>>377717
>Go to the Kitchen
It's time for fooooood, tearing reality asunder is starving work!

>>377717
>Go to the Kitchen
Food first, then the chapel and gallery later.

>>377717
>> Go to the Kitchen
Food in our food hole.
Also this'll likely be my only post, I've got other stuff to do. Oh well. Don't fuck it up, anons!

>>377717
> Go to the Kitchen

>>377717
> Go to the Kitchen

GET

>>377717
>> Go to the Kitchen

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>>377733
>>377743
>>377751
>>377765

"I could really use some food." You say.

Tara nods, and leads you through the castle. The entire grounds and decor are well-kept which means someone cares enough for regular maintenance, judging by Tara's clean uniform, the staff makes an effort in both appearance and duty which means they want people to think well on their masters, not to mention the fact that the staff is willing to work in this remote region. Good signs.

The kitchen is on a lower level. It seems that this is the meal time for most of the staff as well. This is just mid-day, so there's no overt formality.

A dark-skinned man stands at you arrival. Tara curtsies. "Revered Sister, this is Rael Addar, Majordomo of the Castle. Everyone, this is the Revered Sister who rescued Master Orion."

"It was a mutual rescue." You say.

Addar stands and bows to you. You respond with a traditional open palm curtsy. "Welcome to Boglach Castle, Sister...?"

"Geheimnis." You say.

"Bless you." Tara says.

"That's my name." You say. "It's traditional."

"Apologies. I'll get you some food." Tara goes to the cook, who has the standard not-too-pale, not-too-dark skin tone of someone from the Imperial heartland...or Horizon.

You sit down at the table where the other various staff are eating. They give you a few glances, but try not to be too awkward.

Tara sets a bowl of...something, in front of you. It looks like a stew, in a red broth...but you do not recognize a single lump in it. Also, you're pretty sure there are eyeballs in it.

You take a moment to gather your courage, and taste it.

The texture is bizarre, but it's actually really good.

> Eat quietly in silence.
> Ask the staff about the Boglachs
> Ask the staff about the area
> Ask the staff about themselves

>>377816
>Ask the staff about themselves
Any good gossip about the place? Maybe some maids getting into shenagins to p@ss the tasty meal?

>>377779
>Go to the Kitchen
Food, Chapel, Gallery!

>>377816
> Ask the staff about the Boglachs

>>377816
>> Ask the staff about the Boglachs
>> Ask the staff about the area

>>377816
Fuck.
>Ask the staff about the Boglachs

>>377816
>> Ask the staff about the area

>>377816
> Ask the staff about themselves

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>>377827
>>377829
>>377830

"So," You say as you eat. "Sir Orion is typical of the family?"

"He's always been a dutiful son." A man sitting across from you says. "We haven't seen him, since he left for Mildrid, and the Keep, to receive his training."

"He said he has nine sisters?" You ask.

Tara nods. "Soon to be ten in a a month's time. Possibly."

"It could still be a boy." The man says.

Tara and the other maids all chuckle to themselves. Apparently that's a private joke that you're missing out on.

"Must be difficult, running a castle with so many girls." You say. "The abbey has a time handling all of ours."

"Some are better than others." Tara says. "Lady Lyra and Cynga are quite good at keeping order. It's just a trial when the young ones run around, after playing in the swamp, covered in mud. So," Tara asks. "You're from Walpurgis Abbey, what's that like?"

Shit, you went into tricky territory. You stay calm, and answer. "It's not as fantastic as you might think. It's an abbey, and we have gardens, goats, and the chapel. Mostly our days are filled with prayer and meditation."

Everyone gives different versions of the same reaction of 'Disappointed, but not really surprised.' A boring answer elicits fewer questions than avoidance.

"So, what exactly do the Boglachs do? Other than watch the swamp?" You ask.

"There's Hedge Witches, and a few plant farmers that live nearby." Addar says. "Everyone needs access to a swamp, and what grows it in, during their lives."

"Just most people don't need access ALL the time." A younger boy says with a snicker. It gets him smiles around the table and a glare from Addar.

"Anything near by?" You ask.

"Mudpack is the small village that's right near the castle." Addar says. "It's not much."

"If you want to go to a nice town, Marshline is half a day's ride west of here. It's close to the northern border, and home to the finest pottery you'll see." Tara says.

And obviously this girl's home town. You think with a smile.

You've finished your bowl of...stuff.

> Ask for seconds and keep talking with the staff
> Go to the chapel
> Go to the gallery
> Ask to check in on the Knight

>>377911
> Ask to check in on the Knight

>>377911
> Ask to check in on the Knight

>>377911
>> Go to the chapel
>> Ask to check in on the Knight

>>377911
> Ask to check in on the Knight

>>377911
>> Go to the chapel

>>377911
>Ask to check in on the Knight

>>377717
Hey Echo, are Witches required to be chaste?

File: Upon your Shield.jpg (154 KB, 512x512)

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>>377917
>>377921
>>377927
>>377929
>>377939

"Thank you for the meal." You say, getting up. "Is Sir Orion seeing visitors?"

Addar nods. "Allow me." He says, getting up.

He leads you through the castle. You notice that most of the artwork is of knights, and portraits of people. They all have family resemblance, so this must be the Boglachs throughout the years.

"Big family." You say.

"The Boglachs go back to the founding of the Empire." Addar says. He pauses by a display that shows the family crest.

White shield, and no sun or moon. That means that they were loyal to the Empire, and this land was granted to them by the Emperor, not a conquered territory.

The bottom third of the shield is three wavy lines in green, normally these are blue to denote a sea-faring house, but the green must mean the swamp.

The upper left third has a sword with a gold handle pointing diagonally upwards, towards the upper middle of the shield. Which means this family earned their honor by military service.

The last third has a rolled up scroll, tied with a black ribbon. Mirroring the angle of the sword, upwards and towards the middle. You've never seen that heraldry before.

The house words are in Old Imperial, and they translate to 'Know The Strength of a Single Blade.' although that last word can be read as 'Blade/Weapon,' or 'Word.'

Addar leads you to a room and knocks on the door. A female voice gives permission, and the pair of you enter.

You see Sir Orion on the bed, being fussed over by a slightly older woman. She's trying to feed him a bowl of that 'stew' that you just had.

"Lady Cygna," Addar says. "Sister Geheimnis, she asked to see Master Orion. Sister, may I present Lady Cygna, daughter to the Earl."

The woman, who is a bit on the short side, and has a round face with smile lines on it, curtsies to you. You respond with open palms.

Orion gives you a wave with his right hand.

> Ask for privacy
> Gem: Ask about the telegram
> Gem: Ask about his health
> Orion: Ask about fixing your hand.
> Orion: Ask about how she ended up in the swamp
> Write in, please indicate who's asking about what.

>>378014
> Gem: Ask about his health
> Orion: Ask about how she ended up in the swamp

>>378014
> Ask for privacy
> Gem: Ask about his health
> Orion: Ask about fixing your hand.
> Orion: Ask about fixing your hand.

>>378014
> Gem: Ask about his health

>>378014
>Gem and Orion: Awkwardly Thank Each Other

>>377962
No, but it's frowned upon. Magic isn't bloodline specific, but relationships sometimes end badly and that may mean fireballs.

That said, there are gardeners, acolytes, goat herders, masons, carpenters, and apprentices to all of them. They work and live in the abbey.

Basically the answer is 'Not if they can't hide it from the Sisters Superior.'

>>378033
Then we have a a shot

>>378014

> Gem: Ask about his health
> Orion: Ask about fixing your hand.
> Orion: Ask about how she ended up in the swamp
>Gem and Orion: Awkwardly Thank Each Other

>>378057
this

File: Orion's Mace.png (264 KB, 637x961)

264 KB PNG

>>378057
>>378030
>>378025

"Are you alright?" Gem asks Orion.

He nods. "Fine, Eldest Sister keep hovering around me, like I'm eight with a fever...again."

"I worry about my little one." Cygna says.

"Can't you bother the other little ones?" Orion says.

"Aww, but they aren't as fun to look after as Baby Brother." Cygna says, tapping the knight on the nose.

Orion groans. He looks at the stump of his left hand. "That...thing you did in the swamp. Can you do it again?" He asks. "For good?"

Gem sighs and shakes her head. "No. I mean, I can, but you'd need someone around you regularly to keep the magic strong, or else it'll fall apart again. Or...other bad things."

"Ah." Orion nods. "So, why was a Walpurgis sister sent into the Northern Swamp?"

Gem blinks and then shrugs. "The surveyor team? You said they had gone missing."

Orion nods. "Yes. That's why we were sent out."

"Same reason. I was attached to the army, they sent me, my handler, and a few soldiers out. I guess no one coordinated with the Keep." Gem says.

"Wouldn't surprise me." Orion says. "Anyway, something I need you to look at." He points with his good arm at the table in the room.

The large mace is sitting on the table. You can feel the tingle of magic from it.

"Can you look at it?" Orion says. "Make sure that...well...I don't know what. It just appeared when I was holding a branch I had cut off of that tree."

You walk over to it, and gently pick it up.

> Examination Roll
> Roll 3d20

Rolled 5, 7, 3 = 15 (3d20)

>>378085

Rolled 20, 15, 9 = 44 (3d20)

>>378085

Rolled 15, 3, 11 = 29 (3d20)

>>378085

Rolled 10, 18, 9 = 37 (3d20)

>>378085

Rolled 6, 11, 2 = 19 (3d20)

>>378085

Is this roll under or over? And are crits enabled? Not sure if the same goes here, as we're rolling d20s instead of d100s.

>>378107
"Well, the very good news is that there is no trace of Hell Magic in this at all." You say. "It's also a bonded weapon. It's yours, and yours alone. No one else can use its magic, or use it effectively.

"Eager thing, too. Lots of untapped potential. Magic items like this have four or five powers, and so far it only knows one thing...if you're dying, it sucks in magic to be More.

"As for the other powers, it doesn't know them yet...but they need to be...like you. This is Orion's Weapon, so it needs to have powers that are singular to Orion."

Gem carefully puts the mace back down on the table. "Also, it wants a name. Badly. Anything to help define itself in the world better."

"Huh." Orion says.

> Arbor (Came from a tree, implies nature, solidarity, and rooted strength)
> Procyon (Orion's hound, implies loyalty, lineage, and pursuit.)
> Nolan (The fallen mace knight. Implies revenge, self-sacrifice, and Duty)
> Palus (Old Empire for Swamp. Implies duty, lineage, and nature.)
> Write in. (Please include three implications, which will affect the mace's powers.)

>>378173
> Palus

>>378173
> Procyon (Orion's hound, implies loyalty, lineage, and pursuit.)

>>378173
> Procyon (Orion's hound, implies loyalty, lineage, and pursuit.)

>>378173
> Palus (Old Empire for Swamp. Implies duty, lineage, and nature.)

>>378173
> Palus (Old Empire for Swamp. Implies duty, lineage, and nature.)

>>378173
>> Palus (Old Empire for Swamp. Implies duty, lineage, and nature.)

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>>378175
>>378180
>>378181
>>378190

"Palus," Orion says. "that seems good."

Gem nods, and leans over and whispers to the mace. Then jumps back when the weapon vibrates on the table for a moment.

Orion and Cygna both look at Gem alarmed.

She holds up a hand. "It's alright." Gem says. "It's...just happy that it got named. I've read about that happening...never saw it in person though."

Orion looks at his eldest sister. "Sister, I'm fine to walk. I need to check on the news."

Cygna shakes her head. "Lyra's working in the study, she's using the wire."

Orion sighs. "Elder Sister never stops working does she? Fine, I'll go use the one in Mudpack."

"Orion..." Cygna says in a warning tone.

"It's ten minutes of walking. I'm all better." Orion says. "Besides, father will just bother me incessantly about lying in bed all day."

Cygna sighs and shakes her head. "Fine, but take Sister Gem*achoo*! Pardon me."

"No, that's how you pronounce it." Gem says. "It's traditional."

Orion chokes back a smirking laugh. "Sister, care to see the wonders of Mudpack village?"

"How can I resist?" Gem says.

After a bit, the witch and the knight are walking down the trail to the small village.

"It's not much." Orion says. "There's a bunkhouse for temporary workers from Marshline. The telegraph house. A stable, and the apothecary, which is also the general store, which is also the pub. Which serves a 'traditional herbal remedy' that is absolutely not moonshine, and that contraption behind the building is in NO way a unregistered still."

"The beer tax?" Gem asks.

"Swamp folk don't prefer beer, we prefer 'Herbal Remedies'...that don't have taxes on them." Orion says with a smile. "That's been the way since the castle was built, almost."

There's more walking in silence. Gem breaks it when the lights of the small village are visible. "What are you going to say about the other two knights you mentioned? The ones who ran?"

> I'm not going to say anything.
> I'm going to say that they abandoned us.
> I think I'll say they left to get help.

>>378233
> I'm going to say that they abandoned us.

>>378233
> I think I'll say they left to get help.

>>378233
>> I think I'll say they left to get help. However, I will also mention the best help may have been more... immediate.

>>378245
Backing this.

>>378233
> I'm going to say that they abandoned us.

>>378233
>I'm going to say that they abandoned us.
We've lost a hand and two "cowardly" brothers are dead because of them. They'll deserve whatever comes their way.

>>378245
I shall back this.

>>378256
switching actually

>>378233
>> I'm going to say that they abandoned us.

>>378256
Eh, I'll switch to this.

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>>378245
"Two good knights died," You say as you enter Mudpack. "And..." You hold up your stump of a hand. "Yeah. I think I'm going to tell the truth. They turned tail and fled, abandoning their brothers."

"I really hoped that you weren't going to say that." A voice says as a person steps out from between the houses. Oh look, it's one of your brothers.

You hear movement behind you, yep, the other one is now standing on the path behind you.

You look back at the knight in front of you. "I've already sent out a telegram. What do you think is going to happen?"

"I think you're going to say that we behaved accordingly, and while mistakes were made, we could not be blamed for our caution in a chaotic situation." The knight in front of you says.

"You sound like a Horizon Politician." You say with scorn. "Anyway, just stop this stupidity, and face the repercussions of your actions like men."

The knight shakes his head. "That's not going to work, brother." He nods.

"Hey!" Gem says as the knight behind her places a hand on her shoulder. "I'm a Walpurgis Sister, you really want to do this?"

"She's right." You say. "You really want to do this? You think people won't ask questions?"

"You think you're so high and mighty." The Knight in front says. He takes out a bottle with a rag in it, and it's filled with what's probably 'Herbal Remedy.' "The real world is that when you see seven monsters rise up, you run. If you fight, you die, or get maimed...as proven."

"We are knights." You say. "That's our duty."

"Look," The knight with the moltov says, holding a firestarter in the other hand, he motions as if he's going to throw the bottle at the Mudpack houses. "This can turn into a stupid thing, and people will get hurt because of you...or we can all walk down to the telegraph office, make a report, and go our separate ways."

> O: "Fuck off."
> O: Punch one of them.
> O: "Fine."
> G: Blast the one holding you
> G: Summon Palus
> G: Stay calm and see what Magic will let you do here.

>>378336
>G: Stay calm and see what Magic will let you do here.

>>378336
>Blast the one with the firestarter

Ideally, just knock him out, but if we kill him then I won't be crying.

>>378352
I'd support this.

>>378336
> O: Punch one of them.
> G: Stay calm and see what Magic will let you do here.

>>378336
> O: Punch one of them.
> G: Stay calm and see what Magic will let you do here.

>>378336
>O: punch him
>G: Summon plus

It's time to crack some heads

>>378336
> O: Punch one of them.
> summon Palus

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>>378376
>>378370
>>378358
>>378347

Orion:

Well, you've sparred with your fellow knights enough to know how to punch them in the face. It's just a question of which one?

> Punch the one with the molotov
> Punch the one holding Gem

Gem:
Well, you have magic in the mud, vines, and water...pretty much everywhere. The swamp's a stew of magic and swamp-stuff.

The down side is that you're pretty sure that this creep is using a litany on you, which means that your spells might not work as long as he's got a grip on you.

>Create a swamp golem
>Splash mud over them and harden it
> Living vines
> Drown them
> And when all else fails, fireball to the face.

>>378394
O punch one holding gem
G use vines to surround both creeps and tie them up

>>378394
> Punch the one holding Gem
>Splash mud over them and harden it

>>378394
> Living vines
> Punch the one holding Gem

>>378394
> Punch the one with the molotov
> Living vines to surround one holding us + to catch the molotov if it drops

>>378394
>> Punch the one with the molotov
Freeing gem would be nice, but molotovs are nasty.

>>378394
Also
>> And when all else fails, fireball to the face.
For the guy holding her

>>378394
>Punch the one holding Gem
>Living vines
>And when all else fails, fireball to the face.

>>378435
>>378405
>>378404
>>378402
>>378398

Orion spins on his heel and swings at the man holding Gem.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>378449
Go-go one handed combat!

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>378449

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>378449
I cast fist

>>378460
Don't do that.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>378449

>>378460
Shit. The knight sees the punch coming from a mile away, and he responds swiftly...by placing Gem right in front of your fist.

"OW!" Gem says.

"Sorry!" Orion says as you step away.

"Grrr!" Gem scowls and focuses on her magic.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>378468
Welp.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>378468
GEM RAGE

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>378468
critfail number 2

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>378468

Rolled 10, 3 = 13 (2d20)

>>378469
Vines snake up and wrap around the wrist of the first knight, pulling his arm away from the village.

The vines snake towards the man holding Gem, but they go limp and drop to the ground when they get near him. Damn litanies.

The first knight tries to break free of the vines.

The second one tries to put Gem in a sleeper hold.

>>378487
Neither gets anywhere.

Orion:
>Punch Molotov/Litany
>Grab the molotov out of the knight's hand
>Tackle one of them to the ground

Gem:
>Fireball
> Mud golem
> Mud wrap
> More vines

>>378494
>Grab the molotov out of the knight's hand
> Mud wrap

>>378494
>Grab the molotov out of the knight's hand
> Mud wrap

>>378494
>>Grab the molotov out of the knight's hand
> Mud wrap

>>378494
>Grab the molotov out of the knight's hand

> Mud wrap

>>378494
>>Grab the molotov out of the knight's hand
> More vines

>>378508
>>378506
>>378503
>>378500

Orion spins on his heel and grabs at the bottle, if not trying to grab it, then at least knock it out of the way.

Gem focuses and pushes her magic and control over to the mud. It's a little hard with the buzzing in her mind as the knight continues his litany.

> Roll 2d20

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>378587

Rolled 1, 8 = 9 (2d20)

>>378587

Rolled 13, 11 = 24 (2d20)

>>378587

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d20)

>>378587
Well, lets try again.

>>378593
Maaaaaaan.

Rolled 9, 17 = 26 (2d20)

>>378587
Dammit, got the wrong number of dice.

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>>378593

>>378593
I really hate critfails and successes on d20s

Rolled 3, 16 = 19 (2d20)

>>378593
>>378598

Bad news is that your grab didn't get the bottle...but rather the vine, and the vine snaps free.

The mud bubbles and churns in its puddles...but doesn't really do anything.

The knight glares at you and swings at you with his free hand.

The other knight still tries to get the struggling Gem into a choke hold.

>>378641
Gem gets an arm around her neck and she starts seeing spots.

Orion moves out of the way of the swing.

Orion:
> Get the bottle
> Attack Molotov
> Try to free Gem by attacking Choker

Gem:
> Struggle to stay conscious/break free
> Give in to focus and cast a spell from the lists provided earlier.

>>378648
>Try to free Gem by attacking Choker
> Struggle to stay conscious/break free

>>378648
> Try to free Gem by attacking Choker
> Struggle to stay conscious/break free

>>378648
> Try to free Gem by attacking Choker
> Struggle to stay conscious/break free

>>378654
>>378656
>>378658

>Roll 2d20

Rolled 7, 2 = 9 (2d20)

>>378678

Rolled 18, 3 = 21 (2d20)

>>378678

Rolled 1, 11 = 12 (2d20)

>>378678

File: 1380698671593.png (1.14 MB, 1032x1038)

1.14 MB PNG

>>378682

Rolled 13, 18 = 31 (2d20)

>>378678
Maybe you should start rolling for the two jackasses. I'd like to see them get some critfails.

Rolled 18, 15 = 33 (2d20)

>>378678
I am really getting pissed off at these dice.

Rolled 20, 7 = 27 (2d20)

>>378678

>>378682
Congratulations, you've hit Gem again...and that plus the choke hold is enough to cause her to go limp.

The Knight drops her and she folds to the ground. He gives you a smirk. "You miss the class about hostage situations?" He says.

You hear a foowmph of fire starting and turn to see that the other jackass has lit the molotov.

"Alright," He says. "Now that's done. Let's all behave like rational adults. My friend will stay with your friend. I'll put this out. We'll both go to the telegraph. Send a nice message, and them me and my chum will be off, and you can go back to your nice castle with your friend.

"Otherwise...everyone has a really bad day.

Sound fair?" He asks.

> "Fine."
> Tackle the bastard.

Anybody remember that dice system where you only get a critfails if your other rolls don't succeed?

>>378731
> Tackle the bastard.
"You torch the place, who they gonna believe?"

>>378731
> "Fine."
Fuck our rolls have been shit these two sessions.

>>378731
> Tackle the bastard.

>>378731
>> Tackle the bastard.
If he manages to throw it anyway, he's dead.

>>378731
> Tackle the bastard.
d20 with critfails is pure shit. especially with 2d20

>>378731
>Tackle the bastard.
You threaten a man's home and expect him to not cave in your face?

>>378731
>> Tackle the bastard.

>>378731
>Tackle the bastard.

Ideally, I'd like to burn him alive.

>>378749
>>378754
>>378756
>>378759

You don't say anything. You just charge.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>378779
Please.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>378779

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>378779
Fuck this

Rolled 11, 20 = 31 (2d20)

>>378779

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>378779

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>378779

and this is y people deid and we lost a hand
rip town

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>378789
You hit him, but not hard enough. He staggers back, pushes you away, and chucks the bottle at Mudpack's houses.

>>378810
Well...

>>378810
The bottle sails through the air and crashes...right into the telegraph office. There's a sound of breaking glass and spreading fire, and you KNOW that there's a bunch of loose paper in that little shack. A shack that's connected to all of the others.

"Come on!" The jackass yells at his partner, and the pair go tearing off.

Leaving you standing there. The fire starting to burn...and Gem in the mud.

> Run into the telegraph office and try to stop the fire.
> Rip off your shirt and use it as a makeshift bucket to get wet mud.
> Try to rouse Gem
> Chase after the Traitors.

>>378810
Ok question what is the dice system here we using best of three or what? Cuz it looks like we are just getting our ass handed to us

>>378830
Gather mud and try to put out the fire I guess, let everyone know there a fire to

>>378833
I guess he just picks the worst of three.

>>378830
>Rip off your shirt and use it as a makeshift bucket to get wet mud.

>>378830
> Try to rouse Gem
Also OP, what are the generic townspeople doing? Is this like, a ghost town or something?

>>378830
>> Rip off your shirt and use it as a makeshift bucket to get wet mud.
we will find them latter on and there will be no mercy

>>378833
We have, what, 30% (10 per die) to crit? 15
pass, 15 fail?

>>378830
> Rip off your shirt and use it as a makeshift bucket to get wet mud.

next time we see them, we break their necks.

>>378830
>Try to Rouse Gem

She can probably stop the fire.

>>378830
>Rip off your shirt and use it as a makeshift bucket to get wet mud.
We have to do what we can. Got to stop it before it hits the sill. Here's hoping Gem wakes up soon.

>>378830
>> Rip off your shirt and use it as a makeshift bucket to get wet mud.

>>378847
This is a good question. Where the hell is everyone? It's morning, isn't it?

>>378871
sleeping off the Herbal Remedys

>>378846
>>378849
>>378853
>>378861
>>378865

You rip off your shirt, and load it up with wet mud.

"FIRE!" You shout in the direction of the bunkhouse. "FIRE!"

> Roll 1d20


Majority vote wins, 15min time limit for votes, or once three votes for one option have been made. In case of ties, votes will be given an opportunity to change votes and new votes will be accepted. If a tie remains, choice will be decided by a die roll. Dice rolls will be d20s, 3 rolls minimum, best roll plays. Unless specified, DC is 15. Crit Success trumps Crit Fail which trumps non-crit Success and Fail.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>378896

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>378896
can we roll how moist the witch gets when she wakes up seeing us half naked?

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>378896

We wuz water n shit

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>>378906

>>378906
i just just, il stop now fml

>>378906
I quit.

>>378906
why

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>378896
Alright.

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but not in the good way

>>378906
At this point you might as well stop the quest Echo.

>>378906
Man, I just want us to taste success. Anybody want to try and roll a 20 right now?

>>378934
i can do it

>>378906
No one answers, and GAH! Damnit! You trip and fall, dropping your mud shirt.

The telegraph hut is now completely on fire. It's going to spread unless you do something.

> Run into the bunkhouse, this is just evacuation time.
> Get Gem up
> This is a dumb idea, but that 'herbal remedy' device (AKA the still) is notorious for having high pressure, and a lot of water in the tank. You can rip off a hose and start spraying the fire.
>Or just make the still explode in hopes that the blast will smother the fire.

Rolled 13, 4, 16, 1, 18, 11, 6, 18, 11, 6 = 104 (10d20)

>>378934
let's see how bad I fail

>>378952
>>378952
>> Run into the bunkhouse, this is just evacuation time.

Alcohol is not what we want to be spraying on a flame

>>378952
>> This is a dumb idea, but that 'herbal remedy' device (AKA the still) is notorious for having high pressure, and a lot of water in the tank. You can rip off a hose and start spraying the fire.

>>378952
> Get Gem up

>>378952
> Get Gem up
God damn this is frustrating.

>>378952
>Get Gem up
She might be able to get some mud and vines to collapse the shack and smother the flames.

>>378952
>> Get Gem up

>>378965
>>378966
>>378967

You run to Gem.
"Sister...please...wake up wake up wake up!" You lightly slap her, splash water/mud on her, and gently shake her.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>378983
Fuck the dicegods

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>378983
once more.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>378983
Well

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>378983

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>>378993
WHY

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>378983
come on il kill a goat for you
>>378993
noooo we are curesed from the demon tree

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>>378993

>>378993
Gem is dead.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>378983

The system is kind of retarded if you get one one you already crit fail and there is no solution apart from a 20.

>>378993
Nothing....and now the general store is on fire.

> Start Evacuation
> Still hose
> Still explosion

>>378993
Op please

>>379016
Countering crits with other crits isn't a bad idea, we just have a 15% chance to critfail. vs bo3 d100 would be 3%.

>>379023
>Still hose

>>379023
> Still hose

>>379023
run screaming into the fire and punch it out.

> Start Evacuation

>>379023
>> Still hose

>>379033
>>379036
>>379042

You can still manage this...barely. You rip off a hose from the still, and start up the engine.

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>379051
check my 1

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>379051

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Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>379051
Dice gods please

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>>379062
Hey, a not-critfail!

>>379039
ROLL PLEASE

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>379051
I don't even know anymore.

>>379058
>>379060
>>379062
And we fail again.
A flat DC15 where we get no modifiers is actually not an easy DC to meet.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>379051

>>379073
DICE DELIVERED

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Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>379051
>>379069
just you wait

>>379073
prise be apon you finally
someone dosnt die

>>379062
A thin stream of water pours out of the hose. Not enough to fight a fire.

Thankfully, the fire hasn't spread any further at the moment.

> Get the still pump working
> Use the still water/herbal remedy to PROMPTLY wake up Gem.
> Start an evacuation.

>>379074
Kind of the point.

>>379096
> Use the still water/herbal remedy to PROMPTLY wake up Gem.

>>379096
>>379073
>> Use the still water/herbal remedy to PROMPTLY wake up Gem.
If you're not counting the nat 20, sure.

>>379096
>Get the still pump working

>>379096
> Use the still water/herbal remedy to PROMPTLY wake up Gem.

Tell her to evacuate the people

>>379096
>> Get the still pump working

>>379096
>2 or 3 sentence updates
>nonstop rolls with a shitty system
I thought this seemed cool at first but come on man

>>379096
>> Use the still water/herbal remedy to PROMPTLY wake up Gem.
all over herface

>>379124
It's a good system. Why would a shitton of others use it if not?

>>379099
>>379104
>>379107

You flip a level on the still and spray Gem with a splash of 'Herbal remedy.' And you've seen this thing revive dead frogs, so it really SHOULD work!

> Roll 1d20+2

Rolled 4 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>379133

Rolled 2 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>379133

Rolled 19 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>379133

>>379144
bless you

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>>379144

>>379144
Gem's eye shoot open and she leaps to her feet.

"GAAAH! WHY IS EVERYTHING SPARKLING?!" She shouts.

"Because...it's ON FIRE!" You point at the blaze.

"Shit..." Gem says.

Gem
> Manipulate the fire
> Alter the air
> Demonstrate mastry over Water

Orion
>Ask for help getting the hose to work (Override's Gem's action)
> Start evacuation
> Get the hose working on your own

>>379164
>> Get the hose working on your own
> Alter the air

>>379164
> Demonstrate mastery over Water
> Get the hose working on your own

>>379164
> Alter the air
It worked on the Soul-Sold, maybe we can get it to work here.
> Get the hose working on your own

>>379164
>> Demonstrate mastry over Water
> Get the hose working on your own

>>379159
thanks i finialy did some good in here
>>379164
> Manipulate the fire
> Get the hose working on your own

>>379186
>>379175
Gem focuses on the water all around her and to crash up against and upon the fire.

Orion kicks the still, and tries to get it working again.

> Roll 2d20 (1.Gem, 2.Orion)
(Orion will get +1)

Rolled 19, 2 = 21 (2d20)

>>379235

Rolled 20, 13 + 1 = 34 (2d20 + 1)

>>379235

Rolled 9, 7 = 16 (2d20)

>>379235

>>379235
Come on now let's see what we can get, also every DC is 15? That's rather Hugh isn't it?

Rolled 12, 17 = 29 (2d20)

>>379235
And so it begins again.

Did I actually make it in time?

CONGRATS ANON, YOU FUCKED IT UP!

just like PAMGQ

i think we pased with the witch so the fire is out but we break our foot kicking the still.

I leave for a few hours and come back to the Dice Gods hating Orion. This is Embers all over again.

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>>379244
The hose is mediocre in water pressure, and it's not really effective in fighting the fire...but it keeps it from spreading.

Which is great, because Gem gestures and it starts pouring down rain just on top of the fire, and tentacles of water emerge from the earth and splash against the flames.

The fire in the convenience store is out, and the telegraph office...well...it's a burnt out wreck, but now it's a smoldering burnt out wreck.

A little bit more from the both of you, and the fire is out.

"Oh, thank God." Orion says. "You okay Gem?"

"Everything is still sparkling and all I can taste is the color green-gold." Gem says.

"That's the Mudpack Herbal Remedy for you." Orion says.

"You shouldn't be making jokes, trainee." A voice says.

You turn, and see a crowd of people standing behind you. In front of them are two senior knights and...

"Master Benic, Master Rowlen." You say.

It's two of your trainers. The High Masters of the Knight's Keep.

Well...it looks like they started the evacuation for you.

Also, Grand Master Benic doesn't look happy with you. At all.

"Sir...I put out the fire." Orion says.

"You mean the Sister put out the fire." He frowns. "We'll talk in the castle."

"Yes, sir." You say.

Mercifully, Master Benic is polite to the Elder Twins, and your father. He requests a private audience with Gem, yourself, and Master Rowlen.

You give him your full report. Which includes what happened in Mudpack.

Master Benic's response is to slap you, hard, twice.

"ARROGANT LITTLE SHIT!" He shouts. "You got TWO of your brother's killed, and you endangered the lives of the people in the village AND caused a telegraph station to be burnt down!"

"Sir! What could I have done?" You say.

"LISTEN TO MY TRAINING!" He bellows. "You NEVER investigate a site ALONE, you always fight BACK TO BACK, and for God's sake...when a man is threatening civilians and property, YOU DON'T ANTAGONIZE THEM!"

He slaps you again, and you feel blood dripping down your lip.

"I am ashamed that you are what passes for a knight." He snaps.

> Stand there silently
> "Yes, sir."
> Defend yourself. (This will require some write ins.)

>>379336
> "Yes, sir."

>>378682
I don't even. Are we gonna lose the other hand?

>>379336
Stay silent

>>379336
>>379336
>Defend self
"Sir with all due respect I attempted to disfuse the situation or would you have had me lie in my report and allow those two traitors to just run and besmirch what it means to be a knight?"

"I am sorry that the place burnt down, but what else was I to do sir?"

>>379336
> "Yes, sir."
Every single thing he says is correct. We fucked up hard. Its time to accept it and deal with some guilt and punishment from a whole bunch of otherr sources.

>>379353
Anon, you are the latest person I have ever seen.

>>379336
> "We would have fought back to back, but the two cowards broke ranks and literally broke any chance of that happening, between being outnumbered, out maneuvered and getting hit with magic. By all rights I should have died there too. As for not endangering the people? They cowards were drunka nd holding a Sister of the abbey hostage? Their careers were over regardless, I wouldn't have put it past them to torch the place out of spite or simply run off with the sister and do something along the lines of what the soul sold were planning to do to her. If the people doing the threatening have less than no honor, can you really take them at their word? I admit I did fuck up greatly, but you're taking outt your anger on their dishonor, and the casualties their cowardice caused on me, which is not something a knight should do.

>>379370
Shush. I had a long day.

>>379377>>379336
> Defend yourself. (This will require some write ins.)
this better then what i could come up with
> "We would have fought back to back, but the two cowards broke ranks and literally broke any chance of that happening, between being outnumbered, out maneuvered and getting hit with magic. By all rights I should have died there too. As for not endangering the people? They cowards were drunka nd holding a Sister of the abbey hostage? Their careers were over regardless, I wouldn't have put it past them to torch the place out of spite or simply run off with the sister and do something along the lines of what the soul sold were planning to do to her. If the people doing the threatening have less than no honor, can you really take them at their word? I admit I did fuck up greatly, but you're taking outt your anger on their dishonor, and the casualties their cowardice caused on me, which is not something a knight should do.

>>379336
>Defend yourself
With this >>379377
Though investigating alone?
We had 4 others with us when we investigated the tree. How is having them in the clearing with us, investigating alone?

And If there's a failure in anyone, it's a failure on the trainer for letting two men who obviously had no business being knights go out into the field.

>>379336
> "Yes, sir."

>>379336
> Defend yourself. (This will require some write ins.)
>"I'm sorry sir, I must have missed your training on how to handle half of the knights with you going traitor or one handed (literally) unarmed fighting against said knights."

That fact that we survived let alone managed to kill the coven and rescue the witch is fucking miraculous. This was our first mission.

>>379405
seconded

>>379399
>>379398
>>379377
>>379364

"We would have fought back to back, sir, but the two cowards broke ranks and literally broke any chance of that happening. Between being outnumbered, out maneuvered and getting hit with magic. By all rights I should have died there too.

"As for not endangering the people? They cowards were holding a Sister of the abbey hostage. Their careers were over regardless, I wouldn't have put it past them to torch the place out of spite or simply run off with the sister, and do something along the lines of what the soul-sold were planning to do to her. If the people doing the threatening have less than no honor, can you really take them at their word? Allow those two traitors to just run and besmirch what it means to be a knight?

"I admit I did fuck up greatly, but you're taking out your anger on their dishonor, and the casualties their cowardice caused on me, which is not something a knight should do. Sir!"

Master Benic looks at you for a while. And then he grins and nods.

"At least you still have a spine. That was well said. I approve."

Then he gut punches you hard. "And THAT was for back-talking to your superior, boy. Let me tell you what happens now. NOW I have two rouge knights, who know they're being hunted. They're disgraces to our order, and let me tell you...we can NOT afford that.

"Now, if you had acted like a mature adult, they would have sauntered off, and the Order would have picked them up when they showed their face, or relaxed in a tavern. Now, they've gone to ground and will be THAT much harder to find."

He shakes his head at you, then turns to Gem. "Walpurgis Sister, you were here on orders from the Royal Standing Militia, correct?"

"You mean the army?" Gem asks.

The two elder knights exchange a look of distaste. "The Royal Standing Militia now has the authority to chaperone Walpurgis Sisters now?"

Rowlen has a look on his face like he's smelling something rotten.

"We just receive orders, Good Sir." Gem says.

"Well, now you are receiving Knight's orders. REAL orders." He says. "Not some jumped up peasant's."

The two masters step to a corner to converse with each other.

Gem gives Orion a look. Orion shrugs. Orion always thought that the national army is a fine idea, and will certainly be much more effective and cost-effective than a Lord’s Muster. But what he's seen is little more than a large bunch of militia boys in uniform, learning to march. Not people who have a fine knowledge of how to kill things.

He always knew the Knight Masters had distaste for it...but this...hopefully this is just Grand Master Benic being angry about his dead men.

The Masters finish their conversation and return to the both of you.

"Sir Orion Boglach." He says. "As of now, your training is finished, and you are now spending your year Errant. After which, you will be granted full title, and be allowed to rise to Master Knight if you so should chose."

(cont)

>>379497
You're surprised, this was not an honor given to Knights that get their brothers killed, get villages burnt, and lose their hands. A year Errant was reserved for the best of the best.

That was the Knight that the Order wanted people to SEE. The knight that represented the Order. The Knights that they write the damn stories and dime novels about.

You...you wanted to be a Knight because...because you were the next Boglach son...you HAD to. Father broke his leg when he was young on a horse and it didn't heal right, and so your Uncle was the one who became a knight...and died protecting a village from an Infallable State's progrom. Father never really got over the shame...until you were born and were accepted.

Still...the Knight Errant? With only one hand?

"Also, Sister Geheimnis will be accompanying you." Master Benic says. "And she shall remain with you until someone of higher rank than myself authorizes it...in person."

Orion's eyebrows snap up. That's just...okay, it's not unprecedented. Witchborn Sisters and Knights traveled together often, in fact one of your ancestors was like that as well. But, that was something that took ages, and they had to talk to the Abbey, and...

"Alright." Gem says. "I accept."

"Really?" Orion asks.

Gem shrugs. "Until the Abbey says differently. I live to serve." She bows open palmed to the Masters.

Gem tried to keep calm. This was better than she hoped, but the Masters were starting to frighten her. Still, if their plotting was their own...then it worked for her needs.

"Let me make this clear, Knight." Benic says. "You are NOT my first choice. He died in the swamp. You are my ONLY choice. Our order NEEDS an Errant to REMIND people of why they need us. Why we are necessary. You, and the Sister, are our only option. So you will serve.

"Do you have anything else you'd like to say to me?"

> "No, sir."
> "It's an honor sir, anything for the Order."
> "I'm not your puppet, 'sir.' I serve New Brios, not the Order."
> Write-In

>>379573
> "No, sir."

>>379573
> "It's an honor sir, anything for the Order."

>>379573
>> "No, sir."

>>379573
> Write-In
any ideas for a replacement for this *wave stump*, otherwise; no sir

>>379573
>> "No, sir."

>>379573
> "No, sir."
Its going to be an interesting journey, thats for sure.

Gem wants to go on an adventure?

Or is she at odds with the abbey and have to leave for a while?

>>379607
We'll have to talk with her to find out. And given the journey ahead, we will have a lot of time to talk.

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

It is rather appropriate for this now.

>>379573
>"I'm not your puppet, 'sir.' I serve New Brios, not the Order."
Fuck that kind of outmoded thinking.
Just wait until repeating rifles get built, then knights will either adapt or become obsolete.

>>379573
> Write-In
"As the sister said, I live to serve."

>>379573
>"No, sir."
Really think that the DC for this stuff should be modified if we are going for just a flat 15, I mean I get things being hard, but surely some of this stuff should at least be easier...

>>379573
> "No, sir."
>>379628
OP said bolt action models exist, we should get one of those

Also, can we morph Palus to an iron hand or something?

>>379585
>>379638

"No, sir." You say. "As the sister said, I live to serve."

"Your first assignment." Benic looks at Rowlen, and Rowlen hands Benic a rolled scroll which Benic hands to Orion. "The train line has yet to reach Crowest, it should have already. You are to investigate the issue, and resolve it."

He grabs your wrist that's taken the scroll. "I want to make this clear, this is a Knight's duty. You don't need to rely on militia boys with muskets."

"Are you forbidding me from picking up a pistol?" You ask.

"Whatever it takes to get the job done, so that everyone knows that the Knights were the one that did it." He looks at Gem. "Sister?"

"Walpurgis is always there to aid the brave Knights." Gem says.

"Good girl." The men turn to leave. "You'll be leaving in the morning. Say goodbye to your family, tonight."

"Will you two be staying for dinner?" Orion asks.

"I prefer actual food." Rowlen says. "Not that swamp muck this castle seems to endlessly guzzle."

Benic gives Rowlen a stern look...but also a smile. "We have business in Marshline. They're protesting that the railway will not be reaching their village. We're going to support Webly."

"They sent the Butcher to Marshline?!" Orion asks, alarmed.

"We expect the matter to be resolved swiftly." Benic says. "Good day, Brother."

They leave.

Orion and Gem look at each other.

"So...we're stuck with each other now." Orion says.

"Yes." Gem says. "Just so you know...I can geld you in eighteen different, agonizingly painful, ways."

"I'll keep it in mind." Orion says.

Dinner is a pleasant affair. The Earl is beside himself with happiness at his son being made Knight Errant. The younger sisters all pepper Gem with endless questions.

At the end of the meal, Cygna comes to the table with a lacquered box. She looks at the Earl, who nods and she opens it.

(cont)

>>379674
>geld?

>Knight Masters fully supporting someone named "The Butcher" to put down peasant protests
Yeah, I'm fully expecting the Knight Order to require a purge from the State and the People.

>>379686
Anon, don't tell me you actually don't know what that word means?
Because it would not be in character for a Knight to not know the meaning of that word.

It means to castrate, usually in reference to a horse.

>>379686
castrate, I.e forcefully remove genitalia from a male subject.