Rolled 9, 1, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>3602505

Rolled 4, 5, 9 = 18 (3d10)

>>3602505

Rolled 6, 10, 6 = 22 (3d10)

>>3602505

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

>>3602505

>>3602505
“Will you be able to pay back into it?” the Commander asks.

You nod. “Eventually, yes. Our expenses are very small, and our services usually come at a high cost.”

“Even when you’re not doing it for the Organization?” the Commander presses. “Even when one of you decides to eat you barely eat enough to feed a child and talk about it as though you’ve had a feast.”

“True, like I said,” you nod. “We have few expenses. However our wardrobes will need constant cleaning and replacement, our gear may need repairs, and so forth. So when we do have expenses they can get quite… well, expensive.”

“Not to mention that Helen and I would prefer not to undercut the Organization too badly. Doing so would likely draw unwanted attention quicker.”

“And when will you be able to repay us?”

“As soon as we build a regional reputation,” you explain. “Establish ourselves around here as people who can be trusted to provide a service worth paying for. After that, you should have your money back within a few missions.”

“Yōma extermination has that much money in it?”

You chuckle grimly. “If you can survive the attempt.”

“Let me think on it,” the Commander asks you.

You nod, before moving to return to the celebration. “Of course. But please make your decision quickly so that we can factor it into our own planning.”

>Check in on your fellow warriors and try to relax.
>Wait for the right opportunity to drop the proverbial shoe: you want volunteers to help clean.
>Withdraw upstairs. This whole situation brings back some uncomfortable memories.
>Other?

>>3602591
>Check in on your fellow warriors and try to relax.

>>3602591
>Withdraw upstairs. This whole situation brings back some uncomfortable memories.

>>3602591
>Check in on your fellow warriors and try to relax.

>>3602591
>>Check in on your fellow warriors and try to relax.

>>3602591
>>Wait for the right opportunity to drop the proverbial shoe: you want volunteers to help clean.
get them drunk enough to accept, but not enough to be a hinderance
*also evil laugh is mandatory*

>>3602591
>>Withdraw upstairs. This whole situation brings back some uncomfortable memories.

>>3602591
>>Check in on your fellow warriors and try to relax.

>>3602591
>>Check in on your fellow warriors and try to relax.

>>3602591
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 10, 1, 3 = 14 (3d10)

>>3604591

Rolled 6, 5, 9 = 20 (3d10)

>>3604591

Rolled 10, 5, 9 = 24 (3d10)

>>3604591

>>3604597
We relaxed as fuck

>>3604591
This feels awfully familiar to you… in that the sense of familiarity is awful.

It wasn’t long after a large feast, not unlike this one, that your life was turned upside-down. By sunrise the next morning your father had been murdered and the same was nearly done to you. You had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. You were scared half our of your mind, not knowing if any man in uniform you ran across in the city would put a spear in your belly like the last one did. Were it not for the Organization’s scout you probably would have bled to death in a back alley somewhere, too worried about the potential of being discovered to seek help.

For a long time afterward you avoided gatherings of more than three or four people, knowing that in that hall eating with you that night were dozens of men who were already plotting to kill you.

Deep breaths, Noel. Deep, slow, calming breaths. You can handle this. You were just over there, even though you were doing your best to avoid the crowd the whole time, keeping to the walls as much as possible.

You focus on your comrades, and put all thoughts of your own discomfort out of your mind.

Aaaand... suppressed.

“Well, we’ve secured some supplies and funds to draw on when we need them,” you inform the duo as you slide in between them on a long bench. They’ve been quietly drinking, having basically dished out all of the fish, vegetables, and rice. “All we need to do is repay them in fresh food every now and then, and repay back into their funds.”

“Repay them?” Lucia repeats.

You nod. “Once we start getting paid again for our work. Until then we can borrow from their regular pay.”

“How’d you manage that?” Justina asks curiously.

“Worked it out with the Commander,” you explain.

“That’s good news,” Lucia sighs. “The finances are part of our life I’ve never even given much thought to.”

“How much do our services cost?” Justina asks.

You sigh. “Actually, quite a lot. There’s a reason people sometimes can’t pay… I guess the Organization does it that way deliberately.”

>Set an early wakeup for tomorrow, you’ll spend the day training hard.
>Organize a mission with Justina, keeping Lucia rotated back here to hold the castle.
>Maybe do some music and singing. Mornings are for overrated.
>Other?

>>3604634
>Maybe do some music and singing. Mornings are for overrated.

>>3604634
>Set an early wakeup for tomorrow, you’ll spend the day training hard.
"Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy but socially dead."

>>3604634
>>Set an early wakeup for tomorrow, you’ll spend the day training hard.

>>3604634
>Set an early wakeup for tomorrow, you’ll spend the day training hard.

>>3604634
>>Set an early wakeup for tomorrow, you’ll spend the day training hard.
>Vent some of those repressed emotions. Preferably not in the direction of the castles defenses

>>3604634
>>Maybe do some music and singing. Mornings are for overrated.

>>3604634
>Set an early wakeup for tomorrow, you’ll spend the day training hard.

>>3604634
>Maybe do some music and singing. Mornings are for overrated.

>>3604634
You decide to turn in fairly early, encouraging your companions to do the same… but not before asking the Commander to set a detail for the most sober soldiers under his command to wash the dishes. Trusting that process to proceed with some semblance of order, you fall asleep in your bed upstairs. Lucia and Justina, for their part, fall asleep on the floor in your room.

It seems like they appreciate the company, as it were… the sense of companionship of even sleeping in the same room as someone else. It’s actually a sad commentary on how most of you used to live your lives until a short time ago.

At sunrise you rouse your companions and head downstairs, eating a tiny meal of just a quarter-round tattie scone each with a little butter. Lucia doesn’t even finish hers. Thankfully the dishes have all been cleaned to your satisfaction and are drying in the kitchen while you eat.

“Now then,” you declare. “I figured we could all spend the day training together.”

“How?” Justina asks.

That’s a fair question actually. To get anything out of this you’ll need to set goals, and divide your time and effort in a way that pursues those training goals efficiently. So that means recognizing what you can all do for each other, as well as what each of you needs.

“Well, we’ve all got our own weaknesses and strengths,” you muse. “So gimme a chance to consider how this should go so that we all get the most we can out of it.”

“Fair,” Justina nods. “I will answer any question you need me to.”

> Explain your abilities to me, Justina. I want to know where we stand.
> We will take turns sparring with Lucia, with the other training alone.
> We will all take turns sitting out, including Lucia.
> Other

>>3607975
> We will take turns sparring with Lucia, with the other training alone.

>>3607975
>> We will take turns sparring with Lucia, with the other training alone.

>>3607975
>> We will take turns sparring with Lucia, with the other training alone.

>>3607975
>> We will take turns sparring with Lucia, with the other training alone.

>>3607975
>> Explain your abilities to me, Justina. I want to know where we stand.

>>3607975
> Other
Work with Laura on how we should coach and train these rookies. Build a training schedule with her so we can train and have them train when we are not around.

>>3607975
“We will work in a rotation,” you decide. “Two at a time, with the third training independently or resting as needed.”

“Sounds fine,” Justina nods.

“As for the future,” you continue, “Lucia, we might not always be around to keep your training up. So by the end of the day I’d like to come up with a training regimen you can keep up on your own.”

“Thank you,” Lucia nods politely. “So how should we begin?”

“Justina, do you mind sparring with me?” you ask. “I’d like to get a good feel for your abilities.”
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 4, 5, 4 = 13 (3d10)

>>3610290

Rolled 2, 5, 10 = 17 (3d10)

>>3610290

Rolled 10, 7, 10 = 27 (3d10)

>>3610290

Rolled 1, 5, 9 = 15 (3d10)

>>3610290

File: smoljustina.jpg (36 KB, 347x491)

36 KB JPG

>>3610290
You sigh deeply, closing your eyes for a few moments. You feel your yōki stirring within, gradually building it up to one-tenth of your maximum, before you reopen your eyes to see that Justina has done the same.

“Are you ready?”

She nods quietly. “Whenever you are, former number Seven.”

Is it just you, or has she grown somewhat more talkative?

Putting that question out of your mind, you rush her with your blade held high. Justina’s parry is predictable but solidly executed, letting your blade slide slightly against her own to take the force out of it before swinging back at you. Very competently done, and her attack that clashes against your sword with a sharp ringing sound has a nice power behind it. Honestly, it’s refreshing after fighting against Lucia.

Her attack repulsed you move to respond in kind, only to watch in fascination and mild shock as Justina’s arm wraps awkwardly around behind her back, elongating slightly as her torso continues to turn unnaturally so that she can thrust at you from a completely unexpected angle.

You take a quick step back and to her right, judging that her new blind spot is on her right side, and instead of immediately attacking into that blind spot you hold back for an instant. Your patience is rewarded as Justina rapidly unwinds her arm back round her body like a whip cracking. The edge of her sword meets your own angled blade and slides up and over your head, and you turn your high parry into a powerful swing for the side of her neck.

But instead of trying to parry, Justina bends with the direction of your swing.

“Ninety degrees,” you reckon, watching her move in a way that you don’t feel should technically be possible given where her ribs should theoretically be. “Your joints are all hypermobile, that I can tell… but just how many joints do you have?”

“Ninety-six in my ribcage alone,” she informs you. “Along with all of my vertebrae being socketed, like a snake’s. Or so I’ve been told.”

>That’s completely insane. So what else can you use that flexibility for?
>How is your muscular strength and practical range of motion?
>Have you ever taken what would be a fatal wound, were you a normal human?
>Other?

>>3610389
>>Have you ever taken what would be a fatal wound, were you a normal human?

>>3610389
For reference, the human body has 24 ribs most of which articulate at two ends. So that means on average Justina's ribs articulate at two extra points along their length.

>>3610389
>>>Have you ever taken what would be a fatal wound, were you a normal human?

>>3610389
>try to tie Justina into a pretzel/knot, experiment hands on to see just "how" flexible she is.

>>3610416
As funny as that would be, we aren't trying to humiliate her.

>>3610389
>That’s completely insane. So what else can you use that flexibility for?
>How is your muscular strength and practical range of motion?

>>3610389
>Holy crap, how does one develop an ability like that?

>>3610389
>Have you ever taken what would be a fatal wound, were you a normal human?

>>3610389
>>That’s completely insane. So what else can you use that flexibility for?
>>How is your muscular strength and practical range of motion?
up beat and impressed sounding

>>3610419
Probably painfully.

>>3610389
>>That’s completely insane. So what else can you use that flexibility for?
>>How is your muscular strength and practical range of motion?

>>3610389
think naughty thoughts about that flexibility

File: Spoiler Image (1.24 MB, 300x149)

1.24 MB GIF

>>3610727
>she could steal the declaration of independence with that kind of flexibility
Theft is very naughty.

>>3610389
>>That’s completely insane. So what else can you use that flexibility for?
>>How is your muscular strength and practical range of motion?

>>3610389
“That’s incredible,” you admit, somewhat awed by what you’ve just been told. “How did you even realize such an ability?”

“During conditioning my pain was completely unbearable,” Justina recounts. “The pain of my bones repeatedly breaking and healing.”

Lucia covers her mouth, and even your own expression darkens.

“I see… every warrior pays a toll for her abilities. Some pay a higher toll than others.”

“Certainly true,” Justina agrees.

“So how is your overall flexibility, and does it interfere with your musculature and range of movement?” you ask curiously, watching muscles ripple and dance under her clothing.

“See for yourself.”

A quick series of whipping strikes come at you in succession… the power behind each isn’t especially impressive by half-blooded standards, but they come quickly and unpredictably, and when they land against your blade you have to stay on your toes so that the odd angles and movements don’t end up with a sword wrapping hits way around your defense.

“Wow, you’re frustrating to fight against!” you muse playfully.

“Thank you,” she replies.

“Anything else you want to show me?” you ask her.

She shakes her head. “Not unless you wanna cut me up a bit.”

>I mean, if you’re offering.
>Step aside, have Lucia fight Justina.
>Have Justina step aside, rotate Lucia in.
>Other?

>>3610990
>Step aside, have Lucia fight Justina.

>>3610990
>>Step aside, have Lucia fight Justina.
be careful, she does not have the instincts or conditioning i have yet.

>>3610990
>>Step aside, have Lucia fight Justina.

>>3610990
>>Step aside, have Lucia fight Justina.

>>3610990
>>Step aside, have Lucia fight Justina.

>>3610990

So does her physiology make her relatively weaker or was that not what I was supposed to get from that? Is she still capable of punching at her weight so to speak?

Full awakened can do all that and more. Their incredibly mutable bodies are capable of things that, well, let's just say there's a reason they typically use whole teams to deal with them.

>>3612366
Potentially, but only relative to what she could do were she not built the way she is. In order to move her bones the way she would have to with the number of joints she has, she would need to have a vastly increased number of muscle groups some of which would need to be very small. Depending on how you define them the human body has around 750 individual muscles, while most snakes have over 10,000. Many of those have to work in tandem to produce overall strength appropriate to a Claymore.

So while she might not be able to beat Noel in an arm-wrestle she can produce the whipping movement you saw using fast-twitch muscle action, and could theoretically kill someone by coiling her arm around their neck and crushing their trachea.

>>3610990
You step aside quickly, encouraging Lucia and Justina to take a turn sparring.

"Be careful," you warn Justina. "Her skills are far from our level of polish and her raw power hasn't fully developed yet."

"Understood," Justina nods curtly. "I'll keep that in mind."

>Watch their fight carefully, offer suggestions when they're done.
>Work on your own rapid-sheathing and drawing technique.
>Laura's technique is interesting. You might be able to use it.
>Other?

>>3612742
>Laura's technique is interesting. You might be able to use it.

>>3612742
>Work on your own rapid-sheathing and drawing technique.

>>3612742
>Work on your own rapid-sheathing and drawing technique.

>>3612742
>Work on your own rapid-sheathing and drawing technique.

>>3612742
>>Work on your own rapid-sheathing and drawing technique.

>>3612742
>>Work on your own rapid-sheathing and drawing technique.

>>3612742
>>Work on your own rapid-sheathing and drawing technique.

>>3612742
>>Work on your own rapid-sheathing and drawing technique.

>>3612742
>3d10 best of three

Rolled 3, 4, 1 = 8 (3d10)

>>3613342

Rolled 6, 6, 9 = 21 (3d10)

>>3613342
>342>>3613361>>3612742

Rolled 6, 5, 9 = 20 (3d10)

>>3613342

>>3612742
You take leave of your companions for now, but you also keep a close eye on them as well… you want to see how their sparring goes even as you focus most of your attention on a task more important to your own development.

Drawing the sword is simple enough. You practice it aiming at different initial strikes for what feels like it could be as long as an hour while Lucia and Justina spar. To her credit Justina seems to be methodically testing Lucia’s capabilities, with basic strikes and parries of ever-increasing speed. In fact, you very much doubt that the younger warrior even realizes yet that Justina is forcing her to gradually move faster just to keep pace.

No, as always sheathing remains the problem.

It’s fundamentally not a fast process, as there are two problems with adding speed to such a movement. First, it’s the only time during a sword fight where your own blade is moving towards your body… at least, it should be. Second, and perhaps most significantly, the act of sheathing a sword puts a fighter at significant risk as the blade is moving away from an offensive position.

Rightly, every school of fencing codified within the Monastery’s library which involves drawing and sheathing technique judges this moment to be the most dangerous in combat, and cautions that awareness and care should be exercised at all times while sheathing one’s sword. That means going slowly, mindful of the fact that circumstances could oblige one to draw that sword again at a moment’s notice.

And so you end up having to invent a solution, in order to accomplish something that is not in any of the books. Taking Justina’s abilities as inspiration, you simply reverse the process of drawing your sword.

In drawing your sword your arm movement initiates, then you turn your waist or body to ensure that the sword clears your torso, before initiating a strike. These steps, once mastered, may be performed much more rapidly. And so when you sheath your sword, typically you lead with your arm to put your blade into position before completing the actual movement of sheathing.

Instead, you use your muscles to ‘whip’ the blade back up and over your own shoulder until it reaches the appropriate position, then slide it into the waiting steel receiver.

It’s taken a few hours, and Justina and Lucia have taken a short break, but you’ve managed to figure out a way to sheath your sword faster than ever before.

>Try out sheathing your sword at actual combat tempo, following up with White Fist.
>Take a break and discuss the results of Justina’s spar with Lucia.
>Try out something new, based on Emma’s technique, or else on Laura’s.
>Change places with Justina, let her continue her break.
>Other?

>>3613557
>>Take a break and discuss the results of Justina’s spar with Lucia.
rest and recollection is important

>>3613557
>>Try out sheathing your sword at actual combat tempo, following up with White Fist.

>>3613557
>>Try out sheathing your sword at actual combat tempo, following up with White Fist.
hope it doesn't go wrong spectacularly

>>3613557
>>Try out sheathing your sword at actual combat tempo, following up with White Fist.

>>3613557
>>Try out sheathing your sword at actual combat tempo, following up with White Fist.

>>3613557
>Maybe sheathing the sword is a dead end. Maybe we should just convert White Fist into White Kick and never sheath the sword.

>>3613557
3d10, best of four

Rolled 1, 2, 10 = 13 (3d10)

>>3615414

Rolled 6, 7, 6 = 19 (3d10)

>>3615414

Rolled 4, 7, 3 = 14 (3d10)

>>3615414

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

>>3615414

>>3615414
You decide to take a little extra time to put what you’ve learned into practice, taking a series of swipes at a phantom target at a distance appropriate to a sword fight. Then, at the right moment, you execute the new sheathing movement and begin to focus your yōki into your limbs for White Fist.

But like this, your options are limited. You can only attack with your left fist, and even that feels somewhat slower than it should be. It’s the transition you realize: that brief moment between sheathing your sword and throwing your first punch with the White Fist style. A truly experienced opponent could take advantage of that slight opening and punish you for it.

You try again, and though the opening closes somewhat to an even smaller fraction of a second it remains extant.

“Interesting,” you mutter. Could it simply be that the act of sheathing your sword in battle will always leave some kind of opening to be exploited? And that you can only ever hope to minimize that opening? Or is there still some aspect to this trick that you’ve yet to learn and apply?

“You have something over here?” Justina asks you, her yōki still flowing at around one-tenth her limit.

>No, it’s nothing… yet. But could you observe me for a moment?
>Let’s see you push it up to fifty percent. Do you mind?
>You take a break. I’ll take over with Lucia.
>Other?

>No, it’s nothing… yet. But could you observe me for a moment?

>>3615427
>You take a break, I'll take over with Lucia

>>3615427
>No, it’s nothing… yet. But could you observe me for a moment?

>>3615427
>No, it’s nothing… yet. But could you observe me for a moment?

>>3615427
>>No, it’s nothing… yet. But could you observe me for a moment?

>>3615427
You sigh, gesturing for Justina to watch you. “Right now it’s nothing worth mentioning. But could you take a look for me anyway?”

Justina nods, relaxing her yōki but maintaining the flow to her eyes. “Go ahead.”

>3d10, best of three

Rolled 5, 4, 6 = 15 (3d10)

>>3616099

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

>>3616099

Rolled 3, 2, 6 = 11 (3d10)

>>3616099
i apologize in advance

>>3616099
You repeat your earlier feat, quickly drawing your blade and executing a series of carefully-chosen strikes. Then, once those are complete, you whip your blade back into its holster and launch a White Strike punch at almost the same time. This time you follow through with a few more punches, then draw the sword again.

Then, with a single finishing blow, you end your routine. You return your sword to its holster with another whipping movement.

“So?” you ask. “What were your thoughts?”

“There was a distinct opening upon sheathing,” Justina agrees with your previous assessment. “Though the drawing was seamless.”

“Thanks for confirming it,” you sigh heavily. “Any thoughts for how to solve the problem?”

She shakes her head. “Not that I can see.”

Damn. That’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s kind of what you expected.

“Guess I’ll have to keep considering it,” you grumble. “But thanks.”

“I’ll consider it too,” Justina offers. “Two minds?”

“Don’t devote too much time to it,” you shake your head. “But thanks for that as well.”

“No problem,” she replies, walking towards a nearby flowering tree and sitting against its trunk.

Now, it’s time for Lucia…

She stares at you hesitantly.

>Let’s just spar. Focus on basic sword-handling skills.
>Push her to utilize her yōki, get her used to it.
>Teach her some other skills, like tracking and dodging bullets.
>Other?

>>3616240
>Push her to utilize her yōki, get her used to it.

>>3616240
>>Teach her some other skills, like tracking and dodging bullets.

>>3616240
>Let’s just spar. Focus on basic sword-handling skills.

>>3616240
>>Teach her some other skills, like tracking and dodging bullets.

>>3616240
>Push her to utilize her yōki, get her used to it.

>>3616240
>Teach her some other skills, like tracking and dodging bullets.
all the spatial awareness.

>>3616240
>Teach her some other skills, like tracking and dodging bullets.

>>3602505
Sorry guys, but I need to take a break from questing. My dissertation is due end of next month and I'm going to be hard-pressed to finish. So I need to be spending every waking minute writing for work.

I'll announce on Twitter when I'm ready to come back.

>>3617906
Well shit. But RL takes priority.
Take care and good luck.

>>3617906
So it turns out shit went totally tits-up in my life for about four hours. I'll be posting an update a day for the time being, as usual.

>>3618078
Maybe you need a secure trip.

>>3616240
“Well, I guess it’s a good time to take a break from all this sword-swinging and teach you something new,” you offer to Lucia. “Something that you almost certainly wouldn’t have been taught well enough by the Organization.”

“And what would that be?” Lucia asks you excitedly.

“I’m going to teach you how to deal with firearms,” you inform her.

“I… what?” she asks, excitement starting to give way to dread.

You summon a soldier, who you request to hand you a rifle and a musket. Then you motion to Justina. “You might want to watch this too.”

You begin by taking the rifle and its matching ammunition box. “This is a rifle. It has grooves on the inside of the barrel that spin the bullet, making it more accurate. But it also means the loading process is finicky, and takes longer. Watch carefully.”

First the cloth cartridge goes into the muzzle, then you ram it home with the ramrod. A little powder from the horn to prime it, then you cock the hammer back. Shoulder, aim, and fire. The round hits the inner wall of the defenses, leaving a pockmark in the stone.

“The key to dodging a round like this is to watch the angle of the barrel, called the bore axis,” you continue. “Simply don’t be in that line when the shooter pulls the trigger. If you’re aware of it, a single rifleman should never be able to hit you. In a pinch, you can also turn your body in such a way that it strikes a spot that’s easy to heal. Best to let the bullet pass all the way through, which simplifies the healing process even further… but don’t underestimate it. The passage of the bullet will actually damage your insides, like a bruise spreading from the point of impact. If it strikes you near your head, the rippling force might actually over-pressurize the blood in your brain and cause you to temporarily black out.”

“So if you were a rifleman...” Justina muses.

You nod. “I would actually aim for the neck if I meant to harm a half-blooded warrior, or else use a volley of musket-fire.”

A sergeant, who until now has been listening half-interestedly, begins to focus on you somewhat more intently. “How is it you know how to handle a weapon like that, witch?”

>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.
>Give a vague answer and continue with your lecture on massed fire.
>Go over special cases like fowling pieces and artillery.
>Other?

>>3618728
>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.

>>3618728
>>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.

>>3618728
>>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.
shove it up your insubordinate ass.

>>3618728
>>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.
While we're doing that
>Go over special cases like fowling pieces and artillery.
Multitasking!

>>3618728
>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.

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16 KB JPG

>>3618728

>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.

"Well, you have to know these things when you're a queen you know."

>>3618728
>>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.
>Go over special cases like fowling pieces and artillery.

>>3618728
>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.
Showoff~
>>3618921
"You're a queen? But I didn't vote for you."

Three rounds a minute, in any weather!

>>3618728
>>3620945
>>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.
Three rounds a minute, in any weather!

>>3618728
>Give him a demonstration of what you can do with a musket.
>"I've been shot be a rifleman once before Sargent. It is not a pleasant experience. Have you tried breathing when your lungs have a hole? or even worse a bullet and blood inside it?"
>"I have to know these things you know, I would've been queen if it weren't for the coup."

>>3618728
“You know of the palace guard, of course?” you ask the sergeant in return.

He nods curtly. “Of course.”

“And do you know how they are recruited?” you press.

He nods again. “For their skill at arms and their discipline. And no other factors.”

“Specifically, the requirement is to be able to fire a musket at least three times in a minute,” you explain more clearly, “with the idea that in battle, their pace will be even faster.”

“That’s impossible,” the sergeant replies, shaking his head sternly. “At least, not following combat procedure.”

“The palace guard didn’t used to follow procedure,” you counter, quickly setting to work.

Bite the cartridge. Pour the powder down the barrel. Spit the bullet into the muzzle, then lightly tap the butt against the ground. Cock the hammer. Shoulder. Fire. Retrieve a new cartridge and lower the weapon. Bite the cartridge. Pour the powder down the barrel. Spit the bullet into the muzzle, then lightly tap the butt against the ground. Cock the hammer. Shoulder. Fire. Retrieve a new cartridge and lower the weapon. Bite the cartridge. Pour the powder down the barrel. Spit the bullet into the muzzle, then lightly tap the butt against the ground. Cock the hammer. Shoulder. Fire. Retrieve a new cartridge and lower the weapon.

Your body moves ceaselessly and precisely, like the moving cogs of a machine rather than the limbs of a human being, smooth and fast.

Bite the cartridge. Pour the powder down the barrel. Spit the bullet into the muzzle, then lightly tap the butt against the ground. Cock the hammer. Shoulder. Fire. Retrieve a new cartridge and lower the weapon. Bite the cartridge. Pour the powder down the barrel. Spit the bullet into the muzzle, then lightly tap the butt against the ground. Cock the hammer. Shoulder. Fire. Retrieve a new cartridge and lower the weapon. Bite the cartridge. Pour the powder down the barrel. Spit the bullet into the muzzle, then lightly tap the butt against the ground. Cock the hammer. Shoulder. Fire. Retrieve a new cartridge and lower the weapon.

Six rounds in one minute, all emptied into the wall clustered around the first hit in a tight pattern.
>1/2

File: 76565436765.jpg (88 KB, 1200x675)

88 KB JPG

>>3621905
>Six rounds in one minute

>>3621905
You're forgetting to prime the pan, Noel, and that's the most fiddly part.

>>3621905
The sergeant stares at you slack-jawed.

“That’s definitely not something I’ve ever seen,” he admits. “Hell, I’ve never even heard of anyone shooting six rounds a minute.”

“It’s only possible for the top shooters in Hazaran under extreme stress conditions,” you explain. “I saw a few men capable of doing it when I was a kid. The only reason I can do it is because I use yōki to speed up my movements.”

“So you cheated,” Lucia pouts.

“I used my natural skills to my advantage,” you counter. “Adding to my experience hunting with these sorts of weapons with my father when we used to come out here. Justina? You’ve seen me do it once, why don’t you try it?”

You toss her the musket and the cartridge case, each of which she catches in turn. She examines the hammer and the flint, the paper cartridges all neatly organized, rolling the latter between her fingers like a miser would examine a gold coin for authenticity.

Then she snaps into motion.

Five loud shots in sequence, in just as short a time span, ring out in the courtyard.

The sergeant is understandable sweating now. “It’s true what they say about you claymores...”

>Lucia, you need to learn how to use your yōki to its fullest. These sorts of feats shouldn’t surprise you at all.
>Lucia, I want you to be able to appreciate all the ways a human fighter can still wound us. Some of our enemies from now on will be human.
>Lucia, tactics are perhaps the strongest advantage each of us has… but opponents using strong tactics are our greatest threat as well.
>Other?

>>3621935
When you tap load an antique firearm priming the pan is unnecessary, iirc. I've only seen it done once up close, and that was going on twenty years ago.

>>3621943
>>Lucia, you need to learn how to use your yōki to its fullest. These sorts of feats shouldn’t surprise you at all.

>>3621943
>Lucia, you need to learn how to use your yōki to its fullest. These sorts of feats shouldn’t surprise you at all.
>Lucia, I want you to be able to appreciate all the ways a human fighter can still wound us. Some of our enemies from now on will be human.

>>3621943
>Lucia, you need to learn how to use your yōki to its fullest. These sorts of feats shouldn’t surprise you at all.
>Lucia, I want you to be able to appreciate all the ways a human fighter can still wound us. Some of our enemies from now on will be human

>>3621943
>Lucia, you need to learn how to use your yōki to its fullest. These sorts of feats shouldn’t surprise you at all.

>>3621943
>Lucia, I want you to be able to appreciate all the ways a human fighter can still wound us. Some of our enemies from now on will be human.

>>3621944
I don't know how the spark is supposed to reach the powder without a priming charge.
You sure you weren't watching a caplock?

>>3621991
I vaguely remember reading that for some guns the hole between barrel and pan is big enough that powder can fall from the barrel into the pan

>>3621991
I located a clip that shows someone doing it and they do in fact prime the pan before dumping the rest of the powder down the barrel. So due to my faulty memory I was in fact skipping a step.

>>3622024
We can pretend the Hazari musket doesn't need to be primed for $reason.

>>3622024
My perfect immersion is now completely ruined

>>3621943
>"And what do 'they' say about us?"
>counter the sergeant's rumor by giving him a grain of truth.

>>3622044
Noel primed it during the first demonstration though.
As a /k/ripple, you should understand me.

>>3623000
At least she isn't firing a double barrel three times without reloading.

>>3621943
“Some things are true and others are not,” you shrug. “Depends on which set of completely unbelievable stories you’ve heard. All that is important is whose side we are on, and that happens to be yours.”

Then you turn to Lucia. “There are two things that I want you to learn, besides how to swing a sword to the best of your ability. You must learn how to use your yōki to its fullest, and you must also learn not to underestimate humans.”

“Not to underestimate humans?” Lucia repeats, uncertainty obvious in her voice. “What do you mean? That we might become enemies of humans?”

You shake your head. “There are humans who are hunting us just as we hunt yōma. They use firearms, and target our abilities to plan and conduct missions. They will even take a shot or two at a warrior if we aren’t careful. And even though they’re individually weak, even if they have to rely on firearms to even stand a chance at wounding us… these humans who hunt us understand that we have one crucial weakness.”

“And what weakness is that?” Lucia asks.

You shake your head sadly. “Numbers. It’s all about numbers.”

“Numbers?” Justina narrows her eyes. “I see.”

You nod. “Even were we to decide to break our own moral code and resort to attacking humans, we could never win that fight. There are simply too few of us and too many humans in the world who would quickly turn on us just as the Inquisition is encouraging them to. For every human we would kill in self-defense ten more would be recruited against us.”

“They hold an advantage,” Justina concludes.

“Because it’s unwise for us to start a war, and they know it,” you agree. “So until the situation changes, we just have to endure it.”

“Surely there’s something we can do!” Lucia protests. “I just… I’m sick of feeling helpless, you know? I thought things would finally begin to turn around once I got my number.”

>There’s absolutely something you can do. It’s called training.
>They would have to be defeated by human hands. Not by ours.
>It’s possible that certain… OTHERS might decide to take action.
>We can’t. Our hands are tied.

>>3624147
>>There’s absolutely something you can do. It’s called training.

>>3624147
>There’s absolutely something you can do. It’s called training.
>They would have to be defeated by human hands. Not by ours.
>It’s possible that certain… OTHERS might decide to take action.

>>3624147
>>There’s absolutely something you can do. It’s called training.

>>3624147
>They would have to be defeated by human hands. Not by ours.

>>3624147
>>>There’s absolutely something you can do. It’s called training.
do what you can, when you still can

>>3624147
>>They would have to be defeated by human hands. Not by ours.

>>3624147
>There’s absolutely something you can do. It’s called training.
>It’s possible that certain… OTHERS might decide to take action.

>>3624147
“We’re not going to be the ones to beat them,” you admit openly, shaking your head. “Though we could, we simply can’t. But I have faith that we can outlast them.”

“And why are you so confident?” Lucia presses you.

You can’t help but smirk a little. “Well, my guess is that they’re either going to be attacked relentlessly by yōma in search of an easy meal until their support disappears, or that they’ll run afoul of a political power who will remove them from the stage.”

“They won’t be able to do as they please forever.”

Lucia seems like she wants to argue, but thinks better. “If you think that’s the right course of action.”

“I do,” you nod.

“Okay, so what can we do?” Lucia changes the topic slightly, seeking something to act upon.

“What you’ve done the whole time,” you shrug. “Train and kill yōma.”

>I want you to release your yōki to half your maximum.
>I want you to release your yōki as far as you’re comfortable.
>I want you to raise your yōki then lower it as fast as you can.
>Other?

>>3626579
>>I want you to release your yōki to half your maximum.

>>3626579
>>I want you to raise your yōki then lower it as fast as you can.

>>3626579
>I want you to raise your yōki then lower it as fast as you can.

>>3626579
>>I want you to raise your yōki then lower it as fast as you can.

>>3626579
>I want you to raise your yōki then lower it as fast as you can.

>>3626579
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 1, 5, 3 = 9 (3d10)

>>3628947
>>3628947

Rolled 4, 7, 8 = 19 (3d10)

>>3628947

Rolled 6, 2, 8 = 16 (3d10)

>>3628947

>>3628947
“Your next task will be to raise then lower your yōki as quickly as possible,” you declare. “The point of this exercise is to train in learning how to harness that power without the risks of over-using your yōki.”

“Pretty basic,” Justina adds.

You have to actually explain that further. “It’s the basis of a lot of individual techniques.”

“Alright, sounds like something worth learning!” Lucia declares cheerfully.

Then, with a shout, she releases her yōki. It increases slowly, reaches about the point where her veins start popping out, then she lowers it again.

“Too slow,” you tell her. “Try focusing on raising it more quickly to begin with.”

She does so, at more or less the same speed as before.

“You can be quicker than that,” you insist. Then, for good measure, you show her how it’s done.

Concentrating power in your hands, you snap the musket that you’ve been idly holding since your previous demonstration like it’s a twig. Not just the wooden stock, you also crush the metal barrel as well. Its remains split and blossom at the ends under the intense pressure.

“Hey!” the sergeant protests, initially failing to realize what you just did. Then it dawns on him, and his protests end in an abrupt gulp.

“Sorry,” you apologize quickly. “Got a little carried away. I’ll be sure to replace it.”

“You did it so quickly!” Lucia pouts.

“Even that was mediocre for my level,” you admit. “My specialty is in concentration, not in amplitude.”

“Care to say that like a normal person?” Lucia asks you.

“Enhancement by shifting my yōki all into one place rather than by releasing it momentarily,” you clarify. “So I don’t ever increase it or lower it as quickly as others do.”

>Try it again, but this time I will try to synchronize our yōki.
>Maybe try concentrating your yōki, as I tend to.
>Time to switch. Justina, come here. We’ll work on anything you want.
>Other?

>>3629211
>Try it again, but this time I will try to synchronize our yōki.

>>3629211
>Maybe try concentrating your yōki, as I tend to.

>>3629211
>>Try it again, but this time I will try to synchronize our yōki.

>>3629211
>Try it again, but this time I will try to synchronize our yōki.

>>3629211
>>Try it again, but this time I will try to synchronize our yōki.

>>3629211
Well that sergeant is gonna have a lot of stories for sure

>>3629211
>Maybe try concentrating your yōki, as I tend to.

>>3629211
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 2, 6, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>3632155

Rolled 3, 7, 2 = 12 (3d10)

>>3632155

Rolled 4, 7, 5 = 16 (3d10)

>>3632155

...Ow.

>>3632316
We supercharged her and now she needs to run 100 times around the lake release the excess

>>3632155
“Now try it again,” you tell Lucia, “but this time I’ll be synchronizing my yōki with yours.”

“Alright,” Lucia agrees as you place a hand on her shoulder.

“You sure?” Justina asks skeptically.

“It’ll be fine,” you assure them both.

Focusing solely on linking your yōki and Lucia’s, so that you can help her manage her yōki utilization, you wait for her to increase her power as she did last time. You don’t have to wait long.

You can feel her increase her yōki, still far too slowly to be useful in creating a technique based around a sudden surge of power, and she maintains it there. Then, after a few seconds, she lowers it again just as slowly. It’s like what you would do to demonstrate the concept to someone so that you were sure they could watch it happen. For you this slowness would have to be a choice.

“Faster,” you order her. “If you’re concerned at all over losing control don’t be. That’s what I’m here for.”

“R-right!” Lucia stammers awkwardly, obviously taken aback by your order to disregard her own safety and place control of the situation entirely in your hands.

She tries it again, and this time it’s much quicker. You’d argue she reaches one-tenth of her maximum just quickly enough for it to be useful.

“Alright, that’s more like it!” you congratulate her. “Now see if you can lower it again that fast.”

By your estimate, she quickly reaches one-eighth of her maximum.

“Hey, Lucia?” you ask her. “Sweetie? We’re good now, so just lower your yōki for me.”

One-sixth… one-fifth… one-quarter… her facial features distort and her muscles begin to expand and contract in a rhythm in time with her labored breathing. Her eyes betray only a hint of surprise as she arcs through the air, over your shoulder, and hits the ground shoulders-first in a resounding crash.

Her features quickly morph back into a semblance of normality as she assesses her surroundings, as though surprised to find herself where she is.

“What was I...” she asks aloud.

>Perhaps you’re not suited to this type of technique after all. That happens from time to time.
>I’ve clearly pushed you too far too fast. I apologize for that. That’s all for today.
>Something is clearly bothering you, interfering with your control. Mind telling me what it is?
>Other?

>>3634112
>I’ve clearly pushed you too far too fast. I apologize for that. That’s all for today.

Perhaps we should do less than 10 percent.

>>3634112
>>I’ve clearly pushed you too far too fast. I apologize for that. That’s all for today.

>>3634112
>>Something is clearly bothering you, interfering with your control. Mind telling me what it is?

>>3634112
>I’ve clearly pushed you too far too fast. I apologize for that. That’s all for today.
>Something is clearly bothering you, interfering with your control. Mind telling me what it is?

>>3634112
>I’ve clearly pushed you too far too fast. I apologize for that. That’s all for today.

>>3634112
>>I’ve clearly pushed you too far too fast. I apologize for that. That’s all for today.

>>3634112
>>>I’ve clearly pushed you too far too fast. I apologize for that. That’s all for today.
progress must be constant, not necessarily fast

>>3634112
“I’m sorry, Lucia,” you apologize, putting on a calm facade. “I pushed you too far and too fast… this isn’t the sort of thing you can master in one day no matter how hard you work at it, it’s something you have to feel out for yourself through lots of experience.”

“So, no shortcutting,” Lucia grumbles. “Is that what you’re trying to say?”

You nod. “I’m afraid so. But I have faith that if you stay diligent and careful, you’ll get there.”

“Thanks,” she sighs, walking over to the nearest wall and slumping against it. “I’m just gonna rest for a little while.”

“You earned it,” you assure her.

Maybe you should ease off on her after this. She’s a complete rookie compared to you and the other half-awakened warriors in your number… she’s even a rookie compared to Sabrina, who’s a step or two behind someone like Valentina or Justina. If only they too were half-awakened…

No, you can’t think like that.

You’re just going to have to get them up to the level of low single-digits in their own right, without resorting to any ‘cheats’ involving half-awakening. You’re not even sure that you could keep her on the right side of the proverbial fence were she to go through the process.

“You are right,” Justina nods in agreement.

“How do you know what I’m thinking?” you press her.

“I’d consider it too,” Justina explains. “Half-awakening...”

“It’s such a bother,” you sigh. “But I’d rather be this way than be a rookie again. Between the two, being a rookie was harder.”

>Maybe we should be contemplating something more drastic than this.
>Do you know how Sabrina stands up against the five of us?
>So, do you have any ideas for missions for the two of us?
>Other?

>>3635517
>So, do you have any ideas for missions for the two of us?

>>3635517
>>So, do you have any ideas for missions for the two of us?

>>3635517
>>So, do you have any ideas for missions for the two of us?

>>3635517
>Maybe we should be contemplating something more drastic than this.

>>3635517
>>So, do you have any ideas for missions for the two of us?

>>3635517
“So do you have any ideas for missions the two of us could do?” you ask.

“The two of us?” Justina repeats.

You nod curtly. “Yeah. I’d like to get some time with each of our comrades, get to know you all better.”

“Well,” she muses, before falling silent.

After a few seconds, you prompt her again. “Yes?”

“I don’t,” she admits.

Your head immediately hangs, and you throw your hands up in the air in frustration. “You coulda said that to start!”

“True.”

Well… you guess that comes down to you, then. Figures.

>Let’s search a few former castle locations, and the towns close to them.
>I want to know about the Inquisition’s operations in this region.
>I was thinking of going into town to see what rumors we can pick up.
>Other?

>>3635765
>I was thinking of going into town to see what rumors we can pick up.
>Other?
Have one of the guards pretend to be Justina's boyfriend showing her around the town.

>>3635765
>>I was thinking of going into town to see what rumors we can pick up.

>>3635765
>>I was thinking of going into town to see what rumors we can pick up.

>>3635765
>>I want to know about the Inquisition’s operations in this region.

>>3635765
>I was thinking of going into town to see what rumors we can pick up.

>>3635765
“Let’s go into town and see if we can pick up any rumors,” you suggest. “Sitting in a pub tends to work for me.”

“That so?” Justina asks. Evidently she doesn’t do things that way when she’s on her own?

You nod once. “Tends to, at least. Not always though, but a little alcohol tends to loosen peoples’ lips.”

“Understood,” Justina agrees, preparing to leave.

“No,” you insist quickly. “Not dressed like that we’re not.”
>3d10, best of three
>DC 17, crit 22

Rolled 5, 8, 3 = 16 (3d10)

>>3638246

Rolled 6, 3, 5 = 14 (3d10)

>>3638246

Rolled 2, 4, 9 = 15 (3d10)

>>3638246

Rolled 6, 5, 2 = 13 (3d10)

>>3638246

>>3638255
>>3638259
>>3638260
>>3638268
lets get all of the mediocrity out of the way I suppose.

Nice to be caught up and participating at least

>>3638255
>>3638259
>>3638260
So this is how failure tastes...

>>3638246
At first, it seems things just aren’t going your way.

You and Justina find a table at one of the three pubs that exist in Scaithness, one up above one of the many archways so that it has a panoramic view of the loch, with the cathedral on one side and the castle on the other. Alysheba was grateful to be out of the castle for a ride, but seemed indignant at being left with the other horses so quickly.

Of course, it was quickly Justina who was the most frustrated.

“Nothing,” she grumbles after what seems like hours.

“I wouldn’t say that,” you sigh, scratching the side of your head as you finish your second half-pint of cider. It’s a local type, made with apples and brambles.

“No rumors so far,” Justina quietly protests. “Waste of our time.”

“Look closer,” you insist to her.

After a few moments, she turns back to you with a frown. “Really?”

You nod. “That guy at the corner of the bar is on his fifth ‘shot’ of water, and the waitress won’t even look at us.”

“None of them have,” Justina adds, having observed that none of the other patrons have looked at your table since you sat down.

For someone who’s used to shock and murmurs everywhere she goes, with pointed stares and hushed words of warning, the silence is what’s really getting to you. It’s unexpected, and unnerving.

“They’re already here,” you conclude grimly. “We need to leave.”
>to be continued in the next thread
>probably tomorrow or Wednesday
>keep an eye on the twitter

>>3638386
>probably tomorrow or Wednesday
or
>All of the above.

>>3638386
>to be continued Wednesday