Alright, back to Lloyd after long enough.

You and the rest of your companions spend much of the day ostensibly investigating this mysterious essence-sucker, purported in a few cases to have done the same with blood.

Keyword: "Ostensibly," at least in your sake. Instead, you snoop around asking about the Wulf Company and their dealings. Way you see it, if they're connected to this vaguely-defined conspiracy, odds are your killer is too. Two birds that Duchess Victoria would like dead with one... Darkness blast. Nobody had much in the way of bad things to say about any of the noteworthy figures of the company, at least until they suddenly ditched the nation of Noba in this era of undead, when Ennase in particular was under the siege of a supernatural serial killer.

Then people's bad things to say multiplied a lot, naturally, but none of that helped you figure out WHY they left.

You're not sure if you spoke with enough-or even the right-people about the subject, but as daylight segues into twilight, people are even less willing to talk.

>A. Keep asking around!
>B. Investigate what you were brought here to investigate already
>C. Loiter
>D. Regroup with Irene and the rest
>E. Write-in action

I have to do some things for a few minutes, but I'll get right to whatever as soon as I return.

>>44413273
>B. Investigate what you were brought here to investigate already

>>44413492
Alright, I'm back and I'm working on the next post.

Alright, time to get to... Actually doing your job. You mean, you were anyway, but you've reached a point where you've figured that asking around much more is a fruitless endeavor, resuming following the clues of the killer.

By the sound of things, all of the victims were believed to have been killed at night, so you could just... Go somewhere semi-secluded and wait, like the brilliant detective you are.

Would it really be safe to do that alone, though? What would be considered too large a group dissuade your killer from coming?

...maybe you could just defer to Irene on this one, let her or miss "I'm a good bounty hunter" Une figure something out.

>A. Wait around alone
>B. Ask someone(s) for help
(for reminder, Lloyd's current party members are Asra, Irene, Une, and Sheena, along with various generic guards about Ennase. And maybe duchess Victoria could be talked into helping?)
>C. Wait somewhere with the whole party (could just as easily dissuade your opponent from showing up)
>D. Waste time
>E. Do whatever your allies might suggest
>F. Write-in action

>>44413916
>B. Ask someone(s) for help
Irene

>>44413999
"Irene," you say, greeting your boss in Ennase's largest building, the last one to enter the palace in question, "how do you feel about acting as bait?"

"Unpleasant," she responds, "but... I think I see where you're going."

"You won't be alone," you assure her, "in fact, I'd initially considered just... Baiting our killer alone."

"Waiting for a supernatural killer together..." Une snickers, "some bonding exercise."

"We will... Not be far, I assume," Asra adds.

"Of course," Irene says, "but... If you're following too close, too many people in a group might dissuade our culprit. The most people they've killed at once are two..."

"Never killed anyone in the sky, right?" Une asks. "Sheena here could take the skies while the rest of us split in pairs, then if one group's attacked she can see."

"That could also alert him, couldn't it?" Sheena asks.

"Be better at stealth," Une suggests very, very helpfully.

"N-noted..." Sheena says, nodding.

So... Naturally, Irene immediately came to mind, but now that there are two duos in play...

>A. Irene is still fine
>B. Partner up with Une instead
>C. Partner up with Asra instead

>>44414243
Vote time renewed.

>>44414243
>B. Partner up with Une instead
Melee/magic, melee/magic.

>>44414528
>>44414243
2nd

>>44414528
>>44414644
...okay, you don't have a clue how to combat this enemy, so you suggest a slight change to the roster.

"Right, their physical and magical resistances... Aren't known," Irene says. "It's the safest bet for both duos."

Une shrugs at the change. "Long as I've got a partner, I guess."

So Asra accompanies Irene, you traveling with Une.

Meanwhile, Sheena is... Somewhere in the air. You all saw her take off, but apparently she... Somehow managed to take Une's advice to heart?

Anyway, you wander awhile with Une. Her bael sits this one out, Une feeling like these particular circumstances would be better without endangering her beloved pet/mount.

>A. Discuss/say something (specify)
>B. Skip ahead

>>44413228
Seems cool, will check archives.

>>44414689
>B. Skip ahead

>>44414689
>B. Skip ahead

>>44414715
>>44414937
For the most part, you pass the time talking about nothing in particular. Small talk, you know.

"Ohoho..." Your barely-passing-for-conversation conversation is interrupted by a deep-voiced laugh as the last signs of daylight fade from the skies.

Une, naturally, immediately reaches for her sword, turning towards the source of the laughter.

"Oho!" A sharply-dressed man (suit, tie, hat) says, twirling his very thick moustache as he comes into view. You can tell right away he's a sort with a flair for the dramatic, which is only proven further when he starts monologuing. "Immediately, she draws her sword, assuming a foe in this laughing stranger! This tense atmosphere... Ripe with drama, intrigue... And out of nowhere, a new face appears! Could this man be the answer you've investigated?"

>A. What the hell is he talking about
>B. Why is he following you
>C. Immediately attack this person (will be with Carreau unless otherwise specified)
>D. Ask/say something else (specify)
>E. Write-in response

>>44414982
>B. Why is he following you

>>44414982
>A. What the hell is he talking about

>>44415000
>>44415072
"Wait, so... Why are you following us? What are you going on about?" You ask.

"The Wulf Company's secrets are not-not-not to be looked into!" The man says, drawing a Rapier you hadn't noticed earlier. Either this isn't THE guy you're looking for, or THE guy you're looking for also happens to be a swordsman with connections to the Wulf Company.

"My name is Vill! As a friend of Mahavira's, I will not allow such slandering of the Wulf Company's name! I know not the reason he pulled out of this country, but his judgement is trusted, and for calling his already-in-question honor further into question... I demand a duel!"

Une points her Killing Edge at the man. "You're annoying me."

"Stand aside, ma'am! The quarrel of Vill is not with you!"

"Your buddy's a hypocrite with a gross beard."

"Mahavira's beard is magnificent!" Vill says, flying into a rage. "If you wish to get on my bad side, so be it! I shall duel you first!"

>A. Let Une take care of this idiot
>B. Attack Vill (specify if not with Carreau)
>C. Write-in response
>D. Say something (specify)

>>44415190
Vote time renewed.

>A. Let Une take care of this idiot

>>44415190
>A. Let Une take care of this idiot

>>44415559
>>44415655
You decide that Une can handle this guy.

Both of them face each other, and just as quickly, approach one another.

"En garde, I repeat!" Vill says.

Not a moment later, there's an impressive cut along his arm, his rapier, and from your observations of Une, this fellow just got a dose of bael venom from the cut.

Vill doesn't react for a moment as Une pulls away, checking out his dropped weapon boredly before tossing it aside.

Finally, he collapses, clutching his barely-bleeding wound. "M-my suit! You've... Ruined this suit! Handmade from a land you've never even laid eyes upon! Do you think I've the skills to mend this?!"

"Think you've got bigger things to worry about than that," Une says.

"Oooo..." He closes his eyes, falling even further and hitting the ground, silent and pale.

"Well, that was pointless," Une says, sheathing her sword and approaching the fallen foe, kicking him a bit. "What do we do now?"

>A. Keep waiting here
>B. Check up on Irene and Asra?
>C. Not kick the guy while he's down!
>D. Write-in response/suggestion/action
(there were a couple more ideas I had for suggestions, but I felt like offering them outright would give too much away. Write-ins are always allowed, of course)

>>44415832
>C. Not kick the guy while he's down!
>A. Keep waiting here

>>44415947
"We'll keep waiting around for our serial killer, I guess... And stop kicking him!"

Une groans like a teenager having been told to quiet down before complying...

...only for Vill to grab her boot, tripping her with his unexpected... Being alive.

He digs two fingers into her heel in that same moment, his cut-up arm seeming to heal in the moment it takes for Une to get ahold of herself and kick him away, panting and scrambling to her feet.

You yourself take aim at where Vill is, only for him to spring into the air, bellowing out an "ohohohohoho~!" before landing. Suffice to say you miss.

"You've a kick to you, miss!" Vill says, "strong enough to save yourself anyway! By the way, wouldn't put too much weight on that foot in the time you're still living..." He points at you. "And you! Anyway, as I said, I would duel you next! Let us see if you are strong enough to dislodge my draining fingertips!"

And now he's running at you. You can register two things: Vill was clearly holding back earlier, and whatever you do to retaliate.

>A. Embrace death
>B. Maybe being drained will give you a chance to precisely strike..!
>C. Try to hit him before he hits you!
>D. Get out of the way!
>E. Say something (specify)
>F. Write-in response

>>44416196
>D. Get out of the way!

>>44416196
>C. Try to hit him before he hits you!

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>44416467
>>44416460

>>44416513
Readying Carreau, you try to fire it off before he hits you.

You fail in this endeavor, but you do manage to hit his back with your aim of the blast, which actually seems to cause him pain. Could Vill's magical resistance be low?

Either way, the fingers buried in your skin... Well, surprisingly, you don't feel all that drained at all. All that excess essence as a spirit charmer, you assume in the moment.

Anyway, his injuries from your magical attack quickly heal, so he's definitely taking SOMETHING, but you mentally thank your spirit charming.

Une, meanwhile, limps closer, quietly clutching her killing edge.

Vill bellows, "th-this essence! Gods, this essence is so filling! I could keep drinking away at you, sir!"

>A. Don't stop Une
>B. Stop Une. It's a stretch, but maybe you could overload him..?
>C. Try to attack him yourself
>D. Write-in response

>>44416699
>B. Stop Une. It's a stretch, but maybe you could overload him..?

>>44416699
>B. Stop Une. It's a stretch, but maybe you could overload him..?

>>44416699
>B. Stop Une. It's a stretch, but maybe you could overload him..?

>>44416736
>>44416781
>>44416783
"U-Une, don't... Get any closer..." You try to sound strained, but feel like you overplay it a bit.

"Aha, self-sacrificial! I suggest you listen and flee, his friend, for I am growing stronger by the second..! I'm beginning to lose myself in all of this excess essence!"

"L-Lloyd!"

Irene's voice calling heralds fireballs, Sheena flying in from above and trying to stab Vill from barely out of his reach, and Asra getting close before... Noticing your calm demeanor. "Everyone, stop. Lloyd... Has something in mind."

"Ahaha, and that something in mind is assisted suicide!" Vill is shrugging all of the attacks off in an instant, but also looking... Bloated, skin beginning to crack apart. His grin begins to fade. His fingers cannot be pulled out of your flesh.

You're starting to feel... Unwell. If you survive this, you probably shouldn't use magic at all for a little while. One's essence is typically fully recharged in a manner of a week or two, which to General Yancy's knowledge is no different for spirit charmers.

"N-no... Y-you... You've too much Essence! T-too much for even one augmented by the Wampyr staff!"

Irene approaches. "These are your last moments, then. Use them to talk."

"Hrg... Y-you would like that, wouldn't you?! But I've some pride still..!"

With a final, drawn out, "ohoho!", Vill seems to be torn apart by the essence of spirits.

No longer supported by his strong fingers, you collapse, caught by Irene.

"That was... A very foolish gamble," Irene says, "but... I'm glad it worked out. If... Any more people like him are out there, we've just learned a lot."

>A. Say something (specify)
>B. Quietly rest
>C. Write-in response

>>44417088
>A. We should find a safer way to do that.
>B. Quietly rest

>>44417088
>B. Quietly rest
>A. I just hope we never have to meet another person like Vill.

>>44417128
>>44417171
"Eh... I... Think we could stand to find a safer way. They, uh... Don't like magic very much, if Vill here was any example." You shake your head. "Gods, I hope he's just a one-time thing, though."

Irene shakes her head. "It... He mentioned a 'Wampyr Staff' in his final moments. I hope you're right, but... He could just be one of many." Noticing you trying to get up, Irene then adds, "no, just... Get some rest, alright, Lloyd? You'll be okay in no time."

"Look, I'm... Not losing consciousness or anything," you say, "I think I'm good to stand."

"Right, right... Sorry. You know I worry."

Irene helps you up, and with a breath, you open up a vulnerary (it... only sort of helps. Slightly but not a whole lot), asking Une if she needs you to heal that leg up.

"I don't think that's such a good idea," Irene says, "you just lost a lot of essence there... Wait for it to recover a bit, alright? I just gave you enough to make up for when you were almost in the red there, just to make sure you didn't die, but... It's barely enough for a single basic spell."

You nod, understanding. Une doesn't really care, just chugging a vulnerary to similarly existent-but-underwhelming result.

>A. Say something more (write-in)
>B. Skip ahead slightly

>>44417328
>A.Are you okay, Une?

>>44417460
"You alright, Une?"

"He drank from my leg for two seconds. Not like I haven't had worse." For a rare moment, she brushes her hair out of the way of her eyepatch as though to demonstrate her point.

Right.

You saw her lose that eye and everything.

Anyway, you report back to Duchess Victoria that very night.

"Wampyr Staff... Right, perhaps the Magical Senate would know of that, or ex-general Corneria... Stay in touch, would all of you? In times such as these, this duchy, and this country, need all the help we might find..."

The total amount of gold in your possession after this mission is 35,000. You end up sticking around a couple days longer just in case another affected by Wampyr might dwell in the city.

>A. Spend time with someone (specify)
>B. Loiter about the city
>C. Write-in action
>D. Skip ahead yet again

>>44417717
>Spend time with Irene.

>>44417858
Not particularly close to any of your other companions, you spend a lot of your time accompanying Irene. At first filling her in on every detail you can remember about the fight with Vill, what you were doing when it happened, then acting as a soundboard for her ideas about magic-science for awhile.

Eventually, however, she revisits Vill, after disappointingly discovering that a client has already reserved the one Warp staff a magic vendor has. "And he... Claims to have been a friend of Mahavira the Wulf, you say?"

You nod. "He confronted me and Une pretending to be a perfectly normal swordsman offended on his behalf before he attacked her."

"And this after you spent the day looking into them in particular... I doubt this is a coincidence."

"What made you realize you could overload a... I don't know what the right word would be, so I'll just say Wampyr'd person. Anyway, how did you figure that out?"

>A. Make some bullshit up
>B. Come up with an actual explanation (specify)
>C. You had a hunch
>D. The spirits guided you? (read: just dressing up >C in sounding less foolhardy)
>E. Brush it off with a joke
>F. You don't remember
>G. Write-in response

>>44418087
>B. Come up with an actual explanation
It takes a lot of training to reach a level of essence that I have, If someone without that level of training were to take it, they would be unable to channel it properly, overloading their soul, and killing them.

>>44418255
"It explicitly requires a pact with spirits to become, well, a spirit charmer, and handle the heavy amounts of essence produced in the process. Not everyone is up to it, and either Wampyr-inflicted or just Vill in particular are bad at resisting magic. He... Lasted much longer than I'd expected, but it did overload his body and mind... If there's more like him, it's not a trick I'd like to rely on, though."

Irene nods, smiling. "So clever, even when your actions aren't clear... See, Lloyd, thoughts such as this are why you're my apprentice."

She clears her throat. "Er, it... Isn't particularly relevant this time around, for obvious reasons, but in the future, should a mission be urgent enough to require teleporting there and your essence isn't still recovering... It would really be a load off my back if you could handle the Witch Pendant in my place. With how much Essence you can produce, and how simple these things make the act of teleporting itself..."

You don't even know how often such an agreement would be relevant.

>A. Sure
>B. You don't think you can
>C. Anything for her
>D. Write-in response

>>44418419
>A. Sure

>>44418419
>A. Sure

File: FatesWitchPortrait.png (206 KB, 382x432)

206 KB PNG

>>44418440
>>44418540
"Er, sure, yeah. I mean not... Now of course, but next time I should be ready."

Irene nods, smiling slightly. "Thanks. I appreciate it, really."

You nod, again assuring her that, like she said, it would be no problem to you on most days.

Another morning (the last one you plan on spending in Ennase), you're meeting her for coffee, a bit more idle discussion about the world and your studies.

The topic veers towards friends not present. "I... Wonder how Yancy, Yulea, Leigh, and Ansi are doing now. They were in Rakche's general area alongside some bounty hunter named Clint, according to the last letter from Yulea before we headed out."

>A. Not worth worrying about them
>B. You'll find out soon enough, surely
>C. They can handle themselves
>D. You hope Ansi's past doesn't screw them over
>E. Clint, huh? He's pretty cool
>F. Clint, huh? He was an idiot
>G. Write-in response

>>44418685
>B. You'll find out soon enough, surely
>D. You hope Ansi's past doesn't screw them over

>>44418685
>B. You'll find out soon enough, surely
>D. You hope Ansi's past doesn't screw them over

>>44418712
>>44418715
"We'll be back in Elza soon enough, find out then."

Irene nods. "I suppose you're right."

"The bounty hunter Clint, you say..."

Irene nods. "What of him?"

Lloyd shakes his head. "It's just... He and Ansi have. A history."

"Oh dear..." Irene says.

"If this screws them over somehow..." You groan, sipping your coffee.

"Mm," Irene responds, "that would be pretty bad."

The rest of your time spent in Ennase is... Pretty much uneventful, thankfully.

>To be continued next thread
Wasn't sure how else to continue this thread with anything more than an awkward-feeling excuse to choose to either hit on Irene or not.

Next thread MIGHT be another shifted-POV chapter, but I'll make it a start-of-thread choice, since you don't necessarily NEED to influence/see the events within.

Thanks for playing. Update twitter and ask.fm are qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around in-thread to chat for awhile.

>>44418926
Thanks for running.

>>44418960
Always a pleasure.