You and the rest take another break after another intense battle.

Everyone ensures that Eva is being kept secure, no easy task considering her damned psychic powers, but she is... Mostly, albeit reluctantly, compliant in the moment.

Speaking to a generic messenger you don't recognize, Shea says, "and make it clear to King Garrus and General Reese that no harm will come to Queen Eva," ending off a note that she's passing along. The messenger nods before riding off on a pegasus.

Ultimately, you're the one with a Witch Pendant, so people will be waiting on you until it's time to come to Paula's lair. Shea suggested you take... An hour?

What'll you do in the meantime?

>A. Push to end the wait early
>B. Just wait around the whole time
>C. Talk to someone (specify who)
>D. Write-in action

>>45098165
>C. Talk to someone (Wes)

>>45098388
You seek out and speak to your double in the meantime, finding him discussing things with Irene.

"Wow..." He says, "I... never really thought about it that way."

"Maybe you have," she responds.

Wes is silent a moment before chuckling. "Eheheh, right... Amnesia jokes..." He rubs the back of his neck. "That's pretty funny."

Irene frowns. "Sorry... I'm sure you hear them a lot, and..."

Wes holds up his hands and shakes his head. "No, no, I'm all too happy to hear it. Not like I've heard 'em all before... In my memory, anyway."

Irene chuckles. "At least you can make them as well..."

Wes finally turns and notices you, prompting Irene to ask, "hmm?" and do the same. "Oh, Lloyd. Wes here and I were simply discussing my teleportation studies, and I mentioned the possibility of using the Outrealm Gate as a means to travel even further... If we could only sufficiently study it."

"A manmade alternate gateway to parallel universes, she called it," Wes finishes. "Gotta say, I wasn't too interested in all of this magiscience stuff before, but hearing her talk about it's... Inspiring, you know?"

>A. She inspired you too
>B. If he says so
>C. You guess?
>D. Be silent
>E. Talk to someone else (specify)
>F. Write-in response

>>45098617
>A. She inspired you too

>>45098671
You nod. "Yeah, she's... A pretty inspiring person. Why I'm in the field, too."

Irene turns a bit red with embarrassment, "oh, I wasn't that big of a help..."

"You have no need to be humble, Irene," Wes responds, "you're Marrius' group's brains and heart, and though I... Can't speak for when it was led by its founder, what your colleagues have said only speak for your likability."

"You're exaggerating!"

Wes shakes his head.

"A-anyway..." Irene says, flustered-sounding, "I should... Probably go talk to princess Shea now... About... Tactics."

After Irene leaves, Wes gives you a dreamy look. "I just came over to apologize to her about Esmer, and then we were just... Talking and talking. I could listen to her for hours, you know?"

>A. You definitely get him
>B. Insinuate things about his meaning
>C. Say he couldn't keep up with her
>D. You don't HAVE hours to talk
>E. Write-in response

>>45098944
>B. Insinuate things about his meaning
Definitely has a crush

>>45099011
You grin a bit. "Hey, man, you're still single, so..."

"H-hmm?" He rubs the back of his head nervously again. "Oh, you mean like... Eheh... I mean, what would you do in this situation?"

"Me?" You say. "I would keep never entertaining thoughts of anyone but my long-term girlfriend. You, however, are someone else entirely, beyond the face..." You stroke your own chin, prompting Wes to do the same to his hairier jawline. "Hell, even then, there's differences. But... I digress."

Wes chuckles. "I get what you're saying, though... I should think for myself more... I dunno, how do I impress her?"

>A. That's not really how romance works
>B. Get into magiscience
>C. Just be supportive
>D. Give deliberately terrible advice (specification allowed but not required)
>E. Write-in response

>>45099184
>A. That's not really how romance works

>>45099184
>C. Just be supportive

>>45099306
>>45099496
"It's, uh... I don't think that's how romance works, actually."

"How does it?"

You close your eyes, trying to figure out how to word this. You'll probably need to phrase it differently from with Ansi long ago. "Well, Wes... Sometimes it just doesn't work. A lot of different variables come into effect, but..."

"But it's all about how people think?" Wes says.

You nod. "And... I guess all I can say besides that is don't be fake. If you're going to change something about yourself for another's sake, it needs to be... Genuine, even when you're not thinking about her, even when you're nowhere near her." NOW you manage to apply how Ansi and Jolie seem to be working out to this situation.

"I mean... What would I need to change about myself?" He asks.

Right... He really doesn't seem all that in need of an overhaul. "Er... Nothing, honestly. Just... Tried thinking of another friend who liked someone like that, but now that I say it you're totally different." You shake your head. "Uh, look, just... Be a supportive friend and colleague and hope for the best."

Wes nods. "I get it, thanks."

>A. Keep talking to Wes (specify)
>B. Look for someone else (again, specify)
>C. Await go time
>D. Write-in response

>>45099570
>B. Look for someone else (Leigh)

>>45099626
After that, you spend awhile with Leigh.

"Gods, that queen was nimble..." She waves around her miracle sword. "She swiped it right out of my hands."

"You were fighting her knights awhile, and before this she had only fought Shea, who was going easy on her, all from the comfort of a mount. The deck was stacked against you."

Leigh nods. "I guess you're right... Still, it only shows that I'll need to be at the top of my game for this next part."

"Mahavira himself will be leading the Wulf Company members guarding Paula," Lloyd says, "and from my understand he's the... Frontline general type. Odds are we'll be challenging him fairly quickly once we warp in."

Leigh clutches her blade tighter. "Then all the more reason for me to be at the top of my game! This is a man who's been at this game since before we were born, Lloyd."

"I mean, so are a few others we've fought," you say, "but... I get you, yeah."

"That being said... I'll be counting on you to keep any Wampyr far away from us up close and personal types."

>A. Consider it done
>B. Tell her not to run into any
>C. Might be a bit difficult
>D. Write-in response

>>45099882
>A. Consider it done

>>45099948
"Of course," you respond. "Odds are that if we attack soon enough, we won't have to worry about them until we get inside..."

"Why do they get weaker in the daylight anyway?" Leigh asks.

You shrug. "You'd have to ask whoever made the staff. My guess is as a failsafe in case they were turned against them or something. That or a natural drawback to their advanced strength outside of daylight..."

"I... Guess that makes sense," Leigh responds.

You spend the next several minutes pondering to yourself about why the hell moonlight doesn't weaken them, if it's just reflected sunlight. Maybe you're just... Overthinking it, or that guy was wrong, but the words of a scholar you met offscreen in the Tower of Longevity sure sounded well thought-out. Got you and Irene to support the idea, anyway.

After that, you and Leigh talk about assorted other things, until ultimately it's time abouts for your break to end.

"Got your Witch Pendant, Lloyd?" Shea asks.

You nod, and everyone links up so you can warp a damned small army to the temple in question.

You're glad Irene isn't the one who has to do this.

>A. Say something before shoving off (specify)
>B. Just go

>>45100182
>B. Just go

>>45100253
You waste no time in warping to your destination, just a ways away from the entrance to the temple in question.

It's a humble little thing you can barely see in the distance, but monitored by a lot of mercenaries. Irene says that Esmer once explained to her that it extends rather deep into the underground, being almost as impressive in scale as Aum dungeon. Though while Aum is mostly REALLY long underground tunnels and a decent-sized dungeon complex connecting them all, this is all one building, several large rooms... Four floors, so you understand it, counting the topmost aboveground level.

Esmer claimed that Paula usually sits on the third floor, and refused to explain the mysteries of the fourth, so says Irene.

Anyway, the fighters outside the building are... Most entirely physical. Heroes, warriors, snipers, berserkers, halberdiers...

How do you start things off?

>A. Start with a swath of long-distance attacks
>B. Warp into range to Berserk someone
>C. Send in physical units first, naturally
>D. Write-in response

>>45100475
Vote time renewed.

>>45100757
A.

>>45100475
>A. Start with a swath of long-distance attacks

>>45100475
>A. Start with a swath of long-distance attacks

Sorry for the wait. Shit-ass laptop keeps freezing up.

Guess what's only getting more and more ornery!

Thank you all for your continued patience.

>>45100792
>>45100827
>>45100903
Alright, you have your eclipse tome, Irene shares an extra Mire with Wes, and Welles assures you that Eyven is in the area. Basically, anyone prepared with siege weaponry utilizes it, even if you do have relatively few.

Demeter is apparently packing Meteors, so that definitely helps too.

Anyway, you, Demeter, Irene, and Wes all do your thing to start the fight, and bolts from Eyven fly towards the foes from all directions as fast as a ballista can be expected to launch.

Needless to say, this causes a bit of a ruckus among the members of the Wulf Company, who hurry out to meet you as your assaults end.

The big bearded fellow from awhile ago, looking more than a bit disheveled from your attack, leads a group of about a dozen similarly-equipped Heroes to strike back against your assault.

>A. Stay back, keep up with Eclipse until it breaks!
>B. Switch to more ordinary magiccing from a sort-of distance
>C. Get up close and personal. They'll never expect it!
>D. Write-in response
(sorry for how this abruptly cuts off. I figured it was semi-passable enough as a choice point after my laptop shit itself for 40 minutes)

>>45101790
>B. Switch to more ordinary magiccing from a sort-of distance

>>45101790
>B. Switch to more ordinary magiccing from a sort-of distance
Save a few uses for redundant area coverage once we get inside and Wampyr are about.

Great. More freezing and I lost the damn post to boot. So sorry for all the delays.

>>45101865
>>45101870
Alright, fuck it. Summarized version of what I was about to post.

You and Wes switch to Carreau and Nosferatu respectively, each keeping close behind the likes of Gonzo and Jolie and Cargia.

"You've adjusted awfully fast," is the gist of what you say.

"Thanks, Irene says I have comparable essence levels to you, too..." He basically pretty much responds. "It... Seems pretty likely that I really was a spirit charmer. Neck scar theory was on the money!"

"Cool."

"Cool."

Mahavira ends up directly confronting you both after cutting down a generic. "So... We saw each other briefly the other week, did we not?"

"We did," you say, "when you abandoned duchess Victoria."

"This world..." He says, "my priorities must be placed in its upheaval, as someone whose company protects its people."

He looks about ready to exposit.

>A. Let him exposit
>B. Attack him
>C. Attack mid-exposition
>D. Ditch him
>E. Write-in
(now that I've typed this up, I'm see if resetting my laptop won't help. Shouldn't be long)

>>45102550
>A. Let him exposit

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>>45102581
"I..." He says, "have been in this business a long time, as I'm certain you're well aware. Told I had a lot of loyalty for a hired sword, at least until the incident with Victoria, but..."

"Get to the important part," you request.

"Let me tell my story, whelp!" He responds, pointing his sword threateningly forward. "Unless you would rather I turn it towards you right away."

You shake your head, fearing you're not at nearly a close enough range to fight him with your magic. Wes with Flux, perhaps, but...

Anyway, Mahavira continues. "I... Basically, I have had several crises of faith, and the only time that I felt certain that... certain that my blade could actually put an end to violence in this country was when I was young, long ago, and met Lars."

"But it's been over 20 years since he died," you respond, "certainly you... Couldn't possibly still be naive enough to think his vision hasn't been... Perverted, corrupted, or even been all that noble in the first place."

"Regardless..." He says, "Lars' sister here, she was the world to him, and... No matter what she's become, I would rather not do my friend a disservice by abandoning her." He shakes his head, also adding, "plus, you bastards murdered Esmer. She and I... We were the ones who founded this company, along with a dear, long-lost mate of ours... Even after she left the company, she was still my ally, friend, and companion!"

>A. Try to reason with him (write-in dialogue)
>B. Wes is the only one who murdered Esmer
>C. Attack!
>D. Write-in response

>>45103086
>A. Try to reason with him (You must still have something to live for.)

>>45103139
"You... Must have something to live for, Mahavira," you say.

His response makes you wish that you hadn't worded it like that. He nods, at first, which... Makes you seem hopeful, but then... "Aye. As I said, there are... Friends of mine, who would have wanted me to carry on, succeed, reshape a new world." He takes a swing at you, which you barely teleport out of the way of. "For my fallen sister, thicker a bond than blood could have granted us, for the prince who granted me hope that this vicious cycle enrapturing Teege might end... For his sister, a visionary in need of guidance... I will fight."

He swings again, and you barely dodge out of the way of the attack the old fashioned way.

"W-wait!" Wes says, catching Mahavira's attention. "If it's... Revenge you're after, I'm the one who threw a blast of Flux at your comrade's skull..."

"Are you... confessing to-" Mahavira asks, distracted from you.

Wes nods. "I... Apologize, but it needed to be done. I... Killed Esmer."

Mahavira shuts his eyes a moment. "Thank you, boy, for being honest. Tell me, now, what's your name?"

"Wes."

"Wes... Your death will be swift." He rushes towards Wes, taking a Flux to the chest. You can tell it hurt him a LOT, but he's not fazed by it.

You think you hear footsteps, horse-hooves behind and around you, all closing in.

>A. Do something! (write-in)
>B. Don't do anything
>C. Call out for help
(yeah this is a bullshit-level easy "only a write-in saves the day" situation, but whatever)

>>45103332
>A. Do something! (Carreau Mahavira)
Rescue broke, Berserk wouldn't help, Mend would only work after Wes got hit, Eclipse can only kill if they're at 1 HP (and even then only in certain games).

>>45103480
Yeah, this one's a bit of a no-brainer. You open up Carreau, causing its magic to hone in on and stop Mahavira in his tracks.

"Hrg..." He collapses, dropping his Silver Sword. "I have... No regrets. Were this to... Happen again, I would do the same as I have..."

As Mahavira falls, the rest of his men only become more resolute... And are only crushed even faster due to their going all-out.

All the meanwhile, you... Can't help but wonder if you could have said something to talk Mahavira down.

"Lloyd," Wes says, "there's... Nothing you could have done, right?"

"R... Right..." You respond, uncertain, but... It's not like there's a thing you can do about it now.

The lot of you advance, securing the area before descending into the temple.

>to be continued next thread
Yeah, sorry for the abrupt ending, but... Yeah, blame my laptop.

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

>>45103736
Thanks for running in spite of severe technical difficulties.

>>45103763
I haven't let technical difficulties kill a thread, unless I'm forgetting anything.

Thanks for playing and being patient.