Lloyd and Leigh have parted ways due to a... Disagreement, shall we say, in interpretation of events. Four members of Marrius' Group have splintered in light of recent events.

Lloyd, our hero, has become a Spirit Charmer to pick up the slack.

Yancy, Yulea, Leigh, and Ansi are trying to figure out where to go from here.

In the meantime, the passing of Lupus is far from the end of the continent of Teege's worries.

>A. Check in on the defecting group
>B. Remain in Lloyd's perspective

>>44178032
Vote time renewed.

>>44178032
>A. Check in on the defecting group

>>44178557
Feeling as though the Magical Senate was unreliable, the group is currently discussing their next plan of action as they prepare to leave.

"Well," Ansi says, "the obvious choice is to get to Rakche and tell them what we've found out."

"You're just saying that because Jolie headed there," Yancy accuses, before her face faults, "you're... Still right, though."

"What's wrong with Gravern or Odo?" Leigh asks, the least up-to-snuff with current events outside of the mountains. "I mean, sure, Dain's not what you say it used to be, but..."

"But the Western half of the continent is where the Wulf Company has the most influence," Yulea answers, "and with Esmer as a very high-profile former member who left on... Very good terms, I certainly wouldn't want to risk crossing them."

"Right, then," Leigh says, initially seeming displeased with being proven wrong, but getting ahold of herself in a moment. "To the Johan region..."

"It's, er... Actually pretty late," Yulea says, rubbing the back her head.

"Right... To the Johan region, starting tomorrow!"

The quartet then proceeded Northeast the following day, right as they said.

>A. Be Ansi, an intimidating Summoner misguidedly seeking redemption
>B. Be Yulea, a Cavalier only here for Yancy's sake, still corresponding with Marrius' Group
>C. Be Yancy, a Troubadour with a sharp tongue, similarly skilled in swords and staves
>D. Be Leigh, a goodhearted swordswoman with an impulsive and violent streak

>>44178872
>D. Be Leigh, a goodhearted swordswoman with an impulsive and violent streak

>>44178977
As you travel, you're still absolutely fuming. How naive does Lloyd have to be not to see he's being deceived?

At least you're confident half the others in Marrius' Group are only still there because they're greedy, but...

You're still really hurting about this!

"I mean, I've... Nearly died for him how many times, and he puts his trust in her?"

"Yes, you're heartbroken. I don't care." Ansi responds between mouthfuls of Silver Wyvern Egg. You grabbed your supply of them from Marrius' Group's headquarters on the way out, figuring that four or five of them would be a fantastic addition to your food supplies.

You frown at Ansi's response, Yancy and Yulea being too busy with each other to acknowledge your conversation.

"Hey, you're the one who burned that bridge. Accept it and talk about something else so we don't have to suffer all the way to Rakche."

>A. How dare he
>B. He's right
>C. Apologize. You're working on it
>D. Write-in response
>E. Judgemental silence

>>44179217
>E. Judgemental silence

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>>44179471
You don't respond, instead shooting Ansi a glare.

He shoots one back. "That supposed to scare me?"

Intensity fills the moment before you simultaneously back off.

A few days later, you're all in... Well, you're certain you're still on your way TO the right place. You had to make some detours, but...

"Friends of Ansi's, are you?" A Falcoknight asks as she touches ground nearby your campsite as you set it up one evening. Behind her are three Pegasus Knights.

Immediately sensing "trouble" from these rough-and-tumble-seeming women, you wrap your fingers around your sword's handle. Yancy, nearby, asks, "what's it to you?"

"What's it to everyone in Tarvos Valley?" The Falcoknight asks. "Clint wimped out and Une broke, sure, but I think my friends and I could always spare some gold..."

"Goddammit, Leigh," Ansi says loudly, emerging from behind some natural obstruction with his long hair drying in a towel, "your little detour pushed us through to Tarvos Valley!"

"Honor and poor sense of direction don't clear bounties," the leader says, jerking her head in her underlings' direction. "But don't think we're above cutting through all of you to get to him!"

>A. Okay, take him
>B. Immediately attack the leader
>C. Immediately attack an underling
>D. Draw your sword, try to threaten them away
>E. Write-in response

>>44179740
>B. Immediately attack the leader

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>>44179971
You waste no time drawing your Miracle Sword and striking the leader, actually managing to cut her down before she has so much as a chance to react.

"B-boss Eido!" One of them exclaims. "You'll pay for that! Girls, get in formation for a triangle attack!"

The other two pegasus knights oblige, and you very strongly hope your sword is up to the task of repelling them...

You find yourself struck with a spear, certainly, but not three, or even so few as two.

A flash of light erupted and caused one to stagger in pain before Yulea speared her, and the other was... You think struck by an arrow?

You mean, you do reckless shit like this because you know you can survive it with your sword, and the fight was yours already, but...

Okay, ow, there's still a lance in you. You and Yancy make quick work of the woman with your blades before you collapse, the Troubadour quickly healing you up.

The Falcoknight, apparently still having some amount of consciousness, stares at the arrow-riddled pegasus knight and breathes heavily, choking out the words, "b-but... Why..?"

"Tryin' to pick fights, sayin' you'll kill anyone in the way of your mark..." A familiar voice with a stupid hat rides into view, "yer' no different from what this Ansi fellow used to be."

Clint hops off of his horse, looking at Ansi and Yancy expectantly before turning his head back towards the Falcoknight, now dead. Shaking his head, he groans. "She and her crew were scum of the earth and I sensed it-s'why I tailed her to the mountains-but it still never gets easier to see another bounty hunter just die off in front of ya and know it's your fault."

>A. This happens to him often?!
>B. You didn't need his help
>C. You didn't need his help but thanks anyway
>D. He didn't do anything you couldn't have
>E. Write-in response

>>44180257
Er... Vote time renewed.

>>44180647
Again, renewed, unless this is beaten to the punch. If so I'll immediately get to work!

>>44180943
I can wait.

Vote time renewed.

>>44180257
>C. You didn't need his help but thanks anyway

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>>44181289
"I mean, we... Really didn't need the help, but it's still appreciated."

"You make a habit of runnin' into people's weapons?" Clint asks.

"Hey, I happen to know I can survive it!" You show the Miracle Sword off.

"...right. But anyway, what brings you all out this way?"

You, Yancy, Yulea, and Ansi exchange looks before you answer with a general summary of all that's happened.

"Mhm..." Clint fiddles with his bow a bit. "So you feel betrayed n' like you've got this... Big lead on what's gone down 'round the continent."

"I don't like the look he's got in his eye," Ansi says snappily.

"Let him finish," Yulea responds.

"Grh, yeah, Ansi, figure you won't like what I'll suggest here..." Clint adjusts his hat. "Thinkin' maybe I should help someway. Good folks're getting messed up by how things are going, and if you came all this way, and you're out of a job..." He shakes his head and grins. "Well, it's been awhile since I had a real team."

"You shot your last partner's eye out," Ansi says.

"Saved yer life in the process," Clint responds. "You giving me lip over that?"

"He's just saying it's reasonable that people are avoiding you after what you did!" Yancy exclaims.

Clint snaps back, "world's better with people like Une out of it, I'd say."

>A. Mention she's actually alive
>B. Why bother mentioning it?

And...

>C. Let Clint come along
>D. Tell Clint you don't need him
>E. Say something more (specify)
>F. Let the others decide

>>44181571
>A. Mention she's actually alive
and
>F. Let the others decide

>>44181687
"Er, she's... Actually alive."

"She is? How'd you find out? She still bein' the scum of the earth?"

"Yes, she works for Marrius' Group, and you sure do like the phrase 'scum of the earth!' And, uh, also no!" Yulea answers truthfully. "That's... Respectively there."

Clint nods sagely. You provide absolutely no input on whether he can join or not, leaving your allies to spend the evening squabbling (read: convincing Ansi) about whether Clint is a good choice to join the group.

In the end, Yulea's optimism and Yancy's spite prevail over Ansi's doubts, and Clint personally asks you to "make sure he don't get near me in my sleep."

Seeing nothing wrong with this statement, you agree.

You have assorted conversations throughout the days of your travels, this one most prominently.

"I've actually got this new partner named Romulus, bit green in bounty huntin' but as fine a fighter and plain ol' hunter as any. Blood of the wolf with a Tarvosian legend..."

"Maybe we'll be booing songs about you in the future," Ansi quips.

"Poor taste aside," Clint says, "we've got this base set up just a bit Southeast of Garou Valley. Figure we could pass through there, pick up a bit of extra protection?"

"Protection? What for?" Yancy asks.

"Sounds like you've got enemies everywhere, so a safe new place to rest your heads'll probably do you just the trick. Not too far from where y'said we're headed anyway."

>A. Sounds like a plan!
>B. You'll check it out anyway
>C. You'd rather just hurry along
>D. You still have no input

>>44181973
And another renewal(?)!

>>44181973
>B. You'll check it out anyway

>>44182296
"Worth at least looking at, though I dunno about a permanent arrangement just yet..."

Clint nods. "That's fair. Appreciate your willin'ness to take the detour, though."

The rest of the trip there is only particularly filled with further hostility from Ansi, up to and including literally approaching Clint in his sleep at one point (Yancy puts a stop to it that time), the foiling thereof prompting Ansi to refuse to explain himself.

As you approach the modest-but-big-enough building with a "Clint & Romulus" sign by its front entrance, just near the base of the garou mountain range, you keep hearing Ansi mutter to himself, "I shouldn't be doing this..."

A garou you're fairly certain is the very same Romulus who is Lyeim, Colleen, Rema, and Tobias' brother welcomes Yancy and Yulea in, and Clint looks expectantly at you and Ansi, a bit out of your mutual earshot.

>A. Tell Ansi to get over it
>B. Ask Ansi what's the matter
>C. Tell Clint Ansi's acting suspicious...
>D. Don't do any of that. Just go in
>E. Write-in response

>>44182598
>B. Ask Ansi what's the matter

>>44182648
"Er... What's wrong, Ansi?" You ask, turning towards your companion.

"I'm certain that something's up with Clint," Ansi says.

"Clint? What makes you so-"

"Keep your voice down!" Ansi declares in an intense whisper, before rattling things off, "he just happens to run into us after those pegasus knights just happen to run into us, he has a perfect reason to 'help' us against them, he doesn't let me near him when he's resting, and now he's bringing us into this dark-ass place?"

"I... What are you saying? That he's mind-controlled?"

"Mind-controlled, sent of his own volition, what the hell does it matter?! There's too much not adding up for him to have really just had a chance run-in."

"C'mon!" Clint calls, waving, "have yer' little moment later, would ya?"

Looks like Clint is getting impatient.

>A. You'll be watchful
>B. Ansi's being paranoid
>C. Attack Clint!
>D. Write-in response

>>44182804
>A. You'll be watchful

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>>44182876
"Er... I'll be careful."

Ansi nods. "We have to be suspicious of everyone."

With that, you hurry on in, finally noting Clint's suggestion... And seeing Romulus and some other wolves you don't recognize, all transforming, having backed Yancy and Yulea into a corner.

A Mogall hits the dirt with an arrow through it, directly behind you. Ansi glares at its firer, none other than the literal most obvious possibility. "Fuckin' knew it!"

"Your troubles're all over," Clint promises ominously, readying another arrow.

Ansi summons up a couple more Mauthe Doogs and whips out a Shine tome. "Thought you were so smart, stopping me from warning anyone until we got here like we couldn't take you on anyway."

Clint and Ansi begin bantering as they fight.

>A. Attack Clint!
>B. Attack Romulus!
>C. Attack the other Garou!

And...

>D. Tell everyone not to hold back. You can't afford to here!
>E. Tell everyone to hold back, be mindful of mind control!
>F. Don't give any advice!

>>44183105
>C. Attack the other Garou!
>F. Don't give any advice!

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>>44183162
You attack some of the Garou, cutting a transformed wolfman down in a flash.

Suffice to say, this upsets Romulus, who throws an infuriated fist at your face. You dodge and aim for another of his allies, figuring that this is surely the way to distract and infuriate the man.

Between you, Yancy, and Yulea, all five of Romulus' companions go down in moments, leaving him... Well, he certainly looks displeased.

"A-all... All of us..." He shakes his head, tossing his fist into a nearby wall so hard it breaks, his hand looking bloodied and bruised. "We were... How could y-" He reverts to his more humanoid state briefly. "None of them... None of us wanted..." He shakes his head. "No, no...!" He returns to his original state, more infuriated than ever. "None of this matters anyway. Now all you've done is remove my reason to resist this spell!"

He leaps at you, fists flying.

>A. Attack!
>B. Brace yourself!
>C. Try to dodge!
>D. Write-in response

>>44183459
>C. Try to dodge!
Well I don't want to kill Romulus too but he's not leaving us with much options...

>>44183459
>C. Try to dodge!

>>44183551
To be fair, we did just kill all of his friends, who were also being mind-controlled.

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>>44183551
>>44183573
You swerve out of the way of his strike, his actions being... Well, as uncontrolled as one would expect. You can't really take the time to ponder the ethics of killing mind-controlled minions, though, not when you've got a fight to survive. You're well aware that, for the most part, in this world, it's-

Oh, hey, Yulea just literally tackled Romulus from behind, an intensely remorseful look on her face. "I'm... Sorry about your friends," she says as she gestures for both of you to help keep him pinned down. Yulea is damn strong, sure, but not enough to keep a pissed-off Romulus down while simultaneously trying to knock him out. "At least things should be a bit... Clearer when you wake up."

A flash of light, a grunt, and a screaming cyclops being cut off mid-roar are all information enough to tell you Ansi won his own matchup, in the meantime.

"Gods, it feels so wrong doing this, but... Let's search you for a... Yep, mind control. This'll only take a... You're welcome, asshole."

The distinct sound of Ansi's shoes on the floor grows closer, and he eyes the fallen Garou, whistling slightly. "Big guy's gonna be pissed when he realizes he's alive. Sure we should even bother with letting him wake up?"

"What are you saying?!" Yancy says, bewildered.

"That's... Low."

"He attacked and tried to kill us, and I figure he'll only do it again if you spare him... I mean, I didn't TOUCH any of his friends, but you guys are screwed."

>A. No, Ansi, what the fuck
>B. You get it, but it'd be wrong to
>C. Reluctantly agree
>D. Wholeheartedly agree

After however you address the Ansi situation, you opt to go through some of the stuff in this house. You find a Hero Crest on the wall, just... Gathering dust! It doesn't look like Clint needs it, and you might hit a ceiling soon...

>E. Become a Hero (+Axes access, strength, resilience, etc.)
>F. Become a Ranger (+Bow access, you suddenly own a horse)

>>44183816
>B. You get it, but it'd be wrong to
>E. Become a Hero (+Axes access, strength, resilience, etc.)
Bows aren't that good and horses can become a drawback very easily.

>>44183816
>B. You get it, but it'd be wrong to
>E. Become a Hero (+Axes access, strength, resilience, etc.)

>>44183960
"I get what Ansi's saying, I really do, but... We can't kill him now."

Ansi sighs. "You're right... Gotta try to do the right thing."

Yancy and Yulea look a bit... Unhappy with your answer, but at least relieved you're not killing Romulus, instead Ansi getting to work.

After you address the Ansi situation, you opt to go through some of the stuff in this house. You find a Hero Crest on the wall, just-

You know all of this, actually.

You find yourself feeling... bulkier, finding an old Iron Axe near the Hero Crest and taking some practice swings.

Clint and Romulus get up within a few minutes, both having been moved to some barracks.

Soon, however, you're all accosted by a certain shaggy-haired royal knight and his redheaded half-dragon son: Reese and Jorden, you believe?

Oh, and several other knights of Neir.

"Received a tip that some folks would be attacking this place..." Reese says. "You there, I recognize you."

>A. Try to explain everything
>B. Where from
>C. Not ringing a bell
>D. Write-in response
>E. Say nothing

>>44184272
>A. Try to explain everything

>>44184272
>A. Try to explain everything

>>44184272
>A. Try to explain everything
I guess it's too late for Yancy to try and heal the garou?

>>44184302
>>44184331
>>44184346
"Look, we were... Lured here, and I'm certain word of a mind control spell has reached you by now... We had no choice but to fight, and..."

You can tell that Jorden is... Growing skeptical, but his father is certainly listening.

Jorden asks anyway, "where the hell did you even learn about someone using mind control?"

"Well, you see, we were doing some work in Tordo... Ended up defending the Ice Authority against a Chameleon rebel, and-"

You didn't notice Reese making a "stop talking!" hand motion until after Jorden blew up. "You've worked for the Ice Authority? Those... Genocidal frostbitten monsters! You... Thwarted a rebellion!"

"We were just passing through for a funeral! The work was an afterthought!"

"An afterthought! There are so few Chameleons left that many doubt they even still exist, and you call ruining one's life an afterthought?!"

"Son, calm yourself." Reese sighs. "Queen Eva has... Asked that any relevant information about this Necromancy-and-Undead issue be taken directly to her. Now, if the one who wrote us this warning would speak to us, confirm all that you're saying..."

You're certain Romulus and Clint give rather conflicting reports on your character and the events that recently transpired, and Jorden and Romulus DEFINITELY multiply each other's resentment towards you, but you're not arrested or executed or anything, instead heading straight to Rakche, albeit escorted by Reese and co.

>To be continued next thread
I figured I'd at least put Leigh and co. on the path of "doing something" while they're primarily offscreen. If I think it's worth showcasing them again, I'll start the chapter with the option.

Sorry this thread was a bit sloppy and rushed in places. Gaiden chapters usually only have a day's worth of time to show events, unless they're HUGE like that one time in Gen 1.

Thanks for playing, as always. Update twitter/ask.fm are qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around to answer questions in-thread.

>>44184513
Thanks for running.

>>44184652
Always a pleasure.

>>44184513
So when do we get Lloyd and Leigh back together, cause that's all I really care about.