>>44425480
>Archive:
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>Character List
http://pastebin.com/GmA7UNt4

>>44425480
>>No sense putting it off, talk to your father
Aww yeah

>>44425480
>>No sense putting it off, talk to your father
At least tell him we've returned, it's only proper, even if we will have to actually discuss things with him another time.
Afterwards we can quickly meet Lucus and tell him to get some sleep, it would help both of us, and we'll talk about the future in the morning.

>>44425480
>No sense putting it off, talk to your father

>>44425480
>No sense putting it off, talk to your father
Noice, welcome back Lordy.

>No sense putting it off, talk to your father
Best quest is back

>>44425480
Sup Lordy, forgot to ask again because I'm a forgetful fuck, when can we expect a response to our letter at the soonest? I think you said the sea route would take it about 2 weeks to arrive, right? So about 4 weeks altogether if they also send back using the sea route? How long ago did we have the letters sent?

>>44425617
You've probably got about a week to go before a reply arrives if they sent one by sea straight away.

>>44425480
>No sense putting it off, talk to your father
Woo! Lordy's back!
I love all your quests, but the setting for this one is easily my favourite.

>>44425630
Hmm, right, I don't think we included an explanation for why we sent the letter both by sea and land, so I guess they'd be sending a reply back only one way unless they got someone who figures out our intentions and they care enough to want to make it fast and sure to arrive.

It has to be done, I suppose. Rising from the table and telling one of the servant girls to pass on my thanks to the chef, I make my way through the quiet house up to my father's room, which seems to be where he's been spending most of his time these days.

I'll admit I spend perhaps a little too long hovering outside the door. I suppose I'm just not eager for another session of banging my head against a wall, which talking with him always feels like. Eventually, with a sigh, I knock on the door.

Several seconds of silence I knock again, hearing a crash of something expensive hitting the ground as my father makes himself known with some muffled cursing and shuffling about. The door creaks open a crack, my father peering round the edge. He's not looking great, although by his standards over the past few years, it's far from his worse. Dark circles under his eyes, his hair a tangled mess, and he seems to be starting to grow a very unkempt beard.

“Oh, Sief, you're back,” he smiles, the door swinging open wider, an awkward silence descending over us as he hovers halfway through the door in his nightclothes.

Well, he doesn't smell of booze, so that's a good thing, I think. Clearing his throat, my father takes a step back, glancing into his room, which it looks like he's spent the past three weeks camping in, if I had to guess.

“I slept in,” he shrugs, an excuse even he doesn't sound like he expects me to buy.

So now, what to talk to him about? Aside from Quala of course, I'm certainly not talking about that, I've no desire to deal with perverse jokes about Iquani girls every time I see him for the next five years of my life.

>Write-in

>>44425721
Flatterer.

>>44425737
If you didn't include the explanation then that was an oversight on my part, I had intended for you to, so they will be aware of the land and sea thing.

>>44425745
Bringing a lost guy out of the forest, what stump told us, if he has any ideas for us to set up a trade road. Also we're apparently so good at killing Kelpies the flee us.

>>44425745
We have a possible trade route that could greatly enhance our house. We just need to clear a path through the forest.

>>44425745
Tell him everything but keep the relation with Quala under wrap, be sure to thank him about the kelpie tip, he's the one who warned us about the "horse alone by the water" right?

>>44425762
Oh you might have included it, I just don't remember mentioning doing so while discussing it.
Honestly coming up with the land&sea thing is one of the thing I'm proudest of when it comes to this quest, even if it does end up having no effect.
>>44425745
>I'm back, killed the giants, didn't run into too much trouble, got some loot. If at some point he feels able to to discuss things in more detail at a level similar to the night before I left, we can, i guess.
>Also found some time travelling guy in the forest and pissed off some great beast. I'll go and try to make sure he doesn't do something too stupid, if he has nothing else to talk about.
>...it's nice, not being greeted by the smell of booze when meeting him, that is.

>>44425745
Ask about how he's been while we were away

>>44425781
Sief the Kelpie reaper

>>44425828
Yup

>>44425745
>"I'm getting married apparently."

As a joke

>>44425989
stop triggering me

Writing.

>>44426043
Oi m8 you alright?

Nodding at his flimsy excuse, I step inside the room. It certainly smells like he's been living in here.

“I was hoping I could run through a few things with you quickly,” I start, glancing around as my father sits himself down with a yawn.

“I suppose, things have been rather quiet while you've been away.”

I bite my tongue before I can point out how many things there are that he could be doing as the lord of these lands in my absence. Probably best to save on any arguments quite this soon.

“Well, first off, I should thank you. Your advice helped a great deal, I managed to put down a fair few kelpies while I was away.”

“Oh, okay, that's good,” my father nods, glancing away and clearing his throat.

“Anyway, it's been a successful trip. I even spoke with one of the Khan's family about setting up a trade route through the forest. We'll need some funds to get it started, but I think it could really help out our lands. If you're alright with it?”

My father shrugs, scratching behind his ear. “Will I have to do anything?”

“You might, although I'd imagine most of it would just be signing a few documents to get things moving.”

“You sure about this, Sief? We don't really need to make that sort of effort, do we?”

I sigh, folding my arms.

“Father, let's be honest here. Title and lands aside, we're damned near broke. If it wasn't for our family name and the privileges that go with it, we'd be on the streets. I'd like our family to be a little more self-sufficient is all, and making some friends across the border wouldn't hurt either.”

“You'll make some enemies too, doing something like that, but okay, if you want, I suppose I'm not going to stand in your way. Just don't bother me too much with it.”

(cont)

>>44426768
>4
I nod, looks like I've got his permission, or at least his disinterest, which is about the best I could of hoped for really. I won't be getting any help though, so I suppose I'll have to figure this out myself, or find someone who can give me some advice on the matter.

“We will also have a guest staying here for the time being. Do you know a Lucus Eranhel?”

My father raises an eyebrow.

“I thought he was dead, and a traitor to the Empire.”

“Not dead, just trapped by a Leshy for the past spirits know how long, and rather shaken up by the experience. As for the other part, I... think he may not have been involved in his family's dealings.”

“You can think what you want, whether the crown agrees is another matter entirely,” my father sighs, slumping back in his chair.

“You think we should turn him in?”

“Probably, but you do what you want, just don't blame me if it bites you in the ass later. Anyway, you've told me about everything except the real reason you went out there, or did you get so wrapped up in all your little distractions that you forgot about the giants?”

I didn't forget. Mama Stump is gone, along with the rest of her clan,”

“Mmh, feel better now then?”

Well, he was more blasé about that than I expected. Frowning, I shake my head. “Those giants had killed a lot of people, and they were complicit in her death, the world's a better place for them being gone.”

“True, though I asked if you felt better. Anyway, since you said complicit, I take it this whole revenge thing is ongoing.”

Well, he's sharper than he is drunk, though I'm not particularly sure I like this tone any better, he's still far from how he used to be, that's for sure.

“Apparently Mama Stump was in league with some cult, the Gloaming Cult. Have you heard of it?”

I get nothing more than a vague shrug.

“So what, it's a dragon cult then?”

I frown, crossing my arms.

“A titan cult, yes, why do you say that though?”

“I just figured, Gloaming, you know...”

(cont)

>>44426784
He's giving me a look like I should be able to figure something out. Spirits, this is definitely different from talking to him drunk. With a sigh, he holds up a hand.

“Imperial History, Sief, this is the basics. Who were the four dragons who once ruled over these lands?”

“Jartixis, Orisian, Talari and Zorakkian.”

Of course, everyone knows that.

“...and their titles.”

It feels like I'm back sat at my desk with my old tutor.

“The Unseen Mist-Winged Terror Incarnate, the most Blessed and Immortal Dragon of Twilight...”

“Yeah, Orisian. I mean, if it's a cult calling themselves the Gloaming Cult, I just kinda figured, you know, maybe they're related to him.”

I did not make that connection. Orisian, one of the four dragons who once controlled these lands, and one of the three slain during the great wars which forged the Empire. Perhaps a cult formed from remnants of Orisian's slaves, or just madmen using the dragon's name for their purposes. Either way, this does give me another avenue of investigation.

“Anyway, I'm still kind of tired, so unless there's anything else?” my father yawns again, pushing up from his chair.

>No, that's everything (Go see Lucus)
>No, that's everything (Go do some research on Orisian)
>No, that's everything (Go see Thurstan about this trade route)
>Actually, there was one more thing... (write-in)

>>44426754
Yeah, s'all good, just got called away for a few minutes.

>>44426800
>>No, that's everything (Go see Thurstan about this trade route)
Trade's good. I like trade.

>>44426800
I don't suppose our father would know more about whether we know/have any holy men around than Sief would, so if I1m right, then
>No, that's everything (Go see Thurstan about this trade route)
Let's give Lucus some more time, he probably slept in, having been exhausted as fuck.
I say we do stuff about this trade thing, then talk to him, then do some research. Maybe talk to Paxton as well at some point.

>>44426800
>No, that's everything (Go see Thurstan about this trade route)
We need that dosh for dank golem uppgrades

>>44426800
>>No, that's everything (Go see Thurstan about this trade route)

Can't resist the lure of TRADE it seems.

Writing.

Reminder that we'll need to take care of the Leshy before we can begin to TRADE.
Maybe we could ask that stuck up golem knight for assistance or advice?

“No, no, that was everything,” I reply, shaking my head, glancing around the room as I head for the door.

“Perhaps you should take a walk, or at least open some shutters, it's a bit... stuffy in here.”

“Yeah, I might do that later,” my father yawns, though the lack of conviction in his voice doesn't fill me with hope for that being true.

This is still a step up from his drinking though, right?

I suppose I'll have to wait and see in that regard. Now that I have his go-ahead on matters though, I can start thinking about how this whole trade thing is going to work. The next person to speak to would be Thurston. Venser is our only real town, though calling it a town might be stretching that definition somewhat. Anyway, if anyone would be able to point me in the right direction on mustering manpower or talking with traders, it would be Thurston.

Since Raziel is still undergoing some much needed maintenance by the looks of it, I take one of our few remaining horses into town, the rest having been sold off to fund my father's habits long ago. Things are peaceful along the road, and I pass a fair few woodcutters and farmers going about their business, along with a few travellers passing through. Things seem a lot more relaxed now, I suppose it's been long enough that everyone has figured that there aren't more giants to continue the grisly work of the two Paxton and I put down before.

(cont)

>>44427309
I leave the horse tied to a post outside the mayor's house, hearing a muffled “just a moment please” echoing out from an upstairs window as Thurston rushes down to answer the door, the mayor's sweaty, beaming visage coming into a view a minute later as he grasps hold of my hand to give it a friendly, if somewhat moist, shake.

“Lord Sief, it's so good to see you. I was so worried when I heard that you'd gone off on a journey. If anything were to happen to you it would be a great loss for us all.”

“Thank you Thurston,” I smile, politely but firmly extracting my hand from his clammy grip.

“Oh, how rude of me, ah, would you like to come inside? Perhaps some tea? Something to eat? Have you had lunch yet?”

>I was just stopping by quickly
>I suppose I could come in for a few minutes
>I suppose I could join you for lunch

>>44427324
>>I suppose I could come in for a few minutes
Sit down to talk, then once we're done head out. We have things to take care of yet.
This is seeming to be a more SoL/politicking session.

>>44427324
>>I suppose I could join you for lunch

>>44427324
>I suppose I could join you for lunch

>>44427029
Such a lust for trade

>>44427324
>I suppose I could join you for lunch
We also need some plans for taking care of that Leshy since it seems like its a big step up from killing giants in the danger scale

>>44427324
>>I suppose I could join you for lunch

>>44427426
>>44427432
>>44427454
>>44427464
We just had breakfast before we talked to our dad.

>>44427494
Let's just stay over for dinner more as a formality so that we can talk more about the trade route

>>44427601
We can't talk about the trade route for too long without specifics, which we won't have as long as the Leshy's around.
And we have other things we could do.

I think people haven't realized that he only invited us for lunch out of politeness and in fact he already has a guest.

>>44427324
>>I suppose I could join you for lunch

I'm not really all that hungry, but I suppose I could have a light lunch while I discuss matters with Thurston.

“Well, I suppose I could stop by for lunch, nothing too heavy though, I didn't eat all that long ago,” I smile.

“I understand, wouldn't want you to end up looking like me,” Thurston chuckles, patting his belly as he ushers me inside.

Giving a smile, I head through to the dining room, Thurston offering me a seat at the table as his wife bustles around bringing out bread and cheese for the two of us, assuring us that soup is on the way shortly.

“So, to what do I owe this visit, Sief?” Thurston smiles as he carefully arranges the food on his plate, nibbling at a piece of cheese.

“I was hoping we could talk about trade.”

“Oh, well of course. We have a little bit of trade, but it's mostly just passing through I'm afraid.”

I know a little bit about this already. While we do have plenty of wood for trade with the less forested regions of the empire, the east in general doesn't lack for that resource to export, and other, more proactive lords have better positioned themselves to snap up all the most profitable business in that regard. Perhaps if we had some more unusual resources to trade, but that would require prospecting in the forest for some good metals, or some more exotic goods from further afield, the Iquani Expanse for example...

“Actually, I wanted to talk about something a little different. On my journey, I happened to speak with one of the Khan's family about the possibility of trade between us and the Iquani.”

(cont)

>>44428314
“That's... uh, that's a lot of ground to cover, Sief, dangerous ground.”

“I know it won't be easy, a proper road will need to be built, with patrols to keep it safe, and that's before we even come to the main problem of the Leshy.”

Thurston blanches at that one, picking up a napkin to mop his brow. “A leshy? Near here?”

“I don't think its territory expands this far west, or we would have run into it before, but if we're going to make a road through, it's not going to like that.”

“I see. Uhm, well, I suppose you'd need to fund the necessary forces to remove the Leshy, and then provide for a force of workmen to build the roads, and some guards to keep them safe. This would be rather a long and costly venture I would imagine... Perhaps, perhaps something to consider for a more stable time, Sief?”

I appreciate him not saying it at least, but we're both thinking it. There's no way my family could afford that, and we aren't friendly enough with any other lords in the area that they'd be willing to aid us out of goodwill. Which means I'll need to find someone to fund this, preferably without them taking too overwhelming a slice of the profits.

“Can you think of anyone who might want to involve themselves in this venture?”

“Well, uhm, you'd need to talk to some of the more well-connected merchants I would imagine, or a lord who might benefit from the added traffic. Perhaps try writing to the Kenswick Merchant Concern, they're without a doubt the most wealthy option, though of course, master Kenswick would expect to take a... guiding hand on the venture. One of the smaller merchant groups might be more manageable, though of course you would have to work harder to convince them to take the risk. Maybe Kristopher Ornrey or Monte Votell, I've had some dealings with them in the past.”

(cont)

>>44428335
I nod, I can't say I know much about any of those individuals, beyond the fact that Kenswick is, for a man without a house or any knightly heritage, still a man to be treated with care and respect.

“As for guards, well, I suppose you'd have to look into hiring on some mercenaries or out-of-work soldiers. It's not something I know a great deal about, but I know there's a fair few men up north along the Garou border without much to do since the raids died down, and I think... I think there's always a fair few mercenaries looking for work in the city, over in High Lord Vere's lands.”

>Thank him for his time, you'll have to think about this some more
>Discuss matters further (Write-in questions/conversation topics)

>>44428360
Ask how hard it would be to get a holy man to do some work for us over in the Iquani lands.
Ask about how difficult it would be if we take the Leshy out of the picture.
Talk about encouraging immigration with lumber work, construction, and guard duty.
Say that maybe we could get some support from the Iquani, since this would be a mutually beneficial venture.
Ask about the man who we met with him before, the one with the strange golem, is he still around?

Votes'll be closing in around ten minutes. I'm going to be away for a bit after that, but next post should be up within the hour.

>>44428432
Seconded.

>>44428360
Ask him if he could feel out the smaller merchant groups to find some possible candidates.

>>44428360
>Thank him for his time, you'll have to think about this some more

Well, we couldn't really come up with much good, I guess our other usual planners aren't around right now.

>>44428432
Thirded. And thank the spirits that GKQ is back!

I just stumbled upon the thread after a long night partying.

Back and writing.

>>44428432
>Talk about encouraging immigration with lumber work, construction, and guard duty.
Might be good to offer temporary decrease in tax compared to other places in the empire for immigrants? Like, for the first couple months or a year or something. Obviously an economy expert would be better to ask about this, but still.

>>44428360
Seconding this post; >>44429189

“How hard do you think it would be to take the Leshy out of the picture, if we did hire on some additional soldiers?”

“I, uh, well I'm afraid military matters are rather outside of my area of expertise. Leshies are dangerous things though, so I can't imagine the forces necessary will come cheap. Perhaps you should talk to someone of a more militant bent about that one.”

I nod, giving a thank you to Paula as she puts a bowl of soup down in front of me.

“I see, I'll look into that later. How about immigration, could we encourage more people to come here to work, lumber, construction, guard duty, perhaps in exchange for lesser taxes for the first few months?”

“Well, I would imagine we'd certainly get some takers if we offered that, though the threat of forest beasts unnerves a lot of folk, not to mention that... well... taxes are somewhat slim as it is. Still, I'm sure we could afford to take in a few new people provided they were willing to pull their weight, and provided we could start turning a profit off their labour in short order. Perhaps even an offer of land to work when the road is complete and the treeline is pushed back somewhat? Space is something we have no shortage of, after all.”

“Maybe, well, could you look into that for me?”

“I'll ask around a little, of course, though I doubt it'll be a fast response.”

“Oh, and, while you're at it, could you maybe ask around about a holy man willing to travel across the border?”

“Do you, mind if I ask why?”

“I need the site of an old battleground purified, it will help with our financial situation a great deal, and help relations with the Iquani too, I think.”

(cont)

>>44429605
“That's... that's some big work. I'll talk to a fellow I know who trades in religious carvings, I think he has some contact with the temples back west.”

“Aside from that, I think I could probably get some Iquani aid in securing the route, provided they could see work underway.”

“Ah, well that would certainly be useful, a few of those behemoths would work wonders for scaring off the boggarts and whatnot. Still, be careful about inviting them inside our borders, wouldn't want to be responsible for any international incidents, that's for sure.”

“That's for sure. Alright Thurston, can you feel out the smaller merchant groups for me, see if any might be interested? No-one too big, I'd rather not have this whole thing taken over.”

“Of course Sief, of course. Um, I... I do have other duties to attend to obviously, but I'll get on that as soon as possible.”

I nod. Looks like this is going to take some time, Thurston seems to have some ideas on who to talk to, so I suppose I could leave it to him, or maybe try to take a more personal hand in it. Though that might leave me less time for pursuing other personal endeavours.

>Leave it to him for now
>Ask if there's any merchant groups you could talk to directly

>>44429605
>“I need the site of an old battleground purified, it will help with our financial situation a great deal, and help relations with the Iquani too, I think.”

oh, please have Thurston's eyes turn into dollar signs (or nearest equivalent)

>>44429624
>Ask if there's any merchant groups you could talk to directly

>>44429624
>Leave it to him for now

>>44429605
>How hard do you think it would be to take the Leshy out of the picture, if we did hire on some additional soldiers
Uh, my suggestion was more about asking how hard setting up the trade route and such would be if we didn't have to deal with the Leshy at all.

>>44429624
>Ask if there's any merchant groups you could talk to directly

>>44429677
I'll say this now. Leshy is not something you can deal with just by yourself, or avoid dealing with. If you want to make the route, you're going to have to take it down, and for that you're going to need assistance.

>>44429624
Ask if he thinks us talking to the merchants would help significantly, and if yes, have him send for us about setting up a meeting.

>>44429624
>>Ask if there's any merchant groups you could talk to directly

I can't really think of much that could demand all our time right now.
We can train, research about that one dragon, talk to Lucus, talk to dad, talk to Virgil, and that's pretty much it, I believe.

Writing.

>>44429701
There any way of convincing young nobles to help us kill it by paying them with the honour and experiece of slaying a Leshy? (The answer is no isnt it)

>>44430065
Why would you want to get them killed?

>>44430065
It would require quite some convincing, not impossible though I suppose.

You'd probably lose at least a few of them during the battle though, which might lead to some awkward conversations with their families.

>>44430092
Nothing like a mob of trained youth in golems with something to prove.

>>44430092
>>44430097
Killing young nobles is fun and invigorating in an "I did something unwise" way, like burning the only bridge during a lumber shortage.

>>44430112
I mean, I guess they could be a little useful if we equip them with crossbows and bows and handcannons to have them pepper the Leshy with ranged attacks while Sief, Paxton, and Lucus engage it in melee, or something.

Mercenaries are probably the best bet for the Leshy, because though Sief probably wouldn't consider this a reason for hiring them, you don't have to pay dead people.

“If you could set up a meeting, are there any merchant groups I could talk to directly?”

Thurston taps a finger on the table, chewing idly on some bread as he thinks.

“Ah, well, there's one or two. Though none of them are local per say, and they might take some time to be able to send a representative here with any real authority. Would you like me to ask them to send someone down? Errm, Kristopher Ornrey or Monte Votell would still be your best bets.”

I nod, I suppose this is considered something of a backwater, unfortunately. Even for a smaller merchant group, it will be far from their prime concern.

(cont)

>>44430344
“Alternatively, I suppose you could go and visit them directly, if you're of a mind to do so? Votell operates out of Lenestail and Ornrey out of Rochesk, which would be a fair few days journey, but far from as challenging as your last trip away from home I'd dare say,” Thurston smiles, sipping down the last of his soup.

Lenestail is over near Vere's lands. While it's certainly a wealthier area, I... am not entirely certain I want to make my intentions too obvious to Vere, he's never been all that fond of my family, after all. Still, if I'm quiet, I might be able to avoid his notice, and if he's operating out of Lenestail, Votell is sure to have some gold to spare provided I can get his attention.

Rochesk isn't in Vere's lands at all, it's north, over the border into High Lord Gormorn's patronage, not far from the Garou mountains. Not as wealthy an area as Lenestail, but I would imagine that the merchants there would be more receptive to offers of new business, and more used to the rigors of the frontier.

This is all guesswork of course, but I'm hardly a merchant, or knowledgeable on such matters beyond what's required to run a house.

>Set up a meeting with a Votell representative
>Set up a meeting with an Ornrey representative
>Ask Thurston to send a message ahead to Lenestail to Votell that you'll be visiting with a proposition
>Ask Thurston to send a message ahead to Rochesk to Ornrey that you'll be visiting with a proposition
>On second thoughts, perhaps you should wait for Thurston to find a few other alternatives

>>44430260
Doesn't that only apply if you hire individually and not in groups/companies/ whatever organisational unit mercenaries could use?

>>44430360
>Ask Thurston to send a message ahead to Rochesk to Ornrey that you'll be visiting with a proposition

>>44430360
>>On second thoughts, perhaps you should wait for Thurston to find a few other alternatives

>>44430360
>Ask Thurston to send a message ahead to Rochesk to Ornrey that you'll be visiting with a proposition

>>44430360
>Ask Thurston to send a message ahead to Rochesk to Ornrey that you'll be visiting with a proposition

>>44430360
>On second thoughts, perhaps you should wait for Thurston to find a few other alternatives
Might as well consider our options

>>44430360
>>Ask Thurston to send a message ahead to Rochesk to Ornrey that you'll be visiting with a proposition

>>44430360
>>Ask Thurston to send a message ahead to Rochesk to Ornrey that you'll be visiting with a proposition

>>44430360
>>On second thoughts, perhaps you should wait for Thurston to find a few other alternatives
Ornrey is definitely the best option, but I want to take care of some things before committing to anyone.

>>44430360
>>Ask Thurston to send a message ahead to Rochesk to Ornrey that you'll be visiting with a proposition

Writing.

>>44430503
I'll leave the time of the meeting fairly vague so that you don't feel like you have to rush up there if you've got other things to do first.

>>44430538
How should we interpret "fair few days", by the way? 2 to 3, or 6 to 7? Provided no significant detours, that is.

>>44430570
Around a week at least.

>>44430584
>>44430570
Oh wait, sorry, I was thinking of something else. No, the journey to Rochesk would take three to four days barring detours.

“Could you send a message to Kristopher Ornrey for me, let him know that I'll be coming up to see him at some point?”

“Oh, well of course, I can send a letter up with one of the merchants connected to him we have passing through,” Thurston nods with a smile, clapping his hands together.

“Thank you Thurston. I'll be in touch if there's anything else I need to speak with you about,” you nod, rising from the table, having helped yourself to a little bread and soup.

“Yes, yes of course, please, let me see you to the door,” Thurston beams, rising and heading out to the front door with you.

“I must say, it's rather exciting to have things happening around here, well, good things anyway.”

I nod, smiling. “Oh, whatever happened with Sir Tristram?” I ask, remembering the emaciated knight as I step outside.

“Oh, yes, he already returned to High Lord Vere, he was only really here to check up on the Iquani delegation I think. I fear he wasn't overly happy here, I do hope we didn't do anything to offend him,” Thurston frowns, starting to sweat a little more than usual.

“I don't think you have to worry about that Thurston. Sir Tristram is just a... stoic individual, is all.”

“Yes, yes, you're probably right, made of sterner stuff and all that,” Thurston nods, smiling.

Made of sterner stuff, and liable to blow away in a strong breeze. Still, I suppose I shouldn't disrespect a fellow knight, even if I do find him somewhat unpleasant.

With nothing left for me to do in town, I start the ride back to the manor, uneventful as the one down there, for which I'm thankful. There's still quite a few hours left in the day, more than enough time to get some more done before the sun sets.

>Go check on Lucus
>Go to the library, you have research to do
>Spar with Paxton

>>44430725
>>Go check on Lucus

>>44430725
>Go check on Lucus

>>44430725
>Go check on Lucus

>>44430725
>>Go check on Lucus

>>44430795
Whoops sorry about the name

>>44430725
>Go check on Lucus

Writing.

I suppose it's about time I checked up on Lucus, I wouldn't want him to do anything regrettable after all. Returning the horse to the stable, I ask a passing servant, who directs me to the Golem Hanger. Lucus is easy enough to spot, loitering by the gates of the hanger, watching the artificers work.

He looks better than I'd expected, and far better for having gotten himself cleaned up last night apparently. Without the grime, tangled mass of hair and scraggly beard, he looks far more like a proper golem knight and less like a madman I dragged in the forest. Of course the look in his eye still bears a bit of the forest madman about it, but something tells me those issues are going to take a lot more to clear away than a bath and a shave.

“Sief,” Lucus nods, as I step up alongside him, watching Vergil direct the artificers as they remove a mangled plate from Ose's leg.

“Lucus, I hope the room was alright.”

“It was, yes, though I think I would have settled for anything after sleeping in the forest the past few mo-... years,” he frowns, cocking his head as he watches the plate being lowered to the ground.

“Your artificers are a bit slow.”

“They don't have a great deal of work usually, so they might be a bit rusty. We're not at war now, after all,” I shrug.

“I don't see much cause for rushing anyway. I've got nothing to fight and nothing to defend.”

He's getting that intense look in his eye again, so I clear my throat, trying to draw him out of whatever gloomy thoughts he's latched onto.

“If you need anything, just let the servants know, I'm sure they'll be accommodating.”

“Your servant girl, Shae, has been very accommodating already.”

I suppose he could just be talking about providing clothing and care for him, but somehow I doubt it. I suppose he must have caught the look in my eye, given the way he winces.

(cont)

>>44431602
“Was I not supposed to? Was she yours? It's just that she was rather blunt about the whole thing, and spirits know I needed something to take my mind off things.”

“No, no, it's fine. Just, try not to get any of the servant girls pregnant or anything,” I groan. Our lands have more than their fair share of bastards already I'd wager, don't need to add more complications to the list.

“Sorry Sief. I think I got it out of my system anyway. It's been a while since I saw a woman, even if you don't account for the Leshy's twisted witchery. I'm sure you know how it is.”

I really don't know how to react to that. First my father, now Lucus, am I really the strange one here? Apparently I let the silence stretch on too long, and gave Lucus time to draw conclusions in any case.

“Wait, so... not with any of them? Not even with that beauty I saw you talking with before, you certainly seemed close enough to me.”

“No, I just... I have had other things to worry about is all,” I frown, shaking my head as Lucus gives something almost resembling a slight smile.

“You're missing out, my friend. It's best to enjoy yourself when you're young, handsome and adventurous. Before you're old, bitter, and saddled with a rapidly expanding wife. That's what my uncle always used to say. Live like an ascetic on the other hand and something's likely to drop off from disuse.”

Groaning, I rub a hand over my face, Lucus drawing some amusement from my discomfort I'm guessing judging by the slight chuckle. I suppose I should be thankful that this has cheered him up somewhat, even if it has been at my expense.

>Ask Lucus if he wants to journey up to Rochesk with you soon
>Ask Lucus if he'd be willing to help you fight the Leshy if you can gather some support
>Leave him be for now
>Other (write-in)

>>44431626
>Ask Lucus if he wants to journey up to Rochesk with you soon
>Ask Lucus if he'd be willing to help you fight the Leshy if you can gather some support

>>44431626
>Ask Lucus if he'd be willing to help you fight the Leshy if you can gather some support

>>44431626
>Ask Lucus if he'd be willing to help you fight the Leshy if you can gather some support

>>44431626
>>Leave him be for now
We got some spirit in him at last, let's not bring up the Leshy again so soon.
Also I doubt he'd be of much benefit while talking with the merchant.
I think Sief should have a little talk with Shae, in which he tries to reprimand her but the discussion doesn't conclude in his favor for the most part.

>>44431626
I guess we can thank our dad for upgrading our manor so that it can function as a brothel as well...

>>44431626
>Ask Lucus if he'd be willing to help you fight the Leshy if you can gather some support

>>44431656
>>44431673
>>44431677
>>44431736
>Finally it seems he's got some life in him, a little rest and peace did him some good
>"So, about that murderous beast who caused your life to be a living hell for a long time, want to go fight it?"
Come on lads, get a little social sensitivity, this isn't a topic we should bring up now when we finally got him to be a bit light hearted.

>>44431626
>Other (write-in)
Ask Lucus if he might know of any merchants or mercenary companies who might be able to assist us with this trade route. If he does then they might still be around.

“I'm going to be heading up to Rochesk soon, trying to make arrangements for a trade route from my family's lands to the Iquani,” I explain.

“Still getting used to this idea of the Iquani being allies,” Lucus sighs.

“I plan to try to acquire some additional soldiers or mercenaries too, to help clear out the route. When I do, would you be willing to help in the fight?”

“Ah,” Lucus frowns, catching onto exactly what fight I'm referring to.

There's a long silence between us, as Lucus watches the artificers hammering out dents in the plate. Looks like this one can still be salvaged, though there's a few others that will need to be replaced entirely.

“I'll help. There's a lot of things I'm still trying to make sense of, but I know putting that fucking thing in the ground will make me feel a lot better.”

I clap a hand on Lucus' shoulder, the young Eranhel giving me a stern nod.

“Anyway, I'm guessing that's not for a while yet. So no need to rush with the repairs,” he shrugs.

>Discuss something else with Lucus (write-in)
>Go to the library, do some research
>Skip ahead a few days to the letter arriving
>Other (write-in)

>>44432013
Lucus was from the south-west of the empire, literally the opposite side of it. If any of the people he knows of are still around, they're a long, long way away from you.

>>44432221
>Skip ahead a few days to the letter arriving

>>44432247
Well, not the really close family stuff, but cousins is fine.

>>44432221
>>Skip ahead a few days to the letter arriving

Y E S
E
S

Is incest allowed in the Empire?

>>44432221
>Go to the library, do some research

>>44432221
>Go to the library, do some research

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28 KB JPG

>>44432245
Oh. Okay
>Skip ahead a few days to the letter arriving

>>44432221
>Go to the library, do some research

BACKGROUND FLUFF!

>>44432221
>Go to the library, do some research

>>44432221
>>Go to the library, do some research
Bring Lucus along, maybe he can help.
>>44432269
Don't eat your cake before you buy it, anon, we might not get one.
Also I'd rather not waste our precious time by skipping it.
>>44432261
Can we decide what Sief will be doing during the downtime, like we did with Ur? I doubt it's going to be as significant, but still, having him train and learn more lore would be useful.

>>44432391
If you have something in particular you want him to do during time skips you're welcome to say so, though obviously if it's something important that requires rather more attention than just being glossed over in a timeskip you should probably mention it beforehand.

>>44432431
Right well I just realized Raziel's being repaired and Sief doesn't really have stats like Ur does, so he can't just spend time improving those.
So I guess I got nothing.
I was just thinking of general shit, like learning more fighting, maybe trying out new golem weapons to learn how to use them therefor diversifying our arsenal of actual and improvised weaponry, learning about current politics, history, economics, I'd say learning languages like Ur does but that doesn't seem plausible in the short time frame. Practice more with the bow though since we obviously have a natural affinity for it.
>2nd place in Iquani competition
>nightmare of kelpies

>>44432221
>>Go to the library, do some research

Research time it is. I'm assuming you're reading up on Orisian, but if there's anything else you want me to cover, say so now.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>44432495
Rolling for bow skill

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>44432619
Wrong dice, and also, we already know that our bow skills are exceptional.

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>44432631
It seems it only works when girls/manly men are watching.

>>44432602
On the Leshy, on the lumbers and kind we can find in the forest maybe we have a map somewhere so we could find the optimal route to secure, politics and stuff.

>>44432602
Leshy as well I guess, what kinda ores can probably be found around here, what it takes to get mines set up, how roads are handled in construction and management.
I guess look up if we remember any cool loot from the battlefield we didn't grab and don't know exactly what it is? I doubt we'd have books on that though. Maybe like ghosts and what we encountered in the mesa?

Should Sief attempt to give a stern talking to to Shea directly, or attempt to seriously discuss her behavior with Lorenne? Lorenne is like head maid or something, right?
To be fair I really would prefer if our guests didn't talk of our manor as if it was the cheapest brothel in the empire. It's "fine" to do what the employees want in private as long as it doesn't negatively influence our image, but we'd rather such events don't become a very regular thing especially on the job.
This time will be overlooked because it seems it really did help Lucus a fair amount.

Or something.

>>44432602
>>44432702
>>44432761
Supporting

We should read that book our mother had about some marshlands or another, if we have it.
It's probably related to the mysterious cube.

>>44433118
maids fuck guests all the time all over the place for it is part of the job

>>44433195
Just because you got her into a maid outfit doesn't mean that's what maids do.

>>44433118
She was being a whore about it, so I assume this is just a normal thing. I'm sure our father has fucked her dozens of times

>>44433195
I'm sorry anon, I don't know how to tell you this more gently, but your mom isn't a real maid.

>>44433295
>>44433281
>>44433195
>>44433118
Clearly we need to add "Hire fewer sluts" to Sief's to do list.

Leaving Lucus to watch the repairs, I head to the library. It hasn't seen a great deal of use in the past few years, though the servants have at least remembered to keep dusting it. It's also mostly intact, I suppose finding buyers for the books was a little too much like hard work when my father was pawning our belongings.

My mother was the only one who really ever spent a great deal of time here, though I did have a fair few lesson here myself in my younger days. Wandering down the shelves, I let my eyes drift across the spines of the neatly arranged books looking for something on early Imperial history, or dragons, either one would be my best bet for Orisian.

Soon enough, I find something that looks like it fits the bill. “Rise and Triumph of the Empire.” It gets a little preachy in places, as I recall, but it's got a solid grounding, I think.

I thumb through the pages. Looks like it goes all the way back to the unification of the Hare-Kings and the rise of the first Emperor. Flicking forward a little I find the name I'm looking for at last.

(cont)

>>44433328
'In the dark days before the first Emperor, Dunstan, sometimes known as the Iron Hare, first put the fear of man into the foul titans and low race savages of the land, the Imperial lands were divided up between several vile titans. Talari controlled the central territories and the west, ruling from her golden temple, where slaves starved kneeling upon the steps singing her praises under the lash of monstrous overseers. Orisian dominated the north from his Tower of Stars, presiding over the dark mines beneath and the twisted pain cults that worshipped him as some cruel and capricious god. Zorakkian held the east, his horde of strange low race witches and forest beasts drowning in bloodlust, building great monuments to his sadism amidst the branches. Jartixis held the south under his claw, the fertile lands scarred by his wanton cruelty as his slave-soldiers burned those who displeased them on massive pyres for the amusement of their shrouded lord. Beyond those borders man fared no better, Thutis, the most accursed Leviathan, dominated the Sanctian Peninsula, and in those days even the barbaric peoples of the Garou Mountains and the Iquani Expanse had not yet thrown off the yoke of their titan masters.'

I flick ahead a few pages as the author goes into a long diatribe about the cowardice and weakness of the Garou and Iquani, which doesn't really seem all that necessary, but looking at the date of publication, I suppose this was written at a time when sentiment against the two peoples was at an all time high.

Finding another piece on Orisian, I continue reading.

(cont)

>>44433295
And I'd like her to not act so much like a whore anymore.
We can't really stop our dad from fucking our maids, but we can hopefully stop our maids from fucking every one of our guests.

File: Very rough map.png (11 KB, 743x683)

11 KB PNG

>>44433347
'While it is not for a man to understand, or wish to understand, the twisted mind of a dragon, Orisian was considered, even by the warped views of his peers, to be an aberration. Dragons have always placed great pride in their place as anointed high priests of their false gods, however Orisian took this view a step further, proclaiming that he held within himself a reincarnated fragment of one of these fictional titanic deities.

Orisian took great pride in his position as messiah, amassing great cults from his slaves, teaching them twisted and self-destructive means of debasing themselves for his amusement. Self-mutilation was common amongst his followers, and many died going to great lengths to prove themselves, to try to cleanse their souls of the supposed sin of humanity. Even to this day, the dessicated remains of Orisian's cultists can be found in mountain caves and burial mounds along the southern edge of the Garou Mountains, sealed up to contemplate in airless darkness upon their own failings in the eyes of Orisian's vile religion.

Thankfully, it was Orisian's abominable delusions which aided the Iron Hare in toppling the black-scaled titan, whose supposed messiah status has alienated him from his peers, who ignored his pleas for help as the Iron Hare and his Firedancer allies, equipped with the first prototype golems, turned the tables on the foul dragon during the Twilight Campaign, finally cornering him in his precious Tower of Stars.

(cont)

File: Pre-imperial map.png (18 KB, 743x683)

18 KB PNG

Orisian was slain in the great battle that followed. His forces scattered, the captives brought into the Iron Hare's forces or put to the sword, depending on the degree of the dragon's influence upon their minds. Some has suggested that the Iron Hare's pressing need for additional forces to combat Talari's counterattack led to his commanders being lax in their assessment of the prisoners, which has been the reason for countless splinter cults having festered from the descendants of Orisian's former slaves.

The last known cult, the Moon Crows, were executed some seventy years ago (which would be around a hundred and twenty from today) in the city of Ulida, and we can only hope that with this the Empire has finally brought a close to the lingering spectre of Orisian's foul influence.'

I sigh, leaning back on my chair. It's interesting, but I'm not sure how much it tells me. Orisian is from the north, that I already knew. Ulida is one of the major cities of the north, north-west of Rochesk, though a cult existing there over a century ago isn't the most solid of leads. Groaning, I push the book aside. I could search for some more information on Orisian, I suppose, if there's some particular area I wish to look into, or move on to something else entirely.

>Research more on Orisian (write-in areas of research)
>Move on to other things (to go onto the other topics you voted for before)

>>44433382
>>Move on to other things (to go onto the other topics you voted for before)

>>44433382
>>Move on to other things (to go onto the other topics you voted for before)

>>44433382
>Move on to other things (to go onto the other topics you voted for before)

>>44433382
>Research more on Orisian (write-in areas of research)
how cults were set up, if Mother's family ahd anything to do with major cult busting or fighting Orisian himself. Also check to see if Orisian knew any bodyhopping magic in rumors or legends.

>>44433382
>other
We can read about him more later, and also, we can maybe look for more info in Rochesk when visiting the merchant.
Not to be TOO meta but I feel we will just have to sit on the plot for a while, while taking care of more immediate things.
Should we write to our Iquani friends about the Leshy now, or after we have more specifics on the road from talking to the merchant?

>>44433465
Related to this I guess, I noticed that the Foundry Isles are where the Firedancer tribes lived, so I guess those tribes might have had a big role in developing golems, since our mom's from there and was a genius. Might be in the blood.

>>44433382
>Move on to other things (to go onto the other topics you voted for before)

Writing.

I spend a little more time reading up on Orisian, about how his cults were set up, and about what sort of magic he was capable of. Unfortunately neither avenue provide me with much solid information. Dragons are credited with all manner of foul witchery, so I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could find some unverified account of a dragon doing just about anything, for all the good it does me. As for the cults, they don't seem to follow any set pattern, though most have retained some penchant for self-mutilation and potentially fatal acts of penance. They do all seem to focus upon the north of the Empire however, so if I did want to investigate further, that would be the most likely place to find more information.

Setting those books aside for now, I turn to a few of the other matters that have been on my mind. First and foremost, the Leshy. This proves to be no more forthcoming in solid information than information on Orisian's magic. Leshies are powerful and magical creatures, almost impossible to find unless they wish to be, and possessing some sort of parasitic link to the forests they dwell in. While they are deadly combatants, and several have been slain in the past, particularly during the campaign against Zorakkian, exact details on how to deal with them are rather vague. Forest fires are apparently a good way to lure them into an ambush, since they react poorly to damaging their territory, though of course such a fire can just as easily spread out of control and risk the lives of all those involved in the ambush.

(cont)

>>44434153
Moving on, I flick through some book on the geography and geology of the east. It's a dry, tiring slog, but it does turn up a few potentially useful facts. Firstly, as I already knew, the eastern forest has a great deal of valuable hardwood for lumber, mostly oak, though as you push deeper you start to come across rarer and more exotic varieties, not to mention an abundance of medicinal herbs. In some safer regions of the border, some people make good money going on scouting expeditions for such things. As for ores and metals. Iron, copper, and even some silver have all been found along the northern side of the eastern border. A fair amount of malachite too apparently. Most of the forest to the east of our lands is unexplored save for hunters and woodsmen, so who knows if there's any valuable locations for mining.

Aside from that, I pick up a few books on setting up mines, road building, all that sort of thing. It's rather heavy going, so I simply set a few of them aside to read at my leisure over the next few days. My eyes are already starting to blur from all the time I've spent in here, which judging by the look of the darkening sky, has been quite some time.

(cont)

>>44434167
“Ah, Sief, I was wondering where you'd disappeared off to.”

I glance over to the door, blinking the ache from my eyes to see Loren smiling at me.

“Just catching up on some reading, is dinner ready?”

“Almost. I believe Sir Lucus wishes to join you for it.”

I'm guessing by her omission that my father will be remaining in his room though. Loren crosses the room, leaning over to peer over my shoulder at the stack of books before me.

“Pain cults of the northern territories. Well that's... quite a hobby you've picked up there, Sief.”

I give her a frown, which earns an amused smile from Loren as she leans forward a little more to look at some of the other titles, making me painfully aware of how close my face is to... to her.

“Right, well, I'll be down for dinner soon, Loren. Thank you.”

She stands back up, giving a light laugh at my obvious discomfort. Seems she's getting back into the swing of embarrassing me.

>Ask her to talk to Shea
>Ask her to call Shea here so you can talk to her
>Forget it, head down for dinner

>>44434186
>>Ask her to talk to Shea
>>Ask her to call Shea here so you can talk to her

>>44434186
>Forget it, head down for dinner

>>44434186
>Forget it, head down for dinner
no reason to take action here

>>44434186
>>Ask her to call Shea here so you can talk to her
We need to Lord a bit

>>44434186
>Ask her to call Shea here so you can talk to her

>>44434186
>Ask her to call Shea here so you can talk to her

>>44434186
>Forget it, head down for dinner

>>44434186
Ask her to talk to Shea

and then Loren, knowing Shea's reputation, began to pout.
Or decided a healthy dose of Ara ara was appropriate.

>>44434186
>Ask her to talk to Shea

And

>Touch the cow. Do it now.

>>44434186
>Ask her to call Shea here so you can talk to her

>>44434186
>Forget it, head down for dinner
Nothing we can do about it, whores will be whores

Writing.

“Oh, and Loren,” I add, Loren pausing on her way back to the door to turn.

“Could you send Shea up here, I wanted to have a word with her.”

“Shea?” Loren asks, voice sounding a little incredulous. I hope she isn't drawing any dubious conclusions.

“Yes, I just needed to speak with her about something quickly before dinner.”

“Of course Sief, I'll go fetch her for you now.”

Sighing, I return some of the books to their shelves, aside from the ones I'm planning to read later, which I suppose I can have sent to my room. By the time I'm done, Loren has reappeared with Shea, another of the young maids my father is so fond of.

She gives a polite curtsey with a smile as I turn to face her, Loren rather conspicuously lingering by the door behind her.

Well, how do I approach this then? I must admit I've not really had a great deal to do with most of the serving staff save for Loren.

>Write-in

Also
>Tell Loren you wish to speak with Shea privately
>Let Loren stay

>>44434621
>>Let Loren stay

>>44434621
>Let Loren stay

>>44434621
>Let Loren stay


>Shea I heard you and my guest spent time "entertaining" each other. Please explain.

>>44434621
>Let Loren stay

I'm no good at writing dialogue, but we should tell shae to refrain from sleeping with guests as it reflects poorly on the house, and could negatively impact the families already waning reputation. bad reputation means the house earns even less money, maybe add a very poorly veiled threat that it would mean staff may need to be cut back even further to compesate for loss of already meager income.

>>44434621
Shea, I don't particularly care what you get up to in your personal time, but I do want to make sure you know that you aren't required to do anything of the sort to stay employed here, and that I hope you're taking precautions, being a single mother is a tough life, and he's probably not going to stick around to take care of you.

>Let Loren stay.

>>44434621
>Let Loren stay

>>44434621
>>Let Loren stay
So, I have heard that you were being a real whore today and while I know that my father is a debauched man I hold our servants to a higher standard . DON'T FUCK MY GUESTS
I'm bad at write ins

>>44434621
>Let Loren stay

>>44434621
>Let Loren stay

>>44434621
I can't really think of a write-in but we should tell her that her being such an unashamed whore makes our house look even more shitter and we know that the whole reason our father hired her was probably to fuck her but she should just not fuck guests we bring into the house

>>44434753
Seconding this desu

>>44434870
>>44434753
Autisticly and unashamedly calling someone a whore when not in the heat of the moment, or talking to an actual whore.

I somehow think calling her a whore from the get go is neither in character, nor is it reasonable.

>>44434924
It's exactly what she is and was probably hired for.

>>44434924
Cant help but agee

>>44434914
What do you call someone who has sex out of marriage with strangers and has no shame? slut?

Writing.

>>44434959
I call her a peasant who has no idea what is and isn't required of her since she's dealing with nobility.

>>44434621
>Let Loren stay
We need to ask her to be more...Discreet. And refrain from having any relations with the guests while working, at the very least. what she does on her own time is her business.

>>44434959
A social climber?

>>44434959
a teenager

>>44434959
Man, whatever youre repressing must be freaking NUTS if this is blowing your mind. This isnt particularly unusual in most societies and never has been

>>44434984
>>44434982
>>44434914
If she acts like a whore, she's a whore. You guys gonna whiteknight a fictional character now?

>>44435057
You realise the whole reason this conversation is happening is because the behaviour was considered the opposite of acceptable right?
the whole point is to fix the problem, not complain until she quits.

>>44435057
>She's slept with Two whole guys, that we know of.
>Shes a whore

The average /tg/ goer everyone.

>>44435057
She didn't get paid though

>>44435167
She was probably hired to have sex with Siefs father she does get paid.

>>44435205
There is literally no evidence to support this.What the hell is going on in here all of a sudden?

>>44435274
We're horny guys that have no chance of getting it on, so we're taking it out on a fictional character.

>>44435205
Regardless of that, being needlessly antagonistic gets nobody anywhere.

Going to have to jump off to sleep but keep up the Golem Knight Warlord. Really enjoy the quest.

>>44435274
We are cleaning house the estate has turned into a brothel practically.

>>44435355
I'd like to think we will at least try to retrain staff before replacing them, yes? it would be such a waste to have to hire and train new people.

>>44435205
I dunno I kind of feel like, when a man has sex with someone who is both their employee and their serf, the fault lies in the man exploiting two different forms of authority at once.

>>44435355
We can't exactly clean house while our dad would go hire more sex-servants. The best we can really do is say "can't stop you from fucking my dad's guests since he's usually a participant but don't fuck mine"

>>44435401
Thats some dangerously broad mindedness there Anon. were not going to have to break out the pitchforks and torches now, are we?

>>44435424
Even thats not necessarily the problem, its just shes doing it while shes working and thus representing the staff, and also not working. She can fuck whoever she wants as long as shes not doing it while representing us as an employee.

>>44435498
well, that and having some subtlety and discretion.

>>44435498
She's not representing us as an employee though, she's representing our dad as an employee, and quite well if I do say so myself

>>44435593
Not wrong there.

>>44435593
Blah blah, head represents the household, blah blah, we're part of the household, yadda yadda, im done.

“Shea, you spent some time entertaining our guest last night, I'm told.”

That made the smile grow a little uncomfortable. I frown, watching Shea as she does her best to avoid eye contact.

“I did, m'lord.”

“What you choose to do with my father, and his guests, in the privacy of this house is between you and him, but in future you are to refrain from acting in a way which might reflect poorly upon the house with other guests. Do you understand?”

“I do, m'lord, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-” Shea starts. Poor girl looks awfully pale, I suppose with how little I interact with the servants, she must not be sure what to expect.

I hold up a hand to stop her, shaking my head.

“As long as you understand, and act with discretion in the future, we will say nothing more on the matter, but I will not tolerate this house's reputation being tarnished further.”

“Yes m'lord. I'm sorry.”

Sighing, I gesture for her to go, Shea making herself very scarce very quickly. Loren glances at the retreating figure, closing the door behind her.

“She was always a bit of a flighty one, I'm afraid, and... well, since coming here she's gotten rather worse due to certain influences. I fear your warning will only last until the next time she spends time with the master of the house,” Loren sighs, shaking her head.

(cont)

>>44435738
Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about that. My father's word carries a lot more weight than mine, despite how he often chooses to use that authority. Still, for the time being I hope this will keep her from doing anything else too blatant. This place already has enough of a reputation as a den of debauchery with the neighbouring lords.

“Well, anyway, I'll keep an eye on the poor girl. She really isn't so bad when she can keep her mind on her work,” Loren smiles.

Scooping up the pile of books, I head out of the library, Loren shutting the door behind me. I suppose I'll have time to read through these over the next few days while I figure out my plans, and wait for various letters to reach their destinations.

(cont)

>>44435759
-

The next few days pass in relative peace. I spend some time catching up on my training with Paxton, who fluctuates between praising me on the fighting experience I gained out in the Expanse and grumbling about how sloppy some of my form has gotten. I even get in a bit of sparring with Lucus' repaired golem. He's a skilled knight, but his golem is rather outdated to say the least, so it feels a little one-sided when I spar seriously with him.

My father remains an illusive figure, and unfortunately it would appear that he has found his way back to drunkenness since my return, though he's yet to start consuming the same volumes as before. I don't know if this is a step in the right direction, or if he's simply relapsing to old behavior at a slower pace.

It's the morning of the sixth day since my return, another morning where I find myself pouring through a dry tome on prospecting and mine management, not entirely certain how much of the information is getting into my brain rather than just flowing over me. Lucus is out in the gardens, apparently, as is Paxton, whom I'm not supposed to be training with for another couple of hours. With so few staff, the house is rather silent, peaceful even, save of course for a certain presence lingering over my shoulder.

“You're far too young to be hunched over a desk all day, Sief. You'll go bald at this rate, and I happen to be rather fond of your hair,” Loren smiles, brushing a loose strand atop my head into place.

“I'll be done soon. Spirits know I can only take in so much,” I groan, resting my chin on my palm.

“Excuse me, I have a letter here for one Sief Atanor!”

A voice echoes up through the house, jolting the two of us out of our reverie.

“Goodness me, was that one of the servant girls? I didn't think things had slipped so far they'd just be screaming in the front hall,” Loren frowns, shaking her head.

>Ask Loren to go see who it is
>Go find out who this noisy individual is yourself

>>44435783
>Go find out who this noisy individual is yourself

>>44435783
>Go find out who this noisy individual is yourself

>>44435783
>Go find out who this noisy individual is yourself

>>44435783
>Go find out who this noisy individual is yourself

>>44435783
>Go find out who this noisy individual is yourself

>>44435783
>Go find out who this noisy individual is yourself

>>44435783
>Go find out who this noisy individual is yourself

Gee, I wonder how the vote will go

>>44435783
>Ask Loren to go see who it is

>not sending your servant to check out if the guy is a potential assassin
>not being paranoid

Writing.

>>44435969

“Goodness me, was that one of the servant girls?"
"guy" seems unlikely
WHAT IF OUR ESTRANGED FAMILY SENT US A WRENCH WENCH COUSIN?!

>>44435969
Its probably our cousin being funny or something.

>>44435969
>not thinking that you can handle any violence way better than she can
>no noblesse oblige

>>44436000
Eeey, cousin, it's me your cousin. Want to go see beeg Iquani TeeTees?

>>44436006
What if it is our cousin, but she just hates that "proper lady" routine and prefers to get to the point, and work and possibly admires and aspires to be as good as seif's mother?

I wonder how meeting seif's father will go?

You know in the future it might be better to bring up the "clear out ghosts" BEFORE the the trading route. Because first you sell them on "put noble imperial souls to rest, return family heirlooms" and why, of course those working on it will want to be supplied with some of the comforts of home.

I could send Loren to see who it is, but on the other hand, that would leave me here, with “The Merchant's Guide to Ore Trading and Mine Management”, which I believe I have spent entirely too much time in the company of already.

Pushing up from the chair, I head for the door, Loren falling into step just behind me as I head out. I swear she's been sticking to me closer than ever since I came back from the Expanse.

“Hellooo?” the voice calls again, as I step out onto the upstairs hallway, heading for the top of the stairs. It certainly doesn't sound like one of the servant girls, not that I'd claim to know how all of them sounds.

I step to the edge of the bannister rail, looking down into the entrance hall, seeing a figure stood in the centre of the hallway next to a very large case, waving a letter above her head. I was certainly not expecting this, not at all.

“Is that Tyra?” Loren gasps next to me, the figure in the hallway looking up.

It's Tyra alright, though she looks awfully different from the last time I saw her, which was, I suppose, many years ago now. Gone is the gangly, awkward gap-toothed girl I remember, charging around as a mass of tangled red hair and grass stains to the embarrassment of my aunt. She's looking a lot more like a civilized noble lady now, her wavy hair groomed into some semblance of order and swept into a parting to hang down her back, and while she does still seem to be favouring trousers over a dress, it's looking a lot more elegant and a lot less like she stole it from the gardener's son.

(cont)

>>44436551
She's grown up pretty too, I suppose, though that does seem to run in the family so I shouldn't be all that surprised. A worryingly familiar twinkle of mischief in her deep green eyes as she grins up at me.

“There you are, I was starting to worry you'd forgotten all about that letter you sent,” she grins, as I start down the stairs, Loren hurrying down alongside me.

“I hadn't forgotten the letter, I wasn't aware you were delivering the reply personally however.”

“Well, you did mention requiring some extra assistance in the artifice department, and...” Tyra starts, stepping up next to me and nudging me with her elbow, dropping her voice to a conspiritorial whisper.

“I'm actually something of an artificer myself, you know?”

“You don't say,” I sigh, raising an eyebrow at my cousin as her smile drops to a pout.

“You're entirely less excited by my arrival than I was hoping, and... you're taller than me now too, bah, you were cuter when you were tiny,” Tyra frowns, holding a hand above her head to measure the difference.

“I'm not unhappy to see you, though I hope there will be less pushing me into gorse bushes this time around,” I reply, giving a slight smile. All things aside, it is good to see her. I'm not letting her know that though, I still owe her at least that much payback for years past.

Still, she doesn't seem all that bothered by my lacklustre response, turning her attention to Loren, breaking into another wide grin.

“Loren, oh spirits, look at you, you don't look a day older, and you're still so damned soft,” Tyra laughs, clutching Loren in a tight hug.

“So, where am I going to be staying?”

“You're staying?”

“Of course, at least for the time being. I'll admit, I'm a little excited to work on Raziel. He's still something of a legend in the artificer community, you know.”

(cont)

>>44436567
I did not know that. I suppose my mother's pride and joy Golem would get something of a reputation, though I've never known anyone to come here asking about it.

Tyra smiles, rocking on her heels as she watches me, before lunging forward into another hug, damn near knocking me off balance before I catch myself, trying not to notice quite how much she's developed over the years. She on the other hand seems to have no such concerns, prodding at my back with her fingertips.

“You've gotten kind of muscular, huh? Would would've thought it,” she chuckles, squeezing me into a hug again.

I catch Loren giving me a smirk as I put my hands to Tyra's shoulders, gently extracting myself from the hug.

“I can have the servants take your belongings up to one of the rooms. I take it you'd like to see Raziel?”

“Mhmm, you guess correctly, come on, you can tell me all about what's been going on while we walk, we have a lot of catching up to do,” Tyra grins, linking arms with me as she walks me over to the hanger, evidently still remembering the way after all these years.

(cont)

>>44436584
I catch Lucus staring as we walk by, Tyra bugging me for all manner of petty information while seemingly skirting around the more obvious and gloomy issues of recent years, Tyra giving him an amiable nod as we pass, the two of us stepping through the open hanger doors.

Tyra gasps as she catches sight of the golems within, smile widening.

“Amazing, that's Paxton's old Legion golem, yes? Oh, and look at that one, a little outdated, but solid craftsmanship. Ooh, and Raziel,” she gasps, stepping forward, rolling the long, lacy sleeves of her shirt up to her elbows, sweeping her hair back into a loose ponytail as she circles the golem, an excitable smile on her lips.

“It's magnificent, isn't it?” she grins, turning to face me, one hand resting against Raziel's leg.

I can't help but stop, blinking as I take in the sight. It's got a strange, nostalgic feel about it, and brings a dull ache to my chest with it.

Still, I think... I think I'm very happy she's here.

>End of Thread

Well, this thread went on a little longer than expected. But I didn't want to finish it without introducing Tyra.

Hope you all had fun. I won't be sticking around for too long, but I can loiter for a least a little bit of Q&A if people have questions.

>>44436603
Thank you for the thread Grand QM, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

>>44436622
Thanks for running!

Will Tyra squee when she finds out about the Spriggan bark and Basilisk fang?

>>44436656
She will no doubt be pretty hype about it, that's for sure.

>>44436603
Raziel is her husbando isn't it?

>>44436666
>444
>6666
dayum

>>44436718
I have become hypersatan.

>>44436702
Yes, you will be cucked by your golem.

>>44436666
I somehow managed to fit between sleep and busy the whole thread but thank you for running my favorite quest you dirty Bastard

I actually thought you dropped this

>>44436747
Nah, I haven't dropped it. My schedule is just a bit irregular, plus I run way too many things but enjoy them all and don't want to drop any of them, so it tends to fluctuate.

>>44436759
So how much better is Tyra over our current guy? Did she bring her own?

>>44436815
Tyra's a trained Foundry Isles artificer from a respected family.

Sief doesn't know how good she is, but it stands to reason that she's probably pretty damned good.

>>44436848
She bring her own golem? Can we spar?

>>44436870
She doesn't own a golem, she's an artificer, not a knight.

>>44436882
Will we have to warn Tyra to stay away from Sief's father because he's a dirty old bastard?

>>44436882
Tyra's measurements compared to Loren's?

>>44436928
Loren is more curvy overall, but Tyra has an amazing ass

>>44436912
I doubt he'll try to fuck family considering he doesn't bother with Loren.

>>44436912
Up to you, a warning might not go awry though.

>>44436928
What >>44436944 said.

>>44436882
what happened with the green dohickey we found in the giant lair. The one that seemed familiar to our mom's work?

>>44436967
It didn't seem familiar to your mom's work, but you still have the stuff you brought back with you. Problem is that Virgil is still puzzling out what it is. Perhaps Tyra will have more luck.

>>44436956
What are the odds that Shea will be entertaining Tyra?

>>44437036
Outside of Sief's awkward sex dream, pretty low.

>>44437036
entertaining, or "entertaining"?

>>44437049
Low means there's still a chance! operation "cousins and the head maid" is a go. (because let's face it, Loren beats Shae.)

>>44437049
Awkward sex dream when?

>>44437085
Every night, anon, every night.

>>44437100
Nightly awkward sex dream pastebin when?

pls gib

>>44437080
Clearly we need to somehow get Qualaji, Loren and Tyra all with seif, admittedly Qualaji seems most (the only one) likely to be okay with it what with the polygamous culture. but well, a man can dream.

>>44437154
I've said it before and I'll say it again, if we get with Qualaji first then our prospective wife will know what she's getting into. That's the key to the whole thing.

Are you saying, get with Qualaji, and then somehow convince another woman that "it's all in the name of diplomacy" or some such and convince them to marry sief?

>>44437116
Enjoy
http://pastebin.com/q4ybRkNQ

>>44437360
Under imperial law whatever we had with Qualaji wouldn't actually be a marriage, so we'd need an imperial wife to have kids that aren't bastards.
It wouldn't exactly be "it's all in the name of diplomacy" but rather "hey your kids would still be the ones that inherit!"

>>44437397
I kek'd

>>44437397
I don't know why I'm laughing, but I am.

>>44437397
Seif is going to wake up with a raging erection and wonder if it was his patriotism or the ladies that caused it.

File: I just wanted a quick suc(...).gif (2.73 MB, 248x153)

2.73 MB GIF

>>44437397

>>44437467
Patriotism, always patriotism.

>>44437472
Now you just need to make the dream into a reality so I can write it properly.

The sex part I mean, not MegaRaziel. That part probably won't happen.

>>44437603
>probably won't happen.
BET NIGGA

>>44437603
admittedly, MegaRaziel was entertaining in a sort of cliched way, maybe Tyra will get Raziel close enough with her own tinkering. I would be okay if we didn't go Pacific Rim and need to pilots though

>>44437654
I'm sorry anon, real life Thurston will never unlock his true potential.

>>44437750
On an unrelated note, odds of the various women in Seif's life getting competitive with each other?

>>44437799
Well now, that's for you to find out, isn't it. Some will probably be more competitive than others, that's for sure.

>>44437833
Well, I'm excited now.

>>44437750
Quala what if paste wehn nigga when

>>44437980
Are you referring to when we had the chance and didn't take it anon?

Right, I'm going to call it a night now.

Thank you all for playing. Thread's archived here:
>http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Golem%20Knight%20Quest

See you all next time, which hopefully won't be too far off!

>>44437999
Woah woah woah, that's not on us we did our best, the problem was all on seif

>>44438224
I am almost certain I remember anons voting not to do it ( I was probably one of them too)
Though when I brought it up I didn't mean in maliciously, just as clarification.

>>44438254
Well we didn't vote to do it, because that literally wasn't an option, but we voted for every single option that moved us towards it.

>>44438385
oh? oh well, It was a while ago.

>>44437397
10/10 saved the world once again.

>>44436551
>>44436567
>>44436584
>>44436603
Tyra is cute.
CUTE!
I can't wait until we show her the loot.
Also, I wanna read the letter soon.
Also we might want to only give her mom's notes after she decides to stay here for longer than "for now at least".
I asked some questions on Lordy's ask so I suppose I'll wait for him to answer those instead of paraphrasing them here.

>>44437397
Wait... SIEF KNOWS WHAT SCISSORING IS?!?!

>>44437397
>Sief's Wet Dreams are about fighting monster's in giant mechs

He's clearly Gundam sexual.

Also, we should ask what makes Raziel so special. As I recall, he's supposed to be outdated.

>>44442030
Raziel is unique, possibly made by our mother, a prodigy artificer the caliber of whom hasn't lived since her death.

>>44441723
>>44437397
>Wait...
Given how many times he's had to enter his father's room, there is a good chance that he has glimpsed upon that kind of decadence.

>>44442154
True, but while it's s masterwork I still want to know what specifically makes it so amazing.

>>44442030
What >>44442154 says is correct. Raziel, despite not having been improved upon in many years now, is still on a par with the latest cutting edge golems Sief is aware of due to his mother's genius at artifice. Golem artificers at large are only now catching up with some of the experimental additions she made to the golem in her lifetime. The only problem is that it's a bit of a drain on mana batteries apparently, which Virgil assumes is a result of inefficient prototype components.

>>44441723
>>44443722
Sief's father, when drunk, loves talking about all his fun times loudly and publicly, so yes, Sief has heard all about servant girls scissoring. Despite being an awkward virgin, Sief's actual knowledge of sex is pretty comprehensive, much to his chagrin.