>>5789207
The major flies through the wooden door to the main room, which wasn’t locked, and tumbles across the floor. He manages to roll back to his feet and looks around frantically, only to find that his fellow officers have already been taken down and tied up by your comrades.

“... you couldn’t even try to put up a fight?” he sighs wearily. “Come on now.”

“They’re comedically strong!” one of the other officers protests before getting a rope tied across his mouth.

“That’s definitely true,” you confirm as the major scrambles for a weapon. “You don’t need to bother with that… take a look at my face.”

“It’s already healing!?” he demands. “What the hell are you!?”

“Oh my,” you muse, feigning surprise. “And here I thought we had been managing to keep things quite civil.”

“I knew what you were,” he insists curtly, having found a long knife on top of a wooden chest at the foot of one of his junior officers’ beds. “Or so I thought… the reality of it’s way past anything I was told.”

“Funny how that keeps happening, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” he agrees, “you’d think they’d figure this out a bit better than that.”

>Withdraw on foot, carrying the highest-value officers yourselves. Leave the rest.
>Steal a cart and stack the captives into it, then pull the cart along.
>Hold onto this location for the time being. Quietly remove the captives to a staging area.
>Other?

>>5789209
>>Withdraw on foot, carrying the highest-value officers yourselves. Leave the rest.

>>5789209
>>Withdraw on foot, carrying the highest-value officers yourselves. Leave the rest

New reader here, a bit back I read SSQ and recently heard you were doing a Claymore quest. I binged it and decided to try figuring out how to use this site. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into this!

>>5789209
>Hold onto this location for the time being. Quietly remove the captives to a staging area.

>>5789209
>>Steal a cart and stack the captives into it, then pull the cart along.

>>5789209
>3d10 best of three

Rolled 4, 1, 9 = 14 (3d10)

>>5791270

Rolled 10, 10, 6 = 26 (3d10)

>>5791270

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

>>5791270

>>5791270
With some consideration, you and your companions identify the highest-ranked officers in the room - including a colonel, the major, and two captains - and focus on withdrawing with those men. The others, which turn out to be a mix of lieutenants and sergeants, you leave bound and gagged where you found them. Each of you takes just one officer, either under your arm or thrown over your shoulder, leaving one hand free for your sword.

It turns out to have been a good decision, since you come under fire as you try to leave - which forces you to defend not only yourselves but your captives, using your oversized swords as highly-mobile shields to defend from bullets that come from multiple directions. In the streets, from the windows, from around corners, everywhere.

“This isn’t going as well,” you admit, as yet another bullet pings loudly off the side of your sword.

“Maybe we should take cover?” Aurora muses aloud, swinging her sword low to knock a hand grenade away, far enough to render it harmless.

>We could start moving through some of these buildings.
>Let’s try to get up on top of the rooftops instead.
>Nope. Speed is going to have to be our armor.
>Other?

>>5792718
>Nope. Speed is going to have to be our armor.

>>5792718
>>We could start moving through some of these buildings.
Doors, walls... basically the same thing right?

>>5792718
>>We could start moving through some of these buildings.

>>5792718
>We could start moving through some of these buildings.

>>5792718
“There’s a principle that applies here,” you declare in reply.

“What’s that, miss Noel?”

“Any wall can be a door,” you summarize, “if you try hard enough… we’ll go through the ground floors of these buildings and use them as cover!”
>3d10 best of three

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

>>5793433

Rolled 10, 3, 2 = 15 (3d10)

>>5793433

Rolled 4, 1, 10 = 15 (3d10)

>>5793433

>>5793433
As it turns out, this is another reason why it was a good idea to limit the number of captives you took on this little fishing excursion - because if you’d taken two apiece you wouldn’t be able to knock holes through all of the barriers in your way.

Wooden fences are nothing, you could normally just crash through them unharmed on your own but being able to cut them out of the way means there won’t be any harm to your captives. Likewise, you’re easily capable of smashing down sections of mud-brick walls to cut straight through buildings separated by narrow yards and alleyways, leaving you and your cohort exposed for only the minimum possible time.

You can even move fast enough that they don’t end up choking on the dust you kick up from the successive impacts.

…

The enemy ended up firing on you as you withdrew from the edge of the town, though it seems you’re the only one who actually took a bullet as part of your efforts to ensure the major didn’t. Eventually your teams regroup, before withdrawing back across the border and into Hazari territory once more.

…

“Major,” you greet the captured officer, entering the interrogation room.

You’ve brought the captured officers to Acerrae, where you’ve had a storehouse converted into a temporary prison. In a nearby stacked-stone and mortar shed, you’ve been working over the captives one at a time, and this time it’s the major’s turn.

>Begin with introductions. You’ve always tried to keep these things civil.
>Commend his dedication. He’s the only one who managed a proper defense.
>If he has any information you can use, he should save you both the trouble and share it.
>Other?

>>5796195
>Commend his dedication. He’s the only one who managed a proper defense.
>Ask him why he displayed it. What's in this mission is worth it?

>>5796195
>>Begin with introductions. You’ve always tried to keep these things civil.

>>5796264
In with this guy

>>5796195
>3d10 best of three

Rolled 10, 10, 6 = 26 (3d10)

>>5797317

File: d4bf036ad7a7432046ea3475b(...).jpg (1.43 MB, 1667x2500)

1.43 MB JPG

>>5797324
eyy

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

>>5797317

Rolled 8, 1, 1 = 10 (3d10)

>>5797317

>>5797317
“I was surprised,” you admit to start things off the minute you’re alone with him. “I wasn’t suspecting any real resistance when we came crashing into your barracks.”

“You don’t say.”

You nod. “You actually did pretty well all things considered.”

He scoffs. “I tried.”

“Which is more than any of the others can say,” you observe. “Was it worth it?”

“Not particularly,” he admits immediately. “But that’s not the part that matters.”

“The part that matters is that at least you know you did what you were supposed to.”

He nods. “Glad you get it.”

>So what now?
>I’m Noel, the local queen.
>I have a few questions.
>Other?

>>5798512
>I have a few questions.

>>5798512
>I have a few questions.

>>5798512
>3d10 best of three

Rolled 2, 1, 3 = 6 (3d10)

>>5799496

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

>>5799496

Rolled 4, 8, 8 = 20 (3d10)

>>5799496

>>5798512
“I have a few questions for you,” you admit to the man, leaning forward and resting your chin on against your enmeshed fingers. “How cooperative are you feeling at the moment?”

“What would you say if my answer was ‘not at all’, out of curiosity?”

“Then I would remind you that my kind respect the sanctity of human life,” you reply calmly. “But that does not mean we need to make your stay here pleasant by any stretch of the imagination.”

“Is that a threat?”

“An observation,” you correct him. “And not one which should come as any sort of surprise.”

After a moment, he nods in agreement. “You do have a point there.”

“So, as much as I dislike doing so,” you muse, “I’ll repeat myself - how cooperative are you feeling?”

“A little more than I was five minutes ago,” he admits, leaning back in his own chair.

“Is that so?”

“It is,” he nods once. “Honestly, you’re surprisingly pleasant to talk to for a monster in human skin.”

You consider the situation for a few moments. “Was that an attempt at flattery?”

“May have been,” he shrugs. “Honestly it came out so awkward that even if it was, I’m not sure I’d want to admit it.”

“Plus, I doubt your superiors would appreciate it.”

“Definitely not,” he agrees. “So I guess really, how I feel about getting questions depends on the questions, regardless of my thoughts on the questioner.”

“So there are limits to your cooperation?” you summarize.

He nods again. “That’s right. But like I said before, something about you’s making me feel a little more inclined to talk - so really, the only way to know for sure whether I’ll answer any particular question is to ask and see.”
>1/2

>>5801990
>We’ll start simple and work our way up - who are you? And I don’t just mean name and rank.
>You’ve been flirty with me since I interrupted your shave. Is there some reason behind that?
>I want to assess the long-term changes to your army’s organization, and you’re going to help.
>Other?

>>5801999
>>We’ll start simple and work our way up - who are you? And I don’t just mean name and rank.

>>5801999
>We’ll start simple and work our way up - who are you? And I don’t just mean name and rank.

>>5801999
>We’ll start simple and work our way up - who are you? And I don’t just mean name and rank.

>>5801999
>3d10 best of three

Rolled 2, 9, 3 = 14 (3d10)

>>5802754

Rolled 4, 2, 6 = 12 (3d10)

>>5802754

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

>>5802754

>>5802754
“Well, let’s start with the basics,” you decide calmly, waving for a nearby soldier who you brought along to make your presence seem somehow more ‘official’ to bring you something to write with. “Like your name, your rank, where you’re from, why you’re here. That sort of thing.”

“To what end?” the man asks curiously.

“I want to know who it is I’m dealing with,” you half-lie. In reality, you typically start with these simple things to test a subject in this officer’s position. If you ask him straightforward questions you can at very least also gain a better understanding of what he’s like when he’s telling you the truth - so that if he tells you a lie, you’re more likely to catch him at it.

After a moment, the man seems to agree. “My name is Duncan Carwood. I’m a major in the Provisional Dragonslayer Army. My age is twenty-nine years, of which I’ve served thirteen with the PDA.”

No signs of any dishonesty so far, so you motion for him to continue. “I was born on the continent, in a small kingdom called Greystone. The town I grew up in was Stonebridge, which is a few miles outside the capitol city, Hightower. My parents owned a bakery.”

“What sort of things do bakeries where you grew up make?” you ask curiously.

He seems a little surprised. “Various breads, buns, and rolls of course. But also meat pies and fruit tartes.”

“Go on.”

“Well, the best were the braised lamb pies when they were in season,” Major Carwood continues. “But the seasonal fruit tartes also sold well. I’m partial to blackberries myself.”

“What made you leave?”

There’s a pause.

>You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.
>I want to understand your faction’s individual motivations.
>Other?

>>5804726
>>You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.

Softball him, keep slowly reeling him in.

>>5804726
>Other?
Just wait for him to answer.

>>5804726
>>5804935
+1

>>5804726
… the pause continues.

The major clears his throat, and watches you expectantly.

You remain silent.

He fidgets.

Your lack of concern must surely be palpable.

His will slowly erodes.

Your victory can only be absolute.

“I… saw opportunities in military service,” he eventually admits. “Or at least, I thought I did.”

“You regret your decision?” you wonder aloud.

He shakes his head. “Not quite. But I did think that I was going to make more of a difference, serving my kingdom. Reality was, it was just a job most of the time - and when we actually got to fighting, it was never over anything that seemed worth interrupting our jobs over, let alone risking our lives.”

>And so you came here to risk your life instead? That makes total sense… right, like I’d say that.
>If I had to guess, recruiters are a pretty commonplace source of newcomers for your faction?
>Talk more about the differences between your previous military service and what you do now.
>Other?

>>5805818
>Talk more about the differences between your previous military service and what you do now.

>>5805818
>Talk more about the differences between your previous military service and what you do now.

>>5805818
>>If I had to guess, recruiters are a pretty commonplace source of newcomers for your faction?

>>5805818
>3d10 best of three

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

>>5806865

Rolled 4, 2, 8 = 14 (3d10)

>>5806865

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

>>5806865

>>5806865
“Tell me something,” you insist with an appraising gaze. “Having served both in a regular military and among these ‘provisional dragon-slayers’, what are the key differences?”

“There aren’t many,” he admits candidly. “But one is that the experience of everyone joining is pretty widely variable - some have no training, some are regular soldiers, some are mercenaries or specialists.”

“So there needs to be a standardized training regimen,” you muse. “Similar to any other fighting force.”

“Except in our case it was to take down much larger targets.”

>You said ‘mercenaries’. Is that commonplace on the continent?
>What sort of training and equipment did you rely on for that goal?
>So, how much of that Organization is made up of zealots?
>Other?

>>5807844
>>You said ‘mercenaries’. Is that commonplace on the continent?

>>5807844
>What sort of training and equipment did you rely on for that goal?

>>5807844
>>What sort of training and equipment did you rely on for that goal?

>>5807844
“What sort of training and equipment was supposed to help you achieve that goal?” you ask curiously. It’s not just a question fishing around for information about your enemy – it’s a genuine point of confusion for you, since you can’t say you’ve seen anything even remotely adequate to take on your faction, let alone the faction of ‘dragons’ you were created and fielded (ostensibly) to face.

Major Carwood considers it for a moment, clearly weighing in his mind how much he wants to say.
>3d10 best of three

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

>>5808694

Rolled 4, 10, 5 = 19 (3d10)

>>5808694

Rolled 5, 6, 6 = 17 (3d10)

>>5808694

>>5808694
“Artillery-based.”

“Excuse me?” you ask.

He repeats, and clarifies. “Artillery is the only tool at our disposal for dealing with such enemies. We have specialized shells back home designed to penetrate high-durability targets, and our armored vehicles are much more advanced.”

“I figured as much,” you admit. “From what I can tell, the ability for kingdoms here to produce hardened steel is just too limited.”

Major Carwood nods once. “That’s right. Our fuel and high explosive supplies are rather precarious as well, and it’s been hard to find sufficiently narrow-gauge wires… basically everything that makes our military force effective is rare here.”

“Which is why you went to the trouble of taking over a country with reasonably plentiful mineral wealth,” you reason. “I hadn’t thought of that before… though admittedly, it wouldn’t really matter.”

“Your targets would still be the same,” the major guesses.

“Correct.”

“I have to admit, I’ve been impressed with how your side has conducted this war,” he offers with a thoughtful expression. “It’s really a shame we can’t be on the same side here, and I know I’m not the only officer who thinks that way.”

>We weren’t always enemies. Your superiors chose this with their disregard for our lives.
>It’s much the same from our perspective - you and your peers are simply on the wrong side.
>Your faction and ours are fundamentally incompatible, though I bear you no ill will personally.
>Other?

>>5809933
>We weren’t always enemies. Your superiors chose this with their disregard for our lives.

>>5809933
>>We weren’t always enemies. Your superiors chose this with their disregard for our lives.

>>5809933
>We weren’t always enemies. Your superiors chose this with their disregard for our lives.

>>5809933
>We weren’t always enemies. Your superiors chose this with their disregard for our lives.

>>5809933
>>We weren’t always enemies. Your superiors chose this with their disregard for our lives.

>>5809933
“... we weren’t always enemies,” you admit calmly. “It was your superiors who were running things here who decided on that.”

“How so?” the major asks curiously.

You un-holster your sword and lay it across the table in front of him. “Every part of this sword once belonged to another warrior like myself - a friend, a senior, a mentor. All were tortured and killed by your organization. My fellow survivors and I narrowly avoided the same fate.”

“So it’s personal for you.”

You shake your head. “Yes and no. The callous disregard for human life… I wouldn’t be able to ignore that.”

“Fair,” he admits. “Although I will say most of us knew nothing of this place.”

“I know,” you reply.

>So that, among other reasons, is why I can never, ever forgive your faction for what it’s done.
>I’m fine with you, so long as you understand what happened and share my disgust towards it.
>It’s in the past now, and it helped make me who I am. So there’s no sense obsessing over it.
>Other?

>>5811907
>I’m fine with you, so long as you understand what happened and share my disgust towards it.

>>5811907
>>I’m fine with you, so long as you understand what happened and share my disgust towards it.

>>5811907
>I’m fine with you, so long as you understand what happened and share my disgust towards it.

>>5811907
>3d10 best of three

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

>>5813806

Rolled 9, 6, 3 = 18 (3d10)

>>5813806

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

>>5813806

>>5813806
“And to be fair,” you muse, crossing your arms and settling into your seat, “we didn’t know any of you existed until fairly recently – your whole continent, for that matter.”

“I can see how that’d happen,” he admits. “Though it feels kinda bad to think all you know about where I’m from comes from your enemy.”

“I can only really speak for myself, but I don’t mind you,” you sigh. “At least not individually, not in principle. Some mutual understanding could be possible.”

“Such as?”

“That the things done here were wrong,” you insist curtly. “To us, and to our homeland. If we can start by agreeing on that, then we can go forward from there.”

After a few moments, Major Carwood seems to nod in agreement. “I think we can agree on that much… at very least, I haven’t met anyone here who struck me as particularly deserving it.”

>In that case, let’s negotiate. What do you and your fellow captives want, and what can you give us?
>What would you do if I let you all go?
>And how much further could that reasonability extend?
>Other?

>>5818893
>>In that case, let’s negotiate. What do you and your fellow captives want, and what can you give us?

>>5818893
>>What would you do if I let you all go?

>>5818893
>In that case, let’s negotiate. What do you and your fellow captives want, and what can you give us?

>>5818893
>3d10 best of three

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

>>5820018

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

>>5820018

Rolled 10, 9, 3 = 22 (3d10)

>>5820018

>>5820018
“In that case let’s sit down and negotiate,” you suggest.

The major looks at you curiously. “You wouldn’t rather deal with someone of a higher rank?”

“Is there anyone of a higher rank with any shred of reason?” you ask.

After a moment, he shrugs. “Okay, I can see your point.”

“So what do you want,” you press, “and what can you offer us?”

“I think my side wants to go back without giving anything up,” he explains. “In other words, they were satisfied with how things were and wanna pretend non of this ever happened. Which if they traded anything for it, or even if the higher-ups suspected they did, would never happen.”

“It’s good then that they have a ready scapegoat,” you offer.

Carwood nods. “Sure, I see where you’re going. But would you be willing to just let them go so easily?”

>Sure. I don’t think there’s much any of them could offer that a Major couldn’t.
>I was thinking of ransoming them separately. What do you think about that?
>I’m not particularly comfortable letting them off so easily.
>Other?

>>5822301
>How likely it is that your side will regroup and try again?

>>5822309
>>5822301

>>5822301
>3d10 best of three

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

>>5824349

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

>>5824349

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

>>5824349

>>5824349
“So,” you muse, “what are the odds your side rallies and tries again against us?”

Major Carwood frowns at you. “Define ‘my side’, if you don’t mind.”

“I’ll leave that to you,” you muse.

“In terms of the officers you have captured,” Carwood replies after considering the issue for a moment or two in silence, “I believe there are a few who can never be convinced. That should prove to be true more generally as well. Individual soldiers may differ in their opinions and their loyalties to their commanding officers.”

“So it’s complicated,” you summarize. “Please try to unspool the likely responses by percentages. Estimating is fine.”

“It’s a 100% chance that some number of ‘my’ side,” he decides, emphasizing the notional quality of his allegiances at the moment, “would pursue further hostility. My guess would be no more than a quarter to a third of the total force as it stands.”

“And the balance?”

“Some would refuse to fight, others would surrender.”

“I assume that the zealots wouldn’t take kindly to either,” you guess.

Carwood nods once. “You’re right. I also have to assume that there would be some open combat within the ranks as some units refuse to fight, while others refuse to allow that.”

“And the long-term result would be that ‘your’ faction’s next offensive would be the last,” you summarize.

“I think that might be true.”

>Then I’d like to ask for your help in ending this stupidity, so we can all go home.
>Try your hand with the officers here. If things go well, we can decide from there.
>If we can forestall any offensive for a little while, there may simply not be another.
>Other?

>>5826127
>>Then I’d like to ask for your help in ending this stupidity, so we can all go home.

>>5826127
>What about the people on the continent? If this expedition fails, how likely are they to send another one?

>>5826127
>>What about the people on the continent? If this expedition fails, how likely are they to send another one?

>>5826127
“And if this expedition fails?” you ask. “Will there be a second?”

Carwood snorts in derision. “I mean, they could always just sail around and shell some of the ports around here. But they can’t even do that forever.”

“But they can certainly do it for a while,” you suggest. “Is that correct?”

He nods. “Yeah.”

“Well then,” you muse. “That I suppose we could tolerate at worst, or we could possibly fight back with coastal artillery.”

“Then I have a question for you,” Carwood replies. “In order to have some chance to win minds over on my side, it would help to be able to offer something.”

“To be able to go home if they want,” you suggest.

“That,” Carwood confirms. “But there may be some who do not wish to return to the continent – at least, not right away.”

“So you’d like for me to offer those soldiers someplace to live on this island,” you summarize his thoughts.

“If that is possible,” Carwood nods. “I think it would also serve the short-term needs of those who’d rather go home.”

>I’ll see if I can arrange something like that. It makes too much sense NOT to.
>I’m not sure that will be possible, given the size of this invading force.
>Can’t do that. Too big of a security risk.
>Other?

>>5831025
>I’ll see if I can arrange something like that. It makes too much sense NOT to.

>>5831025
>I’ll see if I can arrange something like that. It makes too much sense NOT to.

>>5831025
>>I’ll see if I can arrange something like that. It makes too much sense NOT to.

>>5831025
>Can’t do that. Too big of a security risk.

>>5831025
“… it makes sense,” you eventually decide. “If I can arrange something I’ll see to it that arrangements are made, but I also can’t promise anything. You probably don’t know much about our local history here, but warfare over territory has been a problem over the centuries. Hazaran’s recent annexation of several border territories had actually made tensions with our neighbors somewhat more acute until just recently.”

“The shelling along your west border,” the Major muses.

You nod. “That alleviated it partially, in one direction.”

“Well, here’s the thing,” he replies with a wry grin. “What’s the worst sort of arrangement you could come up with?”

“A campsite in the foothills with an armed guard, fences, and regular shipments of food and water,” you decide.

“Beats getting shot,” he observes, “and there’s my selling point, I think. Honestly, the more I listen to you talk the more I start to think you’re less likely to kill us all than our own superiors are.”
>3d10 best of three
>will probably have to continue when I get back to the US, as I fly out tomorrow

Rolled 10, 4, 5 = 19 (3d10)

>>5833104

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

>>5833104

Rolled 1, 5, 5 = 11 (3d10)

>>5833104