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>>353401

“He volunteered to join Team 2 as the replacement of Kun and he has been approved by representatives from both the Realm Guardians and the Tree Guardians to be the one to keep an eye on Raubtier.” Rushi explains himself to Mei’s irritated outburst.

“So I’m the one holding the leash.” Chao’s arrogant voice is followed by a confidant smirk, almost forcing you to punch him hard enough to make him puke his guts out like the Oni did yesterday. However, you won’t. Not in front of these officers. Your relation with them is bad enough as is. You need to prove yourself useful, not a problem.

I already did that by killing the Grim Knight and making the ‘Father’ flee with its tail between its legs. What more do they want from me!?

“Before we start with the mission debriefing, is there anything else? I don’t tolerate interruptions.” Rushi’s gaze wanders across the room, moving from one member of Team 2 to the next. Mei, Jin, Heim, and Chao don’t seem overly inclined to open their mouths and postpone the inevitable any further.

>You have nothing to ask/say.
>Tell them what your Red Flower told you and hope they trust you.
>Ask/Say something else. (What? Write-in.)

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>>353414
Welcome to HGQ!
Fast clarification on the map!

The Star = Sensei's lake.
The Hole = The Crater
The Gravestone = Gran Gran's crushed hill.
The point of Interest/The upside down triangle = Lin's current position.

There's an unknown amount of km inside each hex that makes up the lay of the land.
I can explain any other symbols that seems out of place as well if anyone asks.

>>353414
>>You have nothing to ask/say.

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>>353414
And because I fucked up.
____

Last Time on Hero Guardian Quest: The Trial ended with Lin being handed over to the Blood Guardians as their new ‘weapon’ - She awoke in a village in the Northern region of the second Forest Realm. After a bout with Heim whom stormed off, she went out and explored the village with Jin and Mei, meeting both an Oni and a Moth for the first time. Later at night, she sat down with her Guardian Blade, forged anew by the Red Flower within her and asked it about its own kind and got both answers and revelations, but also more questions. On the second day she met with Chao, Heim, and Ming before getting ready to meet Rushi. The Fifth member of her team was revealed!

>>353414
>Tell them what your Red Flower told you and hope they trust you.
If we don't tell them and they find out they'll definitely kill us, least this way we have a chance they'll actually listen to us.

>>353414
>Tell them what your Red Flower told you and hope they trust you.

>>353414
>>You have nothing to ask/say.

>>353414
>>Tell them what your Red Flower told you and hope they trust you.

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>>353423
>>353444
>>353466
>>353479
>>353496
Voting has ended!

Writing shortly. Need to make a pit stop at the store before we get the thread rolling.

>>353414
Dont tell them about everything the red flower said, only what it told about the enemy.

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>>353414
>Tell them what your Red Flower told you and hope they trust you.

This is the best time to tell them what you know is eventually going to have to come to light. However, you shouldn’t tell them everything. If you tell them about the price behind your Berserker ability, they will either consider you to suddenly be too much of a liability or a blunt sword, incapable of doing their bidding effectively.
Upon asked, you claim the word and begin to tell them what your Red Flower told you about its ‘Father’ that took control over the Grim Knight. The one you fought up in the North. Even as they raise their eyebrows at your supposed ‘tale’, you continue to present your thoughts on how this ‘Father’ might be looking to gain physical form as a possible goal for something else and for good measures, you mention that you can feel its presence. This was nothing but half-true, but you’re only in any danger if it has hostile intentions and that’s when your Red Flower will alert you. It also paints you as an even better ‘weapon’ for these officers and Rushi.

“And the Red Flower told you this?” One of the officers with a trimmed, white mustache asks aloud, his voice commanding respect. The others are staring at you as well, silently asking you the same question.

“Yes. Like I said, I spoke with it last night.” You reply, watching as the officer with the commanding voice split himself off from the rest of the herd of officers, approaching you with slow, calculating steps. You’d say he’s taller and more muscular than Rushi, towering above you, but not in the way the Grim Knight did.

“And what makes you so certain it didn’t lie to you?” The room falls silent. You knew there was a risk they wouldn’t believe a word you say. However, you’re determined to press on.

“I asked and it answered. Its survival is dependant on me. Why would it lie if it puts me in danger?” You try to counter his assumption, but he only shakes his head, finally stopping just short of reaching you.

“But who’s to say it has any reservations against killing anyone in your team or any other Guardians?!” His voice is raised, as if he’s lecturing a child. It irritates you to no end, but maybe this is a fight you can’t win? Not now anyhow. Their set in their ways and have already judged you. They have collectively, without Rushi, decided to not trust you as an Awoo and only use you as a weapon that shouldn’t speak. Eventually you’ll show them, but is it worth pressing the point right now?

By the Tree, you’re one stupid, overgrown shithead.

>Press the point. Try to make them see.
>Shut your mouth. There’s no point arguing right now.
>Write-in.

>>353868
>>Shut your mouth. There’s no point arguing right now.

>>353868
Without sounding like too much of an edgelord,
>If the Red Flower ever deliberately hides or gives me false information that leads to any Guardian's death, I'll kill myself. That way it's survival if now tied to all of ours.

>>353868
>Shut your mouth. There’s no point arguing right now.

>>353868
>Shut your mouth. There’s no point arguing right now.

>>353868
>>Shut your mouth. There’s no point arguing right now.

>>353879
>>353880
>>353881
>>353892
>>353907
Vote has ended!

Writing.

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>>353868
>Shut your mouth. There’s no point arguing right now.

While your instincts and heart are screaming for blood and thunder, your mind takes point and ends the conversation to not cause more problems. The mustache Awoo scoffs at you, as if to show that he was right. He turns about and joins his fellow brothers at the tree stump table again, everyone attention directed back to Rushi. You try your best to not show it, but you’re pretty pissed. The rest of your team have learned to spot these flares of restrained anger from you by now. They claim it’s mostly evident in your eyes and how you stare at someone for an uncomfortable long time after they’ve pissed you off to such a huge extent. They’ve grown to call it an ‘episode’ of yours. You’ve always brushed off the notion and chalked it up to a joke on their part, but in this very moment you’re seriously considering otherwise. Even as Rushi starts the debriefing, your eyes refuse to waver from the son of a bitch that called you out.

Who by the Tree does he think he is?! I’m trying to help you. Fucking toad.

“... Are you listening?” Rushi’s voice finally reach you and your eyes lock with his.

“What?” You assume he asked you something, but judging from Chao’s mocking snicker that was the wrong call.

“Focus, Raubtier. I won’t repeat myself.” He throws you a scolding look before continuing with the debriefing. If only Ming was here. She’d listen to it instead and give you a summarized version later.

I guess I have to. - You sigh and actually focus on the one talking for once.

>Continued

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>>354087

Your Leader goes on to explain the focus of the Blood Guardians. With the decimated Human campaign in the North, Rushi will keep a batch of Guardians up there while he divides the remaining teams into the Kenshin Company in the West and the Hyuga Company in the East. Most of the Ichigo Guardians will support the Eastern Front while a small number will join the Western Front. The Knight-Commander in charge of the Eastern Human Campaign has proven to be a tactical genius and a real thorn in the Blood Guardians side ever since her host invaded the East after the fall of the first barrier. Unfortunately, that’s not where they’ll send you and your team.

However, your disappoint doesn’t last long; Rushi changes the subject to the Western Front, where his scouts have reported seeing remnants of the fleeing Northern Legion. They’re all running in the same direction, as if they all know where to go. The scout’s couldn’t gain more information without being spotted. Rushi and his officers can only assume that the Western Legion has a main encampment or a large base somewhere in the Western fields of the lost forest realm. It has also been reported that a major number of masked men, as they’ve grown to be called, have gathered in the west as well. Something is going down and the Blood Guardians need to know what that entails, be it reinforcement or an important Human figure visiting the front lines with a personal guard.

Team 2’s primary mission is to find the main gathering point for all the Humans in the West without being discovered, map out their defenses and find out the size of their army. You share this mission with a couple of other Kenshin Guardian teams and you are to report back to the western village, past the barrier, within 1-2 weeks with a report. Your presence must not be known and there’s not as many wild, hostile animals in the west as there are in the North, so killing a Human and hoping they blame it on the wildlife is a longshot at best.

“Any questions?” Rushi ends his debriefing and casts his gaze over the room.

>You have a question or two. (Such as? Write-in option.)
>You have no questions. If anything, you’ll let your team ask questions and settle for what answers you’ll get.
>Write-in.

>>354095
>You have a question or two. (Given that their red flower wielders seem to be able to track me, is it truly wise to send me on a scouting mission where surprise and stealth is paramount?)

>>354102
This sounds good. Everyone already knows that the masked people have Flower power right?

>>354095
>You have a question or two. (Given that their red flower wielders seem to be able to track me, is it truly wise to send me on a scouting mission where surprise and stealth is paramount?)
This is a good point

>>354102
This'll do fine.

>>354123
>Everyone already knows that the masked people have Flower power right?
You told Rushi and the officers present at the time about how they can both track you and how they wield the Red Flower.

You can only assume he has spread the latter information around his companies for safety measures if anyone encounters them on a mission.

>>354135
That so? Guess I have no questions then, since they probably have their own plans.

>>354102
>>354123
>>354126
>>354133
The Vote has ended!

Writing.

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>>354095
>You have a question.

Throwing a glance over at your team, Heim and Mei doesn’t seem to have any questions while Chao has his back to you and Jin is obviously thinking about something. He has a question he’s considering asking. Might as well fit in a question of your own in-between. You’re certain that you told your Leader of this before, so it would be extremely careless of him if he didn’t at least include it in his plans now.

“What about the masked men? They can still track me, can’t they? Should I really be sent out on a scouting mission?” You ask the question partly because it might jeopardize the mission, and partly because you don’t want to go out scouting again. Frankly, it’s boring. The question raises a few eyebrows among the officers. You can’t tell if they think you’re stupid or if they’re surprised by your astute question. Rushi shifts his body about, his gaze meeting yours as one of his fingers slowly tap on wide tree stump in front of him.

“If you’re not deep into the west and they track you down, we’ll pull you back and inform you on our backup plan. If you’re too deep in the west to pull out without causing a commotion and an ensuing hunt, I’m giving you permission to kill whomever tracks you down and then bring their bodies back with you to the barrier. We’ll get rid of them there. Leave no evidence behind other than some missing Humans. We can only hope that whatever was tracking you, be it this ‘Father’ or something else, is now incapable of doing it again. At least for a while.” Rushi replies. It doesn’t sound very convincing.

“All of this sounds really vague.” Chao comments and Jin agrees.

“If the risks are this high and numerous, why can’t you send us to the East instead? Where the number of masked men are near non-existent.” He adds to Chao’s statement. Rushi shakes his head, rejecting Jin’s words.

“I have no need of you in the East right now. I’m gathering Guardians for that front so we can move out quickly when it’s time, but we’re still in the middle of planning the push.”

“Can’t we scout around the East and gather information?” Heim voice his suggestion, but he’s shot down by another one of Rushi’s officers; a female Awoo this time. The tip of her tail is missing, leaving only a scar where fur and flesh should be. She looks tired, yet young.

>Continued

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>>354702

“Impossible - The Eastern Legion has cut down all the trees within hundreds of kilometers around their villages, stone towers, and fortifications. The last two scouts I sent out into the open field were caught by human archers in their towers. The surviving scout couldn’t outrun or leap faster than the humans riding atop their strong four-legged pets with black manes and coloured skin. I watched as the riders trampled his body into the ground and ran him over several times with their hooves until he stopped screaming.” The female officer sighs with her eyes fixed on the wall before she clears her throat, “With no trees, it’s impossible to scout out their holdings and gain any information.”

“There you have it.” Rushi cuts off any further questions your team might have for her. “I’d rather have you out on the western front line than sitting around, rolling your thumbs until we have finished our plans for the East.”

It’s a huge risk with more consequences and horrible outcomes than you’re comfortable with. However, you remember that one of the masked men said ‘The Fire spoke true’. Maybe they were referring to the voice in your head, the same one possibly belonging to the ‘Father’? Maybe it can speak with them too? What if it’s resting after you defeated it and isn’t watching you anymore?

Either way, you’ll certainly know the second you step outside the barrier. The voice will no doubt make its intentions known and reveal that it can still sense you. If you play your cards right, you won’t have to go through the trouble of worrying about whether you’re tracked or not.

“Do we know who the Knight-Commander leading the Western Legion is?” Jin finally finds the opening to ask the question he’s been musing on. Rushi nods, but he doesn’t look happy.

“We knew who it was before we caught sight of him riding south with a personal guard detachment. Whoever replaced him has either already arrived to their main base of operations or they’re riding North any day now.”

“And if we catch sight of a possible Knight-Commander out in the forest?” You finally hear Mei’s voice again and Rushi throws her a surprised look, not anticipating her involvement in the discussion, especially not with a question.

“Unless the kill is absolutely certain, do not engage. The Grim Knight turned out to have an ability rivaling that of Raubtier, if not stronger than hers. We don’t know if the next Knight-Commander will have an equally strong ability, or an affinity for the Red Flower. Fighting blindly will only end badly. Is that understood?” Your entire team nod in compliance.

“Are there any other questions? If not, I’ve had your mounts prepared for you just outside this tree. My instructions are written on the scroll packed on Raubtier’s bird.”

>You still have a question! (Such as? Write-in option.)
>You’re ready to move out!
>Write-in.

>>354711
>>You’re ready to move out!

>>354711
>>You’re ready to move out!

>>354711
>You’re ready to move out!

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I'll be back momentarily. I got a phone call and need to head out for a bit. I'll be gone for an hour at most before I call the vote. I apologize for the delay.

>>354736
>>354744
>>354748
Vote has ended!

Writing.

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>>354711
>You’re ready to move out!

With the debriefing done and your mission underway, Team 2 bids the Blood Guardian officers and Rushi goodbye as you ascend the stairs back into the core of the tree while they start discussing something else. The journey through the core of the tree is a quiet one while everyone process the wave of information they just absorbed.

Everyone except for you. You’re fully aware of what’s expected of you. What’s required to create a new future for your fellow Awoo and everyone else living in the forest. You will lead this team and survive, you will give the Blood Guardians the second victory against the Humans in 300 years that they so desperately seek, just like you gave them their first, and you will force Humanity to its knees and drive them out from the Forest Realms. As a Guardian, this is your duty and you have no illusions of anything else. If you must be a weapon for your fellow Guardians to serve and protect the Creatures of the Forest and the World Tree, then you’ll be the sharpest damn weapon they’ve ever wielded.

I Will prove to you all that I’m Not a Monster!

____

Upon leaving the large tree, you spot the five creatures awaiting you at the end of the ramp leading from the green soil up to the tree’s entrance. It’s five Obo’s: Sentient creatures in their own right that act as means of travel for Guardians and entertaining racing sports for others. They have a language of their own, and according to a tale, they refused to learn the common tongue from the Guardians of Old for unknown reasons. Maybe they’re content with the way things have always been and probably always will be for as long as the barriers stay up? Far would it be of you to assume to know how they reason and think. However, what’s even weird is that they’re fluent in every other Creature of the Forest’s native languages, but they won’t speak them. They only listen and judge passively.

>Continued

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>>355305

They’re all of the same yellow colour, with black hue at the end of most of their feathers. They’re flightless birds with small wings, but long and sturdy legs. Their heads consist of a short and hard beak, two black eyes, and feathers at the end of its long neck. They’re fast, but they hate violence. One of the biggest reasons the Guardians haven’t been allowed to ride them into battle. That’s the key thing in the Obo ‘culture’: You may only ride one if you tell them what you acquire of it and they accept you and what you want to do. It’s just a rumor, but the last guardian initiate that tried to ride an Obo without its consent couldn’t walk for 6 months while his broken legs healed. They are not creatures to be taken lightly, even if they are the peaceful sort.

You approach the Obo in the front of the pack of five and greet it with a bow, exactly as you remember from one of the classes you listened in on during the Guardian Trials. It bows it heads to you, acknowledging you before staring at the Awoo with its unnaturally big and shiny black eyes, awaiting your inspirational answer to the two unspoken questions of ‘where’ and ‘why’.

>What is your answer? (Write-in.)

>>355310
To the western front, so my team and I can survey and if need be fight the humans there.

>>355310
To the western front to stop the humans from bringing violence to our home.
Maybe something like that?

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>>355336
>To the western front, so my team and I can survey and if need be fight the humans there.
>To the western front to stop the humans from bringing violence to our home.

The Odo hears you out, looks at you strangely before it screeches straight in your face and shakes it head disappointingly. That's not the inspirational answer it was looking forward to.

Does it not like the thought of violence or what? Ugh.

You take a garner to your right, watching as Chao and Mei mount their own Obo while Jin and Heim is still struggling with theirs just as you are.

Chao laughs in your general direction.

>What is your inspirational answer? (Write-in.)

>>355429
To the west because that's where I was ordered to go. Or because I just want to go sightseeing.

>>355429
West to where the sun dips and sets the earth afire, a flame that must be curbed lest it consume all that we hold dear.

>>355429
To the western front to defend my team and the forest realm.
Is there anyone in this forest that isn't an asshole?

>>355429
West we seek, to stop those who would take your beak.
Off we go cannot tarry, least we become the cherry.
These human mongrels think us beat, give us a sec and well sow them like wheat!

Rhymes always help with inspiration!

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>>355475
>>355494
>>355497
>>355577
>Not the answers I was expecting, but I'll cut you some slack for shoving a write-in only option in your faces.

Roll for Social/Diplomacy Check
Roll 3d10
Best of 3
DC: 6

____
Now I'm off. Next session happening earlier than today. In 10-12 hours.

Rolled 5, 3, 7 = 15 (3d10)

>>355740

Rolled 2, 9, 6 = 17 (3d10)

>>355740
Sorry Awoo...it's just a bit weird we have to inspire our damn bird about going someplace and why...

Rolled 5, 1, 10 = 16 (3d10)

>>355740

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>>355429

Determined from Chao’s mocking display, you stare back at the Obo who’s curiously awaiting the ‘right’ answer from you. Your gaze never wavers as the rest of your team eventually get on each of their Obo, gathering at you and your bird mount. An inspirational answer? That sounds too vague to dig up the right answer from. Maybe something you’re passionate about? Will that do? If it doesn’t work, you’ll look the fool in front of your team, but it’s all or nothing. You clear your throat, catching everyone’s attention.

“I want to go to the Western Front because as a Guardian it is my sworn duty to protect this Forest and all those who live in it. If I can’t do that, then I’ll never achieve my dream!” You answer loudly and proudly. Despite how dear it is to you, the dream you’re constantly pursuing isn’t something you mention a lot. Weird, isn’t it? However, the Obo doesn’t think it’s weird. No, it thinks its just the right answer as it bows to you and you return the bow. It has accepted your answer to its two unspoken questions. You don’t want to look at your team right now, but you can feel most of their smiles warming your back.

Before mounting your Obo, you pull open the leather pouch attached to the side of the bird and reveal Rushi’s letter with his instructions. He explains that you are to ride to the western village, the settlement closes to the barrier. You’ll meet your contact person from the Kenshin Company there. He’ll have more information on hand. After that, you’ll leave the birds behind and travel to the barrier itself on foot from the village. The rest of your team nods firmly when you’re done reading the letter out loud to them.

After mounting your Obo, Chao moves his mount next to yours as you watch the rest of your team members set off, following the western wind.

“Are you ready?” He asks, taking a deep breather of the fresh and semi-cold air before giving you one of his trademark grins.

>I was born ready. [Confidence]
>Ladies first. [Jester]
>You might hold the leash, Chao, but don’t forget who’s the Captain. If you forget, I’ll remind you by shoving dirt down your throat. [Authoritative]
>Ignore him and ride off.
>Write-in.

>>356268
>I was born ready. [Confidence]

>>356268
>>You might hold the leash, Chao, but don’t forget who’s the Captain. If you forget, I’ll remind you by shoving dirt down your throat. [Authoritative]

>>356268
>Ladies first.

>>356268
>I was born ready. [Confidence]

>>356268
>>Ladies first. [Jester]

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>356276
>>356284
>>356298
>>356303
>>356315
Vote has ended!

Confidence = 1
Jester = 2

Writing momentarily.

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>>356268
>Ladies first [Jester]

Chao gives way to a stifled laugh at your comeback.

“Despite how much you’ve changed, at least you know how to treat your elders.” He remarks before riding off on his Obo, leaving you at the clearing in front of the large tree Rushi took residence within. You’re about to leave this village where you spent two days doing all sorts of things: Met two Creatures of the Forest races that you hadn’t met before, fought and somewhat reconciled with Heim, discovered a hidden part of Chao’s past as a Guardian before now, spoke with Ming and said farewell to her for now. But the one thing that stands out the most is still…

”Shall we leave?” The voice of your Guardian Blade echoes within you. The blade occupied by a piece of your Red Flower. You nod in silence before smacking your lips together and patting the Obo on the side to give it a go.

The three of you set off to catch up with your team heading West. Back to another frontline.

____

Fresh apples.

The kiss last longer than you had anticipated. Well, to be perfectly honest, you hadn’t anticipated you’d find yourself in this situation at all: Here on a cliff jutting out from the top of the flat hills with a beautiful view over the planes and the forest in the distance while kissing the woman who loves you. The love you have for her is yet uncertain, but the pieces are starting to fall into place faster than you can stop them. You’ve known of Jiao’s affection for quite a while, but you have been too afraid - maybe indifferent? - to act on it. What do I do when she inevitable dies, you kept asking yourself. Will I be able to pick up the pieces and continue? Despite your worries and your vain resistance, you’ve decided to take this leap of faith into the unknown again.

After breaking the kiss, Jiao find her arms hugging you while your hands remain on her lower back and upon her cheek. For a long time you stare into each other’s eyes, trying to find the words to continue whatever conversation you didn’t have before. However, upon finding your voice again, another one sparks to life just a few meters away from the couple.

>Continued

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>>356403

“That’s not something you get to see every day.” The white-haired young man from earlier notes with an unnatural grin. The two of you break apart from each other, Jiao casting her gaze elsewhere, blushing, while you face the man with the mask upon his shoulder. For a second you consider asking him who sent the company he and his brother are charge of, but common sense gets the better of you.

Gratitude for earlier, you thank him very formally with a slight bow. One that he strangely returns without a word. Had it been anyone else, they would have received the bow, exchanged pleasantries, and then left. This man is different. However, something dawns on him again and he leaves the pair by the cliffside in a hurry, making his way to the king-sized house.

“That was really weird. He kinda creeps me out, you know?” Jiao mutters and you throw her a smile. You’ve done what you came from. You should make your way back down to your village and get things in order for tonight, but on the other hand, you can still explore areas up here that you won’t get the chance to explore ever again. As long as you’re not caught that is. You’re certain Jiao would be up for either option.

>Explore.
>Return home.
>Write-in.

>>356408
>>Explore.
Might as well take the chance and explore.

>>356408
>Return home

>>356408
>Explore
some light exploring at least

>>356408
Return home.

>>356408
>Explore.

>>356408
>Explore.

>>356413
>>356459
>>356694
>>356838
+4 for Explore.

>>356449
>>356673
+2 for Return home.

Roll me 1d100 to not get caught.
Best of 3.
The average of the 3 rolls are the sum.
DC: 50

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>357069

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>357069

>>357069
>best of 3
>the average of 3
?

>>357069

>>357078
Just woke up so my English got fucked, but I use the first 3 rolls to make an average of 3.

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>357069

>>357075
>>357077
>>357097
65+58+28=151
151/3=50.33333333

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>>357075
>>357077
>>357097
28+58+65= 151
151/3= 50.333~
DC Reached!

Writing after a quick shower to get my shit together. In the meantime, you're free to discuss the quest or not as always.

>>357130
That was close

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>>356408
>Explore

There’s not a whole lot to explore since most of structures and services up here exist in the previous villages down below, but not with the same quality. However, the one thing that stands out from the rest is the house in front of the bonfire and on the opposite side of the tall tower. It’s big enough to fit a king and whatever royal court he has. Truth be told, you’ve never met the actual leader of the Kingdom. You heard rumors at your training camp though. Some claim the kingdom is ruled by a mysterious king that hides in the shadows, while others thought the religious leader of the Fire cult is ruling the kingdom now. The cult that rose to even greater heights of power 3 years ago after the first magical wall fell. There was no real knowledge of it, since the frontlines and the Capital are worlds apart. News from there and from here to there oft come late.

Jiao is reluctant to snooping around the same building the white-haired man and his brother entered, but you give her no choice with another kiss before entering through the front door. Not the smartest move, but there’s no other entrance and the windows have fires dancing in front of them, clouding anything inside from the outside. Luckily the loud metallic thud from the door closing behind you doesn’t bring any attention to you. The hall seems even more grander on the inside than it appeared on the outside; it’s a long, straight and wide open room, with wooden pillars reaching from the floor to the roof in two perfect lines leading from the entrance to the end of the hall. A red carpet drapes the floor, reaching from the entrance and inward. Attached upon the walls, next to the torches burning just ways away from each window, there are banners with the Kingdom’s sigil: A crimson fire with black outlines on a white field. The same sigil you’ve seen the soldiers and guards bear with pride, especially the knights. Most of them are near zealous in their duties and you can imagine why.

The nightmares we share.

Upon reaching further into the hall, you come to a halt as the paths cross into three corridors. At the end of the corridor in front of you, there’s a weak light glowing stronger than the torches lining the stone walls, to your right you can almost make out whispers echoing words you do not understand, and to your left you spot that the corridor ending with stairs leading down into the earth beneath the house, and you can hear the faintest sound of painful moans.

“I think this was a mistake, Aiguo.” Jiao whimpers, squeezing one of your arms.

Perhaps, but your curiosity knows no bounds.

>Go left.
>Venture right.
>Head forward.
>Leave.

>>357328
>Leave.

>>357328
>>Head forward.
Might as well keep snooping if barging through the front door didn't call attention to us.

>>357328
>>Leave.

I've seen this movie before. Let's not be the stupid soldier who lets his curiosity gets the best of him without backup.

>>357342
>>357348
>>357456
Your mind is telling you 'No', but your body, your body is telling you 'Yes'.

Roll control check
Roll 3d10
Best out of 3
DC: 7

Rolled 1, 7, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>357471

>>357471
Rolled 10, 10, 10 = 31 (3d10)

Rolled 6, 10, 5 = 21 (3d10)

>>357471
Is that to leave? Rolling.

>>357484
Nice try Anon.

File: BAD ANON.gif (1.54 MB, 275x244)

1.54 MB GIF

>>357484
>

>>357488
>Is that to leave?
Yes.

>>357471

>>357484
Damn son

Rolled 7, 10, 8 = 25 (3d10)

>>357471
Third times the charm

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>>357473
>>357488
>>357519
DC Reached!

Writing.

>>357528
Plothook dodged.
Also potentially ours/our gf's death.
So, okay. We know something ain't right there, and likely the knights and whatnot are in on it.
Question is, how do we find out without risking our life immediately? (Because it'll probably take a risk or two to figure it out eventually)

>>357577
My guess would be that we aiguo has what it takes to be a red flower host. So if we got caught we would have had our girlfriend killed and we would be taken to the basement for synthesis.

>>357577
I was actually planning to sacrifice both of them to learn more, I'm surprised no one else went along with me.

>>357591
I'm sure we will get the info eventually without having to start another human side character

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>>357328
>Leave

Despite the tale your instincts and heart are weaving, you regain control of your own body from the explorer within. This is too dangerous, even if you’re in the middle of a human settlement. These halls are secluded from the public eye and who would miss two hunters? Their two partners? No, they’ll only assume their friends took off. You’re not entirely sure that’s the excuse they’d use, but you don’t know each other well enough to display any real worry. At most, they’d be annoyed because then they would have to find two new hunting partners to match their routine and area.

Grabbing Jiao by the hand, you start to leave, marching down the long hall towards the exit with quick and long steps. Jiao can barely keep up. However, as you pull on the door’s heavy metal door handle at the end of the hallway, it refuses to budge. It’s as if it’s been locked, but you heard nothing of the sort upon entering and walking through the room! Suddenly, from the end of the hall, you spot the light from the right corridor growing stronger and echoing footsteps, as if someone coming with a torch or something brighter in hand.

“Open the door!” Jiao whispers frantically.

It’s locked, you return the frantic whisper, throwing another glance back at the end of the hall. You’re not getting out of here!

>Stand in the open and face whoever is coming. You can lie through your teeth.
>Order Jiao to hide behind one of the pillars and you’ll do the same. Hopefully said person will only pass by!
>Write-in.

>>357645
>>Order Jiao to hide behind one of the pillars and you’ll do the same. Hopefully said person will only pass by!
What kind of bluff would get us through here? Maybe something like we were called to meet the person in charge?

>>357645
>Order Jiao to hide behind one of the pillars and you’ll do the same. Hopefully said person will only pass by!

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Looks like a slow night. I'll give it another 30 minutes for another vote or two before calling it.

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All right. Calling the session tonight. Starting again in around 15 hours from now. See you later!

>>357645
>Order Jiao to hide behind one of the pillars and you’ll do the same. Hopefully said person will only pass by!

Hide behind a pillar, you urge Jiao in hurry before following your own advice. You hide a second before the individual holding the torch appears at the end of the hall. He doesn’t seem to have noticed anything abound and calmly march down through the long hallway. You and Jiao match your position behind the pillars to the man’s position as he pass you by, heading for the door. You sign for Jiao to follow when you make your move. You intend to rush him down when he opens the door. However, the second the door opens, it reveals a sight that freeze you to the ground in fear behind the pillar.

The entire company of masked men and women wearing the same boiled leather garb as before with their masks attached to their shoulders make their way into the hallway. They pass by the man holding the key before he locks the door after them and joins them upon their journey deeper into the building. Jiao gives you a terrified look from behind cover and you meet her gaze with an equally afraid glance of your own. Why do things always have to be so complicated?
You contemplate breaking one of the windows, but you’re unsure if you can fit through its narrow gap. You can always try, but if you do and the attempt fails, you will definitely have drawn unwanted attention to your forbidden presence in here. Your gaze follows the company of men and women that look like humans, but with eyes void of any emotion or life. They head straight into the corridor that continues forward from the hallway. The man with the key follows suit.

Jiao approach you quickly when they’ve passed out of sight.

“What do we do, Aiguo?!” She tries to whisper, but she’s panicking slightly at this point, her voice breaking up. You should try to help her calm down, but you have zero experience with that and it might backfire. You also need to make a decision.

>Try to calm Jiao down.
>Leave her in her minor panicked state. It’s better than what will happen if it escalates.

And

>Follow the man with the key. Try to steal it off of him to get out.
>Explore any of the other rooms at the end of the other corridors. (Left or Right?)
>Break one of the windows and try to escape through the narrow hole.
>Wait around in the entrance in hiding and wait for a means to escape or for someone to catch you.
>Write-in.

>>359388
>calm
>steal

>>359388
>Try to calm Jiao down.
And
>Explore any of the other rooms at the end of the other corridors. (Right)
Might as well explore a bit more now that we're stuck here.

>>359388
>Try to calm Jiao down.
>Explore any of the other rooms at the end of the other corridors. (Right)

>>359388
>dont comfort her only make her body calm down ie breath controlled etc
>go down left, might be a service exit to prison part.

"It is degenerate", says the National Socialist
"It is misogynistic", says the landwhale
"It cuts into my whoring profits", says the kike
Smuggle dakimakura everyday

You shouldn't have to pay the customs for love
Fucking normies think they can impose a waifu tax
Can't spell smuggle without smug
Smuggle 'em, smuggle 'em everyday so you have enough practice when TTIP comes
And don't forget: if you think TTIP is bad for dakis then wait until you see the moralfags and tumblrcucks

Rolled 7, 10, 3 = 20 (3d10)

>>357471

>>359388
I'll go with >>359421

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>>359390
>>359421
>>359479
>>359617
>>360910
Vote ended!

Roll for Social/Diplomacy Check.
Roll 3d10
Best of 3
DC: 6

Rolled 1, 7, 9 = 17 (3d10)

>>363143

Rolled 9, 10, 8 = 27 (3d10)

>>363143
Blah blah blah.

Rolled 7, 6, 5 = 18 (3d10)

>>363143

>>363187
>>363204
>>363230
DC Reached!

Writing.

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>>359388
>Try to calm Jiao down.
>Explore the corridor to the right at the end of the hallway.

Despite your non-existent knowledge in the field, you try your best to calm Jiao down. You want her to get her breathing under control and lower the volume of her voice. You can help her more after you’re both in safety. It takes a short while, but eventually she grows more quiet and she stops breathing rapidly. You pat her head a bit before her arms embrace on of yours as the two of you make your way down the hallway. Upon reaching the crossroad again, you decide to head right first. The whispers in the foreign tongue pulls your attention away from where the man with the key went with the company of masked men and women.

The corridor is lit up by occasional torches lining the walls ahead. The further in you journey, the louder the whispers become as the echoes bunch about the walls. The words become clearer, but their meaning remain as obscure as before. After making your way through two long corridors filled with light and turning two corners, you come upon an oval formed chamber drowning in a flickering light and voices echoing from every direction. Upon leaning from the cover outside the chamber, you scan the room from hiding.

There’s three earthen platforms lining the walls of different heights around the entire chamber upon which there stands numerous hooded individuals dressed in robes, clasping their hands, chanting unknown words and insidious prayers. The platforms and the individuals are all facing the red and black fire dancing upon a burnt corpse of unknown origin.

Jiao is about to say something, but your hand finds its way over her mouth, silencing her for safe sake. This looks like a weird ritual that you’ve never seen or heard of before. Something you shouldn’t get involved in. They haven’t discovered you yet and upon leaving, you spot a pile of robes similar to the ones the praying men and women are wearing. A bold idea cross your mind, pushed there by the explorer within you.

>Make your escape.
>Don a robe each and place yourself among the crowd to find out more.
>Write-in.

>>363341
>Don a robe each to Make your escape easyer

>>363341
>>Make your escape.

>>363341
>Don a robe each and place yourself among the crowd to find out more.

>>363341
Run, you fools
>escape, check left

>>363519
This, but if we're going left she should warn Jiao and maybe try to cover her eyes before we actually get there.

>>363341
>giddafuck out
NOPE.

>>363341
>Make your escape

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>>363341
>>363348
>>363384
>>363392
>>363519
>>363546
>>363589
>>363696
>Make your escape.

You shake your head, removing the bold and stupid idea from your mind and gaining Jiao’s temporary attention before you storm off, far away from the room filled with hooded individuals. Jiao keeps up with your pace, still holding onto your arm. At a second glance and thought, they all appeared female as well, so you wouldn’t have fit in at all. It’s for the best. Some things are not meant to be seen by the eye of man, no matter how much he wills it. You’re willing to go back to your two original ideas of either waiting for someone with a key to go open the door from the inside or the outside, or try one of the windows. Screw the ‘explorer within’ stuff! You need to get Jiao out from here and into safety. The burnt corpse might have been of unknown origin, but you’d recognize the structure of a body like that anywhere. They were burning a human body. For what reasons? Frankly, you don’t want to know right now. Escape comes first.

However, when the two of you return to the crossroad, you’re met with the sound of incoming steps echoing from the same corridor the company of masked men and women ventured into before. Turning back to the same corridor you came from isn’t an option and you won’t get behind a pillar each in time judging from how close said person is from turning the corner at the end of the corridor. There’s only one path! Straight ahead - the corridor you recognize as the left one from before. The one where you heard the faintest traces of painful moaning and where the corridor ended with a pair of stairs leading underground. Not the most ideal place, and you’re running away from the most obvious way out, but it’s either this or get caught like a horned rabbit in a trap.

You disappear down the stairs leading underground just as you hear the other footsteps enter the crossroad behind you. Just in time, you mutter to yourself, throwing a glance over at Jiao who’s just barely keeping up as it is. The walls underground are not made out of stone like the previous ones, but firm earth, but there are torches lining the walls all the same. You’re definitely journeying into the center mass of the tallest flat hill at this point. You continue onward without any control of your body until Jiao stops and pulls at your arm.

“I think it’s safe to go up again.” She whines, obviously not comfortable down here. Compliance is about to leave your lips when a strong smell hits you square in the face with an indomitable force. Iron. The thick and heavy odour can only mean one thing: A high amount of blood has been spilled nearby. At any other time, you would have ignored your screaming instincts, but this wasn’t one of those times. You have to know what they’re doing down here.

>Continued

>>363705

Your paranoia runs rampant as the smell makes you dizzy; has any villager gone missing in the past week? Not that you can remember since the only ones that really leave the fortified villages are you hunters and some soldiers occasionally. Everyone usually returns eventually. There’s a lot of game in the forest, but not many hostile races running about, hunting humans. Can’t say you’ve heard a word of any missing villager either.

Jiao looks like she’s slowly, but surely, becoming sick of the heavy odour. You tell her to go up a flight of stairs and keep a look-out for you while you see what has happened in the room below these last pair of stairs. She’s reluctant, tugging at your arm.

“Can’t we just leave?” She suggests, whimpering in her boots. You’re not overly concerned about having a look-out since your hearing is fairly well, but you doubt she’d be able to handle whatever sight might await her down below. She has seen dead animals before, but never dead humans as far as you know. The first time is always the most impactful one from your experience. Your first time was a very dear friend, but that’s another story, unfit for current circumstances.

I need to see what they’ve done in the room downstairs and I need someone to keep a look-out for me, you try to convince her followed by a, I need you. She’s sold in a matter of seconds from hearing those three words. After a reassuring kiss, she ascends a pair of stairs while you descend a flight of stairs. You’ve informed her that if she sees or hears anyone coming this way, she must run down to you with closed eyes. It’s the best you can think of to keep her from seeing what horrors await you.

>Continued

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>>363709

A few stairs later and your foot touch a red stained flattened floor covered halfway with stone tiles and the other half with dirt and roots. The room has four corners and is fairly small. To your right there’s a wooden table with all kinds of tools; hammers of various sizes, daggers with different blades ranging from straight to jagged ones, nails in both new and rusted qualities, and even foreign ones to your limited knowledge. You even spot a bloodied woodcutter’s axe in the mix. Most are clean, but some are notably covered in spots of dried blood. To your left there hangs four corpses from meathooks attached to the earthen roof, their bodies naked but their heads and faces covered by black leather bags. You can recognize the tail of an Awoo anywhere and all four of them bear one of their own. The floor beneath the bodies is where the thick odour of blood and iron comes from. It’s a large red pool, the biggest you’ve ever seen, right underneath the four dead Awoo creatures. It’s as if they’ve been hung up there and bled dry.

For what reason?

However, a movement catch your attention from the peripheral of your sight and it startles you for but a moment. At the far end of the room there’s an Awoo strung down by its arms to two metal poles driven into the floor just slightly behind it. It’s on its knees and despite the loose leather bag over its head, you spot the same tail on it as the four others. The only difference is that this one’s tail is still moving, but only slightly. You cautiously approach it, still waiting for a trap to be sprung upon you, but nothing happens even as you reach it where its knelt to the dirt. By reflex alone, with no thought or reason, you remove the leather bag and look upon the Awoo before you. It’s a female, no older than 20 winters if you can trust your judgment on the age of others. Whilst her eyes are empty and sad, she still finds the strength to raise her head and meet your gaze. There’s a trail of dried blood from her mouth and her left ear is missing from her head along with pieces of her white fur, leaving her with bald spots here and there atop her skull. She’s still wearing the clothed garbs of a guardian if your eyes don’t betray you. The armor must have been removed when she was brought in, unless she lost it before then. From what skin she shows, you spot several old and fresh scars from whips and sharp weapons alike, possible swords and daggers. No lacerations though.

What can these people hope to gain from capturing and interrogating a live Awoo? Humans can’t understand their language and they can’t understand you. Communication is impossible, so why is this one still alive and primed for another session of painful torture and interrogation?

>Continued

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>>363718

It doesn’t make sense, you can’t help but mutter out loud to yourself. The Awoo picks up on your voice, but it doesn’t respond or give any indication that it understands you.

>Free it.
>Leave it.
>End its suffering.
>Try to communicate with it anyway. (Examples? Write-in option.)
>Write-in.

>>363721
>Free it.

>>363721
Point a dagger to her neck. Motion your head as if asking yes or no?

>>363721
>>Free it.
Ah well, what could possibly go wrong? Maybe she knows a way out and we can both escape.

>>363756
>>363758
>>363762
You decide to free it and reap both the possibilities and the possible consequences of doing so.

Writing.

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>>363721
>Free it.

The throbbing feeling that’s telling you to kill it at the back of your head is defeated by sound or insane (either can be argued) reasoning. The Awoo follows you with her gaze as you make your way over to the table, trying to find the right tool that can cut off chains. While deadly and dangerous, these tools are not the most sharpest or sturdiest you can imagine. At best, you have the woodcutting axe. It’ll have to do.

You return to the Awoo and her gaze slowly moves from the axe and up to you. She’s no doubt certain what you’ll do with it and lowers her head, ready to leave this world behind. Instead, you begin to strike metal against iron, cutting and wailing at the chains with the axe. Small sparks fly here and there, and the loud screams from the chains fills the room. It takes a while, but eventually you’re victorious on both fronts, finally releasing the Awoo from its chained existence for now.

As she falls forward in fatigue, you drop the axe and catch her in your arms. It feels weird to treat an enemy with compassion, but something else is driving you forward than the new hate you feel for them each time you wake up from the nightly nightmares you can’t seem to remember in the morning. With one of her arms over your shoulder and your arm supporting her other side with axe in hand, you slowly help the limping Awoo towards the stairs.

What do you hope to accomplish? Even if you make it out of here with Jiao and this Awoo in tow, you might be branded a traitor and the Awoo will be brought back in chains or be executed on the spot with yourself and Jiao next in line. Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t sneak her out, not from the highest point of the flat hills with several fortified and guarded roadblocks and villages between here and the forest down below. In the end, this is a futile struggle against the inevitable, but maybe she’ll prove herself useful as a distraction or a means to escape? You’re not known for looking a gifted horse in the mouth when you’re out of options, even if the horse is clearly of a poor breed.

>Continued

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>>363919

Upon reaching the flight of stairs where Jiao is still waiting patiently for you to return while keeping a lookout, her head snaps about at the sound of incoming footsteps from below. Her eyes goes from you to the Awoo you’re supporting in an instant. Her smile dies and despite her previous behaviour and fears, she adopts a grim and distant expression while staring straight at the wounded and tired Awoo.

Jiao, you call out to her in a whisper as to not attract attention, uncertain of her intentions or if it’s still the same girl you kissed half an hour ago. She’s ignoring your voice and staring down the Awoo as if nothing else around her exists. It appears as though she’s contemplating attacking her enemy, because her fingers are twitching and her shoulders and back have slumped a bit, indicating that she’s getting ready to charge or leap at a target. She’s a lot like a predator in that sense.

>Place yourself between Jiao and the Awoo.
>Let go off the Awoo. See what Jiao is going to do.
>Try to reach her again with your words alone and reason with her.
>Write-in.

>>363923
>>Place yourself between Jiao and the Awoo.

>>363925
Agree

>>363923
>Place yourself between Jiao and the Awoo.
kinda figures a tuesday would be slow,

I'm here, waiting for Lin.

>>364276
What if Lin is the captive awoo??

Why do we care so much for a random awoo? Doesn't really make sense.

>>364424
I guess we could have just left, but it felt weird to just leave and ignore everything. Might as well get some info before making all the wrong choices.

>>363923
>Place yourself between Jiao and the Awoo.
Talk to her as well

>>363923
>Place yourself between Jiao and the Awoo.
"There torturing them for some reason, they don't even talk our language so what could they hope to learn? This is like us taking a squrrel and peeling it's skin whilest it lives, Jiao. We can't just leave her..."

>>365018
This one

we'll be gutted if we're caught doing this, but it's pretty much too late to quit now

>>364465
But we can't get info because of the language barrier. Either way this is going to be a fun train wreck to watch.

>>365419
True. Guess we should have just dived head first into the first hallway and looked for the big boss.

>>363925
>>364045
>>364267
>>364735
>>365018
>>365373
Alright!

Writing.

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>>363923
>Place yourself between Jiao and the Awoo.

Whether it’s fear, hatred, or a force you won’t ever understand, Jiao is driven by something when she stares at the limping Awoo that you’re supporting. She wants to kill the sad creature staring back at her violent intent with an empty gaze. You can see it in her eyes. It’s the first time you witness the expression of a hunter facing her prey upon her face. If it wasn’t for where you are and under what circumstances, you’d be proud of her. Alas, now she’s more of a danger to herself and others around her than an actual hunter. You let go of the Awoo, who can only barely stand on her legs for a few seconds as is before slumping to the ground, and with two steps, you’ve placed yourself between her and Jiao.

They were torturing her, Jiao. You only torture someone if you want information from them. There’s no reason to torture these creatures. We can’t even understand them. It’s as if a hunter holds a living squirrel against the ground and peels it’s skin whilst it’s still alive. We can’t just leave her, You give it another go, trying your hardest to make her return to her senses. Despite how much you hate them yourself, you worked in one of the Hunter sayings in there as well that describes a pointless action. It can sometimes be associated with rogue hunters that only hunt to wound their prey and toy with them for sadistic pleasures, but you’ve never met one and you’d rather not the first one to be the sort that hunts Awoo instead of wildlife.

Seems to be the case though…

The reaction you gain from Jiao is far from the one you hoped for; her grim and violent gaze shifts from the Awoo to you in a moment’s notice. It’s as if she doesn’t recognize you anymore. As if her mind doesn’t register you as a fellow human. It hurts to see her in this state, but if you let her go loose on the Awoo here and now, the sound might reach anyone passing by the crossroad just a flight of stairs away from where you are right now. However, Jiao doesn’t seem to be responding well to words anymore, especially not when she’s not herself.

>Forcefully subdue her. She might calm down.
>It’s a fool’s errand, but you refuse to lay hand on the one you love. Try to talk some sense into her again.
>Try to move further back down, away from any possible eyes and ears.
>Let her have at it. There’s no point keeping the Awoo alive anymore, despite your own compassion for a wounded animal.
>Write-in.

>>365655
>>Try to move further back down, away from any possible eyes and ears.

>>365655
>>Try to move further back down, away from any possible eyes and ears.
Shock her out of it hopefully.

>>365655
>>It’s a fool’s errand, but you refuse to lay hand on the one you love. Try to talk some sense into her again.
Switching to this, since it seems like the worst idea.

>>365655
>painlessly kill the awoo with our ax.

How are we even going to get her out? Especially with our girlfriend out for blood. Just end her suffering and get back to escaping this hellhole.

>>365655

>It’s a fool’s errand, but you refuse to lay hand on the one you love. Try to talk some sense into her again.
but be ready to defind the awoo

>>365655
>It’s a fool’s errand, but you refuse to lay hand on the one you love. Try to talk some sense into her again.

>>365680
>>365818
>>366073
>>366399
>>366462
All right!

Roll for Social/Diplomacy check.
Roll 3d10
Best of 3
DC: 9

Rolled 1, 8, 5 = 14 (3d10)

>>366525

Rolled 2, 8, 5 = 15 (3d10)

>>366525

Rolled 2, 2, 4 = 8 (3d10)

>>366525
Can I fail on purpose?

>>366527
>>366528
>>366529
DC was not reached!

Writing.

>>366527
>>366528
>>366529
oh shit here we go

>>366530
This can only end well.

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>>365655
>Try to talk some sense into her again.

It’s me, Jiao, you try to make her recognize you as best you can. It’s Aiguo. However, she will have none of it. You’re not Aiguo to her. You’re not her friend. You’re not even a human in her eyes. Only an obstacle in the way between her and her wounded prey. She growls at you like an animal at this point, her own humanity just about stripped clean. Although she’s about to become violent, you can’t bring yourself to use force on this woman that you promised yourself that you’d love, cherish, and protect. It’s just not possible. You hear steps coming this way from the crossroad just a flight of stairs up. In a matter of seconds they’ll appear at the top of the stairs and see this scene unfolding. You need to act quickly! Your arm thrust out to grab Jiao’s arm and pull her, yourself, and the Awoo out of sight, but the second your fingers grip around her arm she goes berserk. Her teeth sink into your arm, drawing blood, and as your grip is lost and you’ve fallen backwards onto your bum, she’s about to throw herself over you.

“What a hassle.” You hear the familiar voice of the snake-like twin at the top of the stairs. However, he’s wearing the mask he had on his shoulders and his eyes are glowing red. Like the eyes of an Awoo. It feels as though time has slowed down as your brain registers everything that happens next. The Twin stares at Jiao who has lost her mind in a blood craze and he snaps his thumb and middle finger together. The sound is lost to you, but the result of it becomes very clear. The second he snapped with his fingers, Jiao was set aflame in front of your eyes. She lets out an inhumane bloodcurdling scream as she quickly burns to death in a matter of seconds. The fire dancing upon her body fades as quickly as it came to be.

“Take care of your pet Sedgwick.” He continues before turning about, leaving the line of sight. His towering figure is replaced by his brother, the very same Twin who helped you and Jiao past the roadblock and waved to you after you kissed her at the cliffside jutting out from the flat hill. This twin’s eyes are glowing red as well, absent the mask. The grin upon his face is twisted and he’s staring straight through you. Fear has frozen your body to the ground and all you can think of is your own death. The ancient human instincts of fight or flight is not activating for you. Fear is blocking its path.

Sedgwick, as his name is revealed to be, approach you with an increasing speed, practically jumping in joy in his steps. Upon reaching your frozen body, stepping on Jiao’s burnt corpse on the way, he pulls the woodcutting axe from your hands.

>Continued

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>>366579

“I told you to sit tight, Hinika. I believe some proper punishment is in order!” His loud laughter resembles a bird’s cackle and it comes across most inhumane. As if he doesn’t yet know how to laugh properly or not at all. His wide, crazed eyes belong to a rabid creature. You watch as the axe in his hand is raised and in a sweeping strike, it buries itself into the throat of the Awoo behind you. It doesn’t scream. It can’t. At best, it’s spitting out blood and gurgles on it as it overflows its throat and mouth. It’s drowning in its own blood with a woodcutting axe embedded in its throat. As it continues to struggle to its life and for breath, Sedgwick grips the roots of your black hair with his bloody hand, forcing your eyes onto him.

“Now,” his wide and white grin has flecks of red upon it. He was smiling while cutting his pet down, “What do I do with you?”

____

The obo let out a happy screech as it takes a leap out from the forest, landing in a field of high grass reaching up to its knees. You throw a glance to the side as the rest of your team join you on the field upon an Obo each. Out of the rest of them, Mei seems to be the only one aside from yourself that has full control of their Obo. The boys are yet struggling, but they won’t have to for long. In the distance, you spot the Western village that lies a few kilometers away from the barrier facing the Western Front.

You are Lin, and as the Obo set off towards the western village, you journey ever closer to your dream of becoming the Strongest Guardian and the Hero this Forest so desperately needs and deserves!

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End of Thread! Next thread happen tomorrow. Exact time will be posted on the Twitter, which can be found at the top. I will archive the thread.

If there are any questions, I can answer them now before I have to go. Thanks for the thread!

Who could have for seen such tragedy

>>366583
I forget was hinika chao's blood gurdian teammate with the busted leg?

>>366594
No, that was Hin. Two similar names that can easily be mixed up.

>>366598
Gotcha. Also how do you feel about how agio's story turned out?

>>366603
Pretty good. I intended for him to live longer, but mostly just to see some events unfold. There was still the missed plot-point I wanted you to discover in the corridor straight ahead, where the company went.

I'm sure an opportunity to know what was missed will present itself in due time.

...I gotta admit, with the way the story's been going, I'm losing hope for anything positive to come from this quest. It's put me into my 'quest nihilism' mode:
Any time anyone tries to do anything nice, they get fucked over for it or there's fleeting happiness, but things get WORSE in the long run after fleeting happiness, so let's cut the attempts at touchy-feely bullshit and just fuck shit up as best we can, and anyone who bitches about it can eat dirt- because no matter what happens, it won't end well.

>>367190
>...I gotta admit, with the way the story's been going, I'm losing hope for anything positive to come from this quest.
I guess that's kind of what I'm going for at the moment. Might become my undoing, but we'll see.

It's perfectly fine to call that "not shounen", but I imagine the story a bit like a winter night: It grows darker and darker and it's always darkest right before dawn. It makes the sight of that Dawn that much more awesome.

>>367414
It's not even about the 'shounen' for me. In keeping with your analogy, it's the fact that I don't even see the possibility of the dawn breaking.

For either side.

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>>367543
>it's the fact that I don't even see the possibility of the dawn breaking.
That will help make the 'dawn' so much more hype when it comes.

>>367559
Eehhhhh. We'll see.

Admittedly, I'm biased on that front.

>>367559
nooo human is died damm wasnt here:(
shit he becomes a redflower person now?

>>369440
>shit he becomes a redflower person now?
That remains to be seen.

>>369444
hmm i was going to try to get human boy into with mc Awoo group some how and be like the frist human to learn to speak with them and things idk