>>3644863
>They may have been tipped off. Beat their contact’s name out of them.

>>3644863
>They may have been tipped off. Beat their contact’s name out of them.

>>3644863
>>They may have been tipped off. Beat their contact’s name out of them.

>>3644863
>>There’s no choice. Take them down non-lethally, and escort them out of town.

>>3644863
>"You know you can stick all of your knives into me and I won't even stagger? And then I'll beat the shit out of you with my bare hands.
Whoever sent you wants to get you roughed up so he can spread rumors about 'witches attacking honest men for no reason'"
>If they attack, do exactly that.
We're a defensive type, we can take it. And seeing us with knives sticking out will leave no space for rumors.

>>3644863
>>There’s no choice. Take them down non-lethally, and escort them out of town.

>>3644863
>They may have been tipped off. Beat their contact’s name out of them.

>>3644863
>>They may have been tipped off. Beat their contact’s name out of them.

>>3644863
>>They may have been tipped off. Beat their contact’s name out of them.
Gotta love how beating them up isn't killing them.

>>3644863
>Other?
Jump out the window and bait them to follow us to a more isolated area.

Then wail on them.

>>3644863
You stare at the knife for a few seconds. “Is that supposed to be a threat?”

“Not a threat,” the man grins maliciously. “It’s a promise! A pact made between myself and the Twin Goddesses that I will end your pathetic existence!”

With that grandiose proclamation he reverses his grip and brings the point of the blade down to meet your raised hand. Red blood spurts onto your face, narrowly avoiding your eyes… that knife must be wickedly sharp to leave a wound in even your enhanced physique. But to be fair, you’re no yōma. Your skin isn’t like armor by default.

Your gaze meets his, completely unimpressed. “Ow.”

The Inquisitiorial agent stares at you in shock, trying to withdraw the knife as you clasp his fist with your fingers.

“I… I can’t… fuck!” he sputters as he reaches up with his free hand to try and pry open your vice-like grip.

“Stab me, shoot me, cut off my limbs, stake me through the heart and fill my mouth with herbs,” you smile at him calmly. “Nothing you do to me is going to cause me anything more than a mild annoyance.”

“What, why!?” he demands, fear now mixing with his self-righteous anger. “Explain!”

“We half-blooded warriors fall into two categories,” you explain patiently. “Offensive, capable of greater bursts of power and speed, and defensive, capable of immense control and regeneration.”

“We’re defenders,” Justina adds calmly, staring down the second man who had locked the door before.

“And it looks like you realize it now,” you continue, staring the man whose knife is presently jammed through your hand. “The reason why you were probably told not to attack our warriors openly, the reason your group works in the dead of night and only ever goes after our human coordinators.”

With one arm you casually fling the man across the room and through a table, before yanking the blade out of your hand and sinking it up to its hilt in the tabletop just next to his head.

“Now,” you growl as the wound in your hand closes itself in front of the staggered Inquisitors. “You’re going to tell us who put you up to this.”
>1/2

>>3647638
“That was kind of amusing,” you admit several minutes after stepping out of what remains of the pub. “Good for stress relief… I’ve wanted to get back at those bastards for a while.”

“The ‘chair leg of truth’,” Justina repeats your earlier words, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Okay, so maybe I got slightly too carried away,” you sigh. “And now I’ll be known as the bane of furniture everywhere. But nobody other than that first guy actually got hurt, and we got the name. So that’s good enough, right?”

Justina quietly shrugs.

“You’re no fun sometimes.”

“So, shall we?” she asks, meaning whether you should head straight for the house number that your new ‘friends’ wiping their own piss of the pub floor gave up.

>Yes, I think so. But we go quietly.
>Yes, and let’s make a show of it.
>No, let’s wait for the time being.
>Other?

>>3647645
>>Yes, and let’s make a show of it.
Subtle ain't gonna work now

>>3647645
>Yes, and let’s make a show of it.

>>3647645
>>Yes, and let’s make a show of it.

>>3647645
>Yes, and let’s make a show of it.

>>3647645
>>Yes, and let’s make a show of it.

>>3647645
>Yes, I think so. But we go quietly.
We are trying to keep a low profile in these parts to avoid drawing attention of the organization.

File: tumblr_mx7s393yWe1qfrzk4o(...).jpg (276 KB, 738x1147)

276 KB JPG

God I love Spider Jerusalem. And Warren Ellis.

>>3647645
>Yes, I think so. But we go quietly.

>>3647645
>>Yes, and let’s make a show of it.
Let's have fun with it.

>>3647645
“Yes, and I think we’ll make a show of it,” you decide. “Just follow my lead, Justina.”

“A plan?” she asks you thoughtfully.

You nod. “Something like that.”

The location that the Inquisition gave you is a small flat in town, almost on the far end from the castle and three floors up. It’s accessible through a walkway supported by heavy timbers projecting from the wall, facing towards the loch.

“This it?” Justina asks.

“It’s the number we were given,” you confirm.

>Knock on the door and demand an answer.
>Knock down the door, see who’s present.
>Knock down the wall. Make a statement.
>Go in through a window. Kind of a middle ground.
>Other?

>>3648669
>Knock down the door

>>3648669
>>Knock down the door, see who’s present.
No need to go full Kool-aid, that just creates an another exit for any runners.

>>3648669
>>Go in through a window. Kind of a middle ground.

>>3648669
>Other?
Knock on the door while the other goes through the window!

When we leave, we should head into a different direction than that of the castle.

>>3647712
>>3647645
I didn't expect to come home to transmet references in my Claymores, and that's made my day brighter.

>>3648669
>Knock down the door, see who’s present.

>>3648669
>knock down the wall, and the rest of the house with it

>>3648669
>Knock down the wall. Make a statement.
OH YEAH!

>>3650301
>>3650401
Lets not ruin a usable building, we are trying not to get locals against us remember?
>knock on the door.

>>3648669
You decide that the best way to make an entrance is through the door, and the best way to make a statement is to break something… so combining the two? Naturally, that means the best approach is to break down the door as loudly and dramatically as possible.

Which is precisely what you do.

The splintered fragments skitter across the floor, and several things happen in very quick succession after that. A sword comes down and nearly splits your hair before you quickly grab hold of it, and there’s movement near the far wall… a mother shelters a young child.

Oh.

You narrow your eyes. “Jonah Matsuma?”

The man who swung the sword at you, now wide-eyed as he realizes the gravity of his mistake, gulps nervously. “Yes?”

“Good,” you nod, glancing at Justina. “Please come with us for a moment. We don’t intend to harm you… just to cause a scene.”

“What does that mean?” he demands as Justina approaches what you understand to be his wife and child.

Then she kneels, focusing solely on the child. “Hello.”

The terrified boy, who can’t be more than about five or six, peeks out from behind his mother’s legs.

“Hello?”

“It will be okay,” Justina insists, reaching out to tousle the boy’s hair. “I promise.”

“It’s a sin to lie,” the man grumbles at you under his breath.

“My friend Justina here doesn’t lie,” you sigh. “You’ll find out what we mean.”
>1/2

>>3651846
“Listen up!” you shout, throwing Jonah Matsuma to the ground after stepping outside. Plenty of passersby stop and begin to gather around, a mix of curiosity and horror taking over. “This man, right here, informed the Inquisition that there are some half-blooded warriors in this area.”

He pushes himself away across the cobbles, backing up against a wall.

“It’s important that we establish the reality of the situation,” you continue. “While it’s understandable that some of you would be afraid of us, you need to know that calling the Inquisition or the Organization to this place will only be bad for all of you.”

“We do not kill humans,” Justina adds calmly, declaring what the two of you know to be true. “We kill yōma.”

“And that is all we seek to do,” you declare.

>We are no longer affiliated with the Organization. We do this for ourselves, as an act of principle.
>All we ask is that you let us help you the only way we know how, a way only we can do.
>The Inquisition doesn’t care about you any more than the Organization does. WE are trying to do something different.
>Other?

>>3651925
>>The Inquisition doesn’t care about you any more than the Organization does. WE are trying to do something different.

>>3651925
>All we ask is that you let us help you the only way we know how, a way only we can do.

>>3651925
>>The Inquisition doesn’t care about you any more than the Organization does. WE are trying to do something different.

>>3651925
>>All we ask is that you let us help you the only way we know how, a way only we can do.
>>The Inquisition doesn’t care about you any more than the Organization does. WE are trying to do something different.

>>3651925
>Other?
>The Inquisition doesn’t care about you any more than the Organization does, and unlike the Organization, we don't go out of our way to kill humans for fighting against Yoma.

If The inquisition gets their way, there will be no one and nothing to keep yoma in check.

>>3651925
>The Inquisition doesn’t care about you any more than the Organization does. WE are trying to do something different.

>>3651925
>3d10, best of four

Rolled 6, 5, 1 = 12 (3d10)

>>3655058

Rolled 6, 3, 7 = 16 (3d10)

>>3655058

Rolled 17, 19, 1 = 37 (3d20)

>>3655058

Rolled 9, 2, 2 = 13 (3d10)

>>3655058

>>3655087
pls.

>>3655087
Almost.

>>3655092
>>3655094
Did I mess up?

Its the 1 at the end isn't it?
:(

>>3655097
It's 3d10, not 3d20.

>>3655097
You rolled 3d20, Queen asked for 3d10

File: Doh.jpg (28 KB, 768x433)

28 KB JPG

Rolled 4, 8, 1 = 13 (3d10)

>>3655118
>>3655117
Derp!

>>3655087
>in another universe the people of this place suddenly get the urge to cheer to a person that isn't even there

>>3655058
“Remember this,” you declare. “The Inquisition doesn’t care what happens to any of you, any more than the Organization does. The two of us, and our fellow warriors here, are trying to do better than that on our own.”

Then you step away from the cowering man.

“You all have to choose, either to make this easier on us or harder,” you declare. “I hope you choose the former, but we have no right to make that decision for you of course.”

“We must also choose,” Justina points out calmly.

“She’s right,” you add. “What we need to choose is what allows us to pursue our own goals as best we can, and for the time being that means sheltering in the castle between missions slaying yōma. I’d prefer to be on good terms with all of you, but should that prove impossible at worst we’ll leave you all alone if you extend us the same courtesy.”

“And if we don’t?” Jonah Matsuma demands from the ground. “I for one won’t be intimidated by you witches!”

>Explain that you and your comrades are used to abuse directed at yourselves, and are more than capable of defending yourselves without killing if need be.
>Promise them that should any harm come to your comrades or collaborators, you will meet it proportionally… albeit non-lethally.
>You will respond to any threats in kind… depending on the situation, that may even include lethal force. You are only bound by the limits of your own good will.
>Take your shirt off. Show them that nothing they can do is worse than what you've experienced.
>Other?

>>3655391
>Promise them that should any harm come to your comrades or collaborators, you will meet it proportionally

>>3655396
>>3655391
this
then lift your shirt to show the scar, Show them that nothing they can do is worse than what you've experienced.
we can take abuse, how much are they willing to take for their follys?

>>3655401
This will scare people more than help, and will only embolden the fanatics.

>>3655414
true, ignore >>3655401

>>3655391
>Promise them that should any harm come to your comrades or collaborators, you will meet it proportionally.

>>3655391
>>Explain that you and your comrades are used to abuse directed at yourselves, and are more than capable of defending yourselves without killing if need be.
the scar mostly healed when we half-awakened iirc

>>3655391
>Other

Ask him why he hates Claymores? Literally all we do is stop Yoma from eating civilians.

If it's because he thinks we are too much like the Yoma, then ask him what alternatives he has. (And give an honest evaluation of their probability of success.) If it's because he fears us turning into Yoma, then assure him that we have ways of dealing with the Awakened, and we personally have had to put down our friend who Awakened.

I feel like Noel would be up for an alternative to stitching monsters to young girls and hoping they don't go die or worse.

>>3655391
>use earthbreaker to shatter the ground in front of him
>"Then you're a fool."

>>3655391
Seconding >>3655733

>>3655391
>Promise them that should any harm come to your comrades or collaborators, you will meet it proportionally… albeit non-lethally.

>>3655391
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 9, 8, 9 = 26 (3d10)

>>3658045

Rolled 5, 4, 8 = 17 (3d10)

>>3658045

Rolled 1, 9, 10 = 20 (3d10)

>>3658045

>>3658051
that's one convincing argument.

>>3655391
“Why the hostility, anyway?” you ask wearily, leaning against a nearby tree. “What has the Organization done to you?”

“They use the same demons which prey on humans!” the man protests angrily. “And you expect us to trust you, when you have to make ‘don’t murder humans’ one of your rules, enforceable by death? Give me a break!”

“And the alternative?”

Surprisingly it’s Justina who manages to challenge him first.

“What?” he asks, confused at the sudden reversal.

“She means, what alternative do you think there is?” you clarify. “I’ve had to bury so many of my comrades… if you have an alternative that might work against the yōma, I’d love to hear it.”

“Rifles!” Jonah insists. “Rifles and swords and spears!”

You scoff at his naive suggestion. “A spear didn’t even kill me before I was given the flesh and blood of a yōma, and I’ve healed from gunshot wounds before. Those weapons may work against a yōma if you massed them, but how would you propose to even find the yōma in the first place?”

“Can you smell them?” Justina jumps in before Jonah can say anything.

“We can,” you press. “On the way here I noticed a yōma disguised in a caravan, and my partner and I killed it before the caravan even knew it was there. Could you have done the same?”

“Could anyone in the Inquisition do the same?”

“I’m sure that an Inquisitor could...”

“Why?” Justina interrupts.

Jonah falls silent, unable to answer the question.

>Walk away. You’ve made the point.
>Offer to have some of the locals over to the castle.
>Swear upon your name that what you’ve told them is the truth.
>Other?

>>3658298
>Walk away. You’ve made the point.

>>3658298
"Our rule not to kill humans was meant to prevent exactly this kind of fear. If we went around killing people that attacked us, even if they were bandits, people would fear us even more than they already do. It's not because we have any desire to do so in the first place. Do you have any idea how often claymores are assaulted? The number of times bandits have come after my body, simply because i'm not allowed to kill them when they attack me? We put up with it not because we have to, but because we need to, so that people at the very least won't mistrust us even if they fear us. It makes our jobs easier. It makes protecting the people easier."

>>3658336
>>3658298
supporting

I think that fear is often born of ignorance. Not always, but often. And it's easy for that fear to turn into unreasonable hatred.
I believe the reason for this particular ignorance is the secrecy of the organization regarding their warriors, so i wonder what would happen if we published a book detailing what it's like to be a half-blooded warrior? If we were to spread accurate knowledge and remove the mysteries and secrecy surrounding ourselves?

It could be dangerous as well, though. There's the chance that people could try to create bootleg warriors if we tell them too much, which is just a terrible idea.
We'd have to carefully pick and choose what to explain, and perhaps explain why we choose not to include certain details.
Further, we'd need some way to prevent false information from being spread by the inquisition. Something official.
i wonder what our friends in the army would think about having the support of some half-blooded warriors on occasion?

>>3658336
>>3658364
Support.

>>3658298
supporting: >>3658336

>>3658298
>Offer to have some of the locals over to the castle.

>>3658298
>>3658336
I like this
>Offer to have some of the locals over to the castle.
I'd also love to do this

>>3658298
You can’t help but sigh dramatically, ready to call it a day already. “Do you have any idea how many times we’ve been attacked, just because people think they can do whatever they want to us? I just got stabbed earlier today. I’ve had rocks thrown at my head, and bandits have even threatened to rape me, all because people know we can’t fight back.”

“Do you think any of us want to be bound by that rule?”

Receiving no reply, Justina presses. “Anyone?”

After several more moments of silence, you make your point. “We don’t have that rule because we have some crazy urges that need to be suppressed. We do it because practically every day, somewhere in this world, a human gives one of us a reason to want to kill them. And if we did so, even to protect our lives, all of us would have to deal with even more abuse and mistrust than we already have to deal with.”

“We have the ability to fight the yōma, and thus we all have some awareness of our duty to do just that. And so all we want is to be allowed to do our duty.”

Justina quickly bows. “Sorry for the commotion.”

As you retrieve Alysheba, you add one last thought. “If any of you wish to speak with us, we are taking shelter in the castle. Speak with the gate guard, and one of us will come out to meet you.”

>Head straight back to the castle.
>Stop by the mayor’s office, work him for information.
>Maybe arrange for some of the soldiers to collect information?
>Other?

>>3661116
>Shake down the mayor

>>3661116
>>Stop by the mayor’s office, work him for information.

>>3661116
>Stop by the mayor’s office, work him for information.

>>3661116
>>Stop by the mayor’s office, work him for information.

>>3661116
>>Stop by the mayor’s office, work him for information.

>>3661116
>>Stop by the mayor’s office, work him for information.

>>3661116
>3d10, DC 17, crit 22
>best of three

Rolled 7, 5, 9 = 21 (3d10)

>>3664913

Rolled 5, 10, 8 = 23 (3d10)

>>3664913

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

>>3664913

>>3664913
Before heading back to the castle, you stop in what looks obviously like an official government building. It isn’t hard to figure out that’s what it is, since it’s the only building other than the cathedral which has carved pillars on the facade and an archway over the front doors.

Inside you push your way past a receptionist and a pair of stunned guards, and find yourself in a large upstairs office across a desk from a man in fine clothes, wearing a ribbon around his neck that marks him as the town’s governor.

“Hello,” you greet the governor as Justina closes the door behind you. “We need to borrow a moment of your time to ask a few questions. The more you cooperate with us the faster we’ll leave.”

“I see,” he nods, stroking his short beard like it was a much longer and more respectable beard. “If that’s how it is, then ask away.”

That was surprisingly easy.

“You have a way with people,” Justina observes with the slightest hint of a cocked eyebrow.

“First question is about the Inquisition,” you press. “What is Scaithness’ official stance on their activities?”

“We don’t have one,” the governor informs you.

“Could be better, could be worse,” you shrug. “Next question, have there been any rumors of yōma near Scaithness?”

“Not recently,” the man shakes his head. “Though I hear one was killed on the road a fair distance from here.”

“That was me,” you admit. “My partner at the time and I took care of it.”

“Mhm,” the governor nods thoughtfully. “Anything else?”

>I need you to send a message to the military governor of Baiko.
>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using the castle as a base of operations.
>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using MY castle as a base of operations.
>I want you to send a message to Lord Sigmunt for me.
>Knowledge of our presence here needs to be kept as secret as possible.
>Other?

>>3665066
>discuss logistics, my castle

>>3665066
>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using MY castle as a base of operations.

>>3665066
>>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using MY castle as a base of operations.

>>3665066
>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using MY castle as a base of operations.

>>3665066
>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using the castle as a base of operations.
This is all heading down the drain fairly fast.

>>3665066
>>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using the castle as a base of operations.
...why are we outing ourself so readily?

>>3665529
Because anons are inherently in need of postruing and self-aggrandizement even when it is to their disadvantage.

>>3665066
>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using the castle as a base of operations.

>>3665066
>> need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using the castle as a base of operations.

>>3665066
>I need to discuss logistics with you. We’re using the castle as a base of operations.

>>3665066
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 5, 1, 6 = 12 (3d10)

>>3667519

Rolled 9, 8, 3 = 20 (3d10)

>>3667519

Rolled 10, 8, 10 = 28 (3d10)

>>3667519

>>3667519
“We’re using the castle as a base of operations,” you explain, “and so I want to discuss logistics and other problems with you, if that’s possible.”

“Okay,” the governor agrees immediately.

Taken slightly aback by the immediate agreement, you take a few seconds to make your first point. “We’re going to occasionally need small amounts of food to feed our number.”

“Easy enough.”

“Security,” Justina reminds you.

“Oh, and we need to make sure that word of our presence here isn’t widely spread,” you add quickly to address Justina’s point. “Not the Organization, not the Inquisition, not the Hazari government.”

“I can keep a secret.”

“We’ll need some building supplies,” you conclude, “to get the castle’s defenses back up to what they should be. We’ll need blackthorn thistle seeds, thin copper sheeting, and lumber.”

“All easily available,” the governor nods.

This is… getting somewhat suspicious.

“Why?” Justina asks.

“We’re not used to things going this easily,” you clarify.

“I wanted to see Blackthorn Keep back at its full defensive potential,” the governor explains, “as it will serve as a deterrent against mountain bandits. And having a contingent of Claymores nearby on a permanent basis will keep yōma at bay. Even if the Inquisition complains they have no power here, and their entire organization certainly can’t keep us safe from the yōma the same way that a handful of silver-eyed women can.”

“So, yes. I agree to all of your requests unconditionally.”

You’re at a loss. It’s not only a completely reasonable position, but the logic he used to arrive at it is both sound and totally neutral towards any of the more common issues people raise with you and your kind. Pure utilitarian thinking in work.

>Okay, good. We’ll send you more detailed requests for materials when we have a full draft of the new defensive plans.
>We have one more request (write-in)
>A few workers would be fine as well. Increased contact with us may ease any tensions.
>Other?

>>3667614
>A few workers would be fine as well. Increased contact with us may ease any tensions.

>>3667614
>3667614
>>3667614
>Okay, good. We’ll send you more detailed requests for materials when we have a full draft of the new defensive plans.

>>3667614
>>A few workers would be fine as well. Increased contact with us may ease any tensions.

>>3667614
>>A few workers would be fine as well. Increased contact with us may ease any tensions.
Don't pressure them too much, that would just be counterproductive. Volunteers would be best, since in the end, as soon as they return word would get out in the town.

>>3667614
>A few workers would be fine as well. Increased contact with us may ease any tensions.

>>3667614
>Okay, good. We’ll send you more detailed requests for materials when we have a full draft of the new defensive plans.
>We have one more request (write-in)
we help you raise a small town militia for your defense in case we are busy or unavailable.

>>3667614
>>A few workers would be fine as well. Increased contact with us may ease any tensions.

>>3667614
>A few workers would be fine as well. Increased contact with us may ease any tensions.

>>3667614
“It might be nice to borrow a few local workers,” you suggest. “Not like a press gang, but people who may be more willing to take a job they’re uncertain about.”

“You need the extra hands?” the governor asks.

You immediately shake your head. “We could do the work ourselves easily enough, but I think it’d be nice if some of the locals had a chance to come into contact with us… ‘naturally’, I guess you could call it. In a context where it’s not a confrontation, and where it isn’t artificial.”

“I see,” the governor nods in understanding, before offering a hand to be shaken. You accept the unexpected gesture. “My name is Mordecai Haskin, Governor of Scaithness.”

“Noel,” you reply with your own given name, omitting your titles and ranks.

“Justina,” your partner adds.

“And might I ask, how many do you number?” Governor Haskin asks calmly. “I do not plan to share this information of course, I’m simply curious about what’s going on within the territory I’m meant to be administering.”

You exchange a brief glance with Justina, who gives you a subtle nod.

“Eight,” you reply. “If you could say we have something like a ‘leader’ in the sense that a single person could convince the others to accept a course of action, it would be either myself or Helen.”

“Sound about right to you?” you ask Justina.

She nods again. “Not inaccurate.”

“Good enough.”

“Eight Claymores in one place...” Governor Haskin muses, his tone slowly edging towards the grim. “While I have you in such a talkative mood, might I ask why it is that such an unprecedented number of Claymores have assembled in Scaithness?”

>Circumstances beyond our control. That is all I will say.
>We are survivors of a botched mission, laying low for a while.
>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.
>Other?

>>3672523
>>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.

>>3672523
>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.

>>3672523
>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.

>>3672523
>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.

>>3672523
>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.

>>3672523
>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.

>>3672523
>When claymores learn too much or become too strong, the organization sends them on a suicide mission. We survived.

>>3672523
This is either an opportunity to increase our human network, or get epically backstabbed.

>difference in opinion, describe the organisations tasteless tests and pushing warriors to go too far.

>>3672523
>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.
>When claymores learn too much or become too strong, the organization sends them on a suicide mission. We survived.

>>3672523
>We left the Organization due to… differences in opinion.
>When claymores learn too much or become too strong, the organization sends them on a suicide mission. We survived.

>>3672523
“I guess you could say we had a difference of opinions with the Organization,” you sigh, putting it as euphemistically as possible. “See we actually value each others’ lives, while the Organization would have us throw our lives away for the sake of their convenience.”

“Don’t you risk your lives as part of your normal business?” the Governor asks.

Justina shakes her head. “Not like this.”

“Usually we risk our lives for a possible benefit,” you clarify, putting words to Justina’s thoughts. “If we die, then we’ve spent our lives for something worth trying to achieve. But if the Organization sends us to pursue a mission which has zero chance of success then our lives have been wasted.”

“And to waste the lives of my comrades is something I cannot tolerate. So while our objectives haven’t changed our circumstances have.”

“I see,” the Governor frowns, stroking his chin in thought. “I suppose I can understand that, feeling that one’s life and potential are being deliberately wasted. Though I can’t say I know what it’s like to be condemned to death.”

“That’s not quite my point,” you quietly correct the man.

“It isn’t?”

You shake your head. “Most of us are fully aware that we won’t have natural deaths. Becoming half-blood warriors has basically means we can’t hold out much hope for our own lives. But we’d prefer to get the most out of our lives before we’re killed.”

“Grim,” the Governor muses. “But also understandable.”

“So we have an arrangement?” Justina asks.

Governor Haskin nods calmly. “Yes, I think so. As long as your number being here does not mean that my region is under elevated threat, then I have no problems.”

You spend the next few days continuing a training rotation with Justina and Lucia, until one morning some of your fellow warriors return.

“So you’re back,” Sabrina greets you coolly as Serana sets her sword aside in the entryway. “I take it your mission went well?”

“Well enough,” you shrug. “We also made some arrangements around here.”

>Ask Sabrina and Serana what they got up to while they were away.
>Offer to go out on a mission with Justina.
>Suggest that you and Sabrina should go on a mission.
>A mission with Serana would be nice.
>Other?

>>3673355
>Ask Sabrina and Serana what they got up to while they were away.
Maybe we can segue into going on a mission with Serana after

>>3673365
>>3673355
Agreed

>>3673355
>Ask Sabrina and Serana what they got up to while they were away.

>>3673355
>Other?
Go check up on Laura.....

>>3673355
>>Offer to go out on a mission with Justina.

>>3673355
>Ask Sabrina and Serana what they got up to while they were away.

>>3673355
>Ask Sabrina and Serana what they got up to while they were away.

>>3673355
“So, what’d the two of you end up doing?” you ask of your recently-returned comrades. “Was it at least interesting?”

“Not really,” Sabrina admits. “Mostly we were rooting around for any rumors to act on. Only found one yōma, got rid of it.”

PRETTY BORING, Serana agrees. THOUGH THE OTHERS MAY HAVE SOMETHING BETTER.

“What’d she say?” Sabrina asks you.

“She said you’d better read one of the books we brought back with us,” you lie, rolling your eyes. “Come on, there’s really no excuse to rely on me to interpret anymore, so please be studious about this.”

“Ah, they’re back!” Lucia smiles, coming down the stairs to investigate the commotion. “I’ll make a quick meal.”

THANK YOU, Serana signs at her.

YOU WELCOME, Lucia signs back, almost painfully slowly.

“Hey… hey!?” Sabrina slowly realizes what just happened. “Since when can Lucia...”

“If you’re not careful her communication skills aren’t the only ones Lucia’s gonna leave you behind at,” you shrug, not even trying to suppress a smirk.

“Wha-”

“I won’t be a rookie forever,” Lucia points out before walking into the kitchen.

“So where did Laura end up going?” you ask, suddenly curious.

“Went out on her own somewhere,” Sabrina shrugs.

I THINK SHE WENT SOUTHWEST, TOWARDS BAIKO.

“It’ll be interesting to hear back from her,” you sigh, “but I really wish she hadn’t gone alone.”

>Serana, you want to go to Baiko with me?
>Justina, let’s head to Baiko together.
>Hey, Sabrina. You, me, Baiko? It’ll be fun.
>Other?

>>3677023
>Hey, Sabrina. You, me, Baiko? It’ll be fun.

>>3677023
>>Serana, you want to go to Baiko with me?

>>3677023
>Serana, you want to go to Baiko with me?
She's probably dying for a decent conversation.

>>3677023
>>Serana, you want to go to Baiko with me?

>>3677023
>Serana, you want to go to Baiko with me?

>>3677023
>>Serana, you want to go to Baiko with me?

>>3677023
>Serana, you want to go to Baiko with me?

>>3677023
>Serana, you want to go to Baiko with me?

>>3677023
“Hey Serana, you wanna go to Baiko with me?” you ask abruptly.

Serana for her part quietly shrugs. WHY NOT?

“Sounds nice,” you nod. “We’ll go as soon as you’re ready.”

I WANT TO EAT, BATHE, AND TAKE A NAP FIRST.

“That’s fine,” you agree. “I wouldn’t hold it against you of course.”

THANKS. I’LL TRY NOT TO DAWDLE TOO MUCH. I ASSUME YOU WANT TO TRY MEETING WITH LAURA?

You nod. “That’s right.”

THEN I WILL MAKE IT A SHORT NAP.

“You’re going?” Justina asks for confirmation.

“As soon as Serana has had some time to rest and recover,” you explain.

>Please remain here until Helen and Valentina get back, just to be cautious.
>You and Lucia may leave if you wish, but please ensure that Sabrina stays behind.
>I’ve written up some plans for improvements to the defenses. Please coordinate with the locals while I’m away.
>Other?

>>3681040
>>Please remain here until Helen and Valentina get back, just to be cautious.

>>3681040
>Please remain here until Helen and Valentina get back, just to be cautious.

>>3681040
>>I’ve written up some plans for improvements to the defenses. Please coordinate with the locals while I’m away.

>>3681040
>Please remain here until Helen and Valentina get back, just to be cautious.
>I’ve written up some plans for improvements to the defenses. Please coordinate with the locals while I’m away.

>>3681040
>>Please remain here until Helen and Valentina get back, just to be cautious.
>>I’ve written up some plans for improvements to the defenses. Please coordinate with the locals while I’m away.
I don't see why both aren't possible.

>>3681040
>I’ve written up some plans for improvements to the defenses. Please coordinate with the locals while I’m away.

>>3681200
>Please remain here until Helen and Valentina get back, just to be cautious.
>I’ve written up some plans for improvements to the defenses. Please coordinate with the locals while I’m away.

>>3681040
The next morning you’re up early and ready to go, as are the rest of your companions.

“Do me a favor,” you tell the three who are staying, “and stick close to the castle until Helen and Valentina are back, okay? There are some plans I’ve drawn up for some slight improvements to the defenses, which you’ll find on the table downstairs, so play nice with the workers from town when they get here.”

“Sure,” Justina nods, offering you a quick thumbs-up.

“Alright then,” you turn to Serana. “You good?”

When she nods to confirm it, you head out onto the road…
>3d10, best of four

Rolled 7, 3, 1 = 11 (3d10)

>>3683820

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

>>3683820

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

>>3683820

Rolled 4, 7, 9 = 20 (3d10)

>>3683820

>>3683820
surprise visit from democratically elected bandits!

...... They elected..... a woman?

>>3683820
After walking for a few hours, you exchange a glance with Serana. She quickly signs to you confirming your suspicion.

YES, I FEEL IT.

“There was a yōma here,” you mutter, kneeling and touching your fingers to the ground. “A powerful one, one that I’ve never encountered before.”

Serana points away from you. IT CAME FROM THAT DIRECTION.

“And was heading that way,” you reply, pointing in the direction of Baiko. “A few days ago. It made no effort to hide itself.”

MIGHT LAURA HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING IT?

“It’s possible,” you admit. “But the timing feels off. I don’t know that she’d have been following it given when she left. Instead maybe it was following her?”

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

>Follow the yōma’s trail. Either way this is something that warrants your intervention.
>Continue heading for Baiko, which was your original objective.
>Follow the yōma to the nearest settlement and enquire about a one-armed Claymore.
>Other?

>>3683870
>Follow the yōma’s trail. Either way this is something that warrants your intervention.

>>3683870
>>Follow the yōma’s trail. Either way this is something that warrants your intervention.

>>3683870
>Follow the yōma’s trail. Either way this is something that warrants your intervention.

>>3683870
>Follow the yōma’s trail. Either way this is something that warrants your intervention.

>>3683870
>Follow the yōma’s trail. Either way this is something that warrants your intervention.

>>3683870
Wait, I thought Serana was the one armed one?

Anyone made a list of character descriptions yet?

>>3685490
Laura was also crippled in the battle between the Abyssal ones, when she was giving Noel time to escape. She concluded that her combat effectiveness was drastically reduced to the point that she no longer considers herself a frontliner.

>>3685490
Think Laura had an arm and a leg turned to paste.

>>3683870
>Follow the yōma to the nearest settlement and enquire about a one-armed Claymore.

>>3686906
Now that you mention it she regrew those, they're just weaker.

Other Anon was correct, I've been off my game lately.

>>3686911
>I've been off my game lately.
In that case let me tell you some cheats!
type this into the console line:

Hand holding is lewd
Can I have a banana for a snack
The chances of success are zero
I warmed your bed
Mommy is the GOAT girl
Oh your stigma is showing

>>3686969
Dafuq?

>>3685758
Wasn't she one of the limb donor recipients? She's still acclimating iirc.

>>3687334
... I'm gonna take some time today to straighten my notes the fuck out, because I have her down as having regrown her limbs for some reason. But yes, you're correct.

My mind is full of fuck

>>3683870
“Either way we need to intervene,” you sigh. “Either it’s tracking Laura and we want to intercept it before it intercepts her, or it’s off to cause trouble and Laura would expect us to deal with it over tracking her down on a whim.”

I AGREE, Serana nods, replying with her hand. I HOPE LAURA IS WELL, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.

As you head off in the direction you sense that the yōma took, Serana continues to sign to you.

WE CAN ASK AT THE NEXT TOWN.

“Good idea,” you agree. “Though broadly speaking we may be chasing a yōma who has silver eyes herself, so that could be a problem.”

WHAT FEATURES WOULD YOU ASSOCIATE WITH LAURA?

“Small nose, fullish lips, long white hair,” you list off the first few features that come to your mind. “I mean either one of us could recognize her on sight, but to describe her would for the most part describe [i]half[/i] of us, give or take.”

THERE [i]MUST[/i] BE SOMETHING Serana insists, doubling the sign for ‘must’ for emphasis.

>I guess the look in her eyes is what sets her apart, they give you a sense of how old she really is.
>Was she carrying her sword? Most awakened beings stop doing that… except Saria, of course.
>Maybe we shouldn’t bother… if we catch up then it doesn’t matter what anyone saw.
>Other?

>>3688713
>I guess the look in her eyes is what sets her apart, they give you a sense of how old she really is.

>>3688713
>Was she carrying her sword? Most awakened beings stop doing that… except Saria, of course.

>>3688713
>Was she carrying her sword? Most awakened beings stop doing that… except Saria, of course.

>>3688713
>>Was she carrying her sword? Most awakened beings stop doing that… except Saria, of course.

>>3688713
>>I guess the look in her eyes is what sets her apart, they give you a sense of how old she really is.

>>3688713
>I guess the look in her eyes is what sets her apart, they give you a sense of how old she really is.
all the claymores and yomas become hags at some point, even if they physically don't age.

>>3688713
>Was she carrying her sword? Most awakened beings stop doing that… except Saria, of course.

>>3688713
>Was she carrying her sword? Most awakened beings stop doing that… except Saria, of course.