>>136820
>>Spend some time with Myrddin, Olwen and Delyth.

>>136820
>Spend some time with Myrddin, Olwen and Delyth.

>>136820
>>Spend some time with your soldiers.
spend some time with the men under our command

>>136820
>Spend some time with your soldiers.
It's good to keep an eye out for talented individuals.

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>>136820
It's traditional to maintain a certain amount of distance between the officers and the soldiers; it's a little awkward to drink or gamble with someone you're going to order to their possible death a few hours later. You decide to spend your time with your officers instead.

"How did the report go?" Myrddin asks.

"The Archduchess is thinking it over," you say. "We'll have our next assignment soonish, but we're free until then. I just wanted to kill some time."

"That's good," Delyth says. She seems to be in a good mood, now that her convalescence is over. "I hope that I can make up for my previous failure."

"It's not like this is our army," Olwen reminds her. "We might spend the rest of this little war guarding the food supplies."

"A quiet little guard job has a certain appeal," you say, "but I don't see it happening. Plus, we'd have to go off on our own to find out whatever it is my uncle's planning anyway."

"That's the sort of thing that tends to happen when you're not actually interested in following someone's orders," Myrddin says. "But what can you do?"

"That's a good question, actually," you say. "What do we do when we're not fighting? I don't think I've ever had to sit around and wait for someone else's orders before."

The four of you look at each other. Olwen and Myrddin were always your advisor, so they never had any downtime during a war either. That just leaves Delyth.

"I was usually busy with chaplain duties," she says, "so I don't really know what we're supposed to do either."

So none of you know what you're supposed to do when you're not busy killing people. There's a depressing thought.

>"Maybe we can go swimming?"
>"Are there any hunting grounds we could use?"
>"So… does anyone have anything to talk about?"

>>136954
>"So… does anyone have anything to talk about?"

>>136954
>"Maybe we can go swimming?"
>"So… does anyone have anything to talk about?"

>>136954
Someone rustle up a pack of cards or some dice.

>>136954
>>"Maybe we can go swimming?"
Beach episode!
.... Kinda!

>>136954
>"Maybe we can go swimming?"

>>136970
Cards sounds good, maybe a couple of drinks as well?

>>136954
Wasn't Olwen looking for some private time?

>>137006
Eh, that works i guess?

I mean, at least fucking in the tent is less likely to have us spotted than going for a swim without our masks.

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>>136954
You can't get risk getting drunk at the moment, you don't actually have anything to talk about, and hunting would just tire you out, which defeats the purpose of relaxing.

"Is there any place we could swim around here?"

"Yeah, there's a small creek nearby," Myrddin says. "If we go upstream, no one will bother us."

"That's good enough to kill a few hours," Olwen says. "Let's go."

Myrddin leads you up a trail in the woods. It's away from the camp, but given the geography and the location you won't have to worry about getting attacked anyway.

"This isn't a bad idea," Myrddin says.

"I agree," Nimue says.

"Yeah - Wait, Myrddin, how long as your wife been here?"

"What are you talking about?" Myrddin pushes his glasses up and smirks. "She was always here."

"No, she wasn't," you say.

"Of course she was." Myrddin's smirk expands even further.

"No, she really wasn't," Olwen says. "I asked you if she was coming along before we left and you said no."

"I thought it'd be nice to go swimming," Nimue says.

Forget it. Making sense of this is just not worth the amount of effort you'd have to invest into it.

The ladies go a little farther away so you can all change into swimming clothes. You and Myrddin sit at the edge of the creek and dip your feet into the water.

"I think I've got some cards and dice around here, if you want to go a few rounds," Myrddin says.

>[Intrigue/1d8] "That sounds like a good idea."
>"You're not going to tell me to ogle Olwen and Delyth?"
>"I'll pass."

>>137116
>>[Intrigue/1d8] "That sounds like a good idea."
>>"You're not going to tell me to ogle Olwen and Delyth?"
Just how high is Nimue's stealth skill? 7?

>>137116
>>>[Intrigue/1d8] "That sounds like a good idea."
>>"You're not going to tell me to ogle Olwen and Delyth?"

>>137116
>>[Intrigue/1d8] "That sounds like a good idea."

>>137116
>>[Intrigue/1d8] "That sounds like a good idea."
>>"You're not going to tell me to ogle Olwen and Delyth?"

What are you planning, Myrddin?

>>137116

>[Intrigue/1d8] "That sounds like a good idea."
>"You're not going to tell me to ogle Olwen and Delyth?"

>>137140
I believe he wants to make us lose a bet and do something with the girls. What exactly I have no idea

>>137116
>[Intrigue/1d8] "That sounds like a good idea."

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>>137116
"That sounds like a good idea to me," you say.

Myrddin pulls out his cards and expertly shuffles them. You keep an eye on him just in case he decides to try something funny. Sleight of hand tricks are well within the scope of his responsibilities.

"You know, I'm surprised you didn't tell me to ogle Olwen and Delyth," you say.

"Oh, they'll come out here on their own soon enough," Myrddin says. "If I need to tell you to look at them after that, well, that's really their problem."

Myrddin deals out the cards.

>Roll 1d8, best of three.

Rolled 5 (1d8)

>>137224

Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>137224
Beach/River episode!

Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>137240
well damn

>>137224

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>>137248
>>137240
double damn

>>137273
The power of swimsuits

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>>137224
What follows is an epic battle of wits as you and Myrddin bluff, double-bluff and otherwise try to cheat each other through any means necessary.

You handily win all your engagements. Myrddin's face twists into a tableau of frustration as you emerge victorious hand after hand.

"Look on the bright side," you say, "at least your shirt is already off, so you can't lose it."

"That's not actually comforting, your highness," Myrddin says. "Then again, if you want me to take my pants off…"

"I'll pass."

You put the deck of cards away just in case. There's no reason to tempt fate and give Myrddin any ideas.

"You're done already?" Olwen asks and she saunters over from the other side of the river.

Both she and Delyth are wearing swimsuit that prominently shows off their assets, while Nimue is wearing something significantly more modest.

"Well?" Olwen bends forward to give you a better view. "How do we look?"

>"I guess you look okay."
>"You look beautiful."
>"Oh please, as if you never tempted me with those before."

>>137296
>>"You look beautiful."

>>137296
(stares intensely)

>>137296
>"You look beautiful."

>>137296
>>"You look beautiful."

>>137296
>>"Oh please, as if you never tempted me with those before."
The fire rises

>>137296
>"Sorry, my eyes are a little unfocused from looking at cards. Could you come closer?"

>>137296
I don't remember her being that big

>>137296
>Oh please, as if you never tempted me with those before

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>>137296
"You look beautiful," you say, "although they have kind of lost their effect, given the number of times you've tried to shove them in my face."

"Oh, they got a little bigger since the last time I really put effort into it," Olwen says.

"How do you even - No, you know what? Nevermind."

"Oh, I didn't know you had that kind of relationship," Delyth says.

"We don't," both you and Olwen say. Olwen sounds rather more displeased about the situation than you do.

Myrddin coughs to draw attention away from you. "Since we're here," he says, "we might as well enjoy ourselves for a bit."

Nimue joins her husband to talk about something or other, while Delyth lies down on the riverbed and Olwen starts swimming in the creek.

>See what Myrddin and Nimue are talking about.
>Go lie down next to Delyth.
>You came here to swim. You might as well join Olwen.

>>137446
>>You came here to swim. You might as well join Olwen.

So close and yet so far, sorry Olwen

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>137446
Dammit I really want to see what Nimue is talking about but I also want to know more about Delyth.
1 ->See what Myrddin and Nimue are talking about.
2 ->Go lie down next to Delyth.
May the dice decide my vote.

>>137446
>You came here to swim. You might as well join Olwen.

>>137469
it's probably something inscrutable and vaguely threatening

>>137446
>>Go lie down next to Delyth.

>>137446
>You came here to swim. You might as well join Olwen.

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>>137446
You don't want to disturb Myrddin and Nimue's couple talk, so you jump into the water.

You immediately bite back a scream. The water is cold. Very, very cold. You didn't mind so much when it was just your feet, but now that your entire body is in the water, it is just so very cold.

Olwen looks at you and laughs. "You look miserable," she says.

"I'm fine," you say. "The temperature just took me by surprise."

You swim over to Olwen to warm your body up. It helps a little.

"Yes, I'm sure you're shivering from surprise." Olwen grins. "Want me to warm you up? Or maybe you'd like some water wrestling?"

>[Military/1d8] "Sure. When was the last time we wrestled anyway?"
>"Please do warm me up."
>"This is a trap, and I won't fall for it."

>>137624
>[Military/1d8] "Sure. When was the last time we wrestled anyway?"

>>137624
>[Military/1d8] "Sure. When was the last time we wrestled anyway?"

>>137624
>>"Please do warm me up."

>>137624
>>"This is a trap, and I won't fall for it."

>>137624
>"Please do warm me up."
Are they still wearing masks?

>>137663
They're far enough from the camp that they don't need to.

>>137624
>[Military/1d8] "Sure. When was the last time we wrestled anyway?"

>>137624
>>"Please do warm me up."

>>137636
>>137637
>>137679

>>137652
>>137663
>>137687

And another tie, but I think I can work with this one.

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>>137742
am excite

Okay, so my Internet connection just died for five minutes for absolutely no discernible reason. It's working now, but if I stop posting, you'll know why.

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>>137769
oh jeeze, hope your internet doesn't fuck you over

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>>137624
"Sure, I could use a warmup," you say. "When was the last time we wrestled anyway?"

"Should be… two years ago, I think," Olwen says. "I wish we'd done it more often."

"Which is probably why I didn't want to," you say. "Anyway, be careful not to hit your head."

"Oh, I'll be fine."

You swim to the centre of the creek to give yourself more space to struggle in and put up your hands.

>Roll 1d8, best of three.

Rolled 6 (1d8)

>>137790

Rolled 4 (1d8)

>>137790

Rolled 8 (1d8)

>>137790

>>137800
we are the best at sexy water wrestling

kinky senpai

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>>137790
Olwen lunges at you first, but the water makes her movements slow and sluggish. You're able to use your height and reach to kick off the riverbed and slip under her guard. You wrap your arms around her waist and lift her up.

"Wait!" Olwen yelps in surprise. "What are you doing? Lemme go!"

She flails about to break your grip, but she can't get away. In a moment of desperation, she just wraps her legs around your waist and throws her arms around your neck.

You take a deep breath and jump up slightly. The two of you crash into the river and Olwen squeezes hard her. You can feel her nails digging into your back, and she has a habit of keeping her nails short so they don't break in battle.

You pull out of the water. Olwen coughs a few times, then starts laughing heartily. She rearranges her grip on you slightly to make herself more secure and comfortable, but she doesn't let go.

"Okay, okay," she says, "you win this one."

She clings to you with all the strength she can muster and rests her head on your shoulder. You can clearly feel the warmth of her body and the rhythmic beating of her heart where her chest presences against yours.

"I wish we could do this more often, too," she says.

>"Yeah, so do I."
>"Maybe some day."
>"There's no point in dwelling on it."

>>137881
>"Yeah, so do I."
>"Maybe some day."

>>137881
>>"Maybe some day."
>>"There's no point in dwelling on it."

>>137881
>>"Yeah, so do I."

>>137898
this

>>137881
>"Let's make the most of it, then."

>>137881
>"Yeah, so do I."

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>>137881
"Yeah, so do I." You wrap your arms around Olwen to return her hug and support her. "I just have other things to take care of right now."

"And then it'll be something else, then something else, and so on until the kingdom falls apart or something." Olwen sighs. "But you picked your priorities years ago and that's what made me care in the first place."

"So you can't complain."

"No, I can still complain," Olwen says. "It just feels hollow."

You stay like this for several minutes, just desperately clinging to each other, until Myrddin calls you back. You've been gone long enough, and now your break is over. You all towel the water off and change into your uniforms before making your way back to the camp.

The camp hasn't caught fire and burned down while you were away, so that's something. There aren't any messengers desperately looking for you either, so it seems that, for once, you didn't miss some disaster.

"I suppose I'll go check back with the Archduchess," you say. "This atmosphere is too relaxed. I don't trust it."

"In the last few weeks, I've come to realize that there are two kinds of disasters," Myrddin says. "The ones we know about, and the ones we don't know about."

Hardly the most insightful advice, although it is technically accurate.

Myrddin, Olwen, and Delyth return to your company while you head towards the Archduchess' command tent. She's still pouring over her maps, and she seems quite pleased with the situation.

"Oh, Gwain, I was just wondering whether or not I should contact you," the Archduchess. "Since you're here anyway, I might as well ask. Do you think it's more important to attack Viktor's luxury goods or his alchemical supplies?"

>"Go for the luxury goods. There are fewer guards, the road is more vulnerable, and it'll hurt their morale."
>"Go for the alchemical supplies. It's riskier, but the lack of medicines will cripple their army."

>>138048
>>"Go for the alchemical supplies. It's riskier, but the lack of medicines will cripple their army."
The bigger of a mess we make, the faster we should get to the main actors.

>>138048
>>"Go for the alchemical supplies. It's riskier, but the lack of medicines will cripple their army."

>>138048
>"Go for the alchemical supplies. It's riskier, but the lack of medicines will cripple their army."

>>138048
>"Go for the alchemical supplies. It's riskier, but the lack of medicines will cripple their army."

>>138060
>>138065
>>138070
>>138073
the hive-mind is strong tonight

>>138110
The victorious prince has nothing to fear

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>>138048
"Go for the alchemical supplies," you say. "It's riskier, but the lack of medicines will cripple their army."

"That's a daring approach," Aleksandra says, "but I can't say it's wrong. How would you pull it off?"

"Do you want me to pull it off?"

"No," she says, "I'd need to deploy a small combat force to avoid them getting caught, and I have other uses for you. I just wanted a second opinion on strategy."

In other words, she wants to measure your skills as a strategist, not just as a battlefield commander. You're more than happy to oblige.

Alchemical supplies are literally an army's life, which is why Viktor is sending them through the shortest and least accessible path. In conventional strategy, the simplest and most effective countermeasure would be to send woodsmen to harass the supply caravans, but attrition would be a problem, and Archduke Viktor would secure the road soon one way or another soon enough. It would create a small window of opportunity to make his army vulnerable to an attack, but no more.

The more permanent solution is to resort to scorched earth tactics. Alchemical supplies must be grown and tended carefully. If his suppliers' fields are destroyed, he won't be able to replace his supplies at all. Moreover, the Archduchess' allies might be able to take over the market once the crisis is over. It would, however, be more difficult to pull off.

>[Military/1d10] "Stay with the basics. Send woodsmen to harass the caravans."
>[Military/1d8] "His supplies rely on fields of alchemical reagents. Destroy them and his army will be permanently crippled."

>>138205
>>[Military/1d8] "His supplies rely on fields of alchemical reagents. Destroy them and his army will be permanently crippled."
Carpe Diem. Man this would be 1d6 if we didn't level up.

>>138205
>[Military/1d8] "His supplies rely on fields of alchemical reagents. Destroy them and his army will be permanently crippled."

>>138205
>>[Military/1d8] "His supplies rely on fields of alchemical reagents. Destroy them and his army will be permanently crippled."

>>138205
>[Military/1d8] "His supplies rely on fields of alchemical reagents. Destroy them and his army will be permanently crippled."

>>138205
>>[Military/1d8] "His supplies rely on fields of alchemical reagents. Destroy them and his army will be permanently crippled."

/qst/ likes to play dangerously.

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>>138205
"His supplies rely on fields of alchemical reagents," you say. "Destroy them and his army will be permanently crippled."

The Archduchess raises an eyebrow. "That wasn't the answer I expected," she says. "The traditional strategy would be to harass his caravans."

"That would just buy us some time," you say. "It would only be really effective if we launched an attack on Archduke Viktor's main camp at the same time. If we cut off his supplies entirely, attrition will quickly take its toll."

"That's certainly true," Aleksandria says. "Is there anything else?"

"It depends on your personal connections," you say. "Once this conflict is over, you could take over the supply of alchemical medicines to the lands that supported Archduke Viktor. If you act quickly enough, your could monopolize the market and strengthen your position."

"I hadn't even thought of that," Aleksandria says. "Can you go over the details."

"Of course," you say. "First off…"

>Roll 1d8, best of three.

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>138335

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>138335

Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>138335
oh god...

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>138335
Fail

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>>138348
>>138342
>>138337
I don't know whether to laugh or cry

clearly water wrestling is more important than this attrition nonsense.

>>138363
Even the dice gods want to relieve some of the sexual tension

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>>138337
>>138342
>>138348

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>>138348

>>138348
>>138372
....come to think of it, is this our first critfail?

>>138337
>>138342
>>138348
In an odd twist of fate, you guys got incredibly lucky. I just remembered that you had a critical success going because you rolled an 11 in the last thread. It should have gone to one of your earlier rolls, but since I forget about it, I'll count it now.

Roll 1d10, best of three.

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>138384
I almost want to ask you to keep the critfail, just to see what happens.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>138384

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>138384
whyyyy...

>>138377
We had one when we were searching for the sigil/emblem thing in the forest.

>>138393
Well, it looks like you got most of your wish.

whelp, dice gods will not be denied.

>>138420
fail is not a critfail thankfully.

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>>138335
You do the best you can to advise Archduchess Aleksandria so she can eliminate her rival's medical supplies, but the lack of information with the nearby lands and markets makes your job significantly more difficult. In the end, you have no way of knowing whether or not your plan will succeed. Still, Aleksandria seems impressed by your military acumen.

"I must say, you're quite different from most of the other mercenaries I've hired," she says. "They usually can't think beyond the next battle."

"That kind of shallow thinking just gets people killed," you say. "Every battle is a prelude to the battle that follows it. That's what war is."

"That's certainly true," Aleksandria says. "Still, I have to wonder why someone with your talents would come all the way here just to work for me. Strictly speaking, Archduke Viktor's prospects are better than mine."

"I thought you weren't going to pry."

"The situation is changing," the Archduchess says. "I need to be a little cautious, and I don't like being used."

>[Sovereign/1d8] "Archduke Viktor has caught some Gwyrden interest. I work for competing interests."
>[Intrigue/1d10] "I just go where the work takes me. That's all."
>[Military/1d12] "Wealthier nobles come with fatter loot."

>>138469
>>[Intrigue/1d10] "I just go where the work takes me. That's all."
d8 hasn't been working with us, let's try d10.

>>138469
>[Sovereign/1d8] "Archduke Viktor has caught some Gwyrden interest. I work for competing interests."
use it to haggle some freedom in how we deal with Aled's forces

>>138469
>>[Sovereign/1d8] "Archduke Viktor has caught some Gwyrden interest. I work for competing interests."

>>138469
>>[Sovereign/1d8] "Archduke Viktor has caught some Gwyrden interest. I work for competing interests."


>>138482
Failed the d10 and d8

>>138469
>[Sovereign/1d8] "Archduke Viktor has caught some Gwyrden interest. I work for competing interests."

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>>138469
You'd rather not go into the details just yet, but since Meuric got caught and blurted his name out, it's not exactly a surprise that Gwyrddarfordir is involved in this to some extent.

"Archduke Viktor has caught some Gwyrden interest," you say. "I work for competing interests."

"So Soryn wasn't here out of boredom," Aleksandra says. "What else?"

"Nothing I can share," you say. "I'd rather not be executed for treason."

"That's not exactly reassuring."

"I know," you say, "but it's the best I can do at the moment."

>Roll 1d8, best of three.

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>138540
WITNESS ME

Rolled 5 (1d8)

>>138540

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Rolled 5 (1d8)

>>138540
This can't keep happening.

>>138549
don't tempt the /qst/ dice, they've been nasty lately

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>>138540
Aleksandra sighs and sinks into her chair. "Fine," she says. "I can accept that for now, but you obey my orders and my orders alone, understand? I won't allow my kingdom to be subverted by foreign interests, even if it ends up saving my life."

"Fair enough," you say. "If I wanted to act independently, I wouldn't have contacted you in the first place. I do appreciate your support, and I do consider myself in your employ for the duration of this conflict. Besides, look on the bright side. At least someone is looking after you."

"I suppose that is something to be grateful for," Aleksandra says. "I just hope it lasts. Having a common enemy doesn't make for long-lasting alliances."

"Mutual benefit should be the purpose of any diplomatic or political relationship," you say. "Anything else just leads to further resentment. I'm certain those who sympathize with your situation understand that."

"I hope so," Aleksandra says. "There's nothing else you can tell me?"

"Nothing that would significantly affect your decisions," you say. "Not as far as I know anyway."

"Very well." Aleksandra sighs once more. "You can leave, Gwain. I'll send for you when I need you."

"Yes, Archduchess."

You bow and leave the Archduchess' tent. Her position is quite unfair, but that's just how it is. There's nothing about your cousin Siarl that makes him particularly noteworthy as a military commander, so his presence shouldn't affect the Archduchess' plans, but it could be construed as an act of war. You can't allow that to happen, at least not in the current circumstances.

You'll have to deal with it, but later. For now, your focus is on the next battle.

>>138626
And that's the end of today's thread. When I first came up with this dice system, I thought it would be too easy, but it turns out to be just right. Getting a 4 on most rolls is easy enough to keep moving the plot forward, but failures happen often enough to prevent things from getting predictable.

The next thread will be Friday May 20th at 7PM EDT. Until then, thanks for playing.

>>138650
Apparently .1% isn't close enough to 0%.

>>138650
>>138659
The dice gods hate you