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You are now Sir Dyrus, the barely-elder twin son of Lady Hauteclere. Predating the invasion of Noba by Central Teege's wyvern riders by a good several days, you, your grandfather, Darren, your maid, Via, and two soldiers you've had little chance to interact with (a golden-haired, freckled young soldier of small stature named Gerard, and a tall, purple-headed pegasus knight by the name of Belle. They were riding with Via much of the trip as your grandfather shared stories of your father) ride up to August's Reach right as scheduled.

"King Augustus will wish to meet with the lot of us," your grandfather explains, "not just myself. None of you take this as an invitation to speak out of turn. While King Augustus does respect one who can speak their mind, he is still the king, and insulting his honor too strongly could undermine our entire purpose in coming here."

"So..." Gerard scratches his head, "he wants us all to say stuff, but you don't want us to risk talking?"

"It's like I told you," Belle says back, "royalty have very odd rules of engagement."

"It is... strange, not having anything to expect but several contradicting pieces of advice," Via remarks before taking on a steadfast look, "but we did not come to serve Sir Darren by being poor at our jobs."

>A. Assure them to follow their collective gut
>B. Ask further questions of your grandfather (specify)
>C. Suggest that these retainers keep their heads down
>D. Write-in response

>>46252556
>A. Assure them to follow their collective gut

>>46252556
>>A. Assure them to follow their collective gut

>>46252621
>>46252700
"Don't worry, you three," you assure them. "Just follow your guts and speak how you think you ought to. We're dealing with a man who's refused to trifle with the Gerxel's overattention to status."

Your grandfather makes a low grunt that you find rather difficult to read before a Noban servant leads the three of you through August's Reach.

"The streets are so lively here!" Gerard comments cheerily. "Kids are playing, people are befriending guards instead of shying away from them... we'd never see this kind of thing back East."

"Easing on the flattery before you've even met his majesty?" The servant jokes. "My, my, you've taught your employees to lick boot well."

"What? No, I'm being serious!" Gerard says.

Belle quietly rolls her eyes, exchanging glances of amusement with a trying-not-to-look-amused Via.

"The atmosphere is a much less... Heated one, even with the Gerxel breathing down your doors," you note. Speaking of less heated, you wonder idly how things are going with your mother and sister in Tordo.

The servant answers a lot of Gerard's excited-sounding questions as you tour the capital of the kingdom, though he cuts himself off as he approaches an impressive-looking estate. "This," he explains, "would be August Keep. His majesty has asked to come out to meet you all at the front gates, so excuse me a moment."

As he leaves, Darren comments, "a king who would rather step outside than have us come to him..."

>A. Sounds like a down-to-earth guy
>B. Sounds sketchy
>C. Is there really any significance
>D. He must really feel safe
>E. Write-in response
>F. Be silent

>>46252950

>C. Is there really any significance

>>46252950
>>D. He must really feel safe

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>>46253064
>>46253010
"So he feels safe approaching guests in front of his own home. Is there any significance?"

Your grandfather shakes his head. "No, simply something worth commenting on... First impressions can mean quite a lot."

The five of you can't be waiting for more than two or three minutes when, riding atop a rather impressive horse, a brown-haired man rides out from behind the palace, accompanied only by that earlier servant, following closely on foot. Besides a pair of archers stationed at the front door to the palace, he is effectively unguarded as he rides over to the gates.

Thea man looks a few years shy of thirty. His hair, medium-length and a cool brown, is neatly combed, and well-groomed stubble adorns his face. Tired brown eyes and a calm smile look down from his mount, then come to be level with your grandfather's height as he dismounts.

"So," the man jokes, "whichever of you is Lady Hauteclere, you've already shattered my explanations."

>A. The Ice Authority summoned her
>B. Ask that he pardon your mother's absence
>C. Laugh
>D. Write-in response
>E. Be silent

>>46253401
**Shattered my expectations, not explanations. How'd that typo slip through?

>>46253401
>B. Ask that he pardon your mother's absence

>>46253401
>>B. Ask that he pardon your mother's absence
>>C. Laugh

>>46253518
>>46253486
"Ahah," you chuckle at who you presume is the king's little joke. "My mother wishes that you pardon her absence. The Ice Authority is far more... What's the word, about their audiences."

"Frosty?" Belle suggests, to Gerard trying to stifle a chuckle of his own.

"They insist more heavily on the actual leadership of their associates meeting them in person," Via explains more eloquently. "I assume it to be a Manakete value. The point is that Lady Hauteclere was confident that sending Sir Darren in her place would not offend you."

"I'd read more than enough on history and etiquette for a lifetime when I was a boy," the probable-king responds, "but aye, I'm not one for formality for its own sake." His eyes seem to linger on you for several moments before he snaps back, addressing Via, Gerard, and Belle. "Ah, but while it's easy enough to presume the identities of Sirs Darren and Dyrus, I'm afraid the three of you are harder to pinpoint. Would you grace a king with your names?"

As the trio introduces themselves to the man who's pretty much just confirmed what you assumed from the getgo, that he's King Augustus, your grandfather waits patiently for him to return to the topic at hand.

>A. Quietly ask your grandfather something (specify)
>B. Say something to the king (again, specify)
>C. Do as he does and wait
>D. Write-in response

>>46253770
>>C. Do as he does and wait

>>46253770
>C. Do as he does and wait

>>46253770
>C. Do as he does and wait

>>46253770
>C. Do as he does and wait

>>46253793
>>46253829
>>46253845
You wait patiently at your grandfather's side.

After those introductions are dealt with, Augustus turns towards the two of you again. "Now, would you follow me inside so we might discuss this mutual menace of ours?"

Led into the palace, you find the walls sparsely decorated, even if the place is quite well-lit and carries a faintly sweet aroma. As the servant described it on your way up here, Augustus is, for the most part, far more concerned with public works projects and traveling the boundaries of his country (several dukes and duchesses, lords and ladies and the like, can barely get along with any of one another without his regular appearances) than he is concerned with decorating his impressive-sized home. He only even really uses it for important meetings and sleeping when he's in town.

The very particular hallway you're led down, and the meeting room at its end, might have had more spent on their furnishing than the entire rest of the building's interior combined.

Seating himself between Sir Darren and Belle without much thought (gods, these chairs are comfortable. Who would WANT to think too hard and waste time not sitting in them?), he cuts to the chase. "Now... the Gerxel aren't especially fond of little guys coming out of nowhere and making whole countries out of thin air. Ever since I begun to unite this corner of Teege, I've known that it would only be a manner of time before they started to feel threatened, even if I never once stepped on the toes of their own planned prospects." Rubbing his chin, he adds, "'course, nowadays they're completely open about wanting to take in all of Teege, so playing nice was doomed from the start. At this point, I started thinking that the city-state of Holmstead looks mighty nice..."

>A. ...
>B. What benefits does Holmstead have
>C. So you're no different from them
>D. A reasonable desire
>E. Write-in response

>>46254185
>B. What benefits does Holmstead have

>>46254185
>C. So you're no different from them
RIGHTEOUS

>>46254185
>>B. What benefits does Holmstead have

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>>46254228
>>46254289
"I'm not very well-informed on the Southwest," you admit. "What are the benefits of this Holmstead?"

"Oh, there's quite a few," Augustus begins. "Their land is fertile, would increase the size of Noba by nearly a third of what it is currently, they have the only major ports in Teege that aren't in the Empire's grasp, beautiful, bountiful forests... What's not appealing about it?"

"You sound as though you've given this quite a lot of thought," Belle notes.

"Yeah, and taking it over would've made it all the harder for the Empire to do the same, but..."

"But?" Gerard asks.

"Let him finish," your grandfather snaps.

"Hey... It's a valid question. I trailed off for a second at the 'but' anyway." Augustus clears his throat. "But... Shortly after I'd bid farewell to a young man from Holmstead who'd taken interest in my life, my men captured a young Gerxel wyvern rider scouting out our country around the Distans region." That would be the Easternmost one, closest to the empire's territory. "Armed, generally acting suspicious. Through her, we learned the obvious: an invasion was in the works for little old us."

"And how did this bring about the 'but?'" You ask.

"We also learned that Coastal Gerxel soldiers would be striking from the land, passing through and conquering Holmstead to get to us. Since then, I've been readying us to mobilize in Holmstead's aid repelling the Empire. I even thought that I would personally lead the charge against Director Waldrick's men on that front." When he utters that last sentence, his tired face grows to look even further strained.

>A. Why not stay in his country when they're both being invaded?
>B. That's very kind of him
>C. You still don't get it
>D. So it's entirely a pragmatic thing
>E. Does he know this Director?
>F. Where's this wyvern rider now?
>G. Write-in response
>H. ...

>>46254739
B

>>46254739
>A. Why not stay in his country when they're both being invaded?
>E. Does he know this Director?

>>46254739
>>E. Does he know this Director?

>>46254831
>>46254823
>>46255261
"That's... Awfully kind of you!" You note, trying to sound honest despite noting a few suspect things in his words.

"Aye... I really should give back to Holmstead for eyeing them so intimidatingly until recently. Show that I'm the type of ruler that your mother would be proud to ally with."

"I see... But is that truly all?" You ask.

"Dyrus..." Your grandfather and maid both say at once.

"No, no." Augustus holds up his hand. "I want to hear where the boy's going with this."

"Well... First and foremost, it seems odd that you would go out of your way to personally repel an invasion when you're facing one yourself. Surely lending troops to Holmstead would be help enough."

"It doesn't make for as good of a song, does it?" Augustus snarks. "I'm friendly with a rather patriotic Holmstead bard, and if he makes me look bad in his play about me..."

"I don't think it's a public image thing either," you say. "Perhaps, partially, but... Your tone tells me that you share some personal connection with this Director Waldrick."

Augustus chuckles as Gerard reacts with surprise, looking down at his lap and shaking his head. "My, my, Hauteclere's raised an observant one..." Looking back up, he continues, "aye. While I've never spoken to the man personally, he's perhaps one of two people I respect more than anyone else in that damned Empire combined."

"Two?" Gerard asks.

"Aye... But that's a very personal story. Anyway, Waldrick's a good man, but also someone I fear far greater in battle than Director Belinda to the East. Years more experienced, better at raising morale..." Another chuckle, "and having one of my finest associates smuggle dragonslaying materials out of the Isle of Wyrm makes me worry less as well."

>A. He's stealing from the Empire?!
>B. So he's not remotely worried about the Noban front?
>C. Press harder on this "personal reason"
>D. Write-in response
>E. Be silent

>>46255274
>>A. He's stealing from the Empire?!

>>46255274
>B. So he's not remotely worried about the Noban front?

>>46255274
A

>>46255327
>>46255361
>>46255390
"You mean you're stealing from the Empire?!" You exclaim.

"No sense mincing words," Augustus admits. "As I said, I've anticipated an invasion for some time. Wyrmite is not only valued for its beauty and rarity, but can be fashioned into Wyrmslayers, Dragonpikes, Dragon Axes... If I distribute a few among an elite force, I can stop the Gerxel invasion in its tracks."

"So you're not worried about them at all," you comment. "That explains your willingness to hurry South."

"Once the shipment arrives," Augustus says, "I'll immediately make for Holmstead. Surely they'll have no time to waste with Gerxel fleets taking off..."

"How are you so confident that this will work?" Darren asks. "Your smugglers might easily be captured before they even see a single gram of that azure metal, and then there's the possibility that they'll simply be too late on arrival."

"I wouldn't cast doubt upon my associate's abilities," Augustus says with a sour look. "Him and his men are unrivaled at this, and their ship, while small, is fast and maneuverable enough to be days ahead of them."

"With all due respect, your majesty," Belle says, "we're... Here to discuss your support of the resistance."

"Ah, yes, yes... As soon as this invasion has been stopped, I will lend as much aid as I can provide to Lady Hauteclere's noble cause."

>A. Write-in response
>B. So are we done here?
>C. ...

>>46255714
And if the invasion is successful? Better to be prepared for any eventuality lest we be caught with our trousers down.

>>46255714

>C. ...

>>46255846
+1

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>>46255846
>>46256023
"And if they should succeed despite the odds?" You ask. "What then?"

For the first time since you've met him, Augustus actually looks outright... Offended by something that's been spoken. "Firstly... That will not happen. I swear that Noba will stand, survive any would-be invaders. Secondly..." His look grows bitterer by the second, "if, gods forbid, Noba WERE to fall, what exactly COULD my response be? Doubtless I would be killed, and you would then need to locate pockets of resistance before the Empire did."

Well, now you feel stupid. You remain silent for what little remains of the meeting, before being dismissed and told where guest accommodations are for the palace at August's Reach.

As you and Via show yourselves around, she comments, "you were doing very well for most of that, Sir Dyrus, but... Perhaps 'what will your country do if it no longer exists' wasn't the wisest thing to ask a vitally important ally."

>A. Yeah, she's right
>B. At least he didn't kill you over it
>C. You were perfectly reasonable!
>D. You didn't ask for her advice
>E. Write-in response

>>46256073
>A. Yeah, she's right

>>46256073
>A. Yeah, she's right
Sleepy once again shows why you should never support one of his write-ins.

>>46256073
A

>>46256104
>>46256113
>>46256375
"Yeah, you're right... What was I expecting for an answer anyway?"

"I can't answer that any better than you," she responds. "But... for the moment, at least, we can rest. We've been on the road for some time, the meeting with King Augustus has gone well..."

"Yeah, you have a point," you say. "...again."

"As a maid, it is my job to clean up my masters' messes!" Via says in a cheery, teasing tone.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" You mock-overreact.

"We've established what it means, Sir Dyrus." Via lightly giggles, fingertips covering her mouth. "Now, will you be retiring for the evening?"

>A. Yeah, you're beat
>B. Nah, the night's still young and this is a new town
>C. You're not sure yet
>D. Will SHE be~?
>E. Write-in response

>>46256400
>B. Nah, the night's still young and this is a new town

>>46256400
B

>>46256462
>>46256483
You shake your head. "This is a new town... An entirely different country, even! I, for one, would like to give it a once-over."

"That does sound like quite an idea... Should I get the others as well? Belle and certainly Gerard were very interested in checking August's Reach out."

From there, Via scurries off to find the soldier and pegasus knight, giving you a moment to unpack your things in your own room among the guests' quarters.

Not an extravagant room by any means, but it's very tidy and comfy-looking. Certainly a place you'll enjoy lounging around in the rare moments when you AREN'T feeling restless.

When Via returns with Belle and Gerard in company, you greet them before noting the sword at Belle's side, lance strapped to Gerard's back. "Er... do you guys honestly need to bring weapons along? We're just taking a night on the new town..."

"That's what I told her, sir..." Gerard says.

Belle, however, doesn't seem to agree with the sentiment. "King Augustus has established that Gerxel scouts have already been discovered in Noba. It is a safety precaution that all of us be at least lightly armed."

>A. Whatever floats her boat
>B. Maybe you should grab your weapon(s) too
>C. Order her to chill and leave them behind
>D. Write-in response

>>46256762
>C. Order her to chill and leave them behind

>>46256762
>A. Whatever floats her boat

>>46256762
>A. Whatever floats her boat

>>46256762
>A. Whatever floats her boat

>>46256888
>>46256962
>>46256982
"Suit yourself," you say, somewhat indifferently. Your family DOES pay them to be guards, you suppose. "Just promise you won't cause a scene."

"We would never," Belle says. "My intent in this insistence is to keep incidents from sparking, not cause them."

The four of you proceed to show yourselves out of the palace with the aid of that servant from earlier whose name you keep missing, and spend the next several hours hanging around the city. However, many places put a pretty sizable damper on your fun with a rule of theirs.

"Ngh... No-weapons policies have locked us out of half the businesses in Noba," Gerard complains to Belle. "Are you sure this was a good idea?"

"Many places have still been accommodating," she responds. "It's not as though we could have visited every single place of business in the city anyway."

"Yeah, I guess..." Gerard grumbles.

Smiling, Via suggests something quite casually, "Do as I do, and study a weapon that you can easily conceal."

"Wait..." Feeling peer-pressured, you ask, "has... everyone but me been walking around with their weapons of choice, then?"

"I always carry at least two different daggers or knives and a Mend staff," Via says with a smile. "Your grandfather designed these uniforms to accommodate and conceal them extremely well. Would any of you care to guess where they're kept?"

"Hold a moment..." You say, looking across a street to another group of young men and women, about two and three respectively. One in particular, a black-haired girl, looks... Familiar to you, and for the moment you cannot place where. Hell, maybe it's just your imagination.

Whispering, Gerard asks, "what's the matter, sir?"

>A. Approach this group of people
>B. Discuss your thoughts so the audience can find out
>C. It's nothing, never mind
>D. Suggest that they trail this group awhile...
>E. Write-in response

>>46257382
>B. Discuss your thoughts so the audience can find out

>>46257603
"I'm... Fairly certain that's Winona," you say.

Winona, you recall... The middle sister of three wyvern riders of the Gerxel Empire. Her late mother taught a good many Gerxel nobles how to ride a wyvern, including your own, so in your youth your parents would watch over her and her sister Nia quite often when their parents or older brother, Marduk, were busy.

After some accident a good few years back, their parents died, Marduk began to raise them, and then he ended up promoted to a position somewhere in Central Gerxel, him and his siblings disappearing from you and Laurise's lives.

Last you'd heard, the girls were following in their brother's footsteps, and had even engineered a fighting technique involving all three of them.

Still, though, even now that years have passed, you've got a feeling that this young woman is that middle child.

"Wait... THAT Winona?" Via asks. "If this is her, then..."

"Then I was certainly correct," Belle says, clutching the hilt of her sword, "in assuming that being armed would be wise."

>A. Let's not jump to conclusions
>B. Let's just watch them awhile
>C. Ask that they let you try to talk to her
>D. Write-in response
>E. Grab 'em!

>>46258011
>C. Ask that they let you try to talk to her

>>46258011
>B. Let's just watch them awhile

>>46258011
>Let's just watch them awhile

>>46258179
>>46258064
"No, no, let's... See what this is about. We shouldn't jump to conclusions."

You follow them a ways after that, noticing their path take them around the outside perimeter of the castle's gates a few times...

"Gods," presumably-Winona says. "I don't think we'll be able to get in without wyverns..."

"Er, sir!" One of her companions says, "someone's been tailing us."

"Wait... Wh-what?" She turns to face the lot of you, suddenly drawing a Slim Sword and pointing it towards your group. "S-state your business! I don't much care for stalkers!"

Belle steps forward next, drawing her own Iron Sword. "...and it looks awfully suspicious for somebody to be skirting around the palace's walls as much as you are."

"Gh... Looks like we have a fight on our hands. Everyone, ready yourselves before they can send for guards."

Now would be an awfully convenient time to have brought an axe with you, you think.

>A. Make clear to her who you are
>B. Go and find some guards
>C. Hang back and let the other three handle this
>D. Write-in response
>E. Attack, with or without weapons!

>>46258426
>A. Make clear to her who you are

>>46258426
>A. Make clear to her who you are

>>46258458
>>46258501
"S-stand down, Winona, please! It's Dyrus, remember?"

Eyes widening, Winona lowers her blade. "Dyrus? Gods, that really is you, isn't it? What in the world are you doing here?"

"It's, uh... A very long story," you say.

"Right, right... This isn't really a place for us to be talking. Come on, let's get someplace more private."

Thankfully, she doesn't question your presence here too hard, mostly seeming relieved to see a familiarly friendly face. On the way, she asks, "where are your sister? Your mother? Please tell me they're fine."

"Yes, yes, it's just... My grandfather and I thought we ought to be closer, so he took me on a trip."

"Just the two of you? That sounds nice... Still, though, you two couldn't have picked a worse time to check this kingdom out. It's about a week away from an invasion." She tilts her head slightly. "That being said, it's also the last chance to see the novelty of a place not ruled by the Emperor..."

>A. Play dumb, ask more about this invasion
>B. Ask again why she's here
>C. Ask about her own siblings
>D. Come clean
>E. Write-in response

>>46258732
>>C. Ask about her own siblings

>>46258732
>C. Ask about her own siblings
>B. Ask again why she's here

>>46258758
>>46258775
"How's your own family doing?" You ask in turn.

Winona frowns and holds up a finger, making you realize that, if it's something she's unwilling to openly discuss, it must have to do with why she's here.

Bringing you to a rather seedy-looking inn, she nods to its keeper before directing you towards a room, your entourages being left to mingle and keep watch outside.

Locking the door, she shifts her eyes around, and you finally say, "alright, enough secrecy... This has something to do with your siblings, obviously, but what?"

In a worried voice, finally lowering her guard, she mutters, "th-they... They've captured my sister."

"Wait... What?" So that wyvern rider Augustus mentioned...

"She was scouting ahead for Director Belinda, but we lost all contact with her, and now... my group has tracked her down to a dungeon beneath August's Reach."

"Wait, so it's just the five of you? Why bother if the director's going to send so few people into the heart of enemy territory?"

Winona shakes her head. "She didn't bother. In fact, she... Specifically ordered my brother and I to leave Nia to her fate, but I just couldn't do that! I've... heard awful rumors about how Noban prisoners have their spirits broken so they can be brainwashed, that their king manipulated his way to the throne and puts awful criminals in his employ..."

"W-wait, go back a moment. You're saying you defied direct orders from a Director?"

She nods. "It was a mistake, I know, but... You would've done the same if Laurise was in trouble. Gods, though, now it's looking like I can't get into the palace without making a big scene with our wyverns, and with the archers they post right outside that's sure to kill us at best..."

>A. Urge her to just lie low until the fighting concludes
>B. You'll... See how you can help
>C. Come clean about your intents here
>D. Sorry, but you'll need to capture her
>E. Make an internal note to report her to the king
>F. Write-in response

>>46259098
>C. Come clean about your intents here

>>46259098
>D. Sorry, but you'll need to capture her
We gotta pick sides and I wanna make mom proud

>>46259182
I was hoping we could get her to join us

>>46259098
>C. Come clean about your intents here

>>46259205
I'm also hoping for that. Her, her entourage and quite possibly Nia as well if they're successful would probably be executed anyway if they went back.

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>>46259175
>>46259182
>>46259208
"Gods..."

"Dyrus?" Winona asks, touching your arm lightly. "What's the matter? You look so..."

"I can't lie to you," you say. "I'm... here on behalf of the resistance, forming an alliance with Noba."

"Wait... You're what?" Winona says, eyes widening. "Then... Lady Hauteclere, Laurise, Sir Darrel..."

You nod. "And seeing you... Implore me to help you, after you risked so much coming here, it... makes me feel too guilty to hide the truth."

"Then..." Her smile twists slightly in pain as she grasps at straws. "Then you'll be able to... It'll be all the easier for you to help Nia! Th-that's what you're getting at, right?"

Again, you can't bear to lie to her, against your better judgement. "I... can't defy my allies' trust like that. I'm sorry, Winona, but I'm going to have to ask you to come with me, and..."

You get shoved into the locked door with a sudden push, and she draws her blade again. "I... I can't believe you! I... called you a friend, and you'll just throw me to the wolves when I need your help?"

You hear commotion in the halls outside. The doorknob rattles, and then you hear banging from the other side of the door.

Unarmed, back against the door you are currently staring Winona down as she stands a few meters away, still breathing heavily and yet to attack her. She has exactly as many swords in her hand as you do not, which is to say "one."

>A. Try to wrestle it away from her
>B. Unlock the door (from the inside, it's a deadbolt)
>C. Say something (specify)
>D. Write-in response
>E. Continue to stand there

>>46259416
>D. Write-in response
Ask her to join you, it's not like she can go back, and the king might release her sister

>>46259470
If choices don't contradict each other, I usually try to weave them together.

>>46259416
>>46259482
Second.

>>46259504
There's a gigantic difference between doing that when it's harmless and doing it when it fucks us over and goes directly against what two anons expressed a desire to do.

>>46259416
>C. Say something (specify)
"I don't want to hurt you, we can figure something. Please."

>>46259522
I'll keep it in mind in the future.

>>46259530
Also that, sure.

>>46259482
>>46259522
>>46259530
>>46259623
"Winona, please, I... Don't want you to get hurt. Attacking us won't benefit your group at all, and..."

You end up needing to swerve out of the way of a strike. It's a very slow, highly-telegraphed one. You swear she was faster when you, her, and your sisters would play-fight, but the point is it's really easy to dodge, though now she's standing in front of the door. The banging against it dies down, leading you to assume that whoever was doing it is now caught up in a fight of their own.

Anyway, more words, since her heart is blatantly not in her attacks. "Winona, they... I've heard about Director Belinda's belligerence. After you and your friends defied orders and deserted to find your sister, I doubt she'd even consider letting you return to her ranks."

"Y-you don't know that!"

"Think about it. If you return to them, at worst it'll throw even Marduk into hot water. Stay with us, and maybe we can talk King Augustus into..."

"Wh-what makes you think I would want to join a bunch of rebels? Defying the Empire like that... For what purpose?"

>A. She has no real choice
>B. It was admittedly a long shot
>C. Write-in response
>D. ...

>>46259712
>C. Write-in response
Tell her what happened to your father

>>46259712
>C. Write-in response
"I want to keep you and your sister safe, without betraying my own family."
>B. It was admittedly a long shot

>>46259712
>C."Think this through, Winona."

>>46259712
>C. "For your sister. I can help, Winona, you just have to trust that I'm still your friend, and Nia's friend. The only other way this can end is in my death by your blade, and then you're back at square one anyway: having to make the choice between a suicide mission or abandoning your sister. Let me try to help you save her, please."

>>46259792
>>46259780
>>46259837
>>46259891
"Yeah, it was... A bit of a longshot, I know. I just... Think this through, please. The Empire's an awful place, and I want to shield two old friends from it."

"Shield... You've been fed a bunch of sensational garbage, haven't you?" She says. "I bet you can't actually NAME anything immoral they've done."

"The Wolfskin region's had humans being eaten in its confines for years on end now, and the emperor barely bats an eye because they're his favorite enforcers!"

"You... That's a bunch of dumb rumors! You can't actually believe that..."

"It's what happened to my father," you say. "He goes to look into the matter, disappears, soon after someone dumps bones matching his build by a Tarvosian camp..."

Winona recoils at the story and backs into the door. "Gods, I'm... Sorry to hear that." Shaking her head, she steels herself. "But... The Wolfskin don't represent anything close to all of us! You can't just convince me with stories of them..."

"Winona... Say, after all our talking, you and your friends kill all of my friends, the innkeeper you're in good with dumps our bodies somewhere, and you're back to scouting out the city... What then? It's only a matter of time before you lose your life seeking her out, or abandon her for yourself... I want to help you."

Dropping her sword, Winona trembles, your words seeming to finally get through to her. "Y-you're right. All of this is pointless... No way the town's guards won't notice a barfight like we've started... I probably can't show my face in the Empire again... I've really messed up, haven't I?"

>A. She did
>B. This can work out very well
>C. She did the right things
>D. Write-in response
>E. ...

>>46260077
>A. She did
>D. Write-in response
"Wrong thing, for the right reasons. I would've done the same. Still,"
>B. This can work out very well

>>46260077
>C. She did the right things
Promise that we'll talk to the king about releasing her sister

>>46260077
>A. She did
But
>D."Let me handle it. I can help you, Winona."

>>46260120
Seconding.

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>>46260120
>>46260157
"Eheh... Yeah, that was a boneheaded move. But you did everything with the best of intentions..."

Winona sniffles, tearing up a bit.

"It's the same boneheaded mistakes I would've made." You hold out a hand, comfortingly. "Maybe that's why we trust each other."

After a moment, she accepts it, squeezing softly. "Y-yeah... You're right. I'll... keep trusting you."

"And I'll make sure to speak with King Augustus about your sister... Despite all you've been told, he's a very reasonable, down-to-earth guy. I can work this out, I promise."

"If... if you say so. For the moment, I'd just be happy seeing her again..." She calls out through the door, "stand down and lower your weapons, all of you! We're moving up from deserters to traitors!"

Pleasantly enough, Via, Gerard, and Belle didn't kill any of Winona's own companions in the ensuing struggle.

Less pleasantly, by the time you exited the building, your grandfather and several dozen guards had the place surrounded.

While you explained the situation to the best of your ability, Winona and her companions were, for the moment, still detained for admittedly-fair security purposes.

You spent the next few days talking your grandfather and King Augustus into increasing amounts of leniency towards the captured Gerxel scouts, including a quite early victory out of reuniting them.

A few days later, a man with a parasol (Alfred) and a red and green duo came up to the castle in the middle of one of your discussions, with many Wyrmite items... and news that the promised invasions were about five days away.

>A. So what's the plan
>B. You immediately went to tell Winona and Nia
>C. Write-in response
>D. Continue

>>46260403
>A. So what's the plan

>>46260403
>A. So what's the plan
We can tell the sisters afterwards, running out of the room right away would be a little weird.

>>46260403
>>A

>>46260403
>A. So what's the plan

>>46260403
>C. Write-in response
Forget responsibilities, we're in a new place. PARTY

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>>46260464
>>46260475
>>46260559
"So... What's the plan?" You ask.

Alfred clears his throat. "If I could... suggest something... We only need a few people with wyrmite weapons to take on an entire wyvern fleet, so..."

"You need to say no more, Alfred," he says. "That was our plan already, effectively. I could lead our main forces South and leave a smaller, elite group to defend the Eastern borders from Director Belinda and her underlings."

"Right, and... Should we allow Winona and Nia to fight?" You ask.

"You would ask them to immediately turn their blades out? I'm... certain they're both capable," Augustus says, "but to force them so quickly would be cruel. Give them time to lie low and adjust to their new situations before actually pushing them on the front lines, won't you?"

"R-right..." So, in short, Winona and Nia won't be joining any fights until after the invasion.

"I take it nobody has any objections to our group lending its weapons to defending Holmstead?" Your grandfather says. "With Waldrick at the helm of an invasion, we'll need a miracle AND all the hands we can get to keep it out of the Gerxel's."

>A. Yeah, that's fine
>B. You'd rather remain here with your friends
>C. Request to head East
>D. Write-in response

>>46260709
>B. You'd rather remain here with your friends
"I want to stay with the sisters, I'm part of the reason they're where they are."
They're also cute, maybe.

>>46260709
>A. Yeah, that's fine

>>46260709
>A. Yeah, that's fine

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>>46260755
>>46260765
"No objections here," you say. "I'll fight whoever I need to to keep them away from the Gerxel."

"Then... Perhaps it's time you remember to start carrying your axe around," your grandfather chastises before presenting you with a Hand Axe. "Get in the habit of having it on your person. And remember, this is not your practice weapon. It's a very real tool, specifically designed for tossing and killing."

"I know all of that," you say. "I'm not a child."

"Ah, but you're THE child of one of my chief allies..." King Augustus says. "Perhaps something more than a measly hand axe is worthy of such a title. Er, give me a moment, would you?"

Augustus excuses himself. Alfred exchanges awkward glances with much of the group, shooting a small, quite uncharacteristic smile in Via's direction, which she returns.

Anyway, Augustus returns a moment later with a very ornate-looking axe.

"I present to you, Sir Dyrus, a symbol of Noba's alliance to the resistance: the Royal Axe. It's especially designed to cut down mounted and heavily-armored warriors with ease... And, as a Great Knight, I am both. Consider this a gesture of trust, goodwill, all that yadda yadda yadda."

"Your majesty..." Your eyes light up as you hold it in the air. "This is amazing! Oh, Winona and Nia simply must see this..."

>Character limit, continued next post

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>>46261003
You're all too happy to show them the moment the meeting lets out, showing yourself to the guestrooms their detainment was switched to (Nia looks very much like a more petite version of her sister, in all but her hair being moderately longer).

"Such a symbolic gift from a king... That is pretty impressive!" Winona remarks. "Promise you'll use this gift for good!"

"I wonder if Marduk is among the Eastern ranks..." Nia remarks. "He serves directly under Director Belinda, after all..." When a worried look fills Winona's face, she quickly adds, "I'm sure he'll make it out anyway though! He's better at wyvern-riding than either of us combined!"

You spend the remainder of your time before departure reminiscing about Marduk, Laurise, your mother... Soon enough, you reassure yourselves, all of you can get together again!

>to be continued next thread
Octo continues to not be very good at concluding his threads, just sort of lets them trail off in the middle of denouement.

Thanks for playing, as always. Update twitter is qmgrandflocto, you can shoot us questions any time at all at ask.fm/qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around in-thread to chat for awhile.

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>>46261058
Goodnight, Octo. Thanks for running.

>>46261058
Thanks for running, sorry if I came off as being too harsh earlier in the thread.

>>46261069
Always a pleasure.

>>46261080
No problem, I appreciate criticism as a writer and someone trying to make an enjoyable quest.

Saying it ahead of time, by the way, I won't be able to run on Sunday. A friend I respect too much to back out on now is taking me and some other pals to Batfleck vs Superman. Already paid for our tickets and everything at some overpriced theater. Thread should be on Monday.

>>46261058
Thanks for running
Also, could you make a map of the continent?

>>46261106
I'm not very good at maps, but I could try to paint something very basic up if you gimme a minute.

>>46261119
That'd be great, thank you

>>46261156
Bah, laptop is being a freezy shit. It's literally done and frozen at me trying to save it.

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Perhaps my computer was trying to prevent the world from viewing this misshapen monstrosity.

The only things that should be taken as fact on this is "where everything is in relation to each other" and the names of the directors. Otherwise, just a VERY vague reference of a continent with a fuckton of mountains and a massive desert in the middle.