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Rene and co. find themselves holing up in an abandoned Imperial outpost just past the Northern outskirts of Ludwig's hometown, Cicero scoping the area out with his espionage knowhow in the hopes of better finding out what power this Bishop Lisa holds. Darren is locked up in a holding area, promised to be fed every day, and that's about it, while Felix is able to roam free but always in the presence of Cicero or his siblings.

One night shortly after their arrival, however, his cell opens, and a figure steps out. "Y-you're..!"

The figure raises a finger to their lips, dangling up a Witch Pendant and indicating for the grieving grandfather to get a move on.

"This is as far as I can take you," the traitor to Rene's cause tells Darren after warping him a ways east. "Meet with your family when they pass through this area, and... Don't tell them who saved you. If my companions find out what I've been doing..."

"I will, but... what of Felix?"

"He's too well-guarded. He'll need to remain with us for now..."

"I see. Well, your secret is safe with me for now."

One brief exchange later, Darren sets East to meet with Dyrus, still heavy of heart.

The next morning, in the Noban camp, Samson grows concerned when Hal spends awhile going to "do his business," volunteering himself to make sure he didn't get lost and start walking back to Noba, or get eaten by bears, or something. Wouldn't put either of them past him.

What he does discover, however, is far more notable. "...right, yes. Your secret's safe with me," his bumbling friend says. "No one else knows for sure I'm alive, right?" Silence. "Okay, good... Hey, take care of yourself, alright? Who knows what Rene and Cicero'll do if they find out what you've done..."

When Samson approaches, no one is there besides Hal, who turns to face him. "Oh, hey... Samson. Can't a guy have privacy?" His dumb-playing smile fades as Samson's look stays stiff. "Fine, I can't lie to you like I did Rene."

>A. Be Dyrus
>B. Be Samson

>>47997829
>A. Be Dyrus

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>>47997884
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqOYw76jaXE
The desert is behind you as you pass into Central at long last, none the wiser to what a disastrous failure the defeat of the mountain bandits has proven to be.

You've continued to try to act as Marduk's wingman with your bodyguard, Belle, as he talks about the desert with her, and about Central. The closer you got to crossing the desert, the more they bonded over their loathing of Director Belinda and fondness for flight.

Winona and Nia, with Laurise busy out East and Belle distracted by their brother, turn back to you and Via for their usual hanging-out, making your wyvern-lessons go all the more swimmingly and making sure you don't stay parched for long afterwards.

Fortune and Doran talk over the business end of the Lords of Chance with one another, about how Doran's father is "a damn fine armorer f'she ever needs one," and how Nahuel's "a fuckin' dick."

Nahuel, none the wiser with these, acts as a tertiary tactical advisor for your mother in the stead of Felix, Darren, and Laurise, a position shared by Marduk.

"Finally, we're passed that dumb desert!" You remark, smiling slightly, before sighing, "but we're gonna need to pass it again on the way home... Man, Laurise lucked out with her choice."

>A. Spend time with someone (specify)
>B. Skip to following-up events of the opening scene

>>47998077
>A. Spend time with someone (Via)

>>47998077
>A. Spend time with someone (Via)

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>>47998284
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-iAzpd_mTQ

"Well," Via responds, having totally been the one you were addressing this whole time, "I certainly won't be unappreciative of the reprieve from sand in my socks... It's almost baffling where it winds up. You know what I mean, don't you?"

"Yeah, I can imagine," you say, your final conversation with Felix still in the center of your mind. It forced you to internally acknowledge the way that she speaks to you, instead of putting it out of your mind. "So, uh... Yeah."

"I'm told that there's a quite apt bard in the company of Noba's knights," Via says, "perhaps someone who could help you along your songwriting hobby?"

"Eheh, right, that... I almost forgot about that, we're so out of practice."

"I... think it was while we passed through this very desert that we last sang together," Via muses. "Ever since you pulled me into a musical number for DePlume Isle out of the blue, I have always loved moments like that."

"Er... Yeah, same," you say, rubbing the back of your head. "Sure, for old times' sake! I don't wanna embarrass us in front of a famous bard!"

"What tune shall we carry in this duet?" Via asks. "I've... longed for it for some time, and now that it's come I'm indecisive."

Shit, is she hint-dropping?

>A. Say something smooth (suggestions, please!)
>B. Say something corny (suggestions!)
>C. You're... not feeling it, suddenly
>D. ...sea shanty?
>E. Write-in response

>>47998330
Vote time renewed.

>>47998330
>B."On a high note!"

>>47998330
I'm not completely sure what the nature of the suggestion is supposed to be here.

>>47998693
As in "writing-in phrases pertaining to the mood the option connotates." Like a lame pun for >B.

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>>47998622
"Well, let's have a high note!" You say, grinning shittily.

"Pff..." Via covers her mouth, stifling an undignified laugh and snorting slightly. When she finally calms down, lowering her hand, she looks away, cheeks quite red. "Yes... Though it does go without saying that a moment shared with you follows a high note, my prince."

"'My prince?'" You ask, raising an eyebrow and chuckling a bit yourself, "that's a new one."

"It's fitting, is it not?" She asks. "Considering... Well, the accuracy of the title."

"I don't know if you'd refer to my sister as 'my princess,' though," you say, "what's your game here?"

"For Princess Laurise, I would naturally use more formal terminology. I consider her a friend, certainly, but we've hardly ever been as close as you and I."

"So it's a tongue-in-cheek pet name after all," you say, "I knew it! I mean, I dunno about the 'my' part, though... I've gotta be a whole country's prince, you know!"

"...of course," she says, looking down and, in a rare sight, frowning. "I can't very well keep you to myself..."

>A. Right
>B. But you're still friends!
>C. ...
>D. She can if she wants...
>E. Write-in response

>>47998819
>B. But you're still friends!

>>47998819
>B. But you're still friends!
"I will always make time for my friends."

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>>47998929
"We're still friends, though! I'll always have time for a friend!"

"...of course." She smiles that unreadable smile of hers. "Anyway, should we get to singing now?"

"Yeah," you say. "Let's!"

You spend awhile singing with Via, pushing romance out of your mind. You don't need to be like Laurise and Felix, finding their soulmates at your age, after all.

It's become dark by the time you've wrapped up, and Via looks to be in high spirits again by the end.

"We've still got it, alright!" You say, pumping your fist.

"Indeed we do," Via says. "From here, we'll only grow better and better... Together."

"Yeah, as, uh, singers," you say, awkwardly, "you mean that, right?"

"...perhaps I ought to be honest," Via starts, looking seriously towards you. "You see, Dyrus..." She points behind you, "i-is that your grandfather?"

Turning around, you roll your eyes. "Via, you can't just distract me from... Oh, wait, that really is him!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCv69W-EGIs

The old man, clad in his battle armor, walks exhaustedly towards the two of you, carrying with him only one shabby brown bag, slung over his back. He's unarmed and looking quite... Well, tired.

>A. You need to get him to the camp!
>B. Immediately ask why he's here!
>C. Via, see if he's hurt!
>D. Write-in action
>E. ...

>>47999069
>A. You need to get him to the camp!

>>47999069
>A. You need to get him to the camp!

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>>47999107
"C-c'mon, he must be exhausted! Let's get him back to camp!" You urge for Via to help him with you.

As the two of you help Darren stay on his feet, you turn and ask him with heavy concern, "G-Grandpa, why're you here?"

"And for that matter, you came from the West... Were you not a whole desert East of here?" Via asks.

"A-and what about Laurise and Felix?!" You ask, increasingly panicked, "or Chiffon? Did you beat the bandits?"

"I'll tell you everything when we find your mother!" He says, sounding more than a little... Angry, on edge. "Now come on, I've been walking a very long time!"

"...is someone there?" Via asks as you escort grandfather home, turning to her side. "...no, never mind."

Soon enough, Belle, your mother and Fortune are rounded up in a medical tent, it being figured that others ought not overhear this just yet.

"...what's happened, Darren?" Hauteclere asks him, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. "You've been terribly vague."

Via holds out a tray with cups of herbal tea upon it, offering one to Darren. He accepts it, slowly sipping.

"...my apologies for my keeping you in the dark until now," he says, "but... the reason for my arrival is one that I felt deserved the utmost discretion."

"You wouldn't call me here if it wasn't something bad," Fortune says, fists balled up, "so where's my nephew?!"

"Rene and her team, they... Ambushed us when we went to slay Conrad," Darren says, "Felix was captured, and it turns out that vile, vile bandit is one of the Gerxel children."

"What?! How could this happen?! And I suppose my men are dead?!" She explodes, needing to be restrained by Belle.

"Calm yourself, Fortune!" Hauteclere demands loudly, angrily, startling the mercenary into quiet. "Darren. What of Laurise? And Chiffon?"

"...Felix and I were the only survivors," Darren says. "I was knocked out by Rene, and then the bandit leader himself..."

There's a violent crash as the tea set falls from Via's hands.

>A. ...
>B. React (write-in)

>>47999484
>A. ...
Shock honestly seems like the most appropriate reaction here.

>>47999484
>A. ...

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>>47999681
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp9Fhn3pnCk

You're... Speechless.

The entire tent goes silent.

"...how did it happen?" Your mother says, the first to break through her outright shock at the statement.

"I was unconscious at the time, so I can only report it as Veiz told me in captivity... So she puts it, Laurise was one of the last to go down, fighting against Conrad himself and another one of the children, an... Ice Manakete. And he was a fantastic shot with his bow, and she was dead before anyone in Rene's group knew what had happened."

"Bullshit it was all the bandit," Fortune says, "why, I bet that..." Judgmental eyes on her, she just. Backs out. "Sorry, I'm emotional right now too... I'm going to find Doran, if anyone needs me. Sorry for your loss, I really am."

Your mother maintains her stone-faced demeanor, which hasn't faltered since she heard the news. "And... How, exactly, are you telling us this?"

"I was... Freed, by one of Rene's own allies. They've asked that nothing more than that be disclosed about who they are, and that they've been appalled by all the Empire has done for a long time. They said that Felix is too well-guarded at all times for them to get him away without blowing their cover."

"So we have a secret ally within Rene's ranks... Where are they now?"

"They're holed up in an outpost North of Roto village, planning on capturing it to find the last of Xerxes' non-first children."

"Did this person happen to tell you who the first is?" Hauteclere asks. "It's to my understanding that the eldest is the only one they don't know of, thanks to a mole's efforts."

"They said they would pass that information along to the Noba army through a contact there," Darren explains, "I don't know who that one is either."

Via and Belle give you a moment of privacy, while Darren says, "you know, Fortune did have a point... We have no reason to believe that Rene hasn't-"

"I can't accept that," mother says.

>A. Why not?
>B. ...
>C. Write-in

>>47999991
Whoop, the Dime Thunder image was from a passage I had to forego for character limit reasons. Basically, the bag he was carrying has Laurise's old signature tome in it.

>>47999991
>A. Why not?

Random aside, awful lot of barely-missed GETs this thread.

>>47999999

>>47999991
>A. Why not?
I'm guessing/hoping it's because she wants to believe in Rene, thanks to Dyrus' previous statements.

>>47999991
>A. Why not?

>>48000279
"Wh... Why not?" You ask your mother, finally able to speak.

"...if Rene was directly complicit in Laurise's death, then that's two of my daughters who I've learned are dead in the same breath," Hauteclere says, still stone-faced, fists clenching. "You've convinced me that Rene has good in her, but if I learn she's done this, that this Veiz lied to Darren to spare him the knowledge..."

"Hauteclere..." Darren says, shaking his head. "Never mind. Forget I brought it up."

"Dyrus, your grandfather and I need a moment to talk," the warrior-queen says. "Leave us be."

"But mother..." Her stare convinces you that, yeah, no, you're leaving now.

You turn around obediently, stepping out of the tent, and immediately finding yourself unable to move any further, far too preoccupied burying your head in your hands and bawling your eyes out.

After a good cry, you're not feeling better at all. All it's done is drudge up happy memories, of duels, of siblingly teasing and affection, of playing and training and growing stronger... You swore to be the best young royalty you could be, part of the future to Teege.

>A. Talk to someone (specify)
>B. Skip ahead
>C. Reflect internally

>>48000370
>C. Reflect internally

>>48000370
>C. Reflect internally

>>48000506
You find someplace quiet to just... Think awhile, fresh tears still staining your face as you begin to beat yourself up over anything related to this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3taJl-QG6Y

You think of every time you've ever mistreated your sister in your sibling rivalry.

In sparring, even if she always got up just fine, even if that's exactly what you were supposed to be doing, every duel you won leaves a horrible taste in your mouth.

Teasing her about her once-perpetual lack of suitors before you both departed on your journeys... That was just nearly a year ago, you think. Far less time than it feels like.

Then, when you reunited, you interrupted her and Felix often enough that...

They were in love, and probably never had the chance to admit it, and... That's your fault, isn't it?

It's... Your mind seems to aggressively push away any teasing of Laurise's own, only focusing on your own. Why are you so intent on thinking you were a shitty brother?!

And... And when your sister's body wasn't even cold yet, you bet, you were flirting it up with Via, not a care in the world except which of the pretty girls who would unhesitatingly live and die for you you like more.

You're just... An immature jackass with a silver tongue, and every time you saw Laurise she was getting smarter, stronger, better in pretty much every regard. She didn't have your inherent interpersonal gifts, but she worked hard, surpassed you in many respects.

And then you SUPPORTED the idea that your younger sister (twin, yes, but you're still older!) should go off marching to your death on some mountain while you went to play hero?

>A. You should've been there instead
>B. There's a lot you wish you'd done or not done
>C. ...
>D. No, that's not right!
>E. You are being too hard on yourself!
>F. Write-in opinion
>G. You need to talk to [specify]

>>48000654
>D. No, that's not right!
>E. You are being too hard on yourself!

>>48000654
>D. No, that's not right!
>B. There's a lot you wish you'd done or not done
>E. You are being too hard on yourself!
As in, yeah, there's a lot of things he could've done better or avoided doing, but he's being way too hard on himself, he wasn't a bad brother by any stretch of the imagination.

>And then you SUPPORTED the idea that your younger sister (twin, yes, but you're still older!) should go off marching to your death on some mountain while you went to play hero?
>to your death on some mountain
Wow, that is some pretty intense guilt. I can't tell if that's a typo or if Dyrus already thinks that he should've been the one to die instead even before option A's result.

>>48000881
"To her death," that line was supposed to be, yeah. Typos happen to the best of us, but he's only "it should've been me" levels of guilt should the playerbase will it.

>>48000881
"N-no..." You say to yourself, "I'm just sitting here, hating on myself, but that's not right. I was a good brother... Not a perfect brother, maybe, but who has a perfect relationship with anyone? Who hasn't felt bad about something they said or did, didn't say or didn't do!"

You recall a conversation you had with her shortly before you parted ways one final time, in Neir's castle.

Laurise sighed, shaking her head after the meeting that decided her fate. "You got to fight pirates with grandfather at the start of your journey while I went on urgent business with mother, and now the situation is reversed..."

"Ahah, yeah... That is pretty ironic, I guess."

"But... I think this is for the best," she said. "I'm... Honestly still shaken up about dad being a Deadlord, so a routine dual bandit-diplomacy mission will be just the stepdown I need. I can't imagine how grandpa must feel, either..."

"It wasn't really him," you reminded her, "and if he knew what had been done to his body, he would've wanted it destroyed too."

"I know, but... I'm sentimental, Dyrus. I try to be 'the smart one,' but stuff like this really gets me messed up, and I'm still not the best at talking to people... Keeping the heat off of the old Wolfskin, it's going to be super important for our future as a people, so of course a royal family member needs to oversee it. And the whole castle and it staff just to Felix and myself for awhile is going to be nice~"

"Ew, gross..!" You said, chuckling, before nodding. "I'll miss you all, but it'll go by just as quickly as all the rest of this!" You said, to which she nodded.

"Also... Everyone else was distracted from it earlier, but what is it that 'you know' that grandpa and mom kept a secret? I haven't found a good time to ask..."

>A. You told her about your relation to Rene
>B. You said you'd tell her when you got back
>C. You made some shit up (write-in, plus roll 1d20. Believability affected both by roll and excuse)
>D. Write-in response

>>48001084
>A. You told her about your relation to Rene

>>48001084
>A. You told her about your relation to Rene

>>48001266
"Yeah," you said, "you see... Rene is our sister. Er, half-sister, really, but still! Child of our mother!"

"I... How did that happen?" She asked.

"Grandpa didn't tell me," you said, "I was going to ask mom for more details..."

"Well, I'll talk to grandpa on the way, then!" Laurise smiled. "Take care of yourself, alright, Dyrus?"

"I will, I will," you promised, "you too, alright?"

"Of course! And, uh..." She threw her arms around you. "Love you, bro!"

"Whoa, hey, why the sudden affection?" You ask.

"It's just... I mean, what if something happened to you against Director Belinda and I didn't get to leave on that note?"

"Felix's pessimism rubbing off on you, sis?" You asked, laughing a bit and hugging her back. "Love you too, though. See you when we get back."

Your brain uses this memory to serve as a reminder that, even if Veiz wasn't lying to save face on Rene's behalf, without Rene's intervention Conrad's bandits would certainly have fallen, that Laurise was smart enough to understand why they failed.

That thanks to you, your twin knew that her own elder sister was somehow responsible for her death, never even finding out just who the person she'd doomed really was to her.

"Grh..." You clench your fists, beginning to weep again, even after you've gotten through most of the self-blaming for her fate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziDfl6w8_QU

When you finally look up again, your mother stands over you, looking quite the same stone-faced self she was when she sent you away.

>A. ...
>B. How is she not shedding any tears?!
>C. Point out that, directly or not, Rene is still at fault here
>D. Write-in

>>48001473
>A. ...
Let her speak first.

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I love when my post gets lost for no reason whatsoever in the middle of a poignant scene. That's my FAVORITE thing this site does.

>>48001579
"...be up early tomorrow, regardless of your personal feelings. We're moving ahead with the capture of Fort Larissa, the defeat of current assistant-Director Lange, right on schedule."

"Y-yeah... Can't back down now," you say, sniffling a bit.

"And also..."

"Also..?" You're interrupted by her embrace, hugging you close with your feet above the ground for a solid minute, unable to see her face. You pretend, for her sake, not to hear her whimpering as she does so, and after she lets you go she turns away, lifting up a handkerchief, only letting you see her face again when it's back to its stone-faced form.

"General Lange is Assistant-Director now, huh?" Marduk remarks derisively to his sisters as you pass them by on the way to your tent. "Wonder if he's still a huge dick..."

"Brown-nosing his way up to the top like always," Winona remarks, groaning, "here I was hoping we'd never have to hear his... Hey, Dyrus, are you alright? Dyrus?"

"I think we should just let him be..." Nia says to her sister. "I don't know what's up, but... I heard that Darren is back with our group now. And only Darren."

Immediately getting what that entirely-true implies, Winona and Marduk both look... Well, taken aback. "N-no..."

While Winona is tear-struck at the very thought, Marduk just... Goes silent, shooting a look of utter empathy in your direction.

You pay them no mind, returning to your tent.

>A. Sleep
>B. Can't sleep, go talk to [specify]

>>48001858
>A. Sleep

>>48001858
>A. Sleep

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>>48001926
You fall asleep with some difficulty, and have no real dreams of note.

When you wake up, a crudely-wrapped parcel is at your side. Did... someone come in here overnight?

Inside, there are three things: a Silver Axe, engraved with your grandfather's name. His personal weapon, you're certain.

A... Blue stone pendant, which feels cool to the touch in your hands.

A note, folded neatly, and written in cursive. Gods, you hate cursive...

'This Ice Stone belongs to the half-manakete, Sara. She's done nothing as vile as her younger brother, Conrad, and is only following us so she can see the world beyond the frozen mountains. With this out of our hands, she'll be unable to fight by our sides.'

Wait... This belongs to one of Xerxes' kids? Then, while you were sleeping...

You shudder to think what could've happened if the traitor to Rene's cause wasn't the one holding the pendant, but hand it, the note, and the axe off to your mother and grandfather anyway.

"...keep the axe," Darren tells you as your mother regards the note and the pendant. "I've caused enough damage by not knowing when to quit fighting as it is. I won't have you risking life and limb to save me from my own overconfidence."

You nod, feeling the weapon in your hands. While not designed to cut through heavy armor or cavalry like your Royal Axe, it's... More powerful in its own right.

>A. Talk to someone (specify)
>B. Skip ahead

>>48002236
>B. Skip ahead
Returning to the usual social bonding doesn't feel quite right yet to me.

>>48002236
>B. Skip ahead
Dat bastard...

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>>48002358
You just sort of go through the motions, not feeling up to saying or doing much with anyone.

You quietly ride a wyvern to your destination, though! You're still not sure enough in your capabilities to FIGHT on a wyvern, but to ride one from point A to point B? Sure.

You quietly follow your mother as you reach the Southeastern side of Fort Larissa, an immaculate man on a horse riding out to meet your lot, alongside whom are a more femininely-immaculate dark mage and a bearded fellow with a sword at his side and tome tucked under his arm.

"Sir Jovan," the Paladin says, approaching your mother. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Queen Hauteclere, and likewise. I know you've met my son, Dyrus, and perhaps General Marduk."

"Aye," he says, looking you over. "Wyverns, huh? And..." He looks at the wyvern lord at your mother's opposite side. "No hard feelings about last we met, right?"

"Hey, you didn't actually lay a hand on Winona or Nia, which is more than I can say about these guys at Central. Guy I thought was my best friend personally attacked them, can you believe that?"

"Rough... Anyway, my men will be converging on the Western side of this fort, and..."

>A. Try to listen in
>B. Introduce yourself to the other Nobans (write-in dialogue)

>>48002518
>A. Try to listen in

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>>48002722
For once in your life... You don't actually go off to bother someone else while planning is in effect.

Everything Jovan says is... Pretty much the same as what your mother and grandfather have said the plan would be, but the point stands that you don't particularly feel up to being socially active in light of recent events.

After the situation is addressed, the forces of both sides begin to disperse, the Sorcerer approaching you.

"So," he says, rubbing his chin, "you're the prince who Biff and Byron fought alongside... Fabrice, by the way. My companions and I were offered to your service long ago."

"...hey," he says.

"My apologies, I simply wished to meet you," he says. "From their writings, you show an ample amount of promise and zeal for life, and as a major ally of the Duchies of Noba, I want to know that your home's future is in good hands."

"You're... Not really getting me at my best," you say.

"Right... I'm terribly sorry, I think I'd heard about this," he says, walking away and saying something or another to the bearded guy, who sticks his neck out and looks over at you sympathetically.

>To be continued next thread
Next time around, we'll see Samson's side of traveling there, as well as the actual battle proper. Obviously, Samson has far less to be horrifically upset about in the immediate past, so his chapter will be faster paced.

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

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>>48002885
Thanks for running, Octo.

>>48002920
Always a pleasure.

In which Samson narrowly avoids actually being written outside of his own POV.

>>48002954
Wew

>>48002885
Thanks for running.

>>48003079
Appreciated!
>>48002973
:^)