You find yourself wandering around the city of Rakche, on account of King Garrus having a particularly restless evening. "Sorry about this," he said, "but... Yvette would've insisted I go along with SOMEBODY, and I figured you would be the finest with it."

You reassured his majesty that it was perfectly alright, and you appreciate him making sure he went along with someone.

"S-so, uh..." Garrus asks, pasing the time as he sits on an ordinary bench, "how're things with you?"

>A. Can't complain
>B. You're not sure(?)
>C. Kinda restless yourself
>D. Write-in
>E. Was swinging Monica on letting Salia come the right idea
>F. Be silent

>>43002459
>A. Can't complain
>E. Was swinging Monica on letting Salia come the right idea

>>43002521
"Can't complain, I guess..."

Garrus frowns. "You sure? I mean, you look... Like something's on your mind?"

You sigh. "Yeah, I guess..."

As you describe your concerns about getting Monica to relent, you flash back to the other night.

Monica pulled you aside, staring you down intensely. Even you were sort of intimidated.

She spoke to you clearly, threateningly, "Princess Salia will not come into any further harm due to your persistence on dragging her into this. Do you understand?"

>A. You understand
>B. Isn't that Monica's job
>C. No promises
>D. Be silent
>E. Why is she doing this
>F. Write-in

>>43002682
>A. You understand

>>43002743
"I-I understand, Mo-er, Lady Monica," you stammered.

"I'm glad we're on the same page." She glared at you awhile longer before turning away.

You felt... Threatened, quite literally.

Back in the present, Garrus responds to your concern and story, "I'm... sure she was't threatening you or anything like that." He sighs. "To be fully honest, I... Don't know that it's right of Salia to come along. I-I know what you're about to say-'you're the king, just tell her she can't go'-but I don't wanna just... Make a habit of throwing out royal decrees for personal reasons. I've only been on the throne for a few days yet..."

>A. Probably a good idea (read: agree with Garrus)
>B. People would understand
>C. Don't be so passive
>D. Be silent
>E. Write-in

>>43002930
>A. Probably a good idea (read: agree with Garrus)
>She's your sister. You shouldn't throw around royal decrees just to talk to her.

>>43003089
"Yeah, and she's your sister anyway. If you want her to listen to you, you shouldn't need to make a bunch of orders."

Garrus nods. "My thoughts exactly. Still, though, I am... Really worried, for her sake. I've already almost gotten her killed once."

"That wasn't your-"

"But it was! I didn't think, tried to help Yvette, left her wide open... Yvette could've handled herself then."

"Well, I wasn't there, so I wouldn't know, but... Please don't beat yourself up over it."

"I guess, but-"

"-and I'm telling you, you can't just poof away this time, Red."

Garrus blinks. "You... You heard that, right?"

>A. Best not to get involved
>B. Best to absolutely get involved
>C. Write-in?
>D. ...nope

>>43003343
>B. Best to absolutely get involved

File: Anna-FE3.gif (993 B, 48x64)

993 B GIF

>>43003411
You and Garrus are quick to get to the stall of the dubiously-legal Anna, the redhead herself having tried (and failed) to pull a dagger on a muscular, rough-looking woman and her cohorts, resulting in the assailant grabbing onto her, axe lifted up and pointed at her.

"Stick to running away. Oh, wait, forgot you can't do that!" She fakes swinging the axe at her, stopping just short of her head.

"Er, boss..." One of her three buddies warns, "looks like we've got trouble. Two people."

"You take care of it, then! I can't afford to take my eyes off this one for a second."

Garrus looks a bit... terrified. "Uh, Ellen, what should... What should we do?"

>A. Wanna try talking them down?
>B. Fight time!
>C. Just stay here, let you handle this
>D. Write-in

>>43003645
>A. Wanna try talking them down?

>>43003738
"Try talking them down?"

Garrus nods, but you draw your Azure Dragon Sword anyway... Just in case. "Er... you..." He clears his throat, straightening up and staring the assailants down. "Whatever you're planning here, there is absolutely no way you will... do what you're trying to and get away with it."

"Oh, I'm terrified," one of the probable underlings says mockingly.

"Well, you absolutely should be!" Garrus says, stepping a bit closer. "You're addressing King Garrus, and even IN the off-chance that you were to turn this into a fight and escape from my and my companion here, you would have the combined might of Rakche on you! Tell me now, is it worth it to keep fighting?"

One of them squints. "Shit, yeah, that is the king... Boss, maybe it'd be for the best to cut our losses."

Anna smiles, trying to hide her fear. "A-a very sound decision! On top of all that, I don't know if you've heard, but I have a VERY big family. Killing me would have some of the most prominent merchants in the world collectively after you!"

The apparent ringleader growls, drawing the axe closer to Anna's neck... And ultimately sighing. "Stand down, boys."

"W-wait, boss, really?"

She nods. "No sense dragging you even further down. This is my ticket to hell!"

>A. Attack!
>B. Say something!
>C. Count on Garrus to say/do something!
>D. Write-in!

>>43004020
How much of her body is exposed. Could we hit her with a sword beam?

>>43004171
That's what you would try to do by default by choosing "Attack!"

>>43004200
Then attck.

>>43004020
>B. Say something!
"You want to at least tell us what this Anna did to you? She didn't steal another Witch Pendant from you did she?"

>>43004228
Changing to >>43004253

>>43004253
>>43004304
"You wanna at least tell us what she did? Steal another Witch Pendant or something?"

In the meantime, Garrus readies the Staff of Katri for... You're not sure. You're really vague on what it can actually do beyond "a lot," but Garrus has kept it on his person constantly since getting it from Lars.

"I can't just... Want to rob someone who has plenty of reason not to go to the guards?!"

"You're... You seem personally invested in hurting her is all," Garrus notes, holding up the staff.

"Hrk... I'm, this..." The woman starts straining to hold up her axe. "The hell are you doing to me?!"

"I'm not... Sure, exactly!" Garrus says. "This is a very situational scepter!"

"Well, whatever! You don't need to be strong to hold a knife!"

She grabs for Anna's dagger, trying to plunge it into her, but by then, with her hampered physical ability and your... Being Ellen, you're able able to fire off a Sword Beam directly at the woman.

Weakened and caught off-guard, it leaves her pretty killed.

"H-holy shit! Boss!"

>A. Threaten them
>B. She told them to back down. Remind them
>C. Attack them
>D. Write-in
>E. Be silent/let Garrus handle it from here

>>43004481
>B. She told them to back down. Remind them

>>43004481
>B. She told them to back down. Remind them

File: Anna-FE4.gif (1 KB, 48x64)

1 KB GIF

>>43004613
>>43004533
"Remember, she's the one who told you all to back down. Just... Just come quietly. We all know you can't take either one of us alone, and I think the king and I make a pretty good team!"

Garrus nods. "So just... Give up, come with us.. Tell us what you and your boss were doing this for."

You, Anna, King Garrus, and the three surviving would-be robbers spend a long night giving your stories to various guards and the like.

Anna ends up implicated by what the surviving bandits had to say connecting a LOT of dots, especially when a smuggler caught by the Great Miles months earlier (remember watching that happen?) was finally willing to admit to this very Anna being who he was seeing in Rakche.

She ends up in a position very comparable to the recently-retired Mitchell, right down to an impressive network, though admittedly a much vaguer and apparently less welcoming one than Mitch's (though there is overlap in more than a few places). She also has an oddly wide thief-related skillset for a merchant...

In short, she's your new Mitch.

>A. You are indifferent to this
>B. That's convenient
>C. You weren't sure this was a good idea
>D. It's a niche that's best staying filled
>E. Write-in opinion

>>43004760
>B. That's convenient
>D. It's a niche that's best staying filled

>>43004861
You found it pretty convenient, and the Boxed Crook is a niche that's been left unfilled with Mitchell's stepping down.

Stefyn, best friends with your former thief-type, had a rather awkward first conversation with Anna, which you happened to be in the area to witness.

"That's a pretty nice ring there, isn't it? Moreso than most Curse Rings..."

"Well, er, it's... Not a curse ring."

"So it would be safe to ask where it's from then?"

"Well, Dama gave it to me..."

"A treasure of the Garou, too... Tell me, how much do you think it's worth?"

>A. Just quietly observe
>B. Leave
>C. Say something (specify)

>>43005029
Er... Renewed time limit!

>>43005348
Anyone?
;_;

>>43005029
Sorry I went to dinner.
>A. Just quietly observe

>>43005636
"W-well, uh... I'm not interested in its monetary value."

"But a treasure such as that..."

"Look, uh... Right, you're new, so you wouldn't know. Dama and I are engaged."

NOW you intervene. "Wait, what?"

"Er... Yeah. We had this... Whole announcement party and everything. I thought Zoe gave you an invitation!"

Shit, you didn't even look at that.

You mean, you're cool with Stefyn, but not necessarily enough to entertain going to his parties, but... Nobody mentioned this to you?!

"Uh, yeah, that... I guess I missed it? Is that where everyone was the other day?"

Stefyn sighs. "Yeah. It's fine, though, I understand. People miss things."

>A. Assume he's being passive-aggressive
>B. Glad that's settled
>C. Seriously, why did no one tell you?
>D. Write-in response

>>43005741
>Congratulations

>>43005741
>C. Seriously, why did no one tell you?
>Well anyways, congrats on the engagement.

>>43005535
Sorry. I was writhing in pain after eating shit on the road

>>43005838
It's cool. Hopefully you'll be better soon.

>>43005818
>>43005808
"Seriously, why didn't anyone tell me? Er, congratulations, though."

"Thanks..." He turns towards Anna. "Yeah, though, not interested in parting ways with it."

"Okay, then! Thank you for your time anyway!"

Anna heads off and Stefyn rolls his eyes. "I... Don't like to be judgmental, but... There's just something really... False about how nice she is, y'know? Being Mitch's partner introduced me to a lot of types..."

>A. He's the expert you guess
>B. You see what he means
>C. You don't see what he means
>D. Sure?
>E. Write-in response

>>43005934
>B. You see what he means
Seems like a business nice from someone who sees everything as business

>>43005934
>B. You see what he means

>>43006165
>>43006095
"Well, you have a point, yeah. She's... as 'nice' as a businesswoman needs to be, but there's never any telling what exists beyond those types unless you really get to know them..."

"And they tend to keep people at arm's length, so it's hard to really get to know them..." Stefyn frowns. "I bet she doesn't have very many friends, let alone people with much interest in being one."

"She's trying to keep up the whole 'business' thing at times where there's no business talking shop, or really... A shop to talk."

You and Stefyn nod, finding yourselves agreeing on the meat of what little of Anna's actual personality shows.

Awhile later (after Kia has finally arrived at Rakche, reuniting with Paula), King Garrus, General Corneria, and various other relevant characters finally head towards Heim once more. Your trip is much more crowded, faster, and otherwise not really notable.

Misheil is tagging along still for some reason (Vaga, Dama, and co, for established reasons, are not), and you spend much of the trip training with Gorman and Laurina after missing out on seeing much of them while you were back in Rakche.

"Even now, I have no idea how all of this is going to conclude," Gorman muses to you both during a break, "even when the end is in sight..."

>A. You have no clue either
>B. Lars is gonna take action sooner or later against... Whoever he takes action against.
>C. The emperor of Dain is a reviled figure. You've been picturing him as some sort of endpoint to this war.
>D. Write-in?

>>43006352
>B. Lars is gonna take action sooner or later against... Whoever he takes action against.
>C. The emperor of Dain is a reviled figure. You've been picturing him as some sort of endpoint to this war.
Even if Lars is going to take action or not, defeating Emperior Elias would mean the end of something at least.

>>43006510
"I dunno... We all know Lars has something in store for... Sometime in the future, most definitely involving Noba, and assuming he's on his whole hypocritical conquering kick... His grandfather's a more immediate threat, though. People hate him, he's paranoid and senile by all reports... It'll be the end of SOMETHING when he's brought down, even if it isn't necessarily the magical solution to this whole war."

"It... Sounds like Alexia and Lars are in good with my father, from the Mage General's reports," Laurina suggests, "so... at least I don't think Ulir's going to directly oppose us like we all thought."

"The terms of how well they get along are... Vague, since the Great Miles are the only people who logically would have seen how they interact up close, and they're... no longer in play."

"Apparently there is at least one more necro guy, but... All that Paula or Bolse have told anyone is that they exist. It doesn't look like even they know much beyond that," Laurina contributes.

Gorman sighs. "We can speculate like this, but ultimately I'm certain people far higher-up than all of us have considered all these angles and more to go by... It's all we can do to stay in top shape for when we get to Dain." He lifts up a couple practice axes, handing one to his partner before looking at you. "You want in on this, Ellen?"

>A. Nah
>B. Sure
>C. Why not swords

>>43006704
>B. Sure

>>43006857
"Uh... Sure, yeah!"

"You could end up without this great new weapon of yours at any time, Ellen. Do not allow yourself to grow rusty on your axe skills."

"Right, of course!"

You remember a time when Natalie would practice with her. She hasn't done that lately. Hell, you haven't seen her all that much in general, though you know that she's been traveling with everyone, still happily with Biff and the like.

>A. You really should spend more time with her when you next can
>B. If she's going through something, you don't want to be overbearing

>>43006954
>A. You really should spend more time with her when you next can

File: War Cleric Concept Art.jpg (919 KB, 2121x2325)

919 KB JPG

>>43007030
You resolve to spend more time with Natalie, worried about the possibility of growing distant from someone who's become such a dear friend to you.

Gods, you forgot how annoying walking through this sand was.

When axe training lets out, you look to see if she's available, finding her just wrapping up better showing Garrus how staves work.

"Oh," Nat says when she crosses your path, "Ellen. Hey."

>A. Ask if she's busy
>B. Ask how she's feeling
>C. Ask if she wanted to hang out
>D. Don't ask anything
>E. Write-in action/dialogue

>>43007256
>C. Ask if she wanted to hang out

>>43007256
>B. Ask how she's feeling

>>43007382
>>43007319
"How're you doing?"

"Fine, all things considered." She pauses a moment. "Yourself."

"I'm good, too. Just got in some extra training."

"I see. Funny, though, a lot of my advice for the King came from what his father told me."

That's right. King Drasma showed Nat a lot of the ropes when she was a very inexperienced cleric.

"Did you wanna hang out?"

"Sure. What did you feel like doing."

>A. Training
>B. Just talking
>C. Walking
>D. Write-in suggestion

>>43007587
>B. talking
>C. Walking
Do you know what you're going to do after?

>>43007643
"I guess we can go for a walk?"

"Are you certain you're suited for that," Nat says presumably-teasingly (you say presumably since it's hard to tell, but you know she wouldn't genuinely doubt you on that front).

"Well, even without fancy magic feet, I think I'm fit enough to handle this awful desert."

"If you say so."

You chuckle, she semi-smirks, and you end up walking around together.

"So what're you planning on doing after this whole... War business is done?"

"After this, I... Think I'm done with fighting. I'll keep offering my healing until the end of all this, but. I'm probably going to call it quits, do something more. Civilian, afterwards."

"More power to you, then."

Nat nods. "And I wish you luck staying in all this."

>A. Tactfully bring up the time killing someone fucked her up
>B. Avoid the subject
>C. Just ask how she's taking it. You're both not the best at subtlety.
>D. Write-in

>>43007851
>C. Just ask how she's taking it. You're both not the best at subtlety.

>>43007851
>C. Just ask how she's taking it. You're both not the best at subtlety.

>>43007893
>>43007937
"So, er... How're you handling that... manakete incident?"

Nat blinks, looking down and frowning. "I... It still hurts to think about, but. I think I'm moving past it."

"That's good to hear."

Nat nods. "Thank you for your concern, I guess."

>A. No problem
>B. We're friends
>C. Why wouldn't you be concerned
>D. Write-in response

>>43008109
>A. No problem
>B. We're friends
>C. Why wouldn't you be concerned

>>43008109
>C. Why wouldn't you be concerned
>B. We're friends

>>43008122
>>43008126
"No problem at all! I mean, why wouldn't I be concerned? We're friends, Nat."

Natalie nods. "You have a point. It's just... Surprising, considering how easily everyone else does it. I've said this all before, though."

"And you've decided you don't like doing this because of how bad you take it. That's perfectly fair!"

Nat nods. "I'll... Probably stay in Rakche, with Biff, though, so. If you're staying then we should still be able to meet up enough."

>A. You'd like that
>B. Ask how things are with them
>C. If you're not too busy
>D. Write-in

>>43008272
>A. You'd like that
>B. Ask how things are with them

>>43008272
>A. You'd like that
>B. Ask how things are with them

>>43008354
>>43008457
"Yeah, I'd like that... So things are going well between you two, then?"

Nat nods, smiling and blushing, both very slightly. "Very."

Another thing you're glad to hear.

That night, camped out, you and Zoe sleep beside each other, her nuzzling up against you. She's so... Affectionate, by default.

>A. Discuss her oldest sister's behavior
>B. Don't talk about anything
>C. Just say sweet shit
>D. Write-in?

>>43008705
>B. Don't talk about anything
Enjoy the time together

>>43008705
>B. Don't talk about anything

>>43008746
>>43008816
You don't discuss anything in particular, just staying close to each other and drifting off to sleep.

Elza Oasis is just a short stop on your way to Dain, but you are unable to shake a feeling of being watched while you're there.

"You feel it too, huh?" Salia asks after you mention this in response to an offhand "how're you doing." She continues, "It might just be that this is a very busy city, but... I dunno, should we look?"

Even if you are, in a city like this, finding a specific unusual figure might be extremely difficult.

>A. Search with Salia
>B. Search on your own
>C. You both search on your owns
>D. Best to ignore it. Is a weird city, but also a comparatively safe city, at least from enemies of Heim.
>E. Chasing it probably won't accomplish anything

>>43009074
>A. Search with Salia

>>43009074
If we search on our own then is Salia also going to search on her own? And can we bring someone else to help search?

>>43009170
Well, if you choose B, then Salia'll be convinced just to let you handle it, but with C you'll both do it.

You can try to ask others for help if you'd like.

If you're going to ask for anyone's help, the best bet would be people who would have reason to know everyone who goes in and out of the city at any given time.

>>43009211
Alright

>>43009074
>A. Search with Salia
If we can, convince Zoe, Nat, or Gorman to come with us? Although for your second point, Garrus or Eva would probably have a good reason to search people.

>>43009165
>>43009345
"Well, I guess giving the city an old once-over wouldn't hurt."

Salia nods. "I've already asked the Mage General to have her and her subordinates looking harder than usual."

After awhile of wandering in search of vague leads (you asked your various friends for help, but all were too busy, with the sole exception of Zoe), Salia suggests, "say, do you think it's... Possible for someone to use a Witch's Pendant to get into the town through the barrier? It would be a pretty massive oversight, even if they're really rare, but..."

>A. She thinks Esmer's tailing us?
>B. They MUST have considered that
>C. It's possible that she's onto something
>D. Write-in
>E. Then what's the point in searching normally?

>>43009396
>They MUST have considered that
>C. It's possible that she's onto something

>>43009396
>A. She thinks Esmer's tailing us?
>B. They MUST have considered that

>>43009467
>>43009479
"I mean, they have to have considered something like that, but... I dunno, you might be onto something anyway."

Zoe asks, "she means Esmer, right?" You and Salia both nod in response to her question, leading her to continue, "well, then, she'd probably be gone before we could even hunt her down the old-fashioned way. If she's been seen in the area, that's about all we can confirm."

Nobody is able to confirm or deny the presence of a certain Witch before you have to leave Elza Oasis, though Corneria does admit that the barrier CAN be teleported in through... But it would take EXTREME strain on the wearer of the pendant, moreso than traveling across the entire continent with a few dozen companions.

"Meaning either she has an accomplice with her, or she's not here. People would notice someone like her collapsed in the middle of the city."

Ultimately, all this accomplishes is making everyone a bit more concerned, but Salia feels like she accomplished something by looking into all of this.

>To be continued next thread
Yeah, I had NO idea how to get the party through Heim, if it wasn't clear by how sloppy and jumbled this thread is. Things should be less lame again when we get to Dain.

Thanks for playing, qmgrandflocto is our twitter and ask.fm, and I'll be around to talk in-thread for awhile.

>>43009646
Thanks for running octo.
Looking forward to Dain

>>43009723
As am I. At the very least, the last two unseen members of the Dain royalty will finally have to take direct part in the story.

Always a pleasure to run.

>>43009646
Thanks for running. I think a character-driven thread is good before shit goes down. I was half expecting Esmer to show up and kidnap Salia out of the blue though.

>>43009794
Nah, I won't bullshit something bad happening to Salia.

The opportunity WILL provide itself in time, of course.

I still find myself amazed at how few party members have died.