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After Marianne's safely inside the carriage, you close the door behind her.

"Reinhold?" Marianne shouts through the small window of the carriage door. "What are you doing!? Don't tell me that you're about to chase after Luciana right now!"
"I'm not," you reply, shaking your head. "I'm riding up front with the driver just in case something else comes up."
"...oh," she breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

You're really not in any mood to ride inside the carriage with Marianne and the others anyways... that means either casual talk or crying, and you'd prefer to avoid both of those options. So instead, you take a seat next to the driver of the carriage and keep watch as you ride back towards he castle.

Over on the other carriage, you notice that Reya had the same thing as you.


>[1/2]

>>38162492
>The only issue at this point is your assignment...

Yeah, Marianne's the only cloud in our sky. Life's cool otherwise.

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>>38162514
>[2/2]

There are more guards posted at the gate than usual, most likely because of the Salamander sighting that Sir Vincent went out to take care of. They wave at you in a friendly manner when they spot you riding up front with the carriage driver, but the solemn look on your face quickly chases away any pleasant mood that had been present.


>hop off and run ahead of the carriage, you need to tell them what happened asap
>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

>>38162539
>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

MY SHADOWRUNS CANNOT BE COOLED

>>38162539
>>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

>>38162539
>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

We still have a ward.

>>38162514

Chasing an experienced and skilled swordie who just happens to be a contractor at the same time, is a quick way to reach bad end for the quest.

>>38162539

>>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

Duty first, must ensure wards safety.

>>38162539
>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

>>38162539
>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

>>38162539
>>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened


Right, I missed a few threads. So far as I can tell, that crazy hobo/conspiracy theorist from several threads back was just foreshadowing this turn of events?

>>38162536
Were she not here we'd already be chasing after that chucklehead...doing one's duty is painful at times.

>>38162539
>>hop off and run ahead of the carriage, you need to tell them what happened asap
Time ain't something we got right now.

>>38162539
>hop off and run ahead of the carriage, you need to tell them what happened asap
If not even the castle is safe, we've got bigger problems.

>>38162607
I say we were not paranoid enough.

>>38162641
... so if this was one of the two big reveals, what's the other?

>>38162539
>>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

>>38162539
>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened
No abandoning our duty.

>>38162539
>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

If we go the throneroom with everyone together we'll have a better chance of getting ALL the information to the king. Going off what just our memory is may not yield all relevant information. Get the lolis to a safe spot then take Marianne+Takamaru to king and leave Reya as the lolikeeper.

>>38162677
More than likely we're about to find out.

>>38162539
>>stick with the carriage and make sure that everyone is able to exit safely before you tell them what just happened

After they know we start picking up the trail. Via tailwind and rage.

>>38162677
Takamaru is the mastermind of the conspiracy.

>>38162641
You don't just stick something like that in unless you're trying to mess with the readers. Either it's a red herring or it's foreshadowing. I always choose foreshadowing.

>>38162677
I'm guessing that somebody we know and trust is also a part of it, or at the very least knew and did nothing..

>>38162729
that would be a good way to get us, luciana or both killed.

he's a contractor, which makes him extremely powerful. sprinting after him blindly is suicide. plus, if that were viable the game would be over in a few threads tops rather than expected to last another month.

>>38162641
We are STILL not paranoid enough.

Should have slipped Tina-2 into his chest pocket to heart-stab him...

>>38162807
Even assuming we went after Leopold right away, won, and put a definitive stop to the conspiracy, with the aftermath stuff we'd have more than just "a few threads".

>>38162891
We ache to touch her for her to stab anon.

>>38162891
>"H-how did you know?"

My sword told me.

>>38162930
Honestly when our sword says to kill someone we should just do it from now on.

>>38162929
have to touch* bleh stupid spellcheck

>>38162941
Agreed.

>>38162941
We're going to make a great prince-consort.

You have to wonder who the genius back in Ancelotta who ordered this is.

>"I just had a great idea, guys! Let's do something guaranteed to irretrievably enrage those nearby countries that already hate our guts, in such a way that there is only one thing stopping them descending upon us in an orgy of violence immediately!"

I'm assuming there's Hapsburg tier inbreeding at work here.

>>38162941
>>38162962
And this is how Prince Reinhold "That Fucking Psycho" de Marconnetti-Eschenwald started his career.

>>38162941
She does seem to be able to sense hostile intent aimed towards us. I say we trust our 'second sense' from now on.

>>38162803
>>38162941
What if the sword is part of the conspiracy and that was their plan all along?

>>38163012
>Trusting anything ever in a quest

>>38162941
When Leopold arrived it just -asked- us to <kill>. I'd say Leo was really lucky it just did that and not order us to.

>>38163008
Prince Reinhold "Better Safe Than Sorry" de Marconnetti-Eschenwald, thank you very much.

>>38163012
The voice sounds male. It's Chris.

>>38163007
I like how they think that doing this is going to guarantee sovereignty, when all it's actually going to do is call down both Marconetti and Granache and all of their allies down on their heads like the hammer of the divine.

To paraphrase Tony Stark: There is no way that this ends up with them coming out of this on top.

Even if they take out Lucianna, the vengeance that will be wrought will exceed any notions of political discourse whatsoever.

>>38163007
Hostages have a way of keeping people who are royally pissed at you in check. Not always, but sometimes.

>>38163062
Ambiguously male.

>>38163007
Honestly, if I were Ancelottan royalty, I'd take the hostage. Ancelotta's been on everyone's shit list for a good while now, and a war is pretty much inevitable. No point in keeping a good face when everyone hates your guts anyway, so might as well do the one thing you can to keep them at bay a little while longer.

And while everyone's fretting about Princess Luciana being abducted, I'm hauling my despotic ass out of here the first chance I get.

>>38163012
>she senses Sylvie's hatred of Luciana whenever we're with them

>>38163062
It's just a woman with a deep voice.

>>38163099
>male

>>38163083
See >>38163066

What do they think killing Lucianna will achieve other than to make everyone go from wanting to kill the shit out of them to scorching their entire nation off the face of the globe?

>>38163083
They also have a habit of starting wars that makes all thought of politics, peace, and low body counts go out the window faster than Reinhold goes through leviathan heads.

>>38163007
I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I mean this probably bought them a bit of time, but at the cost of when that time is up they are going to get the shit absolutely stomped out of them in retribution.

>>38163008
To be fair, there are worse things to be known for.

>>38163062
I though 'Tom' would be a good name then. WE all use to call him 'Tina' due to all of us though our sword was female until archelon corrected us.

>>38163104
>Honestly, if I were Ancelottan royalty, I'd take the hostage. Ancelotta's been on everyone's shit list for a good while now, and a war is pretty much inevitable. No point in keeping a good face when everyone hates your guts anyway, so might as well do the one thing you can to keep them at bay a little while longer.
This is pretty much the idea.

>And while everyone's fretting about Princess Luciana being abducted, I'm hauling my despotic ass out of here the first chance I get.
And some have had this idea as well.


>writing

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>>38163066
You're missing their grand getaway scheme.

>>38163104
But that would require sense, which doesn't seem to come into play when part of your plan was to kidnap royalty when you're already on the shitlist of every other country.

>>38163127
Too soon to call it. I'm holding onto hope for a bodyguard-bodyguard sword daughterfu.

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>>38163062
I will not give up hope.

>>38162729
I can't help but think it'd be better to track them from the air with the assistance of someone like Arnaud rather than trying to do it from ground level.

Especially since GOFAST means if he starts raising walls or spikes once we're within his range, we're guaranteed to smash headlong into them on account of limited maneuverability.

That, and I'm a little worried that trying to follow the trail they're leaving might be complicated if he's tricky enough to have remotely set fake tracks in the earth to try and shake pursuers.

>>38163147
Intelligence is not a requirement to inherit a throne.

So what if the sword is actually an elemental spirit like Niklaus was trying to create?
Could Rein become a contractor?

>>38163170
>contract with a being made of our own mana

>>38163170
Didn't he rule that out already? As soon as we told him about it?

>>38163111
>>38163066
>>38163083
>>38163104
On another idea. Luci maybe a hostage now. But she could also be used as a blood sacrifice in some sort of major ritual. Or she becomes the target to be possessed by some dark power.

>>38163195
Pretty much. As far as I recall you need very specific conditions for something to ascend.

>>38163196
>blood sacrifice in some sort of major ritual

That kind of magic doesn't exist.

>possessed by some dark power

Honestly not likely. This doesn't seem like the story for that anyways.

>>38163192
>being made of our own mana contracts with us
>we contract with being made of our own mana
Double contract.

>>38163196
I think you're literally a crazy person.

>>38163127
>the entire "Tina" fandom has been calling him that this whole time

Karel should get some tips from him on how to hide her gender.

>>38163196
Eh I'm not seeing it. Regardless don't give arch any more bad ideas.

>>38163170
"Oh Reinhold, I heard you where a contractor, what is your element?"
"Sword."

>>38163147
Maybe they wanted to go out with a bang. I mean this certainly elevated them from scumbags I'd like to take out to I'm going to burn your cities and salt your fields.

>>38163196
Think arch said that kind of magic doesn't actually exist.

>>38163226
Like not have a gender in the first place?

>>38163233
> they sacrifice her in a dark magic blood ritual
> But I though that kind of magic didn't exist!
> It doesn't, just thought it'd be fun

>>38163230
Go home Shiro, you're drunk and in the wrong universe.

So what's our kidnappers' ideal scenario? Luciana is married off, Celestino begrudgingly abandons his war plans, Reinhold dies from netoraritis, Marconetti and Ancellotta have awkward royal family reunions?

>>38163066
Losing Luciana either by death or escape basically results in them being so unbelievably fucked it isn't funny, and even if everything goes as well as possible for them, she isn't going to live forever.

The meatgrinder that's going to happen when the dam bursts is going to make escaping safely ridiculously uncertain, as would the hypervigilance that's going to spring up in response to the kidnapping.

"We incinerate anyone who sets foot across your borders. Hurt her and we burn your entire fucking country to the ground. Return her unharmed and the collateral damage an invasion would cause might just dissuade us from butchering every last one of you"

>>38163281
>implying this wasn't Sylvies plan to steal Reinhold from the red whore of Marconetti.

>>38163222
If you're not not crazy paranoid, you're not doing it right.
>>38163276
It may not exist, but that may not stop them from looking for a work around it. Even if it means they fail all the time.

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>>38163278
>Update

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>>38163227
>any more bad ideas.
my feelings are so hurt right now

>>38163281
The money from Luciana's ransom/selling is used to hire enough mercenaries/get enough alliances to win a war, I guess.

we should install a republic in Ancelotta

>>38163322
Red Whore a shit.

>>38163322
Speaking of Sylvie, will she try to be part of the rescue party because they've got her father?

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>>38163343
it's okay bby
i <3 u

>>38163281
I'd assume that arrangement would last exactly how ever it takes Celestino to put together a rescue party to get Luci back. Then it is time for them to lube up because everybody within those borders that isn't a slave is going to die.

>>38163363
Does a bear deserve to be punched?

>>38163352
Then why did she win the Reinbowl?

Maybe we can cut some kind of deal? Get Luci back in exchange for forgiving a subset of the ones immediately and let them inherent the country after everyone else crushes it.

>>38163363
Arnaud has already saved her. He has Leopold in a maid outfit working with Gerhard.

>>38163387
They've had a deep cover infiltrator for 10 years. No deals, no compromise.

>>38163395
top kek

>>38163343
I meant the other bad ideas we're coming up with, dammit.

>>38163346
I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to buy her, and Ancelotta wouldn't survive long enough to hire shit after she had departed.

The moment she's out of the country is the moment the country is basically dead.

>>38163297
Also Luciana is probably the worst candidate out of the four of Big C's unmarried children, on account of her being vindicative and manipulative.

Emilio would go along with everything if you gave him a stern glare and Chiara is an easily-influenced babby if you can get past her fists.

Elena is quickly shaping up to be an even meanier badass bitch than her sister but there's still time.

>>38163380
Well, it really depends on the bear.

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>>38163406
it is too late

you have shattered the glass heart of a turtle

>>38163281
I think it wasn't anything that complicated; Leopold mentioned that she's leverage for negotiations, which makes me think it isn't like they're trying to use one hostage as a human shield for the whole country, but rather as a bargaining chip to allow the big hotshot assholes in charge to try and save their own asses and escape from the backlash they've seen as inevitable for years now.

>>38163414
>Big C
I like it!

>>38163424
Truly imprecise grammar is the worst evil.

>>38163413
For something like this, there's definitely buyers. It could just be some sicko on another continent that wanted a pet princess.

>>38163454
>The Boss

>>38163398
Well that's a great approach to getting her killed.

>>38163440
I came up with it long ago but to my dismay it never caught on.

>>38163454
>the VN will actually be a sequel
>archelon is really Akabur

>>38163490
Even more reason to burn that shithole down!

>>38163429
What is stopping him from assassinating the everloving shit outta them the second he gets Luci back or the fact that nobody in their right minds would want people willing to kidnap royalty in their country.

>>38163414
But they don't know she's the shadowrun princess.
She would've seemed liked the best candidate for kidnapping because she's the most valuable for political marriage.

>>38163429
The problem with that plan is as soon as she's handed over, the deal will be immediately ignored in favor of vengeance. Same reason why selling her would be even more retarded.

>>38163517
They're probably the ones that are planning on double-crossing, however.

>>38162539
We arrive for a daring rescue mission with Nico,Greg, Aquaman, Sylvie, Arnaud and Gerhard in time to find Vinny sitting on a pile of castle eating a sandwich.

PLEASE tell me Therri has spy operatives over there.

>>38163583
"Reinhold, I don't fucking know. Arnaud's the spy guy and Gregory the foreign affairs one. I can barely place Ancellotta on a map."

>>38163554
I could easily see this whole thing being pinned on another noble, who the real culpits will then punish and hand over in exchange for being spared and allowed to leave when Granache and Marconetti invade

>>38163554
Unlikely. The entire reason they are doing this is that they are pissing themselves with fear. Presumably the exchange will include something that backs the agreement up with more than just nice words. Stuff like handing over that sealed king Marconetti got and similar safety measures.

>>38163506
>>38163517
It's not like they're gonna stick around; if I know my country's about to go to shit, I'd rather try and throw the rest of the slavery apparatus under the bus and go into hiding somewhere overseas. Sit around spending my ill-gotten royal gains and hope everyone else is too busy trying to unfuck the country I left them to have the resources to bother with me.

It's like they're bank robbers taking hostages in order to demand transportation. Sure, they're probably going to come after you, but you're a smarmy asshole and you probably think all you need is to get out from under the gun in the short term in order to vanish yourself entirely.

After the carriages come to a full stop, you hop down to the ground and hurry to open the carriage door... or rather, you lift it off of the broken hinges and drop it to the ground.

"Thank you, Reinhold," Marianne says to you as you help her down from the carriage.

You hear surprised murmurs from the guards posted, naturally they're surprised to see the dainty princess casually carrying a weapon akin to what the King collects, much less one as long as she is tall.

Once Marianne's clear, you help Karel and Emilio down as well.

In better circumstances, you would have had some kind of remark about the fact that they're still holding hands... but you can't be bothered to do so at a time like this.


>[1/?]

>>38163624
>sending them Monique

Oh the poor sods.

>>38163554
Again: How?

HAHA FOOLED YOU ACTUALLY WE KILLED HER oh fuck

marconetti and granache are now both baying for their blood, and luciana's safety and presence in ancelotta is the only thing stopping full murdermode.

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>>38163583
The most TRUSTWORTHY of spies.
The most DANGEROUS of enemies.
The DEEPEST cover possible.

>>38163649
Karel is quickly reaching our own record of ruined dates.

>>38163654
Lets send him in bits. The same amount of bits as he smashed our sword into.

>>38163667
Any pic of Beatrice in PGQ keeps making me imagine Marianne as a very secret trap.

>>38163671
Usually we are the ones ruining our own dates.

>>38163509
>We get there to rescue her and she already overthrew the kingdom.

>>38163649
>[2/2]

After ascertaining that Marianne and the rest of the passengers of your carriage are doing alright, you hurry to the other one just in time to see Takamaru be carried out by Reya.

"Mr. Takamaru!?" you hear Melanie shouting from not too far away.

And here she comes, running alongside several guards.


>what do you say to her?

>>38163701
PGQ VN ends, the camera zooms outward ward until all of the characters are wooden models. A hand picks up the Marianne piece. "Time to play a new game." Camera pans up to Beatrice's face, smiling.

>>38163769
"Where is the king?"

>>38163769
>There was an attack. Leopold is a traitor. Princess Luciana and Vincent have been taken. We need to report to the king, now.

now somebody with tact, find a way to phrase that well

>>38163769
We've treated him the best we can but he still needs to see a doctor. Where's the King?

>>38163583
>>38163667
Even BETTER than that.

We've been the top-level operator all along. Surely the king wouldn't trust his daughter to just some tournament winner who acts like a naive, go-happy jerk? Reinhold has been MERELY PRETENDING all this time.

>>38163769
>>what do you say to her?
"Go get the big guns. We're gonna blow up Ancelotta."

Seriously though,
"Go get Thieri, Gregs, etc"

>>38163769
"King. Now."

>>38163769
"Get me the king, Sir Gregory, and Arnauld. NOW."

>>38163769
Where is the King?

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>>38163742
>she became a Barbarian conqueror
>snu-snu ending

>>38163790
That works. Direct speach patterns are needed and we needed to get moving 10 min ago.

>>38163769
>We were attacked and they took Luciana and Sir Vincent, get the King and Sir Gregory now.

>>38163769
Leopold set up the rebellion he took Luciana and hurt Takamaru, additionally he collared Vincent who then got teleported to Ancellota apparently. Get The king, Ser Gregory, all knight available as well as Niklaus together immediately.

>>38163790
>>38163769
This.

>>38163790
This is good enough.

>>38163769
>>38163797
seconding this. melon usually doesn't respond well to high tension situations

>>38163833
No she went all Esdeath on them.

>>38163769
Supporting >>38163797 and >>38163821

I don't like shouting all the details out. As unlikely as it is, we can't now if all the guards in this place are 100% trust worthy. And we shouldn't risk starting a panic before we have informed the king.

>>38163888
Uh? Where did you get that? She fetched Nico's right away when Milien went full creep, for one.

>>38163902
>I don't like shouting all the details out. As unlikely as it is, we can't now if all the guards in this place are 100% trustworthy. And we shouldn't risk starting a panic before we have informed the king.
Actually, this is pretty reasonable.

As long as we get across that it's an urgent situation, this probably works just fine versus trying to do the whole report multiple times.

>>38163769
This
>>38163797
And
"Find Arnauld and Sir Gregory now, we need them with me for a discussion with the King."

>>38163769

backing these 2.

>>38163797
>>38163970

>>38163970
Seconding this, since it's worded a lot better, than >>38163821

Maybe we should see if we can get Niklaus in on it too? He's a little odd, but he's also a knowledgeable, important dude and might have some useful insights as to the best way to go about finding them, and/or how best to handle contractors, and/or something else entirely.

>writing

>>38163970
This sounds pretty good.

>>38164024
Maybe Niklaus knows a Nuke From Orbit spell that we can hold to their heads.

'You think you can escape? This spell will destroy everything within such a large radius that you would never be able to get out of there even with a three day headstart.'

>>38164024
I wonder if there's any spells out there that can home in on, or track a person if we have something of theirs, like blood or hair. Pretty sure we must have SOME of Leo's blood on us somewhere.

>>38163970
>we need them with me for a discussion with the King
This doesn't seem even remotely urgent enough, even if the sentiment is in the right place.

>>38164039
>Niklaus volunteers to lead the search party for Sir Vincent; when questioned on why, he remarks that this whole debacle has gotten him rather in the mood for making another lake, and he believes Vincent will agree.

>>38164039
Wouldn't that blow up literally the entire kingdom of Granache?

>>38164095
Wouldn't that blow up Luciana?

>>38164095
We can rebuild it.

We have the technolgy.

>>38164085
We don't want to panic her and the guards that are over hearing us. Also, we can use the tone of our voice to convey that point.

>>38164116
..and?

>>38164024
On the subject of people that might be helpfull. Somebody should probably be send to fetch Rana since we already realized that a flying dragon would be really handy to catch somebody who has a mile wide tremor sense.

>>38164123
>Also, we can use the tone of our voice to convey that point.

Depending on how well Melonie knows us, she could just look us in the eye and know.

>>38164158
>Somebody should probably be send to fetch Rana since we already realized that a flying dragon would be really handy to catch somebody who has a mile wide tremor sense.
Not to mention she'd be really damn fast. Might be too convenient for arch to allow.

>>38164165
Good point.

>>38164123
And I think that Melanie would be insulted if we hid something this important from her.

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>>38164165
>LOOK INTO MY EYES, MELANIE
>WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>>38164134
Dammit Sylvie, this isn't the time.

>>38164179

>>38164213

She does know Sir Gregory, and in the past Nicolette has stated that Reinhold has the look sometimes that says 'Kill the bastard, now!', just like her dad does.

>>38164234
Who the hell cares about Sylvie? This is a golden opportunity to get with Marie in the epilogue. Even if we don't get on the route, we can still end up with her for the ending.

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"Marianne treated him as best she could, but he still needs to see a doctor," you say to Melanie.
"Umm, okay," Melanie replies with a nod. "You two, carry him to the infirmary as quickly as you can!" she shouts to the guards who arrived with her.
"Ma'am!"

The guards do a quick salute to Melanie before carefully taking Takamaru from Reya's arms. Once he's secure, they hurry through the inner corridor of the castle with the unconscious swordsman in tow.

"Okay, he's being taken care of," Melanie says, glancing at the departing guards for a few seconds before turning back to you. "Now would you please tell me what in the world happened? You've got the same look in your eyes as Sir Gregory gets when he wants to run out and kill someone!"
"That's because he does," Marianne replies.


>[1/?]

>>38164273
>The guards do a quick salute to Melanie
For a brief moment I was confused that guards would treat meido like a superior officer. Then I remembered that she is sleeping with their boss, so that is probably wise.

>>38164314
She's also head meido and direct servant to the princess. Outside of military rankings she's of a higher social status than any of them.

Which is another reason why that moron who kept saying Carina being a maid was 'degrading' was so stupid.

>>38164273
Do you have the Luciana commission yet?

>>38164314
It's more because Melanie's the acting head maid and the head butler actually IS their boss so there's a bit of overlap in those things.

>>38164158
I think it's gonna be a case of convincing not to come than it will the opposite. Pretty much every badass we know has a personal stake in this;
Greg - Rescue favorite niece
Ariane - Rescue favorite niece
Nico - Rescue cousin
Sylvie - Rescue Dad
Thierri - Rescue best friend
Marianne - Rescue best friend
Takamaru - Rescue charge
Emilio - Rescue sister
Karel - Prevent mentor from doing more harm

And then people like Rana and Reya will want to help because they're good people like that, even if they aren't particularly close to Luci or Vincent.

>>38164314
>meanwhile half of the maids are passive aggressive toward Nico for ruining their chances with Melon

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>>38164359
Oh my, I hadn't even considered Gregory's reaction to the new.

>>38164314
They probably also heard Reinhold give what amounts to the same order.

IIRC, he outranks normal guards. I think it came up while talking to Nicole way back when that he had equivalent rank to her, though I don't remember clearly enough to cite a thread.

>>38164339
No, unfortunately. The artist had to go to her brother's wedding, and he lives out in the boonies of Indonesia where there are no interwebs to be had.

And then she's busy with her day job when she gets back from there...

>>38164388
royal bodyguard > guard captain > normal guards

>>38164340
I thought Nico was their boss.

>>38164359
>And then people like Rana and Reya will want to help because they're good people like that, even if they aren't particularly close to Luci or Vincent.
Rana may not be particularly close, but she was pretty buddybuddy with Vincent before she got banned from visiting his place for breaking shit.

>>38164412
Mid-boss.

>>38164388
We outrank Nico, but since she'd kick our ass if we reminded her of that and she's distantly part of the royal family and daughter of the second most important dude in the kingdom it doesn't really matter.

>>38164273
>"Now would you please tell me what in the world happened? You've got the same look in your eyes as Sir Gregory gets when he wants to run out and kill someone!"
>"That's because he does," Marianne replies.
That probably conveys the seriousness of the situation.

>>38164359
And that's not even taking into consideration the possibility of Marconetti sending Celestino and/or Alberto and/or Giancarlo to join Team LiveBadAss, or Andreas, Anatole and Monique escaping Leopold's trap at some point and joining the fight.

>>38164452
Give it to Marianne to announce when fun time is over.

>>38164457
I think if we wait long enough for reinforcements to arrive from the Marconetti capitol, we already lost.

>>38164427
"Breaking shit" was just Angelique's excuse to put some distance between her husband and the lusty, young dragon-girl, wasn't it?

>>38164359
They can't ALL go though. There would be no super badasses around to respond to more salamander attacks or from more conventional forces.

>>38164411
That's even higher than I thought. Wow.

>>38164500
You'd think so, but no.

>>38164500
Silly Anon, the concept of Adultery is unknown to bears.

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>>38164273
>[2/2]

"There was an attack," you say. "Leopold showed up and turned out to be a traitor. He's the one who did that to Takamaru, then he transported Sir Vincent somewhere and ran off with Luciana."
"Oh my God..." Melanie gasps.
"We need to see the King and Arnaud and Sir Gregory right now."

It takes Melanie a few moments to recover from the shock of what you just told her, but soon thereafter you see a cold look in her eyes.

"I'll fetch them right away," Melanie says, nodding to you. "Find a conference room and wait there."
"Thanks," you reply.

Unconcerned with her shoes' heels, Melanie breaks into a full sprint and hurries away as fast as her short legs will take her. Once she's out if sight, you turn back to your friends and family...


>bring everyone
>bring _____ and tell _____ to stay behind

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>>38164552
That's what a bear would say

>>38164481
I'm sure Celestino knows some emergency speed spell that could get him to Granache in about 30 minutes.
Behemoth carriage isn't the quickest way to travel, it's just the coziest.

>>38164557
>>bring _____ and tell _____ to stay behind
everyone, the lolis, maybe citrine

>>38164552
But Vincent isn't a bear. He's a man.

>>38164575
Now that is a ruse so convoluted that only a bear could have conceived it

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>we raid Ancellotta
>final boss is the bodyguard of the moody heir to the country
>it's a 16 years old swordsman, born a slave and with a history of abuse

>>38164557
>bring marianne, karel, emilio, and reya and tell everyone else to get somewhere safe inside the castle

>>38164557
>>bring _____ and tell _____ to stay behind
Bring the royals and bodygaurds and tell Marius and Citrine to stay behind and watch after the lolis.

>>38164557
>>bring _____ and tell _____ to stay behind
Just take Marianne, Emilio and Karel

>>38164557
>bring _____ and tell _____ to stay behind
everyone / Citrine and the littlest ones.

This will be a war meeting, they should not be in the room. But inform them later.

>>38164594
>he's standing in the way of us saving Lucinia and stabbing Leopold
>he ded

>>38164557
>bring (adults - civilians), and tell children to stay behind with civilians.

>>38164557
Bring everyone who can meaningfully contribute to rescuing Luci, have Citrine watch over any and all lolis who do not have parents available to watch over them.

>>38164557
While I agree with leaving the non combatants out of the war council, can we please send them to a waiting room where someone can get them a hot drink and give them some sense of security rather than leaving them outside?

>>38164557

Take a moment to talk with Inaba. Can she track Leopold? Some of the stuff earlier seemed to indicate she might be able to.

>>38164594
Sucks to be him.

>>38164557
Bring everyone who isn't a little girl. Maybe leave Citrine to babysit, or Melanie of she isn't too busy.

>>38164557
>>bring _____ and tell _____ to stay behind

Bring
Karel
Emilo
Marianne
reya

Stay behind (some where else in the castle, that is safe)
Grandma
Citrine
Marius
Loli's
Melanie

Have Melanie serve them some drinks.

>>38164557
>>38164600
This seems about right. Elena might want to insist on going as well and it's possible that Inaba has some worthwhile insights like the same expanded senses like her hearing his heartbeat, but bringing them into the situation room seems a little extreme. Also Gregory would give us an earful if we brought Elena along.

>>38164624
>can we please send them to a waiting room where someone can get them a hot drink and give them some sense of security rather than leaving them outside?
Also this. Nothing's worse than feeling like you're being kept way out of the loop on something you're seriously worried about.

>>38164639
>>38164646
>Melanie of she isn't too busy.
>Have Melanie serve them some drinks.

>Unconcerned with her shoes' heels, Melanie breaks into a full sprint and hurries away as fast as her short legs will take her
She is getting the king, I think that counts as being a little busy

>>38164557
Bring Royals and bodyguards
Tell lolis and sis to stay behind.

Damnit. What gets me right now, is even if we'd been properly super paranoid and put up a sanctuary scroll, the second carriage wouldn't have been in it. Or we'd have put it up with Leopold inside.

>>38164602
Yeah, Marius is good with kids and probably doesn't need to hear the battleplans.
We'll tell him and Citrine what's happening later.

We should bring Agnes with us though because she probably knows better than anybody how Celestino will react to this, now that Luci isn't here.

>>38164646
Shouldn't Reya stick with the kids?

>>38164557
>>bring _____ and tell _____ to stay behind
Bring Royals and bawdyguards.

Leave family and lolis somewhere safe

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>>38162492
I want to grow old with Nicolette!

>>38164594
too late
final boss getting ganked by meido in 3 2 1.....

>>38164673
Wouldn't he have been ejected as soon as he had negative/hostile thoughts or took a hostile action?

>>38164691
+1

>>38164701
except rabbit godling, she angry

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>>38164708
is she tired anon

>>38164705
Well Luci might be married off/sold off/dead so your chances are looking brighter.

>>38164594
Tough shit, he's dead.

>>38164663
She won't be busy getting the King once the metting has started.

>>38164711
No, Archelon said things inside when it goes up stay inside. Was mentioned in the last 3 or 4 threads or so I think.

>>38164705
Can you stop?

>>38164691
>We should bring Agnes with us though because she probably knows better than anybody how Celestino will react to this, now that Luci isn't here.
Gregory and Thierri probably have a pretty solid grasp as well, if maybe not quite as comprehensive.

>>38164711
It doesn't eject things, just keeps them from entering. It's just setting up a really magical wall-bubble.

>>38164705
Here's hoping for New Game +.

Okay... looks like there's a decent enough consensus with the exception of what to do with Agnes.


>bring her along
>ask her to stay with the others

I miss Luci

>>38164753
>bring her along

>>38164753
>>bring her along

>>38164753
>bring her along

>>38164760
"... and she misses me!"

>>38164753
>bring her along

>>38164753
>bring her along

>>38164753
>bring her along

>>38164753
>>bring her along

>>38164760
Me too bro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs_ZS33X1fI

>>38164760
Well that makes one of us.

I can't believe you're all so sure about bringing Karel into our important battle plans meeting.

She's spent most of her life being groomed by Leopold and we know from experience that she's a adept and witholding important personal details from those close enough to trust her.
There's a reason Celestino shadowruns about people like her.

>>38164753
>bring her along

>writing

>>38164753
>>bring her along

>>38164705
Get with Rana, never grow old at all.

>>38164772
"...and she misses a finger, currently en route to Celestino c/o a poor, unsuspecting messenger as an strongly implied threat!"

>>38164809
>a thousand years of big perky tits

>>38164753
>bring her along
She's seen this kind of situation a thousand times before

>>38164798
u wot

>>38164753
bring her along

>>38164814
;_;

>>38164798
If Karel were on his site she would have had the perfect chance to grab Mari or Emilo during the attack. She has very little to gain by returning especially since king Shadwonrun will immidiately suspect her once he hears of this.

>>38164731
Does it hurt you? Are you really that sensitive?

VN will never happen it's a pipe dream.

Here this help?

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>>38164856

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>>38164856

>>38164798
I wonder whether the king of shadowruns actually suspected Leopold

>>38164814
Regen, yo.

It'll grow back.

>>38164872
If he didn't he has lost claim to the title of king shadowruns.

>>38164814
Considering how easy it is to regrow entire arms, that is a lot less threatening than it sounds.

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Things are finally in motion... and soon, you'll finally be able to chase after that bastard and get your girlfriend back.

And once you do, he's going to die.

"Hey Citrine," you say placing a hand on her shoulder, "could you two watch Elena and the other girls while we go and see the king?"
"Of course," Citrine replies with a solemn nod. "So all of the rest of you are gonna..."
"Yeah. And Grandma, if you wouldn't mind coming along...?"

Agnes seems truly surprised that you've decided to include her in this.

"Ah- if you really think that I'll be of any help then of course..." Agnes replies.
"Thanks," you reply.


>[1/?]

>>38164895
"Dear King,

This marks the tenth finger we have sent you. Future deliveries will resume our previously established pattern from the beginning. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding."

>>38164926
I wonder if it's possible to have cursed wounds that can't be healed or if rich people can always shrug off these things.

>>38164947
I believe arch said on his ask.fm that there were no cursed wounds. not completly sure tho

>>38164945
Naah you really want to get them. Send Teeth. Means you can still move the subject in public as well. Missing fingers are an eye catcher.

Missing teeth is demoralizing. They won't want to smile and will try to avoid doing so due to vanity.

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>>38164760

>>38164974
OTOH if Luciana no longer has teeth that's one thing Reinhold won't have to worry about during the act.

>>38164995
>meanwhile, Takamaru

>>38164995
Because clearly Gregory and Aqua Dad don't know Celestino well enough to know how he'll react.

>>38164987
Lovely

>>38164995
She's an experienced as fuck swordie who's spent more time than anyone present with Celestino

>>38164944
>[2/2]


"Citrine," Marianne calls out, "just ask one of the maids to take you to somewhere where you can wait for us."
"Got it," Citrine nods.

With that matter settled, she turns to the children.

"C'mon, girls..." Citrine says as she takes the weeping Valerie's hand. "While Reinhold and the Princess and everyone else goes to talk to the King about what just happened, we're gonna go wait for them, okay?"
"...okay..." Valerie mumbles.

Valerie pulls her unresponsive sister along, and Elena trudges behind...

"I come too," Inaba says.
"Wha?" Elena stops in her tracks.
"I go with Reinhold," she points at you. "I help."


>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now
>yeah, alright

>>38165018
Yeah. Gregory and Arnaud have no experience with swords. Celestino's childhood friends don't know how he'll react.

>>38164387
Put it this way, Marianne reacted by pummeling pieces of rock with a giant halberd.
Marianne!

Greg's probably gonna endanger most of the castle with his reaction.

>>38165108
Why is Inaba so sure she will help/beat down Leo?

>>38165108
>yeah, alright

>>38165115
I don't see how that makes her experience invalid.

They also have more experience than Reinhold and Reya and Marianne are in less emotional states than we are, so can probably communicate the situation better, what is Reinhold doing in the meeting?

>>38165108
>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now

Elena needs you to protect her. She's not strong yet.

>>38165108
>>yeah, alright
you must promise to listen

>>38165108
>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now

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>>38165136
Lagomorphs are overly confident around turtles.

>>38165160
this

>>38165136
naivete

>>38165155
He was at the scene of the attack and has the most accurate assessment of the events.

The ability to use a sword has no bearing whatsoever on this meeting. She's certainly not going to be swinging one around anymore.

>>38165108
>>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now

>>38165163
She's got rabbit ears, she can probably hear everything from the other side of the castle.

>>38165108

>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now

Protect Elena and the rest here. I'll tell you what we're going to do later.

>>38165108
>>yeah, alright

I think she might be able to track him.

>>38165108
>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now

>>38165108
>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now

>>38165108
>>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now

>>38165108
>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now
I mean she seems pretty powerful but do we want to bring what's essentially a child into a situation like that?

>>38165108
>>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now
Elena needs a bodyguard right now. We don't need BOTH sisters being kidnapped today.

>>38165178
>She's certainly not going to be swinging one around anymore
It's her experience, not her prowess. She's somebody else who's probably been in similarly delicate situations and can offer another point of view in how to handle it.

>>38165108
>>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now
She needs you.

>>38165108
Let her come along to report whatever her preternatural senses told her about the situation and make her case, at the very least, but let her know that everyone is going to want to go, but that there's absolutely no way to bring them all. There need to be people at the castle to protect everyone in case something else happens.

>>38165108
>you'd be helping more by staying with elena for now

>writing

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I know she's got super sense abilities and shit, but I do get the feeling Inaba's the kind of person who'll say she's the best person available for any old job when in reality, she has no experience or any idea what she's doing.

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>>38165136
She feels compelled to fight against him because she knows that Leopold is also an ascended animal.

And honestly, with a name like this we should've seen it coming.

Hey Arch, are the effects of Boost reduced if we're using Metal Body?

>>38165443
Not at all.

>>38165459
Do our metal muscles get damaged?

>>38165286
Of course an untrained force of destruction has its own uses, when properly aimed.

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"You'd be helping more by staying with Elena for now," you say to the bunnygirl.
"I can help!" Inaba shouts. "I strong!"
"I don't doubt that," you reply, "but Elena needs you to protect her. Because -she- isn't strong yet."

Inaba grinds her teeth in frustration as tears well up in her eyes. But just as you think she's about to break down, she walks over to Elena and hugs her.

"...okay," Inaba mumbles.
"don't worry," you say to her, "I'll be sure to tell you what we're going to do later."

You wave goodbye to Citrine and the others before following after Marianne. She leads you and the others with you to... the same meeting room where you first met her.

"It looks like Father and the others aren't here yet," Marianne says, breathing ha heavy sigh as she places the halberd that she'd been gripping all this time down onto the table.
"I guess we just have to wait now..." Emilio replies.

Nodding in agreement, you help your grandmother into what looks like the comfortable chair in the room while the others find their own places to loiter. Karel and Emilio sit together by the door, Marianne takes a seat beside Agnes, and Reya simply stares out the window.

And as for you...


>talk to the marianne and agnes about ____
>talk to the emilio and karel about _____
>talk to the reya about ___
>stew in your own anger

>>38165525
>stew in your own anger

>>38165525
>stew in your own anger

>>38165525
>stew in your own anger
Also apologize to our sword for not trusting it's instincts.

>>38165507
Boost is basically your body going 200% and you feel the effects after its over.So the metal muscles would have no effect other than probably make it worse via weight.

>>38165525
>>stew in your own anger

>>38165525
>>talk to the marianne and agnes about ____
how big C and aquaman will react.

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>>38165525
>stew in your own anger
We make ready for war.

>>38165525
>>stew in your own anger
Not much to be said at the moment as it'll be said when they get here.

>>38165549
so no Coloshold damn

>>38165525
>talk to the reya about his cooler sister
where is she?

>>38165525
>[Other]
Make tea for Marianne. Gotta finish this the way we started.

>>38165525
>talk to the marianne and agnes about
What to do.

>>38165525
Why not >>38165548

>>38165561
this

>>38165525
>stew in your own anger

>>38165525
>>talk to the marianne and agnes about ____
Marie needs support too. Talk about anything.

>>38165525
Supporting this
>>38165606

>>38165525
>>38165561

This.

>>38165525
>>stew in your own anger

we mad

>>38165525
>stew in your own anger

>>38165525
>stew in your own anger
play with our bracelet in an attempt to take our mind off things

>>38165525
Stew in anger for a bit followed by making tea for Marianne. Also talk to her about anything.

>>38165525
>>stew in your own anger

Why don't we just buy Ancellotta a load of cakes, then they'll be our friends?

>writing

>>38165678
It's too late for cakes now, they took our waifu.

>>38165706
What about trojan cakes?

>>38165678
Fucking. GENIUS.

Make one huge cake in the shape of a slave collar so they'll take in, and bake a whole bunch of files into the Trojan Confection (as is customary) so the slaves can make a proper jailbreak.

>>38165525
>stew in your own anger
Might as well now, because it's going to be blown the fuck out by whatever Gregory feels. Most likely unbridled, earth-shattering rage.

>>38165740
>>38165741
You guys are good at this, I'm game for the Trojan Cake.

>>38165741
>>38165740
Trojanmind

Just got here, have we gone all MURDER yet?