>inb4

Good night, /pgq/

dont fuck this up

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After stepping over the melted entrance into the building, you take a quick look around. There are several corridors to choose from, but thankfully you don't see any soldiers roaming the halls.

It seems that the decision to have Niklaus melt your way inside the building was the correct one.

Once the others have joined you, you internally process the different courses of action that you can take from here...


>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana
>have inaba lead the way this time
>split up and take different corridors

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

>>38261084
>>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

>You've just broken into the stronghold, and only one goal lies before you- to rescue Luciana... and also to kill Leopold.
>Two. Two goals lie before you.

...our chief weapon is surprise.

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

>>38261065

Hey Arch, where'd Volker buy the sword that Reinhold ended up with? Who forged it?

I get it's probably not relevant but even if the answer is mundane, I'd like to know.

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

If this is the same building they're holding Luciana then there's no needs to split up and rush since they'll be here for awhile.

>>38261084
Don't split up, no matter what. Have nik take the lead while Inaba remains the hidden kung fu bomb in rabbit form.

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

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>just caught up on tonight's antics
Jesus fucking Christ!
I can't believe I missed most of the best thread in monthsFuck time zones

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana
And have Inaba go bunny. Surprise element, remember?

>>38261138
I think it was a gift from Grandma..

I should have been asleep five hours ago but fuck me if I can walk away from this.
>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way

>>38261138
>where'd Volker buy the sword that Reinhold ended up with?
Grandma purchased it for him as a present for his 23rd (iirc) birthday.

I also think she mentioned knowing who the smith was and offering to tell us so we could take it to them to be reforged back when the thing was broken.

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana

We should all also armor up with magic before kicking down doors.

>>38261084
>have niklaus continue to lead the way and sniff out luciana
While Inaba probably knows Luci's scent better. Surprise bunny must remain surprise.

>>38261183

I'm regretting not visiting that smith. Just for the background knowledge.

>>38261065
I hope you have some final boss battle music ready for when the time comes Arch

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>>38261199
But then we'd never have met Tina

>>38261204
> start knocking Leopold around like a red headed stepchild
> yakkity sax plays

>>38261218
Tina's a dude, dude.

>>38261218

No, we still would've gotten it reforged via crystal, but it would have been interesting to tell the smith what had happened with the sword in all the years it's been since it was sold.

It's a damn good sword considering it stood up to the Swordbreaker's antics without losing its sharpness or temper.

Hell, in all the time that Reinhold had it, it was described as perfectly balanced. For a sword that's never been tuned up and apparently isn't magical, that's fucking amazing.

>>38261138
>>38261183 has it right.


>writing

>>38261228
>red headed stepchild
Don't diss the girl we are rescuing man.

>>38261199
I don't think it was such a huge deal as far as missing stuff was concerned, unless Volker regularly took it in for maintenance and actually knew the guy really well.

More likely than not the guy's involvement could be boiled down to
>grandma asks for pretty great sword
>"oh; this gonna be for the kid who keeps breaking 'em all the time? i'll see what I can do"
>make pretty great sword
>"thanks bro"
>"np agnes; don't be a stranger"
with more interstitial back-and-forth about the specs and/or maybe some reminiscing if they had a prior business/personal relationship.

It's going to be a future thing we won't get to see it, but it seems like the kind of place we'd make a point of going to get a sidearm made for nephew-Reinhold to use when he's old enough out of sentimentality, since we're likely to keep the original in the main-line family.

>>38261271
No, see, then it would have been knocking UP.

>>38261271
But Luci's not a stepchild...

Rein should give Luci another gift after all this maybe flowers or more Grimoires or his penis

>>38261433
Actually isn't her current mother her step mother? Making her a step child?

>>38261417

True, but I still want to meet the guy who can forge such a damn good sword.

>>38261451
No. Lisette is her birth mother. She and her younger siblings are Lisette's actual children while Giancarlo and those older than him are the stepchildren.

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>>38261450
that's reserved for the honeymoon

>>38261451
No Giancarlo is the last child from Celestinos first wive, who grew up with Lisette as his step mom. Luciana is Lisette's oldest.

>>38261451
It's the other way around. The older siblings are step-children of Luciana's mother.

Luciana is a step-sibling to a whole bunch of a̶s̶s̶h̶o̶l̶e̶s people, but not a stepchild. At least not to anyone who actually still exists.

>>38261473
sauce?

>>38261417
I wonder how Nephew-hold is gonna feature in the Elena-sequel...
Inb4 he takes up the Elena role and we start begging Arch for a sequel where he and Chiara travel the world doing adventure things

>>38261488
http://www.mangainn.me/manga/3970_boku-no-hero-academia

Damn good manga i must say.

>>38261473
Come on, even Cel was expecting Rein to tap that ass by now.

>>38261484
>strikethrough
What sorcery is this?

>>38261538
And at this point he can hardly say anything. Reinhold will either die in the attempted rescue or Celestino would have to explain to Luciana why he saw fit to have Agnes's grandson, who rescued her, be thrown off a cliff. While she's on the verge of PTSD.

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You turn to Inaba, who is busy sniffing the air.

"Inaba?" you pat her on the shoulder. "I need you to turn back into a rabbit while we run. You can keep up with us, right?"
"I can," Inaba replies with a nod. "I keep up."
"Thanks."

As Inaba poofs back into her original form, you turn to the Archmage this time.

"Do you still have her scent?" you ask.
"It's kind of strange," Niklaus replies, an uneasy expression on his face, "most likely because the person we're chasing after is able to freely navigate through these stone walls."
"So you won't be able to track her?" Monique asks. "Setsuranka senses heat sources throughout this place, but we're not particularly familiar with Princess Luciana's or Leopold's so we wouldn't be able to tell just from those..."
"I thought you had been working with him for the past month?" Takamaru asks.
"I was mostly partnered up with Anatole since we had past experience working with one another," he replies. "Sorry..."


>[1/?]

>>38261460
100% TOTALLY CANON REASON FOR SURE (but actually not) The other smiths in the area got together and made a pact to keep making substandard swords for that one freaky strong kid so they'd keep breaking and they'd have a constant supply of new work contracts coming in.

When Agnes came in personally to get a sword and he recognized her as the duelist he had admired as a kid, he had an epiphany and decided that to redeem his professional integrity he'd really put his all into it.

And with the guaranteed business of eight hundred shipments of new swords to the Eschenwald estate every year, the shit smiths who were just skating by went out of business.

>>38261548
Unicode character shit, same as why zalgo text is a thing that exists.

>>38261484
She's the half-sister of the previous mom's kids, for clarity.

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>>38261624
>"Sorry..."

"Not sorry enough" replies Reinhold, as he runs Monique through with his sword.

"Psssh... nothin personnel..."

>>38261624
FUCKING MONIQUE YOU USELESS WORTHLESS SHIT CAN'T YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT? YOU BLUE... CUNT!

>>38261624
It's weird but I'm really hoping Inaba, Niklaus and Takamaru get distracted, leaving Reinhold and Monique to team up for the final battle.

>>38261624
We should reassure him that he's not at fault for this either.

>>38261624
if only if we had brought the lolicon

>>38261624
"Can you at least track luciana's shoes? Given what a massive bootlick you were before, I'd assume you got to know them pretty well."

>>38261686
Nah man, Taka has personal (well, professional) beef what with Luci being his charge and Inaba probably sees Luci as her own sister now she's ascended.
If anything, it's Nik and Monique who should stay behind to hold off the reinforcements or whatever.

>>38261725
>three-way fight with the villain and the young hero

If he gets out of this alive this time...

>>38261725
I know but I just want to see a Reinhold and Monique team up

>>38261753
Yeah me too, I'm a sucker for rivals teaming up in a crisis.

>>38261753
They've already done that all the way back on Namek. Track record shows they can both put personal differences aside to deal with a crisis and considering last time was right after the sealed king bullshit I expect they can do so just about anytime it's needed.

>>38261624
>[2/2]

"Worry not, my friend," Niklaus says, puffing out his chest. "Even if this really is a maze, all I have to do is sniff out the cheese that is Princess Luciana's lovely lavender perfume."

You're not sure whether or not to thank him so instead you simply nod.

"This way," Niklaus says, pointing down the corridor to the right of the hole that he melted in the wall. "Let is not waste any more time dawdling here."
"Yes, let's not," Monique replies.

As the five of you move down the hallway as quietly as you can, you look down at your sword.

"Anyone strong here?" you ask in a hushed tone.

<up>

While you're not sure if that's referring to Leopold, your sword's response does serve to fill you with a little bit of hope. And Niklaus;s discovery of a flight of stairs helps even more.


>take the lead up the stairs
>delegate that to someone else

>>38261753
Wait for the single route, when we bro it up with everyone and actively sabotage the groups attempts to get luciana out of her marriage to Ice-bro and sword-mistress.

>>38261853
>Take the lead up the stairs.

>>38261853
>take the lead up the stairs

Why don't we, you know, Steel Body first though? Not a suspicious choice at all.

>>38261853
>>take the lead up the stairs

>>38261853
>take the lead up the stairs

How are we not detected yet?

>>38261853
>take the lead up the stairs

>>38261853
>take the lead up the stairs

>>38261853
>take the lead up the stairs

>>38261853
>take the lead up the stairs
Rein is probably the most durable unless Monique is in his super mode or whatever it was called.

>>38261853
>take the lead up the stairs


>>38261879
We might be, for all we know.
But more likely, Leopold doesn't notice enough detail to distinguish us from other guards.

>>38261869
I would think no. Heavy clunking footsteps would stand out as not normal. Leopold might get suspicious if he senses it.

>>38261853
>take the lead up the stairs
I'm kind of skeptical about whether or not we'd be easier to pinpoint for the earth-elemental detection if we used Metal Body, so prepping a Holy Shine instead of clanking around as Iron Man the whole time might be more feasible for emergency defense.

>>38261913
>>38261933
Good point.

>>38261906
As I recollect, that just prevents him from getting knocked out for a while, it doesn't prevent him from being injured.

>>38261965
It sort of does. We smashed all of his ribs and his swordfu was holding them together.

>>38261869
Because steel body makes us as agile as a mansized lump of metal.

>>38261853
>>take the lead up the stairs

>writing

>>38261906
>Hey Monique go use your damage absorbing cheating spell up those stairs.

You take the lead on the way up the stairs, holding your sword ready just in case. Following closely behind you, you hear Takamaru chanting what sounds like the same spell that he used just before you crossed the border...

...and all of a sudden, you find ourself no longer able to hear even the light footsteps of you and your associates as you creep up the stairs.

Just what you were hoping for.

<ahead>

It looks like even that silence spell doesn't have any effect on your sword's ability to communicate with you.


>prepare a spell
>sword and sword

>>38262106
>sword and sword
we trained as a swordmage for a reason

>>38262106
>sword and sword

>>38262106
>prepare a spell
IRON REIN!

>>38262106
>>sword and sword
RIP AND TEAR

>>38262106
>sword and sword

>>38262106
>sword and sword
I CAST SWORD

>>38262106
>prepare a spell
We can hold a spell now, right? I want to rush in swinging, but holding iron body in case we're about to get hit.

>>38262106
>prepare a spell
Tailwind. If we see him, unleash it immediately, and tackle him to the wall in a retarded slam that won't give him any time to bullshit.

>>38262106
>prepare a spell

Twilight's Wake, so we have a ranged option for right now. That or Dead Line Fault.

>>38262106
>Prepare metal body spell with sword.

>>38262106
Tailwind.

Keep him from doing anything to Luciana while the others enter the room.

>>38262106
>prepare a spell
Still suggesting we hold a Holy Shine in reserve.

Best case we can parry in both directions in case there are guys on either side of the doorway or they'll use fire magic and we can nullify anything non-explosive they try and launch down the hallway.

Even if it's just one guy we can bait an attack to the off-hand side with a feint and deploy the shield to block it as we counter-strike with our own weapon to end things quickly.

>>38262106
>prepare a spell
Twilight's Wake

An idea:

The important part of spells is conceptualization, right? Wouldn't the telepathy we've been developing with our sword eventually help conceptualizing silently?

>writing

>>38262235
Are you suggesting Rein become the Silent Knight?

>>38262251
SIIIIIIIILEEENT KNIIIIGHT

>>38262235
So far the telepathy is one way, sadly. We have to speak to the sword for it to know what we want.

>>38262277
We can squeeze her handle in morse code.

...That seems kinda lewd.

>>38262291
I wonder if it gets off on being cleaned

"Raising my sword before the coming shade, its glint is the final glimmer of light before..." you chant, preparing an attack spell just in case.

Though you have to admit that this feels particularly strange thanks to the effects of Takamaru's spell. You're sure that you said the words, but you could only hear them as a half-muffled sound inside your own head. But at least it still worked.

Dashing up the final stretch of stairs, you heed your sword's warning and immediately slash with it the second you step into the second-floor hallway. It tears into the unsuspecting guard who was standing beside the opening, and he falls to the ground without a sound.

Even his final screams of terror are silenced.


>[1/?]

>>38262359
It's like the entire world is Caim now. Screaming and laughing in silent bloodshed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlFTRLKboFo

>>38262359

<BEHIND!>

Heeding your sword's mental shouts, you pivot on your heel and swing your sword upwards...

"Twilight's Wake!" you shout.

Though no actual sound comes out of your mouth, your spell is unaffected, sending a wave of light trailing in the shape of your swing and cutting through the guard. His bisected corpse hits the floor just as the others join you here on the second floor.


>[2/?]

>>38262398
RIP AND TEAR

>>38262398
Psychic sword is godmode. Our already awesome danger sense has reached PER10 levels.

I thought Leopold could sense us from some distance. Shouldn't he know we're here since we're literally in the same building?

>>38262490
It seems like he senses movement through the ground so maybe he'd just confuse them for the soldiers.
Though now the fighting has broken out he might be able to tell something is going down.

>>38262490
Taka's spell quiets things by reducing vibrations. It's magic I ain't gotta explain shit.

>>38262490
>in the same building?
Are we?

>>38262398

Niklaus wastes no time in running past the fallen bodies as he pursues Luciana's trail. He motions for you to follow him and you do just that, breaking into a full sprint with the Archmage in the lead.

"Hey, what the-" Three more soldiers pick that exact moment to turn a corner into the walkway that you're in, apparently out of the range of Takamaru's casting of his silence spell.

Admittedly, it would completely blow your cover if this entire building was suddenly devoid of sound. At least the initial casting was effective, as these three definitely didn't know that you were here until just now.

"White Horizon."


>[3/?]

>>38262490
His detection is most likely wide-range tremorsense, which may require him to actually be in contact with the ground. Either the building is dampening his detection (due to, say, the floorboards being made of wood or something) or he can't identify specific people just by their footsteps.

If he can sense people through the floor of building then he'll probably realize we're here when bodies start hitting the floor and not getting back up though.

>>38262490

>>38262519
This is my guess as well. I doubt we'll get a full explanation from Leo though. Might have to ask his brother.

Or we could go to Archelons ask.fm. Maybe he'll answer it after Leo's dead and it's not a spoiler?

>>38262531
I hope so. We'll find out.

>>38262577
>Maybe he'll answer it after Leo's dead and it's not a spoiler?

One thing I'd like to know at that point is what's plan B (C?) for Ancellotta if Leopold's plan fail.

It occurs to me to wonder whether, providing we get him backed into a corner, he might believe us if we said we'd let him go if he gives us Luciana for "Karel's sake." It's not like PTSD orphans have to keep their promises, but Reinhold might have to consider it now before he goes into berserk mode.

>Or we could go to Archelons ask.fm. Maybe he'll answer it after Leo's dead and it's not a spoiler?
I think I'm going to end up having to write up a diagram for this...


And on a slightly related note, that Luciana interlude gave me a chance to actually have Leopold explain himself without going full-on Bond villain monologue to Reinhold.

Because, you know, that wouldn't really make sense since Reinhold wants nothing more than to stab his face forever.

I require sleep.

Don't screw up too badly.

>>38262615
(Reinhold tries to stab him, everyone, including Luciana, looks at him wondering why he is being so impolite after Leopold worked so hard on his speech)

>>38262597
Capture Giancarlo and threaten to sell him to a nation of perverted amazons.

>>38262618
Leopold's earthbending gives him the advantage at a distance though.

If we let him go he could kill us all with little risks for himself.

And Ancellotta isn't gonna treat him nicely if he comes back empty-handed.

>>38262674
Ancellota is probably going to kill him anyway even if he did succeed to be frank. No one is going to trust a deep cover traitor who'd probably sell them out to Celestino for even more money.

>>38262691
>sell them out to Celestino
You say that like Celestino won't kill him on sight.

>>38262691
As if Cel wont personally rip Leo apart if he ever sees him again.

>>38262545

With a snap of Niklaus's fingers, a fuzzy clear sphere shoots towards the soldiers. Rather than a solid object, it seems more like a distortion of light akin to the air just above hot stone roads in the middle of summer. IT continues on until it reaches the oncoming soldiers.

And then it's like a wall of air hits you.

Once you're able to open your eyes again, you actually find yourself disgusted by the sight of the three soldiers' bodies completely flattened against the walls and ceiling.

"Archmage Sucher..." Monique gasps. "That was..."
"Inverse effects of a gravitational singularity in an enclosed space," he replies, not bothering to stop moving. "Instead of being drawn into a single point, objects are irresistibly pushed away from it, and it just so happened that there was a wall in the way when that happened."


>[4/?]

>>38262715
>>38262716
I think we have established that Leopold is not necessarily of towering intelligence.

>>38262597
Honestly? I think this is their plan C, or something further down the alphabet, like G.
"Flee the country you rule" is not a good plan A.
Plans A and B probably had more to do with making alliances with other countries or more normal statesmanship solutions.
Original C was, as Leo explained, kill Celestino.

If I'm reading them right, part of the reason it looks like they have tons of resources to throw at Granache right now and endless mercenaries, is probably because they can't take it with them. They want the major cash payment because it's portable.

>>38262625
>Bond villain monologue
He kinda did, but to Luciana instead. At least it makes sense that way. No way would Reinhold wait for him to finish speaking without some bizarre contrivance.

>>38262691
I think Leo is ready for this. He's the one arranging the ransom for Luci, so until he delivers the cash to his bosses, they won't betray him.

Presumably, his bosses are arranging the transportation to Anywhere Else, so Leo needs them.

>>38262740
>He kinda did, but to Luciana instead. At least it makes sense that way. No way would Reinhold wait for him to finish speaking without some bizarre contrivance.
Exactly.

>>38262691
Celestino wouldn't let a double traitor live anyway, and Leopold would definitely know that.
Though, it could easily be possible Leopold is also working for an outside power as is Ancellota to plunge the continent into war and leave it ripe for invasion by another continent, while Leopold and those Ancellotians in-the-know either gets titles and land in the conquered continent, or tiles and land on another continent

>>38262735
Niklaus is a badarse.

>>38262735
Nick is a Surgebinder, Cool.

>>38262735
>you actually find yourself disgusted by the sight of the three soldiers' bodies completely flattened against the walls and ceiling
Jesus christ Niklaus

>>38262757
It's conspiracies all the way down!

>>38262735
So THAT'S What you meant when you said niklaus was one of the few people in the entire world who understood the concept of gravity beyond "Things fall down."

>>38262792
Yyyyyup.

I know that wasn't an explosion in the normal sense, but I still think Leopold would have noticed.

>>38262792
>>38262801
I am so glad Rein decided that he was actually pretty cool and decided to get on his good side.

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>>38262735
>[5/5]

"Gravi..." Monique's voice trails off.
"I'd be more than happy to explain the theories behind my magic later, but right now we have a more pressing matter to attend to."

Passing by the splattered corpses, you're met with another flight of stairs...

<more>

<close>

"Alright, let's go," you reply.


>take the lead
>delegate to another

>>38262827
>take the lead

>>38262827
>take the lead

>>38262827
>take the lead
This is our mission.

>>38262827
>take the lead
Why would you let a caster take point?

>>38262827
>Take the Lead

HERE'S COMES THE NIGHT TRAIN!!
CHOOO CHOO CHA BOOGIE!

>>38262827
>take the lead
prepare clay spread, just in case?

>>38262811
I'm not sure Niklaus operates by good side and bad side. Seems more like he's a dodecahedron with a face dedictaed to "pure maido waifu", a good chunk of "mild annoyances I can't antagonize too much", and as for the rest best not to consider them.

>>38262827
>take the lead

I suppose either Taka or Monique could do that since Taka's in charge of Luciana's security and Monique's a knight but at this point it hardly matters.

>>38262827
>>take the lead

>>38262827
How's our MP gauge? If still high, take lead. If not, pass. Need to keep enough in the tank to take on Leo.

>>38262857
When are we gonna turn clay spread into sword (or at least very sharp metal spike) spread?

>>38262869
I dunno, Nik seems to actually kind of like Rein now. Compare the initial interactions to the present ones.

I guess being a helpful labrat and not being piss-scared of the guy is a good way to get along?

>>38262827
I'm a little worried that generating a sudden pressure singularity inside the hallway just MAYBE tipped off the guy with tremorsense.

Sure it was cool, but c'mon Niklaus. C'mon.

Make sure everyone's extra alert now that our cover is likely to be blown due to the sound of dudes shouting/getting splattered and also Niklaus having sent out the YOU ARE HERE signal to the boss man.

>>38262827
>take the lead

>>38262827
>take the lead

>>38262876
Takamaru has cast several spells and Monique has fought for over an hour. Niklaus is a caster and bunny is a surprise. I think we're more or less compelled to do so.

How do we deal with Leopold if he threatens to slash Luciana's throat the moment we enter the room?

>>38262925
Throw bunny attack.

>writing

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>>38262936

>>38262827
>take the lead

>>38262845
>Why would you let a caster take point?
Because Niklaus is probably the strongest thing in this building

Once more, you take the lead on the way upstairs. Since everyone in your party aside from Inaba and Niklaus is more injured than you are at this point and you're more suited to take point than either of those two, doing things this way just seems to make the most sense.

<CLOSE>

<KILL>

"Gotcha..."


>prepare a defensive spell
>prepare an offensive spell

>>38262961
>>prepare a defensive spell
Block counter stab

>>38262953
He's also vulnerable to CQC. Squishy mages stick to the middle.

>>38262961
>prepare an offensive spell

>>38262905
>Nik seems to actually kind of like Rein now

I also think I remember Niklaus referring to Reinhold as a "friend" at some point

>>38262961
>prepare an offensive spell

>>38262961
>prepare an offensive spell

>>38262961
>prepare an offensive spell

>>38262961
>prepare a defensive spell

We can always just sword anything to death for offense

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>>38262961
>>prepare an offensive spell

ENEMIES. NEED. KILLING.

>>38262961
>prepare an offensive spell
Listen to sword

>>38262980
I guess we wont be friends on Melon route

>>38262961
>prepare an offensive spell
<KILL> could be a warning rather than an instruction but it's hard to say.

>>38262961

>prepare a defensive spell

Reinhold hasn't cracked duel storing yet? For some reason I though he had.

>>38262936
Seems a little abrupt. Gotta go with the sneaky version.

>>38262925
>put our hands up
>slide our bag over to him in the classic "DON'T DO IT, SEE? I SURRENDER" pose
>slide the bag just a little too hard so that it ends up out of his line of sight
>while slowly placing our weapon on the ground (ostensibly to slide it over to him) to draw his line of sight to it, have inaba sneak attack from behind to liberate her from his clutches
>the fight is on

>>38262961
>prepare a defensive spell
If it's Leo up ahead, his way of dealing with Takamaru was with a single sneaky stalagmite out of the ground to surprise him, so having something immediate prepped to keep from getting stabbed as soon as we enter his line of sight might be nice.

>>38262961
>>prepare a defensive spell
>cast this defensive spell
>stab a bitch

>>38262961
>prepare a defensive spell

Stone Body

>>38262961
>prepare a defensive spell

>>38262961
>>prepare a defensive spell

>>38262961
>Prepare an offensive spell.

>>38262961
>prepare a pun

Fuck. I have to sleep. Even if she is worst girl don't let her die. Rein deserves to be happy.

>writing

>>38262925
>Give the Guts Smile
>"Does your plan of escape consist solely on us refusing to attack you because you'll kill her ? Fine, go ahead, see what your dear Ancellotta will think once you go to her empty handed"

>>38262961
Looks like a tie

Final destination time, folks.

>1: defensive spell
>2: offensive spell

I'm too lazy to write the rules.

>>38263133
2

>>38263133
>defensive spell

>>38263133
1

>>38263133
2

>>38263133
1

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>>38263079

>>38263114
Sword tells us to KILL.
>No let's DEFEND instead

>>38263133
1

>>38263133
2

>>38263133
Puns

2

>>38263133
2

>>38263133
1

>>38263133
1

>>38263133
>1: defensive spell

>>38263146
>>38263154
>>38263159
>>38263162
>>38263174
Lets not ignore what the sword told us to do

>>38263139
you must be new

>>38263133
1

>>38263156
Allso, totally out of character because Rein would not even consider gambling on a bluff Luci's life. Even if we pull this off, i doubt our waif would be happy with that.

>writing

>>38263133
2

>>38263133
2

>>38263133
1

>>38263133
1

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On the way up the stairs, you ready a casting of Stone body just in case. While your decision to use Twilight's Wake last time definitely paid off, your sword's constant warnings have you more than slightly on edge.

<CLOSE>

<CLOSE>

With your sword at the ready, you launch yourself up the stairs just as some hapless fool decided to walk down... naturally, you stab him right in the face with your sword before he can even scream and fling his lifeless corpse out of the way as you continue on.

You see a single long hallway when you reach the third floor, lined with several guards who scream in surprise when they see you emerge from the stairwell. As you ready yourself to tear through this obstacle, you just barely make out a door opening on the far side of the walkway.

"The fuck's going on out there!?" Leopold shouts as he steps into full view. "Are we under-"


>roll 1d20

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>38263191
I'm not sure why having a defensive option prepared as a failsafe in the event of an ambush precludes us from doing as much killing as we feel like with our sword.

We're the ones who need to keep moving in order to reach a destination, which means we have to be able to counteract ambushes since they have time to set up in place.

>>38263226
pls

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>38263226
DYNAMIC ENTRY!!

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>38263226

>>38263241
Acceptable quantities of dynamism.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>38263226
hail and kill

>>38263235
Far too late, anyways

>>38263241
Thank you.

So Archelon mentioned a Luciana interlude, but I can't find it anywhere. I also distinctively remember a Marianne one that has suddenly disappeared? What is going on?

>>38263226
>>38263241

DIE YOU FUCKING COCKSUCKER DIRTY PEASANT SON OF A BITCH

>>38263257
>Didn't read the first thread

>>38263257
...do you mean the ones from last thread? Because they're still over in the previous thread, right where we left them.

>>38254112

>>38263241
YEAH, STONE BODY CRASH TACKLE HO!
OPERATION: STEEL REIN IS STILL A GO!
>Also, using rolls.
>At the most important part of the entire quest.
>It's like you WANT another Duel clusterfuck.

>>38263257
This is the second thread tonight broseph, there's the Luciana interlewd.

>>38263276
>>38263284

Oh.
I didn't realize that we lapsed into a second thread when I was asleep.

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Leopold Massenet.

All the men standing in front of him are naught but a distraction, he's the only one who your eyes see. You feel your blood start to boil just looking at his face...

...and then your gaze trails downwards. To the girl whose neck his arm is wrapped around. With red hair and eyes that are nearly the same color, surely thanks to crying...

...and her clothes are ripped.

And everything goes red.

"LEOPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!!!!"


>[1/?]

>>38263226
>Leopold shouts as he steps into full view. "Are we under-"
"Yes. You are."

>>38263304
UNHAND MY WIFE!

>>38263289
>almost on the border of confusing himself into believing that he had dreamed about PGQ interludes
Ok, I laughed a little.

>>38263317
missed opportunities to fuck with an anon's brain.

>>38263304
I'M SO FUCKING HYPE

>>38263341
SO AM I

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>>38263304

>>38263329
The signs were all there (arch actually mentioning the Luciana interlude outright, the rank change in the OP,) so it wouldn't have lasted long.

Also gaslighting people is a dick move, even if it's on the internet and even if it's a kind of amusing dick move.

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>>38263304
Caim Mode engaged.

>>38263304

now my blade

drink

and drink deeply

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>>38263304
I sincerely hope it isn't this easy

>>38263304
HERE COMES THE PAIN TRAIN

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>>38263304

>>38263226
Seeing my old doodle still being used makes me wish I had finished it way back when. Glad it turned out to be of use.

>>38263304
>And everything goes red.
>"LEOPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!!!!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m57gzA2JCcM#t=520

>>38263356
whatever the fuck is gaslighting

>>38263304
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXRLoiD7G2k

THERE WILL BE BLOOD... SHED!!

>>38263356
SJW pls go and stay go

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>>38263304
>...and her clothes are ripped.
>Leopold's face

>>38263379
> Gaslightingorgas-lightingis a form of mental abuse in which information is twisted/spun, selectively omitted to favor the abuser, or false information is presented with the intent of making victims doubt their own memory, perception and sanity.
Google is a hell of a drug

>>38263402
you don't have to an sjw to be a dick

>>38263304
leopold, you done fucked up mate

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I really want Reinhold to ascend so he can turn his non-sword hand into a sword hand.

>>38263428
Not enough sword.

>>38263411
cheerw mate. on mobile with a shitty phone. didnt want to navigate away from the page.

>>38263411
..calling a joking leading someone along gaslighting is the equivalent of calling a playful slap to the back of the head systematic abuse.

God I fucking hate how people these days blow every minute aspect into a major offense.

>>38263379

In practice, it's what a nutjob accuses you of trying to do if you dare to disagree with their version of events.

>>38263436
That's why he wields Volker's sword in his other hand, you dummy.

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>>38263304

CHARGE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q3gtY5wHuI

>>38263411
so that's how the SJW cult works, huh?

fucking cultists

>>38263304

You see a glimmer of hope in Luciana's eyes just before THAT MAN utters a shocked expletive and pulls her back inside the room...

...but it's too late. You've seen them.

And nothing is going to stop you from getting to her.

"Stone Body!" you scream as you propel yourself down the hallway, chanting another spell while ignoring all these who are stupid enough to try and get in your way. "Howling winds, gather beneath my feet..."

You trample two men underfoot, but don't let them hinder your mad dash onwards.

"Gather beneath my feet and guide me on my journey!" the shout while poorly-crafted swords bounce harmlessly off your metal hide "TAILWIND!!"

You race on unimpeded while your velocity steadily increases. Just a few more steps, you'll have reached your beloved...

WHAM

In the blink of an eye, a wall of stone appears in front of you. Forced along by your momentum, you and up stashing right into it.

And through it.


>[2/?]

>>38263226
>Leopold looks at the random bunch of social misfits.
"Well, that answers my question, but now I have eight more. ... how many do I get if I allow you to stroke my beard?"

>>38263489
>And through it.
REIN SMASH

>>38263489
THE RAPE TRAIN HAS NO BRAKES

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>>38263489

>>38263440
It was a joke, jesus.

That's literally the name that refers to the thing where you make an active effort to get someone to doubt their own observations, so I called it that. My primary gripe wasn't that it's cruel, it's that it wouldn't have worked long enough to be fun.

I don't know what the fuck people are so up in arms about.

>>38263489
Fuck it, we Kool-Aid now.

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>>38263489
>And through it.

>>38263489
>Forced along by your momentum, you and up stashing right into it.
>And through it.

I don't see what Leopold can do against us with his earth compare to our metal

>>38263489
Arch

Where's the battle music????

>>38263489
>And through it.

PAIN TRAIN HAS LEFT THE STATION AND YOU'RE STANDING ON THE TRACKS!

>>38263539


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Mam93QIQo

>>38263527
He's got no-Script casting while we've still got to invoke our own, so it's not like there's a total disadvantage.

That, and if peoples' comments about Daimler's situation are any indication, he's able to sustain Stone Body indefinitely on account of being a contractor (which is what's keeping him alive as a torso), so I'd guess Leo could do the same.

I dunno how long we can keep up Steel Body, but we wouldn't want to get into a protracted fight either way.

>>38263551
>not http://youtu.be/6Xidu5lQrms
I am disappoint.

>>38263489
>[3/3]


Forcibly knocked out of your spell, your entire body flips over and you find yourself landing on your back right in front of the still-open doorway...

...only to find a massive hole on what should be the wall on the other side of the room. And Leopold is in the midst of climbing out while Luciana is slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Her eyes.

You slam your fist into the ground and push yourself back upright just in time to see Leopold leap out...

...no.

He's not getting away.

But you can't fly.

Panicked, you dart your head back down the hallway where your friends are busy fighting off the guards who you bypassed entirely. As a rabbit, Inaba's being completely ignored, but the others aren't...

...but surely at least one of them can help you!


>call for niklaus to fly you down
>call for takamaru to fly you down
>call for monique to fly you down

>>38263551
>Ys

Good taste

>>38263573
>call for niklaus to fly you down

Gravity manipulation HOOOO!!

>>38263573
>call for niklaus to fly you down

>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down
Rival tag-team time

>>38263573
JUMP

>>38263573
>call for niklaus to fly you down
I'm guessing he has the most reliable flight spell.

>>38263573
>call for niklaus to fly you down

Alternatively, THROW THE BUNNY! Fastball special.

>>38263573
>>call for niklaus to fly you down
My main thought is that he's the guy who'd be best at multitasking mid-flight in case Leo has a way to attack us while we're still in the air.

My second thought is metagamey and silly, and it's that I don't want Monique to crash like he did while flying in his early interlude.

>>38263591
They would all be flying you back down in more or less the same fashion.

>>38263573
>call for takamaru to fly you down

>>38263573
boost and jump?

>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down

Damn, should have went with offense

>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down
Taka is already injured get Nick to cover him

>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down

>>38263573
>>call for monique to fly you down

>>38263573
>call for niklaus to fly you down

>>38263573
>call for niklaus to fly you down

>>38263573
>>call for monique to fly you down

>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down

>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down

I WANT TO SEE BITTER RIVALS BECOME BROTHERS FORGED IN BATTLE.

>>38263573
>>call for monique to fly you down

>>38263573
>Call for Monique to fly you down - he can fast cast with his sword if we need it.

>>38263595
But if this >>38263601 means it's just a matter of who to take with us for Phase 2 and who to leave with the other guy fending off mooks, I'd rather have Takamaru/Niklaus as the team fighting guys.

>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down
its time

>>38263573
>call for takamaru to fly you down

>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down
DON'T FORGET TO TAKE INABA WITH US

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>>38263573
>call for monique to fly you down
Dammit Jin, use Ice Car already.

>call for monique to fly you down
All these people asking for Niklaus to fly us down.
Don't distract the squishy mage while he is in CC. Monique has a centuries old swordfu watching his back. Also, make sure he or we grab bunny.

And here I shall end this round of threads. Tonight's run was fun as hell, and I have all of you to thank for that.

I'll be running next on Monday night, where the fight shall actually begin.


and now question time

>>38263686
Would have choosing offense had killed him right out, with that roll?

>>38263686
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

>>38263686
Thanks for running arch.

>>38263573
>call for niklaus to fly you down

>>38263686
Cheers.

You should probably use "fool" a bit less during action scenes, it sounds a bit edgy. Jut my opinion tho.

>>38263694
>implying he can die that easily
You'd need at least a triple 20 to keep him from getting away.

>>38263686
Thanks arch
We're going to get knighted for this shit right?
Rein has brought gifts for each of the girls but if they had to get him something what would each girl get him?

>>38263694
>one-shotting the climactic end boss
>with a non-crit roll
>at medium/long distance
>while he had Luciana as a human shield
Uh. Anon, are you okay? Did you hit your head somewhere?

>>38263686
Thanks for running Arch, I'm still way hype.

What would have happened if we pulled an Andreas and got triple 20's on the dice roll?

>>38263686
So the torn clothes thing is basically there to trigger MURDERREIN, correct? Or was he actually retarded enough to have done something to her?

>>38263686
>Next thread on monday night

You are killing me turtle, I pulled an all-nighter every single thread since Luci got kidnapped time zones are a bitch

I Love you so much, thanks for running

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>>38263686
Thanks for running Arch!

1. Are any particular contractor elements more common than others? How common are Metal contractors?

2. Could Reinhold alter stone body to add a bunch of metal spikes all over? (similar to pic related)

>>38263686
>We charge into a wall, end up falling flat on our ass.
Will the final confrontation be guard/crash/strike or 3d20?
Do you think you'll be able to give a climax suitable for over a year buildup irl?
How much are you going to go into an epilogue?
Will you be doing anything else with this quest/setting (Other then VN) in the future?
What affinity is a gravity spell? When will you explain the magical significance of the planet ring?
And to shut those anon fuckers up, which of the girls would be up for/eventually be talked into/ eventually talk Reinhold into anal?
But thanks for running arch, been with you since thread 15, gonna be with you till thread 300!

>>38263726
>Or was he actually retarded enough to have done something to her?

Did you miss the interlewd in the previous thread?

>>38263686
>and now question time
So, did he really just totally stone cold bluff us and Inaba re: 1-mile-range-and-I'll-totally-know-if-you-give-chase? I figured we would've had at least some interference/detection during our pursuit.

Or was it a matter of feeling as though he could detect us easily on wide open plains with nobody else around, but his senses here are being interfered with by allied soldiers on patrol of the building right next to him?

>>38263737
>And to shut those anon fuckers up, which of the girls would be up for/eventually be talked into/ eventually talk Reinhold into anal?
I bet Mari is into butt stuff

>>38263694
>Would have choosing offense had killed him right out, with that roll?
It would have cut therough most of the mooks so that your friends would be able to join you in chasing after Leopold. He would have blocked the arc of light with a stone wall before it reached him personally, though.
and this would be for the better, considering that he was holding luciana right in front of himself

>>38263709
>You should probably use "fool" a bit less during action scenes, it sounds a bit edgy. Jut my opinion tho.
but we maximum edge right now
yeah, I need to do better.

>>38263710
>We're going to get knighted for this shit right?
Who knows!

>>38263719
>What would have happened if we pulled an Andreas and got triple 20's on the dice roll?
...shit, I don't even know. That was a roll to notice Luciana.

>>38263726
>So the torn clothes thing is basically there to trigger MURDERREIN, correct? Or was he actually retarded enough to have done something to her?
The reason for that was detailed in the Luciana interlude that took up most of the previous thread.

>>38263727
>You are killing me turtle, I pulled an all-nighter every single thread since Luci got kidnapped
im sry


>continued...

>>38263686
1) If Andreas was here and on point and rolled three twenties would Princess Guard be over now?

2) Would our princess be in another castle if we had stuck around picking up more allies or exploring destroyed bases?

>>38263686
Will we get another private scene of Luci and Reinhold after we rescued her?
I loved the massage one and these two never seem to get some time alone.

>>38263739
I did indeed.

>>38263759
>1) If Andreas was here and on point and rolled three twenties would Princess Guard be over now?

He would have killed Leopold, rescued Luciana, and NTR'd Reinhold all in a single post.
Too bad we didn't bring him.

>>38263767
That's because they prefer to do it in front of everyone.

>>38263757
>Who knows!
You already have Reinhold's title planned out, don't you?

>>38263757
>Who knows!
Before Nico?

>>38263728
>1. Are any particular contractor elements more common than others? How common are Metal contractors?
Fire Contractors are the most common, as Alsiradna has an entire army of them.
Metal contractors are REALLY rare.

>2. Could Reinhold alter stone body to add a bunch of metal spikes all over? (similar to pic related)
No, he lacks the knowledge to do such a thing.
and even if he didn't, growing spikes all over oneself has very limited uses

>>38263737
>Will the final confrontation be guard/crash/strike or 3d20?
Guard/crash/strike. Dice fighting a shit..

>Do you think you'll be able to give a climax suitable for over a year buildup irl?
...I hope?
I apologize in advance for inevitably disappointing everyone

>How much are you going to go into an epilogue?
A bit, but not too much.

>Will you be doing anything else with this quest/setting (Other then VN) in the future?
Of course I will.

>What affinity is a gravity spell? When will you explain the magical significance of the planet ring?
Niklaus's gravity spells are Darkness-typed.

>And to shut those anon fuckers up, which of the girls would be up for/eventually be talked into/ eventually talk Reinhold into anal?
None of them would be willing to do butt stuff.

>But thanks for running arch, been with you since thread 15, gonna be with you till thread 300!
Thanks mang.

>>38263750
>So, did he really just totally stone cold bluff us and Inaba re: 1-mile-range-and-I'll-totally-know-if-you-give-chase? I figured we would've had at least some interference/detection during our pursuit.
He knew something was up, but didn't know what. This is why he had Luciana in hand as opposed to leaving her on the bed, he was already prepared to bug the hell out.


>continued...

>>38263757
>>38263796
This makes me wonder, in theory, can you get an honorary knight title at least from two nations? (Honestly, while Granache knighthood is more impressive, I want Celestino to give the name)

>>38263796
He's gonna be Steel Rein. At this point there's no other way.

Honestly it sounds like you'd need an even more impressive record to be a knight. Unless you get a fancy swor- oh wait

>>38263757
>so that your friends would be able to join you in chasing after Leopold
So is this a matter of more backup (on account of splattering the mooks) versus having a quicker avenue to pursuit (on account of not having a stone wall to clear, plus him still having the wall hole open)? Or was it actually intended as a straightforward Good Choice, Bad Choice; "hope you took your sword literally, har har" kind of deal?

>>38263825
If it's not something based off of being dense, I'm going to be unhappy. Maybe since he likes astronomy we can be the Neutron Knight.

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>>38263814
>I apologize in advance for inevitably disappointing everyone
Don't worry, Arch. I believe in you.

>>38263840
I still like Le Boulet but there's no literal French in this setting besides the names.