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Character and setting info: http://pastebin.com/u/MagicalPrincess
Archives: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Start+Over+Quest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagicalMarquise
Ask.fm: http://ask.fm/MagicalMarquise
Collection of character descriptions (WIP, courtesy of anon): http://pastebin.com/pzYffs0R

>>42400465
>”Perhaps I shouldn't come with you”.
Wooo Start Over!

>>42400465
>”Is a dress really necessary?”.

>>42400465
>”Is a dress really necessary?”.
>”Let's ask Meztli”.
No, Lillith, you don't need clothes in a casino.

>>42400465
>>”Is a dress really necessary?”.
Man, we keep getting sidetreked.

"Is a dress really necessary?", you ask, suddenly aware that despite everyone around you smelling due to the constant heat and high humidity, your clothes also carry a bit of the scent of wilderness with them, and some wear and smears from vegetation and fruits and anything else you've passed through in your adventures. If you're walking in a formal setting, and you are, you can't just wear that. You absolutely can't.

"Of course it is", your father confirms, "You have to look good to prove you're a person of caliber, which has nothing to do with looks but I'm not the cutter that makes the rules here", he chuckles, "Besides, you don't need to wear anything royal or particularly expensive; you've got the sort of figure that makes any dress you wear look better, if I say so myself".

That's perhaps too generous of a compliment, but you'd be a hypocrite if you pretended not to know about your alluring looks. Still, they can only get you so far. "Maybe I just shouldn't come, I don't have anything to wear".

"Don't be silly", he smiles with the tone of someone who doesn't want to hear excuses of any sort, not even the reasonable ones, "How difficult can it be to get you into a dress?".

"We can ask Meztli", you suggest, although this plan doesn't sound too good partly because she's still a perfect stranger to you, but mostly because she's not only shorter but also much less endowed than you.

The face your father makes confirms the doubts you had, especially considering where she looks when she glances down at you, "We... Can, I guess? It doesn't hurt, but she's not the sort that has plenty in the way of clothing".

He almost makes it sound like she walks around bare-breasted all the time. Which might be normal for a lustrian, for all you know.

>”I'll ask her”.
>”You ask her”.
>”I really shouldn't be coming”.
>”Maybe Tahenohan has something?”.
>”Maybe Bryld has something?”.
>”Know anyone else that we can ask?”.
>Other?

>>42400931
>”You ask her”.
>”Maybe Bryld has something?”.

>>42400931
>”I really shouldn't be coming”.

>>42400931
>”Maybe Bryld has something?”.

>>42400931
>”Maybe Bryld has something?”.

"I think it's more likely that Bryld has something that fits me", she's shorter than you, and not as well-built, but at least her chest is a lot closer to yours; you've had more than one chance to notice that she's much more well-developed than her modest choices in clothing reveal. Of course, this also means she's unlikely to have pretty dresses, but just like her latest attempt at pretending to not remember you had a penis might make you suspect she's less innocent than she claims to be, it's possible she might have a more interesting wardrobe than she shows.

"Bryld is...?".

"The lagomorph", you remind your father, who still has to properly make acquaintance with your friends.

"Oh, that's a good idea. Let's ask her", he sounds quite enthusiastic, but you have to stop him a moment before he opens the door.

"If she has nothing and we have to ask Meztli", you point out, "I'd rather you do it. I hardly know her".

"Oh sure, don't worry", he all too quickly says before opening the door and ushering you outside. Of course you're the one that has to go and ask Bryld. It's good, it might distract her from the previous experience.

You find her where the only bed is, with Tahenohan being busy looking for something in her messy bag, which produces sounds of various nature, including that of rattling bones. She's sitting on the bed while rummaging through her own backpack, but it looks like she's just making sure everything is where it's supposed to be and in one piece.

"Everything alright?", you ask, though it does look like it is. She nods at you and closes her backpack, as if she didn't really need the distraction. "Good. Say, Bryld... Do you have any nice dresses you can lend me? I understand this is an odd request...".

She does make the face of someone who didn't expect it, and her eyebrows arch up a little, "I'm sorry, I... I kind of always go with comfortable clothing, so I don't think I...?".

>”Can you show me?”.
>”Nevermind, thanks anyways”.
>Other?

>>42401309
>”Can you show me?”.

>>42401309
>”Can you show me?”.
Still hoping for something cute or surprisingly sensual.

>>42401309
>”Can you show me?”.
Show, don't tell, right?

>>42401309
>”Can you show me?”.

Still wish we'd go with the other girls too I find dad really annoying to be honest.

"Can you show me?", you ask, partly because maybe there's something you can still use, but really because you're just curious to see what she has.

"Uhm... Sure... But I don't really have much", she rummages in her backpack again and starts pulling out some clothes from the bottom, "Uhm... Please don't expect much".

She wasn't kidding when she said she had comfortable stuff rather than the sexy sort; she first thing that comes out of that is a long, orchid nightgown with a pink, woolen shrug that you presume can be worn over just about anything in case it's cold. It looks really comfortable, but also tremendously inappropriate with the weather here in the Shadow Marches.

The rest doesn't get much weather, formally speaking: there's a black and brown sweater that should go with a long, tartan skirt, a white woolen pullover and a night blue sleeveless shirt which you've curiously never seen on her.

Nothing you see strikes you as formal.

"That's some nice clothing", your father comments from behind you, he then glances at you and goes, "Ah, yes, I'll ask her too".

You do hear him ask Maztli, although you're busy contemplating Bryld's clothing and can't quite focus on the lizardfolk's answer, especially because she doesn't strike you as a very talkative person. "Are you... Planning to go somewhere in particular?", Bryld wonders, looking up at you, "Isn't it dangerous for you to go out there?".

“It's fine, we're actually going out to avoid attention. You stay in here where it's safe”, actually, if anyone wants revenge for anything, they might be looking for your father, but he has a point when he says that you look demonic enough to be a juicy target for some acts of wanton violence in this kind of situation.

>”We're going to the royal casino”.
>”We're not going anywhere special”.
>”We're going to explain our situation”.
>”We're going to make sure we're not being followed”.
>Other?

>>42401651
>”We're going to the royal casino”.

>>42401651
>”We're going to the royal casino”.

>>42401651
>>”We're going to the royal casino”.

>>42401651
>"I'm going to make some money."

>>42401651
>”We're going to the royal casino”.
No reason to hide it from them.

>>42401756
That's very optimistic anon.

"We're going to the royal casino", you inform her.

"The royal casino?", Bryld's eyebrows remain arched.

"The royal casino?", Tahenohan perks up with a manic smile plastered on her face, "So you're going in and then BAM and go SMACK and BLAM and KAPOW and then jump out an exploding wall?".

"I don't think that's how casinos work", you explain the half-elf, but what the heck you might be wrong, you've never been in one after all. Maybe she has, and that's how it really is. Whatever that means.

"Isn't it... I mean...", Bryld bites her lower lip as she looks for a word that sounds correct to her, "... Somewhere you need to have plenty of money to go in?".

"You don't have to worry about that", and shoot a glance backwards as your father still talks to Meztli, who is bothering to give him enough attention to stand on her elbows as he talks, which is more than what she'd normally do judging from her face. You can only hope your dad really has a nice, full purse and isn't just trying to do something criminal, it'd be appallingly dangerous.

"Hey, hey, say, do they allow magic users in? I heard that some don't allow them because they cheat", Tahenohan asks, sounding strangely interested.

"I don't know about that", you admit, "But you need an evening dress to get in".

She stares at you for quite a bit of time before she claims "I don't know what that is".

The simple answer is that you're pretty sure she doesn't have one, the problem is explaining what she needs to get in, and that they won't allow her inside unless she's wearing one. And that no, her ordinary tunic doesn't count, despite having a rather exotic appeal.

"Ah...", your father's head pops back in through the open door, "Can you find at least a pretty top and a long skirt? Meztli can lend you some jewelry but...". Oh my, she might really not have anything to wear from the waist up.

>”I can wear...” (what?).
>”Could Tahenohan come?”.
>”Look dad seriously I have nothing to wear”.
>Other?

>>42401916
>”Look dad seriously I have nothing to wear”.

>>42401916
A long-sleeved dress with a low-cut cleavage and lace cuffs and a small ruff, the colour between red and dark blue, and a simple embroidered skirt. (Tahenohan's size)

>>42401916
Sleeveless shirt with the skirt, maybe?
>”Could Tahenohan come?”.

>>42401916
>”Could Tahenohan come?”.

>>42401982
Where is this dress, anon?

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>>42401982
Problem is... It's Tahenohan's size.

She's CONSIDERABLY shorter and flat like an ironing board.

>>42402043
That's flat like a miracle to you, MP!

>>42401916
>>”Look dad seriously I have nothing to wear”.
I'm really not sure why we're going along with this scheme of his anyways: he's an interesting guy, but we sort of have other priorities right now...

>>42401916
>”I can wear...” (what?).
Bryld's stuff. Even if it's too hot for it, right now, the casino should have refreshments and better temperature.

>>42402123
Ill-fitting clothing that wasn't too fancy to begin with...is it really gonna get us in?

>>42402091
Yeah, the whole gambling thing is quite sudden and weren't we REALLY short on time for meeting our friends? If we can go to the casino in disguise we can surely get to them in disguise too.

>>42402238
Only one way to know, anon.
>>42402261
It's too late to go meet them now.

"Look dad I seriously have nothing to wear", you insist. You can't wear Tahenohan's stuff, and even though you could barely make do with Bryld's clothes, it's likely not worth it as they still may not allow you inside.

"Oh, that's what all women say", he chuckles, “Alright, I guess it was a bit much of me to expect you to just happen to have a nice evening dress on you".

"If you'd still like to go, Tahenohan wants to come along", you offer, as the half-elf waves energetically in his direction.

Your father gives her a long look, and she keeps waving throughout all of the studying process. In the end, he puts up a somewhat forced smile, "Well...".

"That's settled then!", Tahenohan exclaims, and pulls out one of the nicer dresses you bought her before departing. She also begins to undress rather hastily and you push your father's face out, closing the door behind you before he can see too much.

"Sorry", you sigh, "She's just...".

"A half-elf?", he chuckles as he massages his face, "I'm fine, don't worry".

"You go out?", Meztli asks, with a tone that sounds like it's coming from her tummy rather than her mouth, staring very intently at your father.

"Yes. Don't wait for me, I'll be back before morning", he smiles before he grabs a large, rugged backpack from a corner of the room, "I'll change as well, don't want to keep the lady waiting".

He returns in the tiny room you both were in, leaving you on the first floor landing with a lizardfolk woman, still sprawled out on the floor, wearing a colourful skirt and nothing else of note. She's staring straight at you, saying absolutely nothing and just keeping her deep brown eyes trained on you, all the time.

>”Hello?”
>”I'm Lillith, pleased to meet you”.
>”So you've been travelling with my father for how long?”.
>”You're not going to the casino?”.
>Stare back in silence.
>Find somewhere to lay down yourself.
>Go back in Tahenohan's room.
>Other?

>>42402387
Too late by what metric? We can apparently go out okay, and it's not like being woken up is some terrible ordeal.
>>42402421
>”I'm Lillith, pleased to meet you”.
>”So you've been travelling with my father for how long?”.
>”I'm Lillith, pleased to meet you”.

>>42402421
>>Stare back in silence(at boobs).

>>42402421
>”Hello?”
>”I'm Lillith, pleased to meet you”.

>>42402421
>>”I'm Lillith, pleased to meet you”.
>>”So you've been travelling with my father for how long?”.

>>42402421
>”Hello?”
>>42402470
Look, we can meet them in the morning and all will be well. No need to rush that mush anymore.

>>42402421
>”I'm Lillith, pleased to meet you”.
>”So you've been travelling with my father for how long?”.

>>42402500
Does she even have boobs? Reptile and all.

>>42402542
Then we should get a good night's rest rather than this nonsense.

"Hello", you try to break the awkward silence between the two of you, since she's making it pretty clear she's acknowledging your presence, though you're not quite sure she's also accepting it, "My name is Lillith, pleased to meet you".

She gives you a curt nod, just like the first time she saw you, a while ago. Despite your best hopes, she does not provide any further inputs for conversation, forcing you to bring something to the table. "So, you've been travelling with my father for how long, exactly?".

"Year", she answers, then she looks sideways with a frown, "Years? Two", and she stares right back at you. You're beginning to suspect her silence depends on her midgaardian not being very good.

"Oh, so you're quite well-acquainted", you insist nonetheless, hoping this continued conversation doesn't make her feel uneasy, though she's about as hard to read as Yomi, her expression is so incredibly still when she's staring. "Are you... Uh...", you struggle for something to talk about while also trying not to say something you shouldn't, whatever that might be, "Are you okay with us crashing here? Sorry if it was sudden...".

She gives another curt nod, and just remains there, supporting herself with the elbows and looking like she'd rather sleep than talk; or maybe that's just how her face is and she's not really annoyed or tired or anything.

"Can I... Keep you company? May I sit?", you wonder. She gives back what amounts to a shrug, her tail lazily sweeping, the tip going between one three-toed foot and the other with no sense of hurry. You don't have problems finding somewhere to sit as the landing is pretty much all yours and there's nothing but a single night stand against the wall.

>”What can you tell me about your father?”.
>”How did the two of you meet?”.
>”Where do you come from?”.
>”Are you an adventurer?”.
>”So is there something between the two of you?”.
>Remain silent.
>Other?

>>42402959
>”Are you an adventurer?”.
>”Where do you come from?”.

>>42402959
>>”Where do you come from?”.
>>”Are you an adventurer?”.

>>42402959
>”Are you an adventurer?”.
>”How did the two of you meet?”.

>>42402959
>”What can you tell me about your father?”.

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I of course meant to write:
>"What can you tell me about MY father?".
You don't give a shit about HER father.

>>42403085
Wow, what if we do, huh? Not all of us are self-obsessed MP.

>>42403085
Rood, Princess.

>>42403085
But he is a cool guy, I'm sure.

"So you're an adventurer?", you wonder, just to strike up a conversation as you sit against the wall on the other side of the night stand. Sitting against walls, just like sitting on most chairs, isn't too comfortable when you have a tail. You have to wonder how she can lie on her back while keeping her torso up like that without her coccyx hurting, although considering she lies back down when you sit it might just be that she was trying to be courteous while you were talking to her.

"Hm", she answers. You infer from her tone that it was a positive "hm", comparable to a "yes".

"Where do you come from?", you then ask, hoping to not be forced to interpret grunts again, as it becomes a little difficult when it's not all about "yes" or "no".

"Chitonga", she says. Then, the idea that you might not know where that is strikes her, and she adds "Western Lustria" as an afterthought. You still don't know where Chitonga is or what place it is, but you have a vague idea of where Lustria is, although "western" Lustria doesn't mean much since it stretches westwards very, very far.

Still, it's nice to see that the idea you had about her origins was right, even if it came from bland stereotypes.

"Uhm. How did the two of you meet? You and my father, I mean", you then ask, wondering whether you'll learn something new or it'll be something embarrassing again, "What can you tell me about him?".

She turns her head to give you a long, appraising look. Then, she shrugs and goes "Eh. Like adventurers".

That doesn't mean much to you, however, "... What does that mean?".

"Flirting with maidens, bar brawl, out in the wilderness together. Dungeon crawling...”, she shrugs again, leaving the sentence suspended, as if expecting you can fill in the blanks yourself.

>”I mean, how is he as a person?”.
>”Do you like him?”.
>”What's the relationship between the two of you?”.
>”Don't you have clothes for the upper body?”.
>”That's a big sword you have...”.
>Other?

>>42403379
>”That's a big sword you have...”.
No innuendo this time.

Probably.

>>42403379
>>”I mean, how is he as a person?”.
>>”What's the relationship between the two of you?”.
Is she our stepmom? She's too young to be our stepmom, this is gonna get weird.

>>42403379
>”That's a big sword you have...”.

>>42403379
>”I mean, how is he as a person?”.

>>42403448
>not wanting quiet lizardmom

>>42403379
>"How does it feel to walk round without clothes for the upper body?"

>>42403477
Well, I guess it's not bad, it's just awkward calling someone your age "mom".

>>42403513
Fishing for exhibitionism?

"That's a big sword you have", you comment. It has a wide, flat body with skewered edges that look like they can rip flesh quite easily and very painfully. She gives it a cursory glance before looking back at you.

"Not that big", she calmly states.

"About my dad...", you return on the topic you wanted to explore earlier, hoping this time she'll give something more detailed, "How is he? As a person, I mean".

"Annoying", she almost immediately answers, "Flirts and gets in trouble a lot. More adventures in beds than in dungeons".

This is quickly getting very embarrassing, so you decide to steer the conversation away from your father with a much safer question, "So, er, and how does it feel to walk around with no upper body clothes?".

She blinks once before answering, "Okay". And that's all she says.

You suspect she didn't quite understand the question, but you're interrupted as Tahenohan comes barging out of the door like she owns the place, going "TADAAAAA!", as she holds up the simple blue skirt of her two-piece dress, with the long-sleeve dress, cuffs included, that make you feel a little hot just by staring at them. The outfit is even prettier with somebody inside, though the low-cut cleavage is kind of wasted on her.

Almost as if he was waiting for a sign, your father also comes out, wearing a pair of long, beige trousers and a coat of the same colour, with a creamy white shirt underneath, an inscribed leather belt with a silver buckle and shiny black boots. He finishes adjusting his topmost button the moment he comes out, "Ready when you are, my fair lady".

"Thank you, thank you", and the half-elf attempts a curtsey the same way a girl would do it if she heard about it but never saw it actually performed.

>”Have fun, you two!”.
>”Are you sure you're going to be okay?”.
>”Meztli don't you want to go as well?”.
>”Are you coming back before morning?”.
>”Tahenohan, please behave”.
>”Dad, please behave”.
>Other?

>>42403750
That was awkward.
>”Are you coming back before morning?”.
>”Dad, please behave”.
We know Tahe won't, but maybe he will.

>>42403750
>”Dad, please behave”.
Oh god things are going to be on fire, aren't they?

>>42403803

Probably dead and on fire.

>>42403750
>”Dad, please behave”.
”Have fun, you two!”.

>>42403750
>”Are you sure you're going to be okay?”.
>”Tahenohan, please behave”.
>”Dad, please behave”.
As long as they don't go bankrupt, become enemies of the state or descend into debauchery I guess it's fine. Maybe.

>not going on a small adventurous night with your long lost father
This is disappointing.

>>42403846
>descend into debauchery
I'm sure they won't get into anything lewd, nope, not our father with the habit of hopping into others' beds or the elf, nope.

>>42403871
Don't jinx it anon, even Lillith would have a hard time getting over that probably even if Tahe can have sex with whoever she wants.

>>42403936
I know, right? She'd keep wondering how she measures up to her dad and stuff.

>>42403936
Why? It's not like Lillith is possessive of her father or has any reason to be jealous.

>>42403987
It's grody to have your parents fuck your friends, much less potential romantic/sexual partners, anon.

Obviously Lillith can't tell them what to do, but she's also fully in her right to feel however she feels about it. Or more relevantly, anons are. I'd be really put off for sure.

"Are you going to be back before morning?", you ask, wondering just how much they plan on having fun at the expense of their own need to rest. Knowing Tahenohan, a lot, but then again she's half of an elf so she might be built for this kind of thing.

"Of course, we don't plan to spend that much of the night away", your father chuckles, "Besides, I don't have enough money to spend all night gambling. Unless we get really lucky".

"In which case we will", Tahenohan assures you.

You're not even going to ask if they're going to be okay.

"Have fun, you two!", you wave at them, and they wave back, and as they're about to leave you call "Dad".

"Yes?", he half-turns.

"Please behave", you recommend with the brightest smile you can muster. You're not even going to tell Tahenohan the same thing, just seeing her manic expression is enough to know that she will absolutely not behave, not one bit, but you've come to accept that as part of her being herself.

He doesn't look like he expected such a comment and practically freezes on the stairs, he then gives a long look to Meztli and then just smiles, "Of course, don't worry", and he waves again as he leaves.

Which leaves you and Meztli alone once again. If the lizardfolk woman had anything to comment about the situation, she kept it to herself.

You start to get the feeling she keeps a lot of things to herself, but maybe it's just you.

You hear their foosteps all the way downstairs and along the corridor, then you clearly hear the door open, bringing in some noise and chatter from outside, until it closes again, leaving you in the relative peace and silence of your cramped abode.

Still, you have a roof over your head and even if you don't have much in the way of beds it's not a bad accommodation considering you could have been in the streets by now. Or in a dungeon cell.

>”Do you trust these two?”.
>”Do you trust my father?”.
>”Tell me something more about him”.
>Stay with Bryld instead.
>Other?

>>42404077
>>”Do you trust my father?”.
Might as well assure ourself that Tahe is in good hands.

>>42404077
>”Do you trust my father?”.
We can see Bryld after.

>>42404077
>Stay with Bryld instead.
What was the point in being good at gambling and then sending tahenohan in Lillith's place?

>>42404077
>Stay with Bryld instead.
>>42404140
I don't know, we didn't find a dress that suited us?

>>42404077

Follow along, stay out of sight, hang around the casino entrance (if not go in), and prepare to bail them out of whatever mess they're going to get into.

>>42404140
Well we didn't find a dress...but yeah, this is pretty stupid. I argued against going but not so that Tahe could go instead, that's just as dumb. And that sure was a lot of time wasted on pointless votes and updates too, ugh.

>>42404077
Changing >>42404140 to support >>42404189
>Screw it, go follow stealthily.
Can't delete previous post because people replied to it.

>>42404189
Fuck it, I'll second this. Leaving Tahe to a casino on her own is just asking for trouble.

"Do you trust my father?", you ask Meztli once you're alone with her again.

"No". Well that's reassuring.

"Yes", she corrects herself after a while, staring at you, "I trust him to come back".

That doesn't mean he's not going to get into trouble, though. Also, Meztli is used to deal with his shenanigans alone, she doesn't know that she has to account for Tahenohan as well. That's like taking the trouble and making it double.

You get up. You know what you have to do.

Meztli stares at you as you leave, saying absolutely nothing just like you expected her to. You climb the stairs down, walk on your tiptoes until you reach the door and carefully open it.

The streets are as bustling and busy as they were before you came in, there's still plenty of chatter and other assorted noises coming from all over the places. It looks like this is a town that never quite sleeps, which isn't too surprising considering just how many people are stuck in one place that's too small for all of them. At least the public illumination is very good and you can walk around most streets without problems. It's not quite like it's broad daylight, because it can get really bright in this continent, but it's functionally the same.

Of course there's still dark alleys and poorly lit corners, and you think you see less than savoury individuals lurking about such places, but maybe it's just your imagination. There is plenty of people around, after all.

Fortunately, your father is also quite tall, so you can pretty much pick his grizzled hair out in the crowd. There's too much activity to track Tahenohan by sound alone, because otherwise you might just do that, and she's also too short to stand out, even considering her wild hair and peculiar decorations.

Unfortunately, you're the sort that stands out quite a lot in a crowd, what with your horns and your peculiar complexion. The only way they won't spot you is if they don't look in your direction at all.

>Follow them.
>Go back inside.
>Other?

>>42404505
We don't have a cloak or anything to throw on? Hell it can just be an oversized piece of cloth to wrap around our head.
>Follow them.

>>42404505
>>Go back inside.

>>42404505
>Follow them.

>>42404505
>>Follow them.

Seconding >>42404544 - maybe make a hooded cloak of some sort.

(Goddamnit, why did we turn him down?)

>>42404505
>Go back inside.
There was a reason why we were either supposed to stay and hide, or at least look rich instead of going out and getting captured by the guards.

>>42404505
>Follow them.

>>42404593
Because it was a stupid fucking idea, was my reason.

That was contingent on NOT sending Tahe off on the same shit though, ugh.

Honestly, would rather just stay and timeskip to the morning for when they get back with this scheme of theirs: we're not really going to help them by following them.

>>42404749
Trust in Ishtar and She will show Lillith the way to help the two.

>>42404749
I can understand that, personally I'd rather just ruin the whole thing by getting spotted though.

You don't trust any of them enough to leave them alone. You follow them despite all the risks you might be taking, which are hopefully limited to them spotting you and thinking you're weird or terribly mistrusting.

The streets of Reboldeux are somewhat strange at night, the town itself looks pretty alive with everyone trying to stay cheerful and/or just relax or maybe even sleep, but you can feel the sense of wrong with people trying to sleep around like beggars just because they have no other option. You also notice there are no guards around to put them in a cell like you'd expect from just about any town that wants to look clean. You presume this is part of what your father mentioned about the duke not wanting to provoke riots, because they'd break out if he tried to fit more people in his dungeons than he has room for.

That's good for you, though, you don't want guards to find you, especially not in a day where you can spend the night in a tiny cell for no real reason.

You have to make a bit of an effort to keep them within sight and still shimmy around enough between people and building corners to be certain you have somewhere to hide if one of them suddenly turns back. The winding streets of lightly differing elevations lead you around in a semi-circle until you reach somewhere not far behind the Duke's Palace, and then you see it.

The entrance to what you presume is the royal casino is deceptively humble: it's just a square archway with a very well-dressed attendant out in the front to mark the place as more important than it looks. It's very well-lit, and there's strangely not that many people in this street.

The building looks quite anonymous, as if its ground floor remains unused during night time. You see your father and Tahenohan doing something with one of the attendants and then going in, leaving him befuddled, but you can't really tell what happened from this far.

>Try to get in.
>Stay outside.
>Look for another way inside.
>Turn back.
>Other?

>>42404955
>Try to get in.
I'm sure Lillith can sweet talk her way in.

>>42404955
>Look for another way inside.

>>42404955
>Try to get in.
Here goes nothing.

>>42404955
>>Stay outside.
Fine, we're here. Stick around to see if something explodes, I guess, but we're probably not getting in at all.

>>42404955
>Turn back.

>>42404955
>Try to get in.

>>42404955
>>Stay outside.

Wait for our cue. I.E. when the screaming starts.

>>42404955
>Try to get in.
>>42405017
I find your lack of faith disturbing.

>>42405064
It's more paying attention to clues. Like our dad telling us that we needed to be dressed fancy-like to get in, which is why we weren't going in with him in the first place.

Seeing how they apparently had no problems getting in, you figure that you shouldn't have problems going in yourself.

You do the walk. That confident walk of someone who owns the place and doesn't have to ask anybody for permission.

Once you approach the entrance, you see that there are two more very well-dressed attendants just behind the squared archway, and the first one, whom you could spot even from afar, remains outside, sending them in as you arrive. You acknowledge his presence while trying to move in, but he stops you by physically putting himself on your track.

"I am sorry miss. Our casino has a strict dress code, I cannot allow you inside", he courteously but quite firmly tells you. He is wearing a white overcoat and black trousers, and is trying not to keep touching the collar of his shirt. He has a quite red fez with what seem to be bird feathers decorating it and wears a short but very well-cared moustache, he's also relatively short but has a certain elegance in his presence that makes him stand out nonetheless.

"Strict dress code? Oh but that is why I have put this on", you answer, doing your best to look flabbergasted, "Whatever are you saying, that I was lied to when I embarked for this continent? And to think I went out of my way to find an outfit like this one".

"I am very sorry miss but that is against our dress code", he repeats, courteous but bordering on the blunt with his tone, "We abide by the Prontera standard, I am sure you will understand".

"But I-".

"Thank you for your understanding, miss".

You know that look. It's the look of someone who was just fooled: you can see the burning shame and anger in his eyes and you're more than certain that he was wearing a tie or a cravat, which is now obviously missing.

You don't know if it was your dad or Tahenohan, but they ruined your chances of fast talking your way in. Completely.

>Look for another entrance.
>Insist.
>Stay outside.
>Give up and go back home.
>Other?

>>42405318
>Look for another entrance.

>>42405318
>Look for another entrance.

>>42405318
>Look for another entrance.
Aw yeah, it's time to get in trouble!

>>42405318
>Insist.
Let's make a scene.

>>42405318
>And what's the dress code like?
Just adding to >>42405387
If people didn't hate on Ishtar, i wonder if we could have used Lillith's priest status to get in.

>>42405318
>>Give up and go back home.

>>42405546
Maybe, though people hating on Ishtar is one of her defining traits so it's a pretty far-off 'what-if' scenario.

There's no way you can fool a person twice in a row, between the anger and the paranoia he's going to not let anything fly even if it were to be something reasonable. You have no idea how strict the dress code and casino regulations are, but the front door might as well be closed for how little stuff the attendant is going to let fly right now. You'd have to really have to come back with a dress in pure Prontera fashion if you expect to get in now.

Meztli was right about your father often getting into trouble, but at least she was also right about him being good enough to come back in one piece. Hopefully.

You give up on the attendant and begin circling the building. You are loathe to get into the darker alleys so you take the wide tour around the better-lit streets, and other than becoming completely certain that people are only very scarce around the casino entrance, you also realize that the ground floor building doesn't share the same proprietor.

That, or it has different uses. Your father mentioned the casino being closed until about a week ago, which might as well mean the underground locales it now uses were repurposed. That is to say: there are several buildings, all next to one another with little room in-between, save for a few very dark alleys which you're not eager to enter, but they're either houses or workshops, and you're pretty sure none of them is connected with the underground casino. It wouldn't make sense for them to be and there not be guards or more attendants, after all, the royal casino is not the sort of place where you want to leave back doors unattended.

All in all it was pretty pointless to hope for such an easy solution. Maybe you can try again after you've changed in a less worn dress and hope the attendant will let you in anyways, or just wait outside for those two to get out safely.

And while you're idly pondering the situation, you suddenly feel someone grab your arm with a strong grip.

“You're not supposed to be here”.

>>42405701
Sure aren't!

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1.62 MB GIF

DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUN

And this is it for Episode 40! I suspect I'll keep being relatively busy in the following weeks, throughout all of September. I'll try to run when I can, so please follow my Twitter if you want to know when Episode 41 will come around.

Thanks for your participation!

>>42405701
Oho, what did we accidentally discover? Maybe we stumbled onto Ocean's 11?
>>42405741
Thanks for running, MP!

>>42405741
Thanks a lot for running MP!

Now that the actual thread is done I will say I dunno why our father had to show up and drag us off on his own thing at a time when we're kinda swamped in things to do/have really urgent business. It totally throws off the pacing for me, when meeting up with and planning for our friends has been the focus of our immediate business for quite a few threads. Especially with a seemingly hare-brained and pointless scheme like this.

Seguing to a somewhat separate if related opinion, one I imagine won't get as much support from other anons (but that's okay since I'm just speaking for myself), I also kinda think he should have stayed a non-character entirely at this point, as I'm not a big fan of either his personality nor am I sure what exact role he's supposed to have in the story, though I admit at this time it's a bit early to judge on that specific point. Just, his personality seems pretty straightforward playboy with heart of gold, he didn't reveal anything important or relevant about our family, and his being an adventurer is just kinda rubbing it in that Lillith (and players) is stuck with menial jobs instead. Not that I'd want to be a full-time adventurer either, but still.

>>42405741
Thanks for the thread
>busy
nooooo

>>42405791
>what exact role he's supposed to have in the story
Lillith's friends don't have a role either, but we care for them. Or do you not? In a SoL story like this, characters don't need hard roles.

And speaking for myself, I like him so far. He's retired(?) adventurer that could teach Lillith a lot, not just about adventuring itself, but also the world and other things. He could even help her with her divine missions.

>>42405901
>Lillith's friends don't have a role either, but we care for them. Or do you not? In a SoL story like this, characters don't need hard roles.
That's true, so it comes back to me not liking him at all.

And while I'll happily concede my second point is purely subjective, I definitely stand by the first one.

>>42405938
>>42405791
Well, the getting our friends out of the town plan was already interrupted by not going directly to them. And no matter what, it wouldn't be possible to evacuate them tonight, so seeing them in the morning works just as well.

And, personally, if i'm going to receive bad news, I'd rather receive them during the day, when i can do something about them instead of just before sleeping/being woken up for. Can't do anything about the bad news beyond spending the night awake and losing sleep.

>>42406020
Yes, but pacing-wise it makes sense to have a short evening-scene with our friends into seeing our friends the next morning, or if interrupted, have it be by something important. Which it looked like dad-intervention was going to be at first, but now...not so much. We could easily have met him AFTER dealing with our friends to no ill effect, as well.