Elise's workshop remains as cluttered as ever, apparently despite Lily's best efforts. You do see a basket on a side table, which you recognize as a delivery from the kitchens, which explains how Elise obtained lunch. You're not sure if Elise went down to the kitchens herself to pick it up, or if Lily had delivered it for her.

You don't see Elise anywhere. With the chaos of the workshop, this is not unusual. Suppressing a tired groan, you carefully pick your way across the detritus of research, shifting likely piles of books and files in the hopes that Elise might be buried beneath.

"Up here," Elise's voice says. Thus prompted, you look up.

Elise is sitting cross-legged on the ceiling. Despite being upside-down, her clothes and hair appear to be influenced by whatever magic has reversed her personal gravity, and hang as they should, rather than drooping down as you would have expected. The overall effect is mildly eye-watering.

For her part, Elise does not look especially pleased with her current situation, but she does seem resigned to waiting until everything returns to normal. To this end, she has positioned herself above her newly-uncovered bed, which will presumably provide a soft landing.

> "What."
> "Good afternoon, Elise. How was your day?"
> "I have the gold ring I wanted you to analyze. Where shall I put it?"
> "Should I lay in more cushions just in case?"
> Put the evidence case down on a nearby flat surface, and quietly back out of the workshop

RL, tired, short slow thread, apologies, the usual.

I admit I'm beginning to wonder how long I can sustain this.

>>37524150
> "Good afternoon, Elise. How was your day?"
> "I have the gold ring I wanted you to analyze. Where shall I put it?"

Try to take it in stride, this is weird enough without us making it awkward.

>>37524150
>> "Good afternoon, Elise. How was your day?"
>> "I have the gold ring I wanted you to analyze. Where shall I put it?"
Just take it in stride.

>>37524150
>> "I have the gold ring I wanted you to analyze. Where shall I put it?"
>> "Should I lay in more cushions just in case?"

>>37524201
Apparently I copied >>37524173 exactly. Weird.

>>37524150
> "What."
> "I have the gold ring I wanted you to analyze. Where shall I put it?"
> "Should I lay in more cushions just in case?"

>>37524165
Put it on hiatus for a while. Anything's better than burning out.

>>37524150
> "Good afternoon, Elise. How was your day?"
> "I have the gold ring I wanted you to analyze. Where shall I put it?"
> "Thanks again for the coffee, but if you will excuse me, I believe I have forgone sleep long enough."

>>37524165
Normally I'd say to take a break or something, but dear god, all the quests I follow aren't showing up anymore. Nothing wrong with taking it slow, though.

>>37524165
If you need to take a break or not run so long, do so.

>>37524391
Same here. The Christmas season killed quite a few quests this year.

>>37524150
>> "Good afternoon, Elise. How was your day?"
>> "I have the gold ring I wanted you to analyze. Where shall I put it?"
>> "Should I lay in more cushions just in case?"

>>37524241
Yeah, Gobbles was gone for like 6 months before he got back to questing again. Long breaks are preferable to quiting, though I guess a rushed ending wouldn't be completely terrible.

>>37524494
It would be here, imo. There'd be too many unaswered questions.

>>37524511
I just want to know what the fuck Nicole is

If there is anything in this whole confusing mess that comprises daily life that you can consider to be none of your business, Elise's inverted situation would be among the very top.

"Good afternoon, Elise," you say, with as straight a face as you can manage. "How was your day?"

"Quite enlightening," Elise says lightly. "I find it helps to look at things from a different perspective."

Right. You hold up the evidence case, prominently displaying the engraved coat of arms of the Alvar City Watch on its face. True to budget considerations, the engraving is not very good, but it is recognizable enough to serve its purpose. "I have the gold ring I wanted you to analyze, in here. Where should I put it?"

Elise looks around. Evidently her new position has given her a new insight about just how messy her working and living space is, and the lack of prominent locations where a small nondescript case would not be lost forever in the vortex of clutter. "Uh, just hand it to me for now. No, don't toss it; the field doesn't extend very far from me, but it's a pain to have to recalculate vectors on the fly, as it were."

You take great care to avoid touching more than you have to on your approach to Elise's spot. You can actually see several easy paths across the shelves and uncertain mechanical protrusions, but simple prudence dictates that you should not clamber all over a mage's working area, even with permission.

You should attend one of Elise's lectures on magical theory one day, just so you can understand which of the miscellaneous items scattered around Elise's workshop are safe to contact without exploding, turning you into a newt, or any combination thereof.

You extend the evidence case, and Elise reaches out to take it. You imagine a slight tingle in your fingertips as the case changes hands.

>[1/2]

Elise works the latch, and the case pops open. You twitch slightly, as the expected consequence of the ring falling out of the case does not happen. Instead, it appears to be under the influence of whatever has stuck Elise to the wrong plane of gravity.

Elise picks out the ring, and examines it with a critical eye. "I'd say it looks like a focus, but lots of things do. I'd need to test it further, which, ah, isn't going to be happening right now. But soon," she chirps optimistically. "As soon as this spell wears off, which might be any minute now. Should have been any minute now an hour ago, actually."

"Should I lay in more cushions just in case?" you ask. You can't see any cushions around, but maybe you can have some sent up.

"I wouldn't say no to more cushions," Elise says, "but the spell should let me down relatively gently. I think."

Not a rousing sign of confidence.

"I'll get to work on this when I can," Elise says, replacing the ring in its evidence case. "If you don't hear from me or Victor about it in the next couple of days, you'll be happy to know it's more than just a piece of human jewelry." She frowns. "Or maybe unhappy. Which would be a better result?"

You're not sure yourself. "Thank you for the help, Elise. And the coffee, from this morning."

Elise waves you goodbye as you depart. You acknowledge this with a wave of your own, while keeping your eyes averted in order to maintain your mental concepts of the differences between up and down.

Your duties for the day have been discharged, and you cannot think of any other pressing matters to attend to until your trip to Whiteford in less than a week. This may be because you cannot think of any matters more pressing than your lack of sleep.

> Go for dinner to keep to your routine
> Forget the routine, sleep is more important

>>37524584
>> Forget the routine, sleep is more important

Hold on a second. What if we are undead? "Sleeps like the dead". This fits the construct/summon theory as well.

>>37524584
> Go for dinner to keep to your routine

>>37524584
>Forget the routine, sleep is more important
perfectly acceptable behaviour

>>37524584
>Go for dinner to keep to your routine

>>37524610
Could be, but would an undead human have weird ears and claws? It doesn't answer what race/species Nicole is.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Rolling tiebreaker.

1 - Dinner
2 - Sleep

>>37524701
The dice call for sleep

>>37524701
And on that note, I'm going to copy Nicole and get some shuteye myself. Don't husbando/waifu any characters while I'm gone.

>>37524716
Ugh. Who wants that fight this early in the morning?

>>37524716
I'll do my very best

>>37524716
Hah, in her sleep deprived state, it is the perfect opportunity to husbando/waifu __orby!

>>37524820
That's actually pretty smart. I'll use that someday.

File: Dont you ever say that.jpg (30 KB, 480x357)

30 KB JPG

>>37524820
Not funny

You do feel a little hungry, but you feel a lot sleepier. Given a choice of what to reward yourself with after spending an entire busy day on far too little sleep, the answer is obvious. You will deal with any problems with skipping dinner later.

Dealing with problems later is a very attractive option.

You trudge straight back to your room, and peel off your uniform. Which has miraculously stayed mostly dry, save for a bit of contact with the rain on your long and frankly unnecessary journeys through the city today. It will be rather annoying to dry them, of course, but that's for the servants in the palace to worry about. Being a knight-apprentice has its advantages, sometimes.

The rain is still pouring outside. It will be a cold and miserable night for anyone who has to be outdoors tonight, and you sincerely hope that you will not be one of them, chasing down yet another shadowy figure or other such interruption to your sleep.

You pamper yourself with the silk nightgown tonight. As a precaution, you force yourself to think about anything you may have missed, including the small, trivial obligations. Your sword is still in your room, leaning against your desk; you should return it to Roderick tomorrow, unless you intend to go out into the city again on official business. And you still have to return that book on Whiteford's peerage to the library, to avoid such horrors as Katherine may visit upon you as a penalty for late returns. Maybe she'll make you wear terribly dumpy sweaters with small kittens embroidered on them.

>[1/2]

There is still the faint, niggling sense that you're forgetting something, but you cannot tell if this is actually the case, or if it's just your rampant paranoia acting up again.

Well, whatever it is, you won't be able to make any progress with it in your current state. You should just go to sleep and hope that whatever the fallout might be, it will wait until tomorrow.

Finally you collapse into bed, which feels like the softest, most comfortable bed you've ever slept on in recent memory, despite being the exact same one you got up from this morning. You sigh in contentment as you feel the burdens of the past few weeks slip away, just for now.

And then someone is shaking your shoulder, trying to wake you up.

> "Go away."
> Crack open an eyelid to check who it is
> Groan, and get up

>>37524953
> Crack open an eyelid to check who it is

If our beloved captain or Victor (bit early for that though):

> Groan, and get up

>>37524953
>> Crack open an eyelid to check who it is

>>37524953
> Crack open an eyelid to check who it is

>>37524943
> Crack open an eyelid to check who it is

>>37524953
> "Go away."

>>37524953
>Crack open an eyelid to check who it is

Death unto any foolish enough to interrupt our rest for trifling matters.

>>37524953
...what?

>>37525054
Hmm?

>>37525071
sorry, meant
>"...What?"

>>37524943
>mostly dry
I only just notice but damp isn't slightly damp, he's just damp today.

>>37525100
Oh lol

>>37525128
He's normally just "damp" when running.

>>37525137
If he? then I haven't noticed for a long while, I always thought he was slightlydamp

>>37524165
You might want to consider running on weekends or on freedays. The quality of your writing and overall speed are enough to guaranteed nobody will fault you for it.

Seriously. Think of crying Nicole if you collapse!

>>37524165
I just got here but I don't mind slower paced threads, this quest is nice and chill and the pace isn't an issue for me, so don't let that get you down buddy.

It feels like you have just shut your eyes, but then you have a tendency to skip several hours whenever you go to sleep especially tired, so maybe it's already morning and this is Clarissa waking you up for the day.

To confirm this, you slowly and carefully open one eye, letting it adjust to focus on the foolish soul who dares disturb your slumber.

After some consideration, you decide to look on the bright side of the matter. It is still dark, so any grumpiness on your part will be completely justified. Doubly so, since the one who woke you is not Clarissa, but William.

"Early night?" William says, with obnoxious cheerfulness.

You turn over and bury your face in your pillow, so you do not let loose your opinions of his poor timing, his questionable parentage, and his unnatural fascination with small felines.

"Thought you'd like to know that the Duke was called out to the Esterian embassy out in the city to deal with a sudden influx of elven delegates," William continues blithely. "Clarissa and I have to accompany him. Therefore, as a knight-apprentice, you will be in charge of holding down the palace against anything that might threaten our security and livelihoods. Which, at this time of night, should be nonexistent."

You reflect darkly that you have also proven yourself to be excellently suited for handling any nocturnal assaults, which makes you a good choice for guarding the palace at night.

>[1/2]

"We shouldn't be gone very long," William says. "The Duke is as annoyed by this as you probably are, so he'll probably keep it confined to yelling at the elves for a bit before stomping back home. Just keep the lights on until we return, eh?"

You wonder if you are allowed to nap in Clarissa's office until then.

"Unless you'd like to go with the Duke," William adds. "Clarissa or I could stay behind. But we do need two knights to accompany his Grace. Protocol, you understand."

While you'd prefer to be able to follow the lead of a superior officer rather than rely on your sole judgment in maintaining security, you really don't want to move about very much right now.

> "Fine. I'll go sit in the Captain's office."
> "I'll just patrol the palace until you come back."
> "I'll go. You can stay."
> "I'll go. The Captain can stay."
> "Would it matter if the remaining knight in the palace was even awake?"

>>37525180
>> "I'll go. You can stay."

AFK an hour or so for dinner.

>>37525180
>> "I'll just patrol the palace until you come back."

>>37525180
>"Fine. I'll go sit in the Captain's office."

>>37525180
> "I'll just patrol the palace until you come back."
*sigh* More elves.

>>37525180
> "I'll just patrol the palace until you come back."
> "You've made a grave error tonight, Knight William."

>>37525170
>holding down
Why? Is it about to float away?

>>37525180
>"I'll just patrol the palace until you come back."
Keep on our feet to not fall asleep

>>37525230
>Why? Is it about to float away?
We should totally make that joke.

>>37525243
As should we do at anyone who tries to add the word "down" to the phrase "Hold the fort"

>>37525252
and then after it becomes a common joke for us we should start remarking "when are they going to make the palace levitate?" totally dead-pan

>>37525271
I'm not sure if it's just because I'm dead-tired, but I find this very amusing

>>37525243
I agree with this. It's legit Nicole tier.

>>37525180
> "Would it matter if the remaining knight in the palace was even awake?"
> "Fine. I'll go sit in the Captain's office."

>>37525243
Also, this.

>>37525243
>>37525294
"For what purpose would I have to hold the palace down? Is it in danger of floating away?"

>>37525180
Deleting my overly long winded one if I can:
>>37525204
To support the funny little quip of
>Why? Is it about to float away?

>>37525304
This.

>>37525304
Perfect.

>>37525180
> "I'll just patrol the palace until you come back."

>>37525180
>"I'll just patrol the palace until you come back."
A master watchman is capable of powernapping while sitting, standing, and even WALKING.

>>37525422
But is it the sort of thing a FULLY 100% HUMAN, such as Nicole, would do?

>>37525446
she's not a golem, homunculus, zombie, vampire, dwarf, or werewolf; right now, she's a watchman, and that's all that matters.

>>37525466
A Demonic Draconic Elven 100% human Watchman.

>>37525446
>>37525466
>>37525474
It would be fucking hilarious if when what Nicole happens to be is finally revealed, everyone goes "Yeah we know, so what?"

>>37525482
Everyone but the players?

>>37525491
I just want Clarissa to go "And?"

>>37525531
I wouldn't mind if some characters don't care, but I'd be a bit too anti-climatic if no one gives a fuck.

>>37525551
probably, my sleep deprived brain thought it might be funny

>>37525551
Yeah, I agree, and damp has implied that it's something big enough that it could turn the others against us. Still, that's what we're raising social links for anyway.

>>37525491
I fear for my monitor's safety if the reveal happens and we're still left in the dark.

>>37525560
we should get to know Lily and Katherine more.

>>37525180
> "Fine. I'll go sit in the Captain's office."

>>37525569
I like Marianne. She's lively and entertaining.

>>37525569
I think we're currently on the good side of both of them, but we should get closer. If we somehow haven't earned their approval/support yet, I think we're pretty damn close with Clarrisa, Simone, Victor, Elise and Marianne

>>37525588
>Simone
I doubt that, we've talked to her like twice, Victor likewise we've not interacted with a lot.

>>37525589
I think we earned mad cred with her when we didn't lie about visiting Victor

There doesn't seem to be any way you can get out of this. You take some small comfort in knowing that the misery of not getting enough sleep will not be limited to yourself.

With a faint groan, you lever yourself out of your bed, and check your pocketwatch. It is just before midnight, which does mean you've gotten some amount of sleep, if nothing else. The sound of rain remains steady outside, which gives you further incentive not to have to go outside.

Clarissa is nowhere to be found, although you can see her nightgown folded haphazardly and placed on her bed. She had evidently been and gone while you were asleep, and even her obsession with neatness had taken second place to attending her liege lord. For his part, William is dressed in full official uniform. For some reason, it looks more natural and rather better on him than Clarissa's exacting standards for her own.

"I'll just patrol the palace until you come back," you decide, stifling a yawn. Being on your feet may help keep you awake; you could sneak a nap in, but you don't know if you'll be able to wake when the others return, which is not something you'd want to explain to Clarissa. Besides, with how your life as a knight-apprentice has been thus far, you would not lay odds on whether something major will interrupt your hypothetically peaceful night watch.

"Right," William says. You gently steer him out of the room, and close the door after him. "Anything else you'd like to ask?" he adds, raising his voice slightly to be heard clearly through the door. "It's your first time in charge of the palace security, isn't it?"

"It is." You rummage through your wardrobe. Since you are not going outside, you decide on a set of comfortable clothes, rather than a uniform. "What should I be doing? Is there anything in particular I should keep in mind?"

>[1/2]

"Do what you would normally do, I suppose. Make a note of any incidents. Handle them according to your best judgment. Don't worry about doing it perfectly, as long as you do it well enough." A short pause, during which you imagine William shrugging nonchalantly. "Hold down the fort until we return."

"Is the palace prone to levitation?" you ask absently.

A longer pause this time. "All right, that was a poor choice of words on my part. But should it happen, that is definitely something you should make a note of. Preferably with recommendations on how we might turn the Magnificent Floating Palace of Alvar into a viable tourist attraction."

You hadn't actually meant to make a joke. You had just been wondering about Elise's little trick with gravity, whether it could apply to larger areas, and whether Elise had done experiments to that end, just to see if it worked.

Decently-dressed again, you open the door, just as Clarissa arrives, in full uniform as well. She gives you a sharp, professional nod. "Nicole. I trust William has briefed you on your duties?"

You stop yourself from fidgeting. You remind yourself that you are allowed to wear common clothing, and there is no reason to feel under-dressed. "Yes, Captain."

Clarissa looks vaguely uncomfortable. "I must apologize for waking you from your rest, Nicole. But duty calls, as it does for the rest of us."

> "It's all right, Captain."
> "Do you know what the Esterians want so late at night?"
> "How long will you be out?"
> "Is there any way to contact you in the event of an emergency?"

>>37525659
> "It's all right, Captain."
> "Do you know what the Esterians want so late at night?"
> "How long will you be out?"
> "Is there any way to contact you in the event of an emergency?"

Time to ask all the things!

>>37525659
>> "Do you know what the Esterians want so late at night?"
>> "How long will you be out?"
>> "Is there any way to contact you in the event of an emergency?"

>>37525659
> "It's all right, Captain."
> "Do you know what the Esterians want so late at night?"
> "Is there any way to contact you in the event of an emergency?"

>>37525659
>"Is there any way to contact you in the event of an emergency?"
>"Is it required to be SEEN patrolling, or am I allowed to be a bit...stealthier?"
As in hide in the shadows, not taking a nap.

>>37525659
>"Is there any way to contact you in the event of an emergency?"
> "How long will you be out?"

They must've come to see Nicole anyway. Unless I'm thinking of a different group of elves.

>>37525724
That would be an interesting development

>>37525659
> "It's all right, Captain."
> "Do you know what the Esterians want so late at night?"
> "Is there any way to contact you in the event of an emergency?"

Elves are in full panic mode because we touched the focus and it's getting analyzed.

"How long will you be out?" you ask. With any luck, this will not take long, after which you can get back to sleep.

"That would depend on how far his Grace wishes to use his command of invective," Clarissa says.

"There's supposed to be some big name from their ruling Council in the delegation," William says. "So the Duke can't just refuse to meet them out of hand. He is, however, allowed to be as grumpy at them as he wants to. I estimate two hours."

The Duke had been out dealing with the business of ruling the city and his realms the entire day, so his level of grumpiness should be quite high by now. Strangely, William seems almost cheerful, despite having accompanied the Duke for the day. Maybe he is looking forward to seeing the Duke unleash his full diplomatic opinions on unreasonable ambassadors.

"Do you know what the Esterians want so late at night?" you wonder. The elves which had taken an interest in you, after the night you chased down one of their shadow familiars, are from Crystal Vale. As far as you know, the elf nations of Esteria and Crystal Vale border each other, and as with many such bordering nations, their relationship ranges from snide to frosty. And yet, that was all part of the great diplomatic game, and a greater issue might cause them to set aside their differences to cooperate. Which is very intimidating to think about, so you push that thought aside.

"They just said it was important," William replies. "We'll get the details at the meeting. Or rather, the Duke will get the details, while we stand behind him looking muscular."

Not something you'd be good at, unless you wear that full suit of clanking metal armour. Your height is not exactly imposing.

Clarissa glances at her pocketwatch. "Anders should have finished briefing his clerks by now. Barnes and, uh, what was his name? Stenhill. We should be going, William."

>[1/2]

"Anders isn't coming with us?" William says, surprised.

"No." Clarissa purses her lips. "It is a rather delicate situation, and Anders would rather not complicate it with his presence."

Some history to be learned there. And for once, you're not the only one in the dark about that. "Is there any way to contact you in the event of an emergency?"

"Send a runner to the Esterian embassy," Clarissa says. "It is in the Deepwater River Ward, where most of the embassies are."

You remember seeing the location of that ward of the city on a simplified tourist's map. It is a rather expensive locale, with wide spaces and open parks, along a rigorously clean stretch of the Alvar river, which took its name from the settlement that grew into the present day city. Presumably any runner from the palace you can locate would know the address better than you do. "Understood, Captain."

Clarissa and William depart, and you wander over to the second floor corridor balcony overlooking the Great Hall to observe. The troop consists of the two knights, a handful of palace guards, two of Anders's clerks, and one very impatient Duke of Alvar. With a sharp gesture, the Duke signals for everyone to leave; raincoat hoods are pulled up and umbrellas are prepared, as the group goes out into the rainy night.

Leaving you in the palace, in the middle of the night, wishing very much that tomorrow will not be as filled with unexpected interruptions as today.

> Make a slow circuit of the palace interior
> Drop by the kitchens to see if they have any late-night snacks available
> Visibly stand guard in the Great Hall
> Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders

>>37526090
> Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders
on the way to
> Drop by the kitchens to see if they have any late-night snacks available
then once again
> Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders

> Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders

>>37526090
seconding >>37526103

It's totally because we don't want anyone to see us eating, absolutely not paranoia, no sir.

>>37526090
>Drop by the kitchens to see if they have any late-night snacks available

>>37526090
> Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders

>>37526090
>Drop by the kitchens to see if they have any late-night snacks available
>Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders

We can take note of anyone slacking on the job. Maybe give them a warning.

>>37526090
> Drop by the kitchens to see if they have any late-night snacks available
> Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders

That's a fairly significant amount of palace security getting called away in the middle of the night by elves, while elves are being investigated. Some people might be suspicious.

>>37526090
> Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders

And try not to take a catnap while there!

>>37526090
> Make a slow circuit of the palace interior
on the way to
> Drop by the kitchens to see if they have any late-night snacks available
then
> Hop up into the rafters and lurk in the darkness while you watch for intruders

You've skipped dinner, and you're starting to feel the faint pangs of hunger. It's nothing urgent as yet, but who knows whether it will intensify before morning. Besides, it's not as though you have very many better things to do at the moment.

You take a shortcut down to the kitchens by hopping right off the corridor balcony, swinging on a support beam, before catching a pillar to slide down. On the way, you startle the usual pair of palace guards on their nightly patrol; you give them a bright, sunny smile and a wave of greeting as you pass.

Which does bring up the fact that walking around the palace will not be doing very much that the existing patrols are not already doing. And despite your little demonstration a few weeks back in a training exercise, you do have confidence in the ability of the palace guards to stop any obvious threats. They are certainly more competent than you are, in your sleepy state.

At least you feel better than you did during the day. As long as you can get some more sleep before the end of the night, you should be able to face the next day with your usual energy, if not enthusiasm.

Maybe you should work towards your unique skills, for palace security. After making a sandwich or something in the kitchens, you could observe the palace from up high in the rafters. It would be very difficult to see you up there, while you would be able to catch anything happening down below.

With that plan in mind, you enter the kitchens cautiously, and with as much natural noise as you can make. You'd rather not startle anyone down here, especially in the vicinity of so many sharp implements close at hand. You're carrying your daggers as always, but you'd rather not have to make a note of an incident that you accidentally started.

>[1/2]

And there is, indeed, someone down in the cooking area of the kitchens. The room is lit, and you can hear familiar humming coming from inside, over the sounds of something simmering in a saucepan. You poke your head into the entryway.

Victor is preparing some sort of soup for one, using what looks like leftover stock, and adding in some diced vegetables of his own. His movements are practiced and relaxed; this is not the first time he is cooking for himself. In fact, he seems to be a fairly competent chef.

He glances up at your entrance with some surprise. He quickly puts down the knife back down on the chopping board, and wipes his hands on the apron he is wearing; it looks rather too big for him. "Ah, good evening, Nicole. Or, uh, it should be good morning by now, isn't it? What brings you down here?"

> "Good morning, Victor."
> "I could ask the same question of you."
> "I'm here to get something to eat."
> "Just checking who was in here. I'll go back on patrol now."
> "You can cook?"

>>37526502
> "Just checking who was in here. I'll go back on patrol now."

>>37526502
>"Good morning, Victor."
> "I could ask the same question of you."
> "I'm here to get something to eat."

>>37526502
> "Good morning, Victor."
> "I could ask the same question of you."
> "I'm here to get something to eat."

Share the soup Victor!

>>37526502
> "Good morning, Victor."
> "I'm here to get something to eat."
> "You can cook?"

>>37526533
>Share the soup Victor!
>Victor is preparing some sort of soup for one
>soup for one

>>37526502
> "Just checking who was in here. I'll go back on patrol now."

>>37526502
> "Good morning, Victor."
> "I could ask the same question of you."
> "You can cook?"
> "I'm here to get something to eat."

>>37526545
its Nicole.
that soup could feed her three times over.

You're quite impressed. Your knowledge of the culinary arts extends largely to the genre often labelled as "campfire". Your efforts are edible, and sometimes tasty, but always intended to be expedient more than gourmet.

You had also assumed that Victor would leave the cooking to the servants, like most members of nobility in peacetime. Not only is he a good cook, he is also apparently trusted enough to handle the cooking implements without fear of being yelled at by the head chef.

"Good morning, Victor," you return his greeting. "I'm just here to get something to eat. What about you?"

Thus reminded of the saucepan still on the boil, Victor hurriedly returns to his cooking. "Pretty much the same. I got woken up by all the commotion, and couldn't go back to sleep. Thought I'd make myself something nice and hot. And I was a little hungry, anyway."

At his age, Victor should be a growing boy. It's no surprise that he feels hungry most of the time.

"Would you like me to make more?" Victor offers. "It won't be much trouble."

A bowl of soup would not be portable enough for you to take to your vantage point above the Great Hall later. "No, thank you," you reply. "Although if I could find where the bread is, that would be useful."

Victor directs you to the bread pantry, which is almost bare; stale bread is no good to anyone, and bread is purchased daily from the city, early in the morning. You take a small piece of what is left, and start nibbling on it.

"Where did you learn to cook?" you ask conversationally.

>[1/2]

Victor ducks his head slightly, and you can see a faint blush. "I, uh, asked to be taught. There's this... there's someone who usually forgets to take her meals, see. I thought I could cook a few meals for her, to make her job easier. So she wouldn't have to worry about mealtimes anymore." He sighs, dejected. "It didn't last for very long. I figured out that it didn't matter if I was the one who cooked it for her or not, since I don't think she ever noticed."

Victor's infatuation with Clarissa is something of an open secret by now, except perhaps to Clarissa herself. Maybe Victor just feels uncomfortable saying it out loud in front of someone else.

"But I like cooking anyway, so that's all right," Victor says, with the determination of one who is not about to let the memories of setbacks past get them down. He lifts the saucepan from the stove, and smothers the fire with a cover. "Are you sure you'll be all right with just that, Nicole?"

"This is enough for me," you assure him. "I don't eat very much."

"Oh. Okay." Victor pours out the soup into a bowl. It does smell delicious, with hints of tomatoes and chicken and mushrooms. "Oh! You're helping out the City Watch, aren't you? Elise said she had something for me to do, that would have something to do with that. I haven't seen her today, though."

Elise's explanations must have been less than enlightening. "She was, uh, otherwise engaged. Something came up."

"Is it a murder investigation?" Victor's eyes gleam with the anticipation of a young boy about to hear tales of the gruesome and gory.

> "Well, yes."
> "Elise will tell you the details."
> "I'd rather not give you nightmares tonight, Victor."
> "Actually, I should go now. I'm supposed to be in charge of palace security for tonight."

>>37527223
>> "Elise will tell you the details."
> "Actually, I should go now. I'm supposed to be in charge of palace security for tonight."

Warning: connection is acting up (which explains the long delay of the last post). I might drop off without warning, which means I might have to use my phone to post on Twitter.

I'll keep going for now as long as I can, though.

(This week really seems calculated to sabotage quest-running.)

>>37527223
>"Well, yes."

We don't know any bloody details though so it should be fine?

>>37527304
no worries damp, I've got to get some sleep anyway, so thanks for the thread and I look forward to catching up on it.

>>37527223
> "Elise will tell you the details."
> "Actually, I should go now. I'm supposed to be in charge of palace security for tonight."

>>37527223
>> "Well, yes."
>> "Actually, I should go now. I'm supposed to be in charge of palace security for tonight."

>>37527223
>Victor's infatuation with Clarissa is something of an open secret by now
Man, I almost feel bad that we're trying to get Clarissa with Nicole.

>>37527223
> "Actually, I should go now. I'm supposed to be in charge of palace security for tonight."
> "Elise will tell you the details."

>>37527670
Hey, 100% humans have multiple parties in a relationship don't they?

>>37527670
I sure as hell don't. Clarissa is my Captain.

>>37527863
O Captain,
My Captain

>>37527906
That poem is an awful choice.. you realize the captain is dead at the end of it right?

>>37527906
>>37527976

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174742

>>37527976
>Implying we'll still have Clarissa in the end.

>>37528063
As a squire it is our duty to protect our Captain. We'll go down before she does.

You quickly make a decision on whether a young boy should hear about a series of murders among the shadier side of Alvar, where the victims have holes burned into their heads and their brains reportedly scrambled. This, just before said young boy is about to have a late-night bowl of soup.

"Elise will tell you the details," you evade. "She, er, is aware of the gravity of the situation."

Victor looks faintly disappointed.

"Actually, I should go now," you say. "I'm supposed to be in charge of palace security for tonight." Such as it is. You now understand the fervent hope of all guards and watchers that nothing interesting will happen during their shift.

"Huh." Victor looks puzzled, then embarrassed. "Sorry. For a moment, I forgot that you're a knight. Well, knight-apprentice. You just seem so, uh. Friendly."

You are relieved at Victor's choice of adjective; you had been expecting some variant of "naive" or "new". "It's all right, Victor. Sometimes it's hard for me to remember that myself." You give him a suitably friendly smile. "Good night."

Back out in the Great Hall, which is illuminated rather brighter than usual tonight, waiting for the Duke's return. The smaller two of the three chandeliers in the Great Hall had been lit, as they usually are in the early evenings. Presumably the larger one is reserved for official pomp and ceremonies, since it looks much more time-consuming to prepare.

Clamping the bread in your mouth, you make your way up the palace architecture the quick way. You do avoid being spotted by the palace guard patrol, now on the second floor at the classroom side; lurking high in the darkness would lose its purpose if you attracted enough attention to turn into a circus act.

>[1/2]

>>37528093
Knight-apprentice

>>37528093
>squire
Knight Apprentice

Up in the high roof rafters of the palace, you shiver at the cold. There is a draft of some kind up here, which is not surprising in a building this old. You shift along the wide, sturdy beams until you encounter a surprising pocket of warmth, likely from the chandelier below.

There you sit for a while, feet dangling, enjoying your snack. Despite the current situation of having been untimely roused from your bed, you feel as content as can be reasonably expected. The warm air rising makes it feel almost cozy, in this dark and stormy night. You are sorely tempted to curl up and go to sleep right here.

From your vantage point, you can see every bit of movement below, which is not very much at this time of night. The pair of patrolling guards finish their rounds, and are replaced by another pair soon enough. After some time, Victor emerges from the kitchens, and heads to the stairs, back up to his room.

And Anders emerges from the basement, a bottle in his hand, probably from the wine cellar. He walks back up the stairs as well, towards his office, before stopping mid-stride. You perk up at this unusual activity, before shrinking back as he peers into the darkness above him, in your general direction. He doesn't look like he's spotted you, but he has obviously noticed something near the ceiling, and is trying to decide if it's just his imagination, or if he should sound the alarm.

> "Good morning, Anders."
> Carefully move to a better-lit area, and wave
> Carefully move to a darker area
> Wait warmly

>>37528126
> "Good morning, Anders."
> Carefully move to a better-lit area, and wave

>>37528126
> "Good morning, Anders."
> Carefully move to a better-lit area, and wave

>>37528126
>Carefully move to a darker area
Time for shadowrun

>>37528157
We're trying NOT to promote the shadowy apparition rumors remember?

Do elves in this setting have any sort of improved low-light vision? Or am I just too used to D&D shit.

Oah good, the threads still up! I just saw it on twitter.

>>37528093
Knight-Apprentice


>>37528126
>"Good morning, Anders."
>Carefully move to a darker area

This is the best combination and I'll fight anyone who disagrees.

>>37528126
> "Good morning, Anders."
> Carefully move to a darker area

>>37528093
knight apprentice

>>37528180
We don't know, Anders likely at least has magic enhanced senses. That makes me wonder how common enchanted items are though.

>>37528126
>> "Good morning, Anders."
>> Carefully move to a better-lit area, and wave

>>37528126
>> Carefully move to a better-lit area, and wave
We're on duty, and Anders maybe the most important person in the Castle after the Duke.

>>37527906
Please someone rewrite it in the honor of our favorite Guard Captain

>>37528126
>"Good morning, Anders."

Just us up here, securing the palace.
I'm not trying to push Nicole and Clarissa together. Mostly because I like Elise and Victor.

>>37528269
I want them all together, though not necessarily with Nicole, we can share our Knight Captain on certain days.

>Wake up
>people waifuing
What did I say?

>>37528401
umm. umm. "waifu everyone"?
It's not my fault, I swear.

http://pastebin.com/LdHUR3xy
This was written by damp and posted on twitter on Christmas. I don't follow twitter and didn't know about it till yesterday, so posting it here for others who missed it and archive friends.
Sorry if you did actually post it in a thread and I'm an idiot.

>>37528495
haven't seen it yet, thanks

You are a knight-apprentice of Alvar, and you have a right to be here and do what you are doing. Admittedly your given orders of staying and guarding the palace do not say you should do it from the ceiling, but you feel that you have thus far followed both the spirit and letter of your orders.

You carefully creep forward along the beam to a patch of light, moving as non-threateningly as you can. When you are sufficiently illuminated, you give Anders a small wave and a hopeful smile. "Good morning, Anders."

"Oh. It's you." Anders visibly relaxes. "What are you doing up there?"

"The Captain told me to secure the palace." Technically William told you that, but he was relaying Clarissa's orders.

"I can understand that. I was asking what you are doing up in the ceiling."

"The Captain told me to secure the palace," you repeat stubbornly. "I'm doing it from up here. It's very comfortable," you add.

Anders leans against the corridor parapet, amused. "And should you detect an intruder from there, how will you react in time?"

"I've found that being in a high place lets me get the drop on people." You probably shouldn't do it from this height straight down onto the solid stone floor of the Great Hall, unless you plan to splatter yourself in interesting patterns, but the principle remains. "People don't usually look up."

"So they don't." A crash of thunder from the storm outside interrupts conversation for a moment. Anders patiently waits until the last echoes die out. "Frightful weather."

>[1/2]

Anders should have accompanied the Duke on his meetings with the guild-masters today, you recall. Or yesterday, considering the time. You spent that day outside, in said frightful weather, so you did not see him, or indeed most people from the palace, for much of the day. The seneschal should be as close to the Duke as a shadow. You don't know if Anders's presence here, instead of accompanying the Duke at the Esterian embassy, is a matter of elven politics, or what sounded like a falling out a day or so ago. You also don't know if you should ask about it, or leave well enough alone.

Anders raises the bottle of wine. "I will leave you to your surveillance. I have to prepare for his Grace's return. I bid you a good night, Nicole."

> "Good night, Anders."
> "If you don't mind, could I ask you a few questions? Just to make conversation. And to keep me awake."

>>37528764
> "Good night, Anders."

>>37528764
> "Good night, Anders."

>>37528764
>> "Good night, Anders."

>>37528764
>"Good night, Anders."

It's not really our place to ask about him storming out of the duke's office.

>>37528764
> "Good night, Anders."

>>37528764
> "Good night, Anders."
I wonder if we just fueled his suspicions of what we are.

>>37528764
>"Good night, Anders."
I wouldn't mind requesting a chat with Anders, but it doesn't feel in character, especially at the current moment.

File: 1331648974761.jpg (1 MB, 1536x2048)

1 MB JPG

>>37528764
>Anders raises the bottle of wine. "I have to prepare for his Grace's return."

"Is the wine for you or him?"

>>37528974
For the Duke. He's got to alter it first.. whether with poison or some sort of enchantment I cannot say.

Does anyone remember when Victor told us about the captain being under a spell?

>This is not sounding promising. "Do you know what's happening to the Captain?"
>Victor nods. "Someone is targeting her with a spell to affect her mind. They've been doing it at night, when it's easier to make her think what they want her to think. It's a really difficult spell, and it's usually done by those who have a strong connection to the vic- to Clarissa. Like being a blood relation. Or, um." He blushes. "Or being in love."
>You're pretty sure you didn't tell Victor about the details of the spell, and based on how few other people know about it, you doubt Clarissa did either. Which leaves Elise, who doesn't seem the sort to confide in a young boy she is teaching the basics of magical theory to, no matter how precocious.
>"How did you find out the Captain was under a spell in the first place?" you ask. Victor is suspiciously well-informed; you don't think he has a habit of listening at doors, but you did technically catch him with enough circumstantial evidence of eavesdropping on the briefing next door. "And how did you know what spell it was?"
>Victor clams up. This is very easy to tell, because his face turns red, and he ducks his head, unwilling to meet your gaze. "I can't tell you," he says in a small voice. "I made a promise."

Someone told him about the spell, and it wasn't Elise or the captain. Someone who he was willing to make a promise to. Did people forget about this?

>>37529064
No. I was just never able to figure out who he could have meant.

>>37529064
Huh. Maybe it was Anders.. or hell could it have been the Duke? Trying to cement a political marriage?

>>37529064
I totally did forget. That shit needs to get resolved, preferable before going to Evil Town.

>>37529163
We should tell Elise that victor knew about the Spell.

>>37529137
>could it have been the Duke?
Not likely, since the spell recommended to him had a good chance of causing insanity or death. Doubt the Duke would fond of either.

It's a very very short list of those who knew. So short in fact that we already know the three people on it. We didn't, the Captain didn't, and Elise didn't unless it was mind magic fuckery. That leaves a guilty third party who knew things they shouldn't and tried to get the Dukes son killed or worse.

>>37529190
Yeah. Probably should have a long time ago. It might have even been an option at the time. I can't remember.

>>37529213
Who the hell does victor associate with though? I mean..

>>37529213
Anders might have known (Though there is no way he would tell Victor about the spell), or someone might have overheard us. Lilly could have told him, and then he squeezed her for information and she let knowledge of the dangerous counter spell leek.

>>37529245
No one but the people at the castle really.

We're a drow.

You would certainly like to ask Anders a great many questions, or at least receive the answers to a great many questions that Anders is most able to produce. For preference, you'd like not to have to ask Anders himself in order to obtain those answers, because despite all else, his stare is still kind of scary.

"Good night, Anders," you return, shifting back towards the pocket of warmth above the chandelier. If you are going to have to wait in boredom and silence, at least you should be comfortable for it.

Anders vanishes into the Duke's room. You check your pocketwatch; it has been almost two hours. The ducal party should be returning any moment now.

Any moment now.

Eventually, you realize that you are quite seriously contemplating carving something into the wooden beam with your dagger just to stave off boredom. Watching the patrolling guards below is not especially interesting, and you have seen no other movement in the palace that would warrant your attention. Everyone sensible is already fast asleep, or would like to do so.

Thankfully for the integrity of the palace's roof support beams, a commotion from the front entrance heralds the return of the Duke and his entourage. As you watch from above, they spread out across the front area of the Great Hall, stamping their boots and shaking off raincoats. You do not envy the servants their duties tomorrow, when they discover the mess.

Time to go back down. You shuffle over to the third-floor walkways, and hop over. From there, you sedately take the stairs down, and approach the returning group like a normal person.

Clarissa spots you first. "Nicole. Anything to report?"

"No, Captain. Welcome back."

"Thank you." Clarissa glances at the Duke, who looks moderately grim. "I will return to our room in a while. For now, you are dismissed, and may get some rest."

>[1/2]

>>37529245
Nicole.

>>37529245
My one idea is Lily.
>>37529297
Drow as we know them don't exist in this world. I'm pretty sure chocolate elves exist, though.

A welcome suggestion. But something about the way the group is carefully not saying anything now is worrying. "Is something the matter, Captain?"

Clarissa and William exchange a look. The Duke simply gazes at you thoughtfully, but unhelpfully silently.

"She does not have clearance to know," Clarissa notes.

"She's going to have clearance anyway," William replies. "Eventually. She wouldn't be here otherwise." He turns to you. "It's just a minor point of protocol, Nicole," he says. "We're just going to have a late-night briefing. It doesn't have anything to do with the palace or your training, so you can go back to sleep if you want to."

> "All right. Good night."
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."
> "What don't I have clearance to know?"

>>37529321
>> "All right. Good night."

> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

>>37529321
> "All right. Good night."

>>37529321
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

Fffff-
I want Nicole to sleep, but I want to know this more.

>>37529321
> "All right. Good night."
So... Anders spikes the wine that Clarissa always downs by the gallon because she can't handle her problems like a responsible adult?

>>37529321
>>37529369
changing my vote to.

> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

>From there, you sedately take the stairs down, and approach the returning group like a normal person.
Good. We are leaning. Growing. Evolving...

>>37529321
>> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."
Unless someone wants to make an argument for going to bed, learning what happened with the iffy elves is pretty important.

I just checked the thread where we were talking with Victor. It looked like no one really picked up what he said as important. I didn't. We might wan't to look into whoever Victor is making promises to...

>>37529321
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

>>37529321
>"All right. Good night."
It'll be something boring anyway.

>>37529422
To people who can help get him the woman of his dreams. Even.. if it means breaking her mind a bit... SHE LOVES HIM REALLY! ITS OKAY!

>>37529321
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

>>37529321
> "All right. Good night."

>>37529321
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

>>37529321
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds

Um, why the hell are people voting for sleep? This is cleary important."

>>37529513
Tired. So tired.

>>37529513
Sleep.

It's been a while since I indulged my unreasonable paranoia which I tend to silence, so here goes:
They've ALL been brainwashed by the elves at the party.

>>37529321
> "All right. Good night."

No! NO! We've sacrificed sleep enough. Screw your secrets!

>>37529513
They are all so tired IRL they voted for the first thing that came to mind.

>>37529552
Victor is the mastermind, he has been playing us all for fools the whole time.

>>37529321
>> "All right. Good night."

>>37529513
As far as I am curious, I'd rather observe protocol.
It's not like we can't ask Clarissa, or hell, William later.
William which sounds surprisingly more and more like a real bro.

>>37529513
Because they either "Don't want to impose," or they're idiots.

>>37529321
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

>>37529321
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

They are too dedicated to maintaining formality

>>37529585
>we can just ask someone
That's why we are invited to a debriefing anon.

Alternatively, we're going to find out anyway per Sir WIlliam's comment and since nothing is on fire or trying to murder us it can probably wait.

>>37529625
But we weren't invited.

>>37529321
> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

>>37529649
William didn't say that we were invited straight out, but he implied it. I don't feel strongly either way myself.

When are we going to lay our eggs?

>anything to do with the palace or your TRAINING

Nothing about it not having something to do with Nicole herself.

Spooky!

>>37529778
I don't know.. when do dragons gestate?

>>37529788
Is she not part of the palace?

>>37529321
>> "I'd like to attend this briefing, if nobody minds."

>>37529789
Well spider eggs can take from days to a month or two, but I'm not sure what flavor of spider we are.

>>37529821
Bigger creatures take longer. Given the size it should take up to a year.

>>37529813
She's an individual vampire dragon demon! Have some respect.

Seriously though, I think William said it like that on purpose. Normal person would just say "or with you" if it had nothing to do with the person.

>>37529839
Of course he chose the word intentionally. It implies that it's something a knight of Alvar should definitely be briefed about, not that it's about Nicole. Not everything is, you know.

>>37529836
>up to a year to see our 100% human children hatch
What a life.

>>37529906
As if it would be that easy. Unfertilized eggs don't hatch, anon.

>>37530040
But we've held a few peoples hands. Clearly that's enough for a genetic transfer.

>>37530224
I don't think it was enough. Maybe we need to sneak into bed with Clarissa more.

>>37530282
We've hugged her.. I don't think it can escalate past that.

>>37530302
Yes, but only once. You need to keep trying to be sure.

>>37530316
Well she seems particularly frustrated at the moment. Perhaps when we're refused entry to the meeting we should hug her before we go on our way..

You really do not know why you insist on doing this to yourself. Curiosity should only go so far, and yet you find yourself succumbing to its lure time and again.

"I'd like to attend this briefing," you say diffidently. "If nobody minds."

William looks at Clarissa. Clarissa looks at the Duke. The Duke looks at you. You don't think it will be helpful to complete the circle and look at William.

Finally, the Duke makes a decision. He hands a thick bundle of envelopes to one of the men at his side, who you eventually recognize as one of Anders's clerks by process of elimination. "Give these to Anders," he instructs. "Mail from home, such as it is."

You imagine this correspondence is more important than mere mail, to be delivered via a high-ranking elf politician during an emergency midnight meeting.

"Guards, dismissed," the Duke continues. "The rest of you, to the conference room." He nods to you. "That includes you, Nicole."

Thus ordered, you fall in line. You console yourself with the knowledge that the Duke is likely just as tired as you are, and will keep this briefing short enough that you can learn what you will, and still get something like half a night's rest out of it.

The conference room on the ground floor is duly populated; lamps are lit and chairs are arranged. The Duke opts to sit at the head of the conference table, and William sits to his right, on the basis that it is the closest. Anders's remaining clerk takes the seat to the Duke's left, and produces a notebook and a pencil, clearly assigning himself the role of secretary and stenographer. You sit beside William, and Clarissa takes the last seat.

The Duke is silent for a few seconds, collecting himself. "William," he says, "what did you think about Tarngen's statements?"

William spreads his hands. "He obviously prepared his speech well in advance. In true elf fashion, though, he said a lot, but told us very little."

>[1/2]

"The warning was clear enough, though," Clarissa says. "What I do not understand is why they would come all this way to give it to us."

"It might just be a way for Esteria to put one up over Crystal Vale," the Duke suggests.

"That is not what I meant, your Grace. Why Alvar? What have we to offer that would engender such interest in our affairs?"

"There is Anders," William murmurs.

"We will leave Anders out of this," the Duke says firmly. "He has his own arrangements. And even if he infuriates me at times, I do not doubt his loyalty." The Duke stands, and begins pacing in a small circle around the room. "We are already aware that Crystal Vale has plans in Alvar, for some reason. High Councillor Tarngren appeared to know what, or at the least suspect it. He could speak his warning in plain language, but does not. Does anyone have any suggestions why?"

You are beginning to wonder if you have any role in these proceedings.

> Remain silent
> "What was the warning?"
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."
> Quietly excuse yourself and go back to your room

>>37530435
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

>>37530435
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."
What's an esterian?

>>37530435
> "What was the warning?"
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

>>37530435
> "What was the warning?"
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

Do any of you know what an Esterian is?

Esterian is an elf of some sort as I recall. A faction of them like Crystal Vale?

Can we please stop throwing our elf friends under the bus now?

>>37530435
>"What was the warning?"

>>37530435
> Remain silent
I'm sure all things will be explained in due time

>>37530471
Esteria is an elf nation. Anders is an Esterian and Elise and Lilly may be as well. I don't know if we actually know where they're from.

>>37530435
> Remain silent

>>37530435
>Remain silent

>>37530435
> "What was the warning?"

>>37530435
> Remain silent
They'll ask if they want our opinion.

>>37530435
>> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

>>37530435
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

>>37530435
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

>>37530435
> Remain silent

>>37530435
>> Remain silent

>>37530435
> Remain silent

>>37530435
> "What was the warning?"
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

>>37530435
> "What was the warning?"
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

Hotly contested vote is hotly contested. And likely rife with samefagging

>>37530435
>> Remain silent
>> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

>>37531195
Doesn't "remain silent" conflict with the other options dear anon?

>>37530435
> Remain silent

>>37531126
I didn't even vote since I don't see a point in this one.

>>37530435
> "What was the warning?"
> "Sir, if I may? Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

>>37531216
Just trying to find the middle ground.

>>37531389
Pick a side you filthy neutral.

Pick a side that doesn't point the Duke at anyone we like until there's reason and cause to be suspicious of someone. Randomly offering up the other elves in the place when we have no idea what the warning was or how it related to elves is silly.

>>37531519
I thought it implied we were the elf..

>>37531566
Nicole is human. 100% human.

>>37531588
110%

>>37531599
110% implies that we are more than human, which is obviously not the case. We are just an ordinary 100% human, nothing to see here.

>>37531804
98.2% Human.

The rest is cat.

>>37531898
>The rest is cat.
Only for William. Don't tell Kathrine.

>>37531930
No, it's the reason why we like high places and leaping over walls. William is just the only one who has caught on.

>>37531966
Because cats are his favourite animal! It all makes sense now!
New OTP aquired.

>>37531989
We're a cat, we're required to only like him on occasion and when it suits us. No OTP for him.

In other circumstances, you'd rather not drag in one of your few and precious friends in the palace, especially someone who has taken your reticience to discuss your past in stride.

But Lily had been acting oddly ever since you've first met her, which you had excused due to your own avoidance of matters of personal history. Anders seemed to think that Lily was simultaneously someone to be questioned whenever something strange happened in the palace, and yet was most definitely not directly involved.

"Sir, if I may?" You wait for the Duke to grant permission with a nod before continuing. "Anders is not the only Esterian in the palace."

Clarissa blinks. "Oh, yes. Lily, the maid."

"Is another of Anders's arrangements," the Duke says crisply. "Your concerns are noted, Nicole. But Anders has made it very clear to me that Lily is a maid and nothing more. Whether or not we believe him, I don't think there is any benefit in clumsily interrogating her. I would rather not have my palace and my city gain a reputation for harrassment against elves."

At least Clarissa looks as unenlightened as you are.

"Which does bring up a good point," William says. "If nothing else, we should tell our own resident elves about this. I mean, Anders probably already knows about all this Esterian stuff, since he's, well, Anders. But Elise might want to know if Crystal Vale really is trying to interfere with the Langstrand Agreement, like Tarngren implied."

The Duke sighs. "Elise came to Alvar to get away from Crystal Vale politics," he says. "I do not believe she will be pleased to be reminded of it again. Nevertheless, if it would ease your worries, I will talk to her about it, when I have the time."

"Over coffee?" William suggests.

"Don't push it, William."

You timidly raise a hand.

"Yes, Nicole?" the Duke says kindly.

"What is the Langstrand Agreement?"

>[1/3]

A brief round of embarrassed clearing of throats go around the room, except for yourself and the ever-sanguine Barnes, still industriously writing down the proceedings.

"The Langstrand Agreement is a sort of treaty," the Duke explains. "In the event of a war in the seven kingdoms of the Old Empire, the royal families are to be spirited away to various cities, to keep the lines of succession intact. It is an update of an older treaty, which assumed that the Empire would have fallen in a war against the elven nations." He grimaces. "We've known for some time that the elven nations discovered the nature of this Agreement, but we've always had the polite fiction that it should not be mentioned at the negotiating table."

"The capitals of each of the seven kingdoms were deemed too risky to be a safe sanctuary, should the conflict spread across nations," Clarissa says. "Therefore, Alvar was chosen as the destination for our neighbours. Whiteford and Amberin."

"Amberin is quite stable, and will remain stable until the sun burns out," the Duke says. "Which leaves, er."

Clarissa nods in resignation. "Yes, your Grace. I do not know what troubles plague Whiteford politics, but it does seem the most likely candidate for an upheaval."

Which also implies an explanation for the whole business with the nightmare spell, targeting the Knight Captain from Whiteford, in order to mentally subvert her.

The Duke places his hands on the table. "We will continue this when we have further information. In the meantime, keep an eye out for any trouble. Clarissa, Nicole, be on your guard when we go to Whiteford, and take note of anything that might be a threat to their royal family. We do not want a Whitefordian version of our own Pretender's Revolt."

During which the Duke had lost his wife, you recall from Roderick's reminiscences. The Duke's voice is steady, with little discernable trace of anger or pain. Maybe the long years had dulled that edge.

>[2/3]

>>37532034
Nekole would mark him as her territory, we'd be playing a yandere AND tsundere catgirl from then on.

The others stand, and file out of the room. You hesitate, when you see Clarissa remaining behind.

"Go on ahead, Nicole," Clarissa says. "I just have something I would like to speak with his Grace about."

The Duke looks as surprised about this as you are. "Can it wait, Clarissa? I really would like to get to bed sometime before sunrise."

"It will just take a moment, your Grace," Clarissa insists.

> Leave and go back to your room
> Exit, but linger outside the door to eavesdrop

>>37532109
> Leave and go back to your room

>>37532109
>> Exit, but linger outside the door to eavesdrop
> Exit, but linger outside the door to eavesdrop

Stealthy and Nosy.

>>37532109
>Leave and go back to your room

Sleep time?

>>37532109
> Leave and go back to your room

>>37532109
>> Leave and go back to your room

>>37532100
> Exit, but linger outside the door to eavesdrop

>>37532109
> Exit, but linger outside the door to eavesdrop

Go ahead. Very slowly. One footstep per minute.

>>37532109
>Leave and go back to your room

>>37532109
> Exit, but linger outside the door to eavesdrop

>>37532109
> Leave and go back to your room

>>37532109
> Leave and go back to your room.

>>37532109
>> Leave and go back to your room

>>37532109
>> Leave and go back to your room
No trabble pls

>>37532140
seconded

Playing this is infuriating sometimes...

Well I for one was wanting to find out what happened that was about us. And now it looks like the Duke carefully did not say it and the only way we would find out is to listen in on our dear commander again.

>>37532377
LOL NO!

>>37532355
Because you want to eavesdrop?

>>37532377
Me too. I do not understand the refusal to learn anything from anyone in this thread.

>>37532415
I don't want to risk being caught listening in on one of the Dukes private conversations, a bit bummed people didn't want to chat with Anders though...

>>37532402
>>37532401
Spying just a tad won't do any harm unless we are caught. And we are a really curious little elf.

>>37532415
>>37532377
My thoughts are getting caught vs learning something a little earlier. Seeing as how we need to keep building trust, that was my reasoning.

Your usual instinct is to eavesdrop from outside, but you have been around Clarissa long enough to begin feeling slightly uneasy when you consider listening in on her private conversations. You're not entirely sure why, but you do wonder on occasion if this might be part of what constitutes respect between friends.

It is a strange, unfamiliar sensation.

In any case, you have delayed your sleep for long enough. You should have been in bed quite some time ago, if it hadn't been for all these interruptions. At least now you can get a final few hours of sleep, before you have to face the next day, and the days beyond.

You return to your room, divest yourself of hard objects in your pockets, and collapse back onto your bed. Changing into your nightgown seems pointless at this stage, but your current clothes are comfortable enough to sleep in.

True to her word, Clarissa arrives only a few minutes after you do. You can hear the rustle of her changing clothes, as well as a sigh of relief at a day finally over.

You don't think you have any other obligations to handle in the next few days. It may finally be time to take it easy.

> And nothing of import happened until the trip to Whiteford (timeskip)
> There was that one incident...

>>37532461
That's a desicion based on OOC knowledge, you're a shit roleplayer.

>>37532415
>>37532377
It might be all for naught if we learn the answers and end up too sleepy to learn the social protocols and get pulled aside at Whiteford.

>http://pastebin.com/LdHUR3xy
>Alvar's newest, strangest squire
Damn it Captain, it's Knight-Apprentice.

>>37532461
But we're very good at sneaking. We have a decent chance at not getting caught but who knows how long it will take us to learn the information Clarissa has if we don't do it now?

>>37532480
>There was that one incident...
Shopping trip with Marianne..?

Nah, I'll vote for:
> And nothing of import happened until the trip to Whiteford (timeskip)

>>37532488
How the hell is that OOC knowledge?

We know that we're still the new person around and need people to trust us more. We're constantly worried about how people will see our actions.

>>37532513
Don't know, but I do know the last time we tried we got caught.

>>37532480
>There was that one incident...
There is ALWAYS "that one incident"

Maybe this one is with Katherine and involves kittens. Or involves Simone knowing some very interesting tidbits about the elf magic shenanigans.

>>37532480
> There was that one incident...

>damp asks for a roll to listen i,
>20
>No one is surprised

Damn, it's too late. Ahh well. Vote was one sided anyway.

>>37532480
>There was that one incident...
Sorry Damp, but I'm really curious what you got.

And that is most definitely it for me today. It is very late and I am very tired.

Hence the timeskip option. I really do not think I can come up with interesting days all the way until then, so I'll leave it to players to decide what to pursue.

Timeskip also does not mean nothing happens, since I'm willing to summarize whatever non-important progress we may have made.

Anyway, no idea when the next thread will be as usual, apart from a vague "end of the month" or possibly "after the beginning of next month". As mentioned, I'm not sure how long I can sustain this, so it's probably going to be more slow threads for the foreseeable future. Apologies.

Thanks for joining me on the quest.

>>37532480
>There was that one incident...
Yay, stuff.

>>37532480
> There was that one incident...
Victor we need to warn them that Victor new about the whole mind control shit.

>>37532480
> There was that one incident..
What happened to shopping with Marianne?

>>37532480
> There was that one incident...
No way we can resist that.

>>37532566
Thanks for running, it was a lot of fun

>>37532480
>Timeskip
So what are we going to do about Victor knowing things/people he shouldn't?

Thanks for the thread Damp.

>>37532566
>There was that one incident...

I can't help but want to push the red button...

Final note: "Something happened" is technically a write-in, although I do have a (slice of life) idea as a default.

>>37532566
I was beginning to wonder why you were up past 5 in the morning.

>>37532660
Slice of life is a good default.

>>37532480
>> And nothing of import happened until the trip to Whiteford (timeskip)

>>37532660
I could always go for more SOL.

>>37532480
>There was that one incident...
Let's hope for something fun before the mire that will be Whoteford.

>>37532566
Thanks for the thread.
And as for Victor, unless we want to interrogate him only to find out something silly we didn't think of we should leave it be. Soon we'll be following the captain happily around and doing training just like we use to. And Elise will act normalish again. And William will shape up.

>>37532566
Thanks for running. Take a break if you need to.
>>37532660
Slice of life is good.

We missed our chance anyway. I don't think he's coming to Whiteford.

>>37532660
>>37532480
I would love to talk a bit more to some people:

- Sister Simone: we're worried about our Captain who has a secret she won't tell us. We would like to show the Duke we have learnt our Whiteford politics. Listen to her speach about her faith.

- Marianne: hang out with her. WHO IS THE GOLDEN ? Say hello to the Finn and his cook.

- The librarian: is the scarf with kitten knitting doing well ?

- Elise and Victor shenanigans doing magic. Victor would be proud to show to us that he is good with magic. Tell Clarissa how good at magic Victor is.

- Lily: support when she is aware of new Elvens political issues. Her opinion about Victor's cooking, VictorxClarissa, Williamxlibrarian...

Less action, more interaction
My 2 cents.

>>37533061
Totally agree. I'd love to just have some plain old chats with more people.

>>37533061
I'd like all of these

>>37533061
More interactions sounds awesome.

I'd especially like a few more of strange feelings Nicole has for the captain now. Like basic respect for her privacy.

>>37533288
Yes. And a need to hug her.

>>37533325
The whole snowball started rolling all because of a hug in the night. The butterfly effect takes no prisoners.

>>37533325
>>37533360

Poor Nicole just won't understand.

"Why do I feel the need to squeeze the captain when she looks sad?"

>>37533288
>I'd especially like a few more of strange feelings Nicole has for the captain now.
You disgust me

File: 1351476017334.jpg (70 KB, 537x616)

70 KB JPG

>>37533565