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Tensions are still high in Bolse's estate. While Riga has come to accept that Bolse had... Significantly less to do with this than anyone had ever suspected, much to his relief, she was still angrily recounting all that she'd pieced together between being a hostage of the Groznyi Group and when she and her charges were taken.

"Irene," Riga growls, fists balling up. "She... We were set up, right under Marrius' nose. She let Alice, Rune, and Tiamo die just so we could be taken. And Durvan! His own damned grandfather's probably in on this little cabal."

"I... Understand your anger," Asra says, "but if we're. Going to sort speculation, truth, and outburst, you will need to focus your thoughts."

"Sure as hell that Durvan LET the New Flight travel so easy with Lupus..." Riga says, breathing in and out. "Part of some... Old agreement."

"That would be... Former allies of prince Lars." Bolse says. "He had... Plans to unite the entirety of the continent under his hand. Break away from Dain, forcibly remove rulers he deemed unfit from power, once everything was in place, but he... died right as he was exacting his plans."

"And that shit's what got most of my family killed, and the entire Emperor's Flight besides my uncle, every last man and woman working the dungeon my grandmother kept... Their lives thrown away as collateral damage!" Riga barks. "And it took us months to even learn that he wasn't just as dead as the rest of them!"

>A. Maybe this isn't what Riga needs right now
>B. Suggest Riga should chill. She was a toddler at most when this went down.
>C. Yeah that's pretty messed up
>D. He was making one hell of an omelette
>E. Write-in response
>F. Be silent

>>44823074
>C. Yeah that's pretty messed up

>>44823284
"Er... Sorry you went through all that because of him," you say.

Riga buries her face in her hands and exhales loudly, turning towards Bolse. "Look, sorry I... Lashed out at you there. Blaming you for people using your son for shit beyond his understanding from long before he was conceived..."

"It's... fine," Bolse says hesitantly, quietly, fiddling with his magical earpieces. "If you don't mind, I would prefer we not... Talk about all of that."

"...sorry," Riga adds.

"It's..." Bolse shakes his head. "You were being mind-controlled. I can't hold you accountable."

"So all of this traces to Lars' sister, right?" Lyeim says. "She... Carried on his plans, did something to the continent so undead show up everywhere?"

Bolse nods sadly. "First her, then both of them with Lupus... We didn't see anything wrong with Esmer telling them stories about Lars."

"But..." Asra pauses. "I do not understand why someone inspired by him would order kidnappings."

Barely-audibly, Bolse says, "the Nameless Advisor... taught her and I necromancy. They. Might have corrupted her during her training." He shuffles uncomfortably, Asra looking horrified at the title being referenced. "With... All due respect, Paula was always. There was something about her."

"We... Never found out that person's name, their motivations... For convincing Emperor Elias to act as he did. But they could make Deadlords, presumably knew where to find and steal the spell in Tarvos Valley."

>A. Say something (specify)
>B. You're not sure what they're talking about
>C. This seems needlessly complex
>D. Go check on the other Lloyd
>E. Be silent

>>44823783
Vote time renewed.

>>44823783
>D. Go check on the other Lloyd

>>44824192
Rather than being subjected to further exposition, you head to the room where your counterpart rests.

You've lent him some better-fitting enchanted clothes than Bolse's robes, which somehow led to you giving yourself one of your nicer coats.

Currently, he's slowly pacing around the room, walking towards you with noticeable difficulty. "It's, uh... You, huh? Or... Me, I guess..." Your more rugged-looking yet less-fit counterpart chuckles, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "So, uh, you need anything?"

You shake your head. "Wanted to make sure I wasn't dead or something."

"Eheh, pretty funny..." You wonder if you would be this meek if you lost your memories.

>A. Ask if he remembers anything more yet
>B. Ask if he needs anything
>C. That's all. You're going now
>D. Try to say things that might trigger something (write-in)
>E. Awkward silence

>>44824450
>B. Ask if he needs anything

>>44824450
>B. Ask if he needs anything

>>44824464
>>44824473
"Anything I could get me?"

The other you rolls his eyes. "Alright, it's starting to get old... But, uh, not off the top of my head, thanks..."

You nod, starting to leave.

"H-hey, wait..." He calls lightly. His voice is a bit rougher than yours, so maybe his quiet tone is partially that giant neck scar?

Anyway, you turn around again. "Yeah?"

"I, uh... I dunno, be careful if you see any huge muscular girls. All I remember is being chased by one and passing out here, so... You might be mistaken for me... If I was followed all the way through the gate by that... That brute, whoever she was."

>A. You'll be careful
>B. Remind him who the spirit charmer is
>C. You can handle a big person
>D. What's he remember about her
>E. Write-in response

>>44824797
>D. What's he remember about her

>>44824820
"What do you remember about this woman?" You ask.

"N-not much," he says apologetically. "Not much... Just that she had a sword, was pretty big... I'm still not certain how I got away from her fast enough, or... Anything else about the chase, really."

"Alright, just... Thought I'd ask. Keep taking it easy, alright?"

"Sounds pretty tough..." The other you chuckles.

You wonder if you'll be able to get by just mentally referring to him as "other Lloyd," assuming this visit isn't the last you'll be seeing of him.

>A. Come up with a nickname (specify)
>B. Eh, not a big deal

>>44825031
>A. Come up with a nickname (Royd)

>>44825480
Or just Roy.

>>44825031
I am... Seriously sorry. must've passed out there or something. Working on the post now.

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>>44825480
"So," you say, "'other me' is gonna sound like a bit of a handful after awhile... How about 'Royd' or 'Roy' or something..?"

The other you blinks. "Uh... I, uh... I'm not all too sure about that one..." Doesn't sound like he likes it.

You shrug. It was worth asking him, anyway.

"Uh..." He says, noticing something as he looks out a window, "we've got company..."

Curious what he means, you see a few Dracozombies starting towards the house in a disorganized fashion.

>A. Hurry outside
>B. Let Bolse handle it
>C. Get away from the window!
>D. Simply tell the others
>E. Write-in response
>F. Stay in place and watch
(again, seriously sorry. I don't even know how/when I could've blacked out...)

>>44826171
Vote time renewed.

>>44826171
>C. Get away from the window!

>>44826591
You pull your counterpart away from the window. "Be more careful, man! I don't know how it is where you're from, and, uh, you... Probably don't either, but undead monsters like that can appear any time, and are aggressive towards... Pretty much EVERYTHING."

"R-right... I'll be more careful..." He stays where he is, out of the way of the enemies, as you slip into Bolse's parlor, where he's been discussing recent events with Lyeim, Asra, and Riga.

"Trouble outside," you say plainly, "dracozombies. We didn't see how many."

From another room, you hear Gonzo grumbling under his breath, and by the time the five of you leave Bolse's parlor, Une, Sheena, Calof, and Ansi are waiting and equipped for battle.

"What's the plan?" Sheena asks.

You still have no clue how many there are.

>A. Everyone kill and avoid being killed
>B. Gang up on one or two at a time
>C. Spread out, make sure nothing reaches this house
>D. Write-in idea

>>44827067
And again renewed.

>>44827067
>B. Gang up on one or two at a time

Hoo boy, freezy laptop strikes again. Post's coming, though.

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>>44827468
"Alright, just, uh... Dracozombies are a lot less trouble if you take them down fast. They're actually pretty bad at fighting fast targets at close range, so..."

"Noted!" Sheena, Calof, and Une hurry after one, while Gonzo steps outside finally, shortly after following Ansi and Lyeim to another.

Looking at it now, there's maybe seven...

"Hardly a problem," Asra says, already drawing a knife. "You should remember their weak point by now." With that, Asra also speeds towards a third as you stammer and open up your Carreau tome.

Riga and Bolse are the next two out, both sort of consciously ignoring each other, Bolse summoning up a Dracozombie of his own to challenge a fourth, while Riga grips a lance hard and rushes toward the one Asra is fighting. You can make out the insignia of knights and wyvern lords of Dain who fought during Emperor Elias' time on the Killer Lance's hilt.

>A. Support someone(s) (specify)
>B. Attack an unattended Dracozombie
>C. Head back into the house
>D. Do nothing
>E. Write-in response

>>44827913
>B. Attack an unattended Dracozombie

>>44827921
Well, so much for your strategy... At least MOST of Marrius' Group listened to your suggestion.

You glide across the snow with magical refinement, approaching a Dracozombie that you felt was getting a bit too close to the building for comfort. The bonewalker guards go after the sixth one, so at least it's stalled, and the seventh is the furthest behind of the pack.

Ideally, someone will kill theirs fast enough to get to it too.

Anyway, the winged mockery of death stares you down, letting out its deadly breath significantly faster than you've ever seen a Dracozombie do.

If it weren't for the spirits amplifying your magic-related prowess, you would probably have been withered to nothing in an instant, how intense that was.

Bolse's Dracozombie is crushed hideously onesidedly by this newcomer, so he compensates with two more summoned up, leading you to decide to waste no time aiming Carreau at your own opponent's weak spot.

Thankfully it cuts its head off all the same, but you barely pull your foot away from being bitten off by its dissolving jaws.

Honestly, though, you're feeling a bit worn out from that deadly breath, even if you were able to resist it...

>A. Go to the unattended one
>B. Look at everyone's progress
>C. Hurry to one group (specify)
>D. Write-in response
>E. Do nothing
>F. Hurry inside

>>44828321
>B. Look at everyone's progress

>>44828495
Before doing anything, you check on everyone else.

Sheena, Une, and Calof are doing a passable job of keeping the Dracozombie from focusing on any of them for too long, and have already adjusted to the seemingly-improved strength of these seven, but the fight looks ready to go on awhile.

"Rah!" Riga critically strikes the Dracozombie, killing it in one blow (later, you would learn Asra did things too, though she just wasn't the one to crit), before she and Asra move onto the Dracozombie that just destroyed all those bonewalkers.

Bolse's Dracozombies are, at the very least, in steady enough supply that, though weak and incomplete, they chip away at the super Dracozombies.

Ansi and Lyeim are in similar positions to Une, Calof, and Sheena, though Gonzo, hurt has decided to withdraw... Shit, that seventh one just cut him off right in front of the house. He raises his spear and looks into the creature's face, though you can't tell his expression under that helmet.

>A. Assist someone(s) (specify)
>B. Keep observing
>C. Head into the house
>D. Write-in response

>>44828785
>>C. Head into the house

>>44828785
>A. Assist someone(s) (Gonzo)

>>44828870
Really anon?

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>44828979
>>44828870

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>>44829091
Of course you help Gonzo out, hurryingly striking its weak spot with Carreau.

He looks for who saved him, gives you an acknowledging wave, and scurries inside. Literally the only thing you know about Gonzo is that his family's counting on him to be around, so you get his carefulness, you really do.

He's even mentioned probably retiring to more mundane work after the company's part in all this world-conspiracy business is resolved. Help run his wife's shop or something..? He barely elaborated. Just enough to have given a heads-up.

"Hragh!" Riga stabs another Dracozombie, just slightly off-center, needing to abandon her inherited Killer Lance to roll out of the way of certain death. Asra is close by, but seems to be on the defensive now. Make sure her ally doesn't die.

Every wave of fledgeling Dracozombies to challenge it, the Super Dracozombie gets closer to Bolse, very gradually. You have no way of knowing who's gonna emerge victorious there.

Calof and Sheena keep taking ineffectual, distracting shots at their opponent, buying time for the depth perception-impaired Une to line up one of her certain-killing blows.

Ansi summons a single Arch Mogall, has it float lazily towards his and Lyeim's dracozombie, and shouts at everyone, "get the fuck away from the eyeball!" before he and Lyeim bolt.

>A. Help someone (specify)
>B. Stay put
>C. Head inside
>D. Pet the eyeball monster
>E. Write-in response

>>44829480
>A. Help someone (Riga/Asra)
Petting the eyeball monster is tempting (it's so cute), but I don't want to explode again.
Bolse should still have a bit of time before the Sracozombie reaches him, so his situation registers as slightly less urgent, and Calof/Sheena/Une's strategy is slow but they don't seem to be in any major danger.

>>44829609
You walk in the precise opposite direction of Ansi and Lyeim's opponent as an explosion rings out not far behind you...

...the force of which knocks you facefirst into the snow.

"-d you to get away, du-b-ss-" Ansi's words fade in and out, and you take a moment to gather your thoughts.

Okay, you recovered from that pretty fast, and at the very least Riga and Asra are still not dead.

Also gives you the idea of wondering what exactly would happen if YOU supercharged an Arch Mogall with volatile magic. YOU, with your... Frankly insane amounts of magical essence. You could probably level a mountain like that. Getting outta the blast radius would be a pain in the ass, though.

Anyway, right, saving your allies!

Well, not so much "saving" as "probably considered kill-stealing in some jurisdictions," as Riga, finally having yanked her lance out of the beast, is lining up a more deadly shot as you step into the scene, magiccing its head off.

"What are you," Riga says, turning around and asking in a mildly amused tone, "trying to show off for me?"

>A. Just ending it quickly
>B. Yes
>C. No!
>D. She was in danger seconds ago
>E. Write-in response

>>44829919
>A. Just ending it quickly
>D. She was in danger seconds ago

>>44829985
"Did you forget that you were in trouble just a moment ago?" You ask. "I was just making sure it ended before you-hrk!" Oh, she is grabbing you by the hood.

"I had it under control, Mr. Hero... Like hell I was about to let another damned corpse get the better of me..." There is fire in those eyes.

"Calm yourself, please," Asra requests.

Seconds later, Riga drops you, grinning amicably. "Nah, though, I honestly appreciate it, and you seem alright... Just wanted to make it clear I didn't need any more saving, you know?"

>A. You know
>B. You're still not convinced
>C. What the hell is wrong with her?!
>D. Wheeze
>E. Write-in response
>F. Be silent

>>44830123
>A. You know
>D. Wheeze

>>44830143
"O-okay, I... Think I know..." You're still trying to catch your breath there.

"Scare easy, huh? Hate to see what'd happen to the bearded one if I did that to him..." Looking around, she starts cleaning her lance, taking a seat. "I miss my wyvern..."

"Wait, so... Now you're taking a break?"

Riga cocks her head towards the final Super Dracozombie, the one challenging Bolse... As well as literally the entire rest of the group, Asra included. "They don't need saving either, I think."

Moments later, the last one falls.

"That being said..." Riga adds, taking a more serious tone, "isn't the timing weird? My spell's broken, all of you show up, and only now does Bolse get swarmed by things stronger than we've seen before?"

>A. You're sure those weren't unique
>B. You hope not
>C. It's worth considering...
>D. She's right
>E. Write-in response
>F. ...

>>44830410
>C. It's worth considering...

>>44830410
>A. You're sure those weren't unique
>B. You hope not

>>44830604
>>44830557
"It's... Worth considering, anyway, but I don't think we have much of a means to prove it. I certainly hope not, even if it means more of those enhanced dracozombies just... Exist."

Bolse lets the lot of you spend the evening at his abode, also saying that Paula has been living in a temple in the heart of Tarvos Valley. Marking its exact location, giving some security information (guarded to the teeth with Wulf Company members, Wampyr are expected to be present, AND if approaching doesn't happen fast enough, Queen Eva can have Neir's entire army at her doorstep. He thinks that the Neir nobles are in Ulir somewhere, but that's information that he's not "in" enough know beyond drawing conclusions from Esmer's words)... Regardless, though, you all feel as though there's not much you can do BUT approach.

He figures Orsin Village would be a good place to warp to to get there fast.

Purely to sate your curiosity, you take a short ride out to the Outrealm Gate late at night. You don't dare open it or anything, but you just... Observe it, figuring Irene would want you to see something so magically significant.

A little while into this, your voice rings from behind you, "certainly a sight, huh..?"

>A. A bit underwhelming
>B. What lies beyond is fascinating
>C. What lies beyond is frightening
>D. You'd love to study it sometime later
>E. Why is he here
>F. Write-in response

>>44830759
>B. What lies beyond is fascinating
>D. You'd love to study it sometime later
>E. Why is he here

>>44830830
"Yeah... The idea of an infinite number of realms beyond there, just... I'd really love to study it. All of it."

"I, eheh... Can't say I can relate. Not the man of science here."

"...are you sure we're the same person?" You ask.

"Well, I mean... I don't know why my realm was like, but even without the memory loss... It looks like our lives went very different. Maybe I was never even named Lloyd to begin with, I don't know... Maybe I was named Wes, or something."

In that moment, by the cold, blue sea, the other Lloyd decided to go by Wes. "Feels... Better than a pun for a name, you know?"

You nod, conceding that point.

"Also, er... I keep having these, uh." He waves his hand around in place. "Visions, that's the word, visions. Of... I don't know what it is, but it's in Neir's Johan region... I don't even know what a Johan region is, but what I'm looking for is there..."

You explain to him that Neir's capital of Rakche, and Tarvos Valley, where you're headed tomorrow morning, are in the Johan region.

"Oh, maybe that's it... Maybe I'll. Find what I'm looking for if I go with you guys?"

>A. Encourage Wes
>B. Discourage Wes
>C. Respond as neutrally as possible
>D. Write-in response

>>44831230
>A. Encourage Wes

>>44831342
"Er... If you're feeling up to traveling, we'll appreciate the company."

Wes smiles. "Good to hear! I... Might not have as much experience as you mercenaries, but then again maybe I do! Bolse tells me I have a lot of latent Essence, at least, so... I guess just five me what tomes you can spare and I'll see what I can do..."

Though he isn't a Spirit Charmer like you, you, too, can sense the massive amounts of magical essence Wes has. With proper guidance, you're certain he'll be a force to be reckoned with as you approach Paula.
>To be continued next thread
I think I'm rather liking the course I have planned for dear Wes.

Thanks for playing. As always, update Twitter and ask.fm are qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around in-thread to chat for awhile.

>>44831614
Thanks for running

>>44831764
Always a pleasure.