You are Reinhold, master swordsman and victor of the Royal Swordsmanship Tournament. The King was so impressed with your skill, he personally requested that you be transferred out of the army and into the Royal Guard! Not bad for an orphan who was raised in a brothel in a poor fishing village.The only issue at this point is your assignment... you've been charged to be the personal guard of the King's only daughter Marianne. While she is the vision of loveliness that you'd expect from a Princess, her personality is... well... she seems to have some issues.Marianne was not at all amused by the picture that you drew of her. Though she didn't take out her aggravation on you, Luciana was subject to her full fury... in tickle form.That was quite the spectacle.After things calmed down and you all had dinner, the others headed back to their own rooms to get packed.>Congratulations, you are once again an unruly WOLF!>Wolves are cool and powerful... and also rather dangerous.>The Princess considers you to be her friend!>But while wolves are really cool, they still don't count as people.Thread archive:http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=Princess+Guard+QuestCharacter list + descriptions (in progress):http://pastebin.com/1Vhj4DJvList and descriptions of the spells shown thus far:http://pastebin.com/2c9y2sDMTwitter:https://twitter.com/QM_ArchelonQuest compilation that's kindly maintained by a person who isn't me:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n4nhs9gd0kmnnni/04tpEy5_pe>>>>>>>>
"I'm going to go and finish packing my things, I suggest that you do the same," Marianne says as she heads back into her bedroom. "Father said that we're leaving tomorrow morning after breakfast, so be sure to be ready before then.""Will do," you reply with a lazy salute.Doing as the Princess suggested, you make your way into your own bedroom and quickly pack up all of your clothes and the few books and other things that you'd purchased while here in Marconetti. After setting aside a change of clothes for tomorrow morning, you walk over to the dresser where the remains of your sword were placed and check to make sure that everything's still there (it is).Though it's honestly kind of depressing just looking at them.Satisfied that everything is where it should be, you pick up the book that Marianne lent you. After flipping to the page where you'd left off, you head back to the living room, sit down on the couch, and resume reading.>[1/?]
>>31052800Though grateful to have been delivered from an early demise, Valikarias was filled with fear when he looked at just who it was who had saved him. He thought it was his friend Prosegana, but the... -thing- that stood before him was not the silver-scaled dragon who had just been fighting by his side.With razor-sharp bladed claws that sprouted from long, spindly limbs, a pair of "wings" that resembled an armory's sword rack more than anything actually capable of flight... not to mention the long, twisted spiral horns that sprouted from its head, this beast was like a horrific version of a dragon wrought from metal.And then the beast focused the glowing red light that served as its "eye" onto Valikarias, turned it back to the red dragon who was every bit as confused as he, and let out an eerie hollow cry that resounded throughout what remained of the village that they were fighting in.>[2/?]
>>31052800hey Archelon. is pic related as how you would see Luciana when she grows us?
>>31052881>'grows up'correction.
Did the guy making the PGQ sculpture ever post an update?
>>31052881>she grows usMore importantly, we never got a picture of Agnes.
>>31052881>when she grows us>grows usdear god she's going to make a reinhold cloning spell and sell one of us to sylvie
>>31052925picture this with a sword. now does anyone have a pic of prosegana right now
>>31052928poor reinhold-mk2 that will be yanderly loved by sylvie
>>31052878As for Prosegana himself, he vision was filled with the injured and bloody sight of Valikarias, the first living thing who he'd ever had contact with, the one who had shown him nothing but kindness and had been spending all his time trying to teach him about the world. And he found himself consumed with an emotion which was previously unknown to him- rage.Though he had never engaged in a single act of violence prior to this, he acted on instinct and focused his entire being solely towards ending the life of the one who had hurt his friend..>[3/?]
>>31052984
I wonder what will be Takamaru's method of choice to make sure Reinhold keeps his hands where he can see them.I would have said his flying paper trick with "I'm watching you" on it, but he's illiterate. Maybe a drawing of a frowning face?
>>31052914i don't remember him posting any updates on his progress yet. i wish him luck with his work in any case.
>>31052881Bodytype's about right, though Luciana's hair's a lot wavier.Also she wouldn't wer such revealing clothing.
>>31053057wasn't taka rooting for luci? he seems wise enough to know how teenagers work and seems to trust rein enough to leave them alone together.now how he'll make sure luci keeps her hands where he can see them...
>>31053211>Also she wouldn't wer such revealing clothing.it's called roleplaying arch, we all know luci's into it (or at least she will be after spending some time with sylvie's little sister)also "wear"
>>31053219Yes, but now Celestino is trusting him to watch over these two for days.Appearances have to be kept so Takamaru is probably gonna have to show a bit of zeal, even if he thinks it's superfluous.Reminder that no one is watching over Emilio and Karel.
>>31053316Hey Arch, is Karel sleeping in her mom's room tonight?
>>31053485She has her own room that she sleeps in.
>>31053037Though the red dragon tried to defend himself, he was no match for Prosegana's assault. His throat was crushed by iron fangs and his body pierced with countless blades... though his fire breath was successful in theory, every limb that the red dragon melted away was quickly replaced with one that contained even more blades that would then stab into his body.As the red dragon lay dead, Prosegana looked at his handwork... and he was not pleased. Finally, he understood why the humans carried those pieces of metal called "weapons" on their persons at all times- they served as fangs and claws for those weak beings who had none of their own.And for Prosegana, who was -made- of metal, it was as if he was a weapon himself.>[4/?]
>>31053585a dragon made of swordsShirou would be having a boner
>>31053642what if the dragon is shirou?
>>31053681then Shirou is Prosegana?
>>31053681http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdol1dMEtMY
>>31053750and prosegana winds up with karelleaving emilio alone again. fucker can't catch a break
>>31053681i would feel sorry for a female dragon that fancies him.
>>31053750They're about equally as dense when it comes to women, I'll say that much.
>>31053750There's too many gingers in this story alreadyWe're reaching our index here
>>31053834well, at least they don't have visible freckles.
>>31053797honestly is there anything that doesn't go with
>>31053797i wish i can feel saber's warmth.
>>31053834They're like the reverse Weasleys. They even have the sentient rod- ahem, "small mammal".
>>31053942/k/ knows that feel
>>31053585As Valikarias changed back to his human form and watched Prosegana do the same, he realized that all the things about him that he'd previously found extremely off now made perfect sense- Being able to speak his language despite seemingly being a wild dragon, his name which did not follow standard draconic naming conventions, the fact that he knew nothing of flight or society or anything else for that matter... it was because Prosegana was an elemental spirit who had no contact with any of these things before.As Prosegana helped Valikarias to his feet and walked him to safety, his friend berated him with question after question- how long had he been living in the valley where they had met, did he know any other elemental spirits, what was the full extent of his abilities, why was he posing as a dragon......but Prosegana did not understand the concept of "deception" or "secrets," and simply answered truthfully- he was alone and then he saw Valikarias flying in the sky so he decided that he wanted to do the same. And then he mentioned the draconic ascension that prompted him to move for the first time since reaching the surface, and Valikarias was shocked.>[5/6]
>>31053986
>>31053998>[5/6]>Probably going to be a short one, I'm only going to the end of this day.I don't think a single PGQ thread has only lasted an hour as of yet.
>>31053998>[6/6]"Reinhold?" Marianne calls out, breaking your concentration."Hm?" you mumble, sitting up from your wonderfully comfortable position on the couch. "What is it?""I'm finally done packing so I'll be going to bed now," she replies. "Try not to stay up -too- late.""Don't worry, I wasn't planning on it," you say."Very well," she nods. "Goodnight," she says as she retreats into her room."Goodnight," you reply.As Marianne closes the door tightly behind her, you close your book and place it on the cushion next to you on the couch before standing up and stretching out your arms and legs. It's been a rough day, and you really appreciate that you finally have some time to relax.But still, you're feeling kind of antsy...>go for a walk in the hallways for a bit before heading to bed>see if any of your friends are still awake>go to bed>[OTHER]
>>31054263>go for a walk in the hallways for a bit before heading to bed
>>31054263>Go for a walkMaybe hit the training area and tire our self out with some exercise.
>>31054263>see if any of your friends are still awakeDo you even need to ask? It's meddlin' time.
>>31054263>go for a walk in the hallways for a bit before heading to bedNever know who you might run intoIt'll be SylvieBad End
>>31054263>>go for a walk in the hallways for a bit before heading to bed
>>31054300I'm really hoping for Karel.
>>31054263>go for a walk in the hallways for a bit before heading to bedI have this feeling we'll run into someone/something interesting.Maybe Karel's mom. We still need to ask the Adrien question, and we might be rapidly approaching the point where we won't have chances remaining to do so in private.
>>31054263did we ever check on citrine after shit calmed down? may want to go double check her
>>31054319Me too.
>>31054337We did. With Marianne. Who got hugged the shit out of her by Citrine.
>>31054263stretch and cool down we had a hard day of killing we need to recover with light workout
>>31054337also let her know to come to castle granache when they leave this country so they can be safely behind things like guards and vincent, and maybe ask them to pass a message onto granny about picking up her sword in person to have an excuse to visit and see elena (and start getting shipped with arnaud)
>>31054263>>go for a walk in the hallways for a bit before heading to bedIt's been a long day for everyone; there's probably a reasonable chance our friends are trying to rest as well. No sense in imposing on them just because WE'RE feeling antsy.The possibility of running into someone else who's feeling the same way we are isn't terribly unlikely, and it'd probably be a good way for both us and whoever that is to talk through some of their nerves before trying to settle back down for the night.
>>31054359ah yes, forgot about that, feel free to ignore my post the same way my father ignores me
>>31054263>But still, you're feeling kind of antsy...Make a round around the place before>go for a walk in the hallways for a bit before heading to bedIt seems we may have Rein-sense
>>31054263>>go for a walk in the hallways for a bit before heading to bedi swear if we end up running into millien again i'm going to be pissed/suspicious
>writing
Yeah... you might as well take a walk around the castle before calling it a night. While you kind of want to see if any of your friends are still up, you'd rather not ending up walking in on another makeout session between Nicolette and Mel-Time to stop thinking about that.After stopping back into your bedroom to put away the book that Marianne lent you, you make your way out into the hallway, taking extra care to make sure that the door's closed behind you. While you're always on guard, everything that's happened today has you even more so.>[1/?]
>>31054746well it certainly isn't the first time seeing two women going at it at full force.
>>31054746>spent his entire childhood around whores>still bothered by teenage girls making outOh, Reinhold.>>31054447It's gotta be Monique.>>31054774Niklaus isn't a woman, to his chagrin.
>>31054782when said whores rape you, there's going to be some issues with public displays of affectionalso>Niklaus isn't a womanyet, we already know he can cut off body parts and grow new ones
>>31054782It's especially lewd if they're kissing or even worse finger grasping.Everything else is standard affair.
>>31054746>[2/2]As you pass by the others' rooms, you can't help but feel kind of disappointed that none of them are wandering the halls like you are. With a sigh, you turn down a stairwell and head down to the next floor, making your way to a part of the castle that you hadn't been in before.This section looks similar to the one where your rooms are, though not -quite- as fancy... the windows overlooking the courtyard are a nice touch, though. And while you're appreciating the architecture, you almost ddon't notice Karel leaning on a windowsill.She looks pretty miserable.>say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-up>leave her alone, she probably doesn't want to be bothered
>>31054866>>say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-upso you couldn't sleep either, huh?
>>31054866>say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-upReinhold is go
>>31054866>>say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-up
Rolled 3>>31054866>say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-up
>>31054866>say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-upReinhold, Professional Botherer, strikes again.Bitch gonna get cheered the fuck up.
>>31054866>say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-upBitches be trippin
>>31054866>leave her alone, she probably doesn't want to be botheredGonna redo that "avoiding the only person who's out at the same time as ourself" like we did with the Girardots after the duel.... nah, >say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-upBut go with this >>31054878
>>31054866>Say hi, she looks like she could use a pick me up.
>>31054866>say hi, she looks like she could use a pick-me-up
>wriring
>>31055000You having trouble wriring, Archelon?
>>31055012All the time.muh ocd
>Reya and Rana having to play parents to ElenaI am only now realizing how hilariously wrong this can/will go.At least Rana can probably fly.
>>31055056I wonder if Rana is going to register as a predator to Inaba's finely honed rabbit senses.
>>31055000bomb is go
>>31055071And then Reya will have to drag her out of the room.
>>31055081What's the worst thing that can happen?Karel blows off some steam by trash talking Reinhold? He should be pretty used to that.
"...so you couldn't sleep either, huh?" you say as you walk up to Karel."Hm?" slowly, she turns to face you. "...oh, hey, Reinhold," she says with a tired smile. "Yeah, today's been pretty shitty. You seem to be in a good mood though.""Really?" you arch an eyebrow in surprise. "I guess I'm just relieved to finally get a breather for once... but I guess you're not feeling the same way, what with having to leave home and all. Is that what's bugging you?""That's maybe half of it," she sighs. "I've wanted to go to Granache for as long as I can remember, but I always thought that my Mom would be there when I finally did."After letting out a long sigh, Karel gently bumps the top of her head against the window.>[1/?]
>>31055106What everyone fails to realize is that Reinhold isn't a master swordsman.He's a master words man.
>>31055132You mean a master whoreman.
>>31055142Still an apprentice.We have to dethrone our /ss/ slut teacher before we can be a true master
>>31055109>[2/2]"But I gotta leave my Mom back here, Leopold's still out of it, and now Emilio's pissed at me too," Karel says with a wistful smile. "And that last one's what's bugging me the most despite being the least important thing," she sighs. "Probably because that one's entirely my own fucking fault.""That Emilio's mad at you?" you ask. "Did you two get in a fight or something?""I guess I pushed him too hard," she shakes her head. "And then he yelled at me because of it and I went retarded or something and said that he was being a little bitch..."Seeing the look of surprise on your face, Karel starts laughing."I'm so fucking stupid," she says as she pushes herself off the windowsill. "...you'd think that I'd be better about feelings and shit because... you know, but I guess I'm just as stupid as anyone else.">how do you respond?
>>31055190"Friends make each other mad, it's normal. Hell, I've pissed Marianne off like every odd day and it's still fine.""From the few I have seen, you're doing great. You have your head on your shoulder, you're courageous, and it's obvious to everyone that you two care about each other. It'll pass."Something like that, but less lengthy.
>>31055190"Don't tell this to anyone, but during one of The Princess' dancing classes I tripped and accidentaly... er... ...anyways, I've never seen her so furious, but she eventually accepted that it was a mistake and forgave me. I'm sure Emilio will do the same, if you just give him some time."I hope this works
>>31055228>add"... and unlike that incident, which was an accident, you said what you said because you genuinely care about him. He'll realize that eventually."
>>31055190"Hey, I can't talk. I consistently manage to ruin somebody's day, everyday. But your heart's in the right place, and that's all that matters.""Emilio might be mad now, maybe for an extended period of time, but he'll get over it. You just gotta give him some space and maybe lay off on making him into a man or whatever. He's just a kid, I doubt everybody trying to mold him into something he's not is doing a whole lot of good."
>>31055238>>31055228+1
>>31055228I think talking about that incident is big no-no. And groping isn't exactly a subject you want to come between Reinhold and Karel.
>>31055228>>31055238Talking about how Marianne has been fed up beyond all reason with us and still reconciled because that's what friends do is fine.Bringing that incident up is probably not fine, given all the baggage it entails and that it's still top fucking secret.If we're going to cite an instance of Marianne losing her composure because we did something bad, make it snapping at her about Elena instead. It was probably worse from a "being unfair to Marianne" standpoint, which is closer to what Karel's worried about having done to Emilio, and is an incident that people already know about.>>31055219I like this pretty well.
>>31055261Seconding most of this post. Secrets are meant to be kept secrets.
>>31055228>>31055238We could probably drop the part where we hint about WHY she was mad at us, it's not terribly relevant. The fact that she got super mad at us for some unspecified reason but later forgave us and now we're friends is the relevant part.To compensate, add in the "frozen to a wall" part, and something about "what is it with me and ice?", and it'll be the perfect blend of humorous and topical.Of course Karel must swear to secrecy under bodyguard honor code.
>>31055250>>31055261We could tell her to keep it a secret.I don't think she would be the type to blab, and it would cement our friendship, us having confided in her.
>>31055261Yeah, you have a fair point. I suggested >>31055228 because it's the first somewhat similar incident that came to mind, but the whole Elena thing is probably more suitable.
>>31055261I'm sad my reply couldn't go through, but this post pretty much sums up what I wrote.
I think Emilio might crash and burn if he realized Karel is a girl, and that a girl called him a whiny bitch.That's like a double tap to the ego.
>>31055277>"don't tell this to everyone, it's a secret">"ok">...>"don't tell this to everyone, it's a secret"That's not how secrets work. And you don't want Karel to think Reinhold is bad at keeping secrets. Because he knows one of her own.>>31055294Emilio is used to girls walking over him, that with Marianne in addition to sisters with strong personalities.
>>31055303To be fair, as long as we don't actually go into details it's really just a pair of bodyguards talking shop.It's the details that are bad, the general gist of the story (my boss got really pissed at me this one time holy shit) isn't really that surprising.
>>31055303Eh, good point. We have a better option with the Elena incident, so I guess we'll go with that?
>>31055277There's not a lot of things scummier than telling someone a secret you've promised your other friends you'd keep in order to try and ingratiate them to you.Whether it would actually succeed in bringing us and Karel closer? Who knows.But once we explain that the dancing incident is a secret, and can she please keep it under wraps? Showing to Karel, who we promised to keep an almost equally important secret with, that we're willing to break that trust if it means we'll gain points with a third party seems like one of the worst possible things to do.>>31055303Basically this, which is a way more straightforward way of saying what I'm trying to say.Time to sleep. Maybe we'll talk to Alicia before we leave? I wanna knooooow.
>>31055347You are overanalysing.That really isn't how most humans think.
"Hey, I piss Marianne off like every other day," you say, shrugging. "Even yesterday, I snapped at her over some stuff that happened with Elena... but we still made up afterwards because we're friends and that's what friends do.""Yeah, but I bet you didn't call her a bitch," Karel mumbles."No, but you only said what you said because you care about him, right? Just give him some time, I'm sure he'll realize that eventually.""I guess," she sighs. "I just... I just want him to be happy, you know?" she turns to you. "He's a nice guy, pretty smart, not too hard on the eyes... he deserves a nice girl, but he's given up without even fucking trying and it makes me want to punch him in the face," she says, holding a hand to her temples.>[1/?]
>>31055367They probably are, but most humans can also tell that blathering about an important secret is fucking stupid.
>>31055367I actually think it's pretty logical.
>>31055370"If you love him tell him"
>>31055370>not too hard on the eyesUrge to matchmaker intensifies
>>31055370And they call us dense...
>>31055398Reinhold may be dense, but that only makes him more attractive.
test
>>31055431Normally when I want to test the email field I find a nearly dead thread, anon.
>>31055370>he deserves a nice girlMarianne is many thing, but "nice" isn't the first word that comes to mind.
>>31055370>Desire to stare meaningfully intensifies
>>31055370>[2/2]"I guess I can see how that would be annoying," you reply."You have no fucking idea," Karel says, burying her face in her hands. "I try and push him along, tell him that girls like a guy with confidence... but he's even more timid than Elena's rabbit," she mumbles.You want to say that she's going too far with that last comparison, but then you realize that she totally isn't."...anyways," Karel taps you on the shoulder, "sorry to dump all my personal crap on you like this. I would go bug my Mom with it, but she's worried about me enough as it is.""Hey, that's what friends are for," you reply, returning her shoulder punch with one of your own."If you say so," she says, smiling. "You do realize that you've just given me permission to bug you about stuff like this from here on out, right?">keep on talking about stuff>wish her a good night
>>31055502>keep on talking about stuffYes, yes. Tell me everything
>>31055502>keep on talking about stuff"Anytime. I kinda grew into that role."Asking about her father y/n?
>>31055502"If you so deem me worthy."If it's not too late:>keep on talking about stuffIf we think we might oversleep:>wish her a good night
>>31055502>keep on talking about stuff
>>31055502>keep on talking about stuff"Hey you know that works both ways right? I do stupid shit all the time. Probably don't even know what you've signed up for."Big shit eating grin."So anything else on your mind?"
>>31055586>happening... or not.
"Hey, you know that works both ways, right?" you say. "I do stupid crap all the time, you have no idea what you just signed up for.""As long as you're fine with being called a bitch instead of getting anything resembling actual advice, be my guest," Karel replies."Don't worry, I'm more than used to insults," you laugh. "So... was there anything else on your mind?""Aside from the shit I already mentioned, not really," she shakes her head. "I might as well ask now, though... how's the King?""Huh?""Er- King Thierri, I mean. As a person."That's kind of an odd question to ask all of a sudden.>[1/?]
>>31055502We should tell her she probably shouldn't be pushing Emilio towards Marie. He will find another girl for sure. Pushing them will just cause both of them to get annoyed.
>>31055646>That's kind of an odd question to ask all of a sudden.You don't say, Reinhold. Is she trying to hook her Mom up or something?Most likely she's worrying about the kind of people she's gonna be stuck with, but eh.
>>31055646He is a pretty COOL guy.
>>31055646>Blonde of hair
>>31055646>That's kind of an odd question to ask all of a sudden.
>>31055646Now I wonder if the King actually is her father, or she just thinks he is.
>>31055666Egggghhhh. No. God I hope not.
>>31055646He is the AQUAMAN.
>>31055646He's a pretty COOL guy, laid back and pretty CHILL, but all in is a good person who cares about both his family, his friends and his subjects. ICY nothing wrong with the guys, cept maybe he's a little boisterous.
>>31055646"I don't really see him all that often, but I guess he's pretty much how he seems at first glance?" you say, shrugging. "A pretty cool guy, kind of goofy... to be honest, he's nothing that I'd expect a King to act like.""...goofy?" she stares at you."I don't mean it in a bad way or anything," you say, waving your hand dismissively. "Like... on the way to Marconetti, a giant Behemoth attacked and it was all Sylvie could do to keep him from running out to fight the thing himself," you say, laughing as you recall that scene.Though it wasn't all that funny as it was happening."And he likes bad puns. Can't forget that," you say."...seriously?" Karel squints at you. "Um... so I guess he's friendly and stuff?""Pretty much," you nod. "You don't have to worry about accidentally offending him and getting executed or anything, Granache isn't that kind of kingdom and our castle's nowhere near as formal as this one.""Oh. Okay," she breathes a sigh of relief. "That's good to know, thanks.">[2/?]
>>31055646He's unlike anything I imagined a king would be. In a good way. I can see how he inspires loyalty in people like sir Gregory or Vincent.Or me.
>>31055653say this?>yes>no
>>31055725Yes.
>>31055725Yes, but not as bluntly. Don't give it as an advice, evoke the idea that he might find someone else and that maybe she could stop worrying so much.
>>31055725Hmmm tough choice.I say yes.
>>31055725I'm honestly not sure. Maybe ask her to push him towards being more social with the girls at the castle in general, but stop pushing him towards romantic relationships.
>>31055725>>31055740This
>>31055746>>31055740I like these two ideas
>>31055746That might be an idea. Have him git gud at women on his own by osmosis rather than telling him QUICK MAN UP TALK TO MARIE GO GO GO.
>>31055740This.
>>31055746>>31055785He really just need to befriend them and get comfortable in their presence.
>>31055718>[3/3]With a relieved smile, Karel turns away from the window."...and that's one less problem," Karel says with a slight smile. "I was worried that maybe he was as abrasive as I can be, but if he's as nice as you say he is then I guess I won't have any problems.""You'll fit in just fine, don't worry," you reply."Well..." she walks up to you and rests her hand on your shoulder. "...the heart-to-heart was fun and all, but I really should get packing already... and I need to go and apologize to Emilio before he goes to sleep, too.""See you tomorrow then," you reply as she walks away. "Oh- one more thing before you go," you call out.Stopping mid-stride, she turns around to face you."What is it?" Karel asks."About Emilio..." you begin, "maybe you should stop pushing him towards Marianne so much? You said yourself that he's an alright guy, I'm sure that he'll find someone else even if Marianne doesn't like him.""Yeah, I guess you're right," she mumbles."I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to push him into being more social towards people in general, but...""Yeah, I get your point," she nods.Waving goodbye, Karel turns back around and makes her way towards Emilio's room.>finish up your walk around the castle>go bug Alicia
>>31055838>go bug AliciaLets just ask if Therri is the father, Karel was acting a bit weird there and it's as good as an excuse we'll get
>>31055855Even though i think Raol/Raul or Adrien are more likely candidates-
>>31055838>go bug AliciaI really don't like doing that behind Karel's back, but you've teased us for far too long, Archelon.... though I don't see why Reinhold would do that at this hour of the night unless he has serious suspicions.>>31055855There's next to zero chance of that happening. Thierri is faithful to a fault.
>>31055871I don't think any good can come from visiting that woman alone this late in the night.
>>31055871It's more an excuse to ask her than anything else.
>>31055838>Waving goodbye, Karel turns back around and makes her way towards Emilio's room.Wait. She has her own room. Are they gonna make up, or make out?Interlude when?
>>31055838>finish up your walk around the castleWe really don't have a reason to go visit her in this late of an hour.
>>31055838> finish up your walk.
>>31055838>go bug Alicia
>>31055838>finish up your walk around the castle
>>31055838>go bug AliciaC'mon already.
>>31055838>finish up your walk around the castleNo need to talk to alicia, since in character we have no real suspicions about her,>>31055888She just said she needed to go apologise.
>>31055838>go bug Alicia>>31055920>No need to talk to alicia, since in character we have no real suspicions about her,We don't really know what Reinhold think of that. And if he had no suspicion at all, visiting Alicia wouldn't come to him.
>go bug AliciaWe've had plenty of time to connect the dots just based on IC knowledge, and we may not get a chance to ask discreetly again.>>31055855We know with almost total certainty he isn't the father. Karel's dad was a swordsman, remember? We know that much, and Thierri's signature weapon is an axe.
>>31055838>>31055929Oops, forgot to link
>Alicia sees us coming to her room in the middle of the night>pushes us down>we're found tied in bed the day after that>Luciana and Karel team up to murder us
>>31055997>we're found tied in bed the day after that>Crying our eyes out
As you watch Karel walk away, your thoughts shift to her mother Alicia... you're curious as to how she's doing after everything that happened today. Not to mention that maybe you'd like to ask her some stuff about Karel.Maybe.And so you made your way to the guest wing of the castle, stopping in front of Alicia's door. You feel kind of guilty about knocking on her door at this hour, but you're here so you might as well...KNOCK KNOCK KNOCKYou hear some shuffling from behind the door, and then a voice calls out."Who is it?" Alicia calls out, her voice sounding much more nervous than you're used to."It's Reinhold," you reply. "Sorry to bug you so late, I can always leave if you were trying to sleep..."And then the door swings open and she pulls you inside.>[1/?]
>>31056009>And then the door swings open and she pulls you inside.[PSTD intensifies]
>>31056009hope we can finally find out who's karel's father is.
>>31056009Fade to black
>>31056017It's us___
>>31056012>>31056017still wonder what was Monique's waifu reaction toward the MILF kiss.
>>31056009>And then the door swings open and she pulls you inside.It's happening.
>>31056025When you're a sword you learn to let your partner enjoy other kinds of partners.Ones with less sharpy sides.
>>31056009ALICIA NO WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT DEPRESSING SHIT NO STOP PLEASE
>>31056009>[2/2]While it'd be a lie to say that you're not freaking out internally thanks to your involuntary entry into her room (and knowing her usual personality, you're pretty sure that she -is- the type to try and pull something suspicious), but the tired look on her face suggests that she's not about to do anything horrible.You hope."I apologize for being rough with you," Alicia says with a nervous laugh, "but I'm not about to spend any more time out in the hallway than I have to after what happened earlier...""Yeah, I don't blame you," you reply."So, umm... what causes a handsome young man to decide to visit a slightly less young lady like myself at this time of night?" she asks. "Karel told me that you're with Luciana now, and I'm not the type of girl to pursue someone else's guy...">how do you respond?
>>31056060less blunt butSo which famous swordsman is Karels dad?
>>31056060Just checking in. I understand you are not used to be separated from your child.
>>31056060"That is a relief to know. I have some, suspicions, regarding Karel's father's identity. That's the reson of my visit."
>>31056060"I was feeling kinda restless, so I was wondering around the castle for a bit, and happened to pass buy. I saw Karel, and thought I'd see how you were holding up"Got to ease into the conversation guys.
>>31056060Oh god there's no good way to go at it.>>31056084That's not too bad. This.But start with >>31056095
>>31056095This. Also, the matter of Karel's paternity is not something you simply ask of someone.
>>31056097Supporting.
>>31056060"I'm not sure how to say this tactfully, so... ADRIEN!"
>>31056121You like yourself some spaghetti, don't you anon?
>>31056097Transition it with "there is... another reason for my visit."Let's not just say "oh I was just looking how you were doing" and then drop the bomb.
>>31056095This.Also, if we want to go about this tactfully, try to steer the conversation onto the topic of childhoods, such as making a comparison between karels unlikely bodyguard position to ours. If we can do that, mention volker and adrien, and watch for a reaction. Especially on adrien.
>>31055838>"I was worried that maybe he was as abrasive as I can be..."Said the blonde, spunky girl whose mother has a hardon for adventurers about the blonde, boisterous man who spent his early life adventuring.
I really don't know how she'll react.>[anticipation intensifies]>>31056148This is good, though a bit late.
>>31056148Seems to be better than the other options, kinda came a little late though. At least it's better than >>31056121.
>inb4 Adrien was a red herring all along
>>31056197The father was the brothel boss, who woo'd alicia using stories he overheard volker and adrien tell us, where he substituted himself for adrien, hence the "similar" history.
"I was feeling kind of restless so I went for a walk around the castle for a bit," you say. "I happened to run into Karel along the way, so I thought that I'd see how you were holding up too.""Ah," Alicia nods. "I appreciate the concern... I really do," she says, smiling at you. "I'm doing fine, I guess. This entire thing has me horrified, especially after Karel told me about everything that happened when you all got attacked the first time."With a sad smile, Alicia walks over to a couch and practically falls into it."Ehehe... after all this time, it feels so strange to finally be able to refer to Karel as my daughter around someone else," Alicia says with a wistful smile. "Aside from us, the only people who have -ever- known that she's a girl were my uncle and the midwife that delivered her, and both of them passed away years ago. And now there's you and Mr. Gerhard...">[1/?]
>>31056216"Not even her father?
>>31056216>mfw>>31056231Karel said he doesn't even know she exist. Most likely he left before Alicia's pregnancy became visible.
>>31056216>Aside from us, the only people who have -ever- known that she's a girl were my uncle and the midwife that delivered herThe Shadowrun mistress of this world.Karel had probably been planned as a swordsman since before her birth.TO WHAT END, I ask?
>>31056231oh god.it's shirou isn't it?
>>31056216>[2/2]"So you'd been raising her as a boy from the start?" you ask, staring at her in disbelief."Back when I first found out that I was pregnant, I decided that my baby would be a great swordsman just like her father," Alicia says as she stretches out her arms. "I had a nice manly first name picked out and everything... but then I gave birth to an adorable baby girl instead," she shrugs."So you...""It seems cruel, I know," she replies, "but I was even younger than you are now and I had dreams of being the mother of a great swordsman," she says, shaking her head. "So my adorable baby girl was raised as an adorable baby boy and I worked hard on my end to make sure that she'd get the best tutors that money could buy."So her entire life was decided before she as even born?"Looking back on it, I know that I robbed her the chance to live as a normal girl," Alicia sighs. "Hell, she might have even ended up betrothed to Emilio depending on how things turned out," she laughs. "I can tell from the way she talks about him that she's got it bad for that boy... but that's not how things turned out. And I bet you think I'm a horrible person for doing what I did, but what's done is done.">what do you say?
>>31056295"I didn't exactly have a normal childhood either, and I turned out mostly okay.I certainly don't think she holds it against you at all, the way she worries about you....Who was her father, if I may ask?"
>>31056295"I've met horrible people, you're not one."
>>31056295"Like her father?"
>>31056319This one. It flows well.>>31056321This should be our catch phrase.
>>31056321it does sound quite bad, but at least Karel seems to be enjoying her swordie career.There's no chance in hell she would be noticed by Emilio without being a swordsman anyway, she'd be just another nameless npc girl.
>>31056319This works
>>31056319This.
>>31056295"I don't think i have any right to judge you on that matter. Karel obviously doesn't think you are a horrible mother for it, and honestly hers is the only opinion that matters when it comes to this.""About her father.."
>>31056319Let's go for it
>>31056349Changing my vote to >>31056350
>>31056319>Who was her father anywayReinhold, master of the subtlety
>>31056321Sounds better than the other options.
>>31056350There we go, probably the most natural segue we're going to get.
>>31056364It's perfectly natural now the the subject of Karel's birth has come up.
We should probably promise to her that we'll be keeping an eye on her daughter for her.
>>31056437Both eyes, as often as we can spare them.
"I didn't exactly have a normal childhood either," you say, "and I turned out mostly okay. I think.""You certainly did," Alicia replies with a sad smile. "Volker would have been proud.""Heh, thanks," you reply, unable to keep from smiling yourself. "And as for how you raised her... I'd say that Karel's the only one who has the right to judge you when it comes to that, and she certainly doesn't think that you're a bad mother."While you definitely think that the whole "posing as a guy for literally her entire life" thing is kind of extreme, Karel doesn't seem to hold it against her mother at all and that's the only thing that matters."We're all that each other's got, so I'd certainly hope that she doesn't," Alicia replies, sighing."Umm... if I'm not prying too much, what about her father?" you ask.>[1/?]
>>31056565>"Volker would have been proud."That must mean a lot to Reinhold. Though wasn't Alicia supposed to not know Volker that much, just as a regular in her restaurant?
>>31056613Waitresses try to get to know their repeat customers well. It keeps them coming back and improves their service.
>>31056565'"Aaaaah," Alicia says as she shakes a finger at you. "So THAT'S what this was all about!""Maybe a little bit," you say with a nervous chuckle. "But I can understand if it's a sensitive matter or something..."Yeah, there's no way for you to have brought that up without feeling like a jerk."Karel's father..." Alicia sighs. "He was amazing with a sword, and SUPER hot on top of that," she giggles. "I didn't even know -what- to do when he actually responded positively to my advances...""Umm..." you mumble as you start to feel your face warm up."Oh-" she covers her mouth with her hands. "Sorry, I almost went into a detailed account of my sexual exploits," she says, playfully sticking out her tongue.>[2/?]
>>31056693>"He was amazing with a sword, and SUPER hot on top of that,"Oh god it's one of the fire elemental bros.
>>31056693>[3/3]Yeah, you really don't need her going into graphic detail."Long blonde hair, big strong arms... if I'd been able to keep him around for more than a few nights, maybe we'd have gotten married," Alicia sighs. "But alas, he hasn't been back to Marconetti in maybe nine years, and I didn't even know that he was in the country at that time," she mumbles."So um... who exactly was he?" you ask."It's been a secret all this time, and part of me wants to keep it that way until I see him again," she says, laughing to herself, "but I guess it's fine to saddle you with another of her secrets... keep in mind that she'll probably try to beat you senseless if she finds out that I told you, though!"Way to put on the pressure, Alicia."Though I've done quite a bit of digging as to his past and all that after the fact," Alicia begins, "I'll tell you what I knew when I met him... Karel's father is a handsome fellow from Granache who goes by the name of Adrien.">how do you react?
>>31056848"Volker's friend? I-I knew him..."
>>31056848"That's what i thought. The whole reason i was curious about Karel's ancestry actually."
>>31056848It's terrible that she's still hoping when Adrien said that he wasn't made for settling down.Is everyone asleep?
>>31056848"Adrien... Citrine and I actually knew him, he was always tagging along with Volker back in the day. I had a feeling but, wow, small world huh?"
>>31056848I though so, small world i guess
>>31056848"Hope he comes back too." One part of me is happy but the other part knows what he is/was off doing, and that makes me a bit sad for Alicia and Karel.>>31056889You don't know, maybe if he does comeback after taking vengeance he'll be ready.
>>31056848"I fucking knew it. And I don't think he'll be coming back. Last I heard, he went out looking to hunt down a pair of dragons, alone."
>>31056884this. Also we should thell her more about Adrien."He was Volker's friend, they were more like brothers really. Volker had a thing for maid, and Adrien for waitresses, that would explain why he responded positively to your ... advances. When Volker was killed, he managed to save Adrien. He was barely alive... As soon as he got better, he started pursuing Volker's killers. That was the last i heard or seen of him. I wish to see him again one day. If i do, i will make sure he visits you."
>>31056848"I thought that might be him, I wasn't sure though. He was Volker's friend, I met him about nine years ago. After Volker said he was going to adopt me from the brothel he and Adrien went off on one last job to get a Sealed King, they were attacked by some dragon mercenaries. Volker died killing them and Adrien barely made it back alive.After we managed to patch him up he left to get revenge for Volker, I haven't seen him since."
"Yeah, I kind of had a feeling that he was her father," you say with a sad smile. "Me and Citrine actually knew him, he was Volker's best friend and-""And he hasn't been see around these parts since he left to avenge him," Alicia cuts you off. "Don't worry, I know all about the details of that," she sighs. "Like I mentioned before, I've done quite a bit of snooping about him.""Oh... I see."Makes sense that she'd try to learn as much as she could about the father of her child. And while you're tempted to ask her what exactly she found out, you've pried more than enough as it is."Just think..." Alicia sighs. "Had things gone well with that Sealed King that Adrien and Volker were looking for, you and Karel might have grown up together...">[1/?]
>>31057039Reinhold has pretty good reasons to dislike those swords.
>>31057039Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match~~
>>31057054You mean like "he has pretty good reasons to dislike dragons"?
>>31057039So that makes Karel our, what, illegitimate not-officially-related friendship cousin by not-quite-adoption?Eh, whatever, good enough for us.
>>31057062I kinda wanted to dislike them
>>31057060>>31057039
>>31057069She's our almost adopted father's best friend's illegitimate actually daughter but officially son.
>>31057039Dragons killed Volker and locked the Childhood Friend route before it even started. Death is too good for them.
>>31057113So, what does that make us?
>>31057113
>>31057117Dragons really hate Childhood Friends.
>>31057039"...but I guess you'll just have to make up for lost time now!" Alicia giggles. "Though I suppose my window of opportunity to try and set the two of you up has passed, I -will- ask that you look after my sweet little girl, okay?""I was going to do that without you even asking," you reply. "We're friends, after all.""And I'm happy for that," she replies. "But now I'm afraid that I must ask you to leave," she says as she gets up from her lounging position, "as it's getting late and I don't want any rumors to start spreading about us... I have a bit of a reputation for preying on handsome young swordsmen such as yourself, you see," she winks at you.You REALLY don't want that."I guess I ought to be leaving then," you say with a nervous laugh as you head for the door. "Take care, okay?""Oh, I will," Alicia says with a tired smile.And with that, you make your way back out into the hallway.>[2/?]
>>31057151SUDDENLY KAREL
>>31057143lolAdrien finally tracks them down. "You bastards are going to pay for what you did. And even though I'm here for vengeance a Sealed King will be a nice bonus."Dragons look non-plussed. "Sealed King? We're part of a prophetic cult dedicated to destroying the One True Pairing.""W-....WHAT?!"
>>31057166"Sup almost potentially but not actually kind of really our kinda like a brother, bro?"
>>31057176>"We call it... the swording champions-SHIP."
>>31057151>[3/3]While you would normally backtrack the way you came, you're pretty much on the exact opposite side of the castle from where your suite is. As such, you figure that you might as well keep along the path that you were going before taking this little detour to Alicia's room.After a few stairwells and long corridors, you fins yourself close to the castle's side gate... and off to the side, you notice that Alberto's just kind of wandering around.>bother him>don't bother him
>>31057176Fucking Dragons.
>>31057218> bother himTALKING IS FUN
>>31057218>bother himA short thread, eh?
>>31057218>bother himWhy not
>>31057231The shortest!I'd actually planned on you not talking to Alicia, but...
>>31057218>bother himHave we ever talked to alberto before, one on one? Why the fuck not.
On a scale of 0 to Takamaru, how based is Alberto?>>31057250>I'd actually planned on you not talking to Alicia, but...BAHAHAHAHAHAH!
>>31057218>bother himI don't think we've really had a good chance to talk to him, and we are going out with his sister. We may as well.
>>31057199I think "our not-brother" covers pretty much every angle.
>>31057250We would have asked ten times out of ten arch.
>>31057218>don't bother himI want to leave this shitbag country
>>31057276It's good because it's true on two levels.
>>31057289Soon.Archelon, I'm not even holding pic related against you, I find it mostly comical. You're still doing good.
>>31057312[BRACE FOR REJOICEMENT]
>>31057340Alberto seems like the chillest dude around. I very much doubt we'll traumatized talking to him.Unless he's a jealous siscon. But we already have one...
>>31057312Uh oh...
>>31057312QB. That's never a good sign.
I got it. Alberto is behind the kidnapping plot. It's the only QB-tier thing I can think of.That or he's Spinelle wearing a man's skin.
>>31057561He is already the crown prince though.
Though you don't know Alberto all that well, it wouldn't hurt to try and be friendly... you hope."Um... Good evening, Your Highness," you say with a nervous wave as you approach."Hm?" Alberto glances over to you. "Oh, it's Reinhold. You don't need to refer to me by my title, 'future brother,' he says, laughing to himself."Uh... if you say so," you reply."Going for a walk, I take it?""Pretty much," you shrug. "What about you?""The same as you, just a short walk around the castle to get rid of some of this anxiety," he laughs. "How's Luciana doing, by the way? Father told me that she's been dealing with these attacks for like a month, so..."Of course he's worried about his little sister."We had dinner together and she seemed to be doing alright then," you reply. "She's more angry about this situation than anything, I guess.""She's not the only one," Alberto says, patting you on the shoulder. "It's taking everything that Father has to keep from going out there and taking care of this entire thing himself, and it's the same with Thierri and Uncle Gregory," he shakes his head. "And if Giancarlo wasn't leaving tomorrow morning, I'm sure that the two of us would be hunting down those traitors ourselves.">[1/?]
>>31057597So there's presumably other motives than the succession, I'd wager?
>>31057615"But that's enough about that," Alberto claps his hands together. "You and my little sister... how long have you been a thing?" he asks, leaning in uncomfortably close to you."It's only been a day," you reply with an uneasy smile."...seriously?" he says, lowering the frame of his glasses to look at you with his own eyes directly. "What about the way you two were dancing back at Emilio's party?""Uh, I guess that was just flirting?" you shrug.Alberto has definitely inherited his father's pressure..."Well you seem like a decent enough guy so I guess I'll take you at your word," Alberto says, slapping you on the back. "As long as you treat her like a lady, you're fine with me," he nods."Er, thanks," you reply.And just a it looks like he's going to start grilling you some more, you hear the sound of guards shouting out by the gate.>[2/?]
>>31057746>you hear the sound of guards shouting out by the gate.I want to get off Archelon's Wild Ride.
>>31057746bet it's just taka coming back
>>31057746>[3/3]"Shit, what is it now..." Alberto mutters under his breath. "I'd like to shoot the breeze with you some more, but duty calls," he says as he heads over to investigate.>follow him>stay back, it's not you business
>>31057799>follow him
>>31057799Follow him, it could be Takamura
>>31057799>follow himArch, you know you can just drop plot hooks if you're too tired to continue.Don't count on us to have pity on you, because we won't.
>>31057799>>follow himWe swordsman. We gonna sword if you wanna me to sword.
>>31057799>follow himWe gotta be all up in that business.
>>31057746taka no! don't die yet!think of your daughter! she might get drafted in the army!
>>31057799>follow himDamn it, we're a helper.
>>31057847It never hurts to help!
>>31057885Except sometimes when it's Reinhelp.
>>31057799>>stay back, it's not you businessLets go back to our room and rest for fucks sake
>>31057835oh god not another trap.it would be absolutely hilarious of karel and taka's daughter fell in love, each thinking the other is a guy though.
>>31057904But we need to make Marianne worry before she go to sleep.
>>31057912But Taka's daughter is A GIRL WORTH FIGHTING FOR
>>31057912Reverse Trap.
Since it might be dangerous, you follow closely behind Alberto, trailing him as the two of you end up just inside the castles side gate... and you see a crowd of guards swarming it."What's going on out here?" Alberto asks a nearby guard."Prince Alberto!" the guard stands at full attention. "Um- I'm not really sure, but it looks like the guy who brought in Sir Leopold has returned but he's refusing any escorts into the castle... and he's ho-""Let him through!" Alberto shouts. "Immediately!"At once, the guards all stand at attention and part to either side of the gate in order to allow them to pass through......and then you see him. Or rather -them.->[1/?]
>>31057935NO, TAKA, NO!
>>31057935I'm scared.
>>31057935They caught the the guy.
>>31057960>>31057988I'm sure there is a perfectly logical reason for all this that isn't related in any way to Taka's impressive deathflag collection.I'M SURE OF IT.
OTOH we have a spare bodyguard with the Dragon Siblings sharing Elena anyway.
>>31057935>wakes up>catches this thread live.>death flags going uppic related
>>31057935>[2/2]Covered with blood, Gerhard staggers through the gate and onto castle grounds while supporting Takamaru on his right shoulder. And as they approach, the full extent of their wounds becomes clear.Gerhard looks beat to hell, with his right arm limp and seemingly wrapped in what looks like bloody paper... and Takamaru isn't looking much better."Oh God..." Alberto gasps. "Takamaru, your arm..."His left arm is completely gone below the elbow.>how do you react?
>>31058079No words, come to their aid. Help our Librarian by taking Takamura's other side.
>>31058092Insert disarmed pun here.
>>31058092Give them a shoulder right away and carry them to infirmary.
>>31058092Move in to help.Ask "Who did this?"Did sephiroth do this?
>>31058092Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit.Ok, we can handle this. Probably. Don't want to cast healing whatever, because we're a scrub. We need to help get them to the infirmary ASAP though
>>31058098
>>31058092send alberto to get the medic team ready (he knows the castle and who works where better than us)help them walk to the infirmary
>>31058079OH SNAP!
We know what we must do.Tina will be finely used as a crystal arm.
>>31058119You don't SEND a prince anywhere.
>>31058135in an emergency situation, protocol can go fuck itselfand we're almost family anyway
>>31058145>got with his sister yesterday>almost family
>>31058092>Try to apply adequate pressure to wound to prevent further bleeding and help them get Taka to infirmary or>Go ahead and warn/prepare infirmary for Taka's arrival, gathering appropriate staff membersDon't go out yelling, asking questions right now, and spazzing out you guys this just help no .one
>>31058158Yeah lets get them ready to take them into the infirmary.
>>31058092>>31058098http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZT43X-1BX0
>>31058092Oh god, infirmary, now, someone get the medics on standby.And now I go to sleep, try not to accidentally the whole castle while I'm gone guys.
>>31058158>>31058119>>31058101>>31058109>>31058166General consensus seem to try to get Taka to infirmary. With us or Alberto going ahead to inform/prepare for Taka' arrival. We should send a guard while we try to help transport Taka or ourselves accompanied by Alberto go inform infirmary while guards help transport Taka.
>>31058092What kind of hero killer monster is in town that can do this to both Gerhard and Taka at the same time?
>>31058200Dragon bruv. Not even once.
>>31058185even more happening now?
>>31058200Maybe we'll never know. Maybe Gerhard is a traitor and did this.>>31058213In retrospect the QB image was appropriate.
>>31058200"I bet I can take the both of you without hands!"
Shit shit shit shit shit.Racing past the guards, you move over to help Takamaru from off of Gerhard's shoulder."Thank you," Takamaru says with a pained smile as he leans on you with his remaining arm. "I was able to stop the bleeding on both of our injuries with my shikigami, but that does not help with the blood that I've already lost.""It's alright, just lean on me," you say. "What the hell happened to you guys!?""Both the captain and vice captain of the fifth division turned out to be Contractors," Gerhard replies, his face completely expressionless. "While my Eastern friend here took out the vice captain with a little bit of effort, this... GENTLEMAN," he says with a voice seething in rage as he lifts up his left arm to reveal a man in a Royal Guard uniform.And then you notice the massive hole in the right side of the guard's torso.>[1/?]
>>31058276There are so much holes in this story.
>>31058276Oh lawd, glad I made it back home from Uni before the thread finished
>>31058276We need pic related
>>31058092>His left arm is completely gone below the elbow.If they don't have the magic or the technology to heal him or provide him with a prosthesis in Marconette we could mention that they're working on something promising in Granache.
>>31058334He can grow it back. Niklaus is specifically stated to have lost his arms multiple times in several rather horrific ways during his many experiments.
>>31058322that image size.
>>31058322Too LITTLE, too late, I'm afraid.
>>31058341It's the epic troll, tiny image size and yugioh size text
>>31058334Niklaus can regrow his own limbs, but can he heals other way after the damage's been done?I'm guessing not, because this isn't just an injury. It's a plot device to get Takamaru to go back to his family.
>>31058334>>31058340>>31058353he's maybe the only one who can regrow limbs... that means taka is coming with us!
>>31058340Huh, I misinterpreted that and Niklaus having massively experimented on himself to give him unique options that might kill anyone else. Glad I was wrong about that.
>>31058322A card game for ants? i dont think we need that.
>>31058367He was going with us anyway. He's Luciana's bodyguard, remember?
>>31058353Hey, you know that crystal armband we're wearing? What would happen if you made a legendary swordsman a hand out of that material? Would he become Guts with a katana? Maybe not, but we can find out!
>>31058276"I assume that his contract is the only reason that he's still alive," Gerhard says as he finally lets go of the man who he'd been dragging all this time and send him crashing to the ground. "He's using some variant of Stone Body, and that's why he hasn't bled out by now. I would have interrogated him myself, but I... I do not trust myself not to end his life before any useful information was extracted.""That's fine," Alberto says, shaking his head. "Thank you, you've done more than enough as it is."And then he looks at the former Guard Captain who is now lying at his feet."Still though, a Contractor... it's going to be hard to contain this guy without him breaking out," Alberto sighs. "Reinhold, escort Takamaru and Gerhard to the infirmary while I figure out what to do with his traitor here. And would one of you call my father down here already!?"As Alberto barks more orders to the guards around him and prepares a spell of some sort, you can't help but think that he really resembles his father right now.>[2/?]
>>31058322Why the hell would we want a level 4 or lower Warrior Monster?
>>31058406To sacrifice so we can summon the level 6 Rana we have in our hand.
>>31058416In Quest terms, how very monstrous of you.Even if it is the smart move.Although we're not even fighting anyone right now.
Thankfully it isn't Giancarlo who was here, otherwise the healing spell would be a bit different.
>>31058403>[3/3]Wasting no time, you help Takamaru and Gerhard to the infirmary as quickly as you can manage. As you wait for a doctor to arrive (why the hell isn't a doctor on duty at all times!?), you help Takamaru onto a chair and then find one for Gerhard to sit in.>talk to them?
>>31058493>Kinda want to know how exactly they got so busted up. I mean, I didn't think contractors where that powerful.
>>31058493Have they found out anything else aside from the traitors? Did they say something, maybe in a villain speech or something? Any clues?
>>31058493I don't know what to say. Let's just assure that Luciana is roughly holding up.
>>31058493Ask about the man behind all this. The one who killed one knight and injured the other.
>>31058493"i'm glad you two made it back before we left.anyway, how did all that happen?"
>>31058493>Says this is gonna be a short one>Isn't finished by the time I have to go to work
>>31058493"Now stand aside, worthy adversary."
>>31058493"Did you find the people behind this?"
>>31058565You should know by now whatever is he tells about the schedule of this quest, it is not going to hold up.
>>31058493>Just reassure Taka>Talk to whoever, about Taka's current condition and his obligation/responsibilities/duties needing to be fulfilled by someone else while he heals up
"I'm sorry to cause you to be concerned like this," Gerhard says as he takes a seat and allows his right arm to fall limp."I'm just glad that the two of you made it back before we left," you reply."I could have made it back to Granache on my own, but I appreciate the concern,""As do I," Takamaru nods. "The Princess hasn't been too distressed because of my absence, has she?""She was really worried about you, but she's holding out pretty well otherwise," you reply. "Um... how the hell did this happen to you two, anyways?"While it's kind of rude to do so, you can't not ask."Assassins' knives and the traitors' attacks," Takamaru replies, shaking his head. "and that Guard Captain... damn that man, he pretended to act as a friend and then this..." he closes his eyes. "he caught my arm in something akin to the Princess's stone hand spell and crushed it until there was nothing left -to- crush."You can't even imagine how much that hurt.>[1/?]
>>31058675what kind of an idiot are you to fll for friend thing when you know he is a traitor.
>>31058675Wait dose that mean that the captain wasn't from the fifth squad? Because if he was and they still trusted him, well that doesn't seem very smart.
>>31058713He obviously wasn't. Which makes what he did all the more underhanded.
>>31058675Huh. So there's an Earth elemental in on this business.That's disconcerting.
>>31058712>>31058713Prior to today, Takamaru had been friendly with all of the guard captains.I guess I should have worded that better.
>>31058731Nah. Just the earth contractor, probs.
>>31058737Ah okay. I guess they just got the drop on taka and gerhardt or something.
>>31058754Contractors have to contract with an elemental to become contractors.Both of these dudes that were traitors were earth contractors. Either they became contractors recently, or they were hiding it for a really long time.Therefore an earth elemental is very likely to be involved.
>>31058675"Fortunately, I was able to call forth my shikigami to stop the flow of blood before it was too late," Takamaru says, holding up a stump that's covered in bloody paper.Yeah, that looks exactly like the paper that's covering Gerhard's entire arm."You did the same thing for Gerhard?" you ask."Yes, though luckily his injury was not as severe," Takamaru replies."So he got caught like you did...""Oh no," Gerhard shakes his head. "I was able to break free of that thing with a little bit of effort... my arm being useless at the moment is because I doublecast Boost and then punched that man as hard as I could in order to inflict the injury that finally took him down. I'm fairly certain that I broke every bone in my arm pulling that stunt... I do not recommend it."It looks like Boost is even more dangerous to use than you'd been led to believe.>[2/?]
>>31058737He knew he was a traitor and still for the friendly act. He is an idiot.
>>31058799doublecast eh?
>>31058799Are these injuries fixable with magic?
>>31058799> It looks like Boost is even more dangerous to use than you'd been led to believe.I,m sure it is if you are punching someone with stone skin active, but honestly it doesn't seem too bad.
>>31058818He was just stoned.
>>31058827Pretty much everything short of death is fixable with magic.
>>31058818You're reading it wrong. Taka's bitching about the guy playing the friendly act from before they knew he was a traitor.They went into this specific engagement with extreme prejudice.
>>31058842This.
>>31058839Not PTSD, apparently.
>>31058799I love how Gerhard is in a sort-of state of tranquil fury here. You could tell he was pissed when he hobbled in, but he still talks like a gentleman.
>>31058799I need to punch fast and boost too slow.Better just cast it twice then I guess.
>>31058799BOOSTO
>>31058837 Carlos !!!!
Hmm punching with boost activated won't stop us from breaking bones.Solution: Boost twice throw sword
>>31058847I am sure there was a magical cure for it but Reinhold couldn't get it on account of being a poor bastard raised in a village brothel.
>>31058882USE THE BOOST TO GET THROUGH!
>>31058882Nah, Cast Fragment Blader, Boost twice. Throw all the swords. Become Shirou
>>31058905How many castings of fragment blader can we delay and store up I wonder?
>>31058922That's a good question. How long *can* we hold it before we Fragment Bladder?
>>31058956>Fragment Bladder.>Hold it.Damnit Carlos we all know it's you.
>>31058799"At least we were able to take care of every last one of those traitorous guards," Gerhard says as he slumps back in his chair. "Along with several assassins.""But we weren't able to locate the masked man who killed Sir Armin and injured Sir Leopold," Takamaru says with a dejected sigh."Yes..." Gerhard covers his face with his good hand and sighs. "I would have -loved- to have been able to finish the job before I left the country, but I lost myself in that previous fight and ended up ruining my arm," he shakes his head. "I suppose I need to better control my emotions."Before you can comment on the fact that his self-control is already at a crazy high level as it is, a doctor FINALLY shows up to treat the two injured men. After Takamaru releases the shikigami that are covering the stump of his arm, the doctor examines it and determines that it won't be overly difficult to use a regeneration spell to restore Takamaru's arm by tomorrow... but the ridiculous number of fractures in Gerhard's arm will take much more work to mend.Dear God, the sight of their injuries... while you're no stranger to blood and gore, the sight of that was almost too much for even you to stand.>[3/?]
Rolled 16>>31058922>>31058956If it's anything like fragment lancer, I'm pretty sure they just sit there once the spell is done. They are metal affinity spells, I believe, and like earth/rock affinity spells, they persist. Part of why Gerhard had to sweep up the Iron Sand when we cast Spirit Field back when we first started learning magic.
>>31058900Said Luciana when her hymen proved tougher than expected.
>>31058990Wouldn't it be simpler to just cut off Gerhard's arm and regen it if it's more work to fix the shattered mess he made of it?
>>31058990>but the ridiculous number of fractures in Gerhard's arm will take much more work to mend.then why not cut the arm and regrow it?
>>31058990A fitting end to a shitty shitty day for Reinhold.
>>31059013
>>31059015>>31059016Nice paying attention.
>>31059016>>31059015Pragmatic and probably a good idea, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be the one to suggest it.
He's half-lizard, he better have regenerative powers.
>>31059049This is also a way that Agnes could "cure" her arthritic limbs, but the idea of being dismembered just to do so doesn't exactly agree with her.
>>31059032Gerhard is going to do that without warning, ain't he? There goes the contents of Reinhold's stomach...
>>31059069That is fucking metal.
>>31059069Man, people need to get less squeamish.
>>31059069Could you decapitate her and give her a young rocking body?
>>31059032>>31059069Now I imagine Reinhold in the sickbay after recieving his next grevious injury yelling "CUT IT OFF, I NEED TO BE BACK IN ACTION BEFORE NIGHTFALL!"
>>31058990>[4/4]After the doctor shoos you out of the infirmary for being in the way, you find yourself back in the hallway wondering what to do next... maybe you should go and tell Luciana that Takamaru's doing okay? But it's pretty late, you're not even sure if she's still awake.>go give Luciana the good news>go to your own room, it's been a long day
>>31059103I think it doesn't count agingas an injury and reapplies it.ZA WARUDO is onto your tricks.
>>31059134>go give Luciana the good news
>>31059134>go give Luciana the good newsThe day is not yet over! There is still STUFF we can do!
>>31059129Said Reinhold after Luciana's boosted vagina crushed his penis
>>31059077Reinhold isn't soft enough to puke in the sight of someone's arm getting cut off.
>>31059134>go give Luciana the good newsMaybe ask Takamaru if we should.
>>31059069Couldn't you just do it as a controlled two part medical procedure though? Pre-Op, apply anesthetic spell. First operation, ungrow or nullify the damaged tissue. Second operation, regrow the specific tissue removed. Post-Op, apply general healing spell, a second dose of light painkilling magic, and let the patient rest for an hour or so for observation.If we normalize the entire procedure people are much less likely to balk at it. Hell, break it down so you have a surgeon specializing in removing damaged tissue and a reconstructive healer that only regrows missing bits of bodies.
>>31059134>go tell LuciShe would feel better hearing it from us. And could at least sleep relieved if she knows Takamaru is alive and back.
>>31059134>go give Luciana the booty call
>>31059147>implying we wouldn't be wailing on her with a boosted penis
>>31059169>inb4 Rein & Luci make a fortune from owning a string of reconstructive surgery clinics
>>31059169Given the sheer number of high end spells that would take, it would require either an immensely powerful mage, or a group of several well trained mages versed in medical magic to do it that way. Either way, it would be both extremely cost and time prohibitive, especially because there is a varying limit to how many spells can be cast each day before the mage runs dry. It's the same reason enchantment is so expensive.
>>31059147
>>31059134Go give her the D I mean nees
>>31059202Would being boosted make someone last longer or shorter in bed?
>>31059202>implying Reinhold's so traumatised by whorerape that he needs boost to get it up in the first place.
>>31059134>go give Luciana the good newsAnd maybe >>31059172 too...
>>31059169While that is most definitely possible in general terms, the only regeneration spells that exist at present involve reforming whole limbs from the point where they were removed, and even then it's only if it's a fresh injuryIt's still a pretty new area of medicine, and a lot of the spells they use were created by long-dead crazy geniuses so there's little understanding of the fundamentals behind said spells.Not to mention that simple limb regeneration as it is expends a crazy amount of magical energy per casting.
>>31059228So it's kinda like stem cell treatments. Right.
>>31059210You are vastly underestimating the amount of money some people are willing to spend on elective surgery or to go to specialized clinics over area hospitals. The limiting factor here isn't that it's cost prohibitive, it's whether we could find a sufficiently skilled enchanter willing to make medicine his/her primary profession. Still plenty of room for medical magic research though, so maybe it would be easier than I think.
>>31059069Are there really no spells that block out pain?
>>31059275It's not about the pain from having her old limbs cut off that puts her off, it's the idea of having her limbs cut off at all.While they may be arthritic, they're still the hands that led her through a long career as a professional duelist and she's rather attached to them.DOHOHOHOHOHO
>>31059228...and now I'm wishing I could play a combat healer that specializes in treating trauma injuries and offensive healomancy (I will punch rumors into you!). Would be so much fun to mess around like that in this setting. Still, back to the story at hand (which I'm still loving by the way! Don't want to give you the wrong impression there.).
I think that after all the shit Reinhold's dealt with in terms of himself and the people he cares about getting injured, he'd look into healing spells pretty heavily.It fucking sucks feeling useless when this kind of thing JUST KEEPS HAPPENING.
>>31059319>>31059318It's not gonna happen. Maybe during the epilogue or something, but this quest is so fucking slow that we'll never be able to git gud without massive timeskips.
>>31059305>Dat spoilerI facepalmed...while laughing.
>>31059318Hey, I'm always happy to talk about the minutiae of this setting.And the ideas behind the medical spells mostly predate the setting entirely so they're a lot more fleshed-out than a lot of other things.
>>31059305She could get them mounted above her fireplace or something. It's not like they're winning anymore.
>>31059327Eh, I enjoy the pacing for the most part.
>>31059305
>>31059305>While they may be arthritic, they're still the hands that led her through a long career as a professional duelist and she's rather attached to them.They really aren't. She's old enough that the arms have been entirely replaced by new cell regeneration at least once over since she's retired.
>>31059340What about if we went about this the other way? Instead of fixing her internally we provide her with the magical equivalent of an exosuit? Is her form of arthritis one of those which is set of by stress on the joints, or is rapid movement enough for a flare up?
Even if she -is- asleep right now, there's no way that Luciana wouldn't want to know that Takamaru returned to the castle safely. And so, you make your way back upstairs to the wing of the castle where both your and her rooms are and knock on her door."Who's there?" Luciana calls out maybe a second after you finish knocking. Nope, she was most definitely already up."It's Reinhold," you reply.There's practically no wait from when you give your name and when the door opens, revealing your (visibly tired) girlfriend."Good evening, Reinhold," Luciana says with a weak smile. "Sorry if I seem somewhat disheveled at the moment, but Elena decided to sneak into my bed again and I was having trouble sleeping as it is after everything that's happened...">[1/?
>>31059384We know this. Aggie doesn't.
>>31059416What's she wearing?
>>31059450Sure, seconding.
>>31059450A very conservative blue nightgown.She's not the type tosleep in sexy lingerie, and having an eight-year-old sister who sneaks into her bed every other night makes that even less prudent.
>>31059416Aww I bet good news and Reinhugs will help her get to bed.
>>31059493Pretty sure she's going to want to see Taka before she goes to sleep.
>>31059516And we will deny her and tell her to sleep.She will see him come morn.>>31059483Boring. She could at least wear bunny jammies.
>>31059542>Boring. She could at least wear bunny jammies.That's what Elena wears.
>>31059552We should get Luci a matching pair! It will be adorable!
>>31059416"You don't have to apologize, I'm the one who's bugging you in the middle of the night to begin with," you reply."And why exactly -are- you 'bugging me in the middle of the night,' Reinhold?" Luciana replies, placing her hands on her hips. "I know you're not the kind of boy who would attempt a 'night visit'...""It's nothing like that," you stammer back."And you're always welcome in my room regardless of the time so you don't have to worry about knocking," she mumbles under her breath.AHEM."A- anyways," you say, disregarding that little comment, "I came with some news that I thought that you might appreciate," you say."Oh?" Luciana tilts her head."Yeah, umm... Takamaru just got back to the castle."With a loud gasp, Luciana stumbles back into her room and covers her face with her hands. It's a few seconds before she composes herself enough to actually speak again, but the tears that are streaming from her already reddened eyes say more than enough.>[2/?]
>>31059542>Bunny PJsThankfully the Elena route does not exist.
>>31059552 Elena bonus route is just needed
>>31059569>Hug
>>31059569Good job, Reinholio..
>>31059569Time for Reinhugs.>>31059552All the more reason she should get them as well. If she doesn want matching pair there is always various cats.
>>31059603Give her another second to get herself together, but yeah this is firm supportive (with a hint of intimacy) hug territory.
>>31059623Catplay Luciana? Oh my.
>>31059657should we call her Lucianya?
>>31059707I shouldn't have laughed.I shouldn't have laughed...
>>31059707No she should call herself that.
>>31059741Maybe she screws up a spell from one of her grimoires and gets turned into a cat girl? And then antics ensue?I would read it.
>>31059569"Is..." she chokes out, "...is he going to be okay...?""He was hurt pretty bad," you say, purposefully leaving out the specifics of said injuries, "but they're working on him in the infirmary right now so he's going to be alright," you nod."Oh thank God!" Luciana sobs as she practically flies into your arms and buries her head in your chest. "I was so worried about those bastards hurting him that I couldn't sleep at all!" she cries. "I thought I was used to it since he'd been doing that every night for the past week but then we got attacked today and there were so many of them..."As Luciana cries her sorrows away, you stand there and hold her tight. After a few minutes, the sobbing finally stops and Luciana looks up at you with her still-watery eyes......and then she pulls you in for a long kiss. At first you're kind of alarmed, but this isn't like how -she- used to do it, Luciana's kisses are actually... well, it's hard to describe.>[3/?]
>>31059833bow-chika-wow-wow
>>31059833>but this isn't like how -she- used to do itDoppleganger alert!
>>31059833[trauma heals intesifies]FINALLY!
>>31059878you don't get who -she- is anon.
>>31059912Derp. I blame studying for a test in between posts.
>>31059833"Luciaaaanaaa..." a voice calls out from off to the side, pulling you back to reality.Panicked, the two of you scramble to let go of each other because god damn it elena"Mama said that you're not allowed to kiss on Reinhold like that in here..." Elena says as she wipes her eyes and sways back and forth in a set of bunny-themed pajamas that you -would- think were cute if you weren't so annoyed right now."Ugh..." Luciana sighs. "Go back to bed, Elena," she says, shooing her little sister away. "I'll be back soon.""But I dream about the scary men cutting everyone up when you're not there..." she mumbles. "I don't wanna dream about that...""I'll be there in JUST a minute," she sighs. "Don't worry, I'm not lying.""'kay," Elena replies with a nod. "G'night, Reinhold..."As Elena hobbles back into the bedroom, Luciana breathes a long sigh.>[4/?]
>>31059964Don't cock/box block, Elena. Its bad form.
>>31059964NOOOOOOOOO
>>31059964>"But I dream about the scary men cutting everyone up when you're not there..."god damn it greg, you scared the girl or it's her own instinct, ZA WARUDO runs in the bloodline
>>31059964daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaweven with night terrors, so much daaaaaw
>>31059997Little girl has horrible nightmares when her big sister isn't at ther side when she sleeps. She needs Luciana, can't begrudge her that much anon.
>>31060014Its cute and understandable but even Rein was a bit peeved.
>>31060009>Artemis>Goddess of LesbiansYep, saw that daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw coming.
>>31059964God i love that girl.
>>31059964the moe....too much moe.
>>31060049Little sister get! Now we just have to hook our big Sis, Karel, up with Emilio for a nearly incestuous set of in-laws!
>>31060032You are mistaken sir, I am simply a computer proficient cat who accidentally left his trip on. No thumbs, you see.
>gone for an hour>thread is still upI fucking love you, Archelon.
>>31060117Who needs thumbs when you have claws and captive humans, am I right?
>>31059964>[5/5] "So much for -that-," Luciana mumbles to herself as she turns back to face you. "Anyways, thank you for bringing me that wonderful news," she smiles. "You have no idea how much that means to me.""No problem," you reply. "I figured that you'd want to know that he's safe, so-""And it was very sweet of you," she says as she gives you a quick peck on the cheek. "But I guess I should probably head back to bed before Elena starts dreaming about me being dismembered or something," she shakes her head."I better not hold you up, then," you say with a weak smile. "See you tomorrow, Luciana.""Goodnight, Reinhold," Luciana says, kissing you one last time before you leave the room.With your own mood greatly improved thanks to seeing how relieved Luciana is, you make your way down the hallway and into the suite that you share with Marianne. After making sure that everything is in order with not just your things but with the room in general (still some residual paranoia to deal with after all that), you head into your bedroom, collapse on your bed, and fall asleep almost instantly.
>>31060049The only way this could be cuter would be if she was holding a little bunny.
>>31060124You realise that in order to compensate for this extended thread, arch is going to need to miss the next few days in order regain his stamina and sexual vitality.
>>31060154Quite right.
>>31060163Goodnight Arch?
>>31060163We still need to contact Agnes and extend her an invitation to come to Granache right? Or are we expecting her to travel with Citrine and Marius?>>31060172Worth it.
>>31060163FINALLY. Both for Reinhold and Arch.>>31060172I'd be fine with that.
>>31060209I imagine that we should probably wait until all this shit is sorted out before anyone invites anyone anywhere. Besides, We can send an invitation by letter if we want to. Might be an educational experience.
This was supposed to be a short one but it ended up liek twice as long as I usually do... ugh.But still, it was fun. Lots of fun.I'm going to be skiping Tuesday night though since I have yet to sleep and now it's going to be like 8PM when I wake up and yeah.Anyways, thanks for playing!to bother me on the twitters:https://twitter.com/QM_Archelon
>>31060172he's been recovering four days he made this epic thread. he might be able to do this again by tomorrow.
>>31060247Yo deserve your sleep. I wish that I had half of your stamina as a QM.
>>31060247This was the most fun thread in a while, Archelon. Cheers.
>>31060247Thanks Arch it was fun
>>31060247that was great, rest well and come back soon
>>31060247Thanks for the run. Sleep well.
>>31060247Excellent thread Arch, now get some well earned rest.
>>31060247rest well you tired turtle you.
>>31060247Good run as always Arch.
>>31060247cheers OP, you a good one
>>31060247Thanks for running arch, Try not to dream about scary men cutting everyone up.
>>31060324Don't wish that! He might want some inspiration.
so since karel is our not-quite-adoptive-father's might-as-well-be-brother's illegitimate-son-daughter, does that make him our cousin?
>>31060615See >>31057276Bonus point because "he"s not really a brother.
>>31060615With the kind of fucked up not-really-family-but-its-the-closest-we-got family we have, yeah sure, why the hell not?
>>31060247fug yu :DDDDD
>>31061328Someone should beat you to death with cotton.
>>31059384>>>31059305>>While they may be arthritic, they're still the hands that led her through a long career as a professional duelist and she's rather attached to them.>They really aren't. She's old enough that the arms have been entirely replaced by new cell regeneration at least once over since she's retired.Well, looks like you picked a side on the Ship_of_Theseus (wikipedia) paradox. How many arms have you had in your life?
