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You wake up with a sigh, remembering all the stuff that happened yesterday... though it was your day off, it was also somehow the most effort you've put in since starting this job.

Finally fully awake, you stand up and stretch as you look out the window. Unlike yesterday, you've managed to wake up at your usual time of just before sunrise. Thanking your internal clock for working properly, you quickly get bathed, dressed, and prepare to head out for the day.

>where do you go?

>>27714027
[x] Explore the grounds. Just wander.

>>27714027
We have quite a few books to read. I vote for the finances one.

Probably running for the next five hours or so, I apologize for starting so late but them's the breaks.

>>27714027
Dining Hall

>>27714027
>we have got to be punctual today

>>27714048
This.

>>27714027
bring the book of Earth magic with us, the go wait for the Princess in our usual spot

Check to see if our map copies are still where we left them. Consider putting them under lock. Realize we had a chance to get a lock yesterday and didn't. Intensify disappointment.

>>27714062
>>27714088
We have several hours before we're due to show up.

>>27714027
Chill outside the dining hall with a book, mull over today's joke.

You guys must be new here if you think we have to be at work within the hour.

Whoops, forgot to post the time in the subject field.
It's 6:45, you have at least an hour and a half before you need to worry about being late for breakfast.

>>27714027
We have plenty of time before we're due to meet the Princess.

Let's go and meet someone we haven't met before, maybe the doctor in this place, knowing who is going to stitch us up if we get cut up seems like a good thing.

>>27714027
How about an early breakfast followed by some light training?

>>27714135
see what became of the spy

>>27714148
What? We eat with the princess and we don't won't have time for a second bath in the morning so we don't smell like ass all day. We're a bodyguard now, not a soldier.

>>27714027
Wander. Random encounter time!

>>27714184
Let's go with this.

>>27714202
What's wrong with a second breakfast?
And I said light training so we wouldn't raise up a stink.

>>27714184
Oh yeah, almost forgot about him. Check up on him.

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>>27714213

>>27714237
I bet they don't even have elevensies.

>writing

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>night was shit and ended early
>come home
>see this
>mfw

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>>27714410
>barely could sleep last night
>get up, go to 4chan
>see this thread

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You don't really have anything that you need to be doing right now, so you decide to go for a little stroll. But before you do, you check in your desk drawer to make sure that map that you copied is safe... and it's exactly where you left it. Good.

With that little bit of (justified) paranoia out of the way, you head out the door and down the nearest stairwell, eventually wandering into a slightly unfamiliar area of the castle. You -know- you've been here before, but when?

"Kyaa!"

And the second your mind begins to wander, you narrowly avoid running into... Melanie?

"Crap... sorry about that. Are you okay?" you ask.
"Yes, I'm fine..." Melanie replies, doing her best to adjust a stack of books that your near-collision with her caused to get dangerously close to tipping over.

Feeling kind of guilty about it, you help her realign her cargo.

"Thanks, Mr. Reinhold," Melanie says with a nod.
"Don't mention it, it was my fault to begin with," you reply with a guilty smile. "So what's with the books, are those for the Princess?"
"Eh? N- no, Mr. Niklaus caught me in the hallway and asked me to fetch these books for him... the library close to his study is filled with ones that pertain to his research, but Mr. Gerhard had these in another area for some reason," Melanie replies.

>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her
>offer to accompany her without carrying the books
>wish her luck and go somewhere else
>[OTHER]

>>27714665
>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her

Rolled 18 + 2

>>27714665
>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her

>>27714665
>>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her

>>27714665
Be a gentlesword and offer to carry the swords for her.

>>27714665
>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her

>>27714665
>>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her

>>27714665
>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her

>>27714665
>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her

It's a nice gesture and we may as well see Niklaus, not like we have anything better to do.

>>27714665

>Be a gentleman

incidentally we need to get a measure of the man ourselves. He was pretty confusing the other day.

>>27714665

> be a gentleman

I guess it's time we met Mr. Niklaus...

>>27714665
>>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her
We be a gentleman.

>>27714694
Last night.

>>27714705

point of view. Besides, isn't yesterday a subset of other days?

>>27714763
No.

>>27714665
>>be a gentleman and offer to carry the books for her
Is there any other option?

>writing

>>27714410
>>27714477

Pretty much me. Despite Pokemon X/Y coming out I still looked forward to the next thread.

>>27715002
Wait, the shutdown actually affected someone who wasn't a park ranger?

>>27715055
Eh, we've "shut down" like 17 times already. It's really no big deal.

>>27715055
Yeah, things have gotten kinda weird ever since the FUCK DA GUBBMINT yahoos took control of half the legislative branch...

Its terrifying that the Dick Cheney Legion of Doom half of the GOP has become the NICE and REASONABLE half.

>>27715055
doesn't Germany still hold the record for longest government shutdown?

>>27715095
>>27715117
>>27715132
>>27715127

Alright people, cut it out before we're banned.

>>27715127
Belgium does. 535 days

>>27715127
Belgium.

>>27715165
Good point, mods have been in overdrive lately, I'll just delete those posts.

>>27715132
We just keep spending more and more money. Both parties don't want the other to get there way, so neither will sign the solutions the other has put forth.

The Tea Party is a more strictly Constitutional group. Also, very strong Libertarian tendencies. The media has demonized them, like they do all dissenting ideas.

>>27715132
>Would that be the Tea Party?
Nah, republicans in general.

>they make absolutely no sense to me.
What? Taxes= bad, freedom=good, how complicated is that?

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"Those look heavy, you want me to carry them for you?" you ask.
"Wha-" Melanie stares at you. "N- no, I couldn't! I'm sure you're busy, and..."

As Melanie stuggles to figure out a proper excuse, you simply take the stack of books from her.

"M- Mr. Reinhold!? That's not necessary at all, I can..." Melanie waves her arms in protest.
"Don't worry about it," you say to her. "Just lead the way."
"I- if you insist..."

Blushing slightly, Melanie leads you down the hall, stopping in front of a large room.

"It's just, um... Mr. Niklaus is rather eccentric, so please keep that in mind..."

With that, Melanie opens the door and motions for you to follow her. The two of you walk past several shelves filled with books, random notes strewn about, and what looks like... a dragon skeleton?

As you struggle to make sense of all the bizarre things you see before you, Melanie taps you on the shoulder.

"I think you can leave the books here," Melanie says, pointing to a table that's mostly clear of debris. "Now if we're quiet, we can make it out of here before..."
"Aaaaaah, that scent... two humans?" you hear a voice from the distance speaking. "A young male and female... no perfume, but the scent of lavender-fragranced soap would mean..."

"...too late," Melanie slumps down.
"My dear Melon, welcome!" Niklaus falls from the ceiling, directly in front of Melanie. "And the male is... ah. The fellow from last night, Reinhander!" he says, snapping his fingers.

>how do you react?

>>27715230
"Rein is fine, really."

>>27715230
360 moonwalk out of there. Wave goodbye to "Melon" as we do.

>>27715230
"You can smell me?"

>>27715230
>how do you react?

Confused.

>>27715230
"Reinhander...That actually sounds rather good. I think I'll start calling my sword that. Here are your books."

>>27715253
This has my vote.

>>27715244

You know he's going to find a way to screw that up.

>>27715230
Can we please butcher his name?

Rolled 16 + 2

>>27715230
How do you do sir

>>27715230
"i hope you're better at remembering spells than at remembering names"

>>27715244

This, cut him off at the knees!

>>27715230
"Its Reinschmucker."

Not like hell temember

>>27715244
>Just the part he always gets right.
GENIUS.

>>27715230
We brush it off.

>>27715260
>>27715266
"...Reinhander... I like it. Perhaps I'll name my sword that. How do you do, Niklaust?"

>>27715301
>>27715260
Reinhander sounds like a style of swords we could totally get named after us.

>>27715301
I like this.

>>27715301
I'll go with this.

Switched from >>27715253

>>27715230
you can smell the difference between male and female?

>writing

>>27715401
One probably smells less testosterone-y.

any one else think that Niklaus is Nicolettes father? after all the thinks left out and the only character we have been introduced to that could be her father is the mage. there is always the chance we haven't met her father yet but story wise the mage is the best chance.

>>27715471
I thought her father continued adventuring?

>>27715497
It's her mother that's the adventurer. I assume the father is doing noble stuff.

>>27715532
Like research.

>>27715471
Nah, he's not being foul mouthed enough.

>>27715471
You're assuming we've met her father. He's probably the King's Brother who kept on going on adventures and hasn't come home for a long time.

Also, it was stated that Nicolette's personality is a lot like her father's, she doesn't act at all like this guy.

>>27715532
Her mother was an adventurer, and her father was a noble, but being nobility doesn't stop you from going off on adventures for most of your life. She settled down a bit, he didn't.

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"Reinhander... I like it. Maybe I'll name my sword that," you say to the eccentric man who stands before you.
"Oh?" Niklaus replies, adjusting his glasses. "I think that naming your sword after yourself is more than a bit narcisisstic, but whatever floats your boat."
"So, how do you do, Niklaust?" you extend your arm.
"No, no, Niklaust was my first pet mouse..." Niklaus says as he looks around the room. "Hm... I could have sworn that I had his remains somewhere around here... no matter," he claps his hands. "So, my lovely Meramera! I see that you managed to rope this strapping fellow into assisting you. Good job," Niklaus says, giving a thumbs up.

"Um, actually, he insisted..." Melanie says, blushing slightly.
"Oh ho?" Niklaus turns to you. "A right proper gentleman! It's no wonder that the Princess hasn't driven you off with her eccentricities."

Ignoring that -this guy- has the nerve to refer to anyone else as "eccentric," you turn to him and speak up.

"Anyways, here are those books you asked for," you say.
"Ah, yes," Niklaus spins around Melanie and onto the table. "These... yes, yes. The biology of crystalline lifeforms is quite interesting, you know?"
"Um, yes. I'm sure it is," Melanie says, bowing. "But I'm sure the Princess is waiting for me, so if you don't mind..."

>>27715633
>[1/?]

>>27715573
>He's probably the King's Brother who kept on going on adventures and hasn't come home for a long time.
Nah, she didn't want her mom saying their last name for fear that we'd find out, and we already knew she was royal.

>>27715497
That was Marianne's uncle, I think. Speaking of which, what color is Niklaus' hair?

>>27714665
For future reference, we should probably keep our copy of the map with us, always. Keeping it on our person is the safest option. No point in keeping it in an empty room all day where we wouldn't have immediate access to it when we need it, and where we can't keep our eyes on it most of the time.

>>27715633
And naming a mouse after yourself isn't narcissistic?

>>27715676
Said map is more likely to be beaten up that way, too. Think of all the creases.

>>27715676
Or we could memorize it and burn it or turn it in at the library for safekeeping.

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>>27715633
>[2/2]

"Ah, yes. Say hello to her for me, if you don't mind," Niklaus says, waving his hand dismissively. "So, Reinwald, about these crystalline lifeforms... they are ever so interesting!"
"Is... is that so..." you say, slowly creeping towards the door.
"Oh, yes!" Niklaus says, grabbing you by the arm so you can't escape. "There's the independent type, using ambient magical energy to grow... and then there's the parasitic type, which attaches itself to things like rabbits and the like, feeding off their own excess energy..."

Niklaus then pulls you down a row of shelves, and points at a tank containing a mouse with several odd crystals growing from it.

"Isn't it just incredibly fascinating!? I've managed to stabilize this strain to manipulate as I see fit," Niklaus rants.
"Um... why?" you ask.
"BECAUSE! What other reason is there to do anything!?" Niklaus cackles maniacally. "Anyways, these things supply their hosts with a slight bost in physical attributes... but for whatever reason, I've never seen them growing on anything larger than a bear. And they're unheard of on Lindwurms..."

"...and they refuse to grow on humans at all. I believe that it's due to something similar to when a plant gets too much sunlight, but I'm not quite sure..." Niklaus says, sounding defeated. "So, what brings you to my humble abode?"

>how do you respond?

>>27715855

"Just helping out a friend, is all."

>>27715855
"well i started messing a little with magic too...
know any beginners spells that go well with the metal element? or just a safe place to practice, i wouldn't want to make a mess in the castle again"

>>27715855
To ask for lessons.

>>27715855
"I was carrying Melanie's books for her."

>>27715855

"Some evil spirit that has guided my fate. Side-note, I categorically refuse to be a test subject when you finally decide to try those things on humans."

>>27715902
this

>>27715855
Nothing much, Nikloud, just helping Melanie with stuff.

>>27715905
This

>>27715902
>>27715909
These are fine.

>>27715902
What could possibly go wrong?
This

>>27715894
This.

>>27715894
Simple and to the point, I'll toss my vote for this one.

>>27715902

What could go wrong?

>>27715717
How about we convert it into a magical map that we can summon from earth when needed?

Actually that's a bad idea what with earth magic sticking around so make a light based map we can call up as needed?

>writing

>>27715855

Also I vote we call him Niklops this time.

>>27715855
"Have you tried maybe breed the crystals and see which ones will stick to bigger animals?"

then grab mel and run out.

>>27715855
Aren't they symbiotic and not parasitic if they make the animal physically stronger.

>>27716053
She's smarter than us and already booked it.

>>27716070
maybe it kills it's host eventually

>>27715902
Yes, asking him for help is clearly safe.

>>27716110
there's two ways to advance:

the safe way
and
the effective way

>>27716110
He seems fairly alive, and in possession of all of his extremities thus far.

>>27715994

>holographic map
that sounds nice. We should ask a wizard if there's a spell that would allow this, when it's convenient.

>>27716053

A bit too meta. Depends on whether Princess Guardia has the concept of breeding - though maybe they have natural selection already, that's not a particularly hard concept.

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>>27716110

Isn't he the one who teaches Sylvie?

Besides, the King should not be keeping him around if he was a genuinely dangerous ... in the crazy dangerous way, as opposed to regular wizard dangerous.

>>27716164
>Depends on whether Princess Guardia has the concept of breeding
Yeah, they might think people reproduce by spontaneous generation!

>>27716215
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip5T89jfJoA

>>27716053
>>27716215
Of course they do.
Animal husbandry is among the first things humans discovered. This is probably a reason why bloodlines are considered to be so important as well.

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"Actually I just started messing around with magic..." you begin, "...would you happen to know any beginner's spells that would go well with the metal element?" you ask.
"Ah, you're that newbie that Sylvie was going on about..." Niklaus scratches his chin. "It was so cute, watching her gather up library books and helping her out with a lesson plan... it reminds me of when I used to play teacher when I was little," Niklaus says, wiping tears from his eyes. "So, your affinity is Metal?"
"Yeah," you reply.
"Earth subtype, the same as that spirit that my friend the Steel Knight contracted with... yes, yes," Niklaus says to himself as he paces around you. "Metal spells for babies... Fragment Blader? No, that's a bit too much, I think..."

Niklaus stops mid-stride, and points in the air.

"One question, Reinstein," he says.
"What is it, Niklops?" you reply.
"You're not one of those misguided fellows who insists on sticking to his own element, are you? Because that's the most common mistake that newbie mages make," Niklaus spins around and points at you.
"Uh..."
"That grump Greggle's pretty much mastered his own element of Wind, but he doesn't solely rely on it, you see. It's very important to keep a wide repertoire, for all situations."
"That makes sense, I guess."

>[1/?]

>>27715855
>inb4 one of them stick on us and we become medieval Spider-Man

Also:
>>27715894
>>27715902

>>27716251

Just because you have the concept of bloodlines and breeding "better" creatures doesn't mean you have the conceptual leap that you can breed *different* kinds of creatures. "bigger and stronger" is a different kettle of fish from "can do interesting things other creatures can't". Just because you have domesticated something doesn't mean that was through conscious breeding for example -- it could be subconscious, almost natural selection that happens to select for stuff suitable for domestication. Cat scratches baby, cat gets swung at a tree, cats stop scratching baby.

>>27716291
>You're not one of those misguided fellows who insists on sticking to his own element, are you?
Thanks for having someone tell this in character arch. I was really bothered by people still only thinking about metal.

>>27716291

>Steel knight
could that be our long lost father?

>You're not one of those
uh oh, our sword fetish revealed

>>27716291
Let's see, what other variations can we make of Niklaus' name?

Niklan
Nickel
Niklock
Niklord
Niklew

You guys got any good ones?

>>27716323
Same

>>27716349
Niklice
Niklouse
Nikhouse
Niklaw

>>27716314
Haven't mules been around for a while? I mean, it 'might' be a possibility. We'll see where it takes us

>>27716367
Well, not in this world.

>>27716365
Niknak
Nikrod
Nicky
Niknik?

>>27716349
Nicolette...

Fuck.

>>27716349
Nickoloss
Nickelback
Nicklon B
Nickomte de Chateaubriand

>>27716385
let's not go there...

>>27716349

Nickelodeon, Nicklejuice, Nickey, Nikron, Nickadin.

They figured out selective breeding in this world a long time ago.

And Niklaus's hair is black. Usually. Sometimes he gets bored.

>>27716349
>>27716365
>>27716383
I feel like eventually these will just sound like dolphins screeching.
EEK EEK EEEK EK EEK EEEEK EKEKEKEK

>>27716385
HE IS NICO'S FATHER!!

>>27716392
Niklewd

>>27716365
>>27716365

Niklot
Nikelback
Niklick
Niklump
Nikki

>>27716367
I mean, with crystals it may really be as simple as banging two rocks together.

>>27716365
Nicloud
Nikrowse

We should probably dispense with this if he starts offering us magic lessons though.

>>27716418
>>27716417
>>27716412
>>27716389

Guys, drop it. He's probably not even aware.

>>27716440
could just call him whatever name actually.

>>27716440
He got the first one. Said it was his mouse's name though.

>>27716408
She's named after her maternal grandfather.

>>27716440
It's not about him being aware, it's about how many funny names we can come up with.

>>27716452
>>27716454

I mean he's not aware HE is changing names. It's like making fun out of a retard.

>>27716472
What's wrong with taunting the mentally handicapped?

>>27716463
But they arent actually funny, theyre just names...

>>27716472
>why are you saying my name wrong?
"I thought it was just a joke you do, so I went along with it."

>>27716479

It's not amusing to anyone else and makes you look like an asshole.

>>27716487
trying, being the operative word

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>>27716291
>[2/2]

"As for basic spells of the Earth element... maybe Clay Spread or Uprise?" Niklaus snaps his fingers. "Ah! Shard Breaker! I think that one alters, but I'm not -quite- sure, it's been a while..."
"What do those do?" you ask, having no idea what any of those random phrases mean.
"Hm? Clay Spread shoots clay projectiles. Uprise makes rock formations shoot from the ground. Shard Breaker forms a crystal which then breaks into fragments that shoot at the target," Niklaus explains. "Lots of shooting, it's pretty simple."
"Huh. Then could you tell me how to-"
"Sorry, Sylvie has all my baby books," Niklaus shrugs. "I would write out the incantations for you, but I'm not even about to pretend that your plebeian mind can comprehend the magnificence of my handwriting. Its complexity has been likened unto Script itself!" he laughs maniacally.

"...so it's unreadable," you say flatly.
"To all save myself!" Niklaus replies proudly, placing his hand on his chest. "So yeah, you'll have to rely on Sylvie for all your baby spell needs," he shrugs. "But once you get better, feel free to pay me a visit. In exchange for your assistance, I'd be more than happy to pass on my deep understanding of the inner workings of the cosmos to you. Or perhaps you'd be willing to do an advance payment...?"

>what do you say?

>>27716561
"Ohgeelookatthetimegottasplit!"

>>27716472
>>27716479
>>27716487
>>27716493
>>27716498
How about whenever he mispronounces our name, we just >>27715633
>"[Insert mispronunciation here]... I like it. Maybe I'll name my sword that"
Those exact words, each and every time?

>>27716561

Do we have time? If so, might as well help the professor out.

>>27716561
"Not committing to anything. What would that entail?"

>>27716561
"Unfortunately, I cannot at this time. My shift starts soon and the princess is not what I would call forgiving."

>>27716573
This. Scoot out, before our skin turns green or something.

>>27716561
Look at pocketwatch
"O gee, look at the time! Gotta run!"

>>27716561
"thanks, but we'll see later,
i have a princess to guard now"
and leave, not taking "wait' as an answer

>>27716561
>Or perhaps you'd be willing to do an advance payment...?"
That sounds sordid.

>>27716579
it's 7:30.

>>27716561
Ask him what he needs. We've only been there like 10 minutes. We still have over an hour to get to breakfast.

>>27716561
"I really need to get going now. I can't leave The Princess waiting.

>>27716599
But green skin makes you 100% more awesome.

>>27716561
"That really depends on what the payment would be."

>>27716561
"I am really busy, have to go now, take care."
Bail out.

>>27716607
>>27716599
>>27716592
>>27716573
Really? fa/tg/uys balking at the opportunity for a side quest?

>>27716561
"I'll think about it. Not right now, though.:

>>27716659
Yes.

>>27716576

Then he'll think we're naming everything after ourselves, since he's probably referencing the same object with that variable address of his.

>>27716659
Very yes.

>>27716561
Just to be clear, he's proposing to pay us for our assitance, not to be paid for teaching us?

Also, isn't he proposing we assist him only when we know a bit more magic?

And how are we supposed to keep guarding the Princess if we become this nut's assistant?

>>27716689
You really need to work on your reading comprehension and deduction skills anon.

>>27716689
he's proposing that we help him with things as payment for future lessons.

>writing

>>27716673
IMO it's still better than purposely butchering his name. Makes us seem less of an asshole.
Best case scenario this turns in to an in-joke between us. Worst case it mildly confuses him everytime and is just a quirky response to everyone else.

>>27716835
You're acting like he's some delicate flower.
It's fairly obvious that he's just the type of character who has no concern about other people except when they can benefit his research.

archelon is saying 4chan's down for him on twitter

>>27716893
It unfucked itself now. Hurray!

>>27716893
Posting was impossible for a few minutes there.

Seems to have fixed itself within the last three minutes.

"Er, maybe some other time," you reply, not wanting to commit yourself to whatever he has in mind.
"Oh? That's a shame, I had something interesting to show you... no matter," Niklaus says as he adjusts his glasses. "Well, until we meet again."
"Uh, yeah," you reply with a nod.
"Red red blue yellow... green," Niklaus says, forming Script. "Fade Out."

Your vision goes hazy, and Niklaus seems to simply vanish from sight. Assuming that that's what he intended to do, you make a hasty retreat from the room before Niklaus decides that "no" isn't an acceptable answer.

>where do you go now?

>>27716934

Oh well. Might as well go get some breakfast.

>>27716943

>>27716934
Off outside the dining hall we go. Think up a joke real fast, bitches love jokes.

>>27716934
What time is it now?
If we've only got a half hour left we might as well be early.

>>27716934
Outside the dining hall, greet the princess with a joke in magical script

Then remember only we can read our own script and facepalm because it didn't work

>>27716986

I thought Script was universal and unintelligible even to caster.

>>27716962
7:50.

>>27716995
It is. Nobody can read it at all.

>writing

>>27716995
The good doctor meant he has terrible handwriting....
The good doctor feels that this is fine, because he can read his writting...
The good doctor thinks perhaps your are stupid?
But the good doctor would never say so. Morons tend to get very offended.

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>>27717072
You are a retard.

>>27717000
>>27716995
Ah well the joke still works

Dealing with Niklaus so early in the morning was pretty exhausting... and now you're hungry. While you still have a while left before the Princess comes down for breakfast, you make your way to the dining hall anyways. After all, she has yet to get mad at you for being early!

Dodging and weaving through the stream of butlers and maids who seem to be increasing as you proceed, you eventually make it to your usual post by the door of the dining hall and get to waiting.

But this time, you have a pocketwatch to time yourself with!

8:15...

8:30...

8:45...

...and just as you check the time, you hear the familiar chatter of maids, which could only mean one thing- BREAKFAST!

Or rather, the Princess is here!

As Marianne and her entourage walk towards you, you notice that her expression isn't as harsh as it usually is... maybe she's still happy about those cakes? But before you can say anything, she stops in front of you.

"...hm." the Princess glances at your hand. "You bought a pocketwatch?" she says, arching an eyebrow in surprise. "I suppose this means that now you no longer have any excuse to be late."

>greet the Princess!

>>27717095
Why so mad?
I have a hypothesis about that somewhere.

>>27717130

"Oh that is not true; I can just come up with new excuses."

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>>27717072
Misaka thinks that the "good" doctor is perhaps confused about what was being said, she says while putting heavy emphasis on the word "good" in an effort to convey sarcasm.

>>27717130
Roll to intimidate the space time continuum.

Also, I'm new at dice rolling on /tg/, so testing that.

>>27717144
I am not mad in the least.

>>27717152
It's "dice+1d20" or whatever values you choose.

>>27717130
"Never underestimate a man's ability to make excuses."

>>27717152
utter failure.

>>27717130

I had an excuse before? blast.

>being almost late
good thing we did not dillydally with Niklaus... then again maybe he could've teleported us here in that case.

>>27717152
>>27717164
it is stickied as the first thread on the board...

>>27717130
"Good morning, princess. I can always loose it when it's convenient."

>>27717130

"good morning Princess, I'm sure I'll find something else soon."

>>27717130
Indeed, Princess, with this I'll always have the thyme. Which explains the herbs in my pockets...

Rolled 4

>>27717160
no fucking wonder, I just typed in 2d20
let's try again.
jesus christ my spaghetti

>>27717130
we never really needed one anyway...

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>>27717173
>Indeed, Princess, with this I'll always have the thyme. Which explains the herbs in my pockets...

GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK.

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>>27717217
Okay, okay. Thistle be my last post.

>writing

>>27717238
Sad to say i chuckled at this.

>>27717162
Maybe this? We need to keep up with our quippage, but I don't see a clear winner here.

>>27717130
I would never be late for you, princess. How else would I get to eat at the civilized table?

>>27717238

There will be no parsley for degenerate punsters.

>>27717238

You keep this up and you'll get a fern talking to.

>>27717259

Fuck, where'd my sage go? Trying again.

>>27717259

You did not have to juniper at him that way, you know. He might start throwing silversage at us.

>>27717259
>>27717263
Sage advise

>>27717259
Boy, I'm cumin after you.

>>27717173
>>27717238
>>27717259
>>27717263

Reinhold is doomed; his legendary wit has been hijacked by pun enthousiasts.

How worrisome.

>>27717274
It was mint to be

>>27717269

Are we autosaging? Is that why my sage isn't showing? Eh, whatever, I can't mustard the effort to google this.

>>27717290
Punbelievable.

>>27717290
I know this is a marjoram disaster.

>>27717304
Sage isn't visible anymore.

>>27717290
Ha, we won't listen to you. We'll just curry on our way.

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"...so you mean I had an excuse before?" you feign an expression of surprise.
"Hm. I suppose you do know your place after all..." the Princess replies with a smirk.

She and her maids then walk past you and into the dining hall, and you follow closely behind, taking a seat next to the Princess. After a few more minutes of chattering and pointing at charts, the maids disperse.

"...about last night," Princess Marianne turns to you. "Melanie says that it really was entirely your idea to bring me those cakes... so I suppose that I will have to thank you again," she says.
"Um, you're welcome," you reply. "It was nothing, seriously."
"If you say so."

>ask the Princess something
>WHERE'S MY BREAKFAST

>>27717307
Weve really gotten carroway avent we?

>>27717304

New sage is invisible, nothing shows up in the email field and it doesn't change name color. I'm saging right now.

>>27717304
>>27717290
>>27717274
>>27717272

Ok, this is enough. Our witty replies aren't necessarily meant to curry favour with the princess, but there is no need to antagonise her. We'll just look like an utter dill.

>>27717327
"About what you said the day before yesterday... Please understand that I do not dislike your company."
Or something along those lines

>>27717327
Ask her if we'll need to dress up for the birthday party.

>>27717327
I can't think of anything to say, we could ask her about how she feels her lessons are going but that feels like talking for the sake of talking.

>>27717327
>WHERE'S MY BREAKFAST

Our physician recommend one tiresome conversation before breakfast max.

>>27717342
This. Its not like I l-like you or anything

>>27717327
Ask her what nikolaus calls Her?
Mar? Marsh? Marionette?

>>27717342
>>27717356
I'll support either of these.

For the first one, it kinda did bother me that she actually seemed to think we disliked being around her, which clearly isn't true. STOP BEING WRONG ON THE INTERNET, PRINCESS

As for the second one, it was on our mind yesterday, so now is as good a time as any to ask.

>>27717342
>>27717356
This

>>27717342
>>27717356

This.

>>27717342
>>27717356
These seems nice.

>>27717415
Well fuck

>>27717415
Fuck.

4chan was down for me for a while too but its fine now. Well it was shorter than the usual but there's no helping it.
Thanks arch.

>>27717415
Well shit.

>>27717415
S'alright, I guess. We were just going to do that little dialogue and consume, which could be quickly glossed over or something for the next intro.

For future reference we should ask whether that incident she spoke of yesterday was related to the marconetti agent and what's her take on what slavers might be planning.

>>27717415

The climatic instability of 4chan has made the Archelon genus an endangered bred. New sighting will probably not come until the dawn of a new, less chaotic era.

Maybe we could have an enlightened discussion on ou future plans? Though letting the thread quietly die is also an option, I suppose.

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>>27717415
Fuck you moot.

>>27717446
Keep guarding the princess, improving our swordsmanship and learning more magic?

>>27717498
That's brilliant plan! I support it.

>>27717498
I'd agree, but don't go all out on the magic. Learn enough to be useful defensively and a few utility spells, and to identify and counter enemy spells. Other than that, focus on the blade.

>>27717342
>>27717356
>>27717498
Now we're more or less ready for a 2 week timeskip

>>27717596
He said he'd do it some time after we finish this day.

>>27717498
>>27717549

Yeah, yeah.

But do we focus on magic, drawing, lifting, fencing, reading, or whatever else strike our fancy?

Are we really able to do those things when we have, y'know, a job?

What kind of spells should we focus on, for better bodyguarding?

How should we act during that whole ball thing?

And most important of all, what do we do of Sylvie and Nicolette? They're starting to become the closest friends we have here, even though each one of us have duties.. And at least one of them like us, after a very short time spent together.

The thing is, I think we should focus a bit more on something tangible. Obviously I'm overthinking it a tiny bit, but y'know...

Ideally, what should Reinhold have done during the upcoming timeskip?

>>27717587

I'd say the longevity itself is an argument to not put magic below sketching in our priority list. I'd say divide the effort equally between swording and casting.

>>27717621
>Ideally, what should Reinhold have done during the upcoming timeskip?
Demolished a dozen training dummies, collected a map of bruises from sparring, drained his mind to emptiness from practicing sparkle shine, worked on his abs, and feasted upon his own body weight in TURKEY LEGS. This sounds about right.

>>27717621
Well ideally training, learning some spells to protect the princess, and learning how to act at the party so we don't make a fool out of ourselves or cause an incident.

>>27717638

Put in a few more varied spells though. Conjuring a stone (or metal) wall between a princess and a threat, imbuing our weapon with various elements in case of encountering an adversary vulnerable to such, silencing spell for those less than elite spellcasters, stone-throw to knock them out or a conjured blade for when we find ourselves disarmed.

>>27717621
Learned a couple basic combat spells, especially any that are potent in combination with getting close to people and stabbing them in the face, focus on it adding to our swordsmanship over being its own focus. Self-enhancement spells are useful as are ones that shield Marianne.

Highest focus on swordsmanship, second on magic, and we draw and read to unwind.

During the ball we stay calm, don't make any big ripples, avoid causing any international incidents, and listen and observe more than we talk.

>>27717621
I'd say focus on improving anything that lets us identify threats to the princess and at the moment Magic is probably going to be the best help there.
During the ball we'll act as the princess commands, or should something go wrong, as she needs. We're a guard first and a person second when it comes to making sure she's safe, and at a big diplomatic event we're going to need to make sure she's safe.
As for Sylvie and Nic, we've still not known either long enough to do anything and even then I don't see Rein as being proactive about it, or even being aware of his own feelings if he has any. He's probably more than a little emotionally stunted because of his loving childhood. I say we just take it slow there.

Aaaand this is why I was against Reinhold learning magic in the first place.

About the spells. We should first learn some detection spells and protection spells. Anyone has any suggestions for a good detection spell? For protection someone suggested last thread that we learn to make 2x2x2 room with three sides and top closed, i think that would be a good protection for princess when needed.

>>27717708

Tough break. Without magic Reinhold would have been crippled and borderline useless as a royal bodyguard, seeing how commonplace magic is in the setting and how every single named PC with any combad training is capable of using it.

Turning PC into a "pure" swordsman relying only on magic-resistance gear would have been silly.

>>27717753

I'd rather not lock her in a box. She's liable to have skills of her own, she might suffocate and it would limit her capacity of escape.

>>27717775
>three sides and top closed
>not lock her in a box.
You are not locking her in a box. It's one side open. It's so we can assure her safety by guarding one entrance intead of guarding against attacks that may come from all directions.

>>27717812

Oh, okay. I misread. Sorry.

>>27717753
I think being able to cast stoneskin would be a good idea and it takes advantage of our element. We just need to see if we can cast it on other people.

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>>27717858
>Stoneskin
>Metal element turns stone spells to metal
>We Colossus now
>Fastball Special the Princess to safety

>>27717327
>>27717356
>>27717374
This two

>>27717858
But going from the explanations so far, when you create something with magic it doesn't just disappear when you are done. So stoneskin doesnt sound like such a good idea to me.

>>27718133
I'm like 101% sure that stoneskin doesn't permanently turn you to stone when working as intended. Its a pretty big logical jump to go from "matter created with magic is persistent" to "the transformation is permanent, have fun living life as a golem".

>>27718149
>I'm like 101% sure that stoneskin doesn't permanently turn you to stone when working as intended
That much is obvious but that is not the problem though. The problem is if the stoneskin can work as it's intented in this universe.

>>27718182
I don't see why you would even consider that it can't...

If it didn't work, people wouldn't cast it, because unless you're a crazy man then permanently turning yourself into a stone golem is dumb, and Lewd Mage probably would have mentioned that teeny tiny fact when she mentioned the spell.

>>27718182
>>27718149
>>27718133
Earth, metal and ice magic takes form as physical things that remain there, so I'm not sure about stone skin. However only one way to find out right?

>>27718208
I'd imagine it makes one hell of a mess when we "shed" it.

>>27718133
>>27718149
>Reinhold accidentally turn the Princess into an elemental spirit of Earth
>She is now infertile
>Chaos everywhere
>Reinhold on the run, hated by everybody
>decades later, they realize the Princess is fully immortal
>but the situation is too awkward, so they just say the court mages made it so
>Reinhold grow old alone, never realizing he just brought back those elemental lord guys to power
>The Princess can't even schilck herself over her hateboner
>It drives her mad with frustration
>She runs away, find Reinhold, and rape him to death
>She's found and brought back, nobody has any idea why she seems to be even more dead inside
>The End, forever


>>27718238
>"D-don't look!"
>she's half-naked, getting dust everywhere
>it's still highly effective
>you have to do it everyday, and she has to swallow her pride
>she hates you
>you gain the rank of Skunk

>>27718204
>Lewd Mage probably would have mentioned
I dont remember her mentioning that spell, so...Yeah...
It may be a good spell to learn.

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>>27718149
In pathfinder system, "Stoneskin" is a simple but powerful defence buff that negates a set amount of damage you take.it does NOT turn you into stone. That elemental Body (sub set Earth) that can do that.
>>27717927
i still prefure the Iron Man verion. it looks cooler.

>>27718418
Yeah, when we were talking about stuff Metal could do, one of the things she said was "yeah, Stoneskin becomes Metalskin, its pretty sweet, yo".

Obviously I paraphrased, but that was the gist of it.

>>27718435
>In pathfinder system
We are not in pathfinder system though. The whole point of the arguement is that if it would work in this universe as intended. >>27718133

But >>27718204 later said Sylvie said that there is a spell called "stoneskin" so that confirms it exist in the universe. It may or may not be identical to patfinder skill.

>>27718133
You could cast stoneskin and later some of those fancy-explodeintoshards spells to take off your literal stone skin. There, problem solved.

>>27717327
>ask the Princess something

"so were you expecting her to have a boy then? I bet you wanted to be able to hold the child for a bit didn't you?

Will he be back in this thread?

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Guys,

You know what Nikoldikol told us, right?

>THE BIGGEST MISTAKE NEWBIES MAKE IS STICKING TO THEIR AFFINITY ELEMENT

We know sparkle shine now, hop to something else of moderate skill strength, like maybe summoning water or healing.

Not making giant fuck-off steel walls. We aren't going to be able to do that, at best we can make some bright glitter right now.

We should progress slowly because otherwise we're never going to be good at it.

>>27719767
Johny is kil

>>27719792
this

walk before you run

>>27717927
>We roll natural 1
>The metal skin is now permanent

on the subject of magic, are we started doing our magic training while we are practicing our swordsmanship? so we can get used to multitasking with magic and sword?
so

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>>27719980
Not specifically singling you out, but you just highlighted a serious thought problem that most of the players in this thread keep missing:

All Reinhold knows how to do right now is summon an orb. Not even a useful orb, a little blip of light. like a firefly. He can't even envision the possibilities for spell combos and sword synergies, the most combat-effective thing he knows about is the guy who apparently could turn into metal, which he learned from Sylvie

This is just like what happened when it was decided his affinity was metal. Everyone wanted him to intuitively know advanced metalworking, chemistry which I'm pretty sure this society doesn't even realize exists, and materials science. Reinhold isn't that bright of a guy, he's a charmer and swings a mean sword but he isn't someone who can immediately piece together things that we find inherently obvious.

Which is why we need to stop this silliness about becoming a swordmage when we barely even grasped the beginner level basics. We need to do exactly what Niklaus told us to do, and that's experiment outside our element on things that are equally as trivial as sparkle shine. Like maybe summoning dust, or water, or maybe learning how to create smoke. Or maybe learning how to start a fire. Then maybe then we can start doing both while swording.

Until then, Reinhold isn't a genius. one thing at a time.

>>27720052

We dont even know spells of our affinity I dont think it's smart going for other branches, it's easier to cast spells related to your element rather than others, so the most obvious choice is sticking to earth/steel until we're a moderate mage, then we can think of other elements.

>>27720052
This is a thought problem that most quests on /tg/ have.

If it wasn't metal, it would be /tg/ trying to convince archelon how easy it would be for Reinhold to "accidentally" discover gunpowder. Like every other not-modern quest.

>>27720154
>Earth spells gone wrong
>Creates gunpowder

There you go, there's a way.

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>>27720140
>"One question, Reinstein," he says.
>"What is it, Niklops?" you reply.
>"You're not one of those misguided fellows who insists on sticking to his own element, are you?

>Because that's the most common mistake that newbie mages make," Niklaus spins around and points at you.


He wasn't just pointing at Reinhold you know

He was pointing at you

>>27720195
>Makes black sand that burns when ignited
>"Wow, what a useless, flammable mess, I'm sorry Sylvie"

This is what would happen.

>>27720216
>It makes sparkles
>He's dumb, he likes sparkles

There you go, that's how he likes it.

>>27720052
I agree, we hamstrung our development here

Especially because every time we meet Sylvie it's "WHAT KIND OF EARTH SPELLS MAKE ME INVINCIBLE??" and not "What spell should I be learning next?"

See, if we asked the latter question instead of the former every time, we would probably know two or three different kinds of weak spells. We wouldn't have metal skin but we would be able to do more than just make a little bead of light.

And several spells > one spell.

>>27720581
We're a swordsman. One good spell > several spells.

>>27720596
You can't learn algebraic formulas before you learn basic math.

Well... you CAN... but your learning process will be wildly inefficient compared to if you just learned them in a normal order like a regular person.

>>27720627
You're far better of focusing on what you're better at than being a jack of all trades. Combat-enhancing earth spells > a buttload of spells.

>>27717664
>>27717677
>>27717697
>>27717708
>>27717753
We're struggling with the kiddy stuff right now. We should focus upon strengthening our magic reserves and eventually (maybe probably?) learning some simple earth stuff that may help us perform our job.

Swording is and should always remain our top priority.