>>41998290

He smiles knowingly, and you move to change the subject. “So why did you come here, even when I expressively told you to wait?” You sit on the edge of the bed and cross your arms.

“You needed help.” You answers without any hesitation.

You think back to the moment he appeared before you. There’s no way he could’ve known that you were going to come under attack from Philomena’s transformed state.

“I think I’d much rather go through this siege without having to keep you from getting killed or falling into the wrong hands.” You narrow your gaze. “What did Marissa have to say about you leaving?”

He stares at his hands lightly rubbing against each other. “I left without telling her. I don’t think she’d mind too much, now…”

You sigh and lean your arms back on the bed. Well, at least she intended to keep her word, but his words leave you wondering how things have changed with them.

A knock at the door pulls you from your thoughts. You get up and walk over to the large door. “What is it?”

“Your presence is requested in the cellar by the other councilmembers, Miss.” The noblewoman announces meekly beyond the door.

The cellar is where the enemy commander was moved, by now they’ve likely begun their interrogation. If it’s simply the other councilmembers, then you are under no obligation to fulfill the request.

You turn back to Izu, where he lies motionless underneath the covers. There are still some things you wish to ask him about why he came, and what’s been happening at the cabin, but this might be a chance for you to extract some information you want to know from the enemy commander, before he expires.

>Accept, head toward the cellar.

>Refuse, continue talking to Izu.

>Write in.

>>41998317
>Accept, head toward the cellar.
sup auri

>>41998317
what did we already learn from the commander?

>>41998317
>Accept, head toward the cellar.

>>41998380
He passed out again, so the only thing that you've learned thus far is that Aya has ascended to the throne somehow, and that she played a role in the attack.

>>41998380
Aya is now Queen of Kyraen Aslyis.

Fucking hard ass name to write/remember/exist.

>>41998407
You were very close and appreciate you trying.

>>41998317
>>41998401
>Accept, head toward the cellar.
I guess we need a way to contact Aya without the others knowing.

Or we could heal him up with Izu.

Welcome back to another thread, everyone!

>>41998346
Hello there, anon!
>>41998383
>>41998430
Assisting in the "interrogation."

>Writing~

>>41998290
So tsun.

>>41998482

It’s better to let Izu get his rest for now, and you can’t pass upon this opportunity to learn more valuable information.

“Tell them I’ll be there to do their job shortly.” You announce for the noblewoman.

Hurried footsteps lets you know that she’s heard you just fine. You’re quite annoyed that you have to go through the process of putting on your armor again, but keeping up appearances is important.

Izu stares intently at each piece of your darkly colored armor, and his eyes narrow for some unknown reason.

“Don’t open this door.” You order, with added severity.

He nods solemnly and watches as you step out of the room, and seal it behind you.

The cellar is large and dimly lit stone room beneath the manor, the area where the enemy commander is being kept once stored food and drink beyond a lock. Your footsteps echo your arrival as you descend down the stairs, and upon the base, you spot Justina and Virgil.

“So nice of you to grace us with your presence.” Justina bows jokingly, most likely due to the words you sent with the noblewoman.

“You asked for me, and I’m assuming it’s for a reason.” You reply flatly.

“Our guest seems pliable to only extreme violence.” Virgil shakes his head disapprovingly as he shows you a number of severed fingers. “While Zarn’s methods have a certain effectiveness to them, it would be better to keep him dying too quickly on us.”

“He doesn’t seem like the type to have children.” Justina pouts. “And if he did, they’d be inaccessible to play with me. So that’s out.”

“With you being the one who bested him, we thought you might have more luck where we failed.” Virgil explains.

You nod your understanding and immediately head toward the end of the cellar. You stop as Justina and Virgil begin to follow you.

[1/2]

>>41999132

That won’t do at all. You can’t get all the information you want if there are other ears present.

“It would be more effective if I did this alone.” You say in a hushed tone. “It’s easier to build up trust that way, but let me assure you that I have no intention of letting him escape alive.” You finish with genuine honesty.

Justina shrugs. “Not like I’m looking for any reason to stay in this shitty cellar longer than I have to.” She pulls roughly on Virgil’s sleeve. “Come on, she’s pretty good at what she does.”

Virgil’s expression hardens for a moment, but he quickly acquiesces. “Kyraen’Asils battle plans are our highest concern.” He explains before leaving you with the key.

You slip into the cell, locking the door behind you. The sound of you entering causes your prisoner to rouse, where he stares at you blankly.

Time to get to work.

You look to your sides quickly and approach him with apprehension painted on your face. “Listen very carefully.” You rush your pace artistically. “I don’t know how much time we have, but if you tell me what I want to know, then I will see that you accidently find a way to break out of here.”

His brow furrows in confusion, his head moves slowly due to heavy blood loss. “Why?”

“I don’t care for them.” You whisper fiercely. “I am only loyal to myself and that boy I want to protect.”

“You took my legs.” He responds with mixed emotion and looks down.

“They’re planning on taking much more from you.” You raise his head and stare directly into his bloodshot eyes. “I will get you to the palace, if and only if you make it worth my wild.” You move and unshackle his arms. “This is your only chance.”

He rubs his sore wrists in thought for quite some time, before staring back at you with resolution and hope in his eyes. He nods.
You have to keep yourself from smiling at this fool. Sophia, the ray of hope, what do you wish to know from this soon to be dead man?

>Write in.

>>41999167
What kyraen aesils is planning, the disposition of the queen and her consort is(if he survived) How they plan on killing the usurper.

>>41999167
>Kyraen’Asils battle plans
>The status of the queen
>If the queen has a weird consort who does weird things, and his status if so
>Secret escape routes from the city
>Anything else we think might be handy to Usurpy.

>>41999167
How are they travelling/communicating? What would it take to secretly send messages to Aya?

Was there a plan to extract the uncle, or were they just planning on beating the shit out of us until the main army arrived?

Where can I send the troops to get optimally ambushed due to "misinformation" from you?

>>41999237
>>41999247
>>41999294
Many things to be learned. Hopefully no one interrupts.

>Writing~

>>41999332
First, ease him in with something he’s already admitted.

“Has Princess Aya, ascended to the throne?” You whisper and look over your shoulder.

He nods slowly. “She came back some time ago.” His words are laden with pain. “When she announced a new King of Kyraen’Asils, her father tried to stop her. She killed him in single combat.”

There’s only one person she’d vouch as to be the new king.

Confusion, is what you paint on your face this time. “This new king, who is he?”

He coughs roughly. “The Queen hasn’t allowed anyone to see him, nor does anybody dare try. Her flame has truly awakened.”

You sigh because you see no convincing reason to continue along that line of questions. “You’re doing well.” You assure him. “What were your plans here? What purpose did the ambush hope to achieve?”

He looks to his side in disdain. “We were here to break the siege and save Nahldol Ignisval. We were to have help.” You see his good hand clenching.

“Help from whom?” You rush.

“Those things from The Maw…" His breath is heavy. "Our Queen managed to arrange an alliance with their leader, they even transported us ahead of time for the ambush, but they never showed to help us.” His hand quakes with tired rage.

You rest your hand gently upon his own, and you feel the tension leave it. “From there? What where your plans for defeating The E- The Usurper?” You ask softly.

Reluctance passes through his face, so you give his hand a tender clench. He continues. “Our army was to wear away at The Usurper’s forces until that…thing from The Maw could strike directly. There was a plan for a massive invasion upon The Usurper’s stronghold after her failure in this siege.”

Not good, now the slight possibility of retreat has been taken from you. Aya intended to kill you and your forces outright, from what this prisoner has told you, she’s changed quite a bit since the festival.

[1/2]

>>41999886

Best to ensure the success of this siege for now. You hear some movement from the rooms above you.

“Those channels you used to get here, are they still open?” You quickly ask.

He shakes his head. “Something has closed them. It happened right before your invasion.”

Nothing there to use for your advantage. Were they left on their own, or did someone else find a way to cut them off?

Footsteps approach from the top of the stairs, so you know your time with him is over.

You smile gently at the enemy commander. In one fluid motion, you grab both of his arms and shackle them together again.

His eyes plead with you as you stand to leave. “No, no NO NO NO! We had a deal!” He desperately tries to crawl using only his torso. “PLEASE!”

You shrug and kick away his dirty body. "I'd like to say that I'm sorry, but I'd just be lying."

He bangs his head against the ground in sheer desperation. “Kill me! JUST KILL ME!” Tears and snot add to the growing pool of blood beneath his head.

There’s a thought. Perhaps you could give him that small kindness? But then again, killing him would look rather suspicious.

>Put him out.

>Leave him alive.

>Write in.

>>41999914
Give his head a helping hand in getting enough force to crack itself. At worst he'll be unconscious, at best he'll die. Best we can do. Plus we can say we tried to stop him.

>>41999914
>Leave him alive.
We do not want to loose credibility just for leting him die.

>>41999886
We need to get Izu over there, maybe Marissa over to Ellie and Laurent, too.

>Put him out
Our excuse is that we don't like people playing with what/who we own. I guess it could be in the form of an "accident" where we left a seal on for too long and formed a bubble in his bloodstream or something.

>>41999914
>>41999968
Seconding.

>>41999968
>>42000012
A little assistance, but in the end it's up to him.

>Writing~

>>42000070

To give him credit, he was very cooperative, and because of that he must be feeling no end of regret.

You pull his head up by the hair. There’s no way to know for certain if this will either kill him or knock him unconscious, but either way he’ll be free from his regret for at least some time.

With one sudden meaty crack, his flailing ceases, and you wipe your hand off on your armor.

Virgil opens the cell and rushes in. “What did you do?!” He pulls the commander’s body of the ground and inspects it.

“This?” You point to the body. “He did this to himself. Because of what I learned…”

The body thuds to the ground yet again.

“You got him to talk?” Virgil instantly loses his outrage, and is replaced with inquisitiveness.

Unfortunately, the one thing he asked for encompasses quite a bit of information, but there’s some things you learned from the enemy commander that you can keep to yourself.

“The ambush was incomplete.” You kneel down to know for certain the status of the prisoner. “Kyraen’Asils is now allied with The Broodmother’s forces and they orchestrated this ambush to save Nahldol Ignisval.”

“The traps…” He rubs his chin. “As well as how they got so many troops into the city undetected. It’s explains so much.”

The prisoner is still alive, barely, but not likely for much longer.

You put the body down. “But The Broodmother’s forces never made it, they cut off their assistance, or were cut off by something else.”

“The Empress…” Virgil mutters.

“That’s the most likely cause.” You pause in thought. “Their battle plans involve an ambush waiting for us in case we failed and retreated before Impel’s main army arrived.”

[1/2]

>>42000649

“They wanted to nip the bud before it ever had chance to bloom.” He rubs his eye wearily. “It’s been a long day. The Empress said that we’re to rest while she comes up with a plan to finish this siege.”

At this moment, you have no complaints with that plan. So you begin to head back to your room.

“Justina was right.” Virgil calls after you.

~

“What’s wrong?” You ask Izu, who’s currently not devouring his food as per his usual.

You see his feet shuffling on the ground. “You like that armor, don’t you?” He asks timidly.

What an odd question.

“Yes. It’s proven itself useful in numerous situations, even saving you.” You remark lightly.

He’s silent for a few minutes before he speaks again. “That armor…It’s what’s been messing with your emotions.”

You stand suddenly. “Explain what you mean.” You demand.

“I knew something was wrong from the start, but you kept telling me to stay where I was.” He mumbles under his breath. “But I found out exactly what is was today. You sense it too, don't you?”

You process his words and find that they do make sense. The timing is correct, and you always felt more at ease when you took the armor off. But that leaves a very concerning question, as to who put that curse on your armor.

“I can fix it, I think.” He pokes at his food.

“Then do so.” You say, not knowing why he hasn’t attempted it sooner.

“But I might break the armor. I’ve never tried something like that before.” He explains.

He’s concerned that you might blame him if he fails, which you might, but you don’t like the idea of carrying a potentially dangerous object with you into battle. However, now that you know what’s causing it, perhaps it’s safe not to risk breaking such a useful set of armor. Perhaps leaving at it is now will allow you to divine the source of the curse, later.

>Have him attempt to lift the armor's curse.

>Leave the armor as it is.

>Write in.

>>42000685
>“Justina was right.” Virgil calls after you.
What?

>>42000713
She pulls roughly on Virgil’s sleeve. “Come on, she’s pretty good at what she does.”

Sorry about that.

>>42000685
>>42000685
Is there anything more urgent than curse/enchantment hacking/repurposing that we should use Control on?

>>42000685
>Have him examine the armor closer and see how much he can accomplish without risking it.

>>42000733
It depends on what your ultimate plan is, and if you're willing to risk rolling around with that armor during battle in the future.

>>42000685
>>Have him examine the armor closer and see how much he can accomplish without risking it.

>>42000733
Combat or backstabbing stuff.

>>42000735
>>42000767
Taking a closer look.

>Writing

>>42000685
>Have him attempt to lift the armor's curse.
I'll take loss of stealth over more mindfuckery

>>42000815

If at all possible, you’d like to keep the armor and be rid of the curse.

You pull up from the bed by his hand. “Examine the armor closely and tell me how much you can accomplish without risking it.” You push him to the armor stand.

He gives you a skeptical look before relenting to your orders. Perhaps your expectations were part of the reason he was so reluctant to let you know about it in the first place?

Izu carefully feels the outside of the armor, sensing whatever he can. He then takes the chestplate and slides his body into it. You can’t help but smirk at how oversized it is on him, but then you remember just how much is at stake here.

“The enchantment that you placed on it…” He pulls the armor off. “Its purpose has been messing with the curse that was placed on it before.”

How far gone would you be by this point if you had not chosen to put that enchantment on it?

“I think I can fix it without breaking the armor itself.” He finally announces. “Any extra of my flames can be put onto your enchantment. The worse would be losing the enchantment, but the armor should be receptive to it again in a few days.”

You cross your arms. “That’s very impressive, Izu.”

He grins wildly at your complement.

“Looks like being my apprentice does well for you.” You add, not to let the complement go too much to his head.

“So…What’s your choice?” He crosses his arms in imitation.

He said that the worst that can come from this is losing the stealth enchantment, but that’s not entirely the case. Removing the curse would destroy your only lead as to who placed the curse in the first place. But with the armor intact, the culprit wouldn’t know the difference, and that can be used to your advantage.

>Have Izu remove the curse.

>Keep the armor as it is.

>Write in.

>>42001079
>Have Izu remove the curse.

>>42001079
>Have Izu remove the curse.

>>42001079
Well if it's only the stealth enchantment...

>>42000773
what CAN we improve there? I don't think plain martial mastery will be too much help against seals.

>>42001079
Didn't the Usurper give us the armor? Who else could have enchanted it? Did we just leave it lying around unattended?

>>42001204
She had it made, we don't know by who.

>>42001130
>>42001143
Removing the curse.
>>42001204
She did in fact give you the armor. You don't know that for certain. There are a few times where you left it alone, beyond a sealed door of course.

>Writing

>>42001228
I'd assume someone as powerful as she is could check for and detect a curse like that once she receives it, so I don't doubt the maker.

>>42001242
So primary suspicion is on the Usurper for now, unless we find secret passages into our room, or someone else who can get through our seals.

>>42001287
Easy way is teleporting through the walls.

>>42001287
Or the Ursurper got it already cursed. I doubt she made it herself. Prolly had someone make it for us.

>>42001340
Like I said, I'm sure she's powerful enough to detect that. So if it came cursed she ordered it cursed, or was ok with just giving us cursed gear.

>>42001242

You tilt your head up and close your eyes. “I don’t know what’s stopped you from doing it already. It’s not like you ever really listen to my orders.”

The sound of Izu shuffling through some fabric causes you to open your eyes. When you do, you see that he’s donned your cloak like an oversized cape.

“It will help me.” He says firmly before you even have a chance to reprimand him.

“How?” You demand to know.

“Trust me.” He replies and carefully proceeds back to your armor.

That doesn’t even make sense, but you’re not going to dignify his answer with a response...Even though you’re already thinking it…

Damn it.

With a large smile on his face, and a sigh of permission from you, Izu begins to channel his purifying flames into the structure of the armor.

The armor begins to shake rapidly in place, but Izu keeps it from slipping from his grip. The stand even falls over onto the floor, and still Izu continues without interruption. A thick and musty cloud begins to rise from the armor, as it glows orange with heat.

Izu’s clearly being burnt, but only when he’s completely finished is when pulls away his tender hands off your armor.

You fan away the thick cloud. “What happened?”

[1/2]

>>42001594

Izu looks up at you from the ground, the cloak pooling around his body. “Well, the curse is gone.”

“What about the enchantment?” Your hand grasping the boy’s uninjured shoulder.

Izu looks back at the armor. “Ummm…I don’t know.”

“Izureig, tell me what happened to my armor.” Your grip tightens around the boy’s skin.

He quickly slips out of your grasp and begins to scurry away from you. “I really don’t-“ He stops his sentence suddenly for seemingly no reason. After a few moments of tense silence he turns back to you. “The cloak... It's telling me that I am in control of what I learned.”

You never considered that other people could use the cloak, not that you would willingly let them have it, so this comes a quite the surprise.

“What should I do?” He looks up at you, worried.

This is indeed a unique opportunity. You could play to the Izu’s strength’s and build up his flame, or perhaps have him try branching out. Then again, the whole process is quite traumatic, so maybe it’d be better if he just avoided the whole thing. But, that would be losing so much…

>Have Izu improve his Pyromancy.

>Don’t have Izu improve anything.

>Write in.

>>42001611
>I've been compromised multiple times, so I don't think I should give advice.
>Improve what you think you should improve.
>Make sure he doesn't collapse on the floor or bloody the bed.

>>42001660
although personally, I'm tied between restoring fires to help Matthias, and some sort of buff to apply on us to help punch through those Usurper stronk seals.

>>42001611
>Leave it up to Izu.

>>42001611
>I trust your judgment Izu
>Fair warning this is going to hurt A LOT
>if he does it look after him.

>>42001660
>>42001715
>>42001740
Giving the choice to Izu, and helping him through it.

>Writing~

>>42001751

You got so caught up in this new discovery that you forgot that Izu could have a choice in the matter.

“I trust your judgment, so choose whatever you think you should improve.” You raise a hand of warning. “But, you should already know that this is going to hurt a lot, and you’ve been through quite a bit already today.”

He pulls the hem of the cloak into both of his hands. “I trust that you’ll help me.” He looks up at you with big trusting eyes.

Only a moment later Izu drops to the floor in pain. His body spasms uncontrollably, and his hands have abandoned the hem of the cloak to blindly search for something to clench onto.

You quickly sit on the ground next to Izu, and pull his hands into yours. He tightly holds onto you as his chest heaves, hardly able to catch a decent breath. Blood begins to stream from his nose and mouth, so you turn him onto his side.

Finally his body calms, and you patiently wait for him to recover, his head buried into your lap. You try to ignore him wiping his bloody nose upon your legs.

Once his breathing returns to normal, you feel fine asking him the question on your mind. “What did you end up choosing?”

He’s quiet for some time, perhaps thinking of the best way to articulate the experience he just went through. “You’ll just have to see.”

You roughly push him off your lap and onto the floor. “You know, there are very few things I dislike as much as not know-“

“Time for bed?” He interrupts you with a smile on his messy face.

What’s one more to large body count you’ve accumulated today?

~

[1/2]

>>42002330

You blearily snap awake at the sound of steady knocking upon the door. The business with Izu’s purification and cloak experience kept you from sleep until well into the night.

Annoyed, you rise from the edge of the bed you’ve been pushed to by a certain someone, and head for the door. “What is it so early?” You ask rudely, and suddenly realizing that it’s practically the afternoon by now.

“Good morning, Sophia. Would you remove the seal from your door? I have some battle plans I wish to discuss with you.” The Empress asks from beyond the large door.

You instantly snap awake, and think of what to do. Your thoughts immediately try to tell Izu to find a place to hide, but he’s still soundly asleep. You hastily throw covers over his body as you try to think of a believable excuse not to let her in.

In your moment of panic, you can’t think of a single reason not to open the door that would fall in line with your character, so you take a brief moment to compose yourself and then remove the seal.

You open the door widely, and motion for The Empress to walk in.

“I apologize for catching you while you’re still recovering from the ambush, but there are some time sensitive matters I need to discuss with you.” She announces as she steps into the room, closing the door behind her.

Your mind is now constantly ordering Izu not to move a single inch, in hopes that your mental screaming will break through to him.

[2/3]

>>42002330
damnit he can practically read our mind, why can't we do the same back?

>>42002352

“I’m at your disposal, my Empress. What matters do you wish to discuss?” You ask, completely masking the concern from your voice.

The Empress looks around your room for a place to sit, so you rush to pull a chair for her, only to find her resting her rear directly upon where Izu’s legs are.

Izu’s legs twitch away from the sudden weight, and you see the very rare sight of The Empress snapping up in confusion.

Your heart feels like it beats hundreds of times in the short moments it takes for The Empress to pull the covers off of Izu’s body. Your thoughts go to incinerating Izu where he lies, but that's certainly not going to do anything to make you look less suspicious.

With a final tug, Izu’s small bare body is exposed into the light of the day. His disguised brown eyes blink tiredly at The Empress, who stares back with quite a measure of confusion.

“Good morning.” Izu announces cheerfully.

~

>>42002372
Oh god
Tell her he's our love slave

>>42002372
God dammit Izu

>>42002357
That's a very good question.

>>42002372
That's where I'm going to end it for tonight. There was a good bit of discussion in the thread, and I want to thank everyone that played today! As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them in the thread, and I will do my best to respond to them.

If not, then I wish you a good day/night and hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

>>42002406
>That's a very good question.
We'll have to add it to our list of things to ask him.

Also thx 4 runin budi gud thred

>>42002468
You're very welcome!

>>42002406
SO did he do that on purpose. How surprised is the Usurper? How fucked is Sophia?

>>42002500
we shouldn't be very fucked
we already told one of the martial generals he was our apprentice and we were keeping him, we can have Usurpy check our story with him if necessary.

>>42002500
He was actually asleep when she first entered, so no, he didn't do that on purpose. The Usurper is quite surprised, mainly because she didn't expect to find anyone else in your room. Sophia's status really depends on how you play this all off, but there are quite a few factors keeping The Usurper from discovering your connection to your father.

>>42002564
Did the Usurper think we were asexual or did she just not expect anyone here without her knowing? Izu's disguise still in place? How much damage can our dagger do comparative to our napalm?

>>42002616
The Usurper didn't peg your living situation to have been so, cozy/warm? Izu's disguise is indeed still in place. Your dagger with your most advanced flame would do more damage, but your caustic flames can be used at long range.

>>42002684
She considers it cozy? Man she must be more Spartan than Sophia. That's an achievement. Did our enchantment stick? Could we enchant ourselves to listen in on Izu? Would getting stabbed either whispering pin hurt the Usurper? Izu say why Marissa wouldn't mind?

>>42002735
You don't know if your enchantment stuck actually. Living things can't hold enchantments like that. You have no reason to believe that stabbing the pin would hurt The Usurper, and I keep forgetting to put in the explanation about Marissa.

I put a post it note on my screen so that I won't forget to fill you in on Marissa next time.

>>42002795
Please do. Hate missing possibly crucial details. Any word on Laurent or Elli?

>>42002821
Thankfully you haven't had any opportunities to act upon what Marissa's doing just yet. Sophia would have no way of knowing about Ellie or Laurent, at least for the time being.

I'll be stepping out for the night. Until next time!

Sophia and Izu are so sweet.