of fucking cold. Fucking berzerkers.

>>25539489

You dive again, grabbing a rock from the floor. This time, as you do, you see a glimmer of light bounce from but a few feet from you. You recognise the shape. As you had thought before, you can see your sword. Right beneath the kicking feet of the axeman, sticking upright into a mess of green and rock. Surfacing, quieter this time, you lob the rock over the man's head, causing a splash quite a distance away. He turns, slowly and increasingly furious in his slashes. You look back up the hill. The sword-cum-amateur bowman is not dead, like the still burning spearman, but he is whining in agony at his charred arm. He lies between you and the spearman, if you wish to climb, his sword still sheathed.

>>25539704
We're out of spells right now, blind was the last one. Elly is dying if not already dead, and that bezerker is blind, SAGE, HAS IT BEEN 3 ROUNDS YET!

>>25539732
Go up, grab the sword, then check for elly

>>25539767
and by go up I mean climb to the archer

>>25539732
I say climb, run the two guys on the hill through, leave the bezerker in the pool, tangling with him is a bad idea even while blinded, as you said, even a glancing blow would be nasty.

>>25539767

Which sword is it you want? Do you want to try take it from the burnt, but still very much alive, swordsman? Or your own submerged blade?

>>25539756

If you are waiting for your mana to return, you need a solid hour's rest, doing nothing more strenuous that walking or a little light climbing and jogging.

>>25539732
Throw another rock further away from the last one, the axeman should approach in that direction, then we grab our sword and start finishing people off.

>>25539782
aye, take the archers sword, then take our potion to elly if she isn't a chunk of crystal yet.

>>25539825
Shit

>>25539803
Whichever is closer,this needs to end to go back to Elly, she might be a traitor, but dammit we keep our damned word.

>>25539862

The submerged sword is closer, the other is a fairly steep climb up a hill and connected to a man currently suffering from very harsh burns.

>>25539857
>>25539847

Can a sage get a second?

>>25539847
second

>>25539919
As much as I hate it, we should take our own sword back, if the archer overcomes his burns and pulls a blade on us while we're unarmed, GG.

Throw another rock, grab our blade from the pool and then charge up the hill.

>>25539919
None of those.
Run up to the burned man, kick him in the burns to distract him, grab his sword, and slit his throat. Then continue on to the spearman, and slit his throat. Then find Elly.

>>25539919
Sage, I must say, thank you, like, right now, thank you, I am thoroughly enjoying this quest.

>>25539847
>>25539945

The second rock does its job, the axeman's voice growing hoarse as he swims for the splashes, calling your mother a Tonberry's whore and all sorts. Quick as an otter, you dive once more, heading for the glimmer. As you swim closer, it proves to, indeed, be your sword. It's lodged amongst rocks and weeds, but you manage to dislodge them, and it comes free into your hands. But the rocks you shift unearth something else. A bright white glow, like opening a window to the morning, shines up at your face, blinding you for a second. A white orb, big enough to fit in the palm of your hands, is buried amongst the rocks. It is painfully apparent in the back of your mind that with every passing second, Elly's blood spills further into the forest dirt. Yet the orb is warbling, shimmering like an illusion, as if it threatens to become immaterial if you but take your eyes away.

>>25540042

(It's my pleasure to entertain. And a greater pleasure, still, to say that this train hasn't even left the station, yet.)

>>25540098
Snatch that shit. Elly will be fine if we take another five seconds to pocket the orb.

>>25540098
Fuck the Orb.
We go back for Elly.

>>25540140
>Elly will be fine if we take another five seconds to pocket the orb
No, no she won't.
5 seconds is the difference between life and death.

>>25540098
Okay, I have no idea if what we have currently can save Elly's cute ass, we have some Cure and maybe have some healing items on me. The orb, the orb looks like white fucking magic in a ball, grab that shit and make our way to her at all possible speed.

>>25540144
ditto. WE can grab it after she's up

>>25540098
Leave it, if destiny says we should have this orb, we'll find it. If not, then it was never meant to be, life is it's own reward. Get up to Elly.

We do have phonix down, right?

>>25540190
We have a potion, and Hoskeep has a phoenix down if we can find him in time. We're out of spells right now though, so no cure.

>>25540220

Horry has it.

>>25540205
second. I was all for grabbing it, but you good sir have conviced me otherwise

Destiny is what you make it.

It is time to choose.

[ ] Elly
[ ] Orb

First to get three votes is your course of action.

>>25540242
is potion enough for temporarily pausing medium wounds?

>>25540308
[x] Elly

>>25540308
elly if we potion can save her, orb if not

>>25540308
[X] Orb

We don't have much of anything to save her from a spear all the way through her damn gut.

File: 1371701498146.jpg-(44 KB, 551x734, deep.jpg)

44 KB JPG

>>25540205
That's deep, like, whoa.

>>25540308
Orb