"Looks like you had a rough night huh." Your teacher Kran catches you by the stairs when you descend, her blonde hair sits in a high ponytail, it looks dry. A pair of red earrings hang loosely off of her ears, and she grabs one of yours with her hand and tugs on it sharply, "I won't harass you about what you were up to last night, but you ought to tell us first if you're going out."

"How was the mission?" You haven't decided yet whether or not to talk to anybody.

"We put it off, it's no rush so I thought it best we wait for you." She lets go and strolls over to a table, taking a seat, "That Cat will be back this afternoon, so you can apologize then."

You give the room a look over, there's no one here but you and her. The inn-keeper seems to be out.

"If you want anything to eat, you can use whatever's in the kitchen. Anlak is out by the forest trails, if you're curious." Maybe this would be a good choice to talk about things without him listening.

>What do you do?

>>32701105
Get some food.

>>32701105
Tell her about what happened with Carina last night

>>32701218
Let's not.

>>32701105
Tell her you got attacked by some demons in the woods. Then get cleaned up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6MgcfHiU80&feature=kp ooh Carna-senpai

Why don't we train some weaves?isnt that our go-to response when we can't deal with problems in our personal lives?

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"Last night I..." You're about to tell her about Carna, but you stop yourself. You couldn't take Carna's hand but the least you could do is not endanger her further, "I got attacked by demons. I meant to survey the area but I got in over my head."

"Hmm... is that right? Well then." Kran stands up and stretches her arm above her head, Graps pops up beside her and copies the motion. "I guess I'll go see about the town gossip for a little bit." Kran says as her demon slips back inside her cut sleeve. They exit the inn.

You make yourself some food, clean yourself up some more... anything to not think for awhile. You take out your book of weaves and begin to study that frost spell that you've been leaving untouched. Somehow, you take to it faster than usual. With one hand you make a scoop and run it through the air, balling it in your fist tightly before directing it forward. It takes some tries before you can feel the air chill in front of your touch... but you don't make any effort to count.

No one's back yet. You need to do something, anything to stop thinking.

There's no one here who can pat your back. There's no one here who'll tell you that everything is going to work out. Maybe you could train until the Cat shows up; maybe you should you should take a stroll or find someone...

>What do you do?

>>32701675
let's try to talk to the demon in our chest.

>>32701911
This or weave some more.

I'm going to stay as far away from the Gos route as I can.

>>32701675
There's a demon in our chest; a demon is a part of our chest? Either way this deserves our attention & inspection.

We AREN'T Librarians! WE were supposed to be LIBRARIANS!

>>32701675
Chest demon conversation

"Hey," You whisper, "Are you in there?" You have questions, and the only one who can answer them is the demon inside of you.

It hasn't talked to you once in the ten years it's supposedly been in you though, and it doesn't seem like it's just going to start now.

You beat on your chest, trying to wake it up or grab it's attention. Trying to do whatever it is people do to get their demons out.

"Get out here, talk to me." No response...

"GET THE FUCK OUT HERE." You yell in the empty inn. No response... You take a deep breath, thinking over what you know about this thing. The only times it seems to move is you're around demons or your life is in mortal danger. And it beats when... well, you can't see her right now can you.

Your hand hovers over your sheathed blade... maybe you could force it out.

No, you need to stay calm. You can't have Anlak or Kran stumbling into you bleeding on the floor after gauging out your own chest. Kran might know of a better method. Then again... do you really have the choice of asking her? All you have to do is take your sword and...

>What will you do? How can you get this demon out?

>>32702361
We can ask her how to commune with demons. That shouldn't be suspicious at all.

>>32702361
Go ask Carna.

>>32702361
Meditate?

>>32702361
Focus on your memories of the trip back home with Rein. That should piss it off enough to wake it up at least

I think all of the teachers know that something is up with the MC. This is something we would ask about even if we didn't know about Carna and what happened. We could totally ask her about it.

>>32702399
We could be non-chalant asking about demons considering our occupation, currently however I think it's against our perogative to put not being suspicious over doing all we can about chest demon.

>>32702486
Good point. The MC's heart hurts when he's around her. Thinking about her might be someplace to start.

It's decided.

Close our eyes and focus on Rein's ample bosom. Then if Kran interrupts meow time ask her about demons.

>>32702526
Or we could be direct.
>Hey, Kran. Every time I get hurt I heal faster. One of the demon I fought last night put a claw through my shoulder and now the injury is gone. If there was a demon in me how would I contact it?

She already knows we heal crazy fast. No sense in hiding it.

>>32702639
>>32702884
We have been secret for very long, this experience flipping a "enough of this shit" inside of us would be probable. Abandoning our coy tendencies for more directness.

You take your grip off your hilt, cutting open your own chest would be insane. You hang your head and think over other options...

Your mind drifts off to a memory, a recent one. Your time with Rein back in Belgrand. The adventure you had bringing her back, spending the night beside her and the morning after... now more than ever you can't give her an answer but...

Your heart beats.

It's awake.

"Hey." You whisper to yourself, "I know you're in there... so come out."

Silence...

"I'll kill both of us if you don't." You bluff, hopefully it doesn't know your thoughts.

Silence at first, before you hear muffled noises inside your head. It's a rough voice, deep... masculine. You can't make out what it's saying, but it's trying to speak to you. It fades in and out, but you can feel it; the demon wants to get out as much as you want to talk to it.

You close your eyes, you focus your mind. You try to cut out your senses to make clearer the thoughts it directs at you.

"Let me loose." It repeats, again and again.

The knocking on the door pulls you out of your meditation. The timing couldn't be worse.

>CONT

>>32702991
I was expecting meow time.

"Oh, is everybody else out?" The White Cat you met yesterday enters, a straw hat over his head. He picks it off and places it on a table, he looks like a farmer coming in from work. "I guess I came a bit early." His tone is undeservedly familiar.

"The others stepped out." You inform him, eager to gain your focus back.

"I guess I'll wait a little while then. How about we have a chat." He takes a seat beside you, twiddling dirt-stained fingers, "Don't mind my dress, it's part of the role."

"What kind of business do you have with me?"

"Ah, I was just worried that you vanished last night. Strayed off like a lost kitten... maybe we ought to put a leash on you. Cat joke, get it?"

"Leashes are for dogs."

"Sorry, I mostly work with pigs these days. So tell me, what were you up to last night hm? I want to make sure we can keep you in top shape for the upcoming job." He doesn't make any efforts to hide his suspicion... but being suspicious is his job after-all.

You don't owe him any answers and you could just walk away, but it could do well not to have The Seekers getting on your back.

>What do you do?

>>32703133
Same story as before: went exploring and got attacked by demons. Not even lying. Tell him we want to rest after that; ie go away.

>>32703133
>I used to live around here. I wanted to see some old friends and see the sights. For old times sake. But I got attacked by some demons on the outskirts of town.

>>32703270
If he asks more questions we could bring up Gos. I've been told; When trying to fool someone always keep it as close to the truth as possible. That way you don't contradict yourself.

>>32703133
>dont tell him anything

>>32703270
>see the sights
>mentioning where Carna is staying

So how are we going to wiafu Carna if her touch hurts us guys?

>>32703498
Looks like the only options are to either let her eat our soul or become a seeker and use our one question to ask how to fix her.

At this point we don't even know if she's fixable

"I used to live in this region so I wanted to explore and see how it changed, some demons attacked me while I was out... that's all. Now if you'd excuse me I'd like to rest."

"Ah, is that so? Is that sooo...? You didn't run into any old friends by any chance?"

"I met a paladin that I knew once, that's all. Are you leaving?" This man is a real bother.

"The others can't be gone for long and I don't have any more chores to do. I'll wait here." He stands up and walks hunched towards the cellar, repeating 'Mead, mead, mead' with a lyrical tone.

Anlak steps through the door as the man exits downstairs, he glances over to you and nods once. There're a few small cuts along his arms exposed by his vest, more likely from loose branches than anything else. He takes a seat by a window and watches the street-sides bored.

If you want to continue what you were doing, you'll probably have to do it up in your room.

>What do you do?

>>32703607
Give him our story. He should know even if he didn't ask. Like;
>In case you were wondering...

>>32703688
Forgot to add;
>If he doesn't feel like talking then go up stares.

>>32703607
Silent, stern, direct. Anlak seems the type who meditates. As well we don't want ourselves in danger when we accidentally release control of our body to Mr.Chesty.

>>32703607
Go upstairs

>>32703715
What I mean is that we should talk to Anlak, about this, and what we're trying. It's not as though he or us is going to pour our heart out. He once said he helps people unselfishly, take him up on that.

>>32703607
>There're a few small cuts along his arms exposed by his vest, more likely from loose branches than anything else.

He was in the forest, he knows.

>>32703751
He has no experience with having a demon in him.

>>32703833
Maybe he was looking for us.

"so, I found her"
I know he doesnt like us, but hes always been the reasonable one, so his input would probably be good.

>>32703851
Not yet. Mc xXx Anlak all the way!

>>32704034
No, it's obviously Anlak/Yu'yen

>>32704034
Best way to beat the anti-waifu system is to hit it somewhere unexpected, I like it.

You start up the stairs, motioning for Anlak to follow you. That Seeker hasn't noticed him yet and there're things you'd like to talk about away from prying ears. Anlak nods and follows you...

The two of you end up in your inn room, he stands by the door and you sit on your bed. The situation feels a little familiar. As usual, he waits for you to start the conversation. You're not sure how to tell him about your situation, so you end up cutting right into it.

"There's a demon inside of me."

He nods.

"I want to talk to it. Understand more about it before it comes out. Before it puts someone in danger."

He nods.

"I don't know if I can ask Kran, or that White Cat down there. Do you know anything that could help?"

Anlak pauses, he gives you his bored look for some moments before speaking, "You're not a contractor, but you have a demon inside of you. I haven't heard of this before. If you're worried about your own safety then you can ignore it if it's not hurting you... if you're worried about someone else..." He pauses again, giving his words some thought, "I'll kill you if you lose control of yourself."

What else did you expect from him? Of course he wouldn't know anything about this.

"Is that all?" Anlak closes his eyes, turning around...

"I found her." The words escape your lips.

>CONT

>>32704115
Shit. Now he's going to tell Kran. I did not vote for this.

"I found Carna, I finally found her. She told me about the demon, mine, hers... ours. It's complicated." You tell him, and he doesn't respond. He stops though, and that's enough for you to continue. "The Seekers are going to kill her... there's a Rasci inside of her and they're going to hunt her down. The demon inside of me was a part of hers, and if I talk to it..." If you talk to it what? What in the world would it do to help you then?

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to help me." You hang your head. Part in deference to Anlak, and part because of the weight in your mind.

"If you found her, you should've left with her."

"I couldn't. She told me to leave."

"Then you can't be with her, you should give her up."

"I can't." You've spent ten years chasing Carna's image. You don't know what you want to do. The silence grows between the two of you until...

"...I'll help you." Anlak says, "I know what it's like to chase after someone." Just the slightest bit of a smile sneaks into Anlak's mouth. Is he laughing at you? Maybe he really does sympathize. "I won't tell anyone... you haven't told anyone about my little secret after-all." His lips curl up into a smirk. "Do you have a plan though?" He askes.

You think, this is your best chance to work out details with him. You could always get back to it later though, you'll need to decide whether or not you're going through with this mission.

>What do you do?

>>32704262
>His lips curl up into a smirk.
Anlak has been compromised. ABORT ABORT! new mission find a way to get the demon out which is mind controlling Anlak.

>>32704324
Nah man, what you're seeing is the anti-waifu system crumbling before your very eyes. <3

>>32704262
Why do I get the feeling we're being manipulated into catching Carna for the seekers?

seriously though, does anyone have a plan? Because I have no fucking idea what we can do here.

>>32704418
No, sorry. Only thing I can think of is dicking the demon out of her.

For some reason I don't think it will work.

>>32704418
I am trying to think of a plan, but I keep getting distracted thinking about those big sexy lips standing right in front of us.

>>32704262
>"I know what it's like to chase after someone."
Is he talking about Kran?

>>32704418
The only "plan" anyone has come up with is to use our one question to ask how to help her. But the Seekers are going to kill her long before that.

Our mission isn't to kill her it's to find a book. So we could just go through with the mission.

>>32704362
>>32704508
If you want the MC to be gay the Librarian basically through Gos at us. Gos was obviously hitting on us.

Besides we all know Anlak ends up with Yu'yen.

>>32704262
plan incoming

>>32704262
Our mission is to steal information about the demon. Lets go ahead and steal it. We just need to make sure we read it first. If it really does tell how to kill her then just burn that bit.

>>32704262
>lets go get our childhood friend back

>>32704641
Find out her weakness and then make sure nobody else can know. If we ever find out that's she's truly evil and beyond saving we'll be the one who takes her out.

>>32704555
>Our mission isn't to kill her it's to find a book. So we could just go through with the mission.
This is probably a reasonable step 1, especially considering that the book is supposed to be useful because it'll make clear some kind of weak point the demon has.

Maybe try and talk to Kran (somewhat belatedly) about what keeps her from becoming like Sheryl's father did. (We still don't know if Carna's a symbiotic or synchronized Contractor, but if she's the latter there's basically no way to separate her from the demon any more.)

Kran and Masoch are the only Symbiotic contractors among the Seekers we work with, and Masoch's kind of a strange case. We haven't had many opportunities to actually speak with Kran about this sort of thing (at least on-screen), so maybe it doesn't come off as too suspicious.

>>32704262
First, talk to chest demon. If it takes over and Anlak has to kill us, we were fucked anyway with regards to Carna.

If THAT works, commune with it, or otherwise learn more about what Carna is currently experiencing through it. If she can affect us, maybe we can use the connection to affect her. This is the best lead in separating Carna from Rasci from within.

If we want to try from without, we need Kran, no other way about it. Hopefully communing with chest demon will give us some bargaining tools for Kran to reconsider outright killing.

It's possible that we may need to save Sheryl's brother or otherwise break his demon-bond with Carna, since he could help with doing the same for her.

Stock up on anaesthetics and paralysis agents. Try to recall all the strong memories we have and objects that can force Carna to recall them as well. These will be good for stalling, most likely, but if Carna is going to fuse with the Rasci and retain control, she needs this.

anything else?

How about we just start simple and agree that the mc sees this book or whatever from the mission before anyone else? If it can help or kill Carna we'll decide what to do with then. If went with her now it would just give The Seekers whatever it is that can defeat her.

>>32704733
>commune with it, or otherwise learn more about what Carna is currently experiencing through it.
Budded demons retain some of the memories of their parent, so this would be a pretty reasonable first step as well.

"The Rasci in Carna is likely the one in the records we're after. I need to get them before anyone else does." You decide that following through with the mission is the best course of action. The reports might tell you what you need to know to save Carna; or at the very least you can take advantage of them to stall for enough time to find a solution.

Anlak nods. You're not sure if you can trust him but you have nobody else to turn to right now...

You want to try to communicate with your demon again, but your worries divide your thoughts. Instead you go with Anlak to meet with Kran and the White Cat.

"The duke's estate has some Paladins creeping about; but right now many of them have been spaced out across the region due to the threat of The Little Witch. We'll have few nights better than this one to make at the records. It's preferable that we don't kill anybody but... sometimes rats need to be caught."

"Are you with us this time kid?" Kran looks over to you when the White Cat finishes his briefing.

"Yes."

"We'll set out shortly, make whatever preparations you need and we'll hop on the caravan. It'll just be me, you and Anlak here. It's an easy enough job, so you can leave most of it to me."

"I hope you didn't forget about me, milady." Graps slinks out of Kran's sleeve and crosses his arms.

"Of course not Graps, you're a part of me after-all." Kran scratches behind her demon's ear.

>CONT

The wagon is parked outside. It seems Anlak and Kran have been well-prepared since last night. You have some time to yourself though, and make to say bye to Gos before you leave...

"That big paladin? He left last night! Was complaining about not wanting to camp out so he rode back towards the duke's castle!" One of the gossiping farmers from yesterday inform you of Gos' disappearance, "Told us to give you his regards if you showed up."

You can get his regards yourself. It sounds like you might run into him soon. Still, you've got time to prepare before the job. You should change into another outfit.

>What do you do?
>Change into [Princely Outfit]. [Winter Cloak]. [Spy Cloak]?

>>32705212
Spy Cloak.

All dark everything is conspicuous in its own way, but still better than either white or out-of-place winter wear.

>>32705212
I want to talk to Kran about this >>32702884
But the white cat would probably over hear us talking.

>Weave
>[Spy Cloak]

>>32705279
Seconded.

>>32705212
>Stock up on anaesthetics and paralysis agents. Try to recall all the strong memories we have and objects that can force Carna to recall them as well. These will be good for stalling, most likely, but if Carna is going to fuse with the Rasci and retain control, she needs this.

>Spy Cloak
part of me wants to do something stupid, incase that snaps Carna out from sheer unexpecteded emotions.

>>32705279
>We'll set out shortly, make whatever preparations you need and we'll hop on the caravan. It'll just be me, you and Anlak here.
I'm assuming this means the informant is staying behind; we're supposed to be the field agents, and while he might want to get a piece of the action, he probably needs to stay around to keep an eye on things.

If this IS the case (and the caravan driver is out of earshot and/or a mundane), I'd like to pick Kran's brain a little bit. That, and we get to gauge whether or not Anlak's going to spill the beans while all of us are still in a controlled environment.

>>32705360
>>32705279
This, but keep Carna being the Little Witch out of it. Work with hypotheticals if we ask any questions about demons and stuff. We can roll if we have to in order to not seem suspicious.

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You change into your spy cloak in the privacy of the inn after picking up a numbing draft from the apothecary. This mission is going to require subtlety. You return to meet with Anlak and Kran, and the three of you set off; the caravan driven by a quiet hire. The White Cat seems to be staying behind...

"How did you connect with Graps anyways?" You probe Kran for information during the ride, disguising it as idle chatter.

"Him? Did I never tell you? Graps here bit off my arm one day, so I punched him into submission until he spat it back up." She laughs over the morbid image you have in mind.

"Milady demanded that I give her her arm back, but it was out of my power. Instead I agreed to replace it." Graps slinks out, taking a seat beside Kran, "Fine memories, you were so much younger back then Kran."

"If I could punch you to get that age back, I would."

"I asked Masoch about my little condition... with the healing powers. He said there might be taint in my blood, and I've been hearing voices lately." You say, "I don't suppose you could tell me what I could do about finding out more about it?"

"Aaaaah..." Kran tips her head, "No ideas, you Graps?"

"I must admit... I've been finding your aura growing stranger and stranger each day child." Graps had powerful searching abilities, as you recalled, "There may be a beast inside you yet."

>CONT

"And if I wanted to talk to it?"

"What reason would you have to do that?" Graps brings his face close to yours, his head almost dragon-like in shape. His skin a fading black like the goblins you've slain rather than the more defined demons you've faced.

"I'd rather deal with it now than let it eat me inside out during a job." His gaze is digging into your body.

"Well, you're no contractor so I imagine something small must've burrowed into your body. Perhaps if we figured out where we could lob the piece off and string it back together before you bled out."

"I don't know about that..."

"Worry not child. If it gets too loose then I shall do you the service of devouring it! I will even make efforts not to eat you as well." Graps backs off from you, floating until the top of his head rubs up against the ceiling of your ride. He places a palm over his chest and laughs heartily.

"You don't have any less dangerous suggestions do you?"

"Of course not. All demons are evil afterall." Graps takes a bow, before slipping back inside of Kran...

Your trip isn't a long one but it'll be a little bit before you arrive. Maybe you should talk about something else. You could just relax and perfect that weave from earlier before you get there though.

>What do you do?

>>32705744
>"Him? Did I never tell you? Graps here bit off my arm one day, so I punched him into submission until he spat it back up."

>"Milady demanded that I give her her arm back, but it was out of my power. Instead I agreed to replace it."

And you guys didn't want a demon

>>32705835
>Practice Weaves

>>32705835
Kran was never the smartest of the teachers anyways, so there's no point in asking anything else.
>Practice weaves
Only productive option here.

>>32705835
We really don't have anything? Books, toys, snowballs, at least?

Guys, we gotta talk to chest demon.

>>32705835
>Weave

>>32705835
Actually, can we ask Graps about this "all demons are evil" thing? We've heard it a couple of times before, but is that like an actual thing or just a saying?

>>32705835
>try to talk to demon while weaveing

>>32705835
>Talk to the demon

You begin to practice the frost weave idly. It'll be difficult moving onto a new one until you have this one down to each muscle. Keeping a distance from Kran and Anlak, you try to commune with the demon while your hand keeps busy...

You draw up thoughts that might drag it out. Leona's hand rested in yours, Sheryl's small frame against your chest, Rein's lips under the snow... your cheeks flush, your heart beats...

"Let... out... cut... open... free..." The voice calls out to you but you can only catch every so many words. Kran is talking at Anlak behind you and the wheels clatter underneath the moving caravan. You can hardly gather your thoughts and you're not sure how to talk to the demon.

"Die... name..."

You won't be getting this done now, you know that much. The sound of the demon's voice pains your mind and you pull yourself back into the world outside to shut it off.

It seems you were entranced for awhile, you can see the outline of your destination coming up.

>CONT

>>32706223
Hmm so what's up with our demon?
He apparently hates? The fact that we connect with other females. Yet is hella scared of Carna.

>>32706273
hes our yandere wiafu option

>>32706273
>>32706223
we gotta bring him inline if we want even the slightest chance of bringing Carna around.

Unlike Franson, Hagaf's estate seems to be built a distance away from any settlement. The village you came from was the closest thing and even that was a couple hours ride.

The afternoon will dip into the evening soon, but the sun is still out. The caravan parks a good distance away, that it might not be seen with you. The rider lights up a pipe after you each step out.

"We'll begin walking soon, but we should decide on some details. The guards out number us and although I'm sure Graps could handle most of them, I would rather not go around killing every guard that saw us. I'm not very... subtle, so it'll mostly be you boys doing this job." Kran explains.

"What will your job be?"

"I'll go knock down the gate and drag some of the guards away, so you can enter through there. If they know there's a demon around they're certain to send a decent number out to investigate and the garrison will be on stand-by for me--not any intruders lurking around inside. You can enter through the gate, or sneak around the walls. Whatever. Just meet me here after you finish the job, it's an easy one."

Anlak gives you a nod and begins walking away.

"If you have any ideas, go ahead and shoot them at me right now." Kran leans in beside your ear and whispers, "Anlak isn't too good at coming up with these things, see."

>What do you do?

>>32706359
We could scout out a place to enter the estate.
If we can't find a conveniently place hole we could try to sneak through the busted up entrance

>>32706273
>Yet is hella scared of Carna.
He's scared of Carna because her demon spawned him, and classically Demons eat their spawn almost immediately in order to keep them from growing strong enough to become competition.

It's not a conscious fear, it's a primal "I'm standing right in front of something that wants to devour me whole on instinct" kind of fear.

>>32706359
In through the gate, out through a back/side/servant's entrance, probably? The gate isn't going to stay unguarded the whole time, so even if we can get in safely during the initial rush to send out guards to respond to a Demon, we shouldn't let our exfiltration plan rely on them leaving it clear of guards.

Alternately, if we can find our way in through a servant's entrance, we might be able to spot a floor plan so we know the places we should be looking from the very beginning. (Unless we have a bead on where he's keeping this information already, then this isn't necessary except for maybe lifting a copy of a key to that room if it's secured.)

According to what you know of the place, it's more or less one building with a garden on the front end protected behind the walls. A quick look around the sides don't show you any obvious secret entrances or holes in. They probably did some repairs when the Santos that previously occupied the estate were torn apart. There does seem to be a small entrance in the back for servants that you could take, but you settle on going through the front after the distraction. Rather not run into any guards hidden behind the place after-all...

"Alright boys, just wait and watch!" After getting closer to the castle, Kran gesture for you to wait in the shade of some nearby trees of the thinly forested grounds. "Graps, go ahead!"

"YES, MILADY!" Graps pops out again; he hufffs and puffs. His two muscular arms begin to expand, growing to a gargantuan size. You can see one of the guards turn his head towards the growing demon, doing a double-take in disbelief as Graps hovers towards the gate; connected to Kran's armless sleeve by black strands.

He pulls an arm back and swings it around, dramatically revving up a punch before sending his might into the gate. The force dents it in the middle, before a second swing from his other arm knocks it open.

"DEMON!" You hear one of the guards yell, before running at the shrinking Graps with a spear. A horn blows, and in short moments you watch another six men running out the front.

>CONT

Kran waves to you and Anlak once before running off in the opposite direction. Graps laughs loudly following her; his head expands while he mocks the trailing guards.

"Are they usually like that?" You make way towards the opened gate.

"Yes." Anlak follows behind you...

The garden inside isn't well kept but you can tell that it has love has been poured into it. The records should be a few flights up from the entrance-way of the castle, but you run into your first obstacle when you arrive.

They haven't noticed you yet, but a pair of guards seem to be protecting the way into the actual building. The door behind them is closed, but the lever beside them likely pulls it open. Not the greatest design for security, but the main gate would supposedly make the convenience worthwhile.

Far on each side of you is a flight of stairs onto the walls. There's probably another entrance into the castle somewhere there. Many of the night guards are gone after Graps but you might risk alerting more if you meet the two and don't take care of them quickly.

Anlak seems to be waiting for your lead on whether to take them out or try to sneak around.

>What do you do?

Probably should keep dices on for the next little while.

Rolled 6

>>32706883
Magic hand a distraction, then take them out.

Rolled 7

>>32706883
Maybe we can cause Frost to run along the Walls and scare the shit out of them

>>32706883
Magic hand the door open so that it distracts them and we can see what's behind the door, then head up the stairs.

Rolled 9

>>32706883
Loud noise in the stairwell to distract the guards. once they investigate run towards the door, pulling the lever with grip. Once you and Anlak are through grip the lever and shut the door behind you

You weave your fingers at the stair well, pulling them in and releasing them out sending a loud crashing noise erupting from the empty stairway. The guards give each other a confused look before strolling over towards it.
When their backs are turned, you line your hands up with the lever on the wall and weave a grip over it. You lower your hand and the lever begins to drop. As it hits the bottom, you hear the sounds of gears turning as the door begins to open up inward.
Anlak gives you a nod before the two of you run towards it. You pull the lever down again as you go, slipping in through the entrance while it closes behind you. Fast and not-so-deadly.

As luck would have it, the place doesn't seem very populated in this late afternoon. Whether the servants are hiding from the odds of a demon attack or if the place is simply understaffed doesn't make a difference to you, you continue forward.
You've never been here before, but the place calls up memories of the Duke Santo that caused the lost of your village. The torches are not yet lit but The Shepherd's light is slowly vanishing out the windows.

You begin making way towards your goal. You know well enough not to get cocky, but it seems more and more that this will be an easy job.

>CONT

You didn't have to make any real efforts to dodge the servants walking about. A few dodges behind statues and house-plants and some quick steps around their blind spots. You reach the floor where the documents are held quickly.

The hallway leading into the record-room is devoid of staff, and your last stretch seems all the more foreboding because of that. Built into a side of the castle, only your footsteps are alight by the setting sun.

"If you can save the girl, what will you do?" Anlak says to you without turning his head.

"What?" You hardly believe he started a conversation.

"I don't understand your situation, but you're trying to protect someone aren't you." He phrases it more as a fact than a question, "If The Seekers want her, then you may need to leave."

You already put some thought into this, but you didn't have a ready answer.

"I won't miss you. But the others will. Yu'yen, Sheryl, Leona and Rein." Anlak stops walking, you've arrived in front of the door. "Are you going to help her, then start off on something else? Again?"

Again? Why is he asking this now...

>What do you do?

Rolled 3

>>32707317
Priority 1: help her
Priority 2: Not get Seekers to hunt her or me
Priority 3: live

I say this not because We're throwing our lives away, but because our life is literally dependent on a demon heart.

>>32707317
" Carna comes first. If I can help her that's what I'll keep doing until I can't anymore. I won't lose her again, I'll die before that happens." it's probably not what he wants to hear, but whatever, he's going out of his way to help us so the least we can do is tell the truth.

>>32707317
Traveling from hovel to hovel to survive, trying to ameliorate the demon's symptoms forever isn't saving her at all. That's what Sissel has been trying, and we saw how far that got him.

Sure The Seekers sound like they want her, but really what they want is her demon. And we want Carna, and if we can separate the two the Demon can rot in Masoch's robes forever for all we care.

We're hoping there's a way where we both get what we want, because we were confronted with the choice he's asking us about already when we met Carna again. And somewhere, deep down, we knew it wasn't a choice we would be able to make lightly.

Rolled 11

>>32707317
I want to find a way to save her without making enemies of the Seekers. You're all important to me too. You all are the only people I've really been close to. I also made a promise to speak with Rein when this is all over, might be hard if she's ordered to kill me on sight

Oh man! Why don't we try to get her into the Seekers? They want her demon and we know they take rasci under their paws. This could work!

>>32707592
She's a little too far gone for that.

>>32707592
Except the parts where either our heart just goes and fucks of because
"spooky Carna demon"
Or she eats our soul
Or both
>>32707588
>>32707530
I can't into words today but these two pretty much frame my thoughts

"Carna's my first priority. I'm going to help her until my soul falls apart. Even if I stop The Seekers, the demon is going to eat her, and I'm not going to lose her to it a second time." You didn't make this choice lightly, but you've made this choice.

"Rein won't like hearing that."

"I'll talk to her when this is over." Why did he bring her up?

"You'd be happier with her." Anlak places his hand on the door handle, "But, maybe I only think that because I'm a boring man." He pushes the door open, and leads the way inside...

The record room looks like a library, but the place appears to have been mostly abandoned. Only mostly because the old-fashioned lanterns on the wall have been oiled and lit. Someone else is in here.

"You're sooooo creepy." A familiar voice sounds off, and you sneak up to get a better look at it.

"I AAM NAAT!" A massive spider, twice the size of the man beside him crawls on the ceiling, thick webbing surrounding him. The armoured man sits in a wooden chair making conversation with the thing, a leather-bound book in front of him sitting dusty and unopened.

"I get back here hoping to sleep and the Duke makes me guard some old papers with an ugly demon." The man sighs, it's Gos. But you already knew that didn't you.

"I AAM NAAT AAGLY. YOU AARE THE ONE WHO IS AAGLY!" The spider sneers. The two... seem surprisingly friendly.

They havn't seen you yet, but...

>What do you do?

>>32707713
paladins work with demons? Why are we even against each other, then?

>use magic hand to get them riled up at each other. harmless pranks, not so harmless retaliation.

Rolled 1

>>32707713
Cover your face and fight with Anlak to subdue Gus and kill the spider

>>32707713
Keep watching and hiding
Hopefully the spider goes away

>>32707743
Seconded. We gotta rile them up with each other. They're buddy-buddy, they won't harm each other, but it will be much easier to get them going on each other.

Rolled 1

>>32707713
If it comes to fighting, torching the spider's webbing is probably a good plan so long as we can make sure it doesn't burn the whole place down with it.

Prank war seems interesting; maybe Mage Hand down a strand of webbing off the ceiling and place it somewhere on Gos where he can't get to easily.

Make him vacate the room for a short while to take his plate off to get at that irritating sticky thing under his armored collar, then try to handle the spider solo?

Rolled 11

>>32707713
Tell Anlak to look like he's sneaking around but allow himself to be noticed and run off. When they give chase we take the book and meet at the rendezvous and Kran will back us up

>>32707713
Let's go with the prank thing so we don't have to use those terrible rolls hopefully.

Rolled 5

>>32707974
I hardly think we're getting out of this that easy. Maybe we get to be the distraction a la >>32707892 because of it, at the very least.

File: librarianquest.png (43 KB, 600x400)

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If you can turn them against each other, this'll make for an easy job! You stick your hand out to prepare a weave...
And it knocks into a row of books, sending them pouring out the other side. Who the hell keeps double-sided bookshelves that thin?

"Buddy?" Gos looks at you confused through the now obvious opening.

"Gos." You nod to him.

"CAANEMAARAA!" The spider lifts up its legs and points at itself.

Anlak shakes his head.

"I thought you were a librarian! What're you doing here?" Gos yells to you.

"I am, this is a library! I thought you were a paladin! What're you doing working with a demon?"

"I didn't want to, but I have my orders and... I don't know, he's kind of friendly. His name is Connemara."

"WOULD YOU LIKE A KIIIIISS?" The spider drops from the ceiling onto the floor. The bits of his mouth wriggle about.

"No..." Your last kiss gave you heart-burn despite the sweet taste of it.

"HISSSSS" Connemara spits a projectile fluid at you that melts through the pieces of old wood instantly, continuing to fly. It catches against your cloak and starts to melt through it, you barely manage to toss it off before it reaches your skin.
Anlak draws his weapons and leaps forward... tripping over one of the books you knocked into the darkness. He plummets into the webbing and... lays there.

This is not a good start.

"I guess... I guess we're fighting?" Gos looks at you confused.

>What do you do?

>>32708029
Casually converse while fighting.

"By the way, I appear to have a black ball of demon flesh for a heart, and Carna may already be too far off the brink the save. Just you know, for your information."

Rolled 3

>>32708029
Stun them with light. Grab the book and make sure Anlak gets out. Then just run out of there. I'd rather not fight Gos first because he's our friend, second because hes a fuckin huge paladin.

File: image.jpg (62 KB, 576x540)

62 KB JPG

>>32708029
>mfw this entire scene
At this point why just ask Gos for the book. Even he doesn't know what the fuck is going on.
Get your shot together Anlak

>>32708087
Yeah, just grab and go.

>>32708087
First we need some casual conversing or witty banter, Carna was his friend too. Sorta. I guess.

Rolled 9

>>32708029
"Guess we're both doing things we don't want to do because of our orders."

Toss our acid-bearing cloak into the webbing near Anlak; we're not using it anyway, and if the acid can eat through the webbing, maybe Anlak can use the drippings off what's left of our cloak to burn through it.

Maybe Frost the spider? It'll either make it sluggish, freeze its acid spittle, make the webs brittle, or maybe even drop him off the ceiling entirely. Either way, making it harder for it to pursue us is rough business.

>>32708087
>>32708131
I'm not sure I like fleeing, if only because leaving the Spider alive means there's someone who's guaranteed to tell their boss that Gos knows the guy who stole the goods. And then either Gos gets imprisoned or something or rats us out (IIRC he knows we were staying with Ianc, at the very least, so they've got one concrete lead to follow.)

"That's the record on the Rasci from ten years ago right?" You ask Gos.

"Yeah, I can't make heads or tails of it but apparently I'm protecting it."

You weave a light burst into the room, making Gos gasp and sending Connemara into a series of exaggerated profanities; dashing around the bookshelf and grabbing the book off the table.

"Sorry! There's a demon in my heart and I need this to save Carna!"

You wipe your ruined cloak over the webs that hold Anlak, doing away with his imprisonments quickly. He manages to put himself back on his feet to follow you. You're not in the mood to fight Gos. You frost Connemara's legs as you run, hoping to slow him down. You and Anlak escape into the hallway.

"You gave us away." Anlak sighs.

"You tripped over a book!"

"You've been beaten into the floor by books."

You should probably leave this there before he brings up that you knew Gos.
A shot of acid whizzes past your head, melting into the window beside you. You look back and see Connemara skittering through the hall, with Gos riding on his back.

"That is not what paladins do!"

"STEALING BOOKS ISN'T WHAT LIBRARIANS DO!" Gos yells over to you, struggling to hold on.

"It is in Deneb!" You're not sure you've ever done any actual librarian work.

"I WILL EAT YOU AND THEN POOP YOU OUT TO EAT YOU AGAIN." Connemara makes infantile threats. There's a room to your right and a turn in the corner past it, as well as the many windows to your left.

>What do you do?

>>32708268
Run around the corner.

Rolled 3

>>32708268
razor at the spider's legs

Rolled 5

>>32708268
>>32708307
do that while running

This is the greatest important fight we've had so far.
>take the turn to the right but freeze the floor behind us as we run so they crash against the wall

Rolled 7

>>32708268
Be ready to cast flame on a blob of web. If it's a blob of acid, use it to open the window and jump out, splitting up.

Frost/Flame/Razor a leg.

>[Alacrity 10] I always forget these.

No point trapping yourself in the room or playing the odds with a however-many-floors jump. You spin your body around and weave a razor at one of Connemara's legs and the blade of wind slices smoothly through it. The spider continues moving at an awkward angle as mist drifts off of his cut extremity. The second you spent throwing the blade out has given the time for your other foe to act though. A shield flies forward and slams up against your chest, knocking you into the ground. It weighs like a block of steel and leaves you winded.

"Whoa Conne! Slow down there!" You hear Gos' voice yell out as the spider-demon lurks over you, lifting one of its remaining front-legs before swiping it down at your gut.

A smooth swing by Anlak's blade severs the incoming claw, and a hardy under-hand blow from his club topples it backwards.

"I HAAPE YOU TASTE LIKE CHAACAALATE!"

Anlak pulls you up to your feet and the two of you keep running. The stairways at the end of those hall divide up and down, and there's no way that spider will reasonably fit through them. You can probably outrun Gos in all his armour so this is your last stretch to go. You're about to step forward when a shot of web smears the way between you and the stairwell.

"Darnit buddy! Stop so I can stop you!" Gos is walking towards you, drawing his sword uneasily.

>What do you do?

>>32708485
Bleh. Refreshed because my auto-update was bugging out get it and dropped my trip.

Rolled 10

>>32708485
see >>32708364

>cast flame on web
Frost would work the other way: shrink the web enough to crawl/jump through. Either works.

Rolled 4

>>32708485
frost it and cut through the frozen web with razor (or sword)

Rolled 11

>>32708485
Sorry, friend. We already told you why we can't stop.

>>32708514
>>32708485
This, but I still wanna freeze the floor, cause Gos seems super clumsy.

Rolled 8

>>32708565
That's BEST friend to you. *tips hat

"Sorry, but I already told you that I can't stop." It'll be a good five, four seconds before the spider turns its large frame around the narrow hall. You pull your fingers together, and weave your flame.

"Well then buddy, let's go have some fun!" Gos steps forward, swinging his sword overhead. Despite all you're doing there doesn't seem to be any animosity in his voice, but unfortunately you don't have the time to focus on him.

Anlak slams into Gos' sword from the side with his club, and then makes a slice at the paladin's chest with his sword. The block cuts lightly into the armour but the cheap weapon doesn't penetrate through the steel. Superior in speed, Anlak doesn't let up his assault, bringing a kick into Gos' knee and sending him toppling down.
With the time bought, you cut through the webbing to create an opening. Connemara is rushing through the hall now, not intent on letting you or Gos stop him.

"You're getting in the way of a brotherly blow of fists!" Gos pulls himself up to his feet as Anlak backs up, running past you. "Good-looking silent type huh." Gos begins his walk again.

"Real silent. Sorry, I'll talk to you later." You drop your flames and weave your finger as Gos breaks into a run; directing your hand into the ground you frost the floor over. Gos trips against the ice backwards, sliding forward half a meter. Connemara's legs catch on it shortly after, and the spider is floored on top of your friend.

>CONT

"We're still friends right." You turn for the stairs, with your prize in hand.

"The best, you mangy dog." You see his head poking out behind the spider's behind, and armoured hand out the side. He raises his gauntlet fist into the air... before extending his thumb upward.

"THIS IS SO SWEET! I AAM SO EMAATIONAAL!" The demon raises its stubbed front-legs not-quite above its face, waving them around. You take your leave, hoping that you haven't caused too much trouble...

After that escapade, the rest of your escape is easy enough. You went through the back and managed to sneak through the servant's exit. The guard stationed on the way was asleep... security here could really be better; but you can't expect too much from upstart nobles in a relatively peaceful region.

Anlak carries a torch out, the sun has now just settled as you make way back to the meeting point with Kran. He hasn't said anything since you left.

You read through the records as you exit. As you suspected, House Santo summoned the Rasci ten years ago. His name is Frangelico, and it seems that the nobility has made dealings with him as far back as The Vanishing Age. The summoner who called him has his name stricken away but you manage to decipher that he has family in Deneb. Frangelico doesn't have a firm weakness, but it appears he can only control so many demons within a certain area...

>CONT

The methods of summoning have been torn out. No ritual to banish him other than tearing his body apart. No notes on how you can separate him from a person...
There's a profile on his personality put together from when he's been summoned before. All by noble houses that no longer exist. No taste for slaughter, but a passion of suffering. An interest in love, an interest in tragedy. A demon that lends his powers to humans for little reason than to see them fall apart from it.

Not animalistic like most of the demons you've met. Simply evil.

You'll arrive at the meeting point soon and Kran expects you to hand the book over. You should figure out what other details you absolutely need to look up, as well as any information you want to strike out.

>What do you do?

Rolled 2

>>32708805
How does it react to resistance? Does it allow it, treat them as toys, or crush them immediately?

What else does it like, aside from suffering? What symbols does it associate with or hate?

It looks like we REALLY need to commune with chest demon. Frangelico is ready for external attempts at separation, and too many others have fallen for him to be beaten by the host's will, so we need to do it from the inside.

Sissel's an idiot. We need to convert him without breaking his demon bond.

>>32708805
Why dont we just tear out the pages for now? The book doesn't seem well-kept to begin with, so it wouldn't look suspicious at all if shit was missing from it. We can always hand it over to the Seekers later of we change our mind.

>>32708774
>"The best, you mangy dog." You see his head poking out behind the spider's behind, and armoured hand out the side. He raises his gauntlet fist into the air... before extending his thumb upward.

>"THIS IS SO SWEET! I AAM SO EMAATIONAAL!" The demon raises its stubbed front-legs not-quite above its face, waving them around.
Greatest partnership of all time.

>>32708805
>"Let... out... cut... open... free..." The voice calls out to you but you can only catch every so many words.

>"Die... name..."
Well, we've learned SOMETHING name-related, so maybe it's worth investigating our heart once we've got some key subjects to help jog its inherited memory.

Any connection between the noble houses that summoned it on earlier occasions? All of the houses fell, but did they all do so because of Frangelico? Was the timetable on House Santo's fall similar to the length of time between prior summonings and the falls of their associated houses? It'd help to get an idea of how quick it tends to move its plans along once given a means to act.

The only really interesting information outlined was
>The summoner who called him has his name stricken away but you manage to decipher that he has family in Deneb.
Since the methods of summoning have been removed, the only place we're going to locate anything regarding his summoning is going to be with that person.

If anything's worth keeping to ourselves, it's probably this.

>>32708805
Other thing worth looking up would be if it has any known spawned demons aside from the one inside of us.

If it's willing to offer to create a spawn for a contractor once, it stands to reason it might have done so prior as well. If we can find anything about that, we can either get a head start on determining what our own demon might be capable of, and/or finding a dossier on that demon to help us fill in the blanks.

Frangelico seems to enjoy playing with his prey, but he doesn't keep them for torture. He'll let them squirm around for enjoyment but he doesn't leave loose ends. More than anything else, he seems to enjoy building up and torturing his host. Most of the noble houses fell in this way it appears; the contractor would gain great power and prestige off of him before their corruption tore apart at their life. They would go mad in their later years and bring themselves down, or he would bring tragedy to them and those around them personally. In terms of time he has no preference, some of his games spanning weeks and the longest spanning some decades.

There is an image of him, a cat is the closest shape. His ears are long and pointed and his tail curves out and about but a dog-like snout marks him distinct. There's no jaw on it, the maw on his belly is where he speaks from.

You tear away the page with the summoner, you'd like to know about any contractors he's met but each one recorded is also marked dead. You consider destroying the whole book but you don't commit to that thought.

You arrive at the meeting place.

>CONT

"Good job, knew you two could do it. Did you run into any trouble?" Kran ruffles up your hair. She has to stand on her toes to reach Anlak's.

"A paladin and a demon. That was all." Anlak steps past her into the caravan. You confirm his vague words before following him in...

"Are we headed back to Deneb?" You ask Kran as the driver starts the horses.

"No, we're returning to that village first to pass off the book... they may let you return right away, but more likely you'll be on another job immediately. This is technically supposed to be a month long mission you know." Kran stuffs the book unattentively into a backpack. Perhaps you didn't need to destroy it at all with the way she handles things.

You're with Carna, and then she's gone again. Every step you take towards saving her, you find new struggles. But you've made your resolve and you won't let anything stop you.

"I'll wake you boys when we stop, go ahead and... nap if you want." Kran says, slumping up against a wall and closing her eyes.

If you want to talk to Kran, you'll need to do it before she falls asleep, though if you waited a bit you could make some hushed conversation with Anlak. There're things you could do on your own anyways... then again, a nap wouldn't be so bad.

>What do you do?

Last choice tonight.

Rolled 6

>>32709042
Kran...won't be much help

Time for communing

>>32709042
more weaves

>>32709042
Stealthily masturbate to Carna's drawing.

Both Anlak and Kran seem to be asleep. The latter is snoring and the former; well, his eyes are closed.

You try to commune with the demon; you haven't succeeded so far but now...

"Frangelico." You whisper to yourself. Your heart beats. "Frangelico."

A sharp pain crops up in your chest, and you can hear the muffled voice again.
You lay your head back against the wood, willing yourself quiet.

"Let me out. Cut me open. Free me." It's clearer now, but a buzzing accompanies it, "Die and give me your name."

"Can you hear me? Frangelico?" Your breaths are growing heavy, but you refuse to stop here.

"Pass away. Slit your throat. Let not the Valkyries take you." It doesn't answer you, it just screams its demands. You feel a coldness growing from your heart.

You try to ask more but your voice doesn't escape. You can feel thin strands gripping you. Just barely, you can see the moonlight reflecting over them...

"Make my contract, let me go. I will feed once more!"

The demon screams.

Your heart beats.

Your heart screams.

Your vision goes black...

And you start to dream.

And so life goes on.

>>32709234
Alright Anlak, are you a bad enough dude to save the Main Character?

>>32709234
Huh. Guess we really don't know all that much at all about what our demon's deal is.

>"Make my contract, let me go. I will feed once more!"
>once more

I think it's going to be a good idea to ask Silvest whether his short-lived progeny also considered itself to be Silvest. (And then to immediately disregard the ethical implications if he answers "yes". Having this quest turn into another ontology debate also would be horrifying.)

Because if the answer is no and our heart demon is answering to Frangelico, it could very well be that the spawn pulled the ol' switcharoo on him when he split himself and trapped the original inside of us.

Still more questions than answers for now, but fun nonetheless. Thanks for running.