>>3696092

Equipment:

>Full Plate Armor

>Maiden and Knight Rings: [The Maiden Ring where can transfer their health to the Knight Ring wearer and the Knight Ring wearer can absorb damage the Maiden Ring wearer would receive. Allow telepathic communication between the ring wearers.]

>Plate of the Savior’s Mercy: (once per in game day you will survive a mortal blow)

>Untouchable Glaive: +2 to damage. Every turn in combat that you don’t take damage, the enemy will have 1 point taken off their dice (This is cumulative so 3 turns without taking damage = -3 to their dice)

>Short sword

>Helmet of Clear Vision (+2 on perception checks, can see through minor illusions)

>Oak Heart Belt: +5 HP and will make you marginally stronger adding +1 to your dice damage. Secondary effect: If you were then belt for 24 consecutive hours your skin will turn to bark adding +3 to your defense and -1 to your dice damage.

>2 Health potion

>2 Energy potion

>2 Explosive Grenadoes

>1 Smoke Grenado

>5 Gold

Books:

>Herbalism Primer

>Herbalist Guide Book

Perks:

>Bush Wacker: Easier to spot and set ambushes

>Elf War Veteran: +2 to your defense against non-magical ranged attacks and +2 to your dice damage.

>Commanding Voice: Your words will be heard over the loudest of noises and when directly giving orders, the recipients of those orders gain a +2 to their rolls. You also gain +1 when intimidating others.

>Iron Gullet perk. It will now take a copious amount of alcohol to get you even tipsy, a blessing and a curse; however spoiled foods and poisons now have a hard time making you sick +3 to resist the effects of poison.

>Smart Attacker: You’ve been there attacked that and gotten smacked for it so many times you finally learned something (The aggressive stance no longer deducts defense and adds +1 to your dice rolls for combat).

>Shoulder to Shoulder: Fighting side by side with your companions has taught you how to fight as a team. The Battle Buddy bonus now applies when companions are fighting next to you, not just against the same target. You will also confer the Battle Buddy bonus to companions who are applying it to you.

>Triage Medic: After any fight in which you’ve sustained damage, you can choose to treat your wounds, healing you for 5 HP, you also have an easier time treating the wounds of others.

>Boris’s Blessing: For every enemy crit and friendly crit fail that happens in your presence (including your own crit fails) after the effects of the crit have gone through you will receive a Jinx point which can then be used to turn any subsequent enemy roll into a 1


>Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Mid+Boss+Quest

>>3696096

Shifting around behind Caulder, you are in the perfect position to witness the blow that sends Selenas flying. Caulder was bearing down on Selenas raining down blow after blow, forcing her to stay on the defensive and just out of the hammer’s way. Suddenly Caulder’s foot comes up in a vicious kick that catches Selenas in the side and staggers her. Then in a flash, Caulder’s free hand delvers a punch that takes Selenas in the chest and sends her tumbling away. You reach out with the ring and lessen some of the damage and instantly feel like you were the one who just got the wind knocked out of you.


>Your health 11/25

>Selenas health 10/20


“Surrender child, it’s not too late we can still save you.” Caulder says to Selenas offering her his hand.


Crouched down with her arms around her chest trying to suck in air, the only response Selenas can offer is a shake of the head.


“Come now Selenas there is no need to be afraid. Falenta and I are here now, you’re safe. You can come back to us.


“No,” Selenas wheezes as she rises back to her feet.


You were now at Caulder’s back with Falenta in-between the two of you. Now it was time to finish this.


Caulder lets out a sigh as he returns his hand to his hammer, “There is only one thing to be done then.” With a quick pivot Caulder turns and comes rushing at you. “RELEASE SELENAS YOU FIEND!” He shouts as he speeds toward you.


>Okay anons I’ll need some d20s

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>3696103

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>3696103
Attack Falanta to make her drop the shield same plan as before so that the queen can fuck him up

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>3696103
sigh

>>3696179
use this one to jinx Caulder right back

we still keep our 2 jinxes since this would be the third right?

let's hope Selenas rolls well and fucks him from behind

Rolled 14, 17, 7 = 38 (3d20)

>>3696103

>Caulder

>>3696200
jinx that 17

will Selenas attack him as well?

>>3696200
Agree on the Jinx
Now we have to hope selenas can do some damage

>>3696212

Yes the jinx will actually have to go off so that you don't die, but you will remain at the same number of kinds from your 1.

As for Selenas, well you'll see.

>>3696244

Wtf autocorrect in what world does jinxes look like kinds

>>3696254
try using a phone that is programmed in a different language and write in English, I have to manually correct every word

>Jinx auto trigger

Your rolls: 8,1,8 = (6)/2 crit fail + 3 [Veteran] + 1 [Stance] + 1 [Oaken Strength] + 2 [Selenas] – 2 [Wounded] = 8

Enemy rolls: 14,1,7 = (7)/2 crit fail + 4 [Expert] + 2 [Lady’s Presence] = 10

8 – 10 = -2 damage
Bonuses: -2 – 3[Judgement] +1 [Armor] (Negated by Judgement) + 2[Queen’s aid] = 2 damage received


Caulder’s sudden charge catches you completely off guard, but as the hulking giant closes on you, something happens. The bile that had been building in your throat intensifies in a burning sensation and a deep masculine laugh echoes in your ear. Then suddenly Caulder trips, he staggers and manages to stay upright, but his charge is spoiled. He crashes into you nonetheless and sends you tumbling in the dirt, but you regain your own footing as Caulder turns to come at you again, but both of you stop when. Selenas’s voice rings out. “Stop this!’ she shouts.


You look over to see her pressing her sword to Falenta’s throat. “Enough Falenta, Stop this, all of it.”


“Selenas dear-” Falenta starts but is cut off.


“You promised we would make things better that this rebellion would help the people, but the only thing I see around me is destruction and the only one this rebellion has benefited is you.” Selenas spits the words out like venom and Falenta is visibly annoyed by the tone.


“I’ll forgive you for your tone Selenas, These villains have obviously twisted your mind to-”


“No, I’m in control of my own mind for the first time since I met you and now I see you for the selfish, manipulative temptress you are. Now no more words, surrender and make good on your promise to finally better this world by ending this stupid rebellion.” Selenas says pressing her sword harder into Falenta’s neck.


Falenta frowns at Selenas, then scowls, and then she explodes in a flash of pure white light. Selenas screams and you go blind for a moment. Through the splotches in your returning vision you can see Selenas on the ground at Falenta’s feet trying to protect her eyes from the harsh light being let off by Falenta. “I have been patient with you Selenas, I’ve given you chance after chance to return to me, to free yourself from these villains and instead of graciously accepting my forgiveness, you’ve spat in my face and that I cannot abide. I am done playing nice with these scoundrels. I will cast my holy light upon them and blot out their stain upon this land!” Falenta shouts and her light intensifies the grass around her steams and ignites and it becomes nearly impossible to look at her directly.

>>3696683

“Fool” The Queen’s chuckles and the whispers at the edge of your hearing disappear. It is then that you notice that the light in the sky has gone out and all around you the rebel ranks erupt in screams and shouts as soldiers start to fall left and right. Shadow had returned to the battlefield.


>Head for Falenta, you’ve got to get Selenas away from that light.

>Fallback and heal, you’re too injured to do anything for the moment.

>With the shadows back you need to press the attack on Caulder, his light shield is still up.

>[Write In]

>>3696693
>>Head for Falenta, you’ve got to get Selenas away from that light.

>>3696693

>Head for Falenta, you’ve got to get Selenas away from that light.

The queen can probably protect us, and if she was straining before she probably droped the Caulder protection, if he comes after us the queen can get him

>>3696693

>Head for Falenta, you’ve got to get Selenas away from that light.
Lets hope we don't need to roll or we are toast lol

>>3696791
>>3696831

>>3696863
Anon you didn't think you'd get off that easy.

>okay gentlemen give some more d20s

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>3696914
We should preemptively jinx Falenta

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>3696914

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>3696914

Rolled 5, 5, 11 = 21 (3d20)

>>3696914

>Falenta

Next update will be my last for the night

Your rolls: 15,17,19 = (17) + 3 [Veteran] + 1 [Stance] + 1 [Oaken Strength] + 2 [Selenas] – 2 [Wounded] – 2 [Blinding Target] = 18

Enemy rolls: 5,5,11 = (7) + 2 [Experienced] = 9

18 – 9 = 9 damage


Bonuses: 9 + 2 [Untouchable Glaive] + 2 [Stance] – 1 [Light Barrier] = 14 damage dealt


> You and Selenas take damage from the light.(– 2 health)

>Baldr 7/25

>Seleanas 8/20


You’ve got to get Selenas, you say to yourself as you take off past the stunned Caulder and rush toward Falenta. She notice your approach and turns to face you “I shall start the cleansing with you Queen of Shadow,” A spear of light materializes in Falenta’s hand and she hurls it at you with surprising speed. You barely duck under the shaft as it pierces the air where your head had been. She sends more shafts speed your way, but you manage to dodge around all of them and close with Falenta. The closer you get to her however the more intense the heat coming off her becomes within a few feet from her the heat is almost unbearable.


She is standing between you and Selenas though, so you bear it and close to melee. Even though the light coming off her is too bright to look at, you know about where she is at and swing with all your might. Falenta tries to dodge out of the way and succeeds in avoiding the blade of your glaive, but the shaft of your weapon slams into her and you hear a muted snap. Falenta shrieks in pain and her light fades enough for you to locate Selenas and drag her away.


“Milady!” Caulder bellows from behind you while he rushes to cover the injured mage. In the lessened light you can see Falenta and the broken mess you’d made of her leg. Reaching a safe distance you slow to help Selenas to her feet. She was badly sun burned, but she was still on her feet as were you and now that you had wounded Falenta greatly, the outcome of this battle had been decided, all that was needed now was the coup de grace.


>Get back in there and finish the fight.

>You’re both in too bad a shape to fight right now, rest a moment and heal

>With the battlefield in chaos, you might be able to bring in support from your own troops, you need to find them.

>[Write In]

>>3697370
she's with a broken leg?

ganedo the bitch

hand a health potion to Selenas and drink the other one

>>3697388
Grenado I meant

>>3697388
Caulder will probably try to block the thing with his body but either way is good, we can hope to stun him and we need the healing

>>3697370
>You’re both in too bad a shape to fight right now, rest a moment and heal

We've been playing aggressive this whole time, I doubt the queen will be too upset if we tone it down for a second

>>3697370
We drink energy potion, leave Selena out of Light Barrier with our health pots to keep us alive.
We charge Caulder, lock him in combat Queen using her tendrils activates and lobs two explosive granados behind him one over our heads one under the legs

>>3697388
Are we gonna bomb the shit out of them and drink some pots?

>>3697388
>>3697529
>>3698500
>>3698733
>>3700070

Sorry folks a night of cards and drinking got in the way.

Please confirm your choice and we'll pick up tomorrow.

>pick one from each category.

Healing:
>Use healing and energy potions now

>Use energy potion now and let Selenas heal via ring.

Fighting:
>Engage Caulder in Melee

>Hit them with a grenado (1 or 2 grenado)

>>3700286

>Use healing and energy potions now
Share among us two

The reason isnto reduce our malus of injury and fatigue.


>Hit them with a grenado (1 or 2 grenado)
1

>>3700313
+1

File: Throwing Grenadoes.jpg (131 KB, 973x625)

131 KB JPG

>>3700313
>>3701108

Taking a moment you split your last two healing and energy potions with Selenas. The effects are instantaneous. At once the warmth of the healing potion pervades your body followed by the tingling of the energy potion.


Feeling much better than before, you turn back to deal with Caulder and the wounded Falenta. Only to find them not where you left them, but beating a hasty retreat through the ranks of their dying soldiers toward the river crossing. Carrying Falenta in his arms Caulder moves swiftly through the scenes of carnage around him. Several shadows leap up to attack him, but the light barrier around him repulses the monsters and they slink off to find easier prey.


You and Selenas take off immediately after Caulder, once in throwing range, you pull out a grenado and prepare to hurl it.


>Give me some d20’s boys

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>3703155
fuck you Caulder

let's hope we don't blow up our boys with a 1

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>3703155

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>3703155

File: It works.png (341 KB, 491x335)

341 KB PNG

>>3703195
>>3703212
>>3703245

The grenado sails after Caulder and thumps to a stop in front of him. He sees it but only has enough time to curl around Falenta protecting her from the blast. The explosion rocks him and he staggers sideways from the force of the blast. He takes a few more tottering steps before falling to one knee. Once he steadies himself however, he rises back to his feet and begins to move again.


>Caulder takes 8 damage


The grenado, while it didn’t fully stop him, bought you enough time to close you are almost upon him now and the river crossing is looming up ahead.


>Hit him with another grenado, bring him down.

>Engage him in melee. He won’t be able to fight as well when he has to carry Falenta

>[Write In]

>>3703381

>Engage him in melee. He won’t be able to fight as well when he has to carry Falenta
We use the granedo if he reaches the river or disengages from us.

Let's hope our ice magws can freeze their feet if they get into the water

>>3703381
Fuck you Caulder again

>>3703408
Arg

>Engage him in melee. He won’t be able to fight as well when he has to carry Falenta

Derped the vote

Rolled 16, 11, 18 = 45 (3d20)

>>3703399
>>3703410

>Very well anons give me some d20s and I'll drop the next update tomorrow morning.

The dice above are for Caulder.

Rolled 6, 16, 5 = 27 (3d20)

>>3703472

>Selenas

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>3703472

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>3703472

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>3703472

I say we jinx him, with the maluses he will get with fighting with Falenta and if both we and Selenas do damage I think we may get him for good

>>3703558
Agreed on the jinx

Your rolls: 12,14,15 = (14) + 3 [Veteran] + 1 [Stance] + 1 [Oaken Strength] + 2 [Selenas] + 1 [Untouchable Glaive] = 18


Enemy rolls: 16,11,1 = (9)/2 jinx fail + 4 [Expert] + 2 [Lady’s Presence] – 2 [Precious Cargo] – 1 [Slightly Wounded] = 8


18 – 8 = 10 damage


Bonuses: 10 + 2 [Untouchable Glaive] + 2 [Stance] – 1 [Light Barrier] – 5 [Impervious Armor] = 8 damage dealt


>Selenas deals 2 damage


>Jinx used. 1 Jinx left


As you come up behind Caulder, you can feel the bile in your throat bubbling again. You let out a roar and the deep masculine laughter from before bounces around your head louder this time. Just as you roar, Selenas cuts in front of Caulder and slashes up at his neck. Caulder raises his arm to block the strike and that is when Selenas redirects her slash to his now exposed armpit. The blade cuts in through the armor and delivers a shallow cut. Grunting Caulder slams his arm back down.


Following up on Selenas’s attack, you come up from behind and bury your Glaive in the back of the distracted Caulder’s knee. He gasps in pain and stumbles, but remains standing, though clearly he is in bad shape. He keeps moving, favoring his remaining good leg and desperately trying to get to the river. Over the sounds of battle you hear him whispering encouragement to Falenta. “Worry not Milady it is but a scratch,” he says through gritted teeth. “Can you see the river? Look its right there, we’re almost to it, just a little farther.”


>Assuming you want to finish him off, give me some d20s

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>3704221
Keep fucking him up I guess

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>3704221

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>3704221

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>3704221

Rolled 1, 9, 14 = 24 (3d20)

>>3704221

>Caulder

Rolled 8, 5, 17 = 30 (3d20)

>>3704221

>Selenas

>>3704572
>>3704569
praise fucking be!

>>3704569
God of misfortune gave us a freeby

Your rolls: 15,17,5 = (12) + 3 [Veteran] + 1 [Stance] + 1 [Oaken Strength] + 2 [Selenas] + 2 [Untouchable] = 21


Enemy rolls: 1,9,14 = (8)/2 crit fail + 4 [Expert] + 2 [Lady’s Presence] – 2 [Precious Cargo] – 3 [Severely Wounded] = 5


21 – 5 = 16 damage


Bonuses: 16 + 2 [Untouchable Glaive] + 2 [Stance] – 1 [Light Barrier] – 5 [Impervious Armor] = 14 damage dealt


>Selenas deals 6 damage


>Caulder Slain


Limping as he is Caulder makes for an easy target. Selenas is the first to strike thrusting her sword through his good knee. Caulder groans and his legs start to buckle, but through sheer force of will he stays standing and walks shakily toward the river. He is barely making progress by this point and makes no move to defend himself as you step in front of him. He doesn’t even look down at you his eyes remain fixed on the river. “Just a little farther,” he grunts pushing the last ounces of his strength to move forward. Lifting your glaive, you force the weapon up into the gap between Caulder’s helmet and neck guard.


The blow stops him in his tracks and he lets out a gurgling exhale as he finally slumps to his knees. Falenta spills from his arms and rolls onto the muddy river bank, feet from the rushing water. “Go Milady, I will hold them,” Caulder gurgles and he clutches the head of your glaive trying to hold on to the weapon. With a sharp jerk you pull the weapon free from both his neck and hands causing the giant to fall to hands and knees.


As the last of his strength leaves him, Caulder’s arms buckle and he starts to fall forward. He never makes it to the ground though. With a sudden jerk and a loud crunch, Caulder jerks back upward and wheezes. There are several more loud crunches and pops before you witness Caulder’s arm twist fully around in its socket and the giant lets out a scream. He rises back to his feet and you take a few steps back and readying your weapon. The armor shudders and more pops are heard along with a strangled scream. It is then that you notice just what was going on. Caulder had stopped glowing, the barrier had dropped.


Walking forward in the man’s armor with its occupant dying loudly and painfully, the queen approaches Falenta Caulder’s hammer in hand. Falenta despartely tries to rise and hobble her way to the river, but the muddy ground sucks at her feet and she plops back down in the mud as the queen stands over her. “It would seem that your rebellion is finally over,” the queen says surveying the battlefield “Your army is routed, your followers scattered, and your friends dead. All that remains is you, and you don’t even have the strength to stand.” The queen shakes her head and laughs like a parent at a foolish child.


Turning to Selenas Falenta begs “Please Selenas don’t let her kill me,”


Selenas just turns away, and walks from the river bank.


>Join her, you’re done here.

>Stay, you need to see the end of all of this.

>>3705666

>Join her, you’re done here

Jobs done, I was hoping to give the mage a quick death but it seems the queen will have none of that

>>3705666
>>Join her, you’re done here.

>>3705666
>>Join her, you’re done here.

>>3705772
approach her and see how she is, try to block out the painful screams we are about to hear kek

>>3705682
>>3705772
>>3705812

You turn from the scene in front of you and join Selenas. Behind you, you hear Falenta’s final scream followed by a loud thump.


Selenas is quiet during the walk back. Her eyes never stray from the horizon as you walk past the carnage of the battle. Men torn apart by the Queen’s shadows, followed by men slain by magic, bodies buried in the earth, frozen and shattered, and burned to a crisp. After those, it is men from both sides slain by common means, the sword, the spear, the arrow, and axe. As you pass the last body, you turn to survey the field in its entirety. To your eyes not a single living being still stands on the field not even the carrion crows and other scavengers have yet descended to feed. Even stranger none of your own soldiers are out their looting the dead they are all already marching back to camp. Far off toward the river crossing the remnants of the imperial cavalry make their way back to friendly lines. You don’t know how many they had at to begin with, but now only a paltry few remain now.


They ride past you on their way back to the line and one of the soldiers offers you some of their riderless horses. Selenas just walks on, and you decline the offer.


You don’t know exactly what Selenas is feeling right now, could it be shock? She just helped defeat the very people who had been her friends just a few months ago, but they had betrayed her here at the end. Maybe you should say something, but what could you say? What words could you possibly offer her now? Maybe all she needs now is some rest, and some time to be alone?


>Leave Selenas with her thoughts, there is nothing you can say at this point.

>Speak to her, the words don’t really matter, she just needs to talk and let it out.

>Try to distract her. She needs to put all of this behind her now and move on.

>[Write In]

>>3705942
>>Speak to her, the words don’t really matter, she just needs to talk and let it out.

>>3705942
>>Speak to her, the words don’t really matter, she just needs to talk and let it out.

if she needs to vent we are here, this was fucking brutal

>>3705942

>Leave Selenas with her thoughts, there is nothing you can say at this point.

I'm not sure what to do here, just like real life

>>3705987
>>3705998

>Last post of the evening


“Selenas I… I know I can’t possibly understand what you’re going through, but I-”


“I’m leaving,” She says without looking back at you. “I’m leaving and I’m not going to come back. I can’t stay here. I can’t stay with you. Not after all this. Not after…” her voice falters and for a moment, and you can hear her barely repressed emotion. She takes a breath to calm herself. “We did what we had to do today, you did your duty and I did what I had to. But it hurts. It hurts far more than anything I’ve ever felt. I keep seeing their faces, smiling and warm then cold and dead. I see you and I see their blood on your hands, on my hands. I want to forget them, I want to forget all of this and I can’t do it here and I can’t do it with you.” Selenas turns to face you tears in the corners of her eyes “I’m sorry Baldr, but I have to go.”


The weight of her words hits you like a ton of bricks. She pushed you away once before, but that was far different from this. She’s going to leave forever. The thought causes your chest to tighten and breathing becomes difficult. Your mind races trying to find a way to respond, if there even is a way.


>You can’t find the words, you say nothing

>I… I understand, I… Farewell Selenas and good luck

>You don’t have to go Selenas please wait, give it time. These kinds of memories, they don’t last forever.

>[Write In]


Think about this very carefully anons not only about what’s best for you, but what is best for her and both of you.

>>3706832
welp, this is though, it seems we will be a bitter vet at the end

>[Write In]

"We can't forget this, it's part of us, I'm sorry it had to be this way, I really am...the last thing I want to give you is pain, you know that, and I failed you.
we made our choices to be here side by side, as partners and now we have to pay the price
Farewell Selenas, I'll open my clinic, and I hope you can come see me one day"

>>3706832
>"I… I understand, I… don't want you to leave, but if I cause you pain I can't ask you to stay...i hope we can see each other again someday...that I'll not just be a sad memory, I wish I could help you with your pain and stay by your side, but...goodbye Selenas..."

Shit

>Her words are strong and as she speaks you start to feel light headed, the very air becomes sticky sweet, and you have to fight to not go rushing into Falenta's arms.

Falenta tried to mind control us, her enemy and would have succeded if the Queen was not there, and might as well have mind controled the others.
I feel bad for Caulder but not Falenta, she knew full well what she was doing and that blood is in her hands, not ours, she even burned her own troops to get us.

I delivered the blow, and I'm sorry for that, I hope one day you can forgive me, but don't blame yourself for what happened

And then end up with
>>3707398
If she wants to go we can't stop her, she is not our aprentice, we made her our partner and equal, she can make her decision, even if it pains us greatly to see her go, if she thinks it's the best for her

>>3706832
>[Write In]
>How far... for how long you are planning to run Selena?
>You can be standing at the end of the world, all of it will follow you there.
>Those faces will haunt you to the end of your life. Blood on your hands will not come off. It never does.
>You know this... Both of us know this.
>You can leave, But because you are my dearest friend I can't allow you to run away.
>No human can face their demons alone. Ask Mildri.
>...
>I think we will be needed in healers tent. Let's go

Whatever we end up saying this
>No human can face their demons alone.
Should be there somewhere, I'm prepared to let her look for answers by herself, even if its painful as fuck to see her go, but we should offer to help carry the burden with her , specially since we are part of it.

I think she will need her time to figure out that running is just that, but whatever we say won't change her mind now, so we have to understand and offer help if ahe ever needs

>>3707994
I agree with the general sentiment, I just can't quite write something because I suck kek, it's kind of obvious Baldr still has feelings for her, but at the same time he wouldn't want to cause her bad stuff

>>3706832

"Selenas, I understand, and I wish you the best of luck. What you have gone through, no-one can truly understand. But do not let it rule you, do not let it ruin you. Seek out the answers you need, take the time to heal not just your body, but your soul. I pray that you do not attempt this alone, but I truly understand why you need to at least do it far away from here, from me. I hope that one day we will meet again, in happier times. I wish you the best, Selenas, and you have my eternal friendship. If you ever need my help, all you need do is ask. Goodbye, good luck, and godspeed."

“Where will you go?” you hear yourself ask.


“Somewhere, anywhere away from all of … this,” she says gesturing back at the carnage behind you.


“Will you ever come back?”


“Maybe, maybe someday, but I won’t return as long I can see their faces.”


Her words anger you. She is leaving, you knew something like this might happen after she rejected you the first time. You knew you couldn’t hold on to her, you knew that and yet you kept feeling things for her. You can’t let her disappear over something like this. “Then you’ll never return,” you say unable to keep the bitterness out of your voice.


“I didn’t say that.”


“Yes you did, because you will always see their faces, their blood will never wash from your hands.” Selenas recoils in shock, then her face flushes with anger, but you go on “I know, I’ve seen friends die, my commands have gotten people killed, and my hands have ended many lives. I see their faces too, I feel the warmth of their blood on my hands, I taste their deaths with every command I give. I’ve been feeling these things for years and never have the images faded, the warmth cooled, or the taste dulled. Running won’t erase what you’ve seen and what you’ve done.” You don’t know whether Selenas is about to explode in anger, or break into tears as she stares at you, but her eyes cool your temper. “If you want to try though, I won’t stop you. I don’t think I could stop you even if I wanted to.”


Selenas relaxes, the tension leaving her body. “I have to go Baldr, I have to do this.” She says her voice resolute.


“I know,” you say deflated and defeated, “I just wish I could go with you, so you wouldn’t have to face this alone.”


Selenas smiles at your words. “I’ll be okay, it was your advice and your help have brought me this far and I won’t ever forget that, but this I have to do alone.” Selenas turns back and approaches you, “Thank you Baldr, for everything.” Selenas wraps her arms around you one last time and hugs you close. You embrace her in return, but instead of feeling the tingle warmth you had felt before, this embrace felt different. I wasn’t so warm or so sweet, but it filled you more fully than anything you’d felt before. You had hoped the moment would last forever, but with a gentle tug Selenas disentangles herself from you and starts to walk away.


“Wait,” you call out to her “Before you go, let me offer you one last piece of advice, one I only discovered recently myself. No human can face their demons alone, and sometimes someone else has win that fight for us.” Selenas gives you one last smile, before turning away and disappearing into the ranks of milling soldiers.

>>3710961

You make your own way back into the throng of soldiers, most are caught up in the usual after battle business, but an air of uncertainty and fear hangs over the army, No one had seen anything like this before. From what you gather after Falenta’s light had gone out, the queen’s shadows had started to tear the rebel army apart. The generals, fearing their own army would be caught up in the slaughter had pulled the troops out of the fight. The whole of the army had gotten a good look as darkness swallowed the rebels and left none on the field alive.


As you walk, the effects of the energy potion begin to wane and you feel the pain of your wounds and the fatigue of the healing potions forced regeneration. Pile on to that the emotional exhaustion of the last few hours and you have a hard time staying on your feet. The day is far from over though and there is much to be done.


>Find Mildri, you have to see if she made it out all right.

>Head to the healers tent and turn yourself over to their care. Everything can wait until you are healed and rested.

>Report to the generals’ tent, they no doubt would like to know what had happened out there.

>[Write In]

>>3710962
Find Aborea and Midri, see if they are alive or need treatment, then we start piling up the wounded, it's time to see who we can help

>>3710962
>Find Mildri, you have to see if she made it out all right.

>>3710967
Supporting
Can we even heal a demon? I guess we will find out if she is hurt.

nice scene QM
> this embrace felt different. I wasn’t so warm or so sweet, but it filled you more fully than anything you’d felt before
damn Baldr is in for suffering kek

>>3710967
this
Reports, celebration, rest and even being sad about Selenas departure can wait, the wounded soldier bleeding on the ground can't.

Make sure our 2 friends are alright and then we get to work on the others, if they still have the healing potions we can use them to fraction and stabilize a greater number of soldiers like we did in the past
this is like a post-battle ritual already, maybe it can take our mind off of things.

Did Nolan, Long and Ward got involved in the battle too? Maybe we could look for them too if they are around.

>>3711176
+1

First things first, you had to find Mildri and Aborea and make sure they were okay. You make your way to where the archers are milling about, but you find no trace of either of them. Moving farther back in the ranks, you start to enter parts of the supply train and eventually you find yourself amid the healers’ tents. Here the moaning of the injured and the dying is audible over the chatter of soldiers. You consider abandoning your search to help the healers when you spot Aborea crouched outside one of the tents licking what looks like blood off of her fingers.


“Are you injured?” you ask.


Aborea looks up at you with her liquidy black eyes and smiles at you with her sharp teeth. “No,” she responds then noticing you staring at her bloody hands she adds “It’s not my blood, well not all of it. Some fool mage thought he’d try to set me on fire, so I put myself out with his blood.”


“Where’s Mildri?”


“In there,” she says jerking her head toward the tent. “She passed out trying to cast a path through the enemy to get to you that was when I had to kill the mage. I’d be in there with her, but they won’t let me in, I unsettle them too much. Wait…” Aborea looks around behind you then asks “Where’s Selenas?”


>Tell her the whole thing.

>Give her the short version. She left.

>Ignore her question for now, it’s still to fresh and you need to make sure Mildri’s okay.

>[Write In]

>>3713342
>>[Write In]
Take her to Mildri so we don't need to tell same story twice

>>3713564
This, take aborea in there with our authority, we tell both of them what happened and Aborea can keep Midri company while we look for wounded

>>3713342

>[Write In]

>Ignore her question for now, it’s still to fresh, Take Aborea inside the tent with us to check on Midri, if they insist on the question just tell them but leave the personal parts of our conversation out of it.

>>3713692
+1

>>3714360
>>3713692
But do not brush her off. Say something like "She alive I will explain later"

>>3713692
>>3714360
>>3714377

>I should be able to get out more than one update tomorrow, but this will be it for today.


The question tears you open anew and you have to bite down to stop the feeling from coming back. “She’s but… I’ll explain later, come let’s see Aborea.” You gesture for Aborea to follow you as you enter the healers’ tent.


The air inside is thick with the scent of blood. Row of upon row of wounded soldiers are laid out on cots, sheets, or blankets. A few are laid on tables where healers ply their trade sewing, searing, and sawing off the limbs of wounded soldiers. One of the healers tending to the soldiers on the ground notices you enter with Aborea and approaches you cautiously. “Are you injured Captain?” he asks his eyes occasionally darting down to Aborea.


“No, I’m looking for one of my mages, Mildri, she was brought in by Aborea here.”


The healer leads you to a cot in a far corner of the tent where Mildri is lying, then makes a hurried retreat to get away from you and Aborea and to return to his work. Aborea flashes the healer a mischievous smile, then moves to the head of the cot and looks down at the sleeping Mildri “Wake up, Baldr’s here,” Aborea says shaking Mildri awake. Her eyes flutter open and look blearily around the room until the come to a stop and focus on you. “Baldr…” she says weakly reach up for you.


“Easy there, rest now” You say taking Mildri’s hand and laying it back down. “Are you going to be okay?”


“I think so. I just over did it a little.”


“A little, you damn near thrust a glacier up through their line.” Aborea adds with a laugh.


Mildri blushes as much as she can, but it’s obvious that she is still very weak. Behind you, one of the wounded shouts in pain as he is hoisted up on to one of the tables and you can’t help but want to aid the healers. “I’m going to help the healers. You stay here and get some more rest and Aborea, I want you to stay here with Mildri. Make sure she stays here and that no one bothers her."


With the knowledge that your companions are more or less safe, you turn your attention to the wounded. You help the healers as best you can, though it is clear that they are better at their jobs than you are, they do not decline your help and you assist them in sewing up some of the less life threateningly injured soliders.


>Give me a set of d20’s to see how long you can keep this up without passing out from fatigue

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>3716482

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>3716482

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>3716482
Hoping the dc is low

You work on one soldier then another and another and another. Sewing shut gashes and holes in arms, legs, and sides. In and out you thread the needle through the wounded flesh for patient after patient, letting the monotony of the task distract you. Soon though, your arm becomes heavy, your fingers clumsy. Your eyelids droop and your legs buckle underneath you. You are asleep before you even hit the ground.


When you next awake you are not, as you first believe, in the healers’ tent. A quick examination of your surroundings finds you in the healer’s hospital in the Capital. A few healers tend to other soldiers around you and afternoon sunlight filters in through the windows. As you push yourself up into a sitting position, one of the healers takes note and leaves the room. He comes back a few moments later with Gregory in tow.


“How are you feeling Baldr?” Gregory asks.


“Better,” you respond. While your muscles were stiff and ached slightly, nothing in particular hurt.


“Good, that means I can tell you that the Queen requires your presence. I swear that woman has no patience for the frailties man.”


“The matters of empire wait for no man it would seem.”


Gregory laughs goodheartedly “I guess not, well if you feel alright, then don’t keep her waiting.”


As you don your armor, you ask Gregory about Mildri. “She’s fine,” he responds. “She was severely fatigued from the battle as were a lot of the mages, but she’s resting now.”


“Good, she needs it.”


“And so do you, so come back after your audience.”


Keeping Gregory’s words in mind, you head off to the queen’s tower. Ascending the black spire, you are lead back to the throne room, it would seem the queen wanted to make this a formal audience. Entering the throne room, you find the queen seated upon her throne bedecked in all of her finery. She smiles pleasantly as you kneel before her. “My queen,” you say bowing your head low before her. “Captain Baldr, Slayer of Giants and Bane to Rebels I thank you for your service during this rebellion and for all of your hard work since becoming my agent. Your most recent deeds however require more than nicknames and praise. You deserve a reward befitting your service. Therefore I ask you, name your reward, and if it is in my power to bestow it, it shall be yours.”

>>3719245

The queen’s words send your mind racing. The first thing to come to mind though, was Selenas. She’s gone, you tell yourself pushing thoughts of her away. You could ask for land, you could become a noble and live the rich life, but was that for you? You could ask for a promotion to something greater and rise through the ranks of the military, although was that what you truly wanted. Could you ask her for power? Pure unadulterated power like she wields, could she even bestow such a gift? Would she even want to? If she did give it to you, what would you do with it?


>Alright anons this is a big moment. What do you ask of the Queen? You can request anything that is within her power, which is quite vast. What do you want? What would Baldr want?

>Sorry for the late and only update for tonight, but seeing as this is a big decision. I figured it would be prudent to let you all think this over for a while.

>>3719251

A small plot of land to farm and for us and Mildri to retire to that plot of land.

>>3719251
"I'm tired my queen...I'll always fight in your name and defend the empire when needed, but if I could have a small property where I could set up a clinic to help those in need I'd be satisfied, and of course, whenever you need me, my weapon is yours."

This has been a wild ride, much has changed on Baldr, but he never seemed like the ambitious type, on the contrary, the more rank he would have, the more lives would be under his responsability.
I coyld see him either going for this or something like, make him stronger so he can better defend those he cares about and are in need.

I just noticed Selenas didn't return or took out the ring, that is something, maybe one dsy Baldr will be more than a mentor.

>>3719332
yeah ill go with this and i agree baldr is the sort of guy that gets dragged back into war by circumstance

and with the weakness shown by the civil war showed i wonder if the dwarfs and elves are gonna get brave

>>3719364
We did had some dwarven scouts walking around in the quest so maybe the shorties are already planning something

>>3719332
Agreed

Maybe some more hp items or a new weapon? Our magic items carried us a lot

>>3720489
thinking now, not even the queen could give me what I want, it's funny actually
maybe we should even invite her to look for herself, what we would really want

>>3719251
I say power. Baldr is not the type to sit on his ass.

Not magic, but see if she could make us a more powerful warrior, something more than human.

In the thunder of your thoughts, one idea, small and simple comes to the surface and as soon as you see it, you know it is the correct one. “If I may your grace, I would like to request land. A small parcel upon which I can live and one day retire to.”


An amused smile comes to the queen’s face “That’s it? I must say it isn’t what I was expecting from you. I thought you would request from me a certain someone.” She says her smile turning knowing. “But if this is what you want, then very well, you shall have your land and one more thing as a personal gift from me,” the queen disappears from the throne and reappears next to you in an instant. She snatches up your hand and examines the ring of the Knight on your finger. She rotates the ring around your finger examining it wholly before clasping her hands around your fingers. She breathes an incantation and the ring gets hot. You grit your teeth as the heat intensifies and the heat turns from burning hot to almost an icy cold. When you think you can handle no more, the queen opens her hands and the intense heat fades replaced by a much softer heat and something else. You focus on the sensation and realize that the ring is pulsing a steady beat, like that of a heart.


“It’s her heart,” the queen says as she returns to the throne “As long as her heart beats so will the ring. May you never forget her.”


“Thank you your grace,” you say slightly stunned by the meaning and worth of this gift “I will treasure it forever.”


“See that you do Captain, you are dismissed.”


As you step back out onto the streets of the Capital, you rub your fingers around the ring feeling its warmth and its steady pulsing. You close your eyes, and let the sensations carry you away and to Selenas for just a moment, before you open your eyes and move on.


THE END


>Thanks for playing anons, and a special thanks to those who have put up with me from the beginning. I hope you enjoyed, or at least felt some closure at this ending. I might have been able to continue running, but I felt like continuing Baldr’s story would only detract from what has already happened and what has been learned. That and I don’t really know where else I would have gone with this, I had a few ideas, but nothing concrete enough to go on.


>For the rest of this thread I will be posting epilogues for characters and the world. I will of course cover what happens to Baldr and Selenas in the end, but if you want to know the epilogues of any other characters please ask and I will get to them in due course. I will also be sharing some tidbits about the overall story, some of the things I had planned but didn’t get to, and some overall fun facts throughout the week so be sure to check back.

>>3724442
Nice. Im still sad we didn't have occasion to expand our base

>>3724442
Thank you so much for running continuous, this was one of my favorite quests and you determination to see it to the end even when at moments you felt burned out its something rare and to admire
It was a pleasure playing and shaping this story with you, I imagine it was not in some ways what you imagined when you started it.

The fights abd danger were always present and the concern for loss real ( that uber swamp worrior that could not stop critting)

Can't wait for the epilogues and to see what happened to other named characters like the desert town soldiers and tge LT trio or grintol

>>3724442
This was awesome, thanks. I would love to keep going, maybe help to pacify the countriside from opportunist bandits or deal with the dwarves snooping around but I take what you can give, thanks

Now we have to play with the deranged evil elves and make organ trees

>>3724442

Would love to see the epilogues for:

Mildri & Arborea
Randolf
Grintol and our goblin boys
The Spymaster
The Queen
The Kingdom
That one village out in the desert we saved

and of course...

Baldr and Selenas.

>>3724442
I need to admit gift from the queen was super sweet and creepy at the same time

>>3724442

Been with you since the beginning (That one guy called me pinky).

I'm sad that it's over, but at the same time happy it reached an end, thats extremely rare for a quest to complete unless it's a one shot.

>>3724467
>>3724606
>>3724609
>>3725115
Thanks anons, I'm glad you enjoyed it

>No epilogue tonight I will post the first one sometime tomorrow.


So instead let me tell you that this story took a turn out totally different from what I had originally intended. The original idea was to have you get your ass kicked by the hero/heroes, but survive the fight train up some, then fight them again in the next biggest dungeon/ fort until eventually you would be strong enough to defeat them. Like a video game boss that you keep beating and he keeps coming back stronger. As your fight with Selenas neared though I realized that idea didn’t match the tone I had written so far and I felt it would be unfair to force you to keep losing your fights with the hero/heroes, so I weakened Selenas some and just let what would happen, happen. So, after you defeated Selenas I basically pulled the rest of the quest out of my ass as you went with no real plan except to do what would make logical sense for someone in your shoes to do and from there the world of Mid Boss blossomed and your story truly began.

I enjoyed it liked the combat system and crushing the heros rebellion, though I kinda stopped reading after the desert but came back for the final fight

so was this your first quest cont

>>3725608

Yes it was and I'm surprised it did so well.

>>3725736
Persistence. That's how it did so well.

Quests die because a DM gets bored and "loses their quest notes" or just never shows up again. You took breaks but you always came back, and you never railroaded to make it go the way you wanted. Also, I think you let our ideas help shape the world but not let it be complete fan service/ wish fulfillment.

Another fun fact.

Randolf probably had the best back story out of all of the characters. But because of your understandable distrust of him you didn't get to hear it. His family were originally nobles, but during the Queen's rise to power, they lost a lot of their sway. So, under Randolf's parents, the family planned a coup and their return to power. Randolf however knew that his parents selfish power grab would ruin the country's current prosperity. Being the loyal countryman, Randolf exposed his parents plans to the queen who then ordered Randolf's household exterminated root and stem. Before this order was carried out however, Randolf returned to his home to save one thing, his little sister. She was too young to be involved in the plot so Randolf saw her as innocent and wanted to save her, he failed however and she was slain along with the rest of his family.

For his loyalty Randolf was given the position of commissar and thrust into the queen's service. He never blamed the queen for his sister's death, only his failure to save her. That was why he was so desperate to have you let Selenas go. It was so that you wouldn't fail the way he had.

>>3726295
Those moments with Randolf after he ler his facade go were nice, we could always trust Randolf with one thing after that, to take the Queens side.
At that moment when he was evesdroping on us when Aborea and Midri got separated, what would he do if we decided to hide it from him or from the queen? If we asked him to keep it a secret I doubt he would, right?

>>3726295
If you don't mind me asking, how did the queen rise to power? Was she ever like this or did she change during rule? Have you even thought about it?

>>3726303

Yes he would have reported it to the queen along with your lapse in judgment.

>>3726309

Once I get home and have my notes In front of me I'll give you what I have.

>Does anyone remember that deserter that we met in the desert Fort that we let go. Does anyone know his name cuz I forgot I don't know where to find it.

I want to see Baldur with his sisters and his whole family.

>>3726309

I'd always intended for the queen to be somewhat mysterious in her origins. For what I have written down however, she just kind of appears in the country one day when she becomes married to the crown prince. It was a scandalous marriage, but the prince was oddly insistent in his choice of bride. The nobility at the time didn't really care as scandal with the crown only furthered their independence. The future queen however began to advise the current king and expand his power. This the nobility liked not at all and they attempted to remove the queen, but she went into hiding before they could act. The damage had been done however, the king had taken a liking to his new centralized power and continued to further his reach. In the end the nobles decided that this king had to go and they ended up assassinating him. The prince ascended to the throne with a noble vizier to advise him and to make sure he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps. Around this time some lesser nobles had started to shrink from public life, and a few others had disappeared entirely. When one of the major noble families in the kingdom disappeared however, the nobility panicked, someone was after them, and the only conclusion they could come to was that it was one of the other families making a power grab. This started a terrible civil war that severely weakened both the nation and the nobility. In this tumultuous period, the queen reappears at the new king’s side, and it is the king who begins to snatch up power and authority. Weakened through their civil war, the nobles are powerless to stop him and this is where the kingdom starts to move toward and absolute monarchy and a strong central state. When the king died of old age, he selected the queen to be his heir as he had no children from her and the queen has been ruling ever since.


Now as for whether the queen was always the way she was, that is up to you to decide. Was she a loving queen and loyal advisor who saw the dangers of the nobility and when that dangerous nobility slew the king and puppeted her love she was pushed over the edge and sought revenge? Or was she a master schemer who rose to power of the bodies of her enemies? The truth is up to you to interpret.

>>3726728
Thanks for that
Did Falenta actually mind control people to her side like she tried to do with Baldr, I'm sure her arguments were pretty persuasive but she seemed to have mind powers as well, which I'm sure the Queen probably had too.

was queen route ever a possibility? kek

I would love to keep playing on the setting if you ever decide to run again

>>3726738

Falenta's power isn't really mind control, she's just really convincing when she turns on her "Charm"

As for whether you had a shot with the queen

You might've had a shot if you'd expressed interest, but you would have been treading on very thin ice

Here are your epilogues for the night

>The Empire Expands


>Turaif joins the empire and Filt becomes the trade hub and gateway to the western deserts


Excerpt from Historian Roland Presin’s History of the Masson Empire Vol. II


Following the rebellion of the White Lady, the Empire truly entered into its expansionist phase. Pouncing quickly and capitalizing on the loss of so many of its shamans, the Queen ordered a conquest of swamp folk lands. This conquest would later be known as the Subjugation of the Sunken Lands and would spell the end of the swamp folk as a true threat to the Empire. After the fall of the swamp folk, the empire would refocus on the elves on its eastern boarders and begin the push east using one of its newest tools, the grenado. Through its newly acquired asset of Turaif in the west and with the safety of its caravans from Filt secured, the Empire invested heavily in the materials needed to create large quantities of grenadoes which would become a staple in the Empire’s military forces for years to come and would facilitate its massive growth.


>Spymasters gon Spymaster


“So do you have it?”


“Of course.”


“Let’s see it.”


The smuggler digs in the folds of his clothes and pulls it out a small ring. “Straight from the Queen’s armory, this thing is said to give eternal life to the one who wears it.” The smuggler dangles the ring in front of the buyer’s eyes. He starts salivating just staring at the item. As he reaches his hands out for it though, a third voice cuts through the darkness. “Sorry friend, but I need that back.” An ethereal blade leaps out and cuts down the two men in one slash. Stepping out of the darkness the Spymaster collects the ring from the smuggler’s hand. “Whew, it’s still in good shape. Now I just need to get it back to the armory before th-” Cold fingers clasping the back of his neck cut off the Spymaster’s words.


“Stealing things from my collection again are we?” The Queen’s voice whispers in his ear.


“Your grace!” the Spymaster squeals “What a surprise to see you here. Now I know what this looks like, but I have the ring back and I was going to return it right away.”


“Mhm,” the Queen nods sinking her fingers deeper into his neck “Go on.”


“But first I had to get you a gift, a way of making up for my misdeeds,” he wheezes through his ever closing throat. He reaches down and pulls a book from his cloak. The heavy tome was bound in strange leather with faintly glowing runes etched in its surface. Upon seeing the tome the Queen’s eyes bulge, she releases the Spymaster and snatches the tome from his hand. “This will do Spymaster, this will do.”

>>3726998
I have a question. How do the goblins fit into the empire? It wouldn't have made sense if they were mercenaries as you don't pay mercenaries to garrison some shithole in the middle of nowhere.

So obviously they serve in the army, but how do they live in the empire as a whole? Do they get along better with humans then the elves and dwarves did, or are they a conquered race or what?

>>3727080

I would take a guess that they were either annexed or subjugated long ago.

Would be interesting if the Human Empire actually welcomed the Goblins, traditionally seen as evil by the Dwarves and Elves, into the Empire, and started employing them as soldiers and guards, actually treating them fairly.

But because of the lolevil trope, the Empire was seen as evil by the Elves, Dwarves, and "good guy" adventurers like Falenta because they willingly employed Goblins.

>>3727080

Goblins are a complex bunch, well not them specifically, they are rather simple, but rather their history. Originally goblins were free roaming raider clans and opportunistic scavengers that terrorized most of the continent during the dawn of civilization. As time went on though people built cities, forts, and other defenses to protect themselves from goblin raids and people in general got better at fighting goblins. This started their slow decline as raids were no longer a useful means of survival for many goblins. Instead many goblins turned to mercenary work and doing dirty jobs that most non desperate men decline. They still fill those roles as raiders, mercenaries, and terrible job takers today, even as their numbers decline.


As for specifically what they do in the Empire, a large portion of them work in mining operations and the like and often aren’t seen by many people. The reason your backwater garrison was staffed by them was because they had been a raider group that had terrorized the region before it was conquered by the Empire. Instead of leaving, the goblins offered their services and were drafted into the military as tax collectors/garrison force, because who better to collect taxes from the region then a group feared by the local populous.


If you’re wonder about their treatment, people inherently distrust goblins. They’ve had and continue to garner a bad reputation as vicious, dirty, and deceitful. Before the queen’s takeover, standard procedure was to kill goblins on sight. The Queen saw uses for them though and since her rule they’ve been slowly fighting against their bad reputation, at least in the Empire. All of this leads me to…


>Grintol and His goblins


Exerpt from Historian Sevran Talus’s book on the Histories of the Imperial Military.


During the reign of Queen Quintis we see the emergence of the goblin corps with in the Imperial Military’s ranks. Initially the goblin corps was nothing but a small group of wolf mounted goblins acting as light raiding cavalry and scouts for the military. Over the years though, thanks to an influential and talented goblin known as Grintol Wolf-Tamer. The goblin corps would go on to perform many a great service for the Empire and distinguish themselves as an integral part of the military. Their roles would expand over time to include sabotage as and espionage as well as their role as light cavalry. Today thousands of goblins serve in the Imperial forces with distinction and enemies of the Empire have come to fear the green men who lurk in the night.


>if you're still curious about goblins I'll post some more tomorrow.

>>3729366
Thanks. If you ever revisited this setting a goblin spec-ops quest would be fun.

>>3730076
Besides the goblins I would still want to play the evil elves too, or a conscripted one after annexation

>The Queen disappears

Excerpt from George Welmer's book The Life and Reign of Queen Quintis.

Following the end of the rebellion of The White Lady, Queen Quintis would spend the next 100 years of her reign expanding the Empire until it had conquered the whole of the continent. During this time however reports and rumors began to surface of the queen's almost fanatic search for rare and ancient artifacts from around the continent and increasingly disturbing rites and rituals being performed in the Queen's Tower. All of this would culminate in the queen's sudden disappearance. No evidence of where she went or what she was doing ever surfaced and the people of the Empire mourned the loss of such a great woman. Her end was not the end of the Empire though the queen had left instructions that upon her death. Her trusted advisors and top generals were to select one among them to serve as the new leader of the Empire. Thus would the reign of Queen Quintis would end, and an Emperor would ascend to the throne Masson.

>>3731429
that's kinda sad for Quintis, but she wasn't exactly a flower too, maybe she started getting desperate because of her impending mortality or obsessed with more power

>>3731637
No confirmation of death though. Maybe she just had more webs to weave elsewhere.

>Randolf continues to serve

"Leaving?"

The woman jumps at the sound of Randolf's voice. She looks up the ship's gangplank to see him standing on deck.

"Yes, I just can't stay" the woman says averting her eyes.

"What about him? Does he know you're going?"

"Yes, he was... understanding" a smile plays on the woman's lips.

"So he finally learned to let go did he? I just hope he wasn't too late." Randolf says descending the gangplank. When he reaches the woman he stops before her and scrutinizes her closely. He looks her up and down for a good while before smiling, satisfied by what he had seen. "I guess it's not too late for you yet. Well kid I wish you luck wherever it is you're going, but please kid come back safe for all of our sakes. The world would be a whole lot less bright without you in it."

"Thanks Randolf" the woman says. "I wish you luck with..." the woman pauses unsure of what to say.

"Commissarial work, just because one rebellion was brought down doesn't mean there aren't others working in the shadows yet." Randolf finishes for her with his tone tired.

"Well I wish you luck with that. Goodbye and thanks for everything." The woman says as she ascends the gangplank and boards the ship.

Randolf watches as the ship departs, then stays a while longer to watch it slip over the horizon before turning on his heels and heading back to the city.

>>3733778
nice

"Wym get down from there, come on mom needs the water now, we don't have time to climb trees." The young boy complains up at his younger sister in the tree.

"But it's awesome up here, you can see all the way to the horizon and beyond." The little girl squeals excitedly.

"I know but we don't have time right now. Mom's going to get mad if we're late. Get down already." The boy says hurling one of the empty water buckets up at his sister. The bucket crashes through the tree, bounces off a limb, and comes falling back down, leaves trailing after it.

"Stop it your going to make me-" the girl stops mid sentence as she catches sight of something in the distance. "There's someone coming, he looks like a soldier." The little girl says squinting at the figure. "He's got shiny armor and a spear and- What are you doing?" The girl asks as her brother scrambles up the tree after her.

"Shh," he hisses "be quiet now, it could be a bandit."

"A bandit?" The girl says fear creeping into her voice.

"Yes, now keep quiet if he won't find us up here if we stay quiet."

The two children wait silently the figure approaches down the road. He almost passes them by but stops and approaches the tree. He examines the discarded buckets at the bottom of the tree and the boy curses his own carelessness. The stranger circles the tree a few times looking for signs of the buckets owners, but after a few passes he gives up and starts to return to the road. Just then however, one of the trees branches gives out and with a loud CRACK and a scream, the little girl falls from her hiding spot. The stranger looks up in time to see the falling girl and catches her before she hits the ground.

Gripped tightly in the stranger's arms, the girl screams and struggles against him. The boy decends the tree quickly in an attempt to aid his sister. As the stranger and the girl struggle, the man's helm is knocked off. As the man's helmet tumbles into the grass all action ceases and quiet returns to the area before the girl shrieks with delight. "Bally," she yells and wraps her arms around the man's neck.

The boy recognizes the man moments after his sister. "Baldr!" He shouts as he rushes forward and wraps himself around Baldr's waist.

"Wym and William oh my you have grown." Baldr says as he picks up both children and embraces them in a bear hug. The two children squeal and laugh as their older brother hugs them tight. An act that would be repeated several more times as Baldr goes back to see his family. Each time bringing comfort and relief to a family that had been sundered so long ago.

>>3738889
Daaaaawn, thats cute. I hope they got that letter, it kinda sounded like a major death flag

"Are you ready? Just do it like we practiced and you'll do fine."

"Okay."

Mildri walks up to the young man reading his book and stops before him. Not noticing her the man keeps his head down still reading. Mildri clears her throat, but the man doesn't react. Becoming flustered Mildri shoots a glance back at Aborea asking her what to do. Rolling her eyes Aborea grabs a nearby book off of a shelf and hurls it at the man. It falls short and slams into the side of the desk jolting it. The man jumps in his seat, looks up, and finally catches sight of Mildri.

"Um, can I help you?" He asks giving the reddening Mildri a questioning look.

Caught completely off guard Mildri opens her mouth but no sound comes out. As the two stand in an awkward silence, Aborea rolls her eyes again and flicks a piece of hail at the back of Mildri's head. The impact of the ice jolts Mildri into a stuttering response "Y-yes I-I was wondering i-if I could ask y-you..." Mildri stops all of her confidence gone. Aborea slams her palm into her forehead and almost shouts at Mildri when something unexpected happens.

"What are you reading?" Mildri asks with genuine curiosity.

"This?" The man responds thoroughly confused by the whole display. "Its Arnold Sipian's book on the physical manifestations of magic,"

Mildri lights up at the man's response "I've been reading that book, I've always had a hard time actually getting my magic to actually create ice instead of manipulating it into existence."

"You like to cast ice magic?" The man responds with his own curiosity.

"Yes, I'm quite proficient at it why do you ask?"

"I've always wanted to cast ice magic, but I've never had the nack for it."

"Really, well I could teach you some."

"Would you?" The man asks excitedly.

"Well, yes" Mildri responds taken aback. "The trick is too..."

Aborea let's go a sigh of relief as the two discuss ice magic, maybe their was hope for Mildri yet.

Okay gentlemen I will be posting the last Epilogue tomorrow before we fall off the board, but before then I want to gauge your interest in possible quests I will run once I have recovered from running this one.

1: A quest about a futuristic mercenary group that is known for being the best of cheapest.

2: The continuation of this quest in the time after the Queen's disappearance.

3: a quest about a cult attempting to overthrow a decaying kingdom and bring about the world's rebirth.

>>3741628
yeah a break from this would be good
>1: A quest about a futuristic mercenary group that is known for being the best of cheapest.
sounds like we are gonna be enslaved/desperate cannon fodder sounds fun

>>3741628
Second option sounds fun but I would have to go wuth
>1
Seems interesting

Is there a way for us to keep track? Luke a twitter or discord?

Again, thus quest has been a blast

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>Ten years after the Rebellion of the White Lady

"Now be careful from now on. I don't want to see you in here again."

"You won't, thank you healer."

Baldr watches as his patient walks out the door examining his newly sewn stitches and poultice bandage. As soon as the door swings shut, Baldr collapses into a chair exhausted. Between gathering herbs for medicine and treating everything from sprained fingers to infected cuts he'd had no time to stop for a breath. Now though with his last patient out the door Baldr at last can relax. He closes his eyes enjoying the quiet and calm. A knock on the door breaks him out of his reverie. "Come in," he says rubbing the tiredness out of his eyes and wondering what malady of the common folk he'd have to treat now. As the next patient walks in Baldr rises to his feet once again. "What is it that ails you" he says approaching the patient. She was an youngish woman, beautiful, yet somewhat faded. Shallow yet perceptible scars cut across her left cheek and brow, but instead of marring her beauty they merely add to her maturity.

The woman looks up Baldr with familiarity as if she had known him. Unsettled slightly he asks "Is there something I can help you with,"

"Yes," the woman says, "You can help me fulfill an old promise" She says giving him a familiar missing toothed smile. All at once Baldr recognizes the woman in front of him. "Selenas?" he says in disbelief.

"I said I'd comeback when I'd forgotten about this place what happened here, but I couldn't do it because I would've had to forget you." Selenas walks forward and wraps her arms around the stunned Baldr. Old, familiar, and nearly forgotten warmth races through Baldr as Selenas embraces him. "I've missed you so much," she whispers in his ear "I don't know why it took me this long to see it, but I'm back and I will never make the mistake of leaving you behind again." Selenas pulls away for just a moment, just long enough to plant a kiss on Baldr's lips that was worth all the waiting in the world.

>>3741834

No, but what I can tell you is that I will be back no sooner than 2 weeks and no later than Christmas.

>>3741628

> 1: A quest about a futuristic mercenary group that is known for being the best of the cheapest

We McHale's Navy now?

>>3743943

And Baldr gets best ending

>>3743943
Awesome, thanks for this, I made tha edit so long ago kek.

>>3741628
1 probably