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A cataclysmic war, referred to hereafter as the Collapse, erupted about one thousand years into creation, and all but three demigods, all but two races, and all the gods died off. The tattered remnants of the world held together through the power of the three surviving demigods, including yours; the female demigod of the elves, named Asa. Three huge alchemic weather machines keep the world habitable, while the demigods have dispensed with the use of Heralds in favor of Avatars: physical projections of themselves that can walk and talk like people.

The afterlife was dismantled in the wake of the Collapse, and now, all souls are simply ‘inverted’ in the seas of Chaos outside reality after death, and absorbed by their corresponding demigod.

You were assigned by your King to track down a gang of bandits that had sided with the secessionists in the southlands, but were ambushed and nearly murdered by the conspiracy and their ancient weapon, the Orb of the Feathered Demon. Because the weapon can kill demigods, the Pantheon survivors made you a Herald in secret, and have charged you with killing the ten conspirators who survived the battle in the woods.

Previously, you learned that an alchemic jammer can be used to disable the teleporter Soutri has acquired. Though your own efforts to spread positive rumors of your return are countering his own, more sinister rumors, the other four members of the conspiracy seem to have dropped off the map completely. You can’t really stop to deal with that right now, though, so you’re preparing to meet the King’s Spymaster, so that you can survey Soutri’s home.


All mechanics are based on a 1d100+modifier roll.

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You really shouldn’t be worried. It’s just a Spymaster. Spymistress. Whatever. You shuffle your feet outside the tiny reception room the Duchess Gherta uses as her office when she’s not at the King’s councils and try not to think about how much she may already know.

The door creaks open and you jump half a foot. A small, energetic-looking human man with an interesting collection of papers and seals in his hands bustles out. “Thank you, my Lady, it’s much appreciated,” he calls over his shoulder. Even as he says it, a human man with a look of complete nonchalance – and a very expensive robe and layered armor you don’t recognize by sight – steps up behind him.

His voice is very soft, quiet, unassuming, and polite. It would be easy to think he wasn’t a spy if he weren’t in the Spymistress’s office. “Sergeant Ledren, my Lady will see you now.”

You start to salute, but he’s already stepping back into the room. You hold back a sigh and walk in.

The Duchess doesn’t need to be very imposing to dominate the tiny room. Her clothing is even more expensive-looking than the door guard’s outfit is, but the thing that most catches your eye about her is the fact that her face is so heavily scarred that it’s actually sort of difficult to tell where she’s looking.

You force down revulsion and bow deeply. “Duchess Gherta, I am honored. I am Sergeant Elsa Ledren of the Logistics Office.”

The hideous visage before you tilts up from the single paper on the desk to meet your gaze. “Indeed,” the Duchess says. “Though I doubt that that is all which you are, Sergeant. His Majesty has instructed me to provide you assistance that is both unconditional and without budgetary restriction. In the middle of a war, no less.” Unlike the door guard’s voice, hers is flat, tightly controlled, and very precisely enunciated.


>”Be that as it may, I do need it.”
>actually explain in full
>writein

>>34326039

Welcome back. Let's get this moveable feast underway!

>>34326118
>”Be that as it may, I do need it.”

hey! I read those other novels this week. Pretty good. Is Cender's crime rate ever not unsustainable?

>>34326118
>>actually explain in full
If Cender's spymaster is a traitor, we're fucked anyway.

>>34326118
>>actually explain in full

She'd find out sooner or later

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>>34326302
>>34326302
Absolutely it is, the problem right now is that there's a hell of a lot of recent economic upheaval, thanks to the abolition of indentured servitude. Outright slavery hasn't been legal for millennia, but a LOT of the farms outside the major cities were run by indentured workers, and when that was abolished, a lot of people either went broke or starved. The country will be better off for it eventually, but for now, there's much discontent. It's part of the reason the southern nobles rebelled: they don't want to bring it back, they just saw their chance to break away from a strong but suddenly unpopular king: Maas' father. When the old King died and Maas took over, he kept the no-indenturing policy on the books, and war broke out.

The semi-abandoned farms where Ding lived? Broken up from the old Latifundae (factory-farm) system. There's tons of freeholders and minor nobles popping up where the old latifundae owners were.

Also last week's art!

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You glance back at the man behind you, but at a nod from the Spymistress, he departs. “And the wherewithal to refuse to speak in the presence of my heir,” the Duchess says flatly. “No, you are not what you seem.”

The fabric around your ears rustles softly as you pull the bandana free without a word. The Spymistress’ network of facial scars shifts as her eyes widen. “Ah. I thought as much.” She folds her hands on the table. “So. The whispers among the Shadows were true.”

You sigh into the cramped room as you retie the bandana. “I swore them to silence.”

“Them, yes. Not their servants and specialists. I should really enact a bit of a purge, if they are unable to contain such an important piece of knowledge,” Gherta says dolefully. The pronouncement sends a shiver down your spine, but she keeps on talking. “So I understand, now, the urgency of the King’s order.” She lifts the paper and reads a line aloud. “ ‘A single pair of eyes, skilled at the act of covert observation.’”

“Indeed, Duchess,” you say. “Somebody who can spot a target.”

She nods. “My apprentice, and eventual replacement. Knight Caulhan. She will meet you where you wish.”

“Outside the walls, in inconspicuous clothes, at lunch,” you say, before you register the telltale word. “ ‘She?’”

“She’s a woman, last I noticed,” Gherta says flatly.

“Er, yes, so it won’t be the man who was here before?”

“To whom I referred as my heir?” Gherta smiles. Or you think she smiles. “That was her.”

You sit back, stunned. “Amazing disguise,” you say, just to say something.

“Isn’t it? Magic is so useful.” Gherta folds the paper and drops it into a shimmering slot on the floor, where it instantly incinerates. “You have your spy.”


>Go talk to somebody before meeting the Assassin to make a plan
>Grab lunch and go right there
>Ask questions
>writein

>>34326690
>Grab lunch and go right there

>>34326690
>>Grab lunch and go right there

“Then I’m off, Duchess Gherta, and thank you,” you say, rising to your feet and bowing again. The Duchess returns the gesture, surprisingly, then site right back down and gets to work.


Outside the castle, you pop into a nearby bakery and scarf down some pastries, thinking about the task at hand. You’ll need to scope out the place, and also scope out the nearby buildings, so that the assassin has a place to set up shop. You need to see how many floors the place has, as well, so that you can tell how the safest approach could work. Plus, you may want to use that diversion that Garren mentioned. That would require seeing if there are any open-air places nearby from which to launch fireworks.

Garren. You swallow some pastry and think about the Firesoul you had come to befriend. She had had her tumultuous side, to be sure, but she had never failed to come through for you. Kelscik will have her convictions, of course, but he clearly lacks her drive.

Oh well. Time to go to work.


(con’t)

Back outside the castle, you slowly sweep the crowd with your eyes. The roads past the outer wall of the parade ground aren’t particularly busy, but there’s a few knots of people you don’t recognize from the traffic you saw every day in muster. You slowly walk towards one group, hands in your pockets.

“First mistake,” a voice behind you says.

You glance back – it’s the ‘man’ from before. He’s a few inches away, staring into your eyes. You missed him completely. “Nobody puts their hands in their pockets while they’re walking.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” you say. You turn to shake the spy’s hand, but she doesn’t extend it. “What’s your name today?” you ask quietly.

“Mel,” she replies. “We’re waiting for somebody?”

“My assassin contact,” you say in the quietest voice you can muster.

“Hmph. Guild rookies,” she snorts. “He’s a block back, trying to look like he’s shopping for fruit.”

Troubling. You were promised a Master’s finest apprentice.


>What’s your game plan?
>Go scope out that large block of homes Garren pointed out
>Go scope out the jewelry shop itself
>Go scope out any venue from which to launch fireworks

>RATE THEM IN ORDER OF PRIORITY, YOU WILL DO THEM ALL
>If you have any other ideas, throw them in at the end and I’ll put them on the list if there’s consensus

>>34327068
>>Go scope out that large block of homes Garren pointed out
>>Go scope out the jewelry shop itself
>>Go scope out any venue from which to launch fireworks

I think this is a good order, though if anyone has better I'l willing to listen.

>>34327068
>“Nobody puts their hands in their pockets while they’re walking.”
I do...

> Ask Mel about the assassin. Supposed to be really good, unless the assassins guild is a shell of its former self.

>Go scope out that large block of homes Garren pointed out
>Go scope out the jewelry shop itself
>Go scope out any venue from which to launch fireworks

Check homes, find place from which to observe the store. Stay as far as possible. Who knows what kind of stuff he has to detect people nearby.

“Do you know the guy personally?” you ask.

She shakes her head. “No, never met him.”

“Are the Guild guys even as good as they… you know, used to be?” you ask quietly.

Mel’s face hardens behind her makeup. “Hmm. Apparently.”

“What?”

A second figure, this one in innocuous robes instead of the expensive cloak Mel is wearing, steps out from behind her. “I was a block back ten minutes ago, sure,” a growling voice puts in. “And watch who you’re calling rookies.”

The spy turns to glare at the assassin, who syares back, emotionless. His face isn’t masked, he’s got his hood open to the sun. He’s a rough-looking, handsome human man in his thirties. “We going now?” he asks.

“To scope out the target, yes,” you say forcefully. You draw on Asa’s power a bit to say it, and they both look over. “We’re not hitting the place until the diversion is set up.”

“Fine. What’s the address?” the assassin asks nonchalantly.

You pass over the scraps of paper you had prepared from your lunch napkin. “Name’s Everett Soutri,” you say quietly.

The assassin winces. “Hell. I know the guy. Tough as nails.”

“You’re telling me,” you say with a grimace, running your hand over your head where he stabbed you. “If he makes you, get out. Leave him to me.”

They both look at you curiously, but don’t ask. “All right. What first?” the assassin asks.

“Your name, sir.”

His lip twists. “Vern. As far as you know.”

So, in other words, he doesn’t want you to know. Fair enough. You’re keeping secrets, too. “All right. We’re scoping out a neighboring house first, so we can use it as a vantage point during the hit.”

“Done. Lead the way,” Vern says.


The three of you stroll through the streets to the jewelry store, which is shamefully close to the castle. That your greatest enemy could be so close to where you work is more than a bit unsettling.


(con’t)

Your two escorts, however, are as cold as ice. Whatever rivalries they may have, they’re not letting them show. As soon as you approach the target, Vern puts his hood up and disappears into the crowd. He’s a tall man, but even you can’t spot him – with your divine eyes, no less – after less than a minute of walking in the crowds. Mel stays on your arm, chatting and talking, holding your attention so she can work.

After a few minutes of wandering, she releases you, and the two of you duck into a nearby alley.

“Found it,” she says softly. “We need to fall back.”

“Vern?” you ask.

“He fell back a few seconds ago. He saw it too,” she says under her breath.

The two of you emerge and wander off, right past the reconditioned store where Soutri lives, which makes your skin crawl. You go by without incident, and a minute later, Vern appears at your side.

“Did you see it?” he asks quietly.

“I did,” Mel confirms.

“What is ‘it?’” you ask irritably.

“A downspout with thick vines on it,” Vern says with satisfaction. “Very thick. I could climb that without issue.”

“So could I,” Mel says confidently.


>Go back and see it yourself
>Proceed to look over the shop and reconvene later

>>34328164
>>Proceed to look over the shop and reconvene later
Take their word for it, they're professionals.
It's totally a trap. The vines are enchanted to strangle anyone who climbs it!

>>34328164
>>Go back and see it yourself

best to be sure

>>34328164
>Proceed to look over the shop and reconvene later

“I’ll take your word for it,” you murmur. “Let’s check out the store next.”

Vern scoffs. “Not yet!”

“We have to wait at least half an hour,” Mel agrees. “If we come back right away, anybody watching will be suspicious.”

“We can check for open-air venues nearby, then,” you say quietly. “My ally suggested that we stage a diversion like a party, or something like that, in an open space nearby, so he’s looking the wrong way.”

“We could, but it’d make me suspicious, too,” Vern cautions. “What kind of party? Just music, or something?”

“Fireworks, music, lots of light and noise,” you tell him.

He immediately shakes his head. “Too obvious. Against a vet like Soutri, that’s overplaying the hand. You should be more subtle.”

That’s not what Garren told you, but it’s not time for that. “Just keep your eyes open. Let’s go vanish for half an hour,” you say firmly.


(con’t)

After another thirty minutes of aimless wandering through the many streets of the noble quarter, you pass behind the jewelry store’s block. Vern stays with you this time, and you can’t help but feel like you’re being patronized somehow by the pair of them.

Still, it’s not unpleasant, and minutes later, Mel reappears. “All right, here’s the problem,” she says, as soon as you’re around a corner.

“Wait wait, why are we discussing this so close to the place?” you ask, looking around despite yourself. “I mean, he could be following us.”

“He’s not,” both answer at once. The assassin shakes his head as Mel keeps on going. “The store and the apartment above it are both empty,” Mel says.

“How can you tell?” you ask, feeling a bit sandbagged.

“Trust me,” Mel says. “There are too many candles lit for mid-day, the windows are all closed, there’s nothing hanging on the closest peg to the door, the mailbox isn’t empty. There’s nobody home.”


>Abandon the plan and lay an ambush right now
>Continue with the operation and scope out the area for diversion sites

>>34328958
>Continue with the operation and scope out the area for diversion sites
no way option #1
I remember the Hooks debacle.
Not again.

>>34328958
>>Continue with the operation and scope out the area for diversion sites
I told you guys he was gonna clear or he never really lived there, just met with his squeeze and conspirators there.

“Let’s check out the nearby buildings and head back to the castle,” you say. “We can plan a hit tonight.”

“Sure thing,” Mel says, while Vern shrugs.

The three of you spread out, fanning through the streets. You search the places nearby carefully, but if there is a good area for a noisy party, you don’t see one. After ten minutes of brisk walking, you peel off for the castle’s reassuring walls.

You arrive outside the castle and wait, and in fewer than ten minutes, both of your compatriots arrive. “Could you be more obvious, Sergeant?” Mel asks blandly.

“I shoot things, Mel, and that’s what I do well,” you say, though not in a hostile way. You brought experts for a good reason. “Find any places that fit the bill?”

She nods with grim satisfaction. “Just one. An open-air café that doubles as a sort of ballroom-for-hire. It’s about a block from the store.”

Vern shrugs. “I found that place, and a sort of amphitheater that opens up to the sky. It was three blocks due north, close to the city walls.”


>Gather more recce
>Go tell (Who? Dietrich? Ekrine? Maas? Gherta? Kelscik?) what you found
>Page Asa as soon as you can and pass along intel
>writein

>>34329423
>Page Asa as soon as you can and pass along intel
>tfw this is useless and he just uses it as a meeting area

“All right. Vern, I’ll be in touch. Mel, get back to that downspout you found and get comfortable,” you say. “I’ll pass along this intel and advance the plan,” you say, trying to project confidence. Asa and you will be able to come up with something. “Thanks for your help.”

“Sure,” Vern says casually, and he’s gone in the crowds.

Mel nods and slides her hood up. “I’ll be there in an hour. I’ll need to secure some food and a camouflage blanket.” She nods farewell and walks off.

You wait until they’re both out of sight before ducking into the shadow of the wall and tapping the Gem. {My Lady, we’ve surveyed the jewelry store. The place is empty, but there’s lit candles.}

[I’m not surprised he stays elsewhere during the day, but Caliso was quite sure he’s there at nights,] Asa replies. She sounds pretty stressed, actually. Must be more fighting somewhere. [Did you see wards on the place? Caliso remembered seeing some.]

{No.}

[Hmm. Is your spy in place?]

{Yes, or she will be in an hour.}

[Good. Go tell the King, and request whatever support you want. And do call in Culler and Kelscik if you feel you need them. Incidentally, have you heard from Master Sun?] Asa inquires.

{Not yet.}

[I’d be stunned if you didn’t hear from him. He’s probably very interested in that flying city. Is there anything else to report, Sister? I’m afraid that I’m quite busy in the south. The rips in reality around the Scar are fraying my attention a bit.]

{No. Good luck.}

[Thank you.]


>Go report to Maas first
>Ask for backup from somebody else
>writein

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Also. Here's the data on the quest!

I've now written more than a million words of fiction on /tg/. Love you guys!

>>34330254
>>Go report to Maas first

>>34330254
>Go report to Maas first

>>34330487
Impressive. It doesn't seem that long at all!

You stop over in the barracks long enough to change into your Auxilia armor and climb the familiar stairs up to the throne room, where you wait patiently for the clouds of nobles to finish their petitioning.

As your turn is called, you move to stand before the King, and kneel before the throne.

Maas is clearly still not getting anywhere near enough sleep. He still looks regal, though, since that’s essentially his job. He raises one hand as you kneel. “Ah, Sergeant. Do you have the report?” he asks blandly.

“I do, your Highness,” you say, passing along the piece of paper to which you have committed your findings. He looks at it once, quickly, and passes it back.

“Well done. I shall meet with the relevant advisors and pass along instructions to your unit as soon as I can,” he says graciously. “By my leave, you may depart.”

“Thank you, your Highness,” you say, and bow out. The moves wouldn’t be necessary in front of a smaller crowd, of course, but the ceremony of a presentation can’t be ignored.


Below, you sit back down before the Duchess and deliver the same report. She reads it over more slowly, and looks up at you when she’s done. “Very good. Did you encounter any sort of other problems, Herald?” she asks quietly.


>Inform her of Soutri’s seeming absence
>Let her know that you’re considering using her spy as a spotter
>tell her about Asa’s idea
>writein

>>34330995
>>Inform her of Soutri’s seeming absence
>>tell her about Asa’s idea

“Not a problem, per se,” you say carefully. “It looked like the building was occupied, but there was nobody in it.”

Gherta looks down at the paper. “They have an apartment on the second floor, and the first is largely empty, save for the empty racks from the previous store?”

“Yes.”

“And you do not yet know how to enter the place?” she asks.

“We’re working on it. Mel stayed behind under cover to survey the place. I’ll be meeting up with my other allies tonight to plan an attack,” you inform her. “And I should add that one of them had a plan. She thinks we should stage a large party nearby, with fireworks and music, to cover our approach.”

Gherta scoffs, surprising you. “Perhaps, Herald, but it won’t work. If the place is abandoned in midday, it will be locked up tight whether there’s people in it or not tonight.”

You phrase your question with Garren’s anonymity in mind. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but wouldn’t it, at the very least, direct their attention away from certain other parts of the building?” you ask reasonably.


(con’t)

“Yes, but that’s not what you want in a covert attack, not in the middle of the city,” Gherta says patiently. “This person seems to be very well-prepared, yes?”

“Very,” you agree, shuddering.

“Then they must feel to be in control! A large party would put them on edge!” the old Duchess says. “A Concussion grenade down the chimney and a war party through the door a second later, that’s the way. If you really mean to kill whomever you’re targeting.”

Interesting. “I was also given a suggestion by Lady Asa, to target the building with some sort of minor diversion at the last minute,” you inform her.

She hesitates before answering. Obviously, she’s not used to contradicting deities. “With all due respect to Her Ladyship, I’m sure she has the souls of this person’s acquaintences upon which to rely, but in my experience, silence is the key to victory. If nothing else, it makes the job smoother.”


>Pursue the diversion idea
>Pursue the silent attack idea

>>34331521
>Pursue the silent attack idea

“Then I think we’ll stay silent for as long as we can,” you muse. “Fewer factors beyond our control, at least.”

“Very well, Herald, thank you,” Gherta says. Perhaps she’s just worried about her apprentice. “Do let me know when you make your move. I will greatly appreciate the opportunity to observe this exchange. I can not, you see, imagine that the King and the Pantheon would have vested so much trust in you without a reason.”

And why would you act without letting her file away some useful intelligence regarding your abilities and goals, right? You feel no need to ask aloud. “I shall,” you say, and rise to your feet. “Now, I need to go strategize. Thank you, Duchess. Your help is greatly appreciated.”


[TEMPORARY END OF THREAD]

running tomorrow at the crack of dawn, PLEASE keep the thread up! this board moves frighteningly fast these days.

Bump

>>34332024
bampu

bump

>>34333598
bump

>>34335349
bump

Bump, bump bump...

Nicely done, thanks!

Jerome and Asa listen patiently as you describe the day’s discoveries. “So it looks like he’s only there at night, which may be a problem,” you admit. “I left Mel at the balcony to spot. When the time comes for the attack, she can come down and report.”

Asa smiles. “I’m impressed at how quickly you’re recruiting allies, Elsa! At this rate, you’ll be able to tie this all up with minimal loss.”

Your empathic link lets you feel the warmth of her approval, and you smile too. “Thanks, Sister.”

Jerome clears his throat uncomfortably. “I hate to say it, but there was a problem here today,” he says. “Somebody tried to break in.”

You both look over at him and he shifts under your scrutiny. “They did?” you ask. “What? When?”

Jerome points at the back door of the apartment. “I found a big gouge in the door, next to the handle. It must have happened between the time I came home for lunch and when I got home half an hour ago.”

That earns a scowl from you and a pensive nod from Asa. “Great, more damage to repair,” you mutter. “Was it one of the conspirators? Never mind, it doesn’t matter,” you say before he can point out that he couldn’t possibly know.

“Probably,” Asa muses. “They already knew where you live… but I didn’t feel my wards activate at all.”

“Garren left hers up, and I think she layered them over yours,” you tell her.

“Ah, of course,” Asa says, relieved. “I thought they had a weapon that could bypass them, for a moment.”

Jerome shudders. “I don’t even want to think about that.”


>Plan out the attack now
>Wait until you meet back up with Vern and get his input first

>Feel free to make suggestions about tactics!

Bumping so the morning crowd gets a chance to see it.

>Wait until you meet back up with Vern and get his input first

Maybe also ask if our eyes and our knife can watch the place after this is done, see if they can catch someone doing things they're not supposed to.

“All right, I think I have the specter of a plan,” you say, rising to your feet. “Let’s have dinner, then I’ll head out.”

“Are you fighting tonight?” Jerome worriedly asks.

You hesitate. “Probably. I should at least be ready to if I have to. I doubt he has an Orb,” you say, turning to Asa, “but we should count on him having backup. Maybe even from Forest.”

“Maybe.” Asa grasps your hand for a moment. “Be careful. Page me the instant you confirm he doesn’t have one of the two Orbs.”

“I will,” you promise.


>Go get the Heraldic gear from the armorer
>Use the stealth armor
>Go with the skirmish gear
>no armor – dress like a civilian

>>34341029
>Go get the Heraldic gear from the armorer
It's the best we have.
Also why would Elsa think he doesn't have an orb?

>>34341359
Regarding the Orb: Garren and Elsa sat down and figured out who would be most likely to have one after they found Ding making more. Kotrik more or less has to have one, and the old Explorer may have one, with slim chances on the rest. It hasn't come up in months, but Elsa has to think about that sort of thing. Also back! Writing as soon as lunch is over.

>>34341549
>no armor – dress like a civilian
We're working with a spy and an assassin that prefer low profiles. Chances are, we've been spotted, even if they (spy/knife) haven't. To put on battle gear now would raise alarms. Civilian clothing (with hidden weapons perhaps) might make this appear more kosher.

You head upstairs and pull on civilian clothes that would fit in the noble district at night – your Sunday best, what you wear to the Circle meetings – and walk back down. “Are you planning on going without weapons or armor?” Asa asks.

“Well, I was thinking I’d go get my Heraldic armor from the armorer, then bring whatever weapons I can,” you tell her. “I’m dressed like this in case somebody is expecting an armored opponent. Maybe I won’t get seen.”

“Very well,” she says. “I insist that you bring the tiara, however. Conceal it under a hat, perhaps. You should at least wear a shield.”

“Good call.” You dash back upstairs and grab the headwear, then stuff it under your hat. “All right, am I good to go?” you ask, spreading your arms.

“Once you decide which weapons to bring,” Asa reminds you as Jerome just looks worried.


>Sling + bullets
>Spear
>Grenades
>Twin short swords
>Dagger
>nothing

>>34341949
>everything but the short swords

“I’ll leave the swords,” you say after a moment. “I’ll bring everything else in a bundle and bring what I need to the site. He may not even be there tonight.”

The other two watch in silence as you bundle up the weapons for transport through the tunnel. “Elsa,” Jerome finally says.

You turn over and meet his eyes. His face is full of worry, and his hands are flexing as he speaks. “Elsa, I’m worried about tonight.”

“Me too,” you say softly. “This is going to be difficult.”

“I can’t… damn it, I can’t help!” he says, frustrated. “I can’t be there to make sure you don’t get killed!”

You start to say something, but Asa gets there first. “No, you can’t,” she says calmly. “That will never feel right, my son, ever. It is what it is, however. I’m sure she’d like it if you helped carry her weapons to the armory, though.”

“Yeah, good call,” he mutters, and starts bundling a dishrag around the spear point.


A few scant minutes later, the two of you are walking down the tunnel to the castle, lost in your thoughts. The echoes of your footfalls on the stone bounce off the long, narrow hall into the dim distance.

After half an hour, you arrive at the door to the castle basement. You take a long breath and reach for the handle. “Okay, wish me luck.”

“Elsa…”

You start to turn when you disappear into a hug. “Come back, sweetheart,” he murmurs into your hair. You can hear him sniffle. “Okay?”

You close your eyes to hold back tears. “I will,” you whisper. “I will.”


(con’t)

Inside, you lock the door behind you and slip the key into a pocket. After juggling the weapons into more comfortable alignment on your civilian clothes, you deposit the equipment in your bunk in the barracks and go to the armory.

The armorer looks up from her desk when you walk in. “Let me stop you right there, Sergeant,” she says, sounding a bit harried. “The armor’s not done!”

“What?” you snap. “You said-”

“I said Monday night, and I will be done tonight, but this metal is so tough I can barely work it,” she says, tapping the breastplate with one gloved finger. “Give me another hour.”


>Just wait – you need to go get the money from the King anyway
>Take what you have done
>Go in your civvies
>writein

>>34342252
>Just wait – you need to go get the money from the King anyway

So do you all want to use that teleport jammer, or what? You could get the ingredients and a Mage from the Brotherhood, from the King, whatever. You still have a few hours before it has to be done.

>>34342605
Definitely. We were just gonna try and grab a mage from the king along with the money. They don't have to be super good after all.

You sigh under your breath, but it can’t be helped. “Fine. I’ll be back.” You walk out into the hallways and make your way up to the Royal residence, where a few Shadows look at you askance for your get-up, but nobody says a word. Apparently, the word that you really aren’t to be trifled with is making the rounds, like you thought.

After a wait of nearly forty minutes, a porter beckons you into the private audience chamber, where the King is reading something. “Do you need my help with something, Herald?” he asks, looking up from the papers.

“Sire, I’m about to begin the hit against Everett Soutri, and I’d like your permission to draw some funds to upgrade my armor,” you say. “I’ve also been given the ingredient list for a teleport jammer we can use against Soutri.”

The King nods. “Ah, clever. Yes, how much will you need for the armor?”

“Thirty nine thousand, sir, and it’s going to the armory here,” you inform him.

“Very well. And the ingredients for this jammer?” he asks.

“Iron, sulfur, bone meal, blood, water, and a mage to charge it all,” you list.

Maas shakes his head. “A mage, eh? I’m almost tempted to come along myself, just to get out of the place for a while, but I think I’ll send along a few of the enchanters from the apothecarion. Will two work?”

“Well, as many as you can spare, really, these jammers only have a fifty-meter range,” you say. “But they run for two days.”

“Then I’ll send the three I know aren’t working,” the King says, “with the ingredients. You’re meeting in the same spot as where you met Gherta’s friend, yes? This is going to look very odd, you know, so please get it wrapped up hastily. Obviously, safety comes first, but if this gets as violent as the battle at the ports…”


(con’t)

“I’ll do what I can,” you promise. Maas snorts.


With the money in hand, you walk back down to the armory and pay up. The armorer hands over the gear with a weary sigh. “All right, here you go. That’s interesting stuff, ma’am. Custom?”

“It is custom, yes,” you inform her. “A gift from a dear relative.”

“Mmm. I couldn’t even identify the metal.”

“Really? That’s surprising,” you say vaguely, handing over the money. “Here you are.”

“Great. Thanks,” she says, packing it away.

You duck into a closet to quickly bundle all the armor and weapons up, then hike outside the walls, where three mages and an assassin trying not to laugh spot you.


“Ho, Sergeant, you travel in odd circles,” Vern chuckles.

“Oh, I know it,” you grumble. “All right, man, I wnt your opinion. How do you want to do this?”

He shrugs. “Wait until dark, look for movement, go in through an open window. If there isn’t one, we make one, and drop a Conky down the chimney for good measure.”


>DECISION TIME
>Stealthy
>Confrontational

>Armor
>Civvies

>Which weapon do you use going in? (sling/grenades+sling/spear/dagger)

>>34343216
>Confrontational
>Armor

>sling+dagger

Just as a reminder when attacking, mention her marksmanship ability to be used.

>>34343216
>Confrontational
>Armor
>sling+nades

Okay, there's been a lot of confrontational suggestions. Do you mean to follow Vern's plan, or do you have something else in mind? Take your time to decide, I have all day to run.

>>34343443
oh god I don't even know. can we sneak around a bit with the mages? Someone said there were runes around the place, hopefully we can get told what those do, if they exist.

After that Vern's plan sounds good.

“We need to see what those warding runes on the building were first,” you tell him.

“Probably just repellant runes, but sure,” he says. Vern steps back as you turn to the mages, who have their equipment all bundled up.

“Are you all briefed?” you ask.

One of them huffs. “All we know is that we’re supposed to power up some alchemic devices and stay out of the way.”

“Perfect. Off we go,” you say, and you head off into the city.


The route is pretty clear, and you arrive in good time. You direct the mages to prepare their jammers out of sight of the building as you duck into an alley to change into armor. After a moment’s hesitation, you decide to use the mask, and it snugs under the brim of the helmet as the enchantment hums to life.

You duck back out of the alley as the mages finish setting up the mixtures, drawing some odd looks from passers-by. “All right, what do you… what the hell are you wearing?” one of the mages says as he straightens up.

“Armor,” you say shortly. The crystal turns your voice into a buzz. “Did you see those wards on the target building?”

“I haven’t even seen the target building!” the mage says.

“Here.” You guide them around the corner and quickly point out the target. “That.”

The mage stares. “Those are Repulsive Glyphs. They force back anybody who tries to open a door or window without permission.”


>Go check in with Mel first
>Lay out the jammers, even if Soutri may see it
>Writein

>>34343922
>>Go check in with Mel first

>>34343922
>>Go check in with Mel first
>Go check in with Mel first

>>34343922
>>Go check in with Mel first
Really should have grabbed a cloak or something to go over the armor until it's time.

“All right, I need to check in on one more thing,” you mutter. “As soon as I get back, I’ll let you know if it’s safe to turn on these jammers.” You walk over to the downspout that Mel and Vern had spotted before and stand next to it, lightly tapping it as you do.

After a minute, Mel’s face appears above the downspout. She makes a hand gesture you know from your time in the Auxilia – it means ‘I see four people.’ She follows it with another gesture, this one directed at the jewelry store – turned – apartment. Finally, she makes another gesture – man, elf. Then she makes it again, then the sign for human female, then one for ‘I can’t tell.’ You start to walk away when she makes another gesture – two circles with the hand. One of the elves is Soutri.


>Determine the best jammer layout
>Page Asa and ask for advice
>Ask Mel to actually join you in preparation for attack
>writein

>>34344540
>Determine the best jammer layout
Gotta get those in place or he'll just bug out.
>Page Asa
If she has any advice, sure. But otherwise just tell her shit's about to go down.

>>34344540
>Page Asa and ask for advice
>Determine the best jammer layout

You jog over to the cluster of mages in the alley. “All right, what’s the best layout of these things? They have a projection range of fifty meters,” you tell them.

“Without knowing what they are, I can’t say for sure,” one mage puts in, “but I’d say that one here, one across the street there, and the last one in that alley over yonder would more or less block out that whole building,” he says, pointing as he does. “Assuming that’s your target.”

You nod. “It is. They run for two days after activation, so turn them on and stay back.” You turn to the Assassin Guildman. “Soutri’s in the building. How long do we wait?”

“I’d say four more minutes,” he says after a moment. “The sun will be down behind the rooftops, and I can get up on the roof to drop in the grenade. Or show you how to do it, if you want to be up there.” He pauses. “Problem is, if we’re really going after Soutri, this isn’t a very large group. One person on the roof, one spotter, and another at the window? That’s effectively one person, since nobody can actually get in through the windows or doors with that ward in place.”

You turn away and thumb the Gem. {My Lady, we’re set up, but Vern thinks we’re undermanned for this.}

[What do you have available?]

{Me, Vern, Mel, three mages… that’s it, actually.}

[What? Did Culler, the King, Kelscik, did none of them offer backup?]

{Well, they all did, but I turned them down.}


(con’t)

[Why in the world… fine. It’s too late to reinforce. Just get in close enough to see if he has an Orb, then call me in, and if we’re lucky, I won’t need to go into War Form to kill him. Does he have housemates?]

{Three.}

[…And you refused backup from every possible source… why?] You can hear her groan in your mind. [It took two platoons to kill Ding, and a Firesoul too, and Soutri is at least as tough. You’d better hope this assassin of yours can catch Soutri with his pants down, or this is going to go straight to hell.]


>Race off to find backup
>Press the mages into helping

>>34345111
o boy, he's as tough as ding? we goofed

>Race off to find backup

>>34345173
He came within half a second of killing you with one hand in the bar, he's tapped the Well, he commands half a dozen elite mercenaries... I have taken every opportunity to show you all how this guy is a monster.

>>34345111
>>Race off to find backup
>>Press the mages into helping
Are they battle mages or utility mages? If they're just utility guys then forget that.

When we first approached the assassin guild, I figured we would be like poisoning his soup or planting a bomb in the house while he was out

They're apothecaries. They heal people and mix medicines.


Don't panic. Look at your inventory, look at your abilities. Don't forget to ask Asa to step in like she has in the past, hint hint.

>>34345363
too late
the panic is upon us
abort mission, come back with an army

can we even kill him with normal people? when we fought ding it seemed like he could've soloed an army.

It's possible, but you needed to come up with a plan before you got here. If you want to solo him, you can do it, but you need to prepare a bit more. Again, look at your inventory.

>>34345552
We could just Frag Out the chimney. I like this idea.

>>34345552
>>34345685
This is probably good to start with. After that we rush in behind Vern, give him a chance to work his assassin magic, and then back him up vs Soutri. If Mel can fight at all we should have her keep a lookout for Forest. Can we use Soul Finder in a way that lets us move in and use the frag out plan only when he's near the chimney?

You turn back to others. “Forget the concussion grenade, just use this,” you say, handing him your ammo pouch. “Set this off, drop it in the chimney, and run. Just run.”

He looks down at the bag and his eyes widen. “Subtle.”

“It’ll work. Once I see him, I’ll engage.” You turn to the apothecary mages. “Get the jammers in place and turn them on. Quickly.”

The mages lift the jugs and scuttle off as Vern clambers up the nearest roof. As soon as he’s in position, he crouches next to the chimney and waits.

You rush up behind him and draw on your Chaotic and divine powers. The sheer rush of energy that courses through you makes you dizzy for a moment, but you force yourself to focus. You activate both of the abilities you now possess that allow you to track souls.

There! Vern’s Gifted soul glimmers an odd color beside you. Underneath your feet, in the house, a Gifted person is walking around on the top floor. Three more people, also on the top floor, sitting down.

You glance over at where Mel is hidden, and you draw a finger in front of your eyes. She nods once – she’ll keep watch. You look back down through the ceiling and force calm into your heart.

[What did you decide?] Asa asks.

You thumb the Gem. {We’re going to bomb the house with my grenade satchel and just kill anything that emerges.]

[Unsubtle, but it could work. Call me in the instant you ascertain that Soutri is either dead or not carrying an Orb. Good luck.]


ROLL 1d100+4

Rolled 63 + 4 (1d100 + 4)

>>34346291

Rolled 27 + 4 (1d100 + 4)

>>34346291

Rolled 27 + 4 (1d100 + 4)

>>34346291
dice gods pls

Writing!

Wow man. Wow.

You focus your power on the Gifted soul below – Soutri’s, you hope – until his walking path takes him within a few feet of the chimney. “Do it,” you whisper.

Vern drops the grenade bag and leaps away, sending dust scattering from the roofing tiles. You follow, and through the corner of your eye, you see sudden consternation in the room below.

*BA-KOOM*

A thunderous explosion rips through the chimney, sending shards of masonry shooting out into the sky in every direction and spewing a cloud of noxious red smoke.

The blast hurtles you off the roof.

Your blood freezes as the ground rushes up, but the shield kicks in, and you land with a painful *thud* but no injury. You roll over, dazed, and Vern lands in a crouch beside you. “You all right?” he asks.

“…Fine,” you mumble. You scramble up and unwrap your sling. “Where are they?”

Somebody lunges out of the smoke, streaming red gas in his wake. Your stomach drops – it’s Soutri. He’s got one hand around the teleport pendant, and he’s shouting something incomprehensible. He slaps the pendant, but nothing happens. The jammer is working.

He lands ten feet from you, looking wildly around… then turns and spots you. Behind the mask, he can’t see your face, but the weapon you’ve got in your hand makes his face lock into a fierce growl of hatred. “Abomination!” he screams. “I’ll carve out that Gem and feed it to you!”

ROLL 1D100+6 FOR PERCEPTION

Rolled 92 + 6 (1d100 + 6)

>>34347288
>ROLL 1D100+6 FOR PERCEPTION
'ERE WE GO

Excellent. Writing!

>>34347288
god damnit
I knew he'd survive, how how the fuck did he survive

Vern had to dump the bag the instant he armed it to get out of blast radius. Soutri saw it land in the fireplace. You're lucky you hit him at all. It still worked better than anything else i saw suggested would have. Trust me. Now you can actually win this, if you roll well and pay attention.

>>34347600
If only we had the foresight to ask Vern to sacrifice himself for the mission.

He’s hurt. He’s BADLY hurt. Blood is coursing down from a horrible burn on his forehead, and his entire left arm is covered in glass shards. There’s splashes of blood across the front of his clothes, and he’s not carrying a weapon he had before. Now, he just has a small, serrated blade in his right hand.

He’s still as fast as a monster, though. He throws himself at you so quickly you can’t wind up the sling in time. Vern jumps in front of him and they collide. Soutri tries to cut low, but Vern catches it on his armored belt, and punches Soutri in the burned shoulder. The mercenary screams and whips his leg forward, knocking Vern back a step.

>Vern is between you and Soutri, but you still have the sling, dagger, grenades, spear, and holy powers. What do you do?

>>34347693
>spear
Range is always good. Once we lose it (we have every god damn time) start throwing daggers at him. We never use Marksmanship enough.

>>34347693
do we have grenades? I thought Vern just used our pouch. Anyway, we have the ridiculous armor, so attack him with the spear.

>>34347824
Good catch. You do not have grenades.

You drop the sling and whip out your spear, charging in behind Vern. The Assassin is clearly getting the upper hand – Soutri is a monster, but he’s surprised and hurt. Vern grabs the other man’s arm and wrenches, popping it out of socket, and Soutri screams in pain and rage. “Bastard! You betray-”

*WHAM.* Your spearpoint crumples Soutri’s ragged, burned chest armor, sending him flopping back on the ground. Vern steps back, catching his breath, as Soutri rolls to his feet, coughing. He rips the armor off and flings it at you, and when you raise your arm to bat it away, he takes advantage of his momentary distraction to run for the alley… where the nearest mage is standing, agape.


>Don’t try to capture him – just shoot him with a bullet (Roll 1d100+10)
>Try to capture him – throw the dagger or spear at his legs (Roll 1d100)
>Page Asa
>Chase him down on foot
>writein

>>34348134
>Don’t try to capture him – just shoot him with a bullet (Roll 1d100+10)

File: 1320542058546.png (133 KB, 296x333)

133 KB PNG

Rolled 94 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>34348134
>>Don’t try to capture him – just shoot him with a bullet (Roll 1d100+10)

>>34348134
>>34348257
forgot roll on purpose because I knew >>34348259
would come through

You grab the sling back up as Vern starts after Soutri. Slipping a lead bullet into the canvas pouch, you sight your target and let fly, just as he tries to tackle the startled mage.

The bullet tears through Soutri’s back, shattering at least two ribs, and punches clean through his lung, killing him instantly. His scorched body falls to the ground with a splattering of blood, and goes still.

You realize that the sull aches of adrenaline, falling, and battle aren’t wearing off. You slump onto your spearhaft, breathing hard, as Vern crouches beside the corpse. “Tough son of a bitch,” he mutters. “We get everybody else in the house?”

You glance back and focus with your soul powers, but the house is vacant. “Yeah, everybody’s dead.”

“What the hell just happened?” the shivering mage demands. “I was just told to turn on some alchemic machines! Nobody said anything about murder!”

>Wat say?
And then
>Wat do next?

>>34348576
That was unexpectedly quick.

Tell the mage not to worry about it.
Search the body for orbs and other stuff.

>>34348576
"Sorry about that but your job was just that, turning on those machines. We didn't mean for you to see this"

>Check the building carefully for notes/other usable things for the quest.

>>34348576
We really should have told the mages to bug out as soon as they placed the jammers. Oh well.
Explain this was a totally legit operation. Mention the forest incident if need be.

>>Wat do next?
Examine his body, check the identities of the other people who were inside. Contact Asa if she doesn't. Also grab some guards or whoever and have them secure the area until the bodies and any dangerous artifacts (if they survived the explosion) can be collected.

If the mage is still iffy, tell him he's the one who can go get the guards.

>>34348711
>quick

I never thought you'd use chemical weapons in the middle of the city...

>>34348854
we were desperate
and they're just grenades, not that big
and the rest of the building was empty

“Did you think the King was sanctioning the opening of a new spa or resort?” you ask flatly. “Congratulations, by the way, you’ve saved lives.”

“What?”

You ignore the mage’s protests as you walk over to the smoking wreck of the house, fingering the Gem as you go. {Done.}

Asa’s tone freezes your blood. [I’ll say.] Her disapproval is so sharp that it almost hurts to hear.

{…Sister?}

[There were four people in that house. Do you know how many were conspirators?]

{Some of them WEREN’T?}

[I have Soutri’s soul. I also have the three civilians he was going to use as living shields.]

Your heart stops for an instant. {Oh, Mai’te’s tears, no…}

[A few are being heroic, saying they would have told you to do it anyway. One isn’t.] Asa’s voice goes quiet for several seconds. [Can’t be helped, I suppose.]

You set one shaking hand against the stone and hold back a vomiting spell. {No! Sister, no! I wouldn’t have… oh, no no… oh, Asa, please, tell me I didn’t!}

[I told you I wouldn’t lie to you any more.] Her voice fades again. [Soutri’s Orb was destroyed in the blast. One to go.]


>wat say

>>34348937
Fuck okay you've got me interested, what's the source?

>>34349152
Is Asa really guilting us over this after all the shit she's pulled? How were we supposed to know they were civilians? How did Soutri expect us to know, did he find out we were attacking tonight somehow?

>>34349251
You can ask her.

Phrase it as an in-character question, and Elsa can ask Asa precisely that.

>>34349191
Fate/Zero, prequel to the visual novel Fate/Stay Night. Kiritsugub is a shitty mage who can only use one type of magic well. So he uses find and explosives.

>>34349152
Hostage s were never going to get out alive anyway.

>>34349301
Uses guns and explosives*

>>34349152
>>34349270
Alright, that and ask her if there was any feasible way to get them out alive. Because yeah, if he was this good, and just needed to get out of range or kill the sustaining mages to disable the blockers and teleport away, I don't know how we could have rescued them and still killed Soutri. And this was our last lead on him, we'd probably never find him again if he escaped here.

You set your helmeted head against the stones of the wrecked building. {…What have I done…}

[Come back to your house. I’ll help you explain that answer to your husband.]

You feel hot anger flaring up inside you at that. {Hey! Don’t act like I’m the only one who’s ever accidentally killed somebody!}

[No, you’re just one of the few who did so because they rushed.]

{Soutri knew I was coming tonight?}

[No, he’s had those people in there for days, ever since he heard of his girlfriend’s death.]

{So they were never going to get out anyway?} you demand.

[We’ll never know.] She hesitates and sighs. [Forgive my tone. I just didn’t think you’d blow the place to ashes. Now you can’t even salvage his possessions.]

{And the teleporter?}

[Intact. Operational.]

You slam your fist against the stone. {Was there any way we could have gotten them all out alive?}

[Yes. If you had dropped your tear gas grenades down the chimney, he would have had to open a window or door to let the gas out, and you could have shot him through the gap.]

{Then why didn’t you suggest that?}

[Because I didn’t know you were carrying any, and because I had no way of knowing there were hostages in there.]

Your anger turns to a stone in your gullet as that sinks in. {Oh.}

[Think of it this way. If I hadn’t made you a Herald, they’d have died for sure, when we destroyed the city. Every person who lives through this in Clen did so because of you.]

{…And these ones didn’t, for the same reason.} You close your eyes behind the mask. {Would I have gone to hell for this in the old days?}

Asa doesn’t answer at first. [For a few days. Long enough to wash the bitterness away. Then you’d have been released to heaven. You’re not evil.]


>Go get the teleporter and report to the King
>Just go home
>Search the house even though Asa said it was a waste of time
>writein

>>34349679
>Go get the teleporter and report to the King

You lever yourself off the wall and look over to where Vern is picking through Soutri’s pockets. {All right. I’ll go get the teleporter and get out.}

[Are there crowds around?]

You glance down the street. {No, but there are people coming. Guards, too.}

[Go. Get the teleporter and go.]

{Think I can use it?}

[Not safely. Hurry.]

You lope on up and grab the pendant off Soutri’s chest. “All right, Vern, thanks,” you say quickly. “We have to go. I’m off to report. You should do the same.” You shoot a look at the mages, who have gathered around as well. “Get lost, guys. Thanks for your help.”

The mages all look a bit disgruntled, but they grab their jammers and make for the castle. You glance up at where Mel was – she’s gone – and break for the castle too.

Whether it’s because you’re trailing behind the mages, you never took off the mask, you just shot somebody, or the bundle in your hands is scaring people, the crowds don’t get in your way. As soon as you’re back in the barracks, you quickly change back into your Sunday clothes and walk back up to the King’s audience chamber.

There’s no crowd outside. Somehow, that’s unsettling. The porter beckons you in… where you find Maas pacing, and Mel on one knee, delivering her report.

“And the building was destroyed?” Maas asks coldly.

“Completely, Sire,” Mel says uncomfortably. She spots you and winces. “There were no survivors.”

“No, there weren’t, were there,” Maas growls. He spots you and skewers you with one look. “Madam, you are dismissed,” he snaps.

You’re about to protest when Mel gets up and hastily excuses herself. In a moment, it’s you and the King.

“What the hell happened, Herald?” Maas bites off.


>”I overestimated his defenses.”
>”There was no other way I could see to end it.”
>writein

>>34350397
>”I overestimated his defenses.”

Bumping so people at dinner can see it.

>>34350397
”I overestimated his defenses.”
with a bit of GOING CRAZY WITH PARANOIA

>>34351166
just got back

can OP bump his own threads once again?

>>34351205
Yes, turns out I was wrong before. Posts are time-locked, not user-locked. NOBODY can bump threads within a certain number of minutes of the previous bump.

“To be plain, I dramatically overestimated his defenses.” You look away from his seething anger. “I accept responsibility for that.”

“Oh, do you?” he says coldly. “How refreshing.”

“We did destroy the fourth Orb,” you say. You dig out the pendant. “And I got the teleporter.”

“Give it to Garren to destroy,” he orders, turning his back on you and walking back up to his desk.

“Uh, she’s on the road,” you say carefully. “She’s out of town, Sire.”

His back heaves as he sighs. “Right, right. Have Kelscik destroy it, then. Have him charge whatever he wants.”

You wait a few painful seconds before timidly reminding him. “He won’t do it, Sire. It’s a relic. They think we should preserve them.”

He glares at you over his shoulder. “Do they now?”

>”Plus, I can use it to destroy Skyborn.”
>”…but I’ll do it myself/ask Asa to do it.”
>writein

>>34351359
>”…but I’ll do it myself/ask Asa to do it.”

The King’s anger pushes back your own hesitation. “But I understand,” you continue. “I’ll destroy it.”

He sighs again, gripping the back of his desk chair. “No. Lock it away. Tell nobody except Lady Asa. Don’t destroy it. It’s simply too rare to destroy, now of all times.”

“Yes, Sire.”

“Now,” he says, anger flaring up again. “This battle. Soutri is dead, I know, but what did you learn?”

You tap the Gem. {Sister, do you have the knowledge from Soutri yet?}

[Yes. I’m preparing a list. If the King has a moment, I can give you both copies.]

{I’m in his audience chamber.}

[Ah. One second.]

“She’s preparing the new list,” you inform him.

“Good.” The King sits at his desk. “Herald, do you understand my anger?”

“Sire, I destroyed a building and killed four people, three of whom were innocent,” you say heavily, dropping into a chair.

He looks up sharply. “What? They were innocents?”

“Yes, Sire. Living shields,” you sigh. “Mel didn’t tell you?”

Maas leaps up. “She said you killed four conspirators!”

You close your eyes. “I wish.”

“Damn it all!” Maas growls. “Is the word ‘subtlety’ lost on you, Herald? First a laundry room, then a curer, then a farm, then a port, now a jewelry store!”

Rage burns your weary guilt back for a moment, and you leap to your feet too. “Bullshit! These are dangerous war criminals!” you snap, startling him. “Casualties are inevitable!”

The two of you glare across the table for a long moment before you feel circumstance return. “Ah, hell… I’m sorry, your Highness, you’re right,” you admit, dropping back into the chair. “Damn it all, you’re right.”

Maas keeps glaring. “It’s incredibly naïve to assume that there would be no casualties,” he says flatly. “I shouldn’t have done that. Not after losing eight hundred men. If you say these people could not have been saved, then that is the end of it.”


>Lie
>Be honest

>>34352015
ughh
>Be honest

Not because of Asa's 20/20 hindsight plan though. He could have just smashed a window open, or had a hostage open it.

>>34352015
>>34352218
Plus it's Soutri. He probably had a gas mask in there somewhere.

File: 1374223666076.png (136 KB, 300x300)

136 KB PNG

>>34352015
>>Be honest
"Maybe some. Soutri brought them there to use as a shield. He would have either successfully used them to get away or at least some of the hostages would have been killed or injured in the fight. But we didn't even get to that point, either I failed to realize he would use hostages or he failed to advertise enough that he would be. I assumed they were conspirators or hired muscle to protect him and went with the option with the that left him with little resource and the highest chance of flat out killing him."

You shift in your seat. “I’m told, retroactively, it must be said… that there was.”

Maas’ hands grip the edge of the table. “What?”

“Mel told you that she saw three other people in the room with Soutri? Soutri brought them there to use as a shield. He would have either successfully used them to get away or at least some of the hostages would have been killed or injured in the fight. But we didn't even get to that point, either I failed to realize he would use hostages or he failed to advertise enough that he would be. I assumed they were conspirators or hired muscle to protect him and went with the option with the that left him with little resource and the highest chance of flat out killing him,” you explain.

The King looks down at you for another long moment before slowly sitting back down himself. “I see.” The boiling rage in his voice is gone. “Then we shall simply have to see what Asa says when she gets here.”

(con’t)

The silence between you is almost unbearable. After a few minutes, you force out some conversation. “How’s your son?”

The King finally looks happier. “Delightful. Quiet, healthy. Alric is fine, so is my wife.”

You manage a grin. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Asa appears beside the desk, and it’s a tribute to how tired you both are that neither starts. “My friends, I have the list,” Asa says without ceremony, and passes you both a copy.

1. Explorer: ‘Old Master Novai’ – Living in an unknown location outside the city walls
2. Noble 1: Don Kotrick, local crime lord, location unknown – suspected to be in noble quarter
3. Noble 2: Elger Moor, Gifted Mage, and second-in-command of Kotrick, hiding in stolen goods warehouse in merchants’ district
4. Mercenary 1: Everett Soutri, former Army officer light elf, lives in a converted jewelry store in the noble district, male human, Well-tapped and incredibly smart. Deceased
5. Mercenary 2: Caliso Wind-thief, female dark elf, running for her life on the Margent Highways, Gifted battle scout. Deceased
6. Mercenary 3: Gardener ‘Hooks’ Dunwaith, Gifted, Male human. Deceased
7. Mercenary 4: Kerry Ding, War Mage, Orondian expatriate, lives in a small farmstead in the woods near ambush site, male human. Deceased
8. Mercenary 5: Derek ‘Jester’ Bowler, former member of the Governor’s bodyguard, hiding in a warehouse on the river to the north, outside the city, awaiting passage to another country, male wilderness elf. Deceased.
9. Mercenary 6: Faye Whitehand, referred to as ‘Feathers’, female human. Captured alive, since deceased
10. Bodyguard 1: Richi Donnai. Deceased
11. Bodyguard 2: Heldo Donnai. Deceased
12. Invisible bodyguard: William Laurenz. Deceased
13. Kotrik’s hitman, real name Cordel Keen, handle ‘Forest’, living in noble district in a small mansion under an assumed name
>Ask questions
>Just pick one of the two targets and declare intent to target that one

>>34352627
Forest is probably the best next target. He's the only one we have the location of and if we're lucky he'll know Kotrik's location.

>>34352700
You know Forest and Moor.

>>34352627
>ask questions

What assumed name is Forest using? How well defended is his mansion, did Soutri know?

The King reads over the list. “It would seem we’ve found Moor and Forest… Keen. I know that name. The Keen family was one of the familes that owned the old latifundae. I wonder what his pseudoname is…”

“Daltry, from what I can tell,” Asa says. “His pseudonym is Cordel Daltry.”

“Mmm.” Maas sets down his copy and slides it into a desk. “Anything else of value in Soutri?”

Asa’s face twists. “Nothing worth preserving. I encounter weary souls, old souls, bitter souls, angry souls, cheerful souls… rarely do I see such spite. He despised me.”

You and Maas both stare. “Despise you?” you ask incredulously.

She sighs. “He had the curse of the Well-immersed, I’m afraid. He saw himself rising above his peers in power, and knew he could never surpass me and the other Triad. It drove him to bitterness. He chose to spend his final seconds of existence cursing me.”

“Imbecile,” Maas mutters.

“Quite.” Asa turns to you, and to your surprise, her expression softens. “You don’t need to decide now whom to pursue.”

“I’m afraid she rather does, Lady Asa,” Maas says sternly. “Soutri’s death was public and gruesome. The rest of the conspirators may bolt.”

“Let them try,” Asa says. “If they’re seen fleeing the city, or kill somebody on the way out, I’ll kill them.”

“I thought there was some risk involved in your person attention to the matter,” the King points out.

“Oh, there is,” Asa says gravely. “But now we know where the final Orb is. Don Kotrick has it, in his home, wherever that may be. The Master Explorer, he may have other weapons, but only Kotrick still has an Orb.”

“Hmm.” Maas sits back in his chair. “So what do you think is your next step?”

>writein

All right. Since things always seem to go tits up whenever we actually get around to executing our plans we are going to go about this one methodically as fuck.

1. Spies on Moor and Forest AROUND THE CLOCK.
We learn their schedules, contacts, chores, recent business, favorite places to eat, if he orders any food in, neighbors, what time of day they like to take a shit. Everything.

2. Look for opportunities to provide misinformation. Forest has been positioned to protect other conspirators before. If we can somehow pass information to him that makes him think we're going after Moor it'll be useful. Worst case, he lowers his guard and we have an opportunity to attack. Best case, he goes to help Moor and we hit him on his way there out in the open.

3. We look for subtle remote ways of killing them. See above about food. Does he order wine in, buy a bottle at the end of the day? Get someone in place to poison that bottle.

4. Cut off resources and contacts. If we can't directly reach one of these guys, we cut off everything else. Take out their allies or anyone who provides them with info. Intercept mail and prevent it from arriving. We want them operating in as much as a information vacuum as possible. We want them paranoid and afraid that THE HERALD is going to show up at any point and kill them. That's when they'll make mistakes.

>>34353123
Go after Forest first. Idea #2 in >>34353144 seems promising, catching him while he's going out to defend Moor.

You think over all the plans you’ve had so far. Really, the only one that worked was the one where you hit Feathers. “Well… we should go with what works,” you say slowly.

“What do you mean?” Maas asks.

“We should keep spies on Moor and Forest around the clock,” you say. “These are the rich conspirators, they can afford security. We learn their schedules, contacts, chores, recent business, favorite places to eat, if they order deliveries… everything.”

Maas starts to say something, but you’re in full-on rush mode.

“Then, we should look for opportunities to provide misinformation. Forest has been positioned to protect other conspirators before. If we can somehow pass information to him that makes him think we're going after Moor it'll be useful. Worst case, he lowers his guard and we have an opportunity to attack. Best case, he goes to help Moor and we hit him on his way there out in the open,” you list.

“That can be arranged,” Maas says after a moment.

You stand up and pace as you think aloud. “Public battle has been a mistake every time. We shoul look for subtle, remote ways of killing them. Poison, maybe. It’s cowardly, but it’s better than street combat.”

The King nods silently.

“Finally, we should cut off their resources and contacts. If we can't directly reach one of these criminals, we cut off everything else. Take out their allies or anyone who provides them with information or supplies. Intercept mail and prevent it from arriving. We want them operating in the dark wherever we can force them to do so. We want them paranoid, and afraid that I’m going to show up at any point and kill them. That's when they'll make mistakes,” you say decisively.

Maas looks vaguely impressed, while Asa nods. “A sound order of business, Sister,” she says. “I’m glad this disaster hasn’t dampened your spirit.”

“Thanks,” you say, though you didn’t need the reminder of what you’d done.

(con’t)

The King rises and plants his hands on the table. “I admit, I’m relieved to hear you planning this out so far ahead. For a moment, I thought that perhaps the problem with Soutri’s killing had been caused by… haste.”

“It was, Sire, but now I know what to avoid,” you admit. “I’ll make sure I have all my assets in place this time.”

“Speaking of assets, I’ll total up the money we have left in the pile you took off of Hooks and see what is available,” the King says. “I should think that spying on these, the last four and best-equipped conspirators, would be more labor and wealth-intensive than the previous nine have been.”

“Sadly so,” you admit.


>Any other messages or questions before you go home to clean your armor?

>”how’s Dervich doing?”
>”Did you know that the Assassin the Governor told me to meet knew Soutri well?”
>”Is there any value in involving the Firesouls or Brotherhood further?
>writein
>go home

>>34353582
>”Did you know that the Assassin the Governor told me to meet knew Soutri well?”
>"Just about gave me a heart attack."

>>34353582
Until those spies are in place not much.
Can we get a map of the city and see what's around each location? Leave the casing to the actual spies so we don't tip off Moor or Forest.

“There are two other details I should ask about, Sire,” you admit. “The Master Assassin to whom I was directed by the Governor knew Soutri well. They were friends. Nearly gave me a heart attack when I found out.”

Maas cocks his head. “Really? I had no idea. I suppose that’s one loose end tied up.”

“That doesn’t surprise you, your Highness?” you ask.

“No, not really, your Eminence. All the combat Guilds know each other well, and the Army, too,” Maas says. It’s the first time he’s used your honorific since you came in. That’s reassuring.

“I see… well, the next step is to make a map of the city, with these two locations highlighted, then see where to send the spies,” you say. “Obviously, I should leave the espeionage to the actual spies, given how poorly I seem to be performing in that regard.”

“Very well.” Maas looks out the window for a moment, where a column of smoke is visible, billowing from the structure you leveled. “All right. Go and re-equip, and get some rest, your Eminence. I imagine I’ll be hearing from you soon.”


>Go straight home
>Stop over somewhere and do something first

>>34354025
>>Go straight home

>>34354025

>Go straight home

“You shall, Sire, thank you,” you say. As you rise to leave, though, a silent look from Asa stills you.

“King Maas, Sire, I think it should be said,” your patroness puts in. “Elsa did as well as anyone could have given what time she had to commit. The loss of those three people was tragic, but the consequences of spending too much time doing anything but fighting these people will be worse.”

Maas cuts her off. “If you’re asking me to forgive her, Lady Asa, then you know that will be earned in valor, not promises,” he says. He turns to you and meets your eyes. “Make my land safe, Herald. That is all that I need of you.”

“Sire,” you say, and you bow out.

You walk slowly down to the barracks and retrieve all your clothes and gear, then trundle down to the tunnels to go home. You half-expected Jerome to be in the tunnel, waiting for you, but he wasn’t. As you walk on down the dim, smelly tube, you feel the oppressive silence weighing you down.

You know your husband. He knows your responsibility. He’s probably going to forgive you. That’s not the problem.

You open the little door and walk up into your home, and promptly drop all the gear next to the wash basin. You can get all that shit in the morning.

“Elsa!” Jerome calls from upstairs. “Hey, you’re back already!”

“Hi,” you call up to him. You grind your hands into your eyes before forcing a smile on your face. “How’re you doing?”

“I’m fine, how about you?” he asks as you climb up to the first floor. He’s sitting by the fire, reading. When he sees the look on your face, his smile falters a bit, but he keeps going. “Was it rough?”

“Horrible,” you admit. You plop down next to him and groan as you kick off your shoes. “What a mess.”
“What happened?” he worriedly asks.


>Tell him all of it
>Just tell him about the hostages
>Skip that part, tell the rest

>>34354440
>Tell him all of it

Slowly, haltingly, you tell him everything. The panic when you relized you didn’t have enough people, the explosion, the recrimination from Asa, the guilt, the King’s arguments, all of it. Tears are pouring down your face at the end of the recitation.

“The worst part of it is, I know what happened to those people,” you whisper. “I’ve seen into Chaos. I know what they’ve gone through now, because I was an idiot.”

Jerome stares into the fire from beside you. “I don’t know what to say,” he finally manages. “I know you didn’t mean to do it… and they’d be dead anyway, right?”

“Yeah,” you say miserably.

“You said Asa told you you should have used tear gas, right?” Jerome asks uncomfortably.

“Yeah.”

“What if he had had one of the hostages crack the window instead?” he inquires.

You fall silent as that idea turns over in your mind. “Um…”

“Or if he had some of that Shadow breathing mask material,” your husband continues. “Even that plan’s not perfect…”

You slowly crane your head down from where you had been staring at the ceiling and look at him, dumbfounded. “Oh. Right.”

He shrugs uncomfortably. “I mean, I’m just saying.”

You slide an arm across his back and hug him sideways. “I didn’t even think of that,” you mumble.

“Well, I mean… you know,” he says awkwardly. “Listen, this is way above me. I don’t… I don’t know what to do, here. You feel guilty about this?”

“How can I not?” you whimper. “Three people!”

“Yeah… listen, I know you don’t want to, but you should talk to Asa about this,” Jerome says uncomfortably. “And maybe tell me what she said.”


(con’t)

You bury your head in his shoulder and screw your eyes shut. “I’m just… I’m so sorry, and I can’t apologize to them now,” you murmur.

Your husband shifts his shoulders. “…Maybe you can? I dunno how Chaos works.”

“Yeah.” You release him and stand up. “Look, it’s after Ten o’clock. We should both go to bed.”

He obligingly rises to his feet and pokes the fire. “Okay.”

>Do you really want company tonight, though? Or do you want to be alone with your thoughts?
>sleep on couch by fire
>sleep in bed

>>34354833
>>sleep in bed
I feel a comfortable sleep would help ease the mind better.

You’re in the bathroom, cleaning up and showering, when your Gem warms. [Sister, I have an idea you needn’t pursue, but should.]

You flick hair off of your forehead and press the little crystal. {What?}

[The ability I’ve given you to channel my healing powers will work on your mind as well as your body. The trauma you’ve received today will distract you from your task unless I relieve it.]

You finish washing off the soap before responding. {You think so?}

[It’s your call, but this investigation could be derailed if you’re constantly plagued by thoughts of those hostages,] Asa says carefully. {It’s your decision.}


>try it
>don’t try it

>>34355308
>>don’t try it
blah blah something sappy about needing to remember your mistakes

>>34355438

You'll still remember them. They just won't cause you to suffer a PTSD episode.

>>34355308
>try it

>try it

>>34355308
>>try it
420

File: ElsaMuck2.png (26 KB, 792x612)

26 KB PNG

LEVEL EIGHT COMPLETE: AND THE WICKED MEN DISAPPEAR

Progress: B
Combat: F
Improv: A


All right, the mid-game boss is dead! You’re well on your way. Only four conspirators left (that you know of)!

Combat-wise… let’s not go there. Asa already chastised you.

Fantastic writeins all around! That was a great chapter for those. I’m impressed!

See you all next Friday!


CHAPTER NINE: DIVINE POWER RISING

>>34355888
Thanks for running!

combat just 2 hard
pls nerf

Bah! People just need to stop saying 'no' when superheroes and warlords offer them hit squads.

>>34356440
They just offered with bad timing. If they had waited to offer until after we scouted the place out we definitely would have accepted.