Leveraging its sheer size, Amberin is now the strongest human kingdom, and thankfully currently non-expansionist. Instead, it is concentrating on innovations and reforms to make the lives of its citizens a pleasure and a joy, or at least more convenient and comfortable. This includes great big metal beasts of iron and steam, carrying the more thrill-seeking passengers on carefully-laid tracks from one city to another. There was talk about expanding this rail system to the other kingdoms, and even the elven nations, but negotiations had, last you heard some time ago from the opinionated and moderately inebriated crowds in the traveller's inns on the way to Alvar, stalled over the matter of tolls and taxes.

All of which is about the sum total of your knowledge of Amberin. Which is more than you can say for certain other countries, so it's not as bad as it sounds.

You're not sure what significance is attached to the conduit cube having come from there, according to Anders and his records. From the Duke's tone, neither does he.

You are just about to slip away quietly once more and pretend this whole expedition did not happen, when a belated realization strikes you. You are a knight-apprentice of Alvar, and you are not under probation, which is the entire reason you are here this evening. As such, you have technical free reign of the palace, and you do not actually need an excuse to be here.

One could even be thought up, should it be required. You've been suspicious of the area around the vault, ever since you spotted a mysterious fast-moving shadow on your first day as a knight-apprentice, and Lily the maid had later mentioned seeing a similar shadow a month or so ago. In addition, you had noticed a movement into the basement this morning, but upon following, you had found nobody responsible. Which was, in its own way, even more suspect.

>[2/3]

And this would probably be the best chance you can get to have a look around the vault, given that every other time you've been here, something or other has prevented you from peeking inside.

Taking a deep breath to fortify your courage, you rap smartly on the door leaning ajar. The thick wood muffles the sound, but you push the door open anyway, and step inside the vault.

You take the very brief moment while Anders and the Duke are still reacting to your presence to have a quick look around. Unfortunately, all you can see are crates and boxes and barrels, stacked slightly haphazardly along the walls. The vault itself is surprisingly spacious, including a high ceiling by basement standards, complete with shadowed rafters.

On the upside, nothing seems to be reacting to your presence, which was always a minor worry.

True to Lily's prediction, there is a layer of dust on everything, and the floor is tracked with sand and dried mud. Getting any clear clues from this mess would be next to impossible.

The Duke assumes a neutral expression, tinged with a faint hint of polite friendliness. "Good evening, Nicole. What brings you here?"

> "I was told about some sort of shadow haunting the basement. I thought I'd investigate."
> "I was just curious about the vault, sir."
> "No real reason, sir. Just exploring the palace."
> "I apologize for eavesdropping, sir, but I heard something about the cube?"

>>36405586
>> "I was told about some sort of shadow haunting the basement. I thought I'd investigate."

Hey Damp what time is it for you right now?

>>36405586
>> "I was told about some sort of shadow haunting the basement. I thought I'd investigate."

Quick note: still sick, still on medication, and still loopy from the previous two points. So I might drop off with little warning, although I'll certainly try to give warning.

Moral of the story: don't get caught in downpours without an umbrella.

>>36405601
1545h or so.

>>36405586
>> "I was told about some sort of shadow haunting the basement. I thought I'd investigate."

>>36405586
>> "I was told about some sort of shadow haunting the basement. I thought I'd investigate."

And then once that reply is out of the way...

>> "I apologize for eavesdropping, sir, but I heard something about the cube?"

>>36405611
Damn its 2345 here, probably wont be able to last the whole thread.

>>36405586
> "I was told about some sort of shadow haunting the basement. I thought I'd investigate."

We're so responsible and trustworthy. Best squire.

>>36405611

I guess you are damp

Get a foldable brolly and stuff it in a bag.

>>36405635
And a model human.

>>36405656
The H.U.M.A.N series of models is great. One of the best to come off the assembly line, don't you agree?

>>36405745
Of course

"I was told about some sort of shadow haunting the basement, sir," you say, with as much bland professionalism as you can muster. "I thought I'd investigate."

The Duke turns to Anders, an eyebrow raised.

"The ghost story, your Grace," Anders murmurs.

"Oh, yes. You did mention something along those lines in your report." The Duke takes a brief glance over the collected boxes in the vault. "And you believe these artefacts have something to do with it, Nicole?"

"The cube involved in the spell targeting the Captain was found here, sir," you point out.

"A fair argument," the Duke says. "How many people have seen this shadow, Anders?"

"As far as I know, only one person has reported doing so," Anders says. "I need not mention whom, your Grace."

The Duke looks blank for a moment, before realization dawns. "Ah. So a reliable source, then."

"As reliable as they come, your Grace."

Lily's place in the secret hierarchy of the palace staff grows ever more mysterious. All the more so since you don't think Lily's bewilderment at all the attention focused on her is a pretense. "I also saw a movement of some sort into the basement this morning," you say. "When I followed it down, whatever had caused the movement had disappeared."

"Are you certain you did not imagine it?" the Duke asks.

You're quite certain. "I don't think so, sir."

"A pretty little mystery," the Duke says. "How do you intend to solve it?"

> "I'd like to look at the artefacts stored in the vault, sir."
> "There may be secret passages hidden around the palace. I was thinking about looking for them in my own time."
> "There may be secret passages hidden around the palace. I was told Anders had the construction plans."
> "Could I have a copy of the manifest of items in the vault? If it's not too much trouble, of course."

I'm not sure about this one. Anybody got any convincing arguments?

>>36405832
>> "I'd like to look at the artefacts stored in the vault, sir."

This since it'll be one of the few times we'll be in the vault to look over.

But also:


> "There may be secret passages hidden around the palace. I was thinking about looking for them in my own time."

>>36405832
>> "I'd like to look at the artefacts stored in the vault, sir."
I'd say this one. The manifest might not help too much and the shadows are likely magical in nature. Further, we could always argue that if we wished to steal an item, it would already have been stolen. The Captain would back us up on that.

Also, it appears that Lily is not the spy. Which begs the question who IS the spy.

>>36405935
I guess I'll second this.

>>36405832
> "There may be secret passages hidden around the palace. I was thinking about looking for them in my own time."

>>36405832
> "I'd like to look at the artefacts stored in the vault, sir."
> "There may be secret passages hidden around the palace. I was thinking about looking for them in my own time."

Sounds good to me

>>36405832
>>36405935

Seconded

Given your track record in failing to investigate the vault, this may be your best chance, at least for now. You won't be able to inspect the artefacts as closely as you'd like, but anything is better than nothing.

"I'd like to look at the artefacts stored in the vault, sir," you say.

Both the Duke and Anders give you identical gazes of skepticism. "Are you sure that's wise?" Anders says. You don't know if he's addressing you or the Duke.

"I don't see the harm in it," the Duke says slowly. He leaves the obvious addendum of not seeing the help in it either unspoken. "If anything happens, you should be able to contain the effects, Anders."

Anders manages to look pained, which is the most emotion you've seen him display so far. "When I swore my oath of fealty to you, Pierre, you do realize there are certain limits on the assistance I can give."

"I am the Duke of Alvar," the Duke states. "Your oath to my father transfers in whole to me. I am well aware of the boundaries of your arrangement, but under the circumstances, I pronounce this investigation necessary to the security and well-being of Alvar. The cube was found in the vault, after all. I do not wish to discover too late yet more serpents hiding in the dark."

Anders slices out a deliberate glance in your direction. You try to look as harmless as possible.

"In the meantime," the Duke says, "I will have to write some letters. You are absolutely certain the cube came from Amberin?"

"The paperwork begins at Amberin," Anders specifies. "From the Imperial College at Veramar. Based on the imprint of the older seals, I would place its point of origin somewhere in the district of Rosentia."

You manage not to twitch.

"All correspondence has to go through the office of His Most Royal Snootiness anyhow," the Duke grumbles. "Don't tell anyone else I said that, Nicole. Was there anything else you were planning on looking into?"

>[1/2]

>>36405832
> "There may be secret passages hidden around the palace. I was thinking about looking for them in my own time."
Either that or the shadow can walk through walls, or has a key to the vault

"Secret passages," you say, a little too quickly.

The Duke blinks.

"There may be secret passages hidden around the palace," you clarify. "I was thinking about looking for them in my own time."

"You'll likely find more than your fair share," the Duke mutters. "The whole place is lousy with them. It's a wonder the palace hasn't collapsed under all the holes knocked into it."

"Most of the secret passages are no longer so secret," Anders says soothingly. "We found them and closed them off during the course of the renovations."

You recall the one behind Victor's bookcase, which had indeed been boarded up. The work did not look very recent.

The Duke waves a hand in dismissal. "If you do find any that are still open, let me know. Good luck, Nicole."

"Thank you, sir," you reply.

And now you are left alone in the vault with Anders. Not the most optimal situation.

"I am curious how you arrived at the conclusion that these alleged shadows are magical in nature," Anders says mildly.

> "It's just a theory. I don't insist on it."
> "I admit I don't know much about magic, but it can do lots of things we don't understand, right?"
> "Something came down into the basement, and disappeared. If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic."
> "I'm worried that there's something else in here that might endanger the palace."
> "I'm worried that there's something else in here that might endanger the Captain."
> "Do you have any ideas on that matter, Anders?"

>>36406290
> "It's just a theory. I don't insist on it."
> "Something came down into the basement, and disappeared. If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic."

>>36406290
> "Something came down into the basement, and disappeared. If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic."
"The only other option would be if it had a key to the vault."

>>36406290
> "Something came down into the basement, and disappeared. If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic."
> "I'm worried that there's something else in here that might endanger the Captain."

>>36406290
>> "Something came down into the basement, and disappeared. If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic."
>>other
And something that has appeared repeatedly and not been caught for quite some time? I don't think the guards, the captain or william would be quite so remiss in their duties.

>>36406290
>"Something came down into the basement, and disappeared. If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic."
>implication that if it was merely hiding, Nicole would find it.
Good thing that doesn't actually look suspicious anymore because everybody already knows Nicole gets into everything.

>>36406290
> "It's just a theory. I don't insist on it."
> "I admit I don't know much about magic, but it can do lots of things we don't understand, right?"
> "Something came down into the basement, and disappeared. If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic."

Obviously Rosentia bears some significance to us.

>>36406411
Just throw it on the pile of info. the MC has that we don't.

>>36406479
This is half the fun, anon.

Further, this item is from the Imperial College. That sounds like a Mage Guild if ever I heard one. The construct or summoned entity theory holds more weight.

>>36406533
For some people.

Some form of automata or magically created/summoned being does seem the most likely.

just putting it out there, going by the fact that damp was inspired by Princess Guard Quest, im thinking that we're an Elven princess/noble who is becoming a guardswoman

>>36406533

We might literally be chasing a shadow.

>>36406648
What kind of elf is worried about showing claws?

>>36406681
the kind who received magical mutations in a magical academy? i dunno

>>36406573
I'm leaning summoned being. An automata generally has trouble changing shape and given our worry over claws and ears that is something that might be likely.

>>36406668
And? Even if the speculation is wrong, it is still fun.

>>36406701
What if we're actually just a mundane house cat that was hit with a stray transmogrify spell?

"Something came down into the basement, and disappeared," you say levelly. "If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic." Or you. You're pretty sure it's not you.

Anders adopts a patient expression, which you eventually identify as the exact same one Elise used when you expressed ignorance on arcane theory. "It is highly unlikely to be magic, or at least any magic we know. What you describe would be very difficult to achieve, unless there is some piece of undiscovered dwarven magery hidden in this pile of relics. In which case the implications would be far more astounding than a simple ghost story of shadows."

Grunmarl is nowhere near either of the extant dwarven Holds, and you've not heard of any outposts in the area either. Which might not mean much, given the usual dwarven secrecy, but you would imagine someone might have seen a dwarf around sooner or later. Apart from that visit by the Stoneguard, of course.

"I doubt you will find anything of interest among these artefacts," Anders continues. "The vault has been locked with a better grade of security ever since that incident with the cube, and I have the only key. Which is still in my possession." He holds up an ornate-looking brass key, which does look like it would have come in a set with the impressive-looking padlock. "Nobody has asked to borrow it ever since I locked the vault, so it has not been out of my hands."

"Could someone have picked the lock?" you wonder.

Anders shrugs. "Anything is possible. But from your report of the mysterious movement that brought you down here this morning, whoever it is had not had time to pick the lock and replace it."

This is true. "Lily did see some sort of shadow a month ago, though. She said it was right across from the vault. Which hadn't been locked as tightly back then, I think."

"That," Anders says, with heavy portent, "is still under investigation."

>[1/2]

>>36406648
Our skills in thievery and fighting doesn't exactly point to noblewoman.

Unless we are a Zelda expy who enjoys slumming it as Sheik.

Lily had also said nobody believed her about the shadow. "Really?"

"An investigation on hold," Anders admits. "Clarissa thinks it is of no consequence. Given the lack of any concrete evidence, I cannot prioritize it over the other issues involving her attention."

And the last thing you want to do is create more work for Clarissa. "Would you mind if I had a look around the vault? Maybe there's something I might notice."

Anders makes a show of shaking his hands free of his sleeves, and flexing his fingers. Ready to cast a counterspell in case you trigger anything unfortunate. "By all means."

You suspect your freedom of action does not include ripping off the tops of crates and rummaging inside them, so you merely check the descriptions scribbled near-illegibly on pieces of paper and stuck onto each box. There are quite a lot of boxes of pottery.

You do make a point of surreptitiously touching each box, to no visible reaction, either from the artefacts within or from Anders. You don't know if you are relieved or disappointed.

By the twentieth crate thus examined, you begin to wonder if there are better ways to spend your time. "Was there anything suspicious found in Grunmarl?"

Anders gives you another patient expression, slightly different from the one before. "You have some romantic notions of archaeology, Nicole. Everything is suspicious, and nothing is. That is the nature of unearthing history."

Not a helpful explanation.

> "What happens to all of these relics? Do they stay in the vault forever?"
> "Have the archaeologists found anything that looked especially magical? Items of power?"
> "What about the items not from Grunmarl? Like that cube?"

> "What happens to all of these relics? Do they stay in the vault forever?"
> "What about the items not from Grunmarl? Like that cube?"

>>36406718

No. I mean, magical shadow spy.

>>36406744
>> "What happens to all of these relics? Do they stay in the vault forever?"
is there a museum in Alvar? do we send them to the Magical Academy?

>>36406744
> "What about the items not from Grunmarl? Like that cube?"

>>36406744

> "What about the items not from Grunmarl? Like that cube?"

>>36406744
> "What happens to all of these relics? Do they stay in the vault forever?"
> "What about the items not from Grunmarl? Like that cube?"

You take a step back from the dusty crates. "What happens to all of these relics?" you ask. "Do they stay in the vault forever?"

"Of course not," Anders says. "Every few months, a caravan from Gracewell comes by, and a contingent from the University of Gracewell packs them up. There is an entire department studying the history of pre-Empire Wellsbet. If there are indeed any magical artefacts hidden within, it is highly unlikely they have survived the millenium since then."

Pottery and shards and the remains of a civilization long dead. Forgotten, save for the few scholars who dedicate their lives to re-discovering what was lost. "And they've never found anything that wasn't..." Dead. "Inert?"

"Not that I am aware."

"Except for the cube."

Anders sighs. "Except for, as you rightly say, the cube. Which, I must point out, is not from Grunmarl."

You stare at the crates of artefacts.

"Are you feeling all right, Nicole?" Anders asks. There is an unfamiliar tone in his voice, which you take a while to recognize as concern.

"I'm fine," you say, turning your face away for a moment. "It's the dust."

"Hm." Anders does not sound convinced, but he lets the matter drop. "It does get rather dirty in here. I might have to supervise a cleaning crew one day."

"Speaking of the cube," you say, once you're sure you've gotten yourself under control, "are there any items like it? Not from Grunmarl?"

Anders ponders this. "We do have a few. They are, unfortunately, buried deep behind the other items from Grunmarl. I doubt you will be able to shift all these crates by yourself. Nor do I recommend doing so unsupervised."

You choose to interpret that as a warning not to disturb the fragile pieces of history within the crates. "The crate that contained the cube was also pushed to the back, wasn't it?"

>[1/2]

"But not blocked by very many boxes," Anders says. "It would be trivial to shift those out of the way. In fact, when we inspected the scene, we found evidence of just that. Exactly why the intruder would go through the trouble is as yet unknown. I was briefing his Grace on this very matter before you arrived, in fact."

You glance up at the rafters speculatively.

"Do you have any insights?" Anders inquires.

"Not really," you say. Nothing you can confirm right now. And you don't sense anyone hiding up there, anyway. But to your professional eye, it would be a very good place to lie in wait, utterly unnoticed.

"If you wish to know more about the objects not from Grunmarl," Anders says, "you will have to be more specific."

You cannot be more specific if you don't know what to specify. "Might I have a list of such items?"

Anders gives you a long, piercing stare. You should be used to this by now, but it still unnerves you. "I will make a note of it," Anders finally says. "Will there be anything else?"

> "What was that cube doing here in Alvar in the first place? It's quite a distance from Amberin."
> "Could I also have a map of the secret passages you've already found?"
> "No, thank you. I should be going now."

>>36407111

> "What was that cube doing here in Alvar in the first place? It's quite a distance from Amberin."
> "Could I also have a map of the secret passages you've already found?"

>>36407111
>"And they've never found anything that wasn't..." Dead. "Inert?"
non-inert golem confirmed

>>36407111
> "Could I also have a map of the secret passages you've already found?"

>>36407111
>> "What was that cube doing here in Alvar in the first place? It's quite a distance from Amberin."
We don't need the map... I think.

>>36407111
> "What was that cube doing here in Alvar in the first place? It's quite a distance from Amberin."
> "Could I also have a map of the secret passages you've already found?"
might as well.

>>36407111
> "Could I also have a map of the secret passages you've already found?"
>"How many people have seen the Vault Key? Would it be possible that the "shadow" stole it, memorized its shape, then replaced it on your person?

A myterious cube from Amberin, now used as a conduit to target a hostile spell at Clarissa. The spellcaster is likely from Whiteford, and a member of Clarissa's family. You can't figure out the connection between these, or even how the spellcaster from Whiteford knew about the cube in the first place, much less how it could be used.

"What was that cube doing in Alvar in the first place?" you wonder. "It's quite a distance from Amberin."

Anders shrugs. "I do not recall the details. But off-hand, I assume it was meant to be studied by David."

You vaguely recall having heard that name before, somewhere, in the context of Alvar's staff.

"David Barlin is the chief archaeologist at the Grunmarl site," Anders explains. "He is a harmless sort. Quite learned, if a little absent-minded. I suspect he placed the study of the cube as a lower priority, in favour of his efforts at the dig site. We do get the occasional artefact from all across the continent; he's well-regarded as an expert in pre-Empire studies."

"The foremost expert?" You've not heard of this David before, but you've not had reason to keep track of such things.

"The most accessible expert," Anders says. "There may be more learned scholars of ancient history, but they are either inconvenient to contact, or under the employ of less civic-minded patrons than Pierre. And so we get a small but steady trickle of artefacts into Alvar. David identifies the ones he can when he returns to the city, and sends them back, often with a lengthy treatise."

You should have a talk with this David someday. The journey out to the Grunmarl dig site will have to wait until you have an entire day free from your duties, though.

"I should add that up until the cube incident, we were not aware that any of the artefacts we store could even be activated," Anders adds. "No doubt David was as surprised to learn about it as we were."

>[1/2]

"Has anyone told him?" you ask.

"A messenger was dispatched," Anders says. "No further news from the dig site, though. Evidently whatever is happening there is more exciting than our own crises."

The vault may have been a disappointment, but maybe exploring Grunmarl at the source would yield better results.

"Do you wish to continue your inspection?" Anders says. "I remind you that I have the key to the vault, and so I have to lock up after you."

You shake your head. "I don't think I'll find anything further." At least not yet. "Do you have a map of the secret passages in the palace you've already found?"

"Still on that shadow story?" Anders gives you another stare, which you successfully manage not to flinch under. "It will take some time to unearth the records. Quite obviously, the blueprints are of no use; it is not a secret passage if everyone knows of it, after all."

You probably don't have the authority to demand haste from Anders. "Thank you. I appreciate the help."

Anders does not chivvy you out of the vault as such, but you gratefully escape the range of his piercing gaze anyway. It is getting rather late, and you have a training session with William in the morning. Time to return to your room.

Clarissa is already there when you enter. She is seated on her bed, in a change from the usual. She is also reading through the book on Whiteford's nobility which you had borrowed from the library.

You don't think she's especially happy with what she's reading.

> "Good evening, Captain."
> "Is that book accurate? Katherine said it was the only one in the library on the topic."
> Silently prepare for bed

AFK for an hour or so for dinner.

>>36407712
>> "Good evening, Captain."

>>36407712
> "Good evening, Captain."
> "Is that book accurate? Katherine said it was the only one in the library on the topic."

>>36407712
>> "Good evening, Captain."
>> "Is that book accurate? Katherine said it was the only one in the library on the topic."

>>36407712
> "Good evening, Captain."
> "Is that book accurate? Katherine said it was the only one in the library on the topic."

>>36407712
>> "Good evening, Captain."
>> "Is that book accurate? Katherine said it was the only one in the library on the topic."

>>36407712
>> "Good evening, Captain."
no need to be too abrasive/invasive, but i doubt she'll be happy either way. the other options are too flippant or ignoring the problem

>>36407712
>"Is that book accurate? Katherine said it was the only one in the library on the topic."


Oh Anders, original blueprints are wonderfully useful for finding secret passages. All you need to do is look for the spot that:

>would be convenient if there was a passage
>can be made without undermining the structural integrity
>could be made while mainly working on a separate, nearby section of the building

...wait, would Nicole know any of those?

>>36407769
that is always the question. ask on the ask.fm, and you may or may not get an answer

>>36407769

They may not.

That relies on the mistaken assumption that the map itself is accurate.

Map measurements and the actual measurements can differ. The only surefire way to sniff them out is to check for them ourselves.

You should tread carefully around this. "Good evening, Captain."

Clarissa closes the book with a small sigh. "Good evening, Nicole." She doesn't seem angry at you for looking into her family, which is promising. "How were your explorations of the palace?"

You should probably leave the details out until directly asked. "Nothing to report, Captain. Everything is fine."

A corner of Clarissa's mouth quirks up. "Given the absence of any commotion or explosions, I will take your word for it."

Definitely almost a joke. You are more than willing to let Clarissa tease you for your mishap at the wizard's tower, if it means she gets to relieve her tension by being friendly, or as friendly as she can achieve.

You change into your pyjamas, preparing for bed. "How is that book, Captain?"

Thus reminded, Clarissa replaces the book on your desk. "Are you asking for a book report?"

"Er." You pick your words with more care. "I borrowed it from the library. Katherine said it was the only one on that topic. Is it accurate, as far as you can tell?"

Clarissa is silent for a moment. "I am, quite obviously, a biased source. Perhaps it would be better for you to read up on my family on your own."

She hasn't instantly vetoed the idea of discussing her family with you. "Are you all right with talking about it, Captain?"

"If you wish." Clarissa does not sound enthusiastic, but it is still greatly improved on the past few times the subject has been brought up.

> "Is your family important, in Whiteford?"
> "What is your family like? Not the politics or the public appearances, but as a family."
> "On second thoughts, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to, Captain. I'll stick with the book."

>>36408152
>> "On second thoughts, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to, Captain. I'll stick with the book."

>>36408152
> "What is your family like? Not the politics or the public appearances, but as a family."

>>36408152
>> "What is your family like? Not the politics or the public appearances, but as a family."
We need to figure out how families work in order to keep our cover.

>>36408152
>"On second thoughts, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to, Captain. I'll stick with the book."

>>36408152
>"What is your idea of a 'family'?"

Rolled 1 (1d2)

In the interests of tie-breaking:

1: "What is your family like?"
2: "I'll stick with the book."

>>36408152
> "On second thoughts, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to, Captain. I'll stick with the book."

>>36408339
Hah, nope.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>36408339
Fair enough. Rewriting.

>>36408345
Nope to me.

>>36408152
>"What is your idea of a 'family'?"
Well what if I vote too, will you change it again?

>>36408152

I haven't for this one yet, but I'd go with
> "What is your family like? Not the politics or the public appearances, but as a family."
if I wasn't late.

>>36408345
>>36408352
Sorry, only just got home and caught up since I left earlier

>>36408361
>>36408363
This is literally giving me a headache. (Please note that I am still on medication.)

I'll close with the very next vote.

>>36408451
fine, changing >>36408286
to > "On second thoughts, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to, Captain. I'll stick with the book."

>>36408451
At this point, it might be prudent to go with another d2. Samefagging is a very real possibility under these circumstances.

>>36408468
The problem here was that OP did not stick with his roll, and went with vote which was after the roll.
He should not do this. Rolls are final.

Didn't vote.
It's up to our QM, now.

Do agree with "roll is final" rule >>36408558

It's our fault as (not)players to have come to a draw in the first place.

I wonder what are Clarissa's family issues, though.
I don't know the best way to handle it.
But I hope as a roomate, Nicole will sooner or later become her confident.

At fisrt I would have guessed forced mariage, but now I'm less sure.

I'm the guy who voted immediately after the roll, I agree that the roll should have been final, and damp, you're the boss, don't be afraid to make a decision.

You don't want to send Clarissa back into a black depression, and the topic of her family has too many hidden traps for you to feel entirely safe navigating that particular conversational field. "On second thoughts, Captain, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to."

Clarissa accepts this with a marginal nod. You're not sure if you're imagining the relief in her face.

You pick up the book, and check the contents page for the entry on the Ridelham family. Flipping to the indicated page, you are greeted with several paragraphs of densely-written text. After the surprisingly readable pair of books on law and history you had borrowed from the library, this is an unpleasant disappointment.

You forge on nonetheless. The Duke had ordered you to read up on the Ridelham family, and you should have a firm foundation of the basic knowledge before you question Clarissa on the specifics.

The Ridelham area is known for its bountiful fruit harvests, particularly its grapes. Wines from Ridelham are considered to be the best on the continent, rivalled only by those from the Tula region of Lusea. You take a brief moment to wonder if the wines in the Duke's cellar include Ridelham wines, before returning to the book.

Savvy business acumen on the part of some ancestor in times long past, during the days of the Empire, had increased the Ridelham holdings to a sizable part of Whiteford. This gave the family a great deal of prestige and influence on the province, which carried over into the constitutional monarchy of Whiteford, after the fall of the Empire. The Earl of Ridelham is the traditional head of the Progressive party of the parliament of Whiteford, which is an interesting facet of Whiteford you had not considered; you assumed the leaders of political parties would be chosen on merit or corruption, but evidently they do things differently in Whiteford.

>[1/2]

On a hunch, you turn to the chapter on Lyseille, which matches the pagecount of Ridelham's, and are rewarded with further impenetrable paragraphs of poorly-written text. After much straining of your eyes and mind, you do glean the understanding that the Earl of Lyseille is the traditional head of the Conservative party of Whiteford.

The ruling monarch appears to be a figurehead, from what you can tell, and irrelevant to the daily running of the kingdom.

The book is uninterested in the current affairs of Ridelham and Whiteford, being a very dry account of the history and proper titles of the peerage. There is an included family tree, but you do not see Clarissa's name listed on it, which means it is not especially up to date. You do see that the titles and responsibilities of Whiteford's nobility are based on equal primogeniture, meaning that the eldest surviving child receives the title.

Other children tend to be sent to various localities to serve as soldiers, clerics, or married off to strengthen political ties. You wonder if Clarissa fits any of these situations.

You put the book down for a moment to rest your aching head, and are mildly surprised that a few hours had passed while you had wrestled with the contents. The sheer effort of trying to decipher the book of peerage means that it takes a few more minutes before you notice the tiny, nagging feeling that something is not quite right.

It takes but a few moments more to identify the source of your unease. The nightmare-absorber on Clarissa's desk, which should be in full flare right now, is entirely quiescent, with nary a sign of activity.

Clarissa is sleeping peacefully. No nightmares here.

You really, really don't want to have to stay up for the entire night again.

> Wake Clarissa up to inform her of this
> Sneak out to check on the cube in the courtyard
> Keep another silent vigil over Clarissa
> Forget it and go to sleep

>>36408677
> Sneak out to check on the cube in the courtyard

>>36408677

> Wake Clarissa up to inform her of this

This seems like the safest option.

>>36408677
> Sneak out to check on the cube in the courtyard

>>36408677
>Sneak out to check on the cube in the courtyard
They know!

>>36408677
> Move the orb closer to Clarissa
> Sneak out to check on the cube in the courtyard

>>36408677
>> Wake Clarissa up to inform her of this
Reason: better not be alone to deal with that, plus Clarissa is directly concerned.
and an excuse to touch our captain, but that's the player's, not Nicole's

>>36408677
>Sneak out to check on the cube in the courtyard

>>36408677
> Forget it and go to sleep
I don't want to reveal what we are by lack of sleep.

If the nightmare-absorber is not active, the next thing to check would be the conduit cube. The obvious assumption would be that the hostile spellcaster has finally given up on using the nightmare spell, and is either planning another angle of attack, or has already begun that attack. In any case, no more nightmares.

Unless this is a feint, and the spellcaster returns to slinging nightmares at Clarissa once you let your guard down. The exact level of paranoia calibration is probably best left to those of a higher pay grade than yourself.

You hesitate, but decide that your pyjamas are good enough for now. As a precaution, you arm yourself with your daggers. As a further precaution, you use one of the daggers to nudge the nightmare-absorber closer to Clarissa, to the edge of her desk. It's the best you can do, save for putting it in her bed, which would probably make Clarissa noticeably unhappy when she wakes up to find it tangled in her sheets.

You slip out of the room quietly enough, and head down to the ground floor. You cross the Great Hall in utter silence; this late at night, there is only a single pair of guards on patrol, and they are taking their time about it up on the third floor, not expecting any trouble. You easily avoid being noticed; you'd rather not have to explain yourself to anyone else.

You make your way to the training courtyard. The skies are overcast, and the glow of both moons are obscured by the heavy clouds. It will probably rain sometime tonight.

The courtyard is entirely dark, which is answer enough for whether the conduit cube is active. You step into the deeper shadow, waiting for your eyes to adjust further.

A flash of lightning reveals everything for an instant of stark, bright light. The conduit cube is still there, dark and inert, surrounded by the wards Elise had set up.

There is also a shadowy figure hunched over the cube.

>[1/2]

Before you can decide whether to call out to the figure in your best City Watch impression, or to tackle it immediately, the shadow straightens up. You get the fleeting impression that it is looking right at you.

Then it bounds right over the high palace wall surrounding the courtyard from a standing start.

You are faintly impressed. You didn't think anyone else could do that.

> Give chase (roll 1d20, best of three)
> Raise the alarm

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>36408905
> Give chase (roll 1d20, best of three)

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>36408905
>Give chase (roll 1d20, best of three)

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>36408905
> Give chase (roll 1d20, best of three)

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>36408905
> Give chase (roll 1d20, best of three)
> Raise the alarm

>>36408912
>>36408917
>>36408926
>>36408931
>rolling for sneakiness
Where's the 20?

>>36408926
Who wants to bet the DC was 15?

God dammit.

>>36408937
It's pursuit, not sneakiness.

>>36408905
>Give chase (roll 1d20, best of three)

>Give chase (roll 1d20, best of three) dice+1d20

KNIGHT APPRENTICE!!

>>36408905
>Then it bounds right over the high palace wall surrounding the courtyard from a standing start.

>You are faintly impressed. You didn't think anyone else could do that.

It's going to be a super ninja jumping and climbing chase. Nicole may reveal herself as well.

We knew it !
Chase suspicious shadow !

I got a bad feeling about this...
Hope Nicole is as good as I can imagine from when she went "hyper"

Okay, I'm out, don't ruin everything, and damp, there's no shame or anything in stopping halfway through a scene if you're too doped up and tired to do it justice

>>36409048
You just don't want us to have fun without you!

>>36409058
Partially, but I don't want damp to ruin himself and I don't trust anon to tell him when to stop. Anyway, its six hours till work, so don't fuck up while I'm gone

>>36409070
But we already did.

>>36409070
Yes without your sage words we might gave left the captain asleep without a working mind conteol eating nightmare stopper. Wait...

We might not have caught him, but I don't think we completely lost him either (at least, I hope).

>>36409127
Maybe the roll was to hide our ability?

>>36409160
Then that's bad luck for him. Leave no witnesses..
I kid I kid

>>36409188
But anon... Me and you are witnesses

Calling for help would result in a great many confused people milling around asking questions. You don't have time for that, if you want to catch the intruder before they escape.

You take a running start for your own leap over the palace walls. You waste a fraction of a moment to locate the shadow, now a distressing distance away, bounding across the rooftops.

You can do that too.

Despite being in the middle of the night, there are still some torches and glowstones illuminating the streets of Alvar. From the top of the high wall, you leap onto the nearest rooftop, rolling to silence your landing. Without pausing, you jump off the edge of that, swing from a hanging beam, and find purchase on the opposite building. You hop over to the nearby drainpipe, and climb with speed.

And then the chase is on.

You pounce from roof to roof, making full use of every ledge and handhold you find. Behind you, you are vaguely aware of the occasional exclamation of surprise as the denizens below witness what looks to them like a swift shadow passing overhead. You ignore them; they would not believe the evidence of their own eyes, and your passage through the area would be dismissed as a fleeting figment of an overactive imagination.

You are in your element now. This is not knightly in any storybook sense, but you are chasing down an intruder engaged in suspicious behaviour that may result in harm to your Knight Captain, and to the people of Alvar palace in general. That should make it appropriately knightly, in some ledger of reckoning somewhere. You are using your skills and your talents to protect others. Your cause is righteous.

And you are still losing ground.

>[1/4]

You push yourself to speed up, taking longer jumps and greater risks. You just manage to grab onto the ledge of a rooftop by the tiniest margin of your fingertips, and haul yourself up, only to witness the shadowy figure float almost contemptuously over a wide plaza, defying gravity with impunity.

That is simply not fair.

You spring off a flagpole and grab a sturdy clothesline, which lets you make it to a tree on the other side of the street. You scramble up to the highest branch you can, and before it breaks under your weight, you launch yourself into thin air, and catch the edge of a hanging banner more through luck than skill. Having to skirt the edges of the plaza means you lose even more ground, and the shadowy figure is far into the distance by now.

It begins to rain.

You stifle a curse under your breath. The rain will make everything more slippery, which will slow your progress even further. You doggedly continue the pursuit, heedless of the greater danger of falling and injuring yourself. You've made it this far, and you would rather not return to the palace in shame, without at least trying your best to catch the intruder.

So it is to your astonishment that the shadowy figure is much closer than you expected, when you crest the latest rooftop.

Something about the rain is causing it what looks like significant discomfort. It has slowed down tremendously, and occasionally it stops to writhe in a way that cannot be natural to any humanoid body.

Something to investigate when you catch that thing.

>[2/4]

Closer now. You scrabble up yet another sheer wall, onto the rooftop of yet another house. You are breathing hard now, and the rain has turned into a steady shower, punctuated by the occasional clap of thunder. You still refuse to slow down, and you make it to the next rooftop on nothing but bloody-minded tenacity. You are gaining on the shadow, and you will not stop until you catch it, or you plant yourself onto the hard cobblestones of the ground.

Closer now. Closer...

Now.

The shadow has just made another jump. You launch yourself in mid-air, stretching out your hand, and you grab the tail of its cloak before it makes it to the other side.

The cloak, and the shadowy figure itself, vanishes entirely.

That is very much not fair.

You note the presence of something small which glints in the flickering illumination of Alvar at night, but it vanishes into the gloom below. You are also dropping fast as gravity re-asserts itself, which is probably the more important thing right now.

Fortunately, you are able to twist yourself just so, and you grab onto a very convenient lamp-post. This allows you to swing yourself around, and slam into the wall of the nearby building, knocking the rest of your breath out of you.

Dizzy from the impact, senses stunned by the rain and the thunder, and wheezing for breath, you carefully make your way down the wall, finding handholds on instinct. Upon reaching solid ground, you take a minute to catch your breath, leaning against the wall.

"Nicole? Is that you?"

>[3/4]

You are gradually made aware of a circle of light emanating from a standard-issue lantern. This circle illuminates the immediate area and not much more, but it does reveal the face of one Constable Marianne Farnston, dressed in an equally standard-issue raincoat, and looking with much confusion at your present state.

You remember that you are still wearing your pyjamas, and you have two daggers in full view, albeit sheathed.

"What are you doing here?" Marianne asks, in the hopes that your answer will make some kind of sense.

> "It's a long story."
> "I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here. Where is here, by the way?"
> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."
> "Good evening, Marianne. Two of the clock, and all's well."

>>36409225
>> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."
I was doing knight business, protecting the captain, very secret stuff, I might tell you later,

>>36409225
>> "I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here. Where is here, by the way?"
> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."

>>36409225
>> "I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here. Where is here, by the way?"
>>other
"It dropped something around here. Can you look for something shiney? Let me catch my breath."

>>36409225
>"I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here. Where is here, by the way?"

>>36409225
>> "I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here. Where is here, by the way?"
>> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."

>>36409225
>> "I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here. Where is here, by the way?"
>>"It dropped something around here. Can you look for something shiney? Let me catch my breath."

>>36409225
>>> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."

pfft, we're still wearing pajamas

>>36409225
> "I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here. Where is here, by the way?"
> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."

>>36409225

> "It's a long story."

But first

> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."

>>36409225
>> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."
Great job Nicole.
But now Marianne is a bit suspicious.

>>36409225
> "I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here. Where is here, by the way?"
> "Marianne, can you help me look for something? It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."

The truth might actually work in this case. "I was chasing an intruder at the palace. I ended up here." Which was oddly familiar. "Where is here, by the way?"

"This is Crosstern Street," Marianne says. "Halfway across the city from the palace," she adds, at your blank look. "How did you chase that intruder so far?"

You probably shouldn't tell her you went by the rooftops at full speed. "What time is it, by the way?" You left your pocketwatch in your room.

"It's just a bit past midnight," Marianne says. You thought it was much later than that. "I was on my way home. It's not far from here."

City Watch work late. You feel privileged to have a much shorter working day, as a knight-apprentice. "Marianne, can you help me look for something?" That thing the shadowy figure had dropped when it disappeared might be a clue. "It's small and shiny and I think it dropped somewhere around here."

"No," Marianne says.

You blink.

"Nicole, you're soaked through, you're in nothing but what looks like your pyjamas, and you're a long way from the palace." Marianne holds her raincoat open. "Come on, huddle up inside. We'll go look for whatever it is when you've dried off. It's just a short walk to my place."

> "I'd rather not, Marianne. I don't want to impose."
> "I'd rather not, Marianne. I'm not good with close contact."
> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."
> "All right, I'll dry off at your place. But I'm not good with close contact, so I'll just stay like this."
> "Never mind, then. I'll head back to the palace myself."
> Huddle up

>>36409495
> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."

>>36409495
>"That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."

>>36409495
> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."

>>36409495
>"That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."
Would appreciate SOME form of cover, though. And a lantern.

>>36409495
> "I'd rather not, Marianne. I'm not good with close contact."
> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."

>>36409495

> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."

>>36409495
> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."

>>36409495
>"That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."

> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."

>>36409495
>> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."
Marianne's answer is rather frustrating
"The very safety of Alvar is at stake. This is your duty as constable of Alvar to help me, and to help me now."

>>36409495
>> "That thing the intruder dropped might be important. I need to find it as soon as possible."
then relent when she gives Nichole the look and
>>Huddle up

>>36409595
I'll huddle when we fail to find it, but not before.

>>36409595
>>36409604
Agreed.

>>36409604
How long before we admit it's not there ?
I know it can be very long.
"I will go nowhere without that shinny precious thing"

>>36409659
long enough to shine the lantern across the general area, looking for something shiny.

Although, we got some useful facts just from this.
>The shadow and Clarissa's nightmares are related
>The shadow can quickly and probably very frequently leave and reenter Alvar.

>>36409495
>"...Do I look crazy right now?"

>>36409691
Time for shadowruns and watching corners
>the cities murders are required to give soul-energy to fuel the shadowy figures
>Clarissa was to be mind-controlled into killing the duke to start a civil war/give advantage to the opposition for the conservative party

>>36409659
Depending on the search area, I assume. My guess would be 1 hour after first light, enough to look through the area twice. Besides, if we dont get back or at least send a message back to the palace we are going to have a lot of explaining to do. If we don't find it soon, we'll hole up at Marianne's for the time being and resume at dawn.

>>36409715
> "there was a shadow, I... I s-swear !"
It's ok Nicole, you had a bad dream, go to bed now.

File: tumblr_lq3pze9MxX1qko4x4o1_500.gif (278 KB, 450x295)

278 KB GIF

>>36409725
But the plans keep failing because Nicole is the Penny to Clarissa's (much smarter) Gadget.
>Next time, knight captain. Next time...

You've been rained on before. It's not the most pleasant way you've spent your time, but you're fairly sure you'll survive. "I'll be fine, Marianne. More importantly, we have to find that thing the intruder dropped. It might be very important."

Marianne starts fumbling with her lantern.

"And please don't try to give me your raincoat," you add quickly. "I'm already drenched, you're not. No point in both of us being wet, right?"

Marianne looks as though she is about to argue, but she nods instead. "Okay. But only if you promise to come to my place afterwards! You'll catch a cold."

The alternative would be to look for the object on your own. "All right."

Marianne shuffles to your side, shining her lantern on the areas you indicate. You begin a systematic search, taking your time on each sector before moving on to the next. You can sense Marianne's impatience beside you, but she remains obedient for the time being.

"What does this thing you're looking for look like?" she finally asks.

You try to recall the final moments of your chase. You think the object might have been metallic, but you can't be certain. "It's really small, and might be gold or silver. I didn't get a good look at it, sorry." Mainly because you were busy trying not to splatter yourself on the ground.

"Is finding it really so important?"

Maybe you should lay it on a bit thicker. "The safety of Alvar might well depend on it."

"Huh." Marianne sounds suitably impressed. "That's pretty important."

This keeps her quiet all the way until you make your way up to the end of the street, and you finally admit to yourself that whatever that object had been, you're not going to find it now.

"If we're done," Marianne says, "we should go now. I have towels. And a hot bath."

A hot bath sounds pretty good to you right now.

> "I need to head back to the palace. They'll be wanting explanations."
> "Well, I did promise to go with you. Lead the way, Marianne."
> Huddle up

>>36409763
Because people go freerunning halfway across the city in the rain at midnight in their jammies ON A LARK.

>>36409725
I'm a little leery of both of those.

Doesn't murder-powered magic need a lot more than 3 or so people over the course of more than a month? Although, if a soul is only needed every time a shadow form is used, and there are a couple of murders not yet discovered/reported...

>>36409773
>"Well, I did promise to go with you. Lead the way, Marianne."
Leave once the rain stops, we need to get Elise on that cube.

>>36409773
> "Well, I did promise to go with you. Lead the way, Marianne."
Can't stay though, I need to head back and report

>>36409773
>"Well, I did promise to go with you. Lead the way, Marianne."

>>36409773
> "Well, I did promise to go with you. Lead the way, Marianne."
> Huddle up
We tried and failed. Time for hot bath.
It's going to be awkward explaining to Clarissa were we went though.

>>36409792
Or if the shadow is actually the soul, and is bound to that little shiny trinket...

>>36409773
> "Well, I did promise to go with you. Lead the way, Marianne."

>>36409773

> Huddle up

Time to help nicole get over some of her hang-ups with physical closeness.

>>36409773
>Huddle up
Extremely cautiously.

>>36409773
> "Well, I did promise to go with you. Lead the way, Marianne."
> Huddle up

>>36409773
>> "I need to head back to the palace. They'll be wanting explanations."

6 for second option
4 for third option

neither are mutually exclusive, 2 people putting them together.

guys?

>>36409773
>> "Well, I did promise to go with you. Lead the way, Marianne."
>> Huddle up

Considering that damp is sick, and it should be around midnight over there, he could be asleep.

Operation lure Bicole away from castle great success.

>>36410086
Operation murder nosy unknown who messes up plan commence

>>36410086
see
>>36409096
and
>>36409771
all according to plan.
plan means keikakku

>>36410084
He could be, but he hasn't even taken a long time yet.

It is funny to note how he's totally unloading his own suffering on Nicole right now.

A promise is a promise. "I did say I would go with you." You try to ignore the sudden bout of aches that come from running across the rooftops of half the city in the middle of the night. "Lead the way, Marianne."

"You don't get out of it that easily," Marianne says. "Come here."

You can see the look of righteous determination in Marianne's eyes. You don't think you can get out of this.

You gingerly huddle close to Marianne, as she holds her raincoat open invitingly. Your wet clothes must feel uncomfortable against Marianne's dry set, but she gives no sign of discomfort.

"There," Marianne says cheerfully. "Doesn't that feel much better?"

Actually you feel even more awkward, but at least now Marianne isn't nagging you about it.

The two of you stumble clumsily through what seems like too many streets, and Marianne hugs you closer to herself to stabilize your odd combined locomotion. You try not to think about it.

"We're here," Marianne says, startling you; you had let your mind wander, partly due to the late hour, and partly because the close proximity with Marianne is not doing good things to your level of panic. "Just let me get this door open..."

Marianne's apartment is not as tiny as you imagined, but it is not especially spacious either. The main room is a combination of bedroom, living room, and dining room. A small stove in the corner represents the kitchen, while a door leads to the bathroom.

Marianne hangs her lantern on a hook attached to the ceiling, illuminating the room. She shrugs out of her raincoat, and places it on a rack near the door. You remain in the doorway, dripping quietly.

"Sorry about the mess," Marianne says, rummaging through her wardrobe, which is comically large for her living space. You don't really see much by way of mess; the place is cleaner than most.

>[1/2]

"My apologies for imposing," you say politely.

"Don't worry about it!" Marianne hands you a towel. It is fluffy and light blue. "Here, dry yourself off first. I'll go heat up the bath."

You pat yourself down as Marianne busies herself with preparing the bath. You see a single rumpled bedroll in the corner, surrounded by small piles of books. A guard helmet lies casually discarded on the floor; you don't see any other pieces of standard issue guard armour, but given Marianne's conscientious nature, they should be around somewhere.

Marianne eventually emerges, humming a jaunty tune. "The bath's done," she says. "Go on in. I'll be right after you."

You remind yourself that Marianne has just gotten off work. You can see the water stains on her clothes where you had pressed up against her.

> "Thank you. I'll be quick."
> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."

>>36410158
>"Thank you. I'll be quick."
...we still have the daggers

>>36410158
> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."

In before we somehow end up going together.

>>36410158
>"You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."
We're not going to win that one either, but at least make the point.

>>36410158
>[] let it hit you 1d20

>>36410158
>> "Thank you. I'll be quick."

>>36410158
>> "Thank you. I'll be quick."

>>36410191
Wrong quest somehow?

>>36410158

> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."

>>36410158
> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."

>>36410158
> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."

>>36410158
> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."
We're not even human.

>>36410172
hehe~

>>36410158
but in all seriousness,
> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."

>>36410158
> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."

>>36410213
Yeah laat copy paste option I had apparently. Stupid phone.

>>36410252
Silly phone, this isn't big-bootied jackal girls quest, this is delicious caramel something quest.

>>36410158
>> "You can go take a bath first, Marianne. You deserve it more than I do."

Despite your mad chase across the city rooftops, you had already gone off-duty hours before Marianne did. Your life is luxury compares to hers.

"You can go take a bath first, Marianne," you say. "You deserve it more than I do."

Marianne looks puzzled at this deviation from the script of the Gracious Host. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," you say. "The towel is enough for now. Thank you for that, by the way."

"Well, I suppose if you insist." Marianne brightens as an idea strikes her. "We could go together-"

"No," you say, very firmly.

Marianne pouts, but her smile returns almost immediately. "It was worth a try!"

You are put in mind of Elise's flirting with Clarissa. You don't think Marianne's suggestions carry quite the same meaning towards you, but you suppose you might be too close to the situation to be able to tell objectively.

Marianne collects her own towel before entering the bathroom. She starts to undress, glances behind her, and realizes that you are still standing there. With a faint blush and an embarrassed smile, she closes the door.

You wonder how long it will take before she realizes that she did not bring a change of clothes inside with her.

You remain in the doorway, waiting for most of the rain to drip back off you before you set foot further into Marianne's domain. You are already feeling the effects of staying up later than you expected, along with the energy expenditure of chasing the intruder across the city.

That intruder was definitely magical. Nothing else you know of can explain the sudden disappearance. You recall the feel of the shadow's cloak in your hand; definitely some sort of cloth, smooth and cold as silk, but dissipating into nothingness.

It was doing something to the conduit cube, which may have explained why the nightmare-absorber failed to react. But was it stopping the nightmare spell, or trying to get it restarted? Something to ask Elise in the morning.

>[1/2]

You should probably try to get a message to the palace too. Or return as soon as you can; with any luck, nobody will have noticed your absence.

A sound from the bathroom catches your attention. Marianne has begun to sing, something jaunty and happy and, as far as you can make the lyrics out, slightly bloodthirsty, albeit in the name of dispensing justice.

She's not bad at singing. In fact, she's pretty good.

You count two verses and a chorus before Marianne stops. A long, thoughtful silence ensues, before Marianne exits the bathroom, her towel wrapped demurely around herself.

"Uh, the bath's free," she says.

> "Thank you."
> "What was that song, out of interest?"
> "Actually, thanks for the towel. I really should make it back to the palace now."

>>36410457
> "Thank you."
Quick bath, no fuss. And then back to the palace.

>>36410457
>> "Thank you."
>> "What was that song, out of interest?"

>>36410457
> "Actually, thanks for the towel. I really should make it back to the palace now."

>>36410457
> "Actually, thanks for the towel. I really should make it back to the palace now."

>>36410457
>> "Thank you."
>> "What was that song, out of interest?"

Talk while bathing.

>>36410457
> "Thank you."
> "What was that song, out of interest?"

Didn't realize I was choosing to miss out on bathtime with Marianne...damn.

>>36410457
> "Thank you."
> "What was that song, out of interest?"

>>36410447
wait. joking aside, would it have been an actual option? just curious.

>>36410493
It's hilariously out of character..

Issues with hugs and holding hands. Huddling in the rain was uncomfortable. I KNOW LETS BATHE TOGETHER!

>>36410489
Why can't we have nice things?

>>36410502
Saying it would have been hilarious just seals the deal, anon.

>>36410457
> "Actually, thanks for the towel. I really should make it back to the palace now."

> "I uh, kind of left in a hurry."

>>36410457
> "Thank you."
> "What was that song, out of interest?"

well, I suppose at the end of the day Marianne has to work a bit harder than that to get the girl.
step up, Mari. woo us.

>captcha: smoothness offsixl
captcha knows what's up.

>>36410626
I want to say that she was just teasing because she knows Nicole gets uncomfortable, but on the other hand I could totally imagine damp going "my players won't waifu so they'll just have to be waifued instead."

This is the fate we chose.

>>36410676
Captain a best dammit!

>>36410689
It's too late! Now it's captain who thinks we're a best.

>>36410676
What, we are waifuing.
The Captain is just being dificult.

>>36410689
But the captain ain't our waifu. She's like an overbearing mother or sister trying to help us not get ourselves killed or worse. She's not the waifu, she's the guardian whose judgement you must face before you can get the waifu.

>>36410822
Lies and slander.

>>36410822
>implying that maternal instinct won't become feelings of love and passion as we prove ourselves more competent

So far it doesn't seem like Nicole is interested in anyone romantically. Which is kinda nice for a change.

>>36410822
a few more dashing rescues and sweeping her off her feet at the upcoming party will fix that.

"Thank you," you say, radiating enough calm to hopefully put Marianne at ease as well. You nonchalantly unload your daggers, and place them by the door as well, beside the coatrack. Marianne does not seem to think this is unusual, which might well be the case, considering the company she keeps in the Hanging Orc.

Marianne gives you a wide smile as she hands you a folded set of clothes. "I've got plenty of spares," she says. "I, uh. Kind of have a problem with shopping."

You do not think the pay of a city guard is especially hefty, and the small apartment does imply some necessary frugality. But you can also catch a glimpse of the inside of the wardrobe, which looks full to bursting of a riot of colours.

You accept the clothes. "I'm in your debt."

"Really, don't worry about it!" Marianne laughs lightly. "Helping those in need is the duty of all good citizens! And especially the King's Own!"

You retreat into the bathroom before Marianne can continue her righteous speech.

The bathroom is as tiny as you expected; the bathtub requires you to squeeze a little, but there is just enough space to clean yourself reasonably thoroughly. The bath is heated with some sort of built-in contraption beneath the bathtub; upon closer inspection, it appears to be part of the apartment's infrastructure itself. Living in Alvar does have its advantages, if you can afford the rent.

You do think it prudent to hesitate before entering the bathtub. "Marianne," you call out, "why is the water green?"

"Oh, that's just some extra stuff I put in," Marianne answers. "It's herb-based. Or something. It makes your skin all soft and smooth!"

"Does it work?"

A short, uncertain pause. "It's herb-based."

You reason that Marianne has not shown any ill-effects from using this herb-based additive in her bathwater, so it should be safe enough.

>[1/2]

>>36410864
There are several quests with aromantic MCs. You just need to look hard enough. Hero Quest Rena was almost frustrating with it too.

You bathe quickly, mindful of the time. Marianne must also be tired from her long day at work, so you should be a good guest and leave before she gets too tired to host you. You're certainly feeling sleepy; the hot bath is not helping your alertness.

A quick bath, a quick thanks, and a quick return to the palace. A good plan.

Which may have a few complications of its own, when you unfurl the dress Marianne gave you. It is certainly a dress, a bit bigger than you'd like, meaning it is not suited for an acrobatic return trip across the city. It is also rather fancier and frillier than you have ever worn in your life. You can only be thankful that it is a soft yellow, rather than pink.

Still, you are a guest in Marianne's home, and you must not be picky, despite very much wanting to.

To her credit, Marianne restricts her reaction to the sight of you in that dress to a mere double-take. "Um. Your clothes should be dry by tomorrow," she says. "If you'd like, you can stay the night here."

> "Thanks for everything you've done, but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can."
> "I suppose it couldn't hurt. Thank you for the offer, Marianne."
> "Do you happen to have anything less, uh, frilly?"

>>36410931

> "I suppose it couldn't hurt. Thank you for the offer, Marianne."

>>36410931
> "Thanks for everything you've done, but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can."

>>36410931
>"Thanks for everything you've done, but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can."
You know Clarissa is going to assume the worst when we're missing without a word.

>>36410931
> "Thanks for everything you've done, but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can."

>>36410931
> "Thanks for everything you've done, but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can."

Formulate a report before going to bed.

>>36410931
>> "Thanks for everything you've done, but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can."
we haven't done any cloths shopping yet have we?
"Your style certainly is... unique. Maybe next time I have time, and money, we could go shopping? Just no frills please."

>>36410931
> "Thanks for everything you've done, but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can."

>>36410931
> "I suppose it couldn't hurt. Thank you for the offer, Marianne."
We'll explain tomorrow and I'm hoping for bed sharing shenanigans.

>>36410931
> "Thanks for everything you've done, but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can."

William is going to enjoy this.

Shouldn't we make sure it's not still raining first? We just took a bath.

>>36411184
Nonsense!

>>36411184
>Nicole in a thin, frilly yellow dress, wet and clinging to her skin

Drawfags, please.

>>36411223
Well, now we know what to request from decu's next drawthread.

Tempting though it is to simply keel over in sheer exhaustion here and now, you are fairly sure Clarissa will flip something unfortunate should she discover your bed empty in the morning without any explanation.

"Thanks for everything you've done," you say, "but I really should head back. I'll return the dress when I can," you add. You certainly cannot imagine any situation where you would want to wear a dress like this again.

Marianne looks disappointed, but she nods in understanding. "At least take the raincoat," she says. "I can get another one at the Watch House. They issue them for free for city guards."

Tax money at work, presumably. You're too tired to argue, anyway. "I might not be able to visit the Southgate Watch House for some time," you say. "Tonight's events might result in quite a lot of, er, results."

Marianne smiles encouragingly. "As long as you believe that you're doing the right thing, I know you can get through it! So don't give up, Nicole!"

You never intended to give up. Marianne's attempt to cheer you up is kind of touching, though. "I won't. Thank you once again for all your help, Marianne. I will see you soon."

You collect the raincoat and your daggers at the doorway. One advantage of the raincoat is that it will cover and conceal the dress.

"Do you need a lantern?" Marianne asks.

You can see quite well in the dark. "No, thank you. That won't be necessary."

>[1/2]

You do not relish going back out into the rain, but the raincoat does its job commendably well. You remain relatively dry, and the rain appears to be letting up a bit.

Walking the streets of Alvar takes you far longer than hopping the rooftops. This is not helped by your unfamiliarity with the city streets, having to double back on occasion when what seems like a shortcut turns out to be a dead end. The palace of Alvar is still the most prominent feature of the Alvar landscape, though, so you have a general idea of the proper direction to go to.

Eventually, you reach the familiar palace walls. You're not sure what time it is, but it is probably later than you'd like. You're not going to get much sleep tonight.

> Jump back over the wall and sneak back to your room
> Walk in through the front gates like a normal person

>>36411274
> Jump back over the wall and sneak back to your room
It's too tempting. I can't help myself.

>>36411274
> Jump back over the wall and sneak back to your room

As far as any guards at the gate know, we never left right?

Anyhow, how tall is the wall?

>>36411223
Yes, that's exactly where a drawfag is needed.
But who could do draw her cute enough ?

>>36411274
> Jump back over the wall and sneak back to your room
Hopefully we don't get caught.

>>36411274

> Walk in through the front gates like a normal person

>>36411274
> Jump back over the wall and sneak back to your room

>>36411274
> Walk in through the front gates like a normal person
Would love to see the face of the guards.

>>36411274
>Walk in through the front gates like a normal person

You don't think your absence has been noted just yet. Given the time of night, the guards will not be especially alert, and simply counting the minutes until the end of their shift.

You shouldn't test your luck any more than you already have, though. Thinking about the chase across the city, in the slippery rain, you are amazed you did not experience an accident more drastic than the fall at the end. Your streak of fortune has to end sometime.

Acting largely on automatic muscle memory, you bounce up and over the high palace wall once again. The sudden bout of athletics gets some rain into the raincoat, which you ignore; you are beyond caring about the minor inconvenience of wet clothes.

You land in the training courtyard, at the far end of where the conduit cube sits. A passing glance confirms that it is still inert, which is at least reassuring for the lack of new developments while you were otherwise occupied.

Back across the Great Hall, and up to your room, where you discard your raincoat. You don't have anything like a coatrack to put it on, so you fold it up as best as you can, and stow it under your bed. You'll take care of it in the morning.

Clarissa is still sleeping soundly. The nightmare-absorber is dark; you do not know if it had flared up in the time you were away. Given Clarissa's lack of nightmares, you suppose it doesn't matter.

You quietly replace your daggers in your desk, and fall onto your bed. It feels much more comfortable than usual, somehow.

> Wake up early
> If there's any morning we deserve to sleep in, it's this one

>>36411583

> If there's any morning we deserve to sleep in, it's this one

I'll actually go with the non-dilligent option for once in all these threads.

>>36411583
>If there's any morning we deserve to sleep in, it's this one

...we?

>>36411583
> Wake up early

>>36411583
>Change out of the dress

> If there's any morning we deserve to sleep in, it's this one

>>36411583
> Wake up early

>>36411583
>>36411683
this.

>>36411583
>>36411634
Yeah? We? Is that intentional or a typo?

>>36411683
Supporting, unless you guys want to explain to Clarissa the dress and raincoat.

>>36411896
It's not a slip. Nicole is actually a group of magically constructed cats piloting a golem.

The first inkling you have that you may have overslept is the faint snorting sound from the open doorway.

You sit up to see William crouched there, almost bent double, shaking with suppressed laughter.

"Good morning, Nicole," Clarissa says, from her desk. She is fully dressed for the day, and appears to have been for some time.

You rub the sleep from your eyes. "Good morning, Captain. You didn't wake me?"

"When I see you wearing something like that, despite being quite certain you were wearing something entirely different when you went to bed the previous night, I can only assume you have been on a great adventure in the interim," Clarissa says. You strain to detect any hint of sarcasm in her voice, but find amusement instead.

William tries to take a deep breath, but jams his sleeve to his mouth once again. You ignore him.

"It is only mid-morning, so you are not too tardy," Clarissa continues. "I thought I should keep watch over you while you slept. It seems fitting, after all you have done for me in the same capacity. I do confess to some curiosity on the circumstances surrounding your current attire, however."

"It's a long story, Captain. First, did you have a good night's rest?"

Despite her expression remaining much the same, you can tell that Clarissa has sobered. She obviously knows the significance of that question. "I did not experience anything untoward last night," she says.

"Oh. Good." You turn to the doorway. "Please stop that, sir. This is serious."

William finally calms down enough to straighten up, getting his laughter under control, wiping tears from his eyes. He clears his throat. "Right. Sorry. Well, then. I must say that colour suits you, Nicole."

"Thank you, sir," you say evenly. "But I do have to make a report on the events of last night. It started when I noticed Orby wasn't glowing."

>[1/2]

William looks momentarily blank, before he recalls your nickname for the nightmare-absorber. He glances at it involuntarily, where it stands on Clarissa's desk.

"Go on," Clarissa says.

You run through a brisk summary of events, starting from your visit to the conduit cube, and the discovery of the shadowy intruder. You gloss over your chase across the rooftops, save for the culmination, when you grasped the shadowy figure's cloak, and the figure's subsequent evaporation into thin air. You emphasize the strange small object you saw after the figure vanished.

"Where was this?" Clarissa interrupts.

You take a moment to remember. "Crosstern Street, Captain."

"Thank you. Carry on."

"There's not much more to add, Captain," you say. "Marianne, uh, Constable Marianne Farnston found me. I tried to find that small object with her help, but I could not locate it. Then I went to her home to have a hot bath and a change of clothes. Hence, well." You glance down at your dress, now rumpled with sleep.

Clarissa looks grave. "All right. Go wash up and have some breakfast, Nicole. William, stay."

William sketches a bow. "As you command, Captain."

> "Do you have any instructions for me first, Captain?"
> "I think we should have Elise take a look at that cube. Maybe the shadow did something to it."
> "I'd like to ask Elise about the sort of magic that can make someone disappear like that."
> "Do you think we still have a chance to find that small object?"

>>36412184
> "I think we should have Elise take a look at that cube. Maybe the shadow did something to it."

> "Do you have any instructions for me first, Captain?"

>>36412184
> "Do you have any instructions for me first, Captain?"
> "I think we should have Elise take a look at that cube. Maybe the shadow did something to it."
> "Do you think we still have a chance to find that small object?"

It sounds like we know more about disappearing than they do, so no point asking about that.

>>36412094
>Nicole is ...
... definitely, deliciously brown.
Whatever in between doesn't really matter.

You can have any colour as long as it's deliciously brown.

>>36411634
>>36411896
Apologies for interrupting potential speculation, but it's a typo.

It's also probably a sign for me to go to sleep, since I've been making more and more typos and mistakes as the night goes on. I'd blame the medication, but I think it's probably just plain sleepiness.

I have to apologize once more for the mess-up mid-thread with the tie-breaker. New QM mistake. I'll try not to have it happen again.

One issue is that I'm probably not going to be able to run again until the second week of December. So it's a hiatus until then.

Once again, please give feedback on the Slower Shorter Easier Sicker pacing that I'm trying out, so I don't literally fall sick due to questing too much.

Thanks for joining me on the quest.

>>36412252
Thanks for running!

I thought overall it was pretty good.

>>36412252
Haven't really noticed that it's slower. Probably because I've been playing games on the side.

>>36412252
Thanks for running, get well soon.

>>36412252
Thanks for running !

>>36412184
>> "I think we should have Elise take a look at that cube. Maybe the shadow did something to it."

>>36412184

> "I think we should have Elise take a look at that cube. Maybe the shadow did something to it."
> "I'd like to ask Elise about the sort of magic that can make someone disappear like that."
> "Do you think we still have a chance to find that small object?"

>>36412184
>"I'd like to ask Elise about the sort of magic that can make someone disappear like that."

>>36412252
Only complaint is I always want more of this quest.

>>36412252
Thanks for running. this thread was fun.

File: tweests.jpg (120 KB, 636x410)

120 KB JPG

>>36406735
>"Something came down into the basement, and disappeared," you say levelly. "If it's not a secret passage, it's probably magic." Or you. You're pretty sure it's not you.

>pretty sure

>>36412959
oh fuck for some reason that picture set me laughing