Hoo boy.

Don't you just love walking through the desert?

You briefly wish you'd learned how to ride a horse, or a pegasus, or something to that effect, but you stop thinking like that when you remember your beautifully strong legs. Seeing the magically-attuned just glide across also makes you a bit jealous, but you're far too beyond regretting not taking your aunt up on those magic lessons.

You wouldn't have been able to focus on learning to swing an axe and sword alike if you'd spent that day with her instead of with your mentor.

And at least you're not Reese. At least he thought to keep most of his armor off while wandering the desert this time instead of needing to be reminded.

Anna keeps combing the sands on her own.

>A. Keep up the pace. You're not one to whine
>B. Maybe Zoe would let you tag along with her?
>C. Complain to someone sufficiently important
>D. How is the big guy doing?
>E. Seek out someone else (specify)
>F. What's Anna doing?
>G. Write-in

>>43058922
>A. Keep up the pace. You're not one to whine
>D. How is the big guy doing?

>>43058972
You decide to check on Reese, if only to remind yourself that things could be far worse.

Misheil flaps nearby, flying backwards and gazing at him tauntingly. "Can't appreciate a bit of dry heat?"

"I grew up in this valley surrounded by mountains," Reese defends himself, "a much colder environment than this!"

"Tordo is literally constant snow and ice. I honestly don't know why we lived there to begin with."

"Wait... Shouldn't you be way too toasty, then? If you kept yourself warm in the middle of Tordo for so long..."

"I can't like things to get even hotter?"

Misheil is speaking much less rigidly in general, being comfortable with her more willing position in the group.

>A. Say something (specify)
>B. Leave them to their banter
>C. Write-in?

>>43059129
Er... Time renewed!

>>43059129
>>B. Leave them to their banter

>>43059443
You get a feeling that you don't quite want to hear wherever their banter will go from here, so you show yourself away without either acknowledging you.

"Looks like my luck hasn't run out yet!" Anna says, having fished out some valuable-looking thing from the sans. You don't care enough to find out what.

Stefyn, Gorman, and Laurina are walking in the same general area and pace, so you tack onto a bit of a conversation between the former two before being drawn into small talk with Victoria. Garrus still walks, albeit accompanied by Khozen. He still scares him a bit, even if the silver wyvern's hostility towards him has long ended. In "a show of solidarity," Eva walks too, practically stuck to him at times.

"Urgh, she's so... Publicly affectionate," Victoria comments to you. "One of these days, it'll impede her, or him, or both of them, if they can't knock it off in battle."

>A. You think she's grasping at spite-straws
>B. You agree. It can be off-putting
>C. What's her problem with it?
>D. They're both more responsible than that
>E. Write-in response
>F. Be silent

>>43059608
>D. They're both more responsible than that
>A. You think she's grasping at spite-straws

>>43059670
"Eva and Garrus are both more responsible than that, I think," you tell your friend.

"I... Suppose so." She shrugs.

"You sure you're not just looking for excuses to keep hating her?"

"I... Suppose it's a real possibility. I could try to argue it, but... The mind is a fickle thing. I'd find further straws to grasp at."

"Pretty good of you to realize that up-front."

"It comes with the territory of actively thinking about getting along better. It's... Hard, though."

>A. You know
>B. lmao git gud
>C. You can keep trying
>D. It's fine to just not despise each other
>E. Write-in
>F. Silence

>>43059608
>>A. You think she's grasping at spite-straws
>>D. They're both more responsible than that

>>43059793
>A. You know
>C. You can keep trying
But
>D. It's fine to just not despise each other

>>43059793
>>A. You know

>>D. It's fine to just not despise each other

>>43059864
Shit, my mistake. Sorry. Thought one was a reponse to this last post.

>>43059806
>>43059823
"I know exactly what you mean, and it's fine as long as you can at least stand the sight of each other, but... Keep at it, if you can."

Victoria nods.

Later, you find yourselves approaching an outpost on the border of Dain.

>A. Traban Outpost, which you passed through awhile ago. Knowing about Aum Dungeon and its tunnels, your party is heading right into Gravern Keep. (will be more intense, but if it works out, faster)
>B. Disler Outpost, a much further place South from the prior-visited outpost. (will be more drawn-out, but likely significantly less intense, though traveling through enemy territory for a long time can have its own obvious flaws)

>>43060093
Eh, I'll give five minutes and then I'll just flat out renew the vote time if no one's voted before then.

>>43060395
Alright, as I said. 10-15 minutes.

By all means take your collective times if you're busy.

>>43060093
>>A. Traban Outpost, which you passed through awhile ago. Knowing about Aum Dungeon and its tunnels, your party is heading right into Gravern Keep. (will be more intense, but if it works out, faster)

File: BonewalkerGBAIcon.gif (1 KB, 76x68)

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>>43060565
Alright, your somewhat smaller group of named characters will be heading back down through Aum from Traban Outpost.

"I... Really don't like the idea of sending my children back down there after losing Bolse once, but they would understand the area." Corneria admitted to you a short time before your groups split off, her to command larger forces in a more traditional invasion. "Please, Ellen... Bovis keeps sustaining injuries, and I doubt he'll last much longer, even if he can't feel pain. Alongside him and Logan-in their stead, should it come to that, gods forbid-please... Keep them safe."

That's three teenagers who people are counting on you not to get killed.

It honestly amazes you that Salia was able to talk Monica, Garrus, Yvette, AND the Mage General that she would be fine among this group.

You and Reese also wonder where the hell everyone's mounts disappear to after people head down. Those who survive this battle wind up inexplicably reunited with them shortly afterwards. Biff's sole response, overhearing this, is "dismounting."

Cheryl, returning after scouting ahead into the outpost from a short ways away, had this to report: "Everyone's really distracted by these three bonewalkers! Someone even outright told me they just inexplicably showed up one day and have been dancing ever since!"

You, Victoria, Katina, and Bolse had to hold back your immense chuckles upon hearing that. Good times.

>A. You're among the first to attack the outpost
>B. You're among the people who come in shortly after the first wave
>C. Write-in?

>>43060764
>A. You're among the first to attack the outpost

>>43060764
>A. You're among the first to attack the outpost
Sorry I'm late

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>>43060786
>>43061005
Naturally, you were among the first in the actual outright attacks, accompanied by Stefyn, Reese, Bovis, Logan, Laurina, Victoria, and Gorman. Other people came along, of course, but you eight were grouped together in particular.

Just barely behind Garrus and Eva, who wound up mounting their respective wyverns again before... However everyone's mounts disappeared and later reappeared without question from anyone but Reese.

By then, the soldiers (actually mostly halberdiers) have gotten their collective shit together, stopping you on the way in as a pair of Wyvern Lords engage the royal couple above and cavalry squares off against cavalry.

The eight of you are up against... At least 20 of them.

>A. Start swinging wildly
>B. Buddy system! (choose one person to stick close to)
>C. Fall back a bit and wait for the next wave
>D. Everyone stay close
>E. Write-in?

>>43061105
>B. Buddy system!
Victoria

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>>43061149
The eight of you end up mostly pairing off and supporting one particular person. For the most part, the groups are obvious: you and Victoria, Bovis and Logan (and two big ol' Bael he summons. Bovis is falling apart with gradually less trouble the more abuse he takes, so a healer right near him but also able to get to the rest was agreed to be for the best), Gorman and Laurina, and Reese and Stefyn (apparently they've been friends since shortly after the first ever Dracozombies incident. You never noticed).

Covering Victoria, you can both easily pick off various halberdiers from afar, or at least keep them at bay with your slightly-weakened sword beams while being a thorn in the sides of allies who appear to be having trouble.

Right now, three are facing you, one with a short spear, two with Silver lances.

>A. Go for the silver lance folks
>B. Focus on the ranged attacker!
>C. Check on the others
>D. Write-in
>E. Switch to your Hand Axe

>>43061345
>B. Focus on the ranged attacker!

>>43061435
With a swipe of your sword, you strike the Short Spear guy from afar, though he dodges out of your way... And right into a blast from Logan's light magic.

You give a quick glance to its source, noticing one of the Bael summons slain by a halberdier with glowing red eyes, before deflecting a strike from Lambert and leaping away, readying his spear as Lambert rushes forward.

You were wondering when Mus would show up again.

"Ellen," Victoria says.

>A. Focus on your own opponents!
>B. Interrupt Mus!
>C. Write-in
>D. Stand around and do nothing

>>43061536
>A. Focus on your own opponents!
>Focus on these guys right now Victoria.

>>43061574
Victoria's warning is enough to get you to leap right out of the way of a lance that would've been buried right inside you, causing you to retaliate with the full direct-contact might of your Azure Dragon Sword.

"Please stay on focus, Ellen! That nearly killed you!"

"Yeah... Yeah, I know. Thanks, Victoria."

The second Bael corpse winds up flying through the air and landing in front of the other halberdier, who freaks out slightly as she sees the huge thing. "S-spider!"

>A. Let Victoria handle her
>B. Attack her
>C. Write-in

And...

>D. Go to Logan and Bovis
>E. Stick close to your current partner
>F. Write-in

>>43061652
>B. Attack her
>E. Stick close to your current partner

>>43061681
You're quick to finish off the arachnophobic halberdier, and quickly choose to stick close to Victoria.

"Alright, it's safe for us to help your dead brother kill his equally-deceased father now." Victoria aims Ronan.

"Real pleasant way to word it!" You ready your sword for a strike from afar.

Logan is currently focusing on summoning new Bael.

Bovis and Mus are APPARENTLY locked in a stalemate, and keep shuffling around, though Bovis seems to be at the disadvantage, due to his experience and weaponry disadvantage.

>A. Strike from afar!
>B. Try to get closer
>C. Hold your fire
>D. Write-in

>>43061878
>A. Strike from afar!

>>43061923
You nod at Victoria, and both of you use your respective ranged strikes.

An arrow strikes Mus critically in the eye, proving that Victoria hit her mark.

You notice this before making note of what YOUR generally less-precise strike has brought about on the constantly-shifting duo.
-
"There's gonna be hell to pay if you die, got it? If you die, I'll... I'll kill you!"

Those words echo from long, long ago as Bovis collapses on top of Mus.

>A. Ensure that Mus is dead for real
>B. Help the other groups. Logan and his pets can handle Mus from here
>C. Don't react. This was never Lambert
>D. Start to freak out a bit
>E. Write-in response/action

>>43062061
>C. Don't react. This was never Lambert
>A. Ensure that Mus is dead for real

>>43062073
You bottle up whatever reaction you might have had to killing a trusted ally, let alone one who was literally using the reanimated form of your dear deceased friend.

You can take time to be hideously fucked up about this after the battle's over. You don't TELL yourself that, though. You tell yourself you don't really have a reaction beyond "oh hey that happened!"

Approaching, you slash Mus up a few times for good measure, noticing him squirm slightly. He stops doing so.

"So cold..." Victoria says. "I suppose it's better than freezing up, but... It wasn't really your fault, I suppose."

Logan, on the other hand, objects from nearby. "You coulda just... Gotten closer, or let Victoria handle it herself. That was really reckless, and now Bovis is dead...er."

>A. It kinda was your fault
>B. It was just an accident
>C. We don't have time to argue!
>D. Bottle to the best of your mental ability!
>E. Write-in

>>43062173
>D. Bottle to the best of your mental ability!
>C. We don't have time to argue!

>>43062190
You steel yourself further. "We don't have time to argue about this."

Logan frowns, looking extremely sour. "The worst part is that you'll get away with this."

With the arrival of Anna, Misheil, Salia, Quidel, and the magical siblings, the remaining Halberdiers, as well as the assorted enemies you didn't see, are all wiped out or driven off.

The town is secured, and about a dozen vulneraries are recovered from the enemy supplies.

"Time is of the essence with our group, everyone," Yvette reminds sternly, "any business you need to take care of in this outpost, do it quickly."

You should have time for a very brief conversation with somebody or another during this rest.

>A. Logan and Cheryl, just hanging out someplace
>B. Bolse and Katina, near the remains of Bovis and Mus
>C. Reese and Nat, also somewhat nearby Bovis and Mus, but out of the kids' hearing range
>D. Salia and Monica
>E. Someone else (specify)
>F. Anna, scavenging
>G. Just wait around

>>43062353
>B. Bolse and Katina, near the remains of Bovis and Mus

>>43062412
You approach your cousins, finding Bolse simply kneeling over Bovis and presumably looking very sad. Katina pats his shoulders, shaking her head and looking... Decidedly uncheery. She doesn't bother speaking or "speaking," since Bolse's eyes aren't on anything but Bovis.

She turns towards you, however. "What... What happened?"

>A. Tell the truth
>B. He died helping bring Mus down (omit your part in things)
>C. You didn't see
>D. Write-in
>E. Don't answer

>>43062508
>A. Tell the truth
>Just stare at the corpse of Lambert, Maybe tear up a little bit

>>43062524
"I... It was my fault." You start to tear up a bit.

"No, Ellen, don't say that! It-"

"No, I... Mean this literally. I did this."

"Wait... Wh-what?"

Finally losing your composure, you explain what happened, the gravity of this accident starting to get to you.

Katina stares silently for a moment. "Bolse here, he... Doesn't show it much, but he really looks up to you. Admires you, and apparently has for a long time."

"Your point?"

"I can't tell him this! I mean, it's... Bad enough that I know now, but I don't have any idea how he would possibly take it. Please, just... Don't let him know."

>A. Insist that he be told too
>B. Tell her to tell Logan that
>C. Yeah, probably for the best
>D. Be silent
>E. Write-in

>>43062667
>I'll tell him myself if i have to, It'd be wrong to lie to him like this....And he'd probably find out later if we don't tell him now.

>>43062685
Also adding on
>Let me handle this myself though please

>>43062685
>>43062700
"Look, I'll tell him myself if I have to. I hate to hide the truth like this, and he'll just be even more upset if he finds out later. Let me handle this myself."

"I didn't realize you could sign," Katina says in an uppity manner, fully aware that you can't, "and like I said, I'm not going to tell him, as a proxy or otherwise."

>A. Ugh, fine
>B. Please
>C. Listen here you little shit (this is paraphrasing)
>D. Try to make her anyway
>E. Write-in

>>43062795
>B. Please

>>43062802
"Katina, please. It's not right to-"

"We're out of time to waste!" Yvette calls to everyone.

"Urgh... Next opportunity, though," you command Katina before leaving her to tell Bolse it's go time.

You notice Reese and Nat as you start in the direction of the trapdoor underground. Reese shakes his head and sighs, while Nat looks at you sympathetically for a moment before turning away. "We. Need to finish this."

They must've heard all of that after all. Probably approached when they saw you walking up to the twins.

"Alright, Bolse, Katina, Quidel, Ellen, Victoria... Presumably Laurina," Yvette's gaze lingers on the skeletons, still dancing uninterrupted, as Katina translates to the sullen Bolse, "you all know this area better than any given one of us, or at least you should. We'll all be counting on you to guide us through these dungeons."

"To be returning of my own volition, is... I feel unwell," Victoria mentions to you as you both head down.

>A. Be strong
>B. She gonna be alright?
>C. Don't respond
>D. well too fucking bad
>E. Write-in

>>43062968
>A. Be strong

>>43062968
>>A. Be strong

>>43062986
>>43063001
"B-be strong, Victoria," you respond, "Warden Willow won't be there a-anymore, so... So you can take whoever is."

"Ellen, are you... Certain you'll be alright? You seem to be falling apart right now."

"Yeah... Yeah I'm fine why do you ask!"

"...you aren't fine at all." Victoria continues, "Ellen, for your own sake... Don't force yourself to be alright, please. If you're having trouble, then..."

>A. You're going to be FINE
>B. You can pull yourself together
>C. Yeah you might need some time
>D. None of your concern!
>E. Be silent
>F. Write-in

>>43063075
>A. You're going to be FINE
>B. You can pull yourself together

>>43063107
"It's okay, Victoria, I can... I can pull it together."

"Alright, I was just making sure that-"

"I'm going to be FINE, VICTORIA!"

You both turn around to see Yvette, Eva, and Garrus staring rather awkwardly before whispering for a moment.

The next to speak audibly, presumably on all of their behalfs, is Eva. "Er, Ellen, don't take this the wrong way or nothing, but we're all thinking a bit of a minor change in plans is in order, given that you're sort of... Snapping a bit, might need a less intense position. So we just sort of all decided that you, er-"

"Ellen, switch out with Gorman and Laurina bringing up the rear with my sister and her guards..." Garrus finishes. "I mean, I know that Bovis just... Er, yeah, and... If it's bothering you, something less intense would be for the best."

>A. Yes, your majesty
>B. You're probably right
>C. You'll be fine!
>D. No can do
>E. Write-in

>>43063243
>>A. Yes, your majesty

>>43063243
>A. Yes, your majesty

>>43063300
>>43063347
"Y-yes, your majesty."

You meekly head back there, quietly telling Gorman and Laurina the deal. They nod and head up to replace you, and Salia, Monica, and Zoe all shoot you assorted looks of sympathy, though Monica's is the most tempered with sternness.

"This may seem to be an easy job, but do not be fooled. Someone wising up and chasing us is only slightly less inevitable than confronting someone while we're waltzing into Aum."

Salia responds, "Monica, Ellen... Really doesn't need the extra pressure right now."

>A. Thank you
>B. No, she's right
>C. You didn't ask for her help
>D. Write-in
>E. Be silent

>>43063457
>>B. No, she's right
>Let's please just focus on the task ay hand.

>>43063521
Second

>>43063521
>>43063541
"No, no, she's right. Let's... Stay focused on the task at hand."

"Ellen..."

"Not now, Zoe."

She nods a bit.

Zoe and Salia end up having a friendly conversation anyway, but you don't pay attention to it. You don't recall a word.

A few elite guards are brought down on the way through the underground tunnel, but all by the people leading the pack.

You occasionally hear one of the people you were stuck with the first time around recite some sort of direction, or find Anna popping into or out of a branch in the tunnels, always looking sad not to have found anything... Until very late in the trip, when she notices a smashed-up pendant nearby a wall.

"Would any of you happen to know anything about this?" She troubles you all with, you in particular, having passed through here.

>A. You remember that! (say what it is)
>B. What WAS that, again?
>C. It's broken and useless is what it is
>D. Write-in

>>43063748
>A. You remember that!
Bolse's witch pendant

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

993 B GIF

>>43063786
"That's... Bolse's Witch Pendant."

"You knew about another of these, and held out on telling dear old Anna? If I had this, I could-"

"It's... Kind of broken, though. This soldier smashed it up really good, and-"

"And you didn't test it out? You just left it here?"

"Well, they don't work underground, so we couldn't exactly-"

"Then no one'll miss it! What's the worst that can happen if I try it out and it fails?"

Monica swipes it away. "You're not getting out of your punishment that easily." She hands it to the princess, continuing, "princess Salia, if you have no other options... Attempt to use it as a last resort."

Anna pouts. "Is finders keepers truly dead?"

>A. Again, side with Monica here
>B. C'mon, let her hold onto it
>C. You're staying out of this one
>D. Write-in

>>43064000
>A. Again, side with Monica here

>>43064000
>>A. Again, side with Monica here

>>43064035
>>43064186
"Monica's right. Princess Salia deserves it more anyway."

"You're all sending some pretty strong hints that I should show myself the door," Salia quips.

Zoe responds, "no, no, it's not like that, just... Your safety is a concern of ours!"

https://youtu.be/HbzCochNBx8

"Hey, does... Anyone else hear that?" Anna asks.

Salia adds, "full songs appearing out of thin air... That was that Bryce guy's special ability, wasn't it?"

>A. There's plenty of bards in the world
>B. We need to hurry
>C. Be silent
>D. Write-in

>>43064195
>A. There's plenty of bards in the world
>B. We need to hurry

>>43064195
>>A. There's plenty of bards in the world
>>B. We need to hurry

>>43064240
>>43064265
"There's... Plenty of bards in the world, Salia. I'm sure that trick isn't exclusive to-"

"I know, but... Distressing music literally just SHOWED UP right when we started getting close. Why would THEY warn us that they know we're here?"

"...we need to hurry, then."

As the people in the back, then middle, then head of the group all speed the hell up, you find yourself realizing something, namely how unlikely it is that Bryce alone would be captured, assuming that's him making this music.

>A. Take a quick glance at your surroundings
>B. No time. Keep moving.
>C. Take a longer glance at your surroundings. You'll be able to catch up

>>43064311
>A. Take a quick glance at your surroundings

>>43064311
>>A. Take a quick glance at your surroundings

>>43064311
>A. Take a quick glance at your surroundings

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>>43064353
>>43064361
>>43064400
You see... Something shift around, wasting no time drawing your sword and rushing between it and the princess.

They appear to have a feminine figure, though pretty much all distinguishing characteristics are covered up. Their eyes glow red, and they stop short of the princess as you rush between them and her.

Monica quickly draws her sword and swipes at whatever or whoever it is, but they vanish into the shadows. Sending a sword beam after them accomplishes nothing, but it makes you feel a little better.

"Do you think that was..?" Zoe starts.

"Another Deadlord, yes. I... Hope that this does not mean what I suspect."

"Porcus, I'm guessing," Salia adds, "alright, everyone, stay close. We don't have time to wonder who's who right now, but they could be anywhere before we even have a chance to see them."

"I was... I was alone so many times," Anna remarks, faltering visibly. "They all could've been my undoing!"

"No more treasure hunts, Anna," Monica says. The dubious merchant nods.

>To be continued next thread
I think one last POV swap might be in order next time. Bar unexpected circumstances, this is the last one I had planned.

Thanks for playing, everyone. As always, you can follow us on twitter @qmgrandflocto, or ask.fm at... Also qmgrandflocto.

I'll be around to talk, answer questions, and take writeup requests if you want them until whenever I fall asleep.

I did warn that this was the more intense route.

>>43064489
>I did warn that this was the more intense route.
It's nice. Thanks for running.

Are you going to buy fates?

>>43064737
Maybe if I'm not broke when it comes out.