I'm back! Because of what happened, I actually did decide to make a twitter thingy, in case something like that happens again. It probably won't be updated often, but it's there for anyone who cares. (at)Rags2Riches(underscore)QM

>>31083766
B

Valentines day equivalent maybe

>>31083766
Can we roll for a hint?

>>31084186
This

>>31084186
You think for a moment, and propose a possible answer. Annalise falls back on her bed and sighs again. Things don't look good, and Leman really really likes swords.

She comes back up, seemingly back to her usual self. "It's the sunrise festival. I've been telling you about it for weeks, I took you with me to get Leman fitted for his parade armor, I don't know what else I should have done. All I wanted was to go and eat cookies and maybe dance a little, but all you ever think about anymore is training. Do I have to come at you with an axe to get you to want to hang out with me?"

A) Apologize
B) Admit that you can't read calendars
C) Other

>>31084360
B) Appeal to her pity

>>31084360
>B)

>>31084360
B

>>31084382
>>31084481
Annalise cracks and lets out a laugh. You can't help but smile a little too.

"It's just as well I guess. I don't have a dress to wear or anything, and I haven't taken a bath today, so I'd rather stay here and eat and get fat with you. Except you have to go back and train with the paladins tomorrow. Is this what you want? For me to get fat while you keep turning into some kind of bull in gold armor?"

A) "If you're not fat yet, you won't be from one slice of cake."
B) "Why do you think I work out so much? Someone has to be able to carry you around."
C) Other

>>31084591
A

>>31084737
Alright, I'm outtie. Sorry, it seems like I'm the only one here, but I need some sleep.

>>31084591
A

>>31084737
>>31084986
The two of you spend the rest of the afternoon together, eating and drinking until the basket is empty. Annalise cheers up considerably.

Eventually, as sunset nears, she proposes going out to have dinner, seeing as her family is occupied at the party and there won't be much to eat. She even offers to pay, so long as she gets to decide where you go.

A) Agree
B) Decline
C) other

>>31085033
>A) Agree

>>31085033
C

Agree but insist on paying for our share (if it's not too expensive for our purse)

>>31085108
I'm pretty sure we only have a gold coin left

>>31085182
If that's the case i'm changing my vote >>31085108 to A

>>31085102
>>31085108
Having a single gold coin left to your name, which is more than you'd seen before you ever came to this city, you agree so long as you can pay for your share. Annalise agrees, and fishes something out of the basket. It's the bangle you purchased earlier that day. She slips it on, and ushers you out of the room while she changes.

You wait a good half hour before she finally emerges from her room in robes and pony-tail, with the bangle still hanging loosely from her wrist. The two of you set off, mounting Pedro together, and head toward the entertainment district. It seems as some people chose not to or were unable to attend the party at the palace, there are many townfolk celebrating their own way, with small parties gathered in restaurants, or simply on the street with singing and jokes. It's quite cheerful compared to normal days.

Annalise chooses a rather old looking place that houses some folk who you would consider less than worthy of trusting to hold your wallet while you lace your boot. You try to convince her to choose someplace nicer, but she insists on eating here, stating that it has a much more interesting atmosphere.

A) Give in and dismount
B) Refuse

>>3108523
>A) Give in and dismount

>>31085233
A

>>31085276
>>31085375
Seeing no real reason to argue, you dismount together and tie Pedro down before entering.

As you enter the tavern, smelling faintly of smoke and perhaps copper, the owner greets you, informing you that the special today is battered pork. Annalise finds a small table near the corner where the two of you sit. As you glance around the room, you get a slight cold feeling. The patrons don't seem to be much in the mood to celebrate, and every now and then they eyeball the both of you as if you were uninvited guests. Still, Annalise seems happy enough, and the waitress appears before long. She is an olive skinned girl with a dress that is slit down the sides to reveal her legs, and a corset that spills her considerable assets over. It's quite over the top, but the girl seems nice enough herself, writing your order quickly and smiling all the while. She even compliments Annalise on her hair, stroking it lightly and asking how she gets it so shiny. You tune out for a brief second until she leaves. You never were good with cosmetic talk. You only got used to soap after months of using it.

Eventually a minute goes by and a voice calls out from the kitchen. The owner, a large man in a greasy apron, asks if what you'd like to eat.

A) Tell him you already ordered
B) Replace your order

>>31085578
>B) Replace your order
I have a feeling being rude will get us thrown out very quickly

>>31085578
>A) Tell him you already ordered

>>31085578
A

>>31085670
>>31085685
You tell the man you already ordered something. He reaches up with his still greasy spatula and scratches his head with the flippy end. As you try to decide what's more disturbing, how filthy the spatula must be, or the fact that he doesn't feel the hot grease on his bare skin, he informs you that he never got the order. You tell him that the waitress just came by to take it, and he's very firm in informing you that he has no staff apart from him. You look at Annalise, and she merely shrugs. a man in the far corner of the room chuckles into his drink.

A) Replace the order and carry on
B) Other

>>31085795
>B) Nope the fuck out
No, this place is clearly bad we leave now

>>31085795
>B) Other
Tell Annalise to check if her any of her stuff is missing. Look for that girl

>>31085910
This

>>31085880
>>31085910
You stand together with Annalise and begin patting yourselves down. Everything you own is safe and secure, but Annalise comes out with one pouch and thirty gold coins short.

You dash outside and look around. Everyone seems to be behaving as casual as ever, but just as you think it's too late, you see something in the distance. The girl who claimed to be a waitress contentedly sashays down the street just a block away, playing with Annalise's purse, still on its string. You point her out to Annalise, who immediately begins chasing on foot, nearly knocking over several people along the way.

A) Follow on foot
B) Follow on horseback
C) Other

>>31086166
>B Follow on horseback
Pedro gonna teach this bitch a lesson

File: 1395876731386.jpg-(66 KB, 600x524, horse-sculpture-goh-pedro.jpg)

66 KB JPG

>>31086166
>>31086235

>B) Follow on horseback

>>31086166
B

Riding a horse is faster than running

>>31086235
>>31086339
>>31086369
As Annalise speeds away, you head back and grab Pedro. Undoing the knot and mounting him take a few seconds, but you get through it and head out.

The crowd makes top speed impossible, but once folks notice a horse barreling through the street, they begin to clear a path. Eventually you see Annalise round a corner, and hurry to follow her. Soon the girl up ahead notices you on Pedro, and then Annalise as she closes in. To your surprise, she leaps up and grabs onto a nearby window, and begins climbing the building to avoid you. Annalise responds in kind, and you bring yourself closer to both of them. The chase turns into something of a farce as a girl in a slinky dress is chased by a woman in white robes and a half armored paladin. Thanks to Pedro's training, you are able to keep your eyes on the scene above as he more or less guides himself through the street. Annalise is catching up quickly despite being weighed down by her robes, and the girl in the dress knows this.

Suddenly, as Annalise is about to clear a jump between two building, the woman ahead pulls off her skirt, clearly something manufactured ahead of time, and releases it. The wind carries it and wraps it around Annalise, causing her to stumble and fall into the small alley below.

A) Keep chasing
B) Stop

>>31086525
>B)Stop

Make sure she's ok

>>31086573
You bring Pedro to a sudden halt, causing him to cry out and startle most of the people nearby. You leap off of him and head down the alley. As you look around, you see the skirt, a jumbled mess on the ground, but Annalise is nowhere. Then, as you look up, you see her hanging on to the edge of the next building, trying to climb up.

A) Tell her to give it up
B) Climb up to her
C) Get back on Pedro

>>31086827
>C) Get back on Pedro

>>31086827
C

>>31086827
>B
Save the damsel. She may be down some coin, but it would destroy us if she fell and it was our fault.

>>31086827
B) Climb up to her

>>31086880
>>31086922
You trust Annalise to handle herself, and as soon as it's clear she has made it up, you run back and leap onto Pedro. The two of you continue the chase, surprising the girl ahead, now clad in only a corset and black shorts, as well as her boots.

This keeps going until Annalise has visibly started tiring out. You try to call out to her, but then the girl ahead trips over something, giving Annalise enough time to catch up. You can't see much from the low angle, but it seems Annalise has caught her. That is, until suddenly a red cloud of dust explodes above, driving Annalise back. You stop again, and then see the girl leap down from the roof and into the street. As she lands, nimble as a cat, she looks up at you, breathing heavily. She reaches a hand into her now lopsided blouse, and grabs something.

A) Tackle her
B) Cast a Miracle

>>31087130
>B) Cast a Miracle

I have no idea what that is, but i bet she won't either

>>31087130
>B) Cast a Miracle

>>31087186
You reach back behind you for your sword, but find nothing. Without a holy symbol, you've got no magic. You resort to covering your eyes with your arm as a cloud of red dust bursts in your face. The sensation feels somewhat familiar.

Though you block the impact, some of the dust does get into your eyes and nose, making breathing as well as seeing very difficult. When you pull your arm away the girl is already scampering off half dressed, to the delight of the crowd around you. She can't outrun you on foot, but Annalise is still above and hasn't gotten back up.

A) Ride her down
B) Climb up to Annalise

>>31087309
>B) Climb up to Annalise
We don't know what else she did to her up there

>>31087309
A

Time to finally get the thief

>>31087309
>B) Climb up to Annalise

>>31087433
You decide to give up and climb up to check on Annalise.

Above the city streets, you find Anna sat on her knees, crying as she holds her holy symbol up. There is a faint glow emitting from it. You approach and ask if she's alright. It seems that the powder the girl used is quite difficult to heal even with magic, as it's not so much an injury as it is an ongoing irritation. She asks if you apprehended the thief.

A) "She was too quick."
B) "I didn't want to leave you behind."
C) Other

>>31087594
>A) "She was too quick."
>B) "I didn't want to leave you behind."

Both of these

>>31087594
>>31087636
This and
>C) Comment on how she is probably the same girl that tried to rob anna's house when we were younger (red dust and shit man)

>>31087701
Voting for this

>>31087701
or from the same guild/group

>>31087701
>>31087717
Anna seems less than pleased by the turn of events.

"Whether she is or isn't doesn't matter. I wish we'd have caught her. How pathetic are a Paladin and an Inquisitor who can't even catch one half naked cutpurse?" Annalise struggles to stand, and you help her. You dust off her robes, careful not to be invasive as you do. You remind Annalise that the both of you are still in training, which does seem to ease her mood just a tiny bit. After her vision is back and her face wiped on your shirt, she asks for a ride back home to get cleaned up properly, and you comply.

When you arrive, you find Leman already home, stripping off his parade armor in massive pieces, caring not for the delicate nature of it's crafting. Annalise stumbles away to run a bath, and Leman asks what happened to the both of you.

A) Tell him the whole story
B) Tell him a thief blindsided you in town
C) Tell him it's not important

>>31087869
>A

>>31087869
>A) Tell him the whole story

try and put emphasis on the fact that it wasn't our choice to go in that tavern (?) in the first place

>>31087869
A

>>31087882
>>31087931
>>31087942
You recount the events of the past few hours in detail. Upon completion, Leman's face had gone from nonchalant to troubled. You ask what's on his mind.

"That matches up with a string of robberies lately. A foreign girl from across the Red Sand has been seen cutting purses, picking locks on empty homes, you name it. So far she eludes the authorities with these strange contraptions out of nowhere. None of the paladins are quick enough to catch her, and up close she's much more formidable than she lets on. She's put two inquisitors on the infirmary who weren't prepared for her to fight back. Like a cornered rat, as they say. Still, don't worry yourself too much. Can't expect someone who still needs two hands on his zweihander to swing properly to be able to catch a serial thief like this." Something about Leman's tone is a bit condescending, but he offers no follow-up and so you brush it off.

By the time Annalise emerges from the bath, damp and draped in her pajamas again, it's getting a bit late. You planned to spend the morning running with the other trainees, but Leman and Annalise invite you to stay a while longer and have something to eat, to make up for the missed dinner earlier. Annalise seems more eager than Leman, who only asks for some red meat after snacking on so many desserts earlier.

A) Agree and stay
B) Turn in early

>>31088076
>A) Agree and stay
>C) Make note to workout more so we can obtain the approval of leman

>>31088076
>A) Agree and stay

it's a festival day, we can at least enjoy ourselves

>>31088076
A

>>31088076
>A) Agree and stay
Sorry im a bit slow today

>>31088115
>>31088136
You decide to stay out late and eat with Annalise and Leman. Annalise whips up something simple, grilled ground beef in sauce, which you eat happily despite it being quite bland and burned to a bland black around the edges. After dinner and some chatting, Annalise heads off to bed and you take your leave. You feel quite sluggish the next morning, but after prayer, Anita gifts you with a honey biscuit as thanks for "not being a completely worthless man and cheering her sister up".

Things go back to normal after the festival, with you training daily and reading a little of the verse over time. So far, you've only managed to learn the simplest miracle Paladins are taught, the 'Golden Aegis', which allows one to erect a sturdy barrier before him or herself for a short time. Though you have learned it, you've far from mastered it, compared to people like Leman who can raise one in a perfect sphere around him and hold it for several minutes. Still, it was enough to impress Annalise at the time.

Nearly two months after the events of the festival, you find yourself having a water break outside the weight room. As the summer birds chirp in the courtyard, and the clanking of metal and grunts of beefy warriors echo behind you, one of your superiors approaches.

"Here you are. It's your lucky day, everyone above you opted out of a shit job, so we're pinning it on you. Fetch your armor and your sword and get up to the cells on the double." He begins turning away.

A) Finish your water and go
B) Ask what the job is
C) other

>>31088369
>A

>>31088369
>A) Finish your water and go

A job is a job, we need more gold

>>31088369
A

Duty calls.

Ask on the way.

>>31088369
>A) Finish your water and go

>>31088412
>>31088425
>>31088443
You down the rest of your water and run to the common room to grab your things. Some people might think it a bit messy to don half plate while sweating like a pig, but your background does not afford you such luxurious perspectives. When you are ready, you make your way up to the cells.

When you arrive, you are seen by two inquisitors. One of them seems to have a bad gash in his thigh, and the other seems to have been crying and snotting until recently. They chastise you briefly for being late, but soon lead you over to show you your duty. You approach a row of cells, nearly all of which are completely empty. Only one is occupied in fact. Crimes worthy of imprisonment are not often committed in the city, and those that are are sorted swiftly by the paladins, so having most if not all of the cells empty isn't a rare sight.

"There's a lot of hubbub going on lately, and someone high on the chain recommended we give a lower ranking member a chance to shine. So, we're putting you on guard duty for the next week or so, while we arrange transportation for this little wench." The inquisitor leads you to and points out a cell near the front of the line. Inside is a girl with olive skin, crying her eyes out, dressed in little but a shredded white blouse that you're certain would fall off if she weren't curled up in the corner of the cell. She immediately strikes you as familiar.

"She's been evading us for nearly two years now. She's crafty, and has a hell of a good sword arm. Ignore the tears, she's been spilling them nonstop for nearly an hour. Although I suppose that's impressive in it's own way. Anyway, you're gonna be her caretaker for the time being, since apparently she's to be taken back to her own home for proper punishment. Fucking nonsense if you ask me, but the bishop makes the rules. Any questions?"

A) Ask about something
B) None

>>31088671
>B) None

>>31088671
>A) Ask about something
"How did they catch her?"

>>31088671
B

>>31088751
>>31088927
You confirm that you have no questions, and the two inquisitors leave you to your duty.

Once they're gone, you look around. Besides the cell, there is a wooden chair to sit in, and a small iron hook from which hangs a single key, presumably to unlock the cells. Other than that there doesn't seem to be much to occupy your time.

A) Sit and wait
B) Approach the cell

>>31089089
>A) Sit and wait
You NEVER approach.

>>31089295
Pretty much this

>>31089295
You move over to the wooden chair and sit, leaning back against the wall to find some comfort. Thus begins the tedious task of guard duty. It isn't long before you realize why everyone passed up on this assignment. There's nothing to do but stare at the wall, or the sobbing prisoner across from you.

Eventually, dinner time rolls around, and a cleric brings up two trays of food. One is a baked potato and roast chicken with a cup of cider, and the other is a dry slice of bread and some porridge. Before she leaves, the cleric informs you on how to open the food slot of the cell, and lets you know that she'll return with breakfast at around sunrise.

When she's gone, you're faced with the task of feeding the prisoner. Despite the noise, she continues to quietly sob into her folded arms, looking away from you.

A) Eat, then feed her
B) Feed her, then eat
C) Other

>>31089660
>A) Eat, then feed her

>>31089660
>B) Feed her, then eat
We don't have anything precious with us, right?

>>31089749
>>31089660
Reasoning:
If there's anything like a lockpick hidden in the food she'll take us on while we're busy eating, but if we eat first she won't

>>31089749
You let her plate sit aside while you polish off your meal. It's quite filling, and after you are forced to wipe your fingers on your pants just to degrease them. After, you stand and bring the meager prison meal to her.

Just as the cleric said, there is a small hatch to place food in. You slide the plate through and shut the hatch. The girl doesn't move.

A) Tell her to eat
B) Let her starve

>>31089883
>A) Tell her to eat

>>31089985
You rap on the bars a bit, and tell her to eat her food before it goes stale.

There is some mumbling from the other side. You ask her to speak up.

"Why should I? They're sending me off to get set on a pike and displayed a in a few days, so who cares if I'm hungry?"

A) "You brought this on yourself."
B) Ignore her and sit back down
C) Other

>>31090172
>C) "I do, you may be getting executed in a few days but you're still a person and while you're in my care I don't want you starving to death or suffering"

>>31090256
You express your feelings rather eloquently. There is silence at first, then she rolls over. You find yourself somewhat taken aback. When the inquisitors caught her, it must literally have been with her pants down. He shirt barely covers her, and it's all there is that will.

"Amazing. I assumed that all of you people were just self righteous imbeciles who did nothing but sing their own praises and wear shiny armor. But you're all that, and sincere. Points for that." She reaches out and begins eating her food.

A) Sit back down
B) Ask something

>>31090369
>A)
>B) "So, it's been years since I last saw that red powder, do you use it often?"

>>31090369
Wonder if Spring's coming back soon

>>31090444
You head back to your seat and lean back. As she eats, you bring up the red powder she used, as well as the stuff you were hit with years ago.

"It's something my old guild used to make." She uses the bread to spoon the porridge. "Before I got stranded here, my teacher showed me how to make it. That's all he was ever good for, cheap tricks to help him run away. It's pretty simple stuff, you can make it in any kitchen if you have the ingredients. Too bad I didn't have a couple more doses when they found me."

A) Ask something else
B) Wait for morning

>>31090504
Dunno. Seems like it's going to be pretty dead tonight, but I'll be here all weekend, so we'll see.

>>31090625
>A) "Old guild? A few years ago I met some asshole that used the same stuff, he even abandoned a little girl after failing to steal from the house I was in. Was he from the same guild, perhaps?"

>>31090625
My mind isn't 100% due to unrelated stuff, but I'm sticking around for as long as possible buddy. xoxo, shep

>>31090708
Seconding
>>31090625
Ill always be kind of here.

>>31090732
This

>>31090708
>>31090743
"That asshole was my teacher. He dragged me all the way out here to steal some stupid ancient garbage to boost his reputation, but then he chickened out. After, he tried stealing silverware from local places, but that time you and your little club busted us and he left me behind as ballast. Lucky they don't pat kids down when they lock them up, so I picked the door on my cell and hit the streets that night. But I don't know how to get home, and by now they know I was caught. That's why they're sending for me, and that's why they're gonna string me up. I know too much, or so they say, and so I'm a liability." She slides her empty bowl away and curls back up, burying her chin in her knees.

"That's life I guess. You're born, you get forced into slavery, you get abandoned, and you die. At least I lasted a good sixteen years." The room is silent for a while. Then, she giggles quietly and looks back up at you. "You know, I sort of remember you from back then. Skinny and dirty. But now... well now you're a man. Any chance you might pop this door open for me? I don't have any gold but..."

A) Ignore her
B) No
C) Other

>>31090949
>C) "It'd be my head on a pole if I did that... But I'll admit it's unfair and unlawful to execute you to hide their secrets so..."
"Do you know how they're taking you back to your country? Or rather, what kind of people they might be sending to take you?"

>>31090949
>C) Other

"How much do you know about the guild?"
Maybe if she has enough info we can get her a pardon

>>31091047
You decline her generous offer, but press her about her conditions.

"They'll send someone to fetch me. Probably dressed as a government official, with fake guards, fancy clothes, the whole deal. They won't have papers, but they'll have a fake seal from my home. Once your people hand me over, they'll either slit my throat and dump me in the river, or bring me home and dry my out like jerky in the sun. Heh, I used to always look up at- at those people. I never thought I'd be the one to..." As she speaks, she begins sniffling and eventually breaks down into tears again. This time it's a lot messier, with coughing as she rolls back over and squeezes into tight ball.

A) Say something comforting
B) Stay quiet

>>31091273
>B) Stay quiet

>>31091273
>A) "Pretending to be a foreign envoy and attempted murder. I guess I know what I'll be arresting them for tomorrow"

>>31091300
You close your eyes and say nothing as she cries herself out. Eventually she loses enough energy to fall asleep. You give in yourself, and doze off for a few hours.

When you wake, you hear footsteps from down the hall. A cleric comes in with your breakfasts, and asks how she's doing. You give a brief report.

A) Mention her story
B) Leave it out

>>31091527
>B) Leave it out
If there's one thing the 80s taught me is that you never mention things like these to your superiors or it'll come back to bite you.
Better for him to share it with who he trusts enough to aid in the PLAN!

>>31091527
>B) Leave it out

>B) Leave it out

Also, I'm off now, thanks for running this Rags

>>31091570
>>31091592
good luck gentlemen

>>31091570
>>31091592
The cleric wishes you good luck and heads on her way, taking last night's dishes with her. Once she's gone, you lift the lid on the tray. Sausage, eggs, and jelly toast for you. Slice of bread and porridge for her. You stand and head over to the cage. Sensing your movement, she sits up and crawls over to the cell door. You slide her food in and go back to your seat. As you eat one of the sausage links, you glance over and see her struggling to choke down the stale bread. You offer her a link of sausage.

"No, that's fine. I'm sure it takes a lot of meat to keep a body like that." Her tone is cheerful, but her voice seems a bit weak.

A) Share
B) Don't

>>31091678
>A) Share


>>31091670
Thanks, see ya man.

Time to save a girl

>>31091709
You approach the cell and pass her a sausage link and a piece of your toast. At first, she seems confused, but then smiles and takes it. As she eats, she tries to hold back pink cheeks and a wide grin.

"I've never had stuff like this. I always just at the cheapest thing I could get. And you eat this every morning? God, no wonder you put on stupid clothes and follow those old rulebooks, I would to if it meant this." You smile and each of you finish your breakfasts.

"Hey, not that I mind you having a full view of my bounty and all, but do you think there's a way you can get me a blanket or something? I'm freezing. Or the very least you could do is pay me for the show."

A) "I'll see what I can do."
B) "I doubt it"
C) Other

>>31091678
>>31091709
Damn, I'm gonna have to go too, if I push too much I'll be useless tomorrow morning.
So, see you next thread Rags, weekend right?

Spring's sporadically posting though so, are you continuing?

>>31091929
>A) "I'll see what I can do."
>C) Get her some of our spares maybe?

>>31091948
>>31091929
>>31091930

Okay now was my true last. Good night, wonderful OP Rags

>>31091948
You agree, promising her you'll get what you can She thanks you, and you spend the rest of the morning sitting around.

When the cleric returns to fetch your dishes and bring you something to drink and a small loaf of fresh bread for lunch, you bring up the blanket. After some convincing, you are able to get her to agree to something light, but no more. When she's gone, the girl in the cell thanks you.

"You're really not what I was expecting. I mean, you're not very bright, but you're really sweet. More than your friends. My name's Pietra, by the way."

The two of you kill the next few days making small talk and swapping stories. On the fourth day, she convinces you to request a book to read, something cheerful. The cleric returns with some children's stories from the archive, all of which are very rooted in the three virtues. When Pietra asks you to read it to her as she eats her porridge, you find it a bit harder than you thought. The language is older than that in your own practice books, and the script itself is handwritten and hard to make out.

Pietra asks what's wrong, and you admit to only being able to read a bit. She offers to read to you instead, if you prefer.

A) Read
B) Let her read

>>31092169
>B) Let her read

>>31092169
Let her read.

>>31092169
>B) Let her read
Anyone have any ideas to help her escape from the thief infiltrators?

goddamn so hard to leave

>>31092212
>>31092244
You pass the book through the bars to her. She reaches out, touching your hand on accident and shying away. The two of you have a laugh, and she carefully takes the book.

She sits, and you place the candle nearer to her for light. She flips through it for a while and begins reading a story about four holy knights, dragonslayers, who lived long ago in the age before the Starstorm. They apparently each had a holy weapon given to them by the old gods, a lance of lightning, a bow that could cut through a dragons immense wings, twin swords that made wounds which could never heal, and a shield that was completely unbreakable. The four knights defeated countless dragons to free the first man from servitude, but one by one they all fell to hubris, obsession, and sloth. By the end, only one knight remained, and he was set to guard a crumbling castle for all eternity, for he could not let go of the glory of his past life.

Pietra reads more and more until eventually she is too tired to go on, and you take the book from her. As you go to sit back down, you hear her speak weakly behind the bars, trying to fend off sleep.

"Are you really, really going to save me? Is there really enough kindness in you to risk your life for the life of a lowly pickpocket?"

A) Yes
B) Other

Rolled 5

>>31092244
Tell them that we know what the seal is supposed to look like. If we even know she's telling the truth.

>>31092403
>A) Yes
>C) "Being a pickpocket doesn't justify their crime. I wouldn't even think of being a paladin if I'd let someone get killed like this"

>>31092460
Seconding, but
>C) only on the condition she gives up thievery forever, in any form

>>31092460
This.
Being a paladin, and letting truly evil acts slide, makes us a mere soldier.

>>31092460
>>31092403
Damn, and add in:
>"And honestly, I believe in repentance. Specially for good people who're just making a mistake. I can tell you're good, so I also hope you'll fix your mistake once we're through this"

>>31092536
So, whaddaya say we pop her cell and let her hit us on the head tonight? After making her swear to leave the life of crime.

>>31092460
>>31092510
>>31092536
You tell her that you uphold good before everything, and that you truly believe she can repent if she tries. You watch as her face forms a smile, and she falls asleep.

Finally, the eighth day comes, and one of the paladins enters after lunch. He compliments you on doing so well for your first job, especially going through the whole thing with no whining. He hands you a small pouch, twenty gold coins for your work.

"The jobs not truly over yet, though. The official is waiting outside the gates with his men. He wants us to walk her through town before they take her. Says it's some sort of custom where they come from. We compromised and he agreed to let us at least cover her up, so once she's dressed you're gonna chain her up and bring her out. I trust you to handle this, since you've done so well thus far. I think there's a promotion for you in the works." He pats you on the back and takes his leave. You turn back to Pietra with the white cloak and chains. She seems unhappy.

"Alright then, slap them on me. Be gentle though, it's my first time."

A) Give her the items
B) Give her the robe
C) Other

>>31092591
That'd be a bit suspicious. It's a certain method, but it'd make us targeted by our fellow holy men.

I was more pro busting her out once she changes hands (which also allows us to see these transporter fellas), but for me whatever does the job does it.

>>31092673
>B)
>A)
>C) Chain her but not really, make it so she just looks chained. We want her to break out at the most appropriate time

>>31092760
Seconded

>>31092760
This. And then if they ask how she got out, we can tell them it's our first time shackling someone.

>>31092760
>>31092848
>>31092917
You hand her the cloak and she slips it on. After, you do your best to dress her in the chains without actually tightening them. She smiles and presses against you in an attempt at a bound hug.

The two of you make your way out of the palace, guided by the other paladins as you go. Slowly but surely you walk her to the eastern gates of the city, through busy streets of curious people. Pietra suggests putting on a show by keeping your sword drawn and ready to strike, which does really seem to comfort the townfolk.

When you finally arrive, two guards allow you to pass and make your way down the east road toward a small caravan. Four men, one dressed in fine silk, the others in light armor with spears and small round shields. Your sword could break them open in a single swing should it come to it, and the guards don't watch outside the walls. As you approach, the nicely dressed man comes over with open arms.

"Ah, my brother from the west! I'm so grateful to your people for allowing us to deliver justice to our own blood under our own law! I know it must have been much trouble to hold her until our arrival, but worry not, we shall take it from here." He walks around you and to Pietra, grabbing her face with a ring covered hand. "Ehe, you thought you could escape your punishment by fleeing here and wounding these good people? Well your little game is over, and now we will see you serve your time like every other thief."

Pietra looks at you desperately.

A) Say something
B) Launch an ambush
C) other

>>31093061
Sorry I'm slow, I was skyping the child in Arizona. She's with her grandma for break.

>>31093061
Say something
Ask to see official documentation.

>>31093149
Seconding

>>31093149
>>31093163
You turn to the man and ask to see his documents. He turns back and laughs, but you think you hear a hint of nervousness in it.

"My friend! I already sent one of my men with my seal, and your people saw it with their own eyes. There's no need to rummage through all of my luggage again, is there?"

He makes a fair point, and you haven't ever seen the seal yourself to begin with. Still, something does feel off about him.

A) Hand her over
B) Other

>>31093347
>B) Other
"I can't hand over a dangerous criminal like this one without knowing who I'm giving her to and if we started just taking peoples words as proof we'd be crawling with freed criminals."

>>31093389
You put a little more pressure on him, but his mood doesn't change quite in the way you were hoping.

"Listen here, boy." His smile suddenly becomes a sneer. "I didn't ride all the way out to your shithole of a city to debate legality with a suckling babe wrapped up in flimsy mail. Please step aside, now!" His raised voice is a bit surprising. You look over his shoulder and see Pietra shaking a bit. Behind you can hear movement, likely the three men preparing to fight and run if need be.

A) Stand aside
B) Other

>>31093456
>B) Other
"You came here to pick up a prisoner, if you want to do that, I. Need. A. Seal."

>>31093563
The two of you stand staring at one another for a moment. His face burns red now, and he is beginning to sweat.

Suddenly he releases his breath and his smile returns. He walks over to you and places a gentle hand on your shoulder, agreeing to find the seal for you. He walks past and climbs into the carriage. You turn and face it, waiting for something to happen.

Just as you begin to wonder, he emerges, holding out a small roll of paper. He smiles, claiming to have found it. Then his other hand appears, holding a large crossbow.

A) Golden Aegis (1 per day)
B) Dodge

Are the other paladins still with us?

>>31093621
>B) Dodge

>>31093683
Nope, the church turns eyes inward.

>>31093692
You turn sideways to avoid the bolt as it comes at you. Your training has made you quick, but the bolt still takes you in the bicep, punching a hole in your armor. You tear it out as the three spearmen rush at you. By their direction, it's clear that one of them is going to dash aside and try to grab Pietra, but focusing on him might leave you exposed.

A) Attack the ones on you
B) Attack the one after Pietra

>>31093717
Attack the one on pietra. We told her that we'd see her to safety.

>>31093717
B) Attack the one after Pietra

>>31093730
This
>>31093717 sorry havent been able to post been busy as all hell, but i catch up on the archives, this is looking to be a another good one Rags.

>>31093730
You reach back and draw your sword. It's weight feels good in your hands. You grip tight, bring it back and swing wide to catch him as he goes right to get around you. The blade arcs, making a low whistle and slicing into the chain around his belly. It digs into his stomach, spurting blood and knocking him at least four feet back into the dirt. The other two slow down as they see their friend nearly cleaves in two, giving you the chance to strike again.

A) Right
B) Left

>>31093717
>B) Attack the one after Pietra

>>31093774
Just reminding people about my twitter thingy. It'll update when I plan to post a new thread, or if something ever goes wrong again. I don't have a super interesting life, so don't worry about me flooding it with random nonsense, it's mostly just so I can talk to you guys without a thread up or something.

>>31093774
Whichever one tried to shoot us.

>>31093774
>A) Right

>>31093807
*DID shoot us

>>31093807
Never mind. It was neither of them. Right it is.

>>31093810
>>31093849
The momentum of your swing carries your blade and you use that to bring it around again, this time slicing across the chest of the right spearman. The wound isn't terribly deep, but it clearly hurts badly enough, as he stumbles back and drops his weapon.

Suddenly something comes up from behind you. Pietra has slipped out of her chains and dashes at the left spearman, wrapping the metal bindings around his neck and pulling tight. The two of them fall to the ground, struggling with each other. Up ahead, the crossbowman winds up for another shot.

A) Use the spearman as a shield
B) Rush the crossbowman
C) Other

>>31093901
>B) Rush the crossbowman
and if we aren't fast enough
>C) Other
Cast the barrier

>>31093920
These words. In conjunction even.

>>31093920
Seconding

>>31093947
>>31093959
:3

>>31093920
>>31093947
>>31093959
You push past the panicked spearman to the man who put a bolt in your arm, tearing it out and throwing it on the ground along the way. You get within just a few feet of him, and bring your sword up and back. He looses another bolt, hitting you in the stomach, but it's too late by then. The sword comes down and cuts clean, taking off his shoulder down to his ribs. You feel the snapping of bones through the steel as you carve him like a side of pork. He falls, and you turn back to Pietra. She has dispatched her first target, and used his spear to finish the other. You shake the dripping blood from your sword and turn to her asking if she's alright. She breathes heavily, pulling the hood back from her face and wiping a bit of light sweat.

"I'm fine, I just wasn't totally ready for that. Wow. You know, you're pretty good with that big hunk of steel." The two of you smile at one another. "So, does this mean I can go?"

A) Yes
B) No
C) Other

>>31093998
Run. I'll tell them you got away in the excitement.

>>31094015
Seconding.

>>31094015
This
and now i must sleep, goodnight all

>>31094036
Cya Gewitter.

>>31094015
>>31094027
>>31094036
The two of you make your way to the horses, two solid pullers, but still good enough to ride. With one swing, you sever the bar connecting one to the carriage and tell Pietra to make a break for it. Your injuries should prove enough of an alibi for the others. Pietra stands frozen for a moment, staring at the horse.

"I just- I don't know what to say right now. I can finally go somewhere. I can go home, start over...it's too much." You turn to comment, but are suddenly pulled in by your shoulders. You stand stunned as Pietra takes your first kiss, and pulls away slowly. "Damn the gods, if I just had ten minutes for you I'd break you like a stallion." You can't think of any words as Pietra runs and climbs onto the horse you cut loose. Without another word between you, she rides away. You wipe your mouth and shake the fog from your head. Whether it's the kiss or the blood you're losing, you can't seem to think straight. You head back to town and spill your story to the guards, who send for a cleric.

>>31094129
A few hours later, you sit in the infirmary. Your wounds have been healed and wrapped, and you're forced to stay abed for the night. As you lay and relax, listening to the summer birds outside, you hear someone approaching.

Annalise appears, wearing her training gear as well as her sword. In her left hand she carries a small basket. You smile at her, but she doesn't seem as happy. When she gets near, she pounds on your chest with her free fist, and berates you for getting into a fight alone.

"You stupid moron! You don't even have half decent armor! What in the world possessed you to take on four trained killers at once?!"

A) "It just sort of happened."
B) "What, you think I'm weak enough to lose to just four people?"
C) "I wear more armor than your brother ever has!"
D) Other

>>31094129
But she promised she wouldn't steal anymore...

>>31094176
A) it just sort of happened. One minute I'm asking for documentation, the next, there's a crossbow bolt in my shoulder.

>>31094194
You tell Annalise that the situation was unavoidable, and you never saw it coming. She sighs.

"What am I gonna do with you? I'm going to end up burying you before you're twenty." She runs her fingers through her red hair. You pat her shoulder and smile, bringing hers out as well.

"Oh, I have some things for you. I got you a hot jelly roll, although it's probably cooled by now, and something came for you from up north. I think you know what it is." You take the roll from Annalise and take a bite of it. It's delicious. You also take from her a rolled sheet of parchment in a tube. Indeed, the name on it is yours. "It doesn't have my name on it, so I didn't read it, but if you want to now, you can."

A) Read it now
B) Read it later

>>31094364
>A) Read it now

>>31094377
Yeah. This.

>>31094377
You remove the parchment from the tube and unfurl it. It's quite long, and the handwriting gives you some trouble, but you work your way through it quietly.

"Hail! How have the two of you been down south? I'm sure it's warming up there now. It never truly warms in the north, there's almost always snow, but the charcoal we burn burns hot, so don't worry about me.

So much has happened in three years. After I returned to the station, my teacher never showed up. Between us, we didn't look very hard for him. Thanks to meeting you two, and my new teacher, I've improved a lot. I even made Ranger a year before the rest of my litter. I've gotten much better with a bow, as well as bolas and of course my swords. I've got true steel now! Isn't that great!?

I've also been hard at work earning pins. I need every single one to be a Black Beret, so I can't rest. I just got my pins for Bird Call, Roasting Charcoal, and Ravenry. That's how I'm sending this message! My teacher helped me sneak it out. I've only got ten more pins to go now! No matter how tough things were over the past three years, I just shut my eyes and pictured the two of you, and though about how strong you'd both be by the time I saw you again. Thank you for giving me courage. If all goes well, I might be able to visit soon, so be ready for me.

Sincerely, Leon."

>>31094456
You roll the message back up. Annalise smiles, and you give her a brief summary of the contents. She seems ecstatic beyond measure.

"That's great! I can't believe a coward like him made Ranger though. Do you think we should send something back to him?"

A) "It would only disrupt him."
B) "Sure, as soon as I get better."
C) other

>>31094456
So... Rangers are a bit like Boy Scouts? Just a bit more combat and practicality?

>>31094483
They're like if the boy scouts grew up to be a sovereign military nation, made up of nothing but trained killers who can survive in any environment and hunt the kinds of monsters that haunt people's dreams as a hobby.

>>31094473
>B) "Sure, as soon as I get better."

>>31094506
Fucking bad ass.

>>31094522
Annalise smiles and the two of you spend the rest of the day together, until visiting hours end. She takes her basket and says goodnight, leaving you alone with the dark and your thoughts. Try as you might not to think about it, your mind seems to wander back to Pietra, and where she might be. The only thing other than that to think on is Leon, and how even now he must be out in the cold woods, tracking some hellbeast back to its den so that he and his party can skin it and turn it into a bedroll. Eventually though, you sleep.

The next morning the clerics release you, and Annalise meets you outside the infirmary to bring you back to her room. She volunteers to write out the letter, since she's much faster and neater. The two of you set to work deciding how to open.

A) Talk about the weather
B) Talk about your training
C) Talk about your muscles

>>31094523
Yeah, but things have gone down hill in recent years. Ever since they passed new rules regarding the safety of children, the child mortality rate has gone from 80% to 12%. Now more kids live to the age of 18, just to make Ranger and get eaten by a mammoth.

>>31094608
>B) Talk about your training
>C) Talk about your muscles

>>31094608
I'd say talk about training, but Anna might get upset. Muscles seems conceited, and weather is inane.
He opened with weather though, so let's do that too.

>>31094646
You open up the letter with details about your training, as well as Annalise's. You put down your newfound strength, as well as how proficient Annalise is becoming with her magic.

You move on to the next section.

A) Talk about the time you've been spending with Annalise
B) Talk about your guard duty
C) Other

>>31094677
Lets talk about our time with Annalise.

>>31094677
>A) Talk about the time you've been spending with Annalise

>>31094717
>>31094718
You continue by talking about your time together with Annalise, both at the palace and about town. As you dictate, Annalise seems to shrink and blush.

You wrap up the message with some other details and seal it with some wax Annalise borrowed from her parents. The two of you go off together to send the message, and watch as the raven beats it wings and flies north. You can't help but wonder what Leon will think when it arrives. Beside you, Annalise sighs.

"Well, there goes my whole day. The inquisitors aren't training today, so I guess I can either practice alone or just go home and read." You think about your own options. You've missed over a week of training, and really should get back to it.

A) Be responsible, get back to work
B) Be a rebel, take Annalise somewhere
C) Other

>>31094802
>B) Be a rebel, take Annalise somewhere

>married yahatse
Settle down, captcha. not yet.

>>31094802
The rebellion starts now!
But, really, I feel guilty for pietra taking our first kiss.

>>31094827
Unfortunately it's that time again, and I need a few hours of lying still on a soft surface beneath heat trapping sheets so that I will have the cognative ability to keep writing. But fear not! I'll be here for the next four days straight!

If this thread is still alive when I'm up, I'll use it, if not I'll make a new one. Thread is already archived, but remember that every vote we get gives an ice cream pop to the child after school.

Thanks to everyone who played, and I'll see you in the morning

>>31094890
See ya in a few, man.

>>31094890
See you then

>>31094924
Keeping it alive

Staying alive

Rolled 5

>>31096454
Oh oh oh oh

I wonder what're the legal and social views of polygamy [\spoiler] in this setting

Rolled 6

>>31097654
Wrong way.
Also, even if it's acceptable Anna may get a teensy bit upset
And the church may get a teensy bit suspicious.

>>31097723
I was talking about the last episode, but then I remembered that one's not in the same setting , or at least not in the same age. Now that you mention it though, polygamy is grounds for determining a paladin's fallen

>>31097835
Is it? Huh. Learn something every day. Gues that must have something to do with lust. And Mormons.

>>31094802
Time continues to march on. Summer fades into fall and winter. You train nearly daily, as does Annalise. Things quiet down considerably after dealing with Pietra's release, and surprisingly enough not much comes from it. It all winds down until the middle of winter.

The bitter mornings slow your blood, and even doubling on blankets doesn't always work. On this particular morning, you are given orders by the other paladins. It seems there is a small group in town that have taken to cheating people out of money on the street with cheap games of chance. Since they aren't expected to put up much of a fight, you're going alone. If you do well, you'll be on track for promotion soon. First thing, how will you go about this?

A) March right up
B) Leave your gear behind and blend
C) Other

>>31098419
B) Leave gear behind
but also
C) take something that proves our authority, and a weapon as well

>>31098419
Blend in. They see a fucking paladin riding up, they're gonna split faster than a nuclear fission bomb.

>>31098481
>>31098489
You pack your armor and sword into your trunk, deciding to go out in normal clothes so as not to raise suspicion. However, without a symbol, you have no sign of authority or weapon for that matter. It might be possible to borrow one, but perhaps you should just bring a knife in case of emergency.

A) Ask Annalise for a symbol
B) Just take the knife

>>31098550
>A) Ask Annalise for a symbol

>>31098550
A) and B)

>>31098550
So, wait, was our sword our symbol?
A) ask Annalise for a symbol

>>31098589
Oh, wait, B isn't implied in A?
Alright, tack that onto the end of mine: >>31098602

>>31098564
>>31098602
You decide that you at least need a symbol, and so you go to hunt down Annalise.

Finding her proves to be somewhat harder than you would have thought. She isn't at the courtyard, and she isn't at home. Finally, you find her in the archives buried under a pile of dusty old tomes. She claims to be studying for something, but won't say what. You ask her if it would be okay to borrow her symbol for the day.

"Huh? I mean, if it's you I don't see why not. Just be careful with it okay? My dad gave it to me on my birthday last year. Speaking of- eh nevermind, just come find me when you aren't busy." You thank her for the help and head out.

You exit the palace and make your way to the approximate area of the sightings. People here seem just as occupied with their day as any other. It might be a little tricky to track down the swindlers, but you might have a plan.

A) Wander around, hope to run into them
B) Ask some people around about them
C) Other

>>31098687
>C) Make note that her birthday is probably soon
>A) Wander around, hope to run into them
Asking questions will blow your cover

>>31098712
Both of these

>>31098712
Agreed. And make sure we tuck the symbol somewhere that a pickpocket can get to.

>>31098712
This

>>31098724
*can't

>>31098712
>>31098722
>>31098743
You blend in with the crowd as best you can considering you tower over most and your shoulders are about wide enough for children to sit on.

You wander the streets for a while, watching every corner and alley for signs of the culprits. A few times you think you see them, but upon closer inspection it turns out to be regular beggars. The search continues until after lunch, when finally you spot a shady looking fellow tucked into an alley, with a small crowd of people standing around and watching him.

A) Enter the crowd
B) Stay back a bit
C) Get up front

>>31098815
Enter the crowd.

>>31098815
Enter the crowd, but be inconspicuous about it and try not to jostle people around.

>>31098815
>you tower over most and your shoulders are about wide enough for children to sit on
Enter the crowd, if they haven't figured out that we're a paladin by now then they wont figure it out ever

>>31098902
Hey, our height and shoulder size has nothing to do with being a paladin. If we weren't a paladin, we'd still be a massive fucker. Cause genetics.

>>31098944
I'm pretty sure lifting since we were like 12 filled us out more than we would have

>>31098952
True, but a life of hard labor would've had the same effect.

>>31098842
>>31098864
>>31098902
You approach the crowd and find your way into the center.

Before you is a man squat behind a a small table, displaying a deck of odd cards. He mumbles to himself, and before your very eyes the cards begin moving on their own. They flip and turn, revealing strange designs as they revolve around each other and restack themselves. Eventually, the man draws three cards and sets them aside, showing the faces to the crowd. The cards dance on their corners, rotating slowly to display their faces. The man claims that for a silver piece, anyone can play his game, and all they must do is keep their eye on any card of their choosing.

A) Watch someone play
B) PLay

>>31099013
Watch someone play.
I'd say to watch his hands, but fucking magic.

>>31099030
You watch as someone puts down a coin and tries his hand. As the cards begin to move, you keep your eyes on one.

The cards flip over and begin moving again. Slowly at first, but faster every second. They turn and flip and leap over one another, and eventually come to rest. The man playing guesses, and you guess silently. All three cards flip, and you are both wrong. The man operating the cards laughs and pockets the silver coin, welcoming the next player.

A) Play
B) Watch
C) Step in

>>31099172
See the problem with this is that the cards are magical, and can probably change their images.
Anyways, we're not here to play games.
Step forward as if to request game, grab man by collar, and procure holy symbol.

>>31099172
Lets watch one more time. If he seems suspicious, then try to talk to him, get him flustered and /then/ grab him.

File: 1395940826617.jpg-(128 KB, 1047x754, The_best_time_of_the_day.jpg)

128 KB JPG

>>31099172
>B) Watch
and this >>31099280

>>31099224
You push through the crowd and order them to disperse. Even without a symbol, they seem ready to break up and scatter at a moment's notice.

You order the man to pick up his wares and go, as gambling is outlawed in the city. He assures you that the game is fair, if challenging, and he only does it to pay his living costs. He claims to be a fortune teller by trade, but people are more willing to throw away money on a game than face their future.

A) Kick over his table
B) Smash his table
C) Other

>>31099385
C) Ask him to show us exactly how the game works, and be subtly threatening and openly suspicious. We don't want to get violent without a real need to.

>>31099445
Agreed. And be ready to grab him if he makes a break for it.

Oooorrrr, we could ask him to read our future

>>31099445
>>31099458
You ask him how the game is operated.

"It's just a simple parlor trick, really. The most basic of charms. I enchant the cards to shuffle on their own, and people try to follow. Here, I'll even do it with them facing up to prove it." He waves his hands and three cards split from the deck and lay facing up. He waves it again, and they begin moving. Each time he waves his hand, they speed up, and it becomes hard to follow them. Soon you've lost track, and he stops. The card you though you were following has moved.

"See! Nothing illegal, just pure challenge."

A) Tell him to break it up
B) Leave him
C) Other

>>31099554
>B) Leave him

>>31099554
A)Tell him to break it up, but justify it by telling him that other paladins might not be as understanding.
then
C)Ask if he knows of anyone else running these kinds of games

>>31099585
Changing this to this>>31099604

What springhead said!

>>31099604
This

File: 1395942308711.gif-(1.78 MB, 245x245, sam.gif)

1.78 MB GIF

>>31099637

>>31099604
Meant El bee jay. Shit I might be slightly retarded

>>31099604
>>31099624
>>31099663
You tell him to take his things and clear out, as the next paladin who comes by won't be as patient. He groans and with another wave of his hand the cards stack, and he tucks them into his pocket. As he folds up his table, you ask him if he knows anyone else running such games.

"No sir, just me. Apparently gambling is illegal around here. Now that I am here though, how'd you like a free reading? Guaranteed to be almost always accurate most of the time!" You rub your temples. The church doesn't think too kindly of such things, but you are a bit curious.

A) Tell him to get lost
B) Do it

>>31099791
Do it

>>31099791
>B) Do it

If anyone asks, we we're dissolving the situation diplomatically

>>31099791
We should do it. For... uh... Reconnaissance purposes...

>>31099791
B

>>31099833
>>31099834
>>31099850
You accept the offer. The man chuckles to himself, and draws out the deck of cards. He tells you to watch carefully, as the cards slide off of the stack one by one and begin circling his hand in a loose orbit. Once they've all been drawn, they begin rotating as well, turning from face to back.

"It's real simple now. When they stop, just pick three, and I'll read them for you. Remember though, the cards may give one insight, but they are not at your command. They reveal what they wish, and nothing more." The cards arrange themselves into three rows of seven, and float in mid-air.

Roll: 1d22, first three rolls will decide the cards

Rolled 15

>>31099906

Rolled 1

>>31099906
rollan

Rolled 8

>>31099906
Dat one

>>31099972
Beejay, why you do this to us?

>>31099972
>you will die a horrible death at the hand of your lover

>>31100054
Wait. Which one?

>>31100064
The one that kills the others

>>31100042
I think it just picks a card, hence the weird number. If it was a skill-check type thing and I've doomed us all, I am truly sorry.
>>31100064
Whoever finds out about the rest first.

>>31100083
It picks a card, yes, but odds are you just pulled death. Or maybe apocalypse. That'd be interesting

>>31099947
>>31099972
>>31100004
You choose three cards at random, touching them with a fingertip to separate them from the others. The cards you did not choose stack together again, and the three you did flip one at a time.

The face of the first card, a demon with curled horns, above a lake of fire. The card is aptly titled "The Devil".

The face of the second card, a young man in robes and a hood that obscures his face. Before him is set a table with a goblet, from which rises blue fire. "The Apprentice."

The face of the third card, a white sword pointed toward the sky, cutting the face into two. On the left, a field of blood red, and on the right a field of pure white. "Justice."

"Interesting. Very interesting." He looks at the cards and scratches his chin. "You know, with twenty-two cards, it's nearly impossible to read the same draw twice. That's why they say the cards can see the future. They arrange themselves in a certain order on purpose. Now let's see what your draw says..." He pauses for a moment and contemplates.

"In your future, temptation. There will be an offer placed before you, and one that you will find it hard to resist. It will drive you to the brink of ruin. The second card tells me that neither choice will truly be wrong. They each have the potential to bring your life to a horrid, or joyous end. And the final card tells me that choosing either will have consequences that will echo to all those around you. Very nice. I'd hazard a guess, but I think I know what's going on here." He waves his hand again, and the cards slip into his pocket. "I'm very interested in seeing you again, sir. My name is Maurice, please take this." He holds out a smaller card, one that has only a few words on it. It appears to be his name, as well as some strange runes.

A) Take it
B) Refuse it

Rolled 18

>>31100171
>A) Take it

>>31100171
A)Take it. It'll be good to have a connection on the streets and If we get kicked out of Paladin school we can always become a fortune teller

>>31100171
>immediately given a choice
>A) take it and complain that if this is the life altering choice your gonna kill him

>>31100171
Take it. Read it to make sure they're not explosive runes. Cause, you know, fuck spellcasters.

>>31100207
>>31100220
>>31100235
You take the card and tuck it away. Maurice tucks his folded table under his arm and pulls up his hood, wishing you well. Something about the whole situation seems quite odd.

With all that done, you must return to the palace to make your report. But, you don't necessarily have to do it now.

A) Return and collect your pay ( you have 40g)
B) Do something else

>>31100349
Let's return Annalise's holy symbol first. Knowing is, we'd forget.

>>31100419
Seconding this
[I had forgotten already]

Rolled 17

>>31100419
>>31100466
same here

>>31100419
>>31100466
You decide to take Annalise's symbol back to her before collecting your money. You find her still in the archives, looking through tomes.

"I'm glad it helped you." Annalise smiles, putting the symbol back in the collar of her robes. "Oh, and since you're here, take this." She hands you a folded card. It is lavishly decorated. "It's for my party. My dad wants to do something really big since I'm fifteen, and you need that just to get in. It's so stupid. I'm gonna have to wear a dress and he's gonna invite a bunch of old people. But at least you'll come, right?"

A) Yes
B) maybe

>>31100584
Yes, absolutely.
Make as many fellow paladins as possible remind us, cause god knows we'll forget.

>>31100628
Seconded

>>31100656
So, my question is this: am I gonna have to be the guy that remembers everything from here on out?

>>31100486
>A) Yes

>>31100584 agreed
and >>31100694...probably

>>31100628
>>31100656
Annalise stands and hugs you.

"Good! It's in a week, and you have to wear parade armor, so make sure you get some. Don't worry about buying me a present, I just want you there so I won't be bored, okay?" you laugh and leave her to her books, exiting the archive.

With forty gold, and ten more coming in, there's no chance you'll be able to afford a decent set of parade in a week, especially not if you plan to get it fitted properly. On top of that, you might still want to get her a gift, and cake won't cut it this time. After collecting your coins, you sit in the chapel and think of what to do.

A) Buy the nicest thing you can
B) Beg for more work
C) Go in normal clothes, and hope you don't embarrass yourself
D) Other

>>31100731
Right then. I shall take on my new title.

>>31100694
we cold jot down a note or two, really not too hard. but yeah, you are now official scribe

>>31100759
Let's beg for more work.
How much does a moderate set of parade armor cost?

>>31100759
>>31100786
I'm with MemFag here

>>31100759
B) Beg for more work, more like try to find some

>>31100786
Technically parade armor >70g
Decent parade armor >100g
Good parade armor >200

By the way, I'd like to say that I REALLY like the way you did that fortune. Not distinct enough to know when it's coming, and it could literally be any decision, therefore putting us on our toes.
"Two armies shall meet at the river, and one shall fall"

>>31100815
Right. I think decent parade armor is something to shoot for, but falling short of that, we can get technically parade armor.
Or we could borrow some from one of our fellow trainees

>>31100786
>>31100808
>>31100814
You decide that the only thing to do is earn the coin by your own sweat and blood. You head up the the bishop's quarters and ask to be given more work. She seems amused by your enthusiasm. You plead your case, eventually slipping and mentioning the armor and the party. At this, she stops you.

"I understand. Since this gold is not for greed, I think I can do something for you. But be warned, this assignment will be the most difficult thing you've done in all your years so far. Do you accept?"

A) Accept
B) Decline

>>31100938
>A) "I'm actually even more interested now."

>>31100938
>A) Accept

a job is a job guys

>>31100859
It helps that I'm a huge Persona fag. Though, I'm sure it's pretty obvious in the way I write.

>>31100926
Even, hand-me-down parade armor would be good, we don't need a brand spanking new parade armor.
It's not even real combat armor, I'm assuming, it's armor for show, so try not to spent too much money on it.

>>31100938
A)
"I would enjoy the challenge"

>>31100938
A) Accept

>>31100959
Where's our Naoto expy? hu3

>>31100959
Are the regular paladin armours and weapons enchanted?
Also, who makes them, do they have cleric blacksmiths or do they outsource production?

And if enchanted, who does it and what kinda stuff do they put in?

>>31100938
A) "I won't fail you ma'am!"

>>31100859
It's just vague enough, yeah. I guess we all have our guesses of what it might be, I really hope mine is wrong though...

>>31100957
>>31100958
>>31101005
You agree to the job, whatever it may be. The bishop smiles.

"That's good. Now, you've met my brother. I believe he trounced you the first day you came to the palace. Well, he hasn't come back to train for a few days now, and if I'm right he's probably out drinking and fondling barmaids. I want you to drag him back here so I can reprimand him properly. I'd send one of the other paladins, but frankly nobody else will take the job. I'm confident in you, though. Bring him here by any means needed, and I mean any. I don't care if you have to drag him back in a steel net, just get it done. Do that, and I'll see that you are paid adequately." You than her for her kindness, and head out of the office.

This will be a dangerous job. Perhaps you should make preparations.

A) Gather your armor
B) Purchase some things in town
C) Other

>>31101042
They make the real stuff themselves, but they don't enchant it. You can have it enchanted if you want, but it costs an arm and a leg. This is Gandalf the grey style magic, not pew pew laserbeams and super tornados magic.

>>31101173
Let's buy some stuff. Like maybe a steel net.

>>31101173
>A) Gather your armor
>C) Get your money somewhere safe and take just enough to buy booze and other small purchases
Oh Diane, always taking care of Andre

how old is the original sunbro cast atm?

>>31101173
>>31101226
>>31101210
I agree with these two

>>31101270
Agreed

>>31101226
>>31101173
And a secondary question
is scipio still around?

>>31101210
>>31101226
>>31101270
You don your half-plate and slide your sword onto your back. you leave most of your gold in your trunk before heading into town to buy a few things. You purchase a steel net for two gold pieces. You wonder if this will really be enough.

A) Go as you are
B) Grab something else first

>>31101226
It's 28 years later
>>31101326
no

>>31101379
I feel like we should pick something else up, but I can't remember what I was thinking of.

Captcha: office pringles
No, I don't think Pringles actually exis in this universe.

>>31101417
i hope we have Pedro with us

>>31101379
>A) Go as you are
I can't think of anything else that doesn't involve inviting someone to join us, so let's go as is

>>31101379
A) There's not much else we can do to prepare, I guess

>>31101379
Yeah, I guess all we can really do is head out.

>>31101379
>A) Go as you are
Morning, folks.

>>31101439
>>31101454
You decide that you've got all you need to handle the assignment, and go to find Pedro. You ride into town, searching tavern after tavern for any sign of your target.

Eventually you come to small hole in the wall with three unconscious men slumped over in the road. As good a sign as any. You dismount and peek inside. The bar is mostly empty, with every patron moved to one side of the room except for one. Sure enough, the blindfold and twin sabers give him away. He sits in a booth, with two smiling but somewhat uncomfortable looking ladies on either side. At least four bottles of wine are turned over on the table, and he holds another in his hand. His uproarious laughter just about shakes he building.

A) Enter boldly
B) Approach the bar
C) Other

>>31101587
>B) Approach the bar
>C) Order some booze and go sit with Andre

>>31101604
>>31101587
No other votes?

>>31101604
>>31101723
Nah, this is a pretty sound plan.

>>31101743
T-thanks?

>>31101604
You make your way to the bar and place an order. The owner seems less than convinced of your age, but gold is gold to him, and he hands you a glass. You then make your way over to Andre's booth.

When you sit, his smile turns sour. He doesn't look at you directly, but the girls do, seemingly curious as to your intentions.

"The clanking of cheap steel, the gait of a boy who's never dipped his pen, and the shaking hands of one who's about to have ribs cracked on the side of a bar. Seems like my sister finally got someone to come looking for me, am I right?"

A) "Just come peacefully, please."
B) "It's time to go. Finish your drink and be quick about it."
C) "It's not that she cares, you're just ruining these nice people's shops."
D) Other

>>31101955
>B) "It's time to go. Finish your drink and be quick about it."