>>33046454
"So, anyone got any ideas on how to kill a dragon?"

>>33046454
Holy shit, what'd I miss?
Last thing I remember was seeing Anna (Ana?) get chased by a vampire or some shit.

>>33046572
You ask, half jokingly, if there are any known ways to bring down a dragon. The room is silent for a few moments.

"Well, there are some options." One of the Rangers at the table speaks. "The loremasters used to say that, while a dragon's hide cannot be sundered by mortal steel, blades of magic can. However, magic weapons are not as plentiful as they were in the age of heroes. You might need to take one that is known, or forge one anew. I've no knowledge of either possibility." The Rangers around the table murmur and think for a few moments.

"From what I hear, Lumen itself is host to a blade of mighty magic. First Light, it's called." A second Ranger lends his gruff voice to the conversation.

"No, no. First Light is a great shield, one which shines with the light of the sun."

"There may be one in the desert, used by the Wind King. It is said to create sandstorms."

"Sandstorms occur in the desert at least thrice a year. We cannot know that those legends aren't simply exaggerated."

>

>>33046910
let's go to the desert. See who this Wind King is.

>>33046839
harem route with pietra and anna,
Anna cured of vampirism
lost light based abilities and considered an Oathbreaker by church (kill order passed out on our head)

>>33046839
She was rescued, cured, and now you're a heretic trying to stop the north from raiding the south with the help of a dragon

>>33046910
>>33046938
Ask what we know about the desert and this Wind King, then this.

>>33047026
right

>>33046972
Well.
Good to know everything's ok.

>>33047026
Sounds good to me.

>>33047026
>>33047052
"The Wind King is something of a campfire tale. A man who braved a sandstorm, and at it's heart met a beautiful djinn. He convinced her that he was not afraid of her power, and the two fell deeply in love. They were married, and as a gift at their wedding, a wind god presented him with a dagger that could summon powerful gales. Some say he went on to build a strong city in the desert, and locked the blade away in a vault within his palace. If the tale is true, none can be sure. But such a blade will no doubt be potent enough to pierce dragon hide."

"There are many other known weapons of legend, but to discover them or even find a clue to their whereabouts would require knowledge the Rangers do not have."

"Except, of course, the Storm Lord's Hammer."

"Absolute poppycock! That was disproven not thirty years ago! There is no such hammer, and your insistence that there ever was is proof of your senility!"

>

>>33047165
can we just get a list of possible artifacts to use?

>>33047165
"Storm Lord?"
Mjolnir time?
"...this is going to take a while."

>>33047196
"These are all we know of. Rangers aren't much for myth and legend, we choose to focus on what is known and proven." One of the older Rangers chews his lips as he speaks. "As I said, if you wish to learn of more,you must seek out one who's business is magic."

Leon stands and places his hands on the table. "Huntmaster Thorne, as a Beret this mark must be my highest priority. I will summon the others soon, and tell them to prepare. In the meantime, I leave you in charge of this outpost." With this, Leon strides across the room and passes you on his way out the door. As he leaves, you can sense intensity in his gaze. The other Rangers go back to squabbling and speaking of ancient tales, half forgotten.

>

>>33047412
Ask Anna and Pietra about them going to Lumen and researching First Light and acquiring it.

We should also make plans for finding the Wind King and the artifact in the desert

>>33047412
Right. Our leads are Lumen, Wind King, Storm Lord.
I'm not sure if Lumen will be safe for any of us. Not after last time.
So, look to the desert or try to find out more about this storm lord. That such a legend has been 'disproven' reeks to me of coverup.

>>33047447
>>33047558
You turn to Anna and Pietra, both still somewhat stunned at the news. You ask them about First Light, and the possibility of journeying back to Lumen for it.

"I don't think getting in or out would be nearly as easy this time." Annalise grabs her elbows, looking a bit heartbroken. "The only way to get it is by asking Leman. He's still head inquisitor, and they trust him completely. Of course, I still don't know what it is."

"I've heard of the Wind King, and his palace." Pietra wraps an arm around Annalise's waist, in support. "Supposedly it's in that antlion nesting ground. As if they were put there as a danger to anyone who tried to reach it. Of course, it could all be nonsense."

>>33047742
>

Really need to get used to this

>>33047742
Ask them which one they would go for?

Guys
Maybe we should ask Maurice

>>33048078
ok, we'll get to that in a minute

>>33047775
"Honestly? Let's just do it the easy way and make our own. They won't be as powerful, but it's better than getting ourselves flayed for the chance as one that may not exist." Pietra crosses her arms, shrugging. She does have a good point, though. Finding away to forge your own weapons would be safer, albeit not as profitable.

"Well, Lumen isn't a deathtrap at least." Annalise runs a hand through her red hair, deep in though. "We just need to get a message to Leman, and he can find the item for us."

>

>>33048090
Ask Kor and Maurice about what they would do

>>33048090
What makes you think Leman's going to be willing to get it for us?

>>33048090
Custom Magic weapons have their appeal, I admit. I'll back Pietra on this.

>>33048108
>>33048114
You ask Annalise what makes her so confident that Leman would assist your group.

"You're the Oathbreaker, not me. And besides, you know Leman. He used to dangle boys upside down off of the roof of the Holy Palace for pulling my hair at mass. He'll believe me if I tell him about the dragon, and who knows, maybe he'll even get the church to send some paladins!" Annalise's optimism is refreshing, even if it is a bit misplaced. You ask Kor and Maurice for their input.

"I don't know anything about magic, really. But I think my teacher knew a bit of it. I don't know where we'd find him, sadly. He left the island when I was still a girl."

"I can perhaps research the infusion of magic within steel and leather. This will take time, though, and it isn't my forte. Still, if you want my vote, I think it would be best to dig up some ancient steel to combat an ancient foe. I know of at least one source of powerful magic, though tracking it is another matter."

>

>>33048341
ok, we split it.

Anna and Pietra and Kor go to Lumen and try to secure the relic.

We go with Leon and Maurice to find the Wind King

>>33048341
Okay. Anna can work on getting word to Leman. Pietra and Maurice get some ancient steel/ancient magic and work on forging our own weapons.
We go with Leon and Kor to look into the Wind King. Hell, maybe the Storm Lord if we find something fast.

>>33048401
>>33048550
So Anna is going to Lumen

You and Leon are going to the desert

That leaves three

>>33048698
See what they can find about the Storm hammer thing

Sounds like a plan.

>>33048715
>>33048876
The plan is set, and you go to discuss it with Leon. When you find him, he has already sent a message off to the other Berets, and having no plans in the meantime, he agrees to help you hunt down the old weapons.

The following day, after rest and packing, the six of you split up and go your separate ways. You go far south with Leon to find the blade of the Wind King. Anna goes southeast to Lumen, to try and retrieve the object known as First Light. And finally, Maurice will go with Pietra and Kor as his bodyguards to the north, to find information on the Hammer of the Storm Lord.

The trip is smooth, but tense. The entire ride is tainted by the thoughts of an ancient monster which even now slumbers beneath a waterfall, waiting until hunger or greed strike once more. When this happens, it will surely take flight and strike again at the north. No matter how you try to stop thinking of it, your sleeping mind is wracked with nightmares of huge wings overhead, and fiery death from above, burning acres upon acres of fertile land and reducing it to nothing but ash and soot.

Finally, after weeks, you cross over the mountains and reach the desert. Here the heat begins to beat down on you, and you are without your magic canteen. If you spend too long in the sun with your armor, you will bake before you reach the first great city.

>

>>33049027
take off armor

>>33049027
agreeing with >>33049070
damn that magic water was useful.

>>33049070
You stop soon after entering the desert, and pull your armor off. Each piece removed is stress peeled away like the skin of an onion. Soon you start to feel cool and relaxed, at least comparatively. You stuff the pieces into a saddle bag as best you can, and remount your horse. Together you and Leon continue forward, toward the nest of the antlions.

After a few hot days and nights of riding, you come to a mesa that overlooks the hardpan valley of antlions. Leon scouts it for a while, and determines that they must be dormant for the season.

"They won't be as ornery as usual, but they'll still rip us apart if we rile them up. We should cross the valley going this way, and try to reach that canyon across the way. If the palace is anywhere, it's there. Normally I'd say let's book it as fast as we can, but seeing as how the beasts are napping, it might be better to take it slow and quiet."

>

>>33049355
slow and quiet it is

>>33049355
>take it slow and quiet

>>33049379
>>33049466
You and Leon mount your horses and head back down. The two of you round the side of the mesa and begin the steady ride across the valley.

The sun burns the earth around you, devoid of mercy. Part of you wonders if this heat is your punishment for breaking your vows. As you ride, you see the ground bleached nearly white from sunlight, and few if any signs of life ever having called this place home. That is, save for the massive tunnels that bore into the earth. Tunnels three feet in diameter, scattered across the valley liberally. Leon warns you to stay as far from them as you can, but you needn't be told. You recall the ferocity of the antlions. The way they rip through hot rock and soil, sailing through the air to clash with one another. You recall how their teeth were like so many chefs' knives, poised to shred you like beef.

The trip takes nearly two hours, and several times you think you hear a noise, and almost panic. But you make it across without waking any of the creatures. You reach the canyon, a mass of red and orange layers of rock stacked on each other, and enter. The walls here block out the heat of the sun, cooling you to the point you actually feel a little chilly. What's better, there are small plants growing in the cracks in the rock. Leon wonders if they might hold water.

>

>>33049705
Avoid it if we can. They may be poisonous/hallucinogenic.

>>33049732
You tell Leon it would be best to avoid plants that even he has no knowledge of. He laughs, admitting the validity of your reasoning. The two of you continue on toward the center of the canyon.

You pass through several twists and turns, cutting through more rock and plants. There are too many here for there to be no source of water at all, which boosts your confidence in this plan.

Everything pays off when at last, you reach not a city, but a set of great stone doors embedded into the rock near the center. As the two of you dismount, Leon goes to inspect them. There are carvings all around it, forming a frame, and the door itself bears a swirling insignia. On either side of the door is a small lamp, old and rusted. Leon gives the door a push, then a pull, but it does not seem to give way.

>

>>33049907
light the lamps

>>33049907
seconding >>33049920
we zelda now

>>33049920
>>33049972
You approach one of the lamps near the door. With some flint and steel, you attempt to light it. After a few failed attempts, you realize that the lamp contains nothing within it to burn. There must have been oil inside once, but since then it has either dried up or been burned away. You'll need something to use as fuel if you want to light the lamps.

>>33050089
>

>>33050089
Look around for anything flammable. If it's those plants from before, make sure to hold cloth over our mouths and nose and lay low so we breath in as little of the fumes as possible

>>33050089
seconding this >>33050136
and I'm off, meeting some friends in town

>>33050383
bye

>>33050136
You begin searching the area for something flammable. Leon spots some of the plants from before, only they seem to have aged and withered. After looking for the most recently dried, you settle on a nice bundle which you divide between you.

The two of you fill the lamps with the dry branches and leaves, packing them tight. Once that's done, you use your flint and steel to light them simultaneously. As soon as the sparks set, you step back and wait for the flames to catch. In a few moments, smoke begins to rise, and then a faint orange light emerges. The flames grow for a minute, and once they are big enough, you begin to hear a low rumbling from beneath your feet.

The stone doors slowly slide open, revealing a dark set of stairs. They lead down, but you cannot see the bottom.

>

>>33050434
find something to use as a torch

>>33050434
and go down

>>33050454
>>33050481
You grab one of the lanterns, easily pulling it off of its small pedestal. Thankfully, the door does not close when you remove it. The fuel inside will only last a few minutes, so you must be quick. Hopefully the treasure you seek will be within eyesight at the bottom.

You descend the staircase, carefully making sure not to take a wrong step. These stones are solid, but they are old. Any of them might slip out from beneath you. Leon himself slips once or twice, but luckily he is nimble enough to catch himself before falling.

At the bottom, you reach a second door, but one that seems much more mundane. It's made of wood, but it still large enough to fit a wagon through. Leon examines it. It doesn't seem to be locked.

>

>>33050591
ok, let's open it

>>33050620
You set the lamp down and help Leon pull the door open. It's difficult, as the hinges are rusted, but together you succeed and look inside.

Both your mouths go agape. Before you are tall mountains of gold and silver, jems and jewelry of all shapes and sizes, piled twice as high as you are tall. The room in which they rest is the size of Annalise's entire home, and it seems to be packed. There are boxes, chests and sacks, all presumably filled to bursting with loot. The whole room is light by mysterious flames that burn in dangling braziers above. hey appear to have no fuel, and yet they burn brightly as if lit by oil. Leon taps your shoulder and points to the largest pile, at the center of the room. Embedded in it seems to be a small chest, locked with a heavy iron pad.

"I'll bet you everything in this whole fucking room that that's what we're looking for."

>

>>33050790
Let's just make sure and check the surrounding before opening it. It might be a decoy/trap.
In fact, check for booby traps.

>>33050842
You and Leon approach the box. You are careful to check the pile for possible traps, probing it with your weapons and searching around it for anything dangerous. With the little time you have, you decide that it should be safe.

"I'll open it if you want. I don't mind losing the rest of this eye."

>

>>33051060
I'll do it

>>33051133
You grab the box from the pile. Everything seems safe so far. You tug on the padlock, twisting is and trying to wrench it off. This does nothing.

"Just smash it open, we don't need the box." You look down at Leon as he stacks some of the gold coins from the pile in his hand. You wonder if breaking it open is really the best idea, considering what's inside.
>

>>33051229
Don't break it.

>>33051287
You decide it best to leave the box intact for now. Instead, you continue trying to break the lock itself. After a few more minutes you begin to grow nervous, and consider trying to smash it off with your sword.

"I could help you with that." You are both startled by a voice that echoes throughout the treasure chamber. You look around, and eventually your eyes fall on the large wooden door. There is a short, somewhat lean figure, wrapped up in protective rags that cover it from head to toe. Even its face is covered, except for one eye. It is bright red, and pierces you like a knife.

"Give that box to me. I'll open it."

>

>>33051370
"Question, who are you?"

>>33051420
I got 5 bucks it's either a desert spirit or the King or maybe one of their offspring

>>33051420
You ask the figure to identify itself.

"I'm not surprised you forgot me. It's been years. But I haven't forgotten you. He won't let me. Every night it's the same with him, going on and on about finding you and using you to get to- hm. Sorry, he doesn't want me telling you all that. Trust me though, we both want the same thing." The figure begins steadily approaching you. You now notice he has a curved sword hanging on his back. "Just toss me the box and I'll open it."

>

>>33051632
"You're that spirit I had in me."

>>33051664
"Close, but no. I'll give you a hint though." The figure raises a hand and pulls the cloth wraps from it's face, revealing an adolescent boy, no more than sixteen. He is lean and dark of hair, with locks that fall down to his neck. His face is a bit pale for the desert, but he looks healthy otherwise. You notice, however, that his irises seem to be red as blood, and unnaturally so.

"Anything coming back to you?" He smiles, still approaching. Leon places his hands on his twin handles, preparing to strike.

>

>>33051903
are you another vampire?

>>33051930
"A what?" The boy stops for a second. His eyes wander, seemingly looking over his shoulder. He holds this pose for a few seconds, then a look of relief and realization come over him. "Ah, I see. Blood drinkers from the far south. No, I'm not one of them. I'm something much...better. Now hand me the damned box!"

>

>>33052072
"I'm still having memory issues here."

>>33052072
honestly, I got no bloody clue

>>33052143
"It doesn't fucking matter, alright! Agh!" The boy stops, raising a hand up to his forehead. He seems to be in great pain for a long few seconds, then calms down. "S-sorry. I'm sorry. Sometimes I lose my temper. Look, I'm really not out to get you. Tell me what to do to make you trust me!"

>

>>33052243
"Just explain what what/who you are and what you want."

>>33052286
"We want to help you, so that you'll help us. Me.Help me. You've got plenty of friends who killed people to get what they wanted, what's one more?" The boy stops a few yards from you. Leon is still ready to draw steel on the slightest provocation. "If it really bothers you that much, then fine. Hollag, during the uprising. I was there. Remember?"

>

>>33052361
Wait, were you that kid that told me what the girls were saying in the other room?

>>33052414
"When your creepy mage friend pulled the spirit out of you, it reached out for a new body to live in. I was the lucky winner. At first I thought I was just going crazy. I ignored the voice, and it went away. But soon I realized I was changing. Not just my looks, but my insides too. Fire didn't burn me at all, and I could go days without food or water and I wouldn't even feel slightly weak. I was faster, stronger, and more perceptive without a single bit of effort on my part. But through out these past six years, he's never shut up about you. How you could lead him to his goal. He says if I get you to help him, he'll be able to leave me. To be honest, as fun as it is being the best sword-arm in the desert, I'm tired of him barking all day. So what do you say? I scratch your back...?" He holds out a hand for the box again.

>

>>33052632
You open the box, we get the relic, we kill the dragon, then we have a talk about whatever it is you're trying to do.

>>33052632
Also, I'd like both of your names

>>33052632
What was the deal with that spirit again? Why was it even in us / want us?

>>33052886
He wants to use us and kill his other half.

>>33052680
>>33052720
You tell the boy that if you get what's inside the box, you'll be willing to talk. He groans, but doesn't protest. You hand the box to him. He sets it down on the ground and reaches behind him, drawing his curved blade. You think of stepping forward and stopping him, but before you know it he has sliced the padlock clean off. The cut is smooth as if it were through sausage, and he slides the blade back home.

"I told you, I'm the best." He kicks the box so that it slides back over to you. You kneel down and pick it up, opening it carefully. Inside is an ornate dagger, nearly a foot-and-a-half feet in length. The blade is curved and has a hook on either edge. There is a cat's eye jewel in the pommel, and the handle itself is made of rich black leather. You look up at the boy and ask for both his and his partner's name.

"I'm called Jirad. He is Samael, the Burning."

>

>>33052926
Welcome to the party, Jirad.

Inspect for more traps and take the dagger. With a glove. then wrap it up.

We take it back to base.

>>33052926
Give the room another check over see if we find some thing else besides money. See if we see any tomes or scrolls

>>33052961
>>33053064
You welcome Jirad to your merry band. The smile that slices across his face seems more genuine than you would have thought. You tell him and Leon to look around the room for anything useful besides money. Leon is already busy converting his cloak into a sack to carry as much of the stuff as he can.

You look at the box carefully, judging whether or not it seems to be dangerous. You check around it from all angles without even touching the blade. It seems fine to you, but you are nervous.

"Hey, we got some old looking books here. I can't read them though. It's in some language I don't get, and the letters are half worn away anyway. Half of them have weird animals on the cover, the other half have shapes and symbols." Leon calls over the piles of coins and gems.

"Sam says there are bars of mithril here too! Real mithril, like in the fables! We get a fire hot enough, we can forge it!" Jirad peeks out over one pile, waving around a bar of green-blue metal.

"Whoa! Whoa whoa whoa!" You hear Leon shouting in complete surprise. You prepare to rush toward him, but he speaks first. "It's moving! It's alive!"

"It's like the Wind King's legend! This is amazing! Screw the other stuff, we need to take this!" Jirad laughs joyfully. You take a step forward, but are soon stopped dead in your tracks when you look down to see the lamp is dying out. Suddenly the doors into the treasure store begin to close. You've only got a few moments to make it out. At best, you can hope to bring one item besides the dagger, unless you can think of something else, and quick

>

>>33053234
kick something of considerable size at the door to prevent it from closing.

If we are to take anything, we're getting the books.

The mithril is a lower priority

>>33053234
Ask Jirad if Sam can keep the fire going

>>33053354
You shout to Jirad, who comes climbing over the gold pile. You explain the situation, and he begins panicking. You ask if Sam might be able to hold the flame steady, to which Jirad responds by tumbling down the side of the pile and grabbing the lamp.

"Shit shit! Sam!" The flame holds it's intensity, but does not grow. "Agh! Fuck, this hurts! Grab what you're gonna grab and hurry!"

You close the box again and chuck it with all your strength out the door, barely clearing the stone entryway. With your hands free, you can grab one more item, but your time is nearly out.

>

>>33053301
These are ancient stone doors meant to keep armies from ramming their way in. Also, they are up a set of stairs and a ways away. And by this I mean, kicking something between them won't suffice to hold them open.

>>33053581
the book

>>33053581
What if we threw Jihad out the door while Leon grabs whatever else we want?

>>33053634
>Jihad
Goddam auto-correct

>>33053618
>>33053634
I should have been more careful with my words. You can take two items total now. Also, throwing Jirad out would do little. He's got no firestarter to reignite the lamps and you'd be trapped in a dark, airtight room.

>>33053749
The books with the animals
The Mithril

>>33053749
priority list:
dagger
then
book
then
mithril

>>33053870
Wait changing the first choice to take the one with the shapes

>>33053922
yeah, animal shapes will probably give us something about the dragon

>>33053870
>>33053895
>>33053922
As Jirad keeps the door from shutting completely, and endures great pain to do so, you shout for Leon to toss the book to you and grab the mithril. The book comes sailing, tumbling over the gold pile and into your hands. You tuck it under your shoulder and use your free hand to help Jirad up. The two of you begin making your way out and up, and Leon catches up soon. You tell Jirad to drop the lamp, and he does, letting you all run up the stairs at top speed, barely diving out of the closing doors.

With the lamp inside, the treasure room is forever sealed. You look at your haul. Ten heavy bars of mithril, a book covered in strange shapes and runes, and a few measly gold coins.

>

>>33054022
head back?

>>33054022
>Shit Eating Grin

Ask Jirad how the hell did he mange to find us

>>33054077
>>33054046
The three of you pack your earnings and start heading back. On the way out of the canyon, you ask Jirad how he managed to find you out here.

"We were just passing by, funny enough. We go from city to city when things get too hot. The powers that be still don't like magic running free in their backyard. A few miles away, Sam smelled you. At least that's what he says. He figured the only place you'd be going was here, so we got here first and waited for you. I would have dropped down to say hi earlier, but I found some shade and had a nap. He was screaming bloody murder to wake me up." The story makes enough sense, you suppose. And Jirad hasn't shown any sign of malice yet.

The three of you ride back across the desert, and with Jirad's help you are able to stop at a few oases for cool water along the way back to the mountains. Once you're over them, you descend back to the lowlands. It's been more than enough time for Annalise to reach Lumen and come back, but you can't know how the others are doing.

>

>>33054312
See what kind of news we can get on the dragon

>>33054396
You ride on until you reach a large trade town. You're dangerously close to the Salt Plains here, so you elect to keep your armor off. The three of you stop at a tavern in hopes of collecting information.

The place is well kept and friendly, with merchants and businessmen drinking and chatting merrily. The three of you take seats at the bar and strike up conversation with the man behind it. You tell him you'd heard of a monster in the far northeast, that supposedly wiped out a great city.

"Haha! You've been speaking to drunken merchants and bards, then. I have a friend from around there, and he says it was nothing more than a fire caused by a thunderstorm. Nobody even saw a monster, flying or otherwise. Of course, there are plenty who even say it was a dragon. A dragon! Can you believe that!? Ahaha!"

"It's true!" One man shouts from across the room, cheeks red with liquor. "There's a dragon hiding beneath the rainbow falls in the northlands! Three-hundred feet from tip to tip! It spouts fire like a kettle spouts water and steam! It's-it's so large it can-why it can swallow ten herds of cattle!" The tavern breaks into laughter at the man. "Laugh if you want, but that behemoth has striken again! Further west this time! It's gone and wiped out four miles of forest in one night! Give it a year and it'll be knocking on our doors!"

>

>>33054665
Ask what was near or in that forest

>>33054665
gather whatever supplies and head back.

Talk to Leon and Jirad about how to deal with the dragon. See what we can make out of the books

>>33054711
>>33054728
You ask the patrons about the are the dragon supposedly wiped out recently.

"If the rumors are true, there was a few of the Black Berets gathered there, riding to a meeting in the north. You know, Ranger elite. Course, they'd never be burnt up by some forest fire. I'm sure they slipped out quick as bunnies." You turn to Leon briefly. He is gripping his shot glass so tight, you think it might shatter. You place a hand on his wrist and calm him. After you finish your drinks, you buy up some supplies with the gold from the treasure chamber and start riding again. Along the way, you have Jirad crack open the book and try to read it.

"Elo, mirja, nuhrad? No, mihrada. Sorry, it's really old script. I can probably get the idea of it if you give me time, but it's not gonna be a perfect translation. That okay?"

>

>>33054895
yeah, we're going to have a more in depth study when we get back. Just give us what you can

>>33054961
You tell Jirad to do his best for now. He begins reading the text to himself, little by little. For the next few days, he spends the twilight hour cracking the book, but progress is slow.

You wonder if you should go to Lumen and check on things, but Leon reminds you of the order to arrest you on sight. You might also just travel back north to the outpost.

>

>>33055147
go back to the outpost. Inquire about the best blacksmith in the land and forge something out of the mithril

>>33055193
You ride north, to the outpost. It it only a week on horse when you keep a good pace, and everything seems to be in order. Upon stopping, Leon asks about your comrades. The Ranger he talks to informs you that Annalise returned a week ago, and has been keeping to herself when she isn't visiting Eva and the baby. He also tells Leon that there are a few matters specifically for him to tend to. Leon turns to you with tired eyes.

"I'm gonna go check on my girls, then see what the business is about. You two do as you like and come see me later." Leon waves and makes his way quickly up the tree trunks again. You turn to Jirad, who still has the book tucked under his shoulder and his sword on his back.

"Me? Probably just gonna find somewhere to sit and rad this."

>

>>33055302
"Good luck with that."

>>33055302
have some of the rangers accompany him and study the book with him

additionally, let's go see Anna and see how she's doing.

Also, forging mithril stuff, who can we seek out for this sort of thing

>>33055337
>>33055366
You tell Jirad to see if any of the Rangers can help him.

"I doubt it, unless they can read Old Dalan script. I'll do what I can though." With that, Jirad leaves you. You ask one of the lookouts if he's seen Annalise, and he points you to the common room. Before you go, you ask him about a forge.

"Thomas Smallpint does our weapons and armor. He's at the base of that tree there, but I really don't think he'll bother with a side project. He and his are busy enough keeping the outpost in steel and chain as it is." You thank him and make your way to the common room.

When you arrive, you open the door slowly and peek in. The Rangers never sleep during daylight hours, so the attractive lump beneath the sheets across the room must be none other than Annalise.

>

>>33055542
tickle her

>>33055636
You silently approach Annalise, careful not to startle her. She really does seem to be napping. When you finally do reach her, you are able to look down and see her peaceful dreaming face atop a pool of red hair. You reach down and poke her soft bits, watching her flinch reflexively and then sit upright with a wide smile. She says nothing, but stands up to wrap her arms around your neck and kiss your cheek.

>

>>33055867
ruffle her head a bit and relax next to her.
ask how things are on her end
explain what we went through in the desert
and Samael is back

>>33055867
I'll let the harem master Wrenloft take over
I expect Pietra to walk in and get jealous/angry

>>33055900
>>33055932
You rest your chin on Annalise's head, ruffling it a bit. You can smell her scent already, always sunflowers. The two of you sit down on the bed in each other's arms, listening to each other's breath. You tell her about your trek through the desert and meeting with Jirad, and the successful acquisition of the dagger. She nuzzles her head against your chest happily. You ask about her own mission.

"It was successful. Sort of. Leman found what we were looking for, at the very least."

>

>>33056092
Is he going to help us get it or will that be up to us?

>>33056136
"He tried talking to the bishop, but nobody in the city believes there is a dragon. I think they'd rather pretend there isn't one, or that they're safe behind the walls. My father still only sends letters from around the world too. If he were here he'd believe me, I know, but we can't count on him right now. At any rate, I have First Light and he's still trying to convince the other heads to let him dispatch inquisitors to investigate. He's not confident though. You know how bad we- er, they are for numbers right now."

>

>>33056322
hug her and kiss her on the forehead.

Tell her about the adventure in the desert and our retrieval of the Wind King's dagger.

And that Samael is back

>>33056404
You sit with Annalise a while longer, showering her with affection. She seems to enjoy it immensely. You recount your trip, as well as the fact that the spirit from the desert returning. She seems concerned, but you inform her that you've agreed to a nonviolent arrangement for now, and that he doesn't seem to be intending to go back on his word anytime soon. Annalise still seems concerned, but she says nothing of it.

"Oh, some of the Rangers say that Pietra and the others are doing alright up north. They found her trail her a few days ago; she'd been camping by a lake. They don't know anything about her progress though."

>

>>33056611
"Maybe we should go look for her?"

>>33056611
Well all we are going to do is sit on are ass for a couple of weeks why not go meet her?
Going to bed now also calling that tome was a spell book and we become a wizard of the fist element

>>33056644
>>33056686
You suggest searching for Pietra, now that you've got the time. Annalise continues to press herself against you as she responds.

"If that's what you want to do. I'm not really worried about her, especially if the others are with her, but I wouldn't mind seeing her again. I hate to say it, but I've sort of gotten used to sleeping next to her. When do you want to leave?"

>

>>33056823
"We take a day to rest. Then tomorrow, we leave."

>>33056865
You decide to rest for one night, and leave in the morning after you've unwound and had some alone time. Annalise agrees, and the two of you spend a few hours together before having a hot meal and telling the others about your next move.

>>33056984
Gonna get some sleep now, as tomorrow is the child's birthday party. Lots to do.

Thanks for hanging out Wren, and I'll be back next week with more terrible quest times!

>>33057005
Thanks.
Hope you guys have a nice birthday party.