As her victim's body drops lifelessly to the floor, Karel pulls her sword out of his corpse and kicks it aside.

"What the f-" the remaining guard stammers. "You little shit, I'll kill you for that!" Tossing you aside, he pulls Alicia close and uses his newly-freed hand to draw his sword. At first it seems as if he's about to use Alicia as a hostage, but the murderous look in her violet eyes makes him take pause.

And he throws Alicia right at her daughter as hard as she can.

"Mom!" Karel shouts, dropping her sword in order to safely catch her mother... just in time for the traitorous(?) guard to run at both of them with his sword.

Luckily, you're just in time. Having maintained your incantation all this time, you manage to dash in between the guard and Karel and cast Holy Shine, causing a wall of light to flicker into existence. Though it's not enough to completely block the attack, your shield is strong enough to deflect the sword's trajectory before it shatters, sending the guard stumbling to the side...

...and then you drive your foot into his face as hard as you can.


>finish him off
>try to subdue him
>see about Karel and Alicia before doing anything else
>[OTHER]

>>30537648
>>finish him off
then
>see about Karel and Alicia

>>30537648
>>try to subdue him
interrogate, and bring before Gregory

>>30537648
>fire clay spread into him at point blank range

>>30537648
>try to subdue him

It's bad enough krazy Karel just outright fucking murdered a guy. While he's likely guilty, there's no reason to start wantonly killing more guards.

>>30537648
>try to subdue him
Ask him if they plan to take other hostages.

>>30537648
>Finish him off.
We're in enemy territory, we don't want him calling for reinforcements.

>>30537677
they were taking her mom away to be used as a bargaining chip

>>30537648
Finish him off. He knows less than existing hostages and no time to mess around.

>>30537648
>finish him off
>Go look for Citrine. We dont have time to waste on karel and her mother.

>>30537648
>try to subdue him
We want information

>>30537648
>try to subdue him
we can always kill him later

Hey Arch! your eyes alright now?

>>30537752
Yes, thank God.
Currently the only thing I have to deal with is my old friend, the migraine headache.

>>30537648
>try to subdue him

Might be good to know why they were kidnapping Karel's mom specifically.

>>30537648
>try to subdue him

We haven't captured any of the traitor guards yet. Catch this one now while he's alone.

>>30537797
I didnt even think of asking that. Good idea anon

>>30537796
Pls dont die arch pls

>still wasting time on questions when they are quite possible dragging Lanzmans off to somewhere right now.

>>30537900
And killing our only source of info so far is going to solve that, how?

We don't even know whose in the fifth.

>>30537796
we love your quest threads Arch, but please don't push your self so much that you get sick from doing so.

>>30537937
We dont need to know. All we need to is make sure of their safety. Then we can interrogate the guards as much as we like.

>>30537961
Having just gotten over a nasty cod earlier this week I have to support ths comment. You run an excellent game, but please don't do it at you're own expense.

>>30537900
We don't have to question him now, but subduing him for later is a good idea.

>>30537961
shut the fuck up with your fake concerns you pretentious prick.

>writing

>>30537994
Where the hell did that come from.

>>30538250
no idea.

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eeeyyyyyyy

>>30537648
>>30537662
I'd like this.

"Be you red with the blood of sinners or black like the hearts of the wicked," you begin chanting before the guard even hits the floor, "heed my call and bring my enemies to their knees in penitence."

You invoke the spell, sending all six clay projectiles flying right into him at point-blank range. With a loud thud, your first shot sends him flying into a wall and the rest render him completely helpless as he's practically glued to the wall.

Once you're satisfied that this guard is no longer a threat, you knock him out with a punch to the face.


>[1/2]

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My body is ready

>>30538638
Don't do it Karel, don't do it! He is unarmed now!

>>30538689
Don't do what exactly? Don't jam your flamberge up his ass?

>>30538736
Don't awaken her inner-Alicia genes and try to go all flirty obviously.

>>30538638
“Jesus rookie, knocking people on the head… if they’re out longer than a few seconds you’ve probably made them retarded. Terrible decision.”

>>30538832
Sounds like a fitting punishment for trying to take our friend's mother hostage, don't you think?

>>30538638
Was clay spread's incantation always like that? I seem to recall the word earth being in it.

>>30538898
Han't changed at all.

>>30538638

"Are you two okay?" you call out, turning to face Karel and Alicia.
"Yes... thank you," Alicia says as her daughter helps her to her feet.
"You should've killed him too..." Karel mumbles.

And then it's like the sheer gravity of what just happened hits all at once.

"Why did you kill that guard, Karel!?" Alicia says in a hushed tone as she grabs Karel by the shoulders. "If the King finds out- oh no, where will we go... And what about you, Reinhold!?" she turns to you. "Helping Karel cover up an act of treason will only get you in trouble as well! Oh god, this isn't how I wanted the two of you to-"

Crap, she's really freaking out... better try and set her straight.

"I believe that you'll be relieved to hear that Reinhold and your son weren't the ones involved in any treason."

...wait, you weren't the one who said that.

"Who!?" Alicia gasps.
"The butler guy!" Karel shouts.
"...Gerhard?" you say, turning to the side just as Gerhard walks into view.
"My apologies for my late arrival, but I rushed here as soon as I could once it was determined that King Thierri and the others were safe," Gerhard says with a bow. "And as for your suspicions, Miss, certain unsavory plots against your King have been uncovered. That is all I can say for now."

>[2/3]

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>>30538964
>Oh god, this isn't how I wanted the two of you to-

>>30538964
Oh hey, a guy who's probably a top-notch interrogator. And here we are, standing around over a prone, treasonous guardsman!

Time to go save our family, and then come back and hope we know what the deal is, or at least where the Fifth Guard Captain is hanging out in this whole mess so we can get the answers out of HIM instead.

>>30538964
why are we still chatting? go to citrine already

>>30538964
How dos Gerhard not realize Karel is a girl?

>>30539158
It's much more likely he's being polite and playing dumb

>>30538964
>[3/3]

"Th- then these guards were-" Alicia stammers.
"Most likely, yes," Gerhard nods. "Now I believe it would be a good idea to dispose of this body and retrieve this fellow who Reinhold was so kind enough to capture before their allies suspect foul play..." he says, walking over to the guard's corpse and casually slinging it over his shoulder.

Gerhard's here to back you up and you really have other things to get to...

"Could you look after his mother for us?" you ask.
"Of course," Gerhard nods his head. "I won't allow anything to happen to her while she's in my care."

With a nod of acknowledgement, the two of you race off to Citrine's room.


>anything you wanted to say along the way?

>>30539158
>>30539174
After all, everyone that isn't us is a mastermind that knows everything.

>>30539188
nothing. too busy worrying

>>30539188
"What was your mom on about before Gerhard cut her off?"

>>30539202
This. Gotta go fast.

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>>30539188

Nothing, go to the room.

>>30539188

Nah. Just go.

Maybe prepare a shiled spell just in case

>>30539188
just run. we dont have time to chat.

>>30539188
seconding >>30539218

>>30539188
run as fast as you can! Citrine is likely in danger!

>writing

>>30538964
>>30539053
>Oh god, this isn't how I wanted the two of you to-

I GET IT NOW

SHE WASN'T HITTING ON US

SHE WAS TRYING TO HOOK US UP WITH KAREL THE WHOLE DAMN TIME

>>30539355
WE MISSED OUT

WE FUCKED UP

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>>30539355
>we lost best bodyguard route because we didn't go with Karels mom that one time in hallway in front of her room

Kill me.

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>>30539355

>>30539355
If you extrapolate from that, her hitting on Monique was her trying to set Karel up with him.

>>30539377
Densehold strikes again

>>30539355
Thank God. Nice dodge.

>>30539355
... Okay wait, if Karel is the daughter of the guy who was pretty much our adoptive father's brother would that make us fucking Karel gay incest?

>>30539599
>... Okay wait, if Karel is the daughter of the guy who was pretty much our adoptive father's brother would that make us fucking Karel gay incest?

No because we don't actually know that. It's an educated guess on our part that Adrian had anything to do with Karel.

>>30539599
Is fucking a reverse trap gay?
I suppose it would be, if fucking a regular trap isn't.

>>30539599
They are not blood related and that means they are "cousins", which isn't really incest, especially since Rein and Kare weren't raised together.

>>30539627
>Is fucking a reverse trap gay?

No
Reverse traps are a miracle of the universe.

>>30539599
>fucking Karel gay incest?

You say that like there's something wrong with Wincest™

>>30539053
Can't wait for the VN. All these flags since the insurrection started. I want muh bokuko waifu.

>>30539355
>>30539377
>>30539393
>>30539406
>>30539437
At this point it's like Arch is just outright rubbing it in everyone's faces. "Ohh, look at THIS character you could've gotten with instead! If only I hadn't shoved Luci down your throats at every given opportunity, huh? Oh well, tough break!"

>>30539627
I think it might have to do with what gender they identify as? Something like that.
If they're a girl that looks exactly like a guy its not gay unless they say they're a guy.
>>30539662
I did not say it like there was something wrong with it! I said it out of curiousity.

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>>30539645
>Reverse traps are a miracle of the universe.
This anon speaks the truth.

>>30539678
Why do you even bother trying to troll PGQ still

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>>30539678

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>>30539696
Because people like you give them attention.

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>>30539678
I'll wait for the VN and just waifu them all

who am I kidding, we all know it's not coming out because single-man projects never go anywhere, I'll instead pretend in my head that Reinhold and Karel got together after Emilio and Marianne get married. Their names came to be "The unstoppable blade" and "The immovable wall" after single-handedly killing a dozen dragon assassins. And they lived happily ever after, the end

>>30539731
How many kids did they have?
How do they answer the question of where said kids came from when publicly they're both male?
Which one tops?

>>30539731
>Marie and Emillio married
>Karel and Reinhold together
>Those nicknames
What a shitty story.

>>30539678
Well, he's not rubbing it in our faces, we just figured it out waaaaaay past the fact of the matter.

Yeah I don't like the luci thing either and it seems most of the people who cared abandoned the thread long ago, so it's just water under the bridge at this point

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>>30539731
Immovable wall, you say?

>>30539756
Those people didnt abandon. They just dont have enough fucks to give to a couple of rusefags and start bullshit discussions again.

>>30539775
That wall moves constantly throughout that video.

>>30539791
No. He's so immovable that he commands space and time to move around him.

As you run towards the nearest stairwell, Karel speaks up.

"Umm, sorry for blowing up at you earlier," she says. "And thanks for helping me make sure that my Mom's safe... I don't even want to think about what those guys were going to do with her."
"No problem," you nod. "I just hope that Citrine and Marius are okay too..."

Though you're kind of curious as to what Alicia was about to say before she was cut off, that's not important now. You need to focus on getting to Citrine's room before any of those turncoat guards can. Hell, you -would- cast Tailwind right now if not for the fact that trying to run down stairs with it active would definitely result in your untimely death.


>[1/?]

>>30539775
A tragic tale to be passed on for generations to come.

>>30539752
Twins
Adoption
Karel, Reinhold would erupt into spasms and screaming if he wasn't tied down beforehand.

>>30539775
Someone posted this on /v/ earlier today, daring them to try and outdo /tg/.
They drew porn of both the princess and the wall.

>>30539756
Man, the long timers are still here. Yeah, it hurts, but we aren't abandoning the quest for that.

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>>30539850
>visiting /v/
Not eve once

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>>30539731
>who am I kidding, we all know it's not coming out because single-man projects never go anywhere,

>>30539731
Karel route a ded.

>>30539870
It's not that bad, if you ignore 95% of the threads.

>>30539889
You have my faith in your pretty cool broage, OP. And what game design talent I have if it comes to that.

>>30539870
I go there just to follow the Sonic Marathon.

>>30539892
According to some people in this Quest, if you ignore even one shitty part of a collective whole, then there's no point in even participating, apparently.

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>>30540093
Anon, how'd you read my mind?

>>30539814

"C'mon, this way!" you say as you turn a corner. Fortunately, all the guards that you saw along the way pretty much ignored the two of you... be it because they're unrelated to the rogue guard division or because they don't suspect either of you of anything.

But regardless of the reason why they're not getting in your way, you're just happy that you have less obstacles to deal with.

Skidding to a halt when you reach the room that your sister and her husband are staying in, you take a deep breath and motion for Karel to step back as you knock on the door.

And wait.


>[2/?]

>>30540111
'Cause I was the one that was told it by the chumps in this Quest, Anon.

>>30540093

Such is the fate of all popular things.

>>30540128
No one there?

>>30540143
Absolutely no one.

>>30540143
>>30540155
Marius will open the door and they will be fine

>>30540128
...reinhold pls. When you think they might be in the process of being accosted by corrupt guards, you just kick the goddamn door in and apologize later.

>>30540201
magic invite only doors remember?

>>30540280
Given the way Sanctuary and the like work (by sensing intent), I was kind of hoping that if they actually WERE in danger, the ward on the door might consider that as an open invitation to enter for non-hostile parties given the frame of mind the occupants would be in.

And if they were fine, we just bash our leg into a solid wall and feel like an idiot. A relieved idiot, but an idiot nonetheless.

That, and it doesn't seem terribly out of character to not remember that when you're freaking out about whether or not your sister is safe.

but then we would've had an attack roll on the door, crit failed it and kicked our pregnant sister in the stomach when she heard the racket and came to open up. For maximum suffering.

>>30540128
>[3/3]

"...maybe they didn't hear you?" Karel says in an uneasy tone. "Try knocking again."

Simply nodding in agreement, you move to do as she said... but the door opens before you're able to. Jumping back, you place a hand on the pommel of your sword just in case it's one of those guards...

"Reinhold?" Marius says, a look of surprise on his face. "And... Karel, was it? What's up?"
"Oh thank God..." you say with a sigh of relief. "Is Citrine in there too?"
"Yeah," he nods. "We were actually supposed to show up for the King's announcement, but Citrine's been feeling pretty crappy all day."

Wow. And here you'd never thought you'd actually be happy to hear that Citrine's sick.

"So, uh... what's going on with you two?" Marius asks. "Judging from the look on both of your faces, I'm guessing that you didn't just come down here for a simple visit."


>explain things to him out here
>go inside and explain things to him there
>leave him in the dark
>[OTHER]

>>30540358
>>go inside and explain things to him there

>>30540358
>go inside and explain things to him there
But only a quick summary

>>30540358
>go inside and explain things to him there

This is really just an excuse to search their room

>>30540358
>>go inside and explain things to him there
Behind closed doors means any corrupt guards coming by to do what they did when visiting Alicia have to knock and give away the element of surprise.

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>>30540358

>go inside and explain things to him there

>>30540358
>go inside and explain things to him there

>>30540358
>>go inside and explain things to him there

>>30540358

>Other
>Explain everything to him as we leave the place, right now.

Time is lacking. We move, Now.

>>30540358
>go inside and explain things to him there
keep them in and make sure they are safe till kings and the rest come to the castle.

>>30540358

The Happening is not over yet. Give them the short short version and tell them not to open to random guards.

The question is, where to next? Track down the guard captain? Or what?

>>30540401
This is also a perfectly defensible plan (assuming that part of leaving includes going back to Gerhard/Alicia and collecting them), but I'd much rather take a bit of extra time so that they understand the situation before we're on the move.

>>30540401

Probably going to be hard since getting Citrine anywhere could probably be bad.

>>30540441
Seconded. Open to us, possibly code word

>>30540358
>>go inside and explain things to him there
>>[OTHER]
Tell Karel we can handle this from here and she can go back to her Mom.

>>30540441
Stay and make sure they are save till we can leave them in trustworthy company.

>>30540540
safe*

>writing

"Uh... mind if we came inside to talk?" you ask.
"Yeah, it's not exactly a good idea to talk about it out here..." Karel says, still on the lookout for any incoming guards.
"No problem," Marius shrugs. "Even if it's bad news, I'm glad that Citrine'll be glad to see you," he says as he lets the two of you into the room.

As you enter, you do a quick scan of the room to make sure that nothing's out of place... and it's exactly the same as it was the last time you were here, thank God. And just like before, Citrine's lying on the couch, looking kind of nauseous.

"...hm?" Citrine mumbles, turning her head to see who just entered the room. "Oh, it's Reinhold! And you brought a friend!"
"Hey, Citrine," you wave to her, unable to hide how relieved you are to see that she's okay... well, mostly okay. "How are you feeling?"
"Kind of crappy to be honest," she replies with a weak laugh. "Morning sickness is a bitch."
"I'd imagine," Karel nods.

>[1/?]

>>30540749

As nice as it is to see her again, you're not exactly in a position to simply hang out.

"So about the reason that we're here..." you begin.
"I figured it was something bad, I've seen that look on your face way too many times," Citrine sighs. "Plus, that's the only reason I could think that you'd bring your bodyguard friend along..."
"Of course you could tell," you say, shaking your head. "Anyways, we kind of got attacked by assassins right after the King's announcement."
"W- what!?" Marius gasps. "Is Celestino okay!? What about everyone else!?"
"We managed to kill all of the assassins who attacked us," Karel says. "And Reinhold made sure that we didn't lose anyone along the way."

You really can't take credit for all of that... but maybe this is her way of making up for earlier so you don't say anything to contradict her.

"Assassins..." Citrine mumbles. "So you thought that they were after us too?"
"We were more worried about the guard division that's turned traitor," Karel says. "We caught two of them trying to get my Mom on the way here, too..."
"You mean they attempted a coup!?" Citrine shouts.


>[2/?]

>>30540908
>[3/3]

"We don't know for sure," you say. "We -think- it's only the one division, but we still have yet to actually capture more than one of them so..."
"I never would've thought..." Marius mumbles.
"Neither would I," you sigh. "But that's why we're here, to make sure that they didn't try and use the two of you as hostages or anything."


>tell them to stay in the room until you get back [there will be another vote on where to go next if picked]
>offer to stick around here until one of your friends comes to give the all-clear
>[OTHER]

>>30540993
>[OTHER]
Grab Citrine behind the back and knees then return to the war party, sister in tow.

>>30540993
>>tell them to stay in the room until you get back [there will be another vote on where to go next if picked]

>>30540993
>tell them to stay in the room until you get back

>>30540993
>tell them to stay in the room until you get back [there will be another vote on where to go next if picked]

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>>30540993
>tell them to stay in the room until you get back

>>30540993
>tell them to stay in the room until you get back [there will be another vote on where to go next if picked]

Castle guestrooms have magical fuck-off locks that will keep them safe, right? I'm operating under that assumption.

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>>30541086
>Castle guestrooms have magical fuck-off locks that will keep them safe, right? I'm operating under that assumption.

Thanks to you, they are already dead.

>>30541086
Yeah, you can't get in unless invited.

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>>30541114
As you approached the guest rooms section of the castle, a magical gold barrier appeared along with a man wearing a butler like uniform projecting from it. " Do you have an invitation, sir or madam?" "n-no.." "Very good, sir or madam. Please fuck off, then."

>>30540993
>>offer to stick around here until one of your friends comes to give the all-clear
Do not fucking leave them here. I dont care about fucking magic doors.

>>30541114
Well, we can make a quick challenge and pass. Like the Paratroopers had in WW2 when they dropped in D-Day.
When someone knocks, Marius can ask "Flash", and the person knocking, if its good guys, would say, "Thunder."
And that would tell Marius that we're the good guys.

If Marius and Citrine were to stay in their rooms.

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"We'll be back later," you say, "so just stay here in this room until I say it's safe, okay?"
"Y- yeah, of course," Marius replies, nodding repeatedly. "I'm just glad that you told us about the traitor guards before they got to Citrine..."
"Even after all this time, you're still looking after me!" Citrine says with a weak smile. "But don't forget to take care of yourself too, okay? I know how you get..."
"Don't worry, I've got his back," Karel says, giving her a thumbs-up.

After some more reassurances that you most definitely WILL be as careful as you possibly can, you leave the Lanzmann's room with a reminder not to answer the door for anyone who isn't you.

"So where to now?" Karel asks. "Do we go regroup with that butler guy, or look for Emilio and the others, or..."


>where will you go now?>>30541137

>>30541243
head back for the main group. We did what we came here to do.

>>30541243
REGROUP

>>30541243

>better not forget about them and let them starve to death

Well we could go back to the kings and the princess, or we could try to track down the guard captain... or we could ask Karel for suggestions, he's more familiar with the castle after all.

>>30541243
We have nowhere to go really. Just go back to kings i guess.

>>30541243
Regroup with Gerhard

>>30541243
Regroup.

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>>30541243
Go after the Guard Captain! We heruuu now!

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>>30541243

I don't believe we have to do anything else, unless we want to hunt down the guard captain with Karel. In which case, I'm all for that.

>>30541243
>regroup with that butler guy
It'd be good to see if he's getting any information out of the guard we knocked out before we try and look for everyone else.

If nothing else, knowing some of what the Fifth is up to might help us stay out of trouble while we're looking to regroup with our big shots.

Making a break for it with the KOed traitor guard might also be useful, especially if Gerhard is capable of extending his stealth to his prisoner, since getting a prisoner over to Celestino for extra intimidation factor and/or an offer of lesser punishments in exchange for cooperation might help get better information from him.

>writing

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>>30541316
>>30541331
Changing my vote to regrouping with Gerhard then going after Guard captain~!

"I guess we should regroup with Gerhard," you say. "If nothing else, It's probably a better idea than just wandering aimlessly around the castle."
"Yeah... I'd like to make sure that my Mom's doing alright too," Karel replies.

After taking a deep breath, you and Karel race down the hall and back up the stairs as fast as you can without drawing undue attention to yourselves. Before long, you find yourselves in the hallway where your battle took place... though there's not a single sign of blood or clay left over from your respective attacks.

Gerhard certainly works fast.

"Where'd they go?" you ask out loud.
"I dunno," Karel sighs. "But my Mom's room is right here, so I gue-"
"And you'd be correct in assuming that this is where we retreated to," Gerhard says, silently opening the door to Aliicia's room before she can finish her sentence. "I trust that your sister and her husband are safe?"
"Yeah, they're fine," you nod."
"That is good to hear. Now come inside before someone suspects what we're up to..."


>[1/?]

>>30541525

As you enter the room, you notice that there are still several unpacked bags lying around... it makes you feel kind of bad that Alicia didn't even get to fully unpack her things before being drawn into this crappy situation. As for Alicia herself, she's sitting on a chair and looking pretty miserable.

But then she notices that Karel's come into the room and her expression perks right up.

"Oh my little baby I was so worried!" she shouts as she runs towards her daughter and pulls her into a tight embrace.
"I was just as worried about you," Karel says, hugging her right back.
"I never would have thought that you'd get caught up in something like this not even a month after becoming the Prince's bodyguard..."
"You made sure that I'm able to take care of myself, so don't worry about me."

As Alicia lets go of Karel, Gerhard approaches the two of them.

"Rest assured, no harm came to your mother during the short time that she was in my care," Gerhard says, bowing. "And I do apologize for using your bathing area as a makeshift interrogation room and place to hide the body of the other guard..."
"Th- that's okay," Alicia replies with a nervous smile. "It's not like you had any other place to do that."
"Though if I may pry, why exactly is you daughter posing as a male?"

In an instant, all the blood drains from Alicia's face.

>[2/?]

>>30541679
HERE IT COMES~
Alicia has some 'splaining to do~

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>>30541679
>"Though if I may pry, why exactly is you daughter posing as a male?"
>In an instant, all the blood drains from Alicia's face.

>>30541679
So, so far Gerhard and Monique are the only ones with Mystic Eyes of True Gender Seeing

>>30541715
Gerhard is probably more about being generally observant, while Monique probably has a leg up by virtue of being mistaken for a lady every now and again himself.

Giancarlo almost definitely knows also, for entirely separate reasons.

>>30541679
Dont worry Alicia, the cat's been out of the bag for a while now.

>>30541724
"I smell pussy."

>>30541715
Monique had the anon(magic sword waifu) in his head and we knew(suspected) it from the moment s/he was introduced.
I for one never doubted that Karel was a she.

>>30541700
"Don't worry mom. Reinland already knows."

>>30541732
You mean, like maybe an hour?
That's not a while Anon.

>>30541787
>That's not a while Anon.
yes it is.

>>30541679

"Wh- I don't know what you're talking about, Karel is clearly a boy-" Alicia stammers.
"There is no need to keep up the facade," Gerhard says, shrugging. "I know, Reinhold knows..."
"You told him!?" Karel shouts, grabbing you by the collar. "Didn't I fucking warn you that if you said a word to anyone-"
"Now now, there is no need for violence," Gerhard says as he gently removes her hand from your person. "Reinhold hasn't told a soul."
"Th- then how the fuck did YOU find out!?"
"In my line of work... both past and present, observation is key. I've known that you were a girl since I first laid eyes on you."
"Oh no..." Alicia mumbles. "It's all over..."
"Don't worry, Miss. The ability to keep one's mouth shut is also an important skill in my line of work," Gerhard says, bowing. "This is merely to satisfy my own personal curiosity, nothing more."


>[3/?]

>>30541732
>>30541787
>>30541795
Keep in mind that in-story time for PGQ is much the same as in Bleach due to having similar pacing.. so for all we know we might someday have a single day in-story last us 5+ years in real life.

>>30541832
HOLY SHIT GERHARD, YOU ARE AWESOME AS FUCK!

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>>30541832
H-Has Gerhard been sneaking in and watching Karel shower or something..?

>>30541832
>"In my line of work... both past and present, observation is key. I've known that you were a girl since I first laid eyes on you."

Oh my, Gerhard you dirty bastard you.

>>30541832
>>30541679


kekekeke

>>30541857
Body language, physical structure, etc.

>>30541881
Physical structure is probably the key here. Women walk differently because of skeletal geometry. Female elbows also bend at a sharper angle.

>>30541881

scent, maybe

>>30541997
Nah, man, that's how Giancarlo detects females, see >>30541739

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>>30541948
>Physical structure is probably the key here. Women walk differently because of skeletal geometry. Female elbows also bend at a sharper angle.

Now I'm having mad flashbacks from Metal Gear Solid.

>>30541795
It really isn't. Most people would consider a while to be oh I don't know, at least MORE THAN A DAY.
You don't say, "I've been a smoker for a while." If you smoked your first cigarette an hour ago.

>>30542061
Keep in mind this is the quest where knowing a girl for less than a week is considered enough time to decide you love her and want to start a relationship.

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>>30542087
Reinhansen knew Luciana for more than a week.

>>30542060
Speaking of which, who was responsible for all the ass fetish stuff in MGS? Those camera angles...

>>30541832

Horrified, Alicia stares at Gerhard... and then turns to you.

"...and how did you find out?" she asks.
"It was just random chance," you reply. "And I've already told her that I'm not going to tell anyone, so you don't have to worry about me saying anything about it."
"Dear God, today's done a number on my heart..." Alicia mutters as she walks back to the chair that she'd been sitting in and buries her face in her hands.
"Mom, are you okay?" Karel asks.
"Yes, I'm fine," she sighs. "As for why I've hidden the fact that Karel is a girl, well... I myself used to have aspirations to take up the sword when I was her age. But a lack of real talent combined with my low birth and the fact that I'm a girl caused me to give up on that dream. The sword is considered a manly pursuit here in Marconetti, you see."

"But my grandmother-"
"Agnes Eschenwald was born into a noble house," Alicia says, cutting you off. "On the other hand, I'm a commoner without a last name, and Karel..." she sighs. "Her father still has no idea that she even exists so she's in an even worse position than me."
"I get enough shit for being a bastard from the people who think I'm a guy," Karel says. "If they knew that I'm a girl..."
"Yes. it would be even worse for her, even after she's proven herself to be better with the sword than anyone else in this country."

>[4/?]

>>30542087
This is the only quest I ever lurk around, is it not standard in all quests to look for a relationship with every available woman?

>>30542061
>while:
>noun
>1. a period or interval of time
it is. depending on the context it might mean years, or it might mean minutes. In this situation, Reinhold knowing it beforehand is what matters, so one hour can be considered a while.

>>30542087

Whereas in reality a split of a second is enough to determine that you want to start a relationship with someone.

>>30542104
Probably Kojima.

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>>30542121
>>30542061
rekt

>>30542115
...Well, politics is a bitch. Poor woman and daughter.

>>30542115
>"Her father still has no idea that she even exists so she's in an even worse position than me."
ASK THE QUESTION!!!

>>30542115
>Her father still has no idea that she even exists so she's in an even worse position than me.
maybe-Andreas pls.

Not sure if knowing about this would have made him more or less inclined to flee in a panic, but I'd be interested in finding out.

>>30542121
Because everyone uses words as they were intended in the dictionary...
You know what, I can't be bothered arguing this anymore, it's a very minor thing to argue about in the first place.
I'll just say that I'm confident that no one in reality has ever said I've done/known something for a while and had it only been an hour and leave it at that.

>>30542139
this

>>30542096
We've been in Marconetti for how many days now? Plus the two days that we met her ever so briefly in Granache. Add all that time together in total and we've spent less than a week total time with her.

>>30542130
What kind of low criteria are you basing your relationship interests off of? A girl having a vagina? Having a face? Having hair?

>>30542178

hormones.

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>>30542178
You didn't specify between knowing and spending time with, anon.

A: "Sorry, I'm late, did you wait long?"
B: "Well, I've been here a while..."

>>30542115
"My opinion of Marconetti's nobility continues to drop at a geometric rate."

>>30542187
So you're so hormonal you decide in a split-second 'SHE'S THE ONE'? Geez, man, go see someone. I think your hormones are in overdrive.

>>30542178
He means relationship the way a teenager does.
As in I want to bang you way.
When he gets older, his requirements for someone who you want to spend your time with will change.
Actually change that from older to more mature, I know guys my age who still go cock first in their love life.

>>30542205

If you think you are being 'rational' about picking your partner, you are deluding yourself.

>>30542195
..I wasn't aware that I even needed to. So if I meet a person twice, for a total of three hours over two days, then never see them for a whole month or two, then I meet them again, spend maybe six or seven hours with them over three more days..

..then I've known that person for two months? Is that how you're judging this?

So if I met a celebrity ten years ago, and we spoke for five seconds, and exchanged names, does that mean I'm besties with a celebrity because I've known them for over ten years? Wat?

>>30542220
Stop responding.

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>>30542227
That's exactly how I'm judging this.

>>30542227
In stalker land yes, except you'd have moved from being besties to being soul mates.

>>30542115
>[5/5]

Wow, that's pretty awful.

"There are... other reasons too, but those aren't important right now," Alicia says.
"Not to mention that the King would throw me out at the VERY least if he found out," Karel says. "Hell, he might even have me executed."
"I doubt he'd go that far..." Alicia sighs, "...but for now at least, there's no way that he'd take the news well so PLEASE keep this to yourselves."
"As you wish," Gerhard nods. "And thank you for indulging my curiosity."
"My lips are sealed," you say.

>anything you wanted to ask Karel and/or Alicia before Gerhard gets down to business?

>>30542115
>Her father still has no idea that she even exists

Depressing. I wonder if, assuming our theory about Adrien being the father is true, Alicia knows about him being best-buds with Volker?

>>30542240
>>30542243
My whole world is expanding. I never knew I had so many friends before..!

>>30542248
"Let me guess. Adrien is Karel's dad."

>>30542263
this

Rolled 7

>>30542248
>anything you wanted to ask Karel and/or Alicia before Gerhard gets down to business?

>>30542249
This seems a pretty reasonable question.

>>30542263
Yeah no. Not this.

>>30542263
Don't ask this.

>>30542248
"Might her father's name be Andreas?"

>>30542263
No that just seems rude

>>30542263
>>30542300
If you want to know ask, don't just throw out guesses.

>>30542249
>Adrien
Yeah, fuck, I'm even mixing up my proper nouns. Should definitely be asleep.

>>30542248
Ok, so I want to see whether or not this is right, but there's no possible way we could think this is either the time or the place for it.

Like, MAYBE bring it up at some point if we get another opportunity to speak to Alicia in private, but even that's kind of sketchy.

>>30542300
Adrian*
Fuck me

>>30542305
Reinhold's rude now. I thought that was the thing.

>>30542263
Way too direct, specially in this situation. Perhaps ask if Karel's farther was a swordsmen.

>>30542248
Not really.

I'd like to ask about her dad/Andreas, but I'm not entirely comfortable doing so because I think our theory is mostly meta-conjecture based on the fact that we're aware of the concept of Chenkov's Gun. I can't imagine how Reinhold would explain having such a hypothesis.

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>>30542263

Ask this in private.

>>30542327
*Adrien

NOW I'M DOING IT TOO, FUCK

>>30542248
>anything you wanted to ask Karel and/or Alicia before Gerhard gets down to business?
No. It would be rude to ask about her father.

>>30542327
He was into waitresses.
He was from Marconetti.
It is a longshot but i think it is reasonable that reinhold would think "No way! But what if..."

>>30542336
I agree. Ask it when Karel can't hear us.

>>30542248
NO ASKIES

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Rolled 18

>>30542327

Well we do know in-character that Volk and Adri come from Marconetti, that Adrien likes waitresses, and that Karel seems to be the right age.

>>30542248
Nah, let's get on with it.

>>30542263
Not now, if we end up with a chance to sneak in a private word with Alicia then maybe, but we don't really need to bring it up in front of anyone else.

Also even if it is true, Karel might not know, because it's possible that Alicia never told Karel much if anything about her basically nonexistent father.

>writing

>>30542355
Add on "She's into swordsmen", "Adrien mentioned specifically that he didn't feel like he was cut out for being a family man, and so fleeing the coop fits with his personality", and Karel's age/hair color fitting, but yeah. It's not a sure thing by any accounting.

Checking what Karel's element is and if it matches Adrien's rather than the default Water of Marconetti since he was also a relatively strong mage might be another step, but who knows.

>>30542392
it is easier to say Alicia that we want a private word with her and ask her.

>>30542248
>but for now at least, there's no way that he'd take the news well
Implying that there's some situation where he would take it well?

>>30542355
>>30542392
Ok fair enough, there is enough there to make the connection. I do think that >>30542403 is a better way to go about it later, since it's not really pertinent to our overall situation right now, and we aren't sure how sensitive that particular subject is.

>>30542419
Emilio falls in love with her and Celestino knows that denying them would pretty much ruin his son.

>>30542445
>Two kids married to commoners

Man, his dynasty score is going to plummet, unless Reinhold and Karel have some fuckuseful traits like Strong or Geniu-

Shit.

>>30542466

At least the gene pool will improve and makes the heirs STRONK

>>30542419
Maybe not "well", but Karel is basically new blood right now. Later, if she ends up getting strong enough that losing her would be a major blow, and has proven her loyalty enough times, he might end up considering her too valuable to kick out. Especially since Marconetti seems to seriously lack high-tier combatants compared to Granache, so Celestino probably wouldn't ditch a proven asset on the level of a Knight over something that relatively harmless.

>>30542466
>>30542483
Let's not forget, our element is pretty odd and I remember something about overwriting the land birth element n shit with uniqueness or power or some jizz. Heck we even had above average reserves according to Sylvie.
METAL USAN' KIDS.

You kind of want to ask about Karel's father, but it would probably be really rude to do so with Gerhard right here. Not to mention that there's a decently high chance of Karel punching you if you asked in front of her... yeah, that can wait.

And then something that Gerhard mentioned when you first entered this room comes to mind.

"You said that you had that guard that I caught holed up in the bathroom?" you ask.
"Ah, yes," Gerhard nods. "I'd finished getting everything that I could out of him just as you came back. I'd intended to save my report for when I next see King Thierri and Sir Gregory, but was there anything that you might have wanted to know?"

>anything you're curious about?

>>30542526
"Are any of the other guests being targeted?"

>>30542526
who and where is his captain?

>>30542526
Anything concerning their imidate plans would be nice to know.

>>30542526

ask about the teleporting

>>30542466
As breeding stock (and let's be honest, that's like half of a Noble's calculation when looking at potential partners for their children) Reinhold ain't too shabby. He's naturally stronk, has an above-average base mana pool (which is probably an inherited trait, people with magically powerful parents seem to be powerful themselves), a rare Element, and knows how to stab things to death better than just about anyone who isn't on high-Knight or Kingly Command Squad level.

>>30542526
if there isn't anything urgent we need to know, lets go back meet the kings and move on.

>>30542526
And so more of the blatantly obvious continuous to elude becoming basic knowledge.

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>>30542526

"Who is your daddy and what does he do?"

>>30542526
Did he spill anything about their plans, or about where their commanders are hiding?

We're in a position to act independently to get shit done if an opportunity presents itself, they're probably keeping close tabs on the main group right now but we could surprise them.

>writing

>>30542631
You an pretty cool bro OP. I sleep now.

"Are any of the other guests being targeted?" you ask.
"Thankfully not," Gerhard replies. "Their only stated targets were King Celestino's four youngest children, though he did let it slip that they are keeping tabs on Princess Mirakarias while she is in this country."
"What, because she's a dragon?"
"That's my guess as well... considering how terrified that those assassins were of that friend of yours back at the audience hall, it would make sense that they would do their best to avoid Princess Mirakarias at all costs."

>[1/?]

>>30542702

"I guess you didn't accidentally kill an innocent guard after all, Karel," you say, glancing over to her.
"Like there was any doubt," she scoffs.
"Speaking of which, did you find out anything about them? The fifth division, I mean."
"Hmm..." Gerhard scratches his chin. "...I did determine that theirs is the only renegade guard division, at least. And with that knowledge, we can determine how many of them are left- the two at the front gate that I dispatched earlier..."

Of course he'd be the one responsible for the castle's current panic.

"Princess Elena's bodyguard mentioned that he slew three of them before meeting up with the rest of you in the audience hall... then there's the one who Miss Karel killed and the one who you captured who I currently have detained. In all, they have twenty-three men left, not including their captain."


>[2/?]

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>>30542801
Operation: Rolling Reinder is a go!

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>>30542801
>we get to kill 23 more people

>>30542900
24
we have to get the captain's head

>>30542914
As satisfying as it would be to go all Highlander on his ass, I think he's the one person we want alive most of all, since he's the most likely to have info regarding the higher levels of the plot.

If we're lucky maybe someone will have a better lead by then and we'll get the all-clear for slaughter.

>>30542978
I think the smart option would be to turn his cranium into a crotch-guard.

The long-term benefits are worth it.

Damn I'm tired.

>>30542801
>[3/3]

"And who might that be?" you ask.
"The Fifth Royal Guard Division captain is a man by the name of Clemens Daimler, and I believe that Princess Luciana suggested that he and his subordinates would be called forth along with a loyal Guard division under the pretense of rooting out the surviving assassins... and while this was going on, the traitors would be picked off one by one."
"Yeah, I remember her saying that."
"And to assist with the actual assassin hunt, King Celestino mentioned that he'd be calling a few of this country's Knights forth as well. Is that all that you were curious about?"
"Yeah, thanks," you reply.

Now to decide what to do next...


>go regroup with the others?

>>30543013
Kill! Maim! Burn!

>>30543013
Regrouping seems like the best course of action, we don't want to rouse any more suspicion from the fifth divison

>>30543013
Group back up with the others, then join the assassin hunting if we're not needed elsewhere.

>>30543013
>go regroup with the others?
yeah, let's go grab Citrine and get everyone together (maybe someone can cast refresh on her...)

>>30543013
regroup

>>30543013
Our job is to protect the princess, lets get back to that job.

>>30543013
Yup, not much else needs to be done right now. Our families are safe, so lets get back and see what's next on the agenda.

>>30543063
Why? she's safer in their room

>>30542914
The captain is for torturing, and I mean real torture not "enhanced interrogation techniques".
>>30543013
Yeah we should regroup now. Should we take Alicia to Citrine's room? I mean I know the rooms have the safeguards but it may be better to keep them together at the moment.

>>30543013
Lets go to the king group.

>>30543013
Yep time to head back.

Sleeping time now.
Tonight's thread was enjoyable, and I'll continue to try and start at a non-retarded hour next time.
I hope.

As always, thanks for playing!

>>30543135
Thanks for running, Archelon.

>>30543135
Thanks Arch

>>30543135
Good run as always Arch. Can't wait for a traitor/assassin hunt that we may or may not be able to take part in.

>>30543013
We should ask Gerhard if he could arrange for Therri to publicly extend some measure of gratitude/respect to Karel if it would act as a political disincentive for Celestine to act rashly towards her if her real gender ever came out. We should also assure her and her mother that, if the worst does somehow occur, she has a place waiting for her among friends in Granache.

>>30543135
Thanks for running

>>30543135
thanks for the run arch.
it was a calm thread. i am thankful for that.

>>30543135

Cheers OP, you a good one.

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>>30543135
Good thread, see ya next time.