>>29853914
((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
))

>>29853914
>[]Stay back and circle. It looks like he’s pretty slow if he can’t teleport around. See if you can get behind him.
Probably can't get behind him, but might be able to at least get some idea of his style.

>>29853914
[x]Stay back and circle. It looks like he’s pretty slow if he can’t teleport around. See if you can get behind him.
Don't be reckless, don't rush into what is probably a trap.

>>29854010
>>29854081
((Keeping your distance. Writing.))

>>29854445
There's plenty of room to manoeuvre here, and you start to circle round, watching the King carefully. He's turning to watch you, but he seems content to wait and let you circle for a while. He holds his sword in a low guard, point out. His arms are perhaps twice as long as yours, so he's definitely got enough reach to keep you at bay if you try hit and run attacks. You wish you had a spear.

You dart forwards, feinting towards the King, and are rewarded with a quick flurry of strikes that fall well short of you. It looks like the King can be a lot faster than he lets on - but all the swings were quite short. It's his wrist he's moving, not his whole arm, which is interesting.

The King's steps are still slow and ponderous, but he's advancing in turn, his arm swinging out and forwards and his sword levelled at you. Is that slow movement just a trick, or are his shoulders much less flexible than his wrists?

Either way, with the amount of force he can put behind a blow, you should probably keep your distance from his sword. You dash round, getting in a quick swipe at his back as you pass, and seeing a thin spray of greenish blood - or is it sap? - from the wound. It’s a shallow cut, but you’ve drawn the first blood.

Despite your success, all this running around is taking its toll. If you keep up like this, you’re going to exhaust yourself sooner or later.

[]Draw back to the edge of the clearing and try to catch your breath, then keep darting around. Speed is your main advantage here.
[]Go for the King’s legs, see if you can slow him down enough that you can keep the advantage.
[]Other

>>29855346
>[]Go for the King’s legs, see if you can slow him down enough that you can keep the advantage.

>>29855346
[x]Other
Go for the King's legs, and when he blocks the strikes, riposte off of his parry to strike at his wrist and forearm.

>>29855346
[x]Other: Go for the King's legs, and when he blocks the strikes, riposte off of his parry to strike at his wrist and forearm.

Seconding.

>>29855382
>>29855556
>>29855651

((Okay, we have a strategy. Writing now.))

This quest like the character is dead.

>>29855844
You can't keep running around. You need to strike hard, do some real damage to your opponent. And those big, long arms and legs look like nice big targets.

As the King turns to face you, you come in low, beneath his guard, swinging for his ankles. He flicks his wrist round to parry, and you go for his arm, copying a fencing move you saw in an action movie one time. It turns out to be quite a bit harder to do in practice than it was in your head - you take a nasty cut across your arm in the process - but your sword draws a deep slice across the King's wrist and forearm. He steps back, his teeth gritted and a frown crossing his face.

Your arm hurts, but it doesn't seem to be impeding your fighting ability. The advantages of already being dead, you suppose. The King is drawing back into a more careful guard, watching you. His arm is dripping blood now (still that strange light-green colour that reminds you of sap. Hell, he's a forest spirit, it may well actually be sap).

"You have no idea what you're doing, do you, Ambassador?", the King calls out. What, trash talk? Really? That seems like distinctly un-regal behaviour. Well, he's wrong, at any rate. It's not like this is your first fight for your life.

"I think your arm would disagree, Your Majesty. I know my way around a sword well enough."

The King shakes his head, his antlers swaying. He raises his sword and steps towards you again.

"That was not what I meant. But no matter. Why you fight will make little difference to whether you win or lose. You are a puppet of a greater power. Let us see if I cannot cut some of your strings."

He charges forward, massive legs pumping, stabbing forward with his sword like a spear. You might be able to dodge if you move quickly enough, but you're going to have to think fast.

[]Dodge and roll. Just get out of the way.
[]Duck under his swing and get inside his reach.
[]Sidestep, let him go past and stab him in the back.
[]Other

>>29857040
>[]Duck under his swing and get inside his reach.

>>29857040
>[]Sidestep, let him go past and stab him in the back.

>>29857040
>[]Dodge and roll. Just get out of the way.
He can probably adjust the course of the strike. He actually knows something about swordplay, an obvious telegraphed move like this would be retarded unless he could change. Best move is not to fall for it.

>>29857177
>>29857178
>>29857272
((... ooooh. Indecision is not good here. When I said 'think fast', I meant it.

Writing.))

>>29857530
Aw fuck.
Goddammit guys.

>>29857530
The sight of the enormous spirit bearing down upon you, his antlers lowered in a forest of points, is terrifying. Your first instinct is to turn and run, but you dive forwards instead, hoping to get under his sword or maybe past him entirely. The point of his blade twists to try and follow you, and at the last moment you try to dodge aside, away from the lethal sword.

You twist away from the sword, and you think you might have got away. That's when the point of an antler slams into your side. The King tosses his head like a giant stag, and you're picked up and thrown across the clearing, landing with a thud.

You scramble to your feet, holding your side with your free hand. There's a deep puncture wound in your side, and you're starting to bleed fairly heavily. You're not sure how much more you can take before you start having serious trouble fighting.

Wait. Where's your sword?

You look over to where the King is. Your sword is embedded in his arm. You must have caught him with it while you were being yanked into the air.

It looks like it's wedged in there pretty deep. It must be a nasty wound. You might be able to make it worse. Of course, that does mean closing in on him again without a sword to parry with...

[]Go for it. Run in, grab the blade, and twist it hard. Even if you can't pull it free, you might be able to cripple his sword arm.
[]See if you can find another weapon somewhere.
[]Try to find a way to disarm the King and take his weapon.
[]Other

>>29857950
[x]Go for it. Run in, grab the blade, and twist it hard. Even if you can't pull it free, you might be able to cripple his sword arm.

>>29857950
>[]Go for it. Run in, grab the blade, and twist it hard. Even if you can't pull it free, you might be able to cripple his sword arm.

>>29857950
C'mon

W-we're back??

I've been loving this quest for 45 threads, although it seems I'm always offshore, and on shift, when these happen, wielding incredibly shitty satellite internet.

That being said...
>try and find a way to disarm the king.... Literally.

Let's grab our sword and slash out from his arm with all of our strength.

>>29858071
>[]Go for it. Run in, grab the blade, and twist it hard. Even if you can't pull it free, you might be able to cripple his sword arm.
Meant to vote for this, missed it somehow.

>>29858021
>>29858045
>>29858152
>>29858115
((Yes, we're back. Writing now.))

I think Chris needs to find the opportunity to stretch out his thirst for domination a little more.

Get some of our charge back in the process.

Also
>Esther is control of Ophidians
>Avril taking control of Fae
>Isabella the Queen of the social scene

And Chris the most eligible bachelor in town.

>>29858966
>I think Chris needs to find the opportunity to stretch out his thirst for domination a little more.
Sure, when the end of the world isn't staring at us in the face and has a magic rifle trained at our head, and the Man in White is very much considering cutting his losses with us.

>>29858448
This is your chance. Dangerous, sure, but not as dangerous as trying to fight on without a weapon. You run straight for the King, your arm raised and ready. All you need to do is jump at the right time.

It's a leap a gymnast would be proud of, arcing right up over the King's raised sword. As he brings it round, going for one of your legs, you grab your sword and put all your weight on it, yanking down as hard as you can. For a moment you're dangling in mid-air, suspended from his arm, then with a horrible tearing noise your sword comes loose, dumping you on the ground in a shower of green blood.

You pull yourself to your feet, gripping your sword tightly, but you can see it's not needed. The King's sword lies at his feet, his sword arm hanging limply by his side. There's a massive gouge in his arm, more than half the way through it. You haven't quite taken his arm off completely, but he won't be lifting a sword for a long time.

The King looks at you solemnly, glancing from your sword, to the wound in your side that you're still clutching with your other arm, to your own grim expression, and nods slowly.

"I can fight no longer. You have bested me. Beaten, by a mortal... I must retire for a while and contemplate this. Enjoy your prize as long as you can."

He drops to one knee, then shudders and sinks bodily into the earth, the grass parting in his wake and then closing over him without a trace.

There's a general gasp and hushed silence for a moment, then your audience erupts into loud cheers. You shake your head, trying to clear the pain and adrenaline from your thoughts, focusing on the cheers.

"The King is vanquished! Long live the King! The King is vanquished! Long live the King!"

That... really doesn't make any sense. Unless... wait. Oh, hell.

Avril runs over, grabs you and gives you a kiss on the lips, then pulls you over to the throne, almost pushing you into it. You're really tired all of a sudden. Sitting down sounds good.

((Cont.))

>>29859083
Avril stands in front of the throne, nods to the small Fae with the book - Robin? - and clears her throat ostentatiously. You're really feeling exhausted. It's all you can do to focus on what she's saying, but you're certain it's important.

“I wish to be the first among us to pledge my fealty to the new ruler of the Spring Court.”

What do you want to say?

>>29859111
contain all of our WUT inside for later and acknowledge her pledge

>>29859167
forgot to add, maybe quietly ask her for some warning before we go about dethroning her father, and if she could help and explain to us the process and protocol of whats going to happen

>>29859111
Acknowledge her pledge, even as we go all "WUT" inside.
And I think the King did have the right idea of having most of the Court being safe off-world until this situation can be resolved.

>>29859211
>And I think the King did have the right idea of having most of the Court being safe off-world until this situation can be resolved.
Indeed, our idea last thread of a embassy on earth while shits hitting the fan is a good one, lets not disrespect the previous king by outright saying his idea was terrible and he should feel bad, unless thats how the fae do things, I've got no fucking idea.

>>29859167
>>29859193
>>29859211
>>29859246
((Writing now.))

>>29859581
“Alright. Go on, make your pledge.” You should probably be more formal about that, but you’re too tired to focus properly. Your arms and legs feel like lead weights.

Avril gestures to the man with the enormous book. She’s grinning. It’s a somewhat worrying grin. Predatory.

“Finally. Finally. Robin, read the damn pledge.”

The small Fae clears his throat and flicks to a new page, reciting In a loud, clear voice that seems to fill the clearing. It briefly cuts through the fog that seems to be descending on your thoughts.

“Do you pledge your troth and fealty to the Throne of the Spring Court, to the honour and law of the Spring Court, to the King slash Queen delete as appropriate of the Spring Court, and to the name and power of the Spring Court? Do you so by oak, elm and holly, by rowan, ash and yew, by your name and your power and the ever-changing Moon?”

You blink. Avril seems a bit... blurrier than she usually is. She’s still grinning, though. You think you could tell that from a mile away.

“I pledge my troth and fealty to the Throne of the Spring Court. To the honour and law of the Spring Court. And to the name and power of the Spring Court.”

Wait, that... something’s not right. You can hear murmuring from the crowd. You try to stand, but your legs are so heavy.

“This I pledge, by the hollyhock.”

Avril walks forward, right up onto the dais until she’s standing almost toe to toe with you. She reaches down and gently plucks the sword from your exhausted fingers.

“That took far too long. Ah, well. Say good night, sweetheart.”

She lifts the sword up, flips it deftly in one hand, and strikes you in the side of the head with the pommel.

“Long live the Queen.”

Blackness.

>>29859974
((And that's it for tonight. Next thread will be Thursday, at the usual time.))

>>29859974
...

I think its time we had The Talk with Avril

also what the fuck cliffhanger

I seriously fucking hope this does not ruin things with Avril, cause thats the main reason I was fighting for the fae to not leave and for her two betray us like that just kills it for me

>>29859974
Well this just took a turn for the worse.

>>29860006
Goodnight OP, next thread will be interesting for sure, not sure if it will be good, but interesting at least.

>>29859974
What. The. Fuck. Avril.

Well, there goes my reason for playing, hope the other anons can salvage things.

>>29859974

Oh ho, what the fuck is this twist?

Someone is gonna die, and that is either Avril or MH for pulling a Shyamalan.

>>29860397
>Someone is gonna die, and that is either Avril or MH for pulling a Shyamalan.

Yep, I'm seriously hoping it can be salvaged without having to do that, otherwise this quest is dead to me.

[throw your sword at him while charging straight for him, then punch him in the face]

>>29860485
your either very late and can't roll, or posted in the wrong thread, either way, this quest is dead with the stunt the QM just pulled.

>>29860006
I suppose we should have expected this, considering that we were warned about this.
Well. I wonder if Avril has a contingency for the Man in White when he finds out how Chris has let things get out of hand.

>>29860485
((You are a little bit late.))

>>29860040
>>29860228
>>29860397
>>29860429
((As one of the other anons has noted, you were warned. Repeatedly.))

>>29860665
Well, I can only hope she does not and we can sate our hunger and dominate the fuck out of her and make her our bitch with the Man's help and use her as a puppet queen after we wake up, if we do.

That's the only way I see us getting out of it, and this quest surviving past a few poorly received updates in the next thread.

And to think I genuinely liked Avril and hoped it could have been a happy relationship, but thats dead now.

>>29860731
>((As one of the other anons has noted, you were warned. Repeatedly.))
As the anon in >>>p29860777 said, yes we were warned, but we never got the chance to investigate or deal with it because of all the shit hitting the fan constantly in our face every fucking thread without a single break or downtime to possibly give us the chance of dealing with it.

Yes we were warned, but we couldn't actually act on it because you never let us, you've got the same problem Breaker Quest has that leads to accusations of railroading, you pacing of downtime:preparing-for-plot:plot is shit and makes me start to believe you railroaded us into this.

>>29860849
>>>>p29860777
derp, meant the post in >>29860777

>>29860849
((Even as late as the penultimate post of this thread, and certainly in the last thread when Avril was insisting that challenging her father was the only option, you had chances to act. All the votes were in favour of carrying on.))

>>29860731
>you were warned
see >>29860849 & >>29860887 & the discussion in the QTG >>29860921 & >>29860921

>>29860997
>((Even as late as the penultimate post of this thread, and certainly in the last thread when Avril was insisting that challenging her father was the only option, you had chances to act. All the votes were in favour of carrying on.))
If we did, you did a fucking piss poor job communicating that, because fucking nowhere did I see that, and if it is true, then well done at writing it so well we never picked up on it and killing the quest with it.

>>29861082
Well, the Man did already say that we were thinking too much with our dick and not enough with our brain, and he was referring to Avril at the time.

I just didn't think that Avril would be this predatory in taking the throne; that's the Fae for ya, though.

Oh shit! I missed a bunch of threads!
Catching up now.

>>29861519
well you can take your time because this quest is dead now without serious intervention hint hint OP re; The Man

>>29861588
Man, you kidding me? The answer is obvious.
Wait until all our magic points have replenished, and then say "Release me from my oath." with all the gumption we can muster.

>>29861829
>"Release me from my oath."
What oat would that be, its been so long i've forgotten them, the only one i remember was Jill's oat to the king to protect Avril

fuck

we're going to have to deal with that too

thanks for killing everything we worked for QM, all the relationships we put time into with Avril and Jill are dead now, 53 threads of fucking work, all for this? now i'm sad and honestly don't care about whether this quest survives with that betrayal

>>29861931
We pledged a portion of our power to the king, I assume he either still has it, in which case be brainfuck his headcase, or it has transferred to Avril, in which case we brainfuck her headcase.

>>29861959
right, well good luck with that, I genuinely mean that I'd like to see it suceed, but like I said in >>29861931 that betrayal has made me lose all hope and reason for wanting to participate in this quest to the point that I'm going to go to the range to blow off some steam and try to forget this quest ever happened

>>29862023
Dude, we're leagues and miles more powerful than Avril could ever hope to be, and we don't even know what happened yet. She certainly didn't kill us, because we're the only one who can take on the Pale Horsemen.

I'm not even a little bit concerned we'll find a wa out of this.

>>29862073
well I'm glad someone has hope

Well after that fuck up of a twist, I really fucking hope MHQ delivers those pastebins they promised, otherwise this just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

>>29860997
Dammit I missed the thread :(

I actually enjoy plot twists like these and did kinda think that Avril was acting a bit pushy trying to get us to duel the king like that. Good stuff MH, looking forward to seeing how this all turns out in the end.

I knew it! Ever since she tried to seduce us at the movie theatre.

That's ok though, because we have ways out. I think it's about time we quit being everyone's errand boy, and get some practical power on our side. Manpower for one, Money for two.

I'm hoping we can get The Man on the line after we wake up and do to Avril what we did to Isabella, that should solve any further plans of hers regarding us and betrayal

>>29866461
Actually, I prefer to write Avril off as a lost cause, considering she's caused nothing but static for us, for a long little while.

However, people we know we can trust is a short list, and I think we should develop those relationships further. This includes Isabella, Ajani, and potentially Gloria.

Possible allies/people who might just be playing us for a fool, include Esther, Zach, and maybe Cassandra.

The wild Card is Jill, who is both the most emotional player, and most destructive.

Either way, I think it's time for no more Mr. nice Chris.

>>29868929
>Actually, I prefer to write Avril off as a lost cause, considering she's caused nothing but static for us, for a long little while.
I don't want to, because I've the vain hope we can salvage the relationship, and I want to use her a a puppet queen to control the fae

death is too little for her betrayal, death and eternal servitude to us is more like it, like what we did to isabella