>>4132697
A murmur runs through the crowd before you can explain yourself more thoroughly.

“I am no longer a princess,” you declare, “or strictly speaking completely human. I am a warrior first and foremost. I have the ability to hunt down yōma in a way normal people cannot, which means I also have an obligation to carry out that fight on the behalf of my people. And though I may also be by right of inheritance the true Queen of Hazaran, I cannot perform both sets of duties as well and as thoroughly as my people deserve.”

“So while I intend to offer correspondence and advice to my Regent wherever possible, and to make use of the official channels to identify where yōma are a threat… I cannot serve as Queen full time. Which means that I should not serve as Queen at all.”

“Lord Noventus has experience both in battle and in administration,” you continue, now making the case for your choice in Regent. “And broadly speaking his priorities and my own are in alignment. However, I would like to take a moment now to go over a few of my intended policy changes which Lord Regent Noventus will be working to implement… specifically, those you are most likely to see personally.”

“First is an overhaul of taxation policy, which Sigmunt essentially wrecked. Under my father taxes were high, but much of that money was spent effectively. My goal is to keep taxes as low as possible for as many people as possible, while still maintaining enough revenue for the Kingdom to function in its administrative and protective role.”

“To that end taxation rates will be seasonally-adjusted to take pressure off the farmers at key points during the annual cycle, and will be readjusted by measured income. This may take some time to calibrate, as the ideal goal is to provide a smooth match to increasing income such that no increase in tax rate leads to a decrease in annual income.”
>2/4

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>>4132698
“Rates will, of course, be fairly high for those who already have the most income to declare, however redistributing revenue generation in such a manner should have the additional effect of encouraging economic participation across all segments of society, without dis-incentivizing growth.”

“This will contrast with Sigmunt’s policies, which tended to have the intentional effect of making the wealthy much wealthier while leaving everyone else to fend for themselves.”

You take a deep breath. It took a longer time to deliver that long description of taxation and revenue generation than normal, because you spoke more slowly and deliberately than normal to ensure that as many people as possible could keep up with you. That said, you’ve felt attention and enthusiasm waning.

“Now, if you found that boring you’re not alone,” you admit. “But transparency and communication are two things that my father wasn’t much better at than Sigmunt, so I want to improve upon that. Now that I’ve explained where the Kingdom’s finances are going to come from, let me explain what we intend to use those funds for.”

“The first is infrastructure. As before under my father, and my father’s father, the Kingdom will assist local communities in making for themselves the changes and improvements which will benefit them directly, while also allocating funds for major public works such as roadworks, canals, and aqueducts which benefit the whole of Hazaran. This system will never appear to be functioning perfectly, as it may not be possible to fund every single project as thoroughly as you may wish, especially if major works are deemed necessary elsewhere. However this reallocation will occur more frequently, as taxation rates will be adjusted more frequently from now on.”

“We also intend to reactivate a limited number of fortresses, castles, and duns,” you continue. “This is intended to provide extra security for travellers, and to counter the increasing influence of the Inquisition in our lands.”

A murmur in the crowd again.
>3/4

>>4132699
“These policies have already seen trial in Scaithness, Caan, Balloch, and Bladnock to help disrupt the most likely supply lines of another Inquisitorial crusade, and Scaithness in particular repulsed a large besieging force in a lopsided victory.”

“If you have listened closely to none of my other words so far,” you continue, “then listen to me now: I have not been hiding in ignorance over the years. I’ve been marking the failures of Sigmunt, and considering the shortcomings of my own father, and learning from everything I’ve seen. And when I inevitably make mistakes in judgment, or miscalculations, I will learn from those as well.”

“I cannot promise you perfection any more than anyone else could, but I can swear to seek constant improvement, both for myself and on your behalf. This is what I can offer you as queen-in-exile.”

>Hand things off to Noventus, you’ve spoken more than enough.
>End things with a bang, and lead the crowd in a traditional Hazari chorus.
>Offer to meet with local representatives tomorrow to address any concerns they may have.
>Other?

>>4132702
>End things with a bang, and lead the crowd in a traditional Hazari chorus.

>>4132702
>Hand things off to Noventus, you’ve spoken more than enough

>>4132702
>>Hand things off to Noventus, you’ve spoken more than enough.
>>Offer to meet with local representatives tomorrow to address any concerns they may have.

>>4132702
>>Hand things off to Noventus, you’ve spoken more than enough.
>Offer to meet with local representatives tomorrow to address any concerns they may have.
Long live Princess Noel! Long live Noventus!

>>4132699
Did the crowd even understand all those smart words?

>Hand things off to Noventus, you’ve spoken more than enough.
>Offer to meet with local representatives tomorrow to address any concerns they may have.

>>4132702
>Hand things off to Noventus, you’ve spoken more than enough

>>4132702
>>Hand things off to Noventus, you’ve spoken more than enough.
>Offer to meet with local representatives tomorrow to address any concerns they may have.

>>4132702
>>Hand things off to Noventus, you’ve spoken more than enough.
>Offer to meet with local representatives tomorrow to address any concerns they may have.

>>4132702
“I will make myself available tomorrow, if representatives of the community may be selected to bring concerns to my attention,” you conclude. “However I’ve spoken far more than enough for today. I will allow my Regent to take things over from here.”

You step back, rejoining your comrades with a look of resignation on your face. You know that you can’t possibly look enthused about this now that you’re out of the public eye once more, but that’s just where you’re stuck right now… unable to go backwards, either to being a warrior or to being a princess. The future is going to be even more complicated from now on.

Noventus prepares to say a few more words. “The Kingdom of Hazaran is in a difficult position at the moment of my appointment as Regent. The Inquisition has expanded into our territory largely uncontested. The Kingdom’s coffers are largely emptied. Fortresses which under King Tiberius were kept ready for reactivation have fallen into ruin. The roads grow worse with every passing winter, and bandits have holed up near every pass into and out of the nation.”

“There are, to be honest, quite a few problems to solve… and many of them cannot be solved quickly.”

“Lady Noel has, however, made one key point public: the value of communication and transparency,” Noventus continues. “As Regent I pledge to keep the Hazari people up to date on our progress, and to explain our goals and the necessity of measures we take in pursuit of those goals.”

“I look forward to this opportunity to serve both Queen and Kingdom, and swear to earn and keep the confidence of both.”

…

That night is the first in fifteen years you’ve spent in what was once your own room, though the company is much different now than it was then. Namely, it was your own private room and now you’re sharing it, albeit with three people you trust implicitly.

“Here,” you offer Sabrina a blanket. “The palace gets kind of cold this time of year.”

“How did you survive before you took the blood?” Sabrina asks.

“A coal-burning ‘foot stove’ goes into the small fireplace,” you explain. “Also, the walls used to be covered in tapestries… Sigmunt must have stolen or sold all of mine when this room was made into a storage room.”

“We’ll get something together to make this room feel less like a jail cell.”

[That might be nice.]

Serana throws two cushions into one corner of the room, and wraps you both up under one big blanket.
>1/2

>>4134216
The next morning you awaken early.

You need to pick out a few rugs and tapestries to furnish your old room with, in order to ensure the comfort of any of your cohort who need to stay here. There are a few available within the palace already, mostly of the traditional Hazari design with floral and geometric designs quite divorced from the figural designs common in the East which Sigmunt seemed to prefer.

They don’t even come close to coordinating, resulting in something of a riot of colors, but they’re pretty and they’ll help keep the room warmer. It also feels like an actual living space rather than asking your friends and comrades to basically live inside of a cupboard.

This takes you up through possibly one of the lightest meals ever offered at the palace, and right up to the time you’re expected to meet with people from the Capital’s public.

…

You meet in one of the lower halls, though still well within the palace’s ‘layered’ grounds. The first thing you do is ask the dozen or so men and women present who they are and who they represent. Six are wealthy landholders in the area who employ a significant number of people, and whose businesses in turn draw in demands for other goods and services. One is the landlord of several blocks of flats within the capital, probably the largest single property owner within the city proper. The remaining five are business and guild leaders… representing the local merchants’ guild, the ironmongers’ guild, the masons’ guild, the fish and produce markets, and the laborers’ guild.

>Begin by addressing the concerns of the landholding lords, who comprise half the assembly.
>Begin by addressing the concerns of each individual guild leader in turn.
>Address them as a group, get a feel for what concerns they ALL share.
>Ask them what concerns the people they represent will likely have on a daily or weekly basis.
>Other?

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>>4134261
Intended to give a reference pic from Uzbek weaving.

>>4134261
>Begin by addressing the concerns of each individual guild leader in turn.
>Ask them what concerns the people they represent will likely have on a daily or weekly basis.

>>4134261
>>Address them as a group, get a feel for what concerns they ALL share.
>>Ask them what concerns the people they represent will likely have on a daily or weekly basis.

>>4134261
>Begin by addressing the concerns of each individual guild leader in turn.
>But use this to determine their most common concerns.
>Ask them what concerns the people they represent will likely have on a daily or weekly basis.

>>4134261
Of course they’re mostly interested in their own issues… they want to get a handle on taxation, and trade policy, and those sorts of details which haven’t been set in stone yet.

“That’s not what I want to know from you,” you eventually insist after questions of right of way through pastures and fields is brought up for the first time. “What will be directly affecting the people you’re here ostensibly to represent most directly?”

Eventually, after several false starts that mostly devolve into more arguments over money, you start to get a better read on what’s actually affecting people’s lives in your kingdom. The degradation of many of the roads has led to a reduction in transportation capacity, specifically all of the grain and livestock that need to be moved overland. That’s led to shortages in the major settlements.

The second main issue is disease, mostly related to the ageing systems of sanitation. In the Capital in particular a similar system of rectangular clay pipes set into the street level that you’ve seen in other settlements was planned under your father but never actually carried out under Sigmunt. These standardized and easily-repairable networks would have led to a reduction in groundwater contamination and the sort of breaches that old iron pipes aboveground are prone to. As things stand, the inability to move waste safely over long distances has led to an increase in runoff and spot contamination to foul public water sources.

Third, there is the issue of the Inquisition. They’ve set up a network of spies and informants that have worked their way into all aspects of the city’s affairs. With Sigmunt’s neglect of the Capital’s civil guard, much of the Inquisition’s work goes unchallenged.

Of course money does tie into all of those things, so Noventus and his administrators will need to balance these various needs and constraints carefully.

“So what is it you would like, Lady Noel?” the master of the ironmongers’ guild eventually asks you.

“What do you mean?”
>1/2

>>4134872
“Even your father, who was a fine ruler in his prime, had personal wants,” the man replies. “A taste in books, or in fine food and drink, or works of art.”

“A queen’s rise to prominence deserves some recognition,” one of the landholders adds. “And most rulers have also been mighty patrons… that’s the sort of relationship most people expect.”

“I fail to see the relevance?” you admit rather openly. “I hardly eat by human standards, I’m used to sleeping on the roadsides if I must, and I don’t even really suffer from the weather at all. A roof over my head, a fire in the hearth, and a blanket are more than I’ve come to expect.”

“Occasionally I used to accept personal payments in perfume,” you admit. “But that was about it.”

“Surely you can think of something?” the ironmonger insists.

…

>A tiara, made from polished steel. I may need to meet with other political powers in an official capacity, and Sigmunt sold mine off.
>Some tapestries, rugs, and traditional wooden furniture. It would be nice if my cohort’s safehouses to have the trappings of an actual home.
>I literally don’t want anything. I’m a queen in title and responsibility, but I have no interest in the other trappings of royalty.
>Other?

(This will mostly add some "color" to how Noel goes about dealing with her royal duties from here on)

>>4134875
>Some things to take care of my horse better?

>>4134875
>A tiara, made from polished steel. I may need to meet with other political powers in an official capacity, and Sigmunt sold mine off.

>>4134875
>>A tiara, made from polished steel. I may need to meet with other political powers in an official capacity, and Sigmunt sold mine off.
>>Some tapestries, rugs, and traditional wooden furniture. It would be nice if my cohort’s safehouses to have the trappings of an actual home.
If not both, then just the tiara.

>>4134875
>A tiara, made from polished steel. I may need to meet with other political powers in an official capacity, and Sigmunt sold mine off.

>>4134875
>>Some tapestries, rugs, and traditional wooden furniture. It would be nice if my cohort’s safehouses to have the trappings of an actual home.

>>4134940
>>4134875
>Adding an addendum
>give the steel crown engraved with runic symbols of my fallen comrades.

>>4135006
Hello fellow discord user :)

>>4134875
>Other

Something practical? Commission a new building maybe? Like a school house or an orphanage perhaps? Library?

A steel circlet seems fine so long as it doesn't send the wrong message. "Omg, Hazaran is so weak and poor they can only afford a steel ornament! "

>>4134875
If you must give me something, then,
>A tiara, made from polished steel. I may need to meet with other political powers in an official capacity, and Sigmunt sold mine off.

Honestly though? I'd have rather a practical gift for the people in my name. Something like a booklet on how Yoma spread and how to deal with them that can be delivered to every town in Harazan. That way people would stop killing each other over misinformation and paranoia.

>>4134875
>A tiara, made from polished steel. I may need to meet with other political powers in an official capacity, and Sigmunt sold mine off.
>Some tapestries, rugs, and traditional wooden furniture. It would be nice if my cohort’s safehouses to have the trappings of an actual home.

>>4134875
>A tiara, made from polished steel. I may need to meet with other political powers in an official capacity, and Sigmunt sold mine off.
Though the booklet idea from >>4135312 also sounds great

>>4134875
>Other?
A modest production batch of austere medals to award those prominent in service to Queen and Country. Call it the Iron Cross of Noel.

>>4135529
And to really rub it in, the medals can be made from one of the captured cannon from the battle with the Inquisition, just like how the Victoria Cross is made from captured Russian guns from the Crimean War.

>>4134875
>A tiara, made from polished steel. I may need to meet with other political powers in an official capacity, and Sigmunt sold mine off.
>Some tapestries, rugs, and traditional wooden furniture. It would be nice if my cohort’s safehouses to have the trappings of an actual home.
also things for the horse is also a nice idear

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>>4134875
“I could use a tiara,” you decide.

“We could find a goldsmith,” the ironmonger begins before you interrupt.

“I would prefer polished steel,” you insist. “I think it’d suit me more.”

“And your thoughts on gemstones?” the ironmonger presses.

You consider it carefully. “If you mean tiny settings, crystal would be fine. That’s still a main craft in Hazaran, is it not?”

The man nods in confirmation.

“Then that would be appropriate,” you continue. “Also, sapphires are still mined in some places?”

“More so than other precious gems,” the merchant guildmaster agrees. “I take it you want one as the center gem?”

You nod curtly. “It need not be overly large, of course.”

“I think this can be arranged,” the ironmonger informs you. “I’m actually relieved that you put that much thought into it.”

“It’s all for show anyway,” you shrug. “It’s not that hard. I also wouldn’t say no to some tapestries or rugs.”

“Many of those things were taken by Sigmunt, meaning that the quarters I’m trying to prepare for my cohort are pretty much bare.”

“That is easy enough to procure,” the merchant guildmaster nods in understanding.

…

After arranging for those items to be delivered to the castle in Scaithness, you return to the upper tiers of the palace to meet with your companions.

“Money is still a huge concern,” you admit, “but there are some public works projects I plan to suggest to Noventus before we leave.”

“Also, they’re getting me a tiara.”

[Nice.]

“So when do we plan to return to Scaithness?” Sabrina asks.

“It’s uncomfortable,” Justina admits.

>We’ll remain on hand to make sure Noventus can establish his defenses.
>We can go home tomorrow. Anything else may raise suspicions about our role.
>We should try to arrange a network of spies for the Capital itself. Two, maybe three days.
>Other?

>>4136027
>We can go home tomorrow. Anything else may raise suspicions about our role.

>>4136027
>>We should try to arrange a network of spies for the Capital itself. Two, maybe three days.
I really don't think that Sigmunt is gone/won't be a problem anymore.

>>4136027
>>We should try to arrange a network of spies for the Capital itself. Two, maybe three days.

>>4136043
good point, but a network to possibly counter the one set in place by the inquisition would be very valuable

>>4136027
>We should try to arrange a network of spies for the Capital itself. Two, maybe three days.

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>>4136027
“We should minimize the amount of time we spend here,” you admit to your cohort, “since the longer we remain the more it becomes a question whether we’re propping Noventus up with threats of force. But we should stay long enough to establish a network of spies.”

“Spies?” Sabrina repeats. “Like what we have in other regions already?”

You nod curtly. “Until recently this place has been more or less off-limits to us. It’s a prime opportunity.”

[Agreed. I will send a message to Scaithness this evening.]

“Good idea,” Justina agrees curtly.

That evening the chef who worked previously for Sigmunt takes your presence here at the palace as a challenge, taking it unto himself to produce four tiny plates of food that are calibrated specifically for equally tiny appetites. Finely-steamed crayfish from the nearby lake, berries and small cuts of green vegetable lightly sautéed in butter and white wine, and a thin, light sauce that’s really almost more like a dressing, all set on what would once have been a small pudding dish.

It’s all very good, though for a normal person it would be an almost insultingly small portion.

“It’s surprisingly cheap to do,” the man shrugs when you call him out to explain. “Though making such small portions can be more difficult… when you’re cooking a tiny single piece of beef for example it goes from underdone to burned in about thirty seconds.”

“I see,” you incline your head politely. “I appreciate the extra effort.”

“No trouble,” he assures you. “After all I much prefer this to what Lord Sigmunt had me doing.”

“Which was?” Justina asks curiously.

“He ran me ragged!” the chef declares. “It wouldn’t have been so bad had he been willing to pay for assistants, but instead he fired my assistants and put the extra money towards flashier, more expensive ingredients to impress the other lords.”

“Good riddance to bad garbage, if you don’t mind me saying so my Lady.”

You simply shrug. You’re never going to disagree with that sort of sentiment.
>1/2

>>4136297
It takes the better part of the next two days to craft even the most basic information network in the Capital, starting with a few hand-chosen officials who had contacts of their own in the various major organizations and neighborhoods in the city.

But eventually you manage to extend your list of contacts to several individuals who handle mail in the region, as well as some low-level local officials and opponents to the Inquisition’s spread through the city. Mostly people who have either lost family to a yōma rather than the Inquisition itself.

…

[So how are we to handle this?]

Now that Serana has been reminded of the scale of the task, it seems that she’s worried about it. It is after all an entire nation, and your ranks are barely into the single digits.

“Point,” Justina agrees.

>We’ll have to expand and improve the road systems around Scaithness, make getting back and forth easier.
>Scaithness may not be the best place long-term, so we may consider eventually moving elsewhere.
>We really need to build a network of defensible locations for longer, multi-settlement assignments.
>There has to be a more efficient way we could be responding… we just haven’t thought of it yet.
>Other?

>>4136344
>>Scaithness may not be the best place long-term, so we may consider eventually moving elsewhere.
>>We really need to build a network of defensible locations for longer, multi-settlement assignments.

>>4136352
>>4136344
mention that to helen, we can't do all the decisions alone, she is our co leader for a reason

>>4136344
>We’ll have to expand and improve the road systems around Scaithness, make getting back and forth easier.
>We really need to build a network of defensible locations for longer, multi-settlement assignments.

>>4136344
>>We’ll have to expand and improve the road systems around Scaithness, make getting back and forth easier.

>>4136344
>Scaithness may not be the best place long-term, so we may consider eventually moving elsewhere.
>There has to be a more efficient way we could be responding… we just haven’t thought of it yet.

>>4136344
>>We’ll have to expand and improve the road systems around Scaithness, make getting back and forth easier.

>>4136344
>We’ll have to expand and improve the road systems around Scaithness, make getting back and forth easier.
>Other?
Also, try to look for patterns of yoma activity and anticipate attacks.

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>>4136344
“Roadworks will make getting information to us, and ourselves to the yōma, easier and faster,” you observe. “But it may also help to apply some science to it.”

“How so?” Justina wonders, listening closely.

“I mean there may be patterns to where and when yōma strike,” you suggest, “beyond even what we’re aware of. The Organization has probably looked into things from that perspective, which may help to explain how their handlers can always turn up where they’re needed with such apparent alacrity.”

[It’s easier for them to respond quickly if they already know where a problem will arise,] Serana’s eyes widen slightly in surprise as she signs to you. [That’s what you’re thinking.]

You nod curtly. “If we want to be able to keep up we need to do the same.”

“So back to Scaithness?” Justina suggests.

“As soon as possible,” you agree.

…

It’s three days before you return to Scaithness, where the general agreement is shock.

“Okay, let me get this straight,” Helen grumbles. “You’re the queen now?”

“Always was,” you point out, “but yes. Now people actually know it.”

“And you’ve appointed the new Regent,” she continues.

“That’s correct.”

“And promised widespread reform.”

You nod curtly. “Mostly stuff that makes our jobs easier.”

She stares at you in disbelief.

>In my defense, we’re not expected to engage in politics.
>In my defense, we’ve already been involved for years.
>In my defense, this was probably inevitable and it could have been worse.
>Other?

>>4138008
>Sigmunt forced my hand, it was either I play political now, or Hazaran self destructs, and we likely lose our home and all the resources we need to properly hunt youma.

>>4138008
>In my defense, we’re not expected to engage in politics.

>>4138008
>>In my defense, we’re not expected to engage in politics.

>>4138008
This >>4138009

>>4138008
>we’ve been already involved already. Some of our past clients were political figures. Remember that one kingdom on the lake?

>>4138008
>>4138009

>>4138008
“Some of our past clients were already political figures,” you point out. “Hey Valentina, you remember that mission in Skansen?”

Eventually she nods. “Yeah, our first mission together. The king was a real prick about it.”

“We were going to get drawn in at some point,” you continue. “In this case, the consequences of inaction would have been the eventual loss of Hazaran, which in turn means we couldn’t do our missions anymore.”

“I see, so that was your reasoning?”

You nod curtly. “That’s right.”

…

It’s a matter of two months before the renovations at Scaithness are concluded to the point where you can actually move back into Blackthorn keep. By the time the walls and roof have been finished, you have the furnishings ready to fit out the new living quarters. The tiara you requested also arrives… it probably used crystal glass and a sapphire that were ready to be mounted when you made the request, which is fine.

The reactivated defenses seem to have been completed with little difficulty as well.

But there is however a lingering question…

“We still have no information on the trained yōma,” you admit to Laura.

She nods thoughtfully. “It’s clearly one of the Abyssal Ones.”

>We could always ask the Organization.
>We could always ask Sabela.
>We should do neither of those things.
>Other?

>>4138313
>>We could always ask Sabela.
i don't actually like either of these options, but doing nothing is worse and revealing anything to the inquistion seems like a bad idea

>>4138313
>We could always ask Sabela.

>>4138313
>>We could always ask Sabela.

>>4138313
>>We could always ask Sabela.

>>4138313
>>We could always ask Sabela.

>>4138313
>We could always ask Sabela.
Wouldn't be surprised if they where hers.

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>>4138313
>>We could always ask Sabela.
Let's talk to King Mommy

>>4138313
“We could always ask Sabela,” you suggest, rather hesitantly.

Laura stares at you like you’ve gone insane. “What?”

“Asking the Organization would just cause more problems in the long run,” you reason, “and doing nothing isn’t an option.”

“True enough,” Laura admits, “though I think you’re the only one among our number who would honestly consider that. Helen’s not going to like it.”

“But I think it’s our best option,” you admit. “And we need to know whether to expect another coordinated attack like that.”

“Also true,” Laura agrees. “Okay, I’ll speak with Helen about it this evening.”

…

The plan eventually ends up as this: you and Serana will meet with your mother, and you’ll report back what you learn. This is to be absolutely minimum-contact, conducted in complete secret if possible.

[So where do we go now?] Serana asks you, her expression one of uncertainty. [How do you think we could go about meeting her deliberately?]

>We go to the ruined castle where I first met her and wait.
>We go to the site of our “suicide battle” against Constanza and Rafaela.
>Across the Loch to release our yōki. Try to attract her attention.
>Other?

>>4138880
>>We go to the site of our “suicide battle” against Constanza and Rafaela.

>>4138880
>>We go to the site of our “suicide battle” against Constanza and Rafaela.

>>4138880
>We go to the site of our “suicide battle” against Constanza and Rafaela.

>>4138880
>We go to the site of our “suicide battle” against Constanza and Rafaela.

>>4138880
>We go to the site of our “suicide battle” against Constanza and Rafaela.

>>4138880
“The spot where we fought Constanza and Rafaela is near,” you lay out your thoughts, “and while it wouldn’t require us to go as far as Acerrae it’s on the way there.”

[You believe that both lie on part of her cycle?] Serana realizes with a curt nod of approval. [Then it would be the sensible place to start.]

…

The two of you spend three days sheltering with Alysheba amid the abandoned ruins of the village of Rila, waiting for your mother to put in an appearance. Thankfully you brought enough trail-stable food that you can be assured you can wait two weeks without any real imposition, and even more thankfully you don’t need to use all of that.

At sunrise on the fourth day, Sabela walks calmly over the rise in the road as it heads up towards the high pass into Cuilan, heading down towards you.

“Here she is,” you declare, rising to your feet and heading out into the road to meet her. Serana follows you a few steps behind.

“I have heard rumors about you,” your mother greets you in a polite exchange of barely-noticeable bows.

You reply with a placid smile. “What you’ve heard is truth masquerading as rumor.”

“True or false,” she continues, “any news of you that does not involve your death is welcome.”

“I assume you have at least some idea why we’re here?” you ask.

She nods, before slipping into hand-sign. [I have a few ideas.]

Serana seems shocked at the turn of events. [You learned? From where?]

Sabela signs back with a mischievous grin. [By one who does not know my nature. Shall we sit?]

The three of you head into the ruins of a small house, seating yourselves on chunks of fallen wall, and Sabela resumes speaking normally.

“First of all, allow me to congratulate you,” she tells you. “Noventus was an excellent choice. With this Hazaran is likely to begin mending itself… a process which will take some time, of course.”

“Always,” you agree.

“I want to ask you something...”

>What could be done to deal with the trained yōma soldiers?
>What IS the Organization, anyway? We still know little about it.
>What am I to you, exactly? Why would you have a child?
>Other?

>>4139915
>>What IS the Organization, anyway? We still know little about it.
>And who or whom could train youma to be an army?

>>4139915
>What could be done to deal with the trained yōma soldiers?
>What IS the Organization, anyway? We still know little about it.

>>4139915
>>What IS the Organization, anyway? We still know little about it.
>And who or whom could train youma to be an army?

>>4139915
>What could be done to deal with the trained yōma soldiers?
>What IS the Organization, anyway? We still know little about it.
>What am I to you, exactly? Why would you have a child?
sorry for being greedy but all those questions are good

>>4139915
>What am I to you, exactly? Why would you have a child?

>>4139915
>How did you and father meet?

>>4139915
>>What could be done to deal with the trained yōma soldiers?
>>What IS the Organization, anyway? We still know little about it.
>>What am I to you, exactly? Why would you have a child?
GIMME DAT WALL

File: __alicia_beth_ermita_rimu(...).png (1.19 MB, 610x1808)

1.19 MB PNG

>>4139915
“… well, two actually,” you admit. “The immediate issue… what the hell are we supposed to do about those trained yōma units Ella’s faction is turning out?”

“So you’ve seen some of Yulia’s handiwork?” Sabela muses. “There is your answer, by the way. The only way to ensure that the yōma soldiers are no longer a threat is to eliminate Yulia. Aside from that, doing what you have been doing and reactivating some of Hazaran’s defenses will help.”

“However, for humans to take on yōma will take much more preparation and adoption of specific tactics. Since I know you will take an interest in this, consider for a moment the ways that humans have hunted large animals in Hazaran, such as boars and bears.”

You take that into consideration… and honestly, you get what she’s trying to suggest: by using a series of boar spears with their ‘wings’ intended to keep an impaled victim at a distance, it may be possible to create a formation that can sustain fire against a yōma for long enough that regular humans could overwhelm it.

You’ll have to try it some time.

[Do you really think that will work?]

Sabela merely shrugs. “Maybe, maybe not. It wouldn’t work against me, but it could give people a fighting chance against those trained animals Ella seems to be counting on.”

“That would be enough,” you agree. “Something is better than nothing.”

“And your second question?” Sabela asks.

“What is the Organization?”

Sabela considers her response carefully. “The world is a larger place than what the Organization would have us believe, and we have been kept from seeing evidence of that for generations… these are things which you yourself must have some concept of.”

“If this supposition is true, and if the supposition that the Organization is creating half-blooded warriors as part of a larger course of experiments, then what can that tell us about the world they would hide from us and their own role within it?”

[That there is a war.]

Serana’s guess is well-founded, and her grim expression communicates her displeasure at having to ‘voice’ such thoughts. But Sabela immediately agrees, nodding her head once.

“Yes… that’s it. More precisely, the multi-generational timeframe speaks to a lack of urgency.”

“You think that whatever ‘side’ in this currently hypothetical ‘war’ the Organization is on has already lost?”
>1/2

>>4140259
Sabela nods grimly. “If we are to begin with the supposition that the ‘world’ is larger than this island, taking into evidence everything we know or may deduce about the way our own experience has been structured? That is the only conclusion that I can reach.”

“Everything on this island is part of the experiment… the yōma, the humans, the warriors, the many states and societies which exist and those that are destroyed. All bent towards the goal of producing a warrior whose power and abilities far exceed the immediately apparent need.”

Serana is visibly stunned, her hands shaking as she speaks. [So my entire life… all of our suffering… it’s all just…]

>We don’t know that any of this is true, and we may never know. All we should be focused on is what’s in front of us.
>We should keep an eye out for further evidence… like the rune stones found all throughout Hazaran, and the carved tunnels I found beneath Cuilan. But otherwise, continue as we have.
>So… what if someone were to leave the island and see what’s out there for themselves? What would be involved?
>Other?

>>4140270
>>We should keep an eye out for further evidence… like the rune stones found all throughout Hazaran, and the carved tunnels I found beneath Cuilan. But otherwise, continue as we have.

>>4140270
>>We should keep an eye out for further evidence… like the rune stones found all throughout Hazaran, and the carved tunnels I found beneath Cuilan. But otherwise, continue as we have.

>>4140270
>So… what if someone were to leave the island and see what’s out there for themselves? What would be involved?

>>4140270
>We should keep an eye out for further evidence… like the rune stones found all throughout Hazaran, and the carved tunnels I found beneath Cuilan. But otherwise, continue as we have.

TIME TO UNIFY THE ISLAND UNDER ONE BANNER WE CIV NOW!

>>4140270
>>We should keep an eye out for further evidence… like the rune stones found all throughout Hazaran, and the carved tunnels I found beneath Cuilan. But otherwise, continue as we have.

>>4140270
>>We should keep an eye out for further evidence… like the rune stones found all throughout Hazaran, and the carved tunnels I found beneath Cuilan. But otherwise, continue as we have.

>>4140270
>>We should keep an eye out for further evidence… like the rune stones found all throughout Hazaran, and the carved tunnels I found beneath Cuilan. But otherwise, continue as we have.
>>So… what if someone were to leave the island and see what’s out there for themselves? What would be involved?

>>4140270
>We should keep an eye out for further evidence… like the rune stones found all throughout Hazaran, and the carved tunnels I found beneath Cuilan. But otherwise, continue as we have.
>So… what if someone were to leave the island and see what’s out there for themselves? What would be involved?

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162 KB JPG

>>4140270
“We should keep our eyes open,” you suggest. “Like the rune stones throughout Hazaran, or the tunnels I encountered beneath Cuilan. But other than that, we have little choice but to continue as we have.”

Sabela nods in agreement. “That’s not incorrect… for most purposes, the existence of a now-hypothetical ‘mainland’ has little bearing on your immediate choices.”

“That being said,” you admit, “it makes some sense to consider how to go about testing our theories. What would be involved in leaving the island?”

[No one has ever done that.]

“Correction,” Sabela replies to a still shaken-looking Serana. “No one has ever done it and come back.”

“You believe the Organization has killed everyone who ever tried?” you realize what she means.

Sabela nods thoughtfully. “That is what I believe is likely. However in order to make an attempt you would need a clipper ship, and likely an entire cargo load worth of supplies. With a lack of any evidence to the contrary, it would make sense to follow the prevailing winds either due east or due west.”

“I guess we should keep that in mind,” you sigh, “but it’s clearly not a high priority.”

[I’m still grappling with it,] Serana admits, before absent-mindedly tucking a stray strand of silver hair behind her ear.

“We’ll have plenty of time,” you shrug. “But more immediately, we should come up with a better way to contact each other.”

“Unfortunately several of my favored spots have been reactivated by your friend Noventus,” Sabela informs you. “So my nominal ‘range’ if you will has been severely reduced. The ‘silver lining’ if you will is that I have less reason to dedicate myself to ‘patrolling’ my territorial limits.”

“So what’s your plan?” you ask.

“There’s a small castle ruin near Ballardine. I suppose I’ll have to settle in there.”

“Understood,” you agree. “That should be a satisfactory arrangement.”

[If we have to meet with you again something will have gone very wrong.]

“I take no offense to that sentiment,” Sabela agrees. “Is there anything else you wish to discuss?”

>Write-in

>>4141647
>"How did you and Dad meet? What was he like back then? What did you see in dad that made you think he was worth it? Did he find out about your true nature?"

>>4141656
>>4141647
yeah supporting

>>4141656
>>4141647
This is good

>>4141647
Anyone else? Or shall I start on this for tomorrow?

>>4141647
>>4141897
Another thing to talk about:
>Any status on the other Abyssal ones?

>>4141897
I'm fine with the above and >>4141900

>>4141647
>Write-in

Guys remember that mission where we went and killed people because they were all infected by an awakened? Was she trying to reach the mainland? Maybe not related.

Ask her if it would be possible for her to come visit or settle down in one of the reactivated forts. Perhaps she would be alright with living in a restored castle just for her with supplies sent regularly? We are queen after all.

Ask her what she thinks of the current #1 claymore, and if we will inevitably come to blows.

What role did the organization play in our overthrow and Sigmunt's placement on the throne and possibly other kingdoms.

Ask her if she knows about the handlers being "modified" since they could always sneak up on us?

Ask her if she has ever successfully dyed her hair.

Do the other Abyssmal's or awakened know about the mainland and the war, or do they even care?

>>4142095
>Perhaps she would be alright with living in a restored castle just for her with supplies sent regularly?
Anon, the only supplies she needs is humans. She eats humans.

>>4141647
“I do have one question,” you admit. “How did you and my father meet? And did he ever know about you?”

Sabela is quiet for a few moments before beginning her story.

...

It was one year after the mission where I awakened. I was still wandering Hazaran, trying to come to terms with what I had become. Back when Laura was still a relative novice… it was difficult at first to accept that things had changed, because I felt much the same as I had before.

At first, I very nearly starved myself.

There had been a small border clash against Bretonne, around the area of Wustkirk. I had claimed a battle casualty for a meal… that way I could still trick myself… and was on my way back to Wustkirk itself when I must have stumbled through one of the camps.

“Halt!” someone ordered from out of the dim.

Three riders approached me, two carrying torches, all three in fine armor… much finer than the leathers worn by my earlier meal.

The one not carrying his own torch was the first to speak. “I haven’t seen you before at camp. Who are you?”

My social training kicked in… I still hadn’t adjusted to life outside the Organization’s control.

“I’m from Wustkirk… I was out in the forest looking for wild herbs.”

That lie came easily, but was just as easily challenged.

“You don’t seem to have met with much success,” the man mused. I could tell by his tone that he was suspicious, but did not view me as a threat.

I had to think quickly, and recalled almost instinctively that the best lies are ones you can support with the truth. “I did succeed… however, this was merely to find substitutes for what I would normally seek across the border, in Bretonne.”

“I see,” the man replied thoughtfully, his concerns allayed. “Is this a common problem?”

I told him it was, and when he left I thought that the end of it. Within two weeks the military road constructed for this campaign had been widened and opened to civilian merchants, which alleviated the hardship of the people living in Wustkirk. It was only at that point I realized that the man who I met that night was King Tiberius… your father.
>1/?

>>4142720
The border campaign lasted for three seasons.

The King and I met with some frequency during that time… he was polite, generous, and good-hearted in our every interaction. In fact it felt so natural that it took me the better part of six months to realize that he was, in fact, attempting to court me. At this time, I was a huntress in Wustkirk… I took small game like rabbits and fowl, as well as larger game like deer. Nothing too unbelievable for a young woman of course, so that no one ever really doubted me. But it was my low standing that blinded me to his advances for so long.

In the end, however… well, certainly you know how it went. There was no secret twist in his personality, no hidden sadistic side, no unusual perversions such as those which might be rumored of others.

…

He was upset of course when I refused to go with him once the clashes with Bretonne had subsided. I had no intentions of becoming a royal consort, and he knew in his heart of hears that the nobility would never have it. He swore to me that I could call on him for anything, at any time… I didn’t take him seriously enough then, because I still didn’t believe that I could even become pregnant.

Of course, as you again know by now, I was wrong. I could hardly ignore the bump.

I considered raising you myself… in fact that had been my plan from the day I first realized you were on your way. To have someone else, someone like me…

… however, your birth shattered any illusions that I could ever find a sense of normalcy in my life again when I realized that you had no yōki of your own. Raising you as a monster would not be an option.

That is when I elected to send you to your father… and he remained good to his word, as I knew he would.

…

“I really wish that the Organization had not acted against him,” Sabela concludes sadly. “Your father was an uncommonly good man.”

There are a few moments of silence between the three of you before Sabela decides to leave.

“I’ll be setting up in my new home,” she declares, “where you will be able to find me. I also intend to keep you updated if I learn anything of the other Abyssals’ movements.”

>Thank you, mother.
>You have done more than enough.
>What are your intentions now?
>Other?

>>4142844
>Thank you, mother.

>>4142844
>>Thank you, mother.

>>4142844
>>Thank you, mother.
>>What are your intentions now?

>>4142844
>Thank you, mother.
>Give her a hug.

>>4142844
>>Thank you, mother.

>>4142902
>>4142844
agreed, hug her.

>>4142844
>What do you mean acted against him? Wasn’t signing the one leading the charge?

>>4143112
Sigmunt *

>>4142844
Will continue tomorrow.

>>4142880
>>4142902
>>4143065
All of above.

>>4142844
“Thank you,” you bow politely… before giving her a rather tentative hug. “It’s so strange, to balance the two concepts ‘mother’ and ‘monster’ against each other.”

“You needn’t bother,” Sabela insists quietly. “By my reckoning I’m the closest to human of any awakened being… which says less about me than about it does about the rest of them.”

You’re still thinking about what she said next long after you begin the return trip to Scaithness, the thought she left you with.

“If you love me, then when the time comes, do not hesitate to kill me.”

…

“How did things go?”

Helen’s question practically falls on deaf ears. It’s Laura, who was watching you quietly for your reply, asks a different question.

“How much did she tell you?”

This catches your attention. “Enough to know that the answer makes little practical difference. it’s a hypothetical.”

“Albeit one which is important in understanding the Organization’s motives,” Laura agrees, although that agreement comes implicitly along with her observation.

“True,” you admit.

“What are you talking about?”

You consider whether or not to explain it to Helen yourself, but Laura saves you the trouble. “True-Heart Sabela mentioned it to me once, her theory that there’s a broader world beyond our shores and that the enemy we half-bloods are designed to fight exists out there.”

“People have believed something like that for decades,” Helen points out. “With no evidence to support it.”

“Her theory was internally consistent,” you admit. “Though, like I said before, it makes little practical difference. I would however ask that we keep our eyes and ears open.”

“Sure,” Helen agrees. “But what about the main priority?”

>We have to kill Yulia, the “Silver General”. She’s the organizing force behind it all.
>Yulia will be anticipating a direct attack. We need to train militiamen and soldiers to fight yōma.
>We need more information on the other Abyssal factions.
>Other?

>>4144779
>>We have to kill Yulia, the “Silver General”. She’s the organizing force behind it all.
>>We need more information on the other Abyssal factions.

>>4144779
>We have to kill Yulia, the “Silver General”. She’s the organizing force behind it all.

>>4144779
>We have to kill Yulia, the “Silver General”. She’s the organizing force behind it all.

>>4144779
>We have to kill Yulia, the “Silver General”. She’s the organizing force behind it all.

>>4144779
>Yulia will be anticipating a direct attack. We need to train militiamen and soldiers to fight yōma.
>We need more information on the other Abyssal factions.

>>4144779
>We have to kill Yulia, the “Silver General”. She’s the organizing force behind it all.

>>4144779
>Yulia will be anticipating a direct attack. We need to train militiamen and soldiers to fight yōma.

>>4144779
>Yulia will be anticipating a direct attack. We need to train militiamen and soldiers to fight yōma.

>>4144779
“The only way to end the threat of organized yōma is to kill Yulia, the ‘Silver General’ who serves under Ella.”

“Yulia,” Helen repeats. “She was formerly a single-digit, if memory serves?”

“That’s correct,” Laura replies.

“Alexa, Nessa, Jenna, and I first worked together fighting her trained minions,” you explain. “So Sabela’s information checks out at least that far.”

“That would be incredibly dangerous,” Helen replies stoically. “We don’t even have any information to give us an idea where she is.”

“True,” you agree.

[And the idea of rearming civilians?]

“What is she talking about?” Laura asks curiously.

“Sabela also mentioned boar spears,” you clarify. “Short-hafted, broad-headed spears with forged crossbars designed to keep a wild boar from simply running you down after you’ve speared them.”

“And this design works?” Helen presses you.

“I killed a man with one once as a child,” you explain, “so yes, it worked well enough in that scenario.”

There’s a brief pause.

“I’ll speak with the blacksmith in town about a design,” you eventually continue.

“Until then, we should try to gather information about the awakened being Yulia,” Helen declares.

>It might make sense to ask the Organization for details on her. In this case our interests align.
>We should take this slowly and carefully. There’s no immediate rush.
>She’ll likely move again when there’s another opportunity, like the last two times. We just need to wait.
>Other?

>>4145743
>We should take this slowly and carefully. There’s no immediate rush.

>>4145743
>Take it sslooooooowww

>>4145743
>We should take this slowly and carefully. There’s no immediate rush.

>>4145743
>>We should take this slowly and carefully. There’s no immediate rush.

>>4145743
>We should take this slowly and carefully. There’s no immediate rush.

>>4145743
>>She’ll likely move again when there’s another opportunity, like the last two times. We just need to wait.

>>4145743
“We’ll need to take this slowly,” you admit. “Rushing at all just plays into Yulia’s hand.”

“Agreed,” Helen nods curtly. “Can you head into town and get a sample design for this ‘yōma spear’ you have in mind?”

“Not a problem.”

…

Three days later you have it in your hands: a spike of hardened steel forged into a four-flanged “spike” not too dissimilar to a small and pointed bar mace. It’s been differentially hardened at the tip and along the edges of the flanges, with moderately-hardened steel for the crossbar and the bolster that crossbar rests against. Its tang runs well into the haft as well, with a few collars to hopefully reduce the threat of splintering.

“It was difficult to forge out, but I figured on a few ways to make it work in damn near any forge in Hazaran,” the smith admits upon handing you his finished work. “Hope you don’t mind the forge scale… not exactly my prettiest work.”

“A lot of farriers are going to be making these too,” you explain, “so they’re not all going to look “pretty” anyway. How many more can you make?”

“Many as you need,” he replies.

“Let’s go with batches of six,” you suggest. “Six out of every unit of ten sounds good to me.”

“Got it,” the man replies. “I can have the first batch ready in a few days.”

“We’ll start training with those,” you nod curtly.

>Now, time to test this on a hunt. Go find Serana or someone to back you up.
>Time to explain the training goals and methodologies to the Kentarch.
>Other?

>>4146054
>Time to explain the training goals and methodologies to the Kentarch.

>>4146054
>Now, time to test this on a hunt. Go find Serana or someone to back you up.

>>4146054
>>Time to explain the training goals and methodologies to the Kentarch.

>>4146054
>>Time to explain the training goals and methodologies to the Kentarch.

Speaking of smithing, did we ever talk to the smith who did our crossguard about the blades he made to simulate the organization's metal? We were testing them out for him prior to the 2 year skil.

>>4146054
>>Time to explain the training goals and methodologies to the Kentarch.

>>4146054
You seek out the Kentarch, and present him with the specially-designed spear.

He stares across his desk at you. “What is this supposed to be?”

“So far as I’m aware it’s the first purpose-designed yōma spear,” you explain. “Every aspect has been designed for this purpose.”

The Kentarch continues to stare. “So can I take it to mean that you and your cohort are abandoning the sword?”

“That would be optimistic of you,” you counter. “The intention is to make a military unit of… well, ‘normal humans’… into something capable of reliably defeating a yōma.”

“With due respect, I can’t believe you don’t know what yōma can do to a human body?”

“Of course a yōma is stronger than you are, and faster,” you agree. “But there are more of you, and you have both training and specialized equipment.”

“Do you think that’s enough?”

“Many of our weakest warriors are weaker than a yōma too,” you admit frankly, “and their training and equipment see them through… for the most part.”

“For the most part?” the Kentarch repeats.

You nod curtly. “They usually operate alone. You and your men never operate solo, only in groups as small as five.”

“So this will work?” he presses.

>It’s designed perfectly from the ground up. It’s more a matter of what you can do with them.
>If by that you mean will they hold up, they haven’t been tested under combat conditions.
>Other?

>>4148066
>If by that you mean will they hold up, they haven’t been tested under combat conditions.
>Other?
And also "It’s more a matter of what you can do with them."

Sounds like the return of the tercios: musketeers, halberdiers and Claymore swordswomen.

>>4148066
>>If by that you mean will they hold up, they haven’t been tested under combat conditions.

>>4148066
>It’s designed perfectly from the ground up. It’s more a matter of what you can do with them.

>>4148066
>If by that you mean will they hold up, they haven’t been tested under combat conditions.

>>4148066
>>If by that you mean will they hold up, they haven’t been tested under combat conditions.

>>4148066
>If by that you mean will they hold up, they haven’t been tested under combat conditions.

>>4148066
>3d10, best of three

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

>>4149222

Rolled 1, 3, 6 = 10 (3d10)

>>4149222
Watch this!

Rolled 2, 1, 1 = 4 (3d10)

>>4149222
>make a man out of you plays faintly in the background

Rolled 10, 7, 1 = 18 (3d10)

>>4149222

>>4149222
“It’s never been tested in combat,” you admit.

“And you want me to issue these to my men?” the Kentarch presses. “I have followed you on many things, but this? This is a stretch, even for me.”

You nod along in understanding, before taking the spear back. “I’ll put it through its paces myself.”

You take the spear outside, selecting a likely-looking series of large rocks to test the weapon on.

The first thrust shatters solid stone, damaging the hardened point irreversibly in the process and most likely breaking the tang inside the haft… but thanks to the design the haft itself doesn’t break. Ramming the spear against the stone a second time breaks off one of the crossbars, reversing the blow bends the other back but doesn’t break it. A second powerful thrust is taken by the haft, which splinters badly in your hands.

…

“Four blows,” you tell the Kentarch. “The spear point held up well enough, though the crossbar design needs to be revised.”

“And that broken haft?” the Kentarch presses.

“It took more of a beating than most spears would have,” you reply, “but it remains a weak point.”

“Then I will not issue this to my men, at least not as it is,” the Kentarch replies stoically.

…

It takes another week of work to correct the faults of the first design: the wings are smaller now but designed more like a wide bolster, meaning that the whole thing is one solid piece of differentially-hardened steel. The point and the haft hold up no better than the first time, but this time the bolster cross-bar won’t snap or take a bend the same way that the previous design did.

“The single-piece forged construction is more durable,” you tell the Kentarch, “but it’s still not at the level of our own swords. These weapons do have a functional limit. But they’re the best weapons that normal humans have available.”

“And how do you propose fielding them?”

“In small batches to augment existing forces,” you suggest. “Three men should carry them per squad of five.”

“It’s a significant amount of increased weight,” the Kentarch muses.

“Then issue those men with calvary-length muskets,” you suggest. “Or else cut the barrel and forelimb of existing muskets to save weight. They also won’t need to carry swords as a reserve weapon.”

The Kentarch considers your proposal, and later that day he agrees.
>1/2

File: Map-SEPT-1-19.jpg (168 KB, 1375x707)

168 KB JPG

>>4149745
The first few batches of yōma spears are being completed across Hazaran when news reaches your ears at Scaithness… the news is grim. Word is that a city in Northern Audiern has been completely wiped out by yōma. And not a small city either, but a settlement with a population of nearly ten thousand… the “second city” of the nation.

“This sounds like Yulia’s work,” Helen growls. “Damn her.”

“She’s practically writing us an invitation letter,” Laura agrees. “Both ourselves and the Inquisition.”

“So what do we do?” Jenna demands. “We’re gonna go after her, right?”

>Of course. Things are set up here to run smoothly in our absence.
>… that’s bait. I couldn’t think of anything more convincing.
>We need to split the party. Hedge our bets, as it were.
>Other?

>>4149782
>… that’s bait. I couldn’t think of anything more convincing.

>>4149782
>>… that’s bait. I couldn’t think of anything more convincing.
but, one we can't see repeated, things are set up to run smoothly in our absence.

>>4149782
>… that’s bait. I couldn’t think of anything more convincing.
The yoma have probably already moved on to their next target.

>>4149782
>>… that’s bait. I couldn’t think of anything more convincing.

>>4149782
>>… that’s bait. I couldn’t think of anything more convincing.

>>4149782
“… that’s bait,” you declare calmly. “I couldn’t think of any better.”

“You think so?” Helen frowns. “Yes… that does make sense.”

“But for whom?” Laura asks suspiciously.

[It could be for anyone,] Serana suggests with a furrowed brow. [To draw us out and away from Hazaran, or else to draw in the Organization.]

“Speaking of the Organization, can we speculate what their response would be?” Laura presses. “Surely something this significant won’t go unanswered.”

“The response would likely be significant,” Helen nods curtly.

“Which leaves us with a problem,” you observe. “How confident are we in the Organization’s ability to deal with Yulia and her army?”

[An awakened single-digit should be stronger than an ordinary single-digit warrior.]

Serana’s expression is grim. [And many of their double-digit warriors are replacements.]

“So they may treat it as a hunt?” you guess. “Like our mission… our suicide mission?”

“That’s possible,” Helen agrees.

>Then we should contact Nadia and Camila… two single-digits I know are trustworthy.
>We should send a team to meet Yulia. Protect our former comrades.
>We need more information… Sabela may have something for us.
>Other?

>>4151670
>Then we should contact Nadia and Camila… two single-digits I know are trustworthy.

>>4151670
>>Then we should contact Nadia and Camila… two single-digits I know are trustworthy.

>>4151670
>>Then we should contact Nadia and Camila… two single-digits I know are trustworthy.

>>4151670
>>We should send a team to meet Yulia. Protect our former comrades.

>>4151670
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 6, 6, 1 = 13 (3d10)

>>4153385

Rolled 5, 5, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>4153385

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4153385

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

>>4153385
Oops, reroll

>>4153404
Thank you for the slip up

File: Central_Regions.png (56 KB, 758x322)

56 KB PNG

>>4153385
“By my reckoning Camila should be the new Number Two,” you think aloud. “And as the Organization has withdrawn from the Kingdom of Hazaran, it’s most likely that she’s been reassigned to Cuilan.”

“That would be consistent,” Helen agrees. “You intend to contact her?”

“She’s one who I think we can trust,” you suggest. “At least enough to show some discretion.”

“And I’m coming with you,” Helen insists.

…

The way into Cuilan is a familiar one, a path not as heavily travelled for the last two years as in the past, but you do see some signs of the caravans having returned… at least sporadically. The chill is something you can ignore, and taking your time through the high pass gives you a day or two to adjust to the thinner air.

“Where should we begin?” Helen muses. “I suppose the capital city would be too easy.”

“We could also head southeast,” you suggest, “on the assumption that she’s been called to deal with the situation in Audiern.”

“Or we could try to draw her towards us instead,” Helen counters. “You and I both have yōki most closely resembling an awakened being… and you seem to have an exceptional talent for drawing on that power.”

“We would need to find someplace remote,” you continue her line of thinking, “and we’d have no way to know what exactly our yōki would draw to us...”

>I think we should try to cut her off before she reaches Audiern.
>I think we should head southeast, then use our yōki as a beacon.
>I think we should head for Tarskavaig, the capital city. At worst there may be news of her.
>Other?

>>4153588
>I think we should head southeast, then use our yōki as a beacon.

>>4153588
>>I think we should head for Tarskavaig, the capital city. At worst there may be news of her.

>>4153588
>I think we should head for Tarskavaig, the capital city. At worst there may be news of her.
>other: We will have to disguise ourselves however. Our fellow warriors may notice us through yoki, but the inquisition could spot us a mile away simply from our hair color, eyes, and our weapons.

>>4153588
>>4153640
Aye

>>4153640
>>4153588
agreed

>>4153588
>3d10, best of two

Rolled 4, 3, 6 = 13 (3d10)

>>4154754
>best of two
i am about to fuck this up, sorry guys

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

>>4154754

>>4154754
“I think we should head for Tarskavaig,” you suggest. “At very worst the capital city should be a breeding ground for rumors of her.”

“Agreed,” Helen nods curtly, before pulling up the hood of her travelling cloak. “We should move quickly. Better to avoid notice, and the faster we move the less time we have for anyone to notice us.”

…

It’s only a day and a half to cross the width of Cuilan when there’s nothing to slow you down, though you definitely need to buy some hot snacks from a street vendor when you arrive at the high-altitude city of Tarskavaig. After doing so, you begin to wander in your separate ways, listening to rumors from the various shopkeepers and travelers and other citizens.

After spending the evening and the better part of the next morning hunting down rumors and gossip, you meet with Helen to confer around noon.

“Seems like she headed south,” Helen informs you. “But not in a hurry, and evidently not at anyone’s prompting.”

“She’ll be observing, but she hasn’t been called,” you suggest. “She may also be waiting near the border of her region to cut down on her own response time… I should’ve predicted that.”

“No time to chastise yourself,” Helen assures you. “We have no time to spare.”

…

The trip to the south takes longer, but by the time you approach the border you can sense yōki from a town in the lowest mountain pass on the south side of Cuilan.

“That has to be her,” Helen declares.

You follow Helen into the town, a sleepy settlement nestled in a wide spot along a cold, swift-flowing river, to the source of the yōki you sensed.

“Welcome,” the thin, almost lanky woman greets you calmly, but with an undeniable terseness that is her signature.

“It’s been a while,” you muse, “more than two years.”

“Indeed.”

Helen remains silent with you for a few moments, before she feels compelled to speak. “We trust that you know what happened?”

After a few more moments, Camila nods silently.

“If we did, you were bound to have first,” you muse. “You did come here for that purpose, didn’t you?”

“That’s right,” she agrees.
>1/2

>>4154929
“We wasted a few days looking for you,” Helen admits, her fine brows knitted in a frown at how this ‘conversation’ is going so far.

After receiving no verbal reply, Helen sighs dramatically. “Maybe you should talk to her… I forgot how it was the last time we met.”

“Right,” you agree, turning to Camila. “Camila, we think that the attack is bait, set by the awakened being Yulia… she serves under Ella, and has been building a small army of organized, battle-trained yōma.”

For the first time, Camila seems to have something approximating an emotional response… she seems to be slightly worried. “You are certain?”

“As much as we can be,” you agree, looking to Helen for the okay, and receiving a silent nod. “We’ve seen direct evidence. A group of yōma attacking Inquisitorial troops in a loose, albeit effective, formation.”

Camila considers your words for a few moments. “How disturbing.”

“Yeah… and we’ve begun to believe that the whole point is to draw in another hunt… like the one we were sent on two years ago.”

“I have my orders,” she replies, her expression grim.

>To hell with your orders. Help us.
>We’ll go if you promise to stay at Scaithness. Serve as an early warning.
>Then there’s nothing we can do but wait.
>Other?

>>4154957
>>Do you still have your black card?

>>4154966
>we don't want to cause you any unnecessary problems or or anything, but please give this some serious thought.
>>4154966
Support as well.

If she does, tell her to check before going on a hunt if its still there.

>>4154957
>Then there’s nothing we can do but wait.
but also
>Do you still have your black card?

>>4154957
>>4154994
Throwing in with this.

>>4154957
>>To hell with your orders. Help us.

>>4154957
>"Do you still have your black card?"
>"Check it now."
>if black card is missing: "I figured as much. Come, gather your comrades, you're coming with us. Do so if you want to live."

>>4154957
“… do you still have your black card?” you ask her.

After a moment, Camila takes her sword off her back and unscrews the pommel. To your relief the black card is still inside… though that also complicates your argument for spurring your fellow warrior to action.

“That’s a good sign for you,” Helen nods curtly.

“The Inquisition seems to take the black cards of those warriors they wish to eliminate,” you explain. “The fact that you have yours suggests you’re in no immediate danger of that happening.”

“Good to know,” Camila replies, her emotions totally in check. If she’s unnerved at all by that account she doesn’t show it at all.

“… you’re not going to get involved, are you?” you ask her frankly.

She shakes her head. “I remain loyal.”

“And nothing’s going to change your mind?” you press.

She takes a few more moments to consider her answer. “Convince Zoe and you convince me.”

Zoe… the number Ten in charge of protecting the Organization’s stronghold on Lavinia. In other words, the only way to convince Camila to desert the organization would be to walk into the proverbial wolves’ den and speak to the single warrior the Organization trusts most to defend them from attack by other warriors.

On the face of it, it seems like an impossible task.

>Then we’ll deal with Zoe personally, then come back for you.
>Then we’ll take out Yulia without you.
>Saving the warriors in Audiern takes priority. We’ll do it ourselves.
>Other?

>>4156649
>>Saving the warriors in Audiern takes priority. We’ll do it ourselves.

>>4156649
>Saving the warriors in Audiern takes priority. We’ll do it ourselves.

>>4156649
>>Saving the warriors in Audiern takes priority. We’ll do it ourselves.

>>4156649
>>Saving the warriors in Audiern takes priority. We’ll do it ourselves.

>>4156649
>>Saving the warriors in Audiern takes priority. We’ll do it ourselves.

>>4156649
>Other?
Do you know how the organization is able to spy and gather information so easily?

Have you ever wondered how the handlers and come and go or sneak up on us better than any human or yoma?

Its because they have their own stigmas.

>>4156649
>Other?
Provide a reserve squad to allow the Audiern force to withdraw if things go pear-shaped. They need to make an effort for appearance's sake.

>>4156649
“Then we’ll go ourselves,” you declare. “If you change your mind, you probably know already where to find us.”

After turning your backs on her, you hear one last sentiment from Camila. “Good luck.”

…

“I keep thinking to myself that I should be mindful of her position,” Helen grumbles. “But still, I can’t help hating her a little.”

“We’ve been independent for so long,” you muse.

“More than that, she really still sees the Organization as her ‘family’,” Helen sighs, “rather than her fellow warriors. Our perspective is one that comes from having been betrayed by the same ones Camila feels loyal to.”

“You’re right,” you agree. “I wonder how the ones the Organization sends to deal with Yulia’s army will feel...”

…

You approach the ruins of the city of Vale in northern Audiern two days later… or rather, you get into the area and refuse to approach any further. The whole place is seething with yōma, certainly more than a hundred.

“Where the hell did she get a force like that?” Helen wonders aloud at the sheer sensation of it. “I’ve never heard of that many.”

“No one has,” you reply solemnly. “We need to find the Organization’s hunting party. It’s either one or two four-warrior squads, I’d imagine.”

“Most likely,” Helen agrees, glancing towards the hills on the opposite side of the wide, shallow valley that Vale has been… or rather had been… built up in. “There, due east.”

“Yeah, I sense them,” you frown. “But what I don’t sense...”

“… I know. Keep your guard up.”

It takes nearly two full hours to creep around through the hills to where the Organization’s warriors are, and in doing so you can begin to identify what you’re looking at: only one party of four, typical of a ‘large’ infestation of a few dozen yōma or a single awakened being.

The one whose handle is blue seems to have sensed you shortly before your arrival, so she calls you out.

“I know you’re there,” she declares.
>1/2

>>4158117
You step out from among the trees, slowly and carefully.

“Do you know who this is?” you ask Helen quietly.

She nods curtly, seeming to recognize the warrior in front of her. A bit on the short side for one of your kind, with her white hair shorn short on the left side and left only slightly longer on top and on the right. There’s a pair of parallel scars running across her scalp on the left, which is probably why she keeps her hair short there in the first place.

“Aurora,” Helen greets the single-digit. “It’s been a long time, old friend.”

Aurora watches Helen warily for a moment, then turns her attention to you. “I see you’ve chosen to return to the world? You’ve picked an exciting time.”

“Who are they?” one of the double-digits with her asks, as all three of the other warriors keep their distance.

“The one with the pointy ears is Helen, formerly the number Five,” Aurora explains calmly. “The one with pink hair is Noel, formerly the number Seven. Both have been dead for two years, officially at least.”

“Word of our demise has been greatly exaggerated,” you reply.

“I can see that. Why are you here?”

“Why else?” Helen insists. “To help.”

Aurora quickly introduces you to her three teammates for their mission:
>Claudia: #12, Offense. Short blonde hair down to her jawline. Looks experienced.
>Nigella: #19, Defense. Blonde hair cut in a flat-top. Looks tough but acts like a rookie.
>Juliana: #20, Defense. Silver hair in a simple ponytail. Quiet, keeps to herself.

With Aurora here, you tend to think that the team will fare well against a large number of yōma… though how many you’re not sure. There’s enough in the city of Vale right now that you can’t even get an accurate count, which is a totally new situation to be in.

Then again, with those numbers plus an awakened being, you’d have to say that Aurora’s hunting party would be screwed.

>We’ll hang back in reserve, move only if it’s clear you’re in trouble.
>We’ll fight alongside you, take the strain off you to make your mission easier to complete.
>We’ll take the lead on this, drive as many yōma as we can into a trap that you set up.
>Other?

>>4158160
>>We’ll take the lead on this, drive as many yōma as we can into a trap that you set up.
this way we can use our ... unique abilties, without immedietly alerting them

>>4158160
>>We’ll take the lead on this, drive as many yōma as we can into a trap that you set up.

>>4158160
>>We’ll take the lead on this, drive as many yōma as we can into a trap that you set up.

>>4158160
>>We’ll take the lead on this, drive as many yōma as we can into a trap that you set up.

>>4158160
>We’ll take the lead on this, drive as many yōma as we can into a trap that you set up.

>>4158160
>Other?
>Where are your handlers?

We should know they'd likely be watching from a distance, then again its probably too dangerous for even their scouts to watch from afar with so many yoma present.

>>4158160
>We’ll take the lead on this, drive as many yōma as we can into a trap that you set up.

Where do we know Camila from?

>>4158539
She was observing the battle against Constanzia and Rafaela.

>>4158160
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 5, 8, 9 = 22 (3d10)

>>4158575

Rolled 3, 8, 2 = 13 (3d10)

>>4158575

Rolled 7, 10, 5 = 22 (3d10)

>>4158575

>>4158575
“We’ll be the hammer, you’ll be the anvil,” you suggest. “Drive the yōma in your direction… and remember, these yōma have been trained to fight as a unit.”

“You heard her,” Aurora addresses her hunting partners. “We’ll go with the formation we discussed. Me at the back. Number Twelve in the center, Nineteen and Twenty in the forward flanking positions.”

“Have you taken a good look at the city?” you ask. “Do you know where the best spot to wait would be?”

Aurora nods curtly. “It’s more like ruins at this point. But there’s a central forum square, closed off on one side by collapsed rubble, open in two others. That leaves only one way out.”

“Assuming we drive them in from the third side,” Helen agrees. “That’s a good plan.”

“We’ll thin them out,” you declare. “We’ll start it off, give you cover to take up your positions.”

“Agreed,” Aurora smirks. “And good luck.”

…

The attack on the yōma begins with an incredible slaughter.

Between your versatility and Helen’s unblockable, nearly unavoidable sword strokes, the yōma are cut down seemingly by the half-dozen. It takes them a few moments to realize that their loose formations are actually causing a problem, and that their best responses are to either pack in closer to deprive you of the space to move between them easily or to disperse even further, preventing you from taking them down in quick succession.

Fortunately for you they choose to tighten ranks at first, meaning you can cut down two at once some times. They eventually disperse again, though the damage is done… perhaps two dozen yōma lie dead in the streets by the time they all start to withdraw.

“I’ve got this group!” Helen declares. “There’s more to the south, you have them?”

“No problem.”

You vitalize your legs with yōki to dash through the city, slaying the odd yōma here and there and making a racket to drive the survivors in predictable directions. They think they’re organizing, when in reality they’re doing exactly what you want them to.

A renewed offensive against the snarling ranks you’ve packed all onto one main boulevard forces them to start withdrawing straight into the forum square… an army some hundred yōma strong even despite your having slain so many of them already.
>1/2

>>4158734
With you and Helen closing off one entrance to the town square and the team under Aurora closing off the other, the results are nothing short of cataclysmic… this time, with the slaughter being directed at the monsters who not too long ago were doing the same to the former citizens of Vale.

You can see from where you’re fighting that Aurora has a bizarre technique, which perfectly suits her epithet ‘Shining’: she can concentrate the yōki aura released by her body in such a way that it refracts the light from the sun, creating brief bursts of blinding, disorienting light that her teammates use to their advantage. Claudia uses those bursts from behind her to throw her sword almost like a boomerang, with an uncanny knack for getting it to return to her due to some trick of the spin she imparts to it. Nigella and Juliana, the defensive-types on the team, protect Claudia and Aurora during the intervals between their cooperative attacks and try to create better spacing in that time so that Claudia has clear targets to choose from.

It’s actually surprising how well-coordinated they are… that’s almost certainly due to Aurora’s understanding of the mechanics of her own unusual technique. She’s probably had to organize plenty of hunts like this before.

Then you sense her.

“Can you feel that!?” Helen calls out over the din as you fight your way back towards each other.

“It’s gotta be her,” you agree. “So she was in the area. This was a trap!”

“And she’s coming closer!” Helen shouts.

>Then we have to unleash our yōki… we can make short work of this rabble and let Aurora’s team withdraw.
>We should fight our way over to Aurora’s team. She probably intends to go after them first.
>We need to clear out these yōma. Yulia will be able to rally them and command them personally if they’re still here when she arrives.
>Other?

>>4158752
>>We should fight our way over to Aurora’s team. She probably intends to go after them first.

>>4158752
>>We should fight our way over to Aurora’s team. She probably intends to go after them first.

>>4158752
>>We should fight our way over to Aurora’s team. She probably intends to go after them first.

>>4158752
>We should fight our way over to Aurora’s team. She probably intends to go after them first.

>>4158752
>We should fight our way over to Aurora’s team. She probably intends to go after them first.

>>4158752
>>We should fight our way over to Aurora’s team. She probably intends to go after them first.

>>4158752
>Then we have to unleash our yōki… we can make short work of this rabble and let Aurora’s team withdraw.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4159623

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>4159623

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4159623

>>4159623
Lol

>>4159623
Oh for fuck's sake.

>>4158752
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 1, 9, 8 = 18 (3d10)

>>4159940

Rolled 3, 8, 4 = 15 (3d10)

>>4159940

Rolled 7, 10, 3 = 20 (3d10)

>>4159940
medicore dice

>>4159940
“Helen!”

The two of you charge through the yōma, knocking them out of the way or killing them wherever necessary to reach Aurora and her team. And you manage to do exactly that, a moment before Yulia can.

At least you assume the monster before you is Yulia… a four-legged form like a horse but larger, with a human-like torso protruding from where its neck should be. Her left hand seems to feature a pair of backwards-facing bony protrusions with membranes running between them, currently folded against her arm. Her right arm is a heavy lance, wickedly-pointed and hardened.

“Well now, it’s no wonder my little soldiers were being slaughtered,” Yulia growls loudly. “It has been quite some time.”

“It seems you’re ready for a fight,” Helen muses, “but were you ready for this fight?”

“Please, spare me the posturing,” Yulia sneers. “What are you to me? More lambs to the slaughter, nothing more.”

“Talking won’t help this time,” you grumble. “It seems Ella is committed to increasing her faction’s aggression.”

“The gibbering masses behind her were bad enough,” Helen replies quietly. “You’ve encountered her before. Can we take her?”

>It will take the three of us. The double-digits will be of no assistance.
>You and I should take point. Consider it a chance to ‘stretch our muscles’.
>Perhaps I can… IF I were to go all-out against her. It would be a hell of a step to take.
>Other?

>>4160206
>>It will take the three of us. The double-digits will be of no assistance.

>>4160206
>Perhaps I can… IF I were to go all-out against her. It would be a hell of a step to take.
Now is not the time for pusyfooting about or underestimating her.

>>4160296
This also means we're likely to awaken. This isn't pussy footing.

>>4160206
>>It will take the three of us. The double-digits will be of no assistance.

>>4160206
>It will take the three of us. The double-digits will be of no assistance.

>>4160206
>>It will take the three of us. The double-digits will be of no assistance.

>>4160206
>Perhaps I can… IF I were to go all-out against her. It would be a hell of a step to take.

>>4160206
>It will take the three of us. The double-digits will be of no assistance.

>>4160206
New thread:
>>4163582