>Year 484 of the Raschan Calendar

Ten years ago you lost her, Carna; who never let you go. Now ten years later, you let go of her hand.

"I'll deal with the book, you boys go kill some time." Kran says before yawning, stepping into the inn. You've just returned to the village, there's still some good time until sunrise. You'd go back to sleep but... you just don't think you can do it. You woke up from your nightmare in a sweat and now your body just won't let you rest.
The demon inside of you hasn't said anything either, despite your attempts to commune with it.
You don't have much to do. You're juuuust about done your book on weaves and the only two people you know in town are silent and working respectively.
You could probably finish up that last weave before dawn... or maybe do a little bit of training, you've been a bit out of things lately. Maybe there's something to talk to Anlak about...

>What do you do?

>>32847592
I can't think of anything... How about physical training. Go punch some stuff it might make us feel better.

>>32847592
Try to practice handling swords with grip, like we did that time we fought the contractor

>>32847589
After reading this I though I missed a thread or something.

>>32847744
That double sword technique would be good for the next time we try and us the flame sword/real sword combo. But, practicing a sword technique doesn't have the same stress relief value as just punching things.

For all the good you've been doing with magic, you really ought to bulk up a little bit. Around The Archives you thought you were fine but being with Anlak and Gos is making you notice the holes in your strength and martial skills.
You take near the woods to practice your swordplay. Slicing at branches and logs; leaving cuts against the trees. Your motions are precise but as you expected, you could be doing better on force.

It feels pretty good to just let go. You've had a lot of stress building up and each swing cuts a small part of it out. You work out a decent sweat before taking a seat on the grass. The sun is starting to come up, it looks like Spring is about to arrive...

It'll be eleven years since that day soon.

Not wanting to waste time, you practice your grip weave on fallen branches, dancing them around like swords. They mimic your hand motions, but being made of wood they do little in being fierce.
It's a boring sunrise. Boring, but relaxing.

"Training?" Anlak's deep voice catches your ear. You turn your head and see him approaching from the village gate. You give him a nod. He pauses, scanning over the broken branches. "There's breakfast in the inn." He turns around, it seems he came here just to tell you that. You begin to get up, when your aloof classmate speaks up again, "Want to spar before we go back in?"

That's not something you expected to hear.

>What do you do?

Offer to practice with Anlak on weaves or sparing while taking safety into account.

>>32848105
Grab a stick and toss him one. I wish Anlak could heal like us so we could use real weapons to first blood.

>>32848105
>Sure.

I have a feeling we're about to get our ass kicked but when has that stopped us before.

I guess Raschan history books are on the menu for when we get back; probably going to help us figure out who the descendent of the original summoner was who's still living in Deneb.

>>32848105
We may as well. We've got plenty of severed tree limbs to use as training weapons, so it should be pretty safe.

You call a grip around a stick and weave it upwards, flicking it over to your hand. You toss it to Anlak before taking a second one for yourself to wield.

"First to three strikes?" That was your usual rule-set when you played with Carna. That or whoever cries first loses.

Anlak nods. He grips his stick underhanded, and places one leg in front of the other. His stance is low. You give him a look over for weaknesses while taking your usual position...
And he lunges at you, cutting the meters between you two in an instant.
You manage a step to the side, but his make-shift blade follows you. You parry it downward on the first blow but your hand shakes when it connects. Trying to guard it directly certainly would've left your stick broken and you grounded. He's as strong as he looks, and a lot faster than that as well.

"You can weave if you want." He says dryly landing to your left. He takes a few short steps back, putting a little distance between the two of you.

It'll be hard to win a head-on confrontation, but taking on his offer would be...

>What do you do?

Rolled 10

>>32848518
>you should get your trip back

>Try and draw him in, then counter attack?
>Don't use waves

Rolled 6

>>32848518
He's fast but are we faster? We could go super aggressive to catch him off guard. Or this >>32848569


He doesn't know very many weaves does he. We could just make up a hand sign and gesture in his direction. He would assume it's a weave and try to dodge.

Though we should probably save this for latter.

>>32848569
Better yet bait him in and feint a weave, then surprise him with a counter attack when he tries to interrupt it.

>>32848569
>Feint
I knew there was a word for it but it wouldn't come to mind.

>>32848672
I want to save the weave feint until latter in the fight. As kind of a last resort thing.

>>32848518
No weaves, but tell him that we'll keep it in mind. We want to leave him the option of psyching himself out of using a potentially effective opening that a weave could punish and/or using one as a feint later on as people have been saying.

Focus on using his momentum against him. He's able to bring his weapon around quickly, but he probably has a harder time changing the direction his whole body is moving given his speed and size.

File: librarianquest.png (42 KB, 600x400)

42 KB PNG

>[Cunning 15]

"I'll keep that in mind." You might "consider" his offer later, but you're not a blow in yet and can afford to wait a little bit longer.
You lower your body and bring your weight forward, but keep one foot well planted into the floor, feigning a misstep on the other to try and draw Anlak in.
It works. He bolts towards you swiping upwards with his stick, but you pivot on your planted boot; letting yourself fall to a side as his weapon narrowly misses your ear. You strike him in the waist with your stick and catch yourself with your free hand before pulling the weight of your body around behind him.

It seems you've got the first blow. With any luck you can keep this momentum going.

Anlak turns around as you stand up again. He takes a short breath and changes his strategy. He walks towards you calmly and begins making careful swipes and thrusts with his weapon still underhand. You have an easy enough time parrying them while trying to buy distance, but it seems likely he's just trying to create an opening.

>What do you do?

Rolled 2

>>32848887
>Crash
Uhhhh I mean rush him

Rolled 7

>>32848887
At an opportune moment instead of parrying, smash his stick to the side with all our strength and follow up with a quick thrust to center mass

Rolled 2

>>32848887
Try to parry one of his thrusts towards the outside of his body and then close distance while his weapon's to one side.

His instinct's going to be to move back as quickly as possible and get his weapon trained back on us, so we should probably strike at his sword arm since he'll be actively trying to move it back towards us at the time.

>>32848887
Rush. Try to use speed to your advantage. I want to save the good ideas for when we have better rolls.

>[Alacrity 12]

You try to parry one an incoming strike, to deviate it to the outside of Anlak's body but you're unable to press it far against his strength. Failing that, you grip your stick in both hands and attempt to slam it into him with what little time you've made but he manages to deflect you by the wrists; forcing your arm up with his free hand. He brings his blade back on your open body but you manage to pull loose in time to avoid a clean swipe.
While he recovers from his swing, you make a rush at him. You're certain you're faster than him, and you should be able to catch him with a flurry of blows...

But it looks like he saw through your plan. As you come in he makes a deep duck in and right, tapping the outsides of your upper-leg with his twig. He pulls into a roll when you try for a revenge-blow; it's not very graceful but still it dodges your attack.

One hit for each of you now. But he's still standing up, and you're on the offence.

>What do you do?

Rolled 4

>>32849284
Bum rush?

Rolled 5

>>32849284
Hmm. Let's try to push ourselves a bit and overwhelm him with a quick flurry of precise strikes.

Rolled 4

>>32849284
Could we let him break our stick in half, then hit him with the part that's still in our hand? Or would that not count?

Rolled 9

>>32849284
pretend to bum rush with a heavy strike, when he goes to block or dodge, look for an opening to trip him with your leg

Rolled 7

>>32849364
this

>[Cunning 10]

You rush forward, holding your stick overhead with both hands and swing it downward. Anlak pulls himself to the side to avoid the strike, but you stick your leg out to trip him.
He's caught by your ploy, and is forced to tuck into another roll as you pull your weapon to follow him. You don't quite reach though.

As he tries to get up again, you move to deliver swift strikes. Your stick comes at him repeatedly, but even from his crouched position he deflects each strike skillfully. You try to create an opening, his twig beginning to track from your hits; and when you see a chance you thrust inward to try and catch him on the shoulder. Anlak twists his frame though, and your attack slips just past his neck. In the short opening, he pulls himself around and jabs onto your chest. His hit knocks you off balance and you just barely manage to catch yourself as you stumble away.

That's two for him and one for you. He's back on his feet again, and neither of you has the advantage.
Anlak takes a look down his stick, it'll break if you get a good strike down the middle but contesting him in strength might not be the best idea.

>What do you do?

Rolled 3

>>32849614
Let's see how that grip sword technique we practiced will work in a fight. Keep another stick nearby for when he rushes at us.

Rolled 1

>>32849668
No we don't want to use weaves. It's cheating.

Rolled 8

>>32849614
Now would be the time to use the fake weave move. But with these rolls we can't win.

Rolled 5

>>32849614
Go on the defense wait for an opening

>>32849614
>Stall for time. Maybe we can out last him.

Really we just need to stall for better rolls.

>[Cunning 8]

You ball back on defence, hoping to find an opening. He only needs one more hit on you to win and you don't want to recklessly trade blows.

Anlak takes one step forward before making a rush at you. You bring your free hand up and twiddle your fingers towards the sticks to the side. He stomps his boots into the grass and turns his head to them, misdirected by your fake. With the opening you create, you dash in and swing...
But Anlak manages to react fast enough to bring his stick across, slapping it up against yours. The force stops your attack while destroying his twig; he recovers faster than you though and thwacks you once across the shoulder with what's barely an inch of wood poking out from his grip.

The fight is over. You both drop your weapons.

"You would have fooled me if you followed through with that weave." Anlak walks past you, heading back towards the village gates.

"That would've been cheating," You say, "You would've been at a handy cap if I did."

"You were at a handy cap because you didn't." Anlak sighs.

"I'll win next time." You give him a little boast, not exactly making a promise; partly to bring up the mood. You don't like to admit it, but it seems there's a fair distance between you and him in martial skill.

"You're already good at plenty. Just let me have this." Anlak smirks, a rare show of emotion from him...

There's a warm breakfast waiting at the inn, but you're not dying to eat yet. Though who knows what else there is you could do here. Still, there's a few minutes of walking to be done and this is a rare chance to talk to your Daktori fellow on your own terms.

>What do you do?

>>32850104
Ask him if he plans on becoming a contractor

>>32850104
Ask him if he wants us to teach him any weaves.

Does he have a thing for any of the girls?

>>32850197
>Spoiler

Whoa there cowboy let's not go down that road ever

>>32850104
Offer him weave lessons in exchange for swordplay lessons sometime

>>32850253
Maybe brag and show off a weave at the same time, gotta keep our friendship/rivalry with Anlak at least slightly antagonistic

"What do you think of showing me some swordplay in exchange for me showing you some weaves?" You flick your fingers, bringing a little ember over your hand, "I'm fairly good at it."

He gives you a nod, not answering verbally.

"Any thoughts on becoming a contractor?"

"...if it comes to it." He took a moment to answer that one, "I don't know how I'd deal with it." The two of you arrive at the inn door when he suddenly speaks again, "I like horses."

Kran waves at the two of you when you enter. It's no surprise to see how empty the place is, but the sight of the White Cat you'd met previously isn't a sight you'd like to get familiar with. The elderly innkeeper heads into the kitchen after you enter.

"You boys look a little beat up, didn't get into a fight did you?" Kran puts her hand over her mouth, her eyes teasing you.

"We had a spar." You take a seat, unfortunately beside the White Cat when Anlak takes his beside Kran.

"Well, if you two are done beating on each other, we have the next part of the job in mind." The White Cat spreads a map out in front of him. The inn-keeper arrives and sets down plates of food for you and Anlak.

"I don't know if they should be doing this..." Kran places an elbow on the table, tapping the side of her face with one finger.

"With any luck they'll just be observing, but it'll be a good experience for them to see contractors at work. In two weeks, we'll be meeting two Black Cats here. Just last night people started seeing demons leave the forest, so The Little Witch must be starting to move. Before we lose her again, we need to gather and bring her in."

The Little Witch, Carna.

"With you Kran, we'll have three contractors as well as that boy Black Cat at the ready. Unfortunately we haven't found a ready weakness, but we can at least assess the situation properly before she vanishes."

You don't like where this is going, but you can probably pry some answers out now.

>What do you do?

>>32850638
"Is this a dead or alive mission?"

>>32850638
Is Henry still on the mission too?

>>32850638
I assume the non contractor is Henry. I wonder who the other two contractors are.

"How exactly are we going to assess the situation? Are e just going to get close enough to watch or are we going to actually engage her."

>>32850721
Seconded.

"What will the danger be to us?" You ask.

"To you? Likely nothing if you just stay and observe. We'll likely sit you somewhere to keep a look-out; deal with some of the goblins that crop up. Only the most experienced should engage her. Though it might be a bit messier for Kran there."

"What do you mean?" Anlak shoots the White Cat a cold look.

"When contractors fight, it's practically unheard of for one to escape alive. Demons are prone to blood-lust and rarely will they miss the chance to consume a contractor's unified and aged soul."

"You said you were going to 'bring her in' didn't you? The Little Witch." You say.

"Well, we'd rather not loose Seekers or destroy the Rasci she's bound with so hopefully it won't come down to a battle between contractors. But if worse comes to worse we'll have to destroy the contractor and bind the demon as it escapes." You don't like the sound of any of that.

You turn to Kran, "The Black Cat without the contract, would that be Henry?"

Kran nods to you, "He can ride horseback without a demon and he's got a good sense of when to run, so we've left him on the duty of tracking the mark. For the little snot that he is, the boy has some talents."

"Though I would appreciate if he stopped screaming every time I came out!" Graps emerges from behind Kran, arms crossed and head shaking.

"What about the other two contractors?"

"You haven't met them before, those Black Cats are hardly ever in Deneb and they don't like to be seen when they are. There're a lot more of us than you'd think; but very few people they trust to teach." Kran explains, "I don't mind the people so much but..."

"They have some rather uncouth demons!" Graps rubs his chin, sighing.

"Well, I'm off to work the fields. Find me if you have any more questions; otherwise just rest up and prepare for the next little while." The White Cat takes his leave.

Carna can't be far yet, but you don't know if you can warn her any more than you already have.

>What do you do?

Rolled 14

>>32851164
We already trained with Lakky so let's just finish up our weave book

>>32851209
Might as well. Not much else to do here.

Look for a knockout or binding weave in it or to make our flame weave hotter or to he with them.

>>32851209
We can't go see Carna.
We don't know what to do about Carna.
All the girls are away to hang with.
We can't pursue Anlak, cause.... hehehe, lets make our flame weave hotter With Anlak!

>>32851164
We could always give contacting frangelico another shot. Doubt he says anything useful though

>>32851435
Why do you keep trying to ship the MC with Anlak. Anlak is clearly in love with Yu'yen.

Also, the QM has made it painfully obvious Gos is gay and thinks MC is hot.

>>32850104
>handy cap

>>32851539
I never realized until just now that "handicap" is a word. My world is shattered, I don't even know what I was thinking.

File: librarianquest.png (43 KB, 600x400)

43 KB PNG

You take your leave from the table and make way up to your room, time to perfect that frost weave...

You've mostly worked on it while in transit. It's easier to focus in the quiet of a room but it's lonely without the usual chatter of your friends in the background. Anlak and Kran seem content to leave you alone right now and you end up frosting over a few spots in your little room practising your spell.

Roll a ball in your hand, bring the over over, pad it down at just the right distance. Every weave is so meticulous, it's hard to imagine how long master weavers must train to learn all of this...

When you're confident about your spell and the room is starting to get a bit colder than you're comfortable with from training, you give the book Ianc gifted you a quick look over to see if you missed anything before giving up. Who'd have thought you could get bored with the upcoming situation?
A knock on your door rouses you up again when you start to drift off. You don't get a chance to say anything before Kran barges in.

"Hope you're not doing an- why is it so cold in here?" She peeks around at your little winter wonderland. "Thought you might be bored so I brought something for you to do!" Kran pulls out two sheets of paper, there're golden threads lining them.

"What's that?"

"Paper birds. You write a letter on them and we can fly them out to someone... if we know where they are I mean." She flaps it the papers up and down, "It's very complicated, I don't even know how it works. Anyways, Anlak doesn't know what to do with them and I had a few spares so I thought you might like to send to someone."

You vaguely recall seeing one of these back in Deneb, it must've been this that Sheryl intercepted; which means they're not the most secure thing in the world.

"Well, assuming you can write; go ahead." Kran slaps them down on your desk, before turning towards the door.

>What do you do?

>>32851539
I knew I messed that up somehow. Bah.

Rolled 1, 2 = 3

>>32851596
And as Yu'Yen awoke one morning a single note was flown through his window. Opening it, it read
"Your a fagget"
Anyways

I vaguely recall we was supposed to tell someone we met cCarna was it Rein? If not let's so a letter to our mom

>>32851596
Send one to Rein and Sheryl and one to Yuyen and Leona. Ask how their mission is going. I really don't know what details of our missions we could really include, other than the fact that it went well

>>32851596
I don't think these letters are safe enough to tell anyone about Carna even if we knew where the others were which we don't. And we already told Carna about the attack.

I suppose we could send one to mom.

>>32851734
You need to know where the person is to send them a letter.

>>32851766
I think it would be safe to tell her all about the demon heart thing.

Why do I get the feeling the Seekers are trying to get us to send a letter to Carna so that they can follow it.

>>32851796
We could say we spoke to the demon in our chest and its name was Frangelico and it wants out

As of yet we don't know how to get demons out of a host without them dying. We also don't know what the demon in our chests power is, only that we have the same problem.
We need to discover about our heart-demon & how to get a demon out of someone, I suspect they are related topics.

Rolled 7

>>32851596
We could probably get a note to Carna so long as we keep the details vague and actually address it to Henry in case it gets spotted and intercepted. If nothing else, it comes off like we're trying to keep him abreast of the situation.

Writing home to mom would probably be a fine idea for the second sheet, and a far safer one at that. Letting her know that we met Gos and our other friend (which she'll know is Carna and is vague enough that others won't make the connection) is probably safe.

>>32851855
She doesn't even know that there is a demon in his chest. We might want to break the news a little more gently than that.

Rolled 8

>>32851903
>As of yet we don't know how to get demons out of a host without them dying.
But we know that it IS possible, since in the dream, Frangelico's original contractor (from the dream) managed to remove and bind him in a way where he no longer had a host.

It might be necessary for the demon to be cooperative with the procedure, but it definitely seems doable.

>>32851912
What if they're not trying to intercept it? see >>32851832

>>32851945
If he's not in our chest, what pumps our blood? We don't exactly have any spare hearts lying around

>>32851958
They already have an idea of where she is, since Henry's been tracking her. Following the message to its destination might be difficult with other demons in the area.

You're probably right that if Henry spots the note but doesn't intercept it there could be more trouble than it's worth. Not from leading them to her, but by creating a huge bit of circumstantial evidence linking us to Carna when he reports back that he saw a message going into the woods.

Maybe send a message to Gos (and hope he's not under observation after he let the thief give him the slip)?

There's not a lot of easy, useful choices for this that we know the location of, now that I'm thinking about it.

>>32852081
Talking about Carna's iteration of him, not ours. Unless something drastic changes, we're probably stuck with ours for the foreseeable future.

You'll write one to your mother, tell her you met Gos as well as another old friend that you won't need to name. You should probably leave mentions of your demon out of it; but for her sake you could at least tell her that despite being under the weather, you're getting a bit better lately.

As for the second letter, you can leave it for later when you know better how this works.

"So I need to know where the person is to send to them?" You ask Kran to confirm some questions.

"Well, I usually just send to Masoch and let him work out the details. He ought to know which inn all your friends are staying at." Kran gives you a shrug, she's certainly not the best person to ask about magical concerns. With that she leaves the room.

You can give more thought to this later tonight, but for now you'll just pen in some thoughts to Ianc...

It's coming into the evening when you finish sorting out your words. Come to think of it you haven't ever written to anyone have you; your only friends for years was Carna after-all.

You lay down on your bed, leaving the letter on the table overlaying the blank sheet. You can send it out tomorrow, maybe you'll think up some revisions in your sheet. You close your eyes, without any idea of what to do you might as well catch up some sleep...

Your heart beats.

It's awake. You haven't done anything to force it up but it's awake. It makes quiet whispers, you can't hear the words... but you know what it wants.

It wants freedom.

"Let me out. Cut me open. Free me." The sound is getting clearer.

"Frangelico...?" You ask.

"...yes...?"

>What do you do?

>>32852112
Why do you want to escape, it'll only ends with you dead since you've no contractor. Have him talk.

>>32852112
"I think we've got to find a way to work together if either of us ever want to be whole again."

>>32852146
A reasonable question.

File: image.jpg (116 KB, 680x528)

116 KB JPG

>>32852112
I still can't get over his name Frangelico
Pfffftttt

>>32852170
From what we know, he's probably been soured on collaborative relationships after his first contractor used him under the guise of friendship and then threw him under the bus. We'd like to work back towards a mutual relationship in time, but I can't see him jumping back on the "let's work together" bandwagon quite so quickly.

It's still probably a good thing to get into his head, though.

From the
>MAN IS GOOD? DEMONS ARE EVIL!?
remark from the dream, I suspect he'd appreciate our stance on Elves and Contractors from back when Sheryl was asking how we felt about them. Even though everyone's been telling us that all demons are evil, our first instinct was still "people who do evil are evil, and all of the stuff about demons is just obfuscation".

Might come as a breath of fresh air, or he might make it a personal mission to disabuse us of that notion. But I think if there was ever any chance of us working with him to begin with, it's more likely to be the former than the latter.

File: I failed you.gif (1 MB, 245x172)

1 MB GIF

I can allready see it aproaching.
Can you feel it?
EREBUS RISES

"Why do you want to escape? You'll only end up dead without a contractor."

"Better dead than chained up." The distorted voice quietly echoes in your mind like growing thoughts. "Ten minutes is too long. Ten years is too long. Let me go. Cut me open. Free me."

"I'm going to die without you." The demon has replaced your heart, and without Frangelico it will no longer beat, "I think we'll need to work together if either of us will be whole again."

"Then let me out and we'll do whatever you want. Your life isn't a passing season for me."

"Do you wish to make a contract then?"

"I cannot until you let me go." It thumps against your chest, "I'm too weak now, I need freedom. Until you called my name I was barely a voice."

You know what it means. It wants you to cut yourself open... but you can hardly trust a demon to keep up his end of the deal can you?

"Let me out. Cut me open. Free me... I give you life, and I will give you the entire world. Just let me free. We'll take back your woman, and I'll take back myself. So do it, let me out. Cut me open. Free me."

Your vision is blurred, the world flashes between the colours you recognize and shades unknown. Thin strands of light hang through the air, drifting in and out of vision.

"I can lend you my eyes. My knowledge. My power. Whatever you wish for, I will give you. And all I want is out. Come now. Let me out. Cut me open. Free me..."

You're feeling sick just talking to it, a primal fear is building in you.

>What do you do?

File: Happening-con 3.gif (24 KB, 310x760)

24 KB GIF

Don't do it, don't listen.

>>32852518
Stop communing right the fuck now freeze ourself a little with a frost weave if it helps clear out thoughts

File: Happening-con 4.gif (23 KB, 310x760)

23 KB GIF

>>32852614
aww shit, it should be lvl 4.
>Shut up, I refuse to listen to you if you keep spouting that nonsense.

>>32852518
Cut it out. I'm tired of this thing bring inside us, sharing our brain space and whatnot

>>32852518
We don't want the entire world, and we've seen what happens to those who contract with him hoping they'll receive it. One equal exchange, and then ruin. It happened to those noble houses, it is happening as we speak to Carna.

But it hasn't always been that way.

Why was one betrayal worth those countless years of retribution? This once, what we want and what he wants coincides. Why can't he bring himself to try a contract the honest way one last time?

>>32852518
First tell me, why does Rein effect you so much? How did you control me when I fought that contractor all those months ago?

"If you want out so badly, then why did you save me last time?" There are a few things that have been bothering you about this demon.

"Without your flesh shielding mine, the world will tear me apart once again. I need to be freed, on your terms... on my terms."

"Then couldn't you take control of me again?"

"Loathe it as I do, I am only a heart now. I am only as strong as your desire, I can only move to your feelings." Frangelico chuckles, each laugh pains your mind, "Though I'm twice unfortunate. Once to be stuck here, and once to be stuck here with one as impotent as you."

You can't trust him, not now. Not until you know more.

"I know your stories Frangelico. If you will help me out honestly I will let you go but until then... Shut up."

"You need only call my name if you need me... I'll be waiting for you."

You shut out Frangelico, collapsing against your sheets...

It doesn't sound like it'll be easy to work with him. But still... that dream leaves you wondering...

You should get some sleep, but some fresh air or a cold drink before bed might do you better than letting your last thought of the day be its.

>What do you do?

>>32852888
Can we passively refridgerate a small pouch? Maybe keep snowballs in there?

Is there REALLY nothing from our past we can use? Carna's dad's name?

We gotta talk to Gos sometime. Send the letter to him? Tell him to check how many people survived the Rasci attack?

thoughts on Frangelico incoming

>>32852888
>>32853100
Alright, Frangelico
>My life, your life, and the world
Frangelico is making the same deal as in the dream. This means that he will betray us just as the whatshisnamegod did, or he will keep to his word out of spite and dignity.

Either way, he doesn't sound like he gives a rat's ass about Carna whatsoever. That...might be a good thing.

>Demon connection
If this is Frangelico, who's in Carna? We gotta question him on that. Hopefully it's a child, because we need SOME sort of bond to exploit.

It might be nice to get in contact with your friends but you'll see them soon enough. You get up and begin writing a letter to Gos, if your luck is so good that he hasn't left that castle yet you might be able to see what details he can dig up about the past on his end. He's stationed at the castle where Santo was lived, and even should The Paladins as a whole not know as much as The Seekers; you're certain they keep less secrets. You can arrange to meet later, but you need his help now.

You don't know what kind of contract Carna has with that demon, but you should have a way to jog her memories... her feelings. If the world hasn't abandoned you yet, then the girl who held your hand must still exist in there somewhere.

Two weeks, you have two weeks until The Seekers set out to find her. While they set out to hunt her, you have two weeks to make your preparations to see her again.

You won't lose her this time, not again.

And so, life goes on.

It's oveeeer.

Sorry, it was slow today. Today was one of those, "I don't really know what to do but let's wrap up some loose ends and see if the players come up with something" days. I guess when most of the cast is on a bus that's expected though.

We'll be playing with more speed next time, I'll be thinking over ways to play the game between allowing player agency and having enough plot to follow that you guys don't have to sit there going, "Well fuck, what do we do?" My apologies.

sage

>>32853564
We're kinda starved on options here. If you could at least add in the options that were suggested, but not popular enough to be taken, that would be great.

Not bad, kind of "calm before the shitstorm", gotta get the tension slowly raising next thread then go balls to the wall in the one after.