>>31299600
>A) Help feed the horses

Sorry I'm late Rags, I was having dinner. I went back and read through all of the archives during the break and holy shit are they awesome! Keep up the good work!

>>31300699
You stay back with the others to help feed the horses. You spend some time watering and helping Annalise brush Pedro. He seems rather glad to spend time with you after so long. His loyalty is refreshing. That taken care of, the three of you decide to go into the fort together. Maurice claims to want to look for the Rangers' study, hoping they will have information on local history. Annalise voices her thirst.

A) Go with Maurice
B) Find the mess hall
C) Other

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>>31300699
D-don't flatter me!

>>31301017
>B) Mess hall
We're probably pretty hungry.

>>31301589
You enter the nearest building. It is little more than a room with a small table, two chairs, and a hole with a steel ladder which goes down into the earth. Maurice slides down first, and you follow Annalise. At the bottom, there is a rough tunnel lined with torches every few yards. They seem to twist and turn into several corridors, and finding anything inside turns out to be harder than you anticipated. You end up having to find and ask several Rangers for directions before you get there. Once you find it, the two of you dine on stale bread and water.

As you eat Annalise asks what the plan is once this is all over.

A) Head home
B) Stay with Leon a while
C) Other

>>31301835
I guess it's just me and you, Rags.
>C) Let's play it by ear
but
>A) If you're really yearning for home, Annalise, then I don't have anything against going straight back.

>>31301897
You tell Annalise that for now, you don't have any specific plans, but if she wants to go home you're more than willing. She thinks while chewing her bread

"It's not that I really want to go home immediately. Actually, to be honest I'm a little worried about Pietra and her people. It seemed like they wanted us to stay. I think they can handle things without us, but I can't help but wonder."

A) "Pietra doesn't need us, she just wants the extra hands."
B) "I'm sure they can handle it."
C) "We might check on them."
D) Other

>>31302196
>C) How about we check up on them on the way back?
I wonder where everyone is?

>>31302196
>C) "We might check on them."

Morning, folks.

>>31302610
Good to see you. I was worried no one would show up and I'd end up fucking it all up.

>>31302441
>>31302588
You tell Annalise that you might be able to swing by and check on them on the way back home. Annalise seems pleased by this, and the two of you finish your 'meal'. Once you've wiped the dry crumbs from yourselves, you wonder what to do next. Leon still hasn't shown up, but he might be looking for you by now. You also haven't seen Maurice.

A) Look for someone
B) Wander
C) Go back up
D) Other

>>31302610
S-stupid Springhead. It's n-not like I missed you or anything

>>31302626
I know that feel. Although in a bit I'll be a posting a bit more randomly, so I hope more questers arrive son.

>>31302665
>A)
Lets have a look for Leon by doing C)

>>31302719
I'll second this, sounds like a decent plan.
>>31302665
I-it's not like I like you or anything, I'm j-just here for the quest...

>>31302719
The two of you leave the dining room and make your way back to the surface. Again, you need to ask a few Rangers for directions before finding your way. Eventually you find the ladder to the surface and you emerge into the small room again, then into the sunlight outside.

There are a few more Rangers out and about now, but most of them more bored than busy. They sit in the shade chatting, or sharpening, or snacking. The horses are as you left them. Leon doesn't appear to be out here yet, but as you turn back around, a young Ranger emerges from the tunnel and calls to you. He speaks as he approaches.

"I've been sent to find you. Leon has obtained his totem, but he's dealing with some classified business at the moment. He wants me to tell you that he'll need to stay for the night, and wants to know if you two have any problem waiting until morning to leave."

A) Stay a night
B) Leave today

>>31302923
Forgot my trip. Everything is ruined.

>>31302923
>A)
Safety in numbers on the way back.

>>31302923
>A) Stay a night
Oh well I guess it looks like we absolutely have to 'make kisses' with Anna until he's finished...

>>31302986
Oh no whatever will we do? We live such a tough life, don't we.

>>31303018
Boy, Leon is such a lucky guy. All he has to do is fight horrifying creatures, don't you wish you had it as good as him?

>>31303080
If only, man, if only...

>>31302973
>>31302986
You send him back to Leon with the information. He nods and tells you that you're free to make camp in the fort, but there are no extra beds or rooms in the actual tunnels. With that, he slides back down the ladder.

You and Annalise find some shade and have a seat, making small talk and watching a small white cloud float by for a few hours until night. Once the sun has set, Maurice emerges from the tunnels with his usual smile. He sits by you and tells you about his time sorting through the Rangers' records.

"A good long store, but mostly hunts and kills. Not much about what I care to learn."

The three of you relax a while longer, until some time after dark a line of Rangers emerges. They are all dressed in leather armor and dusters, and most of them carry hooked swords. Among them is Leon. They all walk together and speak under their breath, headed for their horses.

A) Call out
B) Approach
C) Watch
D) Other

>>31303018
>>31303080
>>31303166
Sounds like someone wants me to kill off the waifu

>>31303262
>A) Call out
Please no, Rags ;_;

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74 KB PNG

>>31303262
>A)
and
>C)

Oh god, we'll stop

>>31303313
>>31303354
You shout for Leon. He glances over, then turns to one of the other Rangers to say something. He replies, then Leon nods and approaches the three of you. The look in his eye as he nears is quite cold.

"I've got the totem, but these guys want me to help with a hunt. Apparently there's a giant antlion that's grown too big. It's overeating and cutting off supply lines. I want the three of you to stay here, I'll be back by morning."

A) Ask something
B) Other

>>31303658
>A) Ask something

Can we help?

Then ask Annalise and Maurice if they want to if we get a yes.

>>31303717
Seconding, although this is likely ranger-only business.

>>31303717
>>31303755
You ask Leon if there isn't something you can do to help.

"Ah, well...It's not that I don't want you to, but this thing is pretty big and ornery. You guys are good fighters and all, but I really don't think this is at your, should I say, level? It'd be safer for all of you to stay put."

A) Say something
B) Agree

>>31303807
>A) Say something
"You know I can hold my own."

>>31303807
>B) Well, I guess you know what you're talking about...
Do we even know what an antlion is?

>>31303910
You assert your ability, maintaining that you're more than capable of handling yourself in a fight.

"No, no I agree. You're pretty good, against humans and the like. But this is a bonafide wild beast. It's not gonna swing swords at you. It's gonna try to swallow you. It's just beyond what you're used to."

A) Insist
B) Other

>>31304161
>B) Other
We'll trust his judgement then.

>>31304161
See >>31304152

>>31304177
>>31304183
You agree, and tell Leon that the three of you will stay in the fort until morning. He actually seems slightly disappointed, but he does restate that it's for the best, and goes back to join the other Rangers as they mount up and head out of the gate.

A few hours after the Rangers leave, the three of you set up your beds and lay out under the stars. The ground is warm enough to make a fire unneeded, and the walls make fear of predators a non-issue. To top it off, there are always a handful of Rangers watching over the top of the walls, so it's actually quite easy to get a good night's rest.

You are awoken the next morning sometime after dawn by the sound of thundering hooves and laughter. You sit up and look across the fort to the front gate, where the Rangers slip in on horseback. You notice that one horse is without a rider, and two men have long, black bags slung over the backs of their mounts. Leon rides up front, and wearily steps down from Nero as other Rangers come to tie him down. One of the Desert Rangers pats Leon on the back and says something with a smile, but Leon doesn't seem in a joking mood. They all begin pouring back into the tunnels.

A) Get up
B) go back to sleep
c) Other

>>31304456
>A) Get up

>>31304456
>A) Get up
>>31304466
How's it going, Wren?

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>>31304466
>Wrenloft

>>31304524
kind of sleepy

>>31304466
>>31304524
You sit up and slip into your boots, then make your way over to Leon. He sees you and waves. Once the two of you come closer together, you notice his eyes are dry and have developed slight black rings. He stands a bit less straight than usual, and seems quite unfocused.

A) Ask how the hunt went
B) Other

>>31304683
>B) Other
"You okay man? We can stay another night if you need some rest."

>>31304707
Seconding

>>31304707
>>31304753
You offer to give Leon another night to rest, seeing his current form. He takes a moment to register what you say, then shakes his head.

"Ah, no that's alright. I can sleep on the road, and I'm sure you want to get back home soon. I've kept you away long enough. Just let me get something to drink and some breakfast and I'll be ready to ride."

A) Agree
B) Other

>>31304953
a

>>31304953
>B) Other
"No. You need rest before you're in a condition to do anything of tgr sort."

>>31305001
The*

>>31305001
This. At the very least just half the day.

>>31305001
>>31305045
You tell Leon that you won't leave until he at least gets some rest, batting away his reassurance. After a while, he gives in and agrees to get some rest inside, but only until noon. You compromise and agree. He heads into the tunnels shortly after. You look back to the others. Maurice and Annalise are both soundly asleep, somehow.

A) Wake them
B) Go back to bed
C) Other

>>31305147
a

>>31305147
>B) Go back to bed
May aswell all go in top condition.

>>31305147
>B) We'll need our rest

>>31305182
>>31305240
You decide to get some more sleep, since Leon won't be available for a few hours. You move back to the circle of bedrolls and kick off your boots before lying back down and closing your eyes. The warm sun peeking over the walls of the fort serves as an invisible blanket.

A few hours later, you wake sweating and dry of mouth. Annalise and Maurice are already awake, and their rolls are wound up but not yet tucked away. You look around. The horses are where you left them, and the Rangers outside seem to be going about their business. You stand and don your boots before setting off.

A) Find Leon
B) Find Annalise
C) Other

>>31305417
>B) Find Annalise

>>31305442
Seconding

>>31305442
>>31305494
You head down into the tunnels and look around. You find one of the Rangers and ask if he may have seen Annalise. He seems preoccupied with a small journal, but does mention the study. You follow his directions and eventually find the correct room.

The study is a large and cramped collection of records and texts that the Rangers use to track things in the world. Unlike the palace archives, there is no one regulating the flow of information, nor are there places to sit and read. It seems that most people simply take what they need somewhere else and return it when they're done. As you look around, you spot Maurice and Annalise sat in a corner back to back as they read some old looking tomes. You approach, and Annalise smiles when she notices you.

Maurice is apparently interested in some of the local beasts and fiends after hearing about the Antlion form Leon, and Annalise is skimming a book about the Earthmother and her followers.

A) Sit with them
B) Say something
C) Other

>>31305761
>A) Sit with them
B) Ask what they're reading

>>31305761
>>31305781
huh, didn't see that last part. Ignore B.

might want to ask what they've learned so far.

>>31305809
Agreed

>>31305761

Is there a D? I wanna fuck some antlions.

>>31305761
>>31305809

This

>>31305898
>I wanna fuck some antlions.

That sounds absolutely horrible.

>>31305809
>>31305896
You ask if either of them has come across something interesting in their studies. Maurice assures you that the only thing the Rangers are interested in is cold fact. Antlion breeding habits, nesting, feeding, etc, etc. He makes the whole thing seem quite tame. Annalise on the other hand is quite enthusiastic.

"It's fun to learn about other people's culture, I think. The Earthmother is supposedly a queen who ruled the desert a long time ago, and when she was assassinated, she ascended and used her power to dry the land and punish the wicked. Then she made safe havens, oases, for her devout. Hollag was once a holy city, kind of like Lumen, only now it's more or less run by the wealthy like Pietra said. Oh, and people who worship the Earthmother gain control over stone and flora, just like we can make heat and light. It's really neat."

A) Ask something
B) Other

>>31306129
A

Want to go there?

>>31306129
>A) How do you think the church would feel about us helping restore the power to the people?
We Che Guevara now.

>>31306180
>>31306239
You ask about the church's opinion on helping the common folk.

"Well I'm sure the devout would be glad, and the Earthmother is supposed to be very kind to the faithful. I do sort of want to help Pietra since she was so nice to us, but still. If you want to go, I'll come with you." You look over to Maurice. He assures you that he will follow wherever your trail leads in hopes of finding more entertainment.

A) Ask something
B) Find Leon
C) Other

>>31306481
>A) Ask something
>B) Find Leon

get them together, ask them if they're ok with going

>>31306481
>>31306499
most specifically, Leon

>>31306499
You tell Annalise and Maurice to wait here a moment, and head off to find Leon. After asking around, you find him still sleeping off the hunt in one of the chambers of the tunnels. He is wrapped in a blanket and propped against the stone wall, and only half wakes as you enter. You wait for him to stand and put his clothes back on before asking him what he thinks about going back to Hollag.

"That hole? Eh, I dunno. I'm not a fan of how they run the place, but it's not as though it's Ranger business. But, you have helped me do all this, and honestly I don't know if I would have made it alone. If you ask me to, I'll help you. But I won't go against the Rangers."

A) Plan to go to Hollag
B) Other

>>31306873
>A) Plan to go to Hollag

>>31306873
>A) Plan to go to Hollag

>>31306914
>>31307088
You walk with Leon back to the others, and gather them up to prepare for the trip. As Leon and Maurice ready the horses, you and Annalise pray over the flask and armor yourselves. You are ready sometime after noon, and sit mounted just inside the gate. Leon stops to speak to one of the other Rangers about something before bowing respectfully from his saddle and wishing him goodbye. The gate swings open and the four of you exit. As you put distance between you and the fort, Leon turns back.

"So I've got bad news and worse news. The bad news is that the main road is being guarded. Hollag troops have been spotted setting up snares and other such things along the main road a few miles from here, likely for us. The worse news is that last night's run in with the Antlion has shifted the ecosystem quite a bit. There's a territory war going on now, and the damn things are all fighting for the best hunting spots. So our options are risk getting run through by soldiers, or risk getting squashed by leaping Antlions. Your choice, brave leader.

A) Face the troops
B) Face the antlions
C) Ask something

>>31307376
>B) Face the antlions

>>31307831
You decide to brave the antlions, since they at least mean you no intentional harm. Leon agrees, and begins leading the group off of the main road to Hollag. You ride a while longer, picking up speed as Leon suggests.

"Antlions are burrowers, and they can feel through the ground. Even the drop of a small pebble is enough to alert one a mile away. They aren't normally aggressive; they prefer luring prey rather than seeking it. But right now they're in the middle of a battle for dominance, so it's dangerous to lower our speed enough that they can pinpoint our location." Leon explains some of the habits of Antlions, such as their ability to move as fast as a trotting horse beneath the ground, and their ability to excrete water to lure prey. This continues for a few minutes, until you see something that nearly throws you from Pedro.

A large and dusty worm bursts from the ground, screeching high enough to hurt your ears, and sails overhead. The sand it kicks up is so harsh that you are forced to close your eyes to avoid being blinded. It hits the ground on the other side of the group and immediately begins tunneling back beneath the surface. Leon orders you to spread out the horses to confuse them, and you do.

Soon more of the things begin bursting out of the dry ground, and some of them tackle each other in mid-air. The more you watch them, the more you notice. They have pincer-like mouths that snap shut and look to be quite lethal. That are covered in tiny appendages that are red in color, and resemble tree branches as a glance. They also do not appear to have visible eyes, but clearly their are aware enough to even predict the movement of their target.

"We're skirting the area, but it'll only get worse from here! Now's our last chance to get back to the road!" Leon turns and calls back to you.

A) Ride on
B) Retreat

>>31308167
B

And I just watched three of the Tremors movies yesterday

>>31308167
A
beasts are easier to deal with, plus we have an expert is beast-slaying

>>31308307
You see the terror of the antlions in motion as they collide and rip at each other in the sandy air. You can feel Annalise squeezing down on your shoulder, and even Maurice seems a bit frightened by all of this. You decide that soldiers are much less threatening than these creatures, and so you tell Leon that you want to head back to the road. He gives you a affirmative hand motion, and begins turning west. The rest of you follow, but as you leave the ring of battle, you feel Pedro's feet lose steadiness. Suddenly from behind you, mere feet away, emerges the mouth and head of an antlion. It screeches, opening it's maw and threatening to swallow you horse and all. You look ahead, but the others seem too focused on riding to look back. Annalise whines, unable to form a true scream.

A) Tell Annalise to act
B) Call for Maurice
C) Call for Leon
D) Other

>>31308731
>A) Tell Annalise to act

>>31308731
A. Ranged magicks go!

>>31308782
You call back to Annalise and tell her to do something. Her whining ceases, and you can feel her hands grip tight on your shoulders. A moment later, you feel something weigh heavy on you, and realize that Annalise is using you as a support to stand and turn around in her seat. She presses her back to yours, and you feel an intense hear against your left ear. You turn and see a bright light in the shape of a rod, glowing in Annalise's hand. One of her sunlight javelins. She hurls it, and you can hear a loud screech from behind, as well as the sound of something dragging along the floor. You manage to look back for a brief moment and see the antlion slain and burned by the spell, moving along the hardpan as its momentum carries it forward. Annalise turns back and grabs your shoulders.

"It's alright, usually scorching something's organs in a split second it enough to kill it, but I have another bolt left."

A) "That's not exactly what I had in mind, but results are results."
B) "Keep an eye out for more."
C) Other

>>31309131
>A) "That's not exactly what I had in mind, but results are results."
>B) "Keep an eye out for more."
>C) Other
call out to leon

>>31309184
You pat Annalise on the metaphorical back and tell her to keep a lookout in case another tries anything. You then call up to Leon, informing him of what happened. He cheers up at this, congratulating Annalise on her skill. Leon tells you that there shouldn't be any more like that, and in the end he turns out to be right. As you ride away from the antlions, they continue to battle one another and ignore your group.

It's a while before you find the road again, and by then you've wasted nearly two hours going off course. That being said, it's quite relaxing to be away from the beasts. Leon slows to meet your pace.

"So, like I said, there will be an ambush somewhere along this road. I don't know what they'll have waiting for us, but chances are they'll try to outnumber us. How do you want to proceed?"

A) Ride in a row
B) Ride in a column, at the head
C) Ride in a column, at the rear

>>31309585
Why be the one's who get ambushed?

D) get off the road and do a bit of scouting. try to see if you can find them first and gank them

>>31309647
You propose an alternate plan to Leon, in hopes that you may turn the table in the middle of the desert. He scratches the hair on his chin and looks up at the blue afternoon sky.

"Well, it might work. But you'll never be able to do it in armor. Clanking and sparkling like you do. Annalise is an inquisitor though..."

A) Ask Annalise if she's willing
B) Tell Leon that he should be able to spot them alone
C) Other

>>31309719
a

>>31309719
>>31309824
scratch that. We're fine going without armour.

>>31309719
>A) Ask Annalise if she's willing
>>31309846
Paladins without armour are a bad idea, Wren.

>>31309846
>>31309924
You explore your options a bit. Annalise states that she is more than willing to scout alongside Leon if you need her to, but you still ask if it wouldn't just be simple to remove your armor and go with him.

"Eh, no. You're reliant on the stuff in a fight. Not only that, but you don't have the skills Annalise and I have. It's not just about being discovered, it's about eyesight, hearing, instinct, all that jazz. I'd feel more confident if it was just me and Annalise." Annalise peers around your shoulder at you.

"It's okay. You can watch the horses with Maurice, I'll be fine."

A) Send Annalise with Leon
B) Send Leon alone
C) Other

>>31310055
>A) Send Annalise with Leon

>>31310161
You agree to let Annalise and Leon scout ahead for possible ambushes. They both dismount, and Leon ties Nero to Pedro so that you're able to guide him to a safe place. You move off of the road with Maurice and find a spot to wait. You are protected from the sun magically, but Maurice not so much. He brings up his hood to keep the light off of his face and merely simmers as Annalise and Leon walk ahead.

You find yourself alone with Maurice, waiting for the others to return. You glance over to him and see he is shuffling his deck of cards again. 21 cards, with one missing. He seems to be staring at them as he shuffles.

A) Say something
B) Leave him be

>>31310341
>A) Say something
Need any help?

>>31310366
You call to Maurice. He stops shuffling, nearly dropping a card, and looks over to you from beneath his ragged hood.

"No sir. Just meditating, as it were. Shuffling the cards helps me focus. Though, I am curious about something. I was able to reforge some of my cards, but not all. Part of me wonders why lucky thirteen is so special."

A) Ask about something
B) "Death is a complicated thing."
C) Other

>>31310435
>B) "Death is a complicated thing."


remind me, what is Maurice's specialty?

>>31310468
Maurice nods and smiles.

"It is indeed, sir. Life, death, all the things between and beyond. It's never clear, even to those who master it. I hope to someday have a glimpse at its machinations, but I know that such a thing is merely a pipe dream." Maurice turns his gaze back to the cards and begins shuffling them again.

A) Ask about something
B) Wait for the others to return
C) Other

Spoiler: Voodoo

>>31310717
>A) Ask about something
what's your lucky number?

what's ours?

>>31310790
Maurice chuckles at the question.

"Well I suppose I've never really though about that, sir. If I really had to put my mind to it, I'd like to think it was one. Single. Solitary. Alone. Bit if my life in summary, really. What makes you ask?"

A) "Just a thought I had."
B) Other

Being a big, armored guy with a zweihander and holy magic.

>>31311079
A) "Just a thought I had."
What did you used to do before tagging with us? You don't seem like the sort to stay in one place for long, and given the talents you've shown you're not some simple apprentice or journeyman neither.

>>31311079
>A) "Just a thought I had."

>>31311118
>>31311130
You turn the question away and ask Maurice about his past, before meeting you.

"Oh, sir. Heh, you don't want to hear my life story. I assure you it's nothing so interesting as what you imagine."

A) "We've got plenty of time."
B) "Give me the abridged version."
C) "If you say so."
D) Other

>>31311320
>A) "We've got plenty of time."

>>31311368
You offer Maurice the chance to spill the story, and he smiles. He looks up toward the sun, shielding his eyes with one hand.

"Let's see if I can even recall. I believe I was born many years ago, in the great swamp. My mother, I want to say, was a barmaid, and my father was some traveler who she rarely spoke of. All I can recall her saying is that he was a fiend, and a liar, and that if she had the opportunity that she'd love nothing more than to castrate him herself with a dull bread knife. She was a sweet, loving woman. She raised me alone, and nearly in secret. There weren't many children in the town where I grew up, so I mostly kept to myself down by the water or up in the trees. I loved to climb then.

One day, I come home and my sweet mother was laid on the table with her insides out. Someone had drawn a ritual circle and pinned her guts to the wood table, using her as some sort of catalyst. The other bar patrons were either dead or run off. I thought, seeing as dinner was cancelled surely, that I may as well clean up the mess. I did so, and soon picked clean the pockets of every person in the place for coin to go on the road. I fancied being a performer, which in a way I am.

A few weeks later, I came across a plantation where a kind family took me in and fed me. I told them what had happened in my home, and they summoned the constables. Well, they went down the road to investigate, but they never did come back. People started lookin at me with wicked eyes, callin me a cursed child. They said I was a bringer of death. And so, when some boys tried to chase me down and beat me with branches, I about got fed up with bein treated as such and turned on the,. Heheh, I must have torn two of their throats our with my bare teeth. The others, I followed home and their throats I did slit in their sleep. The next day I left town and didn't come back.

I spent the next few years dodging the constables, sleeping in barns, fishing in rivers for food

cont

>>31311795
'Normal boys things really. That is until I think my tenth year, when a bard and I crossed paths. He was a great singer and he played a mean viola, but what I really took to was his power of prestidigitation. He could make a coin vanish with your eyes right on the thing. As a boy I found it amazing. I asked him to teach me, and he did. He taught me with rod and bullwhip, and by thirteen I was skilled and scared up like you wouldn't believe. Eventually he sold me off to a plantation owner make ends meet, and I spent a few years cutting sugar in the fields. Round about the time I turned eighteen, one of the hands took a branding iron to me while drunk. Tied me to a post and everything. Once he let me go, I told the owner and he dragged his ringed hand across my face so fast my head just about spun around. He was an ornery man, indeed. Now, I was a bit more mature then, so I didn't take things too far. I merely cut out his heart with a scythe and burned it before his wife. Oh, she did scream, heheh. I was let go, needless to say, and my severance package was meant to be a noose, but something odd occurred during the hanging. When they tried to dangle me, I say a face in my own shadow. To this day I'm not sure I wasn't dreaming it. A any rate, the face told me that the only way to live was to feed on those who'd see me dead. Now, I wasn't a gullible boy, but I knew when I was licked. So, I struck up a deal with that face. I would slay the hangers, and he'd get me free. Next thing I know, the knot goes and undoes itself, and I'm ripping out the eyes of my escort.

I went on the road for a while after that, trying to find myself. The face in the shadow talked to me now and then, but eventually he stopped showing when I refused to kill children and pets and the like. In time, I simply began looking into magic to see if I could understand what had happened to me. After that, I simply caught on and began using the stuff to make my living, and the rest is history"

>>31311983
A) Ask something
B) Other

>>31312006
b
wait for the others

>>31312047
You remain silent as you take in Maurice's tale. When he finishes, he smiles and returns to his cards, shuffling them quickly and quietly. You think it's better to hold your tongue for now.

Hours go by before Leon and Annalise return. Leon sweats profusely, but the magic of the flask still protects Annalise. When they get back, Leon relays their findings.

"A dozen or so, mostly with crossbows and spears. They've dug spider-holes and are waiting for us ti ride by. When we do, they'll pop out behind us and fire. Any of us still alive they probably mean to chase. I'd say our best best is to simply ride around them. Then again, if there are any we didn't spot, we'd be walking into a trap. The only other thing I can think of is to meet them there and draw them out the old fashioned way: a sword in to skull."

A) Agree to the first plan
B) Agree to the second plan
C) Propose another option
D) Other

Too much story dump, Wren?

>>31312006
>A
Were you self-taught in magic? Where do you intend to go after we've gotten Leon's totems? Speaking of him, what's your view on the ranger?

>>31312388
>A) Agree to the first plan


kind of a bit, but it's not bad. I like reading a story.

>>31312388
A) Agree to the first plan
Let's see who's the sneakier group here.

I know it's way too late to be asking this, but in the previous adventure did end up with Pearl, Donna or both?

>>31312455
>>31312697
You agree to moving around the ambush completely, which Leon seems to think is the best course as well. He and Annalise tell you and Maurice about the route you'll need to take, and that you'll likely have added on another eight hours total to your ride to Hollag. They disagree however on the timing of this plan. Leon suggests going now, so the sunlight serves you in spotting them, but Annalise believes night will not only tire them, but make you harder to spot.

A) Side with Leon
B) Side with Annalise

>>31312697
Mormon end

>>31312795
B) Side with Annalise
make sure to cover our armor in a cloak or something so we don't shine so much

>>31312847
You choose to go at night. Leon attempts to convince you a bit more, but eventually you win him over to the idea too. With that settled, the four of you set in to wait for dark.

When the sky has lost all semblance of hot colors, and given itself over to blue and black totally, the four of you mount up again. You progress slowly, dusters on, and make your way around the location of the ambush. Leon reminds you that going too far off the road runs the risk of attractive the attention of the antlions, but with some care you are able to avoid all the hazards before you. You make it through the night undisturbed, and continue to ride on toward Hollag.

You sleep in the saddle, like always, and in a two days time you spot Hollag just on the horizon. The lights of the city stand against the black desert night. You slow things down to avoid kicking up too much dust on the approach, and the group is close enough to ride in just before sunrise. Near the gates, Leon asks how you plan to move around the city when the authorities will clearly be looking for you.

"I mean, a guy in heavy plate, a redhead, and a Ranger don't blend in as well as you'd think. Maybe we should split up, and meet up inside? That might lower the risk of them noticing us."

A) Agree
B) Disagree

>>31313255
>A) Agree

>>31313279
The four of you agree to enter the city separately, and meet at the hideout in a few hours. Maurice rides in first, claiming to be the best at moving through crowds unseen. You don't argue, and it comes down to three of you.

"I can hop down and scale the wall. I'll make my way down to the street, and that way one of you can enter through the gate at the same time. It'll throw them off I think." Annalise looks around to gauge your reaction. Leon seems to think it best to split you and Annalise up for now.

A) Agree
B) Disagree

>>31313501
>A) Agree
tell her we'll meet up shortly.

>>31313557
Annalise places a kiss on your cheek and dismounts, heading for the wall. She scampers up as quick and nimble as a squirrel. Once she is over, Leon invites you to enter before him. You do so, and make your way into the city.

Inside, things seem as you left them. There appear to be more guards about, but none of them seem overly hostile. The only other thing of note is that there are clear signs of blood on the ground here and there, but the townsfolk seem to mostly ignore them.

A) Head straight to the hideout
B) Other

>>31313891
>B) Other
investigate blood

I'm not a player right now but I just wanted to stop by and say, thank you and keep it up. I'm catching up on the archives right now and I'm enjoying it, I'll probably start following you with the next few threads.

>>31313935
You curiosity gets the better of you, and you come to a stop. You dismount and approach one of the larger bloodstains.

As you kneel down, you notice a few things about the stain. It appears somewhat fresh, likely made within the last few days. It also has a pattern that suggests the person it came from was sliced by a smaller blade several times, rather than once with a larger blade such as a sword. Finally, it seems the body was dragged into the street afterward, so whoever gathered it didn't do so in secret.

A) Head to the hideout
B) Other

>>31314027
Man, don't flatter me. I can't handle this.

>>31314226
B) Other
see if you can inquire about the body

afterwards, A

>>31314226
I've been following this ever since you started this particular run, and there's probably a couple more of us lurking.
I wanted to take part today, but I have an exam to prepare for ;_;

Keep it up

>>31314252
You stand and dust your hands off. After a brief glance around, you pick out one of the locals who seems to look knowlegable. You ask him if he knows anything about the blood. He responds with a confused look and some words you can't make out. You recall now the language barrier. Somewhat dejected, you decide it better to return to the church for the time being, and worry about it later.

You mount Pedro and continue riding through town. After an hour of being lost, you find your bearings and move between familiar landmarks until you come to the hideout. The front doors are still barred, but around the back you find the small yard as well as the rear entrance. Raymon is already here, absently chewing a bit of dry grass. You dismount and tie down Pedro near him.

A) Wait outside
B) Enter

>>31314340
Stop man, I'm getting all tsundere over here

>>31314641
>B) Enter

>>31314641
>B) Enter
Check it out.

>>31314663
>>31314702
You approach the rear door and enter into a dark hallway. Tiny windows above your head light the hall going both ways. Nobody seems to be wandering about at the moment, but they might be bust elsewhere in the hideout. You recall the places you been.

A) Head toward the chapel
B) Head toward the dining hall
C) Other

>>31314956
>A) Head toward the chapel

>>31314969
You make your way to the chapel. The halls seem eery when they're this empty. Almost like the place is haunted. You start becoming a bit uncomfortable. Finally the awkward silence is broken as one of Pietra's men passes you in the hall. He looks twice at you, but days nothing, either because he knows you will not understand or because he never expected to see you again.

You continue on and arrive at the chapel. Inside, Maurice is already reclining in the pews. He hangs his head back with his eyes closed. It seems as though he is dozing. You make to approach him, but are cut off by the sounds of a door opening across the room. Out of it emerges Pietra. She wears leather under a duster, and is clearly surprised by your arrival. Her shocked face turns to a smile as she approaches you.

"Well, well. I'm really glad you came back. I honestly though you would wash your hands of me once you left." She nearly takes a step into your personal space, but something seems to slow her foot, then drag it back. Her smile fades a bit. "So, did you come because..."

A) "We want to help with your cause."
B) "I wanted to make sure you weren't dead."
C) Other

>>31315087
>A) "We want to help with your cause."
B) "I wanted to make sure you weren't dead."

>>31315101
Pietra seems disappointed at first, then you see a smile fight to reach the surface, but she succeeds in holding it back. She takes a breath and composes herself before speaking.

"That's good. I'm doing fine, but the fight isn't going as well as we'd hoped. The fat ones have begun hiring sellswords from the other free cities. Guild members even. They've been arriving a little at a time, but one of them is worth ten of mine, and we've had a lot of trouble beating them. But with you and the mage here, I think we might have a chance. Oh, what about the Ranger and the...girl?"

A) "They'll be along shortly."
B) "What about them?"
C) Other

>>31315338
>A) "They'll be along shortly."

>>31315355
You inform Pietra that both Leon and Annalise will arrive soon. She looks away at Annalise's mention and clears her throat.

"Good. That's good. Anyway, make yourself at home. I'm gonna check on some things, so I'll be busy for a little while." She turns and begins heading back toward the door.

A) Ask something
B) Sit and wait

>>31315572
>A) Ask something
don't try to kill her or anything, ok?

>>31315629
Pietra speaks without turning away.

"The thought never even crossed my mind." This is all she has to say before shutting the door and leaving you alone with Muarice. You turn around and find a pew, sitting and bowing your head. The chapel is quiet, all but for Maurice's breathing.

An hour or so later, Leon enters the chapel. He seems more than alright as he crosses the room to greet you.

"Sorry I ran late, I got a little lost on the way. I ended up in the red light district. At least I hope it was, or else that woman just wanted help with her plumbing. Anyway, what are we up to?" You tell him that you've spoken to Pietra, and Annalise has yet to arrive. "Ah, well I'm sure she's on her way. She is traveling on foot, after all."

A) Wait patiently
B) Other

>>31315946
>A) Wait patiently
Back, guys. Good to see we're attracting more questers, the more the merrier.

>>31315968
You invite Leon to sit with you. He does so loudly, and enough that Maurice starts and wakes from his nap.

"Whoa, there's a bit of a tremor runnin through here. Good to see you, sirs. I reckon our fair maiden is still on her way?" You both confirm this, and Maurice smiles, nodding off again. Nearly an hour later, Annalise enters. She's a bit dusty, but otherwise seems well off.

"Hey, everyone. I got lost. Ran into some kids, they tried to take my symbol, but I got it back. I gave then a good wallop, too. So, where's Pietra?"

A) "Busy. Let's get some rest for now."
B) "Not sure. We might try looking for her."
C) Other

>>31315946
>B) Other
go check the perimeter

>>31316012
b

>>31316012
>A) "Busy. Let's get some rest for now."

>>31316012
A

>>31316028
>>31316041
You tell the others to split up and get some rest for now, and that you'll all meet up with Pietra when she's free. Maurice heads right to bed, but Leon readies himself to go out.

"I'm gonna look around town. I'll ditch my cloak so they don't spot me as easy. Don't worry, I'll be back before nightfall, I just want to see what things look like around here." Leon waves as he backs out of the door to the outside yard. Annalise fidgets a bit beside you.

"So, were you gonna lay down now, because I was thinking about having a nap. But, you don't have to if you aren't tired, I don't want to make you. You probably want to get some stuff done...um, nevermind. Don't listen to me, I'm just babbling because I'm sleepy."

A) Have a nap
B) Other

>>31316237
>A) Have a nap

>>31316237
>A) Have a nap

>>31316242
>>31316281
You wrap an arm around Annalise's shoulder. She is slightly surprised, but doesn't resist. The two of you head toward the hall and make your way to the row of small and minimal bedrooms that Pietra keeps for troops. After searching around for an unoccupied one, the two of you enter and lock up. Annalise throws herself on the bed and is asleep within minutes, before you're even able to remove the whole of your armor.

Once you're down to your tunic and trousers, you lay back on the bed. Whether in her sleep or faking, Annalise rolls toward you and rests her head on your shoulder. Despite your body relaxing and your spine slowly adjusting and straightening out, your mind seems to race. You are unsure of what will happen within the next few hours, or even the next few days. And yet, you find it nearly impossible to worry as Annalise begins snoring into your chest. Soon, you too are taken by sleep.

>>31316429
As much as I hate to leave my best good friends, I need sleep. The good news is, I'll be here for the next seven days or so. Yay for me, maybe not for you, since it means you have to put up with me for a whole week. At any rate, thanks to everyone who played today.

As usual, if this thread is alive in about eight or nine hours, I'll keep posting here to save room on suptg. If not, I'll make a new one.

Also, I have to start thinking about the smut chapter. Why do I write checks I am incapable of cashing?

Love you all, and goodnight.

>>31316456
'night

>>31316456
Thanks for running, good night.

>>31316456
Love you man, should be mostly free for yhe next week, so I'll see you in every thread. don't say those kinds of things, you know we all love you and your threads Rags-senpai

>>31316482
Keepin' the thread alive.

>>31316429
You wake as something shakes you. When your vision clears and your awareness fully returns, you see that it is Annalise. She smiles, informing you that one of Pietra's men has summoned you.

"He came a minute ago to tell us she's ready to see us. I was gonna...nevermind. Get you armor on, I'll be back in a second." Annalise hops out of the bed and slips into her boots, making for the door.

A) As where she's going
B) Get dressed
C) Other

>>31321482
lonely

>>31321482
B
mornin Rags

>>31322658
As Annalise leaves the room, you roll out of bed and begin piecing your armor together. Once again you find Maurice's cards and slide them into your sleeve for safe keeping. Just as you're finishing the gauntlets, Annalise reenters the room with a bottle of greenish liquid.

"Here, I got this from Maurice. He says to swish a mouthful of it around and through your teeth." Annalise thrusts the bottle at you.

A) Do it
B) Ask why
C) Don't do it

>>31322771
A

>>31323302
You follow Annalise's instructions. After, you swallow which burns your throat going down. You gag for a moment and ask Annalise what the liquid was. All she says is that it will make mornings more bearable.

The two of you head out and up to the chapel, where Leon and Maurice are already seated and waiting. They seem to be flipping through Maurice's cards together, mumbling about something. When they spot you, they tuck them away and ask how you slept.

A few minutes later, Pietra enters in her leathers. She looks a bit tired in the eyes, but the rest of her holds itself well.

"I hope you all got decent sleep, because it may be a while before you get another chance. Today, since you've all come, we've decided to move up the final phase of our plan. We're going to begin assaulting the mansions of the fat ones, and apprehending them one by one. If we act quickly, the sellswords they hired won't arrive until after the fight is over, and we'll have occupied the city ourselves. I was hoping you'd be willing to split into four, and each help a unit of my men. Does that sound good to you all?"

Leon agrees that a split assault would serve best if speed is the objective. Annalise isn't sure of her ability to fight alone, but Pietra offers to go with her group. Maurice is neutral, but expresses his dislike of violence.

A) Agree to split
B) Stick together
C) Other

>>31324066
C
Stick Maurice with Annalise, then go solo along with Leon

>>31324101
You propose splitting into two, larger but more powerful groups. Annalise and Maurice, as well as Leon with you. The others think on this for a moment. They don't seem to find any obvious flaw.

"I'm going to be on the frontline too. I'm not going to let my men fight and die alone. That being said, I'll probably join the girl and the mage, if only because they lack for physical strength."

A) Agree
B) Disagree

>>31324193
A
i meant for both Stahl and Leon to roll solo but this actually works too

>>31324193
Agree
Evening everyone

>>31324384
>>31324424
You all set the plan, and Pietra goes to rally her troops, telling you to make any preparations you intend on making within the next hour. Maurice stands and heads toward the kitchen, stating that if blood must be spilled, he won't be the one losing it. Leon goes as well.

"Rangers don't usually go into battle, but a hunt is a hunt, even if it's for a man. I've got some things to do before we ride out."

Annalise draws her holy symbol from her robes and focuses on it. "I'm going to pray, and maybe have a snack."

A) Make preperations
B) Wait

>>31324515
A, go pray with the Annalise

>>31324565
Seconding this. Can we get a spell/blessing list as well?

>>31324565
You and Annalise head to the front of the chapel together and kneel behind the podium. On the wall is a golden symbol which you are unfamiliar with, but which you assume must have something to do with the Earthmother. You both bow your heads and begin praying.

A) Pray for courage
B) Pray for victory
C) Pray for strength
D) Pray for love

>>31324703
Golden Aegis (x1)
Strength of the Gods (x2)
Holy Weapon (x1)

>>31324776
>C) Pray for the strength to do what's necessary
and
>D) The love to be merciful

>>31324845
You stay kneeling beside Annalise for a while, absorbing the silence, the calm before the storm. You aren't sure how much time passes, but eventually you run out of things to say, and stand. Annalise finishes up shortly after. You wait in the chapel as she fetches bread and cheese, and soon after the others return, in full regalia.

Maurice enters with his bulky robes removed. His face and hair have been washed and his hair seems to have been greased with something that allows it to fall as it may on his head without being blown about. His clothes, usually hidden beneath his ragged robes, are now visible. They are a jet black with purple trim, and some gold adornments such as buttons and a single gold chain that crosses his chest. His face has been painted black, and on top of that is the image of a skull. This paint makes his eyes piercing as arrowheads, and even his smile becomes eerie.

Leon has his cloak back, but the hood is now covering his head, lending a sort of mystique to his face. Either he borrowed some paint from Maurice of had his own, because the skin around his eyes has been done in black, which give him the look of a hungry predator. He has a shortbow slung across his back, as well as his twins on his belt. A pouch is clipped into his belt as well, resting behind his back. A large dagger is slid into a sheath on his right boot, and several smaller knives are tucked away on top of his shoulders.

Pietra enters in new black leathers, including a jerkin with leaves he arms from the shoulder down to her gloves bare, and a black mask that covers the bottom half of her face. There is a shortsword resting just below the small of her back, as well as bandoliers covered in small pouches and compartments that cross her hips and shoulders.

Pietra pulls down her mask for a moment to speak. "Is everyone ready then?"

A) Yes
B) No

>>31325269
>A) Yes

>>31325679
You tell Pietra that you're ready, and everyone agrees. All five of you head for the back entrance, and the yard.

Your horses are saddled and ready when you get outside, but only you and Leon mount up. Pietra tells the both of you to make your way across town, and hands you a small map to your destination. The mansion you are to seize is already guarded lightly by some town guards as well as a handful of the hired swords. Your final objective is to apprehend the owner there, who will be easily identifiable by his mounds of fat and greasy grey hair. Any means needed to capture him are encouraged. Before splitting, Pietra asks if you have any questions.

A) Ask something
B) Begin

>>31325811
A)
something tells me it's not going to be that simple. We may be after a decoy, get into a trap.

Keep your eyes peeled. Something strange happens, something feels off, you get everyone to pull out, ok?

>>31325867
You voice your concerns to the others. They all seem to look at Pietra.

"I'm confident in the ability of my information network. But, I agree. We shouldn't be afraid to retreat and regroup if something seems to be going wrong. Still, don't jump at every shadow." The others nod, and Pietra leads Maurice and Annalise out of the yard, followed by a handful of men. You and Leon begin trotting out of the yard and heading another way, toward your destination. The ride last all of half an hour, until you spot a large set of iron gates just ahead and up a small hill. The people appear to be clearing out of the streets, and you can already see Pietra's men gathering nearby and just out of sight. You reach them, and they guide you down an alley and into a small circle. There are five men here, but only one of them seems able to translate for you. He informs you that the attacks will be synchronized at the ringing of the noon bell. When it sounds, the men will begin the assault. For now, they leave you and Leon in command, and ask how you'd like to proceed with the assault.

A) Storm the gate
B) Position the stealthy around the inside, and leave the heavier troops outside
C) Other

>>31326023
>B) Position the stealthy around the inside, and leave the heavier troops outside

>>31326023
>B) Position the stealthy around the inside, and leave the heavier troops outside

>>31326070
>>31326071
Seconding these two

>>31326070
>>31326071
The translator explains the plan, and the others agree. Two of them begin spreading the word to all of the men in hiding. Leon puts a hand on your shoulder.

"I guess that means I'm going in. Sorry, but by the time you get in the front door I'll have this thing taken care of. Hope you don't mind cleaning up."

A) "Be careful"
B) "I'll be in there before you can squeeze through the window."
C) Other

>>31326484
>B) "I'll be in there before you can squeeze through the window."
A)

>>31326545
You tell Leon to keep his caution handy, and he smiles, stands, and walks toward the street. He and nearly half of the troops move in, scaling the outer wall and hiding in the hedges inside, slowly creeping closer to the house as the time to spring into action draws near. You and the men at your back, armored in chain and armed with axe and broadsword, prepare for the charge.

Every second passes like a minute as you wait. The low murmur of the men puts you on edge. Up above, you can sometimes spot a curious civilian peeking down at you, watching you. You wonder where Annalise and Maurice are at the moment, and if they feel just as tense. Then you hear the bells, and the men begin moving.

A) Go to the head of the charge
B) Stay at the rear
C) Stay in the middle

>>31326844
c

ready to move front or back in case of trouble.

heading out. good luck

>>31326907
You enter the crowd as they form up, staying toward the center and preparing for the worst. Soon the men begin marching toward the gate. Once they clear the street and reach the hill, the troops begin transitioning from a fast walk to a jog, then a full run toward the front gates of the mansion. One of them gets far enough ahead to kick the gates open, letting out a low creak of rusted iron as the men slowly begin pouring into the large yard. You can hear whistles sounding from ahead, and soon the windows swing open, with crossbowmen ready to fire into the crowd.

A) Call to spread formation
B) Call to speed the advance
C) Other

>>31327032
>B) Call to speed the advance.

>>31327203
Your orders are echoed in the native tongue as bolts fly from the windows above and begin raining down on the troops in waves. You can see several people pierced by them, flinching and falling over, or in some rare cases marching on. The footsteps of the men increases in pace as they make for the front doors. Hope arrives, however, as one of the crossbowmen is grabbed and pulled back into the window he is stationed in. More follow, and you understand that the men inside have begun their subterfuge.

The troops approach the front doors now, but they seem to be locked and barricaded. The enemy has reacted fast.

A) Ram the doors
B) Break in the windows

>>31327468
>C) Can we set one guy to bash at the door, then break through the windows when they are distracted?
If not,
>B)

>>31327905
You order a handful of men to set to ramming at the door, in order to draw some of theirs to guard it. Meanwhile, the rest of the men will begin entering through the first floor windows. You turn right and make for the nearest window, watching as one of the men smashes it with a stone and breaks in after. You follow him, and come to meet the guards within the house. Most of them are lightly armored, wielding short blades, but some have true swords. The men entering through the window have some trouble getting past them, and the fight seems to be fairly even.

A) Clear this room
B) Cut through the enemy and advance

>>31328034
>A) Clear this room and let the men enter and regroup, then make our way to the main entrance.

>>31328216
Sorry Rags, I've got to head out. Hopefully someone else will come along soon.

>>31328216
You decide to stand by the others and work to clear this room. You draw your sword and begin fighting back as the enemy begin rushing at you. A few powerful swings are more than enough to drive them back, until one of them steps forward with a confident stride. This one isn't in uniform, instead wearing half-plate and wielding a greataxe. You think he must be a sellsword. He grins as he rushes at you, aiming to slice your leg open.

A) Parry
B) Dodge

dodge

>>31328586
You backstep, avoiding the arc of the axe, but drawing close to the window from which you entered. The axeman comes at you again, and you quickly glance around for an opportunity to turn the tables. Funnily enough, you do spot a small, wooden end table with a small vase resting on top.

A) Parry the axe and push him back
B) Use the table to catch the weapon
C) Use the vase

>>31328692
>A) Parry the axe and push him back
[x] Counter!

>>31328692
parry! save the pretty vase for the girl if everything isn't destroyed afterwards

>>31328704
>>31328725
You raise your sword and catch the axe as it comes down. The sellsword grins, thinking he has the advantages. He raises a boot and tries to drive you back with a powerful kick. Sadly for him, he overestimates his own strength, and his boot merely slides down your stomach. You however, fare better. With one strong blow, you kick him back and into his comrades, so hard and fast that his axe slips out of his grasp. He scrambles to his feet, and glances around for another weapon.

A) Finish him
B) Intimidate

off topic: how do I do spoiler text on mobile?

finish him then offer mercy to those who will surrender


good job at this thread! I was just a lurker until this died

>>31328923
>B) Intimidate
Messing with trained Paladins of his Most Holiness? You're gonna need a paycheck way high
er to even start considering that.

>>31329146
You step forward and impale him on your sword. He coughs blood, and you pull the blade back, flicking the blood off of it. As he collapses to the ground, the uniformed guards seem to lose all will to attack you again. You shoulder your sword and offer them the chance to run. Whether they understand or not, they do run, leaving their comradesalready engaging your men to fight alone. After a few minutes cleaning the remainder up, the men cheer and begin spreading throughout the house.

A) Move upstairs
B) Move to the cellar
C) Patrol this floor

>>31329255
Cellar door: someone once said that out of all the combinations of words in the english language, cellar door is the most beautiful.

Open it Donnie.

>>31329329
You make your way to the kitchen, where a few of the men are working to pry open the door to the cold cellar, where the house likely stores meat and wine. They are having a deal of trouble, but one of them stops you from assisting when you approach.

A) Open them yourself
B) Wait for them

>>31329527
>B) Wait for them

>>31329633
You cross your arms and watch as they mess about around the doors. You can hear the din of skirmishes all around the house. Soon, another one of them enters the room behind you. He carries an iron bar, and with it they pry open the doors, splintering the wood before the locks give. They peer down, as do you. It's near pitch black down the incline into the underground, and you hear nothing below.

A) Send them in first
B) Go in first

Send them in first! Better to be brave against an enemy you can see than a possible trapdoor.

>>31330014
You order the men in first, and they follow without question. One of them thinks to grab a candle from a nearby shelf before going in, to provide light. Once all four of them have descended, you follow.

The further you go into the cellar, the darker and colder it seems.The men in front of you mumble to themselves. You can feel the sense of fear from them. Soon, the passage becomes too narrow to properly swing your sword, or even pass the men on the side. You walk by shelves of food and wine, and eventually come to another locked door. The men examine it, and one of them calls back to you, but you don't know what he's saying.

A) Tell them to break it down
B) Examine it yourself
C) Other

>>31330329
>B) Examine it yourself

>>31330329
also, if you have time after ending the session, I kind of wanted to bring up a few ideas.

>>31330417
You squeeze past them to get to the door. It is tall and narrow, and made from solid wood. The candlelight just barely illuminates it. You knock, feeling how sturdy the thing seems to hold. It would take a ram to properly open this.

As you stand contemplating, you hear voices and footsteps approaching from behind, through the dark. The men draw steel as best they are able, and seem ready to face an attack.

A) Fight while they open the door
B) Open the door while they fight
C) Other

>>31330439
Well, it's not gonna end for a few hours, so you may as well go ahead.

>>31330502
>A) Fight while they open the door


for the next episode, I was considering our starting character having a handicap of some sort. Most specifically, being mute. Perhaps some congenital problem or physical damage was done to prevent the character from ever speaking again. The propensity for misunderstandings (and drama) is bound to increase. Or, we could try amnesia. Only, realistic retrograde amnesia, where we never get our memories back, but we can pick up clues and try to piece together what happened in our past.

As for the setting, we could explore a new continent with more tribal people. Being mute and all, this might make things kind of hilarious.

Alternatively, we could attempt to use our amnesiac persona to discover a world in the midsts or in the aftermath of a cataclysm that would lead to the setting of episode 4.

>>31330618
You push the men back and order them to open the doors. They don't understand, clearly, but after some time they seem to catch on and begin working together to break the door down. The candlelight isn't very good, but it's enough to notice when a number of enemy guards advance on you, and begin aiming crossbows.

A) Aegis
B) Charge
C) Other

As neat as that sounds, this episode isn't anywhere near done. I plan to take this story all over, so we'll see plenty of new things and places. I will keep it in mind though.

>>31330502
A
>>31330618
I'm game for being mute

>>31330833
>A) Aegis

Just positing some ideas I wanted to explore.

>>31330843
Curses foiled again
>>31330833
Is there anything around us we could use a makeshift shield as we
>B) Charge

>>31330861
You plant your sword in the ground, and a golden wall rises up from the floor, stopping the spray of bolts as they come flying at you. They collide with the barrier and shatter into splinters and steel tips. The men are shocked, but they do not retreat. They begin loading their crossbows for another volley, but the time this takes gives you a chance to strike back.

A) Rush with your sword
B) Strength of the Gods

>>31331189
B) Strength of the Gods


Just for clarification, the scenario regarding the cataclysm should be set in the current world, but the incident should wipe out most of the magic.

>>31331210
You run at them, covering nearly thirty feet in three seconds as the power of your muscles intensifies. At the end of your charge, you ram your shoulder into one of them, knocking him back through two rows of his companions. Now, they begin to panic. For good measure you drive your palms into two of their stomachs, sending them hurtling backward as well. They retreat, dropping their weapons as you dust off your hands. There is a loud bang from behind you, and you turn to see your men have gotten the door open, at the cost of their shoulders. You approach, but they seem reluctant to enter.

A) Have them move in
B) Go in alone

>>31331295
take a peek

>>31331332
agree

>>31331332
>>31331416
You move past them to get to the door. There, you carefully look in.

Inside is a room light by tall torches on thin, iron stands. Five of them surround a ritual circle in the floor, one that is large and very complex. The only other thing of note inside is a stone slab, a table most likely, at the far end of the room. The men shy away from it.

A) Go in alone
B) Order them in
C) Other

>>31331608
>A) Go in alone
Tell to keep an eye. If something crazy happens, they send a runner to alert everyone else

>>31331638
You enter the room alone. As soon as you cross through the doorway, you feel a chill run up your spine. You look around, but the room seems totally empty.

Suddenly, you think you hear a voice, a weak and quiet one, coming from the center of the circle. The men hear it to, and step back from the door. You listen more carefully, and the voice seems to be calling for help.

A) Approach the circle
B) Other

>>31331700
>A) Approach the circle

>>31331700
>A) Approach the circle
>>31328947
Bit late but you just do (spoiler) and (/spoiler) except replacing the parenthesis with []

>>31331708
You draw closer to the circle, taking careful steps and listening for the voice again. The closer you come, the easier it is to hear. Eventually, you can make out the words.

"...help...me...help...me..." You come within a few feet of the circle, and the words remain the same. You kneel down to inspect it. It's design is unfamiliar to you, though you aren't are knowledgeable in magic as some. You touch the outer ring to see if the chalk breaks up. It does smear a little, but when you touch it, the voice changes.

"Break the circle...please...cold...trapped..."

A) Break the circle
B) Other

>>31332013
>B) Other
"who are you?"

>>31332013
>B) Other
Ignore it for now, call Maurice in later.

>>31332128
You speak to the voice, inquiring as to its identity. It responds with faint whispers at first, but then it raises to a comprehensible level.

"...-ael...-pon...help...gods...please..." These are all that you can make out, until it begins repeating itself.

A) Ask something else
B) Break the circle
C) Other

She's somehow gotten through both Mighty Morphin' and Zeo, now she's onto Turbo and she's loving it.

>>31332239
>A) Ask something else
"Are you a daemon? Are you a spirit?"

>>31332239
>C) Other
"Hang on there alright, I'll be back soon with someone who knows more about this stuff."

>>31332239
does she know about anime? Because if so, may the gods have mercy on your soul.

>>31332292
You question the voice further. It takes a moment to respond this time.

"No...form...need...form...please...sunlight...moonlight...help..."

A) Question further
B) Break the circle
C) Other

>>31332321
She's been doing stunts around the house for days, and I've got about three new bruises from her jumpkicking me while I make dinner. She loves anime and that stuff, but that's because I watch it all day. She's mostly into the action stuff, but for some reason she loves One Piece.

>>31332417
C) Other

Have the guys guard this area, send a runner to bring the others here.

you brought this upon yourself.

>>31332461
seconding

>>31332461
>>31332504
Just to be clear, you mean the others who are currently fighting the oligarchy?

>>31332593
Yeah, once they're done we'll need Maurice.

>>31332593
Eh, fine, have the guys guard the circle. We go back and finish the fight, then come back down here.

>>31332621
>>31332624
So are you staying here, or going back up?

>>31332716
Back up.

>>31332716
back, and have them ready a runner in case whatever it is breaks the circle.

>>31332745
>>31332772
You order the men to stay put by the door. They try to follow you when you head back, but you eventually communicate to them what you mean. They stand watch, each taking turns peeking at the circle, as you make your way back up to the kitchen.

You reach the cellar door, wincing to adjust to the sunlight. The fight seems to be winding down now, but upstairs there is clearly something still happening. You search for the stairs, and when you find them you are witness to a bloody scene. Several men on both sides have been cut down here, either defending or advancing. Some of the enemies have clearly been sliced by two blades, meaning Leon might have played a part. You look up, and you can hear a ruckus above.

A) Advance boldly
B) Advance cautiosly

>>31332901
b

>>31332901
>A) Advance boldly

>>31332956
You draw your sword and hold it behind you as you ascend the stairs. A little more than halfway up. one of the steps cracks beneath your foot. Startled, you glance down, and when you look back up, a man is falling toward you. You swat him away on instinct, knocking him into the wall nearby. When you take a closer look at him however, he appears unconscious. You look back up the stairs and see a glimpse of green. You keep going and behold an entertaining sight.

Leon stands against ten enemies, sellswords by the look, with many of your comrades spread across the floor and writhing. Leon glances back at you, and you can see a smile cross his face before he looks back.

"It's about time. I'm already thirteen deep, but they seem really intent on dying. Let me clean these guys up and we'll get a move on."

A) Stand and watch
B) Join in

>>31333154
>B) Join in

>>31333154
>B) Join in

>>31333192
>>31333195
You step in and stand beside Leon. The sellswords seem less confident fighting both a Ranger and a Paladin, and they show this in their posture. The two of you stand back to back, baring your blades, ready for the enemies to charge. Leon speaks to you over his shoulder.

"Ready to make some widows?"

A) "No."
B) "You think a woman would have one of these mangy hounds?"
C) Other

>>31333455
>B) "You think a woman would have one of these mangy hounds?"

>>31333472
Leon chuckles, but the sellswords do not. They begin running at you, and you feel Leon move away.

Four men are upon you now, but one of them, armed with an axe, is quickly dispatched with one great downward swing of your weapon. The other three rush to take advantage of your moment of pause. The nearest one wields a sword and shield, the next another axe, and the last one is lunging with a spear.

A) Focus on the sword
B) Focus on the axe
C) Focus on the spear

>>31333687
>C) Focus on the spear

>>31333687
>C) Focus on the spear

>>31333697
>>31333722
You turn and face the spearman, using your sword to turn away the head as he runs at you. His momentum betrays him, amplifying the force of your pommel against his teeth. He falls back, releasing his weapon. You turn just in time to catch the axeman's weapon and brace yourself for the bash of the swordsman's shield.

A) Eliminate the swordsman
B) Eliminate the axeman

>>31333773
b

>>31333773
>B) Eliminate the axeman

>>31333780
>>31333812
You receive a hard bash to the back as you work to twist the axeman's weapon around, and tear it out of his grip. He is knocked off balance by this, and you are afforded the chance to deliver a swing up into his stomach, lifting him off of the ground even as it cuts into his leather armor, and presumably his flesh. He falls to the ground, writhing. You turn and are tackled by the swordsman. You are knocked back, but managed to catch yourself as he goes to follow up with a lunge.

A) Parry
B) Dodge
C) Counter

>>31333915
>C) Counter

>>31333915
>C) Counter

>>31333948
>>31333962
As the blade comes at your stomach, you reverse the grip on your sword so that the blade emits from the bottom of your closed fist. Then, you grab the incoming sword with your gloved hand and pull the swordsman in toward you. You feel the blade cut into your palm a bit, but the reward is good, as you slam the pommel of your sword into his throat and knock him away. As he hits the ground, you plunge your weapon into his chest, likely piercing the wooden floor beneath him as well. He cries out, and you stomp a foot on his chest to pull the blade free.

You look over in time to see Leon slice the throat of his last enemy, then use his other sword to cut open his belly. The sellsword falls, and the fight is won. Leon wiped his sword clean with the crook of his elbow and approaches you.

"All of our boys are either dead or retreated. Seems like these hired thugs were tougher than Pietra assumed. We still haven't found our quarry, but he must be somewhere on the third floor."

A) Head to the third floor and split up
B) Head up and search together

>>31334202
>B) Head up and search together

>>31334202
>B) Head up and search together

>>31334222
>>31334288
The two of you return to the stairs and begin climbing. You reach the third floor, and are surprised by a crossbowman taking cover behind a large pot. He fires a bolt, but it merely grazes your side, and Leon dispatches him with a thrown knife before he can pose further threat.

The two of you move down the hall one way together, kicking open doors on either side in search of your target. One brave soul, likely a mere servant, lunges at you from hiding with a cooking knife. You catch his hand and toss him aside like a sack, and seeing no sign of your target, you shut the door again.

Finally, you come to a large double doors that seem to lead into an office. It is the last place you've yet to search. Leon looks over to you in expectation.

A) Kick the door in
B) Open is slowly
C) Other

>>31334554
>A) Kick the door in
and toss something in to act as a distraction

>>31334554
>A) Kick the door in

>>31334599
Together, you and Leon reel back and drive your boots into the center of the door, breaking it open and nearly off of its hinges with one great bash. Leon pulls something from his pocket and flings it into the room. It rebounds of the walls and makes a racket, as well as glistening in the light. Across the room you see a large man, vast of belly with an open silk robe and hands covered in rings. He recoils behind a desk, and before him are two men in half-plate with longswords. They look identical, so much so that they must be twins. They all three watch as the object, which you realize to be a gold coin, bounces around the room.

A) Rush the sellswords
B) Rush the fat man

>>31334840
feint for the sellswords, take the fatman

>>31334840
>A) Rush the sellswords

>>31334857
You and Leon rush into the room, taking advantage of their mild distraction. You stop, sliding across polished wood and feinting a great swing with your sword. The sellswords raise their weapons in anticipation of your attack, but as they brace themselves Leon maneuvers around you and leap over the desk. He drives a knee into the fat man's nose and knocks him back into the wall. The sellswords seem shocked by this, giving you a chance to strike.

A) Knock out one
B) Kill both

>>31335116
>A) Knock out one

>>31335116
>A) Knock out one

>>31335146
>>31335165
You turn your blade sideways and bash one of the two twin sellswords in the side of the head. He falls to the ground, barely clinging to awareness. The other sees this and rushes at you in a rage. You have too little time to react, leaving you with only one option: raising an arm to catch his blade. It bites into he gauntlet, and you can feel the cut, but it stops him from slicing your whole arm. Leon repays him by sliding over the desk and grabbing a hold of his neck, then stabbing his sword up into the man's guts. He then pulls it back out and kicks the man away. With that, and realizing that Leon's kick knocked he fat man unconscious, your objective is complete. Leon asks what you plan to do next.

A) Hold down the mansion until word arrives
B) Fall back and take your charge with you
C) Other

>>31335290
>A) Hold down the mansion until word arrives
We still need Maurice's word on the circle downstairs.

Will be going for a bit in a couple minutes - meeting up with a couple mates.

>>31335332
You decide to stick around until orders come. Meanwhile, you leave Leon to guard the target as you check on the men in the cellar.

You descend the slope into the underground and follow the tunnel. At first, you must follow the walls with one hand, but after a few turns you spot the faint glow of the candle in the distance. You pick up speed and approach. You are shocked however, to see that the candlestick lies alone on the ground, burning itself out. You pick it up and look into the room. Four bodies, the troops you left here, are lying by the tall torches around the circle, which is now glowing faintly, and wisp of black smoke is rising from it.

A) Approach
B) Other

>>31335576
>A) Approach

>>31335663
You step closer to the circle, and find yourself nearly hypnotized by its glow. The smoke begins twisting and wafting in your direction. It seems almost like a weak hand, reaching out. The voice from the circle speaks again, only this time is is much stronger and clearer.

"Son of man, help me. Too much blood has been shed. Break this circle and free me, so that peace may finally return to this place."

A) Step away
B) Step forward
C) Other

>>31335774
>C) Other
"and how would peace be achieved?"

"also, what happened to those guys over there?"

>>31335799
You question the voice once more.

"Order through example. Balance through unity. Unity by strength. This is the only way to peace. This is my goal, but I am trapped within this circle. Break it and free me, and I will pledge myself to you, Paladin." You ask what happened to the guards you left to protect the room. "They were fools, who gave into sin. Greed, wrath, and lust. They played their hands without thought, and paid the price for it. It was their foolishness that cut them down."

A) Ask something else
B) Approach
C) Back away

>>31335899
>A) Ask something else
"You're not being specific enough.
Tell me exactly how they came to die. And what exactly you mean by Order."

>>31335926
You demand that the voice be more detailed.

"They approached the circle with ill intent. They sought power from it, but the only power within it is destined for the hands of greatness, not simple minded cogs in the great machine." You ask what it means by 'order'. "Order through example. The world must see what order looks like to understand its beauty. Balance through unity. The world must unite, and stand together against the storm. Unity by strength. Only the truly great can shoulder the burden of power; the power which will end pain and struggle, and give the people of the world the chance to throw down their collective swords and strive toward one goal."

A) Approach
B) Back away
C) Other

>>31336071
>B) Back away
"Sounds too good to be true, honestly."

>>31336096
Agreed good chum

>>31336096
You protest, and begin stepping away from the circle, stating that whatever it means is not for you. The voice seems to growl like a beast, and the smoke begins rolling along the ground toward you. You step back, but trip over one of the chunks of the wooden door that was broken down earlier. You quickly work to regain your feet, but the smoke catches up to you, and begins surrounding you. You try to wipe and swat it away, but it refuses to dissipate, and eventually begins gathering up around your lower arm. You continue shaking it away, but in a moment you feel a cold sensation as it seems to seep into the narrow cut in your gauntlet. The voice from the circles says something you don't understand, and the glow fades. The smoke completely enters the slit, and when you tear off the gauntlet, it is nowhere to be seem. The room is left in silence.

A) Get back to Leon
B) Other

>>31336224
B)
cut off the arm

File: 1396933579537.gif-(990 KB, 500x217, 1396503713675.gif)

990 KB GIF

>>31336239

>>31336345
What? We're infected.

fine, I'll go with A

>>31336359
Not even kidding man, you made me spit out my juice, and it scared the child. I did not expect you to be the one to finally go that route.

>>31336239
You make your way back up and out of the cellar. You reach the kitchen and begin tearing out the drawers in search of a cleaver. You toss each unhelpful compartment aside as you go. Finally, you find one that seems heavy enough you bring it over to the nearest counter and place your arm down on it. Before you begin, you grab a hold of a wooden spoon nearby and stick it in your mouth to bite down, then pick up the cleaver again. The cut on your arm still leaks fresh, red blood.

A) Swing
B) Don't

>>31336497
>A) Swing

I feel like it's already spread, but let's ride this to the end!

>>31336557
You bring the cleaver back and prepare to chop. However, something stops your hand, freezing it in place.

"Stop! Cease this nonsense! Harming yourself will kill us both!" A voice, the same voice from the circle, rings out in your head. You try to move your arm, and with enough force, you manage to get it to rotate just a little.

A) Fight it
B) Give up
C) Other

>>31336786
>A) Fight it
Holy fuck what happened while I was gone

>>31336786
>A) Fight it

>>31336807
Things. Things that make me wonder if the death card will be useful soon.

>>31336786
Cut that baby off, row row fight the powa
>>31336807
Mystery box happened

>>31336807
You fight with all your strength to bring the heavy knife down on the crook of your elbow. You slowly begin to make progress, gaining more control the more you push. The voice continues to speak in your mind.

"This will accomplish nothing! You will bleed across the floor of this room! You have something to live for, do you not!? A girl! I can see her! She desires you! A man, dressed in the skin of a wolf. He calls you brother! A hunter cloaked in green, who leans on your strength! Cease all of this, lest you see them suffer!"

A) Keep trying
B) Give up

>>31337015
>A) Keep trying
"I'm no good possessed by a demon."