>>44946771
Now this is the usual delay

With a straight and orderly posture, you walk the halls of the Bikel Manor, lantern-light flickering upon red velvets and woods through glass cages. Your only clearance as Belinda being that your head held is held high, shoulders back, and the expression you carry that is just stern enough to disarm someone with a sudden smile.
You pass by many Danhor guards this way as their eyes chase after your beauty. In short order, you arrive at Mira's door and give her a swift series of knocks.

The girl asks who it is at first, and you repeat the series of knocks.

“It'd be better to explain in person, no?” Belinda's voice says within as the threads of her being intermingle with your own.

“There's going to be some explaining to do either way. She at least knows that I'm an imposter.” You return.

There's a jostle from the lock of the door, and the knob turns with a capricious click. Slowly, the door cracks open and the girl meekly peers out, her horns getting in the way of her discretion and her slit-like eyes truly something a near terror to behold. “Who are you, woman? You dare disturb Mira of the Reaper's band?”

“Oh my goodness, Sol! She is adorable!” Belinda snickers inside as the two of you lean over to come down to her level. “Mira~ It's me.”

“Who?” She raises a shaded eyebrow, staring back with dawning confusion.

You look around to confirm that no one else is present and then lean back in, cupping a hand over your mouth for a whisper, “I changed faces.”
Mira's visible eye goes wide, dumbfounded as she throws open the door, “You're a girl now?!” She yells a little too loudly as you jump in to cover her mouth.

“Shh, shh. Not too loud, remember it's kind of a secret?” She nods calmly within your grasp and you gently let go.

>>44946865
She peers around herself and steps to the side to invite you inside. Shutting the door behind you and locking it, she looks you up and down as she returns back into her normal form. “You're so...” Mira starts, her face slowly turning red, “Pretty...”

You hold a hand tenderly forward, to offer a handshake in greeting, “Belinda.” She takes your hand and you curtsy, “T'is a pleasure to meet you, and you're a flower of the garden yourself my dear.”

Mira looks down bashfully, fumbling a little to return a curtsy. “Th-thank you... Belinda...”

With a smile bright as Sol, the girl's mesmerized when she turns her gaze back to you. “I wanted to ask...” You keep holding her hand, “If you would like to go on an adventure.”

“An adventure?” Mira's face frowns a little unexpectedly, “I don't know, I think I've had enough adventure for a while.”

“No, no, no little flower. You've been caught in a dramatic struggle of hate and revenge.” You say with a slight pout of your lip, “ I'm asking... “A smile returns, “If you want to see the beauty in this world. We'll see cities far and wide, places wild and untamed, and beauty that will stay with you for a thousand lifetimes. What do you say?”

Mira looks away, timid as her usual self, “I... I really don't know. Everything's just started to get better here. And, what about you? You're the lord of this place now right? You're just going to leave?”

>[“I need you Mira. Everything's going to work itself out here, but I need you.”]
>[“What's there to stay here for? You could leave all the bad times behind.”]
>[“There's bigger things going on in Thespia dear, our adventure will be one bigger than life itself.”]
>[“I... understand Mira.” Give the Guisi girl a hug, “I'm going to miss you.”]
>[Write in]]

>>44946877
>[“I... understand Mira.” Give the Guisi girl a hug, “I'm going to miss you.”]
I'd like to keep someone reasonable around the Guisi

>>44946877
>[“I... understand Mira.” Give the Guisi girl a hug, “I'm going to miss you.”]

>>44946877
>[“There's bigger things going on in Thespia dear, our adventure will be one bigger than life itself.”]

>>44946877
>[“There's bigger things going on in Thespia dear, our adventure will be one bigger than life itself.”]

>>44946877
>[“I need you Mira. Everything's going to work itself out here, but I need you.”]
I don't believe that everything will work out here
>[“What's there to stay here for? You could leave all the bad times behind.”]
Could work or could backfire horribly
>[“There's bigger things going on in Thespia dear, our adventure will be one bigger than life itself.”]
Decent chance of working and mostlikely no negative repercussions
>[“I... understand Mira.” Give the Guisi girl a hug, “I'm going to miss you.”]
Profitable if we meet again in the future and has no chance of being held against us.

I take
>[“I... understand Mira.” Give the Guisi girl a hug, “I'm going to miss you.”]

>>44946877
>>[“I... understand Mira.” Give the Guisi girl a hug, “I'm going to miss you.”]
I agree that Mira could be a voice of reason if she stays, maybe even a leader

>>44946877
>[“I... understand Mira.” Give the Guisi girl a hug, “I'm going to miss you.”]
We should mention that Odette is coming with us

>>44946877

“Oh Mira...” You say with the slightest pout upon your lips as you kneel down, her hand still in yours. You think for a moment, playing with her fingers wistfully, “I understand.” You say as you settle down, looking her in the eyes. “I just want you to know how much Odette and I are going to miss you.”

Mira's lips quiver a little as a tear forms at the edges of her eyes, “I'm gonna miss you too Reaper, Belinda, Imposter, whoever you are.” The girl puts her arms around you, which takes you by surprise, yet you reciprocate with a gentle embrace, stroking her short hair.

“You take care of the other Guisi, you hear? Not all of them are quite as sensible as you.”

“Uh huh.” She says between sniffling cries.

“And take care of yourself, never forget who you are.”

“I won't.” Mira nods into your shoulder.

“Be good dear. Be good.”

“I will... I will Reaper.”

You pull away from her, and find that tears are stinging your eyes as well. Flicking away the liquid sadness with a single nail, you kiss Mira upon the forehead. “Be strong dear, we'll meet again someday. Though I can't promise that you'll recognize me.”

Mira's quiet as you rise and make for the door. You look back at the girl that even now looks up to you, wave goodbye and leave down the halls for your soon-to-be-former bedchambers.

You pack light, especially so with the lack of things that suit a lady such as yourself. You stick a knife in the bottom of your slippers, purring with satisfaction at the false bottoms in them that allow such storage. Besides that, you bring some jewelry for pawning or negotiating. With Odette's Bow, and your affinity to flames there's not much need to pack for warmth or a whole kit for survival on the open road.

Honestly? What you'd rather have are more womanly affects, a change of clothes, makeup, perhaps a sponge. You raid the lady's room for just that.

“Do we really need to bring these things?” You groan internally.

>>44947682


“You'd ask Belinda the Dancer, Belinda the beautiful to go out into the world without being radiant?” She makes your face scoff in disgust, “That's dreadful!”

“Can we at least take my cloak? I'd grown rather attached to it.”

“That ugly smelly thing cut straight off the ursarinn?”

“Yes.”

“Ehhh...”

>[“Please Belinda, it's a really nice cloak.”]
>[“We can take It to a tailor to get it remodeled?”]
>[“Fine, forget it.”]
>[Write in.]

>>44947774
>[“Please Belinda, it's a really nice cloak.”]

>>44947774
>[“Please Belinda, it's a really nice cloak.”]
>[“We can take It to a tailor to get it remodeled?”]

>>44947774
>[“Please Belinda, it's a really nice cloak.”]
Come on

Something that I just thought of, if you guys are interested in the lasting impact for this place, you could opt to have the Ursarinn fur to become a banner for Bikel Manor.

>>44947774
>>[“We can take It to a tailor to get it remodeled?”]

>>44947774
>[“We can take It to a tailor to get it remodeled?”]

>>44947874
I remember the Ursarin's effect when tried to bury it.
That really doesn't seem smart if the effect is even somewhat similiar

>>44947874
I'm tempted but do we really want to create a Manor with a flag that's BURNING WITH RAGE?

>>44947774
>I take the flag option

>>44947774
>[Write in.]
Make it the flag

>>44947774
>[Write in.]
Make it the flag.
There is no way this could go wrong

>>44947921
>>44947948
Well, it'd be a banner and an Ursarinn would be the sigil of the house

Would be kind of interesting with a "Mama Bear" theme or some such.

Would definitely inspire power and some degree of intimidation.

>>44948138
In that case do it.
Deleting previous vote

>>44947874
ooh yeah, I change my vote to this

Run back to Mira and throw that shit her way

>>44947774

Belinda humors you, and slips back into your personal chambers to look over the cloak. The furs are black, dark brown, and a deep red, the pungent stink of the bear's hides persist through the curing process and even now still bristle with latent fury under your caress as crackles of burning warmth whisper through every brush of the fur.

How this could ever be refitted for a dancer's aesthetic you'd need a visionary tailor of sorts.

Shaking your head, “I don't like it.” Belinda chides, turning her nose up at the proximity to the stink makes her eyes sting, “There's no way.”

Smelling it through her nose, you're inclined to agree as you find yourself wincing even without Belinda's bias. “Perhaps there is something else we could do... This is what our revolution had been founded upon... It's a symbol of sorts. By Luna, it would be better if it stayed to inspire.”

“Well then... What shall we do?”

“A banner. This fur would make an aweful flag, but draped over the shoulders of their Lord and the Ursarinn it's cut from used to inspire power and dignity.”

Belinda smiles, blushing despite her abhorrence to the smell, “That's actually... quite romantic. I love it! So, we should make a decree?”

Looking over, you notice the Lord's seal resting by the desk along with a quill and inkpot, likely some parchment on the drawer. Not many know yet that the recently instated Lord's vanished in the night, and this is your chance to put your last ideas to action.

As the candlelight flickers, you realize that these will be your last actions upon this place: To make decrees or explain your absence...

>This vote will be based more on beneficial ideas... unless you'd like to cast malicious policy.

>[Come up with an excuse for your absence. ]
>[Pass the manor onto someone else...]
>[Last standing orders for the Danhor...]
>[Guisi policies...]
>[Write in.]

>>44948448
>[Pass the manor onto someone else...]
Pass the Manor to Mira

>>44948448
>[Pass the manor onto someone else...]
To Mira
>[Last standing orders for the Danhor...]
Pissing while standing is forbidden for 1 month

>>44948448
>[Come up with an excuse for your absence. ]
Spreading the revolution to other parts of Thespia
>[Last standing orders for the Danhor...]
Declare the Manor a republic and command the Danhor to defend it with their lifes
>[Guisi policies...]
Equal rights

>>44948448
Either pass it to Mira or what >>44948585
proposed

>>44948585
This

>>44948585
This
We'll change the world

>>44948448
>[Pass the manor onto someone else...]
Hand it to Mira.
That's the safest we can get

>>44948585
Hm.

We're somewhat between handing this manor over to Mira or starting a republic with the Ursarinn as the sigil.

Oh dear, Rava and Avar wouldn't have anticipated that...

Guisi policies are fine...

I'll make it a more clear vote and let you know a bit of what this entails...

So:

>Handing the Manor over to Mira:

Likely thrusting a real leadership position on the girl will force her to go down the path of becoming a real hero, even moreso than her fate had intended. This is a push for her to gain self-image and mature as a paragon of her Arche and for others.

Other than that, there's no change to the ruling type. She would rule with all the final say. Likely she'd have advisers, and with the more bastardly elders dead, she'd likely have pretty moral help.

>Creating a Republic:

This will blow the Danhor's mind, yet at the same time, it'll give them a cause that they'll eventually understand is worth fighting for. With Guisi rights in the area with that other decree it'll be the road of creating a new state or even a country within the Hylon aristocracy.

Likely, when they smell this coming they'll be put more on edge and seek to crush it... unless they face distractions elsewhere.

This could also gain support from sympathizers, and if certain individuals come clean about some rare resources (starfallen Steels) they could even gain allies through resource trade.

>Transfer leadership to Mira.
>Begin a Republic.

The choice is yours...

>>44948983
>Begin a Republic.

>>44948983
>Transfer leadership to Mira.

>>44948983
>Begin a Republic
The more "romantic" option.
We just need to stir up shit either with this face or the next depending on how fast the Hylon will react

>>44948983
>Begin a Republic.

>>44948983
>Transfer leadership to Mira.

>>44948983
>Begin a Republic

>>44948983
>Transfer leadership to Mira.

>>44948983
>Begin a Republic.

>>44948448

Taking out parchment under the watchful candlelight, you pull out the chair and take a seat as you write draft after draft, working out the changes that you'll make, the changes that you'll leave everyone with.

Bouncing ideas back and forth between the long-lived Belinda and following your own intuition, it's morning by the time you finalize the last draft of a decree that would turn the order of this place upon its head. Equal rights given to all Arches, a system of electing leaders to represent the people and hold the manor over simply letting the passing on of family dictate the lives of everyone that lives here.

Assuredly, this would bring stability to the leadership and maintain peace in the interest of the citizenry living here. You tack on points of Danhor defending what you've elected to call the “Free Marches of Aurellia” and laid claim to the mountain range along with jurisdiction of all the surrounding Guisi villages for order and protection.

“Say, Faceless... As a member of the republic, doesn't that mean that you can cast your own vote?” Belinda says with a charmed smile.

“Well, I suppose so, yes.”

“Then why not vote for that girl, Mira? She seems to have a nice head on her shoulders at least.”

Silent for a moment, you write that on as an afterthought before moving onto a second decree and an excuse for the reaper's sudden absence.

You write, “With the Commands of the Marches written, I'm done with what I've come here to do. As the Reaper, I have more battles to fight and Thespians to free let it be known that I have left for ventures to help more people.

I will see you all again, Good luck.
The Reaper of Aurel.”

>>44949883

You smile for a moment, and then add on, “P.S. This order stands before the Commands of the Marches, for all the trouble you lot have caused me, From the date marked upon this statement, Danhor, be it man or woman are to piss standing up for exactly a month.”

Signing the letters with a particularly feminine flourish, you realize just how lady-like your handwriting is. With nothing else to add, you fold the letters and seal them shut with wax. Writing on the outer folds,“From: The Reaper.”

Looking to the window, you realize that Sol's dawn is coming soon and you've not had a chance to rest with all the work you did to flesh out the Commands of the Marches.

Gathering your things, you pass one last glance to the cloak, to what would be the mantle of the Free Marches. You can sense the fur feeling more patriotic and respected already, bidding you to smile.

“Bye, you damn bloody bear.” You say as you depart.

Odette meets you in the coutyard of the garden. In silence, the two of you look back at the Manor as you slip into the slowly waking streets of the town to another life, and another adventure...
The streets of Bikel are active even before the true rise of Sol. Bakers are already firing bread in their ovens, having woken up with Luna's zenith to prepare for the oncoming day. Smithies are warming up their forges while their assistants take early morning work orders, water carriers make their rounds, running deliveries. Many bear the marks of Danhor as they make their livings systematically, though as you notice, everyone's face has their own subtle differences from the other Arches that their lives represent.

>>44949911

“Thespia is fantastic, every person living their own lives, their own stories from the simple to the grand. Have you ever asked a passersby how they're doing? What they're doing?” Belinda carries on an internal conversation with you as Odette walks by your side. The White-haired woman's taken to wearing a cloak as the two of you depart, seeking to make your leave rather subtle.

“I can't say that I have.” You reply. In truth, you've barely had a chance to relax since waking up. From angry bears to judgemental trees, slavehunting parties, prison breaks, massacres, and duels... Your first two weeks of return into the world have been... trying to say the least.

“Well, we should try it.”

“I... Well, hold. Where are we going right now?”

“Adventurer's guild. Every town worth their fate has one. Someone needs to delve into the depths of cellars to chase off Drunken Rats, or kill the excess of wild dogs, or find lost engagement rings claimed by nymphs at the bottom of a well...”

“People are prone to lose engagement rings there so often?”

“Wells, ponds, rivers. Sometimes a rat swallows it, sometimes the fiancee is a rat(cursed by some Magi no doubt). Live long enough and you'll see it all.” You smile with Belinda, “Come, let us ask a stranger after their life, I guarantee you'll hear something you'd never expect!”

Odette looks over to you, raising an alabaster eyebrow, “What are you grinning about Re- Erm.. Belinda?”

>[“Fine... We'll ask one of these bakers about their love life.”]
>[“How about asking a Smithy after his strangest order?”]
>[“What do waterboys dream of becoming?”]
>[“We haven't time for this...”]
>[Write in]

>>44949945
>[“How about asking a Smithy after his strangest order?”]
This is so different

>>44949945
>[“How about asking a Smithy after his strangest order?”]

>>44949945
>[“What do waterboys dream of becoming?”]

File: Image018.jpg (27 KB, 656x398)

27 KB JPG

>>44950000
So different? In what way?

>>44949945
>[“How about asking a Smithy after his strangest order?”]

>>44950031
Going from the Reaper's revenge to something like this.
It's strange

>>44949945
>>[“How about asking a Smithy after his strangest order?”]

>>44949945
>[“How about asking a Smithy after his strangest order?”]

I hope the fights are replaced with dating sequences. We need to start working on romancing Odette.

>>44949945
>>44949945
>>[Write in]
>["I was hoping to start things off OUTSIDE Bikel. It will be rather awkward for any Guisi that recognizes Oddete, and even more trying for Mira if she were to bump into us so soon."]

>>44949945

You look to Odette as she looks to you with concern, you slip your hand into hers, “I want to ask a smithy around here something. How about you choose which one?” You say with Belinda's enthusiasm blending into your tone.

Odette looks back at you, somewhat dumbfounded, yet bearing the slightest amount of bashfulness as she turns away, looking around. She points to a smithy with a sign that bears a serpent coiled around an anvil with the words “The Serpent's Arms.”
“How about that one?”

You feel Belinda's mirth taking over, bidding you to lead, holding Odette by the hand as you pull her onward, “Come, let's pick the owner's mind!”

“Okay.” Odette says half-heartedly, clearly unaccustomed to this kind of treatment.

The establishment has smoke pouring out of their chimneystack quite steadily as they load charcoal into the forge. The door's metalwork is wrought of twisted ornamental steels and oakwood is hardened by the duty and dedication that its master promotes.

From outside, you can already smell the rolling fire, and hear the rhythmic clang of an anvil at work. You open the door, letting yourself and Odette within.

The assistant clerk at the counter raises a hardened eyebrow as he regards what must seem a strange sight, a Namour dressed as a dancer and what looks like a Makoh huntress with a quiver yet no bow in a shop of arms and armory.

“Hello there!” You say, letting your hand slip wistfully from Odette's as you approach the counter to rest an elbow upon his workspace, letting your head rest in the palm of your hand and your cleavage hang slightly exposed. Curling a finger in your hair, you smile at him as he forgets the words to speak.
“Shouldn't you be welcoming us into your establishment?”

“I... uh...” The young Danhor blunders still has his eyes wander lower than your face.

“Boy, I heard that bell ring! I haven't heard you greet our guests!” A loud yell thunders from the back above the beat of the Anvil.

>>44950710

The clerk snaps his vision away from your allure and straightens his posture in an almost military manner, “Yes! Welcome t' Th' Serpent's Arms! Where Snakes can find their blade and 'venturers their armory. Are you picking up, placing an order, or browsing the wares?”

You feel a mischievous vein in you as your eyes wander from the lad's face to... lower places. “Just... Browsing the wares.” You say with a coy grin, you can feel Odette turn red behind you/

“Didn't you say that you wanted to speak with a Smithy after something?” Odette says quickly, trying to shift the conversation to less adult topics as the Danhoy lad's hardened face goes rigid, his cheeks blushing profusely. “Stop teasing the boy, Beli.” Odette says low as she pulls you away from the counter.

You can't help but to giggle as your play is ruined, “She's right, I've a manner of-”

“I'll see th' master straight away to ye!” The boy yells, dipping into the back not quite fast enough for his embarrassment.

“You're bad.” Odette says with a subtle laugh of her own. “It's hard to believe that you were the Reaper not too long ago.”

“I...” You say, feeling Belinda let you have a bit more control, “I can't quite believe it either... This one has... quite a personality.”

>>44950729

A large man comes thundering in from the back room, sweat dripping down his angular features, and running into long hair pulled into a bun that you could almost squeeze the sweat out of. A shirt on his person is an absent statement as his robust physique implies a hard life of labor, but also one of less activity as a slight gut's formed over his wall of muscle. His steely eyes scan over the two of you as he looks down upon the two lady's that've entered his shop. Slowly, he cracks a wide smile showing missing and split teeth, “Ah, so it's two ladies that've driven that shy brat into a haze. I see, you two are Namour and Makoh, t'where be your party 'venturin forth? An' y' call that adventuring clothes?” He points at you in your aesthetic dancer's attire, causing you to reflexively shift to better show off your assets.

“You should know, most of us Namour are lovers rather than fighters. We're headed to Celes Prance shortly. Too shortly for a proper order unfortunately.”

“Then what business do ye ask of me?” The man says with a sudden frown at the denial of work and pay.

>[“Tell me of your strangest order.”]
>[“Were you once an adventurer?”]
>[“Who's the kid?”]
>[“Just... Browsing the wares.” Said with a coy wink.]
>[Write in.]

>>44950767
>[“Tell me of your strangest order.”]
>[“Were you once an adventurer?”]

>>44950767
>[“Were you once an adventurer?”]
>[“Who's the kid?”]

>>44950767
>[“Tell me of your strangest order.”]

>>44950767
>[“Just... Browsing the wares.” Said with a coy wink.]

>>44950767
>[“Were you once an adventurer?”]

>>44950767
>[“Were you once an adventurer?”]

>>44950767
>[“Were you once an adventurer?”]

Im glad the facless's body changes with the mask. Belinda's wiles wouldn't be quite as effective with the Reaper's saggy old man body stuffed into that outfit

>>44950767
>"I'd like to commission a.....gift. For a friend. A nice little trinket."
A nice bracelet/hairpin. If he's also up for fiddly work, an owl's eye as the main attraction and scythes along the body.

I wonder if such a thing will recognize us even if Mira doesn't.

>>44951047
That's actually a splendid idea.

>>44951047
Supporting this

>>44950767
Yeah this sound cool
>>44951047

>>44951047
This in addition to >>44950881

>>44950767

“I wanted to ask.” You say, slowly shifting into a less provocative pose to hold something more of a real conversation, crossing your arms to keep the girls' charms at bay. “Were you ever an adventurer? Might you tell me of that?”

“'Venturer? Me?” The man frowns for a moment, and then smiles, pulling up the clerk's chair to sit himself down for a story. “Aye, T'was once one makin; my way out in the world. Partied with a Makoh that took to Brawling arts, and a Drezhar witch that used her foul chemistry to blast beasts and monsters back from the pits that they'd deign to climb out of. I held on to a greathammer myself passed down from my father's father, pacted with it I was as my family inherited the pact of that greathammer. Clad myself in the best steels and acted as the vanguard for our party.”
The smithy's eyes glaze over as he reminisces of his adventurer days. “The Makoh's name was Yolle, he hailed from the far Eastern lands that Makoh claim independence in. The Drezhar's name is Viilesi Strewth, she hailed from the Undercity of Cistern... Yolle was adventuring to find the meat of strong beasts to become a more powerful warrior of the savage fist, Viilesi Strewth was exiled from Cistern for not being 'foul enough.' That was likely more her way of saying that she hated everyone else. Then again, Drezhar oft hate other Drezhar.” The smithy laughs to himself at his own crude Archeist joke.

“And what's your name? From whence do you hail?” You ask, absorbed in the man's recollection.

“My name? Oh, It's Sebastian. Sebastian, and Bikel was always my home. Shame about the old lord dying, and his son so recent, yet it's a good place. Been good for years and it'll stay good for years to come.” The Smithy says with a wide, jagged smile.

Odette laughs nervously, looking over to you with a pleading look that says, “Can we please leave?”

“I've decided that I would like to place an order.”

>>44951612
>Archeist joke.
Oy vey

>>44951612

“Aye. An if yer worried about time, I can have it delivered through the 'venturer guild. They'll track you down so long as you keep in contact.”

“Oh, that's splendid!” You say as you present some of the jewelry that you'd pilfered from the lord's chamber.

Sebastian raises an eyebrow at the items, but says nothing, yet.

“I'd like to have these melted down and reforged into a hairpin, or a bracelet emblazoned with an owl and many engravings of scythes.”

“What's that supposed to represent? That sounds something like-”

“The Reaper, Right?” You say, suddenly realizing how bad the situation might look. If he knows the jewelry from the Lord then...

“I'm a liaison of his, I've been ordered to have this made to better show allegiance during my travels. I'm sure you understand?”

Sebastian stares at you with a steely glare, “Wouldn't have thought a young lady like you would be affiliated with that... monster.”

You feel a small pang of guilt at that jab.

“I can make it.” Sebastian says halfheartedly as he turns the items over, “I remember the old Lord commissioned these nick knacks for his beloved. He asked all the smiths in town to contribute, a contest of craftsmanship. The winner was to be given title of best blacksmith in Bikel... He decided not to choose, and instead accepted them all and bestowed upon us all the title.”

You frown, and lean over the counter, fiddling with some of the jewelry, “Well, the Reaper is less of a monster than you think. In fact, you'll hear of some grand changes coming to everyone soon.” Looking up to the man, your eyes shine with mirth.

Sebastian looks away, “I'll take it... What was your name?”

“Beli. Like I said, I'm with the Guild, or at least I'll be signing on soon. Keep the spare gold, silver, and jewels as payment."

>>44951822

Sebastian, assesses the jewelry, and picks out certain pieces, “I'll only use the ones that I made. The rest go to their makers.”

“Fair enough, “You say with a smile.

“You can see yourself out Beli, your friend too.” Sebastian says dismissively, suddenly becoming rather
somber.

Backing away from the counter, “I swear to you, you'll like the changes to come, have no fear.” Sebastian affirms with a grunt that he's heard you and Odette takes you by the hand.

“Let's go,” She whispers quietly, “I believe we've outstayed our welcome.

“It was nice meeting you Sebastian, I'll never forget the smith of The Snake's Arms.”

“I'll never forget the Namour wench that flirted with my assistant.” Sebastian says with a passive-aggressive tone.

The two of you leave, and the pressure of that situation slowly unfurls itself.

“Fresh wounds are slow to heal...” Says Odette as she walks ahead of you.

“I know, but they always do, and we're all stronger for it, no?”

Odette halts in her tracks at that, and seems to think in silence for a moment before carrying on, saying nothing.

You follow after, and can feel your ears grow warm with embarrassment as you must have misspoke.
“I'm sorry if that made things awkward dear.” Belinda says within, apologetically.

>[“It's fine, it's bound to happen here with all that's happened.”]
>[“You got ahead of yourself, can't you mind what you say more?”]
>[“He's going to like our changes, I believe in that.”]
>[Write in.]

>>44951842
>[“He's going to like our changes, I believe in that.”]

>>44951842
>[“He's going to like our changes, I believe in that.”]

>>44951842
>[“He's going to like our changes, I believe in that.”]

>>44951842
>[“You got ahead of yourself, can't you mind what you say more?”]

>>44951842
>>[“It's fine, it's bound to happen here with all that's happened.”]
>>[“You got ahead of yourself, can't you mind what you say more?”]
It was a little TOO much, and it's a bit presumptuous to believe so fervently that the changes will be liked.

But I'm a little surprised. The scythes are certainly telling, but nobody really knows about the owl part. We could've gotten away with some foreign farming ritual.

>>44951979
Scythes and the "materials" being property of the former Lord are rather telling
>>44951842
>[“You got ahead of yourself, can't you mind what you say more?”]

>>44952013
>"materials" being property of the former Lord
ah, I forgot about that. If it wasn't for that, we could have played things off a just passing by and not knowing what's happened.

then again, I was running with the assumption that we'd leave Bikel before needing to pay for anything, otherwise some spending currency would have been nice.

>>44951842

Conflicted on what to say, you hold silent as you follow after Odette as Sol slowly stretches his light into sky, waking up from his nightly slumber.
The hustle and bustle of the town pick up some, and you feel yourself inclines to close your eyes as though to try not to cry.

“Belinda, what?” You ask within as you feel sadness creeping in.

“I'm really sorry for all that. I'm really sorry. I mean, we're in this together now, whatever it is with those twins and you won't even talk to me about it...” You feel yourself sniffle, Odette turns around to see the tears welling in your eyes.
You try to raise a hand, to say that you're fine, but Odette's already rushed up to you.

“Are... are you okay? I...”

“No, no, it's not you.” You say within and aloud, “I just... I need to think. I want to feel positive about everything but...”
You shift to speaking within, “You did get a bit ahead of yourself, but I believe that he'll... That the Danhor here will all appreciate the changes. It's just hard to be optimistic when I'm so unsure of the result.”

Odette regards you closely as you smile from Belinda's mood lightening up, “True. But...” She shifts to speaking aloud, “We need to believe that good things will happen, right? Or else fate will send its worst days.”

You feel your arms wrap around Odette, “I just... wanted to say, thank you for being here with me.”

Coming out of your internal drama, you feel refreshed and relieved as you and Odette carry onto the local Guild Hall.

Outside of a large building of an old-fashioned design, you see a number of people hailing from various Arches examining the boards outside, more within either going for a nap, picking up rewards, or seeking out others to adventure with for the long road.

The place itself is rather well kept, painted a different color from the other buildings from the foundation to the roof to mark it as the local guildhall for would-be and veteran adventurers alike.

>>44952497

“I've never signed on with the Adventurer's Guild,” Odette admits, clutching at a bundle of her clothes a touch nervously.

“It's okay, neither of us are alone after all. “You say with a charming smile, “We need to give them our names, and tell them when we take a request, or when we're leaving town. Besides that, they leave us all to our own devices and offer food, drink, and board for a fee that would drive most inns bankrupt.”

“I'd heard of people that pose as adventurer's for the low prices.”

“You've heard right,” You snicker playfully, “Those that tarnish the passions of those seeking real adventure are spoken of. Not to mention, the guilds ask their towns to post graphs of the lazy good for nothings."

“So,” Odette exhales, finding the nerve to relax, “Where should we start?”

>[“Let's find more people for our party!”]
>[“We're more than enough for anything the world might throw at us, let's sign on as is.”]
>[Check the boards for any interesting requests.]
>[Check out the bar inside, maybe dance for some tips?]
>[Write in]

>>44952570
>[Check the boards for any interesting requests.]

>>44952570
>[Check the boards for any interesting requests.]

>>44952570
>[Check the boards for any interesting requests.]

>>44952570
>[Check the boards for any interesting requests.]
dance to either attract some people to party up with or get information, depending on which would be good for the request.

we need to get a feel for Belinda's abilities anyway.

>>44952570
>[“Let's find more people for our party!”]

Don't forget to archive

>>44952570

“Let's see the boards first, our application is more convincing if we've actually got a quest we'd like to go on, and if anyone else is interested, we can invite them along as well.” You say as you head over to one of the boards, casting a subtle wink to a Namour bard carrying a lute in his arms.

The bard strums his instrument to catch your attention after your little gesture, yet you gleefully ignore him, shifting a little as he strums as though you're letting the rhythm take you. This encourages him to play. While you tease him with only the barest increase to the fervor of your dance as his lute draws other adventurers around him, yet not the one he seeks the favor of.
Unfortunately, having started to play, he's committed to his new audience and you've freed the board to look over at your leisure.

While you do wish that you had a map, you're privy enough with these lands to know that Celes Prance is some way to the west. You look over a number of notices, while many range from local small time you seek the requests that are a bigger deal and less than local.

You see a number of requests that fit the bill:

>[Help! My Daughter's Enchanted: For Luna's past Six full Lunas, she's been slipping off into the woods, returning days later. I fear she's fallen to some Faeli enchantment. I'm but a humble Araflour, and I mean not to judge, but I'm scared for her. Eating less, losing weight. If you would see that the Faeli leaves her be, I'd be grateful. -A worried Araflour Mother]

>[Donnor's Pass: A Guisi village tucked away in the snow peak of the Wylder Range, I've heard tell of those that meant to travel there and never return. Since the Reaper's taken over Bikel, I doubt we'll see any favors in this matter. This may be a dangerous matter for the guild to investigate, but I'd appreciate the concern. My son's gotten lost up there as well. -A very concerned Danhor.]

>>44953136

>[Calling All Fighters! The Eastern Cities call all worthy warriors to the lands of Setting Luna to take part in a tournament to determine the best of us! We will begin with the first blossoms of spring! -The Ultimate Fighter Arena]

>[Vital Ingredients: I'd like to make a rather auspicious concoction... The ingredients are rather hard to acquire... Come to the Undercity of Septic for details. -an Apothecary Drezhar]

>[On second thought... perhaps not...]

>>44953136
>[Help! My Daughter's Enchanted: For Luna's past Six full Lunas, she's been slipping off into the woods, returning days later. I fear she's fallen to some Faeli enchantment. I'm but a humble Araflour, and I mean not to judge, but I'm scared for her. Eating less, losing weight. If you would see that the Faeli leaves her be, I'd be grateful. -A worried Araflour Mother]
We should stay away from Donnor's Pass
And this seems the most fitting with our abilities

>>44953136
>[Help! My Daughter's Enchanted: For Luna's past Six full Lunas, she's been slipping off into the woods, returning days later. I fear she's fallen to some Faeli enchantment. I'm but a humble Araflour, and I mean not to judge, but I'm scared for her. Eating less, losing weight. If you would see that the Faeli leaves her be, I'd be grateful. -A worried Araflour Mother]

>>44953157
>[Vital Ingredients: I'd like to make a rather auspicious concoction... The ingredients are rather hard to acquire... Come to the Undercity of Septic for details. -an Apothecary Drezhar]
Seems interesting

>>44953157
>[Vital Ingredients: I'd like to make a rather auspicious concoction... The ingredients are rather hard to acquire... Come to the Undercity of Septic for details. -an Apothecary Drezhar]

>>44953157
>[Haunting: I'm sorry to inform the reader that there is something haunting my lair. I just want to study in peace and quiet. -a perturbed Stella]

>[Engagement Ring...: So, I happened to acquire an engagement ring a in a bet from a lousy Hee-Joki. Apparently the ring belonged to a Danhor woman, and so long as I have this ring(which keeps coming back) I'm to be wed to her. Can someone please take this accursed thing away? -A very upset Guisi]

Two more for ya'll.

>>44953136
>[Help! My Daughter's Enchanted: For Luna's past Six full Lunas, she's been slipping off into the woods, returning days later. I fear she's fallen to some Faeli enchantment. I'm but a humble Araflour, and I mean not to judge, but I'm scared for her. Eating less, losing weight. If you would see that the Faeli leaves her be, I'd be grateful. -A worried Araflour Mother]

We are NOT touching Donnor's Pass until we ALL get some perspective that isn't about Guisi.

And I was about to consider Vital Ingredients until
>Undercity of Septic
Seriously? Either a sewer city or an absurdly clean place, and neither sound very "warm"

>>44953136
>[Help! My Daughter's Enchanted: For Luna's past Six full Lunas, she's been slipping off into the woods, returning days later. I fear she's fallen to some Faeli enchantment. I'm but a humble Araflour, and I mean not to judge, but I'm scared for her. Eating less, losing weight. If you would see that the Faeli leaves her be, I'd be grateful. -A worried Araflour Mother]
Best quest

>>44953317
gah, changing to >>44953289

>[Haunting: I'm sorry to inform the reader that there is something haunting my lair. I just want to study in peace and quiet. -a perturbed Stella]

>>44953317

Well, I can tell you in either case it's a location that can definitely be called a "City"

>>44953136

Swiftly, you snatch the notice of the Enchanted Daughter, likely with your particular set of skills, it should prove rather easy anyway. Furthermore, if your interaction with Eko, that fox protean was any indication, the ones known as Faeli can be rather... benign.

The bard keeps playing, his eyes locked on you through the crowd, Odette shifts her gaze to you, “Are we going in... Or are you going to have more fun?” She says with a curious, though almost exasperated tone.

The bard notices you looking and sends you a dashing smile with a raised eyebrow. He even puffs up his chest a bit to show off what he feels you might be interested in...

“We could have some real fun here.” Belinda snickers.

>[Dance as the bard plays, at the very least you'll both make some money, maybe even a friend?]
>[Kiss Odette while staring at the bard, play his heart strings in more way than one.]
>[Ignore the show, you'd rather sign on and get a bed to fall into after staying up all night.]
>[Write in.]

>>44953557
>[Dance as the bard plays, at the very least you'll both make some money, maybe even a friend?]

>>44953557
>[Ignore the show, you'd rather sign on and get a bed to fall into after staying up all night.]

>>44953557
>[Ignore the show, you'd rather sign on and get a bed to fall into after staying up all night.]
We need rest

>>44953557
>[Ignore the show, you'd rather sign on and get a bed to fall into after staying up all night.]

>>44953557
>[Dance as the bard plays, at the very least you'll both make some money, maybe even a friend?]
we need to get practice before doing real work. I don't think he should be in the party for this job, though.

>>44953557

Finding yourself too tired after the previous night to really get into a good dance, you walk inside the Guild hall with Odette, leaving the bard to his adoring crowd as he fills the air with a tune rivaling the concerts of the concerto crickets.

Within, you present the notice for the request to a Danhor clerk that hastily writes down your name and confirms yours and Odette's taking up of the quest. Looking up, he stares at you for a moment, squinting carefully, “You said that your name was... Beli, right?”

“That's right, Spelled, Bet- Eps-Lam- and Io. And my friend here is Ode, Omi-Del-Eps.”

“You seem familiar, though I can't quite place my finger on it...” The clerk says, brushing his chin in thought With a shrug, “Oh well, you've taken up the quest and as far as we're concerned you're an adventurer now. If you have need if room or board, I can help you with that now, transportation can be handled through another, though I won't say that it's at quite as low cost.”

“I've got the room tonight Beli.” Odette says as she puts coin down. “Rather not run into another 'bartering' situation.” She says and your cheeks flush.

“We do accept barter and take purchase for coin at a... reasonable rate.” The Danhor says with a smile. “Though if you find a Hee-Joki or Drezhar clerk I'd bear in mind that their offered prices are oft left than reasonable.”

A clerk with a scaled face and greenly tinted visage looks over, a bit dumbfounded by his associates statement even while he's in the middle of his own transaction.

The tension between the two is palpable as you and Odette lean away from the conflict. “Room key please?”

>>44954113

“Ah, yes” The Danhor completely ignores the persisting glare of his associate, turning around to retrieve a key. “Return it in the morning and we'll return your coin. Drinks in the bar are not on us.”

“I'll keep that in mind, love.” You say as you take the key and head up to the room, keeping in mind to make sure the key's going to the right door.

“A bit early to turn in...” Odette says as you fall into bed, sprawling everywhere before taking all the blankets for yourself.

“I stayed up all night last night, “You say with a yawn. “I think I deserve some beauty sleep.”

“Doing... what?” Odette raises an eyebrow, clearly concerned.

“You'll... see... It'll be... wonderful...Someday.” You say as you drift off into slumber...


[End Scene]

>>44954125
Thanks for running

File: Image017.jpg (17 KB, 429x466)

17 KB JPG

>>44954142
Thanks for playing!

As usual: Questions, comments, concerns?

The Good, The Bad, The Weird?

>>44954165
See you next week
The change of tone is weird but fun.
The only problem I have is that I'm not used to this

>>44954165
We can have the guild deliver the trinket if ever, right?

Maybe we should skip town soon, make our claim for fame somewhere else.

>>44954165
I'm wondering how we'll unlock deeper memories of Beli.
Also how the questing will turn out

Thanks for running again but now it's time for bed

>>44954165
I came to this quest a little late to vote, but I enjoyed reading it. Personally I'm looking forward to whichever party members we get in the future.

>>44954231
So long as you report your destinations they'll forward any parcels to your closest location.

>>44954232
Beli's memories will be unlocked in a similar manner to Dramir's. Experience something akin to her past and naturally that window will open.

Good night anon.

>>44954239
I'm glad that you are, I'm looking forward to having a healthy cast.

Though the Faceless is leaving some people behind, they'll not be forgotten...

>>44954324
>Good night anon
I wish.
It's morning around here