>>26602901
((Archives are located at http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Monsterhearts%20Quest and/or http://archive.foolz.us/tg/search/subject/monsterhearts%20quest/type/op/order/asc/ ))

>>26602901
>[]Quietly question Avril about what’s going on. Her father wouldn’t really do anything to hurt one of his own guests, right? Don’t the Fae have laws of hospitality?

>>26602901
>[x]Politely excuse yourself from the table and head into the woods. Possibly at a dead run. The King is eight or nine foot of solid muscle with giant antlers, after all. Telekinesis or no telekinesis, you don’t want to leave Jill on her own with him.
lets take some risks. maybe the faeking likes bold people.

>>26602901
>[x]Quietly question Avril about what’s going on. Her father wouldn’t really do anything to hurt one of his own guests, right? Don’t the Fae have laws of hospitality?
There's taking risks, and then there's taking stupid risks.
>>26603042
And then there's pouring gasoline on yourself and holding up a lighter while saying "Hey guys, take a look at this!"

>>26603099
>And then there's pouring gasoline on yourself and holding up a lighter while saying "Hey guys, take a look at this!"
that seems fun. lets do that. can we find some gasoline in the forest?

>>26603099
You say that but we would probably survive that if horrifically burned. Not that I'm saying that or just straight running off is the right thing to do.

>[x]Quietly question Avril about what’s going on. Her father wouldn’t really do anything to hurt one of his own guests, right? Don’t the Fae have laws of hospitality?
For all we know, Jill may be in danger, and Faedad is saving her.
I hope.

>>26602901
((Okay, writing now.))

>>26602901
Quietly question Avril about it, and also about what excuse to make if we suddenly have a pressing need to leave the table ourselves.

>>26603403
You lean over and try to whisper to Avril without being too obvious. "Avril, what just happened? Is Jill going to be in trouble? I mean, she's a guest, isn't she protected by some sort of law of hospitality?"

Avril looks shaken. "I don't know. There's all sorts of ways for ways for a guest to break hospitality. Those sounds... if she's damaged the forest, that's almost like attacking father directly, and that's bad. Very bad." She glances at the surrounding guests, then continues in an even quieter tone. "I can't challenge my father's authority. Not safely at the best of times. not when he's angry, and certainly not in front of all of these people. It wouldn't be seen as an advisor giving their opinion, it would be seen as a challenge for the throne. I... I don't know if there's anything we can do for Jill. I've seen you talk rings around all sorts of people, but I don't have time to explain even a fraction of the laws and codes of the court, and he might not be in a mood to listen at all. In the end, he's the King, and the law is what he says it is. If he felt directly threatened or challenged, by a mortal, no-one here would question his right to do whatever he saw fit to that mortal."

"Okay, what about taking Jill and running? Or fighting him?"

Avril goes pale. "That... um. That'd have some really, really problematic implications, Chris. Even if you held him off for long enough for Jill to get away, it would still be a direct challenge to his authority. Not to mention that Jill would never be welcome here again, of course. It'd be... complicated and political." She looks really uncomfortable at this line of discussion.

"Isn't there anything you can think of? Any loophole in the laws of hospitality?"

Avril looks down at her plate, nervously twiddling her fork. "If she's offered violence to the King unprovoked... I'm not sure. I need time to think. But I'm not sure how much time we have."

What do you want to do?

>>26603917
"Okay, can we leave the table, find Jill and your dad, and try to talk him down? Would doing it in private away from here be any better? Any way that I can get us the time we need?"

>>26603917

"We should go help Jill, Avril. This is important, and she might get hurt."

>>26604022
Going could have even worse consequences than staying put; Avril just said that her going could be construed as a challenge to the throne.

>>26603917
"If I were to propose a toast to your father, would he be obliged to come back here to receive it? That might buy us a little more time, and get him off of Jill's back."

>>26604057
ooo thats a good one. Do this.

>>26604057
This might work. It could also give Avril a chance to excuse herself and slip away to find Jill and come up with a plan.

>>26603917
why would we even want to fight fae king. just go into forest and find jill, then we'll solve problem form there on.

>>26604111
Because going into the forest and leaving the table has its own list of repercussions, some of which makes things worse for us, Jill, and Avril than if we just stayed still.

>>26603917
((Writing.))

>>26604260
"We need to do something soon, Avril. Jill might get hurt."

Avril glares at you. "I know that. I'm just trying to think of a solution that won't get us all hurt even worse."

"Okay, is there any safe way for us to leave the table?"

"In theory I can leave the table any time I like - I'm my father's proxy until he returns, being the only other royal at the table. It'll cause even more controversy if I get up and follow him, though. This is a political nightmare already. You could probably leave without political consequences - it's just everything you'd be doing afterwards that would have a long string of repercussions."

You rack your brains for anything relating to hospitality. "Okay... what about a toast? If I propose a toast to your father, would he be obliged to come back here to receive it? Would that buy us some time?"

Avril shakes her head. "I'm father's proxy, remember. It would just be me receiving the toast in his place."

"Okay... but what if you left the table? Would someone else be his proxy?"

Avril shakes her head. "No, there's no other members of the royal family here tonight... wait. That might actually work. Remind me to kiss you for that idea later. It won't be much of a delay, and I'm afraid it'll leave you facing my father basically alone, but I might be able to get to Jill and calm her down, get her to apologise. It's all about the spin at that point."

Avril quietly slides her chair back, tenses a little, and does a backflip. From a sitting position, right over her chair. She lands on her feet and starts running towards the forest, in that same leaping, elegant gait she had when running down the deer.

You tear your eyes away from Avril's sleek, rapidly disappearing form and rise to your feet, holding a thin crystal glass that you haven't actually been drinking from. "Pray silence, honoured guests. Let us drink a toast to the noble king who has provided us with this feast."

((Cont.))

>>26604581
There's a brief, poignant silence, and then the tall nobleman you spoke to before calls out "To the King!" There's a mass raising of glasses and shouts of "The King! To the King!"

You hear a slow, rumbling sound from behind you, like boulders grinding together. You carefully resist the urge to turn around as an enormous shadow suddenly falls over you and the table in front of you. Then there’s a small noise like a miniature thunderclap and the king is standing in front of his massive throne. He glares at you from beneath his thick, bark-coloured eyebrows, but raises an elaborately-carved wooden goblet bigger than your head, and gently touches it against your glass. He drinks a long, deep draught from it, and sits. The rest of the guests hurriedly sit down again.

“A well-spoken toast, Ambassador”, he comments in his deep, rolling voice. The corner of his mouth crinkles a bit. “Your knowledge of our customs is impressive. Have you studied our laws deeply, then?”

>>26604587
"I'm studying them as we speak, Your Majesty, and finding it most enlightening. The Hunt earlier quite the surprise, but a delightful one. The stags were magnificent. I didn't even know there were stags in these woods, though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. It was an honour to have hunted one."

>>26604587
"Thank you, your Majesty, for such a compliment. I must apologize to His Highness, that while my studies of the laws of the Court continue apace, my breadth of knowledge pales in comparison to his own."

Flattery is good, right? I can't remember all of the details about etiquette that Avril taught us; MH, if a suggestion obviously goes against something that Avril taught us in her etiquette lessons, will you tell us?

>>26604689
((Avril has given you reasonably basic court etiquette lessons, yes, and you vaguely remember some historical courtly etiquette and so on as well. She's not enormously well versed on the non-royalty side of the etiquette equation, though. Mostly it's just a case of "don't insult, challenge, threaten, question, disrespect, etc. etc. the king or anyone who outranks you", and no-one else here outranks you anyway. ))

>>26604745
Okay. I'm just afraid of getting painted into a corner if we say the wrong thing.

>>26604784
What little I know:

Your Majesty is for the monarch and his wife, and Your Highness is for his children. Dukes are Your Grace, and anything lower than that but higher than us is My Lord. Peers are referred to by their holdings; the Earl of Oregano is Lord Oregano or just Oregano if we're friends. Knights are Sir or Dame depending on gender.

>>26604587
((Writing now.))

>>26604876
Okay, so since this is the kind of stuff that Chris would know but players wouldn't, can we assume that dialogue will be altered to suit this knowledge?

>>26604954
((Yes. Well. To an extent, anyway. Chris isn't going to be talking like someone who's been in a royal court his whole life, but that toast, for instance, was proper formal etiquette.))

>>26604941
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm studying them even now, and finding them most enlightening. The Hunt earlier, for instance - the stags were magnificent. Your Majesty does one such as myself quite an honour by allowing me to participate in the Hunt."

The King's brows furrow. "If only all of your kind were so honoured by our customs."

Time to change the subject. "While my studies of the laws of the Court are ongoing, I must nevertheless confess that my knowledge pales in comparison to Your Majesty's. Perhaps Your Majesty might know of some sources I could consult to enlighten myself further?"

A slow smile spreads across the King's face. "I suppose I cannot rely upon my daughter to be the perfect teacher. The laws of the Fae are not often bound to ink and skin, but there are many who would gladly teach you the ways of the court. And one or two who would ask a price that their King instructed them to ask. I will speak more on this later. For now, I see that you have yet to drink from that glass, despite proposing the toast. Does the vintage of our wine displease you, Ambassador?"

>>26604977
((Speaking of formal etiquette questions... that would be the conclusion of the toast.))

>>26605298
"One can only use one's mouth for a single thing at a time, Your Majesty, and I couldn't forgo the opportunity of your conversation. The bouquet, however, is excellent, and in a moment I can offer an opinion on the flavour."
And then take a sip.

>>26605364
Sounds pretty good.
Seconding this.

>>26605298
((Okay then, writing now))

>>26605577
"My humble apologies, Your Majesty. I merely wished the honour of Your Majesty's conversation. The bouquet of the wine is excellent, however, and if Your Majesty will permit me to indulge for a moment I will also be able to offer an opinion on the flavour."

You wait for the King, who smiles broadly again and gives you a brief nod, and sip the wine. You don't have much to compare it with - in fact, it's the first alcoholic beverage you've had - but it's sweet, slightly fruity, and has an odd aftertaste that's pleasant but unfamiliar - you presume that's the alcohol itself.

"Thank you for completing your toast, Ambassador," says the King. "Now, I have a little business to conclude. Our conversation will continue later."

He carefully sets his goblet down on the table, nods to a few nearby courtiers, and vanishes again with another miniature thunderclap.

Fuck. Now what?

>>26605762
sit. lets see what'll happen. if anything bad happens then we can start to think of a solution.
for now sit, eat and talk with people or whatever they are.

>>26605762
How long was that? We gave Avril a little time at least. We can't leave, can't pull that trick again, and can't trust anyone here to give us decent advice. How far are we into the meal? If it looks like it's wrapping up we could propose a game or contest of some kind to maybe draw the king back, but I worry about usurping his prerogative.

>>26605762
We have to trust in Avril's plan.
Sit here, eat and drink. Be sociable, but don't initiate conversations, and be very careful with what we say.

>>26605762
Wait. Pray internally. but really we should stay here.

>>26605762
((Okay, writing now))

>>26606159
Everything will be fine. You haven't heard any more noises. Avril had a plan. All shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.

You sit and eat. The servants carry on bringing out courses. An elderly-looking gentleman on your left hand side strikes up a conversation with you about the prospects of the Reds and Whites in their next race. You politely tell him that you're not familiar with them, and he assures you that they are the pinnacle of chariot racing, and that the next time you visit Rome you should stop by the Circus Maximus and see for yourself.

You smile and nod and politely tell him you don't often have a chance to visit Rome. The elderly gentleman tells you what a pity that is, and begins rambling about the youth of today lacking in sufficient leisure time.

The arrival of the first dessert course brings a pleasant end to that, but also causes you to worry. Avril and Jill still haven't returned. By the second dessert course you're nibbling at your food from a combination of nerves and lack of room. Just how many dishes are there?

Avril picks that moment to slide back into her seat, next to you. She looks utterly exhausted and devastated. "I think I got Jill calmed down," she tells you. "But we got separated in the woods, before I could present her before my father. They're still out there. I don't know what's happening. What course is it?"

"The second dessert one, I think."

"Okay. Just the voyde to go, then, and it won't look too odd if we retire from the table together at that point, they'll just assume we're going off into the woods to fuck. Mortals are known to be touchy about privacy. We need to find Jill again and... see what's happened." She looks down at her plate, nudging the cake with her fork. "This is all my fault. I should have warned her, should have realised she'd be upset. I didn't think about the differences between you and us..."

She trails off, staring at her plate. What do you want to say?

>>26606833
"I'm as much to blame as you are; I should have thought to warn her too. And don't forget that I'm more similar to your people than Jill is- less human, I mean. We'll find her soon enough, and you can explain to her.

Are... are we the first non-fae you've become this close with? I ask because it seems like this is the first time you've had to deal with a situation like this. Nobody expects you to get it perfectly the first time, so don't blame yourself."

>>26606833

"If we eat really quick, will the last dessert be served earlier?"

A silly question, yeah.

Other than that, well, just hold her hand and hope for the best.

>>26606833
"It's just as much my fault; I should have told her how dangerous being impolite can be in the Fae Court. Let's just hope Jill is okay until we find her."

>>26606833
"it was an interesting surprise for me but i should have known better that it would be too much for jill. we can only try and make things better now."

>>26606833
((Okay, writing))

>>26607178
"Don't blame yourself, Avril. I should have warned her too. I should have told her how important politeness is here. We'll find her, and then you can explain things, all right?"

Avril nods shakily. "Everything will be okay, right?"

"Yeah, it will." You gently reach out and hold her hand. "Avril, are Jill and I the first people - I mean, the first non-fae people you've become this close to? It seems like this is the first time you've had to deal with the human and fae worlds mixing. Nobody expects you to get it perfectly right the first time."

Avril lets out a low, bitter laugh. "That's another difference between the human and fae worlds to remember. There's very little tolerance for weakness or mistakes here. One slip-up and you go from predator to prey." Her expression softens a little. "But... yeah. You and Jill... I've never really known anyone my own age before I came to school. I mean, I've had dalliances with courtiers, obviously, but I've never had *friends*. Or real lovers." She squeezes your hand tightly. "I don't want to lose her, Chris. She's so pure, so innocent. I feel like I don't deserve her."

You raise an eyebrow, grinning a little. "I'm not pure and innocent?"

She smiles feebly back at you. "Says the man who had me sucking on his fingers half an hour after we met, and very nearly a few other things. Wonderful, absolutely, pure and innocent, not a chance."

"A good point. Hey, the servants are bringing something else out." It looks like they're carrying bowls of small wafers, selections of cheese samples, lots of little finger food snacks. They place them on the table between groups of diners, rather than at any specific place. Avril smiles, and rises to her feet.

"Honoured guests, the Court of Spring thanks you for your attendance upon this day of feasting. The Court invites you to freely remain at the feast until the rising of the moon, and to converse as you see fit."

((Cont.))

>>26608057
She takes your hand and strolls gently to the border of the forest, then rushes onwards. You plunge through thickets and bushes, quickly coming to a large valley much like the one you hunted in earlier – in fact, it may even be the same valley. Avril looks frantically around. “Dammit. He’s changing the terrain on us. We’re not just looking within my father’s forests, we’re looking within *him*. How are we going to find Jill in time?”

[]Split up – he can’t keep tags on both of you at once, and you’ll cover more ground that way
[]Listen carefully – he can change the terrain, but surely he can’t change the air above it?
[]Press on down the valley and hope that there’s a limit to the King’s earthmoving abilities.
[]Maybe you can use your bond with the King to find him? Presumably he’ll be near Jill. You have no idea how to actually do that, though.
[]Other

>>26608068
>[]Listen carefully – he can change the terrain, but surely he can’t change the air above it?
I don't like the idea of splitting up, or the idea of activating that connection to a Fae's alien mind.

>>26608068
I vote listen carefully, if we split up we'll probably die, same with touching brains with a fae king.

>>26608068
>[]Split up – he can’t keep tags on both of you at once, and you’ll cover more ground that way

>>26608068
>[]Listen carefully – he can change the terrain, but surely he can’t change the air above it?
we act like actual hunters now

>>26608068

Hmm. We can't beat the King's powers, if we're looking within the King, will trying the bon with him work?

>>26608168
This is probably the best option.

Also, ask Avril what would happen if either she or we or both of us were to marry Jill. Would she get a title or position at court through it, and hence any degree of protection? I mean, the King's subjects owe him fealty, and in return he owes them a certain degree of security, right? If Jill were a part of the King's household or ours through marriage, would he not have to deal at least a little more leniently with her? I can't imagine his disposition getting any worse, at least.

>>26608068
>[x]Listen carefully – he can change the terrain, but surely he can’t change the air above it?
we just need to find jill. even if he changes the terrain, jill is still somewhere in here.
i still dont understand why the hell he prevents us from from talking to jill. what we want to do is tell her to show respect to him.

[]Maybe you can use your bond with the King to find him? Presumably he’ll be near Jill. You have no idea how to actually do that, though.

Ah, screw it. If this works, we will impress him.

>>26608256
Because he doesn't care about that. What he cares about is punishing the mortal that showed him disrespect in his own Court and wounded his forest.

>>26608292
we dont know if he want to punish her. we have absolutely no idea what he wants to do.

>>26608332
What usually happens in this case? This is a good question to ask Avril, if it wouldn't cause a panic.

>>26608068
((Writing))

inb4 he just visits Jill and have a peaceful chat with her, consoles her and treats her well.

>>26608525

NTR end?

Well, he is an incredibly powerful king. It's hard to compete with that.

>>26608568
I know, right? his antlers are so much finer than ours.

>>26608508
"Avril?" you ask, glancing around at the forest, which you can now see is starting to slowly, subtly change before your eyes. "What would happen if one or both of us married Jill? Would she get a position at court? That would mean your father owed her protection as a liege lord, right?"

Avril blinks. "You have the weirdest solutions to problems, Chris. I have no idea. I don't think the wife of an Ambassador is a position of fealty, though. The wife of a Princess might be, but I can't just declare myself married to Jill in the next ten seconds and have it be legally binding. And who I marry has serious political implications, too. It might be a long-term solution, but if we actually have time to think about it I'd like to check the laws and also... you know, actually think about it. That's kind of a big step you're talking about. Not just politically, I mean, there's..."

You hold up your open hand. "Okay, not an immediate solution. Let me listen, then."

((Roll 2d6. Best of first two.))

Rolled 5, 1 = 6

>>26608878

Rolled 1, 6 = 7

>>26608878

Rolled 4, 1 = 5

>>26608878

Rolled 5, 4 = 9

>>26608923
well you rolled better then I did

>>26608923
((Okay, that's good enough. Writing now.))

we talked about this one before but i cant remember whatthe answer was if there was any. is avril's mother dead?

>>26608960
You look around, trying to breath slowly and quietly, focusing on the sounds of the forest around you. There's a faint sob drifting through the trees from your left. You nod to Avril and point, and the two of you head quickly in that direction, Avril racing ahead of you.

You burst through a thin hedge to find Avril pushing her way past a massive tangle of rapidly moving vines. Her father is nowhere to be seen. The vines seem to be beating up against an invisible sphere, at the centre of which is Jill, lying on the bare earth of the forest floor, curled up into a ball. You move forward, helping Avril pull the vines far enough aside that the two of you can slip through, into the sphere. There's a prickling feeling across your whole body, like static electricity, but you're not forced out of the sphere like the vines are.

Avril spins around, looking out into the woods. "Father? Your Majesty? I know you're here, dammit. Show yourself! I request and require an audience!"

The vines continue to beat on Jill's invisible shield. Avril swears, long and angrily, in a language you don't recognise, and stamps her foot hard. She calls out in a deeper voice, like she's chanting something. "Ytene! I name thee! Ytene! I call thee! Ytene! I summon thee!" She scowls, and continues in a more normal tone. "Get out here and talk to me! Dammit, I should not have to be the mature one here. Can we talk about this?"

The vines vanish. There's a brief pause, and then a flurry of dead leaves blows up into a wide column, like a miniature tornado. When it settles, the King of the Spring Court is standing before you, in his full regalia. Not just the ornately gilded armour he was wearing before, but a massive spear, in proportion to his height, with a wide leaf-shaped blade at its tip. It looks to be made of the same metal as your dagger.

He frowns down at Avril. "That is not something to be said in haste, child. You have asked my mercy once before. You ask it again?"

>>26609635
Should we go to Jill first, or to the King?
While Jill needs to apologize, we might need to beg the King's indulgence to allow Jill the opportunity to apologize for the disrespect that she's shown.

>>26609635

...should we let Avril handle this?

Hmm, we need to ask what happened, for such...reaction.

>>26609361
((Avril hasn't discussed her mother all that much, but she doesn't avoid the topic in the way that you imagine she might if her mother was dead. Although that could just be strange Fae social customs, you never know. You haven't particularly asked her about her mother much.))

>>26609635
We need to figure out exactly whats going on here

>>26609635
"a grand one such as yourself who has much power should have just as much mercy as a king. my sweet innocent friend here offended and upset you without meaning to do so in her ignorance. i can see she is sorry and regretting. could you find it in you to be the kind host to this rude guest?"

fancily beg for forgiveness.

>>26609635
((Okay, writing.))

>>26610088
You look over at Avril, who's looking back at you with a slightly worried expression. Now that her father's actually here she seems to have lost some of her earlier self-confidence.

You step forward, looking up at the King. "Great king, is not your mercy as great as your power? My friend here offended and upset you unknowingly and without malice. You can see that she regrets her actions. Will you permit her to apologise to you?"

He frowns, lowering his spear to point directly at Jill. "Ignorance of the law is no excuse for violating it. A mortal has challenged a King in his own court. A mortal has offered unprovoked violence to one of the Fae. A mortal has broken my hospitality, insulted my court, and attacked me and my forest. Am I to let this stand? Am I to be struck and not return it? You are misled, daughter of mine. You have let yourself be blinded to the weakness and the dishonour of the humans. This is the second time one of your 'friends' has dishonoured my court." He glares at you, then returns his attention to Avril. "What then do you suggest? Three insults there have been to me. Three punishments must be given. Many and dire are the punishments under the law, and no mercy may change their number."

Avril quails. "Maybe... maybe some form of recompense can be found?"

The King looks over at Jill. "Too scrawny for a servant or a bedwarmer. Too young to have a firstborn child, and I wish this matter settled now. An intriguing power, but do you really think it makes her a suitable Knight?"

Avril shakes her head. "A series of quests, perhaps? There's precedent for it..."

Her father scowls, raises his spear and stamps the butt on the ground. "You ask a great deal, daughter. My honour is not to be repaid with trinkets. Any geas would be of the highest order."

Jill is still curled up in a ball. If you want to get her to say anything, or if you want to say anything on her behalf, it looks like now's the time to act.

>>26610886
we don't have much of a choice now, she has to go with it.

>>26610886
"Is she not a mortal, and am I not the Ambassador to the mortal realm? Surely her fault is my fault. If there must be punishments, let them fall on my head. If she will not make a suitable knight, perhaps I will. Your Majesty has seen my Hunt for the feast's stag- surely I bear these punishments and duties in her place."

>>26611019
*can bear, rather.

>>26610886

"Mortals...are weak. Humans, even more. Both of body and of mind. She was raised to be pacific, and to not shed innocent blood. In partaking the hunting...it was against her own self. She was, still is, in shock, and her mind is in despair.

If she cannot make up to you, then I shall. I already have a debt. I will gladly shoulder hers, and fulfill whatever duty you assign to me."

Rolled 3, 6 = 9

>>26611019
second

>>26610886
((Okay, writing.))

>>26611019
>>26611061
As much as I agree with the sentiments, the quests he assigns are likely to be harsh.
Like, 'kill people we know and sacrifice their blood', levels of harsh.

let jill take the tests or challenges or whatever. dont just take it all on ourselves. but we could help her or do them together.

"it seems, even though we had a deal to compansate my wrong doings have some part in your anger towards my friend. let us take the challenges together and be forgiven then.

>>26611340
true, but the people we need to prioritize are our family, Jill, Avril, Masami, in that order. then everyone else

>>26611340
I think any quests are more likely to involve personal risk. While forcing us to murder our friends and family does show the King's dominance, it also sows the seeds for revenge, and Fae of all people know not to write bad endings into their own stories.

>>26611294
"You're right, Your Majesty," you say. The King and Avril both turn to look at you, surprise on their faces. "Mortals are weak," you continue, "humans even more so. Look at her. She's in shock. If she cannot repay her debt to you, then let me assume it. I am the Ambassador to the mortal realm, after all. If there must be punishments, let them fall on my head instead. Your Majesty has seen me hunt - surely I can bear these quests in her place?"

Avril's father shakes his head. "The crime was not committed by you, Ambassador, so the punishments may not fall upon you. You have received your punishment already. Seek not another."

Avril steps forward. "There is nothing in the law to prevent a hero taking companions on a quest, is there? In fact it's a common occurrence."

Her father frowns. "Truly spoken. But the burden, in the end, falls upon her." He strikes his spear on the ground with a resounding crash. "Awaken, mortal! Lie not in the presence of a King."

You reach down and gently help Jill to her feet. She blinks a few times and then looks up at the towering form of the King. Then she hides behind you. The King frowns. "Mortal, you have violated the duties of hospitality. You have insulted my table, refused my gifts, and assaulted your host. Three crimes you have committed, and three geases I lay upon you in recompense. First, to bring me the crown of the King of the Winter Court. Second, to bring me the heart of the Corrupter that prowls the borders of my demense. Third..." He glances over at Avril, who looks terrified already. "Protect my daughter with your life, for the rest of your days."

He lowers his spear, turns it, and shoves you out of the way with the flat of the blade. With a single swift movement he flicks the point up, nicks Jill's cheek enough to extract a single drop of blood, and brings the spear back.

"By my name, by the moon, and by the oak, elm and holly, you are bound and set these tasks. Fail not."

>>26611886
((And that's where we're breaking for tonight, everyone. Thank you all for participating. Next thread will be Thursday, I suppose. Questions, comments, etc. below.))

>>26611886
Whelp Jill's going to die now.

>>26611886
Well that's not so bad. Only one of those wasn't already a longterm goal.

>>26611935
Yep.

just as i thought we'll have to hunt some big bad evils.

Rolled 86

>>26611886

King of the Winter Court. WHile we will definetly face the Corruptor (tentacle mosnter) sooner or later, the King of...

Wait, that King is the undead ice mage, who Aljani is fighting against.

Well then. Time to introduce Jill to the hunters.

>>26612151
>Time to introduce Jill to the hunters.
She already met two, nearly killed one.

>>26612151
Oh hey. So he is. So I guess those were all already longterm goals. All things considered, that could have gone much, much worse.

>>26612253
they can get along till we kill the ice king.

too bad....

Kinda wanted to team up with the Corrupter.

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>>26612313
We don't need to kill him just steal his crown. In theory that is the easier one, we can follow Ajani and Gloria who seem to bump into him in regular occurance then we blitz him and lift his crown.

The corrupter, I imagine, will be harder but we will need to find it and jason/Issabella will be unwilling to take us to it till we are heavily in debt and by that point 3 vs 1 we will struggle until then they would have acted as its proxy.