>>2485775
Miriam a tough little bitch

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>>2485775
With Valentina at your side, you walk out the front doors of the manor into the sunlight.

You are met with flower beds lining a paved road and fountain before the door. A bubble arcs overhead. A huge expanse of trimmed plant life and massive manors rests on what you know from Miriam as the 'upper tier' where the nobility lives, their property size denoting their importance.

The youngest daughter of the empress, and a personal friend of Miriam lies next door in the Imperial Mansion, the only property larger than the Arteth grounds. Her name is Annabel Meran, she typically gossips about politics and has the ear of the empress.

Another personal friend of the higher nobility lies a ways away, Sophie Dinis, Shy, polite, and generally friendly, she strikes you as naive in retrospect.

Jenny Uron is one of the friends of lesser nobility, and you can tell from the memories that she was just using her connections to get ahead, and was probably trying to probe Miriam for weaknesses. She lies in the lesser nobility manor across from your home.

And lastly Tillie Genesfor, another lesser noble across the way, although her friendship with Miriam seems to be the result of an accidental meeting when younger.

All of these people are likely to be the first contacts of Miriam...

Alternatively, you can ignore her social ties and wander the city proper if you wish.

>what do you do?

>>2485800
All of them, tell them about what happened with the "hero".

>>2485844
This. We HAVE to tell everyone we fire punched him so hard that he's probably a girl now.

>>2485800
But most importantly is the Annabel Meran girl next door. What with her having the ear of Mera, it would sure be interesting for her to tell Mera that her champion tried to molest us.

>>2485800
Annabelle seems like a good choice to me

>>2485800
Annabelle

>>2485800
>lets just wander around

>>2485844
>>2485853
Seconding these! Teach our friends the power of the Loli PAWNCH! And to style their hair in drills to keep the creatin away from them.

>>2485844

dis

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Rolled 79 + 20 (1d100 + 20)

>>2485853
>>2485844
>>2486250
>>2486432
>>2485868
>>2486076
You decide to to meet with each of them, but the level of social interaction and niceties that need to be implemented each meeting.

You send a messenger to Annabel for a meeting. Soon you are entering a carriage to go to the Imperial manor. You pass hardly anyone on the way, the upper tiers have little activity.

On arriving at the front of the Imperial manor, towering above your small form, a door opens. You find yourself tackled by a blur of gold and blue.

"Miriam! I was so worried! I thought you'd been killed!" The girl proclaims. This was Annabel, Miriam's memory confirmed. You give her a bit of a smile.

"W-well, I don't really..." You start.

"Oh my! You seem totally shook!" Annabel proclaims, "Come in, come in, let's chat over some tea and pastries!"

You are led in, backed by Valentina. The room for the tea has large windows looking out to the gardens, a gazebo off in the distance. The princess gives orders to her servants with politeness and grace before directing her warm smile at you.

You can pretend to have lost some memory to get by, or try to use Miriam's memory and thoughts to get by.

>roll 1d100 or use Miriam?

>>2487152

use the memory... godamnit ire dont roll high

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>2487152
I choose which ever won't cost another point of sanity, else I'll go with the loss of memory.
What's the roll for again?

>>2487165
speech check to convince lost memory. The princess gets a +20 to detection as Miriam's childhood friend.

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>>2487189
Technically her childhood friend is no more. Or at least not the same she used to be.
Miriam seen some serious shit

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>2487152

Surely you can do it... I have faith in you.

>>2487217
We could always go a completely different route... We know what happened to the real one right? So if she seems to be amenable as far as we know to finding the real one and de-witching her, maybe we won't get mind wiped?
It's a stretch but I'm going to fight for a way to help that girl so we don't have to put up with house/city arrest longer than needed.

>>2487154
Use the memory

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>2487152
Jesus Fucking Christ that roll.

>>2487260
We know that Miriam encountered the witch in the past. We do not know that she was turned into a low quality sword.

>>2487217
We were really close with that 98. Do we get any modifiers?

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>2487152

>>2487217
What about the My Fair Lady or the Cute perks
Holy heck only a crit success can beat that 99.

>>2487286
Oh, thought it was actually included in what she remembered... he remembered. I guess that was just for us in reality then.

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>>2487288
...cute doesn't apply, the other does.

+50 to the roll.

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>2487152
:^]

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>>2487364
>>2487287
>>2487277
>>2487215
>>2487165
"I lost part of my memory..." you explain, "I ran into a witch and... it's all blank."

"Oh... You were so excited to see outside, but to meet a witch... Rotten luck. They're horrific, those witches. That's why Lissenport no longer exists... the townsfolk were turned to bees." Annabel frowned, sipping her tea, "What's worse, there was one witch that was caught that got away from execution, mother tells me."

You blink, "How so?"

"Apparently she was a young witch, but they can grow vile quickly. Under the knight Quixote- you know him? We were introduced years ago at his graduation... Anyhow, Sir Quixote was overseeing a witch burning, and a great demonic knight burst from the trees, hunched and wicked." You know how this story goes... "And then it smashed apart his Goddess Knight armor, and he was pinned. A faceless man left the monstrosity, and interrogated him before Sir Quixote vanished...
Then the faceless one left with the witch into the woods near the capital."

You involuntarily let out a gulp. Annabel nods in agreement, "Terrifiying. Worse yet, the goddess knight failed to even scratch the demonic one. Who knows what that witch is capable of now... and with such a knight... I wouldn't want to leave Aldenia..." She takes a sip of her tea, you do the same.

From what you know, now is the time to get information from her. It would be best not to press too much, otherwise you might draw suspicion though... Or you could ask her what local gossip is...

Or ask to leave...

>What do you do?

>>2487423
> Mention that the threat of Elves can't be forgotten either. They're slavers and degenerates after all.

Fish for info on the attack.

>>2487423
Tell her about the incident with the "hero".

>>2487423
Local gossip seems like a good idea; if we are meeting with the others later, might aswell learn about them now

>>2487446
This

>>2487423
Tell her about the incident with the "hero".
Also ask her how she been and all that kazz

>>2487423
Ask her about the local gossip.

>>2487446
This.

>>2487434

this

>>2487423
> Tell her about the incident with the "hero".

>>2487446
>>2487463
Supporting

>>2487446
voting for this as well.

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>>2489496
>>2488407
>>2487746
>>2487617
>>2487499
>>2487446
"Actually..." You start, having your own terrifying story to tell, "I met... a hero called Daichi."

"Oh!" The princess seemed to light up, "I heard so much about him! One of my sisters said he can make a girl fall for him in moments..."

"About that. He started to make moves on me, and actually intruded on my room, trying to..." You explain. The princess gives a shocked look. "He was trying to, I think..."

"But you are too young! To think the hero would do such a thing! What did you do? Did Lord Arteth come to your aid? Did you call for guards?" She sends a battery of questions, all for the result.

"Actually, I punched him in the crotch." At your explanation, Annabel sputters, coughing in her tea.

"You PUNCHED the hero? Right in his- pfftahahahaha!" The girl can't retain her laughter, "And then what?"

"He flew out of the room, and my father banished him from Aldenia..."

"The hero, laid low by the punch of the young lady Arteth! Oh, that is amazing. To think he'd force himself on you. I ought to ask mother to punish him herself." Annabel thinks a bit, "So does that mean that you'll be getting a guard detail soon?"

"I think that was mentioned..." You nod, recalling the nobleman's words, picking out retainers for you.

"Your own hand-picked knights. Lucky girl. I have to take what my mother gives me. Can you believe she's assigned one of the Pendragons? Last thing I need is a stuck-up knight killing the mood here." She pouts, "Oh, that reminds me, apparently Locksley and Wilfred led a force into elven territory, broke one of the shrines to Acarit... The elves were absolutely incensed! It was a massive battle, but the empire prevailed..." She sips her tea, "Though had they decided not to intrude in elven lands, I feel we could have kept a great deal of our knights..." She shrugs, "So... The hero is a pervert, and you are getting guards. Want a bit of recommendation?"

Annabel is actually a year younger than Miriam, but her position has her embroiled in politics. You can recall in Miriam's memory many visits of her absently nodding at these massive affairs of state, though Annabel seems to focus mostly on court politics, rather than diplomacy. She'd know a general idea of each of your other friends.

>what do you do?

>>2489566
Welcome her recommendation, while asking her opinions on our friends, from the general descriptions of them provided, compared to annabel, it seems like she is our closest friend.

>>2489566
Extra insight never hurts, also try to fish for rumors about other settlements.

I have a feeling that prodding Annabel for information that's political is only going to make her suspicious of us, but I don't think there should be anything wrong with hearing her suggestions that she's offering

>>2489569
>>2489572
Supporting

>>2489566
Sure who you have in mind?

>>2489566
Sure, who do you have in mind?

>>2489566
Does Annabel know how to defend herself and the art of the crotch puncher? we could give her a few tips. Aim for the toes, shins. knees and obviously the crotch.

>>2489566
> Ask her advice

> Also ask how we can get a sword and some stabbing learning in.

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>>2489569
>>2489572
>>2489615
>>2489644
>>2489737
>>2489741
>>2489920
"Who do you have in mind?" You ask, the princess smiles and lays three insignias on the table. You can't recognize them, even using Miriam's memory.

"Not someone, but..." She points to them, "These orders are the best ones to pick." She indicated the largest one, "The Crownguard order of knights are the ones who could be in the upper echelons... the most skilled ones. Considering the rank of your family, you should be able to command their respect and loyalty." The indicates the round one, "The Highguard are meant for the noble houses, usually ending up at lower ranks of the goddess knights. They want to move up to the Crownguard, but they simply don't make the cut..." She points to the last one, smaller than the others, "Then there are the Blade Knights... They can't make the cut of goddess knight pilots unless a family takes them. Most of them are of lower birth, which is why they can't get to the higher rankings." She leans back, "You should ask for these orders, otherwise the Academy might try to trot out knight potentials that are subpar."

"I see," You nod, "Why do they do that?"

"Well, most of the settlements around the empire send their potential recruits to the academies, but a lot of people can't make the cut. Nobility make it first, then the best peasantry make it in. It doesn't mean the peasants are worst in potential, they simply have such a low status. The academy wants to appear as a place of nobility, after all, so they try to rid themselves of the peasants first, preferably the ones who perform the worst."

You frown and the princess nods.

"So you have to ask for the specific orders, because the Academy always tries to hold the best and brightest for the empress, who won't even take them all. Since we live in Aldenia, they feel they can be lax with us."

Sounds like they might have cheated you out of good guards had you not come here...

>what do you do?

>>2490523
we should fight the guards we get. for quality control.

>>2490523
Thank her very much for this advice, after all, we will certainly need to know this in the near future

>>2490523
Ask her if there's anything interesting going on outside the city.

>>2490523
> Ask her to spar with you

>>2490531
>>2491377
Supporting. Small gossip and stuff.

>>2491377
Supported

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>>2491967
>>2491966
>>2491377
You decide to ask on events outside the city. The princess looks out the window, "Well... We're doing well on the frontier, there were a few witch sightings, the flying city of bandits was spotted off the northern coast, and the annual Knight Tournament recently ended." She paused, "Seaworth put up a good fight, but Seiya floored his goddess knight, so she won the tournament. I didn't get to see it though, kind of disappointed there. There was a bit of shuffling in the lower nobility after a peasant uprising killed off one of the families, but the Knights went in and shut it down. Also there's been a push in some of the Northern provinces to make slavery official. Of course, that's influence from the Northward continent...
Oh, and the summoned hero that came with Daichi apparently split away from him on one of the last visits..." She tapped the table, "aaaand... Oh! There was that outlander the guards spoke of. They saw a machine streak across the sky and land, before a mysterious stranger in a face-hiding helmet visited the town. All they did, though, was hire some thugs in the capital and head to the forest, from what I heard."

You raise your eyebrows at the news, Levi must have been spotted.

"And the strangest part, Miriam? They were seen flying to and from the Unknown Lands..." She says, ominously. You manage to force a convincing gasp. Annabel nods, "I know. Who would think something so strange would come from there, that place is death! From the icy glaciers to the shallow seas, to the unknown lands beyond... Nobody ever returned. But I have a suspicion... Here's my thought." She leans in close, glancing at the maids, including Valentina, "I bet it's one of those folks from the wastes... The Disciples of Science. Their insanity would explain it. They're shunned everywhere else. Perhaps they were scouting a new locale, since neither Deathlords or the Lichdom will yield that blighted place..."

She sips her tea, "What do you think, Miriam?"

You could use more info on those factions...

>She's asking for your thoughts on the outlander... what do you say?

>>2496770
"I like helms"

>>2496770
>They seem... interesting, now I REALLY want to go on an adventure.

>>2496785
This seems good, maybe we can "accidentally" find the childhood friend chick, and....nudge her in a good direction. After all, cucking the hero nerd is our duty.

>>2496770
The outlander sounds both fascinating and terrifying

>>2496849
Supporting

>>2496785
>>2496849
supporting, lets get interested

>>2496849

this

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>>2496785
>>2496849
>>2496945
>>2497023
>>2497693
"That sounds amazing and terrifying... I REALLY want to go on an adventure now and see them!"
You do a perfect mimicry of Miriam's fascination for new things... Almost too perfect. Did something change? No, you're certain nothing is different...

>-1 san

Annabel laughs, "After that incident, you are lucky to leave the house, Miriam! A lot of nobility increased restrictions on their kids since you vanished... well, not mother, but that's different. Regardless, odds are you aren't leaving Aldenia until you graduate the Academy. I think they have elite troops stationed at both the portal to the capital AND the knight gates, with all our names and faces magically listed to keep us in here."

That puts a damper on your plans to escape.

Fortunately, you exist in two places at once! But Annabel doesn't need to know that.

The princess sighs, "Shame about your memory, any gossip you could have given about your adventure would help me a lot. I live for outside news in this accursed bubble... I have to graduate too... Don't worry though, We're sure to share lessons."

>It seems the princess is in demand for news from outside. If you have any, you might be able to get favors from her.

>Miriam's friend Annabel is available for advice at any time. She knows nobility best, and has ties to the empress... A few words from her might even sway the empire a bit in your favor.

You sip your tea. It's... really good. You love this fla- wait, Miriam loves this flavor.

You can either keep chatting, or you could decide to end the visit with Annabel... It is no longer rude to do so.

>what do you do?

>>2500040
Ask her if we have any catching up to do with our magical studies.

>>2500063
Smart, supporting this.

>>2500040
>>-1 san
What happens if our sanity gets too low?

>>2500063
+1

>>2500063
Support

>>2500040
>-1 san
Aw come the fuck on! How!
Well shit. I guess the only way to remedy this is acting slightly not like Miriam.

>>2500040
the sans lost is fucking bullshit.

>>2500109
At max san loss (-50) smol alex becomes Miriam. Still remains playable, although it will be from her perspective... And she'll remain part of the hivemind connection. It'd be the perspective of young nobility, backed by whatever knowlege Alex has and vice versa for the actual Alex.

...oh, and +100 san will be added to the hivemind pool due to two mindsets and no more convincing rolls, though Miriam has a more childish approach to things and a differing set of values, like Levi.

>>2500040
> End the visit. Go find a mechbay. Sit in a mech to remember ourselves.

>>2500063
>>2501059
+1

>>2500681
How much different would smol Alex turned Miriam be from the original Miriam?

>>2500681
But I mean . . .

The real Miriam is still out there somewhere?

>>2501094
not really

>>2501094
Apparantly she got turned into a sword by the witch Greta because of weird fetish reasons, we can possibly save her at some point. Maybe we can scry for her.

>>2501929
the sword has been alluded to have become several pieces and if you were to count the most complete part of her as the real one then it'd actually be Loli Alex as she's far more in tact than anything of Miriam.

>>2501978
Now that is pretty much nightmare fuel, so she killed a kid for nothing but shits and giggles, seems Greta the witch is the evilest bitch.

test

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>>2500063
>>2500106
>>2500109
>>2500162
>>2501070
"Any studies to catch up on?" You ask. The princess tilts her head.

"Miriam... you do know we are admitted based on aptitude, not spells known, right? I've seen your sparkling magic before. No, we;ll study after we find out where we each sit, magic-wise."

You frown. Not much help there... Annabel is of more political mind than a studious one.

"How about... erm, goddess knights?" You try.

"I thought that was Lady Tillie's hobby, goddess knights. They have a few at the Academy..." She tapped her chin and stood, motioning for you to follow. Down a staircase in the manor, below the ground floor, was a railing around a vast room. The princess snapped her fingers, revealing the heat of a massive humanoid mech, "This is Hawkwood's, my protector's knight. He gives combat lessons at the knight academy."

"Any chance I could sit inside it?" You try.

"Ahahah, no, Miriam. It's under my house! An untrained magician in a goddess knight is a recipe for disaster! There's a reason people without magical aptitude use these at younger ages. The magic core is fragile. Unregulated magic like ours could set it off, making the machine go wild!" You can hear a tint of experience to that story...

"Princess, did you by chance-"

"NO! Nonono! I didn't!" She waved her hands in embarrassment, "A princess wouldn't!" ...though it sounds like a princess did try to drive one. Regardless, you now know entering one of these Goddess Knight mechs is dangerous for you right now.

>What do you do?

>>2503752
Thank the princess for her time, then visit our other friends.

>>2504217
Supporting

>>2504217
Supported

>>2504217

>>2504217
supporting

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>>2504217
>>2504312
>>2504518
>>2504525
Returning upstairs, you bid farewell to the princess, thanking her for her time with a curtsy. The princess gives a bow and thanks you for coming.

Deciding to visit another friend of Miriam, you go over your choices...

Tillie Genesfor, a lesser noble, has interest in Goddess Knights, which could lead to information on them.

Sophie Dinis, a high noble, seems to have a vast assortment of knowledge from memory, she's quite studious.

Lastly, Jenny Uron, the ambitious girl trying to climb in noble society, using Miriam as a stepping stone under pretense of friendship.

>Which would you like to visit?

>>2504569
>Sophie Dinis
Seems lime a good bet if we want academical knowledge on mechs

>>2504569
>Tillie Genesfor, a lesser noble, has interest in Goddess Knights, which could lead to information on them.

>>2504762
Suppoort

>>2504569
Tillie Genesfor
mech friends man. Maybe she'll have some junky ones we can play- practice in.

>>2504569
>Tillie Genesfor, a lesser noble, has interest in Goddess Knights, which could lead to information on them.

Talk Mech-xy to me.

>>2504569
>Tillie

https://discord.gg/g8P5qH
discord for an update when I post the next entry.