File: dyrusportrait.png (4 KB, 128x158)

4 KB PNG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wTIrwav0Ek

Just as the mysterious Eichel predicted, it's taken Rene and co. a little while to amass a powerful enough force to overwhelm Neir's castle guard. A few days of stocking up on weapons, warping around the continent in search of any remaining Imperial supporters (the desert region was a great place to look, though they made sure to always stay at least a day ahead of Hauteclere's projected route, and the islands still had more than a few pockets of Imperial loyalty)... With information about Rene's heritage, it's actually a more than easy enough feat to encourage disgruntled Imperials to take their weapons back up, and the castle guard is no match for the Gerxel they broke off of in the eleventh hour.

"H-hey, Rene, your excellency... I went to the same school as you, remember? I'm your upperclassman!" The captain of Neir's castle guard says, holding up her hands nervously as she's backed into a corner. Fear fills the young captain's eyes as Cicero's dagger comes dangerously close to her jugular. Her tone goes desperate. "P-please! Methodius was treating the guard awful! We had no idea how long Ximeno's mission would take! It was... It was bide our time pretending to serve the new crown or die and leave you supportless when you return, I swear it!"

"...you speak without conviction," Rene says, looking between the captain and Cicero, "and you'll immediately turn your tail for whomever is the strongest. You act purely in self-interest, and you expect me to forgive you as easily as I did a misguided young girl?"

"Your excellency..."

Cicero points out a fellow behind Rene, cutting the cowardly guard's neck as Rene easily defeats the would-be assassin.

You, Dyrus, are a desert away, anxious as you think of this. Your earlier truce with the Vautou allows the your group through the Southern desert, but you're still not so sure you can handle what's to come.

>A. Talk to someone (from you/Samson's parties)
>B. Write-in action

>>48281080
>A. Talk to someone (Sara)

File: IceManaketeFE1.png (391 B, 60x70)

391 B PNG

>>48281170
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqOYw76jaXE

You hang around Sara and Felix quite a bit when you're not either training with your grandfather/mother or learning with Samson. Belle, Winona, Nia, and Marduk have thrown themselves wholly into training for the upcoming battles, while Via is maintaining a respectable distance from you outside of lessons and the like out of your stated desire to keep romance off the mind until you get back to Neir.

"Are you sure you can stand against Xouide, Sara?" Felix asks, concerned, "I mean, no one would fault you if you wanted to bow out of this entire mess..."

"No..." Sara, painting the desert landscape as she converses with the two of you (mostly Felix), shakes her head. "Xouide was... Also a blessing of the Ice Authority. It's only right that I aid in some way in... Retiring it. Try not to kill Ludwig, if you can, alright? He's... The likeliest of any of them to listen to reason, and still our brother..."

"Yeah, but Rene is our sister," Felix remarks, shuddering a little, "and we know we need to be prepared to stop HER by any means necessary."

"..."

The siblings look over towards you, Felix rubbing the back of his head as Sara speaks. "Oh... Apologies, Dyrus. She is your sister too..."

>A. Felix is still right
>B. You still think she has a chance
>C. ...
>D. You need to go (talk to someone else)
>E. Write-in response

>>48281400
>B. You still think she has a chance

File: reneportrait.png (4 KB, 164x89)

4 KB PNG

>>48281432
"I still believe in her," you say, steadfast, "even after all she's done, she's not going to be past redemption!"

"Dyrus," Felix says, "please look at reality. Rene... Isn't going to change. This isn't one of my famous 'concerns,' she isn't going to change. She's going to keep fighting us until the Empire is back to its former glory, or she's going to die trying."

"Felix..!" You're more than a little taken aback at your friend's tone, recoiling a bit. "But..."

"I've heard about the lie Veiz told Lord Darren and Hal," Felix says, "that Rene played no direct role in Laurise's fate... That she was dead before anyone besides Conrad knew what happened."

"H-how do you know it was a lie?" You ask, "I mean, you were there, but you didn't see it happen..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j16UHTECGu0

"...but I did," Sara says, quite plainly, quite... Sadly. "I was by Conrad's side during Laurise's final battle... In fact, Laurise was very close to killing Conrad herself before Rene hit her twice. As many times as Conrad, without the slightest hesitation..."

"I... I see..." In that instant, you fully understand what you had already grasped somewhat before: your mother's complete willingness to tune out the possibility of Rene's involvement, despite its likelihood. You understand the feeling in the pit of your heart your mother was trying to avoid by never finding out her eldest daughter was responsible for the death of her youngest.

It's taking everything in you to distract yourself from this flurry of truth, so you ask Sara and Felix, accusatively, "w-wait, you were fighting her yourself?! And you knew about this?!"

"I... did not understand just who we were standing against," Sara says, putting down her paintbrush to approach you, lowering her head in shame, "but... I will not object if you hold this against me. Just... please bear no spite towards Felix."

>A. He should've told you!
>B. Be mad at Sara
>C. Direct frustration at Rene
>D. Write-in response

>>48281694
Vote time renewed.

>>48281694
>A. He should've told you!

File: Icedrag.png (4 KB, 186x170)

4 KB PNG

>>48281947
"You... You should've told me sooner!" You direct your frustrations at Felix. "Have you known that she really did that this whole time?!"

"I suggested it to him, that it was for the best that this remain a secret," Sara says, trying again to defend the light mage as he goes silent from the stress of the situation, "please, I know you're alarmed right now, prince Dyrus, but... let me 'shoulder the blame.' I can make my shoulders quite large..."

Briefly, Sara transforms into an ice dragon, to continue her admittedly mildly amusing bit of wordplay, before reverting.

It's... Looking like you're not gonna be able to stay mad at Felix for this. Sara's giving you a judgmental look, her cheeks puffed and hands on her hips.

"Right... Sorry, I just... That's one heck of a thing to drop."

Sara nods, going back over to sit by her canvas again, resuming her desert-drawing.

"I... Hope that letting you know has helped you realize that there's no hope for Rene, anyway," Felix says, quietly, getting back into a verbal state of being. "I'm sorry for hiding it from you, but... We can't think of Rene as a mutual relative."

>A. He's right
>B. He's wrong!
>C. Write-in response

And...

>D. We should probably tell Hautclere the truth
>E. We should keep this between us for now

Beyond that...

>F. Say more to this group (write-in dialogue)
>G. Go talk to someone else (specify)

>>48282148
>B. He's wrong!
To yourself
>E. We should keep this between us for now
>G. Go talk to Marduk

>>48282148
>>48282201
+1

File: Wyvern_lordGBAIcon.gif (2 KB, 80x69)

2 KB GIF

>>48282201
Even still, even after hearing that... Horrible thing. You were able to forgive Cashmere for your father, and in the end she decided to fight for what was right again.

You know there's no point in arguing with Felix on this one, though, so you just clear your throat. "I... Sorry for snapping at you both, again. You're right, though, this is best kept under wraps for the time. At least, the truth would crush my mother. She knows it would, I know it would..."

After Sara and Felix agree, you go to look for Marduk, finding him being thoroughly humiliated by eating Belhara fruits in competition with Belle, she cracks a rare (albeit less so since Gravern) smile of amusement at the tears of poor tolerance for spiciness running down his face.

"Were you hoping to impress me?" She asks him, taking his shaking hand as it reaches for a canteen. "Water makes it worse, you know."

"R-right... I knew that." Marduk exhales quite theatrically, turning to look at you, "oh, uh... Hey, Dyrus. I was just... Embarrassing myself in front of your cute bodyguard."

"I'm not cute," she objects, trying to maintain her usual serious tone.

"Yeah, you totally are... Anyway, Dyrus, need one of us for something?" Marduk asks, still tearing up a bit thanks to his aforementioned pitiable palate.

>A. You wanted to discuss Rene
>B. Just been awhile since you chatted much!
>C. Write-in response
>D. ...you forgot

>>48282406
>B. Just been awhile since you chatted much!
Need some bro time.

>>48282406
>B. Just been awhile since you chatted much!

File: falcoknightDS.png (6 KB, 68x70)

6 KB PNG

>>48282447
"I mean... it's been awhile since we talked much in general, right? With you, your sisters, or Belle for that matter!"

"Yeah, yeah, definitely... C'mon, I need some, uh, whatever works for spicy shit."

"Milk usually works great," you reply helpfully.

"Yeah, that. C'mon, let's get some."

One refreshing drink later, the three of you sigh. "So, uh, what's up?"

"Well-" Marduk starts, trying to be coy.

"-Marduk and I have become a couple," Belle interrupts, enjoying his flustered expression, "I've... come to peace with my past now that it's been laid to rest, and I have his help to thank for that."

"...still not allowed to give you cute nicknames, though," Marduk remarks in mock-annoyance.

"My name is one syllable. I don't need a nickname that takes twice as long to say and shares none of its letters," Belle responds, huffing.

"You used to think it was cute..." Marduk teases.

"When I was a child," she responds, turning towards you, "but we're alienating the prince. It's been an honor working at your side, Dyrus, and it will be an honor to continue doing so for the foreseeable future."

"And... I dunno if I've ever said how grateful I am that I was able to reunite with my sisters thanks to you," the wyvern-riding general says, smiling more genuinely than his usual tired, vaguely distant smirk, "if you didn't get through to Winona when you did, then they really could've just rotted in Noba forever, or worse..."

>A. It wasn't a big deal
>B. You're touched that they feel so strongly
>C. ...
>D. Write-in response

>>48282731
>B. You're touched that they feel so strongly

>>48282731
>B. You're touched that they feel so strongly

File: axelord.png (16 KB, 148x125)

16 KB PNG

>>48282760
"I... It means so much to me that you think that highly of me!" You say, smiling.

"Ask about anyone here and they'll say the same thing," Marduk says, "you've moved mountains on your journey, Dyrus. Fuckin', uh, off the top of my head... You saved Doran's ass and his hometown from pirates, too, there's that. That town in Coastal? They're gonna be thanking you for generations for that."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGrIPF3RutE

Your tone sobers. "Yeah, but... I dunno, thinking about that day always makes me think about Gerard, and..."

"...and Gerard wouldn't have wanted you to think like that," Belle chastises, "you know that. He loved the world too much to want people to reflect on its darkest aspects."

"I know, but... I try my best not to forget anyone. I'm still torn up that we couldn't help Denim fight Paisley, or save Raleigh..."

"Chief Paisley has proven loyal to his word and Denim's memory, though," Belle points out, "and I'm still confident that there was nothing we could have done but risk death if we attempted to assist Raleigh."

"...what about Omar?" You ask, "I... With my own hands, I..."

Marduk lifts up his own hand, stopping you from talking. "Omar was... A pretty close friend of mine, yeah, and a pacifist, but he always knew what it meant to be on the battlefield. Knew that being a healer who refused to fight painted a target on his back... And honestly, I think he would've stuck with Rene right to the end too." He shakes his head, patting your shoulder. "Look, Dyrus... You think I wasn't hurt as hell when I learned about Baker, about Omar? But this isn't the sorta shit a sixteen year-old should be losing sleep over. You should be thinking about how you want the castle redecorated when we get it back, or falling in love, or... Or something. You don't deserve to keep beating on yourself."

>A. You can't lighten up yet!
>B. You guess he's right
>C. Write-in response

And...

>D. Write-in dialogue
>E. Talk to someone else (specify)

>>48283165
>A. You can't lighten up yet!
Lots of your friends are dead, Mom is extremely sad, the world's in danger, and prom is tomorrow!
But keep a strong face for them.
>D. "So...when's the wedding?"
Tease him to change the subject.

>>48283220
"Sorry, Marduk, but... I really can't afford to lighten up. I've lost friends, and family, and... And mom and grandpa are extremely sad, the world's in danger, I'm going to need to fight for my life against my sister... I can't lighten up now."

"I..." Marduk groans. "Can't argue with you there. Promise you'll be back to yourself after this is over, though... Everyone also really loved how upbeat you could be, and it's hurting everyone to see you hurting."

"I know... I will. I've sworn that I will for everyone's sake, but for now... I dunno, I just can't be carefree."

Belle nods, entirely approving of your standpoint. "This is not a situation to be made light of. We will be merry when it's passed."

"Right..." You do TRY to at least shift the subject away. You're a more serious person these days, "speaking of being merry, when's the wedding?" You grin, waggling your eyebrows a bit.

"Eheh, I mean, we'll probably put it at the same time everything else good in this world's gonna happen," Marduk says, wrapping an arm around the cutely-flustered bodyguard, "after this has all settled down."

"I've... Never been good at weddings," Belle says, folding her arms and leaning against him a bit, "I always feel so stiff just being part of the audience."

"Hey, I'm sure it's way less boring to be the guests of honor," Marduk assures her, nestling his chin against her head while continuing to tease, "you won't be able to ignore Winona when you're sisters in law, right?"

"Mrh..." Belle blushes more, saying little.

You feel like there's not much more you can say in this particular situation.

>A. Talk to someone else (specify)
>B. Go DO something else (write-in action)

(yeah, this is mostly a socialization chapter... 49 and beyond are gonna be jam-packed with shit to be done, after all!)

>>48283676
>B. Go DO something else (Walk around town)
>>48283676
No worries, Octo. I like fluff.

>>48283676
>B. Go DO something else (Walk around town)

File: totally not yied.jpg (122 KB, 553x662)

122 KB JPG

>>48283770
When you pass by a town in the desert, settled by Vautou, you opt to take awhile to look around it. The locals treat all humans with skepticism, but Chief Paisley has assured them that Neir and its friends are friends of theirs, so you're able to pass through without incident.

Despite the people's skepticism, you're able to shop and mingle just fine when you decide to mess around in a city, noticing such things as Samson and Millicent writing about their experiences over dinner, Fabrice, Dinah, and Adam reminiscing with "the mysterious Eichel," and Hal mostly hanging around alone in some corner.

Curious, you carry yourself over to his side, asking what's up.

"Oh, uh, hey... Dyrus, right?"

You nod. "Yeah... Wait, I know you! We met in this same desert!"

"Heh, yeah... That was the start of a very long few days for me," Hal says, chuckling a bit. "I got turned around so many times I was passing out in the desert, being attacked by raiders... It was a dark time for me, basically."

"And being in the desert region reminds you of that?" You ask.

"Yeah, basically!" Hal nods a bit dopily, leaning against a wall. "It's, uh... Yeah, as you may remember, I still got stuck serving the Empire for real after Methodius saved me. I was just doing it until I could find a way to break away to the islands, but... Iunno, being so close to the action really made me appreciate everyone who's fighting it, you know? Made me think 'I don't wanna die before this Empire does.'"

"I think a lot of people can see eye to eye with you there," you say, chuckling some more, "but... If you're so afraid of dying, why're you going to help fight Xouide? Eichel says it's gonna be even more dangerous than challenging Rene herself!"

"Well, plain and simple, Samson's going," Hal admits, "and... I dunno, something about Samson just makes me want to believe in him with all my heart, y'know? People say you're the same way."

>A. You don't see it
>B. You've heard that...
>C. Write-in response

>>48284127
>B. You've heard that...

>>48284127
>A. You don't see it

File: SageDS.png (3 KB, 68x72)

3 KB PNG

>>48284206
>>48284180
"I mean, I've heard people say that," you say, uncertainly, "but... I really don't see it."

"Well, I guess you don't need to see it for its effects to be visible," Hal says, "give it time, you'll come around."

"If you say so," you say to the sage's not-all-too-sage advice.

"Yeah... And I mean, you could probably swing Samson into working in Neir indefinitely if you make him a good enough deal," Hal suggests, "and the old capital region's a nice place... Keep him around, he'll be a great influence on everything."

"I mean we'll see," you say, "we'll need to be figuring out where a lot of the kingdom's funds are supposed to go for rebuilding after the war and stuff..."

"Yeah, yeah, I've got you," Hal says, "but... yeah, people appreciate theaters and parties as much as they do roads, right?"

"Again... Complicated. Gold doesn't just appear out of nowhere, Hal."

"Oh, no, I know that! Believe me, I know that! I spent like a year traveling alone after I was cut off from my way back to Holmstead Academy, had to really... Well, get money how I could. It was the little things, treating myself at least once every time I found a town in my travels, that kept me upbeat and sane all that time!"

"Yeah, but... Again, a whole country and continent is harder than one person," you say, "you can't make everyone happy, but you need to try anyway, and... It ages you, it really does!"

You spend awhile talking to Hal about just a small handful of the issues your mother was approached on during her brief time staying in the castle before you all set off again for Central.

"Woof," Hal says, "gotta say, I don't envy you needing to inherit that one day... Do not envy you a single bitty bit."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," you quip.

"Hey, hey, don't get it wrong!" Hal waves his arms a bit. "I do still admire that you've gotta do it! Really I do!"

>A. Write-in dialogue
>B. Talk to someone else (specify)

>>48284589
>B. Talk to someone else (Winona)

>>48284589
>B. Talk to someone else (Winona)

File: Wyvern_riderGBAIcon.gif (2 KB, 80x69)

2 KB GIF

>>48284662
Speaking of old friends, though, the next group you opt to hang around with are the wyvern-riding sisters. The three of you fly a bit away from the town on your wyverns before chatting.

"I'm, uh... I need to take care of something," Nia says, rather early into the interaction, wiggling a bit indicatively, "can you two handle hanging around without me?"

"Uh... Yeah, probably," Winona says, looking at you.

"Alright..." Nia shows herself off on her mount, ducking behind something somewhat far off, leaving you and her sister to talk.

"No more false alarms now," Winona remarks, looking at the night's sky, "it's... actually the final battle coming up."

"Yeah," you respond, joining her in stargazing, sitting in the cool desert sands, "I... really don't know Rene all that well, but I feel like my whole life so far has been building up to this moment. Setting up for our last confrontation..."

"Is fate really like that?" Winona asks, "I mean... Was there ever a way for the two of you to coexist and do anything but fight until the end? It's all too sad to think it was doomed to end like this from the start..."

"...whatever happens, I'm going to see this through to the end," you say, imagining your deceased twin's face in the stars as you talk with the young woman you both called a best friend, "I owe it to everyone who's lost their lives to get us this far."

"Yeah," Winona agrees, "I'm... I still think about my old squad, every day. If I hadn't of gone to save Nia, they probably would've died fighting Noba anyway. Was it fate for me to see them all die, too? The way that things keep dragging on and on like this... It has me thinking about fate a lot. The effects of our actions, of our mothers' and fathers' and mentors' actions... I've felt like everything is out of my control for a little while now, and it really frustrates me." Her fingers tense up into fists.

>A. You can't know destiny
>B. Fuck fate!
>C. ...
>D. You feel her
>E. Write-in response

>>48284891
>B. Fuck fate!

>>48284891
>A. You can't know anything about destiny but we can change fate!
R-right?

>>48285053
>>48285051
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oiwAmk9NeY
"Forget fate!" You say, substituting in a much stronger word at the last moment. "You can't know anything about your destiny, so you can't know anything about what is or isn't fated, or whether it can be changed, right? Anything could be destiny, and we'll only know when it's come to pass!"

"...you know what? You're absolutely right," Winona says, coming to agree in an instant, "why should I just... Lie back and assume that my destiny is just going to be the same series of letdowns with a few ups forever?"

"Yeah!" You say, raising up your hand, "that's the spirit! After this, we're gonna rebuild Teege from the ground up, all of us. You, me, Via, my mother, your siblings, Belle, Felix... I wouldn't have it any other way but all of us working hard at it!"

"D-Dyrus..." Winona clears her throat. "You're right, though... My life isn't a downspiral, this war has just been hell. Which is why there's... Something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time now. You've just given met he confidence to out and say it."

"Er... yeah?" You gulp a bit. You never had the chance to give her the same 'hey, can I not think about this for a little while' that you gave Via, and with how Winona is, trying to preempt her is just going to end in her assuming you mean the worst.

"Dyrus, I've felt this way since we were kids, but... Meeting you again, working alongside you, it's only made it stronger and stronger, and... Gh, I need to stop beating around the bush, I love you!"

Well, that elephant in the room sure is addressed. You REALLY wish she'd gotten the memo about what you said with Via, but... Whew. This is happening.

>A. You really don't want to think about this
>B. Turn her down
>C. Accept her advances
>D. ...
>E. Write-in response

This won't end well for either side.
Wat do?

>>48285491
Tak it 2 ur mum. ;)

>>48285319
Vote time renewed.

>>48285319
>A. You really don't want to think about this
Tell her as much as you want to love, we cannot do it right now. We're heading to the final battle and we can't afford to be distracted. Know this, we cherish her very much and we will this together.
I don't want her to hate him or get depress and die if this fails.. ;_;

>>48285554
*win

>>48285319
>A/E. "Winona...I want to accept your feelings and return them, but I can't, not yet. It wouldn't be fair, and everything is too messed up right now...fratricidal sister resurrecting an ancient god-monster to potentially commit genocide and restore the Gerxel and all...to really think about love and romance, so...can we please postpone confessions, just for a little while?"

File: samsonbygrandflaw.png (6 KB, 290x200)

6 KB PNG

>>48285554
"I... You... Really got me at a bad time," you say, as sincerely as possible, "I can't afford to be thinking about what I want, in... That regard." You clear your throat a bit. "I don't want to be distracted by... Well, anything like this, and I've already told myself I was going to put off romantic thoughts until we're in a more peaceful world. I... genuinely don't know just how I feel about people right now, and don't want to think about it just yet."

"I... I see..." Winona looks down a bit, hugging herself. "I really got you at a bad time, didn't I?"

"H-hey, please don't feel bad! I didn't think to tell you, and that's my fault, but..." You close your eyes, rubbing your temples a bit in thought. "You're still a friend that I cherish very, very much, and I want to know that you'll still be there when the fighting's finally over."

Winona nods, smiling bittersweetly. "Yeah... I promise. And... If you sort everything out, and decide that you don't feel the same... I won't let that impact our friendship."

You both nod, exchanging a friendly, if chase, handshake before Nia conveniently returns. You get the feeling the girl did this on purpose, in expectation of a very different result.

The ride back is... A bit awkward, but you're able to move past it. Winona's confession is out in the open, while Via has been kind enough to actually postpone what you're completely certain will be hers until the actual end of this war.

"So... This is where we part ways," Samson says, he and his allies speaking to yours and your mother's as you reach the mountain ranges separating the desert from the Eastern regions of Teege. "We'll just be... Waiting by the pass between the valleys for a giant monster. Remember to make sure not to approach the capital until Xouide's far South."

"We know, we know," you say, nodding, "you still owe us attendance to a postwar celebration!"
>to be continued next thread
Thanks for playing, as always. Update twitter/ask.fm are qmgrandflocto

File: Comfy Kirby.png (38 KB, 245x237)

38 KB PNG

>>48285756
Thanks for running, Octo.
I'm seeing Dyrus losing all of his family and Rene being his only one left in the end. Though, I might be being a little too pessimistic.

>>48285756
Thanks for running.

Bullet sorta-dodged, still feel bad.

File: Spoiler Image (6 KB, 100x180)

6 KB JPG

>>48285798
Unlikely, given that the next Dyrus or Rene thread is going to be mutually exclusive with one another. Which is to say the Empire's victory or loss in its darkest hour lies in the hands of (You).
>>48285799
Least Dyrus was able to keep good on his "can we not right now" policy. If he makes it out of the final battle, he'll finally be able to accept his one true love, Maiden.

Always a pleasure.

>>48285756
Queen and concubine ending when?

>>48285836
I'm not sure how I'd feel canonizing that. I have told myself a few times I wouldn't let there be a harem ending...

>>48285877
It's not a harem if it's only two chicks.
It's okay. Dryus seems like a one-girl type of guy anyways.

File: lovekindaguy.png (83 KB, 180x230)

83 KB PNG

>>48285903
Semantics, semantics!
Good point about Dyrus. Not to mention, the whole "everything about Xerxes' debaucherous adventures" has probably killed any residual appeal of the idea of getting around.