Even as you hurry through the underground tunnels leading into and through Aum, Princess Salia questions something in the presence of you, Monica, Zoe, and Anna.

"Really, though, that Deadlord just sort of... Stopped, when their shot at me was interrupted," she says, referring to Porcus in a whisper, "even with nothing stopping them from attacking Ellen. Could it just be that they were specifically ordered to strike me down? Even then, that... Still doesn't explain taking out a big obstacle, or at least trying."

>A. She's probably overthinking this
>B. She might have a point...
>C. It's just that they would've died if they attacked you
>D. Write-in dialogue
>E. Be silent

>>43149696
>but why?
>A. She's probably overthinking this
>Still better to be careful though

>>43149774
"Why would any of that be the case, though?" You ask the princess, "I mean overthinking this doesn't make us any more careful around someone that fast..."

"I dunno," Zoe says, "these have been some pretty... Historically-unusual Deadlords, by what our team's history buffs been saying."

"Perhaps we could capture this Porcus for testing!" Anna says, "I happen to know a few scientists who would-"

"We're not entertaining your ideas," Monica says sternly. "If a Deadlord approaches the princess again, we kill it on the spot. Do all of you understand?"

>A. Yes
>B. No
>C. Write-in response
>D. Silence

>>43149957
>A. Yes
It should go without saying

>>43149957
>A. Yes

>>43150010
>>43150091
"Yes, of course."

Your first reaction upon seeing any Deadlords is now to attack them with all you've got. After all, none of them are on your side after Bovis' passing, and you know the telltale signs to look for.

Monica simply nods in approval after Zoe adds a meek nod.

The cell block area has mostly been vacated of guards by the time you and your backmost group are able to get in, and you recognize Bryce being healed by Nat as Maria is handed a Mend staff and Shine tome by Logan.

"Worst-case scenario?" Salia asks the Great Miles member and diplomat, about to be approached by Garrus and Eva.

Bryce nods, "Duke Kilos... Gh, it's his damned fault we're locked up in here. Miles and Asra are Deadlords, so's Maria's sister here, and we don't know where the hell Yancy is."

Biff, currently examining a cell nearby with Byron, looks taken aback in particular by the last part of the sentence. "Again, he's... Vanished into probable doom?" He shakes his head before laughing uncertainly. "This is... The third time this has happened, though! He was alright the last two times we lost him. Ellen can even vouch for one!"

>A. Yeah he's probably fine
>B. lmao he dead
>C. You're not so sure
>D. Let's not think about it
>E. write-in
>F. Silence

>>43150338
>C. You're not so sure
>D. Let's not think about it

>>43150338
>Miles and Asra are Deadlords
And another one killed off screen! how many more are you going to kill off screen like you said you wouldn't?

>>43150451
I established this last thread.

>>43150451
They were both established to be dead last thread
We were playing miles when he was stabbed dude

>>43150471
So how many more of our friends are you going to turn into deadlords via railroad? Let me guess more than 50%? Hell you'll probably turn Zoe into one and you won't even give us a chance to stop it, Honestly I'm just sick and tired of your bullshit Octo, Especially when you said waaay early in the quest that you wouldn't be creating any more deadlords, How many more times are you going to explicitly lie to our faces?

>>43150511
He never fucking said there wouldnt be more deadlords. He said Robert was safe.
Jesus Christ

>>43150511
I said I wouldn't be replacing any deadlords that had been killed, since that would make them kinda cheap.

All 12 have been made at this point in the story, without spoiling who Gallus and Anguilla are, meaning no more will come into existence during Ellen's adventure.

Now, I would like to make my update post.

>>43150553
Before that, Really fucking early he said that he wouldn't make any more Deadlords.

>>43150425
"I'm not so sure..." You say worriedly, "but let's keep it out of our minds for the time being!"

"Another question now, though," Salia says, "do we keep pressing on or more thoroughly search Aum? I mean, I've heard that the Eastern path has a library and a bunch of other stuff no one's looked at, and quarters of other guards and more private cells are to the North... Or do we just keep gunning for Gravern?"

"Well, both have their potential ups and downs..." Garrus adds, "all pretty obvious... Honestly, I think sticking around is the safer option, but..."

>A. Let's keep going!
>B. Let's secure the dungeon first!

Personally I don't give a fuck about Miles, I'm just really upset Asra died with no chance to stop it.

>>43150746
>>43150756
I anticipated that, and have built in a way to potentially soften the blow, since it was the one that absolutely could not have been avoided. It would require things Ellen doesn't currently know, but could learn.

>>43150788
>and have built in a way to potentially soften the blow,
Guess what? You didn't soften the blow for the players so i don't give a fuck about that, You forced a death and an offscreen one at that with no way for us to save her, For that you can go fuck yourself, I can honestly say the only reason I'm still around is because i was here from the start.

>>43150819
>You didn't soften the blow for the players
I'm literally saying that the tools to do exactly that are right there in Aum.

>>43150737
>B. Let's secure the dungeon first!
Maybe Yancy is around

>>43150877
And if we stay here you're going to kill off more people, So no you didn't soften the blow.

>>43150902
There is potential for characters to die whether you rush into things blindly or stick around to make sure the most immediate and known-about threat doesn't get a chance to regroup and attack from directly behind.

>>43150737
>B. Let's secure the dungeon first!

>>43151052
>>43150890
"Yeah, you're right. Let's make sure nothing surprises us just because we rushed past things."

Garrus nods. "So, uh, most of you head East, check out that library-secret storage and... Whatever else is in that corridor we don't know about. Reese, Misheil, Biff, Byron, Yvette, Eva, Quidel, go with me to help clear out the barracks. Looks like... Most of the guards in the first assault fell back into there."

After that, you, the three pegasus sisters, and Anna were sent into the library, while the rest were either looking around the rest of the Eastern area or standing guard in the cell block.

"So this... Confiscated items storage you mentioned," Monica says quietly, "remind us where it was."

>A. A bookshelf on the first floor
>B. A bookshelf on the second floor
>C. A trapdoor
>D. You pull a torch and there it is
>E. You... You forget
>F. Write-in

>>43151172
>B. A bookshelf on the second floor

>>43151172
>B. A bookshelf on the second floor
Right?

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

993 B GIF

>>43151240
>>43151254
"I think it was behind a bookshelf on the second floor," you whisper back.

"That reminds me of a secret shop being here!" Anna exclaims with similar quietness as you sneak, the five of you observing your every surrounding.

Anna opens up one quickly, waving at whoever's inside and just showing herself right in.

"...not that one," you whisper, approaching one just to the side of it...

A slightly arrogant, beastly voice rings from behind you, "wouldn't do that if I were you."

You turn around and notice a familiar Managarm, sans various fractions of her right hand and plus one staff.

Canis.

>A. Attack!
>B. Stay your hand a moment
>C. What is she talking about
>D. Open the secret door anyway
>E. Write-in

>>43151383
>C. What is she talking about
>Put a hand on sword, She moves she gets cut down

>>43151417
"What the hell are you on about?"

"You think they didn't anticipate someone trying to open up the confiscated items?" She asks, stepping forward slightly.

"H-hey! One move closer and you're getting cut down," you threaten, gripping your sword handle.

She raises her hands defensively, stepping back, "alright, alright... We're friends here. Well, no we're not... What, not the time for facts? Point is, until a certain someone who isn't here right now tells him otherwise, Ovis has been tasked with burning anything that opens up that bookshelf to a crisp. He's got the tome for the job, too. Gift from Duke Kilos himself... Both of them, for that matter. And Porcus."

"Why are you telling us this?" Monica asks extremely sternly.

"Just following what I was made to do," she explains, "and I'm a bit out of the loop, but since Lars has flown the coop... I don't assume letting you get roasted alive would really be a favor to anyone."

>A. Alright, fine
>B. You still doubt her
>C. Attack her
>D. Open the bookshelf
>E. What else can she tell us

>>43151594
>A. Alright, fine
>B. You still doubt her

>>43151642
"Fine, fine... Anything having to do with Lars or Deadlords is suspicious, but right now this is for the best."

Monica draws her sword, causing everyone to step away slightly before continuing, "now, tell us everything you know, if you're really our ally."

Canis nods and begins expositing quickly. Ovis has a tome called Flametongue, an exceptionally powerful fire tome based on a Firestone that apparently SHE inspired, Ovis was Miles, Julia (Maria's sister) was Lepus, Porcus is Asra, Gallus is... Someone none of you recognized the name of, but apparently has been a thorn in Dain's side a long time through the power of investigative journalism (the only reason Yancy ISN'T Gallus is because that guy had one more arm than he did), last she heard Gallus was being tested by fighting Yancy, Anguilla was a "fair-haired warrior from another realm" brought to this one (that's all Canis knows), and the Necromancer who raised up Equus, Ovis, Gallus, Porcus, Anguilla, and Lepus has already packed his proverbial bags after adding an undead security detail to Gravern Keep.

"Anything else I might shed light on?"

Salia seems uncertain about asking something, hesitating to speak up at Monica's continued intimidatingness at nobody in particular.

>A. Speak up, Salia
>B. Can we stop Ovis safely
>C. Another realm?
>D. Write-in question
>E. Be silent

And...

>F. Open the bookshelf
>G. Keep not doing that

>>43151942
>A. Speak up, Salia
>B. Can we stop Ovis safely
>G. Keep not doing that

>>43152017
"Is there any way to get past Ovis without... Dying?"

"Which of you has the most resistance? Chug Pure Waters and pray he doesn't land a critical strike." The sisters and princess look among themselves before Canis adds, "looks like any of you besides Ellen here could manage it. Just get your friend to stock up on them in that secret shop. That, or I could try to wave this Silence staff at him, but... My magic sucks. It'd be unreliable at best, and could very well fail."

You finally acknowledge Salia, "you look like you wanna say something."

"Yeah, it's just... When Porcus attacked me, she... Stopped, as soon as she was interrupted. Is that meaningful at all?"

"I have NO idea," Canis says, "but... It is a little bit of a wildcard I talked the necromancer into creating. Just told them the truth: no one had ever tried to use the Deadlord spell on someone who was still alive at the time. If you see her out of uniform, she's still... Not all that pale or dead-looking. She'll at least kill whatever they point her at, but apparently she also stopped stabbing Miles as soon as Bryce threw her off. We figured it was just a 'he's screwed anyway' thing, but... Again, this is something that hasn't been tested, or at least documented. I don't know the rules, they don't know the rules, nobody does."

>A. Let's try to get past Ovis
>B. Let's ignore Ovis!

If >A, then...
>C. Someone try to tank it
>D. Canis, try to Silence him
>E. Write-in
>F. Let them figure out how to do it

>>43152269
Time renewed.

>>43152555
And again.

You guys alright?

>>43152802
Guys?

Renewed, of course.

>>43152269
>A. Let's try to get past Ovis
>C. Someone try to tank it
Sorry octo. I need to sleep, I just woke up in my chair after nodding off

>>43153379
"Alright, Anna, could you use a... Family discount? Have a bunch of Pure Waters ready for-"

"I'll be the one to do it, of course," Monica says.

After a moment of preparation and bringing out the necessary pure waters for consumption, Monica flips open the switch and stands, staring menacingly at an incoming blast of terrifying fire... Which, with her massive resistance boost, barely seems to knock her off her feet. "Now."

With that, Salia and Anna fire off arrows into the room, followed by Cheryl rushing in and stabbing away with her Brave Lance.

You don't even SEE Ovis before he's incapacitated.

>A. Get in there
>B. Look around the library quickly
>C. Write-in
>D. Do nothing

>>43153507
>B. Look around the library quickly

>>43153568
As everyone else grabs things from the library, you pace around searching the premises. Porcus might be near.

Your instinct proves correct, as you manage to spot and grab that assassin from earlier by the cloak, preventing them from rushing murderously into the room in question.

"Thought you could slip past me, huh?" You ask.

>A. Finish Porcus off
>B. Hold onto Porcus
>C. Say something (specify)
>D. Let them go. See what happens.
>E. Write-in action

>>43153700
>B. Hold onto Porcus
>Disarm her
And i mean remove her weapons, Not literally disarm her.

>>43153700
>C. Say something (specify)
How are you feeling now, Asra?

>>43153771
>>43153942
You hold onto Porcus, frisking her for weapons and removing them. "Taken care of, guys!"

Cheryl calls back, "okay, we'll take our time!"

You turn and whisper to the Deadlord. "How're you feeling, Asra?"

"What are you talking about."

Canis raises an eyebrow, now leaning against a wall and playing with her staff. "Trying to make some big breakthrough?"

>A. Yes
>B. Worth a shot
>C. Can she help
>D. Try saying something to get through to her (write-in)

>>43154014
>B. Worth a shot
>C. Can she help

>>43154014
>B. Worth a shot
>C. Can she help
>D. Try saying something to get through to her (write-in)
I'm only keeping you alive because Asra might still be there. What did they do to you?

>>43154057
>>43154081
"It's worth a shot..."

"Fine, then, suit yourself," Canis says, examining her missing hand-half's stump.

"Look, Porcus, there's a CHANCE that Asra is still in there, unlike with every other Deadlord ever. That's the only reason I'm keeping you alive right now."

"..."

"What did they do to you?"

"Summoned the spirit of Porcus to this body... That is what they always do."

You look at Canis. "Anything you can think of?"

"Anyone else here know her better than you?"

>A. Go and find Bryce
>B. Make a mental note to bring her to Bryce later. Stay with your group.
>C. Write-in dialogue/action
>D. Say something more to Porcus (specify)

>>43154275
>B. Make a mental note to bring her to Bryce later. Stay with your group.
>D. Say something more to Porcus (specify)
But they don't always make Deadlords from still living people. What do you think happens to the soul still inside then?

Bah, accidentally lost my post. I'll just summarize it.
>>43154560
You make a note to bring her to Bryce for further soul-searching, then Monica, Anna, Salia, Cheryl, and Zoe return from the confiscated items. Among other things, they have the Flametongue tome that slightly scorched Monica. It's Katina's now, or will be when the groups reunite.

The groups reunite shortly after, with you only hearing a brief summary of Logan, Katina, and Bolse's epic slaying of Gallus and rescuing of Yancy. Lepus fled, and now more soldiers were pouring into the cell block from both sides that are entrances/exits. Bryce is shouting out Asra in the safety of a cell about who she is and what she desires, to varying effects you don't have time to pay attention to.

An indicator that you're certain was more subtle at the time asks if you give a shit about Canis as she raises a silence staff at a Mage Fighter, but Octoling was unable to think of it before losing his post.

>A. No, not really
>B. Yeah

>>43154777
>An indicator that you're certain was more subtle at the time asks if you give a shit about Canis as she raises a silence staff at a Mage Fighter, but Octoling was unable to think of it before losing his post.
What? Please explain what the fuck you mean.

>>43154800
I was heavily considering just letting Canis go out with one last hurrah, assuming nobody was particularly attached to the Deadlord, but I wound up losing the post before I could think of a proper flag for it and was worried about the possibility of throwing another character under the bus.

It was a poorly-written and very meta "hey, uh, heads up, we cool if this goes down?"

>>43154850
Oh then I'd prefer it if she not die, Or he, I don't really know.

>>43154850
Yeah if it can be prevented, then save Canis.

File: War Cleric.png (33 KB, 256x256)

33 KB PNG

>>43154874
>>43154894
"Hah! I actually did something with this body's feeble magical potential!" Canis exclaims, making much of the group uncomfortable. The whole "personally killing Robert" thing doesn't jive all that well with most of the cast, but her successful use of the Silence staff was able to prevent Reese from being shocked to a crisp and got the Mage Fighter in question killed before he could draw his sword.

Canis pulls away before an axe from a Warrior could karmically strike her down, quickly falling behind your allies' lines as Biff and Byron double-team the opponent in question.

"Keep driving them back!" Yvette exclaims, "one side will relent eventually!"

Even with dozens of knights and guards assaulting your lot, you all hold the cell block. Eventually, a short-haired young woman with black hair and glowing red eyes tosses an axe at Katina, only for her and several enemies behind her (and allies who barely get out of the way) to notice in horror the tome that she holds. "Get licked by Flametongue!"

A lot of their people die, and a pair of Bael are quick to finish off Lepus.

If you knew who Julia was, you would probably find what happened horrific. Maria certainly did, stopping dead in her tracks and nearly breaking down into tears, consoled by Yancy.

"Things are happening so fast," Victoria remarks, drawing her bow at something behind you and hitting it, "I'm getting swept up in it."

A hostile human War Cleric approaches Victoria from behind, axe ready.

>A. Cut through the cleric the old-fashioned way
>B. SWORD BEAMS
>C. Just warn Victoria
>D. Pull Victoria away

And, continuing your conversation...

>E. Tell you about it
>F. All the more reason to pay attention
>G. You didn't notice
>H. Write-in

>>43155075
>A. Cut through the cleric the old-fashioned way
>C. Just warn Victoria
>D. Pull Victoria away
>F. All the more reason to pay attention

>>43155075
>A. Cut through the cleric the old-fashioned way
>E. Tell you about it

>>43155134
>>43155151
"Er, behind you." You pull Victoria away with your right hand as you take a swing at the War Cleric.

Casually, you roll your eyes, "tell me about it, though. All the more reason to pay attention, anyway."

Victoria nods awkwardly as you let go.

A General gets caught in the middle of a triangle attack between Zoe and her sisters.

"Urgh... Th-they don't even care how much we're being overwhelmed!" A soldier cries out, "we gotta get out of here!"

After that, the rest pour out, primarily towards the Southern exit that's out of your collective warpath.

"I told you, Quidel, I'm fine! I've seen you with worse!"

Salia is speaking with Quidel, clutching her chest slightly-bloody chest as Nat heals her.

"I know, but... Really, don't scare us like that!"

"This was barely a scratch. I'm already not feeling it."

"Yeah, but... Gh, Salia, you're supposed to stay out of the thick of things!"

>A. Support Salia
>B. Support Quidel
>C. There's nothing to gain from taking a side in this one
>D. Write-in

>>43155319
>B. Support Quidel
>Bonk her on the head lightly
>"Don't make Garrus go through losing you, You both already lost your father so you know how much it'd hurt him"

>>43155398
Seconding

>>43155398
You pat her head. "Hey, imagine what it'd be like if we lost you. Don't let that happen, alright?"

You look at Monica, as though expecting her approval for your actions, but her stare is entirely neutral.

You feel like you'll never be off of thin ice with her.

All eyes end up on Bryce, still chewing out Porcus and attempting to create proper ambiance for his inspirational attempts, as his musical self often does.

https://youtu.be/DG3G0A_FXNg

Everyone thinks he's overdoing it a bit with the scene setting, but hey. They left him in charge of getting through to Asra.

"C'mon, Asra, how long we've known you... Being this... This killing machine... It's everything you've strived not to be! Screw the 'undead spirit' or whatever, all that matters is that you're still alive, and it sounds an awful like you're in there!"

"..."

"It ain't your fault, what you did to Miles, but... Gods, Devon's out there in Fathom alone! It sounds like Miles ain't coming back, so you need to even more!"

("Didn't he say my brother is still there?" "He is. That doesn't make for good speech-giving, though.")

Porcus simply stares awhile.

"C'mon, Asra... Your will is stronger than this... Pork-ass piece of garbage."

Porcus closes her eyes. "Something is... Odd."

"Tell me about it-er, what's odd, now?"

"This is... I feel... I do not feel like anybody."

"Then we're progressin'. You're Asra, member of the Great Miles, our dear friend... Do I need to play you another damned song to prove it?"

"That... Will not be necessary." Porcus (Asra? Unknown?) stands up, shaking her head. "Now is not the time for an identity crisis."

Canis simply eyes this situation with interest as Bryce replies, "so you wanna help us outta here?"

"...for now, that is what matters."

>A. Be excited
>B. Be skeptical
>C. Be encouraging
>D. Write-in response
>E. Be neutral on this topic

(funnily enough, my first plan for the song Bryce chose was fucking Undertale. Like the eponymous song from Undertale)

>>43155723
>E. Be neutral on this topic
Great, Asra's still dead...

>>43155723
>C. Be encouraging
Let's call her Porcusra for now?

>>43155787
I considered it, but it may be a little on-the-nose.

>>43155787
No, That sounds retarded dude.

>>43155825
>>43155846
Just a suggestion. Sounds better than Asrcus.

>>43155787
>>43155755
You... Don't really have much of a stance on what just happened, but you encourage Asra(?). "You'll sort this out, I'm sure. Just... At least you won't end up attacking any of us, right?"

She nods.

"That being said, I... Would like my knives back."

"Give 'em back to her. At this point there's no way she'll use them on any of us."

"What I do know is... I cannot forgive those who did this to me. Those they answered to."

Asra unmasks herself, shaking her head and opening her eyes. "They're still glowing?"

Bryce nods. "Hey, it's plenty menacing. And they're less obnoxious about it now."

Yvette directs everyone, "alright, get yourselves equipped. There's a Secret Shop in the library, and we only have so much time before another attack on our location. We're just shy of Gravern Keep now."

You nod, stepping into the barracks of Aum to have a seat with Zoe.

"'Fair-haired warrior from another realm,' huh? Sounds poetic."

>A. You guess
>B. They don't sound so tough
>C. You don't care
>D. Yeah, definitely
>E. Write-in
>F. Silence

>>43156085
>B. They don't sound so tough

>>43156085
>C. You don't care

>>43156150
>>43156171
"I don't care where Anguilla's from," you brag, puffing out your chest slightly, "she doesn't sound so tough at all."

"And she's certainly not as otherworldly as y-pfftheh..." Zoe starts cracking up at her own lame attempt at a come-on.

Your girlfriend is adorable, and you tell her as much.

"Nooo, stoop..." She's blushing and giggling. "Th-this is a serious situation, E-Ellen..."

>A. She doesn't seem to mind
>B. Yeah, she's right
>C. And this is your break
>D. Write-in action/dialogue

>>43156251
>B. Yeah, she's right

>>43156251
>B. Yeah, she's right
>C. And this is your break

>>43156332
>>43156359
"Yeah, you're right... This is our break, though. I... Honestly really needed the breather after Bovis," you admit, sighing.

"Oh, right... That. How're you handling that?"

"Better than earlier, anyway... Things have just been a blur since I realized I was upset, though. Maybe I'll be in focus more after this."

"I hope so... I'd hate for anything to happen to you right here at what's probably the final battle!"

"I'm honestly surprised so many of us HAVE made it here. It just... Makes everyone who didn't stand out so much more?"

Zoe nods. "I don't think any of either royal's personal guard has died at all, really... At least, not in the line of duty."

You hope you don't get overconfident. There's still another huge step to go, after all.

Eva improvises a speech for the group, coupled with outlining a few last-minute changes in strategy thanks to Canis' contributions.

These contributions are primarily that the Deadlord Equus is out in the more open battlefields (read: General Corneria's problem), Anguilla is patrolling the grounds of Gravern Keep, and that Princess Alexia's treacherous intent has been discovered by Dain. It's assumed that she's in the castle somewhere, possibly awaiting death. Prince Elias III is passively allowing this to happen to his sister, still not wanting to jeopardize his inheritance.

>To be continued next thread

I wasn't sure what note to end it on, but I did know this was the ending post.

Thanks for playing, and as always, our ask.fm and twitter are both qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around in-thread for chatting too.

Really, though, this has worked out as a way for Asra to actually properly join the party for the eleventh hour.

Though she's in the middle of identity issues, it's still fair to call her her name again at this point.