Those days turned to a week and more, a siege which had been sprung the moment Caylen had returned from his neighboring cousin's estate. Water was hardly a concern, nor food to be sure, their stocks were still plentiful... But a siege was a siege, and those who had access to nature would be the ones who war of attrition in the end. It was inevitable that a fight would eventually break out...

Until last night, when a commotion drew the attention of the watch. When a hellish beast of wooden malice had made its spontaneous appearance, screaming distorted, warbling non-sequitur in an increasingly frenzied rage as it laid into the surprised brigand camp. It rampaged without tire through the night, upending flames and killing resistance. The cries of their besiegers echoed, and Alouette begrudgingly said prayers for the ones so devoted to their cause so as to face the nightmarish abomination which had emerged from the woods seemingly with the single purpose of laying waste to all in its path.

Though heartless, she had openly hoped that if the brigands themselves could not halt the thing, they may at least serve to slow it down or expose some manner of weakness. That perhaps the creature, large and relatively slow to move as it was, would remain as ground-bound as its resemblance to a tree would suggest.

...And then the screaming had stopped. Replaced before long by a single voice only marginally more familiar to most.

When the wooden monster had simply scaled the walls, their calm was thrown to the wind. An image of a creature with wire-like fleshen arms and bloodstained writhing roots that towered as high as any tree would be seared into the panicked dreams of many of the staff and soldiers for months to come at the very least. Surmounting their greatest defense, the wall itself, in mere moments; its willowy hair swaying dangerously with each movement.

And a similar, if far more human, tiny blonde version of it perched on its head.

It had been five hours since then. Five jaw-clenched, heart pounding hours as the apparent master of the monster - Irue Valen, the same cousin Caylen had went to see not a month ago - had simply made demands of their young master and walked inside as if they owned the estate.

Caylen had been in a meeting since then, having shakenly invited in the two companions of his cousin's after they emerged from the veil of 'hair' that obscured the ghoulish wooden horror which had remained in the courtyard in the mean time. Unconcerned, or perhaps unwilling, to simply send the thing away, Irue Valen's single command to it before vanishing within had been "Play nice."

Alouette would prefer it not play at all, and had thrice now had to rally her forces as they recoiled in shock. A few of the militia, bless their nerves, had become spooked several times and struck or shot the creature pre-emptively.

It is a minor miracle that it did not react violently to that, though perhaps more worrying that it had barely reacted to that at all...

Never the less, the majority of the militia had been executively released back to their duties for a tentative measure of time, leaving Alouette purely with the guards she had trained herself in the presence of... This thing. It's danger was readily apparent, and she would stand vigil lest it slip its reigns, or its 'master' prove less than benevolent towards Caylen.
____

"Tell me again what that thing is?"

You shrug, looking over the hastily prepared platter of finger foods before you. "I'm not really sure."

"But you're its master, right? It listens to you."

"For the most part." You confirm idly, patting Ari on the head as she looked about the room from the relative safety of your side. "It can speak, but it doesn't really understand our language."

"You can send it away though, can't you?"

"I do not think it would go far, Ser Valen." Rinnier interjected politely, "It has been very... persistent in its pursuit of us."

"Also it'd probably be upset if I told it to go away now." You follow up thoughtfully, "It's fine isn't it? Your nanny can babysit it for a while, it shouldn't make a nuisance of itself."

Caylen drug a hand over his face grievously in the face of your nonchalance. "Alouette is the captain of my guard, she isn't a nanny to be looking after whatever strange horror you managed to find!" You level a flat stare at him for several moments, "She's been your 'caretaker' since we were four years old, Caylen. Shall I tell her you do not acknowledge the years of care she put into you?" You sniff at the defeat in Caylen's eyes, "She would be devastated that you think so little of her devotion."

"No... No, just... Why are you here?" He sighed, "Where did you even come from? Did you ride that creature all this way?"

"Of course not." You reject the notion out of hand, "We walked."
"That's worse! It must have taken a week-"
"Nearly two."
"-Two weeks to get here. Why would you even go that far? We just met at your Rite."

>I need your help with some annoying business.
>When were you planning to tell me about your meetings with this Prophet?
>I left your friend in the woods by the way. She should probably be nearby still.
>Why don't you tell me more about what's going on with these brigands?

Previous Threads:
https://archive.moe/tg/search/tripcode/!y56qKWqxyc/results/thread/
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=valen+quest

Where things are said:
https://twitter.com/Riz_QM

Pastebin Stuff:
Kara's Day Out - http://pastebin.com/8ZbiSKLs

Misc notes:Caylen is our childhood friend and cousin. We are not fond of sharing.

>>41467023
>>I need your help with some annoying business.
>>When were you planning to tell me about your meetings with this Prophet?
>>I left your friend in the woods by the way. She should probably be nearby still.
>>Why don't you tell me more about what's going on with these brigands?
everything

>>41467023
>I need your help with some annoying business.
>When were you planning to tell me about your meetings with this Prophet?
>Why don't you tell me more about what's going on with these brigands?

Everything but the thing about Maran.

>>41467023
>I need your help with some annoying business.
>When were you planning to tell me about your meetings with this Prophet?

>>41467285
... I really hope another vote comes in so I don't have to write ALL of tha-

>>41467380
... Well one less isn't so ba-

>>41467389
Needing his help and prophet. Okay. Now it shouldn't take an hour and a half to update.

Writing.

>>41467023
>I need your help with some annoying business.
>When were you planning to tell me about your meetings with this Prophet?
>I left your friend in the woods by the way. She should probably be nearby still.
>Why don't you tell me more about what's going on with these brigands?

"When were you planning on telling me about your meeting with the Prophet?" You blithely ignore Caylen's question as you bite a small carrot in half, "Meeting with..." He started, "How did you learn about that? It was supposed to be kept a secret."

"Oh, my dear Caylen." you smile comfortingly at him, "Did you think I wouldn't know? Me? Really?" ah yes, there was the familiar panic setting in. "I do try and keep familiar with my most cherished childhood friend, you know? You're quite important to me after all... So imagine my surprise when I discover that you've been having meetings with some famous seer, and it just so happens to involve one of my Testament." You place your hand on Ari's head idly, keeping a warm smile directed towards your cousin as you stared him down.

His fingers clenched lightly, drawing back to his sides or wrapping around a glass as a light frown tugged at his lips. The slight blink, along with the momentary rightward shift of his eyes was more interesting than his actual answer. "Ah, I was... concerned about how your rite would go." He admitted after a moment, "Call it superstition? Nothing of import came up, and I had just returned from meeting you. I didn't see a reason to worry you."

"You called the Prophet for a consultation purely because you were worried about me?" Your eyes soften as Caylen's confidence picks up. "Yes, but it was unnecessary. I had faith you would pass easily, of course, and they only confirmed it. Even taking two Testament for the rite wasn't enough to phase you."

"But how?" You lace your tongue with deliberate wonder as Caylen begins to talk himself into a deeper hole. "To think you would go out of your way to call an audience with a Prophet who travels the very nations, whose time alone is worth more than even the royal family's whim, all for me?"

"Er... Yes, of course. You know I am always concerned for how you are doing, Irue. I had to call in several favours, to be sure, but I was quite worried." He nodded, an uneasy smile slowly gaining legitimacy on his face. It is unfortunate that, given his heritage, Caylen seemed ill at ease in concealing his own tells. He was not one for the subtle game, no matter how his instructors and parents had tried to teach him its rules and ways.

"Then perhaps you'll be interested to know that I've actually come here to ask for help." you segue easily from the topic, not even batting an eye at how relieved he seemed to be as you moved on. "I need you to find information on someone I've had some problems with. If it's not handled carefully, then we may end up... In an unfavourable altercation." You silently omit the fact it would technically be the second altercation. "I needed to pay a visit to Carona not long after the Rite, and one of my Testament became involved in a dispute with a rather self-important ponce."

"...Dispute?" Caylen repeated curiously, "Did..." He glanced between Ari, still timidly using you as something of a safety blanket as she looked around the room, and then to the politely dignified Rinnier setting in the chair next to you, "...One of the guard cause a problem?" he finally finished, evidently drawing a blank on what either of them would have done.

"The guard did attempt to arrest my Testament." You confirm idly, "Though it was because they acted in my defense when I was accosted. Unfortunately the guards of Carona favoured the offender, his personage rather reputable, and I was forced to deny their enforcement."

"Then the one who instigated this..." Caylen muttered thoughtfully, "He'll be lodging a complaint to mother and father, won't he?"

"Precisely." you drawl unenthusiastically, "And given his position, I've little doubt it will cause a stir they will be forced to address."

"Position?"

"He is an attendant of the Shrine of Gnome." Caylen chokes a little as you casually explain the circumstances, "Normally I wouldn't involve you in these things, but I am... Ill equipped to handle the matter on my own." You admit with an uneasy grimace, "I have a few other options to turn to, but I thought of you first. If it is too much for you to give me aid, I will of course understand your position and..." Your throat hitches a little as you bow your head, "Attempt to seek help elsewhere. Perhaps promise a favour."

"You can rely on me!" Caylen assured you quickly, setting his cup down much faster than necessary in his hurry to acknowledge your implied trust in him. You almost feel bad for how easy your cousin was to tease like this; Even if all you had said was the truth, his open guard was too tempting NOT to poke and prod at after so long of not having had casual time with him. "Of course I can." You smile - For once, lacking an underlying shadow of intent and motivation in your expression - "You are my dearest childhood friend."

...Pity he was still hiding something from you. That he would purposefully not tell you, even lie to your face, hurt.

>Ask him what about what the prophet said
>Make plans to deal with Roderik
>Introduce Rinnier and Ari properly
>Other? (Write-in)

>>41468511
>Introduce Rinnier and Ari properly
>Ask him what about what the prophet said

>>41468511
>>Introduce Rinnier and Ari properly
Congrats on making past the ten thread hump Riz

>>41468560
Thanks!

Though technically we're on thread 13 or 14, because I keep making X.5 threads due to my failure to run long enough to finish everything I want to cover in a thread.

>>41468511
>>Ask him what about what the prophet said
>>Make plans to deal with Roderik
>>Introduce Rinnier and Ari properly

>>41468528
>>41468560
>>41468732
Introduce Rinnier

>>41468528
>>41468732
Ask about the Prophet

>>41468732
Deal with Roderik

Writing.

You push that slight throb in your chest away for the moment. It was perhaps unreasonable to assume the two of you would always be open with each other, for the slight shift was... disconcerting all the same. Something you would consider addressing later.

"In the meantime, allow me to formally introduce Ari!" You nod towards the timid Testament, "She's a little shy. My apologies if she is reluctant to greet you... I can only imagine where aunt Clara and uncle Byrn found her." True to form, though her attention was quickly grasped when her name was brought up, Ari herself was quick to tighten her grip on your arm lightly at the sudden focus on her. Caylen's attempt to put her at ease was ultimately futile, as his friendly words were blankly ignored.

...Ignored was probably the wrong word. You'd be more apt to say that Ari simply didn't know how to respond at all. She seemed too confused to reply.

You shrug as if to say 'It's like that' to Caylen as his curiosity started to pique. "And this is Rinnier Suriah Lamandra," you carry on, one hand sweeping towards your red haired Testament as you cede the floor to the former-princess.

Rinnier bowed her head briefly, skilfully receiving the introduction as she undoubtedly had many times in the past. "A pleasure to meet you, Caylen Valen." she intoned politely, "I have heard much of you, both from your cousin and abroad."

"...Lamandra?" He repeated in shock, "Rinnier Lamandra, first princess of Teranford?"

"Third in line to the throne." She confirmed proudly, "Though I'm afraid succession means little, now. I am currently in a working relationship with Irue as part of the Testament." Seeing Caylen boggle was heartening, given that you had only intellectually known of Teranford's royal family and had simply taken her claim to lineage at face value. The way she was smiling now, you presume it was rather refreshing to Rinnier to have someone finally acknowledge the gravity of her station.

Though that begged an interesting question.

"You seem surprised, dear cousin." You slip into the lapse of conversation following her introduction, "Surely the Prophet you met with told you of my Testament?"

"Nothing... quite so specific." He hedged, "There were... descriptions. I recognized these two as your Testament when I saw them, but I didn't know their names." He admitted, "Much less that one of them would be royalty. I was under the impression that mother and father had only acquired slaves for your Rite?"

You nod after a moment, glancing towards Rinnier as she frowned. "Teranford's royal family has been greatly fractured after the assault of our country commenced. Many of our people were captured and sold into slavery, whilst others fled to Ephlesia for sanctuary. I was captured attempting to buy time for others to escape." Rinnier explained succinctly, "I was passed through slavetrade until finding myself in company with Irue as a part of the Testament."

"...My condolences." Caylen muttered, "You have not led an easy life, and are wrapped up in this when your people need you most."

"Nn." Rinnier hummed in vague acknowledgement as she shook her head, "I have come to believe this may turn out for the better. I have come to an understanding with Irue, so I am hopeful that I will be able to help my people yet."

"I see." Caylen's proud smile made you fidget a little, unused to the easily bullied boy from your childhood looking at you like that. It didn't quite help that Rinnier's admission of her adjustment to you had caught you slightly off guard. Living with Asche, you never really got any praise, so...

"Ahem." You clear your throat awkwardly and try to hurry onto a new subject to regain your composure, "What else did the Prophet tell you regarding me, exactly?"

"Ah..." You weren't sure about the slight disappointment you felt when his proud grin dropped away at your question. A leftward shift of his gaze forced you to deliberately keep that disappointment from growing enough to be shown. "Descriptions, mostly... That you would be unlikely to encounter much difficulty in the Rite. Unfortunately I did not hear much more beyond that."

He wasn't concealing something from you this time.

He was lying. You just didn't know about what, or why.

...Part of you really didn't want to pursue it. He had agreed to help you with Roderik, which is why you had come here. That was all you really needed to discuss here. Or even talking about the brigands and current events with the royal family? The state of La'Fiel?

>About Roderik
>About the brigands
>...Are you sure there was nothing else?
>Other? (write-in)

>>41469613
>Cousin... I will drop it for now. But I will be quite cross if this secret gives me trouble in the future.

>>41469613
>About the brigands
>...Are you sure there was nothing else?

>>41469675
>>41469750
Nothing else? I'll trust you.

>>41469750
Brigands!

Writing.

"Nothing else?" You press half-heartedly, receiving an instant denial from Caylen as he shook his head in response. "...I see." your shoulders sink slightly, "I trust that you wouldn't lie to me for a petty reason."

"Irue-"

You hold your hand up, softly forestalling his justifications with shake of your head. "You have your reasons, I'm sure. Whatever they are, they're important enough to keep this hidden from me." A slip of displeasure escapes as you barely resist the urge to peel your lips back and bare your teeth, "If this brings trouble for me later, I will look to you to take responsibility."

The silence at the table after that is awkward for everyone involved, save perhaps Ari. You spend a few moments drawing a measure of comfort from the casual physical contact with her while you collect yourself.

"...In the meantime, perhaps you can-" you slip emphasis on that particular word, "-tell me what the circumstances of these brigands are?"

"Ah..." He acknowledged a little belatedly, grimacing as the topic slid into something else he was visibly uncomfortable about. "They're dispossessed. Not recently, and... not of the same village." He glanced aside, "I met with them briefly, but rejected their request for a proper audience. They are a coalition of resistance against the Royal Family, ousted from their homesteads for resisting the Academic Edict."

"I've heard a bit about that recently." You mutter, "Though I've recently discovered I'm quite out of touch with the going ons of La'Fiel. Do you care to enlighten me as to what that's about, exactly?"

"The simplest explanation is... The king decreed that what one was allowed to study be restricted to their trade. Unnecessary skills would distract the populace from excelling at their jobs." he explained distastefully, "So say the royal family. Those of noble standing, and affiliated with the Shrine are politically exempt from the ruling, as all knowledge and worldliness is considered 'in line' with their breadth."

"So in reality, it only affects the lesser class." You frown in confusion, "Why? This sounds stupid." You offer your most honest thoughts on the matter in the bluntest form possible, "Were they TRYING to incite a revolution?"

"I don't know." Caylen admits, "Our relationship with the crown is... Stressed. Mother and father did not oppose the movement, and have told me to not involve myself with the backlash. I don't know what they're thinking." His fingers clench into a loose fist, frustration clear in his voice. "They have all but cut ties and closed borders with Ephlesia since. With Teranford as it is - My apologies, Miss Lamandra - and East Heaven closed as well, that only leaves the northern countries with unburned bridges..."

"If the only ones left to us live in that barren snowy land, what of trade?" You lace your fingers together in consternation, "It has been deeply affected." He confirmed, briefly glossing over a number of items and imports you've little knowledge of in the meantime. "The peasants, serfs... Our people are struggling. Many nobles have begun to dig into their own funds in order to keep their provinces running smoothly, lest an inspection find something amiss."

>Inspection?
>How are our lands doing?
>What about Artemis?
>No one has spoken out about the royal family?
>Other? (write-in)

>>41470603
>Inspection?
>How are our lands doing?

>>41470603
>>Inspection?
>What about Artemis?
>No one has spoken out about the royal family?

>>41470635
>>41470689
Inspection?

>>41470635
Lands?

>>41470689
Artemis?

>>41470689
Royal Family?

Writing. I'll see what I can do.

"Inspection?" The term catches your interest immediately, "There was an old clause in the agreement between nobles and the royalty." Caylen explained, "Nobles were allowed to be self-governing, and given portions of land to oversee and run in place of the crown. It was designed to entice foreign powers and wealthy investors to take a stake in La'Fiel's growth, and was eventually what led to House Valen establishing itself in this country as opposed to any other."

"The promise of autonomy." you summarize simply, "And with our family's influence..."

"Yes. House Valen secured roughly a tenth of the land in La'Fiel for their own. It is no exaggeration to say that our presence in La'Fiel's history is extremely relevant to nearly all major changes and decisions. We own the second most land here, topped only by the crown itself. There was a clause in this agreement though - To prevent abusive or irresponsible lords from becoming established. A 'power to the people', if you will. If the noble in charge of a province was unable to properly manage or provide for their given entitlement, the people could lodge a complaint with the royal family."

"If the inspection proved genuine, the royal family could seize the land back from the nobles, deposing them from power." He frowned, "The clause was very rarely invoked after the first few years, but..."

"With trade to La'Fiel as it is, and that academic edict, if the nobles weren't personally funding their lands then everywhere would be in a state of unrest or flagging resources." Rinnier interjected sharply, receiving only a resigned confirmation from Caylen. "But money doesn't come from thin air." He continued, "The minor nobles are running dry, several of them having been deposed by the crown already. The brigands you saw likely hail from those lands, now fully owned by royal family. Perhaps some of them even were nobles, at one time."

"Then our lands...?" You narrow your eyes, "Carona seemed well when I was there, but that's hardly the extent of our holdings."

"I can't say for certain." Caylen grimaced, "Mother and father are handling it all as the stewards, and keeping the matter closed. I know we're keeping our people as well supplied as we can, but again, those funds don't come from thin-air, and I'm not sure how long it will laste. House Valen is by no means poor, but we are still responsible for a relatively large portion of the country."

"And no one has tried to oppose the royal family in all of this?" You hiss, "We're in this sorry state because of them, and they're using it as an excuse to form an inquisition against the nobles that supported this country?"

"It's... not that simple. We lost trade with Teranford due to the invasion, and East Heaven has been closed to everyone. The only thing the royal family has directly caused is the bad blood with Ephlesia due to their academic edict." He sighed, "Whether we like it or not, the clause is legal - Something we all agreed on, a long time ago. The conditions for deposement are still being met before its forced into action... Civil unrest, failed taxes, flagging resources."

"And the people themselves? They're just going along with this?" Rinnier interjected in bafflement, "I can't speak for La'Fiel, but Teranford's populace would have mutinied if we had tried this."

"...You saw the brigands." Caylen answered dully, "Many of the places repossessed by the crown have abandoned their homesteads, or been forced out by implementation of harsher regulations. They're trying to organize, and I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't attempting to garner noble support in order to do exactly that."

"And we're ignoring this?" You cut to the heart of the matter, "If anyone in La'Fiel can stand against the crown, it's House Valen. We're just going to let them quietly bleed out?"

"I don't know!" The table rocked as Caylen's fist slammed onto it frustratedly, "We've been trying to do what we can, but I don't know what mother and father have in mind. I know they're not happy about this either, but they won't tell me anything!"

>...About Roderik
>I promised the brigands an audience.
>Has the Shrine reacted to any of this?
>Other? (write-in)

>posting as anonymous.
taking trip on and off to post in /tg/ is suffering.

>>41471550
>Has the Shrine reacted to any of this?

>>41471550
>>I promised the brigands an audience.

>>41471563
What about the shrine?

>>41471615
Also I promised the brigands an audience.

Writing.

"The Shrine hasn't taken a stance on this?" You mutter, reaching for for some kind of pillar in this deluge of information. "The academic edict has to have offended the attendants of Luna in the Shrine, to speak nothing of Artemis itself."

"I'm not familiar with the Shrine." Caylen admitted, "I know some people who are more connected it with it than I am, but they haven't mentioned to me."

The three of you drift back into thoughtful silence. Perhaps fortunately, the conversation had mostly flown over Ari's head, which left her the sole tentatively happy person still in the room.

"...I promised them an audience." You finally speak up, drawing Caylen's attention. "After I talked them down from the siege, I promised them an audience and told them to go mourn. They'll be back, expecting me to give them that hearing."

"We can't-"

"You can't." You interrupt him pointedly, "Aunt Clara and uncle Byrn told you not to get involved, they never told me anything." And you meant that in more ways than one, "I am the blood heir to House Valen, and once I pass this rite, I will be the head of House Valen. I promised them an audience." You meet Caylen's eyes, daring him to deny you, "I'll give them one."

"And say what?" He laughed shortly, "You'll pass it on? Mother and father already know. What do you expect to do by getting their hopes up?"

"..." You don't have an answer for that. Not yet. "He's right, Irue... We don't know enough to really give them anything." Rinnier spoke up softly. "Are you suggesting I back out of this now?" you turn towards her. "After what happened with their camp and now, we just tell them we made a clerical mistake and can't actually listen to them?"

"What's the alternative?" She didn't back down, "Let them pour their heart out and then tell them you can't actually help?" Rinnier shook her head, "I'm not saying they should be left to their own devices, but you have nothing to help them with. Remember why we came here?"

>Make plans for Roderik
>Adjourn for now
>Agree to rescind your offer for Audience
>Other? (write-in)

>>41472087
>Make plans for Roderik
>Ask Rinnier what her suggestion for the bandits would be, either immediate or long-term

>>41472087
>>Make plans for Roderik
>>Other? (write-in)
We aren't 100% sure what the brigands even want. We lose nothing by hearing them out - there's a chance we can do SOMETHING, even if not immediately.

>>41472155
>>41472168
Make plans for Roderik

>>41472155
>>41472168
brigand stuff.

Writing.
Distractions keep happening, apologies.

"What do you think we should do, then?" You finally relent, letting out a frustrated breath. "For now, we don't know enough about what's going on. Even if they told you something, we're lacking context to make use of it." Rinnier explained, "I'm not saying they should be left on their own, but you can't just promise to help everyone you meet just because you want to."

"Ngh." You bite your lip, forcibly swallowing what was being told to you. Caylen was as agitated over the affair as you - Perhaps more so, given his disposition towards chivalry - but there wasn't anything you could do right now, was there? ...No, there had to be something. You were more than nobles, you were House Valen. "I'm still going to hear them out." You insist, "If only to let them know we're listening. There might be something we can do, if we just learn more."

"...Perhaps." Rinnier allowed, "It seems worth the effort at any rate, but if you want to help them then you'll need more than good intentions, Irue. This isn't a world that will turn out well just because you try really hard and keep hope."

"I know." You mutter, looking away from her as you try and pull your thoughts together. "I know that, it's why we're here."

"You never did explain exactly why you're here." Caylen broke in curiously, "You said you needed help with a shrine attendant, but what exactly did you need me to help you with?"

"His name is Roderik, an attendant of Carona's Gnome Shrine. Recently promoted if I had to guess... Though he was middle aged, and rather pompous in his attitude. He's probably someone who had a standing outside of the Shrine before he joined." You started thinking back to the encounter, "He objected me entering the Shrine with my Testament, though it was a sole complaint of his. During my visit, he left and acquired a number of guards to meet me at the foot of the stairway once I had finished my business paying respects."

"The guards were decidedly biased towards his side of the story, and I was forced into an altercation before having to leave Carona."

This was a polite way of saying you told the guards to come at you, and then bit off a chunk of Roderik's hand before being princess carried out of town.

"No doubt the ponce will be attempting to lodge a formal complaint of my actions to aunt and uncle, and his position in the Shrine will give his words a gravity which would prevent them from dismissing it out of hand."

"But what does this have to do with me?" Caylen tilted his head in perplexity, "Do you want me to try and intercede on your behalf? You know mother and father don't involve familial matters in their judgements."

You shake your head, "If it were that simple, I'd have done it myself. What I need from you is information on Roderik."

"...Information?" He repeated slowly, "Like what kind of information, exactly?"

"The kind he wouldn't want anyone to know." You answer innocently, "He declared hostile intent against me and mine, then attempted to defame me with allegations. I want to bury this man under his own ego, and watch the crows of society pick him clean."

"..." That deeply seated fear of you which your dear cousin Caylen had so sufficiently suppressed these past few hours of conversation was now properly visible once more, along with the nagging sign of him about to try and make an excuse to not be involved in something. "However that is perhaps a little too extreme for a minor altercation. Simply some dirt to make him think twice about attempting to stir up more trouble would be sufficient."

"If it's just that, then..."

Caylen was never very good at getting out of things.

"If he's only recently part of the Shrine, you might be able to find out where he came from." You suggest thoughtfully, "Then from there, you could maybe look into his Shrine-unaffiliated past?"

"What if I just got someone in the Shrine to formally look into his actions? They could discredit him and clear your charges."

That was an option, possibly. It would certainly make the instigation of the whole mess seem extremely suspect, but you don't think it would quite explain away you biting off a chunk of the man's hand while Kara crippled the guard. It would, however, potentially give you enough leverage to have his complaint against you dismissed... Or perhaps reframed so that people understood that all of that was purely in self-defense and was entirely justified.

Because it was. You will not compromise that it was necessary.

>Stick with my plan, I want him buried.
>Discredit him with the Shrine, I can try and make use of that.
>Why not both? (Such sudden investigation focus will raise attention)
>Other? (write-in)

>>41472908
>Discredit him with the Shrine, I can try and make use of that.

This still has the problem with that we assaulted the town guard, but we're better off making an asset out of the shrine potentially then simply brushing the problem aside. Besides, this way we remove the ass's powerbase rather then just make him not want to act.

>>41472908
>>Discredit him with the Shrine, I can try and make use of that.
There's no guarantee we'll find any dirt substantial enough. Better to work off of this to start with.

>>41473031
>>41473055
... I can't but wonder if we're too nice.

Writing.

"...I really kind of wanted him buried."

"Irue." Rinner's chiding sigh from beside you only served to drag down your half-hearted protests, "Fine, fine. If you can get the Shrine to look into Roderik then I will appreciate it." You shake your head, "The brigands shouldn't be stopping anyone from coming or going anymore, so I guess you can get started on that right away?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Excellent." You purr, a lazy grin stretching across your face which serves to halt his questions, "Can you point me towards your library? And tell us where we'll be staying for the time being."

"...S-staying?"

"Yes, of course." You blink at him expectantly, "Were you planning to throw us out not even a day after your dear childhood friend and cousin arrived to divest you of your brigand problem?" Rinnier looked on from your side, torn between attempting to seem uninterested, appearing as if she wanted to stay, and being slightly ashamed to be affiliated with you. That was fine. This wasn't politics, or anything.

This was family.

"No, I mean.. No I wouldn't do that, I just thought... you'd leave after you got what you came for."

"What if I came to see you?" You riposte impishly, crossing your arms to his lame excuses, "If you're this cold to me, I may start to think you don't want me around."

"No, it's not that, you're welcome here. Always welcome here!" His tongue twisted as he hurried to reassure you, though you never held any particular feelings of the sort. That he was still so quick to try and keep you happy, even in jest, was a little heartening. It almost made you forget that there were secrets being kept from you now. Almost... But not quite. "Well, if you'll point me towards your library then I'll be out of your hair for a while." You sniff finally, dropping pretense of faux hurt for business.

"You said you came through the forest, didn't you?" Caylen asked just after showing you and your Testament to the library. "Did you happen to meet anyone?" He posed the question innocently enough, but a single annoying face sprung to mind.

You wonder where she had gotten off to. Maybe still locked outside the gates? Retreated into the woods? Would she come crawling back in once the security around Caylen's estate was lifted? Had she been eaten by a wild boar? What was she doing with Caylen in the first place? ...That last question was particularly important, now that you thought about it. What business DID she have with Caylen at his personal estate, so far out?

"Has someone gone missing?" You ask curiously, rolling your eyes towards him. "Yes, a friend of mine tried to sneak out after the brigands began to set up siege. She said she was going to try and get help from Carona, so..."

"So you had hoped I would have run into her on the way?" You finish, arching a brow dubiously at him. "Were they just a friend, or something else I should be made aware of?" You lilted off an implication, watching him shift his weight awkwardly as he thought about how to answer. The fact he needed to think at all was rapidly draining your already flagging good mood.

"Was it perhaps one of the Tier sisters?" You offer flatly, "I approved of them, at least."

"N-No! I mean, it wasn't them, but it's nothing like that."

"Like what?"

"Like what you're thinking, this friend of mine, we're not really like that."

"Then how are you, exactly...?" Your patience is running thin.

"It's... Complicated. She's kind of important though, so if you ran into anyone that wasn't a brigand, I'd appreciate it if you told me."

>I didn't meet anyone on the road.
>I broke the Jenseits woman girl out of the brigand camp on the way.
>I left her in the woods when she made a fuss and wouldn't follow me.
>Intensify Disapproval.

>>41473647
>I broke the Jenseits woman girl out of the brigand camp on the way.
>I left her in the woods when she made a fuss and wouldn't follow me.
>Intensify Disapproval.

Also >woman girl

>>41473768
>woman girl
The plucky arch nemesis of man boy!

One day I will make typos like a normal person, and just spell a word wrong.

>>41473768
Writing this stuff though.

"If you're talking about the Jenseits girl, then I saved her on the way here." You finally sigh, "She was with Rinnier and I all the way back to your estate, but I left her in the woods when she started to throw a fit and wouldn't listen to me."

"You saved her, though?" He seems to put aside the fact you just left her in the woods, "What happened? Was she hurt?"

"...These are a lot of questions for a complicated relationship." You mutter, "The brigands had her captured, so Rinnier and I broke her out of their main camp on the way here. It was complete coincidence we even found her, since she wasn't being held with Ari."

"...With Ari? Your Testament got held hostage too?" He blinked, "What have you been doing this past month, Irue?"

Your eyes drift off to the ceiling as you thoughtfully attempt to formulate some kind of summarized explanation. "A lot? More than I had been doing for the past few years, anyway." You shake your head of the notion, refocusing on his actual question. "But yes, some things occurred and Ari got kidnapped. I found out about Jenseits as I was breaking her out, and decided to just make the most of the trip, in case you got some silly idea about walking back out to the brigand camp to save her."

You sniff at his bashful, if resentful, expression. "Not that there would have been much to save. The brigand camp was assaulted by Nightgaunts not long after we got her out." The disarray of the camp as you had tred back through it was still unnervingly fresh in your mind. "...Nightgaunts?" Caylen's question interrupted your thoughts, you blink at him curiously. "Yes. Evidently they live in these woods? They're invisible without fire to reveal them, and afraid of light in general."

"...They sound fierce." He furrowed his brow, "I think Alouette keeps torches for night patrol, but I'll tell her to ready fires as well. It's fortunate you knew enough about the beasts to handle them."

Your head tilts slightly, looking over Caylen's concern for some sign of fakery.

"Are you okay?" he asked, snapping out of his own reverie when your inspection went on for too long. "I'm fine." You mutter distractedly, "Just... Remembering something." You try to push past your haze, "Regardless, I got Jenseits out with Ari, and she followed us back here. She would have come in with us, but she threw a fit and refused to follow us anymore, so I left her in the woods."

You step past Caylen, entering the library which he had brought you to. Nary a single book on magic or mana to be found in this house... Honestly, this library felt a far cry from your own. Restricted, archaic and wary... You wondered how often this small mountain of books were perused, much less even used, in comparison to the warm comfort of your own texts. "I doubt she has wandered far since then," you note dismissively, "though I may be wrong. I hope you did not expect me to drag that unpleasant woman back to your hearth through her kicking and screaming?"

"haha..." Your cousin rubs his neck with a smile, "No, she can be pretty stubborn. If she was fine when you saw her, then that's enough - I'll have Alouette alert the guard to keep an eye out for her when we reopen the gates."

"Nn." You grunt disinterestedly, "Make sure she understands her place?" You speak up as Caylen turns to leave, "She prattles endlessly about childhood friend this, and time spent with you that. I am the only one who rightfully claims that title, understood?" You glance witheringly aside at Caylen, "As you said, she is just a friend," you stress the word with a hiss, "Correct?"

"We're definitely not like that." Caylen holds his hands up quickly, "Just a friend, I mean! It's a little complicated, but I owe her a couple favours... That's all, really!"

You almost want to pursue the topic, but Rinnier is subtly prodding you further into the library already. "If you say so..." You acquiesce reluctantly, turning your back to Caylen as he slips out to attend to business while you turn your attention towards Rinnier.

>Ask her what was on her mind
>Discuss your plans from here
>Talk about the wood golem
>Am I forgetting something...? (write-in)
>Other (write-in?)

>>41474407
>>Ask her what was on her mind
>Talk about the wood golem
>Am I forgetting something...? Ari, what happened with the bear, getting heinniee a new weapon.


Honestly got no idea boss.

>>41474466
Getting Rinnier* autocorrect bleuch

>>41474407
>Ask her what was on her mind
>Am I forgetting something...? (write-in)
Caylen didn't know about the nightgaunts either. This means he is either as sheltered as we are or that they're a new development. However, that raises the question of how did that Jenseits woman girl knew all about them without Caylen finding out. Add in that he's been out and about meeting prophets and fighting duels - and thus isn't completely ignorant to the outside world - I'm certain that this means something.

Also, why the hell did the bandits hunt down Caylen over us for a siege? Why target the child over the house heir? He's so much more well guarded then us, so there has to be an explanation. Either us being the actual heir isn't public knowledge, or our mere existence isn't known (as seen in Carona with no-one recognising our name - they recognized the house name fine but not us).

>>41474407
>>Ask her what was on her mind
>>Am I forgetting something...? (write-in)
On top of >>41474511 Jenseits also knew Ari's name when Caylen apparently didn't. She knew a lot of things Caylen didn't.

>>41474466
>>41474511
>>41474561
Ask whats on her mind

>>41474466
About the wood golem

And then, in order...

>>41474466
>Heinniee

>>41474511
>Woman girl

Writing.

"Something on your mind?" You venture distantly, mind whirring through little details as you try to piece something together. "Besides giving your cousin some room to breathe?" Rinnier asked archly, "You still want to help those brigands, don't you?" She turned towards you, "We have maybe a few days to learn as much as we can before they come back, and we've nothing but time until Caylen gets news back from his contacts in the Shrine."

"I thought you didn't want me to get involved in this?" You blink suspiciously, "Why the sudden interest?"

"It's not that I didn't want you getting involved, but if you walk in just hoping for the best then everyone will get hurt in the end." Her chest heaved upwards as she crossed her arms. "You were about to rush in on principle and then try to wing it again, and that won't work."

"We've been over this Rinnier, if you're going to plan to fail-"

"Then we won't plan to fail." She interrupts you determinedly, "But there's a difference between planning to fail, and making sure you know what you're getting into. If you're deadset on trying to do something about this, you need to understand exactly what you're getting into."

"I'm just helping them get their homes back, at least. If I can point them in a direction to help them then-" You pause, watching the spitfire Testament shake her head with pursed lips. "-Then what am I missing here?"

"You are Irue Valen." she explained, "You're thinking about this as Irue - but your actions carry the weight of Valen. What you do won't simply be advice, it will be the support of your house, even if minor. That name, like royalty, will lend credence and credibility to their cause, and serve as a rallying banner to other nobles. Best case scenario, you inadvertently thrust the nation into a civil war out of good intent."

"Worst case scenario? Your entire house gets inquisitioned for aiding a potential terrorist faction against the presiding royal family and everything, and everyone, fall flat on their face before anything even gets off the ground... These are just two outcomes, there are who knows how many more, and all of them are hinging on how you handle this!"

You swallow a little, "That's... admittedly a little more than I had in mind." Honestly, it seemed too dramatic to even really apply here. It was just an audience. "An audience with a Valen, the noble house which evidently owns a full tenth of the country, rivalling the royal crown in majority ownership. If you seem sympathetic to the cause of rebellious elements or deserters, that simply paints a target on you for the royal family to attack without cause of backlash. I know it seems heartless, but the steward's advice to ignore audience IS the most common reaction in situations like these."

"...But you're not going to try and stop me from going through with this?" You hedge curiously, "From what you're saying, every option leads to a bad end."

"You'll do whatever you think is best." She replied frustratedly, "But if you don't know anything, you just do something stupid. That's why we're going to use this time to learn as much as we can before the brigands come back, so you'll have some idea of what to do when you abruptly decide something needs to be done."

"... You didn't actually deny that every option led to a bad end." You note worriedly.

"No." She agreed simply, "I didn't."

The two of you had separated since then, splitting up through the library to find as many books on relevant history and law that Caylen had. Night had fallen at some point, but you had both remained buried under stacks of tomes and long unturned pages discussing even more archaic and historied events.

Through it all, a piece of your mind controlling to click together pieces of a nagging gap that had been troubling you since Caylen left. No, to be honest, even before then. "Find something interesting?" Rinnier called quietly, mindful to not wake up Ari who had made herself a pillow out of unread books nearby.

"...What's a Nightgaunt?" You ask abruptly, "I don't know anything about them, even though I've lived in this forest for over a decade."

"I lived in Teranford all my life." Rinnier responded wryly, "Didn't Maran tell you about them?"

"She did, and that's it." You confirm, "If I didn't know about them, it would be one thing. I've never really left my estate... But Caylen was as completely confused about their existence as I was, and he mentioned the captain of his guard hadn't taken steps to guard against them. He's lived in these woods as long as I have." You set the book aside, running one hand through your stubbornly long hair. "Jenseits recognized them, though. She knew how to handle them, and talked like she knew how they hunted."

"...So maybe she's encountered them before?" Rinnier offered, "The brigands seemed to recognize them too."

"...Maybe." You admit, "But she knew Ari's name as well." You shake your head as Rinnier sighs, "Are you just looking for reasons to dislike her, Irue?"

"No!" You glower at Rinnier's dismissal, "She explained how she knew, right? That she heard it from Caylen." she reminded you absently, "And Caylen didn't know either of you until I introduced you." You shoot back immediately, "Caylen told us that all he heard from the Prophet were descriptions, he didn't know a name to tell her."

"What if Caylen just forgot? Or maybe he's lying?" Rinnier offered, and though it hurt to admit it, you knew he had been lying about something. "Or maybe Jenseits was lying." You supply back, "You say I'm looking for reasons to dislike her, but you seem to be just as keen to find reasons to defend her."

You stare at each other in stalemate as time ticks by slowly, "Alright." Rinnier finally sets her book aside, "Let's assume, for argument's sake, that you're right. That Maran did lie about how she learned Ari's name, and that her knowing about Nightgaunts isn't a coincidence. Then what?"

You blink, coming up blank at the question. "What do you mean?"

"Let's assume, just theoretically, that your suspicions are true. What then? What does that change? What do you gain from knowing that?" She leaned back in her chair, "For that matter, also theoretically, lets assume Caylen knew more about the consultation he received from the Prophet and chose not to tell you, or worse, to deliberately lie about it. What would you do with that information if it turned out to be true?"

"..." You open your mouth, but no words come. "If it's true... Then I want to find out what the consultation was really about." You mutter, "And what Jenseits really has to do with Caylen."

"I have a question of my own." Rinnier speaks up, "Why Caylen?"

"...Explain?"

"These brigands were after an audience with a member of the Valen family. At first I assumed they wanted Caylen to leverage a meeting with the Stewards, but they admitted to have tried to get an audience with Caylen himself, and had taken Jenseits hostage to achieve that end result." She looked up towards the ceiling, the deafening silence of the library filling the gap contemplatively, "So why Caylen? His estate is a fortress, well staffed, it even has plenty of supplies stored. If all they wanted was an audience with a Valen, your mansion is just a house. Until recently, it had just been you and your maid, wasn't it?"

"So why not you? You're granting them an audience now, so its clear that you could have done what they wanted all along. Why did they ignore the easy target and try to lay siege to Caylen?"

...You didn't have an answer.

"...So what then?" You ask, echoing Rinnier's previous sentiment with a ring of understanding. "Where does this leave us?"

"Either Caylen, Maran, or both are hiding something, you're a few days away from an audience with potential to spark a rebellion, and you're still not finished resolving the incident that occurred in Carona." Rinnier summarized, "And we lack information about everything."

This was not the life of nobility you imagined you would be leading.

"That is to say nothing of what that wood golem, or the nightgaunts, even are."

Your head sunk as Rinnier tacked on a final addendum.

Looks like our Aunt and Uncle has not just been keeping us from the world, but the world from us.

I wonder if they've presented Caylen as the heir to the house when they could get away with it. After all, out of sight, out of mind. And Irue has been deliberately kept out of sight for a very long time.

>Check on Wood golem before going to bed
>Check on Caylen before going to bed
>Stay up talking to Rinnier and studying
>Other? (write-in)

BONUS!
For the first time since the quest started, anon nailed the >Forgetting something option!

Pick one of the following to focus on.
>Why did the bandits target Caylen and not you?
>Who is Jenseits?

Some of your stats have risen.

If you can figure out what's going on, you can use it to your advantage before it gets used against you! Change the game, and be the one calling the shots for once.

There's still much more you're forgetting/missing.

>>41476016
>>Stay up talking to Rinnier and studying

>>41476016
>Check on Wood golem before going to bed
>Who is Jenseits?

>>41476016
>>Stay up talking to Rinnier and studying
She's been the most insightful so far; more preparation would help.
>>Other: Get Ari a real bed

Bonus:
>>Why did the bandits target Caylen and not you?
Jenseits can wait. Speculation can only get us so far, and besides, she's still in the woods.

>>41476016
>>Stay up talking to Rinnier and studying
>Why did the bandits target Caylen and not you?

>>41476016
>Stay up talking to Rinnier and studying
We need to patch up our relationship with Rinnier - her insistently taking woman girl's side over us is an indicator that we're on track for a Rinnier driven bad end.
Also >make sure to get Ari a bed

Bonus:
>Why did the bandits target Caylen and not you?

This feels like this unlocks more long-term options as it lets us understand better our position along with that of the Valen line, pulling aside a whole lot of intrigue and giving us potential leverage so we can get out of dear old aunty JUST WHAT THE HELL THE REQUIREMENTS AND TIME LIMIT OF OUR TESTAMENT IS.

Although I'll admittedly still be fine with investigating woman girl, intuition tells me that will help more in the short term - she's either a spy for the bandits or a spy for the royals most likely.

>>41476078
>>41476100
>>41476139
>>41476186
Studying with Rinnier

>>41476099
Has it been playing nice?
___

>>41476099
Who is Jenseits?

>>41476100
>>41476139
>>41476186
Why did the bandits target Caylen?
___
>>41476186
>Woman girl
....
___

Writing.
Congratulations, anon.

>>41476425
Are you proud of anon for not fucking up once?

>>41476471
Feels warm and fuzzy when you guys succeed.

You spent the rest of the night going through various history books with Rinnier. The conversation was light after your initial discourse, mostly restrained to sharing particularly interesting events or quotes found while reading.

It was... Exhausting, to say the least. You read feverishly, trying to soak in as much as possible, but it wasn't the same as when you had read magic. For decades you had spent time casually reading up on the various Mana, one thing striking your interest one after another as you gradually formed a web of knowledge between them all. You had no single purpose in mind, but you had everything to learn. It didn't seem overwhelming at the time, but relaxing.

That time was not now. You had very specific things you felt the need to learn, or rather a very specific criteria in so much as 'what will help me get through this audience', but no idea what to look for or where it would be found. In the subject of Mana, you could easily recite text books worth of information, but this...

To say you felt lost was a fantastic understatement. You were cramming words into your brain purely for the purpose of having them, in case they proved relevant later.

At least you had taken a break to find an actual pillow and blanket for Ari in the meantime. Though it had primarily been because you needed the book she had been sleeping on, and slightly due to the fact you were concerned she might start drooling on the cover. You don't know if she drools in her sleep or not, but it didn't stop you from glancing over towards her occasionally to be sure.

Eventually the pillow was fetched and all was well. At least until the night grew later and she began to huddle further and further into a ball around the pillow. At which point a blanket needed to be fetched, and if that offered you another excuse to stop shoving entire paragraphs into your head at a time then you weren't going to complain. You were cold too. You wanted a blanket!

"I've made a decision." You announce quietly, shutting the final book for the night as you rub your index knuckle against your burning eyes. "...Jenseits can wait. I need to know more about what's going with House Valen and La'Fiel." you blink yours into the candle-lit darkness, trying to wash the blurriness away. "My isolation, the academic edict, these brigands... I feel like it's connected."

You wait patiently for some comment, perhaps an idea, "I don't think I'd be able to help you with your people even if I did become the head of House Valen as it stands. I need to find out more about what's going on, and... Maybe see if I can fix it. Or do something. I don't want to make any more promises to help people if I can't make good on the one I made first, but-" You clear your throat, "-But I think the best way to do that is to get secured here before trying to reach out to an entire scattered nation."

You breathe quietly, letting your voice drift into the silent library. When you finally take the effort to crane your head towards the far side of the table, you catch a glimpse of red hair sprawled across the table under the flickering candle light, the tanned face of your Testament pressed into the creases of an open book with her arms haphazardly cradling her hardback pillow.

"..." You blink slowly, letting your eyes stay closed for a breathe, which stretches into a minute, or perhaps more, before finally opening them again and pulling your stiff body from the chair. "I'll definitely keep my promise, but..." You carefully drape your blanket over her shoulders, "It's going to be a rough ride." you sigh.

You settle down on the floor next to Ari, leaning back against the towering wooden bookcase ends, and let the exhaustion finally start to take you.

"...I hope Asche is having better luck than we are."

File: ValEnd.gif (1023 KB, 500x281)

1023 KB GIF

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Valen+Quest

And we are archived.

I'll lurk the thread for a bit to try and answer some questions if I can.

Apologies to all anons who participated in Valen Quest but died at their keyboards wondering when QM would finally stop.

To those who did not make it to the end, we will never forget your sacrifice.

Anyone interested in more write-ups?

>Adventurous Asche!
>Rinnier's Reveries!

This thread's updates were hilariously slow, thanks for sticking through it. Rest assured I was just malfunctioning from sun exposure.

>>41477493
>Adventurous Asche!


So If we get more am I forgetting's right we could maybe not bad end?

>>41477493
Honestly I'd like both write-ups if possible, but I understand if that's not possible. So I'll go with Rinnier's Reveries! to keep the tradition (of one write-up) of being from the point of view of the person we were with.

Maybe if we get lucky we can avoid a bad end by the stacked desert woman's plans by finding out what she's thinking about us and events.

>>41477493
>>Adventurous Asche!
I do feel bad we passed up Rinnier's perspective last time we got a writeup chance. But I miss maid and dog.

>>41477507
Potentially. Figuring those out give you rewards ranging from stats (you do have stats, which is something I wonder if some anons forget. They're mostly back end, but your choices do affect them) to special items, early access to certain things (or, indeed, access at all in some cases), potential allies, recruitment of enemies into allies, complete circumvention of some enemies, and occasionally the key to snatching victory from defeat - Or at least a very rough road of hardship.

In general, the more you get those right, the better off you'll be.Considering you entered Irue Must Die mode by choosing all 3 Testaments initially, you really need every edge you can get.

>>41477624
So how many have we missed?

>>41477654
This is the first one you got since the quest started, across roughly 14 threads.

>>41477654
We've missed a fair few, but there is one thing that bothers me that we missed - all the way back in thread 1 we missed asking about what the hell our Testament actually entails. We have no idea what the conditions are of the test, nor when it ends.

Why yes I am still a bit salty over this.

>>41477675
So we're already fucked?


>>41477714
To be fair most of the voters were braindead from lack of sleep in thread 1 when we got to where we had the chance. Also we can agree to not let the prince into the library? Seems like a bad idea now.

>>41477803
Not exactly.

It's important to understand that you can fail a great many things, but not end the quest. When you think of a "bad end", you should generally understand that they'll be painful to you. Sometimes extremely so.

But it is surprising what you can live through, and if you're resourceful, even manage to turn things to your advantage.

Though honestly, there are some scenarios that hurt to think about writing.

You've actually failed several times through the course of the quest already. I wonder if anon noticed when? You've also succeeded several times.

>>41477951
>failures
The village debacle
Not asking what the test entails
Revenant sequence
second oakenrue encounter/oakenbear encounter


right?

>>41478007
Yes.
Not necessarily a failure, as it was a >Forgetting option
You did not fail the Revenant. You did fail something else.
Yes.

>>41478063
So how bad off are we?

Was the flame sequence a failure?

>>41478063
we failed with the moon we should have accepted her loving embrace.
.

>>41478228
We did she took a memory from us.

>>41478114
Flame sequence?

As for how bad off... I don't really know how I would qualify this. I guess, in the most basic of terms...

You currently have no weapons, have no understanding of something I can't tell you about due to plot censors, lost a major step towards gaining that understanding, have the worst possible party compositions set up for both your team and the away team (asche/kara), have no completely trust worthy allies, and as an anon has mentioned, Rinnier is not explicitly your friend - though she also isn't your enemy, and have only just now begun to piece together things while walking headlong into politics, after having fed a potentially huge source of information and back up to Nightgaunts.

Yes, it was possible to recruit the entire brigand camp.

It is also possible for every single one of your Testament to turn on you. It is also possible for them to die. There is no plot armor amongst them.

>>41478304


Hmm.
when do you usually run anon? This tread was pretty good so I figured I'd join after catdhmg up with the archives.

>>41478407
I try to regularly make saturdays, starting around 10pm EST. Give or take an hour.

Threads last anywhere from 8 to 19 hours.

Sometimes additional threads happen during the week, or we start a bit earlier (8pm-ish). Announcements are made on the twitter linked near the top.

>>41478524


Great, thanks for the info! Sorry for short & error full posts, on mobile with distractions. I'll check the archives and can hopefully join already next tread.

Good quest OP.