>>27883306
Assuming you want to, of course. The universe isn’t going to miss Margaret White. Jill will probably be a lot better off without the threat of her mother’s abuse hanging over her head. It’ll make the various bureaucratic hassles associated with moving Jill in with her aunt (an altogether far more sensible and well-adjusted lady) much easier. It’s very much what she deserves, both for attacking a Fae King in his own court and for the abuse she’s doled out to Jill over the years.

You’re not sure if Jill would ever forgive you, though, if she found out that you could have stopped this, and didn’t.

What do you want to do first?

[]Talk to Avril. Explain certain things to her vis a vis tact and subtlety, and find out if there are any bureaucratic loopholes she knows of in Fae law.
[]Head straight to court and confront the King. The straightforward approach has served you well in the past when dealing with the Fae, but you’ll be facing off against an ancient Fae lord in the heart of his power.
[]Start plotting a jailbreak. Get your allies and your resources together, scope the place out, etc.
[]Consult with a certain someone in the back of your head who always seems to have a plan. Whether you’ll like that plan is more questionable.
[]Other

((Archives are located at http://archive.foolz.us/tg/search/subject/monsterhearts%20quest/type/op/order/asc/
and also at
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Monsterhearts%20Quest ))

>>27883319
Who cares? She tried to kill the King.
Let's go do something else.

>>27883319
No-one will miss her, but we should still put up at least a token effort before giving up, for Jill's sake.
So:
[X] Talk with Avril about any loopholes there may be (don't dig too deep), discover there aren't any and console Jill


Alternatively, if the wording of her sentence is "to die", then we could try bringing her back like we did Isabella

>>27883319
[X]See how Jill is taking it.

>>27883319
Talk to Avril, and let's get Jill in on this conversation. Maybe we can bind her to our or Jill's will. Convince the king we can use her for the geas'

>>27883430
>>27883534

>>27883389
>>27883504

((Okay, writing.))

I am against killing and then reviving her. Why the hell are we using man in whites for every damn thing lately. Find another way and we cannot, be there for jill.
Also, let Jill on in our conversation with Avril. She needs to be there to hear this.

>>27883986
Isn't she already here? I thought we picked her up on our way to deliver the heart. It's her geas, after all, she kind of needs to be there.

>>27883782
Also, give Jill some context for what her mother's actually done. She might not yet realise how serious this is. I think you compared it to "taking a machine gun to the Queen"

>>27884008
i meant let her in as we talk to avril about what can be done, since that was voted and chosen.

>>27884058
>Also, give Jill some context for what her mother's actually done.
Yes, this is important.

>>27883782
You turn to Avril with a sigh, drawing her away from Jill a little.

"You couldn't have been a little more graceful about that? Look at Jill."

Avril glances over at Jill's pale, stunned expression, and her own expression is one of complete confusion.

"But... isn't it good news? Jill will be safer now. Everyone will be safer. She only ever hurt people. Why is it bad that she'll be gone?"

"It's not that it's bad exactly, but emotions are complicated. Part of Jill still loves her mother, even after everything. Is there anything we can do about this? You got your father to show leniency before. Isn't there any way to reduce Jill's mother's sentence, get it commuted, anything?"

Avril frowns. "You want to save her? After everything she's done?"

"Jill wants to save her." You take Avril by the arm and lead her over to where Jill is standing, still in something of a state of shock.

"Come on, Avril, think. How can we help Jill? Is there any way to lighten her mother's sentence?"

"Maybe, but it won't be easy. Jill just damaged the forest a bit. Margaret deliberately attacked my father, with cold iron. And the sentence has already been passed. If we'd got to the trial when it was happening we might have been able to argue it down a little, but my father set and declared the sentence already. You'd be asking him to back down publicly in front of his entire court."

"There's got to be some sort of option. Another geas?"

"Would she accept one?" Avril shakes her head. "I think that woman would happily die rather than end up bound to serve a 'demon'. A geas isn't something you can just impose. And I doubt my father would be happy letting someone who tried to kill him walk away."

Avril turns away, frowning, pacing nervously, then looks at you. "You'd have to challenge him, Chris. You're the only one who could manage it. Jill's strong, but not nearly strong enough, and I'm bound by fealty to him. It would have to be you."

((Cont.))

>>27884341
“Challenge him? What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s fairly simple, really. Court is still in session. You demand an audience, publicly challenge his ruling on Margaret’s case, and, then, uh... you’d have to beat him in a fight, most likely. Technically he can choose the form of the challenge, but it has to at least look fair, and he likes to fight. If you win... you can reverse the ruling, and pretty much any of his other rulings into the bargain. You get whatever reward you like. You could save Mrs White, make Jill’s geases vanish, take back the rest of your soul, all at once. It’s risky, but I think you can win.”

There’s a low, wry chuckle in the back of your head. “Oh, she’s a clever one. Yes, that would do it. That would certainly do it.”

Jill seems to be perking up, too. “There’s... there’s a way to save her? I... I know I ought to hate my mother, but that doesn’t mean I want her dead. Please, Chris. Please, help her.”

What do you want to do now?

>>27884362
>take back the rest of your soul
Not sure if want.

>What do you want to do now?
Be inappropriately stupid and rash. Read: Go with this plan. Maybe consider taking Jill as backup and justify it by the king being superior to us in strength.

>>27884362
"Fuck. What does winning look like? Am I going to have to kill him? I'm not particularly eager to murder your parent while trying to save Jill's."

>>27884362
Well if we can get everything back let's do it. Let's consult The Man to decide what game we can win. So long if the game doesn't have to involve fighting, we can win

>>27884362
"I got almost killed by the corruption deamon. What do you think my chances are?"

I REALLY don't want to be saved by the White Man again

>>27884362
We are not fighting the goddamn fae king to save her. I vote NO.

>>27884498
We don't have to FIGHT the fae king, we just have to beat him. How about a fair game of wits like chess or something similar?

>>27884498
>>27884490
I don't want this either. I was always against getting help from white man and i still am. He should be a last resort in my opinion, not the answer for evry problem we encounter.

>>27884548
He is free to pick any game he wants, not chris.

>>27884600
Ah, well then that changes things

>>27884362
>awesome, and we just rode shotgun as our meat suit killed the corrupter, let's do this.

>>27884583
>He should be a last resort in my opinion, not the answer for evry problem we encounter.
Yea. He isn't Zangetsu who is just a little bit rough, he's a genuinely threatening force.

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>>27884362
See, this is the kind of thing I'm talking about. There is NO WAY we can beat the King without relying on the Man in White. I got a bad feel about this scoob.

>>27884362

Nope. Sorry, can't. Some limits cannot eb broken yet.

I don't like relying on the Man either, but what are our options here? If we let Jill's mother die, Jill will hate us- particularly after getting her hopes up.

The worst that can happen is that we lose. This isn't to the death...at least we hope not

>>27884725
No, this is how we become his bitch. Jackass.

>>27884498
samefagging here
Also how the hell are we suppose to beat him in a fight. Where is this thrust Avril has coming from. She acted like her father was a force beyond chris' understanding a couple of days ago.

>>27884748
I'm not saying we go in Man blazing, I'm saying we can't afford to do nothing. If we can do this without the Man we fucking do it.

>>27884725
Her death is not on our shoulders. We are trying to save her, but not by fighting a fae king. Chris cant be blamed for that. If she decides to hate chris, thats a blame targeting the wrong person.

>>27884448
>>27884463
>>27884548
>>27884613

>>27884453

>>27884490
>>27884498
>>27884583
>>27884669
>>27884702

((Lots of discussion that doesn't seem to be active votes - I'm trying to count things as best I can. Writing.))

>>27884830
Challenge the King to a game of wits and see if he accepts. There

You know, it would have gone a lot better if we had told Jill the context of what her mother has done (Fae equivalent of charging into Buckingham Palace with a heavy machine gun and shooting at the Queen), and tried to get her to understand the gravity of the charges.
There's an Other option for a reason.

>>27884863
Damn it, that's right. I forgot we'd had something all planned out at the end of last thread.

>>27884878
>>27884830
Can we please tell Jill the context of her mother's crimes, and just how bad they are?
I don't think she understands the seriousness of what her mother did (something like swinging around a rod of strontium coated in cyanide), and that's why she's not taking the Fae's charges seriously.
She probably thinks that it's more bullshit reasons like what the Spring King put her through, rather than a real and imminent danger to all Fae that her mother got near.

>>27884830
"Okay, uh, are you sure about this, Avril? You seem pretty certain I can win, but I'm not really a fighter type. The Corrupter almost killed me, and I'll probably end up holding back because I don't really want to murder your parent trying to save Jill's."

Avril smiles. "Oh, you wouldn't have to worry about that - I mean, killing Father's avatar would hurt him, sure, and it'd be a clear defeat, but it wouldn't kill him permanently. He'd just be a bit more diffuse for a few years. And you did beat the Corrupter, which my father wasn't willing to face, and there was that massive burst of magic... that burst of magic scared my father a lot, really scared him."

"That wasn't exactly my magic, though. I can't just throw that kind of power around at will."

Avril looks shocked and kind of... disappointed, maybe? She nods quietly and shuffles back, leaving you face to face with Jill, who looks up at you with tearful eyes.

"Jill, look... you have to understand, what your mother did is pretty bad. The Fae really take cold iron seriously. I'm not sure if we're going to be able to get your mother out of this."

"B-but..." Jill breaks off into sniffles, clearly on the verge of bursting into tears. "I just want to do something. I know she does bad things, but... she's my mother. I don't want her to die. Isn't there anything we can do?"

You look at Avril, who just grimaces, and back to Jill. "We'll figure something out, okay? I don't think I can win a fight against this guy, but maybe there's something else."

What's your plan, then?

>>27885323
God damn Avril is starting to get on my nerves.

Maybe we can sneak Jill's mother out of the forest? I mean, I doubt it since the forest basically IS her father, but hey maybe.

>>27885323
Can we argue that, because Jill's mother harmed Jill, first, and because we're the Ambassador to the Human Realm, we have jurisdiction over her? Obviously the King is pretty pissed off, and if he thinks we're suggesting a lighter sentence he won't be on board, but what if we swing it so that he thinks we're proposing something worse? Say, banishment? She's forced to move out of the city, abandoning her daughter to 'corrupting influences', which serves us in that she's still alive, and serves the king in that she'd probably rather die, or at least we can convince him that she would.

>>27885453
>Can we argue that, because Jill's mother harmed Jill, first, and because we're the Ambassador to the Human Realm, we have jurisdiction over her?
Yea. She harmed one of our own therefore her ass is ours first. Something like that, Fae logic is fucked up but I think we could make them extradite her to us.

>>27885453
>>27885504
Extradition to us might be possible.
Perhaps if we can get Jill's mother committed to a mental institute?
While she's in the instititute, she legally will have no hold over Jill, we'll be free to move as we please.
Also, being stuck in the psychiatric ward, knowing you're sane but never allowed to leave, would be a pretty good sentence.

The question is, do we simply use a glamour to make people think Mrs. White is insane, or do we do a bit of psi surgery to make her exhibit enough symptoms to require medication and to be institutionalized?

>>27885323
Ask Avril to find a way. She is the expert on this stuff. We know nothing about fae laws.

>>27885453
I don't think it works that way at all. First off, she's on fae ground so the don't have to extradite her to us. Second, Jill will automatically fall legally into her aunt's care. Miranda being a member of the king's court means that he automatically gets Jill as a member (provisional? He can still work with that) of Spring. I really don't see anything of value besides releasing Avril from her promise to us that we can offer the king, and I'd like to think that's off the table.

>>27885594
>implying a good hard look from a triggerhappy psychiatrist won't be enough

>>27885323
Challenge the King

>>27885652
Trigger happy psychiatrists tend to get disbarred quickly where I am. Maybe in England there actually is still a robust enough social safety net for mental health that the system have bear some exploitation?

>>27885644
It's worth a shot, and even if extradition is impossible, there's still the option of suggesting something that would look to the king like a crueller sentence than death. That would be easier if she were extraditable, but it's still something we can try to convince the king of even if he retains jurisdiction.

As a side note, do we know how Mrs. White's supposed to be executed? We could offer something in trade for the right to decide on means, and then decide old age once the right is secured. The king might dislike the result, but it would be an extremely fae thing to pull, and I feel like he might approve of the method.

>>27885594
>The question is ... to make people think Mrs. White is insane

Anyone with a sound mind would think that. She dont need any help with this one.

>>27885323
Talk to the man in white, see what he thinks our and his chances are against the guy.

>>27885927
I can tell you what he thinks. "You cant do shit. But for me it is not even a challenge."
Seriously, that guy is so easy to read, i dont know how in the hell so many people in this quest keep relying on him.

>>27885777
You do realize that within the forest the king is well within his rights to hyper accelerate her aging process, right? Also, I don't see him allowing her to leave his power if we do decide on a fate worse that death. I'm sure he has a few creative fae on staff that could spend a few decades concocting ways to break Jill's mom emotionally and physically without killing her...

>>27885952
There's at least one guy that wanted to suck the Man's cock all day because he wanted to fully embrace the Man's style of controlling everyone.

We should seriously consider getting whatever the British equivalent of a GED is and focusing on getting this supernatural shit worked out.

>>27885401
>>27885753
>>27885927

>>27885453
>>27885504
>>27885594
>>27885777

>>27885952
And the trick is finding a way to leverage power/information out of him so we can strengthen Chris. But I suppose you're right that that's another dead end.

>>27886015
((... That was weird. Anyway. Writing.))

>>27886004
I think that'd be a GCSE, but don't quote me on that.

>>27886042
“Okay, well, what about... extraditing her. Tell the King that because she hurt Jill first, and Jill’s mine, we deserve to punish her first. We lock her up somewhere where she can’t do any more damage, put her in a proper mental hospital or something, but she’ll still be alive. Is that a feasible plan, Avril?”

Avril gives you an odd look, but nods. “I guess it’s worth a shot. Multiple people having a stake in someone’s hide isn’t unknown. As long as he doesn’t think you’re trying to cheat him out of his own justice or anything. Jill, you’re okay with your mother being locked up?”

Jill nods shakily. “I... I guess that’s fine. She did hurt people. And I guess I don’t want her to come and try to take me back.”

“I guess we’ve got a plan, then. Let’s go see the King. Avril, which way is his court going to be?”

“It’ll be in the same clearing we had the feast in.” Avril glances at the trees around you. “This way.”

You take one of Jill’s arms, and Avril takes the other, gently leading the way deeper into the forest.

It’s a slow, quiet walk. The chuckling in the back of your mind has died down, and it doesn’t seem like either Avril or Jill are in a massively chatty mood. Is there anything you want to ask anyone before you reach the court?

>>27886857
"And what's so funny, hmm?" to the Man.

Also, assure both Avril and Jill that we love them.

>>27886857
Ask the Man what he finds so funny.
And I still think we should tell Jill the Buckingham Palace analogy, just so she understands that this isn't a bullshit Fae rule of politeness or propriety, but something that they consider to be threatening death.

>>27886972
>>27887229
((Okay, writing. Sorry for the delays tonight, everyone.))

>>27886857
Mumble about how we're really tired of this bullshit today. Otherwise keep silent.

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>>27887313
We are used to it. Give us a good story and you are forgiven.

>>27887313
No problem, boss. I'm reading three quests including one on /d/ so it's not a big deal.

>>27887313
So, what’s so funny, anyway?

The Man’s chuckles have the same slightly unreal quality as his voice, a difference just clear enough that you can tell they’re coming from your mind and not from your ears. They start up again as you prod him for answers.

“Well, it’s just that you go saying I solve problems with brute force, and then that girl suggests a challenge to the King’s authority... oh, that’d solve your problems all right. It’d be a good start in general, too. You might have a bit of trouble beating a ten-foot-tall inhumanly strong, inhumanly fast Fae with centuries of experience, though. And even if you made him choose something other than a fight, he’s practically expected to pick something he has an advantage at, as long as you have some chance of winning. Still... talk about solving your problems with a hammer.”

The chuckling suddenly stops, and the Man’s voice goes deadly serious.

“You realise, of course, that she shouldn’t have been able to suggest that in the first place? She’s sworn her troth and fealty to the court, by her name and her power and the Moon. That’s one hell of an oath, and she’s bending it hard. Keep your eye on that one. She’s too clever for her own good.”

The voice in the back of your head falls completely silent.

You hug Jill and Avril close and remind them that you love them, and step through the tree-line and out into a wide, grassy clearing bustling with activity.

((Cont.))

>>27887993
The long wooden tables and intricate chairs are gone; there’s just a wide swathe of open turf in front of a high dais, on which sits an enormous throne that seems to be made of living, moving vines. Around the edges of the clearing, various... people are standing, for a fairly broad definition of ‘people’. A smaller group is further forward and clearly separated from the rest, although there’s still a wide open space before the dais. Two people are standing right before the throne, looking up at the King and presumably arguing their cases. After a moment the King raises one hand and points to one of them, and both quietly retire to the edges of the clearing. Two more Fae separate from the smaller group and step forward.

You’ve got Jill, Avril, and the heart, and the Fae around the edges of the clearing are thinly spread enough in front of you that you could push your way through without too much trouble. You can’t see Jill’s mother anywhere, though.

What do you want to do?

>>27888021
Ask Avril about propriety in this case. Should we wait our turn, or try to cut in line?

>>27888021
Ask Avril how long it usually takes for the King to hold court.
If it's a reasonable amount of time, wait it out, if not step forward and get his attention.
Have Jill give him the heart before we say anything at all about Jill's mother.
Then after that part of the Geas is concluded, bring up the topic of her mother and mention that, since she first harmed a mortal, it falls within our jurisdiction to extract punishment.

>>27888094
This, basically.

>>27887993
>Avril shouldn't have been able to suggest that

Unless doing so was in the Court's interest...which is up for interpretation I admit, but generally would not bode well for us.

>>27888264
>Desire to bring Avril to heel growing

>>27888075
>>27888094
>>27888229
((Writing))

Rolled 3

I wonder if Jill could accept her mothers death, if her mother was the one to choose it?

We could offer the mother to take her into our custody, but suggest (with power) that she refuse...

>>27888448
"So, Avril, what's the etiquette here? Do we need to wait our turn, is there a set order people have to go in? Should we wait till the end, or cut in now?"

Avril shrugs. "Technically there'll be a list of petitioners, but I don't see anyone over there with any political clout or anything, and you are fulfilling a geas that Father laid himself. That gives you a fair amount of carte blanche to cut in."

"Right. Jill, I think you need to hold this." You pass Jill the jar with the heart, and the three of you move forward, weaving your way through the crowd of onlookers and stepping out onto the grass. There's some quiet muttering from behind you as you walk towards the dais, but you can't make it out.

The two petitioners fall silent as they realise that the King has stopped paying attention to them, and scurry out of your way. You nudge Jill, and she takes a step forward and wordlessly holds out the glass jar.

The King of the Spring Court rises slowly from his throne, and takes a few massive steps forwards. He reaches out his hand and carefully plucks the large jar from Jill's outstretched hands, holding it almost daintly between his finger and thumb. He furrows his brows and lifts the jar up to his eye level, turning it to inspect the misshapen heart floating within.

After a moment, the King nods once, and turns to walk back to his throne. He raises the hand with the glass jar and a long green vine springs from the ground, wraps up the heart, jar and all, and disappears back underground as swiftly as it came. When you look back at the King, he's sitting on his throne once more, staring in your direction.

You step forward in turn, and quietly clear your throat. The murmuring from the fringes of the clearing dies down.

"Your Majesty, you have a human woman in your custody at the moment who is sentenced to death. This woman has also grievously harmed a mortal, one of my household, before her attack upon you."

((Cont.))

>>27889399
“Your Majesty, before you execute this woman, I request that she also be punished in our mortal fashion for her crimes against my household. May she be rendered up to me so that justice may be served for all of her crimes?”

The King’s brows furrow again. “I am minded to grant your request, Ambassador,” he says in a deep, booming tone that carries across the clearing, “but I must be certain that justice will indeed be done for all of her crimes. What guarantee can you give that she will return in a timely fashion to be served her punishment in this court as well? Say, within a year and a day?”

>>27889420
"I was hoping to sequester her away for a decade of torture, your highness."

>>27889420
"What if instead, we use her to help complete the geas' you have placed upon Jill and after they have been completed, return her to you?" This way she at least stays alive for Jill's lifetime

>>27889456
This lol.

>>27889420
I think that's the best we're going to get. As for a guarantee... what do we have to offer? Something for the King to hold in trust until she returns, maybe? I don't know what we have of sufficient value, though.

>>27889463
I'd rather we lock her up for ten years instead of involving her in all this

>>27889575
Don't go offering anything that is not asked of us. We don't need tribute.

>>27889456
>>27889420
Expanding on this.
"And to guarantee she receives her punishment, I believe Avril should serve admirably in that regard. If she were to observe that she was properly miserable once a year and report back to you, would that be sufficient?"

>>27889456
This, however mental house is the manor of torture

>>27889642
Of course, but we don't tell him that. If we do play it up like it's a mental institution from the turn of the century. Electroshock therapy, 'rape the crazy out of 'em!' orderlies, bleeding, the works.

>>27889420
>before you execute this woman, I request that she also be punished in our mortal fashion for her crimes against my household
> before you execute this woman

thats not what we wanted...at all.

>>27889682
Sure it was. We just meant "before" as in "taking so long she dies of natural causes."

>>27889682
Dude, they're immortal fey. We could secure her away for the rest of her natural born life if we really tried.

>>27889642
HA!

>mental house
>manor of torture

>>27889456
>>27889518
>>27889621
>>27889631
>>27889642
>>27889668

>>27889463
>>27889575
((Okay, writing. Should be a bit quicker as it's a somewhat briefer post.))

>>27889878
"Your Majesty, I know that the justice of the Fae is far more rapid than that of the mortal world, but I was hoping that perhaps we might have a decade to torture her in the mortal fashion? A paltry span of time for one so great of life as yourself, but sufficient to deal with a mortal woman properly. As for a guarantee that she continues to suffer in a manner befitting one who assaulted a king, perhaps your daughter Avril could be called upon to observe her condition and report back to you, once a year for example. Would that be sufficient, Your Majesty?"

The King slowly rises from his throne once more. You don't recall approaching the dais any closer - and glancing back over your shoulder, the crowd doesn't seem any further away - but he and his throne seem closer somehow, looming over the three of you. The King's antlers shine brightly in the moonlight as he raises one enormous hand, palm up. Each of his cupped fingers is tipped with a nail so thick and long that it might as well be a claw.

"Let the Judgement of the Court now be known," he says, each word carefully pronounced to carry to all ears. A tiny scribe to one side of the dais scribbles rapidly. "In this matter, the Judgement of the King of the Spring Court is..."
((See you all on Thursday. Good night, and thank you.))

>>27890228
((Oh, and questions, comments, praise, criticism, etc. below as usual.))

>>27890228
Oh that's just cruel. See you thursday, boss.

>>27890228
Awwww mother fucker!

>>27890228
This is how you make me feel right now.
https://images.4channel.org/f/src/A%2BWalk%2BIn%2BThe%2BWoods.swf

>>27890228

Dat cliffhanger...

Thanks for running, MH.

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>>27890228
Thats the worst cliffhanger on this quest so far. Really i am not pleased at all.

Thanks for the run, mh. G'night.

MHQ you… YOU!

>>27894398
OP knows no mercy once it comes down to it. We are but puppets in MHQ's schemes.