You end up in the library more often than not, immersed in further study. The library feels almost insulated from the rest of the palace, and the peaceful silence is quite relaxing. Since you returned the volume on Whiteford's nobility on time, Katherine's interest in you is limited to making sure that you do not harm her precious books. She does seem to be spending more time than absolutely necessary with her current knitting project, viz a sky-blue scarf with a kitten motif. You look forward to seeing how she decides to present it to William.

Clarissa spends most of her time in her office, happily running her borrowed clerk into the ground as she arranges her work in as much order as she can before she leaves for Whiteford. At your quiet insistence, she does take the time to eat and sleep before throwing herself back into her work. Conversations are restricted to the evenings before bed, where Clarissa muses aloud about checking and re-checking the palace guard rotation schedules or other such administrative trivia, before embarking on a decision of her own. No input on your part is apparently necessary.

She does not speak much about going home to Whiteford. You are still not sure if you should bring up the subject.

Elise remains holed up in her tower, performing assorted experiments and tests on the tasks you set for her: constructing a reliable detector to identify the hostile nightmare spellcaster, as well as determining the properties and origin of a plain gold ring that might have been a magical focus for a shadow familiar. In his rapidly depleting free time, Victor helps Elise with the latter. You don't see very much of them, these past few days. Given Elise's increasingly crabby mood when she turns up sleepless and hollow-eyed in the kitchens to cadge snacks, you prefer to leave her be for now. The lack of a negative report does confirm your initial hunch that the gold ring is far from mundane.

>[2/4]

You do worry about Victor, however. He is visibly tired out by the added strain of helping Elise with her research, on top of his usual classroom schedule. Even his obvious crush on Clarissa is muted, during her lessons. You're not sure if Clarissa has noticed this; she never reacts to Victor's usual puppy-like attentions anyway. The Duke seems too pre-occupied with matters of state to notice his son's weariness, and for some reason Victor has not made any complaints.

Your time at the City Watch has been curtailed for the time being. Marianne has been temporarily assigned to one of the outlying towns as part of a work experience programme, which should not have come as much of a surprise if she had remembered to appraise you of that little complication in her schedule. As it was, you only learned of this when you arrived at the Southgate Watch House one day just as she was departing. The resultant scene had been mildly embarrassing on your part, since Marianne had apologized rather more profusely than the mistaken omission really deserved. When you could finally get a word in edge-wise, you wished her well in her training, and saw her off with a suitably friendly wave.

Still, it is slated to last only for a week, and the improbably-named town of Second Paddy is quite close to the city; a day's steady walk, or a few hours on horseback. While Marianne would only return to Alvar a day after your departure to Whiteford, you could visit her any time you pleased, if you so chose.

Which brings you to today, as you lurk uncertainly near the palace stables, making sure to stay upwind.

>[3/4]

Part of your training had involved learning how to ride a horse. On your journey to Alvar, you had hitched your fair share of rides from accomodating travellers with convenient carts heading in the same general direction. The horses and oxen pulling those carts had not reacted to you in any remarkable manner, unlike smaller domesticated animals like cats and dogs.

You've never had a chance to ride on one before, though. Your alleged background of a rural bumpkin from a tiny fishing village handily explains your utter lack of familiarity with equestrian pursuits, but you have the vague impression that horses are essential to the concept of knighthood in some way. Something about white chargers and gleaming barding, which is a compelling image.

The storybooks never mentioned the smell, though.

You eye your assigned horse warily. The horse appears entirely uninterested in your presence, choosing to concentrate its attention on its feed instead.

This will be your first solo attempt to ride a horse, if you decide to go through with it. Today being a rest day, William is nowhere to be found, as are most of the staff. Clarissa is still in her office dealing with whatever work she can conjure up for herself; you get the feeling she enjoys it.

In the riding lessons thus far, you had managed to stay on the horse, and guide it with some small level of success. The experience could not be said to be pleasant for either you or the horse, but at least you are in no danger of falling off.

This should be enough to allow you to venture outside the city, if you're not in any particular hurry. You don't think you quite dare go any faster than a trot.

> Go see what Grunmarl is like
> Visit Marianne at Second Paddy
> Forget the horse, just stay in the palace for today
> Forget the horse, go out into the city

>>37697674
> Go see what Grunmarl is like

>>37697674
> Go see what Grunmarl is like

>>37697674
>> Go see what Grunmarl is like

>>37697674
> Go see what Grunmarl is like
Might as well hop on the bandwagon.

>>37697674
>Visit Marianne at Second Paddy

>>37697674
> Visit Marianne at Second Paddy

>>37697674
> Go see what Grunmarl is like
See you on the morning side folks.

>Clarissa spends most of her time in her office, happily running her borrowed clerk into the ground as she arranges her work in as much order as she can before she leaves for Whiteford.
>Clarissa is still in her office dealing with whatever work she can conjure up for herself; you get the feeling she enjoys it.

I sometimes wonder if Nicole isn't somehow enabling Clarissa. That or KCQ fags are trying to remain on top of everything because of shadowruns.

>>37697674
> Forget the horse, go out into the city

>>37697674
>Go see what Grunmarl is like
but whatever we find there, it'll have to wait until AFTER Whiteford.

>>37697674
> Go see what Grunmarl is like

>Lessons Quest
Oh boy the best time is here!

>>37697674
> Go see what Grunmarl is like

I'd really like to spend more time with Clarissa - or Lily, I guess - but becoming a professional rider is important too.

>>37697876
Maybe we can take lily with us?

I imagine the reason for Clarissa not interacting much with Nicole over the timeskip to be anti-Claricole shippers samefagging the end of thread vote for Knight Captain Quest.

>>37697810
>That or KCQ fags are trying to remain on top of everything because of shadowruns.

>Lots of weird stuff going on these days, we need to catch that damn ork in the act
>We should have rolled better on enlisting a town watch captain.
>THE ELVES ARE GOING TO INVADE ANY DAY NOW! WE NEED TO ENLIST ALLIES!
>Victor has been acting strange for about a year now. Anyone think...
>...Na...
>TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE KNIFE EARS!
>How about we just have Nicole assassinate the bad dreams guys?
>Where is DOC. anon? We need to find paperwork errors to grind dat EXP.
>Powerleveling idiots pls go. We can't grind paperwork for exp the entire fucking story.
>A storm is coming. Smells like undead.
>Elise best girl. New blood pls go
>Oah boy I sure love paperwork.
>WHAT IF NICOLE IS A ELF GUYS!?

File: mmmn.gif (457 KB, 360x480)

457 KB GIF

>>37697903
DOC?

>captcha: street tlabin
STREET TALIBAN! ITS THE STREET TALIBAN THAT ARE BEHIND EVERYTHING

>>37697903
Meanwhile Nicole is unknowingly setting herself, Clarissa, Victor and Elise up for on hell of an open relationship, which she will only realize when she wakes up naked in bed with them all.

>>37697903
>grind paperwork for exp

>>37697895
To Grunmarl? I guess it could be nice but she's pretty busy and it would be an odd request for us to have her go with us to a place that has ancient traps that were just activated.

Also I don't really trust Lily. At all.

>>37697903
>WHAT IF NICOLE IS A ELF GUYS!?
That makes no sense! She doesn't even have elf ears. I've been telling you guys all along that the reason Nicole acts the way she does is because of sexual trauma in her childhood. We've got to help her through it with our loving embrace, strict training and a healthy dose of paperwork.

>>37697957
>trauma of any kind
>clearly the solution is paperwork
Is paperwork some kind of zen activity when you get really, really good at it?

>>37697957
It should also be noted that elves don't lay eggs like nicoles do.

>>37697967
I know dishwashing is.

>>37697967
No he's just a powergamer trying to get more exp.

>>37697952
Unfortunately they just spend the exp on cleanliness and paperwork.

>>37697982
What else would you spend it on...?

>>37698002
Delicious brown assassin lolis~

>>37697921
>DOC
Like word documents.

I'm starting to think Victor was the mind controlled one all along.
Via street Taliban.
Because the Duke oppresses true love

>>37698010
But we get that for free!

>>37698022
All the nightmares are an attempt to break Clarissa from her Street Taliban brainwashing.

>>37698038
That's what you think! Why do you think it took us so long to get that paperwork assistant perk to increase our exp gain?

Grunmarl should be a small adventure. You've never been there yourself, and the mysterious pre-Empire ruins which had been of surprising relevance to recent events had turned out to be unexpectedly well-explored, after you found the time to borrow a map of the surrounding countryside from the library.

The name refers to both the ancient city that was at least equal to Alvar in size, if not larger in its day, as well as the smaller township nearby that officially holds the name of Digger's Rest. Grunmarl's mystery stems largely from the sheer passage of time; studies speculate that the city had slowly been abandoned after the river that fed it dried up, having been diverted via natural processes into two branches, one of them being the river Varin that runs through Alvar. Most of the inhabitants migrated eastward to settle around the area, and the largest group founded the city now known as Gracewell, the capital of Wellsbet.

Few had ventured west. Grunmarl stands at the western edge of present-day Wellsbet, with only the Mistwoods beyond, and the elf nation of Ayrich. Ayrich had not existed prior to the Old Empire, which raises certain questions scholars today are still arguing about.

The roads between Alvar and Digger's Rest are well-travelled and relatively safe. Archaeologists and their assistants do want to spend time in the big city occasionally on their days off, after all.

You gingerly set out via the rear stable entrance of the palace, leading your horse a short distance to the city's northeastern gate. Since this is not precisely an official visit, you are wearing your everyday comfortable clothes, and no sword. You still have your daggers and darts about your person, though; no reason to be unprepared.

>[1/2]

The city guards on duty give you no more than a bored glance as you pass. You don't recognize any of them, and you instinctively reach up to pull your hood over your head, before remembering that as a knight-apprentice of Alvar, you are allowed to be here.

Out of the city limits, you hoist yourself up onto the horse with only a minimum of wobbling. The horse is not so much placid as somnolent, and it takes a while to convince it to start moving.

It will be a few hours to Grunmarl at this pace. You are not confident enough in your horsemanship to go very much faster, but you ease into a slightly quicker trot. William had drilled you in the proper seating, so as not to be bounced all around by the horse's movements. You find that it helps, but not quite enough.

The weather is clear and bright, in a change from the rain and storms of a few days past. There is a faint touch of winter approaching in the air, however.

You spend your time enjoying the scenery, which quickly turns into boredom. Most of the trees in this area had been cut down and cleared away to make room for farmland, and there is only so much wheat you can see before one field looks much the same as another.

The monotony is finally interrupted after an interminable hour or so by the sight of a group of people on horseback, riding the other way towards Alvar. The lead rider is an unassuming young man, far less interesting than the large shield on his back and the dangerous-looking mace at his side.

He smiles when he spots you, and waves. You have no idea who he is, but he obviously seems to know you.

> Wave back
> Ride up to him to greet him
> Ignore him and ride on

>>37698076
>Ride up to him to greet him

>37698076
> Ride up to him to greet him

Yay, new people!

>>37698076
> Ride up to him to greet him

Could this be the third Knight who's name I forget?

>>37698076
> Wave back

>>37698076
>Wave back

>>37698076
> Wave back
No need to get too friendly with these potential strangers

>>37698095
Oh yeah. Totally forgot about that guy.

>>37698076
> Wave back

HIGHWAYMEN!

>thred ded

So how about those Knight Captain Quest shenanigans, eh?

I was not expecting the level of shitstorm from that one anons lewdbin of Clarise

>>37698076
>Wave back
Raider? If I remember correctly there is very little crime in the duchy, but there are raiding parties from across borders. I think we are too close to the city though. Maybe just a normal guy.

>>37698354
Thread's not dead, everyone's just waiting for the update

>>37698376
Yep.

>>37698376
Without spamming it with theories for once, I'm proud of you guys!

>>37698354
>Thread dead
Staying awake to study for a morning test in two hours myself. Though it's not like we need discussion for the sake of it. It's fun though.

>lewdbin of Clarise
Is this a real thing?

>>37698383
Well now that you've brought it up, I have reason to believe that Nicole is actually a dog-girl

>>37698396
>no cat

Jesus christ, Anon

>>37698418
Would a cat be upset with someone calling them a cat? I don't think so, but a dog definitely would.

>>37698383
Theory spam is the best part, but I feel discussion on the subject of Nicole's origin has grown quite stale without any major breakthroughs.

>>37698354
I'm fine with lurking and eating up that delicious prose, but for those of you who didn't pick up on it, when our favorite captain woke us up after our night on the town with the dress on and William was there, she brought William in to fluster us to better get answers to her questions. Or at least that's what was implied in the paste.

And Damp always posting "You feel like you're forgetting something" is absolutely killing me.

The polite thing to do is probably to wave back. Maybe the inhabitants of this realm are friendly to strangers by nature, which is something you will have to get used to, like Elise's spontaneous hugs.

This appears to satisfy the man, and he rides on past you, content that the formalities of introduction have been observed. "Good morning, Nicole," he says, as he passes.

"Good morning," you reply uncertainly. He knows you by name, but you're pretty sure you've never met him before. Some deduction may be in order here: he is armed in a way that implies he knows how to use the weaponry he wields. He is coming from the direction of Grunmarl, which has very few settlements large enough to warrant such a large shield and much-used mace. His accent is native Wellsbet, and very much so; not even the Duke sounds as local. Therefore, he probably didn't come from Ayrich. It may be safe to assume that his point of departure is Grunmarl, or at least Digger's Rest.

Since this man knows your name, he must be a member of the Alvar palace staff, or receiving frequent communications from there, and thus would have heard of you by reputation, if not by sight. A comfortably-armed man on the Alvar palace staff who spends much time at Grunmarl would be enough clues about his identity.

"Good morning, Donovan," you repeat, slightly more confidently.

The third knight of Alvar just nods cheerfully as he continues on. The handful of young men and women around him stare at you with some interest, before returning their attention to the road. Judging from the bulging packs of scrolls and books, you would guess them to be students or assistants.

>[1/2]

You ponder this chance meeting as you proceed along the road to Grunmarl. Donovan does not seem like the dour defender of the Grunmarl dig site you had imagined, based on dimly-heard reports about the occasional goblin attack or elf marauders. In hindsight, it should have been obvious that Grunmarl is not under a state of seige, given the free traffic between it and Alvar. Which does make it odd that a knight has to be assigned there on a near-permanent basis, out of the very limited numbers available.

Something to ask him later, if he is still at the palace by the time you return.

Little else of note happens on the rest of the journey. You do have to shunt your horse to the side of the road at one point to make way for a much quicker one, rushing by on a fast canter. You recognize the rider's uniform of a courier of the Wellsbet Royal Mail, likely ferrying messages and letters between Alvar and Grunmarl, as well as assorted settlements on the way. Another routine delivery, come snow or rain or heat or gloom of night.

The town of Digger's Rest eventually comes into view. From the terrain, they would likely have seen you long before you saw them, assuming you were taking the roads. The fields on either side were mostly scrub, although some effort had been made to beautify the immediate surroundings by planting some flower bushes, now largely bare with the end of autumn.

David is patiently waiting for you as you arrive. You dismount with care, feeling minutely proud of yourself for not tangling your foot in the stirrups or some such clumsiness.

"Good morning, Nicole," David says. "Welcome to Grunmarl. What brings you here?"

> "Just a social visit, Professor."
> "I'd like to know if you've made any progress with your research on the cube patterns."
> "Wasn't there a big problem in the ruins with some ancient security system activating?"

If the Captain gets exp for grinding paperwork, why don't we get exp for making up ridiculous stories?

>>37698472
> "Just a social visit, Professor."

AFK an hour or so for dinner.

>>37698472
> "Wasn't there a big problem in the ruins with some ancient security system activating?"

>>37698472
>Been hearing so much about the Grunmarl digsite that I thought it was finally time to give it a visit
>Would it be possible to get a tour?

>>37698472
>> "I'd like to know if you've made any progress with your research on the cube patterns."

>social visit
Hah, it's like Nicole wants to visit her dead relatives.

>>37697674
>Damp didn't ask for a roll for horse ridding
You messed up

>>37698461
>Maybe the inhabitants of this realm
>This Realm
Catgirl Realm?

>>37698472
>Just a social visit, Professor."
but
>Wasn't there a big problem in the ruins with some ancient security system activating?

>>37698521
Seconding.
>You dismount with care, feeling minutely proud of yourself for not tangling your foot in the stirrups or some such clumsiness.
Nicole is so cute.
>>37698479
Because we're a knight-apprentice, not a bard.

>>37698472
> "Just a social visit, Professor."

>>37698472
Wait fuck forgot to link
>>37698559

>>37698386
>Is this a real thing?
Sadly, no. It's a fictional bit of fanfiction that Dry has gone on record about saying "As interesting as they are, I'm afraid they don't even get me damp."

Now maybe some writefag will actually make a lewdpaste but who knows.

>>37698461
Nicole confirmed for Sherlock Holmes.

>>37698472
> "Just a social visit, Professor."

>>37698455
>And Damp always posting "You feel like you're forgetting something" is absolutely killing me.

Is it killing you because you know what it is that we're forgetting or that watching someone experience the feeling of forgetting something possibly important is dangerous to your health?

>>37698583
>don't even get me damp
Hehe.

>>37698596
I went back and re-read the quest while I was crossing an ocean and found what I was looking for, and wrote it in a paste app. Then a few days later my tablet died. So it's killing me physically and is dangerous to me health yeah.

It wasn't that important or revealing , just interesting.

>>37698644
I'm not sure if I'm hoping that you tell us what it is before it kills you or dreading that it kills you before you tell us.

Also, no wonder you're tablet died. Swimming through that much saltwater with any sort of device is going to cause some sort of problem.

>>37698559
How about getting exp for lowering our suspicion gauge?

>>37698724
But every damn thing we do is suspicious. Even eating was suspicious, way back when, since we ate so little.

File: 1335578964167.gif (624 KB, 175x263)

624 KB GIF

>>37698696
It's easier when you're a skeleton. Like Nicole.

>>37698745
Anon, even Nicole sleeping is suspicious.

>>37698751
It's obvious she's a dullahan. The head is just an illusion.

File: #YODO.jpg (140 KB, 695x671)

140 KB JPG

>>37698751
>skeleton

3skoopy5me

>>37698745
Well we just waved and greeted a person , that's a normal human activity isn't it?
You need to work for those class ups anon. 100% to 150% human of course.

>>37698783
We are going to be SO human we'll out-human the shit of those snobby humans.

>>37698783
Yeah, but we greeted him twice. That's at least a little suspicious.

>>37698793
We'll be Super Human!

>>37698805
I'm worried that will just add points to the suspicion gauge anon...

>>37698814
Speaking of which, what do you guys think the suspicion gauge is at the moment? Say, scale from 1 to 100. It's gotta be high 20's by now, at least.

>>37698839
-3, we are pulling off this 'human' thing very well.

>>37698839
700%

>>37698839
Hard to say. For all we know someone around here knows exactly what we are.

>>37698839
I'd say we're pretty fucking suspicious to the more observant members of the Palace, but that doesn't mean people don't like/trust Nicole

>>37698839
15
>"Oah, Nicole? Yeah, she lives here now. She scares me a bit, but at least she's human."

>>37698839
I have a feeling Anders hasn't actually met us in his long life as much as he has read about us and his magical affinity just makes him think we're familiar. Or something. Spooky?

>>37698862
That's what I was thinking. It;s pretty clear that we're hiding something, but we haven't really done anything too out of place yet. I think.

Have you ever considered composing the collection of the quest into a PDF?

We have to look at the individual suspicioun gauges for each character. Personally I think they should be something along the lines of:

Clarissa: 50/100

William: 40/100

Elise: 10/100

Lily: 20/100

Simone: 20/100

Anders: 60/100

The Duke: 30/100

Victor: -50/100

Kathrine: 5/100

Orc: 10/100

Marianne: 0/100

>>37698914
>Clarissa
Waaaay the fuck too high, she trusts us, she might be wary of us or a little concerned about our past and history, but she trusts us.

>>37698914
>Orc:

plz no bully Roderick ;~;

>>37698926
She trusts us, but she can still be suspucious

>>37698914
>Victor: -50/100
heh

Simone is probably higher considering she is the mastermind behind all this and summoned us in the first place.

>>37698928
I can barely keep track of all these names

>>37698914
>Simone: 20/100
I would say 40/100, but she's less likely to act on her suspicions.

>Victor
Maybe he'll get a clue once it's his job to get a clue.

>Katherine
There are only three things: Librarians, Not Librarians, and William.

>>37698914
I reckon you've gone too high for some of them. I doubt Clarissa, William, or Anders would have it that high, at least without acting on their suspicions.

>>37698946
You mean W-w-william.

>>37698948
I figure the 100 would represent the specific level of suspicion for each person where they would take action.
Negatives mean even even if they found out they wouldn't mind
-100 means forbidden love

>>37698940
>>37698946
Yeah, Simone should probably be higher.

>>37698948
You may be right in bumping them down, but do you at least agree with the general level of suspicion relative to each other for those three?

>>37698966
Yeah, I think everything else is about right.

>>37698966
>>37698972
Relative suspicion levels included. Forgot to add that.

>>37698961
>Negatives mean even even if they found out they wouldn't mind
Well we've already got the social point for Clarissa so...

>>37698991
Don't we need multiple with at least 2 people?

Alas, it is time for me to leave. Here's a preemptive "Thanks for running, Damp.", and the obligatory "Try not to fuck anything up guys."

>>37698998
You hate Damp and want us to NTR William from Katherine? I-if you say so, Anon...

>>37698998
That always makes it so tempting to do just that...

Revised suspicion gauges:

Clarissa: 40/100

William: 30/100

Elise: 10/100

Lily: 20/100

Simone: 35/100

Anders: 45/100

The Duke: 30/100

Victor: -50/100

Kathrine: 5/100

Orc: 10/100

Marianne: 0/100

>>37698995
yep

>>37699008
I still think Clarissa isn't that suspicious of us, just curious but in a "oh that can't harm things" way.

>>37699010
Great. In only a dozen or so more threads we'll be set...

>>37699017
She is the character that has seen the most of Nicole's eccentricities so I think it fits.

>>37699017
pretty sure that's the opinion of almost everyone.

>>37699036
Victor, Elise, Lily, Marianne and Simone are all likely candidates to support Nicole. Maybe even William.

File: tanoshii.gif (45 KB, 400x226)

45 KB GIF

>>37699008
>Orc

y u still bully?

>>37699051
Sorry, forgot to change it

>>37699049
Yeah, but in this many threads we're still not even all the way there with Clarissa.

>>37699004
I don't hate the idea of Nicole being a little tsundere for William

David is dressed in loose, comfortable clothes. If professors had days off, this would probably be one of them.

"Just a social visit, Professor," you say, leading your horse to the nearby stables. "I thought I'd have a look at the ruins. If it's not a problem, of course."

"Certainly," David says politely. "Although I must inform you that there isn't very much to look at, right now. We have a campsite closer to the ruins, but most of the crew are here in town or have gone to Alvar for the day. They should be back by tonight, and work resumes tomorrow."

By which time you will be busy preparing for your trip to Whiteford. You're not here to inspect the work at the site anyway. "That's all right, Professor. I'm just curious, after hearing about this place so much."

Digger's Rest is a sizeable town, centered around a large market square, which is mostly empty today. Being a rest day, most of the town's inhabitants are either out enjoying picnics on this fine morning, or have made the day-trip to Alvar to splurge on city fashions and goods.

You are fairly certain not everyone here is involved in the archaeological efforts at the ruins of Grunmarl. The town may have been here long before the archaeologists descended on the ruins.

>[1/3]

>>37699067
No, we'll be his wingman for Katherine, but we have no romantic feelings for him.

>>37699067
I don't mind it, but even if she kinda likes him I don't want her to steal him from Kathrine

>>37699067
...Thanks for reminding me of a question I need to send at Damp about William's character.

Also, tsundere best dere

"Digger's Rest was actually a miner's town, a long time go," David says professorially and without prompting. You realize that you have been gawking at the sights like a tourist, which is actually quite an accurate description. "The mine was shut down for being marginal, but by then the ruins of Grunmarl had been discovered, or I should say re-discovered. Turns out that some of the older generations here knew of their own grandparents taking the stonework from Grunmarl for their own houses." He points out a low, squat building with an optimistically bright sign. "The Pick And Shovel tavern is an example; we found some very worn carvings in the chimney that proved the stone was taken from what used to be a Grunmarl government building. Tax department, if I recall."

"That must be frustrating for your work," you say.

"Oh, it hasn't been done in quite a while now," David says. "It's just another footnote in the story that is life here in Wellsbet. We did put a law into official writing, of course: vandalism of historical sites is punishable by a hefty fine and some time in the jails. Just a formality at this point." He smiles. "The Pick And Shovel does some excellent cheese sandwiches, by the way. I highly recommend it."

The Grunmarl dig site is a vast project, as befits the very impressive city that Grunmarl had once been in its day. Tall structures of stone rise out of the ground, in varying states of decay. The Mistwoods beyond had been waging a steady campaign the reclaim nature from the hands of humans and elves, but the archaeological expedition has made significant progress in beating it back.

>[2/3]

>>37699080
>Also, tsundere best dere
Classic tsundere, yes. Modern tsundere a shit.

Much of the site has been cordoned off by stakes hammered firmly into the ground, tied off with thick cords of rope with vivid ribbons denoting various statuses. Green represents an area where work has been completed, red is a work in progress, and yellow represents the boundaries of where the archaeological team had gotten to in their explorations.

The campsite consists of a few log cabins, hastily constructed and then patched into something resembling livability. Carts, wagons, and the draft animals to pull them are arrayed to one side, although the animals have been released to graze in the fields for today.

You don't see anyone else around. Clearly others have a much better idea of what to do on their days off than you do.

"That's odd," David murmurs, stepping over into a red zone. "I wonder where Cavie has gone."

> "Is that safe, Professor?"
> "Cavie is your assistant, right?"
> Follow David in
> Hang back in the safe green zone

>>37699092
Modern tsunderes are more of bitchderes than actual tsunderes so they don't count in my book.

>>37699095
> "Is that safe, Professor?"
> Follow David in

We did vote for "There was the one incident" in the last thread. So let's make sure it's an interesting one!

>>37699095
> "Is that safe, Professor?"
> "Cavie is your assistant, right?"
> Follow David in

>>37699095
>Is that safe, Professor
No idea, maybe hang back and then follow? I'm expecting magical fun.

>>37699095
>> Follow David in
ADVENTURE

Also, we may want to hang back on shanking anybody until we find out what Cavie looks like.

>>37699095
> "Is that safe, Professor?"
> "Cavie is your assistant, right?"

>>37699111
>>37699095
My vote. Adding to follow David in.

>>37699095
>> "Is that safe, Professor?"
>> "Cavie is your assistant, right?"
>> Follow David in

>>37699121
Next time just delete your old vote and make a new one

>>37699095
>"Cavie is your assistant, right?"

>>37699095
>"Is that safe, Professor?"
> "Cavie is your assistant, right?"

>>37699289
What's she doing?

>>37699289
Knight Apprentice.

>>37699298
Watching over Clarissa deciding whether or not to hug her in her while she sleeps.

File: Damn that's cute.gif (1.54 MB, 360x200)

1.54 MB GIF

>>37699308

>>37699316
I don't actually know what she's doing, but thats what it looked like to me.

You hesitate, visions of hidden wards and traps filling the plain stone surfaces of Grunmarl in your imagination. "Is that safe, Professor?" you ask.

"Certainly not," David replies absently, before he remembers to recalibrate his worldview. "Oh, wait. Safe for you, yes. The danger is more that one might blunder around and damage some valuable piece of history before it has been properly catalogued and documented. But if you watch where you're going, you should be able to avoid any issues." David points to one patch of stonework on a pillar that looks identical to all the other stonework around. "For example, don't touch that unless you're wearing gloves. Skin contact is surprisingly erosive."

You're not as worried about damaging the relics through unnecessary touching, anyway. Based on your early experiences in the wizard's tower of Alvar's palace, you are more afraid of triggering something unexpected by your mere presence, for which you will almost definitely be blamed.

However, David is making his way deeper into the ruins, and you'd rather not be stuck awkwardly waiting for him out of fear of what might happen. You resolve to pay close attention to your surroundings, and back away far from there should anything feel even slightly off.

You follow David in, trying to keep as closely to his path and footsteps as you can. "Cavie is your assistant, right?" you ask, desperately trying to keep your mind off the reports of ancient security systems activating, which would be even more of a problem for you.

"That's right," David says, descending a spiral staircase. No artificial illumination is required in the stairwell, since most of the surrounding wall is missing. Someone had thoughtfully erected a makeshift wooden handrail, tied again with red ribbons to denote the status of this area. "She's been a great help to me and my work. I admit I may be relying on her a bit too much, though. I should probably improve on that."

>[1/2]

File: lewdpucchi.png (327 KB, 2499x2641)

327 KB PNG

>>37699308
>hug her in her

>>37699298
>>37699319
I think she's cooking while naked apron.

File: quest-background-grunmarl.jpg (377 KB, 960x540)

377 KB JPG

Which is a valid answer to your implied query, in itself, but not especially helpful in figuring out why Elise had such a negative reaction to the prospect of her helping with the investigation of the cube.

David does not lead you far, stopping near the boundary to the yellow, unexplored zone. Close to the edge, a hole had been dug by means of removing the floor slabs, revealing what seems to be a shallow subterranean chamber. Someone is deeply engrossed in their work within, visible only by their blonde head bent over in concentration.

"You're supposed to have the day off, Cavie," David reminds the head.

"I've almost got this," the industrious assistant replies shortly. "Now go away. You're messing up my concentration."

> "Good morning."
> "Pardon us. We'll just be leaving, then."
> Wait silently to be introduced

>>37699343
> Wait silently to be introduced

>>37699343
>> Wait silently to be introduced

>>37699343
> Wait silently to be introduced

>>37699343
>Wait silently to be introduced

>>37699343
>"Is it alright if I have a look around? I'm quite curious after what you mentioned about the cube."

File: quest-cavie.jpg (424 KB, 662x936)

424 KB JPG

This has the sound of a comfortable opening to a healthy round of bantering between the two. You can't quite imagine David engaging in banter that did not involve obscure academic jokes, but maybe they play off each other better than expected.

You remain silent as David clears his throat insistently. "We have a guest, Cavie."

"It's my day off," Cavie snaps, still not looking up from her work. "I'm pretty sure there's a rule somewhere that says I'm not supposed to endure any surprise inspections on my day off."

"I'm afraid there isn't one," David says blandly.

"Really? There should be a rule about that."

"This is Nicole," David continues. "A knight of Alvar."

"Knight-apprentice," you correct reflexively.

This is finally enough for Cavie to glance up from whatever she is doing, craning her head around to give you a good look. You note with a lack of surprise that Cavie is an elf.

Cavie lightly climbs out of her hole, and dusts herself off. She is taller than you, which is not exactly uncommon, with her blonde hair tied in a workaday ponytail. You can never tell the age of elves, so she could be anywhere from being barely out of adolescence to a mature, experienced adulthood.

She pulls off a glove, wipes her hand on her skirts out of habit, and extends it to you. "Nice to meet you," she says.

You return the handshake. "I'm just here on a social visit," you recite, in the hopes that this will turn out to be true.

>[1/2]

"Welcome to Grunmarl, then," Cavie says, re-gloving her hand. "Don't touch anything you're not supposed to. I hate it when people do that."

David is peering into the hole Cavie had vacated. You can see the dim glow of a lantern from within, but your angle of view does not reveal more details. "What were you trying to do, Cavie?" he asks.

"I'm pretty sure I can disable the mechanism from there," Cavie says, jerking a thumb at the corridor beyond the yellow boundary. "It's not too different from the ones I've handled before. More connections to bypass, of course."

"I assume you're documenting everything at this point?"

"Of course," Cavie scoffs. "I'm not an amateur."

"Still, it would have been a better idea to wait until everyone is back," David chides her. "Most of the security systems activated in that event last week are more of a danger to the traps and wards themselves than anyone triggering them, but we don't know if something survived intact enough to pose a real hazard."

Cavie shrugs unrepentantly. "What's life without a little excitement?" she says, addressing you. Attempting to gain your support in a long-running conflict of views.

> "Boring. A little risk makes things fun."
> "Safe. I'd rather keep my head down and intact."
> "I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement."
> "I'd rather not take sides in this issue, sorry."
> "If this place is so dangerous, should we be standing around here chatting?"

>>37699687
> "I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement."

>>37699687
>"I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement."
>"If this place is so dangerous, should we be standing around here chatting?"

Yay, more elf!

>>37699687
> "I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement."

Nicole should run up a wall or something to demonstrate.

>>37699687
> "I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement."
> "If this place is so dangerous, should we be standing around here chatting?"

>>37699717
I thought we were trying to not stand out and raise suspicion?

>>37699687
> "I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement."

Elves everywhere!

>>37699289
I love it

>>37699687
>"I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement."

>>37699289
This your work anon? If so, damn fine stuff.

>>37699714
Seconded

>>37699681
And once more my hopes of meeting the Tsundere Twintails have been dashed. At least it builds even more anticipation.

>>37699687
"I've had bad experiences with wards and traps."

>>37699818
Second.

>>37699770
What Tsundere Twintails?

>>37699687
> "I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement."
The most interesting response.

>>37699717
>Nicole should run up a wall or something to demonstrate.
The walls we were advised not to touch which may or may not be trapped with ancient magics?

>>37699965
I never said it was a good idea.

>>37699289
Cute.
Those eyes...

>>37699908
http://ask.fm/qmdamp/answer/121665358798

>eciaem captain
She is!?

>>37699979
Good point.
Now I'm starting to second guess myself. Nicole needs a day off after all. I'm sure wallclimbing is a common pastime from where ever she's from.

>>37700027
Except we were specifically told to not touch the walls...

>>37700027
What? He was saying it was a bad idea anon.

>>37700037
Sometimes anon just WANT to act like retards for shits 'n' giggles

File: 148563276.jpg (136 KB, 513x334)

136 KB JPG

>>37700051
>>37700037
Does this upset you?
Doesn't it look ___FUN?

>>37700088
>Doesn't it look ___FUN?
No, it looks like poor tradesmanship.

While you'd like to extol the virtues of playing it safe and making sure all the proper procedures are followed for the good of all, your experiences ever since you've arrived in Alvar and its vicinity would make that lecture moderately hypocritical.

"I suppose that depends on whether you think you can handle that excitement," you say carefully. "Speaking of which, if this place is so dangerous, should we be standing around here chatting?"

Cavie strides wordlessly towards another open corridor, blocked off by the yellow-ribboned boundary rope. She gives you a bright smile, and then thrusts an arm past the boundary line.

Nothing happens for a few seconds, before a faint grinding noise becomes louder, accompanying a faint rumbling that reverberates through the floor.

A sliver of worn and crumbling stone reveals itself slowly, shuddering as antique mechanisms hidden in the architecture activate. It takes you a few moments to realize that this is supposed to be an emergency door sliding shut.

The time-worn remains of the door does not get past more than a hand's width out of its alcove before stopping suddenly, caught on some error within its workings. Then it retracts, just as slowly and shakily. The entire display is shabby and dismal and a little pathetic.

"The danger is over-stated," Cavie states, letting her arm fall back to her side. "We're usually more worried about the security systems breaking something else inside, and damaging any potential discoveries. I admit, there was a bit of entertainment when we first triggered the alarms, and almost squashed that other knight... what was his name?" Cavie circles a finger in the air as she tries to jog her memory. "Uh, tall, blond, kind of foppish, nice eyes."

"Sir William," you supply.

"Right, him."

>[1/3]

"Be that as it may," David says, "I think it would be better if we didn't test our luck. Not until we determine the nature of this alarm system." David remains remarkably calm, despite Cavie's actions. Perhaps he's seen this demonstration many times before; being surrounded by young students and assistants must result in or require a phlegmatic personality.

"It should be deep in the heart of the city," Cavie says. "Underground." She rolls her eyes at David's disapproving look. "I know, I'm reasoning in advance of the data. It's just a hunch of mine."

Despite Cavie's reassurances, you don't think you should explore the ruined city too freely. You do not have good experiences with magical wards.

"Why don't we take a break?" David suggests. "It's about time for lunch. There's a place near the campsite where we can wash up, and then we can visit the Pick And Shovel for our repast."

"That would be nice," you agree quickly. "Thank you." You're not that hungry, but you feel you should cooperate in your role as the Guest to be Entertained.

Cavie looks as though she is about to argue, but suddenly thinks better of it. "You two go on ahead. I'll catch up after I clean up here."

David gives her a look.

"I promise," Cavie says, visibly resisting the urge to sigh in exasperation.

"Very well." David leads you back out of Grunmarl, and into the present day. You find yourself taking a deep breath, free of the oppressive weight of a millennia of history soaked into the stones of the old city. You have to consciously remind yourself that Grunmarl's builders did not vanish mysteriously into the ages, but simply continued living on this land, with their descendants very much alive and present and having fun shopping for the latest trends back in Alvar.

>[2/3]

David directs you to the washing-up area, which is a short distance behind the log cabins, hidden by a copse of trees. This turns out to be a clearing by a stream, which pools into a medium-sized pond. Several clotheslines have been set up; judging from the laundry still hanging there, this is where the female population of the Grunmarl archaeological team do their washing. Which would also explain David's absence, as he presumably heads to wherever the men's side is.

A sturdy pump has been set up downstream from the pond. You take the time to wash your hands and face, dusty from the journey here to Grunmarl.

"I didn't think the Lady Herself would be taking on an apprentice," Cavie says from behind you. You didn't hear her approach, which is an oddly familiar situation.

> "Are you talking about the Captain?"
> "Technically Sir William's the one training me."
> "It's just a position. I'm not personally apprenticed to anyone."
> "Do you usually sneak up on people like that?"

>>37700417
> "Technically Sir William's the one training me."
> "Do you usually sneak up on people like that?"

>>37700417
> "Are you talking about the Captain?"
> "Do you usually sneak up on people like that?"

Best not be talking shit about our captain!

>>37700417
> "Are you talking about the Captain?"
> "Do you usually sneak up on people like that?"

Hi Escavilia

>>37700417
> "It's just a position. I'm not personally apprenticed to anyone."

>>37700417
> "Technically Sir William's the one training me."
> "Not many people can sneak up on me like that."

>>37700417
>"Technically Sir William's the one training me."
So we didn't hear her come up hmm?

>>37700417
>"Are you talking about the Captain?"

>>37700503
>You didn't hear her approach, which is an oddly familiar situation.
That's what it says, yes.

>>37700417
> "Are you talking about the Captain?"

>>37700448
Escavilia -> Cavie. It was bright as day since the beginning ! I feel shameful to not have guessed.
Please note that there is no way Nicole can guess herself

>>37700503
Odds are she Escavillia The Golden who is a master thief. Besides that she is an ordinary but skilled elf.

>>37700534
Name is kinda hidden in plain sight. Nicole could figure it out between the name and getting snuck up on, which no one ha been able to do to in along while.

>>37700534
Well I'm still not entirely sure its her, but its most likely her, other original possibilities are Lily or Marianne, though her sneaking up on us is a point towards Cavie, as is her attitude while going about the ruins, and also how Cavie is the nickname for Escavillia.

>>37700448
>>37700534
>>37700558
>>37700567
Makes sense. Lets pry a bit.

>>37700567
Don't forget that bit about the rabbit hole not going as deep as she thinks.

>>37700584
I was tempted to just vote
> "Hi Escavillia!"

>>37700596
Drop the exclamation point. It should be said with Nicoles normal lack of enthusiasm.

>>37700596
Yo I'd second that.

>>37700417
>"Technically Sir William's the one training me."
>"It's a little weird seeing the contrast between the Captain and her reputation."

>>37700417
> "Are you talking about the Captain?"

"Do you usually sneak up on people like that?" you ask, curious.

"Ah, sorry." Cavie does seem mildly contrite. "Force of habit. From my old, uh, job."

Actually, you were hoping to pick up a few tips, it hardly being your place to criticize others about sneaking. "It's all right. Uh, give me a moment." You give your face one last quick scrub, before moving away from the pump to let Cavie take her turn. You shut your eyes, letting the autumn breeze dry your skin, waiting for Cavie to finish up.

"So how's Herself?" Cavie asks conversationally, as the two of you make your way back to the town of Digger's Rest.

"Are you talking about the Captain?" you inquire.

"Knight Captain Clarissa Something Something ain Somewhere," Cavie confirms. "I can never keep names straight. I haven't seen her in a while, but I hear she got into some trouble or something."

From which you can deduce that Cavie's grasp of current events may be rather loose. "It's a bit of a long story, but the Captain's fine." As fine as she can be under the broader circumstances. "We'll be out of the country for a while, so she's busy in the palace making sure everything is in order."

"I heard about that," Cavie says. "Donovan went back to Alvar to take over, or something along those lines. Said he'll drop by when he can. I told him we can take care of ourselves out here."

Which makes sense. With yourself and Clarissa out of the palace, and the official requirement to have at least one knight present and on duty in the palace in case of emergencies, William will need a backup knight. You wonder how often that rule was bent before your arrival in Alvar. "Do you have much trouble here that requires a knight?"

>[1/3]

Cavie grimaces. "Not what you'd think it would be. We do get the occasional scare from goblins or marauders, but a show of force is usually enough to run them off without any real action on either side. We've got the local militia to help out, too. What Donovan does is go around all the hamlets and farmsteads in the area, helping out whenever he can."

A knight wandering the lands to right wrongs and help the helpless, no matter how trivial the problem. "That's quite admirable."

"That's just Donovan's way." Cavie trails off, distracted by a stray thought. She shakes her head to chase it away. "Anyway, you're Herself's apprentice now? I didn't know they were recruiting people into the knighthood. Then again, I knew the knights of Alvar were, uh." She looks you up and down, a glint of mischief in her eye. "A little short."

You let that comment pass, as it were, over your head. "Technically Sir William's the one training me."

"Hm. Can't say I'm familiar with the man." Cavie tests feigning polite interest, before deciding that it would be futile. "Not many people from the city come all the way out here to visit. Donovan's one of ours. Duke Pierre drops by now and again to speak to the mayor. And your Knight Captain liked to check up on me in person, back when I first started out."

>[2/3]

You have arrived at the Pick And Shovel by now, where David is waiting for you. "All ready?" he asks. The two of you make affirmative noises, and David leads the way inside.

The tavern is full with the lunchtime crowd, but David manages to find a table. With practiced speed, David and Cavie order a decent amount of food; you limit yourself to a single cheese sandwich, on David's recommendation.

"It feels a little strange not to have Donovan here, ordering everything on the menu," David muses.

"He works pretty hard, so he's entitled to his food," Cavie says. You perk up slightly at the unexpected defensive tone.

> "Donovan is probably having an eating contest with the Captain right now."
> "How is the work on Grunmarl progressing? Any major discoveries?"
> "How long have you been working with the Professor, Cavie?"
> "What is Donovan like? I've not had a chance to work with him yet."

>>37701358
> "Donovan is probably having an eating contest with the Captain right now."
> "What is Donovan like? I've not had a chance to work with him yet."
> "How long have you been working with the Professor, Cavie?"
> "How is the work on Grunmarl progressing? Any major discoveries?"

>>37701358
> "How is the work on Grunmarl progressing? Any major discoveries?"
> "How long have you been working with the Professor, Cavie?"

>>37701358
> "How is the work on Grunmarl progressing? Any major discoveries?"
>"I also feel like this would be a golden opportunity to ask you some questions, Cavie."

>>37701379
>>>"I also feel like this would be a golden opportunity to ask you some questions, Cavie."
>Golden
Perfect...

>>37701372
Seconding. Why not have all?

>>37701358
>> "How is the work on Grunmarl progressing? Any major discoveries?"

>>37701425

Also second this:
>>37701379
>"I also feel like this would be a golden opportunity to ask you some questions, Cavie."

That's just too clever.

>>37701358
> "Donovan is probably having an eating contest with the Captain right now."
>"I feel like this would be a /golden/ opportunity to ask you some questions, Cavie."

>>37701358
>>37701379
This.

>>37701358
>"Donovan is probably having an eating contest with the Captain right now."

>>37701379
And this.

I'm starting to regret putting that golden thing there, it was meant as a joke.. ahaha.
I guess it just adds to Nicole's social awkwardness?

>>37701379
> "How is the work on Grunmarl progressing? Any major discoveries?"
>"I also feel like this would be a golden opportunity to ask you some questions, Cavie."
I can't pass up this phrasing.

>>37701512
She snuck up on us, now we're going to sneak up on her.

>>37701358
>>37701379
Well, with this quality custom, why not?

>>37701512
It totally works with Nicole's occasional unique social behaviour.

>>37701613
>occasional unique social behaviour
That's an interesting way to say "inept players"

"Donovan is probably having an eating contest with the Captain right now," you say. It seems like a good guess, considering the last time you missed Donovan visiting the palace.

David chuckles, while Cavie looks confused. "I think it is something of a tradition between them by now," David says.

You swallow a mouthful of cheese sandwich. The bread is toasted excellently, but you are indifferent to the cheese. You don't really like cheese that much anyway, although you don't mind having it. "How is the work on Grunmarl progressing?" you ask, as casually as you can manage. "Any major discoveries?"

David brightens up considerably, then winces as Cavie clamps a hand on his shoulder. "Don't bore the girl, David," Cavie trills. "Summarize."

"Ah. Right." David clears his throat, reviewing what was likely to be a lengthy list of accomplishments. "Apart from the activation of the security system, which we're still trying to get to the bottom of, we've had significant progress in what was probably the commercial district. There are signs that the abandonment of the city may have been more precipitous than we initially thought; we found a few pieces of jewelry and decorations, which we dated to the correct time period. It seems odd that whoever was running that store would leave behind their wares."

No doubt several treatises and essays will be written about this and kept in some dusty academic archive somewhere, but that's not what you're interested in. "Were there any mages recorded as living in Grunmarl?"

"No doubt," David says. "A city the size of Grunmarl will probably have at least a few minor practitioners, if not a powerful court wizard or equivalent. We haven't discovered their residences or workshops, though. Our pace has been slowed significantly due to the security system."

"Which is probably the fault of one of those mages," Cavie opines. "If we find the power source, we'll find your mage workshop."

>[1/2]

In other words, nothing of any import to your situation as yet. You can certainly wait for a more positive result. In the meantime, you can indulge one of the suspicions you've been harbouring ever since you've met Cavie. "How long have you been working with the Professor, Cavie?" you ask.

David and Cavie exchange a glance. "About a year now?" Cavie guesses. "Something like that."

"What were you doing before you became an archaeologist?" you press on.

This generates a distinct reaction. Both David and Cavie put down their forks, and David leans back in his seat, obviously trying to think of how to extricate his assistant from this conversation.

"Why do you ask?" Cavie says, with exaggerated calm.

You can pretend to be making mere light chat as well. "I just thought it would be a golden opportunity to find out more."

Cavie holds up a hand to David, who is about to speak. "It's all right, David," Cavie says. "I'm used to this by now."

You wince at Cavie's annoyed tone. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"No, it's fine." Cavie does not sound fine, but she continues anyway. "Congratulations; you've figured out who I am. Or rather, who I was. There's a reason I prefer it out here, away from the city." She sighs. "What gave it away? Who told you?"

> "I help out with Alvar's City Watch from time to time. Constable Marianne Farnston is my partner."
> "I heard the name of Escavila the Golden, and asked around, like Finn told me to."
> "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."
> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."

>>37702196
> "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."
> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."

Once again, I'm sorry for making that suggestion.

>>37702196
Cavie. Escavila. Really..? Really?

>>37702196
dropped your trip damp

> "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."
> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."

>>37702196
> "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."
> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."

>>37702196
> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."

>>37702222
Yep. And we all missed it until now. Or at least no one bothered to say anything.

>>37702196
> "...Cavie, really?"

>>37702196
> "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."
> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."

>>37702271
we figured it out earlier in this thread when we first met Cavie

>>37702297
I meant until this thread.

>>37702196
> "I help out with Alvar's City Watch from time to time. Constable Marianne Farnston is my partner."
Cavie x Donovan. I had bet it was Cavie x David, but was wrong
Not the best place to tell about rabbit hole.

>>37702196
> "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."
> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."
You are the first person to sneak up on me since I got to Alvar and your name is pretty much telling someone who you are if they're smart.

>>37702196
>"Honestly, I'm embarrassed that I only figured it out when I met you."

>>37702293
On second though... I really want to say we worked it out ourself, but I also want to see her reaction to us namedropping Marianne.

>>37702196
> "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."
> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."

>>37702218
Screw being sorry. At least I liked it.

>>37702196
>> "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."
>> "By the way, have you received the message yet? About the rabbit hole."

Haha the message is gonna make things even more awkward huh?

I really want to make a mention of how being able to sneak up on us is NOT a thing that happens often, which was actually kinda a clue.

>>37702715
we should get pointers

>>37702748
Eventually.

Truth to tell, you'd been wondering about it ever since you heard Cavie's present name mentioned, but you didn't have any proof linking Cavie with the much-vaunted Escavila the Golden. In hindsight, the connections were rather clear. "I worked it out for myself. The clues weren't really that difficult to put together."

"But you must have gotten your clues from somewhere," Cavie mutters.

You wonder if you should tell her of your connection to Marianne, without which you would likely have continued along your knight-apprenticeship without ever knowing of Escavila and her circumstances. After a moment, you decide that it doesn't matter. "I apologize again for bringing up a sore subject," you say, pouring contrition in your tone.

Cavie sighs again. "So what are you going to do about it, now that you've found me out?"

You had only thought to satisfy your curiosity. You hadn't considered the effects your triumphant revelations would have on the people actually involved. "I was merely curious. As a knight-apprentice of Alvar, I promise I won't spread this knowledge around without cause."

Cavie regards you with something akin to resignation. "I'd have preferred it if you left off that last bit, but I suppose you knights must have your honour."

You don't feel especially full of honour right now. "By the way," you say, desperately attempting to rescue the blighted conversation, "have you received the message yet?"

This pierces through Cavie's mood. Even David looks up in interest. "What message?"

Obviously not. "The Finn... I mean, Finn told me to pass the message on to you," you say. "Something about a rabbit hole-"

>[1/2]

>>37702812
dropped your trip again

>>37702196
Introduce ourselves formally, former assassin to former thief.

You are interrupted by a clatter of crockery, as Cavie slams her hands onto the table, standing in alarm and leaning over you. "What about the rabbit hole?" she hisses.

"Cavie," David says, concerned.

"In a minute, David," Cavie says, keeping her eyes focused on you. "What did Finn say about the rabbit hole?"

You recoil in the face of Cavie's sudden intensity. "Um, the message was just that the rabbit hole is not as deep as you believe."

"Is that the exact wording, Nicole?" Cavie demands. "Think very carefully. Are those the exact words Finn used?"

"Finn sent one of his men to pass on the message," you clarify. "But yes, that's what he said."

Cavie takes a deep breath. Then she turns on her heel, and rushes out of the tavern.

You glance at David, who only gives you a helpless shrug in response.

> Go after Cavie
> Ask David if he knows anything
> None of your business, let's just leave

>>37702818
I swear I put it back on just now. Apologies.

>>37702826
> Go after Cavie
> Ask David if he knows anything
We're roped in now. Also forgot Trip Damp.

>>37702826
> Ask David if he knows anything
I feel that we've tormented her long enough.

>>37702826
>Go after Cavie

>>37702826
>> Go after Cavie
>> Ask David if he knows anything

One day Nicole will have a first meaning that will not spiral out into some bizarre adventure

>>37702826
> Go after Cavie
> Ask David if he knows anything

>>37702839
no worries damp, we can tell its you, I just figured I'd let you know

>>37702826
> Go after Cavie
> Ask David if he knows anything

>>37702876
Someday She will have an inauspicious first meeting
But today is not that day.

>>37702900
Ha even if the meeting is nothing you'd better believe tg is shadowrun the hell out of it.

The meeting can;t be that ordinary! That person is clearly up to something!

>>37702826
> Go after Cavie
Action !
Rabbit hole... is this about archeology ?

>>37702992
I think it's about her hiding

>>37702938
They usually are in this quest though. Or they're hiding something at least.

>>37702826
>Go after Cavie
Time to be a (metaphorical) Knight in Shining Armor. Just like in the stories!

>>37703035
Man, is there anybody in the quest who ISN'T hiding something?

>>37702307
We'd never met Cavie until this thread so anyone who had guessed before made the "shot in the dark" and/or was on maximum shadowruns.

>captcha: both acused
Interesting idea, Captcha.

>>37703077
That cat we found in the tree

>>37703077
Anyone who's actually important? No. I imagine generic farmer 5 isn't though.

>>37703077
Marianne, I think. She seems to be totally aboveboard.

>>37703077
If you really care to think about it, practically everyone alive has something to hide. It would be more of an oddity to find someone who isn't hiding something.

You break the awkward silence first. "Professor, do you, uh."

"I haven't a clue, Nicole," David says, answering your unfinished question. "We were supposed to have received our non-urgent mail from Alvar today. I hadn't had a chance to collect it yet, though."

Meaning Clarissa's note to Cavie about the rabbit hole is probably in that pile of mail, and you had just let her know about the message slightly early. Also obvious is the fact that Cavie clearly thinks the message is more important than either you or Clarissa had assumed.

All of which could have been avoided if Finn and his cronies had passed the message on in a less roundabout manner. You think rude words at the habit of secrecy of elves, criminals, and elven criminals, as you dart out of the tavern in pursuit of Cavie.

Tracking a former master thief through a small town would have been more difficult if Cavie had been making any effort to lose her pursuers rather than proceed to her destination as quickly as she could. Besides, you already have a fairly good idea of where Cavie was headed to anyway.

You catch up to her at the town common stables, as she finishes attaching the saddle to a vaguely surprised horse. "What's happening, Cavie?" you ask quickly. "What did that message mean? Is there anything I can do to help?"

"It's a very long story," Cavie says shortly, as she swings up onto the saddle with ease. "One I'm not allowed to tell you. Thanks for your message, Nicole, but I have to handle this by myself. Tell David I may be gone for some time."

Your horse is still saddled in the stable, and looking at you with expectant interest. There is no way you can catch up to Cavie with your slow riding pace should she choose to gallop all the way back to Alvar, though.

> Try to jump onto Cavie's horse as well (roll 1d20, best of three)
> Go back to the tavern and inform David
> Let Cavie go, then ride back to Alvar slowly

We're now aware that the message wasn't given to Cavie.
Althought we trusted our Captain to deliver it.

I smell treason.
It can't be our Captain, I refuse to believe she could have betrayed us, it MUST be something else, r-r-right ?

>>37703091
The nickname itself is a blatant clue.
Not that I Had guessed.

>>37703091
Yeah but, Cavie...Es-CAVI-lla. I'm still facepalming for not noticing that.

>>37703151
>> Try to jump onto Cavie's horse as well (roll 1d20, best of three)
we roll now or later?

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>37703151
>Try to jump onto Cavie's horse as well (roll 1d20, best of three)

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>37703151
> Try to jump onto Cavie's horse as well (roll 1d20, best of three)
With cat-like grace!

>>37703178
>>37703181
pfffffffffffffffft

>>37703105
The cat is being Tsundere for Marianne
>"I-It's not like I w-wanted you to rescue me or anything Baka!"

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>37703165
>We're now aware that the message wasn't given to Cavie.
Uhh, you're a little quick on the shadowruns anon, read the update.

>>37703174
rolling for this if we are rolling now

>>37703174
Preferably later with these rolls

>>37703178
>>37703181
>>37703195
Well then.

>>37703178
>>37703181
>>37703195
Good thing rolls don't count until Damp calls for them.

Don't roll unless asked for rolls anons.

>>37703151
> Go back to the tavern and inform David

>>37703151
>Let Cavie go, then ride back to Alvar slowly
Out of our league.

>>37703165
>Meaning Clarissa's note to Cavie about the rabbit hole is probably in that pile of mail, and you had just let her know about the message slightly early.
Your fears are probably unfounded.

>>37703151
> Try to jump onto Cavie's horse as well (roll 1d20, best of three)

A 1 won't make me back down!

(You really shouldn't put roll in the option, have us roll after a consensus as been reached)

>>37703195
>>37703181
>>37703178
Perfect. I will stand by the desicion.

I vote we have a little to do with horses as possible from now until the end of time

>>37703200
>>37703203
we only roll when damp calls for them after the vote anons

>>37703213
>(You really shouldn't put roll in the option, have us roll after a consensus as been reached)
yeah, just say it may involve a roll, then call for them when the vote is done, or ask people to hold their rolls until called for them, otherwise you get anon throwing dice everywhere and panicking for nothing

Its better to roll after the action is selected or else there will be situations like this where we can just vote another option to majority to negate the crappy rolls.

>>37703234
That's what we do anon, those anons just jumped the gun. Dice rolls don't count until Damp asks for them in another post.

>>37703226
>we only roll when damp calls for them after the vote anon
That is the best way to avoid people backing out of votes with bad rolls

In all fairness, Cavie might stop when she sees us hurt ourselves.

>>37703151
>> Go back to the tavern and inform David
>> Let Cavie go, then ride back to Alvar slowly

>>37703165
>>37703169
I'm of the inclination to not bother going past minorly suspecting coincidental name similarities. Sure you can abuse Conservation of Detail and all but it's better to gather more evidence (like an indicative physical description and/or suspicious action) before doing so. Also, I expected better of a Master Thief under witness protection. Who's bright idea was it to use a name that similar? Marianne

Just for kicks, how do we think the crit fail would work out?
>Jump and an overshoot into a manure pile?
>Jump and startle the horse into kicking us and bucking her off?
>Jump and get tangled in a saddle strap without Cavie knowing as she gallops full tilt all the way there?

>>37703293
>Jump and get tangled in a saddle strap without Cavie knowing as she gallops full tilt all the way there?
i think our critical success up to this point garner at least some kindness from our damp, even if it is excruciatingly embarrassing

>>37703293
>how do we think the crit fail would work out?
It won't seeing as it doesn't count?

>>37703293
>>37703312
Obviously, we trip over our own feet and lose any chance of earning Escavila's respect as a fellow sneakthief.

>>37703151
> Go back to the tavern and inform David

>>37703077
This.
Even Marianne had a very expensive watch, which screams rich family or noble or heritage.

>>37703293
>Jump and startle the horse into kicking us and bucking her off?

>>37703293
Somehow ending up naked in front of William

>>37703334
>Just for kicks

>>37703349
In nekomimi.

>>37703347
It's probably an heirloom.

Sorry, I must be more out of it than I thought. I did intend for the choice to state that a roll is required, but the rolls don't happen immediately.

This is a change from the early threads where I do count the rolls included in the vote, but I only recently realized that this is not a good idea.

So I can understand the confusion. I'm not sure how to handle this situation now (caused by my own mistake), but I'm inclined to do what I originally intended to do, viz ask for the roll after the vote.

(I'm having a bit of trouble collating the vote now, admittedly, so give me a while.)

>>37703293
Critfails do not trump other rolls.

If you do roll two or three critfails in a row for Median or Best Of Three respectively, though, then they obviously count. (See the Wizard's Tower.)

>>37703446
Haven't really counted that closely, but doesn't going for the horse win?

>>37703446
>but I'm inclined to do what I originally intended to do, viz ask for the roll after the vote.
That's the best and smartest option, don't worry about it OP.

>>37703446
You sound like you're a little short of passing out. Gonna call the end of the thread soon since its been 10+ hours since you started?

>>37703446
I think we're all a little bit out of it seeing as its been a while since we last got the dice out, don't sweat it Damp.
>I'm inclined to do what I originally intended to do, viz ask for the roll after the vote.
Probably the best option, seeing as you intended to do that from the start with this vote anyway.

>>37703486
Yep, I'm counting 4 votes supporting going for the horse, with 3 for informing David and 2 for going back to Alvar slowly.

>>37703525
>since its been 10+ hours since you started?
Holy shit it has been, Damp buddy, feel free to call and end to the thread here and go get some well deserved rest.

>>37703525
It's probably a sign of how tired I am that I keep losing count of the votes as I scroll down.

Since the horse vote seems to be winning according to >>37703556, please roll 1d20, best of three.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>37703598
This one will surely go better

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>37703598
One shitty roll coming up!

Rolled 18 (1d20)

We have successfully hit auto-sage people!

>>37703598
Rolling, feel free to stop if you need to Damp.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>37703598
Its got to be what, 3am where you are now? If you're tired feel free to go get some sleep, you shouldn't push yourself just for our sake.

>>37703616
Praise the Divines!

>>37703616
That's how you roll

You have never tried this before, and you should probably never do this again ever in your life, or even once at all.

It is a good thing that you are acting entirely on instinct and reflex, as you grab a convenient saddle strap for a temporary hand-hold, and hop up onto the horse's back behind the saddle in one smooth motion. The horse whinnies in protest and bucks in alarm, but you clamp your arms around Cavie, who reacts a heartbeat too late.

You didn't think that would work. It probably won't work again.

"What in the name of the Weaver are you doing?" Cavie snaps at you. She wriggles in your grip, but you hang on grimly.

You open your mouth to reply, then close it again as you realize that you have no idea what you intend to accomplish with this. Surely there are easier methods to find an explanation for Cavie's peculiar actions than latching on to her until she gets sufficiently irritated with you.

Cavie shakes her head angrily. "Never mind," she says, gripping the reins. "Hold on tight. Or don't; if you fall, I'm not going to stop to rescue you."

"Understood," you say weakly. This is beginning to seem like a bad idea the more you think about it.

Cavie wheels the horse around to face the road to Alvar, and leans forward in her saddle.

You don't quite remember what happens next. You only have a hazy impression, as if from a great distance, of intense speed. And a thundering of hooves, as though from a heavy cavalry charge. And a lot of very, very painful bouncing.

Sometime in this fugue, you recall Cavie saying something to you. "Please don't hold on so tight to me, Nicole," she says, quite calmly. "I can't breathe."

You do not reply, because your jaws seem to have clenched together in sheer terror.

>[1/2]

A few thoughts drift through the mists of your mind. One of them pops into clarity, which is that you have left your horse back in Digger's Rest. You don't know what the penalty for that would be, if any; you sincerely hope you do not have to pay for it.

Eventually, the world comes back into focus. You become aware of this when Cavie is making a serious effort to disengage your arms around her waist. "We're here, Nicole," she says. "Let go, and I promise I won't run away. All right?"

You comply. Cavie dismounts, and catches you as you slide off the horse, which promptly trots off a short distance and stares reproachfully at you.

"The stablehands will take care of it," Cavie says, setting you upright. You don't recall a stable by the northeast gate of Alvar, before you remember that the west gate is a more logical destination for travellers from Grunmarl who do not have business at the palace.

You take several deep breaths to calm yourself. "What was the message about the rabbit hole about?" you ask again.

Cavie hisses in frustration. "I said I can't tell you. Telling you, or anyone, will just make matters worse." She glares at you. "Just go back to the palace, Knight-Apprentice Nicole. Go back and forget that you were ever involved in this."

You stare at her dumbly, waiting for your thoughts to coalesce into coherence.

> "I'm already involved. I don't think I can be un-involved at this point."
> "Are you in some kind of danger? Is it something from your past?"
> "I can help, if you'd let me."
> "All right. Good luck with whatever you have to do."

>>37704080
>> "I'm already involved. I don't think I can be un-involved at this point."
>> "I can help, if you'd let me."

>>37704080
> "I'm already involved. I don't think I can be un-involved at this point."
> "I can help, if you'd let me."

>>37704101
>>37704080
In addition

>I've got some less likely skills that may help, a bit.

>>37704080
> "I'm already involved. I don't think I can be un-involved at this point."
>"I'd LIKE TO help, if you'd let me."

>>37704080
> "I'm already involved. I don't think I can be un-involved at this point."
> "I'd like to help, if you'd let me."