>[X] Spend time with your family. You aren't going to see them for a while,
>[X] Hit up Adam, see if his family still has that clockwork griffon thing so you can practice flying. And maybe just hang out before he becomes the CO from hell.
>[X] Meet up with some of your old friends, they'll be going off to careers or universities or other branches of the army soon, might as well have one last meeting.

On the first day you give Adam a visit, his family had an old magic-and-clockwork griffin riding apparatus, an old training device, used after they decided that Griffons were perhaps a bit of a pain to train new recruits on, but before they changed their mines after the cost of running the apparati for several years.

You bring the Crys to run the apparatus' enchantments hang out with Adam for a few hours, and spend several more taking turns practicing on the Apparatus. You both come out with plenty of bruises, but at least you won't look like total idiots when you're first put on a Griffon.

You mention having a last get-together of friends to Adam on your way out, which he seems to approve of.

You then spend the next day-and-a-half or so organizing the get together and spending quality time with your family. Your sister's disappointed that you didn't apply to fly a Biplane (She informs you that /she/ is /totally/ going to fly a Biplane in two years when she applies to the army), and your dad's a bit sad that you didn't apply to the Red Sash Dragoons, but they accept the choice and you have a pretty good time together. It's light hearted, you quip about bringing woo-ed women home and escaping your mothers cooking, she quips about your inability to take care of yourself, your sister quips about how you'll horribly maim yourself in some trivial accident and claim it's a war wound. Your father mostly just tolerates all the quipping as the rest of you gesture wildly and laugh.

>(1/3)

And, when it's done, and you're leaving the dining room to pack your bags, your father stops you and presents you with a long, ornate cavalry saber. His blade, forged by a Pyre Spirit and enchanted thrice over, from his days as a Red Sash.

"Dad," you say, suddenly serious, "You can't. Give it to Sis."

"A biplane pilot doesn't need a saber," he says, "I want you to have it. It's a good blade, it'll keep you safe."

You try to protest further, but he doesn't have it. He shooshes you in that quiet way of his and sends you to your room with the saber.

It's a pretty great good-bye gift, as they go.

And then, on the last day, you get dressed to go to training, grab your luggage and meet your old social circle by the train station. There are seven of you, including you and Adam, Karl, Manfred, Helga, Vega and Hannes

You talk about where you're going to end up over lunch. Manfred's doing what his father wanted him to do, University, followed by upholding the Noble Name of his family. Adam and Karl are with you in the Geierritter. Helga and Hannes have evidently joining the Red Sashes (And seem a bit disappointed you decided not to join). Vega, the son of a foreign diplomat who's lived at the embassy with his father for something like three years, is going to be training under his father and then taking over his duties. It's a rather pleasant lunch, you end up trading contact information and where you'll be staying, and promise to keep in touch and help each other out if you can. Manfred gives each of you an enchanted brooch with his family crest on it, with a note signed by Manfred and personally addressed to each of you inside of it. The enchantment itself is rather basic, a bit of vivurgy to help you deal with diseases or infections or heal wounds without scarring, to all of you except for Adam the family crest is arguably more important. With the individualized, stamped letters they basically give you the backing of a Noble House, as if you were an employee.

And then it's over, and you're on the train to basic with nearly two dozen recruits you don't know. You boarded later than the others, probably due to the lunch, and most of the seats have been taken. There are three seats open next to strangers, and one pair open if you and Karl want to sit together.

Or you could go find Adam, you guess.

>[ ] Talk with the black haired dude. A gaul isn't going to be the most popular here, you might as well be friendly.
>[ ] Look for Adam
>[ ] Talk with the brown haired girl. Might as well get to know the ladies of your Eyrie early, after all.
>[ ] Talk with the poor guy. Pyre knows no-one else will.
>[ ] Stick with Karl, friends stay together, yeah?

>(3/3)

>>28381737
Go with Karl and talk to the poor guy, he seems in need of cheering up and you can bring your friend with you

>>28381737
>[X] Talk with the brown haired girl. Might as well get to know the ladies of your Eyrie early, after all.

We need to make sure we have our priorities straight, heh.

Also, Manfred is a COMPLETE BRO. That's an incredible gift.

>>28381737
>[ ] Talk with the brown haired girl. Might as well get to know the ladies of your Eyrie early, after all.

Heh, nice to see this again, still a bit disappointed that we don't get to romp around in a magitech/steampunk mecha in a fantasy world, but you get what you get.

>>28381737

Talk to the whole damn lot of them. Get a card game going or whatever this setting has as equivalent. We're going to be training together, fighting together, let's get to know each other and bond from day 1.

>>28381737
>[ ] Talk with the brown haired girl. Might as well get to know the ladies of your Eyrie early, after all.

>[X] Talk with the brown haired girl. Might as well get to know the ladies of your Eyrie early, after all.

You give Karl a hearty pat on the back and walk for the brown haired girl near the front of the train car. You, for one, have your priorities in order.

You make sure your uniform is crisp, stride up behind her and say, "Excuse me, is this seat free?"

She tuns and you get a good look at her as she processes the question. She isn't bad looking, short brown hair, a mole on one cheek that's almost unnoticeable, but not exactly eye-catching either. What really catches your eye is that she buried a necklace into her uniform before turning to you.

She looks back to see if there's anyone else in the car, spots Karl, and says, "Yes, yes it is." She offers you a handshake before you sit, "Franziska. Call me Fränze."

"Frederick Rommel," you reply. You shake and sit down.

>[ ] Make a pass at her. (Protective)
>[ ] Make a pass at her. (Complementary)
>[ ] Ask about where she's from.
>[ ] Ask why she joined the Geierritter.
>[ ] Ask if she has a last name.

>>28382625
>[ ] Ask about where she's from.

>>28382625
>>[ ] Ask about where she's from.

>>28382625
>[ ] Ask about where she's from.

>[ ] Ask About Where She's From

You do a quick check, try to remember if she was one of the recruits on the platform while you ate lunch. You're /reasonably/ sure she isn't, which means she's one of two recruits who isn't from Near-Arys.

"So, you're not local," you say, "And there's not much spinwards. Where're you from? Far-Arys? Our side of the Bordermarches? Some fort?"

"I'm from Kolmar," she says.

"Never heard of it," you say, "What's it like."

"Sparkmoth breeders and miners, mostly," she replies, "Up in the mountains. Tiny place. Boring as piss, friendly, but The Knight knows I'm glad to be out of there."

"Huh, figured they'd, you know," you say, "Put you on a Sparkmoth or in the infantry. Not many small town kids in the Ritters. How come you got to choose?"

She smiles, a tried and true smile. One of those ones that said 'you're not going to like this next bit but I'm going to fucking /love/ /it/.'

"Well," she says, unfolding one of her palms and revealing a short piece of paper, "I kind of showed them this and they were /very/ willing to let me choose." You lean over, trying to look at what's on the paper.

"It's blank?" you say, you pick it up, turn it around, pull it away from, and then closer to your eyes-

And then she touches it and it explodes into flame. About an inch from your eye.

You yell, flinging the paper away and attracting the attention of /absolutely/ /everyone/ in the train. You blink wildly as you recover.

There have been more polite ways to tell someone that you're a Thermurgist.

>What Say?

>>28383613
>"There are more polite ways to tell people you're a Thermurgist than trying to light their eye on fire you know."

>>28383613
>"Next time, take mind of the fact that I like my eyeball just the way it is."

>>28383747
This.

>>28383613
>Yes, they would let you choose. Any other surprises I should know about? Just so I know whether I should maintain a safe distance.

Rolled 17

>>28383613
>Fucking neat !
>You sure are hot

>>28383747

"I rather like my eyeballs," you say, "Thank you very much. Please try to remember that next time you want to show off." You reach to stomp out the flame, but she points with a finger and a lance of supercooled air slowly winds its way to the flame and snuffs it out.

"Hey, I would've put you out before you got hurt. Much," protests Fränze.

>>28384015

"I'm sure," you say, "So, ah, any other surprises I should know about? Something that would, oh, require a minimum safe distance?"

Fränze pulls her knees onto her seat and kind of rotates towards you."If something comes up you'll be the first to know," she says. It takes you a moment to realize the implications, which you're less than amused by. "Hey, since you asked a question, I get one now, right?"

You debate saying 'no' for a moment, then decide against it. "Hit me," you say.

"What's with the sword?" she asks, "It's fancy, you wouldn't be sitting here if you were a noble. No /way/ could you buy something that cool. What gives?"

"It's my dad's sword," you say, "He was given it for 'valorous service in the face of suicidal odds' when he was a Red Sash. It was his favorite possession."

Fränze suddenly looks guilty. "Oh, uh, sorry for bringing that up," she says. You stare at her a moment. Then realize and laugh your ass off.

"He's not /dead/," you say between laughs, "Really, I mention my dad passed me his sword and that's what comes to mind? You don't /have/ to wait till you've been tragically killed to give your kid an heirloom, yeah?"

"It was a reasonable assumption!" Fränze protests.

"This is /great/," you tease, "What, do you assume every orphaned farmers boy's secretly nobility?"

"I can burn your eyebrows off," she mutters darkly.

You keep laughing, but you're out of jokes that don't sound really clunky, so there's a bit of a lull in the conversation.

>Continue the conversation (About what?)
>Montage the rest of the conversation, get to training.
>Skip to training.

>>28384583
>Montage the rest of the conversation, get to training.

Have I mentioned that I love your writing? Because the way you butcher tropes is /hilarious/.

>>28384583
>Montage the rest of the conversation, get to training.

OP, you fucking deserve more voters.

>>28384583
Maybe get to know someone else on the train?
Otherwise ask Fränze about Magic. Dunno how much we know about it, so it might be good to know what kinds there are.

(Regarding Fränze: The actual short version of Franziska is Franzi. I am german, so I can help with german sounding stuff. Unless you are german yourself and you chose Fränze for reasons. I don't want to sound show off-ish)

>>28384727

Oh, thank you! I'd used an etymology thing and guessed at the correct form. Help would be pretty great, I'm Indian.

I'll use it correctly here on out.

>>28384709
>>28384642

The boost to my ego is appreciated.

>>28384583
>Montage the rest of the conversation, get to training.

Wonder when we meet our awesome Griffon.

Say, how intelligent are they?

>>28384790
I put my email in so you can mail me words you wanna know.
And yes, this quest deserves more attention.

>>28384834

Soon, I'll actually be montaging most of training so you can meet/pick them sooner.

They're very intelligent. Not quite human, no speech, and not all that social (Squad size is based on how large Griffon packs get before they start murdering each other for lulz) but they're very intelligent and can get really odd/interesting behaviors as a result.

One of the options, for example, has housetrained itself.

File: 1384909728818.jpg-(52 KB, 640x439, Dowant.jpg)

52 KB JPG

>>28384877
>housetrained itself

Oh my fucking God, I can't wait to see what the others look like.

Right, I'm probably going to have dinner soon, so either this or the next update will be rather delayed. Until then...

>>28384727

You're actually pretty well educated and know more than a bit about magic.

Basically: Magic is a natural force. It congregates in leylines (Non-visible concentrations of magic which shift often) and Streams (/very/ visible concentrations of magic which are stable) and occasionally solidifies in the form of Crys.

All magic is aligned to one of the branches of magic. Examples are thermurgy (Manipulation of heat, burning and freezing things) and vivurgy (Manipulation of life. Healing and creating plagues and the like) The sole exception is Pure Crys, which is crystallized magic that has lost its alignment.

Spirits are creatures created of magic. Either mundane animals augmented with it or creatures spontaneously genesis'd from a Stream. In the case of larger, sapient creatures you can make deals with (Or steal power from) them in exchange for massive power. The precise nature of the deal changes depending on the nature of the spirit. Dragons, for example, make no deals. They demand you /take/ your power from them by brute force.

Co-incidentally, not many people get the power of a Dragon.

Enchantments are made via using powdered, aligned Crys to create predetermined magical effects, which are then fueled with Pure Crys. They're expensive, however, so generally non-magical solutions are preferred when possible.

Mages are people born with an alignment to a certain type of magic. They can manipulate magic, cast spells, power the appropriate types of enchantments, and consume Crys for bursts of energy, but cannot gain the powers of Spirits.

I probably missed something here. Feel free to ask more questions.

>>28385295
You mentioned our fathers sword being enchanted by a spirit. What effects did this have?

Otherwise
>Montage to training

>Montage the rest of the conversation, get to training.

You spend the rest of the trip teasing Franzi and occasionally talking about life back home. And then teasing Franzi about her podunk little village.

Eventually, you reach the training camp. It's, well, honestly not worth focusing on. One training camp is like another, and besides occasionally practicing aerial combat by mounting the commander's griffons (...No, not like that you /horrible/ /perverts/) it's basically a reasonably generic horribly bloated training chapter.

For the sake of pacing (and getting to Swashbuckling Adventure as soon as possible) we're just going to make it a montage.

Pick two to specialize in. Next update is Montage.
>[ ] Focus on marksmanship
>[ ] Focus on swordplay/melee.
>[ ] Focus on aerial maneuvers
>[ ] Focus on ENCHANTMENT
>[ ] Focus on tactics and strategy.
>[ ] Pfft, specialization is for chumps. (You can take this twice and be a true generalist)

>>28385858
>[ ] Focus on marksmanship
>[ ] Pfft, specialization is for chumps.

We aerial dragoon now.

File: 1384913065728.jpg-(33 KB, 752x478, Mauser_C96_AdamsGuns.jpg)

33 KB JPG

>>28385858
If we get a Mauser
>[x] Focus on marksmanship
>[x] Focus on ENCHANTMENT

Otherwise
>[x] Focus on aerial maneuvers.
>[x] Focus on tactics and strategy

>>28385858
Say, is it possible to take half-specializations?

Say

>[ ] Melee/Aerial Maneuvers

>>28385991

Eh, You know what? I'm just going to operate under the assumption that it is.

>[ ] Focus on marksmanship
>[ ] Melee/Aerial Maneuvers

>>28385991
>Pick 2

>>28386075
Yes, I can read.

What I'm saying is whether we could take a half-specialization for one slot.

>>28385915

Hmmm, switching to

>[ ] Focus on marksmanship
>[ ] Melee/Aerial Maneuvers

If allowed.

>>28385991

Hmm, I'll allow it.

>>28385858
>[X] Focus on marksmanship
>[X] Melee/Aerial Maneuvers

Going as an aerial dragoon sounds /awesome/, though I don't want to waste father's sword. Aerial maneuvers sounds like they could come in handy as well.

Dinner is done, montage time!

>Writan

>>28387188
Did something come up?

>>28389390
He's just pretty slow.

As in "I'm wondering who's slower, Havocfett or BlackJack" slow.

More than makes up for it in quality though.

>[ ] Focus on marksmanship
>[ ] Melee/Aerial Maneuvers

The next few weeks are a blur, you're sorted into a Flight with Karl, Franziska, the poor dude (His name is Gustav) and Claude, the black haired guy. Who was, as a mildly embarrassing incident taught Adam (And by extension, you) actually a girl.

You go through all your exercises dutifully, but spend most of your off time at the range with Claude.

You occasionally jump in on the practice swordfights and jousts Karl and Adam are almost constantly holding, but like Claude you mostly sit them out.

Admittedly, your reason is better than Claude's insistence that 'playing with long, hard, wooden shafts seems like a dude thing'.

You do, however, manage to finagle in extra riding practice sessions.

...Anything would be, really.

Still, the weeks pass quickly, and in no time at all you're at the last major decision you'll be making before joining the crew of the Von Richthofen.

Your squad (And the other squad, led by a man named Rosencrantz) are lead to the eyrie, where you /really/ wish you'd remembered to hit the latrine before leaving as the drill sergeant gives you a talk about lifelong bond and companionship yada yada yada.

You've read this book. It honestly wasn't that interesting a speech the first time. Short story: Pick a Griffon, if it doesn't try to kill you, you're riding it! If it does try to kill you, find a less angry griffon and try again.

There are really only two griffin that interest you as Boring the Drill Sergeant continues to bore everyone to death. The first is a majestic beast at the top of the eyrie, all sleek white head and golden fur, cutting a heroic figure as it preens.

The other is a massive, red-feathered beast. It's smashing a monstrous bone apart and swallowing pieces as it watches you lot.

>[ ] White-head. Heroic griffon for a heroic dude.
>[ ] Red-head. Lammergeier Griffon for the win.
>[ ] Uh, let's hit the bathroom before we pick.

>>28389390

It did, actually. Had to go to the masjid for a thing.

>>28389817

So, what's bigger, the Red Griffon, or the White?

Also, by choosing the last one, do we lose the two others?

>>28389817
>'playing with long, hard, wooden shafts seems like a dude thing'

Oh man, you're not even trying to be subtle.

>>28389994

White's bigger than Red.

No comment on the last bit.

>>28390078

/even/ /less/ /comment/.

Rolled 2

>>28389817
>[1] White-head. Heroic griffon for a heroic dude.
>[2] Uh, let's hit the bathroom before we pick.

You what, fuck it.

>>28389817
>[ ] White-head. Heroic griffon for a heroic dude.

White Knight Griffon?

White Knight Griffon.

Rolled 1

>>28389817
>[1] White-head. Heroic griffon for a heroic dude.
>[2] Uh, let's hit the bathroom before we pick.

I was supposed to be playing ACIV today OP.

>>28390192

The bathroom is a Griffon Choice (Which one exactly has been noted earlier in the thread), you can't do both.

If you pick another presumably you just use the latrine after picking.

File: 1384924408755.jpg-(90 KB, 700x475, Oh_Nooooo.jpg)

90 KB JPG

>>28390333
Actually, the dice is supposed to denote which choice I'm going with. See the numbers on the left.

I can't chooooooooooose.

>>28390373

Ooooh. OK.

>>28389817
>>[ ] Uh, let's hit the bathroom before we pick.

Not wetting ourselves is important.

So basically we have to choose between honourable knight, and RIP AND TEAR steeds?

>>28389817
>[ ] White-head. Heroic griffon for a heroic dude.

>>28390479
And a Griffon who has housetrained himself.

Fuck this choice is /hard/.

>>28390479

And SEKRIT OPTION.

(Also: I wouldn't trust me vis-a-vis obvious choices. Or in general.)

>>28390500
I choose SEKRIT OPTION

>[ ] Uh, let's hit the bathroom before we pick.

>>28390192

Those last two put us squarely over the edge in favor of...

> Uh, let's hit the bathroom before we pick.

>WRITAN

>>28389817
>SEKRIT OPTION
>HOUSETRAINED GRIFFON
>BY HIMSELF

How can I possibly /not/ choose this?

>[ ] Uh, let's hit the bathroom before we pick.

>>28389817
Latrines, if we have the time. We have to be collected before approaching a griffon. No use in being distracted from trying not to pee ourselves.
Then we pick the red beast. And we call him Albrecht ( if it's a he). That was one of the names of the red baron.

>>28390713

Dude, the latrines was a Griffon option.

Were you not here?

>>28390713

I don't think you made the SEKRIT OPTION bleedingly obvious enough Havocfett.

Sleek and white up there looks /brilliant/, and you damn near simply dash for him when Sergeant Boring finishes his lecture, but your body very pointedly reminds you that you have Other Duties that need taking care of right now.

With some speed, you leg it for the pit-toilets.

You dash for the nearest stall, give it a test nudge to see if it's locked, and then pull it open as you go for your belt.

And come face to face with a Griffin, sitting very politely on the toilet, all cramped and curled up to actually fit in the made-for-humans bathroom stall. It, very slowly, turns to look at you, and you, very slowly, put your belt back on and stare it in the face.

It reaches out one leonid paw and, with snail-like pace, pulls the door closed.

"...Does that count?" you ask.

As the slightly ashamed Griffin rather politely waiting for you outside of the bathroom after you've finished with your business can attest, yes, yes it does.

>Pick a name for Bathroom Griffon!
>That's all for tonight!
>Next thread? The Van Richthofen!

File: 1384926148234.gif-(5.62 MB, 320x240, mj-laughing.gif)

5.62 MB GIF

>>28390937
>mfw

Anyway, what would've happened if we went for one of the other Griffons?

Also, voting for Albrecht.

>>28390937
So how big is he compared to the average?

Also, I can tell our new friend is going to be absolutely smashing with the ladies.

>>28390726
Kinda not, no.

File: 1384926332216.jpg-(23 KB, 250x350, tinyhorse.jpg)

23 KB JPG

>>28391027
Oh god we're stuck with Tinygiffin, aren't we?
Pic semi-related.

>>28390937
Is he also red? Then we still go with Albrecht. Is it a he at all?

>>28390937

It's times like these I wish I had one of those No'op pictures.

Next thread when?

>>28391005

White would've been /just/ about to pounce when Adam entered the Bathroom and his cry of 'Waaaaat' distracts it long enough for you to tackle it.

Technically being pinned means it is not trying to kill you, which counts.

(White would'be been Tsundere Griffon).

Red just would've been 'it's cool' and then Adam finds Bathroom Griffon.

>>28391027

He's actually a bit on the small side. Basically the Griffon in the OP. (Red is basically a Lammergeier in Griffon form, White is a Bald Eagle in same)

>>28391085

Well, presumably it was in the Male Toilets.

>>28391065

Holy shit, I want one as a pet.

>>28391101
I guess he would be more agile, being smaller, which would be good for ranged combat, but his smaller size would probably mean he's less dangerous in a fight.

>>28391101

Red was supposed to be Bro Griffon?

Dammit.

>>28391179

Honestly, despite being somewhat disappointed not getting Red, Polite!Griffon seems cool enough that I'm willing to roll with it.

>>28391101

I don't suppose he could still be growing right?

>>28391179

Bro Griffin is in good hands.

Good, pyromaniacal hands.

File: 1384927367202.gif-(2.59 MB, 540x300, 1378867820988.gif)

2.59 MB GIF

>>28391412

File: 1384927801508.jpg-(90 KB, 550x378, noooo.jpg)

90 KB JPG

>>28391179
>>28391412
>Red was Bro Griffin
>why

>>28391101
Good thing we didn't get the tsundere. Shame the thread is over. It was fun.

/tg/ and mystery boxes…