As Prince Garrus leads his group (Ellen, our heroine, included) East to reclaim the Cord region from his older brother, currently successfully using his birthright and honorable persona to appeal to the ordinary folks of the Easternmost region of Neir, Mage General Corneria of Heim leads a smaller group South towards the Ulir Archipelago, hoping that these forces can help choke the life out of Durvan's faction in an archipelago-wide civil war. Support from Dain has been promised, but about all that they've been able to do is draw the Dory family's little privately-contracted navy's fire. A small group like that should suffice both for taking him down and negotiating the support of the merchant-pirate family. Also among Corneria's forces are four of the Great Miles (only Durvan's daughter remaining on land), and a fire dragon named Michalis.

>A. Stick with Ellen on the Cord front.
>B. Be somebody in the Ulir-board party. (optional, but will be repeatedly offered until either the plotline is taken up or the Cord arc is completed)
20 minute voting time, as is usual for possibly-major story branch decisions.

>>42524900
Eh, let's just make it a solid "until [whatever hour it is in your timezone]:30" just for OCD's sake.

>>42524900
>A. Stick with Ellen on the Cord front.

>>42524900
>A. Stick with Ellen on the Cord front

Octo, what fe game should I play?

>>42525181
Depends on what you're looking for in a strategy game. FE7 and FE8 are both pretty solid regardless, though. I personally prefer 8 over 7, especially since you don't need to do a ton of mandatory tutorial bull before playing the ideal version of the game.

Are you saying as someone experienced with the series or new to it?

>>42525272
I've played SD awakening, the one with Navarre, the one with Lyn, and a few others I don't remember

>>42525318
All solid entries. I would still suggest Sacred Stones/8 or New Mystery/12.

>>42525092
>>42525115
You continue to be Ellen. The days where you and the rest travel are interspersed with further training sessions, with Laurina showcasing her surprising nimbleness with an axe when she isn't standing completely still, awaiting four axes to the everything. You would swear she was a swordmaster if she wasn't literally not using a sword.

Your mentor and this pirate girl have spent an increasing amount of time together over the time that they've known each other, you think to yourself as she shows you some better methods for throwing around a hand axe.

>A. Mention this to Gorman
>B. It's none of your business
>C. Write-in?

>>42525411
>A. Mention this to Gorman

>>42525411
>A. Mention this to Gorman
>>42525362
Played em.
I'll go with new mystery thanks

>>42525362
I might end up getting shit from fellow longtime fans for saying Awakening is a solid entry, but... It really is. I wouldn't even dream of saying it's the best entry (the simplified gameplay and story fall a bit flat, and I'm really not the biggest fan of the precedent it set for itself and Fates' large amount of garbage anime tropes), but I absolutely appreciate the fact that the series still exists at all thanks to its success, and it can absolutely be a good time if you let it be.

>>42525515
I enjoyed it too

>>42525464
>>42525485
When Laurina is busy showing these tricks off to Natalie, you talk to Gorman over some more mundane exercises.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Laurina ever since you met," you say over sit-ups opposite him.

"We're partners now, Ellen, and both refugees from Dain to boot," he responds, "is it really all that unusual?"

"No," you say, pausing your words as you work out some more, ultimately continuing, "I suppose not."

A few days later, your party finds itself at its first stop on the quest to reclaim Cord: the village of Bord. Two members of the Emperor's Flight, Wyvern Lords named Tena and Al, oversee the rebellious townspeople's organization.

As you get closer to the town, Garrus shows signs of cold feet. "I'm... I really don't feel right about attacking our countrymen, even if they've rebelled..."

>A. They willingly betrayed you, your highness
>B. Sadly, it must be done
>C. You're right. We must be able to avoid this
>D. Say something else (write-in)
>E. Let someone else talk to him about this

>>42525705
>A. They willingly betrayed you, Garrus.

>>42525705
What kind of King do you wish to be?
The kind that rules by strength and cuts down traitors and foes? Do you want to be kind and merciful, forgiving your kinsmen and giving them another chance?
Your the next king so it's your decision to make, I'll obey dutifully.
Deleting old vote

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>42525802
>>42525793

>>42525897
I think I'll just go with your write-in, since your old vote won.

>>42525903
"Your highness, I understand your concerns, but now is not the right time for backing down," Yvette says.

You have a different idea, however, reassuring your prince, "Prince Garrus... What kind of king are you hoping to be?"

"Huh? Well, uh, my dad was always..."

"With all due respect, your highness, I'm not asking about King Drasma. Do you want to be a fearsome warrior king like him, stamping out everything in his way, or a merciful, thoughtful king, wanting to give your subjects another chance? You're in charge of these forces, so... What we do is your decision to make, ours to carry out."

"You're, you're right, Ellen... Uh..." He's not good at making decisions for himself, but after a few moments, he turns towards Cheryl. "Er, Cheryl. Could you... Could you deliver a message to Bord village? If they... If they don't fight us, we'll... We'll accept their return with open arms, and ensure that they'll be protected even as Dain remains in the region."

"Right away, prince Garrus, sir!" With that, Cheryl flies off towards the town.

Nearby, you hear Reese remark to Mitchell, "I hope he hasn't just sent her to her death..."

This makes Garrus pale in worry.

>A. Knock it off, Reese!
>B. Reassure Garrus
>C. Write-in dialogue
>D. Remain silent

>>42526183
>A. Knock it off, Reese!

>>42526183
>A. Knock it off, Reese!
Now I'm fucking paranoid.
But surely they wouldn't hurt a messence right? There are unwritten rules of engagement right?

Did we ever pick up vulinaries?

>>42526283
The Emperor's Flight has a reputation for being a very noble institution, especially under Derrick's command.

>>42526341
Cool.
What about vulinaries?
They could save lives

>>42526250
>>42526283
"Reese, knock it off! That won't happen!"

Monica, someone who would naturally be concerned for her sister, simply states, "no high-ranking member of the Emperor's Flight would kill a messenger. They would probably attack the villagers themselves if they tried, for that matter."

"So we're facing the noblest and the most fearsome of Dain's knights?" Reese looks thoughtful. "Then I suppose I misspoke. Forgive my lack of foreknowledge, milady."

"...Captain Monica will do, Sir Reese."

About an hour later, Cheryl returns, looking happy. A pair of wyverns fly off in either direction. "The villagers have agreed!"

Garrus smiles. "Wow, really?"

"Yep! Though those knights, Tena and Al, warned that there would be 'consequences.' I guess not all of the villages were completely willing so much as they just buckled under pressure!"

"Consequences, though... That undoubtedly means they will be back to reclaim Bord by force." Yvette sounds grim as she says this. "We must hurry to the village and secure its people's safety."

Yvette leads the prince into the town, the rest of you following closely behind.

All eyes are on Garrus among the curious townspeople.

>A. Scope them out for spies
>B. Encourage Garrus to give a speech
>C. Say something yourself (write-in)
>D. Remain silent and in place

>>42526592
>A. Scope them out for spies
>B. Encourage Garrus to give a speech

>>42526592
>B. Encourage Garrus to give a speech
>scout for spies ourselves

>>42526637
>>42526643
"Are you going to give a speech, your highness?"

Garrus nods uncertainly, clearing his throat. "Uh... Sorry if I'm bad at this, first off. I'm... Not very good at... Talking in public, but a king needs to be! So, uh..."

As he stammers, you, Victoria, and Mitchell have similar ideas, casually pacing around the crowd, investigating its distracted people.

"So, uh... I'm sorry that we... weren't able to stop this invasion in the first place. You, the good people of Cord, d-deserve better! I'll pay mind to all corners of Neir, when I'm on the throne, but Lars... Lars will just allow a repeat of the events of ten years ago."

He continues to go on, and just about three people stick out to you: a tall, burly, exceptionally hairy fellow with an eyepatch, a positively ancient, wrinkled little woman in heavy armor, and a heavily-dressed teenage girl with a tan, her long, messy brown hair making you wonder how she can see or hear at all.

>A. None of them are suspicious, just interesting
>B. That eyepatched fellow is suspicious
>C. That old lady is suspicious
>D. That teenage girl is suspicious

>>42526935
>C. That old lady is suspicious
>D. That teenage girl is suspicious
Sounds like a qt

>>42526935
So we'd be accusing people based on how they look and no evidence? I don't think this is what we were thinking of when we said >A. Scope them out for spies
>A. None of them are suspicious, just interesting

>>42527081
None of them are doing much of note, but Ellen isn't really the best scout.

Maybe one of them is suspicious, but it's a fair assumption that Ellen might not know what to look for. I was basically just pointing out notable people in the town.

>>42527154
Then why did you give us explicit options to say "This person is suspicious even though they really aren't!", That's no offense, But really stupid.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>42527081
>>42526960
The word choice may have been a bit misleading. If 2 wins, I won't have Ellen outright say "is suspicious" about the people selected as such by the choices, so much as try to find out a bit more about them/ask for the second opinion of those better-versed in this sort of thing.

>>42527207
Poor word choice. I admit my mistake.

>>42527154
Just adding in that I just mean to keep an eye on these two, no walking up and accusing them
>>42526960

Are the two nonteenagers the generals?

>>42527238
You're at the very least curious about the old lady, and she appears to be a figure of some authority in the town if she's still geared up to fight at such an age and status. She also just flat-out doesn't seem to be paying attention to the prince's speech.

"Er... Hey, I'm Ellen. Member of the prince's personal guard."

"Gertrude. Am... Town captain."

The hairy fellow, standing nearby, says, "er... If you wish to speak to someone about the town, it'd best be through me. I can't talk nana into retiring, even if she's gone senile. Sixty years she's been captain of the guard, and twenty of 'em I've been her second in command... On paper, that is."

You chat with this fellow, apparently named Gil, for awhile. Apparently his grandmother's mind fell to senility years ago, but no one had the heart to force her to retire... And the guy who got the closest to trying was sent to a hospital.

"I surrendered on her behalf so she wouldn't go down with a spear in her gut, but... If your prince can keep us safe, I'll put my trust in him."

You also ask about that girl way in the back.

"What girl? There are many people you could be talking about."

"The one with the really messy-" as you gesture subtly towards where she was, you find that there was no one there.

>A. Never mind
>B. Ask if Mitchell or Victoria saw her
>C. Describe the person to Gil
>D. Say something else (specify)
>E. Write-in

>>42527519
>ask the two about the girl briefly
>Stick close to Garrus and inform Yvette of a suspicious girl

>>42527615
Second deleting old vote.

>>42527595
>>42527615
You describe the girl to Gil, and a look of realization dawns on his hairy features.

"That sounds a lot like that girl that was with those Wyvern Lords... Could she be a spy for the Empire?"

Quickly, you find and ask Victoria if she's seen her.

"Er, Mitchell saw her running off and decided to sneak after her himself..."

"Go after him, then!"

Victoria nods and runs off towards a seemingly-random house.

You approach Yvette and Garrus, whispering about this with the former as Garrus keeps giving his speech.

"I can only imagine a single reason a teenage girl with obscured features would have been with Emperor's Flight members... Go on, after Mitchell and Victoria. Subdue this woman as quickly as possible."

Yvette goes over to quietly inform the rest of the personal guard to be on high alert. You go after where you saw Victoria head, realizing that you didn't see where EXACTLY she went.

>A. You have no idea what Victoria meant
>B. You know exactly what she meant

And...

>C. Look inside the house.
>D. Look around the sides of the house.
>E. Call out for Victoria and Mitchell
>F. Look further down the road from the house
>G. Give up and return to Yvette and co.

>>42527865
*what Yvette meant, for >A, not Victoria.

>>42527865
Find Zoe and look from the air

>>42527965
Also
>A. You have no idea what Victoria meant
Unless other anon has an idea

>>42527865
>B. You know exactly what she meant
OH FUCK PAULA!
>D. Look around the sides of the house.
>E. Call out for Victoria and Mitchell

>>42527965
Actually, find cheryl, I don't remember if Salia left

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>42528154
>>42528114

>>42527965
>>42528022
Honestly, you're not certain what Yvette meant by that, but you decide to go back and ask Cheryl, Zoe, or Monica for help looking... Only to find all three sisters decidedly absent from where they were.

Yvette gives you a stern look when you explain your motivations and confusion. "Manaketes, Ellen. We know that the Emperor's Flight has taken in multiple Fire Dragons. I already sent our pegasus knights and princess Eva into the air to search, so I need you to hurry up and-"

A massive stream of flames erupts and a man's cries of pain erupt from the backyard of the house you were supposed to be investigating.

>A. Rush over there!
>B. Keep the civilians calm!
>C. Talk to Garrus! (specification preferred)
>D. Reflect upon your mistake!
>E. Write-in!

>>42528216
Fuck. I'm sorry for everything
>A. Rush over there!

>>42528216
>A. Rush over there!

File: FireDragonDSIcon.png (4 KB, 72x71)

4 KB PNG

>>42528258
>>42528268
You've fucked up.

That being thought, you immediately rush towards the house in question with hopes of amending this fact, outsped on the way there by Natalie, Stefyn, and everyone on a horse.

The backyard is on fire when you arrive, and a pained roar prefaces your entry.

A charred form in thieves' robes, which are currently on fire, lies on the ground as Victoria unloads a volley of arrows from Ronan into a giant red dragon.

The creature looks... Pained, though that's to be expected from such a creature being rendered a pincushion.

Everyone else is just watching, having difficulty processing what's going on.

>A. Let Victoria handle this
>B. Stop Victoria so you guys can capture this terrifying dragon
>C. Attack the Manakete!
>D. Call someone else to action! (specify. Party members are listed in the summary pastebin if you don't recall)
>E. Write-in

>>42528422
>C. Attack the Manakete!

>>42528422
>C. Attack the Manakete!
All of our party members should be coming

So Mitchell is rip?

>>42528549
Man i hope not, That Manakete clue really wasn't that good since there was basically no hints whatsoever.

>>42528610
Yeah.
I'm sorry anon, I shouldn't have tried to be smart. It cost us a death

>>42528683
I don't think Octo would kill someone off because of a terrible clue, I'm not saying you did the terrible clue it was Octo who did the terrible clue, I mean really dude? There was basically no hints at all.

>>42528509
>>42528549
Unlike the rest, you don't hesitate to join her, sticking your steel sword straight into the wounded dragon.

With one final roar, the dragon transforms into the girl you saw earlier. Her hair no longer covers her eyes, and is the same shade of red you saw on Arion and Michalis, and her ears are pointed. Her eyes are closed and she's shuddering, but her wings and talons are still cloaked by the robe she was wearing.

Weakly, muttering in her dying moments, you hear her say, "Michalis... I-I wish we could have... We... W-we could have..."

You can barely make out her last words, and surely nobody else heard them.

You recall Michalis, that manakete who's traveling with the Great Miles, having offhandedly mentioned having an older sister when you were talking outside of the theater.

"Mitch!" Stefyn runs over to his friend, desperately throwing some sort of nearby pail of water over him. "Come on, buddy, stay with us... Think about gardening!"

Nat and Logan throw their staves over the recently-doused Mitchell.

>A. Don't let them get their hopes up
>B. Don't discourage them from trying

>>42528781
>B. Don't discourage them from trying
Dude really? Octo why do you just keep punishing us for stuff we can't know about? You really seem in a dickish mood today, And honestly it's only gonig to make you lose players.

>>42528781
>>A. Don't let them get their hopes up

>>42528781
>B. Don't discourage them from trying
God damnit

>>42528781
No seriously Octo, Are you going to fucking respond or just keep punishing us for no reason?

I don't mind character death, but off screen death is such shit

>>42528818
Seriously sorry if it's coming off that way. I thought the information about the manaketes was clearer than it was, based off of past information.

In my defense, deliberately turning away from the house was a poor move.

One of these decisions will save Mitchell, if it's any compensation. It should be clear which one will sign his death warrant.

>>42528885
Octo is trying to have fun too anon. I doubt he's trying to punish us.
In retrospect it was a bad idea

>>42528908
>I thought the information about the manaketes was clearer than it was, based off of past information.
That's strike one, Expecting people to actually remember stuff on /tg/, They never do unless you give usa actualy hints or reminder in the current thread.
Second strike is not giving us even a fucking hint that the dragon is Michalis's sister, Seriously man what the fuck? That shit came out of fucking nowhere, You basically went "WELP I HAVEN'T FUCKED WITH THESE GUYS ENOUGH TODAY SO LET'S HAVE THEM KILL THEIR FRIENDS SISTER!" Seriously Octo the fuck man?

>>42528885
Really, I'm sorry if I'm being overkill. It's tricky to balance "if you fuck up, people will die" and "if you make a single esoteric mistake, party members will get abruptly set on fire."

>>42528958
I'll try to remedy this. It would've been built up more if you'd have kept following her, discouraged her from attacking, but. I'll try to remedy this.

>>42528997
>I'll try to remedy this. It would've been built up more if you'd have kept following her, discouraged her from attacking, but. I'll try to remedy this.
You didn't give us a chance to Octo, You didn't give us a fucking chance to follow her even though we did try to, You want ot make up for it have her not fucking die then.

>>42529026
Anon it's not all his fault, it's mine too. Don't just take it all out on Octo. He's still going out of his way to run and trying to entertain us. I'm disappointed by this result but it happens. We've just gotta learn and move on.

I think he understands you points

>>42528818
>>42528883
You're not sure Mitch can make it, but there's no way in hell you'll stop them from trying to help your comrade.

That being said, you... Feel a pang of guilt over this mistake, looking at the bleeding unconscious form of a manakete you were... Pretty sure died moments ago. You suppose it takes longer to die of a stab wound than you'd expected.

"Er, Nat, Logan... If you think one of you can keep Mitchell stable enough, could you... Help this manakete?"

"Wh-what?! Ellen, Mitchell is mere instants away from death!" Victoria sounds mad at your suggestion, trying to stop Logan from leaving Nat to what she does best. "Ellen, I respect you, but... What are you thinking?"

>A. You'll explain when she's not dying!
>B. Try to quickly explain
>C. You're right, Victoria. Sorry
>D. Write-in?

>>42529101
>A. You'll explain when she's not dying!
>Just trust me, Please?
Oh great another forced decision, Let Michalis's sister die or Mitchell die!

>>42529101
>A. You'll explain when she's not dying!
Dain tricked her, probably

>>42529101
And before anyone suggests it, don't worry, Logan being away from Mitch won't turn this into a sadistic "doom one, save one" deal.

Since "oh hey look the boss is magically okay!" is a bit of a cop-out, it's still possible to mess up at this juncture, but. Hopefully it's easy enough not to.

Sorry if that sounded insincere, I seriously hope it's not more esoteric than I'd thought again.

>>42529134
>If you think one of you can keep Mitchell stable enough, could you.

I'm pretty sure he's just throwing us a bone.

>>42529134
>>42529140
"Just trust me on this!" You address the summoner next. "Logan, please."

Logan nods and quite literally pushes Victoria aside to wave a Mend staff at the manakete.

"Ellen, this is..." Garrus speaks up from behind you, "...I wish I could have said the same, but... Victoria can be surprisingly scary..."

Eva lands nearby. "Vindictive as ever, she is."

>A. Don't blame her for her part in this
>B. She definitely overreacted
>C. Explain the situation now that there's a staff on her
>D. Remain silent
>E. Write-in dialogue

>>42529260
>A. Don't blame her for her part in this
>C. Explain the situation now that there's a staff on her

>>42529260
>A. Don't blame her for her part in this
>C. Explain the situation now that there's a staff on her

>>42529273
>>42529308
"Hey, well, from her perspective, a suspicious person in league with our enemies turns into a dragon, she probably thought her good friend was dead there, and then I come around insisting we turn around and save her. She didn't hear what she said about knowing Michalis!"

Now that you've dropped that piece of information, you calmly explain what you heard of her last words, and what Michalis told you outside of the theater.

"I mean, even if he's probably gonna be living in Noba within the next few weeks, I don't want to kill his sister after all he's been through."

Yvette nods. "Somebody take her Dragonstone and, when she's been treated, have her put someplace safe where she cannot aid Dain. We'll have her transferred to Rakche as soon as possible after that."

"I... Think Mitch is going to be alive. He is still. Very, very burnt, and will be in a lot of pain for a long time, but. He will not die here." Nat can't help but crack a smile as Stefyn and Victoria do.

Garrus speaks again. "We got... W-we got exceptionally lucky. Mitchell in particular... But... I w-want all of you to be observant and on your toes, come what will soon. The... The Emperor's Flight won't be gone forever, and... It might be very easy to die when they arrive. All of you, just... L-look out for each other."

>A. Yes, your highness
>B. You're sure you'll make it through
>C. You'll be fine
>D. Will even that be enough
>E. Write-in dialogue
>F. Remain silent

>>42529533
>>A. Yes, your highness

>>42529533
>A. Yes, your highness
Let's all remember the buddy system

>>42529591
I don't recall that promise (and if it was the case, it's been contradicted a few times), but that might just be my memory. Pretty sure the promise was that Ellen wouldn't stop treating Garrus as a friend just because she was his guard.

>>42529572
>>42529591
>>42529605
>>42529606
>4 unique posters
Why samefag such an unimportant vote?

>>42529609
Could have been that and I'm just remembering wrong, Just feels wrong for Ellen to call him that since shen ever really cared about that bullshit before, Just seems really OOC.

>>42529653
Oh nevermind.

>>42529656
I've been having her use them interchangeably based on the context and what fits the sentence better.

>>42529656
I feel like your right
Changing >>42529606
To >B. You're sure you'll make it through

>>42529711
I'll delete my vote here>>42529591
And second that.

>>42529711
>>42529742
"I'm... sure we'll all be alright, Garrus. We'll get through this."

"I... Just please don't get too certain that we'll be okay until it's happened, Ellen. It'll be... It'll be dangerous to get cocky." Garrus sounds very worried.

"Ellen does have a point, however... With Tarvosians, mages, and Garou at various points throughout Cord, it just wouldn't be wise for the Emperor's Flight to launch a coordinated attack on one small town. They're heavily outnumbered," Reese remarks.

>A. Yeah, we'll be fine!
>B. What about rebels?
>C. Remain silent
>D. Write-in dialogue

>>42529802
>B. What about rebels?

>>42529802
>B. What about rebels?

>>42529824
>>42529829
"What about the actual rebels?"

Reese scoffs. "Largely undertrained, compared to elite groups such as ourselv-"

"...and prince Garrus has expressed his reservation with fighting his countrymen. The officers who were in this town have escaped with that information, and I'm certain that this girl is not the only manakete that Lars picked up," Yvette interrupts Reese to say.

"On that note, Lars is also a problem," Monica adds curtly.

>A. We're screwed
>B. We can still take them
>C. Indicate to Garrus that he should speak his mind
>D. Remain silent
>E. Write-in

>>42529947
>C. Indicate to Garrus that he should speak his mind
Garrus should probably take some public speaking courses too

>>42529947
>C. Indicate to Garrus that he should speak his mind

>>42529990
>>42530004
You shoot Garrus a look, causing him to nod and speak up. "W-well, uh... That is certainly a problem... But we'll have people remaining vigilant, and... And coordinate with our allies, and... Uh, Salia, do you mind if I borrow your pegasus knights for a little bit?"

Salia shakes her head. "Not at all."

From there, Garrus has Cheryl, Monica, and Zoe deliver messages to the areas the fighters among the Garou, Tarvosians, and Corneria's mages are expected to be.

Before she leaves, naturally, you see Zoe off.

"Er... You'll be alright, right?"

"Absolutely, Ellen!" Zoe smiles. "Poseidon and I will see you again in no time! Just wish us luck!"

She stands around, awaiting your response for a moment.

>A. Okay, good luck
>B. You'll get to it
>C. Nod
>D. Something else? (write-in)
>E. Stand around awkwardly

>>42530179
>>D. Something else? (write-in)
Give her a hug and a kiss? I dunno!

>>42530179
>A. Okay, good luck
>Give her a peck on the cheek.

>>42530179
Goodbye kiss. If Noone else is around a good big girl kiss

>>42530294
>If Noone else is around a good big girl kiss
Ellen is not that lewd anon.

>>42530319
It's just a kiss on the lips.
I don't mean tongue magical realm stuff

>>42530393
Exactly, They haven't advanced to that stage yet anon.

>>42530215
>>42530218
>>42530294
The gesture of good luck she's hoping for doesn't immediately occur to you, but once it does you pull her into a long, loving kiss farewell, pulling away and smiling. "Good luck."

Even though she was leading you into it, Zoe can't help but furiously blush as you let go, nodding and saying, "o-okay, yeah... I think I've got enough luck from that to last me the whole war. Buut just in case..."

She pecks your lips one more time, says "love you!" cheerfully, and gets onto her pegasus.

You would see her again soon enough, completely alive and unharmed, but naturally in the interim you can't help but worry for her safety.

The next morning, you see Katina pacing around in the middle of town, looking very thoughtful, as Bolse and Bovis sit around nearby, not paying her much mind.

>A. What's the matter
>B. Follow her brother's example

>>42530417
>A. What's the matter

I want you to know, if you do kill Zoe off, I'll probably die a little inside and lose all hope. Pls no killing zoe

>>42530415
>>42530393
I don't want the romance/sexuality to overwhelm the thread, so I leave most of the details of relationships to the imagination beyond "x likes y for reason z" and writing their dynamics when two characters share a scene.

Sometimes I feel like that leaves literally all romance feeling out of left field, but it's better than the alternative.

>>42530417
>A. What's the matter
>>42530454
Same, She's one of the main reason I still follow.

>>42530470
I like it that way

>>42530454
I am of the opinion that killing the main character's love interest is literally the cheapest thing that can be done.

For this reason, unless you somehow fuck up so immensely that it would make zero sense for them NOT to die, I never had any intent of killing whoever Ellen's love interest ultimately ended up being.

OTHER people and THEIR love interests are as fair game as anyone else, though.

>>42530470
Sure i guess, Just don't go to overboard when those kind of votes come in, And remember to watch for OOC stuff.

>>42530512
Please don't kill off Nat, She's a great character and has been around since the beginning, She's probably my fav character after Ellen.

>>42530454
>>42530483
You approach your probable cousin. "What's the matter, Lady Katina?"

She frowns. "It's just... I really just can't wrap my head around Mimon-er, Lars-being our enemy! I mean, even when it turned out he was lying, he... He still protected us, kept me comfortable even in Aum. He's... Not a bad person, I know it, and I don't understand why he's doing this. I just... I need to talk to him, just once, find out why... Maybe even talk some sense into him."

>A. You can't do something like that... Alone (read: I will help you speak to him if an opportunity arises)
>B. Encourage her to seek him out
>C. Encourage her to speak to him if he comes
>D. Discourage her from trying
>E. Imply she's just acting like this because of a crush
>F. Write-in dialogue
>G. You don't know what to tell her

>>42530512
I'd say please just don't kill anyone, but it's our job to make sure that doesn't happen .

Which I failed at several times

>>42530568
>D. Discourage her from trying
>Right now he's the enemy, You want to get kidnapped again and risk everyone else's lives when we have to eventually come and rescue you?

>>42530568
>A. You can't do something like that... Alone
>he is still our enemy, and if we get the chance to talk we should take it, but don't get your hopes up.

>>42530571
Some deaths are going to be either unavoidable or dependent upon each other, as sad as it is.

In fact, some major characters are going to be in very grave danger Ellen can do nothing about.

>>42530634
Well, that much is to be expected. Story deaths like the king or Garou leaders right? The story important ones

>>42530612
Second.

>>42530568
>C. Encourage her to speak to him if he comes

>>42530694
>>42530612
"Katina, I... Really don't think you should do that. He's the enemy right now," you decide to emphasize "THE enemy" a second time, "and you might get kidnapped chasing him again, or worse... Even if he won't hurt you, what if you put your mother in that position?"

Katina shakes her head. "I would've been alone in the desert if he didn't bring me to Aum with you guys! Lars wouldn't hurt me, Ellen... H-he wouldn't!"

She sounds really freaked out about this.

>A. You believe her
>B. Just don't go to him alone
>C. You don't believe her
>D. You think she's deluded by infatuation
>E. Write-in

>>42530612
He handwaved our escape from prison. He can't be that bad. There's obviously more going on than meets the eye.

Not that she should go looking for him but if we have a chance to just talk, maybe we should

>>42530749
>B. Just don't go to him alone
>Be smart and cautious

>>42530749
>>E. Write-in
Look. You don't know what's going on with the politics in Dain at the moment. And right now his grandfather has everyone that has anyone with a remote amount of power stringed. Maybe you're right. He isn't all that bad. But right now he doesn't have a will of his own. Got it?

>>42530794
Second

>>42530762
>>42530794
"Look, the emperor of Dain-his grandfather-has him and so many other people just... Under his foot. If it weren't for what the Great Miles did for princess Kia, even Eva couldn't be on our side right now. You remember that girl you almost fried... I'm still entirely certain that that was Princess Paula. Maybe he is all you see in him, but... At the moment, his hands are tied."

She looks down, tears welling up. "B-but... If the only Dain soldiers in the area are super powerful, noble people, all under his orders, and the rest of Dain is half the continent away... Th-they would have no way of finding out if Lars decided to help us! Maybe that hasn't occurred to him yet!"

You ultimately decide to half-humor your likely relative, sighing. "Alright, Katina, I... Guess you have a point. Just... Absolutely, whatever you do, don't do it without me and Logan, and let the prince know what you're planning."

She nods. "I... won't be dumb about this, but... I'm sure it doesn't have to be this way..."

>A. Reveal what you and Corneria think you've figured out
>B. Don't bring it up until you know the mage general knows for sure
>C. Some other third thing?

>>42530909
>A. Reveal what you and Corneria think you've figured out

>>42530909
>A. Reveal what you and Corneria think you've figured out

>>42530909
>A. Reveal what you and Corneria think you've figured out

>>42530921
>>42530930
>>42530962
"I, er... Think I know why your mother was so interested in me, by the way."

"You do? Well, don't leave me in the dark!"

You share what Corneria pieced together about your probable relation, concluding with, "...so, I think that makes you and Bolse my..."

"Cousins, right?"

You nod.

"That's... Actually really great! I mean, I'd heard about Aunt Dolores before, but.. She'd had a daughter this whole time!"

She calls Bolse over and excitedly signs an explanation to you, and you find yourself... Really unsure of how to react.

It's nice to know that you have blood relatives after all, but.. At the same time, Bovis standing right nearby simultaneously reminds you of the "realest" family you'd ever had.

>To be continued next thread
I plan on making the next thread a difficult battle, but also hope I don't take it overboard. The option to follow Corneria's group to Ulir will still present itself for a little while, but again... It won't be necessary to follow, and you can potentially miss the opportunity to influence its events if you avoid it for too many threads (don't worry, though, nothing horrifically game-changing will happen because you weren't there. I just have a vague idea about the "default" series of events, which can be deviated from).

As always, twitter and ask.fm are qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around to chat for a bit in-thread.

>>42531123
>I plan on making the next thread a difficult battle,
Just don't make it a "Oh you didn't go over to that persons area so THEY DIED!" okay.

>>42531123
Thank you running. Sounds like we're going to miss that wyvernslayer in the next battle, but I hope in the end that sword will be worth it.

>>42531123
Thanks for running.
I really do enjoy these threads, and I appreciate it.

>>42531145
Unless it's absolutely clear that they're screwed if you don't help (like underleveled Robert vs. Canis after she just established that she could keep you pinned), I'll try to avoid that sort of situation.
>>42531151
I just wish I could've made sacrificing the Curse Ring into a bigger setback, but it wouldn't have made any sense for Bolse and Katina NOT to make as many as they could when they were literally going with you.
>>42531206
I really appreciate that people play.

>>42531232
>I just wish I could've made sacrificing the Curse Ring into a bigger setback, but it wouldn't have made any sense for Bolse and Katina NOT to make as many as they could when they were literally going with you.
Speaking of which, How long til it's done? The sword.

>>42531232
Eta on our new sword?
Got a design set for it?

Should we go looking for cool swords?

>>42531247
Not fast enough, Anon. Not fast enough. I do want to go to Ulir. But I doubt that the rest of the anons agree with me. May not be worth the effort either.

>>42531260
Eh i honestly prefer playing as Ellen since she's the MC.

>>42531260
I do too.
I was planning on voting Ulir then Ellen then Ulir then Ellen until we're back together

>>42531247
>>42531256
No clue for the design itself, but in-universe it should probably take just over three more weeks at this point, if I've been keeping track of days correctly.

Due to the Wolf Fang Fist references made, I was considering naming it after Yamcha's sword by default: http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Azure_Dragon_Sword
There'll probably be a vote between this and write-ins when the time comes to give it a name.
>>42531260
>>42531276
I do like writing for other characters protagging sometimes, but I can understand why not everyone would be into it.

At the very least, I want to say the opportunity was adequately given.

>>42531276
Think of them as side quests that would help out Ellen later on. Invest in them now and perhaps get something out of it later. Kind of like how we got that dragon kid.

>>42531279
>until we're back together
Miles is going home after this, anon.
>>42531308
"Gets Michalis" was part of the "default" for if that chapter was skipped, while "helps Ormr" was the alternate choice that they wouldn't have arrived at otherwise... And still didn't. If you had, though, you would've had an affably evil Ice Dragon and Devon would've been pissed beyond all measure. That being said, the chapter's events (such as the near-deaths) DID still influence the plot in ways they wouldn't have otherwise.

A better example for extra bonuses gotten through these POV chapters is probably Zoe's Wing Spear, or Vantage on Eva, or, in a roundabout way, Ellen getting the Wyrmslayer (since Captain Willow was established as a character and as having it in the Gorman gaiden).

>>42531308
Yeah. I want those warm bodies
>>42531300
I'm gunna look for sword designs then.
Everyone should