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Let's get huge, guys!

Another day, another rigorous training session. Personal fondness for you or not, Yvette is absolutely never light on rookies of the personal guard. At least this has heavily strengthened the bond between you and fellow newcomer, the pegasus knight Zoe.

Even with the seriousness of the training, you smile and chat with her as you're dismissed for the morning.

"Ellen," Yvette says abruptly as you're turned around, ready to leave the courtyard, "do you have a moment?"

>A. Yes, ma'am
>B. Zoe and I sort of had plans...
>C. Write-in

>>41438514
>Sure, Although we did kinda have plans....

>>41438514
This is assuming we DO have plans with Zoe, if we don't ignore the Write-in and take it as a vote for A
>C. Look to Zoe to see if she's alright with us cancelling our plans

>>41438619
>>41438629
Votes locked, starting update.

>>41438756
You look at Zoe, as though asking if she's alright with cancelling whatever plans you had, or at least putting them off.

"I won't be long," Yvette reassures you, "you can catch up with Zoe shortly."

"Alright, then," Zoe says, sighing, "I'll see you soon."

She steps out of the courtyard, closing the door behind herself. Yvette folds her arms, looking at you.

"What prompted you to become a knight? Answer honestly."

>A. Write-in
>B. I wanted to repay my friend (Garrus)
>C. There's nothing for me besides fighting
>D. I want to protect the royal heir.
>E. It just sort of... Happened. I don't know

>>41438900
>E/C. It just sort of... Happened. I suppose there's nothing for me besides fighting

>>41438945
Second.

>>41438900
>A. Write-in I had no where else to go, and I wanted to repay the people that saved my life.

>>41438945
Second

>>41438900
>A. Write-in
>E. It just sort of... Happened. I don't know

"Well, there's nothing left for me in my village. So, I got nothing left but to try to move on. Perhaps even make something out of myself."

>>41438945
>>41438971
>>41438987
>>41439007
Aand starting.

>>41439176
"I suppose it just... Happened, really. There was nothing left for me in Orsin, you guys showed up, and... Honestly, there's not all that much I'm good at besides swinging a sword around. Even back home, being a town guard was about all I'd ever thought myself capable of."

Yvette responds a moment later, "and it shows. You fight every battle like you might not survive, and as though that doesn't bother you all that much. I trust that you will be able to keep in mind, then, that your priority will always be protecting the prince. Of course, you can have friends, find love, perhaps start a family if you're feeling so sentimental, but as long as you serve in Prince Garrus' personal guard, you must be willing to live and die for him."

>A. I know, ma'am.
>B. Is something on your mind?
>C. Is that all?
>D. Write-in

>>41439303
>B. Is something on your mind?

>>41439359
>>B. Is something on your mind?

There has to be something else.

>>41439359
>>41439385
Think it's safe to lock the votes/start the post now.

>>41439501
>Think it's safe to lock the votes/start the post now.
I say so.

>>41439501
"Lady Yvette, is there... something on your mind?"

Yvette raises her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"You've never been this... insistent that I be reminded of something I knew when I took the job, and it doesn't seem like something someone would normally pull someone aside specifically to say."

"Even outside of combat you're always piercing through people's armor," Yvette says with a combination of admiration and resignation, before continuing, "I'm never getting any younger or sprier. In my prime, I should have been able to handle all of those incomplete Dracozombies from Tarvos Valley by myself AND keep everyone safe. Yet I had to choose between taking the time to try that or face their rotting breath to shield the prince. Naturally I didn't hesitate to choose the latter, but... Since then, I've felt weighed down by my age."

You take a moment to really look at Yvette, comparing her to that first glimpse of her you saw, a commanding and admirable woman, only just showing the stresses of her age and station. Here, when she isn't trying to command or fight, you can see exhaustion and emptiness riddle her features. Her hair is much silverer than it was when you first saw her, and that was... Not even a couple weeks ago.

"I... suppose I wanted to be certain that passion for protecting the throne would not die, especially with someone who I see so much of a young me in."

>A. Assure her that you won't let her down
>B. Ask what she means by that
>C. Remain silent
>D. Ask if you can leave
>E. Write-in

>>41439759
>A. Assure her that you won't let her down
>B. Ask what she means by that
>Prince Garrus is already one of my friends, I'll gladly take his place in death before letting one of my friends die again....

>>41439792

>>41439792
Seconding

>>41439792
>>41439912
>>41439985
Another set of votes locked in.

>>41440000
You ask Yvette what she means by seeing so much of a younger her in.

She responds sentimentally, "a young woman who has nothing but a sword and a spear she can just passably lift, an immediate bond with a member of her nation's royal family, willingness to follow orders to the bitter end if it's required of her... No, I shouldn't be rambling like this. You're dismissed, Ellen. Thank you for putting up with this old woman's ranting."

You bid the paladin farewell, starting out of the courtyard, when she says one more thing.

"If you see your friend Natalie running around before I do, tell her I said she can stop now."

>A. What's that about?
>B. Uh, sure.
>C. Write-in

>>41440184
>A. What's that about?

>>41440184
>>B. Uh, sure.

>>D. Memo to self, check up on Nat.

>>41440203
>>41440226
Starting the post, etc.

>>41440421
"Stop what, exactly?"

"I figured that a combat-oriented training regimen was inappropriate for someone who uses staves, so I mainly have her working on her speed, endurance, and agility. At the moment it's taking the form of running around the castle grounds while I devise something better. King Drasma himself has taken an interest in helping hone her skill with a staff. He always says there aren't enough people who care to learn how to wield a staff in Neir."

You tell her you will and make a mental reminder to catch up with your old friend before finally heading out.

As luck would have it, a short while later you find her, expression blank as ever, but exceptionally sweaty. Her legs are wobbling a bit, and you can just feel the relief wash over her unmoving facial features when you tell her Yvette said she's good for today.

She sits down, wiping her brow and taking a swig of a bottle of water.

"Hello, Ellen," she says politely.

>A. Sit down and converse with Nat
>B. No time. You've got to find Zoe
>C. Write-in

>>41440684
>A. Sit down and converse with Nat

>>41440684
>A. Sit down and converse with Nat.
>D. See if she wants to come with you to find Zoe.

>>41440793
Seconding

>>41440737
>>41440793
You know the deal by now.

>>41440950
You sit next to your friend, catching up, mentioning that Yvette mentioned her having personal lessons from King Drasma and whatnot.

"Yeah, the king is a very... intensely positive person. It can honestly be a bit exhausting, but I think he's. Really passionate about staves. I'd never seen an again staff until he showed me how it works."

In turn, you tell her about your own recent experiences. You tastefully leave off the parts about Zoe's and Yvette's respective insecurities, but it doesn't negatively impact your conversation.

"We were going to hang out more in a little bit, but I'm sure she'd also be happy to have you around."

"Thank you for offering, but. I would rather not move for the next... Appropriately long unit of time. My legs need a break."

You nod and bid her farewell for now.

"Maybe. Next time," she says, looking away a bit apologetically before you get back up and walk off.

>A. Check the knights' quarters for Zoe
>B. Check around the castle's entrance
>C. Maybe she headed into town first?
>D. Write-in

>>41441243
>A. Check the knights' quarters for Zoe

>>41441243
>A. Check the knights' quarters for Zoe
>D. Write-in; Ask if anyone's seen her around if she herself isn't there.

>>41441243
>>A. Check the knights' quarters for Zoe

>>D. See who else is in the quarters.

>>41441284
>>41441382
>>41441390
Locked in.

>>41441508
You look around your shared quarters first, thinking that perhaps Zoe went there to wait for you.

Zoe is, in fact, sitting in there, apparently reading something. She smiles at your approach.

"So what'd Yvette want?"

>A. Nothing important
>B. It's a bit personal
>C. Tell her
>D. Write-in

>>41441651
>B. It's a bit personal
>Hope you understand that i can't tell you about it

>>41441651
>D. Write-in
Just some quick stuff about the job.

>>41441651
>D. She wanted to affirm my motivation of being a knight. I think she's worried about me on how I handle myself. That's about it. Oh. I met Nat along the way here, so I briefly caught up with her for a bit. She's doing fine besides being sore from all of the conditioning that Yvette and I guess His Majesty is putting her through.

>>41441784
Girl talk, guys. Girl talk. Too bad Nat couldn't come along with us. I'm curious on how her relationship with Biff is going.

>>41441784
thissun

>>41441954
>>41441784
and that's a wrap

>>41442004
"She just wasn't... sure of why I chose to become a knight. It's hard to explain, sorry."

Zoe nods. "Anything else keep you up?"

You continue, "well, I ran into Natalie. She's apparently training for personal guard too, but since she can't exactly fight, Yvette's mostly having her run around to, er, keep up agility or something. I invited her to come along with us, but she said she was too exhausted to do much of anything for awhile. Between Yvette and hearing that the king himself is helping hone her healing skills, I can't say I blame her."

"I... see. Well, I wish her the best," Zoe says, smiling a bit once more.

After that conversation wraps up, Zoe asks you to follow her.

>A. Ask what she's got planned
>B. Do so without question
>C. Write-in

>>41442237
>A. Ask what she's got planned

>>41442391
And with all of one vote, we move into the next post.

>>41442510
"Really, Zoe, what did you want to do? You just said you had a fun idea for after training and haven't said anything else about it."

Zoe responds pretty quickly, "you'll find out in a minute. Say, you don't have any problem with heights, do you?"

>A. Uh...
>B. Nope!
>C. I don't know!

>>41442547
>Nope!

>>41442547
>B. Nope!
We used to dare Lambert into jumping off the cliff that faced the lake afterall!

>>41442547
>C. I don't know!
can't imagine we've ever been anywhere super high up

>>41442605
>>41442613
And Nope wins.

>>41442786
"Nope. In fact, back in Orsin, there was this cliff-well, more of a weirdly tall rock formation-by this lake nearby the village, and Lambert and I would dare each other to jump in from increasingly high along it when the weather was nice enough for that sort of thing."

Zoe replies curiously, "Lambert? I'm... not sure who that is. Is it alright if I ask?"

Oh, right. She wouldn't have known him and wasn't with Garrus' guard.

>A. Write-in
>B. Have the QM think of an answer

>>41442980
>A. He's a... uh... late friend of mine. We've known each other since we were little.

>>41443033
Second

>>41443033
>>41443060
It was a grippingly close vote, but in the end this option barely came out on top.

>>41443236
I don't know what happened to everyone else. Maybe they're lurking?

>>41443315
I'm lurking since I'm bad at write-ins.

>>41443236
"He's, er, a... he was a late friend of mine. We'd known each other since we were kids. Then... well, I'm sure you're familiar with what happened to most of Orsin."

"I see... Sorry if I just brought up a bad memory," Zoey says.

You reassure her that no harm was done and you two continue on your way. Eventually, you reach stables designed to accommodate pegasi. There are two inside, but room for a few more. Zoe goes over to pet one, affectionately scratching its head.

"Sorry you've been stuck in here awhile, Poseidon," she says to the winged beast with more affection than you've personally heard her use for anything.

>A. Ask again what Zoe has in store
>B. You'll find out soon enough, if it wasn't already starting to be clear
>C. Write-in

>>41443541
>>B. You'll find out soon enough, if it wasn't already starting to be clear

>>41443541
>OH i get it! We're going for a ride on your Pegasus?

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>41443668
>>41443718

>>41443805
"Oh, you wanted to take me for a ride on your pegasus?"

Zoe nods. "It's just so... serene, flying around on him when you're not fighting or anything. I felt like sharing that with you."

>A. Sounds great
>B. Politely decline
>C. Write-in

>>41443923
>A. Sounds great!

This is better than a pony ride.

>>41443923
>A. Sounds great

>>41444052
What do you mean?

>>41444075
He's trolling and/or being a retard
He's also pushing for /u/ shit and as such should be burned

>>41444075
Byron
green professional motherfucker

>>41443993
>>41444001
And starting the post.

>>41444131
>>41444135
I say its still too early for choosing a husbando or a waifu. Let's not make the same mistakes like in Princess Guard quest.

>>41444316
I didn't start it and i agree but the other anon is being retarded and trying to start up a Waifu/ Husbado war

>>41444240
"I would love to."

Before you knew it, you and Zoe were soaring through the air on a winged horse, above the town. You can just make out a mountainous pass in the distance, which you assume is part of the mountain range which separates Tarvos Valley from the rest of the Johan region.

The town is a ways below you, and you and Zoe can see much of it from up here.

Stopped in midair, Zoe turns around and asks, "what do you think of flying?"

>A. This is pleasant
>B. This is exhilarating
>C. This is terrifying
>D. This isn't doing much for me
>E. Write-in

>>41444471
>A. This is pleasant

>>41444471
>>B. This is exhilarating

>>E. So, how long have you two been doing this?

>>41444471
>A. This is pleasant

>>41444499
>>41444653
And pleasant wins the responsebowl.

>>41444757
"It's... really nice, just like you said."

The gods of irony never rest, as no sooner than you say that, you find yourself filled with a sense of unease. You feel slightly ill, suddenly struggling to keep yourself sitting upright.

You recognize the feeling from that day, that... that person. The one who approaching while they were casting that spell caused you to collapse.

Zoe and her pegasus don't seem to feel anything, but she shoots you a look of concern, repeating your name a few times.

>A. Ask her to let you off and get back to the castle
>B. Ask her to get you both back to the castle
>C. Ask her to help you look for something. You've got a bad feeling all of a sudden.
>D. Write-in

>>41445014
>B. Ask her to get you both back to the castle

>>41445014
>B. Ask her to get you both back to the castle

>>41445014
>>C. Ask her to help you look for something. You've got a bad feeling all of a sudden.
We scouts nowz.

>>41445014
>C. Ask her to help you look for something. You've got a bad feeling all of a sudden.
if we're feeling this shitty all of a sudden then deaf necromancer's gotta be close
maybe right below us

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>41445061
>>41445065
>>41445069
>>41445234
Do we retreat or do we search? It's all up to the dice now.

>>41445288
"H-hey... Zoe... I n-urgh, I need you to help me look for someone I think might be in the town. If my-hrk-suspicion is right, we don't have much... time..."

You figure that this person, the one who signed those Dracozombies into existence, must be nearby, and possibly casting a spell right now. Zoe doesn't seem to understand, but she does trust that you're onto something, landing her pegasus in the middle of town. Crowds peel away as Poseidon lands and you and Zoe dismount. A quick look-around doesn't give you much indication, but then again you don't have much physical description committed to memory besides "probably deaf," "fair-haired," and a general height compared to your own.

Time may very well be of the essence.

>A. Search the nearby streets.
>B. Look in a nearby tavern.
>C. Check out that church.
>D. Start heading in the castle's general direction to see if that makes you feel worse.
>E. Something about that alley seems off...

>>41445435
>A. Search the nearby streets.

>>41445435
D

>>41445435
>E. Something about that alley seems off...

>>41445435
>B. Look in a nearby tavern.

Rolled 1 (1d4)

>>41445554
>>41445688
>>41445574
>>41445578
And again, for clarification's sake, with rolls, the numbers are alphabetized. I'm not wording it properly but it's pretty self-explanatory.

>>41445723
You shamble around the streets a bit, not really feeling any significantly better or worse for your actions. In the process, however, you quite literally bump into about the last person you would want to.

Stefyn stammers out an apology for bumping into you before fully realizing who you ARE. This causes him to recoil.

"Uh, hey... You're not feeling sick, are you?" the man who caused the death of Lambert asks with concern.

You can't help but notice that he has his sword on him.

>A. Ignore him and continue your search
>B. You're fine.
>C. Ask why he's armed
>D. None of his business how you feel
>E. Write-in

>>41445819
>C. Ask why he's armed

>>41445831
And here we have our update-to-be.

>>41445987
"Why do you have your sword with you in the middle of town? Off to gut another-"

You lurch forward without meaning to, interrupting your vitriolic comment. Zoe approaches to help you remain standing as Stefyn answers, "well, er, Mitch was trying to take care of some guys trying to rob a secret shop and wanted some extra backup. He already took Jay and Robert to start with, but Reese and I are supposed to help out too...

The familiar farmhand, the one you derisively know only as "the town drunk," appears from the crowd behind Stefyn, looking... entirely different. His shaggy hair is actually combed out of his eyes, he's clean-shaven, and most noticeably he's in a very heavy set of armor. He seems completely sober.

"Alright, Stef, let's help fight some criiimes..." His entire demeanor drops rapidly as he draws closer, and he looks positively ill within moments.

"H-hey, Reese, are you going to be alright?"

"What? Of course! Just because I get a bit ill doesn't mean I can't... Fight at... The top of my game!"

>A. Follow them for this robbery thing
>B. You've got bigger fish to fry. Ignore them and keep searching
>C. Write-in

>>41446125
>A. Follow them for this robbery thing

>>41446125
>A. Follow them for this robbery thing

>>41446232
>>41446255
Are we armed at least?

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1 KB GIF

>>41446232
>>41446255
Stefyn leads you, Reese, and Zoe into an unassuming alley, on all ends of which is brick wall.

"This section of the wall is discolored," Zoe says, as though hoping to get the attention of Stefyn (who was, at the time, running his hand along pretty much every single brick).

"A-alright, thanks..." the butcherer of Lambert stammers out politely as he begins to attempt to push specific bricks in the section of wall Zoe pointed out, finally succeeding with a "got it!"

You and Reese both shiver as the section of wall folds away, revealing a set of stairs. Could it be that..?

>Continued in next post, got too long

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>>41446540
Your feeling only gets worse as you all descend, culminating when you enter what appears to be a very well-decorated warehouse.

"Untie us, you idiots!" a voice you do not recognize rings, the sound traveling in a direction that isn't your own.

At the sound's origin, a young man and young woman, both wearing unassuming robes, hoods pulled down to reveal unusually pointed ears. The female, the one who shouted, is snarling and growling, with highly prominent fangs. They are, in fact, tied together.

A voice shouts back at them, "sorry, but they just can't do that right now. Things are a bit... hectic in human resources. We'll try to get back to you to the fullest extent of the law within 3 to 5 business days, though!"

The voice belongs to the young red-haired woman you saw earlier. She's standing by Mitchell, her wielding a plain-looking lance (even among all the expensive-looking items lining the shelves and walls of the underground shop) while he fires a bow at... two someones.

Jay and Robert are prop themselves up by their axes nearby, Robert staring down a hooded figure, "c'mon, buddy, you scared to talk back?!" Jay gives him a disgruntled expression even through the pain.

Beside that figure is another, taller person in light armor. Their face is covered by some sort of full-head mask, but the rest of their skin looks... pale.

Aside from them, the halls are filled with bony, skeletal beings, at least a dozen of them being signed into existence by the hooded figure.

>To be continued next thread

Thanks for playing, everyone. You can follow on twitter @qmgrandflocto to check for updates as always, and I'll be sticking around to answer questions for as long as I'm needed.

>>41446592
So, what's our level now and our support rank with Zoe?

>>41446638
After all your training in the mercenary class, I would put you around... level 3 or 4, not including the 10 from your trainee class.

As for support with Zoe, I'd say you've managed to achieve B surprisingly fast just from the content of your conversations+literally being trained by Yvette to support each other better.

It's harder to pinpoint exact support ranks in this quest than in the games, though.

>>41446666
> It's harder to pinpoint exact support ranks in this quest than in the games, though.

Aww... Also, have we asked about who the hell saved us earlier?

>>41446791
There is an answer that I think I implied pretty decently, but Ellen doesn't know who yet. Maybe she'll find out, but if she never does I might mention it.

>>41446869
>There is an answer that I think I implied pretty decently, but Ellen doesn't know who yet. Maybe she'll find out, but if she never does I might mention it.

I'm an idiot so I guess it wasn't clear enough. I'm surprised that we haven't asked anyone yet about it. Suppose we were too busy training with Zoe and Yvette.

Also, I dunno about you guys, but I'd like to keep Zoe as a close friend.

>>41446941
I didn't want it to be obvious, just... having a decent enough implication that in hindsight people might go "oh!" and maybe someone will be like "I knew it!"

And maintaining and forging friendships is all in the hands of the playerbase, for the most part, even if admittedly certain characters haven't gotten all that much focus who could probably stand to.

>>41447079
Yeah. Would like to socailize with different people too. We have a chance here.