The bitter air of the mountains carries the smell of sulfur and smoke as it whips across your face. The town's palisade comes into view, a sad fence of snowblasted wood surrounding hard-angled stone buildings as black as the night. Goland seems to be connected to the skies by a thick cord of billowing soot that rises from the choir of chimneys below into the grey and uninviting skies.

A group of Glabados priests are at the gates to receive you, two of them on the fringes muttering something about "shield beyond sight." As your party steps into the confines of the mining town, you feel a tinge of heat allay the worst of the cold and the world seems just a bit more colorful. Given your surroundings, however, that's not saying much - Goland's streets, buildings, people and skies are all the same mixture of white, grey, black and brown.

Your class hasn't talked much since the night with the strange woman and child. The atmosphere of the town doesn't seem to invite conversation, either. You can see where the great rails of the Iron Road have begun to cross into the mountainous terrain, for it seems to be the only place with any number of people around. Here and there at shop doors and on the streets a person or two walks, but everyone is huddled in cloaks and scarves and their body language says volumes about their feelings on strangers.

"Welcome to Goland," you mutter wryly.

As the wagon train breaks up, Sir Mathis directs Torrance to lead your class to the housing that has been set aside for your barracks. Everyone is happy to pile in and get close to a fire. You all select cots and set to work preparing your temporary quarters as trained.

> Buy skills
> Class change
> Talk with the others first

>>36328081

> Talk with the others first

Glad to see you back OP.

>>36328116
Nice to be back.

>>36328081
>Talk with the others first

The quarters you've been assigned are all one large room, so the group assembles a makeshift curtain to separate the men from the women. After everything is unpacked, people begin to trickle out into the common area. Belle and Joruun stay behind as Nia goes to join Markil and some of the others.

> Stay behind and talk to (Belle/Joruun)
> Go out to the common area to talk with (Markil/Ivan/Torrance/Lewis/Nia)
> Go find Sir Mathis and speak with him
> Go outside to talk with some townsfolk
> Other?

>>36328953
>Go outside to talk with some townsfolk

>>36328953

> Stay behind and talk to Belle.

She nearly died not to long ago. Maybe she could use a friend?

>>36329158
Too*

>>36328953
>> Go outside to talk with some townsfolk
Glad to see this didn't die

>>36328953
>Stay behind and talk to (Belle/Joruun)

Belle and Joruun seem to be having a conversation about studying alchemy. You consider joining in - Belle had a rough trip, after all, and you'd like to make sure she's alright - but this is your first time really getting a chance to interact with people with a different background than your own.

The soldier standing at the door gives you the impression that he might be there to stop cadets from going outside to do exactly what you're doing. On the other hand, nobody SAID you couldn't go outside. You wait until he steps away for a moment, then slip outside. The cold air rushes back and slaps you in the face, but you note with a bit of relief that the chill is merely skin-deep.

A small crowd is gathering around a firepit that has been set up in the snow, where a man is haranguing them loudly. You walk over, curious, and speak softly to a nearby peasant.

"What's this about?" you inquire. The peasant gives you a look suggestive of a great many unkind thoughts, then shrugs. "Rebels," she snorts. "Causing more trouble for the iron snake. We don't need their kind here."

Rebels! So it's true, then! You debate staying to listen in, knowing Sir Mathis might come by and spot you (or someone might recognize the crest on your tabard). You could go back and share the news with the rest of the class... but they'll find out later regardless, surely.

> Listen in. You won't get this opportunity again soon.
> Move in closer to listen. You'll have less chance of getting spotted by the knights... but the speaker might notice you.
> Go back and tell the others what you heard.
> Other

>>36329721

> Listen in. You won't get this opportunity again soon.

>>36329721
>Listen in. You won't get this opportunity again soon.

Are we waiting for more votes?

You stay to listen in on the speech, watching as the man shouting at the crowd holds up a piece of paper in one hand. It looks like an official notice poster.

"...than ever before! A new class is being created of thugs who live off the spoils of our work without raising a finger to help, and now they want to knock down your homes to run this metal snake down to Dorter for their amusement! We cannot let them get away with these tyrannies any more!" He sounds a bit rehearsed and uneven, as though the words are not his own.

"The chance to overthrow the oppressor comes along only once in a blue moon! Now is that time! Men of the cloth, heal your flock by casting out the poisonous... people within! Men of swords, strengthen your arm and strike out! If you can lift a hammer or swing an axe, you owe it to yourselves and your children to come to the construction tomorrow and tear down this iron snake!"

The crowd is muttering, but there are also jeers. Someone throws a rock at the speaker. "Your man there is wanted in every province. You think he's got a chance of changing our lives?" Another voice joins in angrily. "Those is our sons and our daughters you's trying to burn. They earned they's better life."

"Where," the speaker tries to argue, "are your boys and girls now? Are they down in the mines sharing your work, so your backs don't break? Are they down in the fields, plowing and sowing and reaping?"

"Damn the mines and damn your foolishness too," shouts one man. "The grace of God and King is with them now, and their lot better than we could have asked."

"Ah get on with you," someone cackles at him. "You're just lucky your son married a rich fat merchant's daughter. Some of us don't wish to lay with the bacon afore we bring it to table!"

That touches off a fight. Anything else the speaker might be trying to say is lost in the scuffle. Is it your duty to help break this up before it gets more serious, you wonder? Or perhaps to capture that rabble-rouser before he slips away? On the other hand, it's very likely you're not supposed to be here...

> Help break up the fight. It's your duty.
> Find that rebel speaker and detain him. He can't talk about the King like that!
> Go back to barracks. The knights will have this in hand soon and you don't want to get into more trouble.

>>36331283
> Go back to barracks. The knights will have this in hand soon and you don't want to get into more trouble.

>>36331283
>Help break up the fight. It's your duty.

We can't just ignore our duties.

Waiting for tiebreaker, then.

>>36331876
Flip for it?

>>36332097
May as well.

First one wins.

Your instincts say to break up the fight, but you remember the telling-off you got last time you went above and beyond in the course of your duty. Better to save your chits for an emergency, you think to yourself.

Running back to the makeshift barracks, a small mercy awaits you - the guards have all left to see about the fight in the town square. You're able to slip back into your common room without any trouble. Inside, Ivan is demonstrating some sort of trick knot to an unconvinced Torrance, while Lewis and Joruun talk about soldier training. Nia and Markil appear to be having some kind of argument, which is out of character for her. You don't see Belle.

Joruun looks over as you get in. "There you are," she beams. "I'm glad one of us got into some trouble. How are things on the mean streets of Goland?"

"The rebellion is real," you tell them, taking a seat near the fire as your fellow squires crowd in. Markil looks over from his argument to pay attention, while Nia slips away to the girls' side of the sleeping area. "I heard them talking about it in the square. It sounds like they're here to cause trouble for the builders." Lewis nods, frowning, as Ivan and Markil look excited.

Joruun's smile is triumphant. "I knew it!" she boasts, standing up. "We're going to see some action this mission for sure! Ivan, Celeste, are you ready to knock some revolting peasants around?"

"If they're in revolt, sure," Ivan smirks. "But I'm not touching anyone who's just revolting."

The room seems to be in better spirits now than they were before. A bit of honesty in your mission has helped - or perhaps it's the fire and the roof over your heads. Either way, you're glad your classmates are acting a bit more normally. The next step will be to decide how you feel about what tomorrow will bring.

> Buy skills
> Class change
> Discuss the situation with your classmates
> Check up on Nia and Belle
> Sleep. Big day ahead.
> Other?

>>36331876
We weren't supposed to be here, so it's really not our duty, and there are people here whose duty it actually is and they should be more than capable of handling it.

> Go back to barracks. The knights will have this in hand soon and you don't want to get into more trouble.

>>36332402
How much JP do we have? I vote to stick with Squire long enough to grab Move +1.

Which actually brings up a question: how do movement abilities and mounts work?

>>36332402
Can we change class for other characters?

>>36332402

> Check up on Nia and Belle

>>36332454
If you like, yes. They have defaults they will follow if you don't select otherwise.

>>36332449
130 JP in Squire right now.

>>36332624
Then I vote we change some squires and chemists, but leave Celeste as a squire, like >>36332449 said.

Class Changing:

Squires (Torrance/Ivan/Joruun/Lewis)

> Scout: Secure battlefield advantages
> Soldier: Primary combatant
> Archer: [Requires Squire Job Level 4]
> Chemist: Supply medicines to wounded units

Chemists (Nia/Belle/Markil)

> Squire: Train in basic combat skills
> Alchemist: Combine reagents into esoteric mixtures
> Priest: [Requires Chemist Job Level 4]
> Wizard: [Requires Chemist Job Level 4]

>>36333356
>Lewis to Soldier
>Ivan to Scout
>Joruun to Soldier
>Markil to Alchemist
>Others don't change class yet

File: Job wheel.jpg (55 KB, 550x312)

55 KB JPG

>>36333583
> Ivan becomes a Scout and learns Alertness
> Joruun becomes a Soldier and learns Cleave
> Lewis becomes a Soldier and learns Rush
> Markil becomes an Alchemist and learns Shake Reagent

You go in to check up on Nia and hopefully find Belle. Sure enough, you see them in their cots. Nia's talking about as animatedly as you've ever seen (you can hear her without straining, for once) while Belle just nods. You catch a snippet of their conversation:

"...just a coward, he actually believes all that church nonsense about wizards being servants of Hell."

"Hush Nia," Belle hisses frantically. "People don't like it when you -- HELLO Celeste!" she beams as she hears you. "How was your trip into town?"

"Good," you begin cautiously. "I found out there's definitely a rebellion brewing here. We'll most likely have to contend with it tomorrow."

> Pry into their conversation
> Invite them out to talk about tomorrow with the group
> Get some rest, big day tomorrow

>>36334289

> Pry into their conversation

>>36334289
>Pry into their conversation

Also, what do Alertness, Cleave, Rush and Shake Reagent do?

>>36334289
>> Pry into their conversation

Nosy parkers, the lot of you.

>>36334431
> Alertness: Grants nearby allies an evasion bonus until your next turn
> Cleave: Attacks and causes knockback
> Rush: Charges forward to attack
> Shake Reagent: Completes the mixture by shaking the reagents.

You sit on a cot and lean in. "Alright girls," you ask conspiratorially, "what's this all about?"

Nia goes pale and starts mumbling. Belle sighs. "She and Markil had an argument about" she pauses and looks around, then gives you a flat look, "magic."

You're familiar with the concept, of course, though you've never seen it performed. Your father always talks enthusiastically about wizards and sorcerers hurling balls of fire into the skies and making snow fall on a sunny day. Your mother and the bishop, on the other hand, tended to make it feel like snow had fallen on a sunny day whenever the subject was raised.

"What about it?" you ask as neutrally as possible.

Nia pales and squeaks out "Iwanttobeawizard" as fast as she can. Belle moves to the other cot and gives her a friendly shoulder-squeeze. She looks at you. "Markil's local priest thinks that magic is the power of Lucavi. He's been a bit rude about it."

How do you feel about it?

> Magic has been around for hundreds of years; surely it can't be that bad?
> If it's used by good people, then it's not the work of evil. We just have to be careful around it.
> The Church speaks for God; I think we should heed its counsel.

>>36335531
>> If it's used by good people, then it's not the work of evil. We just have to be careful around it.

>>36335531

> Magic has been around for hundreds of years; surely it can't be that bad?

>>36335531
>Magic has been around for hundreds of years; surely it can't be that bad?

>>36335531
> If it's used by good people, then it's not the work of evil. We just have to be careful around it.

>>36335531
>> Magic has been around for hundreds of years; surely it can't be that bad?

File: Shiny.jpg (168 KB, 556x573)

168 KB JPG

"Magic has been around for hundreds of years," you say. "Surely it can't be that bad?"

Nia nods and Belle gives her another squeeze. "You know Markil; he's just trying to make good with as many people as possible. Do what you think is best for you."

You can hear the rest getting ready outside, and Joruun comes in for the night. For the first time since you set out from Lesalia, you sleep well.

In the morning, you all crowd outside to be faced with Sir Markil, a Wanted poster and a priest of Glabados. The poster looks like the one the rebel was holding up last night.

"Alright cadets, we're going to be on assignment today. It seems that some of the citizens oppose the route of the Iron Road and are planning to cause a bit of trouble down at the build site," he says offhandedly. "We're to keep an eye on things in case tempers flare. These two men have been harassing the builders for what they call 'protection' money. If you see either of them, arrest them immediately." Sir Mathis passes around a couple of posters. The first man is indistinct with a Fovoham nose and light-colored hair. The second is sharp-featured with sideburns, sandy hair and a small scar on his face. The poster names them "Conrad" and "Rickard."

The priest goes around handing out small crystal amulets, telling each of you to wear them around your necks at all times. "A token of the Church's goodwill in these troubled times," he says.

The squad heads down to the colliery and descends via the lift to where the supports for the Iron Rail are being built. Already there is a crowd shouting angrily, but you don't see any violence - yet. A few Knights of the Crescent are already on site.

Sir Mathis instructs Torrance to lead and sets off to join the other knights. You and Joruun look at each other. "So," she says, "do you want to take over, or shall I?"

> Form up to keep the peace. It's our duty here today.
> Sir Mathis wants these two men caught. Spread out to have a better shot at them.
> Other

>>36338549
>> Sir Mathis wants these two men caught. Spread out to have a better shot at them.

>>36338549
> Form up to keep the peace. It's our duty here today.

>>36338549
>> Form up to keep the peace. It's our duty here today

You can see the looks of dismay on at least three faces as you push for keeping the peace over trying to be heroes. Still, Torrance agrees with you and he's in command. Lewis taps you on the shoulder as the squad gets in formation. "I think it was the right decision," he says quietly, "and I'm glad you made it. I would have gone along with her if she had wanted to catch those men but," he half-blushes, "I can't really stand up to Joruun."

Lewis leaves you behind to take his place between the riled crowd and the construction. Torrance comes over to check up on everyone. Eventually he gets to you.

"So..." he starts, mumbling in his usual fashion, "I've seen one of these... you knows... before. If we, you know... if we don't behave proper... well, that's when it all goes to hell. So... just remember... do good out there today." You're very nearly touched; that might be the most words he's spoken to you ever. He continues, not noticing. "Make sure you're wearing your crystal, because... you know, that woman... and the little one... they didn't have crystals, and... you know."

Torrance wanders off and takes position. The crowd is growing increasingly restless and shouting threats at the knights. Still, nobody's crossed the line yet.

An eardrum-shattering explosion put an end to the fragile peace. Part of the support structure has been blown away and burning wood showers down on the crowd. Angry voices rise from the mob as the knights rally and draw their swords in panic.

Suddenly there are weapons in the crowd too, whether pikes and blades or rocks and cudgels. A tall man casts off the heavy cloak he'd been wearing and points a hand accusingly at the Iron Road. "Look how they risk our lives for the sake of their precious rail," says the sandy-haired man. "This kind of disaster could have happened in the town! This many lives at risk here and still they won't stop, not for a day, not for an hour, to talk to us like human beings!"

Your fellow cadets have their eyes on him. A sword is passed to the man from somewhere, and he raises it high. "These knights and their craven masters think us no better than animals. Do you want to be fatted pigs to slaughter, or starving wolves come to call? It's time to speak truth to power - the chance comes only once in a blue moon!"

Your classmates are taking positions in the ensuing scuffle as armed rebels advance using the angry mob as a decoy. You haven't managed to figure out their target yet, but portly, pompous Sir Mathis is a likely candidate. You're not in a position to relay orders - at best, anyone seeing what you do can cooperate. What's your priority?

> Scaring off the rebels even if it means doling out a few hits
> Restoring order even if it means taking a few hits
> Capture the wanted man
> Other?

>>36340097

> Restoring order even if it means taking a few hits

>>36340097
>> Restoring order even if it means taking a few hits

>>36340097
>> Restoring order even if it means taking a few hits

Got a Twitter?

>>36340657
Not yet, no. Must get on that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6ezsbgMAn4

You resolve to get everyone to calm down, even if it's a riskier course of action. Carefully using your sword to intimidate the less brave members of the crowd, you maneuver toward your squadmates. With Ivan calling down warnings to keep you away from the occasional rock, arrow or stray pike, you're able to make it over to Torrance and the chemists in short order.

Off to the eastern side of the construction area, Lewis is charging into the fray, taking hits from cudgels as he does so. You hiss in sympathy. "He's going to get himself killed if he does that," you remark to no one in particular.

Someone else seems to agree - Joruun is pushing through the throng by wielding her sword like some great sweeping mace, smashing peasants and rebels to the side as she closes on Lewis. A stray pike butt catches her in the head and she falls out of sight as the mob advances.

You can see some of the fight leaching out of the crowd as the battle goes on. Without any new source of outrage, they're tiring and growing more apathetic. The real rebels in their midst are easier to pick out now, as they advance steadily toward the area the knights are protecting. The sandy-haired one isn't with them, though. You look around rapidly and see that he's coming your way.

> He's coming for us! Fall back to a safer place!
> It's a feint to go after the knights! Alert Ivan to warn them!
> He means to go through us and attack the supports! Hold him back!

>>36341516

> He means to go through us and attack the supports! Hold him back!

>>36341516
>> He means to go through us and attack the supports! Hold him back!

>>36341516
> He means to go through us and attack the supports! Hold him back!

Calling it here for the evening. I've archived it just in case, but if it's still live tomorrow I'll resume. Night all!

>>36342692
Thanks for running. Please get a twitter.

Shit, this is a thing? Thanks, OP, will follow.

And we're back live!

>>36341516
>> He means to go through us and attack the supports! Hold him back!

File: Battle time.jpg (74 KB, 640x480)

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"The rebels are converging on the knights," Ivan shouts down from his position. "Move to support so we can scare them off!" He hasn't seen the leader's advance yet, then. You grab Torrance by the shoulder and point out the sandy-haired man heading your way. He takes a stone from somewhere and whips it at Ivan, whose "OW!" confirms that he's paying attention to your area now. New orders from the scout come immediately: "Joruun, Lewis, close up with Celeste and Torrance at the base of the structure."

You can see the sandy-haired man and his confederates closing in on your position. Besides himself, there are two men with axes and one man in a cloak who seems to be hiding something inside of it.

"Now!" the leader yells, and suddenly another explosion sounds behind you. You crane your head back to see: two men in the scaffolding, disguised as builders, seem to be engaging in sabotage with what look like potion bottles. Ivan jumps on the lift and shouts at the nearest worker to hoist him up.

Torrance nudges you. "If they get over... with the axes... I'm on him, keep the others back." He turns and SHOUTS at Markil to throw something, anything he's got, then closes with the leader. You move to intercept the others as they continue toward the structure.

A small BOOM signals Markil's entry into the world of alchemy, as a bottle he throws toward the approaching rebels pops and flares into smoke and light. Unfortunately it seems as though he's got much yet to learn, for while they're charred they appear little the worse for wear.

The first rebel, seeing your sword leveled at him, hoists his axe menacingly and sneers. He's quite quick, leaping over the rocky mountain ground and closing to melee faster than you'd expect. Your sword comes over to block his first swing, but it's a telling blow and you find yourself knocked to the side, thankful for your armor which has been dented but prevented the worst of the damage. With a deep breath you focus yourself and roll back onto your feet, leaning to avoid another swing from the axe and making a few jabs with your sword to keep the rebel where you want him.

Torrance's fight isn't going any better. The rebel leader is good with a sword and seems to be holding off every attack with ease. He fakes an attack to Torrance's side, then delivers a vicious kick to his stomach, knocking your fellow cadet to his knees. Torrance rolls away from the next sword strike and keeps the man back, but it's obvious he's outmatched.

A scream from the scaffold catches your ear and you hear a splat and a fizz from behind. Ivan shouts down to remind you that there's still a man with an axe on your position, and you get back in the moment to dodge an overhead swing that would have surely ended your days. Already focused, you deliver a solid thrust forward and feel it connect with great satisfaction.

> Finish this rebel off first
> This one is injured and Ivan's spotting for us, I should go stop the other one
> Torrance needs help, we'll just have to risk it

>>36348431
>Torrance needs help, we'll just have to risk it

Gritting your teeth, you feint past your opponent and rush forward to help Torrance. The sandy-haired man turns as you approach, catching your arm as you swing your sword and using the momentum to throw you on the ground. You roll away and shout a warning to Torrance, who gets out of range right before a sword would have taken his head.

"Get clear to the chemists," you shout at him. "I'll hold off this one."

The rebel leader smiles, a smile that might have once been handsome save for the lean and worn shape of the man. You focus on his eyes, watching for a sign of a strike, and all you can see is a cold, hard, bitter anger in them.

"You think I'm your biggest problem, squire?" he mocks softly. "Your Knights' tutorials aren't written for our type of tactics. THE TIME IS NOW," he bellows to his comrades, who seem to redouble their efforts. You hear the sound of axes biting into wood. You trade a few easy blows, trying to conceal the injury to your side, but you know he's already discerned it. Each swipe, each jab and slash seems to push you on the wrong side just a bit more.

"You're better than him, at least," your opponent remarks casually. "That boy's clearly got the eye of a marksman, why didn't they put a bow in his hands? Are they still doing that foolish -" he cuts off with a grunt as you catch him with a blow he didn't anticipate properly. He steps back and seems to size you up again; for a moment, the smile seems almost genuine. The next sword-swing comes for your face, and as you block it he kicks out at your knee, causing it to cave. You fall over, instinctively rolling aside.

A loud yell is followed by a sharp cry, and you raise yourself up, wiping snow and mud out of your eyes, to see that Lewis and Joruun have joined the fray. Big Lewis edges out the rebel leader for sheer size and looks every inch the soldier. You stumble to your feet and hop toward the chemists, calling for Belle. It's no good, though - that knee is well and truly shot.

File: Gang's all here.jpg (91 KB, 246x329)

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As Belle rushes over, you take stock of what you can see: Joruun and Torrance fending off the rebels attacking the scaffolding; Ivan dealing with the remaining saboteur up top; Nia trying to stab anything that comes near with her dagger; Lewis facing off against the injured rebel leader; Markil shaking up some sort of wait what?

"Markil, what -" you shout at him, but it's too late. He lobs the bottle of whatever straight at the rebel leader, and the resultant flame and smoke shield both the foe and Lewis from your sight. Lewis stumbles out looking badly singed. As the smoke clears, a second man comes into view astride a chocobo. The blond man, already mounted, is leading a second bird whose reins he hands to the sandy-haired one. Lewis charges at them, but the newcomer moves his chocobo to intercept and knocks the strike away with his own sword. The two ride off of the battlefield, pursued within minutes by mounted Knights of the Crescent.

As the last rebels scatter, your squad converges on your position. Ivan's done well for himself, but the rest of you look tired and injured.

"Where were the knights during all of that?" Lewis asks huffily. Ivan points to where a group of white-cloaked men are going around with rope, binding everyone they come across. "Arresting people," he says. "They got a lot of the troublemakers."

Lewis still has a head of steam, though. "Was that REALLY such a priority?" he shouts, loud enough that some of the knights look over. Joruun shushes him. As the burning coolness of the potion Belle administers runs through you, she sets your knee back into place so it will heal properly. Within a few minutes you can put weight on it again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBtGDYP3ilk

>>36349640
Mystery?

File: Knight.png (358 KB, 480x769)

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[Belle: +270 JP (Job level up: Chemist Level 3) (Job level up: Chemist Level 4)] (Unlocked Priest) (Unlocked Wizard)
[Celeste: +270 JP (Job level up: Squire Level 4)] (Unlocked Archer)
[Ivan: +250 JP (Job level up: Scout Level 2) (Job level up: Scout Level 3]
[Joruun: +270 JP (Job level up: Soldier Level 2) (Job level up: Soldier Level 3]
[Lewis: +270 JP (Job level up: Soldier Level 2) (Job level up: Soldier Level 3]
[Markil: +250 JP (Job level up: Alchemist Level 2) (Job level up: Alchemist Level 3]
[Nia: +270 JP (Job level up: Chemist Level 3) (Job level up: Chemist Level 4)] (Unlocked Priest) (Unlocked Wizard)
[Torrance: +320 JP (Job level up: Squire Level 4)] (Unlocked Archer)

Your first major engagement has been an eye-opener. Sir Mathis strides up, red-faced and beaming. "Well done, squad! We've put paid to those troublemakers and sent a good and proper message from His Majesty. The Iron Rail will proceed on schedule now."

Joruun snaps him a contempt-filled look; it's about as angry as you've ever seen her. "You knew about this the whole time," she accuses him, causing his smile to drop and his red face to deepen to an ugly crimson. "Why were we not properly briefed on the situation?"

"Cadet," he snaps testily, "are you presuming to question a knight and officer of the Order of the Crescent?" Lewis puts his hand on her shoulder warningly, but she ignores him. "Yes sir I am," she presses. "You brought cadets into a combat setting with people - I mean civilians - in harms' way without telling us beforehand. I'm pretty sure there's regulations against at least half of that."

Sir Mathis looks like his eyes are going to pop out of his skull, but a younger knight steps in front of him. "You're correct," he says simply, turning to the senior knight. "She's right, Sterner. They have every right to question it." He turns back to shut down Joruun's 'I win' smirk with a cold "That doesn't mean they have a right to answers. Return to quarters, cadets."

Joruun opens her mouth, perhaps to protest further, but she's cut off by the knight again. "There will be a formal debriefing on your return to Lesalia, followed by graduation. Congratulations." He walks off, ensuring that Mathis doesn't stay behind.

> Hold on, I want some answers!
> Leave it. You won't get anywhere by making enemies now.

>>36349899
>Leave, we don't need to make enemies now.
There is a mystery to investigate.

>>36349899
>> Leave it. You won't get anywhere by making enemies now.

>>36349899
>> Leave it. You won't get anywhere by making enemies now.

You return back to the makeshift barracks, walking past the resentful glares of townsfolk who, you suppose, must have had friends and neighbors (and possibly family) arrested today. Knights are putting up more Wanted posters. Lewis gives Markil a few jibes about trying to blow him up, while the young alchemist looks properly chastened. Joruun is still fuming.

Once you're back at quarters, Lewis takes Joruun off for a cooldown talk, while Belle and Markil go over their books to figure out what he's been doing wrong with his mixtures. Nia seems to make a point of ignoring them as she goes to the fire to warm up. Ivan is talking excitedly about his daring battle in the scaffolds, though whether to you or Torrance you can't decide. For once you can empathize with the taciturn squire - there was nothing about the day worth celebrating except that you all got out in one piece.

Joruun storms back in, followed by Lewis looking like someone kicked his puppy. It's obvious the cooldown talk didn't take. She slams her hands on the table, drawing all eyes, and looks around at you all.

"What the hell are they playing at?"

And with that, I'll call it done for the day. Thanks to everyone who's still following!

>>36350934
Thanks for running any idea when your running the next one yet?

>>36351080
Thursday or Friday, I expect.