>>38989604

Scott makes a thoughtful face. “Do you think they’ll take US passports?”

“Frederick can pull some strings and get her in if she really wants,” Alan answers.

You snort. “Whatever. I’m going to go check that we don’t have a billion beetlemen breathing down our necks.” With that, you trudge away from the group into the snow, each foot crunching several inches into frosty drifts once you leave the road. You’re glad you invested in nice boots. Even if Farren wasn’t here and you could run around with your demon feet out, it’d get cold in no time.

A sharp breeze cuts past parallel to the road, stinging your face and making you glad for your recently acquired fur coat.

You walk down the slope of the hill away from the road, searching the treeline about a hundred yards off for signs of movement. You can’t see very well, but you don’t have to. You don’t feel any eyes on you. Since beetlemen are pretty keen on keeping track of their surroundings, you can safely infer nobody’s there.

Out of sight and out of mind, you race forward, rushing across the snow with inexplicable speed, though you’re taking it barely at a light jog. Within moments you’re racing between trees, skipping over frozen streams and ducking under snowy boughs. You encounter a fox, which slows you down for a minute while you try to chase it off so it’s not ruining your unseen form, but after that get along on your way.

>>38989613

You circle around the expedition team in a wide arc, making sure nobody’s trying to be cute and tag along behind the group. The sky shines piercingly blue above through the thin branches of the forest, the colors deeper the further you look up. You’re a little worked up from the running – your breath smokes in front of you in the cold.

Within a few minutes, you emerge from the forest and come back up toward the ruddy, iced over road worn into the hillside. As you approach, you catch the faint hint of a sound – a steady staccato of beats, repeating over and over again.

From your experience with movies and television, it sounds like a galloping horse. It should be coming around the bend in the road in a matter of moments.

>Flee back to the trees to stay out of sight.
>Stay where you are and observe. Keep your options open.
>Head to the road to meet whoever it is.
>Run back to the group to tell them what’s up. You’ll have to make it quick, though.
>Use Monster to try to warn the others. Hopefully he can get the idea across. Maybe.
>Send Monster in for rec

>>38989627
>Stay where you are and observe. Keep your options open.
>Use Monster to try to warn the others. Hopefully he can get the idea across. Maybe.
Or maybe the other way round? I dont know, what do you guys think?

>>38989627
>>Flee back to the trees to stay out of sight.

Do we still have the radio?

>>38989627
>Stay where you are and observe. Keep your options open.
>Use Monster to try to warn the others. Hopefully he can get the idea across. Maybe.

>>38989627
>Flee back to the trees to stay out of sight.
>Use Monster to try to warn the others. Hopefully he can get the idea across. Maybe.

>>38989739

Sierra's lack of discipline reveals itself.

>>38989752
>>38989667
>>38989791
Can monster use glamours? Farren might flip out at Monsters normal apperance, though that is only a small aside.

>>38989835
It's fine we have an explanation for it that solves everything....
IT'S MAGIC!

You mentally kick yourself. You should have brought a radio with you.

Since it’s too late now, you’ll have to do the next best thing. You summon Monster into the cold air. The cat sized bat-lizard swoops around into the air on its wings, obviously unhappy with the cold weather. “Don’t give me that crap,” you tell the creature. “Just go do the thing already.”

The imp squawks disagreeably in reply before darting off toward the others to pass along a message of warning. You wish he could talk - maybe you can teach him how at some point? Actually, that’s probably not how it works.

You run back to the trees to hide yourself, and skid behind one a little further into the woods to take cover from the road.

The hoof beats grow louder, and then even louder. It’s a lot louder than just one rider. Suddenly, the sound rings clearly in the still air. You peak around to see what you can see.

Four riders beat around the bend, each clad in silvery armor. The riders have feathery wings sprouting out of their backs, though they’re just imitations of the real deal. Even so, though, the sight of the feathers rippling in the wind are way impressive. You guess they mean business.

You spot scabbards, quivers, and other kinds of martial armaments on them, and two of the riders have big pointy kite shields on their backs, emblazoned with a weird silver triple-cross looking emblem.

>Go get their attention somehow to try to give the others more time. (?)
>Try to race them to the others
>Let them pass and follow after.
>Other (?)

>>38990144
>>Try to race them to the others

>>38989627
>Stay where you are and observe. Keep your options open.

>>38990144
>Let them pass and follow after.

>>38990144
>>Let them pass and follow after.

>>38990144
>Try to race them to the others

We should probably unsummon Monster before these guys hit camp. They probably wouldn't take kindly to seeing him.

>>38990144
>Go get their attention somehow to try to give the others more time. (?)
"Forsooth, brave knights, there are beetlemen in ye woods over yonder!"

>>38990144
>>Let them pass and follow after.
Unsummon Monster once we're in sight range.

You’re fast, but galloping horses is also very fast. It’s unlikely you’d be able to meet back up with the main group before the riders ran into them. You allow them to ride by, and then follow along behind them, sticking to the treeline as you go.

You realize mid-way that Monster might be kind be kind of suspicious, given that Seraphis knights, if that’s who these guys are, don’t really like things from outside their plane. You focus on the connecting tendril of will that links you with Monster, and will him to fly off out of sight someplace.

You cover the rest of the distance backtracking until you see Freddy’s group from where you lie in wait in the trees. Looks like they didn’t get Monster’s message, but you don’t know if you can blame them for it.

Anyway, the riders are already there, and they’ve pulled their mounts to a stop.

Looks like they’re engaging in some slick dialogue, but you can barely make out what they’re saying at this distance. The lead rider, if he is the leader, has his visor up and looks tense, and speaks in a short, authoritative kind of tone. Ranthix responds, utilizing guile by not screaming back his responses.

The Seraphis knight gestures sharply to Zote, who has his cloak wrapped tightly around him. Frederick intercedes and says something else, with Rowan giving support.

Hmm. What should you do? They don’t know you’re here, which is good, but maybe also bad?

>Head over and see what all the fuss is about. You have talking skills too.
>Stay where you are and wait.
>Try to sneak up and flank them somehow, maybe from uphill. You can get a better position just in case things get ugly.
>Get their attention by shooting off some fire or something, maybe you can lure them away from the others.
>Use Tiger as bait.
>Other (?)

>>38990719
>>Try to sneak up and flank them somehow, maybe from uphill. You can get a better position just in case things get ugly.

>>38990719
>Stay where you are and wait.

>>38990719
>>Try to sneak up and flank them somehow, maybe from uphill. You can get a better position just in case things get ugly.
if things get ugly:
>Use Tiger as bait.

>>38990719
>Stay where you are and wait.

>>38990719
>>Stay where you are and wait.

>>38990719
>>Stay where you are and wait.

>>38990719
>Try to sneak up and flank them somehow, maybe from uphill. You can get a better position just in case things get ugly.

>>38990719
>>Try to sneak up and flank them somehow, maybe from uphill. You can get a better position just in case things get ugly.

>>38990719
>Try to sneak up and flank them somehow, maybe from uphill. You can get a better position just in case things get ugly.

Whatever it is, you figure you should just stay put. There’s not much you could do beyond trying to lure them over to where you are, but there’s no way you could do that without hinting that there’s something off about everyone else. If there’s a fight, Ranthix is already there, and it doesn’t get any better than that. You figure everyone will still be alive long enough for you to join the fray.

You watch the proceedings.

Knight guy points again at Zote. Rowan and Frederick are joined by Orias, who probably says something that sounds plausible.

The Seraphis are not convinced, and one rides over and yanks the cloak off of Zote. Surprisingly, it is not a robot under the robes, but a disgusting, cadaver-like creature.

The Gracie brothers step up beside the automaton, somehow not dressed their hunting jackets, but instead bundled furs and boots. Scott holds a simple crossbow in his hands, and Alan has a long cape that stops just short of brushing the ground. Alan gives some intelligent explanation for why stuff is the way it is.

Ranthix laughs and says something off-beat and vaguely insulting. This does not encourage an improvement in relations. The lead knight comes up with a comeback probably equally insulting, and the knights all put hands on their weapons.

With violence a foregone conclusion, you prepare yourself to burst toward the scene. But then things take a turn in a different direction.

Farren drags Ro out between the knight and Ranthix, and starts talking to him, pointing around at everybody in turn.

She talks and talks and talks, and as she does so, you notice Frederick grinding his face into the palm of his hand.

Eventually she concludes, patting Rowan in a friendly manner on the shoulder.

The knights look at one another, then back at the group. Their leader asks something, directing it at Ranthix.

In response, Ranthix glowers, looks toward the woods at your approximate hiding position and shouts, “COME HERE!”

>Do stuff (?)
>Other (?)

>>38991375
Do as he says

>>38991375
>Do stuff (?)

Well crap. I guess we'd better go see what they want.

>>38991375
Might as well come. Ranthix wouldn't sell us out to save his own life, let alone others.

>>38991375
Oh fuck. Farren told them Ro is half-angel. This is probably not the great fucking plan Frederick was hoping for, since it draws a lot of attention to what is supposed to be a stealth mission.

On the other hand, we might get to have her represent herself as our warder or some such thing.

My vote is to wipe out the patrol, and have Ro tell Farren that it serves a higher purpose.

>>38991506
Kind of a stretch there.

Farren did more of the talking than Ro and she doesn't know shit about angels.

>>38991506
She probably told them we killed a bunch of the beetlemen.

>>38991506
I don't think Farren ever found out about Ro.

>>38991664
Well, okay then.

>>38991418
This

If it was anybody else that told you to reveal yourself, you would have your doubts. But as far as Ranthix goes, he wouldn’t sell you out to save his own life, and you’re pretty sure he’s only concerned about the others proportionally to how much you care about them yourself, or how much Frederick’s paying him to care.

You emerge from the woods and head over, feeling more than a little nervous about the whole situation. (+3 Stress: 14/100)

You walk up the slope and come up to the mob, everybody’s eyes trained on you.

Up close, you can feel the power shimmering off the riders. They don’t look to be anymore more than tough mortals, but the effect brightly off them. (Riders’ PP: [Between 10 and 15])

The lead rider, a formidable man with a pointed moustache, guides his horse toward you. He towers above you on the animal – the horse itself looks at you with shining eyes, its breathing strained from the run. His armor gleams in the sunlight, showing off the artisanship of the plate mail.

Ranthix puts himself slightly between you at the knight. “Here she is,” he says, barring his teeth at the man. “Now go away.”

The knight ignores him, and instead looks you over, his eyes lingering on your clothing. “This is the Red Lord’s niece?” he asks, an apprehensive feeling radiating from him.

Out of your peripheral, you notice everybody giving you various intense looks. Rowan is completely shock white, but Farren gives you an imploring, kind of just go along with it kind of wink.

>Yep. That’s me. The Red Lord’s niece.
>What, the red wings on my cloak not enough for you? You need some kind of secret handshake?
>Hey, I don’t know if you noticed, but you’ve got all these beetles running all over the place. Is that normal around here?
>So... who are you guys? I mean, I’m really digging the wings, but I guess it’s a kind of a motif or something, right?
>Where I’m from, they’d cut out your tongue for giving that kind of lip to me.
>Improvise (?)
>Other (?)

>>38992650
>>Where I’m from, they’d cut out your tongue for giving that kind of lip to me.

>>38992650
>>Yep. That’s me. The Red Lord’s niece.

>>38992650
>Where I’m from, they’d cut out your tongue for giving that kind of lip to me.

>>38992650
>>What, the red wings on my cloak not enough for you? You need some kind of secret handshake?
>>Hey, I don’t know if you noticed, but you’ve got all these beetles running all over the place. Is that normal around here?
Act casual and point out how they are currently not doing their job.

>>38992650
>Yep. That’s me. The Red Lord’s
>Hey, I don’t know if you noticed, but you’ve got all these beetles running all over the place. Is that normal around here?niece.

>>38992650
>>What, the red wings on my cloak not enough for you? You need some kind of secret handshake?
>>Hey, I don’t know if you noticed, but you’ve got all these beetles running all over the place. Is that normal around here?

>>38992650
>Yep. That’s me. The Red Lord’s niece.
>Improvise (?)
"You heard the man. Fuck off, would you kindly?"
Maybe throw in a terrorizing glare if he starts to argue.

>>38992650
>Where I’m from, they’d cut out your tongue for giving that kind of lip to me.

Just roll with it

>>38992650
>>Yep. That’s me. The Red Lord’s niece.

>>38992650
>Where I’m from, they’d cut out your tongue for giving that kind of lip to me.

>>38992824
I think we should hold off on the magic for now.

If we've learned anything from dealing with Frederic, it should be to not cast spells on people strange people unless we actually mean to start a fight.

Roll some dice for that smooth delivery.

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>38992975

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>38992975

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>38992975

>>38992975

>>38992998
Oh well could be worse

We really do need to pick up Unnatural Charm at some point. Sierra is shit at talking to people. She needs an edge.

I'm guessing Farren put two and two together from our mysterious nature and thinks she has us figured out as a sibling to this Red Lord or whoever.

Or maybe I'm reading too much in to it.

>>38993350
Pretty sure Red Lord is what she's calling Ranthix.

>>38993396
Maybe.

>>38993396
They seemed to be ready to start a fight until Farren stepped in, not sure it would matter if Ranthix had a niece to make them stop as they did.

Your mind goes blank. (+3 Stress: 17/100) “Uh. Yep,” you agree. “That’s me. Red Lord’s niece, right here.”

The knight eyes you with severe doubt. “And what, may I ask, is your reason for journeying all the way to Whitebanner?”

Uh oh. He knows. Or at least thinks he knows. You must dissuade him. What would some extremely important nobility person do in this situation?

Wait just a second. You already are some extremely important nobility person. You should just do what you’d do. You give the moustached knight a vaguely amused look. “Where I’m from, they’d cut out your tongue for giving me that kind of lip,” you inform the rider.

The comment gives him some pause, but his frown returns. “Where you are from and where you are now are two very different places,” he says coldly. You’re not sure he really believes you by the feelings of distrust emanating from him, but maybe you’ve got him doubting himself at least.

Ranthix growls. “Hold your tongue, whelp. Every word you speak mars the princess’s report to her uncle.”

The knight considers this point. “I meant no ill. In fact, I think I may offer some assistance,” he says. “I and my fellow Seraphis bring word to Pelheft of the current infestation. Our paths are alike. Now we have merged them, I can fathom no reason to bring them apart.”

Ranthix scowls. “I can see four reasons,” he says. He points at every knight in turn. “One, two, three, four. Take your fake-wings and ride on, heathen.”

“Certainly the princess has something to say on the matter,” says the knight, affecting a reasonable smile as he watches you with a sharp gaze. “These lands are filled with daemonic spawn - dangerous, spiteful beasts, as you well know. Surely, given your purpose here, you mustn’t take undue risks. You most of all should welcome the protection of our company.”

The knight definitely knows something's up.

>Welcome the protection.
>Ride on, heathen.
>Details of reply (?)
>Other (?)

>>38993946
>>Ride on, heathen.

>>38993946
>Ride on, heathen.

>>38993946
>Ride on, heathen.

We can be diplomatic. We trust our knight with our life, and while the offer is appreciated they will move faster on horseback without us.

>>38993946
>>Ride on, heathen.
Say something about how we trust in our entourage to get us through safely.

>>38993946
>>Welcome the protection.

>>38993946
>Details of reply (?)
"Don't you have somewhere to be? Like Pelheft?"

I'm worried that if we send them on their way, they will tell people to expect us and set us up.

>>38993946
>>Details of reply (?)
"Are you sure it's not you who wants our protection, brave Sir Robin?"

>>38994339
at least that way we can try to sneak past or something, every minute they're with us is another opportunity for us to slip up and make them suspicious.
Of course, we could always pulls the "Ro's an angel" on them, but that might hamper our progress later like >>38991506 mentioned

>>38994403
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYFefppqEtE

“Hurr durr, I’ve got like ten fucking magical knights with me already, and each of them is worth like, two of you,” you say impatiently. “Anyway, don’t you have somewhere to be? Like Pelheft? The whole thing about beetles murdering everybody seems like, I don’t know, just a little more important than whatever the hell errand I’m running for the Red Lord. We don’t have horses. You’d be faster on your own.”

“Leave them to their own,” says one of the other knights. “We don’t have time to walk a Lochlander princess safely through.”

The moustached knight commander gives you a knowing, sour look. “I do wish you safe passage,” he says, his voice unkind. “I am certain it would aggrieve the Cardinal if you failed to arrive at the fortress. Brethren, we ride!” He spurs his mount forward. “Hyah!”

The Seraphis take off, galloping off into the distance.

You flip the bird at them as they ride away. “Ride on, heathens!” you shout after them, smiling broadly. (-5 Stress: 12/100) You’re certain they can’t hear you over the sound of hooves on frozen dirt.

You and Ranthix rejoin the others.

“Well done in getting rid of them,” says Frederick. “Their chief sergeant suspects something, though.”

Alan comes over, again in regular clothes. “They’re too busy with the beetlemen to worry about us,” he says.

“If they think you’re an outsider, they’ll want you dead just the same,” Frederick replies.

Rowan comes over with Farren walking behind her. Ro looks immensely relieved at the departure of the Seraphis. “We’ll worry about them if we have to,” she says. When we have to. But for now, I’m just amazed that actually worked.”

Orias nods. “For the time being, we have no choice but to continue to Pelheft,” says the demon. “Whether or not they suspect us makes no difference.”

Frederick seizes on this. “We still have a long way to go either way. Let’s go.”

>>38995458

You go back to the hike. Miles pass by, you can’t shake the foreboding feeling in your gut. (+2 Stress: 14/100) The terrain slowly turns from rolling hills and forests to great, yawning plains blanketed with snow and backed by distant mountains, hazy at the horizon. It’s hard to see the details even with your contacts.

You find yourself falling into a monotonous kind of daze where it’s impossible to distinguish hours from minutes.

You’re broken out of your daze by a voice. “So, all of you are actually daemons though, right?”

Farren stands at your side, watching you with an inquiring expression.

>I already told you, there's some stuff you're better off not knowing.
>We’re just mysterious strangers. Don’t you think it’s kind of rude to jump to conclusions like that?
>What’s the big deal about being a daemon, anyway? I mean, not from Cerra, so what? Because I don’t really see what the big deal is.
>What makes you think we’re daemons?
>Well, pretty much I guess.
>Actually, don’t tell anybody I told you, but some of these guys actually are daemons.
>Hold on just a second. Earlier today, what was it you told the Seraphis dudes? (Defection!)
>Other (?)

>>38995559
>u wot m8?

>>38995559
>Hold on just a second. Earlier today, what was it you told the Seraphis dudes? (Deflection!)

>>38995559
>>What makes you think we’re daemons?

Since its obvious I guess it would be good to know what we are doing wrong.

>>38995559
>>I already told you, there's some stuff you're better off not knowing.
>>We’re just mysterious strangers. Don’t you think it’s kind of rude to jump to conclusions like that?
>What makes you think we’re daemons?
>What’s the big deal about being a daemon, anyway? I mean, not from Cerra, so what? Because I don’t really see what the big deal is.

>>38995559
>We’re just mysterious strangers. Don’t you think it’s kind of rude to jump to conclusions like that?
>What makes you think we’re daemons?

>>38995559
>What makes you think we’re daemons?
>We’re just mysterious strangers. Don’t you think it’s kind of rude to jump to conclusions like that?
>What’s the big deal about being a daemon, anyway? I mean, not from Cerra, so what? Because I don’t really see what the big deal is.

>>38995559
>Nope
>What makes you think we’re daemons?
Not all, but we don't need to tell that much

>>38995559
>>I already told you, there's some stuff you're better off not knowing.
>>We’re just mysterious strangers. Don’t you think it’s kind of rude to jump to conclusions like that?

>>38995559
>Other (?)
No, not all of us.

>>38995559
>>What makes you think we’re daemons?
And if she makes a good point
>Only some of us.

>>38995559
>What makes you think we’re daemons?
>Hold on just a second. Earlier today, what was it you told the Seraphis dudes?

>>38995559
>Other (?)
"Those were some slick moves you showed last night. Sure, you were fumbling a little in the dark, but once you got some light, you were pretty smooth sneaking up on our camp. Did anyone teach you?"

I think Daemons in this instance means people not from this dimension.

>>38995559
>>What makes you think we’re daemons?

>>38995559
>>Other (?
"Who the fuck is The Red Lord, anyway?"

You turn the question around on her. “What makes you say that?” you ask.

“You’re all so strange,” says Farren. “In the middle of the night, I woke up and found Ranthix the Terrible sleeping with his feet in the embers of the fire. And today, listening to you talk, everyone except Orias has accents I’ve never heard before.”

Damn Orias and his faking skills. He’s making you look bad.

“Then, there’s your clothing. The fashion is queer to be sure, but the stitching, the material, the craftsmanship – I know how clothes are made, and I can’t reconcile yours with those,” she says. “Not to mention your tents, illuminators, and provisions, among other things. The only place you can buy things like that are from goblins, and even then they’re always worn from use. All of yours seem to have only just been made.”

“Sometimes a mysterious stranger is just a mysterious stranger,” you say. “It’s kind of rude to start accusing people of things just because you’ve never gone more than fifty miles away from your hometown.”

“I suppose it is. Sorry. I wasn’t trying to insult you, I was just curious,” she says. After this, she falls back in line, eventually walking along with the Gracies. They seem happy enough to endure her questions, though they do so far more cryptically than you.

Taking stock of your surroundings, you find the road leads toward a squat, ash-grey mountain, almost alone in the flattening landscape. It’s hard to tell, but it looks like there’s some kind of settlement at the base, alongside a winding icy river. You start to trek by desolate farms and barely-standing farmhouses. Haggard plots of frozen mud lie on each side of the road, buried in a thin sheen of snow.

Other roads lead into the one you’re walking on, slowly dumping more and more traffic onto the causeway.

>>38997333

Men with broad shoulders and grim, burdened faces push handcarts stocked with random pieces of furniture or foodstuffs, trailing gaunt women and scrawny children. Horses drag carts to and from town, though mostly towards. Weathered old men and little punk kids in ragged clothing stand alongside the road, watching the travelers pass by. You and your company get special attention, some of it unwanted.

One bedraggled young man accosts you, his clothes hanging from his skinny frame, and patches of his skin blackened with frostbite. “Please m’lady, spare a mouthful of bread?” He hobbles along by your side, a pathetic display. “Please, just a morsel? I haven’t had naught to eat for days,” he pleads, contorting his face. He continues to beg and whine, but the outer groveling and cringing-ness of his whole attitude do nothing to hide the almost animalistic bursts of sorrow, hope, and hate coming from him. “Anything to spare, please,” he says.

It’s a disgusting and distressing feeling – you see more beggars exactly like the guy, going around attacking everyone on the road with their neediness.

His presence disgusts you for some reason, and it takes you a second to narrow it down and control the feeling. (+3 Stress: 17/100)

“Please, just a morsel, m’lady,” he says, tugging on your sleeve.

You flinch at the touching. Nobody said anything abuot touching. (+6 Stress: 26/100)

>Throw a granola bar at him or something.
>Shove him off. He’s weak, won’t take much.
>Do I look like the UN Peace Corps to you? Get out of my face!
>Ignore him and just stay out of his reach until he goes someplace else.
>I can’t give you anything. Go ask somebody else.
>No way you’re dealing with this kind of crap, even for thousands of dollars. TERRORIZING GLARE!
>Other (?)

>>38997401
>No way you’re dealing with this kind of crap, even for thousands of dollars. TERRORIZING GLARE!

>>38997401
>No way you’re dealing with this kind of crap, even for thousands of dollars. TERRORIZING GLARE!

>>38997401
>I can’t give you anything. Go ask somebody else.

Should read 23 stress.

>>38997401
>Throw a granola bar at him or something.

>>38997401
>>No way you’re dealing with this kind of crap, even for thousands of dollars. TERRORIZING GLARE!

>>38997401
>>Throw a granola bar at him or something.

>>38997401
>I can’t give you anything. Go ask somebody else.
If we give him something, then we'll be set upon by all the others and we don't have enough stuff to feed them.

There's no reason to be overly cruel about it yet, but we can't just throw food at him.

>>38997401
>No way you’re dealing with this kind of crap, even for thousands of dollars. TERRORIZING GLARE!
If we give him anything the rest will swarm us.

>>38997401
>>No way you’re dealing with this kind of crap, even for thousands of dollars. TERRORIZING GLARE!

>>38997401

Get Farren to handle it. Tell her that you're unaccustomed to dealing with beggars.

It's true, and she'll know how to respond in a way that won't mark us out.

Maybe DON'T use our demon powers in a mob?

>>38997401
>>I can’t give you anything. Go ask somebody else.
I want to give him something but itd cause a frenzy

You’re not getting paid enough for this crap. More reacting than thinking, you scowl, lock your eyes on the beggar’s. (+2 Stress: 25/100) The terror follows instantly. The beggar’s face turns into a mask of fear, and he backpedals, letting out an incoherent shriek. He trips over himself and falls in the snow, and you keep walking, quickly leaving him behind.

You get a whole lot of weird looks after that, especially from an unshapely woman with failing hair coverage, but nobody really says anything or confronts you. You guess they’re used to wonky magic stuff going down? Either way, you’re happy to be left on your own for the time being. (-4 Stress: 21/100)

Except the beggars only intensify nearer the outer limits of the town. Refugees fleeing the beetlemen, both coming into and leaving the city, are everywhere, and there begins to be less room on the road for all the human filth.

Luckily your group’s big enough that it can forge through. The Gracies make Zote resemble a plague-ridden cadaver guy, and that gets people to clear the way, but they just pull right back to accost you.

“Anything you could give, miss - ”

“Spare me children a pence?”

“- beetlemen, they took everything - ”

“ – she’s dying, please, you have to –“

Ugh. You can’t fix everybody’s problems, no matter how much they want you too. But their mixed emotions flood in around you, getting under your skin. There’s sweet fear, dull grief, succulent fear, smoky, salty, too many flavors to wrap your mind around, and it starts making you feel dizzy. (-1 Sanity: 84/100) (+8 Stress: 29/100)

>>38998217

Up ahead, you see the cause of the strange bazaar set up outside of town. Some semblance of order is being established by mounted soldiers and footmen with pikes. Looks like they have the ugly job of dispersing the congregation.

You’re so close to the soldiers, if you can just hold out till you get there...

“Look at me!” demands a large man with a stained bandage wrapped over one eye. His remaining eye is frenzied, and remains fixed on you. “What do they want me to do, eh? What do they want me to do?!” His body language and feeling of desperation makes it seem like think he wants you to answer him, but you don’t know if saying anything’s the right idea here.

>Focus on ignoring everything until town.
>Answer the guy (?)
>Do stuff (?)
>Other (?)

>>38998240
>>Focus on ignoring everything until town.

>>38998240
>Focus on ignoring everything until town.
They don't matter it's not your fight or fault

>>38998240
>Focus on ignoring everything until town.

>>38998240
>Focus on ignoring everything until town.

>>38998240
>Focus on ignoring everything until town.
fuckin beggars man, reminds me of my country atm, flooded with gypsies that sit outside of every store begging even tho some of them have iphone 5

Roll dice for that slick ignoring.

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>38998429

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>38998429

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>38998429

File: 1426308105862.png (253 KB, 600x450)

253 KB PNG

>>38998444
>>38998434
>>38998432

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>38998429

>>38998463
I fukken hate those things

>>38998467
Well, shit. I wanted to do a write in anyways.

"Survive. Endure. You may have lost your eye, but not your way. You may have lost your livelihood, but not your life. Some things can be taken, but they can also be rebuilt. The things that can not be rebuilt, cannot be taken, only thrown away.

Learn to live again. To grow strong again. And then, to take revenge".

Or something like that. Of course, we're a brash hood kid who's been recently rehabilitated with a side of the supernatural, so that would be pretty out of character.

I guess we could go with an imperious "Shape your shit up. What do they want you to do? What do YOU want to do, and why aren't you doing it?"

>>38998538
Yeah the first half of that is pretty goddamn cringe worthy.

>>38998538
interacting with them is below our station.

>>38998605
/tg/ - against anything resembling positivity.

I could see it as being something a lord would say to inspire his serfs, or servants or w/e. But yeah, definitely not Sierra's style.

>>38998429
Hey, with

>>38998432
>>38998434
>>38998444

As our rolls, can we have Sierra fail to keep her composure and give some cringe inducing speech that falls completely flat a la this guy?

>>38998538

>>38998761
I'd rather not, it's still totally out of character

>>38998761
No thank you.

>>38998761
I'd rather activate explosive flare and deal with the angst from killing all these people than say that.

>>38998861
. . . . Kind of the point of a failure there, bro. "Sierra tries to be a noble, and fails weirding people out and further convincing the guard of the suspicions voiced by the Sargent."

>>38998917
The roll was to ignore them, not to try to be a noble.

>>38998538
Nah, we're not going to respond here, our accent is enough the draw unwanted attention on top of everything else.

>>38998240
>>Focus on ignoring everything until town.

So real talk, any ideas for how we're going to handle the landwell? I think the best solution possible would be to activate the portal thing for Freddy in exchange for him getting us our file from Eclipse, but whether he's capable of that or not, I don't know. On the other hand, if we do seal the landwell, we'd have convince the Gracie brothers first given that they're the ones who are teleporting us home, so fighting them is kinda out of the question.

I'd rather not betray Freddy and co all things considered, but the whole "Here's all the information on the most important mystery of your life" thing is kinda hard to pass up.

>>38999139
Going to vote to seal it. The file is more important than Fred's revolution.

>>38999139
We stick to our word and help Freddy. What else is there to discuss?

>>38999139
Sealing. His war isn't going to pan out.

>>38999139
If the eclipse try to intervene, we shouldn't oppose them. If they get to Sierra, then they win and the landwell is sealed. If they don't make it past Fred and the others, then they deserve to lose.

>>38999139
Keeping it, we gave our word.

You do your best to ignore everything and look at your feet, but it isn’t working. There’s too many disgusting scents, too many cries, too many getting too close to you, and all the while, their feelings and disturbing issues flow over your defenses like a flooding river. If you had a second to brace yourself, you might be able to do it, but it’s too late. Everything just getting to you, and it’s freaking you out. (+8 Stress: 37/100)

Some woman with yellowing teeth almost falls upon you, breaking your calm. “You don’t need all that,” she says. “Why are you so selfish?”

Your body bristles at the contact, and you find your vision narrowing, even as your heartrate accelerates. (+9 Stress: 46/100) You go to throw her off of you, but you find your claws are out – the woman hasn’t seen, but you can’t think of any way to remove her without drawing blood or totally flattening her out with a kick or something.

A great force suddenly removes the woman from you and hurls her back into the crowd. She collides with a group of four people, and all of them crash to the ground. “BACK OFF, RAT!” Ranthix bellows. “FIND ANOTHER CARCASS TO CANABALIZE!” He blocks you off from view long enough for you to get your claws under control.

Another beggar approaches. “Please, my family – “

Ranthix picks him up and holds him to his face. “GET OVER IT.” With that, he casts this one back into the crowd as well. He lands in a heap. “THE NEXT ONE TO BOTHER ONE OF THESE,” he gestures to your entire group, “WILL WISH THEY’D LET THE BEETLEMEN HAVE THEIR SKINS.”

After that speech, the destitute form a large causeway for your company. Ranthix hangs back in the middle of the group instead of the front, close enough that his smoky hatred in all its intensity blurs out the myriad emotions of the mob.

Orias walks nearer as well, watching the surrounding faces with caution.

>>38999139
Stick to our word unless Freddy skeeves us out. Maybe let him know we've been approached, and give him a chance to make a rebuttal.

I mean, that way he might be prepared for us to screw him, but he still won't be prepared for Ranthix. Or for us to reveal ourselves to the other two dudes as the Imperatrix.

>>38999260

With passage cleared, you get to the soldiers. They mutely step aside for everyone to pass, paying special attention to Ranthix.

The number of guards seems more regular, and things seem more control in the town itself.

No building exceeds two stories, but there are a whole lot of them. The streets meander with no direction, and horses and filth and mud fill the streets. Smell’s not good, but it’s better than that mob. Peoples are on edge here, but at least they’re all calm about it. Kind of. (-5 Stress: 41/100)

Farren looks down the street. “There’s usually twice this number here,” she says. “I don’t understand. The beetlemen only attacked last night, how did the town get word?”

“The beetlemen must have been attacking towns all around the woods,” says Orias. “The refugees outside town didn’t come from Baymoore if they beat us here.”

Frederick scowls and notes the darkening sky. “We could set up camp farther down the road,” he says. “I doubt we’ll find anything more than a warm place to sleep here.”

“Farren’s just from the next town over,” says Rowan, glancing at the girl. “Maybe she has friends here?”

“Not my friends, but friends of my father,” says Farren. “If any of them are still here, they might put me up for the night. I don’t know about you, though – they’re not the kind to put up with foreigners.”

Zote growls something to Frederick. The latter nods. “You talk to your friends,” says Freddy, “and we’ll see if there’s an inn nearby with room.”

“What about us?” says Rowan.

“It doesn’t matter,” says Frederick. “We’ll meet up here in an hour. Everyone understand?”

>Let’s just skip town. Who knows what kind of mess this place will be at night.
>What about horses? Aren’t we buying horses?
>Sounds good.
>>Accompany Frederick.
>>Accompany Farren.
>>Wander around.
>>Go hang out somewhere nearby and wait.
>Other (?)

>>38999260
I WOULD ask 'Why is Ranthix the best'. but his positive attributes really just speak for themselves.

>>38999305
>>Let’s just skip town. Who knows what kind of mess this place will be at night.
>>Go hang out somewhere nearby and wait.
Get away from all the emotion.

>>38999139
Stick to our word, we still don't have the specifics of what the information is. They had better spill some details if they want us to switch.

>>38999305
>Sounds good.
>>Wander around.

>>38999273
>>38999189
>>38999254
So how would the "Keeping our word" guys feel about having a sitdown prior to the thing with Freddy to try and renegotiate from the money to getting the information that Eclipse is trying to buy us off with?

>>38999139
We don't even know that they know anything important, just that they have a file.

I'll be voting to open it.

>>38999305
>Sounds good.
>Accompany Farren.

>>38999347
Freddy doesn't have the information. The only thing he can offer us is cash.

>>38999347
Not keeping our word dude, that's holding him ransom.

>>38999347
I don't see where this "keeping our word" is coming from. Sierra didn't promise anything, she agreed to a deal that can be called off. Contracts can be cancelled easily.

>>38999305
>Sounds good.
>>Accompany Frederick.
I want to chat with him about the things

>>38999305
>>Sounds good.
>>Accompany Farren.

>>38999377
I meant stealing it from the Eclipse guys, which could very well be impossible, but we don't actually know that yet.

>>38999383

> Contracts can be cancelled easily

I don't think you understand what a contract is. This is literally betraying Freddy to his enemies, and establishing ourselves as his enemy.

Also, breaking contracts IRL usually come with fairly steep penalties.

>>38999555
If your a contracted employee, your employer can break the contract easily.

>>38999555
>Also, breaking contracts IRL usually come with fairly steep penalties.
No, they need to have a clause for that. Otherwise it's just cancelled.

>This is literally betraying Freddy to his enemies, and establishing ourselves as his enemy.
What about it? He doesn't have anything for Sierra anyway.

>>38999139
Either way, I'd like to talk to Ranthix about it first, after all he also kind of has a stake in the whole "Who killed our mom" deal

>>38999383
If we stick with Freddy, all we are is a mercenary. While Eclipse might not be happy about what we did, we won't have established ourselves as anything other than a gun for hire.

If we break our contract, then we ruin our position of neutrality and our reputation which could come back to bite us in the ass once we reveal ourselves as the Imperatrix, unless we kill everyone involved in the betrayal.

Which might extend past our little crew, BTW.

Mr. Pin says that there are two ways to break a deal, and one of them tells people that you are a serious force to reckoned with and that you don't take kindly to things that are not "In the Deal".

Mr. Tulip says that this is some -ing good stuff, real -ing quality, while snorting up some stone ground flour.

>>38999347

First, we've already started the job, trying to renegotiate partway through is a dick move. Second, We have absolutly no reason at all to trust her to give us this info if she even has it.

>>38999598

Pretty sure that's not true, having been a contractor.

>>38999599

Pretty sure that in this case, the clause is "Freddy will try to kill you for fucking him". We took the cash and agreed to the mission.

>>38999305

I say we talk to him more, and let him defend our position. So go with Freddy.

>>38999305
>>Sounds good.
>>Wander around.

>>38999383
I'm sure Freddy will be just thrilled that he gave us a bunch of money and guided us all the way out here for us to seal the landwell and tell him we changed our mind. No way this could ever come back to bite us.

>>38999734
What is he gonna do? Try to shoot Sierra?

File: 242941_v1[1].jpg (26 KB, 500x375)

26 KB JPG

>>38999758

>>38999758
>quote from man shot

>>38999758

Probably? Yes? I mean, I assume that fucking him like this will result in us having to kill him, or else having him ruin our rep and plot revenge against us at a later date.

I don't know if you noticed, but he's an idealistic zealot.

The only real question, is one of "Is he worse than the Eclipse". I mean, if people are going to die anyways in this war, does it matter to us which side does the dying?

Unless I guess we come up with an alternate plan for the landwell, to evacuate his people instead of attack the Eclipse or something.

>>38999658
>having been a contractor.

I don't know where you are, but I know that is how it works in America.

Just because they can doesn't mean they will, if you wanted you to take a contract, they probably intend to keep you around for a while and probably won't fire you unless something changes from their plan.

>>38999807
>he's an idealistic zealot.
That's just more reasons to not help him at all. He is a fanatic who won't stop until the Eclipse are done with, and so far we have had no reasons to assume the Eclipse are bad. All accoutns we've heard of them are from Fred's point of view, and as you said, he is an idealistic zealot, and therefore, biased.

If it doesn't matter who is dying, then it's just a matter of profit. Which the Eclipse can easily win over Fred; they don't need to rob a bank in Earth's plane.

“We’ll stick with you,” says Alan. “Zote needs an illusion on him.”

“I’ll stick with Frederick then, too,” you say, glancing over at Rowan. You have got to get some information out of Freddy before you get to the landwell tomorrow, and this might be your chance to do it.

“Alright,” says Roawn, nodding. “I’ll buddy up with Farren, then.”

“GOOD,” says Ranthix. “ORIAS, ENSURE ROWAN AND HER BUDDY ARE NOT PESTERED. I WILL FIND IF THIS SCUM PLACE HAS ANY MOUNTS WORTH OUR CONSIDERATION.”
Orias nods, even as several passing townspeople pause to look over at the source of all the yelling.

With assignments assigned, the group disperses, you heading along with the Gracies, Zote, and Frederick. You whistle for Reeber to follow you, which he dutifully does. Despite the grime and filth, he seems to be enjoying himself immensely.

Midway through, you just happen to suggest you’d get better coverage if you split into two groups, naturally composed of you, Reeber, and Derek, and then everybody else. The everybody else component goes in search of shelter, while you and Derek handle more of the inn side of things.

You come to a tavern/inn thing with a sign out front promising the ‘meade beyonde measure’ in rustic calligraphy – naturally, the place is named The Drinking Dragon. Sounds good to you.

Derek pauses before the door. “Careful,” he says lowly, a serious expression on his face. “You never know what kinds of people you’ll find in a Cerran tavern.”

“Uh. Okay?” you say.

He nods, and you both enter, Reeber hot on your heels.

Taverns smell rancid. Or maybe it’s just The Drinking Dragon that smells rancid. Seriously, it smells bad. You feel like you’re beginning to get a sense of this plane’s theme. Furthermore, it’s packed – no empty seat, even standing room is limited.

Freddy forges ahead to converse with the bar master – tavern master? Taven keeper? He’s a big fat guy made of meat and jowls, and he wears a smock stained with innumerable beverages. Reeber, meanwhile, busies himself by bothering the other patrons.

“How many rooms have you?” yells Derek.

“Lots of folk passing through Ashpeak, lots many looking to stay the night,” says the tavern master, leaning heavily on the counter as he wipes a ceramic cup with a grody rag.

“How many rooms!” he says again.

“I’m looking to pack out soon as well, what with them beetlemen and all,” the fat man replies.

You note the excited, oily feeling you get from the man, and you understand his plan. He’s got the space, probably, he just wants to squeeze every dime he can out of you.

>He asked how many rooms, not how much crap you can spew out of your mouth.
>Look bud, we don’t really want or need to spend the night in your scummy town. Keep this BS up and we’re out.
>Utilize girlish charms. Who could say no to your face? You know you wouldn’t.
>Name your price. Too high, we’ll keep on walking. Low, and you’ve got yourself eight guaranteed customers, plus one very hungry hound.
>I like the way you think. Squeeze every penny out of this place before the beetles burn it down, right?
>We're both mages. If beetlemen come knocking in the middle of the night, this will be the safest place in town.
>Other (?)

>>39000223
>Utilize girlish charms. Who could say no to your face? You know you wouldn’t.
Nothing can wrong.

>>39000223
>>Utilize girlish charms. Who could say no to your face? You know you wouldn’t.

>>39000223
>>Look bud, we don’t really want or need to spend the night in your scummy town. Keep this BS up and we’re out.

>>39000223
>He asked how many rooms, not how much crap you can spew out of your mouth.

>>39000223
>He asked how many rooms, not how much crap you can spew out of your mouth.

>>39000223
>>I like the way you think. Squeeze every penny out of this place before the beetles burn it down, right?

>>39000223
>>He asked how many rooms, not how much crap you can spew out of your mouth.

>>39000223
>I like the way you think. Squeeze every bit of coin out of this place before the beetles burn it down, right?
Maybe don't specify pennies. Or do. I dunno.

>>39000223
>girlish charms
Made me laugh

>>39000223
>He asked how many rooms, not how much crap you can spew out of your mouth.

>>39000223
>>He asked how many rooms, not how much crap you can spew out of your mouth.

>girlish charms
heh

>>39000223
>I like the way you think. Squeeze every penny out of this place before the beetles burn it down, right?

Roll some dice.

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>39000756

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>39000756

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>39000756

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>39000756

File: 1412664359630.gif (979 KB, 500x410)

979 KB GIF

>>39000769
Phew.

>>39000769
Nice! pretty much the only good roll we've had this thread.

>>39000769
Nicely done anon!

>>39000769
And this could have been our girlish charm.

>>39001203
omg, that would have been hilarious.

>>38999260
Why is Ranthix so based?

Only thing that works with these types is cutting right to the chase. You butt past Frederick and slam your fist on the counter, loud enough to attract the attention of a dozen nearby tavern patrons. “He asked how many rooms, not how much crap you can spew out of your mouth,” you say loudly, so that everybody can hear you. “I bet if we started asking around, you’ve got everybody in this place paying a different price.”

“Hey, quiet yourself down now, lass,” says fat man, looking suddenly unpleased with the conversation.

You narrow your eyes at him. “Why should I?”

The bartender tavern master guy sighs, guessing at your game. “I have a room,” he says.

“Two rooms?” you ask. No way you’re sharing a room with Reeber.

“If you can pay for ‘em,” he says.

“How much?” asks Derek.

The fat man sighs and shakes his head, as if coming up with the first number he can think of. “Forty weight,” he says. “Per room.”

Frederick smiles broadly. “Done,” he says, instantly producing a handful of silvery coinage.

>>39001507

Begrudgingly, the tavern master accepts the money, realizing he could have probably asked for a far higher price if had only dared to.

Derek coutns out an extra few coins, and gives them to the man. “Make sure they’re clean,” he says pointedly.

“Aye,” says the man, shaking his head and turning to help somebody else.

You and Frederick head outside into the bitter cold, though it takes a second for Reeber to join you. The hound seems better fed than he was a few minutes ago.

You give him a playful knock on the head. “You dog,” you say, grinning. You look up at Freddy. "How much was the tavern master asking for, anyway?"

"Eighty weight almost adds up to a dollar," says Derek.

"Huh."

He grins. “This might actually work out better than anything else so far,” says Frederick, feeling positive after the quick accomplishment.

>This whole deal seems like really bad timing, in general.
>Pfft, don’t whine. I’ve already bailed you out of your faulty landmaster situation.
>Whatever goes wrong, you’ve got like, a dozen people who can fix anything. You worry too much.
>How big a problem do you think that mustache knight guy will be?
>Let’s go wait for the others.
>So, I was kind of curious.
>>What kind of stuff did the Eclipse do, specifically, to get you so pissed?
>>Not to be negative, but it seems like you’ve got a lot staked on Ettenrhine winning. What’ll you do if they lose?
>>Why do the Eclipse care so much about controlling your country place?
>>Assuming all this works out, do you really think you guys have a chance? I mean, sounds like the odds are stacked against you.
>>Other questions (?)
>Other (?)

>>39001618
>This whole deal seems like really bad timing, in general.
>How big a problem do you think that mustache knight guy will be?

>>39001618
>This whole deal seems like really bad timing, in general.

>So, I was kind of curious.
>>What kind of stuff did the Eclipse do, specifically, to get you so pissed?

>>39001618
>So, I was kind of curious.
>>Why do the Eclipse care so much about controlling your country place?
"Something about some shady treaty, or something?"

>>39001618
>How big a problem do you think that mustache knight guy will be?
>So, I was kind of curious.
>>What kind of stuff did the Eclipse do, specifically, to get you so pissed?
>>Not to be negative, but it seems like you’ve got a lot staked on Ettenrhine winning. What’ll you do if they lose?
>> Also anything decent to eat here?

>>39001618
>This whole deal seems like really bad timing, in general.
>So, I was kind of curious.
>>Why do the Eclipse care so much about controlling your country place?
>>Assuming all this works out, do you really think you guys have a chance? I mean, sounds like the odds are stacked against you.

>>39001618
>This whole deal seems like really bad timing, in general.
>Whatever goes wrong, you’ve got like, a dozen people who can fix anything. You worry too much.
>How big a problem do you think that mustache knight guy will be?
>So, I was kind of curious.
>>What kind of stuff did the Eclipse do, specifically, to get you so pissed?
>>Not to be negative, but it seems like you’ve got a lot staked on Ettenrhine winning. What’ll you do if they lose?
>>Why do the Eclipse care so much about controlling your country place?
>>Assuming all this works out, do you really think you guys have a chance? I mean, sounds like the odds are stacked against you.

>>39001618
>>>What kind of stuff did the Eclipse do, specifically, to get you so pissed?

>>39001618
>>This whole deal seems like really bad timing, in general.
>>What kind of stuff did the Eclipse do, specifically, to get you so pissed?
>>Assuming all this works out, do you really think you guys have a chance? I mean, sounds like the odds are stacked against you.

>>39001618
>How big a problem do you think that mustache knight guy will be?

>So, I was kind of curious.
>>Why do the Eclipse care so much about controlling your country place?
>>Not to be negative, but it seems like you’ve got a lot staked on Ettenrhine winning. What’ll you do if they lose?

>>39001618
>This whole deal seems like really bad timing, in general.

So, I was kind of curious.
>>What kind of stuff did the Eclipse do, specifically, to get you so pissed?
>>Not to be negative, but it seems like you’ve got a lot staked on Ettenrhine winning. What’ll you do if they lose?
>>Why do the Eclipse care so much about controlling your country place?
>>Assuming all this works out, do you really think you guys have a chance? I mean, sounds like the odds are stacked against you.

>>39001618
>Other questions(?)
Let's use a play from Wolfgang's playbook.
"Are you a good man?"

>>39001740

That playbook is off limits. It has a girlfriend.

>>39001753
Too soon

>>39001753
What about the person being played?

>>39001753
>Everyone wants to husbando him
>No here is Baron. He's totally not shit.. Promise.

>>39001753
So? We could make out anyway.

>>39001778
kek

Wooo
Finally caught a live thread

“Surprising how bad your timing can get,” you say. “Seems like we’re hitting every bump on the road.”

“At least we’re not hitting the worst bumps,” says Frederick, beginning to walk down the road. “I was more worried about the Seraphis, but with the beetlemen running rampant, they might be too busy to see us slip by.”

“Except mustache guy,” you correct him, keeping pace alongside him. “On a scale of one to a big problem, how big a problem do you think he’s going to be?”

“Farren told him where we were going, so potentially a very, very big problem,” says Derek. “But like I said. If they send him and the crusade out here to squash bugs, we’ll already be past Pelheft and on our way home by then.”

You nod thoughtfully. “Could work out.”

“Could,” he says.

“Say. I was kind of curious, but it never seemed like a good moment to ask.”

“Don’t worry about the flag. You were just doing your job,” says Frederick.

“What? No, I just meant about you. Like. Why are you fighting? Like, what did the Eclipse do, specifically, to get you so pissed?”

He gives you a weird look. “I thought you knew,” he says.

“What?”

“Back when you had Old Glory, or whatever it’s called. It spoke through you,” he says.

Memories of goblins and explosions and burning flesh come to mind. You try to bring up the parts where you started breaking down vault doors and deflecting bullets with shadows, but find it difficult to get exactness. “Did I? I mean yeah, I remember, but the details are a little hazy from the point where the explosions started onward,” you reply.

>>39002477

“There was a lot of magic flying around at the time,” he agrees, “but I remember what you said. He was there at the beginning, right at the heart of the rebellion. He was nineteen years old when they killed him. I already knew Gudfred laid down his life for freedom, but it was nice to hear it from somebody else.”

Well, you can get that, you guess. Somebody kills family, you have to kill them back. No questions asked. “So it’s kind of revenge?”

“More than that. I didn’t think it was worth fighting at first, but at a certain point there was no way I could do anything but fight,” he says.

“Why are the Eclipse so keen on Ettenrhine, anyway? You got shale oil in those rocks or something?”

“There are oil reserves, and that is a factor, but it’s about more than that,” says Frederick. “The Eclipse have a monopoly on magic, but their system doesn’t work in Ettenrhine. We have schools of magic they don’t understand, and they’ve been suppressing them for as long as they’ve been trying to colonize our land. They’re afraid to allow the existence of an independent Ettenrhine on their northern border – having an alternative nearby would challenge their authority in their own country, Ironstrom.”

>Say stuff (?)
>Ask Questions (?)
>Other (?)

>>39002496
>>Say stuff (?)
I'm not trying to offend you, and really, I've nothing but the best impressions of your magic so far, but is there a reason to be concerned about the kind of magics you study? And would you challenge their land?

>>39002496
what sort of magic?

>>39002496
>Assuming all this works out, do you really think you guys have a chance? I mean, sounds like the odds are stacked against you.

>>39002496
>Ask Questions (?)
"What's the difference between your magic and theirs? Why does their system of magic not work in your lands?"

"What claim does Ironstorm have on Ettenrhine? Do they have a kinda legal but shady claim on it through some treaty?"

>>39002496
>Ask Questions (?)

"Assuming everything goes all copacetic on our end, what're the odds of the fight working out in your favor? And will that be enough to actually tip the scales?"

Well, that'll be the last update for tonight. I'm tired.

Next thread Wednesday at noon, MST.

>>39002638
Thanks for running boss. Cya around.

>>39002496
"So what's the plan to deal with Ironstorm? You gonna pull a Carthage? Burn it to the ground and salt the earth kind of deal?"

>>39002638
Thanks for running.

>>39002638
Ok- see you then. Thanks for running Lawngod!!

>>39002638
thanks for running languid!

>>39002638
Thanks for running Lawnguy.