You didn't have time to think too hard about what you were about to do, though.

>Hide in the alley before people come.
>Run, if they can't identify you then you just need to lose them.
>Use the your Relic.
>Other? (write-in)

Previous Threads:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=valen+quest

Where things are said:
https://twitter.com/Riz_QM

Where things are asked:
http://ask.fm/RizQM

Assorted Supplemental:
Current Abilities - http://pastebin.com/PchcdWpw
Basics of Mana - http://pastebin.com/V9b1DMrS
A List of Forgotten Things - http://pastebin.com/kPEscJ3h

Write-ups:
Kara's Day Out - http://pastebin.com/8ZbiSKLs
Adventures with Asche - http://pastebin.com/RNviCBJu
The Reclaimed Doll - http://pastebin.com/n6miP1qT

Misc notes:Haha, why would Irue land on anything soft in Carona?

>>43993109
>>Hide in the alley before people come.
>Use the your Relic.

>>43993153
I vote for this option

>>43993109
>Hide in the alley before people come.

>>43993153
>>43993228
>>43993231
Hide in the alley

>>43993153
>>43993228
Use your Relic.

Writing.

You lurch forward, legs barely catching up in time to keep you from falling back on your face, and slowly get your body reluctantly moving again. You could have tried to run from them, but you were feeling a little more miserable with each second that blessed numbness faded. You decided it was a better idea to save the high-energy physical activities for later and just hide for now. It doesn't take you too long to hobble behind a haphazardly stacked pile of cloth and scrapped wood, clutching your Relic to your chest as you tuck away underneath some of it.

Your own ragged breath is all you can hear at first, at least until you can calm your own breathing a bit. While you had initially suspected you would be warmer, concealing yourself in an enclosed space with the Relic you had obtained from the Atelier did little but reinforce the slowly fading chill with it's passive presence. It was thankfully no where near the vicious cold the Atelier had been, but you found yourself frowning at the minor inconvenience all the same.

"Did it land back here?"
"I swear I saw it falling over this way."

You held your breath tightly as the owners of those muffled voices drew closer. Two men by the sound of it, though the lack of clinking metal made it doubtful that they were guards in any capacity.

"Woah... I think you were right. Take a look at this."

They didn't sound very old. If anything, they seemed to be close to your age? Maybe a little older. From their manner of speech, you gathered that they were most likely just normal civilians. You close your eyes, quietly letting out a breath you hadn't known you were holding. Encountering guards this soon after you entered Carona would have been disastrous... While the rest of this town seemed to conspire against you, this, at least, was a small blessing.

"Hey... Does it feel cold to you?"

Your fingers tighten around the Relic.

"I.. I think it's coming from over there?"

>Reveal yourself, see if they can help you.
>They sound spooked, try and scare them off.
>Remain hidden, let things play out.
>Use your Relic.
>Other? (write-in)

>>43993779
>Use your Relic

>>43993779
>Use your Relic.

>>43993779
>Use your Relic.

>>43993812
>>43993834
>>43993916
Relic!

Writing.

You scowl at the book clutched against you. While you hadn't noticed it as much due to having just left the Atelier, for people accustomed to this warm surface air, the chill left behind by this Relic must have been painfully obvious. Well, that was fine. If this thing was going to get you INTO trouble, then you'd just have to see if it could get you OUT of trouble.

Time for this thing to pull its own weight!

You hastily open the Diary of Reflections, prying apart frosted leather covers to reveal the shimmering pages of water held within. Crystals of ice floated aimlessly within those pages, arranging and rearranging in ways that almost resembled words, but not enough to grasp their meaning. No matter how you focused on the lines of pseudo-text, you couldn't begin to make them out before the pattern changed once more.

A torch with no flame, a door that didn't open, and now a book you couldn't read. You bit down a growl of frustration at the uselessness left behind by the Ice Queen as you tried to discern how to use this blasted Relic.

"I think I found it..!"

The voice nearly shook you from your efforts, its owner having approached so close as to be standing just on the other side of the thin sheet of cloth you were hiding under.

"Be careful, I've got a bad feeling about this..."

You wanted to slam the book against something, or throw it to the ground, anything to make it just work already. No matter how you tried, there was no way you could read the arcane scrawls. Even focusing on it, eventually you were left seeing nothing but your own face dimly reflected in the pages, shifting and distorting with the surface of the water. That was the last thing you needed right now, if you showed back up in Carona, you'd definitely get the guards called.

You needed to be...

>Someone else
>Someone harmless
>Someone strong
>Someone nondescript
>Someone respected

>>43994207
>Someone nondescript

>>43994207
>Someone nondescript

>>43994207
>>Someone harmless

>>43994233
>>43994251
Nondescript.

>>43994294
Harmless.

Writing.

>using the Relic that requires literally forsaking your own identity
Guys! Pls. ;_;

The cloth was thrown aside quickly, revealing a young man who looked ready to bolt the moment he found something unexpected. You stared up at him just as startled, eyes wide as your mind rapidly tried to piece together something to do, something to say, some way to address this-

"...Oh, sorry."

Instead the man apologized a little awkwardly. You blinked in confusion as he continued.

"Hey, did you hear or see anything fall around here?"

"Ah-" You stop to clear your throat, voice coming out unexpectedly deep. "I heard a crash... I think whatever did it took off not long after." The story spins from your lips easily, constructing a simple and vague lie that the person in front of you readily believes- Not because of any skill on your part, but because it's a story in line with what they expected, while remaining vague enough for them to draw their own conclusions.

"Really? Did you get a look at what it was?!"

The man's companion approaches excitedly, and you shake your head after a moment, gesturing towards the cloth that had just been pulled away from you. "It's cold tonight, so I was wrapped up."

The two interlopers in front of you began to talk amongst themselves, giving you time to glance back down at the book in your hands. What stared back from within the watery pages was a vaguely familiar face, but not one you could place a name to. You squinted at it, trying to rouse up some memory of who you were looking at, but...

"We're sorry man, uh... Here, as an apology."

The man who ripped your cloth from you handed you a small wrapped package. You set the Relic aside to take it cautiously, unwrapping it slightly to reveal half of a sandwich.

He gave you half a sandwich.

"Sorry to bother you. I hope you can get back on your feet soon."

You nodded absently, setting the sandwich in your lap as they walked away from you, already discussing where to search next for their mystery UFO. It was only after they left did you pull yourself out from under your make-shift hiding spot look yourself over.

These clothes were far from what you recall wearing a moment ago. Dirtier, more rugged. You had a pouch slung over your shoulder good for carrying... Something. While it looked like something was inside, it had been empty when you opened it... At least until you stored the Relic and Tier's diary inside.

...Weren't you just collecting diaries at this point?

Still, the handcrafted leather on you was far from designer work. It was something made to serve a purpose, with durability first in mind, and it had been through quite a lot. Well worn and scratched occasionally, you twist around to try and see your own outfit properly, and you realize you had seen something like this before.

You fish out the sandwich absently as you cautiously leave the alleyway and enter the streets to find a proper mirror. Or a window. Or anything reflective that wasn't the Relic currently stored in your shoulder-slung pouch. It doesn't take you long to confirm your own suspicions, as the face of one of your peasant knights stares back at you from a passing window, "...But what was their name?" You mutter to yourself as you take a bite out of the sandwich from earlier.

You had seen them before, almost daily really, but... You couldn't actually recall talking to them. Ever.

"Nondescript, huh..."

You felt a little guilty that you had evidently categorized one of your own knights as a faceless, generic background character.

Well, it was exactly what you needed right now, you suppose.

>Visit the Shrine
>Talk to the Guard
>Wander town and see what's going on
>Visit the pub and look for rumors
>Other? (write-in)

>>43994741
>>Visit the pub and look for rumors

>>43994741
Sandwich obtained, Death Flags set. But besides that,
>Visit the Shrine

>>43994741
>Wander town and see what's going on
>Visit the pub and look for rumors

Oh, I thought using the Relic would be much more dramatic and pricey and confusing, like the rest of Irue's interactions with the supernatural. Whoops.

>>43994741
>>Talk to the Guard
We should find Rinnier now that we're inside.

>>43994778
>>43994847
to the pub!

>>43994803
to the shrine!

>>43994851
to the guard!

>>43994847
to the town!

Writing.
---

>>43994847
Just because something is simple, doesn't mean it's free. There is a price for everything, anon.

Now I'm worried if we'll be able to change back. Or if we run into the Nondescript Peasant. Or if they turned into Irue.

Cool to see Dopplerue's getting her dopple on though.

>>43994940
Commence the shadowruns!

While you had complaints about the way you had gotten in, the fact of the matter was that you had managed to successfully infiltrate the locked down town of Carona. Granted, you had actually come here with a small army... A very small army...

You had come here with a tiny division of peasant knights, and thus had expected to enter the town in a little more of a... Numerically superior manner. However, doing things subtly had their own perks to them! Like the fact that you were now free to gather information without an alarm being raised, or any active resistance and oversight. If it was gathering information, then you knew exactly what you had to do! You had wanted to do this last time you were here as well, but you hadn't had time.

And so with little pause, you located the nearest pub in Carona and walked inside with a difficult to explain excitement. Going to the pub for rumours was practically required for adventures!

The pub smelled richly of food and alcohol, tables strewn about and occupied haphazardly by any number of people and professions. You had expected a raucous environment, but it was actually fairly tame. There was a constant murmur of casual conversation kept to a polite level, and the perpetual sounds of utensils tapping against dishes or mugs bumping onto the tabletop. Perhaps if you were more used to the country life then it would be more comfortable, but as it was, you only felt mildly claustrophobic and disoriented with all the people eating so haphazardly.

Noble events were not like this, from your memory. They were much more orderly, and restrained, and...

Not like this.

"What'ya having, dear?" A serving girl spoke up, having evidently approached you during the time spent trying to collect yourself. "Ya look lost, honey. Are you new to town?"

>Order something, sit down somewhere.
>You're just here waiting for someone.
>Ask about rumours
>Other? (write-in)

>>43995238
>You're just here waiting for someone.
As much as I'd like to see Irue drunk...

>>43995238
"How can I be new, gates are closed."

>>43995238
>You're just here waiting for someone.

>>43995296
Doesn't that just draw attention to our obvious new-ness and how we couldn't possibly have gotten in?

>>43995238
>>Ask about rumours
Building on >>43995296, try to talk around it and see what we can learn about the situation instead.

>>43995272
>>43995313
Waiting for someone!

>>43995296
>>43995331
dialogue!

>>43995331
Rumors!

Writing.

"Honestly hadn't planned on staying this long." You admit, crafting a half-truth easily as you look around the establishment. "I'm just here waiting for someone though." While you had planned to just listen in on conversation for a while, you decide to make use of the sudden windfall of a freely volunteered local voice. "You wouldn't happen to know when this lockdown will end, do you? Feels like I've been in here for a month already."

"Sorry hun, I don't got a clue." She shrugged, "Things started gettin' real dangerous around here though. First that string o' kidnappings started up, and then those tamer folks had their estate burned down... You picked a right terrible time to come visiting Carona. Where you from, anyhow?"

"I live out in the forest." You deflect vaguely, "I Make my living as a hunter out there, and only come into town to get supplies every so often." Hunters did that, right? You had no idea how peasants lived. "What about these kidnappings? Someone important must have been taken to cause all this."

"Ah... I wouldn't say that, exactly." The serving girl seemed a little unsure. "It's more the amount, I guess. You see that board over there?" You follow the jerking of her thumb across the room to bulletin board covered in faces. Most of them you don't recognize at all, but it was certainly covered in them. You spot an unfortunately familiar face amongst them that you DO recognize, however. "Even the mayor's maid got taken, and no one's seen hide nor hair of 'em since. Spooked the guard something fierce, and spooked me too. You have any idea how scary it is for a cute girl like me to walk home by herself every night when something like that's goin' on?"

The good news is that you had potentially solved the kidnappings. All of them!
The bad news is that they were dead and stashed in the woods outside of town, and you had no idea why.

"When the fire broke out 'round the tamer's place, that was the last straw for the mayor. Declared a state of emergency, and we've been hunkered down ever since."

So now you had a string of murder-kidnappings followed by unexplained arson.

"Things have been getting weird ever since some cooky fellow went and bit that stuffy Shrine attendant a few months back."

That was justified. He deserved it.

"So... Who're you waitin' for, if ya don't mind me askin'?" The serving girl rocked back on her heels casually as she looked you over.

>No one important, really.
>Ask about the guards from that incident.
>Ask about the mayor
>Other? (write-in)

>>43995682
>No one important, really.
Is this Irue getting hit on?
>Ask about the mayor

>>43995682
>>Ask about the mayor

>>43995682
>>Ask about the mayor
quick, deflect name question

>>43995682
>>Other? (write-in)
What became of our incident with the Shrine attendant? Could it be related to what happened afterwards or did we just leave right on time?

>>43995721
>>43995744
>>43995753
about the mayor!

>>43995721
No one important!

>>43995753
What happened after that incident?

Writing!

"No one important." You gave a vague non-answer as you failed to think of someone who an outsider would actually be waiting on in a pub. You didn't know anyone here, and your cover story probably wouldn't know anyone either. "What happened back then? That biting incident, I mean."

While your answer had been rather half-assed, it seemed the serving girl had bought it. Her expression relaxed a little as she answered, lips peeling back as her smile widened marginally. "Ah, most of the guards got sent to the healer. Word is that some kinda brawl broke out and they all ended up with broken legs." You winced at that. You had told Kara not to kill them, but you hadn't exactly been in a position to see what was going on. You suppose mass leg-breaking had been her non-lethal answer to the conflict...

"Haha, right? It was really weird, but most of them'll probably be fine after they recover. The healer was kept busy mending nearly all week!"

"It got resolved after that, though?" You question, trying to fish out if that had any connection to what was going on now. The girl shrugged, "I guess so. Ain't heard anything else 'bout it since."

You guess it didn't really, have anything to do with it, but... You lower your eyes for a moment. "You said most of the guards got sent to the healer?" you echoed back.

"Yeah?"

"...Aren't there more guards than ever walking around now, though?"

If most of them had been incapacitated, there shouldn't be anywhere near enough guards to have locked down Carona. Even if some of them had recovered more quickly than expected and rejoined their post, it should have been a net drop in guards - Not the the stark increase you had observed since returning.

"Oh that, I think the Mayor managed to find some people to stand in while the guards recovered." She answered absently, "Pretty convenient I guess. Made me feel a bit safer at night, though... I could probably feel safer, still."

"The mayor really managed to find that many people, that quickly?" At a glance, you feel like the amount had nearly doubled. Even if he had gotten a militia to do it, wouldn't that have been noticeable? They just came out of nowhere? "Like mercenaries...?"

The serving girl's lips twitched downward slightly. "I guess, maybe. I don't really know anthing 'bout that."

"So I guess if I wanted to get out of here, I'd have to go talk to the Mayor, then?" You murmur rhetorically, just loud enough for her to hear. "Though if they've been spooked, I guess it wouldn't be so easy now, huh?"

"I don't think the mayor's shown up outside of his house for the past couple of weeks." She answered with a small sigh, "Even before that, he had a pretty heft bunch o' brutes around him. Anything else you wanna know?"

"Ah sorry, I'm just interested, that's all."

"Fancy being interested in somethin' else, then?" She suggested flatly.

>Ask about the new guards
>Ask about the Shrine
>Ask about something else (what?)
>Excuse yourself from the pub
>Other? (write-in)

>>43996036
>Ask about the Shrine

>>43996036
>>Ask about the new guards
Anything strange about them? Sobbing machete man comes to mind.

>>Other? (write-in)
Check if we have money on us, consider ordering something instead of just loitering.

>>43996036
>"I'm interested in you"
Just kidding
>Excuse yourself from the pub

>>43996036
>Excuse yourself from the pub

>>43996122
stop that.

>>43996081
The shrine!

>>43996107
The guards!

>>43996107
We have no money!

>>43996122
>>43996141
Excuse self from pub!

>>43996122
I would have treated this as a legitimate vote and rolled for it, had leaving not won at the last second.

Writing!

>>43996165
What DC?

>>43996203
Rolled a 1d5 for the option to be chosen, I mean.

The DC is non-existent.

You shake your head after a moment of thought, nothing else coming to mind that you cared to ask about. "I can't think of anything else, but thanks." You nod towards the serving girl in appreciation, receiving a flat stare in response before she shook her head. "Yeah, no problem 'honey." She waved you off unenthusiastically as she went back to work, and you decided now was as good a time as any to excuse yourself from the pub.

That had been an eventful visit, but you're glad to be back on the streets and out of the unexpectedly civil pub. When you had thought of visiting pubs for information, you thought there would have been more nonchalantly sipping of ale as you overhear complaints from the table behind you... Or talking to the bartender.

You hadn't expected to just walk inside and have someone come up to you and answer questions. While unexpected, it was unarguably convenient.

Once back out in the streets however, you were left wondering as to what to do next. It was getting pretty late into the night, so you're relatively sure that the Shrine would probably be closed by now... And even if it wasn't, what were you going to do? Claim to want to pay respects in the middle of the night while looking like a hunting peasant?

There was the mayor, as well. There was definitely something suspicious about the sudden abundance of guards. While the mayor themselves may not be involved, they probably had some kind of information about what was going on... And beyond that, if anyone knew what had happened to Rinnier at the gate, it would be the Mayor.

...And what about your knights? They were still outside of Carona, weren't they? Or at least... The ones who hadn't followed you down into that shaft. Could you possibly try and signal them from the wall, somehow? You'd feel a lot more confident if you had some back up to help you in here.

There are things we can handle better ourselves.

That unwelcome voice bubbles up from the back of your mind, and turn half-heartedly towards your own shadow as it crossed its arms at you, stubbornly long hair spread out behind it like a veil.

"Like what?"

Infiltration. Before we needed a disguise, but with that Relic... We can be anyone we want. It should be simple to talk our way into where ever we want to go.

You blinked at that, becoming intimately aware of the chill against your back. You WEREN'T constrained to this generic form, were you? You could be anyone.

That thought struck a chord inside of you. One which left you deeply unsettled as you realized that simple fact. With that Relic's power, you didn't have to be a generic face. It shed faces and bodies like a snake sheds skin. You could become anyone. Your hand clenched around the strap of your shoulder-slung pouch.

>Try to signal your knights
>Try to meet with the Mayor
>Try to blend in with the Guard
>Make use of the Relic (how?)

ALSO

>Do it now.
>Do it in the morning.

>>43996437
>>Try to blend in with the Guard

>Do it now.

>>43996437
>Try to meet with the Mayor
>Make use of the Relic (how?)
>Do it now.
Not sure if there are really any nobles or higher class in Carona, so maybe become a shrine attendant?

Not sure if blending with the guards is a good idea, since they might all just be random mercenaries anyway.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>43996451
1. Try to blend in with the guards.

>>43996483
2. Disguise as a Shrine attendant and try to meet with the Mayor.

Dicegods guide our hand?

In a flash you had secluded yourself, once more prying open the crisply frosted covers of the Diary of Reflections and staring into it's shimmering liquid pages. It happened faster this time, as you ignored the shifting and ever-changing pseudo-text to see the reflection of yourself within. The generic face, the falsely assumed identity of your peasant knight...

What you needed now was different. You needed someone important, someone who could demand a meeting with the Mayor even at this hour. Someone who couldn't simply be talked around or shunted away. You needed power, you needed influence, and you needed plausible excuse...

An attendant of the Shrine.

As your form once more began to change, the pages rippled and distorted the reflection of your excitedly smiling face changing into something else. Someone else.

Moments later, the traditional garb adorned you. No longer the roughly hewn leathers, nor the slung shoulder pouch, but robes of fine embroidery that you recognized instantly as belonging to the respected attendants of the Shrine. With these vestments, you could command the respect of the Shrine of Mana, a religious faction spanning beyond national boundaries; A pillar of society itself.

...

And you knew exactly what you were going to use it on.

Finding the Mayor's house had been a simple affair, but being held out of it by a closed gate was... While not unexpected, a little annoying. Only a little, however, as it could do little to stop the you of right now. Approaching the guards stationed outside, you heeded the words whispered from the back of your mind, affecting the confident air of an attendant in your speech.

"I wish to speak with the Mayor immediately." You greet them purely with business, "Please tell him that an attendant of the Shrine wishes to meet with him."

"...It's the middle of the night, sir." One guard protested, "The Mayor is liable to be asleep by now. Can this matter wait until tomorrow, and we will pass the message along?"

"I'm afraid it can't." You shoot down the possibility immediately, "I do not wish to waste any more time than is absolutely necessary in this regard."

There is some amount of grumbling, that which you graciously do not comment upon, as one of the guards finally concedes.

"Who should I tell him is visiting, exactly?"

>Roderick
>Priat

>>43996691
>Roderick

>>43996691
>>Roderick

>>43996716
>>43996762
I can't help but wonder if you're purposefully planning to bomb this meeting.

Writing!

"attendant Roderick." The guard mutters the name under his breath a few times to remember it as he turns away, leaving you and the remaining guard standing outside. You wait patiently for a few minutes, at first standing idly in silence, and eventually trying to strike up some minor conversation with the remaining guard in hopes of extracting more information...

The guard just gives you a tired look as he provides short, uncooperative answers to your questions, and shivers occasionally.

"Not a breeze around, but it's freezing tonight." He complained quietly, "Winter's coming too early this year, isn't it?"

You've little answer for him. Of course you knew exactly why he was cold, as the source of that unnatural chill was tucked away in a pouch, but it wasn't as if you could simply explain it to him. After some time, the other guard finally returned, holding the gate open for you to proceed to the house itself. "The Mayor invites you inside." The returning guard announced, "He is... Eager to find out what is on your mind."

I approve of your choice in faces.

You proceed into the house, paying one last glance to the shivering guard as you pass him. The interior of the Mayor's house is... Not as grand as you expected. Or rather, it is outstanding, for someone who wasn't actually a noble. Sturdily constructed and made from healthy wood, with many trophies of long-completed hunts strewn across the walls. You make your way through the halls behind the guard as he guides to you a sitting room warmed by what looked to be a freshly lit fire, with an older man only partially dressed sitting in a chair near said fire. You don't recognize him, but between the guard's deference and the man's own ease of presence, you suppose this is the Mayor.

"Ah, Shrine attendant Roderick." He greets you familiarly, a sign that sends a slight shock of unease down your spine. "Come in, I fear I am already feeling a draft of night air sneaking in behind you."

The guard is excused as you take a seat, the door shutting behind him with a silent 'click'. You're left setting across from the recently woken Mayor who seemed to be busying themselves with tending to the fire to get it going as he complained about the cold.

This Relic seems like it could become problematic...

You mentally hummed an agreement, thankful that you, yourself, didn't find the cold from it to be terribly bothersome. "I apologize for the inconvenience of my guard, they typically try not to bother me this late at night... Well, if it's a visit from the Shrine, then it is not something I would put off of course! I was told there was something urgent you wished to speak with me about?"

>About Rinnier
>About the origin of these guards
>About the arson at the Tier estate
>About the lockdown
>Other? (write-in)

>>43996999
>"I think I saw that girl that bit me in town"

>>43996999
>>About the arson at the Tier estate
>>About the lockdown

>>43997088
Why... would we alert them that we're in town, even if we don't look like ourselves. That's stupid.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>43997088
Demanding a meeting with the mayor to sneakily announce that we are in town. ...Okay.

>>43997125
Arson and lockdowns.

Dicegods, what path will please you?

"Hasn't this lockdown of yours gone on for long enough?" You start, "It feels as if it had been weeks, and the people are beginning to get upset. There are many here who had planned to leave long ago, and are being held against their will within these walls; Some of them come to the Shrine to seek solace in meditation each day of late."

"I am well aware of that, Roderick, however you know as well as I that if I were to open the gates now there would be a very good chance that the ones who assaulted and burned down the Tier family's estate would be able to escape of without a trace. How would we answer to lord Caylen should that happen? Much less the stewards!"

I announced myself here and don't even get a mention?

You ignore the discontented grumblings in the back of your mind for the moment, and press on. "It has been this long, and you are still no closer to finding a lead on that?"

"It has been a very stressful investigation, I assure you." The Mayor responded quickly, "There were many things to look into, and I've had people combing the wreckage of the Tier estate for any hint we can find."

You blink. Did he mean that sobbing machete wielding guy and his partner? Their stories were completely not lining up.

"Thankfully, our efforts are starting to produce results. I believe we have found a lead recently." The Mayor smiled reassuringly, clapping his hands together as he moved on to talk of more pleasant successes. "Tell me, Roderick. You are a man of the Shrine, surely you know that flames of that size could not possibly have been caused by mundane means, correct?" You nod after a moment, albeit more to prod him along than in agreement. You hadn't been here to see the size of the blaze, and if given time, fire would consume anything anyway...

"Yes, I had thought as much myself, and so we were in quite a bind you see. Our primary suspects had to have been those favoured by Salamander; We obviously did not suspect those of the Shrine to have been involved, which left us rather little recourse. Perhaps a newborn in the Tier family had a particularly strong affinity?" He suggested it rhetorically, only to shake his head "However, as much as we try to deny it, there IS something of an... Elicit scene within Carona. Dealers of things that many would frown on, and it is these very people that I suspected to be responsible for the tragedy that struck the Tier estate."

Something about his remorse seemed off to you. Rather, you couldn't sense any kind of regret accompanying his statement at all.

"Recently I was able to use some of my sources to capture a man who has ties to a business of... Let's say transportation and trade of unsavory goods. He has confessed to having recently sold a particularly powerful adept of Salamander in the area, not long before the flames at the Tier estate were set."

"So you believe you've found the culprit, then?" You hedge.

"I am almost certain of it! All that remains is to extract a confession, and we shall have our criminal."

You frown, "If it is a matter of Mana, when were you planning to alert the Shrine of this?"

"Ah-" The Mayor pauses briefly, "Please do not misunderstand, these events have only occurred very recently! I had our suspect sent to be thoroughly examined by my associates, and was planning to send an official notice to the Shrine quite shortly. I had hoped to have something more concrete to tell you, though... Something more than my own suspicions, I mean."

"A confession?" You suggest, watching the Mayor laugh lightly.

"Yes, something like that."

>Ask about something else (what?)
>Ask about this 'elicit scene'.
>Ask for the lockdown to be released.
>Ask to be included in the examination of the suspect.
>Other? (write-in)

>>43997327
>>Ask to be included in the examination of the suspect.

>>43997327
>Ask to be included in the examination of the suspect.

>>43997327
>Ask to be included in the examination of the suspect.
>Ask about something else (what?)
Who was he sending to investigate the tier estate, exactly? Most of the guards were in town, or having broken legs.

>>43997353
>>43997355
>>43997384
Ask to be included.

>>43997384
Who were you investigating with, anyway?

Writing!

Is it possible to prove whether someone has favor with a mana or not?

>>43997455
There are a number of ways to estimate it. The reaction of certain elements to the individual being one, as well as the attitude of apparitions in regards to someone.

The Shrine themselves are also capable of gauging a (very) rough estimate of favour one may have with Mana. You learned of this vaguely during the Atelier when it was mentioned that they were coming to test the prince's aptitude.

Of course, the method of something being proven can be... Questionable. There is no single, agreed upon litmus test. In the end, the most surefire proof is if the individual themselves can - and will - do anything with their supposed favour.

"I would like to be included in the examination." You lay out your intent in no uncertain terms, flatly cutting through the polite chatter surrounding the conversation. As expected, it sends the previously amiable mood crashing to a halt. You stare at the Mayor through the flame-lit room, and he returns your expectant gaze with a difficult expression. From his hesitation, you're well aware that the default answer he wants to give you is a denial, but...

You had already pointed out that Mana related matters should include the Shrine in some extent. Judging from the fact that he hadn't notified them at all yet, this meant that he had no ground to stand on to deny your personal request to be included. Even if he wanted to keep it quiet, your visit tonight had forced his hand.

"That will be... Difficult to arrange." The Mayor finally answers, beginning to explain his reasoning-

"I trust that you will be able to arrange it."

-A reasoning you don't bother to allow him to finish, as you throw your assumed weight around implacably. There was no excuse you were willing to listen to, nor any he had, which could keep him from agreeing to include you in this.

And as expected, the Mayor - Though strained - eventually caves. "Yes, I will make the necessary arrangements for your inclusion. With this, we have official Shrine sanctified oversight." He smiles then, beaming at you as if he had not just been reluctant to make you a part of this. "Thank you for your volunteering effort, Roderick! With your word to back us, there will be no doubt at all of the legitimacy of the confession, and we can finally show our faces to the Valens once more!"

You're unsure exactly what to make of that, but you can only smile in response before something occurs to you.

"Excellent, then the lockdown will soon be lifted."

"Before I go, however..." You bring your fingers together pensively, "You said you had been investigating the Tier estate for some time, yet I have seen more guards than ever keeping Carona safe."

"They are quite dedicated to their job." The Mayor agrees shortly, "Even with the ones who suffered injury trying to subdue that wild demihuman sometime ago, we have redoubled our efforts to keep the peace."

"...Quite." You murmur, "Then, out of curiosity, who have you been sending to investigate the Tier estate? I was under the impression the guards would have been stretched to their limits just within Carona."

"Send a guard to guard a place, send an investigator to investigate a place, wouldn't you agree?" The Mayor shrugged, "I needed a different skill set for that particular task, so I employed people more adept at it than our patrols. It's an important leadership skill to know who to use on what task, for any manner of efficient work to get done."

He sent... Investigators?

Don't be fooled. He didn't answer your question.

You frown, and imply as much to the Mayor as you reiterate your question a little more forcefully. "I wasn't aware Carona had people like that in such great supply." You hedge, "I suppose these people have been granted free passage through your blockade then?"

"Absolutely, or how else would I get reports?" The Mayor laughed, "And do not fret, Roderick! You are man of the Shrine, and I am the Mayor. Whilst we rely on you to guide us in regards to the Mana, you must rely on me to know the people of my town. It is unthinkable that I'd know more of Mana than you, yourself."

...So it would be unthinkable for Roderick to know more about who the town has at its disposal than the Mayor, huh?

"I see."

In the end, you didn't get an answer at all.

>Ask something else? (what?)
>Do something (What?)
>Excuse yourself.
>Other? (write-in)

>>43997598
>"When will examination take place?"
>Excuse yourself.

>>43997598
>>Excuse yourself.
We need to get our Knights in here now.

>>43997646
>>43997651
Excusing self.

>>43997646
When are we doing this thing?

Writing.

"Then, before I leave, may I have an estimation of when this examination will be taking place?" You move to stand, rising with the weight of a boulder to loom over the still seated Mayor.

"...We will begin our examination in approximately three to four days." He answers after a moment's thought, "Is this agreeable?"

"Ye-"
No.

You pause, running back over what was just said before scowling at the Mayor. "Do you believe this to be a joke, Mayor?"

"Excuse me?" He parrots back in confusion. "Have I said something to offend you?"

"Perhaps." You rumble warningly, "Let me ask for clarification: When will this examination be taking place?"

"...In three to four days, as I have said." He repeated slowly, "Did I misspeak?"

"No. I merely wanted to ensure that is when the examination would begin, and not when the Shrine would be included." You glower at the Mayor, leaving the silent implication hanging between you in the unnaturally chilly room. "That is correct, is it not? I have not misunderstood?"

"...Yes, it will take us some time to prepare things," The Mayor answers after a moment's hesitation, "Of course, you will be present from the moment we begin." You nod, satisfied with that answer as you finally bid the Mayor goodbye and see yourself out. You privately thank Irue for having caught that particular wording, and reaffirm your belief that the Mayor was attempting to conceal something. Whatever it was, though, your timely arrival tonight had certainly derailed it.

Bidding farewell to the guards at the gate, you breathe in the chilled night air around you - Savouring for a moment the scents that came along with it. You had smelled nothing but regret and sterile ice in that Atelier, and the surface world... The natural world... Smelled so much better.

So now you had a few days to waste before the examination began. You'd have to-

Don't be absurd. We have a lot to do.

You freeze, glancing back at your shadow as it shook its head in exasperation, stubbornly long hair shaking from side to side as it did so. What else did you have to do until then? You had secured an appointment-

For Roderick, yes. In three days time, that man will be who the Mayor contacts in regards to this, not you. Or did you let your new identity go to your head already?

You stared blankly at the shadow, finally realizing what Irue meant.

"...Then I have to find a way to intercept that message before it can reach him, or find a way to follow him."

That is one of the things you need to do, yes. However, did you plan to simply leave those Knights outside this entire time? We need them inside Carona.

"...Why do we need them now?" You mutter, "Not that I disagree, but why the sudden interest in bringing my knights into this? You were content to do things on our own earlier."

Call it a noble's intuition.

That wasn't an answer. You knew that, Irue knew that, and Irue knew that you knew that. And you knew that Irue knew that you knew that Irue knew that.

Don't get too focused on one detail, or you'll miss the bigger picture. We still have other things to do in this town while we wait.

"Like what?" You leave out the scathing retort that you were just doing what Irue would have done; Your access to those memories proved that.

Like locate my other Testament and maid.
"Secretary?"
Asche, yes. I sent them to Carona months ago, and we haven't heard anything from them since.

"Then where do you expect me to find information on them in the first place?" You cross your arms irritably, "Kara made a commotion last time she was here, didn't she? It's not like they would have just been walking along in broad daylight."

That's why we won't look in the daylight.

Irue's answer brought your thoughts to a crawl as you tried to discern its meaning, but a quick flashback to your previous conversation with the Mayor helpfully cleared it up for you.

I refuse to believe it's possible to get in and out of a town without anyone seeing you. If they came, they were avoiding the guards... Which means they likely travelled closer to the 'elicit' crowd the Mayor mentioned. If anyone knows something, it would be them.

So not only did you need to find a way to smuggle a (very) small army into a locked down town, you also needed to look into a way to replace or follow the real Roderick in the examination, as well as hopefully find some information on your other Testmanet and... Asche.

You have three days. Were you planning to waste them?

"I hate Carona."

You felt an odd sense of warm inside of you at those words. As if some bond of kinship had been forged between yourself and Irue... Out of mutually shared loathing.

It was as unsettling as it was comforting.

File: ValEnd.gif (1023 KB, 500x281)

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>Smuggle in Knights
>Investigate the criminal underground of Carona
>Find a way to get into Roderick's invitation to the examination.

---

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Valen+Quest

And we are archived.

I'll lurk the thread for a bit to try and answer some questions if I can.

Apologies to all anons who participated in Valen Quest but died at their keyboards wondering when QM would finally stop.

To those who did not make it to the end, we will never forget your sacrifice.

Cutting the thread a little short, as this seems a good place to stop it. Vote for what the focus of the next thread will be!

>>43997937
>Smuggle in Knights

>>43997937
>>Investigate the criminal underground of Carona

>>43997937
>>Investigate the criminal underground of Carona

I miss Asche and Kara.

>>43997937
>Investigate the criminal underground of Carona
To
>Smuggle in Knights


Extra guards are the slavers prolly, and the person getting interrogated is prolly Rinnier. Mayor is deeply involved in the slave trade and took Roderick's brother.