>>46821171
The Dire Wolf Fuse ran on for some time into the evening, the landscape passed by quickly upon the back of the dire wolf. Fuse's lashing from Belfors having already restored itself to some degree with a scar remaining seared through the fur of his haunch like a cattle's brand.

Slowing to a halt in the evening, the three of you dismount near a crystal clear spring, reeds lining the edge and the soft croaking of witchtoads and princess'frogs throwing beastly insults back and forth at each other as concerto crickets play their evening Nocturne. As soon as Victoria steps foot upon the ground, some of the crickets look her way and change their score as the Hylon Komtesse walks the perimeter of the pond, eyeing the water carefully and studiously, as though this is her first time seeing one.

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYCqZSEtXiY
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzJq0FPjtaE

You notice Victoria's posture and walk flowing to the rhythm of the Concerto Cricket's theme. Odette walks over to the pond and dips down, filling waterskins. Fuse trots over to the water's edge and takes long slurping laps of the water, much to Victoria's chagrin as she visibily shakes at the Wolf's drinking habits.

“That. Is. Disgusting.” She states with her wide eyes locked on the Dire wolf just as Fuse finishes drinking, only to raise a leg to start vigorously scratching behind an ear, sending tufts of fur everywhere.

>[“Fuse, can you take that elsewhere? Anywhere else?”]
>[“What's gross about it? Just a wolf doing wolf things.”]
>[Laugh at Victoria's face and let Fuse continue being unruly. She'll have to get used to the road sooner or later.]
>[Write In.]

>>46821177
>[“What's gross about it? Just a wolf doing wolf things.”]

>>46821177
>[“What's gross about it? Just a wolf doing wolf things.”]
Being snarky > being rude

>>46821177
>[“What's gross about it? Just a wolf doing wolf things.”]

>>46821177
>[“What's gross about it? Just a wolf doing wolf things.”]

>>46821177
>[“What's gross about it? Just a wolf doing wolf things.”]
>Groom Fuse's fur, he hasn't actually been properly cleaned after the burns, or at all,has he?

>>46821177
>[“What's gross about it? Just a wolf doing wolf things.”]

>>46821273
>>46821306
shit I thought the first didn't send

>>46821177
>[“What's gross about it? Just a wolf doing wolf things.”]

still salty

>>46822014
I just realised it's been 1,5 years now

>>46822014
Asher was a cuck, get over it

>>46821177

“What's gross about it?” You quip as you walk to the waterm kicking off your shoes and letting the pondwater and mud sink between your toes. Oh is that refreshing after all you've had to deal with in the last couple of days.
“Just a wolf doing wolf things.” You say with a wry grin as the Hylon girl shudders again. This time, at your own actions.

Just as you start to chuckle, you see Fuse lifting up a leg in another gesture all too near the pond. “Fuse! Don't you dare pee in the pond!”

The wolf visibly jumps, an almost comical sight with how much bigger the beast is than you. Minding its place, it trods off beyond the trees to do his business elsewhere.

“It was going to pee? Do Wolves have no chamberpot to do their business in private?” Victoria continues to shake, utterly devestated by the wolf's lack of manners.

“Animals don't have chamberpots, and neither do people traveling on the road. You'd do best to know the difference between Spiteful Ivy and other leaves when you'll eventually have to do your own business.” Odette lectures as she straightens her back from the water. “At the very least we've got fresh water I'll set it up for boiling and make a stew with our preserves.”

As Odette turns to leave, you drape your arms over her shoulders, pulling her down a touch,”Come on Odette, we should clean up. Don't you feel filthy?”

Odette turns her head to you, her brow quivering and cheeks flushing scarlet. “I-I'm not so sure. We should probably take turns.”

“Come onnn~” You say, or rather Belinda says through your(her) lips. “What do you have to be embarassed about? We're both women...”

Odette flushes more deeply, “That... That is... is not...”

>>46822167

Feeling the steam coming out of Odette's ears, you pull away laughing, “Oh well, your loss then. Victoria?”

The Hylon girl stands tall, nose in the air as she puts out her wrist to be led, “An excellent idea! Where do you commoners draw bath here? Is there a hot spring I've read so much of nearby?”

“Why, yesss little princess.” You grab her by the hand, and curtsy with a mischievous smile written all over your face.

“What... What is that look for?” Victoria's eyes suddenly widen as her lips tremble in apprehension.

“Oh?” Is all that you say before you pull her off her feet and jump in the water, scattering a bunch of Princess'Toads from their lillypalaces.

“Oh my!”
“How crude!”
“Save me!” The little critters cry out in the true voice.

Victoria's eyes are filled with fear and surprise as the two of you end up underwater. Finding the pond on the shallow side, you stand up with the water just above your waste as Victoria thrashes and splashes like a lunatic.

“Help! I can't swim! I'm drowning! I'm dying!” She cries out between gasping breaths.
Catching a flailing hand, you pull her up out of the water, giving her a reprieve, “Oh thank Sol, I've been saved.”

Letting her go, she starts flailing and splashing again, completely unaware that she can simply stand here.

“Monster! Murderer! You're killing me!”

With a sigh, you pull her up again and state firmly, “Victoria. You can stand here.”

The girl stares at you with huge eyes, like an embarrassed puppy as you slowly lower her down and she stands in the pond's mud. “O-oh...” She chokes a bit bashfully and sinks down a little bit to bubble out her shame.
“I- I knew that.”

>>46822189

“Not very well-traveled, are you?” Odette speaks from the pond's bank as she gets together some sticks.

Victoria comes up a bit, her clothes and shortened hair dripping wet, “Th-this is the first I've ever traveled without horse and carriage...”

“Figures.” Odette shrugs as she traces a nail along one of the sticks, carefully peeling something out. “Most Hylon Royalty aren't very well traveled until they're older, and those are the boys. From what I've heard, Count Vladmir has no sons, right?”

“That's right...” Victoria looks to the side, clearly still very embarrassed. “My mother died when I was young. He's never remarried.

You pull the girl out of the pond and help her undress from her traveling clothes.

Odette looks up from her work, her eyes shimmering with questions, “How does he intend to have a son succeed him then? If you were to marry, his County would fall the the groom's dynasty, right? That's how you Hylon do things, isn't it?”

Victoria visibly shivers as the cool air touches her already wet skin, she stays turned away from Odette while you help her out. “Shows what you know, Makoh.” The Hylon girl says with her nose up in the air, “My father intends to declare a matrilineal succession when I turn sixteen. Any family of worth would know and see that our estates are better left in the hands of the Ace of Knowledge.”

“So you'd inherit your father's lands over your lord husband? That ought to make one bitter...”

>>46822189


Victoria steps into the water, too prideful to let herself shiver at this point, yet utterly failing to stop her teeth from clattering. “B-bitter? In the g-greatness of m-my libraries? Th-they sh-should v-verily be honored t-to be taken in as a hu-husband and b-bear witness to my f-font of intellect.”

Cupping your hands, you pour water over the girl's head, washing away the faint smell of the pungent meats from earlier today.

“N-not th-the hair!” Victoria's teeth clatter again.

Ignoring her, you look over to Odette's work at making a fire, “Want help with that, 'Shark Hag?'”

Odette can't help but to chuckle, “I don't think I need help from a fire-headed harlot.”

“Wh-why are y-you two insu-sulting e-each other?” Victoria asks, clearly confused by the teasing. You shut her up by digging your fingers into her hair.
“Ack! Y-you're not su-supposed to w-wash a lady's h-hair today!”

Odette whispers to what she'd pulled from one of the sticks and a small wisp of flame puffs out from her palm, igniting the kindling and starting the fire. “Been a while since I've done this.”

“Done what?” You call over to Odette, ignoring the Hylon tagalong's complaining.

“Fate magic, weaving. I've only ever done a little, but it's nice to know I can still start a fire.”

“I-I can weave t-too! I-I've studied a-all there is t-to know!”

>[“Where did you pick that up from Odette?”]
>[“Oh yeah little lady? I'd like to see you try.”]
>[“Odette~ I'm almost done with her. Get in here with me.”]
>[Write in.]

>>46822395
>[“Where did you pick that up from Odette?”]

>>46822395
>[“Where did you pick that up from Odette?”]

>>46822395
>[“Where did you pick that up from Odette?”]

>>46822395
>[“Oh yeah little lady? I'd like to see you try.”]

>>46822395
>[“Where did you pick that up from Odette?”]

>>46822395

“Where and when did you pick up that little trick Odette? I believe that's the first time I've seen you use it...” You say as you finish up with Victoria. The Hylon girl runs out of the pond to find warmth by the fire.

Odette smiles a little at Victoria as she timidly holds her hands out for warmth and trying to rub the cold away. “It's just a little trick my father taught me. It's nothing like what a real weaver is capable of, but this is the least it can do. Beats rubbing two sticks together.

You get in the water yourself, shimmying a little to let your flames warm the water to the temperature of bathwater. A slight steam whispers from the pond as you sink in and Victoria looks to you with a dropped jaw, “You bathed me in cold water!”

“I did.” You say with a gentle grin as you let the warmth soak in.

“You could've heated it up!”

“I could have.”

“Why didn't-”

“You insisted on going first.”

Victoria stares for a moment longer, before looking away and blushing deeply from embarrassment, “May I join you?”

“If you wish, princess. But I'm not washing your back again.”

“That's fine.” Victoria stands straight, like a lady and walks back over to the pond, sinking into the warm waters. A few of the witchtoads and princess'frogs take a dip themselves, enjoying the unusually warm water. The lot of them stop their croaking bickering with one another.

“Come on and join us Odette!” You wave over the Makoh woman, yet she sits still by the fire.

“I-I'll just wait for you two to be done.” She says, with a ginger touch to her arm. “I'll get the stew started proper.”

>>46823131


Reaching into her travel bags, she pulls out a tin and a small set to assemble over the fire. A little pot hangs over the setup and she pours water in before dropping a few pieces of dried meat she likely snatched from earlier in the pot.

As you and Victoria enjoy a warm bath, the stew comes to a boil and the savory smell of the rich broth wafts over to the two of you, tickling your nostrils.

“Oh, I feel almost as though I'm in a right proper inn.” You say, in an almost dreamy haze.

“What are you talking about? We're bathing in a pond with frogs and toads and mud between our toes. This isn't an inn. I've read about those and this isn't anything li-”

You reach over and close Victoria's lips with a pinch. With a finger to your own lips,” Shhh, You're ruining my imagination.”

The two of you leave the pond and Odette quickly stands, disappearing into the reeds into another part of the pond out of sight.

You look after her departure, yet Victoria clears her throat, expecting to be served.

>[Serve the dainty little princess, and eat while you wait for Odette.]
>[“Serve yourself Princess, I'm going to check on her.”]
>[“You're a real piece of work. Do you even know how this all works?]
>[Write in.]

>>46823149
>[“You're a real piece of work. Do you even know how this all works?]

>>46823149
>[“Serve yourself Princess, I'm going to check on her.”]

>>46823149
>[“Serve yourself Princess, I'm going to check on her.”]

>>46823149
>>[“Serve yourself Princess, I'm going to check on her.”]

>>46823149
>[“Serve yourself Princess, I'm going to check on her.”]

>>46823149

You give Victoria a pensive look as you stand up, “Honestly, you can serve yourself. Just put it in one of the tins, wait for it to cool, and drink.” Turning away, you walk toward the reeds that Odette vanished into, “I'm going to check on her. Don't burn yourself.”

“I won't.” Victoria looks away, staring at the simmering broth with trepidation.

You carefully put the reeds as you work your way to the other area of the pond. Lunlight spills down from above, away from the fire, it gives everything a celestial silver luminescence. Approaching quietly, you hear water splashing and the surface disturbed as Odette slips in.

She doesn't notice you as you watch her, but under Luna's light you get a clear view of the scars that spoil her body. From her back, all the way down to her arms and thighs. Her hands are no better either. Using that black bow with so little preparation has clearly savaged her fingers, giving them an almost bony, claw-like appearance.

As she stands in the water, she looks down, her white hair radiant under luna's light. She dips down, cupping water in her hands and bringing it up to spill over her head and hair with a shiver as it drips down her spine, running courses around her deep scars.

{Oh...} Belinda whispers inside. {She didn't want us to see her like this.} Her voice grows softer, {I wouldn't want anyone, especially a lover to see me like this. We should go back.}

You stay there for a moment longer, thinking...

>[Approach her quietly and embrace her from behind. She should know that it's okay.]
>[Silently slip away, she needs this privacy. She's not ready to show you that body.]
>[Stay where you are and watch her discretely.]
>[Write In.]

>>46823609
>[Silently slip away, she needs this privacy. She's not ready to show you that body.]

>>46823609
>[Silently slip away, she needs this privacy. She's not ready to show you that body.]

>>46823609
>[Approach her quietly and embrace her from behind. She should know that it's okay.]

>>46823609
>[Stay where you are and watch her discretely.]

>>46823609
>[Silently slip away, she needs this privacy. She's not ready to show you that body.]

>>46823609
>>[Silently slip away, she needs this privacy. She's not ready to show you that body.]

>>46823609

You look on at her for a few more moments as she shivers alone in her own solitude to hide the marks laid into her flesh. The wind blows, slipping through her dripping wet hair. You see her turn to face away from the wind and duck down low.

As she reaches down for another handful of water, you turn away and slip away quietly with an almost feline grace despite your heavy heart.

When you return to the fire, you find Victoria still staring at the stew, having not budged an inch since you left. As soon as she sees you approach, she leaps at you, clamoring to your leg. “I-I was so scared. I thought you were never coming back. Where's the Makoh? Is she dead? Did the darkness take her? Are we going to die out here?”

You pry Victoria's fingers from your leg, and they instantly find place upon her face, just over her eyes. “I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared...” She whispers, shaking, this time not from the cold.

Hey, there there...” You say as you pat her still wet hair, suddenly feeling that familiar thrum of a connection...


>...

“Father? Where is Mother?” The voice of a young girl asks, clearly confused by the long looks of her father's face as he tucks her into bed. This was a ritual that was always done by her Mother. Her Father coming in her place was most... unusual.

The Hylon man with long and gaunt, but most regal of features would look down on his daughter from her bedside and smile. It was something that she had always known to deliver some degree of warmth, even if she never really did fully understand how just seeing such a thing could do so... Yet this smile made her heart ache, another thing that she couldn't understand.

“I'm afraid, your mother is already asleep tonight. So I'm here to tuck you in Victoria.”

>>46824298

“I... Suppose that is acceptable...” She would say as her eyes broke away from his. The pain in her chest was getting worse the longer she looked at him. “Mother always reads me the next part of a book. We are on page three hundred and ten of 'Of Pride and Prudenus.' I have been enjoying the founding of Pruden's law and commerce with the first king of commerce arising from our family in the last century.” She would say with little inflection of emotion in her voice, yet the turmoil in her heart was clear to her. Order was broken, Mother is not here. Something changed. Mother never sleeps this early. She was coughing last night.
“Please read it to me.” Her father would notice his daughter's shaking hand, gingerly laying his hand atop hers.

The trembling didn't stop by much, even as he held her hand, even as he read. When her eyes began to grow tired, her father commanded the lights to slowly dim...

>...

Breaking away from Victoria, you find your eyes tearing up, a fresh drop already working its way down your cheek.

“Wh-why are you crying?” Victoria's trembling having passed, she now looks into your eyes with a stoic glaze as she tries to reason what could bring you to tears. “Is the Makoh alright?”

>[Hug Victoria.]
>[Wipe away the tears and eat.]
>[Walk into the woods and call Fuse for grooming.]
>[Write in.]

>>46824298
>I'm here to tuck you
I had to reread this
>>46824314
>[Walk into the woods and call Fuse for grooming.]

>>46824314
>[Wipe away the tears and eat.]

>>46824314
>[Hug Victoria.]
This is difficult to deal with without seeming even more strange

>>46824314
>[Hug Victoria.]

>>46824314
>She's fine
>[Walk into the woods and call Fuse for grooming.]

>>46824314
>[Walk into the woods and call Fuse for grooming.]

>>46824314

Wiping away your tears, you give Victoria a hug that takes her aback as you wrap your arms around her small frame and pull her close.

For a moment she's stiff as a board, yet she then brings her arms around you, under your shoulders. The two of you are like that for several moments in silence.
“You're warm.” She finally whispers before you let her go.

“Thank you.” You say with a bittersweet smile and stand up. Taking pity on her, you spoon out some of the stew and quiet the fire until it's coals to keep the stew warm.
“I'm going to go groom Fuse.”

“Wait.” Victoria looks up at you, holding the bowl in her lap. When you turn to her, she suddenly grows meek, “Don't leave me alone, let me come... Please?”

You can't help but to smirk at the Hylon's request. “Sure Princess. Whatever you want.”

“I'm a Komtesse...” She gets up with her bowl and runs off after you.

After you called for Fuse, Victoria simply stayed near you as she ate her meaty stew. Grooming the colossal wolf took time without a proper brush or comb for the wolf's shaggy fur, yet you eventually groomed him so much that his mane could only be called “gallant” as he shook out the silky, groomed fur, large curls forming in his fur from the lavish treatment.

Odette returned from her bath and the two of you ate together with the Dire Wolf curled around the coals of the fire. Together, you all curled up near the wolf's warm belly, and drifted off into sleep with a cozy warmth.

Upon morning's arrival, Victoria slept in until Fuse shifted and let out a fart fouler than any poison. The Komtesse awoke gagging and scrambled away from the wolf with his ironically glorious curly mane that's already gotten leaves and twigs stuck in the curls.

“Dying... I'm dying.” The Komtesse crawled just out of range and took in a breath of fresh air, “What beast would emit such a foul stink? How could this be the way I expire?”

>>46825102

Odette grabs Victoria by the collar of her clothes and hoists her up like a mother bear picking up her cub. “You are clearly overdramatizing...” She starts until she catches wind of the Dire wolf's expulsion. “By Sol and Luna! What in Thespia's name crawled up his arse and died?”

Dreadfully curious, you linger around for the air to carry it your way. The stink makes the flesh upon your nose wrinkle in reflex as it stings and gags you all the way down your throat. “Fuse...!” You sputter as the Dire wolf springs to attention. “What did you eat?”

[“The meat from that cart! It was delicious!”] The wolf pants happily, blissfully unaware of the wretched attack he's unleashed upon his masters.

Passing out, you come to about late morning with Sol almost at his Zenith. Time to decide where tio go next...

Victoria cautions against arriving at any towns in the area as they're all under her father's County.

You figure that the three of you could slip in under disguise for supplies or information, however a longer stay could lead to high suspicion.

Odette says that if the three of you continue south and west, you should all come to the shore and from there the port city of Cleptess, which is outside of Hylon jurisdiction, should provide safe harbor as well as rest and transport... Then again, with Fuse, transport's not really an issue.

… You get a strange feeling that something's happened back in Bikel. It would only be about a day's ride on the back of the Dire Wolf if you wanted to return.

>[Head to the next nearest city for supply and maybe pick up a quest.]
>[Find the coast and head to Cleptess, stay on route to Celes Prance.]
>[Return to Bikel... You've got a gut feeling that something is very wrong.]
>[Write in.]

>>46825121
>[Head to the next nearest city for supply and maybe pick up a quest.]

>>46825121
>[Return to Bikel... You've got a gut feeling that something is very wrong

>>46825121
>[Find the coast and head to Cleptess, stay on route to Celes Prance.]

>>46825121
>[Find the coast and head to Cleptess, stay on route to Celes Prance.]

If you guys want to talk and weigh options you're free to. No rush.

>>46825211
I'm not sure there's much to talk about
Random city and Celes Prance seem are both valid options while BIkel would be rather stupid after telling the guild that we'll go there.
>>46825121
>[Head to the next nearest city for supply and maybe pick up a quest.]

>>46825253
I have a very bad feeling about how Bikel will turn out with that one Hylon King stirring up trouble

>>46825121
>[Return to Bikel... You've got a gut feeling that something is very wrong.]

>>46825121
>[Find the coast and head to Cleptess, stay on route to Celes Prance.]
We need to get some distance between us and the people who want to retrieve the Ace

>>46825121
>[Find the coast and head to Cleptess, stay on route to Celes Prance.]

>>46825253
I guess I've just been surprised at how tame these threads have been. Low conversation, little spurg.

It's sort of a welcome change from AoPH.
Though I do miss the conversation/feedback.

>>46825470
There isn't really anything that would provoke much conversation.
There isn't any planning for strategies/abilities or giant fuck you moments like in Overhuman.
It's more like a continuous story

>>46825470
The concept of how this story works doesn't invite much conversation.
I'm still thinking the quest format doesn't really fit the story

>>46825470
I really don't want a repeat of Ass-mad-I

>>46823131
>heated the pond to above body temp
.....are all the fish and toads dead?

>>46825832
What do you think is in the stew?

>>46825832
Nah, it was like a nice 90 or so degrees. The witchtoads and princess'frogs bathed with Belinda and Victoria.

>>46825861
>a nice 90 or so degrees
that's 10 below boiling
>imperial measurements

>>46825901
>not using Kelvin

>>46825861
Fish are rather temp sensitive. A mere 2 degree(celsius) change can drastically affect population sizes...

>>46826163
They would've fled the uncomfortable area. It's a rather large pond. There it is!

>>46826188
For you

I'm sorry

>>46825121

Mounting up on Fuse, the three of prepare to head south. For a moment before departure, you find yourself looking far to the east, towards Bikel as an ominous wind whispers from the seat of the Free Marches of Aurellia. You'd left so suddenly, and now you have no inkling of how they could be doing...

>[Interlude... The Previous Night]

The Hylon King circles around the mad woman, lightning pouring from her hands as her eyes stick to the man and her own blade that he's chosen to brandish against her. The girl clad in black upon her throne, the Rebel Regent, rises a thin sliver of metal dancing about her form as something else seems to manifest about her.

The Madwoman's eyes don't leave her prey, yet every thought moves through her mind. To kill this one so soon would alert Him to just how bold she and her brother would be in this cycle. To drive him off could be impossible if he's arranged countermeasures since the last time he was slain. Is he theirs this time? Or maybe...

The Hylon King steps forth first, instantly switching his leading leg in an instant as the woman unleashes her first electrical surge, raising the hairs upon his left side as it rolls past. In the next fluid movement he raises a hand and swipes at the air, a distortion appearing between the two of them as he stabs out the blade, sinking deep into the madwoman's chest.

For a quarter of a triumphant moment, he grins his success only to find dismay as the woman's image evaporates with her form backstepping, wreathed in her own electrical current and her fore and middle finger stopping the blade in midair.

There's a moment for a static buzz as the Hylon King misses his own tempo, and forgets to drop the sword as a rippling jolt shoots through his body, wracking it with pain.

>>46826204

Bringing her other hand around, the lightning coursing through her nails again, the Hylon King feels the prickle of static against his flesh and unconsciously ducks as he releases the saber, returning the space between the two of them to grant himself much needed distance.

With the tip of her sword betwixt her fingers, the madwoman flips the sword into the air and back into her own hands. “I recommend you leave Rodin. If you truly want the grandest of prizes, I'd rather need not kill you here.”

“Dully noted.” The King of thieves pants as he regains his composure, the electric jolt still numbing his hand. “Will you answer some questions of mine at least then?” The King of Thieves looks to the Black Regent as she's moved into a fighting position. “And you girl, best not think your needle escaped my notice.” The King of Thieves raises his other hand, showing the needle wriggling between his fingers without its thread to guide its movements. Throwing the needle to the ground, the Hylon King of Thieves turns to leave. “Shall we talk?”

“I'm not one much for talking.” The woman smiles with her hysteria, murder still present in your eyes, “Tell them that you failed, that the republic is too strong for you alone.”

The Hylon King turns, walking closer to the woman, just within distance to speak without the girl hearing. “What does it matter? If I go off of His word, everything will reset as it always as- That is, unless you and your brother die.”

“Or He dies Himself. We told you twenty years, three months, and eight days ago that we will give you the one thing in this world you could never steal alone. He is mad, and we will happily kill him to end Thespia's despair.”

“Counting the time are you?”

“Every moment of every day.”

>>46826343

“The last true champions of Thespia versus the True King of The Heavens and Beyond.” The Hylon King of thieves smiles in such a way that it twists into a rueful sneer. “I'll bet on your lot this time, though the me of the next cycle may forget.”

The madwoman takes a step closer, a fierce and determined glimmer in her eyes, “There will not be a next cycle. If you die this time this is the last you there is or will ever be.”

The Hylon King of Thieves stares for a moment, that rueful smile vanishing. “Surely, I hope so. Unlike the two of you having one another, He has not had the company of another for the thousands of years or whatever have you this has all been going on.”
The Hylon turns away, “I will make my report. Oh, how I will have disappointed them.” The King of Thieves laughs as he vanishes through the front door...

Somewhere in the city, he runs into a runner telling of the Ace of Knowledge's absence... With a lingering smile of curiousity, the man saunters off for some other distraction before his report...

I'm wondering whether they mean the Hylon High King or someone else.
Mostlikely someone even higher, right?

Reminder that dran is a hack of an author
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb2vMHKBAGE
Reminder that dran is a hack of an author

>>46826574
You just had to remind me that this exists

>>46826574
The fuck is this?

>>46826640
Dran crossdressing and saying "did I do that?"

>>46826655
ok

>>46826640
Dran doing Dran things.

>>46826574
Wow, you really gotta be obsessed with dran to make something like that. Just tell him how you feel man

>>46826739
Check the upload date friend

>>46826362

The Dire wolf plods across the rocky cliffs of the coast, the ocean breeze whispering up from the waves that crash ruefully against the stone face of the raised land. The travel's taken three days to hit the coast, Victoria slowly becoming more accustomed to the ruggedness of travel and taking more time to observe the world around her in its majesty.

On the fifth day after plodding the coastline and traversing down the rocky mountain pathways, you can see the city of Cleptess in the distance, ships drifting in and out of port in mass number.
Victoria explains that Cleptess is a neutral trade city, Her father, as a well known Jack of Commerce would take frequent trips to enact trades at her bidding to bring wealth to her family and thus prosperity to the people that live in their demesne.

“What of Bikel? Was the Lord of Bikel not a vassal to him?” Odette asks, curious as to whether Victoria's father may have had involvement.

“No, Bikel's territory is separated from ours. Though we were heavily interested in the possibility of Starfallen Steel unearthed from the mines that they'd established.”

“We... They never found any?”

“No. The idiot Lordling of Bikel likely chose the wrong spot. Jacks of prospective tend to misinform fools when they can. It wastes their resources and allows the Jack to sell the information to a higher bidder. Those rogues hate the cheap and frugal.”

As you near the City with Fuse keeping to the side of the road, you notice a number of caravans flowing in and out along with the ships moving in and out of port.

>>46826973

With open walls, the city is not built to last against a siege, a testament to their persistent neutrality. As you come up to the guards standing watch beside the roads into the city, they eye you with a great deal of scrutiny, and you notice that they actually aren't Danhor, but leaning moreso somewhere between Drezhar and some other Arche that bears multicolored patches across their faces... Where have you seen that before?

“Excuse me woman, What manner of beast is this that you ride?” The Snake-eyed Guard leans against his poleaxe, eyeing Fuse up and down, almost as though to size up the beast's worth.

“I almost forgot to mention, 'neath Cleptess is the undercity of Septic. Many filthy Drezar reside their, digging through pipelines to unearth gems and metals for their inventions.”

“This here's a Dire Wolf.” You call out to the guard, giving Fuse a strong pat along the neck, “The type that bite through armor and repel blades, you know. The manner of beast that one does not mess with.” You say with a lovely smile, “Is passage clear for my cuddly monster?”

The Guard looks to his cohort across the way. They exchange greedy glances, “Afraid there's a deposit on bringing monsters into the city, it's quite steep if I recall.”

You narrow your eyes skeptically upon the guard, yet maintain a fanciful smile, “How much is it?”

“How much ya got?” The other guard says with his avaricious leer speaking for exactly what this is.

>[“Stuff it, I'll leave him outside then.”]
>[Throw your purse to them. “That's all I have.”]
>[“With a word, I can guarantee you safety from ending up in his belly.”]
>[Write in.]

>>46826990
>>[Throw your purse to them. “That's all I have.”]

>>46826990
>[“With a word, I can guarantee you safety from ending up in his belly.”]

>>46826990
>[Write in.]
>Throw them a small amount of money and say
>I need to cover his food and you don't want him hungry inside the city

>>46826990
>[Write in.]
>You make an offer and I am going to decide whether it's good or whether I won't have to feed Fuse today

>>46826990
>>[“Stuff it, I'll leave him outside then.”]
>>You'll keep him company won't you?

>>46826990

Reaching into your purse, you draw forth a ruby and two topaz, throwing them out at the guards. The Drezhar men, unflinchingly eye the luster of the gems and smile deeply from beneath the shade of their wide helmets, “I do believe I heard the clink of more gems in that purse.”

“Indeed,” The other guard says with an avaricious sneer, “This cant' possibly be enough for a safety deposit.”

“It will have to do.” You say clearly and firmly. “I need to cover his food, and no one wants him hungry within the city.”

“Nay, I must insist on at least one more ruby.” The Drezhar guard gathers the three gems from the ground with a single swipe.

“Well, I could always leave him out here. You two seem keen on keeping him company.” You learn over by the Dire Wolf's ear and tell him to “smile.”

The wolf's muzzle pulls back as he licks his teeth, exposing his vicious white fangs. The Drezhar guards pause at the site and the one that had been requesting more swallows, “Indeed. This will do for a safety deposit. Enjoy your stay and trade in Cleptess, where everything will find its way into the hands of those that seek it.”

The Guards lower their guard and allow the three of you to pass upon Fuse's back.

“Intimidation was effective on those two.” Victoria says a time after entering the city. “It most certainly significantly reduced the price of our monster's entry.”

“They were shaking us down Victoria.” you say with an exasperated sigh.

“Shaking us? But I'm still unshaken.”

Odette turns to the girl, “There was no safety deposit, they were looking for a bribe.”

“Oh!” Victoria's brow furrows, “Filthy greedy Drezhar. How dare they. You should've fed them to the wolf.”

>>46827993

“Would have caused more issues than they're worth.” You say as you take in the sights of the city.

Fuse runs course around the wide streets, minding his manner around highhorses, downerdonkeys, and midmules. The Market, not far from the docks is alive with rampant trade. Some for more residential commodities, and others for the luxurious and exotic. Nearer to the local guild, there are many weapon vendors selling even overseas products and many weapons that you can hear faint whispers of both greatness and greatness to be.

In its entirety, the city is awash with the smells of the sea and the smell of fresh fish laid upon coolstones and kept within glass aquariums to keep them fresh. As you pass by one of the aquariums, you notice a Golden Dorado that makes eye contact with you. Its gaze follows you as though it knows you.

Some other vendors in the market even have writhing fate threads for weavers contained within blown glass jars, ready to be twisted into a new form.

Eventually, you have Fuse wind down his route and pick out a tavern some distance from the guild and the guard tower, stabling the monstrous wolf in an enclosure away from the horses. Within the Tavern, the three of you find your seats and order drinks.

Victoria, seeming perturbed and keen to try alcohol for the first time...

Odette leans toward you from across the table as Victoria busies herself with preparing her heart for her first attempt at drinking an alcoholic beverage. “That guy that just came in after us, he's been following us for a while.” As Odette leans away, she discretely points at the suspect from below the table.

>>46828007

As you take a drink, you carefully look the way of the man she'd pointed out. The man's wearing a cloak, and happens to not be in the corner, but more toward the middle and center to blend in with others. There's another person at his table that he's smiling at and talking to, yet as your gaze lingers, you catch a glimpse of the diamond shape in his green eyes... A Hylon? His eyes catch yours staring at him, and there's a subtle pause as the moment holds between the two of you.

Something in your blood tells you that this man could potentially be dangerous. As you look away, he resumes smiling and laughing with the other person at his table.

>[End Scene.]

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Well that's a wrap for tonight. Next thread will be tomorrow at 5pm pacific.

>Questions, Comments, Concerns?

>The Good?
>The Bad?
>The Weird?

Also, thank you for attending Quest of The Faceless!

>>46825470
That's because we all know by now that you don't want spurge and refuse to implement it.

>>46828332
Just ocurred to me that some of you have been following my quests for like 3-4 years now. Holy shit. Like, holy shit.

>>46828369
I dont think its been that long for me, but yeah.

Eh, its fine like this where i relinquish most control, just dont pull from titles and arbitrarily decide what about them is true and what isn't.

>>46828505
>just dont pull from titles and arbitrarily decide what about them is true and what isn't.

Not sure I understand, elaborate?

>>46828529
Aoph

>>46828059
I've never read any of your previous quests, but the unique setting drew me in. The last few threads after the giant dire wolf was defeated have felt pretty lackluster though. Idk. Not enough action or intrigue, but that looks like it'll change with the next thread.

>>46829611

I was thinking of this little segue as typical for stories that have increasing, peaking, and declining action.

In a sense, the parts with "acquiring" Victoria were periods of declining action with the interludes at the end of the threads as a touch of action and a setup to the next periods of building action.

I'm glad for the setting drawing you in, I've had a lot of fun with world-building this with one of my friends and it's interesting seeing this all play out.

In fact, Thread by thread, I think of Thespia as growing farther and farther from the reality we know and affirming itself further into the fantastical presence that it's meant to have.

Thanks for being here!

>>46828529
I misspoke. I believe the issue stems from not fully integrating creative liberties.

As in, you can change certain parts of a title to more closely fit the setting, but you don't follow through with how the characters would then act based on these new "rules", instead keeping to established methods even though they don't make sense anymore.