>>25607831

You remember the last you saw of Elly. A mound of dirt atop her as Ryara fixed together a wooden marker for her grave.

"Although the White Temples are a human authority, I believe the Four Crystal is a fitting symbol for anyone of good heart," she said of the wooden fixture in place of the gravestone. Four panel, rhombus shaped with the points connecting, fit together, a hollow in the middle. Beneath, the left a panel, free of marking. It was for you to fill, she decided.

"Elly the Bastard, Elly of Tenclocks, slain by the Lucky Dogs" was all you wrote. Although she found the title you bestowed on the girl odd, she assumed it was some new human etiquette to accurately name one baseborn.

It was still a touch hard for you to accept the thief, who had been so warm and mobile and lively but a day ago, was now dead. But dead she was, and dead she would remain. The crone whom you had desperately turned to for advice was useless. She knew nothing.

"Ser Cecil?" called a voice. It was the red headed fighter, his thickly muscled arms resting along the ridge of his tin tub. Worry was clear in his voice. "Are you alright? I should wash your hair for you, should you be too tired."

The was a degree of deference in his tone. You rode to the village without much a word, but now it was easily noticed that the young man's view of your status had changed since the revelation of the Orb of Guidance.

(Sorry for starting later than hoped, people. Moving soon and was doing a mighty big clean of the house today. Oh, also, the room, bath and breakfast at the inn, plus stable room for the chocobo, cost you 250 gil.)

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>>25608070

"I'll be fine Horry, move over."
Then strip and climb in.

>>25608124

You are in your own tub of hot water, at the moment.

>>25608164
Lets masturbate.

>>25608070
>>25608164

"I'm alright, Horry, there's just a lot of stuff to think about right now. Getting ambushed and mugged and then becoming some sort of light warrior or some business like that."

>>25608210
This be fine

>>25608210

"Right, of course..." he blinks at you in awe. "I had dreamt of becoming a Warrior of Light myself... like Rossey the Paragon. Or Odin the First King. Legends are made of most of them, or so they say. One day, you might be the stuff of songs, Ser Cecil."

He grins, clearly attempting to cheer you up.

>>25608280
"Me in a song, eh? That be interesting to hear."

>>25608280

"Heh. That'd make it a lot easier to find some work. Give something back to the turnip farmers of the world, eh?"

"What do you know about those other legends? I don't think I heard too much of them when I was traveling around."

>>25608432
This.

>>25608432
Why did this get archived after a single post?

>>25608431

"Only thing is...." His brow furrows. "The heroes tend to all be dead by the times the songs are made."

>>25608432

It was true. You know of Odin, the First King of Erelund and supposedly the first king of any nation that still survives in the Realm of Spring, today. He and three others banded together to slay the dragon, Urrworn, who lived deep in the earth, surfacing only to spew lava upon the villages of the land. With the blessing of the Goddess, he received the Orb that led him to the underground layer of the dragon. With a sword forged by the first Emperor of Wujia, the Zantetsuken, he felled the dragon in a single blow and, from inside, found the Grand Crystal of Fire. But everyone knows that.

"Well," begins Horry, his eyes scrolling upwards as if looking back through a long parchment. "There's Rossey the Paragon. The Orb of Guidance lead him to a mountain in Velyara, where he met with Cosmos, the Goddess of Harmony, herself. She bestowed upon him the holy sword, Excalibur, which he used to combat the Nameless Lord and his Many-Named Sword. Supposedly their battle was so fierce that it shattered the Western Mountain Belt, creating a path between them for the first time in history. I can't be sure how many of the legends are true, but they're fun to imagine... If you should like, I could tell you about Jeles the Green Bard. He's not my favourite, but some like his tale."

>>25608590

(Precaution against the mistagging troll.)

>>25608665

Motion for Horry to continue. Or nod. Or something.

>>25608665
Oh crap Zantetsuken.

>>25608713
Second this.

>>25608665
'Go ahead'

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>The hero makes for Corneria, and his destiny.

>>25608837
Because we fucking failed is why, anon.

>>25608930
I meant what the fuck does this quest have to do with Star Fox.

>>25608958
Go play FF1 you sad son of a bitch

>>25608713

"Well," he began, pouring a bucket of water over his head, before handing said bucket to you. "Back then, Erelund wasn't so big. Really, it was a smaller kingdom than any today, and other kingdoms sprouted up all around it, making the Eresh lands. The kings of the Eresh lands were in constant war, trying to take everything between the Mountain Belt and the Gatalan desert. Then Rossey and the Nameless Warrior broke that belt, opening Silinlund up. Back then, Silinlund wasn't a kingdom of any kind, but big region of wide, grassy steppes, where nomad tribes reigned."

You know that part. The Esero nomads harken from that time.

"The kings saw a ripe land, easily cultivated and easily taken from those who lived there before. Then Jeles the Green Bard was called. None of his tribe could understand why he was chosen, for he was no warrior. His only talent was to please the Nymphs, plant spirits, with his songs. But it was his songs that made the forests of Silinlund grow, swallowing and confounding the armies of the Eresh kings. With the time he bought, he convinced the invaders to enter their lands peacefully. He even wooed the Princess of one kingdom, growing a beautiful forest just for her."

You recognise that tale. The supposed origins of the great, bountiful Hilde's Garden.

"Not enough battles for my liking, but I suppose the story's told for a reason..."

>>25608958

(I didn't want to spoil it but this is actually the origin story of Andross.)

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>>25609029

>>25609016
All we'll have is, Born a turnip farmer, died a failure.

(Any suggestions or questions? Or shall I speed things along?)

>>25609016

Sounds like diplomacy (amongst other things) served him well there.

Let's hurry through the bath and get to sleep. Corneria awaits.

>>25609287
So have any Red Mages ever been a Warrior of Light?
Or are we considered to be failures by the Cosmos itself?

>>25609331

Actually, let's ask this before speeding things along. Along with asking about any mentions of Red Mages in the legends about the warriors of light.

>>25609355
>>25609331
This

>>25609331

"Some could say Lerian the Bold was the first Red Mage. At least, she was the first one to wear the hat. Funnily enough, it's said she had white hair too. Maybe you're a reincarnation of her." He grins. "She was a more recent one. A White Mage who travelled to Amarestes to learn the way of the Mystics. However, even then, the Mystics and Temples didn't get along, so she was refused. She ended up stealing an ancient tome and running from the angry magi. All that was before she was called. I can't remember why she was called in the first place... but she's famous mainly for what she did in Machanon. Combining all she had learned, she tried to resurrect her long deceased love... it didn't work, however. Now Mechanon's known as the town where the dead walk. I can't remember why, though...," he screwed up his lips apologetically. "I suppose that was another that I didn't find too interesting."

<continued>

>>25609434

Machanon*

>>25609434
>sidequest hint, people, pay attention

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>>25609434
So the one famous Red Mage, is known for being a thief, and her big claim to fame is a complete and utter catastrophic failure.

Good to know that our streak of failures and stupid decisions has historical precedent.
Fuck, even the Bard managed to not fuck up.

>Cosmos face when MC chooses to become a Red Mage

>>25609434

After that story, you think you've heard enough. You finish washing up and head to bed. For a while, you fear nightmares, but sleep finds you easily and quietly. In the morning you remember dreaming nothing. A hearty breakfast of sausages, eggs and mashed turnips await. Having eaten naught but cheese, salted pork and bread for the past four days, you wolf it down, as does Horry. The maid even fetches two cups of mead from the nearby tavern without charge, flashing a shy smile at Horry before practically running away.

The innkeeper thanks you for your custom before you head outside. In the light of day, Calim's a different place entirely. A tiny village, with a market, some houses, including the local knight's manor, the White Church and a traveller's shop. Besides that, it's all farmland and a windmill slowly turning n the distance. Perhaps it's a morbid tinge that has risen recently, but you see a single grave outside the walls of the White Church's cemetery.

"What shall we do?" asks Horry, looking to you expectantly.

>>25609596
Quick visit to the White Church, ask about the single grave and ask if anyone saw an airship pass by (Churches tend to be places of gossip as well as worship), see if the traveller's shop is open to get a pair of Potions each for us and Horry, just in case.
Then we ride for Corneria as fast as the Chocobo's can handle.

>>25609640
Second this, also make a not to find out where Mechanon is.

>>25609640

Perhaps see if they have other supplies like torches, ropes, spikes, and preserved rations as well.

>>25609711
Honestly we should wait till Corneria for that stuff.
Because we were told to get to Corneria as quickly as possible, and the way we're driving these Chocobos, additional weight could be a problem.

>>25609750

Good point. Travel light, then get the supplies at Corneria. The rest of the Light Warriors await.

>>25609640

An eldery White Mage, a kindly, bald man with bushy grey brows that hide the tiny black beads of his eyes, is the only one at the church, tending the flowers at the door. His robe is simple wool, rough and freyed at the edges, the red triangular pattern at the bottom fading light with each passing moment. When you ask of airships, he says he has saw none.

"Mmmn.... airships... the only ports for such ships I know are Corneria and Deling. I'm sorry, my child, but I have not left this village in forty years... as for the grave, you can read that yourself."

And so you do. The words are roughly chiselled upon it: Here Lieth Thol.

You enter the traveller's shop at the entrance of the town, recognisable for the sign hanging, depicting a brave knight fighting a fire-breathing dragon.

Inside is a small host of noteworthy items lined up for sale. A sword, a shield, a bow, a staff, a range of daggers, some spears, cloaks, a helm or two, even some castle-forged steel greaves. But you look to the list of supplies. Potions, Antidotes, Phoenix Downs, Wardgems, Tents, Rations, it has all the necessaries. Two potions cost you 300 gil. But when you offer one of the purchased blue bottles to Horry, he shakes his head.

"You should carry them. I have three on me already," he nods sagely. Then nods behind the counter. "Perhaps we should buy a tent, though? I know we should hurry to Corneria, but we won't be able to ride four days without sleep like last time. We'll need at least a night's sleep every two days, right? We can sleep under the stars, but there are tents here. And we have feed for the chocobo, but not ourselves... some rations might be necessary, too."

The prices are displayed clearly. A tent is 100 gil. Adventurers usually hang up a Wardstone outside their tent to keep beasts at bay in the night, but those are 250 gil each. Rations are 80 gil each, and make enough food for four days, if feeding one person.

>>25609968

Wardstone*, gem was a mistake.

>>25609968
>get a tent, read the grave, doubt we'll be in such danger that we need a runestone.

>>25610071
er wardstone.

>>25610071

You already read the grave.

Here Lieth Thol, it read.

>>25609968

Get five sets of rations, a tent, and a wardstone. Never know when we'll have to camp out behind enemy lines.

(Sorry for the wait, folks, my net died. Posting now.)

>>25610127

You spend 750 gil, leaving you with 1300 gil With the iron sword and potions in your travelling bag, fitting in the rations and wardstone leave little space. The shopkeep bids you good day before you and Horry leave. You waste no more time. A different stableboy brings forth your orange chocobo, well rested and perhaps a touch excitable. Your own nips playfully at your hand as you reach for the reins and after a few moments of batting at its beak lightly, it lets you on. You and Horry are soon off on the road to Corneria. It will take three days to get there, factoring in stops for food and a night's sleep. Do you want to fast travel or talk to Horry on the way?

>>25610437

Fast travel. Need to hurry as fast as possible.

>>25610437
Fast Travel. Our Destiny awaits!

>>25610499
>>25610501
Thirding fast travel, we need to get back to Corneria as fast as we can.

>>25610501
>>25610499

Hurry is what you do. But before even the first day is up, you are slowed in your travel. At first it is the sound that catches your attention, brings you and Horry to a stop. From around the curve of Erstspear's hunting ground, the echoes of footsteps, metal on dirt and paved stone, resound mightily. Then you see them. In armour, metal and leather, bearing spears, swords and banners of two spears locked before a rearing six-legged horse, at least five score march down the road. Men-at-arms and soldier alike, with a score of mounted men, too, most on chocobo. But some are on horses. You know horses primarily as beasts of the farm. But the Ereso nomads ride them, too, and so too do some nobles. They're primarily a status symbol, most of them being no more useful than a regular yellow chocobo, but more expensive to keep. Do you let the army pass by without a word?

>>25610608

Ask Horry if he recognizes the army sigil. There's not a whole lot we can do here, but some info would still be nice. If he doesn't know anything, let's move on.

>>25610648

"Must be Erstspear, right?" he answers as your chocobo trot gently to the side of the march. "A mighty noble one, that Lord Manner Erstspear. One of their sons is always placed as the King's Sworn, to guard the throne and crown at the cost of their own life. That's why they're given a castle so close to Corneria... no idea where they're going, though..."

>>25610723

Hmm. Perhaps things are heating up over where that airship went.

Progress onward to Corneria. We won't be able to learn a lot from the army, and they look real busy right now.

>>25610808
Think im going to have to go with this. Rather doubt they tell us anything anyway

>>25610834
>>25610808

The army doesn't hold you up for much longer. A night passes, you and Horry dine on a ration each and let the chocobo rest a brief hour to feed, too. Then you make your way through the delicate shade of the Erstspear's forest pass. It feels like a lot longer than five days since you last set foot here and, at the same time, it feels like not a single night has passed since you first arrived in Corneria.

"Cecil," calls Horry, causing you to slow for but a moment as you ride through. "Should we rest in the forest or wait til we're clear of it?" You know it will take another full day and night to get to the other side, then another two days still on to Corneria.

>>25610980

Ask Horry how he's holding up, and check the Choccobos' status. It might not be a great idea to rest in the forest with the recent shift of power in the bandit's forest, since a lot of bandits may be fleeing from there. They may choose to settle in the wood while we rest there. If everyone's in good riding conditions, we may be able to rest as soon as we put some good distance from the Erstspear forest pass. If not, then we can use the Wardstone + Tent to rest.

>>25610980
I say if the Choccobos are up to it, lets get the hell out of the forest. If we are being followed, I rather they try sneaking up on us in an open clearing than in the woods

>>25610980

Hey do Chocobo Feathers grant Haste if used? We should totally pluck the hell out of our Chocy!

>>25611109

"I'm fine. So are they. I was just thinking that it might be more likely for monsters to spot our tent on the road than in the forest.."

>>25611212

You remember a rumour like that, where picking every strand off five large chocobo feathers and brewing them with water would concoct a potion granting one the same kind of agility and speed as the spell Haste. It's a long told tale, but you've never personally tried it. You're still something of a novice, admittedly.

>>25611272
"While true, it also allows them or others a better chance to sneak up on us. *Shrug* Just wanted to point that out."

>>25611272

Is there a substantial population of monsters around these parts? Unless they live underground or somesuch, it seems more likely that they'd inhabit a forest where they'd be less likely to be hunted rather than roam the open roads. Unless these parts are somewhat neglected as far as security goes.

>>25611343

Horry blinks at you.

"That... sounds much more likely."

>>25611358

You have no idea. You know that if it's not a Hallowed place or a town, you have a chance of encountering beasts just about anywhere. Goblins will even spend a day or two in farmlands, as long as they can without being chased off. And it's said that a Bomb cut off from its hive has been found confusedly wandering the streets of Corneria more than once.

>>25611414

Let's go on and ride through the forest, then. Keep our eyes and ears open.

>>25611414

>Bomb
>Hive

Bombs pollinate fire flowers by exploding on them and they create magma honey.

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>>25611511

Also pic.

>>25611471

(Shall I assume everyone's good with this, then?)

>>25611691
Yeah, would have seconded already but my connection is crapping out on me

>>25611691
I'm always for forward progress, if coversations are being held, there's always room to have remembered a slice of life conversation.

>>25611471

Onward you ride, staying just a touch wary as you do so. But no harm comes to you or Horry in the Erstspear wood. A night passes, the forest growing dark but for the illumination of the moon overhead. It's the third time you've seen it since leaving Hoskeep and the third time you remember Ryara's words.

"It is said that the moon carries the souls of the departed as it sails overhead."

But morning comes again, banishing that thought. After travelling some more, eating and feeding your chocobo, you Corneria Castle in the far off distance, a great white fang jutting into the orange sky. And on the road from that great white fang, you see banners rippling and dust being kicked up as at least two hundred men make their way past. The sigil is unmistakable. The golden six-legged horse on a red field. Then the vague shapes in the sky are made clear. Four airships, galleons of great size, ride just beneath the clouds, some leagues behind. There is a great clamour as chocobo, occasional horse and many foot pass by you on the road. You hear them singing the soldier's song, The Road Not Yet Paved. Following behind is a caravan, open topped, showing a host of White Magi and even a few Black Magi, unmistakable for their wide hats and the darkness beneath them. They each wear a sigil over their robes. You will need to rest soon, you realise. Do you want to ride on a little longer and rest alone, or perhaps join the army camp for the night, knowing that they will be stopping soon, too?

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You decide to check your map again, thinking something amiss with the last time you looked. Oh yes. You had a corner folded where the great island nation of Siya exists. Silly you.

>>25612020
If the army isn't going to object to us staying with them, I don't see why it not.

Also, our new motivation is as follows, we will learn a spell to stop the moon, it will never fall again. Then no one will ever have to die, we can't save Elly, but by the gods we can save the rest of the world.

But Cecil, tidal effects!

"Your physics won't stop me!"

>>25612020

I'm a bit leery of camping with the army. Too many questions, and the White/Black mages may antagonize Cecil for being a red mage.

>>25612220
The black mages wish they were this swag, and the white mages want our reD. We'll be fine, beside's their in an army. It should be more disciplined than a bunch of bandits.

>>25612322

Might as well, then. Just don't get too close to the other mages.

>>25612020
Continue on ahead. We're behind schedule as it is.

>>25612322
>The black mages wish they were this swag, and the white mages want our reD
Funny, but not true.
Red Mages are looked down upon by Black Mages, White Mages, Fighters, and even fucking Bards.
Don't confuse your own wishful thinking for what is actually true of the setting.

You decide to follow the army for the hour's travel they make down the road. It won't hinder your progress too much, you'll make that hour in a third of the time tomorrow. But as you expect, they come to a stop as dusk begins to fall. The lights of the fires on the airships continue ahead, until they disappear into the distance. If only you had one, you thought. You'd be able to cover twice the distance a chocobo could, and have no need to stop at night.

You camp on the edge of the great encampment that the army sets up. It's a village of tents, almost as big as the town centre of Calim. You decide to choose a sector some distance from the tents that the mages have set up. You saw them, splitting themselves into White and Black. You can only imagine that adding a further Red would confuse the issue even more. Instead you camp with some simple men-at-arms, guardsmen and militia armed and newly marched. The excitement of impending battles is in the air, and a group of men roast a pig over a flame, filling wooden cups from a keg of Cornerian ale. You could go and join them, you think. No-one seems to mind your presence. Except Horry, who looks apprehensive.

"I'm not used to so many people.. Corneria's just as bad... so many people..."

>>25612594
"It wouldn't hurt to talk with them though, and can't you smell that roasting pig, a little ale to kick it back too. That would be real nice, we could trade them a tale for a bit of rations that are a slight better than what we have now. You just have to grunt and nod when I look at you. Besides, that lady fighter over there, the one with the broadsword, I think she winked at you."

>>25612594
"Horry, why don't you see to the Chocobos. I'm going to go over there and see if I can get some information on where they're going. I've got an idea, but I want to be sure."

Go over to the group of men, say hi, we're a traveler that's been on the road, so we don't know the news, and we'd appreciate if they could tell us what's going on.

>>25612764
>Not bringing horry with us
>wot u doin m8?

>>25612802
He doesn't like big crowds like this. It's like dragging an arachnophobe into a basement full of spiders.

>>25612840

It's not like we're diving into the midst of the army. There are probably small camps scattered across the town where the soldiers are camping. We can just visit one of those.

>>25612893
Except Horry's already beginning to freak out, even as far out as we already are.

>>25612940

I guess we can invite him later if the soldiers prove to be friendly. We can go to scope out things first.

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>>25612940
We vowed to help him get in with the ladies, this is the best place to start, besides if there's any ladies here, they probably like the same things Horry likes, killing bad guys and big weapons. It won't do to have our only travelling companion being gripped by social paralysis in the middle of a big city either, lets make sure he warms up to the crowd here where there isn't much of a crowd.

Unless we're saving this lady fighter for ourselves of course.

>>25613043
>posting trapgrias
>polishing her sword
>I like your style

>>25613043

If he comes along, we should probably mention that he shouldn't talk about the Light Warrior stuff or the other origin story we gave him. We're not going to stay long, and we're going to depart for Corneria with all due haste when morning comes. The only people who should know we're coming already know, and talking about that stuff could compromise the mission.

>>25613227
Good idea, but we should bring him, to help get acclimated, and this is the best environment for him to do so.

>>25612940

The young fighter seems relieved by your suggestion and nods, tying the reins of the chocobo to a tent post and slipping inside. The men look you over as you approach, but slide across their makeshift seat of an overturned log to make space for you.

"Whot's that?" one grubby soldier, with stubble as messy as his speech, pipes up. "Not with our Majesty's finest, then? Adventurer, is it?"

A second man slices off a thick cut of pork and, shoving a small metal spoke through it, hands it to you as well as a cup of ale to follow.

The third, the brown haired, twin-braided woman with the broadsword, thick arms and freckled cheeks, offers a very placid smile, as though she's not quite made up her mind about you.

"It's war, friend," she says as though she was stating 'it's windy'.

"King Ullond has finally had enough of the Empress pushing her way around the north," spat the first as he pushes a cup of ale into your hand. From the taste of it, the army hasn't spent too much on drink. You know what the man speaks of. It's been on the lips of everyone. Relations between Erelund and the Empire of Velyara had been tense for a year now, since the latter officially began to expand for the first time in over a century, waging war at the border of its northern neighbour, the wintery Kingdom of Ulrhurst

>>25613281
"Plenty work for us adventurers, then. Thanks for the news.
"So, gathering forces at Corneria before stabbing north? Maybe I should stock up on the way; prices in the capital are probably going to be high."

Listen to some of their stories for a while before retiring.

It's obvious that the King is using the Velyaran expansionism as an excuse to start a war to get the Grand Crystal back, but how does he expect to do it when he's lost a good chunk of his air force?

>>25613458
second

>>25613458
I'm ok with this, ask if we can get a plate for our travelling companion who's tending to our mounts. "He would have joined me, he's brave enough to face down a squibble of malboro's but the second he see's a pretty lass in a crowd, he runs quicker than a ragtimer."

He might be more amenable if you took that plate to him though, and I can bore these two blademongers with the story of our road trip here.

>>25613653
what the hell is a squibble of malboro's and what is a ragtimer?
I do like the way you suggested the female warrior do it, she seemed a little cool in relation to us anyway, maybe she doesn't like mages?

>>25613458

"It's Corneria, prices are always high!" The stubbled man cackled.

"Last I looked at a map," spoke the woman once more, holding her cup in two hands, staring at the liquid inside. "There's no way to march directly to Velyara. The Belt seperates us. Air and naval attacks are possible, but..." she shrugs. "We're just told to march. It's pointless to think."

When you ask about them, you learn that the first man is a simple guard, patrolling Sara's Town on the outskirts of Corneria. The second is his colleague and junior in the same, but he's not the one to tell it, being "damnable shy" as his senior puts it. Perhaps most surprising is finding out that the woman is a teacher in Corneria, who trained with the militia and turned out to be better with a broadsword than most.

"My captain would joke that no child would dare cross a teacher with arms like mine," she chuckled, but seemed a touch insecure as she glanced down at the tunic sleeve taut against her bicep.

>>25613653

"A pretty lass...?" The woman speaks up, as if she fears you're teasing. You might have said it just to stir the young man's courage, but the way she looked at your tent makes you wonder. "The red-headed fellow is as welcome to join us as you. But here..." She shoves a spoke into the meat and slices off a particularly choice, fatty cut, passing you the handle. "I would not want to disturb him, myself.."

>>25613726
"No, really, go ahead. Horry's the sort that just needs a little shove to get going in the right direction."

>>25613832

"Mayhaps..." she mumbles, her offer of meat shrinking away. Then she stands. "I shall just go and say hello."

Cautiously unstrapping her broadsword from her back, she makes her way to your tent. You hear a degree of nervous squabbling inside, but its drowned out by the chuckles from your own company. The senior grins widely as the junior watches your tent wistfully.

"So, what's your story, then, trav'lah?" The senior asks amidst a mouthful of meat and ale.

>>25613653
I bet this anon has actually had sex with a woman, and succsessfully wingmanned too, he knows whats up and how to hook up a brother.

Ask if there's been any monsters encountered in the area, if we do have to split off from the army, it would be good to know whats on the road.

>>25613965
Well, I set out from a (insert name of town where we left from) riding hard, it was myself, Horry over there, and a 3rd companion. We sought to make a quick bounty off some of the bandits in the wood, collect a few heads. But...I made a terrible mistake, I let my greed get the better of me, whether it was for power, or wealth, I don't rightly recall, but it cost my companion her life. I buried her about 2 days back there, and have been riding to corneria ever since. I think she has some family there, I'll see if I can find them.

>>25613965
"Just a wandering adventurer, originally from Loitha. Gotta get to the big city of Corneria eventually, ya know. Though now that there's war, I wonder if Sililund will get dragged into it."

Divert the conversation towards politics; just as interesting as adventuring stories and we won't have to lie about our latest misadventure.

>>25613965
You wouldn't bel"eave a word of it but it starts in a picking up a quest... (tell them our story but replace us finding the orb/being the hero with Horry, let the kid have the glory .

>>25614141
That's incredibly bad because it puts Horry on the spot, and we shouldn't be showing that thing around willy-nilly.

>>25614091
Thats not bad, not mentioning Ryara and Hoskeep is good too. We should give them some details from the fight, about how we torched an archer and spearman, then were knocked down a steep hill into a pool of water, then blinded and grudgematched out a bezerker, barely, mostly it was just making him splash about till fatigue did him in. By the time I had finished with the bezerker, our other companion was already dead. So concerned with making a quick buck, forgot what was really important.

Luckily Horry was off in another bit of the forest, otherwise it might have been 2 burials.

>>25614141
Horry just isn't hero material, he's sidekick from the getgo, wingman, bro, but not hero.
And we're a ReD mage, if we ever tell anyone that someone else got all the glory, they'll know we're lying.

>>25614091
This, but if there's a town with a similar name, use that, unless they know where it is right off, don't worry about it, if they raise questions, say you mispoke and say the actual one.

>>25614207
>>25614091

"Bandit's Wood..." The senior sneered, before spitting at the dirt. "What kinda man spends 'is life hiding from 'is fights? Anyway... best not think about how you lost someone or if was your fault... seen that 'appen in my line of business more than once and it never ends anywhere but the bottom of a bottle too deep."

"To fallen friends," the junior mumbled, raising his cup. The three of you toast together.

>>25614098

"Silinlund?" The senior looked confused. "Is that the one below Ulrhurst...?"

As he traces the curve of the north coast with his finger, the junior sighs and shakes his head.

"If we're being marched north, then it might well be we have to go through Silinlund and around the belt. Queen Serys is an ally of King Ullond... I doubt we'll have much trouble with them and vice versa." Though he did seem a bit uncomfortable talking about it to a Silinlish.

"Oop... there goes your man." The senior cackles furtively, nodding in the direction of your tent. You see Horry, walking slowly along the braided swrordswoman.

You're starting to get very sleepy indeed.

>>25614501
Seems like a good night to sleep under the stars if you ask me, finish the flagon, thank the soldiers, then wish them a good journey if they pull out before us and turn in.

>>25614501
"So, looks like I might need to find alternative sleeping arrangements tonight. Got any suggestions?"

Gotta find a place to sleep now.

>>25614581
Yup, gotta let our bro get his mack on.

>>25614581
>>25614561
This, all we need is a bedroll, it's an army camp so surely it has sentries placed, just lay it out by the campfire and doze off.

>>25614587
>>25614561

Actually, it seems as Horry has the same idea as you, heading towards the hills just outside the edge of the encampment with the Cornerian teacher. You finish your drink and thank the men who shared it with you.

"You take care," speaks the junior.

"Don't you dwell on things past, hear?" the senior calls after you.

But that's easier said than done, you think as you slip down a bedroll just outside your tent and stare at the stars above. It's true, that you had some part played in Elly's demise. But the Orb turned out to be important, too. Without knowing the events that transpired in Corneria Castle, how long would you have travelled with Hoskeep, chasing after hints of an airship just as the sky was about to fill with them?

The last thought that enters your head is an amusing one, imagining Ryara and Hoskeep on the road, together but with only silence for company. Then your lids, heavy from too many days without sleep, shut as heavy as iron, and you dream of stabbing an Ahriman in the eye when you very well could've just cast Blind on the thing.

(And that's it for tonight, folks. Hoped to make it to Corneria for tonight, but we got some interesting information at least, no? And believe it or not, your actions tonight, small as they may seem, will actually have an effect on not just the characters but the world around you. So do come back to see just what I mean next time. I'll be playing tomorrow, and hopefully a good deal earlier so I don't have to stay up as late, goddamn. Good night, one and all. Don't let the oglops bite.)

>>25614809
Thanks for running sage, a blast as always, and if you start earlier we might get more anons in.

>>25614809
>will actually have an effect on not just the characters but the world around you
So the teacher's going to die because she's distracted with thoughts of Horry?
Our stopping with the army instead of pressing on resulted in us missing something important?

>>25614873
Or, Horry is about to father THE Warrior of Light, and we're his godfather mentor.

>>25614873
Oh god, I hope not. I hope the teacher fights harder to get back to that man shemet on the road from Corneria.