>>5754561

You breathed in the cold winter air as you stood in the middle of the street that ran through Dawnholme. The Robe of Obfuscation kept you invisible to the few guards that were outside on their patrols, otherwise there was no one else to be seen as the cold winds from the mountains had driven everyone to finish their work outside and go inside.

You pulled the silk scarf which Calia had given to you higher around your throat as you looked up and looked at the stars and the moon. Clear skies like this usually meant that the cold spell would continue. You wished that wouldn’t be the case this time, the faster the winter would release its grip, the better.

Walking through the town, you noticed that the Stonemasons had already started to plant markers around the snow where houses would be built and streets planted. Master Pelija had done a great work and before the spring comes when you have an idea of your treasury and budget, you would decide what kind of a plan you would finance.

There would be tough decisions ahead of you, it wouldn't be easy to fit everything into the budget and most likely something needs to be cut. Not easy decisions at all.

…

>22, Success


It had taken Eligius some time to repaint the sigils on your body as the paint had slowly stripped and fainted away. He had gotten rather good in his handiwork and you had meanwhile gotten used to the brush on your skin as you stood in the cellar of Nalice's house wearing just your braies.

"Today Prince Alric, we are revisiting the candle." Nalice said to you as she took out a candle, one similar to the one that had exploded in your hands.

Nalice had ditched her scholar's disguise and stood in the corner of the cellar.

"Last time it exploded, what are we going to do differently this time?" You asked her.

"We will do this very slowly, I will channel my mana into you gradually and through that have a better control of the situation." Nalice said to you as Eligius finished his work. "Please step into the circle."

You brushed your hair back with your hand as you listened to her words with some doubt in your mind. Stepping into the circle, Nalice passed you the candle.

"Lady Nalice, are you sure this will work?" You asked.

"Of course, you always learn from your mistakes." Nalice said and smiled at you. "We may proceed."

Like before you concentrated as the now familiar scorching and whirling feeling of Nalice's mana entered your body. The chief difference this time was that she was doing it way more slowly than before.

"Channel the mana into your arms and into your hands." Nalice instructed you and you did as told.

It was harder than before, the amount of mana given to you made the process and progress a way slower than before as the scorching feeling crept into your shoulders and then into your arms. Sweat started to gather on your brow and forehead from the effort you pushed yourself through.

1/3

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>>5754562

"Take it slowly." You heard the voice of Nalice behind you as you concentrated fully in your hands, fingers and the candle.

The world around you felt distant, like you were in a duel with your opponent. You didn’t hear what Nalice was saying as the world became only you and the candle. Sweat beads fell from the tip of your nose as the scorching feeling moved into your fingers and then into the fingertips.

And then finally into the candle and this time instead of exploding and spreading the wax everywhere, a faint little flame appeared as the candle was lit.

"Well done." You heard Nalice say with a tone of a proud teacher as your concentration slipped and the flame disappeared.

"It is… difficult." You managed to say as you panted for air and you allowed the scorching feeling to withdraw from your fingers and hands.

"It's supposed to be." Nalice said. "But it seems like our new approach was the way to go. Now do it again."

And back into the breach.

…

In the end you ended up managing to light up the candle four more times, including managing to keep the flame alive for a full minute.

And boy it was exhausting. You felt tingling in your fingers as you swept your hair with them. Your shirt was half-buttoned and you continued putting on your clothes as Eligius was making his leave.

"Eligius, tomorrow we will arrest Davis so have everything ready." You said to him.

"Everything will be ready." Eligius said and gave you a slight bow. "Do not worry Prince Alric, we will be careful."

"Good, good. Then we will see tomorrow." You said back to him as you pulled on your boots.

Eligius left the cellar and you heard the door close above you. Next you threw on the robe and put on your chaperon before strapping on your sword belt.

2/3

>>5754563

Prince Alric, I can see that you want to talk with me. What you saw in Southshore unnerved you and now you want answers." Nalice said to you as she put down some of her things she had been reorganising. "Correct?"

"That would be correct." You said back to her as you straightened your clothes and flexed your fingers in an attempt to get the tingling to stop.

Nalice looked at you and her gaze pierced into your eyes. For a moment you thought that you saw a glimpse of vulnerability or something else before she averted her eyes and leaned on the table. She sighed deeply as she brushed her hair out from the front of her eyes and stood back up. She apparently needed to collect herself before the two of you spoke.

"Then ask away." She said back to you and the firm and proud Nalice that you had learned to know was again in front of you.

She was strange, a loyal servant of Lady Katrana Prestor, but still it felt like she had her own machinations going on. She definitely wasn't telling you and most likely Eligius either everything. She was a skilled spymaster, an archmage rivalling those of Dalaran, but was also very secretive, powerful, someone to fear and not above taking shortcuts. She knew of the arts of Fel, shadow and void as she helped Eligius in his studies and had offered to teach you about the arts of warlocks. She had also said that she looks younger than she really is. And just a couple of days ago she had killed three men after one of them had threatened her, resulting in corpses torn asunder and one quite literally splattered across a wall.

You had no idea who she really was and you weren't sure you would even like to know. Would it be enough to just know what in the Light happened in Southshore or should you know everything? Maybe she is secretive for a reason?


>Let Lady Nalice explain herself and her actions in her own words. That is the least you can ask for.
>Ask what her relationship with Lady Katrana exactly is?
>Make her tell you why she knows about the arts of warlocks? An archmage studying forbidden arts?
>Why would she act like she did in Southshore? Volatile actions like that are unwanted.
>Other write in.

>Demand that she tells you who she really is.
>Do not demand that, she is secretive for a reason.

QM: Please vote on both.

Alright new thread, new adventures. As always if you have any questions regarding the Quest, characters, events or something completely different, please go ahead and ask them. I will try to answer them as well as I can.

>>5754565
>Let Lady Nalice explain herself and her actions in her own words. That is the least you can ask for.
>Ask what her relationship with Lady Katrana exactly is?
The other prompts are redundant.

>Ask that she tells you who she really is.
We aren't really in a position to demand anything of her.

>>5754565

>Let Lady Nalice explain herself and her actions in her own words. That is the least you can ask for.
>Ask what her relationship with Lady Katrana exactly is?

>Demand that she tells you who she really is.

>>5754565
>Why would she act like she did in Southshore? Volatile actions like that are unwanted.
>Ask what her relationship with Lady Katrana exactly is?
>Let Lady Nalice explain herself and her actions in her own words. That is the least you can ask for.

>Do not demand that, she is secretive for a reason.

>>5754563
Lady nalice do be looking fine

>>5754565
>Let Lady Nalice explain herself and her actions in her own words. That is the least you can ask for.

>Do not demand that, she is secretive for a reason

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>>5754565
>Why would she act like she did in Southshore? Volatile actions like that are unwanted.

>Demand that she tells you who she really is.
s always if you have any questions regarding the Quest, characters, events or something completely different, please go ahead and ask them. I will try to answer them as well as I can.

So I've been thinking, currently Alric has a Mountain Lion Pelt Cloak and Hood equipped right? Kinda like what some Roman soldiers were wearing.
But aren't lions more of a Stormwind thing? Shouldn't he be wearing something more Alteraci like an eagle?
And then I had the idea of a helmet like the one the Mexican eagle warriors wore.
It could be made from the head of a gryphon.

Of course, that would imply that we killed one which may also imply that entered a conflict against the Wildhammer clan in the Hinterlands which is right next to Alterac. Though I guess wild gryphons are a thing too.

I just thought it would be a cool idea.

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>>5755059

Not a bad idea and you are right, lion is more a symbol of Lordaeron. Mountain Lion Pelt Cloak was used like you described before acquisition of Aurvan'kal. Now the head rests on your left shoulder instead of being over your helmet. The pointy elven style helmet somewhat prevents that.

The men under Alric's command are still equipped quite hodgepodge. Arms and armour taken from enemies, bought second hand, a really small amount being new production. This doesn't really make them that much different from rest of the post Second War armies in terms of equipment, just that everyone else hides the lack of proper equipment under tabards and big cloaks. With introduction of the new tents and slow roll-out of new orange cloaks, they have started to have a more uniform look. But there is still a lot to do and having everyone to be tip-top shape and look is pretty low on the list of priorities.

Pic related would be a footman you could see in Capital City, but like Regional Defenders wouldn't look this nice at all.

>>5754563
>>5754565
I do like me some black hair. Nalice route when? Turning Nalice's dial so to speak more towards loyalty and companionship to us and away from her other 'loyalty'.

Just got done looking into the archive, looks like a nice quest. Alric knows she is a spy master trainer for Katrana, that she is Nalice's Mistress. If Nalice were to lose her welcome here on account of being seen as a bit too volatile then she would probably get punished by her Mistress for screwing up. Hence the look of vulnerability that Alric picks up on, her well being is in Alric's hands. It seems to me that Alric just loves women who need help. Calia's soft innocence against the royal burden of leadership and isolation. Tari's emotional rollercoaster. Even powerful archmages can get emotional and make mistakes. Perhaps his appeal to Lady Nalice would go something like this

>Other write in.
"I don't know you as closely as I would like, but you are welcome in my home Nalice. I know you enjoy teaching, firmly but fairly, and I enjoy being taught by you. I wouldn't send you away even if you have a slight penchant for volatile redecorating. Especially since I sense your Mistress might try to humble you in ways I would rather not imagine. I prefer my Lady Nalice as her usual proud self. Whatever feelings or secrets you choose to confide in me I will do my best to keep between us."

"A person needs power to survive and protect whats important. If your relationship to Katrana is more of a reluctant alliance because she is powerful and influential, I understand. My means are much less compared to hers but in Alterac perhaps we can work together to create a haven with just enough distance, power, and circumstances to be avoid being the target of greater powers."

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>>5755059
We could do something like Fulgrims eagle shoulder thing.

>>5755059
Lion on one shoulder, eagle/griphon head on the other. Very classy showing of Lordaeron and Alterac unity. Very Warcraft.

>>5754565
>Let Lady Nalice explain herself and her actions in her own words. That is the least you can ask for.
>Ask what her relationship with Lady Katrana exactly is?
>Why would she act like she did in Southshore? Volatile actions like that are unwanted.

>Do not demand that, she is secretive for a reason.

New thread nice. We should let her speak and then ask her the questions. At minimum we need to learn why she acted like she did in Southshore. I don't think we should pry into her past or who she really is, unless she wants to tell us. Pushing her too much could be a mistake.

>>5755244
I would like a Nalice sideroute, but I don't think she needs help like that. Though telling her that she can trust us and that you aren't going to punish her for her actions should be done.

Is this why people say that long distance relationships don't work? With anons jumping ship from Calia?

>>5755295
Calia is bae, but that doesn't make Nalice not hot.

>>5755341
Well, I can't argue with that, she is hot.
And so is her breath too.

>>5754565
support >>5754586

Letting her talk see what conclusions she herself draws is I believe also a management trick we could use.

And it would be very good for us to know who (what) she really is, not just for future reference but to know how best we could benefit from her talents without getting her into situations she might be cornered in (such as this one)

>>5755295
Never. As long as I'm around, Calia will be The One until the stars themselves grow cold and weary.

>5754565
>Let Lady Nalice explain herself and her actions in her own words. That is the least you can ask for.
>Ask what her relationship with Lady Katrana exactly is?
>Do not demand that, she is secretive for a reason
New thread nice

>>5755059
Could be an idea. Another hunt perhaps i wouldnt mind at all, or crafting it like this anon suggested here. >5755260
Well we were hunting and the mountain lion showed itself, thats about it really. Its prestigious to wear around so is good

>>5755295
Kek
Honestly Calia won the bowl, i think everyone accepted it. But, things could change if something bad happens to her..
... of course we will be vigilant ! When not occupied.

>>5755411
>>5754565
My vote here

Asking her who she really is and allowing her to explain things is the winner. I will start writing now and hopefully get the update out today.

Also wow, plenty of anons preparing to jump ship away from Calia to Nalice. I didn’t expect this at all! With that in mind I would like to ask you a super serious question.


Lady Nalice is for...?
>Write in

>>5755414
>Being paranoid

I just had a thought: Imagine how pissed Katrana would be if Alric did end up liking Nalice after rebuking her.
Good thing I'm on team Calia forever.

>>5755414
Anons just mirin, the pic in >>5754563 is very pleasing. Were it otherwise the vote to fuck Taretha would've gotten a lot more support.

>>5755414
Nalice is for wrapping around our finger with our Lady Killer ways.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>5755414

Well shit, should have updated before posting. We have a tie between demanding the know who she is and not demanding.

As I will start writing now, I will make an executive decision to let the dice make tiebreaker.

>1 is Demand
>2 is Do Not Demans

>>5755422
What about Asking her who she really is? I think it's the best for everybody.

>>5755414
Killing gnolls together while holding hands

>>5755424

I counted asking/demanding in the wanting to know category. Before I made the roll it was 4-4 between that and not asking.

The grand or maybe not so grand reveal has to wait till next time.

>>5755432
What if I change my vote to ask? I just didn't want to sound demanding

>>5755414
>Lady Nalice is for...?
>>Write in
"I can fix her"ing!
But not for us. Maybe we could find someone in our retinue...

also

>Riding, feeling her body heat from underneath us and viewing the peaks of Alterac from above

Seriously though, ooc she'd probably have to undergo a personality shift that would take her away from what she was in the game, perhaps down the path where she would turn away from her aspect and to original mission of her kind.
IC, we'd have to get a better handle on her relationships and personal goals, values and motivations before we could not be cautious around her and show her trust reserved to our friends. She is after all the designated spymaster teacher...

>>5755414
Lady Nalice is for...?
Friendship and admiring her beauty from far away unnoticed

>>5755414
Rough consensual wrestling style meant to incapacitate mages and prevent them from speaking spells. Mana exchanging. Mental influence meditation training that feels real inside each others heads. Making Katrana jealous.

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>>5755435

Well you asked so nicely and I prefer players over my dice so asking her it is!

Also great answers!

>>5755411
Me looking at Calia being sick from 'overworking' and 'lack of Vitamin Alric'. Then I look at Katrana and wonder what a woman with immense power and resources would do if she was jealous and has little to no morals against anything in her way. The only way to save Calia is to hold the hands of these dark haired women until they stop poisoning her!

>>5755477
Hahaha
Nah i am sure Calia will be fine what are you saying is just crazy ! Like we just had a few very passionate kisses (for allies), and a few letters slightly romantical (always for allies) so there is no reason for Katrana to send people in Capital City for like poison Calia ! If Katrana is accused, then the other members of the Alric Bowl should be called too. Also great allies deserve handholding and hugs ;) ! And marri-- ehrm merriment !
Jk aside i wonder what will happen if someone like Arthas finds about the secret letters, i would expect him to rage about it.

"No, I will let you tell me." You said to her. "In your own words you can explain what you want me to know."

The archmage didn't expect you to say that as Nalice's mouth opened a bit before closing and she smiled. But before she could say anything, you continued speaking.

"Because I want to trust you, even more than I do currently. Do you think I would let you teach magic to me and channel your mana through me as a part of some old potentially dangerous ritual if I didn't trust you?" You said to her and took a step forward as it was now your time to look into her eyes. "Am I right that a spymaster has to be able to juggle trust and distrust from case to case?"

"You would be right Prince Alric." Nalice said to you.

"Then I want you to trust me like I trust in you Lady Nalice. Just like I trust Lady Katrana." You said back.

There was just a couple of feet between you and her as you looked into her rust red eyes. There was tension between the two of you, this secretive archmage, a servant to her Mistress, looked back into your eyes before she took a step or two and closed the distance.

Her face was just a couple of inches away from yours as she opened her mouth and you felt her warm breath on your lips. And then she gave you the confident smile you connected with the Nalice you normally knew.

"So be it." Nalice said to you and moved even closer, her cheek nearly touching yours. "I will trust you, but remember…"

The walls and the roof of the cellar suddenly moved away from you and for a quick moment they looked like they were miles away before this dark fog of smoke and clouds concealed them and darkness spread around you.

Instinctively your hand went for your sword, but it like your other weapons, including your back-up dagger stashed in your boot was gone. And then you realised that you weren't wearing the clothes you wore previously, but instead you wore your usual leather jacket. These were your normal clothes, not your winter clothes.

"If you speak about this … I will have to eat you." A loud echoing voice came from the dark smoke and something large shifted amongst it. The voice was awfully familiar, but still alien.

And then you saw something. Red glimmering scales moved within the fog and this something moved and paced around you.

"Lady Nalice, where am I?" You asked carefully and moved your hand away from where your sword would normally be. Whatever it was going on, you knew you had no way to act. There was no need to be scared or frightened.

"You are not scared…" the voice came again and this time you could place it. The tone was faintly that of Nalice's. "Lady Katrana was right to be interested in you…"

1/3

>>5755528

The smoke suddenly shifted and revealed the head of a red dragon right in front of you.

"Because you are a rather intriguing human… Prince Alric Perenolde." The red dragon said to you with its mighty voice as its head hovered just a couple of yards in front of you. Its breath was hot and it looked at you with its rust red eyes that pounced between yours and the Dragonclaw Ring in your left hand.

"I am Nalicatrasza, a member of Red Dragonflight." The red dragon said to you and continued as it shifted and moved away and then around you. "But you may call me Nalice, it is easier that way."

"Then where we…" You started to ask.

"Inside your head, this way I can reveal to you Prince Alric who I really am." Nalice the red dragon said to you as her large dragon head moved to your right side and her large eye kept watch over you.

"A red dragon… I don’t know what to say…" You said to her.

"Neither did Lady Katrana when I revealed myself to her." Nalice said with a laugh and moved away from you once more. "But I trust her, just like I trust you Prince Alric."

"Then why… what…" You really didn’t know what to say.

"You told me to trust you, so your job is now just to listen." The voice of Nalice echoed once more in the fog before she came out of it and stepped in front of you.

"Red Dragonflight suffered greatly during the First and Second War. We were controlled by a mighty artefact held by an Orc warlock who led the Dragonmaw Clan." You could hear the pure vitriol in her voice as she spoke those words and as she mentioned the warlock. "After the war we were freed and to make sure that it or anything like it will never happen again, I was given the mission to find, recover or destroy artefacts that could pose danger to us. But we red dragons are too few in numbers…"

"So you asked for Lady Katrana's help." You said back to her. "Her collection then?"

"Precisely, Lady Katrana was scared at first, but she can do things we red dragons can't. In return for her help, she can keep the artefacts in her collection as they are all harmless." Nalice explained to you and shifted around you once more before stopping by your side.

You hadn’t realised her true size before, but with her head right next to you, she could eat you alive with a single bite. If the large dagger-like teeth wouldn't kill you first.

"Our relationship benefits both of us. We find what we deem dangerous and she has become very rich by helping us." Nalice said to you. "And when you contacted her and asked for a spymaster, we knew that we had a chance to look into Alterac and the mountains."

"It is quite hard to believe all this." You said back to her. "But I have no reason to think that you are lying either."

"Now you know Prince Alric. Better this way than as a surprise at the wrong moment." Nalice said with her deep draconic voice. "This is who I am, keeping this as a secret to you doesn't suit me anymore."

2/3

>>5755529

Nalice moved again and disappeared in the dark fog before appearing once more in front of you and moving her head right in front of you. The hot breath from her nostrils and from between her teeth made sweat appear on your skin as she spoke to you.

"This is who I am, Nalicatrasza the collector of artefacts and a partner to Lady Katrana." Nalice said to you. "For she is not my Mistress, but we are equal."

This was something. It was hard to believe this, but you really had no reason to not believe what she was saying. What you knew about the Second War and the red dragons was that they were supposedly enslaved by the orcs. You also knew that from time to time they had worked together with humans to achieve common goals. You also knew that they are immensely powerful and ancient creatures and in front of you now stood one of their kind.

But still you had so many questions in your mind that you wanted to ask. And you had the want to touch her skin and feel her scales that you had to fight against. You had never seen a dragon outside of illustrations in books and especially having never been this close to a dragon. But you weren't scared, you knew that you weren’t in danger.

"Speak Prince Alric, I know you want to know more." Nalice said as her large head moved even closer to you.


>Ask for more details about Lady Katrana and the cooperation with her.
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.
>If she hates the warlocks, why does she know about the arts of the warlocks then?
>Tell her that you are willing to help her as well, you want a similar deal as Lady Katrana has.
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is.
>Other, write in.

>Touch her scales on her head.
>Do not touch her scales.

QM: >>5755521 Alric did not kiss Katrana, or more accurately Katrana didn't succeed in kissing Alric. You denied her twice, but she likes the challenge so she isn’t angry about it.

>>5755536
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is.
>Do not touch her scales.

>>5755536
>Ask for more details about Lady Katrana and the cooperation with her.
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.
>If she hates the warlocks, why does she know about the arts of the warlocks then?
>Tell her that you are willing to help her as well, you want a similar deal as Lady Katrana has.
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is.
These are all juicy questions, do you mind if I vote for all of them?

>Touch her scales on her head.
Hit her with the Alric rizz.

>>5755536
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is.
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.

>Do not touch her scales.

>>5755536
Oh wow, she did that, the absolute madwoman.
Red dragon, eh?
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.
She didn't reveal her nature, but she let flow more of her raw force than she intended... but was she 'simply' angry and indignant at the threat, or was she genuinely threatened? We don't want to put her at unnecessary risk if such exists, right? Also possibility that syndicate could have their hands on means to enslave a dragon is exceptionally worrying so if she can rule that out that would be nice.
>If she hates the warlocks, why does she know about the arts of the warlocks then?
Considering she's also a spymistress it makes sense that she'd want to study her enemy to better know how to fight them, we can frame the question like this as well...
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is.
This reveal puts this particular item under new context, so we'd be justifiably curious about what it means for an actual dragon. I understand we don't actually know much about various dragonflights anyway.
Also this may be a mistake, but in this case I can't help myself. Hopefully it is not something sexual for dragons...
>Touch her scales on her head.
Approach slowly, to ensure if we manage to it will have been with implicit consent

>>5755536
>Ask for more details about Lady Katrana and the cooperation with her.
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.

But ask if we can touch, instead of just touching them.
>Touch her scales on her head.

>>5755556
> But ask if we can touch, instead of just touching them.
Bruh, do you ask for consent when you go for a kiss on a girl? Non verbal communication is the way to go in situations like these.

To the don't touch voters: Just like with Kastrana, rizzing up Nalice could have huge rewards at little cost. Don't need to betray Calia to do it either.

>>5755536
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.
>Tell her that you are willing to help her as well, you want a similar deal as Lady Katrana has.
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is

Well nice
>Touch her scales on her head
Also nice
Yeah thats correct i forgot

>>5755603
I don't really want to intentionally excite her for practical gains desu, just see it as a natural response to seeing such a majestic creature that's also not hostile.

Even though 'non draco sit mihi dux'

Also, playing with a woman's heart like that is a sure way for inviting disaster, hell hath no fury etc

>>5755612
My first reaction to a majestic creature that is not hostile would be to try to pet it.

And unless Nalice is crazy, playing with her heart is more likely to make her even more attracted to us. Again, just like Kastrana.

>>5755536

>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.
>Tell her that you are willing to help her as well, you want a similar deal as Lady Katrana has.
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is

Honestly I want all the options.

Also nice bit of Dragon Soul thrown in, I wonder if we can meet Rhonin and Vereesa somewhere.

>Touch her scales on her head.
Touch the dragon, do it now

>>5755536
>Ask for more details about Lady Katrana and the cooperation with her.
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.
>If she hates the warlocks, why does she know about the arts of the warlocks then?
>Tell her that you are willing to help her as well, you want a similar deal as Lady Katrana has.
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is.

>Touch her scales on her head.
i dont need it...i dont need it... I NEED IT

>>5755635
With one move the Caliarchs will fall, and in their place I shall raise up the Nalicecrats

>>5755536
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.
>Tell her that you are willing to help her as well, you want a similar deal as Lady Katrana has.
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is.

>ask to Touch her scales on her head.

>>5755536
>Ask for more details about Lady Katrana and the cooperation with her.
>Southshore, you need clarification for the events there.
>If she hates the warlocks, why does she know about the arts of the warlocks then?
>Tell her that you are willing to help her as well, you want a similar deal as Lady Katrana has.
>The Dragonclaw Ring, she kept gazing at it. You need to know what the ring really is.
>Other, write in.
Have you been searching Alteric lands for artifacts since coming here?

>Touch her scales on her head.

Touching her scales wins with a comfortable margin. Also asking all the questions. The update will come later this evening, but before it I would like to have a completely serious and definitely not a joke vote about Nalice.


First date with Lady Nalice would be what?
>Write in

>>5756404
I wanna ride her and see the world from above

>>5756404
Blackmoore's arena, VIP lounge.
She's wearing draconic slutwear but on top of it a shirt with inscription "the weak should fear the strong", and a stylish bonnet through which she allows her horns to show through her human form.

Of course nothing like that could happen in this timeline. Maybe in a slightly edgier alternative timeline where Alric grew a bit more callous, and grew a beard.

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>miss a thread
>we've gone full dragon simp
kek

>>5756404
Classic flying over landscapes.
Maybe swimming combined with trying to manipulate water instead of fire, but can dragons swim?
Dragons like caves to store all their loot and stolen princesses right, so we could go cave exploring near the highlands.
On the other hand a dragon probably eats a lot so maybe a restaurant. Which brings up a secondary point, how much of our budget has gone into feeding a literal dragon?
Going to a library or magic market around Dalaran, which allows for the accidental meetup with Jaina and Arthas.

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>>5756419
pretty girl + shows or hints vulnerability = pic related

and that's a good thing. Leave us this bit of foolishnes.

(in truth she doesn't even need to be that pretty)

>>5756404
Walking around the forest with straw hats while having more syndicate members implosions (they asked for it edition)

>>5756404
Ask her if she can blast a clearing in the forest for us, or if she would like to build a cave in the mountains to live in, or tunnel deep into dawnholme into the mountains. (Secret underground escape routes ftw!)

Or ride her non sexually (Dragon Form).

>>5756404
Us and Nalice in dragon form, around a candle light dinner table.
Spaghetti is the main course.

>>5756404
Hmmm... having long conversations about life, philosophy and the future in our office?

>>5756419
mfs out here thinking that talking to a woman is simping baka. So long as nobody wants to do any weak shit like showering her with attention and validation or tolerating disrespect we're good mate. God forbid this turn into Snakecatcher Quest, THAT was simping.

>>5756878
And cuckoldry, don't forget that part.

>>5756880
For there to be cuckoldry, there needs to be a relationship beforehand. Or do you mean there was cuckoldry in Snakecatcher? I stopped reading after getting frustrated with anons' pussywhipped decision making for the thousandth time.

>>5756885
I also quit early for the same reasons, but years afterwards I read the last two threads when some anon recommended it.
There was cuckoldry because the snake and the dude did end up in a relationship, and there was with other different women doing it to the MC as well.
Put it in spoilers because talking about another quest in length would be poor form.

>>5756901
And I fucked up the spoiler.
Sorry Med.

"Southshore." You said and you didn’t need to say anything else to her.

Nalice shifted away from you and stomped the floor with her feet, causing the room inside your head to shake.

"I detest warlocks." Nalice bellowed. "Their kind imprisoned and enslaved us, and when that warlock tried to threaten me."

Nalice shifted her bulk once again and stopped her head just a few feet from yours.

"I killed them all." Nalice said with anger in her voice. "Their kind all deserve death and decay."

"How do you explain Eligius then?" You asked as her hot breath hit your skin. "Or the fact that you offered to teach the Fel arts to me?"

"I do not sense any evil in the two of you." Nalice said back to you. "The arts themselves are an undeniable part of this world and learning them does not make you evil. But it is how you use them, and those men and the ones who imprisoned us, for them it was power over everything."

"Of my kind, not everyone shares this opinion. Many would have just outright killed Eligius, but not me. For he is indebted to you and as much as I have my own mission here in Alterac, I am here to help you Prince Alric, because Lady Katrana would want that." Nalice explained to you in her draconic voice that echoed through the vast space in your mind.

"How do you then cooperate with Lady Katrana? I mean, here you are wearing a disguise, but in Stormwind City?" You asked Nalice as she mentioned Katrana.

"A disguise is required there as well. Many of my siblings prefer to disguise themselves as high elves, but elves are too noticeable. One cannot peddle rumours if everyone is looking at you." Nalice said to you and continued, her breath continuing to make you feel hot. "I listen to things, gather the glues. Lady Katrana's many businesses help me to have a wide reach for gathering intelligence. And when something is found, it is her servants that help me to recover the artefact."

"And you are here to do the same, while training Eligius and helping to set up my ring of spies." You said and asked carefully. "Have you found any promising leads?"

"No Prince Alric, not yet. There are many rumours, but nothing worth pursuing yet." Nalice said to you.

“Then my ring, you kept looking at it. What is it exactly, because it isn’t just a gift from Lady Katrana.” You said back to her.

“It is a gift from Lady Katrana.” Nalice said back immediately and recoiled back a bit before moving back closer to you. Her red scales glimmering in light. “But it is not a gift I would like to see, yet I honour it, follow it.”

“What do you mean?” You asked back.

1/3

>>5757071

“The claw piece embedded in it is from a claw of a black dragon… and if there is one thing I… we hate more than the warlocks that imprisoned us… it is them.” Nalice said and her scorching hot breath nearly knocked off your chaperon, forcing you to hold on it with your right hand. “But Lady Katrana decided to make a set of rings from it and give them to people she trusts. And if she trusts them, so will I, and I will follow their orders.”

“There is nothing else to it?” You asked.

“No, just a piece of a claw of a black dragon and nothing else. No sorcery or anything else.” Nalice said.

“Do you know how many have been made?” You asked her again.

“No Prince Alric, only just a few that I know.” Nalice said to you.

Her large draconic form had moved just a few inches from you as the two of you had spoken. Her breath had heated up the world inside your head scorching hot and you were dripping with sweat that evaporated on your skin immediately. Embers had started to shed from your clothes as the leather jacket on you had slowly started to catch on fire. Yet you didn’t feel hot inside of your, in fact it felt normal, just like when she transferred her mana to you and you felt that scorching hot whirlwind inside your stomach.

And amongst all this you found yourself carefully caressing the scales of her head. They were all hot and hard as steel as your hand moved from one to another, while the other hand moved past her eye that was watching you and touched the crown of horns Nalice had.

And as suddenly you were back in the cellar of her house.

But your left hand was on her right cheek while your right was on her head, brushing her hair that was now a mess. She looked into your eyes and was smiling.

“For someone who surrounds themselves with beautiful and attractive women, but yet is so timid with them, I didn’t think you would be this direct Prince Alric.” Nalice’s human form said to you as you blinked your eyes and realised the situation. She was just an inch or so from your face and you could feel her breath on your lips and face.

You immediately took a step back and put your hands down and away from her. Nalice gave you the confident smile she usually had.

“Now this is the first time a mortal man has dared to put their hands on me.” Nalice said and took a step closer closing the distance you had created. “And truth to be told, I did enjoy it.”

“How long…”

“A couple of minutes Prince Alric.” Nalice said.

“I shouldn’t have Lady Nalice.” You said to her.

“Maybe.. Maybe not, but it does not matter.” Nalice said to you. “I wouldn’t dare to step between Lady Katrana and you. You are her prey after all. But if not me, then maybe you…”

Nalice stayed there for a moment before she took a step and then another back.

2/3

>>5757072

“What a curiosity you are Prince Alric.” Nalice said to you as she took several more steps back and turned her back to you. “Lady Katrana was right to show interest in you, but I couldn’t believe a mortal man could be something like you.”

“What do you mean?” You asked back as you took a grasp of the situation. Had she just denied you? That would be the first one.

“Someone so brazen in their actions, but yet so pure. All this time I haven’t felt a single thing about you that would bother me or force me into action.” Nalice said to you and turned back to face you. “You chose to learn magic, even if you don’t have the aptitude for it. You have fought against many foes, but yet spared them while others would have hung them all.”

The shadows behind Nalice moved around the wall and formed into the shape of a dragon as her words gained strength.

“And you weren’t scared when I revealed myself.” Nalice said to you, her words echoing across the cellar. “What a peculiar man you are Prince Alric Perenolde, so I wish to extend my offer to you again. I know you are careful, but the world around you isn’t and sooner than later your luck, or your friends will run out.”

She extended her hand for you to take.

“A mortal man like you will always be behind those who have embrace the Light or have the aptitude for magic, so when I say that you should take the shortcut, I truly do mean it.” Nalice said to you and brushed her hair that you had messed.

“You are offering to teach me the arts of the warlocks to me again, aren’t you?” You said back to her and immediately were defensive about the subject.

“Yes, but I could also offer to teach you the draconic arts of magic as well. It wouldn’t be easy, but learning our language and harnessing its power would suit you well.” Nalice explained to you. “Arts of the warlocks are the easy way to power, but the arts of us dragons, learning our language, it is the harder, but way stronger path in the end.”

“And all this to what?” You asked back.

“To keep you alive and to make sure that Lady Katrana would be happy.” Nalice answered and put her hand on her hips like she was waiting for your answer.


>No, continue as is and learn the standard arts of arcane magic. You do not want any new tricks or temptations.
>Accept the lessons on Fel, Shadow and Void and learn the arts of the warlocks. It is a shortcut, but it might be worth it when it comes to acquiring power to defend yourself.
>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.

QM: Important vote.

>>5756903

No problem, I haven't read Snakecatcher and if I read it, I have probably forgotten this discussion here.

Also few of the first date suggestions were awfully close to what Nalice would actually like.

>>5757081
>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.
Ok, this has peaked my curiosity.

>>5757081
>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.
Such a unique opportunity, too good to pass up. Plus it doesn't have the optics issue of the fel arts.

Also:
> Had she just denied you? That would be the first one.
Alric, stop being such a woman. Just because she didn't fall to her knees wanting your sausage doesn't mean she "denied" you.
>“Now this is the first time a mortal man has dared to put their hands on me.” Nalice said and took a step closer closing the distance you had created. “And truth to be told, I did enjoy it.”
She even said as much.

>>5757081
>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.

She's probably going to try and blackwyrm cult us.

>>5757081
>No, continue as is and learn the standard arts of arcane magic. You do not want any new tricks or temptations.

>>5757081
>>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.
what could go wrong

>>5757081
>>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.
I personally want to learn it to teach to our future children.

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>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vjJrGeh1c
WITNESS!

>>5757081
>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.
Power without fel fuckery sign me the fuck up.

>>5757081
>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.
How awfully close are we talking here....just curiosity

>>5757081
>>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.
Wait, what do the dragon arts do again?
What do they do that the fel and arcane can't?

Also those black dragon guys sound like real assholes
I hope we won't have to deal with them anytime soon

>>5757081
hmm... although I'm fundamentally opposed to deal with devil kind of deals, do we have in character reasons to doubt her sincerity? We don't know about characteristics of red dragonflight or the differences between them.

And words were something we've employed in the past to great effect for great mutual benefit, even if not always as well as we might have hoped (RIP Tiffin)...

>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.

no worshipping reptilian or tentacled overlords, however

Late night language studies is a go! The update should come later this evening. Before it though let's have a final definitely super serious vote with immense importance.


Lady Nalice has a birthday, what will you get her as a gift?
>Write in

>>5757535
Once we learn enough draconic we can make her a friendship bracelet with letter beads

>>5757081
>Learn the draconic language and learn to harness its power. It is not easy, but you should trust Lady Nalice in your training with magic.
A wise choice. The Nalice route is already seeing dividends. In the distant future of completing our lessons theres a reward for graduating.

>>5757535
Something you would get a favored teacher. A really nice pen and ink well, sturdy enough that she could kill a man with it if needs be. Sees a lot of practical use because endless paperwork.

Could go even further and have it double as a wand magic focus but that sort of makes it a lot less conspicuous that she knows magic so probably not. Perhaps it could have a hidden compartment for smuggling notes inside, or room for a small keepsake.

>>5757535
Partecipation to a tasty bear dinner, said bear hunted by us.
Or probably finding one of those artifacts she's searching for, or at least clue were they could be.

>>5757535
something very warm.

I was also one of the few people who were against calia romance mostly because shes boring as hell.

>>5757535
One of the artifacts she's looking for?

Some really nice wine and a book?

>>5757535
>Lady Nalice has a birthday, what will you get her as a gift?
Something practical, like >>5757566 said.
Perhaps something clever and devious, although I'd rather not encourage this side of her nature.

If we were closer to her (which we won't) then perhaps a crystal snow globe, limited edition, of alterac with a dragon circling around with the falcon.

You didn’t have to think long as you took her hand and shook it.

"I want to learn the language even if it is difficult and takes time." You said to her.

"Good, a very good choice Prince Alric." Nalice said to you. It was easy to realise that she thought that you made the right choice.

"I want also in." You said to her.

"In?" Nalice asked.

"You cooperate with Lady Katrana, I want the same deal." You said to her and continued. "You are here to teach Eligius and me, it would be foolish to not offer my aid to you. So I want my own share of the profits."

Nalice gave you a questioning look, but then she smiled.

"You drive a hard bargain Prince Alric. So be it, we have a deal." Nalice said back to you.

"When do we start the lessons then? Tomorrow?" You asked her.

"Correct, every night after the magic training." Nalice said as the shadow behind her returned back to normal. "It will take time, but after you learn the language, you are going to appreciate having learned it a lot."

Nalice walked upstairs out of the cellar and you followed her. All the scorching hotness inside your mind didn't exist in reality nor were your clothes preparing to catch on fire. It was fascinating how she had just entered your mind like that and revealed all that.

"How does the draconic work then? Do I just shout words and things happen?" You asked her.

"No, of course not. That is such a silly idea. Draconic is a language, a very ancient language, developed when this world was young. It has the weight and an innate connection to magic itself." Nalice explained to you. "Words have power, but alone they do nothing. You will learn."

"Tomorrow then, after Davis has been arrested." You said and looked at Nalice.

"Yes." She said back to you.

All the tension that had been between the two of you in the cellar was gone. In front of you stood the Lady Nalice whom you had learned to know somewhat, the disguise of red dragon Nalicatrasza. What a reveal that had been, she was a dragon! But it also explained so many things about her. She was powerful and knew many different arts of magic, her actions were now justified at least partially. You didn’t want the events of Southshore to repeat though.

1/2

>>5757719

You felt like you could trust her. It didn’t feel like she was lying to you, but you knew that she wasn't telling you everything either. She was secretive for a reason, but for now your need to know has been satisfied.

But you couldn’t get the tension out of your mind. Lady Nalice's human form was very attractive looking and how she had acted when you had brushed her cheek and petted her head, it made it very clear that she enjoyed it. Though in her words she didn't want to step in between Lady Katrana and you, making it clear that she wouldn't be the one making the first move. And maybe that was for the best, but it didn't make this any less frustrating. Yet another woman who was potentially trying to wrap you around their finger.

"Is something wrong Prince Alric?" Nalice asked you. You had pinched the bridge of your nose in frustration and hadn't realised it.

"No." You lied. "I just thought that this is one more thing to eat away what meagre time I have."

Nalice opted to just nod as she looked at you and sized you up with her gaze as the confident smile reappeared.

"Prince Alric, you should get clothes purposely made for studying magic." Nalice said to you.

"Are my normal clothes bad for some reason?" You asked her.

"No, but I would prefer it if you had proper clothes fit for a mage." Nalice said.

"Then what are my options?" You asked her and continued. "I don't have that much coin to get expensive robes and all."

"Do not worry, consider them a gift from me. After all, you have made an important decision regarding your studies and I wish to reward you for it." Nalice explained to you.


>Your normal clothes are just fine. Less chance that someone comes and asks questions about new robes.
>Something low-key like the grey and black robes worn by Eligius. They look comfortable and practical.
>High quality elven robes to go with Aurvan'kal. That is a plausible explanation why you would wear them.
>Let Nalice decide, this is her idea after all so she can get you whatever she thinks is the best.
>Other, write in.

QM: Great answers, those would be great gifts for her.

>>5757720
>High quality elven robes to go with Aurvan'kal. That is a plausible explanation why you would wear them.
I'm picking this because of our tailor squire

>>5757720
Well we're keeping our studies secret for a reason, so if we're getting a cloth outfit it will have to be something with other justification.
>High quality elven robes to go with Aurvan'kal. That is a plausible explanation why you would wear them.
This sounds good, but something else like dual-purpose tunic could work too...
Although given that Nalice should know the need for secrecy, hearing her input would be good as well.

>>5757720
>High quality elven robes to go with Aurvan'kal. That is a plausible explanation why you would wear them.
>Let Nalice decide, this is her idea after all so she can get you whatever she thinks is the best.

Funnily enough, one of the ideas for the write ins for gifts to Nalice was we take her shopping for clothes and get something nice or custom made.

>...making it clear that she wouldn't be the one making the first move.
Not gonna happen sweetheart, the Prince is on his GRIND.
> Yet another woman who was potentially trying to wrap you around their finger.
The fuck are you on about Alric? She showed interest yes but not to the point of badgering you about it.

>>5757720
>High quality elven robes to go with Aurvan'kal. That is a plausible explanation why you would wear them.
>Let Nalice decide, this is her idea after all so she can get you whatever she thinks is the best.
Echoung other anons' sentiments.

>>5757720
Just you wait Alric, this new magic will awaken his inner dragon instincts
>High quality elven robes to go with Aurvan'kal. That is a plausible explanation why you would wear them.
>Let Nalice decide, this is her idea after all so she can get you whatever she thinks is the best.

Good to have an excuse to expand the wardrobe, though having mage clothes does kind of go against being secret about it. Atleast the elvish robes come with an explanation. Might just be a Nalice's personal preference of formality? 'Its mage time. Get your mage outfit on.' Or maybe she just wants to play dressup with bare-chested Alric wearing the elvish robe. She studies magic so liking the style goes hand in hand. We can check this pretty easily and see if she likes beards, just the mustache, or clean shaved. If its about liking mage style, or wanting to rub our exotic human facial hair. The jig is up Lady Nalice.

>>5757720
>Something low-key like the grey and black robes worn by Eligius. They look comfortable and practical.

>>5757719
>"How does the draconic work then? Do I just shout words and things happen?"
I see what you did there
>>5757720
>Your normal clothes are just fine. Less chance that someone comes and asks questions about new robes.
Are the robes supposed to make me do magic better?
If not what's the point of wearing them?

>>5757720
>>Let Nalice decide, this is her idea after all so she can get you whatever she thinks is the best.

>>5757720
>High quality elven robes to go with Aurvan'kal. That is a plausible explanation why you would wear them.
>Let Nalice decide, this is her idea after all so she can get you whatever she thinks is the best.

High quality elven clothes is the winner, but having Nalice decide was one vote behind. So I will combine these two votes. She will choose something elvish. And could I have a simple roll to see how well the arrest goes. Shouldn't be a disaster, right?


>1d10
>Best of three

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>5758361
yeah that would have been silly now wouldn't it

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>5758361

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>5758361
clearly justice is on our side

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"Well if my own clothes would be fine, then what benefits do robes or other garments give me?" You asked her.

"Prince Alric, you should wear clothes for the job. If you are serious about learning magic, one should dress like a mage." Nalice explained to you like she was talking to a student, which you frankly were. "And besides, many mages have their clothes made from or include exotic materials in them."

"Like the robe I am wearing now?" You asked.

"Yes, but more subtly. For example Eligius has tiny pouches filled with herbs and small wards inside his robe. In addition to giving it a pleasant smell, those wards should help him to stay unnoticed as a warlock." Nalice explained to you.

That did sound rather practical.

"But instead of herbs in pouches, would these clothes have something else?" You asked.

"Correct." Nalice said and nodded.

"Alright, I already have Aurvan'kal so going with something elven looking or of their design should be preferable. At worst people just call me an elven appreciator and nothing else when they see the clothes." You said back to her. "But this is your idea, I will let you handle it. Surprise me positively."

"I will Prince Alric, I know a place that can make the clothes and I don’t need your measurements." Nalice said.

"You mean the master tailor in Stormwind City from whom I got my fine clothes?" You asked back.

"No, of course not." Nalice said back to you matter of factly. "I have gotten a good measure of you during the lessons."

Well one benefit of having to strip down.

"Alright, then if we don’t have anything else…" You mused aloud.

"It is late and tomorrow will be a long day. Sleep well Prince Alric." Nalice said to you and took a step closer as she smiled mischievously. "And remember, do not speak of this to anyone… or I will have to eat you."

"Not a single word Lady Nalice."

…

The weather had stayed cold and a bit of new snow had fallen during the night which made this morning's sparring with Malevus a bit more easier thing to go through. It didn’t hurt her that much when you wrestled with her and showed her how to get your opponent off-balance. Time after time you threw her into the soft snow and told her to get up, which she thankfully did happily.

"Prince Alric, have you heard the rumour?" Malevus asked you some time later as she sipped a hot mug of herbal tea and sat in front of the hearth. Her clothes had gotten wet from the sparring and now she tried to keep warm and get them dry.

"What now?" You asked as Tari brought you a mug of tea as well. You hoped that it wasn't anything salacious or obscene.

"Hunters have said that they have spotted tracks of a large mountain lion in the mountains above Darrow Hill." Malevus said to you.

"That sounds dangerous." Tari said back to her.

1/4

>>5758471

Since you had told your parents the news of her pregnancy and made the decision about the child, Tari had continued working as a maid here in your home. She had told you that the morning sickness comes and goes, but outwardly no one could say that she was pregnant, at least not yet.

"Have they seen the lion?" You asked Malevus.

"No, but they are saying that it is one large mountain lion." Malevus said and continued sipping her tea.

You weren't much of a hunter, but you could plant a lance into a lion if you had to. The idea of getting a new pelt did intrigue you. If not for you, then maybe for one of your officers or just as a fancy rug or a wall decoration. Well, it would be better to keep your ears open if the hunters find more tracks.

"Hey Tari, come look at these papers." You said to her. Beric had sent you some papers about trade and you were going through them and making your own notes.

"Sure, what are they?" Tari asked you as she took one of them.

"Trade logs from Beric, have a go through them and finish the notes I have started." You said to her.

"Me? Why, but I am just a servant?" Tari asked you and was surprised that you asked something like that from her.

"Beric told me that you have a head for numbers, so I know you can finish my work." You said to her as you stood up and patted her on her shoulder.

If she passes this test and you were rather sure she would, maybe you could push more of your paperwork to her? Tari was a smart woman, you were rather sure about that.

"I guess…" Tari said and scratched her head.

"If you need help, ask Malevus to help you, she after all served a magister before me." You said as you started to walk up the stairs. "I will be in the study writing the letters, so good luck!"

…

>9


The day had passed and Tari had finished the task you had given to her. Several hours later she brought you the papers and finished notes. From the first glance everything looked correct, but you would have Normand to take a look as well.

Tari had been relieved that the work was finished and was practically beaming when you congratulated her for the good work, but she had groaned when you had jokingly told her that maybe next you will have her finish the spring budget. Maybe when Normand has time to go through the notes and see if the work was good, maybe you should have Tari to become your secretary or something?

Either way, it was evening as the darkness had fallen over Dawnholme. You were standing some distance away leaning on a tall wooden fence from the house Foreman Matthew Davis was living in and watching the events unfold from under the hood of Robe of Obfuscation.

"This is Alteraci City Guard! Open the door!" Sir Gravis shouted as he smacked the door with his gauntleted hand several times.

When no one came to open it immediately, he signalled Joe to open the door with force and the knight chose the tactic of being a human battering ram.

2/4

>>5758472

With a mighty crash Joe went through the door as wood splintered and the door flew off its hinges to the inside of the house. With another crash Joe fell over and hit the dirt floor as rest of the knights barged in swords drawn and were followed by two dozen city guards watching the windows and other escape avenues.

It didn't take long for the knights to drag half-clothed Davis out of the house and give him to the city guard to deposit into the jail for the time being. Three other people, two who looked like an older couple and one younger, rather busty blonde haired woman were guided out of the house as well into the care of the city guard. You waved at Sir Gravis to whom you had revealed yourself earlier and who due to that could see you.

"Arrest went well. We quite literally caught him pants down." Gravis told you after having crossed the road to be able to speak with you.

"Good, who are the other people?" You asked. "And any issues?"

"No, just Joe had to take a moment to collect himself. And the people, well the older couple are tanners, but the younger woman is the lady friend of Davis." Gravis said to you.

"Lady friend? I didn't know he was in a relationship." You asked Gravis.

"Well he isn't Prince Alric… she is that kind of a lady friend." Gravis said to you somewhat sheepishly.

"A courtesan? Are you sure about that?" You asked back. You hadn’t heard about courtesans being in Dawnholme.

"I think she prefers the term 'whore'." Gravis said.

"Wait, you mean…" You started to say when you realised the implication. This in turn made you remember something from one of the books of law you have read. "You know Sir Gravis, unregulated prostitution is illegal in Alterac."

"What do you mean Prince Alric? Am I in trouble?" Gravis asked you carefully.

"The priests and puritans were against it, but my grandfather knew that banning it would be an unpopular move so the next best option was to regulate and tax it." You told him about the history. "While ladies of the streets either left Alterac City or went proverbially underground, the rest of them opted to follow the laws and pay taxes."

"Well how much was it?" Gravis asked nervously.

"A copper per session." You said to him. Perenolde's coppers had funded a construction of a border fort which later sadly was destroyed by Silver Hand.

"That doesn't sound that bad." Gravis said back.

3/4

>>5758474

"By each participant." You said and gave him a sly smile.

"Ouch… Prince Alric, I do not have my coin pouch right now with me, so can I pay later?" Gravis asked you and was still nervous. "And are we going to charge her with tax evasion too?"

"No hurry, we aren't exactly upholding all the tax laws, at least not yet." You said and waved the concerns away. "And for her, let her go, she is just a bystander here."

"Will do, we will have Davis in the jail and tomorrow Captain Garside will start interrogating him." Gravis said and seemed relieved.

"Good work Sir Gravis." You said to him as the knight saluted you and left to bark orders to his men.

"Do not think about trying to recruit her." You said to Eligius and Nalice who had been listening to the discussion on the other side of the tall wooden fence. "Concentrate on getting our first spies selected and chosen. And how has that progressed?"

"We have found a few suitable candidates and we have approached several of them." Eligius said to you.

"Good good, but what next?" You asked.

"The house will be searched before we allow anyone to return there and tomorrow we will start the interrogation." Eligius said to you and asked. "Will you be there Prince Alric?"


>Your presence is not needed, this is a case for Eligius to pull through and learn from.
>Maybe you should be there, your presence could be helpful.
>You will be in jail, but you are there to talk with Pai the assassin. She hasn't talked yet to anyone.
>Other, write in.

QM: It would have been silly if you had failed that roll.

>>5758475

could we be there at least for the start, perhaps to get the guy to talk (if he has anything useful to say)? then we could leave the innocuous scribe to take the notes and see if Pai can be talked to.

Or is there something else that requires our immediate attention? The days are way too busy these days, and it's probably only gonna get worse.

also well if we're taxing whores I'd say it's only fair if first investment project to fund from it would be an infirmary.

>>5758488

Yeah that works. You can be there at the start and then go talk with Pai.

There really isn't that much that requires your attention immediately. You need to finish the letters which should be done in a couple of days, send them and then talk with Captain Reginald about the eviction. After that it is more or less just business as usual till Lady Jandice comes for a visit and after that waiting till the spring is here.

Infirmary as an idea has been noted.

>>5758475
>Maybe you should be there, your presence could be helpful.

>>5758488
Support.

That being said, infirmaries or hospitals are a moderm concept, in old times churches were the place to get the wounded in the "care of god".
if we are going to invest it, it should be the abbey, it is long due for the town and Father Hampton.

>>5758475
>>5758488
>Support
>Put some pieces together to confront Pai the Assassin with the accusation

So Pai the assassin was sent by a Syndicate faction that wants Alric dead. He received two warnings; first from A Lady Behind A Cloth through Legace. Another from that fellow who was in Capital City who works for Alric's brother.

Legace who came from Strahnbrad and now operates in Stromgarde could sort of draw a sphere of influence around that area for A Lady Behind a Cloth. Alric's Brother would have a circle on the actual Alterac Highlands and towards the Capital City. More or less Alric's brother Faction is more northerly based and Lady is more southerly, atleast from what I can draw on?

Presumably both are of their own Syndicate factions or there would be no need to get the message twice. They also potentially don't talk or share much information or we wouldn't need to get the message twice. Either from suspicion or general mistrust or agreements not to step on toes.

Since the first warning came from Lady, we could presume the faction the assassin originated from is closer to the Lady's sphere of information. Its possible that she is just better at information gathering but for the sake of going down this hole lets continue. I don't think theres any Syndicate presence in the Hinterlands? So perhaps the Syndicate faction that wants Alric dead comes from even further South, or from across Baradin Bay in the Kingdom of Gilneas.

Why? Presuming neither sibling wants Alric dead, there still must be a reason. I don't think the land Alric currently has is very vital to syndicate business. If the faction knows Alric is related to his brother and the Lady and wants him dead as some kind of revenge against them or to get them to move in response? Maybe its a play to try and get the Lady and Alric's Brother to suspect one another in Alric's death and spark a Syndicate Shadow War between them to weaken both, then this third faction can make a powerplay to move in

I quite like the spark a shadow war between them to weaken and swoop in idea. But perhaps the most obvious would be from Isiden and a Gilneas Syndicate faction. Genn Greymane wants his candidate to succeed the Alterac Throne. Alric is in the way. The Perenolde Syndicate Siblings are in the way. Do a little dirty business with the Gilneas Syndicate Faction to try and weaken and clear away all the problems that are stopping Isiden getting the Alterac Throne and Gilneas getting new allies and more power within the Alliance.

>>5758488
>>5758570
That would be a pretty funny revelation for him. "Where did you get the funds to invest in us Young Alric?" "Copper Whore Tax."

You know i have just thought about it, but I have an idea. I want Sir Radan to be our first Bannerman, bringing in battles the banner of Alterac.

Is a position of honor and he still remains a knight, and leader of men. Now that s a great message for the men we want to reform and recruit in our prison.
Is also a risky position, but he is not a bad fighter and i woild put him somewhat near us so he is well protected by our honor guard.
Thoughts?
I also don't mind keeping him leading his men, he is good there too.
Also Malevus could do it, but she is full on mindset to protect us (also Radan) and might want to have an hand occupied with a banner.

>>5758605
*not occupied

>>5758488
Support

We need a town hall, papers keep getting higher every update on the tables of both Alric and Normand. Also for the increase of population

>>5758475
>Maybe you should be there, your presence could be helpful

>>5758596
An interesting theory, good thinking.
Maybe we should give a check to that distant cousin, once we have more cloak and dagger men at our disposal. We don't know much about him at all.
Eitherway whatever happens, we are currently an official Prince of Alterac, not one in shadows either. Has such, first thing first i want to see if we can use some old laws for make our cousin claim null.

Is also good, that Tari can help us with papers, i was kind of worried we would be filled by papers. This should slow that problem for now if nothing else.
That giant lion is interesting, i wonder if it was only food and winter that had him move south for hunt in our lands. We are 100% hunting it of course. Is a good thing to spend time with our officers, and this is an excting and relaxing way for do it.

>>5758639
Theres also an insane big brain 4d chess move yandere idea thats more for fun. Katrana wants to get closer to us > Gets a Syndicate faction to attempt assassination > Assumes we won't die because Alric is interesting, and if he does die then he wasn't actually very interesting > Waits for us to seek someone with connections to skilled people aka Katrana. > Sends her own Spymaster to look after us and clean anything up that could connect the dots

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>>5758596

Ahh damn it, now I feel bad for forgetting to include the fact that both Sahvan and Pai have said that they worked for Lord Creedy in the pastebin. Outside of that huge mishap from my part that makes a big part of your musing invalid, great work and definitely not waste of your time due to my error. I might throw something as a make good gift in the quest as an apology.

I have updated the pastebin and for sake of clarification here are all the members of the Syndicate you have personally met and dealt with.

>Sir Radan. Bandit who met your brother. Worked for Redhill. Your loyal knights.
>Redhill, a bandit chief who tried to send his prisoners east over Darrowmere River before betraying the Syndicate. Killed by you.
>Ieastyn and Marcus, met them in Tarren Mill and Capital City. Ieastyn works for your brother.
>Kris Legace, informant to you and Beve now in Stromgarde.
>Mathias Nogelman, disgraced Alteraci nobleman, recruited by Beve, apparent suicide in Durnholde dungeon.
>First assassin, tried to kill you before your trip to Stormwind. Was killed in your jail.
>Eston, met in Stonedon while attempting to get Chief Lodric to his side. Planned to send the villagers east over the Darrowmere River. Worked for Lord Creedy. Executed.
>Sir Roberts, leader of the Syndicate and bandit troops in Shoredon. Tried to move prisoners east over Darrowmere River Worked for Lord Creedy. Killed by you.
>Otto Wanz, warlock recruited and trained by Darbel Montrose. Was with Sir Roberts. Your prisoner and messenger in the prison camp.
>Pai, Sahvan and Gerard. They worked for Lord Creedy. Gerard was killed, Sahvan became your turncoat and Pai is your prisoner.
>Fourth assassin. Was the poisoner, attempted to burn down Durnholde Keep. Worked for Lord Falconcrest. Escaped without a trace.

Bringing up Isiden is good because you haven't heard anything about him. Not a single thing, but he is maybe probably still alive. It doesn't help that people of Gilneas are naturally isolationistic.

Now a bit of a question, who is Lord Falconcrest and what is he up to? If Lord Creedy has been sending assassin's and has been kidnapping people and sending them east, what have been Lord Falconcrest's projects?

>>5758605
Bannerman idea noted.

>>5758570
You are completely right about hospitals and infirmaries being tied very closely with churches and temples in our history. This is also the case with the church in Tarren Mill. Currently most healing in Dawnholme is done by Raleigh the True with Malevus helping as much as she can.

>>5758639
Alric is the second heir and while no one would support Aliden, he technically is the one who should become the king. Third is Isiden and only after that comes Beve followed by any other relatives that night be alive.

>>5758646
Alric probably hasn't realised that having a red dragon as your personal teacher is a strong addition to his personal security and well-being. Never he has been this secure since he revealed himself to the world.

>>5758475
>Maybe you should be there, your presence could be helpful.


Well that was an interesting worldbuilding segment
What exactly lead to the Holy Light Church shunning prostitution, or even caring about its followers sex lives at all?
I know that it is supposed to have the aesthetics of Christianity but I thought that it was more than a philosophy with only a few basic tenets to adhere to.

>>5758673
Ah that sucks. Maybe next time.

I suppose this Falconcrest guy is either using them as slaves to build and sell, sacrificing them in warlock rituals, or both. Maybe sending them up or down river. Though if Lady Nalice is interested in any artifacts that might be in Alterac and the mountains, or perhaps east of Alterac, maybe its labor to help uncover or test something. One would think it would be easier to get orc slaves and sacrifices by buying them from Durnholde's camps and Blackmoore. Maybe he is or was, but almost burning down Durnholde would probably sour that a bit. I seem to recall reading something about an item that had the initials F.C. on it which could be Creedy or Falconcrest.

>>5758475
>>Maybe you should be there, your presence could be helpful.
How silly?

>>5758475
I think it best to pop in briefly to have a word but I ultimately agree with what the first prompt says: this is a case for Eligius to pull through and learn from. Furthermore, we have a more important prisoner to talk to in Pai. Let us have a more thorough interaction with her instead.

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Looks like being there at the start and then going to talk with Pai is currently leading. Next update either during the afternoon or later in the evening so there is still time to vote.

>>5758698
A wave of puritanism and conservatism through the Church of Holy Light in Alterac. And also because unregulated prostitution caused criminals to take control of it which lead into general increase in thuggery which the Church didn't like due to it attracting all sorts of bad things.

After the regulation, things mellowed out and nowadays people are rather whatever regarding it, but of course some find it immoral due to personal reasons.

>>5758732
Some bits are warmer and some are subzero cold. Good musing nonetheless.

>>5758916
See the picture silly.

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"I will be there when the interrogation starts, I think my presence could be beneficial." You said to Eligius. "But this is supposed to be your case to solve, so I will leave you and Garside at it."

"I understand, what will you do then?" Eligius asked you.

"I will talk to Pai, let's see if I can get her to speak." You said. "But before that, have the house searched, if needed turn it upside down."

"Will do Prince Alric." Eligius said.

"And meanwhile we have studying to do." Nalice said to you.

You couldn’t see if Eligius reacted to that, but he didn't say anything either.

"It might take this whole evening to go through his house, so we will see each other tomorrow morning." Eligius said to you through the fence.

"Search everything." You reminded him again before you stepped away from him.

…

With Eligius busy with the investigation, you and Nalice could concentrate on starting the studies of the draconic language and what would be the best spot to start than from the alphabet.

"Our language is based on glyphs, not really about letters like the mortal languages." Nalice explained to you and wrote something on a paper that didn't say anything to you. "What does this look like to you?"

"Looks like the glyphs are connected to each other?" You answered by asking her.

"Precisely, and then how many glyphs do you see?" Nalice asked.

"I think I can recognise four different glyphs." You said.

"Correct. It says 'I am Nalicatrasza/ the collector/ of ancient artefacts/ and their guardian/'." Nalice said to you and then cleared her throat before spelling it in draconic.

Her voice was growling and husky, but it sounded like a full sentence.

"Mortals will never be able to spell our language without butchering it." Nalice said to you with her normal voice. "But as long as the intent is there, then the words have power in them."

"What do you mean?" You asked.

"By combining the glyphs and writing long sentences, our language starts to resemble…" Nalice stopped to think. "Music."

"Music?" You had to ask.

"Yes, like one of your compositions. And when you write it or sing it." Nalice said as she gave you her confident smile. "It will have power."

"So for example if I were to write a long sentence in draconic that was supposed to make my home invisible, it would work?" You asked her.

1/3

>>5759149

"No. First you would have to learn how to turn your home invisible." Nalice said. "But after that, sure that would be possible."

"You need to learn the magic first…" You mused aloud. "Alright, I think I understand it now."

"Good, because you have a lot of different glyphs to learn." Nalice said to you.

"Then let's get to work." You said to her.

…

You had returned back to your home and bed well after midnight. It was apparent how much work there was in studying the language, but you had learned how to write your own name with the glyphs and how complex they really could be. It was nice to have a break from trying to light up a stone or a candle, but come tomorrow you will return back to the old schedule.

But now you were in the jail cell of Foreman Davis and watched as he was lifted on a chair by a pair of guards. The man was a mess, during the arrest he was clearly punched several times and it showed.

A table had been brought into the cell as well and Eligius sat behind it with his papers, scrolls, inks and quills at hand. Normand stood next to the table and stared daggers at Davis.

"Davis, you know why we are here." You said to him.

"You have it all wrong, I haven't done anything!" Davis said back to you.

"You should stop lying, we have great evidence that you have been embezzling goods, property of Alteraci state, and selling it forward." You said to him as you took a couple steps towards him and continued. "Stealing state property is one of the highest crimes one can commit and you know what the sentence for that is?"

"W-what i-is i-it?" Davis asked as he started to be rather nervous.

"Death." You said with a stern tone in your voice.

"No-no-no-no!" Davis started to panic. "I haven't done anything, I am innocent!"

"What did I tell you! You should stop lying, because maybe there is a chance that death could be avoided." You said to him as you walked to the door out of the cell. "Maybe you should talk to Captain Normand, think about it."

You left Davis with Normand and Eligius as you stepped out of the cell. You still felt uneasy with sentencing the man to his death, but if all is done by the book then you have just done your duty. But meanwhile as Davis was being interrogated, you would have someone else to be dealt with.

You asked a guard to open the door of the cell of Pai and when it was opened, you took several deep breaths and straightened your back.

Alright, you were going to get her to talk one way or another. You were sure about that. You are one pretty damn good talker.

2/3

>>5759151

Stepping in and allowing a lantern to light up the dark cell, you noticed Pai sitting on her straw covered bed with legs dangling out of it and back being against the wall. She had lost weight as she wasn't as pudgy as before, but that had done little to diminish her rather curvy figure. She reacted to you entering the cell by looking at you, but doing little else. She wasn't going to be the first one to talk.

But how would you approach her? You thought about that as the guard closed the door behind you and you heard the lock engage. Placing the lantern and the black noise device on the table, you would have full privacy with her. And she knew it as well by her eyes moving from you to the small bag and back to you. She knew what was inside it, you were sure about it.


>She tried to be seductive with you when you apprehended her. Try to use your alleged lady killer skills in trying to get her to talk and reverse the situation.
>Take a chair and sit down before just staring at her in silence. See who blinks first and if trying to drill into her eyes with your gaze gets her to speak.
>Have some casual small talk before going into recent events that have happened in the outside world. See if you could bait something out or get her to react.
>Start interrogating her as usual. Ask harder and harder questions, until she reacts to you somehow.
>Give her a simple ultimatum. You have had enough of her silence, so starting from this day one by one things are going to be taken from her. You aren't going to allow her to die, but it is going to be a rather miserable existence for her until she speaks.
>Other, write in.

QM: Only one option has a chance to work immediately, while others might open a chance to continue with a different approach or just outright fail.

>>5759153
>>Take a chair and sit down before just staring at her in silence. See who blinks first and if trying to drill into her eyes with your gaze gets her to speak.

>>5759153
>Take a chair and sit down before just staring at her in silence. See who blinks first and if trying to drill into her eyes with your gaze gets her to speak.

>>5759153
Do you believe in angels, miss Pai?

Just kidding, we don't really have apparatus for this kind of play yet.

>Have some casual small talk before going into recent events that have happened in the outside world. See if you could bait something out or get her to react.

Id like to know what angle she has. Loyalty to a person, a faction, her own purse? Or she just likes to live dangerously?

She's Creedy's right, but the guy who actually carried out poisoning was from yet another faction, yes?

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>>5759153
>>Take a chair and sit down before just staring at her in silence. See who blinks first and if trying to drill into her eyes with your gaze gets her to speak.

>>5759153
>>She tried to be seductive with you when you apprehended her. Try to use your alleged lady killer skills in trying to get her to talk and reverse the situation.
>>Take a chair and sit down before just staring at her in silence. See who blinks first and if trying to drill into her eyes with your gaze gets her to speak.
Either of these two, because I don't think conventional means will work this time. Turning the table and trying to seduce her sounds so stupid that it might even work.

>>5759180
>She's Creedy's right, but the guy who actually carried out poisoning was from yet another faction, yes?

Correct, the fourth assassin who was the poisoner worked for Lord Falconcrest.

>>5759153
>Take a chair and sit down before just staring at her in silence. See who blinks first and if trying to drill into her eyes with your gaze gets her to speak.

>>5759196
the psychopath stare is the real seduction option

>>5759153
>Take a chair and sit down before just staring at her in silence. See who blinks first and if trying to drill into her eyes with your gaze gets her to speak.
The true seduction option.

>>5759153
>Have some casual small talk before going into recent events that have happened in the outside world. See if you could bait something out or get her to react.
Good cop time.

>>5759153
>>Take a chair and sit down before just staring at her in silence. See who blinks first and if trying to drill into her eyes with your gaze gets her to speak.

I am going to call the vote now as Alric trying to get her to speak with a STARE is a clear winner here. If that works, then some casual small talk hopefully. Could I have a roll for Alric related to the STARE and no this is not a roll to seduce her, maybe. Update will come later this evening.


>3d10, Best of three
>DC 25, 28, Crit 30

Rolled 7, 5, 2 = 14 (3d10)

>>5759231
damn, high dcs

Rolled 8, 1, 2 = 11 (3d10)

>>5759231
Uhhh

Rolled 4, 6, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>5759231
Stare was probably the wrong option, but it's funny

Rolled 4, 1, 1 = 6 (3d10)

>>5759231
Well that's this then

Rolled 8, 10, 4 = 22 (3d10)

>>5759231
just for the hell of it clearly alric is too busy giggling to himself.

Alright those were some horrible rolls for STARE, but why to stop there? I did say some options might open a chance to continue with a different approach. So can I have one more roll for the STARE. Maybe this time you will seduce her, or maybe this is something completely different.


>3d10, Best of three
>DC 22, Crit 28

>>5759249
Can we use this one?
>>5759238

>>5759251

No, if you could, I wouldn't have asked for new rolls. So new rolls please, the update will explain why these rolls happened.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>5759249
Switching from tough guy eyes to seduce eyes.

Rolled 5, 3, 9 = 17 (3d10)

>>5759253
It was worth a try
>>5759249

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

>>5759249
>>5759254
oops

>>5759153
>Get a fresh pastry that smells delicious and eat it infront of Pai as slowly as possible until she breaks.
My cruelty knows no bounds

Rolled 2, 9, 1 = 12 (3d10)

>>5759249
Ah I see its staring time first. SO be it.

Alric lost the staring match, his reputation on the playground is ruined

>>5759253
>>5759263
Instead of giving up, just leave the room. We'll keep staring at her tomorrow.

You took the chair next to the table and put it in front of Pai, enough distance away that if she tries to lunge at you, you have time to react. And then you sat down and gave her overall condition one final look.

Her shoes were dirty from dirt as were her brown hosen. A bit too large grey shirt which probably wasn't hers was half buttoned, revealing ample amount of her cleavage, which your eyes quickly passed as you observed that on her bed was a robe and what looked like a blanket. The guards seemed to be rather sure that Pai would try to rip the robe or the blanket and hang herself and they were probably right. She would have probably done it already, so her being alive shows the sign that she wants to live.

You looked at her face and realised that she probably hadn't had a chance to wash herself as it was dirty as well. So was her long brown hair that had gotten entangled and was messy beyond description.

Shifting a bit and placing your hands on your knees, you locked your eyes with hers.

And then you started to stare.

When you were a kid, you were told that staring at others was an unkind and mean thing to do, especially it was annoying to the other party and very disrespectful. And that was your goal, a war of attrition against her patience. And even if you were a busy man, she probably has never seen anything like this. You were sure that you would get her to talk.

…

>16, failure
>18, failure

Time had passed and you had realised how bloody boring this was. To pass time as you kept your eyes locked with hers, you had attempted to go through your magic training while sitting there.

You had concentrated and tried to imagine the scorching hot feeling inside of you and you tried to conjure the same feeling again. And then you tried ice cold, something bright like a sun, the taste of mud and blood in your mouth and so on as you experimented and tried to think what would be the feeling of your own mana inside of you. Only thing you managed to do was to dry practice lighting up the candle in your mind and that's it.

Then you tried to concentrate on the sigils painted on your skin and if you could get any reaction from them, but again with no success. You had learned that arcane energies were everywhere all around you, but you weren't good enough to draw them and harvest them for your own use.

There was no magical breakthrough as you stared into Pai's eyes.

…

You heard the hatch in the cell door open and a bowl of food to be pushed into the room.

It was midday, you had stared at her for nearly five hours already. Having concentrated on your magic studies and sitting still like this had kept you calm and reserved and you weren't hungry, at least not yet. Neither did you have a need to relieve yourself.

1/2

>>5759362

You wondered how Pai was faring, when suddenly maybe a quarter of an hour after the food had been delivered, she looked down.

"You are a Light damned weirdo, you know that." Pai said to you with a hoarse barely used voice.

You kept staring at her face as she brushed her hair with her hands before looking at you again.

"You didn't even stare at my tits, all this time just my eyes." Pai said to you and continued. "Are you some kind of a sodomite or what?"

You continued to stare in her eyes and you didn't answer. She was getting annoyed.

"Do I need to fuck you to get an answer out of you?" Pai asked, now clearly frustrated.

"I don't think that is needed." You said to her and shifted in the chair. Your butt was killing you. "I got you to talk and it is nice to see that the Pai I met in Durnholde hasn't changed."

"Oh now you are talking, you pervert ogling a woman for hours and hours." Pai said back to you.

"You just said that I didn’t look at your tits and calmed me a sodomite. Sounds like you don't really think that I would be interested in you." You said matter of factly. "And besides, when we patched you up, I saw your tits. No need for me to see them again."

You gave her a pleasant smile as you said that and noticed how taken back she was. She really wasn't expecting anything like this and her tricks of trying to get inside your skin had failed.

Pai chuckled and sighed deeply.

"You are a weirdo, you know that. But you are more entertaining than that scribe, Edward I think was his name that has visited me near daily." Pai said to you. "What do you want?"


>To get you to talk, that is all. Leave the cell after that, but have the guards send her a second bowl of food as a sign of gratitude.
>Offer her the same thing as you did to Sahvan. If she speaks and tells you what she knows, maybe one day she could be freed.
>Ask her what she wants? She hasn't killed herself so there must be a reason for an assassin like her to stay alive.
>Tell her that you are here to free you. She is free to go. This is how much trust you are giving her, but if she leaves Dawnholme. You can't protect her.
>Other, write in.

QM: Rolls were if you could actually channel your own mana and if you could gather mana from around you. Both failed, no sudden progress today, the DCs were high for a reason. Studying will continue.

>>5759368
>To get you to talk, that is all. Leave the cell after that, but have the guards send her a second bowl of food as a sign of gratitude.

Also, I can't believe we won actually won the staring context.
I was sure the rolls were for it, didn't think for a second that ir could be for something else that we were doing at the same time..

>>5759368
>To get you to talk, that is all. Leave the cell after that, but have the guards send her a second bowl of food as a sign of gratitude.
We'll be back later, bye now.

>>5759392
I was confused about the high DC so it doesn't surprise me that it wasn't for the staring contest.

>>5759368
>>Ask her what she wants? She hasn't killed herself so there must be a reason for an assassin like her to stay alive.

>>5759368
>To get you to talk, that is all. Leave the cell after that, but have the guards send her a second bowl of food as a sign of gratitude.
Master torturer alric.

>>5759368
I want future for Alterac, and am giving you a chance to be a part of it.

>>5759368
>To get you to talk, that is all. Leave the cell after that, but have the guards send her a second bowl of food as a sign of gratitude.

>>5759392
>>5759393

I did say that it was related to the STARE and maybe it was for something else. The DCs were very difficult on purpose, but not impossible. DC 25 is about 16% chance and DC 22 is about 42% chance to get with best of three. You just ended up having rotten luck for the rolls that mattered.

>>5759368
>>To get you to talk, that is all. Leave the cell after that, but have the guards send her a second bowl of food as a sign of gratitude.
Get out of here, we need to move and do something.

"To get you to talk." You said as you pushed yourself up.

Your legs and ass protested as you stood up. They were so bloody stiff and moving them hurt a bit. You took the chair and carried it back to the table.

"Oi, weirdo. What are you doing?" Pai asked you and was completely baffled about what was going on.

"I am leaving, don't you see." You said as you took the lantern that somehow was still burning and put the black noise device into a pocket of your robe.

"Leaving? You stared at me for hours and now you dare to just leave!" Pai stood up from the bed as she started to get angry. "You slighted my tits and didn't even give me a kiss!"

"I got you to talk, that is all." You said to her and smiled as you knocked on the door.

"You fucking weirdo, don't go! I will suck you off! I will let you fuck me if you stay!" Pai shouted at you as a guard opened the cell door and you stepped out.

You didn’t look back as the guard closed the door as Pai screamed more of her sexual offers at you.

You stretched your back and squatted several times to get the blood flowing again.

"Sire, are you alright?" The guard asked you as he had heard the exchange when he opened the door.

"I am, I am. I just need to stretch my legs a bit." You said to him. "And also get Pai a second serving and make sure there is actual meat in it. She deserves it."

"Yes Sire?" The guard answered as he wasn't sure what was going on.

"Good, remember the extra meat." You said to him.

You walked into the small office of the jail and found Eligius there with a pile of papers.

"Did Davis talk?" You asked him.

"Prince Alric! You were there for hours." Eligius said and stood up in surprise.

"I got her to talk."

"You what, how?"

"I stared at her."

"You stared at her?"

"Did I stutter?"

"No, no you didn't Prince Alric."

"I stared at her until she became too annoyed about it and spoke first." You said and laughed.

"Well what did she say?" Eligius asked you. "You know I visited her near daily."

"She called you boring." You said back to him. You didn’t think what else she said was worth sharing. "Nothing else really, I just made her extremely annoyed."

"You were there for hours and that is what you got out of her?" Eligius asked you as it was his time to be baffled.

"I am fairly sure that she will call me when she wants to talk with me. In the meanwhile, leave her alone, no need to go visit her." You said and continued. "But did Davis talk?"

"He did, we had to persuade him a bit first, but then he talked." Eligius said to you. "And behold, his testimony of being a common criminal."

Eligius showed you the papers he had written.

"We will continue in the afternoon and maybe tomorrow as well." Eligius said.

"Anything about the Syndicate?" You asked.

"Nothing, just his business with his fellow crooks." Eligius said.

"Alright, finish the interrogation and get a report on my desk." You said to him.

1/2

>>5759631

"You don't want to talk with him?" Eligius asked you.

"Not now, I am starving. See you later Eligius."

…

It was the next morning. Last night's magic studies went well with you having lit up the candle four times. Then you studied draconic before falling into your bed dead tired.

And now you were eating breakfast with Normand.

"Taretha's notes were accurate, I didn’t spot any mistakes." Normand said to you. "And you said that Beric vouched for her?"

"Yes, called me to treasure her. Told that she has the head for numbers." You said between eating the porridge.

"Are you planning on giving her more of your paperwork?" Normand asked you.

"Or do you need help?" You asked back.

"The girl's father was Blackmoore’s aide, I am planning on giving him a try soon." Normand said to you. "It is your choice Alric, she is your friend after all."

You kept eating as you thought about it. You could offload some of your work to Tari, or tell her to help Normand who to be honest requires more help than you do. Though if Tannis Foxton was going to help Normand, maybe Tari could help you? Or maybe you could have her be the new Foreman… Forewoman of Dawnholme? Or maybe you should just let her be a maid and concentrate on her pregnancy.


>Make Tari your own personal secretary and assistant. You have too much paperwork and she could help you a lot.
>Have her help Normand as much as possible. If she could work with her father, maybe Normand could run Dawnholme more efficiently.
>Make her the new Forewoman of Dawnholme. You are fairly sure that she could handle the task, but you aren't sure what others might think.
>Let her concentrate on her pregnancy and avoid any unnecessary stress.
>Other, write in.

QM: Productive day for writing!

> "You were there for hours and that is what you got out of her?" Eligius asked you as it was his time to be baffled.
You really don't know shit about women Eligius. Alric is living rent free in her head for walking out as soon as she opened her mouth, her desperate offers prove it.

>>5759633
>Make Tari your own personal secretary and assistant. You have too much paperwork and she could help you a lot.
Less time on paperwork means more time for the GRIND. Though looking into what use her father might be should also be done.

>>5759633
>Make Tari your own personal secretary and assistant. You have too much paperwork and she could help you a lot.
She is very loyal to us, and we need someone loyal to handle our papers. But since she has this talent....
>Other, write in.
Invest in Taretha education, well rounded but with an emphesis on administration, logistics and trade. Let s develop this talent. Studying will be perfect to continue on with the passing of months, she will have less time to work.

>>5759633
>Make Tari your own personal secretary and assistant. You have too much paperwork and she could help you a lot.

>>5759633
>Make Tari your own personal secretary and assistant. You have too much paperwork and she could help you a lot.
Not only is she smart, but less physical work should be better for the pregnancy

>>5759633
>Make Tari your own personal secretary and assistant. You have too much paperwork and she could help you a lot.
My secreTari. Less physical work and pregnancy, she could thicken up pretty fast. Maybe it will delay the realization a bit if they think shes just putting on weight from sitting behind a desk all day.

>>5759633
>Have her help Normand as much as possible. If she could work with her father, maybe Normand could run Dawnholme more efficiently.

This is basically paperwork anyways right? Office work.

>>5759633
>>Make Tari your own personal secretary and assistant. You have too much paperwork and she could help you a lot.

File: 614123-taretha.jpg (140 KB, 689x1041)

140 KB JPG

You are Taretha Foxton, a friend of Alric, servant in his household and pregnant with Lord Blackmoore’s child.

The winter had just pretended to ease up, as the cold spell of the last few days said otherwise. Stiff winds from the mountains had picked up snow and threw it around Dawnholme as people huddled back inside their homes and little to no work was accomplished outside.

You pulled your orange cloak tighter around you and hurried your steps as you were returning back to Alric's homestead from visiting your parents. Every couple days you would take leftovers, with Maura's permission, and bring them to your parents. Your mother had found a job as a housekeeper that didn't pay that well and your father was still unemployed. There had been a good opportunity for him starting as an assistant to the foreman, but since he was arrested the hopes had vanished.

Greeting the poor city guard who stood outside the house in the stiff wind, you pushed the door open before shaking off what remained of the snow.

"Good morning Taretha." Normand Garside said. He was doing some of his work by the large table downstairs. "Alric said that he wanted to see you."

"Good morning Normand. I will go see him after I get my clothes to dry." You said to him.

"Oh and the next time you go see your parents, can you tell your father to come see me?" Normand asked back.

"I can." You said and thought why would Normand want to see Tannis? To ask about Blackmoore or something else? You knew that Normand didn't trust Blackmoore at all and who else to ask about him other than father who had served as his aide for nearly 20 years.

Someone else has put a fire into the hearth, allowing you to spread your cloak and winter clothes in front of it before taking the stairs up. Knocking the door, you entered the study.

"Alric, you wanted to talk?" You asked him.

Alric was sitting behind his desk doing his paperwork. From the wrinkles in his clothes and a bit messy hair, it was apparent that he hadn't taken the time to clean up after the morning sparring you knew he did every day.

"Take a seat." Alric said and didn't lift his head from the paper he was working on.

Ahh, this wasn’t your good close friend Alric you were talking to, but Prince Alric who had his duties and tasks to accomplish.

"What are you writing?" You asked as you sat down and ran your hand through your hair.

"There was an accident in the silver mine, a minecart got loose and injured three workers. By the Alteraci mining laws, precious metals are considered of strategic importance and days missed due to injuries suffered during the work will be compensated." Alric explained to you as he kept writing. "Thankfully only broken bones and bruises, but we need to have everything written down."

"Thank the Light no one died." You said with relief in your voice.

"Dangers of being a miner I am afraid." Alric said and put his quill away. "There, one done and two to go."

1/3

>>5760165

He raised his head and looked at you. You saw from his eyes that he was already tired and it was just the morning.

"Was there something you wanted to talk about with me?" You asked.

"Yes, would you like to become my personal assistant or a secretary?" Alric said to you and now it was your close friend talking to you. "I am getting buried under all this paperwork that I shouldn’t be doing and I can't push all of this to Normand either."

"S-secretary? But I have been just a servant before." You said back to him.

"Nonsense, the notes you did a couple of days ago didn't have any mistakes that I or Normand could spot." Alric said to you. "And Beric told me to treasure you, and what better way to do it than piling all my paperwork to you."

The mental image of a pile of scrolls burying you alive got a chuckle out of you as Alric laughed. Well there were better ways to treasure you than that, but both of you had chosen against that route.

Sadly.

"I don't know…" You said back to him as you waved your hand at all the papers. "I don't really know that much about… these things."

"Well, I could arrange a teacher for you." Alric shrugged and suggested.

"Well maybe… yeah." You were still a bit sceptical about this.

"This is your choice, I can’t force you to decide." Alric said. "I am just going to present to you the options."

"Alright, tell me." You said.

"Becoming my secretary I would arrange a desk for you here in my study and you would have access to all the books here. You would also be present in all the meetings unless otherwise told and you would learn about events and things that are going to happen before most other people." Alric explained to you and continued. "It would be a lot of work, but I think you could handle it. And besides, it would be easier for you than doing cleaning and chores while pregnant."

That was a lot. You still weren't sure about any of this, could you really do everything Alric has asked you? And what about the teacher? Where would Alric find one?

"And if being a secretary doesn't sound like something you want to do, maybe just be my personal assistant outside of the paperwork. Bit like you were a personal servant to Blackmoore…" Alric told you that and realised his mistake. "Oh I'm sorry, I shouldn’t have…"

"Don't worry about it." You said and smiled while your hand touched your stomach. He didn’t mean it in a bad way. Blackmoore was still a rather sore subject to you.

2/3

>>5760166

He was persuasive, but you still weren't sure about all of this. All of this sounded like a lot of work and you were pregnant as well, soon the baby bump would be noticeable and carrying a little human inside you would most likely tire you a lot. Becoming his secretary or a personal assistant would also mean that you would be with Alric a lot more and while you really liked him, after arriving here to Dawnholme and after what the two of you spoke in Southshore you had been slowly distancing yourself from him. It hasn't been an easy thing to keep your feelings away.

But he was your good friend, he had helped you when no one else had. Helping him would be the least you could do to him to pay back to him.


>Accept the position of becoming his secretary. It is a lot of work, but you should be able to pull through it.
>Personal assistant sounds much better. You aren't sure you can handle all the paperwork, but you can help Alric in countless other ways.
>You have to decline due to your pregnancy. Working hard, even if it was just paperwork, could be too much for you
>Other, write in

>Accept the teacher, even if you don’t know who it is.
>You don't need a teacher, no need to burden Alric to find you one.

QM: Point of view switch! Also why did I choose the picture of Taretha with a strange shadow orb behind her? Foreshadowing?

>>5760173
>Accept the position of becoming his secretary. It is a lot of work, but you should be able to pull through it.
>Accept the teacher, even if you don’t know who it is.

>>5760173
>>Accept the position of becoming his secretary. It is a lot of work, but you should be able to pull through it.
>Accept the teacher, even if you don’t know who it is

Good
Spooky ball

>>5760173
>Also why did I choose the picture of Taretha with a strange shadow orb behind her? Foreshadowing?
Is her child like a voidspawn?
An Old God Jesus?

File: e07.jpg (37 KB, 480x542)

37 KB JPG

>>5760199

Hahaha I sure hope not!

>>5760173
>Accept the position of becoming his secretary. It is a lot of work, but you should be able to pull through it.
>Accept the teacher, even if you don’t know who it is.

>>5760207
Is she going to get a shadow fel abortion?

>>5760173
>Personal assistant sounds much better. You aren't sure you can handle all the paperwork, but you can help Alric in countless other ways.

>Accept the teacher, even if you don’t know who it is.

The risk of miscarriage I suppose, especially after the mystery potion induced miscarriage? Stillbirth? Void cursed thing? Of her last pregnancy.

PA will be less strenuous but still helpful and a step up, with a teacher to slowly accustom her to the idea of secretary while we wait out the pregnancy.

Or maybe her womb is haunted by a vengeful spirit lured in by the fate of her stillborn baby, fetch Father Hampton for the exorcism.

>>5760173
>Accept the position of becoming his secretary. It is a lot of work, but you should be able to pull through it.
Paperwork isn't strenuous, just time consuming. Better than being a maid for a pregnant woman.
>Accept the teacher, even if you don’t know who it is.

"Alright, I will do it." You said to Alric and gave him a gentle smile. "If I can help you as a secretary, then the workload is worth it. And if you have a teacher for me, I don’t think that a couple of lessons could hurt me."

"Great, I knew you would accept." Alric said and clapped his hands as he stood up. "I will arrange the desk and all, so just stay put."

The tired looking Prince Alric had been left behind as the more enthusiastic Alric you knew better darted past you and went for the door of the study.

"Alric, wait!" You quickly said to him.

"What is it Tari?" Alric had no idea what you were going to say.

"You can't go out there looking like that, let me brush your hair first." You said to him.

"I don't think secretaries brush their employers' hair?" Alric asked you as his hand was already on the door handle.

"Well this one does, so now sit and tell me where the brush is." You said adamantly back to him. "If I am going to save you from all the paperwork, this will be my price for it. Because it would be a crime to keep your hair that messy."

Alric shrugged and sighed as he ran his fingers through his own hair.

"Fine, I guess I can accept that as a compromise." Alric said to you reluctantly.

"Great, because you are going to have the prettiest hair in the whole Alterac!" You said and laughed.

"Prettiest?!" Was the only thing Alric could say before you womanhandled him to sit down and went for the brush.

…

Brushing his hair gave the two of you an ample chance to just talk. Alric regaled his staring contest with the pervert assassin, which made you laugh a lot. You couldn't believe how the assassin that had tried to kill Alric acted and how easily, though after getting his butt killed, Alric managed to get inside her head. A complete opposite of what the assassin had planned. You meanwhile told him about all the little things you had learned to enjoy during your stay here in Dawnholme and threatened to do something to his hair. Mere cleaning and brushing wasn't enough, more could be done as Alric now had quite strong and straight hair well past his shoulders.

Maybe next time you could take scissors with you?

…

Alric had arranged a desk, chair and all necessary tools for you and he had given you the first task as a secretary.

"Alright so here is the first of the three compensation receipts for the injured miners. Here are the names and other information for the remaining two." Alric said to you as you took your seat and looked at the papers, inks and quills on your new table.

"I think I know what I need to do here." You said to Alric and looked up towards him as he stood next to the table.

"Great, if you need help, don't be afraid to ask." Alric said as he went back to his own desk.

You just needed to copy the original receipt and make two more of them. How hard could it really be?


>3d10, Best of three
>DC 12, Crit 20

Rolled 8, 10, 2 = 20 (3d10)

>>5760316
ROLLEM

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

>>5760316
How hard could it possibly be!

Oh yeah we got this

Rolled 10, 6, 8 = 24 (3d10)

>>5760316

>>5760173
Don't tell me we're gonna have to wrangle bronze time jannies to keep our new secretary...

>>5760316
Thats some decent rolls.
Good good, life in Dawnholme is going well. A very nice thing after the murder mystery in Durnholde. And we have also a possible hunt ahead.

On regard to Malevus training i think it could be best if we change who she fights with same for Alric. The standard combat and training is all well good, but spicing it up and adding unknowns is never a bad idea.

>>5760413
So fighting against a mage or mages, rogues like the Rovers. Hire a goblin, an ogre mercenary, or a two-headed ogre mage oooooh. Some fighting in the forests and hills. Does Malevus know Eligus is a warlock, or that he knows magic at all?

>>5760173
>Accept the position of becoming his secretary. It is a lot of work, but you should be able to pull through it.
>Accept the teacher, even if you don’t know who it is.

>>5760488
Oh shit, no idea why I voted this late

File: Varian Blood of Our Fathers.png (930 KB, 1000x697)

930 KB PNG

>>5755285
>Lion on one shoulder, eagle/griphon head on the other.
Hey wait a minute

>>5760545
What a coincidence Marc

>24, Crit Success!


"And done!" You said happily as you put the quill down. It hadn't taken you that long to finish copying the receipts.

"Wait already?" Alric asked in a complete surprise and couldn't believe you.

"Then come see the end results." You said to him.

Alric did as told and compared the original one he had done to the two you had finished.

"Well I'll be damned." Alric said to you. "That was fast and your handiwork is better than mine."

"I guess you were right." You said to no one particularly as Alric collected the finished receipts and put them away.

Maybe this is really something you are good at? You hadn’t ever really thought about following your father's footprints and he was just an aide and not a full time paper pusher.

"Here." Alric said and put a first pile of papers and scrolls on your desk. He then went to get a ledger and more scrolls and papers for you. "I will have other things to do, so I will leave you these, just read through the ledger and you will know what to do."

You looked at the pile of papers and scrolls on your desk with your mouth open.

"Alright, see you later Tari!" Alric said to you with a wide smile as he opened the door and left the study.

When the door closed shut, you just slumped over the papers and hit your head on the desk in defeat.

What did you end up agreeing to?

…

This was torture, because this was so boring. You would take a scroll, read it, check the ledger how similar details were filled and then fill the ledger before moving to another scroll.

Scroll after scroll, paper after paper you went through them and it didn't feel like the pile became any smaller.

"Unbelievable, the audacity of that man." Alric said as he stepped into the study with the scribe Eligius and Normand following right behind him. "He really had tried to hide the coin in a hole dug underneath his bed."

"No frozen soil inside the house." Eligius said to him and noticed you. "Why is she here?"

"Tari is my new secretary." Alric said. "Don't mind her, but how is the interrogation going?"

"Slow progress." Normand said and gave you a nod as you continued working. "He has told the big picture, but we are still going through the details."

"And the man keeps remembering new things to tell us." Eligius sighed aloud. "Still we have enough to charge him to Dalaran and back."

Oh they were talking about the foreman who got arrested. Apparently he had stolen and embezzled goods belonging to Alric. That is how much you knew.

"I know that, but has he told us anything truly useful?" Alric asked. He seemed a bit unsure about the subject.

"We have the evidence of his crimes, on that front we don't need anything else. Now he is just talking to stay alive one more day." Normand said to Alric.

"I am hoping we could learn more about the ring of criminals he is working with." Eligius said.

1/2

>>5760676

"So that you could try to recruit them? Or blackmail them?" Normand said back immediately. You had learned that Normand for some reason disliked the scribe and now this talk about recruiting and blackmailing them made you confused.

"Circle of smugglers and fences could be a tremendous boon for us, you understand that don't you?" Eligius argued back.

"You have spoken about this before." Alric said back to him. "You really want to keep Davis alive and recruit him and get his contacts to be your contacts."

"Yes, we need the information! You have said it yourself that we are blind as Fel and we can only react to our threats after they have happened." Eligius continued to argue.

"And he is a criminal deserving either the executioner's sword or the rope. An example has to be set." Normand argued sternly.

"But he has only caused material harm, no one has gotten hurt. We also recovered a good portion of the coin he had stolen." Eligius tried to argue.

"But not all." Alric said and crossed his arms. "I am not sure about what you are suggesting."

Eligius then did something you hadn’t expected him to do. You after all had just continued to scribble on the ledger.

"Miss Taretha, you have been listening to us?" Eligius asked.

"Y-yes?" You answered carefully.

"Then do you think that a man who hasn't stolen anything crucial to us, just easily replaceable construction materials and hasn't harmed Alteracis, should be executed?" Eligius asked you.

"Eligius, he stole state property. One of the highest crimes there is!" Normand replied immediately.

"I didn’t ask you, let Miss Taretha answer." Eligius said to him.


>You are just a secretary, this doesn't belong to you. It isn't for you to decide.
>Property of state or not, if no one was harmed, then he shouldn't be executed.
>Laws exist to be enforced. If he has committed a serious crime and the penalty is death, then it has to happen.
>Other, write in.

>>5760679
Now is this a vote about what Taretha thinks or a vote on what Alric decides by proxy? Because depending on the answer, I'd vote differently.

>>5760690

What Taretha thinks, actual vote will come later.

>>5760679
>>5760699
>You are just a secretary, this doesn't belong to you. It isn't for you to decide. But, you don't want anyone to die.
Or something like that. She strikes as a bleeding heart though she also wouldn't want to intrude on anything.

Also, Eligius and Normand are completely missing the most important point.

>>5760679
>>5760702
Support.
I don't think Taretha would appeal for a man's life out of pragmatism like Eligius. Just out of compassion and respect for the value of life.

>>5760679
>Other, write in.
>"Alric is the new leader of Alterac, and the old kingdom was destroyed. If he wants to make a new one with different laws, it's his right to."
>"Since everyone else that is trying to restore it is part of the Syndicate and all..."

>>5760739
Yeah, I'd like to see Alric call him out on that. He's pragmatic but also extremely naive, thinking a self serving weasel like Davis would make a good intelligence agent. Those are the kind of people we should be trying to exploit not recruit for fucks sake. Like keeping a known snitch in your gang because he has his uses, it's just courting disaster.

>>5760679
>>5760702
Support.

>>5760751

I like the first part of your write in.

>>5760751
>>5760807
I don't, too focused on the history and laws I feel. It'd make more sense if she said "I trust Alric's judgement" since I think that would be one of the things that stick out in her mind. His judgement got her out of Durnholde after all.

>>5760679
>Other, write in
> Tari could probably think on this for a minute or two, and she is rather compassionate, though perhaps not as much for someone she doesn't even know. "What is the Syndicate's punishment for stealing property of their lord and what is ours. Is there any difference, and should there be."

>>5760819
Well I like the part where we are a new Alterac and with that some new laws and revision may need to be in place. The old laws and reasons for the laws suited the time and place of what old Alterac was, a stable and coherent kingdom with functional bureaucracies.

The newly established and fledgling Alterac news a new approach to laws and justice that may evolve as we progress and grow.

>>5760845
Even if all that you say is true, Taretha wouldn't be the one espousing such things.

I am also very... skeptical? of this "do away with the old for the establishment of something new" rhetoric you're presenting. Way too abstract when we don't even know what we're getting rid of or what we're replacing it with.

>>5760851
>do away with the old for the establishment of something new
not quite, more like keep the principles or ideas of the purpose of the laws, but updated for the new age or era.
>we don't even know what we're getting rid of or what we're replacing it with.
I don't think QM Will make us have to micromanage things that far. Just the general direction and idea and the QM will "Canonize" it to the lore or something.

>>5760679
Something along those lines >>5760702, Taretha is a compassionate soul.

Stealing is wrong but there are worse crimes, is human life really worth coins?

(As an aside, I don't see value in recruiting this kind of crook unless he's shown to have some indispensable talent, although if he's cooperative enough in disnantling his contacts he should be eligible to commute the death sentence. The law should be about justice and restoring order, and hanging for embezzlement seems dubious in terms of effectiveness of deterrence, at least in peace time.)

>>5760679
>Laws exist to be enforced. If he has committed a serious crime and the penalty is death, then it has to happen.

>>5760702
I'll support this.

>>5760679
>You are just a secretary, this doesn't belong to you. It isn't for you to decide. But, you don't want anyone to die.

With Alric i think i will vote for kill him. Normand is right that the laws need to be enforced, and too much leniency might have a bad impression. This might not be the best method, but he has multiple crimes beside stealing.
At the same time Eligius is trying to do his job, he wants us to have a solid structure of daggers and cloaks. But it takes time to build it meanwhile our foes and neighbors, have already said structures established and very much capable of recruiting, training, equipping their men and recovering from losses. Its not a fair situation (with the attempt at countering the schemes of other spies on top of their informants and possible assassins of multiple groups), and him trying to check if all the opportunities that fall in our lap can be used for strengthening us is to be expected. The training for his role has yet to end too, something like a spymaster has many years of experience in intrigue.

"I am just Alric's friend…" You said carefully to them.

"And my new secretary and Tari is pretty damn good at that." Alric interrupted you rather proudly.

You had to think what you would say to them and thankfully Alric's praise caught their attention for a moment.

"Is human life worth some coins? I mean stealing is wrong, but aren't there more worse crimes?" You asked them. "I am sorry, but I don’t know."

Both Eligius and Normand seemed a bit disappointed that you didn't take their sides fully.

"One thing I do know is that Alric is going to make the right decision in the end." You said and looked at him.

"And that is why I want to be sure that I know everything about him." Alric said to them. "Even if it takes a couple more days to finish the interrogation."

"Alright we will do that then." Normand said to him.

They exchanged several more words with Alric before leaving the study. Alric meanwhile sighed deeply before sitting down and leaning back on his chair. Awkward silence fell upon the study as you continued filling the ledger.

"Eligius is my spymaster." Alric said to you suddenly. "He is also a scribe so he has a very convenient excuse to be where I am or where things are happening."

That would explain a lot about the man in the long black and grey robe.

"You should know that, because I think the two of you might end up cooperating a lot when it comes to papers and scrolls." Alric continued.

"I see… thanks for telling me that." You answered carefully.

"He is a good man, if not a bit unorthodox." Alric told you. He wasn't telling you everything, it was rather apparent.

"Then the foreman?" You asked.

"Davis, yeah he was one of the first to move here. Former miller and because no one was supervising the work in here, he volunteered to be the supervisor." Alric said to you and continued. "By all accounts he did a rather solid job, but he just had to steal from me."

Alric stood up from behind his desk and stretched his legs and back before he continued talking.

"I haven't hung the bandits or the Syndicates that have threatened me and fought against me, I have my reputation of being lenient, maybe too lenient with them. But at the same time Sir Radan and his men have reformed, and Sergeant Benedict was a street thug and a petty criminal before joining me." Alric said as he faced slightly away from you. Suddenly he drew his sword that shed a couple of embers from its dull grey blade and kept it still while pointing it at the door. "I have found that taking a life in a battle is easy, because you know that if you don't do it, then your opponent will."

Alric sheathed his sword and turned towards you.

"But now giving the order for Davis to be hanged, which should happen by the laws of Alterac, it feels to be a very difficult decision." Alric said to you.

You had never seen Alric like this, not just concerned, but uncertain of his actions.

"I am sure that you will make the right decision." You said, trying to assure him.

1/2

>>5761076

"Yeah, thanks Tari. At least I managed to buy a day or two more time to think about it. Now though I have something else to do." Alric said and clapped his hands.

"What is it?"

"To finish those damned letters and have them sent." Alric said back.

…

You are Prince Alric Perenolde and Tari had successfully gone through all the papers and scrolls you had dumped to her. It had taken the rest of the day for her to finish the work and after a night of good rest, you went through the ledger and checked her work.

It was pretty damn good work truth to be told. No mistakes that you could spot. Though congratulating Tari would wait till later as she was feeling unwell and stayed in the bed. You felt like giving her some privacy and allowing her to rest would be for the best.

All the letters you had written were also sent yesterday with Malevus making sure that the messenger carrying them left immediately. It had been a few days since your return from Southshore and you thought that your neighbours had probably already sent their letters. Now it would just take a couple of days for everyone to learn about the eviction of the garrison and what you had to say about Garithos.

This also meant that now was the time for Captain Reginald to hear the news personally and not wait for an angry message from Garithos himself. Though where would you tell the news of the eviction to him?


>Call Captain Reginald to your study. You are a Prince and he is just a foreign Captain in your lands.
>Have the meeting in the Dawnholme barracks. It is a bit more neutral place, you could also inspect your troops there at the same time.
>Go to the garrison and deliver the news to him in person. Going there would send a message that you are quite serious about this.
>Other, write in.

>>5761077
>Call Captain Reginald to your study. You are a Prince and he is just a foreign Captain in your lands.

>>5760413

Your sparring with Malevus is just a part of her overall training, while to you it is basically a way to exercise a little. Rest of your time is basically consumed by your duties, homework on the magic, other studying and then on the evenings your actual magic and draconic studies.

Malevus meanwhile trains in the mornings with you and then usually with the footmen and others at the training yard. Raleigh the True and Father Hampton when he is visiting, are handling the paladin side of her training.

Maybe if you ditched some part of your daily tasks, you could have more time to train with her and train your own martial skills. Now it is just one hour each morning where you grab whatever wooden training weapon available and slap her around without much effort.

>>5761084
But is she getting better? I’d feel bad if we were bullying our elf for no benefit to her

>>5761077
>>Have the meeting in the Dawnholme barracks. It is a bit more neutral place, you could also inspect your troops there at the same time.

>>5761077
>>Call Captain Reginald to your study. You are a Prince and he is just a foreign Captain in your lands.
I guess it's a bit more dignified than going to the garrison and demanding that the pack up and leave. On top of the appearances of summoning the military emissary to our study it will also give us a more private and comfortable setting to talk to the man we don't have personal grudge against.

>>5761097

She is getting better, but the progress is slow. Even if she gets beaten by you and gets knocked on the ground or gets bruises where you have whacked her a bit too hard with the wooden training weapons, she takes each and every loss without any issue. Malevus knows that true paladins would get up after getting beaten and have another go at it, so she can't give up now!

Going by the Side Character Stats pastebin, her Martial stat is 3 which is what the footmen of these current times have as well. You meanwhile have the Martial stat of 5.

Also if other anons have any other questions, I will try to answer them as well.

>>5761106
Good, good, keep at it young lady. We (or at least I) have high hopes for you for our future adventures!

>>5761084
Once we have a town hall i think i will have Alric daily tasks modified, and we can dump some on Taretha too properly when the pregnacy ends. Maybe have her organize from most important to least important our papers. Should be able to salvage an hour or two from it, so we can - beat to de- train rigorously Malevus and our men.

>>5761077
>Go to the garrison and deliver the news to him in person. Going there would send a message that you are quite serious about this.

Make sure to re iterate that our issue is with garithos, and so far garithos only.

>>5761077
>>Go to the garrison and deliver the news to him in person. Going there would send a message that you are quite serious about this.
Going there in person would make us seem brave and sure.

At some point we should try to persuade Malevus to sew something for us. She should get over whatever issues she has with clothesmaking.

And Medivh can we expect new mercenaries to be available come spring and summer?

>>5761077
>Call Captain Reginald to your study. You are a Prince and he is just a foreign Captain in your lands.
Time to have a little heart to heart. If nothing comes of it THEN we go to the garrison.

>>5761077
>Have the meeting in the Dawnholme barracks. It is a bit more neutral place, you could also inspect your troops there at the same time.

Captain Reginald is a decent guy, and these guys are some of the ones who fought the ogres and whose comrades died right? We're all fighting men here. Going in there and making a declaration they get out of town in front of his men would be a bit harsh. This is more or less Barracks drama, Barracks politics, between Alric and Garithos. No matter what as long as Reginald agrees to pack up with his men and leave it makes Garithos look bad if his own officer felt like they were in the wrong and had to back off. If we go in there and drop the eviction notice on his desk in front of his men it makes Reginald look weak, and then Garithos will naturally shift blame to Captain Reginald while downplaying his own fault in this. Reginald also has a decent relationship with Uther if I recall.

If my count is right, calling Reginald into your study has 3 votes, barracks has 2 and the garrison has 2. I will allow this vote to go through the night. The next update will come tomorrow afternoon or later in the evening.

>>5761181

You can expect new set of mercenaries to be available come spring and summer. I have some ideas and tricks in mind.

Overall it is going to be a fun time! Many things are in motion.

>>5761191
Could you switch to voting for our office? I agree with you that doing it in the garrison is a bad idea.

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>>5761242
>Overall it is going to be a fun time! Many things are in motion.
Worrying