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You and the rest of the company travel alongside the courier known as Zlatan. This double agent, bearing letters from two outside powers, approached you representing both sides in a civil war, though the choices he offered forced him away from this double-teamery. Irene, on your advice (not to say she wasn't already leaning towards supporting them), chose the more familiar path of supporting the current government of a nation, the Order of Odo, and an earlier prominent client, Duchess Victoria of Malva, who is offering the faction her support, as they fight the Groznyi rebels you yourself helped turn away from a life of mere banditry not even a year ago.

"And my my how they have grown since, yes," Zlatan says, telling his story as you walk the deserts. "There was a time where we Groznyi were 'steal from rich, give to poor' types, and that is when the Order helped me get in good with and watch them... They say I have 'the stuff of a thief,' yes. But as someone from the outskirts myself," he says, "I cannot say I was not... touched, yes," he says. "But I shall prove still loyal to them and live in luxury when they are gone, yes!"

That night, Ansi scoffs at his story, you, him, and Une being on watch. "I know a wishy-washy type when I hear it," he says, "guy'd give us a story about his sympathies for the rebels if we chose to help them."

Une, stretching and laying on her Bael's side, responds indifferently, "what were you expecting? Not like we haven't taken dirtier money..."

"Better. Man. Now." He replies, emphasizing each syllable. "And it's not like I'm backing out. Jobs like this are good for folks like us."

Une sips from her flask. "So stop being holier-than-thou and be fun again."

If their banter continues from there, you don't remember. You're... a bit distracted with the fact that you were accidentally turned into a damned Wampyr. It's a lot to reflect upon, after all!

>A. Only Leigh, Ansi, Irene, and Yulea know
>B. The entire company knows

>>45366204
Vote time renewed.

>>45366204
>B. The entire company knows

>>45366494
>>45366494
While, given his untrustworthy nature, your client is still in the dark on the issue, you figured it would cause more harm than good if the rest of Marrius' Group wasn't informed of your status as an essence-drinking nocturnal acrobat with a severe weakness to the very magic you've spent your years learning.

You'll need to remember to drink some folks when violence breaks out in Disler Outpost. You don't plan on fighting them all until nighttime anyways, so that should work out fine.

Different night shifts come and go, though you're able to stay vigilant the entire time.

"Weren't you quitting?" You ask Gonzo at one point.

"Been meaning to ask you the same thing," he responds, and that's as far as the conversation goes.

"Ah, we approach this historic outpost at last!" Zlatan says as your trip of a couple days through the desert comes to a close. "I know you have your cooling rings, but... Still, these desert treks never don't tire on me, yes."

As you approach the outpost, a pair of archers, one you don't recognize, aim bows at the lot of you from a roof. "Halt!" The unfamiliar one says, "state your business!" Sheena's mount, Buccaneer, and Calof both lower themselves to the ground in response to the hostile archers.

"Wait, hold a moment..." the other says, "that is Zlatan with them, and... Why, those would be Marrius' Group! So you have received the Empress of Dain's letter?"

>A. Let others handle this
>B. Yes
>C. Admit you're here to fight them
>D. Write-in response

>>45366930
Again, renewed.

>>45366930
>B. Yes

>>45367247
"Er... Yeah," you respond. "And I assume that she's only echoing your own requests for extra muscle?"

"It's a sentiment we and her can agree on," the more familiar, more experienced-looking fellow answers, "but all of this shouting down from the tower is... Hurting my throat! Come on in, please! We'll be right down."

For the sake of the area not being super damn cluttered, the only people who enter the sort of "meeting area" of the building are you, Irene, and Zlatan, who prefers to lean against a wall as opposed to sitting like a normal person.

The archers you saw earlier, the one you vaguely recognized now clearly having long, golden hair in a messy ponytail, the newer guy's brown locks being shorter, curlier, and messier, also walk in alongside a pair of Dain soldiers.

>character limit, continued next post

>>45367823
"Apologies once more for the hostility," the sniper says. "Bandits, representatives of the Order or of Malva... I wouldn't be the leader of the Parthia if I couldn't keep my bow trained on anyone."

"It's... Cleared up," Irene responds. "Zlatan filled us in on your situation, of course. I see you've only improved your skills even further since the fall of Nail."

"Our skills, our morals, our public image... Ridding ourselves of that bird has been a gift to our expansion."

The shorter-haired boy nods. "And I'm able to be a student to Pere himself!" You... Guess that's the sniper's name? "I'm going to be one of the Parthia myself once my training is complete."

Pere nods. "But there will be more time to discuss our personal history later, Cailean. For now... Get situated, come to understand just what this world your effort is supporting will be going towards. You've been wandering a long way from Elza Oasis, after all, and with this one to chat your ears off!" He gestures with his head towards Zlatan.

"Hey, hey, Pere! You said you would lay off, yes!" Zlatan laughs good-naturedly anyway at the ribbing, going into familiar small talk with the archers at a moment's notice.

Irene shoots you a look, though you're not entirely sure what this look entails.

The rest of the meeting is rather brief, Pere and Cail apologizing for alienating you and Irene from the conversation.

So you have a few hours to kill until it's late as hell.

>A. Ask Pere something (specify)
>B. Say something else (specify)
>C. Spend time with someone (again, specify)
>D. Attack now
>E. Write-in response

>>45367844
>>C. Spend time with someone (Irene)

>>45368074
You do go into the nearby town with your mentor, recalling a cafe you once visited.

"They're just going to try to feed you propaganda," Irene warned your fellow mercenaries before you all went about your daily business. "I'm... Not going to make a judgement call when we're already here on business, but please remember why we're here..." Basically, she told them to avoid sympathizing too heavily with people they're very likely going to end up killing by the time the night is out.

The woman serving you and Irene coffee does, however, converse with Irene, apparently already knowing exactly what she wants as she comes by. "And for you?"

"Just... Same that Irene's having," you respond. Your sense of taste has been weaker lately, and to be quite honest food and drink go right through you, but eating and staying hydrated are really not habits you want to get out of.

The woman nods, going back into a chat with Irene. "My, uh... Condolences about Esmer. By the way."

"It's... Been a few months now," Irene responds. "Thank you, though."

"'course, if you've got that student of yours here, it can only mean you've been swept up in all this nonsense."

"It's... A job, anyway," Irene answers. "You can't always be discriminate in this business."

The woman nods, albeit huffing. "Way I see it, all of this is trouble. Sooner it is, the better, 'specially now that that grandson of mine's trying to become some great warrior."

Irene, somewhat snappily, says, "my apologies, Marble, but... I'm really just here for coffee."

She nods. "Of course, of course... Just had a lot to get offa my chest. Chat later, maybe?"

Irene replies, "we'll see," before this Marble woman goes off to take orders for Yancy and Yulea at a nearby table. Noting Irene's earlier demeanor, she only returns briefly enough to bring you the same hot drink.

>A. Ask about that woman
>B. Ask what's on Irene's mind
>C. Ask about something magic-related (specify)
>D. Write-in response
>E. Say/do nothing

>>45368431
>B. Ask what's on Irene's mind

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>>45368524
"Something on your mind?" You ask, sipping coffee you barely register the taste of.

"This is... A stressful situation to be in," Irene responds.

"We just toppled a whole big conspiracy, and you were a part of that for awhile, right?" You say, trying to assure her that she can deal with this.

"I know, but... Even still, then it was easy to know when a line had been crossed, that betraying my mentor was what was best for everyone."

"Yeah, it... was nice feeling like a big hero there."

"Most large-scale conflicts aren't so black-and-white, though." Irene responds. "Working for Marrius, taking over his legacy... For nearly the entirety of this company's existence, we've been routing bandits, protecting merchants, fighting mindless undead. But... Gods, Lloyd, Marble's grandson is that boy set to join the Parthia, Cail. We've... Never spoken at length, but I knew I'd recognized him. I suppose that, seeing Marble, having a friendly chat as though nothing was different..."

"Having second thoughts?"

She shakes her head. "No, I still think ours is the best course of action, but... I won't be sleeping soundly. At least... At least I can be wholly certain our former members slain by them with Lupus can finally rest."

>A. Write-in response
>B. Reassure her as a former bandit. It's hard to come to grips with.
>C. Berate her as a former bandit. You live with having done worse!
>D. Give a bunch of neutral non-responses
>E. Call this interaction to a close
>F. Sit silently as she vents

>>45368864
>B. Reassure her as a former bandit. It's hard to come to grips with.

>>45369068
Hoping to reassure her, you say, "hey, it's... Really not an easy thing. Hell, I used to be a bandit myself, you... Probably have heard by now. And being partially responsible for these guys being like this... see, though, I only did what I did for ultimately selfish reasons. Stole and killed and deceived so I could keep myself going... Certainly I cared for Leigh as much back then as I do now, but I digress. The point is, you're beating yourself up because you're sticking to a decision where there... Really isn't an absolutely right answer, and you're just following the path you think will have the most positive consequences." Straining a bit, you add, "is it... Obvious that I'm trying not to explicitly say 'the ends justify the means?'"

Irene chuckles sadly at your last comment, before addressing the reassuring that came moments before it. "It... Really does mean a lot to have had your support all of this time. I can only imagine how you must feel since the past few days..."

"Well, it only gives us more reason to get the staff of Katri out of that person's hands."

"Of course..." Irene ponders a moment. "Do you think she'll learn the Wampyr staff has been sold, perhaps try to... Reclaim it now that it's out of Anna's hands?"

>A. After you cost her a hand? She wouldn't dare.
>B. After you cost her a hand? She'll probably be all over it.
>C. Can't say for sure
>D. How would she even find out
>E. Write-in response

>>45369384
>C. Can't say for sure

>>45369520
"Paula's just a big damn enigma," you respond. "Is she helping the rebels? Is she helping the Order? Is she freezing in some alley? Urgh, that last one's a bit morbid..."

"Regardless..." Irene responds, "the complete lack of any consistent word on her current status... Concerns me, for obvious reasons. Even if she's losing her mind and helpless, it's only so long before she... Lashes out in some horrible way."

"Speaking of which... You talk to Wes recently?"

"Not in a few weeks," she responds. "Last I'd heard, Princess Shea had... Something planned. He wouldn't say what, simply that he was confident it could help them draw out Paula."

You nod your head. After coffee is finished, the conversation turns briefly towards Irene's projects before it's decided that the meeting has run its course. The two of you part ways for the time being.

As you wander around the town a bit more, twilight approaching quickly, you notice something head into a nearby bit of woods: Zlatan walking into the woods, led by that Cailean boy.

>A. Follow them
>B. Let them do whatever
>C. Write-in response?

>>45369715
Renewed.

>>45369715
>A. Follow them

>>45370104
You follow them, keeping a distance and, your strength returning as the day grows darker and you enter the well-shaded forest, climbing through trees as you keep an eye on the duo.

"Ah, yes, Cail... Tell me now why you have brought me out here, yes?"

The boy responds, "so nobody stops me." Drawing his bow, he stares your client down. "Now, Zlatan, tell me why you did it."

"Did what? You will need to be specific, yes!" He backs away a bit, arms raised. "And, er, also don't do anything foolish! I am quite the quick draw, and you are... Still in training."

"Bluff all you want, but Pere has taught me enough. The Parthia's eyes are finely-trained, and they see past your deception!" Certainly can't see you. "You're just a good-for-nothing spy, aren't you?"

"You... You went through my belongings, yes?" As opposed to reaching for his bow, Zlatan's hands go behind his head. You spy a dagger hidden in his cloak, and he takes a step forward.

"No, but your reaction proves enough." Cail draws back his bow. "Don't take another step, or... Or I'll..."

"Ahahaha... You still do not know what you're doing, yes! Green around the gills you are, yes?"

So that rookie/would-be Parthia is at a standstill as Zlatan draws his dagger. You honestly have no idea which of them is going to make it out of this alive if you simply remain in the shadows like so, but you could probably get a good leap at a target from this angle...

>A. Just keep watching
>B. Help Zlatan
>C. Help Zlatan, then berate him for making this happen
>D. Help Cailean
>E. Help Cailean, then try to talk him out of the fight
>F. Leave without watching what happens
>G. Write-in response
(Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, helping one will kill the other. Killing Zlatan doesn't stop you from aiding the Order as a whole, but you would definitely have a bit of explaining to do to the rest of your company)

>>45370432
Another renewal.

>>45370432
>C. Help Zlatan, then berate him for making this happen
Don't kill Cailean.

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>>45370846
You leap in from behind, grasping the back of Cai's neck so you might avoid Zlatan immediately catching onto your technique while it still... Looks vaguely like something that could knock a dude out.

"F-fire..." He whimpers before passing out, and at that point you slip your fingers out of his neck and drop him to the ground, figuring that that's a good stopping point if you don't want to kill the kid.

Noting his words, you shove Zlatan down with you moments before a volley of arrows soars where the two of you once stood. "You idiot!" You call to him. "What were you hoping to accomplish, obliging him and then confessing like that?! This is YOUR plan, man!"

"You... I should have figured that it was too good to be true, the thought that you'd pull through for us." Pere's voice rings out as he and five other snipers step forward.

"You are not one to talk like this when you send a boy as bait!" Zlatan responds.

"He wasn't supposed to be so... Confrontational about this!" Pere snaps back. "And he wasn't supposed to be followed, either. It was my mistake thinking he could handle this, but killing him in cold blood..!"

"He's, uh... Still alive, actually," you say. "Made sure of that much."

"So at least you have a heart... Stand aside, though. It's not too late for you to turn over a new leaf, allow the Groznyi Group to compensate you as we save this country." Pere says. "Do not make us call you a traitor, after all you have done for the Parthia."

>A. Stay put
>B. Attack them with magic
>C. Attack the closest sniper with draining powers
>D. Provoke them; keep their attention on you
>E. Follow their request
>F. Write-in response

>>45371077
>C. Attack the closest sniper with draining powers

>>45371077
>F. "I...don't have the authority to make that decision, and I'm not going to betray my company. Since you've probably already taken measures to ensure that not returning outs us, it wouldn't hurt anything to go discuss it..."

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>45371255
>>45371276

>>45371276
Kinda rushed that and forgot to include a few things, the not returning bit means that if he doesn't return (which he wouldn't if this stunt of his went awry) shortly, before nightfall at the latest, he would've told one or more people that that Marrius' Group are traitors, and discussion should happen with Irene, since she's the one in charge.

>>45371299
"Look, you're propositioning the wrong guy here," you say, "I like to think I have a good bit of pull in Marrius' Group, but I'm not about to make that decision for our leader, and... Letting your client get killed is sort of," you get riddled with arrows, which simply stick through you, and you continue speaking without really acknowledging it, "frowned upon as a mercenary. Our dumbass boss might have let the cat out of the bag, but you'll need to talk to Irene about this if you really want to do this. I figure now that if you guys don't come back before too long, we'll have trouble back at Disler Outpost, possibly even right here in town."

"Y-you... What are you?!" Pere says, a bit taken aback by your lack of any real response to being... As said, riddled with arrows.

"This bothering you?" You ask, cracking your neck and feeling their fear might help your situation. "I can take care of that in a sec." The arrows push out of you, and the holes they leave in your body are patched up with a bit of essence.

"Nngh..." Pere's fear still evident, he steels himself and stands proud. "Hold a moment... I've heard of what you are. Men, take Cail, get him to his grandmother... And then hurry to Disler Outpost. Rogers, you equip the Firebolt. The rest of you, find anyone who can use magic along the way."

"But... What about you, sir?"

"We're just archers," he responds, "it doesn't matter how much we shoot him without magic." He stares you and Zlatan down.

"So... That's a no on the negotiating, yes?" Zlatan says nervously.

The other five archers, two carrying Cail away, run off as Pere stands in front of you and your client.

>A. Ignore Pere and chase the rest
>B. Immediately attack Pere
>C. Announce a change of heart (does not have to be genuine, but Zlatan will probably not make it out)
>D. Use your Berserk staff
>E. Write-in response

>>45371491
>E. Was the offer really that unreasonable? Or were you going to kill us both regardless of whether I stood down or not?
>B. Attack Pere

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>>45371647
"Was it... Really all that unreasonable of an offer?" You ask. "Were you just going to kill us and run off anyway?"

"Don't play coy with me, Wampyr!" He shouts back, hitting you with another useless arrow that certainly would have killed you before. Well, you... guess he's draining your essence? "That woman is still at large, and this alone makes it clear that she has turned you!"

"Wait... Paula? No, no, see, we found the Wampyr staff in a store! We think she was desperate for gold." If there's any way you can prevent this miscommunication...

"A likely story!" Nope, he's just gonna keep attacking you.

You COULD just wait until he's out of arrows, but... Honestly, this guy is starting to bug you. Rushing forward, you dig your digits into the leader of the Parthia's neck.

"Zlatan... Lloyd... Please, break free of that woman's spell..." Based on a mistaken conclusion, those are the last words of a man purported to be the deadliest archer in Teege.

"Ehey," Zlatan says, laughing nervously and standing, "for what it's worth, I will believe whatever you tell me about why you are like this, yes! You could have gotten away with not sparing me no sweat, but made sure to save my life anyway, so... Thank you for being good mercenaries, yes!" Sweating nervously, he quickly adds, "but... You would tell me if that Necromancer woman was controlling you, right? Yes, of course you would!"

At this point, you and Marrius' Group are officially enemies of the Groznyi Rebels, and by extension the Dain Empire, at least for the duration of this war. You... Knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but the abruptness of it still hits you pretty hard.

>To be continued next thread
Gotta say, I am genuinely surprised Zlatan survived this chapter. It's going to be very easy to potentially get the bastard killed, but I do enjoy writing him regardless.

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

>>45371846
I actually wanted to just knock him out as well. Doubly so after that response. Oh well, that's what I get for not specifying.

Thanks for running.

>>45371890
If it's any consolation, the situation had hit a boiling point anyway. Leaving him alive probably would've just put an immense threat on your shoulders somewhat later, since at the very least the entire rest of the folks at Disler Outpost are going to start attacking on sight from here.

I at least hope that his misunderstanding wasn't stupid. He was genuinely supposed to come across as belligerent, but I tried to make his train of logic come across as clear.

Probably should point out that Paula's very likely become a bit of a bogeyman around Teege since her disappearance.

Always a pleasure, though.