>>2846308
“The clock tower fell, and a bunch of people died, but the good news is we killed Ticky.” Henry said.

He didn’t want to be having this fucking conversation, but he knew better than to try lying to Johnny, or even worse ignoring him.

“How many people is, ‘a bunch’.” Johnny asked warily.

“Seven, least that’s what it was yesterday night.” Henry replied.

“To be honest, that’s acceptable losses.” Johnny replied.

“What.” Henry asked.

“What?!” Ophelia seconded.

“what?” Johnny replied. “The entire city could have fallen to chaos if we hadn’t stopped that thing. The silence ward wouldn’t have worked while the thing could slip out through the basement tunnel, and it’s not like the church would’ve listened to us. They couldn’t intrude on nobility with just hearsay even if they had.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Henry asked.

It wasn’t like he was complaining. He’d expected a MASSIVE lecture.

“I’m not excusing it, just that things could have been a LOT worse. Only losing seven people to a monster like that is more than a fair trade. Even if it was our actions that did it.”

“I don’t feel comfortable… wait, your actions?” Ophelia said, stopping and processing what she’d just heard.

“We laid a trap of bomb runes at the base of the tower, in retrospect a poor decision, but we didn’t expect the base to become so destabilized. Maybe if someone hadn’t tried fiddling with complex runic patternwork.” Johnny said

“Well it might’ve been due to blowing up the ghiestcaster.” Henry murmured before cursing himself.

“YOU BLEW MY GHEISTCASTER UP?!” Ophelia said, shocked and horrified. “YOU KNOCKED THE TOWER DOWN?!”

“Well we’re having this conversation because we did, erm, the blowing the gheistcaster up part.” Henry said.

“You lied to me!” Ophelia said. “You said it was my fault the tower collapsed.”

“It isn’t a lie.” Johnny remarked. “If you hadn’t created that abomination then the tower WOULDN’T have collapsed.”

Ophelia tried to form a respond before giving up.

“You need to stop taking what that man says at face value, it’s a horrible habit to get into.” Johnny said, eyeing Henry.

“I didn’t lie you asshole.” Henry said to Johnny. “And I feel fucking terrible about what happened okay.”

“I’m sure you do.” Johnny told him.

Henry fucking hated that skeleton sometimes.

>>2846312
Henry let out the smallest piece of black mana from his hands, which flowed down towards Johnny. Johnny’s bones began to rattle and suddenly pulled themselves together. After a couple of seconds Johnny was standing back up on his feet, no worse for wear.

“Finally, thank you.” Johnny said, stretching a tiny bit.

Henry knew that he didn’t need to exactly, but it let the poor bastard feel a bit more human, or so he said.

“Look, I need to head out for a little bit, can you make sure this genius doesn’t do anything stupid until I get back.”

“HEY!” Ophelia said, indignant.

“Calm down, there will be plenty of time to do something stupid later.” Johnny said, it didn’t seem to put her at ease.

>roll 1d100 to find Agla, 40 or higher required to locate her

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>2846324

>>2846335
welp

File: 1477922449974.png (763 KB, 786x576)

763 KB PNG

Rolled 3 (1d100)

I'm rolling only to determine how absolutely SPOOKED Ophelia gets from being alone around Johnny, a walking animated skeleton. Higher the roll = the greater the spook.

>>2846366
She's far too interested in studying him to be spooked. SCIENCE WINS AGAIN.

>>2846324
Henry wanted to find Agla. At the very least he wanted to see what was going on at the church itself, he figured he’d find her there. Oddly enough she wasn’t. Although it was easy enough to find out where she was when he’d asked around a bit. He didn’t even have to offer a couple of coins for the info, which was always nice.

A couple of Cathars said that she had a certain garden in the city that she frequented, they even gave him directions to it. Henry nodded and quickly left. The holy grounds had quite a few people grieving the loss of friends and family, and the whole atmosphere was depressing.

Henry eventually found his way to the garden, a quick fifteen minute walk. He saw Agla sitting on a tree stump, holding a bird in her hands. The bird seemed to be injured, as it tried to flap its wings and fly off a couple of times but was unable to.

Decisions:
1. “Have a moment to talk?”
2. “Everythings fucked ain’t it?”
3. “How are things at the church?”
4. “Shouldn’t you be helping people or something? Not to pry of course.”
5. (write in)

>>2846411
>2. “Everythings fucked ain’t it?”

>>2846411
>2. “Everythings fucked ain’t it?”

>>2846419
>>2846420
writing

>>2846411
“Everything’s fucked ain’t it?” Henry asked, to Agla.

The woman’s expression soured, she gently placed the bird down next to her and turned to face Henry.

“That would be one way to put it, yes. I won’t ask if you were the cause of the collapse, you’d find some way to wiggle out of it.”

“So what’s going on with the church?” Henry asked.

“Damage control mostly. They had most of the area around the clocktower cleared of common folk, so most of the deaths were Cathars. I don’t really dabble in politics but this seems to leave the church flatted footed regardless. The inquisitors met with my Arch-angel to discuss some matters. Beyond that, I don’t know and I don’t really care to.”

Decisions:
1. “Isn’t it your job to care?”
2. “Not offering any solace to the people affected?”
3. “That’s it then?”
4. “How are you holding up?”
5. (Write in)

>>2846621
>4. “How are you holding up?”

>>2846621
>4. “How are you holding up?”
Even though things went all kinds of sideways in the end, I wanted to tell you thanks for your help, in case I don't see you again.

>>2846646
>>2846623
writing

>>2846621
“How are you holding up?” Henry asked.

“What do you think?” Agla responded.

Her wings drooped a bit, and she looked towards the ground.

“I guess losing that many people …”

“We saw their souls safely to the other side, so that isn’t it really. I can’t talk about it, I’m sorry.”

“Must be serious then.” Henry said.

Agla merely nodded.

“Well, I don’t know if we’ll be meeting again then, I just wanted to thank you for your help.”

“You likely won’t be seeing me again, mortal.”Agla responded.

Her eyes flickered a moment, between pure glowing light and brown irises.

“You could run you know.” Henry said.

“I really can’t.” Agla said. “I truly wish you could understand, but you cannot.”

Decisions:
1. Leave without saying anything
2. (Write in)

>>2846669
>2. (Write in)
Would you having the remains of the clockwork monstrosity help help?
And would it being a fricking necromantic thing do any better?
Cause it was fucking trying to reproduce.
Fucking creepy.
Creeeeepy

>>2846669
Backing >>2846675

>>2846669
Also throw in a parting "I do understand. Some things you can run from as far as you want, but they find a way to get you again. They always do." and leave after doing the write in

>>2846669
"...Do you ever wish you couldn't understand yourself?"

>>2846699
Oh fuck this one is good. This too

>>2846675
>>2846696
>>2846698
>>2846699
>>2846701
writing

>>2846669

“Theoretically, would having the remains of the clockwork monstrosity help.”

“The blame would likely be heaped on me if I attempted to turn that thing in. Gold hardly concerns me and I wouldn’t regain anything I have lost doing it. If anything it would be disobeying orders, a far higher offense than anything I’ve done thus far.”

“Alright... and hey, I understand what you mean some things you can run from as far as you want, but they find a way to get you again. They always do.”

Henry turned to leave, but heard a voice from nowhere and from no one.

“Tick tock Henry, time’s running out, how much longer do you have to delude yourself. I wonder when things will finally catch back up to you?”

Henry flipped around, a cold sweat running down his neck. The same thing had happened back at New Haven. It was HIS voice, Abraxas’, was he losing it? Had he finally snapped and lost it?

“Is something the matter, mortal?” Agla asked, the tinniest bit of concern leaking into her voice.

“Do you ever wish you couldn’t understand yourself?” Henry asked, glancing around the courtyard.

All he saw were plants, dirt, a couple of fountains, and the stone wall circling it.

Agla opened her mouth to respond, then closed it, then opened it again.

“No.” She finally said. “To no longer know what I am, that would be tantamount to rejecting myself. That would mean I hate myself, wouldn’t it? To hate myself, to hate this life I’ve been given, that would be rejecting our holy mother, and would spit in the face of everything sacrificed.”

Henry nodded. He didn’t’ exactly understand what she meant, but he understood the emotion.

He felt his skin crawl a bit, he could’ve sworn something was watching them out of the corner of his eye. He wanted to leave, to get the fuck out of this city and to get back home.

Decisions:
1. Head to Elom Village, finish things there
2. Head back to Johnny and Ophelia
3. Head elsewhere? (write in)
4. Other? (write in)

>>2846762
>1. Head to Elom Village, finish things there
REEEE all the way there.
But quietly to your self.

>>2846762
>"I hope you don't mind if I say this, but I hope you're wrong about not seeing each other again, even if it's nearly impossible."

"Farewell, Alga."

1. Head to Elom Village, finish things there

I kinda do want to see her again, if only to prove her bosses wrong about her.

calling it a night on my end

>>2846762
Backing >>2846780
and go [REEEE's internally] like >>2846768 said, or another similar panic noise

And also hide someplace and write to Johnny via contact to head to Elom Village with Ophelia

>>2846780
>>2846768
>>2846762
Backing these.

>>2846762
Man. Agla sure has got a shit hand.

Well, I personally think she did what was right, at the cost of punishment.

It might not be much, but it might be nice for her to hear that we respect her for what she's done and is.

>>2846762
“I hope you don’t mind if I say this, but I hope you’re wrong about not seeing each other again, even if it’s nearly impossible.”

Agla looked away nervously for a second, then slowly turned her head to face Henry. She smiled for a brief moment before it was hidden away behind an angelic mask of indifference.

“I hope so too.” Agla said.

“Farewell Agla.”

“Farewell Mort… Henry.” Agla responded.

The angel watched as the red cloaked human departed. Soon she’d need to make a trip of her own, one she wasn’t sure she’d return from.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Elom village was a small place, several houses, a family run inn, and a small shrine. The entire village was made up of three familes, all scattered between their own buildings. The village wouldn’t really have a place on the map if not for the small shrine in the middle, and its location off a main road between Grutzberg and the capital. It was a fine stopping point for those who couldn’t quite make it to Grutzberg before nightfall, and not much else. The shrine was a small stone building with neat angelic symbols and four statues of the three seraphs and the grand seraph, as well as one destroyed statue of something struck from all records.

Charles huddled inside the structure in prayer. He prayed for Henry and Johnny’s safe return, he didn’t want to lose them when they were so close to returning safely. He didn’t really know what he’d do, Henry had said he’d have to earn his keep, would that entail necromancy? Could he do that? He wanted to stay with the man, and that skeleton, even if he had misgivings.

“Are you alright child?” Rosa asked, stepping into the building and out of the midday sun.

Charles knew something had happened when she’d grabbed him from the inn, he was happy to leave that horrible place. But he worried that Henry or Johnny had met a horrible fate. Rosa wouldn’t talk and his hopes hadn’t exactly improved when Larry had joined him. The man had prayed quite a bit while mumbling about something, but became skittish when Charles had tried to ask him about it.

Rosa had said that Henry had caused a lot of trouble, but had left it at that. He knew she was hiding something from him, but he wasn’t sure what.

Decisions:
1. “I’m fine ma’am”
2. “No I’m not Rosa, I’m worried about Henry.”
3. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
4. “Can we talk?”
5. (write in)

>>2848966
Charles has been rather neglected during this arc hasn't he?

>>2848966
>2. “No I’m not Rosa, I’m worried about Henry.”
And I'm worried about Johnny, and larry.
I'm just worried.

>>2848966
>2. “No I’m not Rosa, I’m worried about Henry.”
Are you worried about him too?

>>2848968
It's bound to happen when you have a mad scientist make a steampunk robot that tries to have horrible robo-babies.

>>2848966
>2. “No I’m not Rosa, I’m worried about Henry.”

>>2848969
>>2848974
>>2848980
>>2848982
writing

>>2848966
“No I’m not Rosa, I’m worried about Henry.”

“Right.” Rosa said, fiddling with her hair for a moment before sitting down next to Charles.

“And I’m worried about Johnny, and Larry.”

“Well I can tell you Larry is going to be okay.” Rosa said. “He’s calmed down and I think I’ve been able to put his fears at ease a little bit.”

“Are you worried about Henry as well?” Charles asked.

“I… that’s an interesting question.” Rosa said, nervously.

“What do you mean, why wouldn’t you be worried about him.”

“I mean of course… I uh.” Rosa said. “Look I have all sorts of conflicting feelings right now, and I don’t know what to make of them, I don’t wish to put you down but you might be too young to really understand.”

Rosa stared up at the grand seraph’s statue for a moment, she bit her lip and shook her head.

“Look it’s a sore subject, I don’t know if I could really talk about it, I haven’t talked about it to anyone.”

Decisions:
1. “Can I help?”
2. “Have I not earned the least bit of respect?”
3. “What happened in the clocktower? Why is everyone so scared?”
4. “Will Henry be okay?”
5. “I won’t force you to talk about it
6. (write in)

>>2849032
>1. “Can I help?”

>>2849032
>1. “Can I help?”
>"Did it have something to do with what Larry was talking about?"

>>2849047
calling it a night

>>2849032
>3. “What happened in the clocktower? Why is everyone so scared?”

>>2849047
>>2849051
>>2849146
writing

>>2849032
“Can I help?” Charles asked, “Did it have something to do with what Larry was talking about?”

“No… well yes… maybe?” Rosa said.

“What happened in the clock tower? Why is everyone so scared?”

“Decisions were made and people died, I don’t know if I should be the one to tell you this.” Rosa said, the woman was obviously uncomfortable. “Look, we’re to blame, at least Henry is. I don’t really know how I feel about it, but I do feel awful, it’s just, we killed the thing, or they did. It wasn’t like it was all for nothing, the city is safe now..”

“People died? HENRY ALMOST DIED?!” Charles said.

“Child, I think the man crossed over for a couple seconds. People usually don’t come back from something like that without help. If I hadn’t been there he would be dead, certainly. I felt, horrified, I still do looking back, but it felt... personal, like I was losing someone I cared about…”

“Is he okay?” Charles asked.

“What? Of course that idiot is okay, its why we’re here waiting for him.” Rosa said.

Decisions:
1. “Henry isn’t an idiot!”
2. “You do seem to care about him.”
3. “Does that make you criminals, if people died because of you?”
4. “I want to hear things from Henry.”
5. “Why are you hiding things from me?”
6. (Write in)

>>2850521
>3. “Does that make you criminals, if people died because of you?”

>>2850521
>3. “Does that make you criminals, if people died because of you?”

>>2850521
“Does that make you criminals, if people died because of you?” Charles asked.

“I don’t know the legality… but we are sinners, truly.” Rosa said. “I don’t really know what to think. I just feel empty inside now, I’m sorry for telling you this, I shouldn’t place my problems on a child.”

“Its fine, Rosa.” Charles said, “I understand.”

“I wasn’t the one who placed the bomb runes down, or the one who set them off, I just can’t believe it collapsed the tower. I should’ve… I could’ve done something.”

“It’s over now.” Charles said. “It’s okay.”

“Yeah.” Rosa said, “Yeah you’re right.”

“I just, I just wanted things to last a little longer, I was happy for the first time in a long time, I should’ve thanked everyone, I just didn’t realize it until it was too late.” Rosa said.

Decisions:
1. *say nothing*
2. “What do you mean?”
3. “It’s going to be okay Rosa.”
4. “You saved a lot of people Rosa, that’s all that matters in the end.”
5. “People die all the time, it’s not something to be too concerned with.”
6. (write in)

>>2850704
>1. *say nothing*
>6. (write in)
Hug
Try not to cry, cry

File: cry a lot.jpg (66 KB, 800x450)

66 KB JPG

>>2850704
Backing >>2850729

>>2850729
>>2850733
writing

>>2850704
Charles said nothing, he sat there for a moment. He simply hugged Rosa. He didn’t know why he did it exactly, nor did he really care. He tried not to cry, but he still cried all the same.

He didn’t make a big fuss about it, he tried toughening up a tiny bit, but he still cried.

“Oh, no no no.” Rosa said, hugging the child in return. “Please don’t cry for my s-sake.”

Charles looked her in the eyes, and Rosa went quiet.

“I just, I don’t want to be so useless.” Rosa said. “Look, don’t cry for my sake, alright? Be happy… or try to be, you’re still so young, you still have time to choose how you live your life…”

Rosa went quiet, like she was thinking.

“Besides who am I kidding right? It’d never work, I’m just useless aren’t I? I was such a coward during the fight, and when I should have died… Henry just threw himself behind me. I couldn’t do anything, I’m so useless… I… I uh… I need to be alone.” Rosa said, trying to stand up.

Charles held onto her, forcing her to sit back down and stare at him.

Decisions:
1. “You’re not useless!”
2. “why are we so upset?”
3. “It’s not you.”
4. (write in)

>>2850821
>1. “You’re not useless!”
You even said it yourself, you saved Henry's life.

>>2850833
And and you're helping me with magic.

>>2850821
2. “why are we so upset?”

>>2850903
>>2850821
More along the lines of "But wouldn't it have been worse if you weren't there?"

>>2850821
Like Damn. She's just a person. She can't save everyone.

We (Charles) couldn't save anyone at all. Our whole family died. But she's teaching us magic so at least in the future maybe we can save at least one person.

>>2850821
Backing >>2850833 and >>2850876 and >>2850910

>>2850916
>>2850915
>>2850910
>>2850903
>>2850876
>>2850833
writing

>>2850821
>1. “You’re not useless!”
“You’re not useless!” Charles yelled. “You’re a good person, you help people!”

“Charles…” Rosa murmured.

“Why are we upset? None of us died, the monster is dead, so what if we don’t get the gold for it?!”

“That’s not the point.” Rosa said. “But I understand what you mean.”

“Right?! Besides, you need to teach me magic, so I can help people too!”

“Right!” Rosa said. “You’re right.”

“Even if it was for a little while, for the first time in my life I felt like I belonged somewhere, where I wasn’t just, tolerated. I think Henry might view me as a pest, but you, and Johnny, and even Larry, have been kind to me.” Rosa said.

“What?”

“I don’t really belong anywhere, Charles.” Rosa said. “I guess you’re too young but, I don’t have anywhere to really call home, the church folk tolerate me, sure. But I’m always forced to roam around and tend to the villages to earn bread, and I’ve just wanted a place to call my own… I thought… I thought maybe I’d be able to have that with the gold I’d earn.”

“Yeah.” Charles said.

“L-look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it’s not about this… I mean I guess it is a little bit…” Rosa said.

“So they’re in here then?” A familiar voice called out, Henry had finally made it to the village.

“Y-yeah, I guess they’re both praying now… not like it’ll do any of us much good at this point yeh?” Larry responded..

Decisions:
1. “You’re not useless, okay?”
2. “You’re my friend Rosa.”
3. “Don’t feel so bad okay?”
4. (write in)

>>2850959
>2. “You’re my friend Rosa. Never forget that.”
>One quick hug, then off to see Henry.

>>2850969
I thought henry was coming here?
Otherwise supporting

>>2850972
I mean we hug Rosa real quick then rush out to greet Henry

>>2850977
Aight
Can we hold rosa's hand and drag her outside with us?

>>2850991
If we can, I'm backing your idea

>>2850959
> 2. “You’re my friend Rosa.”

>>2851060
>>2851011
>>2850991
>>2850977
>>2850972
>>2850969
writing

>>2850959
“You’re my friend Rosa, never forget that.” Charles said, hugging Rosa tightly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Look, Larry, you can’t beat yourself up over this, alright. Shit happened, we can’t dwell on it now, nothing we can do about it.” Henry said. “Look, we can have a drink at Nessie’s, you know where that is right?”

“Undertown right?” Larry asked.

“Yeah, we can have a drink and forget all about this, alright?”

“Right, thanks Henry.” Larry said.

Both of them stopped in their tracks as they saw Charles leading Rosa out by her hand. Both of them had been crying about something.

“Something happen?” Henry asked.

“No, it’s all fine now.” Rosa said, smiling.

Henry swore he’d never seen the woman happy before. It suited her.

“So what’s the plan then?” Larry asked.

Decisions:
1. “We all split ways, maybe head back to the capital, after that… I dunno.” (Lose Larry and Rosa as party members)
2. “We’re heading back to the capital… Johnny is gonna make his way there on his own.” (will send Johnny and Ophelia back to your home.)
3. “Look, what happened was my fault, I’ll accept the blame for it if it comes to that.”
4. “We’re all alive, that’s what matters.”
5. “Hey Charles, staying out of trouble?”
6. (write in)

>>2851080
>2. “We’re heading back to the capital… Johnny is gonna make his way there on his own.” (will send Johnny and Ophelia back to your home.)
>4. “We’re all alive, that’s what matters.”

>>2851080
Backing >>2851084
Johnny can get Ophelia to our place safely

>>2851080
>2. “We’re heading back to the capital… Johnny is gonna make his way there on his own.” (will send Johnny and Ophelia back to your home.)
>"Listen, I promised you guys a share of the reward, but obviously it didn't pan out. Still, I've got to keep ahead of my debts. Here, guys, for doing your part." (Give Rosa and Larry a gold each)
>"I'll pay the rest I owe you guys when I've got safer work under my belt"

>>2851080
Oh yeah, also backing the rest of >>2851205's post about giving them a gold each and saying we owe them later. Normally Henry would be really irritated at the idea of owing anybody else anything, since it gives them power over him - but Rosa and Larry are alright.

>>2851228
True
So also backing >>2851205

>>2851205
>>2851080
This.

>>2851257
>>2851242
>>2851228
>>2851205
>>2851122
>>2851084
writing

>>2851080
“We’re heading back to the capital, Johnny decided to break off from the rest of us and make it there on his own. I don’t doubt he’ll make it.” Henry said.

“Listen, I promised you guys a share of the reward, but obviously it didn’t pan out. I’ve still got to keep ahead of my debts, so here.”

Henry held out both of his hands, in each was a single gold coin.

“Look, I don’t think either of us have earned this.” Rosa said.

“I disagree, we killed the fucking thing.” Larry said, taking his coin and smiling at Henry. “I’ll be paying for the drinks when we get back though, least I can do.”

“I’ll be holding you to that.” Henry said, offering up the coin to Rosa, who held out her hand in disgust.

“Keep it away from me, Henry, I feel bad enough about all this as is.”

“I’ll pay the rest I owe you guys when I’ve got safer work under my belt.”

“Look bud, we both agreed to do this, you don’t owe us a copper.” Larry said. “I mean, I appreciate the gold for my time and work but let’s be honest I don’t really want handouts.”

“What he said.” Rosa skittishly added. “Also the fact it’s not something I’m exactly proud of.”

“Well, alright.” Henry said.

He wasn’t exactly saddened by this turn of events, less coin he’d have to pay out later on. He’d mainly offered since he liked both of them. The fact that they had dirt on him now, even if it was mutual, didn’t exactly escape his mind either.

“So what’s the plan then?” Rosa asked.

“We get a ship to the capital, after that, I dunno, maybe you can stay at a church?” Henry asked.

“I know someone, Priest Abbot, church of the commons in the forth ring, it’s on the bay side.” Rosa said.

“Forth ring? You like living in the poor house?” Larry asked.

“You’re speaking to someone who lives in roadside shrines most nights.” Rosa said. “So yes, yes I don’t mind.”

“Alright, cheap I guess.” Larry said.

(-1 gold)

“Henry?” Charles asked, grabbing the man’s arm and pulling him aside.

“Yeah squirt?” Henry asked.

“Did you kill people in the clocktower?” Charles asked. “Rosa said that people died and..”

Decisions:
1. “Rosa says all sorts of things.
2. “Shit happened, nothing to do about it now.”
3. “It was more than a fair trade for bringing that monster down.”
4. “Yeah, yeah we did.”
5. (write in)

>>2851317
>4. “Yeah, yeah we did.”

>>2851317
>4. “Yeah, yeah we did. Indirectly, though."
>"From what I heard, they were cathars, and they evacuated the nearby area, so no townspeople got hurt. So at least there's that..."

>>2851317
Backing >>2851349

>>2851353
will be writing tomorrow

>>2851317
“Yeah we did, though not directly.” Henry said, looking at Charles right in the eyes.

“What happened?” Charles asked, a tinge of fear seeping into his voice.

“We set up some explosives in the base of the tower as a trap, it helped us bring down Ticky but the tower fell, hurt a good chunk of people, and we had to skip town. From what I heard, they were Cathars, and they evacuated the nearby area, so no townsfolk got hurt, thankfully.”

“Oh.” Charles said. “The monster is dead right?”

“Yeah, yeah it is.”

“I’m just happy you’re okay Henry.” Charles said, wrapping his arms around the man’s legs.

“Hey stop it I’m going fall!” Henry said, laughing a little bit.

He just needed to laugh a bit, honestly things could’ve gone far worse, and they’d succeeded. He hadn’t managed to get the gold but that hardly mattered, he had access to the one person who could make more of the things. He’d make DAMN sure that this little incident didn’t repeat itself. He actually knew how to CONTROL creations. Even if he’d never made something as complex as Ticky before.

The main innovation was the fact it contained no flesh, he wondered how the woman had managed it. It was a mystery for later.

Decisions:
1. “Look squirt, you’re going to be my apprentice, you know what that means right? You really want to go through with this?”
2. “It takes a hell of a lot more than that to take me down kid.”
3. “I’m happy I’m in one piece too.”
4. “Come on enough with the sappy shit, let’s get a move on.”
5. (write in)

>>2854229
> 1. “Look squirt, you’re going to be my apprentice, you know what that means right? You really want to go through with this?”

Get out now if there is any doubt.

>>2854229
> 1. “Look squirt, you’re going to be my apprentice, you know what that means right? You really want to go through with this?”

>>2854229
>1. “Look squirt, you’re going to be my apprentice, you know what that means right? You really want to go through with this?”

>>2854246
>>2854241
>>2854291
writing

>>2854229
“Look squirt, you’re going to be my apprentice, you know what that means right? You really want to go through with this?” Henry asked.

“I want to stick with you, Henry. You’ve been kind to me, but you’re also strong, and good with magic, and smart and I want to be strong and smart too!” Charles said. “I don’t, I don’t know what else I need to say…”

“I get it kid, don’t ruin the moment.” Henry said. “You’re gonna be a criminal you know.”

“I was already, just for being born.” Charles said. “It doesn’t really bother me anymore, at least people might start accepting me for me… not who my parents were, or how they thought of me.”

“Are you sure?” Henry asked.

“Yeah.” Charles responded.

Decisions:
1. “Alright everyone, we’re securing passage to the capital from grutzberg.” (will end case)
2. (write in)

>>2854384
with that, Charles has officially joined the group!
>I wish I posted faster, this is a lot smaller than I thought it was.

>>2854384
>1. “Alright everyone, we’re securing passage to the capital from grutzberg.” (will end case)

>>2854384
>1. “Alright everyone, we’re securing passage to the capital from grutzberg.” (will end case)
We're done here! Gotta get back to Grutzberg from Elom Village for the boat, but keeping a low profile should prevent any last-minute fuckups.

>>2854460
>>2854411
writing last post of the night

>>2854384
Henry and Charles walked back to the others. Larry and Rosa looked at him expectantly. Henry wasn’t about to disappoint them.

“Alright everyone, we’re securing passage to the capital, our best bet is through Grutzberg. I’ve done a bit of feeling around and I don’t think they know it was us. So we should be safe.”

“Should?” Rosa asked.

“Ninety nine percent sure.” Henry said. “Beats the hell out of walking.”

“Fuck it, sure.” Larry said. “I don’t really want to walk all the way to the capital from here.”

“So its settled then.” Henry said.

“Are we going to see a lot more farmland?” Charles asked.

“That and nothing else!” Larry said, stretching a bit.

“Alright, I’ll ask around the dockyards back in the city, see what I can arrange.” Henry said.

“As long as it isn’t another job.” Rosa said, deadpan.

The silence after that was long and uncomfortable.

==================================(End of Chapter)================================
================================ (End of Case) ====================================

>>2854760
Tha is for running!

>>2854760
Great arc, what an absolute clusterfuck it turned out to be. I love it.

Be honest, was there ever a chance to get the angel on our side?

>>2854760
Can I even hope to see a map of the capital now that we are all done or is that totally off the table?

>>2855146
I could try the inner ring, maybe. The main issue is it would completely fuck up any wiggle room in terms of where things are.

>>2855080
Perhaps with more work she could have. We might not have seen the last of her, who knows.

>>2854760
==============(Mana Amounts)=================

RED (CURRENTLY 5)


BLACK (CURRENTLY 5)


BLUE (CURRENTLY 2)

This is a per day basis, these will reset after a long enough period of rest

====================(Learned Spells)======================

CURRENT SPELLS (may be tweaked if they are over or under powered)


Bolt: A fairly basic bolt of lightning energy that can fry most living creatures in one hit. Bigger boys and those with magical resistance will be able to tank it.(Costs one bar of red mana to cast)(Is always snapcasted)


Raise Dead: Basic necromantic ritual, will bring to life any corpse or dead animal. Can be controlled with SIMPLE spoken commands. More complicated rituals can be performed but require setup to complete. (costs 0.2 bars of black mana to cast)(can be snapcasted for 0.5)


Ghiest Trap: Will temporarily trap a ghiest and force it to follow your commands (costs 1 bars of blue mana)(Is always snapcasted)


Close Mind: Will give you a better chance to resist attacks against your mind, or mind reading spells in general. Will also give you great resistance against insanity. (costs 0.5 blue mana to cast)(is always snapcasted)


Lightning Talons: Whats better than sword or claw? A sword or claw with LIGHTNING! Will allow you to temporarily enchant a weapon you OR an undead servant you control is currently wielding. Don’t have a weapon? Don’t mind getting a few second degree burns? No problem! Simply enchant your arms or the arms of something you control! (Costs 2 red mana to cast, effects will last for about fifteen seconds)(CAN CAUSE MASSIVE DAMAGE IF IT CONNECTS)(CANNOT BE DISPELLED)

- Upgrade 1: You can now cast directly onto your hands without taking damage!
Dispel: Will completely negate a casted spell and all its subsequent effects, unless its resisted or itself countered. It will have no effect on spells cast on self, enchantments, or spells that are not currently "in the air" so to speak. (Costs 0.5 bars of blue mana to cast) (is always snapcast)


Memory Scatter: Will allow you to selectively remove short term memories from an individual without magical ability. This is a fairly safe spell to use, as you do not go into their LONG TERM memory. The spell travels like a bolt towards the target. At longer ranges this can be dodged or dispelled. Regardless, it is extremely useful. (Costs 1 blue mana to cast)(can be snapcast for 1.5 blue mana)


Undead Command: Dislike having to yell every time you want your zombies to kill someone or something? No problem! With this handy spell, you can simply send a small magic pulse to your zombies! (Costs: Nothing)(is always snapcast)

>>2857607
>alright boys, upgrade screen is here, pick 1 mana type, and pick your top three choices of spell, 1st pick gets 3 points, 2nd gets 2 points, and 3rd gets 1 point, highest point total wins.
Silence: Will completely stop you or a targeted person or object from making any noise at all, from any action. You can cancel the spell at any point of time. (Costs 1 bar of blue mana)(can be snapcasted for 1.5 bars of blue mana)


Undead Rush: Will cause any undead DIRECTLY under your control to break out in a run, allowing them to quickly close distance and overwhelm opponents. They will also be able to leap onto opponents as well. Effect lasts several minutes. (Costs 1 bar of black mana to cast)(can be snapcasted for 1.5 bars of black mana)


Undead Command: Dislike having to yell every time you want your zombies to kill someone or something? No problem! With this handy spell, you can simply send a small magic pulse to your zombies! (Costs: Nothing)(is always snapcast)


Necromantic Heart: Will allow you and up to one other person who maintains direct contact with you to avoid detection by any wandering undead (meaning not directly controlled). Will also make you appear dead to any who use scrying or magical means to try and detect you. (costs 1 bar of black mana to cast)(can be snapcasted for 1.5 bars of black mana)


Minor Scry (May be changed a bit if it makes it more fun to use): Will let you scope out a room or a small area of space and will allow you to detect both living and magical beings. Those who are using cloaking magics will of course be out of your sight, and you will not be able to control exactly where the spell will end up (costs 1 bar of blue mana to cast)(can be snapcasted for 2 bars of blue mana)


Dark Healing: Steal the very Vis from someone and use it to heal yourself, this can outright kill those who are already injured, but can be resisted by those with enough willpower or physical strength. Vis is the energy that binds a soul to a body. Removing all of it will cause the soul to float freely, leaving the body a dead shell. Cannot be used to heal another person or creature, because sharing isn’t fun. (Costs 2 Black mana to cast)(is always snapcast)

Ball Lightning: Why stop at just a bolt? Why stop at just sensical amounts of damage? Temporarily create a lightning elemental to wreak havoc among enemies. Will do MASSIVE FUCKING DAMAGE, but will be susceptible to harm from enemy weapons or magics. You can direct the ball without additional mana cost (costs 4 bars of red mana per casting)(can one shot angels and keep on chugging to give you an idea of how much raw power this is)(is always snapcast)(also called the BIG BOY)

>>2857622

Cancel: Will prevent a mage from being able to cast spells unless that mage can manage to overpower it. Basically you cut them off from the mana bank for a minute or two. Differs from dispel in the fact that it works BEFORE a spell gets cast. (Costs 1.5 bars of blue mana to cast)(is always snapcast)

Mind Rot: Can temporarily (or permanently if powerful enough) cause an opponent to lose their concentration for a period of time and be left slightly insane. Effects can vary WIDELY, ALSO CAN CAUSE PERMANENT MENTAL DAMAGE TO THE TARGET, USE WITH CAUTION. (Costs 1 bar of black mana, 1 bar of blue mana, and one bar of any mana to cast)(is always snapcast)


Rage: Will cause a target to go wild with rage, assuming they’re unable to resist the spell. This will have the effect of increasing their strength, speed, and stamina in the process. Both making them a danger to your opponents AND you for about a minute. (Costs 1 red mana to cast)(is always snapcast)


Internal Combustion: Destruction of a different sort. Dislike buildings? Weapon or armor getting in the way of a killing blow? Gargoyle getting you down? Not anymore! With this little spell any unliving material can be blasted from the inside, assuming you can get close enough to give it a little love tap. The effect can be instant or delayed, allowing you to set traps in certain areas! (Costs 1 red mana to cast)(costs 1.5 red mana to snapcast)(EFFECTS MAY VARY)
Swerve: Pesky spells aimed at you constantly? With this little spell, you can grab those spells out of the air and make choose a new target for them for each spell affected! (Costs 1 red mana, 1 blue mana)(always snapcast)
Haste: Need to get somewhere in a flash? Need to escape from something terrifying? Skipped leg day? No worries, with haste you can quickly traverse a distance, escape from traps or pursuers, or leap great distances with ease and with, dare I say it, “HASTE”.
Quicken: Don’t have enough time to cast a spell? Want to cast more? Well here is a fun little spell for you. Allows you to cast 1 additional spell this turn, 2 spells the next turn. (Costs 2 blue mana, 1 red mana to cast)

>>2857632
alright, thats all the upgrades for the moment, do you guys want me to leave this up and continue on? I kinda fucked up and forgot to post this today.

>>2857635
Leave that up and keep going.

>>2857622
>Blue Mana
and in order
>Blight
>Undead Command
>Minor Scry
I really wanna get that sweet-ass BLIGHTNING much much later. Or even better - BALL BLIGHTNING

>>2857662
alright I'll be continuing now. The upgrade select will remain open for a day or two before I finalize it. If you want to vote just post it in the thread after reading the upgrade post.

>>2857632
>>2857632

"The man who finishes a journey is rarely the same as the one who started it" ~ Book of Journeys

==============================================================(CHAPTER START)========================================================================

The boat slowly sailed downstream away from Grutzberg, which was rapidly disappearing over the horizon as the current picked up its pace. Charles felt quite a few things, for one, calm, he was safe, finally, the church wasn’t going to kill him, and he now had a purpose in life, he was making his own decisions, rather than having to abide by his family. He also felt a bit of apprehension, but that was to be expected, he didn’t really know where he was going, per say. He just knew it was the right direction.

He turned his head back towards the ship itself. Henry and Larry were lying on a mat that had been unfurled on the wooden planks that made up the top deck. There were a few crewmen walking around as well, although they had a lazy demeanor. There was no real danger here; this close to the capital, and the only real task was to avoid hitting rocks or beaching on shore. That task could be handled by a couple competent people.

Rosa was giving out various blessings of the church to the sailors, and had seen to a few of their ailments. The sailors for their part seemed to be extremely happy for it. The woman also appeared to be much happier than she’d been at any other point in the trip, upon noticing Charles she waved over to him. Charles happily waved back.

The captain had said the trip would be about five hours, give or take. Which was a good deal shorter than the trip to New Haven had been. He wondered how much the capital had changed, or if it’d changed at all.

He had so many QUESTIONS floating around in his head, and he had never had the time to ask them, and when he did no one was around to answer them.

Decisions:
1. Ask questions (write in, say who and what the question is)
2. Practice your magic
3. Go bask in the sun with Larry and Henry
4. See how Rosa is doing.
5. explore the ship

>>2857870
>1. Ask questions (write in, say who and what the question is)
>(Henry) Where does Mana come from?
>(Henry) How many Mana colors can a person have? How does that work?
>(Henry) What was wrong with the monster you killed?
>(Henry) What Mana do I have other than just White? When do I find out?
>(Larry) How does your sword work? It's so cool!
Not in that order

>>2858013
I'll agree cause I like lore.

>>2858013
Looks good +1

>>2857622
>Blue mana
>Ball lightning
>Swerve
>Haste
>>2857870
Practice magic with Rosa

>>2857622
Blue

Ball lightning
Haste
Swerve

>>2858013
>>2858183
>>2858564
writing

>make sure those of you who haven't voted for upgrades yet get on that.

>>2857870
Charles headed over to where Larry and Henry were lounging around. Rosa had called them both lazybones but they both needed a break, Charles could understand that. The boat swayed gently in the current making Charles feel a bit dizzy, he had become worried when it hadn’t worn off but Henry had told him that sort of thing was normal.

“Henry, can I ask you something?” Charles said, trying to be as inoffensive as possible.

“Ugh, what?” Henry said.

The man slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes, then stretched towards the sky. He ran his hands over his rapidly growing stubble and tried his best to appear interested.

“Where does mana come from?” Charles asked.

“Why the heck you asking this now?” Henry responded.

“Well we had some time and I thought it would be okay.” Charles said, “There’s so much about mana I’m unsure of, and I want to learn everything I can!”

“Right right. It comes from the aetherium surrounding the world.” Henry said.

“What?” Charles asked.

“It’s a sphere of pure aether that surrounds the world, it gets drawn in through the land and then converted to mana from there. Mana is just a safer form of aether, basically. I know a lot of mages would get horrified at my explanation but its close enough.”

“Didn’t you say mana was dangerous though?” Charles asked.

“I said you had to be careful with it, but aether is extremely dangerous. It pretty much kills anything that comes into contact with it directly, though trying to get large amounts of the stuff is impossible.”

“Why would you want to?” Charles asked.

“It’s really powerful stuff, if anyone could figure out how to get at it then the possibilities would be limitless, although its more trouble than it’d be worth.”

“Huh?” Charles asked.

“A lot of people have died trying Charles. A few crazy’s have even tried entering into the aetherium, nobody’s ever come back from that.”

>>2860506
“Oh.”

“How many colors of mana can a person have, how does that work?” Charles said, plopping himself down next to Henry.

The two gazed out over the flat farmlands that disappeared over the horizon, something about it comforted Charles, something he couldn’t quite place.

“Generally three is the most someone can have.” Henry said. “More than that, you tend towards some serious mental instability. It’s all based of your personality mostly. Rosa is monowhite from what I understand of her, and she displays those attributes to a T, inflexibility, being annoying as all hell, and caring about other people for no good reason.”

“And Larry?” Charles asked.

“Red, he’s eh… brash, doesn’t think things through too well, and overly impulsive”

“Impulsive?” Larry asked, smiling.

“Aw shit, you’re awake.” Henry said. “Yeah impulsive, do I need to spell the word out for you?”

“Fuck off, ya nutcase.” Larry said, laughing a little bit.

Just a bit of fun between friends.

“Generally people with just red also tend to be mobile, very rarely do they settle down for long, which our friend Larry here exemplifies. The other big thing can be their unrestrained passion, love of action and their desire for freedom.” Henry said.

“Aren’t you well-spoken lately.” Larry said.

“Go back to sleep Larry.”

“Fine fine.”

“So why does having a lot of mana colors cause mental instability?”

“Conflicting natures of the mana, it’s more of a chicken and egg thing. If you have so many conflicting attributes at once you can’t be too mentally stable now can you? When you get to four types of mana, you get into some serious shit. Cratures would be forces of nature at that point, things that underpin the world itself.”

“Right… how would one get more colors?”

“It doesn’t work like that kid, your mana is a part of you so to speak. At least your colors are. Trying to change your colors would be like trying to change who you are on a fundamental level, it’s not something you can just… do. It’s like trying to make it so you fall upwards instead of down when you jump.”

>>2860541
“Is it possible at all?”

“A life changing event would require it, but that’d be something truly life shattering, not something you’d wish on anyone, Charles.”

“What mana do I have other than just white? When do I find out?”

“Most people have just one color, but you aren’t just anyone, we’ll have to wait and see.” Henry said. “It’ll probably appear after some more practice, we’ll see.”

“They say the commons have one color, leaders have two, and the heroes have three.” Larry said. “Or at least the really important people do, the blokes who change history.”

“So you think I’m going to change history Larry?” Henry asked.

“I think you know what’s what, that’s why I’ve decided to stick around.” Larry said. “Ain’t nothing more to it than that.”

“Simple words from a simple man.” Henry said, nodding.

“What was wrong with the monster you killed?”

“I don’t really know what you mean by that.” Henry said.

“Why was it rampaging?”

“Ah… I’d need a few things to explain that I’m afraid.” Henry said, motioning around to all of the sailors, Larry, Rosa, trying to hammer in a point. “When we’re back home I could easily explain in more detail.”

“Oh, alright then!” Charles said.

Hopefully he got the message.

“You done yet, my voice is starting to hurt.” Henry said, yawning. “I haven’ gotten much sleep these past couple of days kid, so go easy on me.”

“You said you’d stop calling me kid.”

“Bad habit Charles, I’ll be on my best behavior going forwards.” Henry said, with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

“How does your sword work Larry?”

“It’s an inbuilt enchantment.” Larry said, quickly sitting up. “It’s really something isn’t it?”

In one motion Larry unsheathed his sword and held it out to Charles blade first. Charles leapt back while Henry’s eyes widened.

“Watch where you point that damned thing.” Henry said.

“Oh shoot, sorry.” Larry said. “Got excited.”

“So uh… how does it work? I see all the glowing red runes and everything.”

“Basically the enchantment is built into the blade itself, and it’s powered by feeding it red mana.” Larry said. “I place a tiny bit into the blade and it is filled with fire. It’s really something innit? You can even create a flame lance from it if you have the skill for it.”

“Yeah, wow.” Charles said, running his hand down the length of the blade. It was warm to the touch.

Decisions:
1. *ask more questions* (write in, say who you’re asking)
2. *practice magic on your own*
3. *try to get Rosa to help you practice magic*
4. *explore the ship*
>just placing a reminder to players to vote on upgrades if they haven't yet. Ball lightning is the current leader

>>2860549
>3. *try to get Rosa to help you practice magic*
Better to leave Henry and Larry to their relaxing after almost dying again. If Charles can learn how to channel white mana without messing up, that would be a big step forward.

>>2860634
waiting on further votes, will continue soon

>>2860549
Charles decided to leave the two men alone, they had earned their rest after nearly dying during their last crazy adventure. So Charles carefully worked his way over to the starboard side of the boat, and plopped himself next to Rosa. Rosa decided that the sailors attention had become troublesome and used the opportunity to squirrel herself away from them.

“I want you the teach me more about magic.” Charles said.

“Oh that again, well sure, you’ve caught me in a place I can’t get away from.” Rosa said, giggling a bit.

Rosa rolled her shoulders a bit as she psyched herself up, then held her hands out, a white glow steadily emitted from them.

“White mana is something that requires you to not only care about others, but caring about whats best for everyone. Civilization, basically.”

“How does that help me learn to emit mana?” Charles asked.

“I was getting to that.” Rosa replied. “The best way to think of white mana is to think of helping others, or people you care about. Think of helping Henry for instance, or maybe you’re family if you can bear it.”

“I… I suppose I can try.” Charles said.

(roll 1d100, 80 or higher threshold, failure will reduce threshold by 10, success will increase Charles ability to use magic)

>>2857662
>>2858564
>>2858605
just collecting votes into one place for myself.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>2860842
Savior dice?

>>2860862
oh fuck I didn't expect anyone to actually pull it off.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>2860842
Here's a roll for you.

TEST

>>2860966
calling it a night

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>2860842

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>2860842

>>2860862
>>2860867
>>2861454
>>2862755
writing, and tonights the last call before I tally up upgrade votes, if you haven't done it yet you done fucked up.

>>2857622
>Blue mana
>Ball lightning
>Swerve
>Haste

>>2860842
Charles concentrated, pushing out all of his thoughts and trying to focus on Henry, how he wanted to help the man with his work and be useful. But nothing happened. Then he tried focusing on his brother. Regibald had always been kind to him, protecting him from his siblings and the castle’s politics. He missed him dearly and felt rudderless… and he wanted to know who’d taken him away. He wanted revenge. He’d finally had time to process it all, over the trip these feelings had been manifesting, and that’s where his mind settled.

He wanted the people who’d done this to suffer, and suffer badly. He knew that’s what Henry would do, right? He wanted to get a lot stronger, more capable, so he could hunt those people down. He wanted to make the man proud of him, someone who could take down those who had harmed him.

A couple wisps of black mana emerged from one of his palms.

“What was that…?” Rosa asked, doing a double take. “Was that… no it couldn’t have been.” She muttered, unease creeping into her voice.

“What?” Charles said, opening his eyes.

“I thought I saw you produce mana but that can’t be right.” Rosa said, weakly smiling. “T-try again would you?”

Charles nodded, once again trying and failing to contain his animosity. He wanted to get even, to create justice in the world, but he knew that he couldn’t expect that to actually work, he’d have to take it for himself, one day, someday soon hopefully.

A few more wisps of black mana emerged from his hands.

Rosa said nothing, just staring at him as if she was trying to think of the right thing to say.

“I-I think that’s enough practice for today child.” Rosa said. “Do you want to talk about what you were thinking about?”

“No, I’m afraid I do not.” Charles said, clenching his fists and looking at the ground.

Decisions:
1. Continue to practice without Rosa
2. Head back to Henry and tell him you succeeded
3. Watch the passing farmland
4. (write in)

>>2862822
Damnit Charles.
In front of the Lady church lady too.
>3. Watch the passing farmland

>>2857632
Blue
1) undead command
2) Minor scry
3)Haste

Where did we stow Ophelia?

>>2862831
Ophelia went ahead on another ship with Johnny

>>2862822
>3. Watch the passing farmland
Let Henry rest. Rosa is clearly unsettled enough.

>>2862831
she's making her way back with Johnny, they are doing it separately.

>>2862840
>>2862826
writing

>>2862822
Charles awkwardly excused himself from Rosa’s presence, he appreciate her trying to help him but she couldn’t understand. Henry could. Johnny had told him that he was an orphan after all, so in that way they were the same, right?

He hoped Henry would teach him everything he knew. He needed to know more.

He gazed out at farmland passing him by, rolling fields of wheat, barely, potatos, carrots, and many other crops stretched out to the horizon punctuated with a couple of roads, some farmhouses, a few windmills, and even a couple of villages.

He prayed for a little bit, thanking god for giving him a chance to seek justice. It must have been god looking out for him, right? He hoped god would look out for Henry too.

Unbeknownst to him, a couple drops of white mana fell from his hands.

Charles stared out at the countryside for another hour before turning back to witness a conversation between the captain and a man with an ornate mask, several swords on his hip, and a couple of gauntlets strapped to his back along with what appeared to be a guitar.

Charles knew the man, he’d met him on the road to Yorkshire Proper.

It was Ghiesthand Venser.

Decisions:
1. Ask for the man’s autograph
2. Try to hide somewhere
3. Listen into the conversation
4. Just stand there like an idiot
5. (write in)

>>2862895
>4. Just stand there like an idiot
While
3. Listen into the conversation

>>2862895
Backing >>2862903

>>2862895
Pretend to be sleeping all the while listening to their conversation.

>>2863379
Lets do this, or atleast lean on the side of the boat and stare off into the distance

>>2863657
>>2863379
>>2862914
>>2862903
writing

>>2862895
As the two men passed in front of Charles, the kid froze up. He knew that Venser was with the church, the man was a paladin, and he also knew that Henry would be in a lot of trouble if they found out. Did they know? Was this man coming to catch them?

Venser looked over at Charles for a moment before turning back to the captain and the two walked on a little bit.

Charles glanced over to see Henry looking right at him. Henry motioned to turn around and look out to the water, then pointed to his ear, and then his left hand, which was obscured behind his cloak. He always acted so calm when things like this happened. Charles quickly turned away from the boat and once more glanced out at the countryside, he tried his best to calm down and focus on what the others were saying, he had to impress Henry and get him any good info he could.

Neither Larry or Rosa had noticed any of this go down, in fact Larry was still asleep, Henry hadn’t bothered to wake him up, although as Charles thought about it that was for the best. Larry was the kind of person to rush into things.

“So you’re heading out to Avignon then?” The captain asked.

“Yes, I’ve had my fill of the countryside, I look forward to returning to the citadel of lanterns further afield, all of these talks of politics and now this disaster have left a sour taste in my mouth.”

“Any plans when you get back Ser?”

“Plenty of things to do I’m afraid, and if these events are any indication I need to do a whole lot more…” Venser said.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, no one foresaw the damned tower falling down, but at least that beast hasn’t shown up anymore, with luck it died in that tower.”

“Seven people lost their lives captain, it’s unacceptable.” Venser replied, “I do hope you do not treat lives so casually in the future, it’s a horrible habit.”

“I…um yes, of course ser.” The captain replied. “So now that you’ve inspected the craft for any issues, do you require anything else of me, Ser?”

“No, no I do not, thank you captain.” Venser replied.

Charles glanced off at the corner of his eyes, Venser was slowly pacing along the deck, running his hand across the railing and thinking about something. The man suddenly turned back on his heel and approached Charles.

Charles nearly shat himself.

“Hello their child, we meet again. It seems fate is a fickle mistress. Or should I call you prince? I admit I’m not too well versed in how the linage works, and my ability to understand it is probably far worse with recent events. I also wanted to say I’m sorry about what happened to your family. I do not know all the details but a tragedy is still a tragedy.”

Decisions:
1. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you’re following me.”
2. “Why are you here of all places?”
3. “I appreciate it, thank you.”
4. “I don’t wish to discuss this matter at all.”
5. “Why were you even out here?”

>>2864517
>3. “I appreciate it, thank you.”
And please never call me prince again.

>>2864517
Backing >>2864522
Especially the "And please never call me Prince again" part, but in a nice polite tone clearly hiding how much Charles dislikes it.

>>2864522
>>2864572
writing

>>2864517
“I appreciate it, thank you.” Charles said, still a bit uneasy, he hadn’t expected the man to show any sympathy, and it messed with the picture of him he’d had in his head. Even though he didn’t look it with that mask on, he seemed very personable.

“Just, please don’t call me prince again, I never wanted the title.” Charles said.

“Just as well.” Venser replied. “I’m happy you made it to your destination and back unharmed, the world is becoming far more dangerous by the day it seems.

“Yes, the barriers…”

“I am sadly aware, it bodes ill.” Venser replies. “Nothing either of us are able to do about it.”

“Of course Ser..”

“Oh no need for titles, child.” Venser replied. “Unless you wish me to go back to calling you prince.”

Henry was staring at the two of them, the man was on edge. He was even a bit scary, but not in an angry sort of way. More menacing, like a predator getting ready to pounce.

Charles gave him a thumbs up behind his back, and the man inperceptibly relaxed.

Decisions:
1. “What’s with the guitar?”
2. “Why so many swords?”
3. “Do you know magic Venser?”
4. “You were talking about what happened in Grutzberg earlier weren’t you?”
5. “If you’ll excuse me, I need some time to myself.” (will end conversation.)

>>2864617
>2. “Why so many swords?”

>>2864617
“Why so many swords?” Charles asked.

“Ah that.” Venser replied. “I use all of them when I commit to combat, and having so many means I can safely slay my opponent while keeping as much distance between him and me as possible. Perhaps not the most honorable of methods, but honor is reserved for the honorable.”

“I don’t think I understand se- Venser.”

“I suppose you wouldn’t, it’s no matter. The magic itself is one of the ghiestcaller’s arts. Having more than one pair of hands is invaluable I can tell you.”

“Wow, really?!” Charles said, “So they float around?”

“That would be one way to put it, inelegant yes, but a fair description.”

“So since I answered one of your questions, how about one of mine? I think it would be a fair trade after all. Why are you headed back to the capital, if I may be so bold. One would think that is the last place you would wish to return to.”

Decisions:
1. “It’s the only home I’ve ever known.”
2. “I have become an apprentice to someone I look up to.”
3. “I don’t wish to run from my past, I want to go right on and confront it.”
4. “I don’t really know.”
5. (write in)

>>2864630
>1. “It’s the only home I’ve ever known.”
Not a direct lie, but a lie none the less

>>2864630
Backing >>2864637

>>2864645
>>2864637
writing

>>2864630
“It’s the only home I’ve ever known, I can’t just leave it you know.”

“I know the feeling, I feel the same way of my home city, Avignon.” Venser replied. “I suppose I can understand your feelings on that, and no doubt of the blight now afflicting both of them.”

“Blight?” Charles asked.

“Perhaps I misspoke, I mean the vast uncertainty that has spread through the world. Though I don’t suppose you’d know too much about it, which is forgiveable.”

Decisions:
1. *ask further questions* (Write in)
2. *You have nothing more to say* (ends conversation)
3. Other? (write in)

>>2864706
>Venser's fairly tight lipped now isn't he?

>>2864706
>1. *ask further questions* (Write in)
"...Could you maybe tell me more about that? It feels like ever since what happened to my family, the whole world is going mad, and I don't know why."
Hope this is IC for Charles

>>2864732
Secconding

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>2864732
>>2864733
writing and rolling

File: 1499294825850.gif (997 KB, 500x373)

997 KB GIF

>>2864788
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDD

>>2864706
“Could you maybe tell me more about that? It feels like ever since what happened to my family, the whole world is going mad, and I don’t know why. I just want to make sense of everything.”

Venser was quiet for several minutes. Charles looked at him awkwardly, for all he knew the man had stopped functioning. Eventually Venser relaxed, Charles hadn’t even noticed the man become tense.

“I believe it is due to the High Seraph’s disappearance child, do you truly wish me to explain what that means?”

“I want to know, I want to understand.” Charles said.

“I cannot tell you exactly what I know, I’ve sworn an oath… but you deserve to know something child. How should I put this, dark forces are at work, across the world. Angelic magic has been weakening for the last couple of months, and while everyone is too frightened to say it I will. The Grand Seraph is dead.”

“What?!” Charles said.

“I have seen no body, nor have I heard any confirmation. But I know such things would cause a massive panic and much suffering, but I believe it to be the truth. I know the church and the other Seraphs will do what they can to try and survive, but without her light? I have my doubts. We live on borrowed time, all of us. That’s a fact of life you understand. But this is something far more dire. Humanity itself is now on borrowed time, unless a solution can be found.”

“But, that can’t be possible, the grand Seraph cannot…”

“I do not wish to argue this point, child.” Venser said, looking back out over the countryside. “The big players will begin to make their moves. The autumn horde and their belligerents, the cult of progress, the angelic hosts, the church of eyes, the children of mud, the vampire houses, the wayfarers, the cult of the harvest, the magus council, and many other groups too. Everyone will scramble for larger pieces of the map.”

Charles shook slightly, this was too much to take in, the man must have been insane, right?

“Are you happy now, child?” Venser asked, the man sounded beyond tired. “I would ask you to not share this information, but I don’t think it matters much anymore, it will get out, and the pieces will fall where they may. I have my own business to conduct, to see to it that the future turns out a bit better. I just hope my actions bear fruit. What I saw in this city has shown that what I do is both necessary and just.”

The man sounded like he was convincing himself more than anything.

Decisions:
1. *say nothing, remain in shocked silence*
2. Say everything (write in)
3. Other? (write in)

>>2864814
So is that it? Are we destined for destruction? Do we just stand idle until something comes around to take our lives and freedom away? You can't tell me there is no hope left. I know I am just a weak kid but there must be something I could do to safeguard the people I care about.

>>2864814
> Can't anyone take the place of the Grand Seraph? She must have come from somewhere, after all.

>>2864814
> Can't anyone take the place of the Grand Seraph? She must have come from somewhere, after all.
and then >>2864863

>>2864814
>1. *say nothing, remain in shocked silence*
His hope and optimism, gone.

>>2864814
>Was my family getting murdered just? And all the other nobles? I had done absolutely nothing to deserve this yet I only survived on dumb luck.

>>2864863
>>2865166
>>2865368
>>2865963
>>2865778
writing

>>2864814
“Can’t anyone take the place of the Grand Seraph? She must have come from somewhere after all.”

“That is precisely the issue. I cannot go into details but the angelic hosts are not nearly as unified as most people think. Make of that as you will.”

“So that’s it then? Are we just doomed? Do we just stand and wait for it all to end? I refuse to believe there is no hope yet. I know I am just a weak kid but there must be something I could do to protect those I care about.”

“Fight hard, and fight well child. That is all I can recommend, a trial by fire approaches us all, only those who are willing to fight will survive it. There will be false prophets, who offer safety and protection, but those are lies, they only seek to mislead and destroy those who desperately follow them. There will be those who abandon their humanity, in all but name, or perhaps completely. They will be worse than animals, and will damn us all the same. Only those who stick fast to their friends and family, those who have something worth dying for, the true martyrs, will ensure our survival, that and perhaps a bit of luck. I do not enjoy discussing things so idly. I also know that most will not accept it. I will say no more.”

“Was my family getting murdered just? And all the other nobles? I had done absolutely nothing to deserve this yet I only survived on dumb luck.”


“Have you considered the fact you may have some grand purpose, child? Nothing is random in this world, have faith, I have faith the answer will be revealed in time.”

“And just fight hard, what kind of advice is that?!”

Venser placed his hand on Charles’ shoulder and crouched down to eye level.

“Men fighting hard is what has ensured humanity’s survival for so long, child. Never underestimate the raw power of fighting for a just cause. No matter how long it takes or what setbacks you may face, the end goal is more than worth the risks and the costs. Sometimes horrible things need to be done for the good of all, never forget that. I do not know the circumstances behind the recent purges but I have faith they were nessessary. I have heard many rumors of sins committed by the royals, and the nobility. They’ve long been decadent child, they may have been your family but their excesses were long known. I have a strong feeling that there is more to this story than you wish to admit.”

Decisions:
1. “Shut up, you don’t know a damned thing!”
2. “Don’t ever talk to me again.”
3. *Say nothing*
4. “Maybe you’re right, but I don’t want to think about it right now.”
5. *Nod slowly*
6. (write in)

>>2866696
>5. *Nod slowly*

>>2866699
Also develop a hatred for this person.

>>2866696
(as we're walking away)
>"The thing about horrible deeds, Venser, is that they always look awful to the people who aren't told why they were done."

Urrgh, I tried to come up with a good end quote for this, but I dunno...

>>2866696
Backing >>2866699 >>2866725 and >>2866700 in that order. He's a fucking faggot for even DARING to think our based bro Regibald was anywhere as evil as the rest of Charles' family was. Only him and the servants were any worthwhile or innocent or helpful towards Charles.
Fuck. This. Guy.

>inb4 Charles lets out a bit of black mana involuntarily due to this hatred of Venser, while also inwardly agreeing with his point about fighting hard (furthering ambition = black mana)

>>2866699
>>2866700
>>2866725
>>2866755
writing

>>2866696
Charles nodded slowly, maintaining eye contact, or at the very least looking where the eye slits in Venser’s mask were. Suddenly the boy turned and walked away, he knew Henry would have just left it as is, but he HAD to say something, he needed to say something, he couldn’t just let that stand.

He opened his mouth but couldn’t think of anything to say, he didn’t know the words for it.

Henry had stood up and gotten close enough to hear, and decided enough was enough.

“Making excuses for committing horrible deeds is a shit habit to maintain.” Henry said. “If you’re going to do something awful, don’t make stupid excuses for it to maintain your own beliefs, at least be a man and accept you’ve done something horrible! Don’t just cop out and say someone is a sinner, if you’ve taken a life, own up to it!”

“You seem to think this has something to do with me personally then?” Venser asked.

“It sure as hell seems like it.” Henry replied. “You alright Charles?”

“I… I’m fine.” Charles said.

Venser turned away and found a place to sit on the deck, he pulled out his guitar and began to strum it.

“I tire of this debate, perhaps another time we can verbally spar, I don’t think I ever got your name sir.”

“It’s Henry.

Charles stormed away, leaking a tiny bit of black mana as he did. It didn’t escape Henry’s notice, but he chose not to say anything about it, things were tense enough. He HATED that man, how DARE he speak ill of his brother. How DARE he assume the servants who died had been sinners.

“Well Henry, perhaps I spoke out of line to him, but are you going to coddle the boy with half-truths and downright lies? The royal family have long been known to have shady dealings, and then there are the rumors of demon worship… although to be honest, they weren’t unsubstantiated, at least if what the Solarch told me is true.”

“We’re done talking.” Henry said, rushing off to find Charles before the kid did something stupid.

Venser stared at Henry for a little longer, before sighing. He continued to strum his guitar, tuned it, and played a song for all aboard the ship to hear.

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

>>2866795
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The ship slowly pulled into port, Celeste was finally here, and based on the instructions they’d given Johnny would be a couple days behind them. Henry had asked the skeleton to find a safer port to leave from, heading out directly from Grutzberg would be foolish.

So he had a couple of days to plan, get things set up, and hopefully get something together for Charles. The boy had been incredibly angry after his conversation with Venser. He’d managed to calm down after a couple of hours, but Henry wondered what Venser had said to get him so riled up. Losing your cool like that was incredibly dangerous.

Decisions: (choose one)
1. Head down to Nessie’s take Larry up on the offer for drinks, maybe get Charles something to drink, might cool his head off
2. Head back home and go to bed, everything can wait till tomorrow
3. Head down to the sunlight guillotine, dead vampires always get your spirits up
4. Walk with Rosa to ensure she makes it to the abbey
5. (write in)

>>2866797
>4. Walk with Rosa to ensure she makes it to the abbey
>5. (write in)
Then head home and show charles where he'll be sleeping. Also check to see if Johnny and ophelia made it back yet.

>>2866797
Backing >>2866808

>>2866797
>4. Walk with Rosa to ensure she makes it to the abbey
> Check to see if she'll be moving on or staying here for a while.

>>2866808
>>2866811
>>2866814
writing

>>2866817
Is Henry gonna walk her there gently? :^)

>>2866797
Henry said a quick goodbye to Larry, who said he’d meet him back in Undertown once he’d gotten properly settled in, and headed over to speak with Rosa.

“So you’re heading to the Church of the commons in the fourth ring right?” Henry asked.

“Yes? What of it?” Rosa said, suddenly defensive. “You’re not going to poke fun at the accommodations now are you?”

“Would you like me to escort you safely there?” Henry asked.

Rosa was taken aback for a moment, like she couldn’t really find the words.

“What’s the matter Rosa?” Charles asked innocently.

“W-well I mean, it’d just be odd…” Rosa said.

“Oh come off it, it’s not like we’ll be holding hands and skipping down the street.” Henry said.

Charles just looked at the two of them confused before shrugging and waiting near the end of the docks.

“F-fine, if you insist. I don’t mind of course.” Rosa said, “Just don’t say a word to Priest Abbot, please?”

“Cathar’s honor.” Henry said, holding a hand to his heart while cracking a shit eating grin.

“Oh my lord, what have I agreed to?” Rosa said.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“So do you plan on staying?” Henry asked, weaving his way through the crowded city streets.

Rosa was a few feet in front of him but due to how bunched together everyone was it felt like a much larger distance.

“For a little while at least. All of this traveling has made me miss home a little bit, well not my real home but the only real home I have, I want to stop back down by the coast in a month or so and check in on my fellow sisters.”

“Quite an adventure we had right?” Charles said.

Decisions:
1. “That’s one word for it.”
2. “You’re a real fifth wagon wheel you know that Charles.”
3. “It was really fun, actually.”
4. (write in)

>>2866826
>1. “That’s one word for it.”

>>2866826
>3. “It was really fun, actually. I've never gotten myself almost-killed so many times in so little time. Definitely a record so far." (Wry smile)

>>2866826
>3. “It was really fun, actually.”
> "A trip to the coast sounds pretty nice, actually..."

>>2866831
>>2866841
>>2866829
writing

>>2866826
“It was really fun, actually. I’ve never gotten myself almost-killed so many times in so little time. Definitely a record so far.”

He smiled wryly, making sure Rosa could see it.

“You would have died twice had I not been there. Why do you insist on throwing yourself into harm’s way so much? It’s so stupid!”

“He would have died once though?” Charles asked.

“Shut up Charles.” Rosa and Henry said, before glancing at each other.

“What did I do?!” Charles asked, before crossing his arms and looking away grumpily.

“So you’re traveling to the coast? That doesn’t sound half bad actually… it’s been a long time since I’ve been past Avignon…”

He sighed, maybe it was time to pay his home a visit once more, maybe he’d finally work up the nerve?

“So why did you insist on coming with me? I hope it wasn’t to just annoy me.”

Decisions:

1. “It was only to annoy AND embarrass you.”
2. “I enjoyed our time together, I didn’t want it to just… end.”
3. “Because I wanted to show Charles more of the city, kid’s never been out of that castle before.”
4. “No reason at all.” (lie)
5. (Write in)

>>2866858
>3. “Because I wanted to show Charles more of the city, kid’s never been out of that castle before.”
And if he knows the way, he might come and visit you.
Not that I'd let him go by himself, but still.

>>2866858
>3. “Because I wanted to show Charles more of the city, kid’s never been out of that castle before.”
2. “I enjoyed our time together, I didn’t want it to just… end."
> "Annoying you is just a nice little bonus for the trip. Like how boys pull girls pigtails for fun."

>>2866858
“Because I wanted to show Charles more of the city, kid’s never been out of that castle before in his life, well, at least until now. I figured I’d try to show him a bit more of the world.”

“Oh.” Rosa said, the word hung there for a bit. “I mean I guess that’s fine, I just… nevermind.”

Charles had run off ahead and was exploring around, Henry kept a close eye on him regardless. Still it was nice to be at ease for once. Or at least as at ease as he could manage, more of a cautious but not in life threatening danger state of mind.

“And if he knows the way, he might come and visit you, not that I’d let him go by himself of course.” Henry said, smiling subtly.

Rosa smiled despite herself, turning away from Henry and holding up a hand to her heart. She knew it looked stupid and silly but she just couldn’t help herself.

“Annoying you is just a nice little bonus for the trip. Like how boys pull girls pigtails for fun.” Henry said.

“Perhaps it’ll be the girls job to make sure the boy doesn’t play in the mud too much, or make sure his wounds are bandaged…”

“What?” Henry asked.

“N-nothing.” Rosa said, snapping out of her thoughts. “I-I…I wasn’t thinking of anything, honest!”

“Heh, your still a really bad liar.”

“Shut up… I know.” Rosa said.

“I enjoyed our time together, I didn’t just want it to…end.”

“I did too.” Rosa said, softly.

Decision:
1. Walk the rest of the way in silence
2. Try to hold her hand
3. “So would you like to take a walk some time, just the two of us, no little kid to get in the way?”
4. “I could take you out on the lake sometime, I know a friend of mine who owns a paddleboat.”
5. (write in)

>>2866918
calling it a night, really productive session I'd say, hopefully we can keep it rolling into tomorrow, cause I don't have work.

>>2866918
> “So, uh, would it be alright if I come to visit you sometime? Maybe have a meal and a talk at a tavern together? It wouldn’t even have to be about my job, you know.”
>4. “I could take you out on the lake sometime, I know a friend of mine who owns a paddleboat.”
>2. Try to hold her hand

>>2866918
Backing >>2866937 because it's character development even if we succeed in containing autism or fail to contain spaghetti.

>>2866937
>>2866918
I'll support this.

>>2866918
Avignon huh isn't that where Venser is heading as well. Seems it's not the last we are seeing of him. QM's cooking up something nice.
>>2866937
>Try to hold hands
>Accidently grab ass
>Explode in flames
Poor charles orphaned once again.

>>2867142
Oh please, this

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>2867142
>>2866918
Rolling to avoid this.

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>2867365
Here's how it's done

>>2867365
>>2867371
...Huh. I guess it’s some sort of crit, then?

Henry still grabs Rosa’s ass, but she kind of likes it.

>>2867379
PLOT TWIST
>Henry accidently grabs ass
>Feels bulge between legs
>Rosa smirks at Henry like a seasoned rapist
>Gets vivid flashbacks of getting anal fisted by demons
>Screams of terror make the Grand Seraph twerk in her grave.
Charles oozed black mana from atleast 4 orifices that day

>>2867440
Why are you like this.

File: efc.jpg (18 KB, 480x362)

18 KB JPG

>>2867371
>>2867365
>>2867379
>mfw

>>2867440
back to akun with you

>>2867636
It occurs to me, we ARE a Necromancer.

So the Grand Seraph is dead? Well, maybe we can make that more of a nap.

>>2868132
But can we truly rez them, and not just animate their dead corpse?

>>2866937
>>2867055
>>2867130
>>2867142
>>2867221
>>2867365
>>2867371
>>2867379
>>2867440
>>2867634
>>2868132
>>2868149
writing

>>2868305
Forgot your trip, boss.

>>2868305
Impostor?

>>2868149
Is that a concern?

>>2868361
It would be, cause we'd have to puppet him if he is just an animated body.

>>2866918
“So, uh, maybe I could come visit you some time, for real, not just as a joke. Maybe we could have a meal at a tavern together? Wouldn’t even have to be about either of our jobs.

“You’re very forward aren’t you?” Rosa asked, putting her hand in front of her mouth for a moment. “I suppose I could find the time.”

The woman’s voice didn’t match her face, she looked happy but tried to hide it. Henry looked at her for a moment until she turned away in embarrassment.

“I could take you out on the lake sometime, a friend of mine owns a paddleboat, he’d probably let me borrow it for a bit.”

“Oh that’d be lovely!” Rosa said, “I love being out on the water, I grew up to a family of fishermen you see.”

“I did too actually.” Henry said. “Funny how neither of us live near the sea.”

Charles was busy poking a dead rat on the side of the road with a stick, Henry shouted over to him to cut it out and wash his hands later. Then turned back to speak with Rosa.

“Speak for yourself Henry, I live where I sleep.” Rosa said.

“Heck of a way to live, you ever think of sticking around?” Henry asked.

“I…could be persuaded.” Rosa said, poking her fingers together and biting her lip.

After she had properly relaxed, Henry reached out to grab one of her hands. He momentarily held her hand before Rosa quickly shied away, blushing red.

“W-what are you doing?” She asked, flabbergasted. “Y-you c-can’t… I’m a healer!”

“So you didn’t like it then?” Henry said, chuckling.

“I never said that…” Rosa said, blushing a bit and looking away. “J-just keep your distance…”

“Okay Sister Rosa.” Henry said, smiling widely and making a show of backing away from her, arms held up in mock surrender.

Rosa fumed for a couple of minutes before eventually saddling up next to Henry and hooking her arm around his.

“Oh what’s this, has the healer gotten over her fear of ridicule?” Henry asked.

“Not a word…” Rosa said, partially aggravated, partially ecstatic. “J-just shut up.”

Henry pushed at the side of his mouth with his tongue for a bit, the woman was clearly happy, but something was up. He didn’t really know all of the various rules involving the various orders of healers, but he knew that chastity was one of them, though he hardly cared for that.

>>2868387
Oh dear

>>2868387


Rosa pressed her side into his, laying her head on Henry’s shoulder all the while closing her eyes.

“So you can’t be seen like this huh?” Henry asked, taking her and Charles down a side alley while having his left arm ready for a fight.

“Shut up Henry, I want to enjoy this.” Rosa said. “I…I’m actually happy, for the first time in a long time.” Rosa muttered.

Charles worked his way up behind the two of them, the kid had been poking and prodding at everything they’d seen as they’d moved from street to street. That intense curiosity would be put to good use once Henry was better settled.

“So are you two going to kiss?” Charles asked, wide eyed.

“Shut up Charles.” Both of them said in unison. Before laughing together.

After a second of pouting, Charles joined in.

Decisions:
1. “You are allowed to be happy you know.”
2. “Seems you’ve finally warmed up to me, hasn’t it?”
3. “I will have some time later this week, maybe the two of us could go for a nice walk? I know a place just outside the city where there is a great view of the sunset.
4. “You need to lighten up a bit.”
5. “I’m happy too.”
6. (write in)

Remember when we said no waifu and Rosa was only for bullying.

>>2868397
>[Remembering what the demon made Henry do to his family intensifies]
That cunt is SO going to fuck with everyone dear to him

>>2868418
Agreed.
We need to be careful, especially since we've heard that demon earlier.

>>2868427
>>2868418
so what exactly do you wish me to do?

>>2868397
>6. (write in)
Smile and enjoy the now
Who knows when we're gonna have a nice time like this again
>>2868434
I don't know, I am shit at making choices.

>>2868434
PTSD attack

>>2868434
>Enjoy the moment for now.
>Realize we're going to have to tell her about our past pretty soon after we drop her off.
>Start worrying.

>>2868456
This sounds better than mine

>>2868456
>>2868465
>>2868445
I can swing with this

>>2868397
Backing >>2868456 alongside >>2868418

>>2868467
Basically the order I'm going for is
>Enjoy the moment for now.
>Realize we're going to have to tell her about our past pretty soon after we drop her off.
>Start worrying.
>Remember what Abraxas made him do to his family.
>Consider what Abraxas will think of doing when/if he knows about those close to Henry
>PTSD + worrying intensifies

>>2868476
This is how we become a drunkard.
How about we develop crippling paranoia and make super complicated plans that cover every contingency.

>>2868491
That comes later

>>2868397
Henry let himself feel happy for the first time in as long as he could, and really, why wouldn’t he be? He’d made it home in one piece, had only nearly died a couple of times, and had a beautiful woman around his arm. He smiled to himself.

“So we’re here then…” Rosa said, the utter disappointment palpable in her voice.

“Seems like it.” Henry said.

He walked as slowly as he could but soon enough they had both arrived. Rosa looked at the slightly worn down chapel and nervously took her first step towards it, letting go of Henry’s arm and awkwardly brushing a bit of dirt off her robes. Charles simply stood off to the side, a dejected look on his face. Henry didn’t really get what the kid’s problem was. They would have plenty of time to talk on the trip back.

“I wanted to thank you Henry, for everything you did during the trip… and for making an incredibly stupid woman happy.”

“Hey you aren’t stupid.” Henry said. “Well maybe not incredibly.”

Instead of getting angry, Rosa smiled. She seemed even happier now than she had been on the trip.

She began to head inside before turning around and planting a kiss on Henry’s cheek, the woman quickly turned away and rushed into the commoner’s holy grounds, which was a small bit of dirt surrounded by a small stone wall. The place had a couple of buildings, a healers abbey and the church itself. The area that the minor holy grounds were located in wasn’t exactly the nicest, but it was a far cry from the streets of undertown.

Henry wasn’t sure, but he could’ve sworn Rosa had been wiping her face with her sleeve, was she crying?

>inb4 Abby mind-whispers to taunt us, ruining the moment

>>2868583

“Will it work?” Charles asked.

“Will what work?” Henry replied.

“Isn’t she a member of the church?”

“Fuck.”

Henry didn’t really pay much attention to the rest of the conversation, god damn it he’d started something up with a god damned member of the church, and a healer at that! He bit his finger and tried to think of what he’d do. He couldn’t just abandon her, he didn’t want to hurt her that badly, and he certainly would not get rid of her through horrible means.

God damn it he actually cared about the woman. Fuck.

“My my, you’ve gained so much on that little trip of yours. You have so much to lose now don’t you Henry." Nobody said, its voice Abraxas’

Henry flipped around in a blind panic, red mana spiking into his hand. He saw a street filled with a bunch of ordinary people, he felt boxed in, cramped. So many places for an assassin to hide, had Abraxas reneged on his promise, was he going to die? He continued down the street, ignoring what Charles was saying, was the boy sounding worried now? He couldn’t tell, didn’t the boy realize how much danger they were in?

He passed through a market square with Charles trailing behind him, he stopped for a moment to allow to boy to catch up before he continued onwards. He bit harder down on his finger, a bit of blood coming up. It tasted of iron and fire.

Was he losing it?

He turned a corner and wandered through the cramped tunnels of the Lic’toron crypts, his apprentice’s robes trailing slightly behind him. The things had always been a bit large on him, but the priests had always joked that he’d grow into them as he grew in talent. He hated all of them.

He ended up in a small chamber with a stone slab on another rounded cylindrical stone. A man was strapped to the thing by a mess of iron chains and rusty spikes, a couple of them had been hastily put through him.

A single shadow man and a couple of priests were the only other occupants of the stone room.

His job was to get the man to scream for mercy, then to murder the man. He hated having to do this, but he’d learned how to block it out, to prevent himself from wavering or worse yet finding some sick pleasure in sharing his suffering with others.

He didn’t know who the man was, but it didn’t really mattered who was on the torturer’s block, all that mattered was his ability to inflict pain and suffering.

Decisions:
1. Use a hammer
2. Use a dagger
3. Use a torch
4. Use a rat
5. Use something else (write in)
6. Use some sparks (red mana)

>>2868613
I'm picking the phone up now, you fucking called it.

>>2868626
>6. Use some sparks (red mana)
Mmmm
Mana
Can we also use the blue mana to help ferret out whether what he says is true or not?

>>2868645
roll for it

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>2868657

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>2868626
Backing >>2868645
>>2868657
also rolling and hoping we don't get fucked

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>2868657
Can we lie about him telling the truth? I kind of want to cause problems for those cultists.

File: fag.jpg (48 KB, 600x600)

48 KB JPG

>>2868676
thats a pass

>>2868676
>that roll
>pic related

>>2868689
Nay, sodomite

>>2868626
Henry got to work, casting a bit of lightning from his hands, mere sparks really, intended to cause pain but no real harm. He had gotten very good at causing harm, hadn’t he?

He traced the sparks over the man’s flesh, they occasionally arced and singed him, he screamed out in pain as he did so. He did this for a couple of minutes before using a bit of blue mana and a spell to probe into the man’s mind. He found little of interest on the surface level, and he didn’t know how to dig much deeper.

Over the course of a couple of hours, he increased the voltage. The man let slip all sorts of things, but it was incomprehensible gibberish. Henry felt an eye watching him. Everything the man said was the truth, of lakes of blood, places where time had broken, a massive tree made of living writhing horrors, and shadow filled city on the edge of a desert of corpses.

Henry screamed at the knowledge, he didn’t really know what was happening.

He fell to the ground, and felt Charles hands on his head.

He shot back up, only managing to fall back into a brick wall he hadn’t even noticed before. In front of him was a small private garden. There was a small fountain and a depection of an angel on top of it rendered in pure marble.

“Henry? Thank god, I thought you’d went insane!” Charles said, clinging tightly to the man.

When had Charles started hugging him? What the fuck?

Decisions:
1. “How long was I out?”
2. “Where are we?”
3. “Did… did I do anything stupid?”
4. “Are you alright?”
5. “Lets… lets go home.”
6. (write in)

>>2868763
>6. (write in)
I did for a minute there.
Then
5. “Lets… lets go home.”

>>2868763
>4. “Are you alright?”
>5. “Lets… lets go home.”

>>2868763
5. “Lets… lets go home.”
6. (write in)

> I'm not insane. The world's going insane. I'm just trying to catch up to it.

>>2868807
>>2868779
>>2868772
writing

>>2868901
Also, just saying - would a puppet High Seraph be a bad thing?

>>2868763
“Are you alright?” Henry asked, panic creeping into his voice.

“Are you?!” Charles said, stepping back off of Henry and letting the man stand up.

“I…I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? I just… I’ve never seen someone as scared as you were then, you ran into an alley and sat down next to that statue of the high seraph. I don’t know why.”

“There ain’t no reason for it kid.” Henry said, wiping the sweat off his face.

“Are you insane?” Charles asked, scared.

“No… I’m not Charles…” Henry said. “I’m fine, lets head home, I’m just worried about Rosa and I want to make sure I don’t make her to upset, I guess.”

“I… okay Henry, alright.” Charles said.

Henry knew Charles knew he was lying, but he didn’t have the strength to be annoyed at the child for acting like he was an nutcase. He was happy the kid hadn’t run off.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Charles asked.

“I’ve never spoken about it, even to Johnny. I’m not going to discuss it, it will just put you in danger, please.” Henry said.

“O-okay Henry, come on, lets head home.”

=============================(END OF CHAPTER)=================================

>>2868953
next post inbound

>>2868953
“Same shit, different asshole.” ~ Farmers saying, unknown origin
===========================(Chapter Start)=======================
The little side chamber that Henry called home, beneath the sprawling spires of the high Cathedral, beneath the intricate homes of the nobility and the fancy courtyards and plazas of the second ring, beneath the merchants and tradesmen’s homes of the second ring, beneath the cobblestone streets and the dirt and grime, tucked away in the corner of a crusty passageway. Beneath it all, it was the only place Henry could really call home.

The illusion runes had held their charge, and Henry quickly worked to remove them and place them back into storage, then drew a curtain over the entrance way and placed some incense around it to block out the smell of the sewer.

He dug out the supplies he had saved in the side wall, and checked on the storage room he’d dug out of the right end of his little chamber.

Everything was where he had left it, luckily enough. He had half expected Sophie or a vampire to be waiting there for him, or something. This all felt too easy, he’d had his little adventure and now he was going to tuck back in? Like nothing had happened.

Charles didn’t poke at anything, if anything the kid seemed terrified of him or at least unsettled.

Henry didn’t blame him, he knew he’d acted horribly. He wished Johnny was here, that old bastard could always calm him back down. He couldn’t believe he missed the blighter.

He had a bit of work to do with Charles anyway, to prepare it for usage. He knew there was another slightly smaller chamber a good thirty feet up the tunnel. In fact the whole passage way was lined with the things. This area at one point had been used to store water before being converted into a sewer tunnel. The intricacies of urban planning eluded Henry, and he didn’t really have the time or the care to pursue it.

Charles sat upon the quickly created matrass of straw, and gazed up at the ceiling, rattling off numbers in his head. He might have been counting the bricks up there, or perhaps something else.

Henry sighed, kicking his shoes off and placing his feet upon the rug he had laid next to his bed on the left side of the room. He had bought it a couple of years ago to add some life to this little chamber of death, and honestly it worked pretty well.

He’d already inspected himself and shaved in the mirror, now all that remained was to figure out what to do with the rest of this day.

Decisions:
1. Practice magic with Charles
2. Go grab a drink down at Nessie Nine Tail’s bar
3. Check your mailbox to see if you have any work to do
4. Go try to track down some jobs in undertown
5. See if Gerald is back in the city yet
6. Try to track down and thank Inquisitors Grom and Cassius, you do owe both of them after all
7. Have that drink with Larry, you have to track him down first
8. Other? (write in)

>>2869011
1. Practice magic with Charles
3. Check your mailbox to see if you have any work to do

No reason we can't combine the two. Take Charles to work!

>>2869011
>1. Practice magic with Charles
>2. Go grab a drink down at Nessie Nine Tail’s bar and gather news.
>3. Check your mailbox to see if you have any work to do
>8. Other? (write in)


After that little memory mind trick episode how about planning to making a couple of necklace or ring/ earring of Close MInd magic? Double back with a memory scatter on the source of the mind attack/ influence? Make list of materials, think about enchanting circles and rituals needed to enchant, power, seal and direct the device(s).

Teach Charles the concept of the protection from undead (Necromantic heart) with his black Mana.

>>2869213
Yeah, let's get him started on the safety spells. He's a kid, these horrors are fucking scary. It will do him good to know that he can always make himself safe.

>>2869011
Backing >>2869213

>>2857662
>>2858564
>>2858605
>>2860393
>>2862780
gonna count these upgrade votes finally