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You have always wanted to be an emperor. That ambition has burned dimly in the past, tempered by reality. Now the opportunity to realise your ambition has arrived and you are determined not to let it slip. Now is the time to build your empire and become an emperor.

Last Thread: You are the knight, Talon York, and you are an emperor, but not the emperor… yet. Last thread you made some decisions about the future of your empire. Now you get to spend some time with your subordinates.

Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Aspiring%20Emperor%20Quest
Userscript for Suptg with quote previews/backlinks (not my work): https://greasyfork.org/scripts/2065-sup-tg-archive-quote-functions
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AspirationalQM
Master Pastebin (links to all pastebins for AEQ): http://pastebin.com/6Su7M3fh
>no changes

>some housekeeping
1. Next thread is on August 15th at 6:30pm EDT.
2. Finn FTB (http://pastebin.com/Tf06bkEC) is almost done. Expect it to be finished this week.

Rolls are d20 and the best of the first three posters. I may sometimes ask for more dice to be rolled by each player, but same rules apply otherwise. Please quote the post you are voting for or rolling against. Note there are hard-to-replace points that can be used to offset failures in rolls. Please see the General Pastebin, linked through the Master Bin above, for more info and detailed dice rules.

>Now, with further ado
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>>34017005
Current Date and Time: Mid-morning on November 11th, 1952PC

>You have 1 FR point

With the breakfast over and the Gendarmes occupied by your retinue, you find yourself having to face the problem you’ve been putting off. Caitltyn. A knight has told you that she has awakened and is waiting for you in her bedroom. After this you’ll then have to deal with Rayza who had been moved into your spire so Tsucchi could keep an eye on her.

A knock on your bodyguard’s door is ignored, so you step inside. There you find her wearing the simple clothes she wears for workouts, rather than the expensive tailored dress uniform that she was expected to wear as the head of your personal guard. You hold back a frown at that, not wanting to give her any impression that you’re upset. Not that she’s looking at you.

Instead, Caitlyn is sitting on the edge of her bed, staring into space and kicking her legs up and down. You don’t know if she’s lost in thought or intentionally ignoring you. She’d lost a lot of her poker face when dealing with you – you rarely saw that frustratingly enigmatic smile of hers now. Yet you had a feeling you might see some of it now. You hope you know enough about her to push through any barriers she tries to erect.

“Caitlyn,” you call out to her softly, getting her attention.

She gives you a small smile as she looks at you – a regular smile, luckily. “Hi, Talon. This about how I screwed up yesterday, isn’t it? It is the next day, right?”

Once again, you hold back a frown. She’d immediately blamed herself for what happened. You’ll need to consider your response carefully.

>Response?

As always, remember that I don’t always need a precise dialogue write-in. You can just tell me the sorts of things you want to do or express.
>>
>>34017005
>Aspiration resumes
the highpoint of my week.

Anywho

>Taira
>Teleportation III – you may instantly teleport yourself and up to ten people up to fifty kilometres. With extended concentration, you may take up to one five hundred people with you or a similar amount of mass (approximately 50000kg) up to a distance of four map tiles once per day. Lesser amounts can be done at greater distance or more often.

It occurs to me that with this we can rapidly reach all the remaining pops of our source and claim them
Also the 2 other sources on this continent (which aren't infested with shadow beasts) can be claimed in such a manner
Also their pops
Also sylph.

I suggest we first go to sylph's source so that we can use the familiar binding technique developed by gnome to bind sylph as talon's second familiar and bind the pop in which she resides to him to serve as her power supply.
>>
>>34017013
"I don't recall you screwing up, but yes."
>>
>>34017013

To be fair I did say you could use your powers if you wanted.
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>>34017013
Screwed up?
you managed to retain your control even at full power and stopped yourself before killing ryaza without anyone intervening. You did very well with that.
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>>34017013
First of all she didn't screw up. It was her choice to whether or not she would reveal her real powers and there were no wrong decisions there.

Maybe after she calms explain how it is kinda even relaxing, now that she has revealed it neither of us will have to try so hard to keep it a secret.
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>>34017334
in retrospect, before we jump into "you didn't screw up", why not start by asking her how she thinks she screwed up, and then why she thinks it was a screwup

Also, even though we said she CAN use her powers if she wants to, IIRC she didn't WANT to, she lost her temper. (but then reigned it in)
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VOTE
>1. Tell her she didn't screw up and comfort her from that angle.
>2. Probe her to find out why she thinks she screwed up.
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>>34017521
> 2
> Then 1
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>>34017521
>1
>>
>>34017428
Did you screw up, how did you screw up, what could you have done to not screw up, what will you do to not screw up.
Full analyze then, well yeah turn out you barely screwed up. Or something
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>>34017521
2 then 1
>>
>>34017521
>2
then
>1
>>
>>34017521
>2. Probe her to find out why she thinks she screwed up.
>>
>>34017521
>2
>>
>>34017521
Probe her, snerk snerk, i have a dirty mind
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>>34017608
this isn't a vote btw, I already voted earlier
>>
so, while aspir writes

>>34017134
anyone has any thoughts on this plan?
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>2

“Oh, is that what this is about?” you say, eliciting a glower from Lynn. “Tell me, Caitlyn: why do you think you screwed up? What do you think you screwed up?”

She continues to glower at you for a few long seconds before turning away with a slight pout. “I lost control. I wasn’t good enough to beat her without drawing on my actual power like she was but I still shouldn’t have lost control. I almost killed her in a friendly competition, after she was already beaten.”

“And why do you think that happened?’ you ask.

“I…” she starts to answer but trails off, staring at you with a slightly lost expression. “She said something. That I was weaker than her. It seemed to anger me much more than I thought it should and I don’t know why.”

Frowning inwardly at that, you ponder your next move. It doesn’t seem like she’s telling you the whole truth but at the same time you think you’ve got enough rope to pull Caitlyn up the cliff she’s trying to throw herself over. You’re not about to let her just walk away from this, which she might try if you’re not careful.

>What to say to her next?

Next post should be a bit faster, I think.
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>>34017801
"What friendly competition? I saw the entire duel remember. Both of you were playing hardball from the very start. But most importantly of all, you didn't kill her."
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>>34017801
OOC, this might have to do with the inherent knowledge?
She could sense that rayza is a royal dragon, but lynn is a fel dragon and those were the downfall of their empire. could feldragons innate instinct include some aversion to royal dragons?

of course we know NONE of that.

so in character. Well, we should either probe her further and help her analyze her own feeling on the matter.
Or right away toss in a "but you did hold back, you reigned in your anger and stopped yourself from killing her, nobody even had to yell at you to stop, that is a big improvement"
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>>34017959
oh, good point. didn't lynn only go berserk when rayza took out her lung?
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>>34017959
>>34017988
technically it WAS a friendly competition even if they were both playing hardball...
then again, a LOT of people played hardball, like that RSK knight with the anti regeneration axe going around killing people
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>>34017970
>of course we know NONE of that.
replying to self here.
actually talon does know that feldragons were the downfall of their empire, and he has been informed of royal dragons recently.
he just doesn't know rayza is a royal dragon.
>>
>>34017801
clarifying my post here >>34017970
I said "either or", I think what we should do next is

>"but you did hold back, you reigned in your anger and stopped yourself from killing her, nobody even had to yell at you to stop, that is a big improvement"
then probe further from there
>>
>"I remember the time I had to talk you down from murdering some nobody robber baron. You didn't screw up near as far as you're trying to make it out to seem, you only lost control for a moment, and brought back under control quickly after, you didn't murder her, anyone in attendance, or cause any diplomatic fiascoes. After Finn being nearly cleaved in half and no reaction to it on my part I hardly think it fair to come down on you for doing something that is within your nature. A nature you're beginning to grow and control and have been ever since I met you."
>>
>>34018015
he didn't deliberately go for killshots. Had the rsk champion been deliberately killing League knights under the cover of a melee it would have caused a bloodbath
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>>34018123
he did go for kill shots, he DID cause a bloodbath, he killed several people before almost killing finn. only reason finn is alive is because he critted himself a deus ex machina
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>Remind her that she didn’t kill Rayza

“But you didn’t kill her, did you?” you ask Caitlyn, walking around to in front of her.

“I almost-“ she starts to say.

“Almost nothing,” you cut in, injecting some power into your voice. “People almost do a lot of things. What matters is what they actually do, and do not do. There’s been countless ‘almosts’ in this whole event already. The fact that nobody has actually killed anybody in these events is practically a miracle.”

Caitlyn scowls at you, looking down at her feet for several long moments. You hold back a sigh, turning around and poking about in her cabinets for one of the bottles of good wine you know she sneaks away from dinner occasionally. Ignoring her squawking at your retrieval of a good red, you pour a pair of glasses.

As she sips at her glass, she says, “That’s different. People killing others in the heat of battle happens. I almost killed Rayza after she was already down.”

“Do you think that hasn’t happened before in tourneys? In war?” you say, giving her a serious look. “And I don’t mean the intentional variety – I mean people killing others without consciously intending to, just as you almost did.”

Caitlyn shakes her head, frowning as you speak. You sigh, sipping at your wine for a few long seconds and ignoring the way her cheeks flush rather quickly. Maybe your little bodyguard already had some wine before you arrived.

>continued
>>
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“Not everybody needs some form of draconic battle-rage to lose themselves in a battle, Lynn,” you say. “Adrenaline can work well enough. Getting pumped up from a hard battle, taking some nasty wounds and then instinctively going for the kill the second the foe is down. After all, you don’t know if they’re going to get back up, do you? Other times it can be anger – trash talk is common in fights. I wouldn’t be surprised if you and Rayza did that to each other. Goading another in a duel can very quickly backfire and make things more serious.

“Experienced fighters and those in more tenuous positions than yours have committed far worse crimes than merely ‘almost’ killing their foe in a battle, Lynn,” you finish.

Watching you with a thoughtful expression, you can almost see the gears turning in Lynn’s head. It’s rather amusing how obvious her thought patterns and emotions are now, especially in contrast to how she was so long ago. You sip at your wine in order to hide your smile, taking refuge in the deep colour of the wine to avoid annoying her.

“What happened to those people? The ones who kill their foes like I almost did Rayza?” she asks innocently.

>continued
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>>34018453
You shrug. “It depends on their position and the political situation. If they’re popular or have protection from powerful nobles then nothing happens. In fact, it’s probably better to say that if nobody has the interest in seeing them dead or the ability to get away with disposing of them then nothing happens. It’s considered a fact of life, at least in the RSK.”

“So it’s politics,” Lynn says petulantly. “Is that what this comes down to?”

Chuckling, you reply, “Not really. Alyce is mostly frustrated about the fact she just lost one of her best spellblades to revelation that she’s a dragon. If you’d killed Rayza she might have been happier, if you don’t mind me being cynical. The real problem is the fact you revealed yourself to be a dragon…”

You trail off for a bit and Lynn looks to the side, slightly abashed. You’ve managed to defuse her guilt over nearly killing Rayza but now comes the real political issue. What approach do you take to the issue?

>What do you say about Lynn revealing herself to be a dragon?
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>>34018150
>he did go for kill shots, he DID cause a bloodbath, he killed several people before almost killing finn.
Not sure where you got this from.

>>34017134
Discussion of this plan might be a good idea. This will be a social thread, mostly, but discussion of your grand plans is always useful so that I can plan ahead in general.
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>>34018481
>What do you say about Lynn revealing herself to be a dragon?
We're going to have to deal with dragon hunters, now.
That's going to be fun.
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>>34018481
Simple, convince the heads of the Black stone Knights and Golden bears to publicly support her position. If the heads of the two notable knights orders support her, most critics won't have a leg to stand on.
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>>34018481
I honestly don't mind at all. The biggest perceived threat in my mind was Sylvian and she already knew and doesn't care.
If someone wants to whine over it politically, fuck them, we openly are having foxes, elves, and even vampires. If they can't handle a dragon they are welcome to bash their heads against our armies.
And if some group is hunting well behaved dragons for no reason, we kick their ass too.

The crowd seemed to love her so I don't forsee any problems from the man on the street, but even if they did it isn't their decision to make
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>>34018481
"Lynn will carry on as our bodyguard and leader of our Knight Order and we, the Emperor of the York Empire, publicly announce that we have nothing against dragons, of any kind."

Something supportive but not overly so; we endorse dragons as a people (like we do foxes and vampires) but reserve the right to judge individuals.
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>>34018481

Talk her up. The Grandmaster of the Golden Bears has already supported her and has excepted the Master position in the Royal Order.

Let her know it isn't a bad thing, sure issues will come with it, but issues come with Undine and the Source, and issues come with Talon and his Astral might, and issues come with the Mystic Foxes and Pharos. We'll take it in stride, like we always have and come going forward, it's the Talon thing to do. It's what a future leader of the grandest Order of Knight to exist in centuries would do.
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>>34018549
>Discussing plans ahead helps aspir prepare
Good to know.

Say aspir, about how long will it take taira to teleport just the heroe units across the entire continent? (in small hops with rest in between if needed)

Also, we were wondering before if talon is truely human. I just remembered that only humans can have familiars (or at least, they are the only race that figured out how to have a familiar and the bond is specifically tailed for human mages) and talon has a familiar acquired via sorcery designed by gnome based on her study there... so basically, gnome being his familiar proves that talon is truly a human. (that, or he believes himself to be human and his astral power makes it real enough for those spells...)
>>
>>34018549
I see two issues with this plan.
1 it means months of repetitive dungeon crawls
2. Once people realize we are doing this they can just take the POP back if we don't have an agreement with them.
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>>34018549
>Discussion of this plan might be a good idea. This will be a social thread, mostly, but discussion of your grand plans is always useful so that I can plan ahead in general.

Eh I don't really support it. Seems like there are better uses of Talon's time then PoP collecting. And the whole Slyph thing could end up being a bust if she rejects the offer, or is already someone's familiar and we can't even bind the PoP otherwise.
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>>34018676
>it means months of repetitive dungeon crawls
we can reach each one in under a day. it isn't months, it is under a month.
and the payoff is massive.
Also, we can place self imposed limits instead of getting ALL of them. say, rush the other 2 sources and sylph only (3 dungeons total).
although I would rather we get them all right away.

>Once people realize we are doing this they can just take the POP back if we don't have an agreement with them.
How will they know? Keep in mind that the rulers of the magi league didn't even know there was a pop under the city. this is extremely esoteric knowledge and we are teleporting right up to it with no fanfare.
Only very powerful individuals can take it away from us (soldiers are useless there, you need a team of elites to brave the tough monsters)
It won't completely cripple us if someone takes it away, we can get it back within a day.
furthermore, if someone does snatch one up from us, we can use that pop to detect who did it and where they are before reclaiming it. And then take them out before they do it again.

Also, it gives talon something to do in the timeskip until shropam rebels and puts us in a MUCH better position for taking shropam (since they have more soldiers AND more mages than us)
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>>34018697
>And the whole Slyph thing could end up being a bust if she rejects the offer
why would she reject the offer? her sisters are all here and she is trapped alone in a boring cave.
>or is already someone's familiar
we were told by gnome that she isn't.
>and we can't even bind the PoP otherwise.
yes we can. if we get her source first we can bind it to talon or the champion of that source. OR we can let any of our higher mages (mal, taira, etc) tie it to themselves to give them a power boost.

>Seems like there are better uses of Talon's time then PoP collecting
such as? We are talking about literally 1 day per pop
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>>34018850
I meant months from our perspective
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>>34018549

Grand plans you say?

After the Star Fort suggestion by another Anon after I posted my proposed Harrowmont future expansion picture I reevaluated did some research and came up with this.

Note, it would likely be more even in narrative, I just used paint to make it from the original map given many moons ago. It would function as a proper Star Fort in practice, assuming that Mage's and higher powers used magic like artillery which the Star Fort was specifically designed to counteract.

Still has the slightly faster to build Bastions, with an additional two, making the middle wall, as I called it, The Crown Wall. Allows for larger mustering forces, new room for Mage Towers, Knight Towers, etc. Also makes all three of the Gatehouses absolute nightmares to attack head.

Added two Sally Ports, which I assume since we have Earth Elementals that we can make more defensible and useful then in real life practice. My ideas on those are limited, so go crazy if you're into it.

And then the third wall that would act like the Fortress Wall in Crece, note that the room in between the Crown Wall and Outer Wall is probably bigger then it is shown and just being used as a frame of reference.

So yeah. That's my insane fortress city of Harrowmont design.
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>>34018850
>we can reach each one in under a day. it isn't months, it is under a month.

I think he means that it will drag on for months in real time. I'm not really down with 10 consecutive threads of dungeon crawling.
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>>34018850
>>34018893

This response is exactly why I think people ignored the original post.
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>Talk Lynn up and talk the problem down

“Judging from your expression, you seem to think this will be real problem,” you say, pushing Lynn to give you an affirmative response.

She catches your goading and scowls at you. “Isn’t it? There will be plenty of people interested in trying to kill me and nobody wants a dragon as a grandmaster. I’m just going to be trouble.”

“So, you’re going to be a problem worth dropping but the foxes, elementals and even myself aren’t,” you say, intentionally lacing your voice with an amused undercurrent.

Caitlyn glares at you and you shrug in response, giving her a smile as you sip at your wine again. Intentionally riling her up will distract her from her own worries and let you defuse this problem as well. You weren’t going to abandon her, no matter what she thought.

“I’m bringing over a whole bunch of mystic foxes and letting them settle in my territory,” you say, beginning to elaborate on your current travails. “They have a very powerful foe in their home continent. One capable enough to cause elements of the Magi League to betray them. There’s also the matter that I’m intending to war with the Mage Guard over territory shortly but still intend on working with the foxes.

“Then there’s the fact that Undine’s an undead Champion,” you continue. “Also, placing elementals in my cabinet is sure to draw reproach. Valuing the opinion of a non-human over nobles isn’t a popular position over said nobles. Finally, do you really think my own astral power is without its problems? The issue of you being a dragon is smaller than you and I both thought, particularly as Sylvian has no particular interest in you.”

>continued
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>>34018924
>>34018937
well, that is a fair enough point. But that can be solved by doing the self imposed limits and getting only a few choice ones, then every couple of threads we can get another.

Although with the powerup of taira most of them are probably going to be fairly easy and could be glossed over by aspir. Where the focus is just on the ones who are for some reason more difficult

Or maybe the straightforward ones require a lot less preparation and aspir will be willing to do a couple of them back to back (since the main reason for the week delay is the huge amount of prepwork aspir has to do)
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>>34018927

I don't know anything about forts or walls but kudos for taking the time to draw out your plan.
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>>34019015
Caitlyn stares at you in shock when she hears the last statement. When she doesn’t appear to recover, you gently place your fingers under her mouth and push it upwards to close it. You then hurriedly withdraw your fingers before she bites them off, giving you a glare afterwards.

“So, it’s not a big deal if I’m your grandmaster?” she says hopefully.

“Not really. I doubt there’ll be much trouble getting the other knightly orders in the empire to support you. They’ve seen you fight,” you explain, finishing your glass of wine. “I’ve also taken the approach of blatantly not caring about racial disputes in the past and don’t intend on changing my position on that. So, yes, you’re going to be the grandmaster of the Order of the Griffin and everybody else can just bitch about it. It’ll be good experience for you – you have the potential to be a great general, Caitlyn. Seize the opportunity I’m offering you.”

There’s several long moments as Lynn seems to be in shock after you blatantly support her. Then she springs up from the bed and almost tackles you in a hug. You try to ignore the way the remaining wine in her glass had splashed all over your shirt and return it.

>Any last things to bring up with Lynn right now?

>>34018927
That map reminds me that I need to redo the Harrowmont map to scale. I'll probably post it on twitter once I do that.

>>34018924
>>34018937
THis is a real concern and will probably be what puts the kibbosh on the idea. Especially as the travel time in-quest will still be months (Taira can move 4 province map tiles per day, and you'll still need to do searching etc in order to find PoPs).
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>>34019103
>Especially as the travel time in-quest will still be months (Taira can move 4 province map tiles per day, and you'll still need to do searching etc in order to find PoPs).
The pastebin says 4 tiles with 500 people, more distance/often with less people, can you clarify on that?
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>>34019101

I'm an Architect, and had a day off from work this week. So I spent the whole day in my hotel room researching fort designs, and poorly making this in paint as I don't have AutoCADD on my laptop.

It was a lot of fun.
>>
Alright, since people don't want to dedicate the thread to it.
forget about claiming all 21 pops and 2 sources and sylph

how about
>Get the sylph source
>Get the sylph pop (and sylph herself)
>Get that other pop that is right next door to it
>Come back and leave the rest for later
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>>34019103

Talon York, Emperor of the "I don't give a fuck you all serve me anyway" Empire.
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>>34019207
>Get the sylph source

Oh you know where it is Anon? Great let's get on it.
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>>34019103

I can't think of anything in particular, as I don't think there's any real support behind probing her further over what Rayza said.
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>>34019207
>>34019241
I'm fairly sure you don't need access to their source to bind an elemental as your familiar, or else Taren would have been out of luck.
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>>34019241
I do actually, gnome knows where the sources are, and marked on our map where the 2 which are on this continenet but not infested with shadowbeasts are.

Sylphs source is in the sithran mountains
the other source is in sortaine.
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>>34019103
Take the opportunity to talk about Rayza and dragons in general. As well as checking on if having a visit from papa felldragon is going to be likely to happen.
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>>34019282
normally you don't, but talon doesn't know how to bind a familiar normally.
however, with the correct source talon can bind her as his own familiar.
if we eschew that source, then it would have to be someone else who takes her on as a familiar. for example, if we travel there directly, mal can bind the pop to himself and use that powerup to bind sylph as a second familiar to himself
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>>34019165
Forgot about that. You can probably double it with a small party and their equipment (meaning about two region tiles per day instead of one). Taira can probably move four region tiles if she's just moving herself and maybe Talon. She could also probably take herself and Talon between continents with days of prep and ritual casting but that's too complicated to do for most other transport (it relies on sympathetic connections she has in Pharos).

>>34019172
I'll probably join you in the fun when I start researching how to build it and the pros/cons of the design. I've been having a lot of fun researching canals lately (which has also forced me to revisit travel times and costs).
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>>34019297
this is backwards
sylph's pop is the sortaine one.
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>>34019331
Correct, we can also use Sarah if we wanted.
>>
I'd like to point out that Sylph may not be particularly interested in binding to Talon. She's the noncommittal flighty one remember? While she and Talon may have some shared tastes in living the good life I think even he may be too stuffy by her standards.
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>>34019378
alright, so in that case, for a small party its
>Belkarin pops (2 of them, and sylph) - 1 day in each direction
>Guelburg pop - 1 day in each direction
>Last retreat pop - 2 days in each direction
>sithran mountain pop & source - 2 days in each direction
>Terrnaine forest pop - 3 days in each direction.
>Sortaine source - 3 days in each direction
plus some searching to get the final location of each which would take some unknown amount of time.

>>34019396
sarah is a bit on the weak side for this at the moment though. it will severely hamper sylphs power.
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>>34019378
>I'll probably join you in the fun when I start researching how to build it and the pros/cons of the design.

I'll email you some of the historical stuff I dug up while doing it.

A lot of the design is based on the idea that Mages = heavy artillery and counteracting them and their usual "blow up the walls" ways. While simultaneously make Gatehouse approaches neigh impossible.

The Fortress Wall thing was just for shits and giggles and so I could get away with placing massive anti siege engines on the top of miniature fortresses(I assumed Knights or something could use them as places for their Orders). Plus I think Fortress Walls have a better use then they are given, what that is I haven't a clue I figured some discussion over the proposed idea would help hammer that out.

Also the arrow head design on the Crown Wall, was just kind of rule of cool because I liked how it looked.
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>>34019417
possible, in which case we bring in a few extra candidates.
but its not like she has to become our lover or HAS to match our personality type. She gets out of the super boring cave and gets to interact with people AND spend quality time with her family again.
And talon is pretty damn persuasive.
Worse case scenario, we only get the pop without getting sylph
>>
>>34019562
>but its not like she has to become our lover or HAS to match our personality type. She gets out of the super boring cave and gets to interact with people AND spend quality time with her family again.

This is making a lot of assumptions about her personality, desires, and opinions.
>>
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>talking about dragons

“On a slightly related topic,” you start to say, “I’m curious about how you suddenly had those claws on your hands and feet. Did you have those earlier and just didn’t show them?”

“Nooooo,” she says as she steps back from you, futilely trying to brush out the wine in your shirt with her hands. “I’ve never had them before. It’s just part of growing, I guess. I’m only nineteen.”

“Which means you’re an adult,” you say dryly, batting her hands away. “Normally you wouldn’t be growing that much.”

“Maybe it’s just a dragon thing. I only got my tail last year, and it’s definitely grown a lot since then,” she says, pouring some more wine for both of you. “I hope I don’t wind up having some completely bestial form – that would be terrible. Even these new black buds on my hands and wrist annoy me.”

Lynn shows you the back of her hand and her wrist, where there are now several pea sized black stones seemingly growing out of her skin. They’re just like the ones on her back for her wings and around her buttocks for her tail. It’s interesting the way her draconic parts recede so easily into so small a protrusion.

“I guess that’s just something that makes you special, like how Rayza was able to so easily hide her draconic ancestry,” you say, not-so-subtly probing her for information.

“Somebody must have taught her how to use draconic sorcery – that was way more complicated than anything I’ve been able to manage,” Lynn says, pouting. “Maybe I should annoy Daddy to teach me.”

>continued
>>
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>>34019650
“Are you expecting him to visit?” you ask.

“Not really but you never know what he’ll do,” she says. “Half the trouble in finding him was that he never seemed to stay in one place for long. I wish he’d been like the other feldragon who is always in the same spot…”

Lynn suddenly trails off, realising something. She then gives you a long look before shaking her head and falling silent. You don’t have the slightest clue what happened then. You…

>1. Push Lynn about Rayza. She might not want to talk much about the other dragon, though, even if it’s a good idea to also bring up the fact she’ll be under your care.
>2. Bring up your suspicion about Lairos being her father rather than Tylarne.
>3. Finish up with Lynn for now
>4. Custom

>>34019498
>I'll email you some of the historical stuff I dug up while doing it.
That would be great, thanks.
>>
>>34019682
>3. Finish up with Lynn for now
>>
>>34019682
>2. Bring up your suspicion about Lairos being her father rather than Tylarne.

Think that last bit there was a slip up on her part.
>>
>>34019682
>1. Push Lynn about Rayza. She might not want to talk much about the other dragon, though, even if it’s a good idea to also bring up the fact she’ll be under your care.
>>
>>34019682
>2. Bring up your suspicion about Lairos being her father rather than Tylarne.
Activate no fucks given mode!
>>
>>34019609
>You assuming
bullshit
The first half is actually refuting assumptions

The second half is the so called "assumptions" which is based on what we were told by every other familiar and her family.

And you are quoting one sentence while ignoring that the rest of the post explicitly deals with what to do in case these so called "assumptions" are wrong and she isn't interested

It explicitly says "worst case scenario she says no, no problem". are you seriously suggesting we don't even try for her because she might say no?
>>
>>34019682
>>1. Push Lynn about Rayza. She might not want to talk much about the other dragon, though, even if it’s a good idea to also bring up the fact she’ll be under your care.
>>
>>34019682
>2
>>
>>34019650
>futilely trying to brush out the wine in your shirt
when did we get wine in our shirt?
>>
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Actually, this is a bad way to vote for this (given they're not mutually exclusive).

RAYZA VOTE
>1. Push Lynn about Rayza. She might not want to talk much about the other dragon, though, even if it’s a good idea to also bring up the fact she’ll be under your care.
>2. Just tell Lynn that Rayza is under your care.
>3. Leave the topic alone for now.

DRACONIC FATHER VOTE
>1. Bring up your suspicion about Lairos being her father rather than Tylarne.
>2. Leave the topic alone for now.

>>34019837
See:>>34019103
>You try to ignore the way the remaining wine in her glass had splashed all over your shirt and return it.
>>
>>34019837

>Then she springs up from the bed and almost tackles you in a hug. You try to ignore the way the remaining wine in her glass had splashed all over your shirt and return it.

Anon you need to stop drinking, we have a lot of reading to do tonight.

>>34019782

You are mad as fuck for no reason, chill.
>>
>>34019870
>1
>1
>>
>>34019870
>2. Just tell Lynn that Rayza is under your care.
>2
>>
>>34019870
>>2. Just tell Lynn that Rayza is under your care.
>2. Leave the topic alone for now.
>>
>>34019682
>Lynn suddenly trails off, realising something. She then gives you a long look before shaking her head and falling silent. You don’t have the slightest clue what happened then. You…
another slip up about who her father is? "most feldragons stay in one place but not daddy", we know of one feldragon who likes to travel (hint, he goes to warzones and wrecks shit)
>>
>>34019870
>2
>2
>>
>>34019870
>2. Just tell Lynn that Rayza is under your care.
>1. Bring up your suspicion about Lairos being her father rather than Tylarne.
>>
>>34019880
>You are mad as fuck for no reason, chill.
I am not mad, I am literally super zen. You (or that other anon) made BS points, I pointed out he made BS points. No anger there, zero, nada, zip.
>>
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>>34019880
>lose an argument
>reply with "u mad, chill"
why does tg always do this?
>>
>>34019870
>1. Push Lynn about Rayza. She might not want to talk much about the other dragon, though, even if it’s a good idea to also bring up the fact she’ll be under your care.

>1. Bring up your suspicion about Lairos being her father rather than Tylarne.

We need info about the dragon situation.
>>
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Rolled 2

First vote goes to 2. Second vote is a tie so I'm rolling a die.

1 = Option 1
2 = Option 2
>>
>>34020232
Why, why do you people want less dragoning?
>>
>>34020232

But I don't want to drag this out anymore. Ugh.
>>
>>34020381
Anon, are you saying you don't want this to Dragon?
>>
>>34020232
2
>>
>>34020337
For whatever reason we've been super reluctant to call Lynn out and resolve shit even though we've been told she needs a firm hand from time to time.

Maybe some anons are just afraid she'll throw a teenager tantrum and storm off or something.

>>34020381
I agree, it's plain as day now why are we hiding the fact we know?
>>
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>2 & 2

You decide to hold off on pushing Lynn on any sensitive topics, having just boosted her spirits. It might not be a bad idea to push Mal over her father’s identity – he might be able to give your suspicions some credence or put them to rest without upsetting Lynn. He owes you for giving him such a good chance to show off his skills in the tournament, too. Even if he did help you organise many of the events.
“Just so you know, Rayza will be staying with us for an indeterminate period of time,” you say.

“What? Why?” Lynn bursts out, not giving you a chance to finish.

“Because, as I said earlier, Alyce has political difficulties with a dragon being a member of a mage tower,” you say, quelling your bodyguard’s temper with a look. “Not only is this is a favour to the archmage but Rayza could be potentially useful to us.”

“I don’t like her,” comes the petulant reply.

“I gathered,” you respond dryly. “She’s still remaining in our care.”

There’s a lull while Caitlyn sips at her wine, glaring at you and considering her next move. She’s rather cute like this, you think. You finish your own wine and wait.

“You want to sleep with her,” comes the next line of attack.

“I want to recruit her.”

“So you can sleep with her.”

“To be blunt, Caitlyn: do you really think I’m just thinking with my dick about this?” you ask, dropping any masks you were wearing and giving your subordinate an annoyed look as you cross your arms.

“Gnome says you do,” comes another petulant reply.

“I thought you didn’t like Gnome’s opinions.”

“I don’t but that doesn’t mean she’s wrong,” Caitlyn says.

You mutter something unpleasant about your familiar’s need to constantly comment on your sex drive before returning to the topic at hand, “My interest in Rayza is mostly as a new subordinate. Finn’s might be different.”

>continued
>>
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>>34020586
Caitlyn gives you a funny look before her expression turns dark. “Oh. I forgot about that. That’s another reason to dislike her.”

You sigh and rapidly move away from that topic. No need to encourage or confront Caitlyn over her interest in other men. Instead, you decide to leave – or try to.

“You can’t go out like that,” she says, cutting off your escape with a grin, dropping her unhappiness earlier in an instant. “You’ll need a new shirt before anybody sees you.”

“Those are in my room not yours,” you answer, suspecting you know where this is going.

“A servant can get one. In the meantime, take that one off,” Caitlyn’s eyes are practically glowing with excitement.

“Weren’t you just complaining that I think my dick too much?” you respond dryly, despite taking off your shirt obediently.

“It’s okay when you’re doing so when thinking about me,” she says, helping you undress for some fun.

After some morning exercise with Caitlyn, you find yourself trying to work out what to do for lunch. Your afternoon will be full of politicking so this will be the last chance to take care of any personal matters. You…

>1. Go talk to Rayza about staying under your care.
>2. Talk to Mal about his research.
>3. Talk to Gnome about that canal project you mentioned to her.
>4. Custom
>>
>>34020612
1
>>
>>34020612
>3. Talk to Gnome about that canal project you mentioned to her.
I sorta want to spring this on Sarah as a surprise.
>>
>>34020612

>1. Go talk to Rayza about staying under your care.
>>
>>34020612
>2. Talk to Mal about his research

Please god, we never talk to Mal anymore and I want a serious update on that stuff.
>>
>>34020612
>2. Talk to Mal about his research.
Best bro needs more screentime.
>>
>>34020612
2
>>
>>34020612
>>
>>34020612
>3. Talk to Gnome about that canal project you mentioned to her.
>>
>>34020586
>>34020612

It will never fail to amuse me that Talon's character flaw is his sex drive. The fact it is well written and used often, even against him, makes it even better.
>>
>>34020612

Sent that email Aspirational. The last link also provides some stuff on canals if you haven't seen or heard about that particular one, forgot to mention that.
>>
>>34020612

>1. Go talk to Rayza about staying under your care.
>>
>>34020612
>2. Talk to Mal about his research.
>>
>>34020612
1
>>
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>2.

Making up your mind to talk to Mal is one thing, finding him is another. After far more effort than should be necessary, you finally locate him in one of the other spires. It looks like he’s taken over a floor of the spire for his mage tower, which is interesting. It’s mostly empty, save for an atelier occupied by the man himself further in.

“What’s all this, Mal?” you say as you wander in, sending a nod to where Sala is stretched out on one of the tables.

“I figured the tower needed some form of representation in Vitria,” he says, not turning back to you from where he’s writing in a large book. One of his personal research diaries, if you recall correctly. “Most of the towers not in cities in other nations tend to have somewhere for the members to stay and research should they be in a major city.”

“You could have used some of Sarah’s spire or the Certam spire,” you say, leaning on the table next to him.

“Sarah needs all the room she has and I don’t want to link my tower with the administration of Vitria, which is what both the Hawkins and Certam spires are about,” he replies. “Plus, I can more freely set-up workshops here. This spire was made for mages, unlike the others. It’s easier to remodel the place.”

You nod and wave Sala off. Clearly the fire elemental gets bored sitting around with her master.

>1. Talk to Mal about his summons and patterns.
>2. Talk to Mal about Lynn’s ancestry.
>3. Talk to Mal about the women in his life.
>4. Custom

Slight delay before next post as I eat lunch.
>>
>>34021137
>Talk to Mal about his summons and patterns.
>>
>>34021137
>1. Talk to Mal about his summons and patterns.

That said, I want all three of those to happen.
>>
>>34021137
I am not saying we should do 2, because honestly i don't care who her father is.

but if we do, can we approach this by pretending we already knew all along to trick him into confirming it?
>>
>>34021137
>1. Talk to Mal about his summons and patterns.
>>
>>34021137
>1
>>
>>34021137
>1
>>
>>34020586
I vote we never sleep with rayza just to prove lynn and gnome wrong here
>>
>>34021464

Talon doesn't encroach on his friends women anyway. Because let's be real, he totally could have nailed Neir, and has even been somewhat respectful to the fact Tssuchi is in a committed relationship.
>>
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>1.

“So when did you create that griffin summon?” you ask, getting straight to the point.

“Liked it, did you?” Mal replies, chuckling. “I’ve always liked to work on big, complicated summons but they’re often very hard to create. Those hounds I used when we defended the Tabeth spire were far too complicated, for instance. My research into patterns is pushing me along, though.”

“I’m not sure I follow. I thought summon research helped with patterns, not the other way around,” you say.

“It goes both ways. Many of the methods and techniques described in creating patterns can be used in creating summons – after all, as you just said, the old knowledge on patterns came from summoners,” Mal explains, leaning against the table with a grin. “I’m basically reverse-engineering a lot of their techniques. Then, once I understand them in the summoning framework I should be better placed to then start using them with patterns.”

“Do you have any real progress on patterns themselves?” you ask sceptically.

>continued
>>
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>>34021488
“Mostly an understanding that they’re complicated as shit,” he responds bluntly, batting away your suggestion that this should be easy. “A lot was learnt about summoning and patterns during the Golden Age, but patterns moved at a glacial pace compared to many other fields of magic. I mean, magitech was invented and heavily refined in the course of that two hundred years. In that same time, patterns barely reached the point where the best mages in that field could use them functionally.”

“Then everybody stopped using them because they were too complicated,” you say, finishing the story.

“No,” Mal says, surprisingly you as his voice goes a tad cold. “Most of the mages involved in patterns and summoner research were killed towards the end of the Golden Age. The field foundered because its brightest minds were all killed or cowed and then nobody wanted to go near such a cursed field. Then the complexity problem set in as nobody understood them anymore.”

You drum your fingers against the desk as Mal falls silent. He’s clearly pushing you to tell him what you think was responsible and you press your mind a bit to think about it.

[DC12 Intelligence]

>>34021487
>been somewhat respectful to the fact Tssuchi is in a committed relationship.
You mean Karise?
>>
>>34021506
>You mean Karise?

Yes and no. I might have for some reason thought Tssuichi and Ren were in something more serious then they actually are.
>>
Rolled 8

>>34021506
Clearly the helldragon
>>
Rolled 12

>>34021506
>>
Rolled 5

>>34021506
>>
>>34021526
tssuci is rens sister
she is single
she has no incestous brother complex
>>
>>34021506
It was clearly that fucking helldragon.
>>
>>34021487
>Tssuchi
>>34021526
>Tssuichi
>>34021555
>tssuci

The curse of anon's naming issues continues unabated.
>>
>>34021555

...
Well shit. This whole time I thought Tssuichi was Vad's sister. Huh. Don't mind me just being an alcoholic.
>>
>>34021599

I will endeavor to learn her name properly Anon, I am sorry for my transgressions.

Tsucchi. Got it.
>>
>>34021506
A minor note: But I was looking over our empire pastebin and I noticed that it seemed to have an error: It claimed that we only had a single Summoner specalist, but we know we have at least two: Mal, and Archmagester Saril. After all, if the leader of a tower specializing in summons doesn't count as a specialist he's pretty crap at his job.
>>
Rolled 8

>>34021506
Rollin' anyway
>>
>>34021816

I think Aspirational mentioned that section is pretty out of date somewhat recently.
>>
>>34021599
so, what is her proper name?
>>
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>Target met

You remember some of the mage politics talk that Mal’s given you over the years, as well as Alyce’s recent words, and it clicks. “It wasn’t just the Mage Guard – it was the other mages. This goes back to all that political bullshit about most channellers disliking summoners, doesn’t it?”

Mal nods, clearly thrilled by the fact you actually remember some of the things he’s been talking to you about. “Pretty much. Summoning and enchantment are two sides of the same coin and that coin is a rare one. One in ten tower mages would have the affinity for it and pretty much everybody unable to make the Adept grade can’t do anything more than make a knife slightly sharper with magic. It’s also difficult and time-consuming, relying heavily on expensive and lengthy trial-and-error research – meaning you need more resources from the tower to do your research than somebody who practices blowing shit up.

“So the other mages had a general jealousy, envy or antipathy towards summoners because they didn’t give as much back to the tower as enchanters. Wait, no – it’s probably better to say that summoners don’t give as much to individual mages. Some really old towers are filled with ancient summons and constructs that were built by the truly talented – much more value than a single combat mage who will eventually die. This antipathy was quelled during the Golden Age by the governments at the time – most magocracies or independent legislatures took a purist approach to magical research. No restrictions at all and the knights were responsible for actively preventing actions by other mages to limit research.”

You sigh, knowing where this goes. “Then the Mage Guard knocked over the magocracies, restoring royalty and nobility to the prime spot. They didn’t care about being ‘pure’ about magical research and we’re more easily swayed by the numerous mages who disliked summoners.”

>continued
>>
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>>34021900
Mal nods, the topic clearly bothering him. “The Mage Guard didn’t actively work against patterns and were responsible for the preservation of many of the texts I’m using right now. I’m still not sure why. All I know is that the old mages used the sudden power shift to kill summoning as a serious field of magic.”

“So, just as Alyce said, if I try to bring summoning and patterns back into the mainstream there’ll be some heavy opposition,” you say.

There’s some silence as you think that over. Interrupted only by Sala singing some strange song to herself. Mal taps his chin in confusion for a few moments before turning to you.

“Hold on, as Alyce said? What did she say on the topic?” he asks.

“That she suspected the same things that you did about summoning and other mages,” you say, shrugging. “I actually see her being pretty supportive of us if we go ahead.”

“Huh. Makes sense – she’s so stupidly powerful that even if she botched an enchantment it would still be better than anything I could create,” he says, staring into space. “You should work on that – if what’s left of the League pushes for summoning to be taken more seriously then we might make some headway.”

“You’re taking this very seriously,” you say, eying your friend oddly.

“Summoning is my real interest in magic. I abandoned it because I was told that I would never make magister if I didn’t look into other fields,” he says, shrugging.

Well, this has certainly given yu something to think about. You’ll need to be wary of the mage politics as you power ahead with your research. On the plus side, you’re pretty sure that Mal will be improving his griffins. Maybe once he can create everlasting patterns you’ll be able to create your own aviary of them…

>1. Talk to Mal about Lynn’s father
>2. Move onto talking to somebody else.

>>34021816
Noted.
>>
Rolled 19

>>34021921
>>1. Talk to Mal about Lynn’s father
so suspicious
>>
>>34021921
>1. Talk to Mal about Lynn’s father

Concrete info a go.

>Maybe once he can create everlasting patterns you’ll be able to create your own aviary of them…

WELP.
>>
Rolled 3

>>34021921
>1
>>
>>34021921

I never took Mal as the type to get caught up in Talon's dreams but the Griffon seems likes he's really buying into the whole Empire thing. That's interesting.
>>
>>34021921
>1

>>34022052
It's a chance for him to legitimize his passion and pursue his goals in the open with the added benefit of potentially ignoring all the monolithic bullshit of the royalty and petty power hungry mages. What's not to like? Okay there's the danger of any girl you fancy getting snatched up by your Emperor but so long as he agrees to settle down and get married that should be fine!
>>
>>34021921
Wait, what about the mages on the Lord's turf? I assumed they basically had no interest in enchanters for basically the same reason as Alice (it takes a very strong enchanter to boost even a weak knight). Did summoning not take as heavy a hit there?
>>
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>>34022176
> Wait, what about the mages on the Lord's turf?

“Err, my understanding is that they’re pretty anti-research in general,” Mal says. “Heavy focus on combat evocation, structural magic and healing, less so on enchantment and summoning. Especially because they don’t need enchantment for their god-knights – the Lord of Steel supposedly makes some pretty mean arms and armour.”

>1.

As your conversation drifts along Mal returns to scribbling notes in his book. You, in turn, find yourself straddling Sala’s back and giving her a massage. You’d been getting very good at this lately and the sound of women mewling in pleasure in response to your efforts was a great personal pleasure.

“So,” you say to Mal as you rub your hands around Sala’s neck, “Lynn’s father is the Great Wardragon himself.”

“That’s right,” Mal answers absently. “What’s the point in bringing this up now? She told you that months ago.”

You freeze, surprised that such a blunt question worked so well. Then you unfreeze as Sala starts whining, the gears in your head turning. Should you tell Mal about how Lynn apparently lied to you?

>1. Tell Mal about who Lynn told you her father is.
>2. Keep it to yourself.
>3. Custom
>>
>>34022319
>1. Tell Mal about who Lynn told you her father is.

The plot thickens.
>>
>>34022319
1
>>
>>34022319
1
>>
>>34022319
>>1. Tell Mal about who Lynn told you her father is.
Be honest with our main man
>>
>>34022319
>1. Tell Mal about who Lynn told you her father is.
>>
>>34022319
>“Err, my understanding is that they’re pretty anti-research in general,” Mal says. “Heavy focus on combat evocation, structural magic and healing, less so on enchantment and summoning. Especially because they don’t need enchantment for their god-knights – the Lord of Steel supposedly makes some pretty mean arms and armour.”
I bet that's changing now that every god-knight is an irreplaceable asset. I just hope they didn't keep Kushan's notes or pattern designs.
>>
>>34022319

I think Mal is capable of giving less fucks then Talon at this point. How he's remained our friend this long is a mystery.
>>
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>1.

“This might sound crazy, but Caitlyn actually told me her father is Tylarne,” you say slowly, pressing your thumbs into the small of Sala’s back.

There’s a long silence broken only by the scribbling of Mal’s quill and Sala’s mewling. It goes on long enough that you’re about to repeat yourself. Then Mal closes his book and puts it on his desk before facing you with a grimace.

“Well, I guess that means she was lying to both of us,” he says. “Her father is definitely Lairos – I was there when the big bastard said it to her himself. He’s stupidly huge, by the way. Probably the size of the keep.”

You blink at the size description. How in the hell did Falwick fight a dragon that big and live? You’re going to have to start doing more exercise and lifting if you want to have a chance against the ogre of a general.

“So why was she lying?” you ask.

>continued
>>
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>>34022609
“Probably because she was worried you might panic at the thought of the having the baby girl of one of the most psychotic beings in the world in your employ,” he says dryly. “She literally spent an hour agonising to me about the fact she’d told you about her draconic heritage. Of course, she said she was truthful but I guess I know now why she was so antsy about it.”

You try not to let yourself get too distracted by Sala as you move your massage lower on her body. Maybe giving a massage while in the midst of a serious conversation was a bad idea. Turning your thoughts back to the present matter, you realise that the issue isn’t a big one. It shakes your faith in Lynn a bit but at the same time you can understand her thought process – you hadn’t known her for long and she was desperate for your approval at first. Then once she’d told you a lie it became harder to put the genie back in the bottle – admitting fault would make her look bad. Given her youth, she probably didn’t realise the damage that lies piled upon lies could do.

Probably a good lesson to instil in her before she becomes a grandmaster and does so in a situation that can’t be so easily forgiven.

>Any last things to talk to Mal about?

>>34022455
I don't follow.
>>
>>34022636
Nah
>>
>>34022636

Nothing in particular. Unless he has something about his crystals.
>>
>>34022700
Crystal meth
>>
>>34022636
I think we are good.
Not too bothered about lynn, we can talk to her about this later.

Since sala is bored, we can take her out for some entertainment I guess.
>>
>>34022636
"So, any ideas for wedding presents?"
>>
>>34022609
>How in the hell did Falwick fight a dragon that big and live?
Maybe the dragon found him interesting enough to spare?
>>
>>34022636

Why can't you research faster, Mal?
>>
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>>34022775
>Since sala is bored, we can take her out for some entertainment I guess.
Nah, she'll stick with her master. Plus, you're busy in the afternoon.

>>34022783
"Funny. Probably the only thing Neir needs is security for her family - help them secure somewhere to settle down."
>>
>>34022843
I wonder, if that book we read about familiars becoming more like their master is true
will we one day see nerdgirl sala the researcher?
with cute little spectacles and a labcoat?
>>
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>>34022880
>I wonder, if that book we read about familiars becoming more like their master is true
Actually, it was that they become more like what their master wants of them. It's possible that Sala's already acting that out as is.

>Moving right along

Your afternoon is boring enough that you instead wish you’d taken up Sala’s offer of spending the afternoon in the adjoining bedroom from Mal’s workshop. Instead you’d spent the afternoon winning support from knights and mages for Lynn’s appointment to grandmaster and seeing off the other rulers. The latter had been more difficult than the former, particularly as you were trying to let those you were supporting know that you wanted to follow things up very seriously without giving too much away to those you weren’t supporting.

Damned Fenix, seeing through you so easily. He’d started laughing while you were talking to him and said he’d be back to talk shop no matter your decisions.

Lynn, meanwhile, had no shortage of support. It came as a mixture of respect for her from the battlefield, people wanting to schmooze you given the rumours you were ‘involved’ with her and people wanting a grandmaster who could see off the best of the Magi League’s spellblades. You suspect the later would be the main winner for public opinion – Lynn would make the empire appear powerful, despite being non-human. If she was serving a human emperor then that meant the empire had a pet dragon as far as most were concerned. Not the best viewpoint but it would have to do for the time being.

As you step into the gym in the Certam spire, you spot Vad and Finn practicing martial arts in one corner and Sala and Gnome sparring lightly at the other end. Tsucchi is lurking nearby. The presence of all of them in one spot is odd, so you suspect they’d come here straight after dinner.

You…

>1. Join Vad and Finn for some practice.
>2. Spar with Sala and Gnome
>3. Talk with Tsucchi
>4. Custom
>>
>>34023026
>>1. Join Vad and Finn for some practice.
>>
>>34023026
>2. Spar with Sala and Gnome
>>
>>34023026
>2. Spar with Sala and Gnome
From a minmaxxers perspective, Martial arts are a terrible ability for us to spend time on. Especially since weapons include things like "concealed daggers" which we presumably carry around as a matter of course.
>>
>>34023026
>1. Join Vad and Finn for some practice.

Gotta learn those inverted DDTs man.
>>
>>34023026
>2. Spar with Sala and Gnome
I'd like to get weapons to III if possible.
>>
>>34023026
>>1. Join Vad and Finn for some practice

Ask how Finn feels like being a man now.
Touch fluffy tails
>>
>>34023026
>1. Join Vad and Finn for some practice.

>>34023092
I somehow doubt that since both Foxes and Monks the two most common users of Astral power favor martial arts. It may be worth checking out if there's a correlation there. Besides we're better at weapons than Sala is and Gnome punches shit anyway. Besides we spend plenty of time with those two.
>>
>>34023155
just to remind you. caressing another man's tail is the equivalent of giving him a handjob
>>
>>34023026
>>1 Join Vad and Finn for some practice.

Best squire gets priority here
>>
>>34023026
2
I miss gnome. she doesn't get enough screentime
>>
>>34023026
>2. Spar with Sala and Gnome
>>34023173
>Besides we're better at weapons than Sala is and Gnome punches shit anyway. Besides we spend plenty of time with those two.
You do realize that we have weaponry 2 while sala has weaponry 3?
>>
>>34023184

Touch and grab and caress fluffy tails
>>
>>34023092

>not wanting to get back at Blackwater for suplexing us with an astral powered superplex from the top rope in front of a million screaming Yorkomanics

It's like you don't even like fun Anon.
>>
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>>34023173
>Besides we're better at weapons than Sala is
No you're not. Sala has Weaponry III and you have Weaponry II.

>>34023221
>I miss gnome. she doesn't get enough screentime
I don't track it, but I thought I usually gave Gnome the most screentime? Or has that changed recently?
>>
>>34023173
>I somehow doubt that since both Foxes and Monks the two most common users of Astral power favor martial arts.
It seems to be linked to spiritualism. We use straight astral power, all the users of which we know are armored knight types.
>>
>>34023026
>1. Join Vad and Finn for some practice.
>>
>>34023026
>2. Spar with Sala and Gnome
>>
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Rolled 1

This is quickly turning into the situation where both popular options just get repeated votes to try to one-up the other so I'm just going to roll a die.

1 = Option 1
2 = Option 2
>>
>>34023262
I don't track it either, it just feels like it has been a long time since we had time with her.
>>
>>34023349
2
>>
>>34023262
>>34023224
Ah my mistake then. I'm still for 1 at any rate.

>>34023262
I was under the impression that she had the most screen time as well. I'm more interested in the non elemental options myself.
>>
>>34023381

Anon...
>>
>>34023262

I'd say it goes:
Gnome>Undine>Newcomers(Taira, Karise, Neir's family)>Finn>Lynn>Mal=Sala>Tsucchi=Marcus>Eveyone else

Just in terms of who gets the most say in random bits and shows up the most. Since we haven't had a social thread or downtime without the interference of politics it's kind of hard to tell.
>>
>>34023500

Forgot Vad and Felix, put the former in between Lynn and Finn and the latter with Tsucchi and Marcus.
>>
>>34023500
Sarah gets more screen time than Marcus
>>
>>34023604

And I forgot Sarah too. Fuck.
>>
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>1.

You step over to Finn and Vad, giving them a wave as you approach. Vad gives you a nod in return, his attention clearly drifting despite being in the midst of a spar with Finn. Your Elven squire immediately seizes upon the opportunity, stepping into his foe’s guard and seizing his arm for quick disablement. If he’d pulled it off, his extreme strength would have let him take Vad out of the fight in one shot – the viciousness of Finn’s fighting style is probably why Tsucchi is nearby, you realise.

It doesn’t work, though, as the more experienced Vad grins slightly and reverses the hold effortlessly. He snaps his forearm into Finn’s chest before flipping the elf over his own arm with a flick of his wrist. The extreme strength held true for both combatants and reminded you of the difference between the pugilism you’d learnt from regular soldiers and this complicated weaving of technique and skills that the truly powerful learnt. A battle where you can literally fling your opponent across the room or break bones with extreme ease is very different to one where you can’t.

Vad’s saying similar things to Finn as he helps him up off the ground, “You can’t keep fighting like that against skilled opponents. That attack works because you’re used to being faster than your foe but if you try it on somebody like me, who is just as fast and strong, then you’re going to get pummelled.”

>continued
>>
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“How do you beat an opponent who’s faster and stronger than you, though?” Finn says, whining slightly.

“With skill,” Vad says with a cocky grin, his ears twitching with excitement as he turns to you, fully in his element. “Care to help me demonstrate?”

You return the grin, hoping that you can put the cocky fox in his place. He might be a bit more talented than you at unarmed combat but you doubted he could so easily overcome the difference in raw strength and speed.

The two of you face off against each other, Vadoric taking a loose posture and inviting you to attack. You take the opportunity to activate all of your magic – including Iron Body in case he breaks any bones. Then you take a deep breath and take his bait.

[DC16 Martial Arts]
>>
Rolled 12

>>34023719
>>
Rolled 17

>>34023719
>
>>
Rolled 2

>>34023719

Cant wait for this failure.
>>
Rolled 8

>>34023719
Rollin' anyway
>>
Rolled 11

>>34023743

Oh Vad...
>>
>>34023746
>>34023743

Not today dice gods. Not today.
>>
>>34023743

Is this the first time Talon hasn't gotten his shit immediately wrecked by one of his subordinates in a spar?
>>
Rolled 7

>>34023719

Rolling for some tail touching.
>>
>>34023851
... It may be. I'm not certain, but I don't recall any other instances.

Poor Vad.
>>
>>34023883
2nd fight with Lyn, spar with undine.
>>
>yfw we end up straddling him on the ground, both panting and sweating heavily in front of each other
>the girls have stopped their sparring sessions to join tsucchi's spying, which has quickly shifted it's focus unto us
>>
>>34023939
you forgot the accidental tail tease
>>
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>Target met

You visibly prepare yourself for a fast charge, obviously intent on ending this with one solid strike. You’re faster and stronger and a defensive posture against you will clearly fail as a result of that. Your body tenses, power flooding your limbs as you prepare your leap. Vad remains perfectly still, eyes locked on you and his tails bunched up behind him to minimise how much of a target they are. You take a breath and then leap…

To his right. You watch as Vad instinctively attempts to catch a charge that isn’t happening, having prepared to catch you before you could land the blow. You weren’t so stupid as to believe that being faster would let you overcome the fox’s talent – he’d once explained to you that a good part of his skills lay in how to handle foes that are bigger, tougher and stronger than him. You were precisely the sort of opponent he was used to fighting, so you needed to mix things up a bit.

Your fist soars in towards Vad’s lower torso, your other arm guarding you against any swift counterattacks. You see Vad’s eyes rapidly expand as he realises the position he’s in, his arms weaving rapidly to reposition himself and deflect your attack. He’s not fast enough and you can see the exact instant he realises it and instead rolls with the blow.

You feel his ribs crack from your blow but the black-tailed fox keeps his cool and instead uses your momentum to let him shift to the side in a roll. He comes up quickly, having escaped your reach but is clearly favouring his left side as a result. You’d hoped to end this with a quick flurry of blows before he could reposition but no such luck. You reposition and try to determine how to deal with your opponent.

>1. Go for the tails. They’re way too big and an obvious weakpoint.
>2. Go in heavy – he’s weakened so he’ll find it harder to fend you off now.
>3. Force him to take the offensive this time.
>4. Custom
>>
Rolled 13

>>34023998
>>1. Go for the tails. They’re way too big and an obvious weakpoint.

The Big Red Button
>>
>>34023998
>2. Go in heavy – he’s weakened so he’ll find it harder to fend you off now.
>>
>>34024015
no! guys don't go for another guy's tail.
>>
>>34023998
>4
Go a little easier so Finn learns that being faster and stronger doesn't auto-win fights, and skill is important too.
>>
>>34023998
>2. Go in heavy – he’s weakened so he’ll find it harder to fend you off now.
>>
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Rolled 2

>>34023998
>1. Go for the tails. They’re way too big and an obvious weakpoint.
>>
>>34023998
>1. Go for the tails. They’re way too big and an obvious weakpoint.
>>
Can we please not focus on tails again this time? We're teaching Finn what he should do when outclassed, as well as putting on a show for the ladies

>3. Force him to take the offensive this time.
>>
>>34023998
2

>>34024062
I don't think we should throw the fight to make this point.
rather we can simply elaborate that while vad was right about skill being ABLE to overcome strength and speed advantage, talon is not lacking in skill himself, and just because it can win you the fight doesn't mean it will every time.
>>
>>34024062
This..

>>34023998
>1. Go for the tails. They’re way too big and an obvious weakpoint.

With a little of this. I'm pretty sure Vad knows his weakpoint better than anyone so he's probably ready for us to go for the tails. At any rate this is more for Finns benefit than our ego. We do not need to reinforce his belief that speed and strength are enough.
>>
>>34023998
>2. Go in heavy – he’s weakened so he’ll find it harder to fend you off now.
>>
>>34024138
More like teaching him that the way to win is to outclass the opponent

>>34024155
He asked us to help him demonstrate, not to beat him up.
>>
>>34023998
>1. Go for the tails. They’re way too big and an obvious weakpoint.

It's a fox's weakness
>>
>>34024155
Finn really needs the lessen of picking his fights carefully and avoiding damage when possible. We watched him throw himself into the mulcher time and time again, if he starts trying to focus on using skill to beat his opponents he'll naturally become less dependent on his natural advantages.
>>
>>34023998
>1. Go for the tails. They’re way too big and an obvious weakpoint.

Vad's tails are unf~
>>
Rolled 15

>>34023998
>>2. Go in heavy – he’s weakened so he’ll find it harder to fend you off now.
>>
>>34023998
>1. Go for the tails. They’re way too big and an obvious weakpoint.

Abusing someone's weakness is also part of fighting and skill.
>>
Rolled 19

>>34023998
>2. Go in heavy – he’s weakened so he’ll find it harder to fend you off now.
>>
>>34024282
>>34024324

Forgot your dice on, fag.
>>
>>34024243
that is great and all, but throwing this fight is not the way to do it
besides, what if he figures out that we did that?
what we could do is focus less on defeating vad and more on explaining.
like, actually start talking

>See finn, vad is right that skill can overcome physical advantages. I beat plenty of tougher opponents. I think though he under estimated my skills though, I am just a brute.
>So he underestimated my skills and fell for a feint
>Now lets try the same move as before, only this time I won't feint and just charge at him as if i am a brute.
And do so, this time getting proper whacked.
then after that go for an actual win
>>
>all this obvious samefagging back and forth tonight

Guys come on. I don't want every vote to have to be decided by tie breaker.
>>
>>34024362
>I am just a brute.
not just a brute
>>
Rolled 18

>>34024339
Wow so mad bro
>>
>>34024447

Very mad. Look at me frothing with rage. Damn, i'm hating pretty hard right now. Look at it, look at my anger and frustration. Look how it obfuscates the sun and powers the nukes that will burn the earth. Se, thats how mad I am dude. Very mad.
>>
Rolled 20

>>34024490
Oh yes so mad
>>
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>1.

You’re careful to keep your eyes off the prize and on Vad. He’s taking shallow breaths, trying to keep the pressure off the lung that you just badly bruised. You keep your own breath even as you decide that the same trick is probably a good bet. Mix it up a bit and he won’t catch you before you’ve got his tails in your grip.

You wind up behind him easily enough, a quick feint to his left letting you slip around his right and get into position. His tails are bunched up but still as absurdly large and vulnerable as always. Once you close your hands over them he’ll be practically insensate and make an object lesson to Finn to watch for his own openings more carefully – and to abuse others. You snap forwards, your hands gripping his tails tightly, ready to stroke and twist at the same time to bring Vad down.

Instead you find yourself very glad that you activated Iron Body as the normally soft and fluffy fur around his tails turns your hands into pincushions. You can hardly feel the pain but the sight of hundreds of little black needles, turned red from your blood, sticking out of your hands is undeniable. There’s what feels like a very long moment as Vad’s slight twisting motion and the natural swaying of his tails seems to tear your hands open more and blood coats his tails quite rapidly.

Then you snap and out of it and wrench your hands back, careful not to pull sideways and reduce them to a gory mess. As you leap back, barely missing Vad’s nasty jobs, you wonder when the sly bastard did that to his tails – at the start? Or did you somehow miss him casting as you closed on his rear?

>continued
>>
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>>34024545
It doesn’t matter you decide as you raise your guard, ignoring the blood pouring down your hands. Normally you’d be incapable of fighting but you’re more than able to keep going and show Vad how it’s done. He immediately assume an offensive posture once he sees you’re still ready to fight.

“Dammit, Talon, just throw the damned fight,” Gnome yells at you as she steps in between the two of you. “I’d say Finn just saw quite clearly how important skill and judgement in a fight is. Now get your hands fixed up.”

You blink, noticing that the three women in the room have immediately crowded in at some point and are clearly unimpressed with your willingness to continue the fight. Discretion is the better part of valor, you decide, giving Vad a look that indicates you’ll settle this at a later date. He grins toothily in reply and the two of you earn dirty looks from Gnome at the unsubtle communication.

As you sit next to Tsucchi, who is busy healing your messy hands, you watch as Sala teaches Finn the finer points of using a scimitar. If there’s one thing you’ll say about your squire it’s that he can learn terrifyingly fast – you wonder if that was why they slapped these tattoos on him or if having that skill is why he’s still alive despite having the tattoos.

Tsucchi’s next to you and open to be talked to. You…

>1. Ask her about what Vad just did.
>2. Ask her about what Ren’s plans are regarding the foxes soon to arrive.
>3. Ask her what she thinks of your plan to ally with the League.
>4. Custom
>>
>>34024573
>>2. Ask her about what Ren’s plans are regarding the foxes soon to arrive.
>>3. Ask her what she thinks of your plan to ally with the League.
>>
>>34024573
>2. Ask her about what Ren’s plans are regarding the foxes soon to arrive.
>>
>>34024573
>1. Ask her about what Vad just did.
>3. Ask her what she thinks of your plan to ally with the League.
>>
Rolled 15

>>34024573
>>1. Ask her about what Vad just did.
>>2. Ask her about what Ren’s plans are regarding the foxes soon to arrive.
>>3. Ask her what she thinks of your plan to ally with the League.
Dialog is go
>>
>>34024573
>2. Ask her about what Ren’s plans are regarding the foxes soon to arrive.

It's weird that we never talk to her.

Also that was a neat trick from Vad. I thoroughly enjoyed that.
>>
>>34024573
>1. Ask her about what Vad just did.

Wow, that was kinda cool there.
>>
>1. Ask her about what Vad just did.
>2. Ask her about what Ren's plans are regarding the foxes soon to come.

Well, that's surprising.
>>
>>34024573
>>1. Ask her about what Vad just did.
>>2. Ask her about what Ren’s plans are regarding the foxes soon to arrive.

In retrospect the the >obvious weakpoint should have gived it away. That was clever of him, I'm impressed.

Even if I'm kinda sad that there was no blushing Vad this time.
>>
>>34024573
>2. Ask her about what Ren’s plans are regarding the foxes soon to arrive.

No need to ask what Vad did. The foxes tails are such an obvious weak point that its insulting to think a dedicated front liner like Vad wouldn't have some way of protecting them. Even if they weren't the key to their use of astral power they'd be good levers and handholds during a close range scuffle.

Though if we can figure out how to do that with our beard we could kill someone with it and that would be pretty fucking metal.
>>
>>34024573
>2. Ask her about what Ren’s plans are regarding the foxes soon to arrive.

I'm kind of amused they think that is nearly enough to be worth throwing the fight.
>>
>>34024739
>Though if we can figure out how to do that with our beard we could kill someone with it and that would be pretty fucking metal.

Hands down the best idea I've ever heard. Make it happen.
>>
>>34024739
I don't think Talons beard is actually long enough to get a good grip on and if someone is fast enough to pull that off then Talon is screwed.
>>
>>34024751
Well supposedly it was just a spar. So injuries were expected to be kept to a minimum or some other such womanly nonsense.
>>
>>34024788
While I always imagined the beard to be a close cropped and gentlemanly style beard I can also see him having a wildman/zhang fei kind of bushy beard.

Either way I was imagining it as a type of headbutt as opposed to someone grabbing the beard. Its a silly idea said in jest though.
>>
>>34024545
>>34024573
we got what we deserved
hopefully we now learned not to grab another man's tails
>>
>>34024793
It's not a spar until your down on the ground with internal bleeding. Though I think a lot of it comes down to foxy waifus being able to heal Talon pretty easily so Talon doesn't care much about how badly injured he gets. Just because he realizes he might get in this situation later anyway.
>>
>>34024857
talon can heal himself though
and before he could and before foxy, we had undine able to heal us from pretty much threat 1
>>
>>34024842
True. I was just more mentioning the pretty accurate idea of using the beard as a point of attack since people have done that in real life.

>>34024843
What we have learned from this.

>Hit the tails with the sword. Not something connected to you.
>>
>>34024885
Iron body is too low of a level to do much good healing. Undine though yeah it's honestly I think one of the reasons he tends to be so insane with ignoring his injuries. He tends to realize he can get healed pretty rapidly.
>>
>>34024857
>foxy waifud
>tfw Undine use to be our dedicated healer

Fuck you guys Undine best healer. I miss the simpler less fluffy times.
>>
How many people thought that was actually a good idea? Touching the tails, that is.
>>
Rolled 1

>>34024933
Talon has to learn sometime that you ca't just grab a man's tails.

Now to see if it sticks.
>>
>>34024925
Undine is when Talon is out on the field. Mainly because she is always right there unlike most of the other healers we have.
>>
>>34024933
I'm kind of hoping one of these days Talon gets in a fight with a pharos fox and winds up slicing it's tails off with his sword because he doesn't trust grabbing it this time.
>>
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>2

“Ren’s plans?” Tsucchi says, answering your question as she tends to your hands. “He’ll be here shortly to explain them more in-depth but he’s basically moving a lot of his foxes here. Or at least plans to. He’d been unsure about what to make of you when Taira swore fealty but your rapid acceptance of Karise’s foxes and her plans pushed him that extra step.”

“A lot or all?” you ask, surprised at how open Tsucchi is being.

“Officially, just a lot,” she answers, stroking your fingers one by one as she searches for any remaining signs of damage. “Unofficially, he’s effectively aiming to move his headquarters to Harrowmont, or at least nearby. This will be extraordinarily obvious from what he’ll propose to you, by the way – you don’t propose an enormous terraced fortress a stone’s throw from your capital for a few hundred foxes.”

“In other words, you don’t know what your brother is thinking and are merely guessing,” you surmise.

“That’s right,” she says. “Ren’s relatively obvious, though. He’s used to bulldozing his opposition – I wonder how he’ll deal with you. He has to change tack entirely – the old ‘I can turn you into puree’ trick is pretty meaningless given Taira can do the same to him.”

You blink at that blunt summary, giving Tsucchi a surprised look at her bluntness. She shrugs in response.

“It’s more or less true. Ren would probably have used his strength to bully you if necessary – he knows he can’t do that without angering Taira and she has a very short temper,” she explains.

“You think she’d kill Ren?” you ask.

“I think she’d kill anybody or anything she thought was a threat to you. She takes her oaths and bonds very seriously,” Tsucchi answers, giving you a level look and a lot to think about.

>continued
>>
>>34024922
iron body can heal us back to full, it just takes time and is very draining
that being said, i would rather we actually go through with it and heal as much as we can ourselves because we need the practice.
>>
>>34024962
I have a feeling that's exactly the thing Vad was thinking once Talon's hands were pincushioned.

I don't think anything will keep Talon from fluffy tails though. Be it social norms or intense pain.
>>
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>>34024999
>3.

“I’ve already said I don’t have a problem with it,” she explains. “I do worry about the short timeframe you have before potential war with the Mage Guard.”

“Because it will limit the amount of foxes that can move in,” you say, guessing her next point.

“That and because you’re nowhere near ready to face them. You’ve gotten by because you have a handful of extremely powerful fighters but lack the military core to keep up,” she says. “I’m no military expert but I do know that the Mage Guard is built around fighting extremely dangerous threats. If they had a chance of taking out the Lord of Ember, that means they have more than enough power to turn you to dust even if you have the power of Taira and your elementals behind you. You need to be able to match their military might with your own.”

Given that Cormann lectured you on the same thing when you made your decision, you suspect that Tsucchi has been talking with your officers. You’re still unsure what to make of her intelligence gathering efforts – she’s been useful and forthright so far but would be an obvious hindrance if you ever wound up on hers or her brother’s bad side.

>Anything more to ask or say to Tsucchi?
>>
>>34025030
>"Having Vad and Ren in the same place sounds fun."
>>
>>34025030
Have we checked in on the vampire/thrall research recently? If not, we may as well see what she makes of their progress.
>>
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>>34025129
"You'll be lucky if we have something ready before the end of the year. We'll be testing a few possible cures then - if they succeed then we'll determine how we can do it on a larger scale. If they fail then we'll try some other ones."

>>34025114
"It will be good for Vadoric, I feel. It might push him to finally decide whether he wants to remain as an agent of the alliance or become a proper vassal of yourself. A confrontation between the two of them will force the matter even if you won't."
>>
>>34025030
>You need to be able to match their military might with your own.”

We going to need a lot of men. Luckily with the archmage I think we can pull some of the Mageplate templates we don't have out.
>>
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>Talking to Rayza

After Tsucchi cleans up your hands you finally take the dive and visit Rayza’s room. You want her present and well while you announce Lynn taking the grand prize of the tournament home. It’s probably a good idea to talk to her before that happens. You knock on her door and receive a rather sultry voice telling you to enter. You’re pretty sure you know what happens next.

As you guessed, what’s awaiting you is a very beautiful woman wearing some very well fitting lingerie. Finn was a lucky bastard, you decided, to net Rayza without even trying. You had to stay right the hell away from claiming her, unfortunately, as much as your body tried to tell you otherwise.

“I’m pretty sure I didn’t walk in on you while you’re changing,” you say blandly.

“Of course not. I’ve merely been waiting for you, Imperator,” Rayza replies, her voice sultry and almost blatantly obsequious.

“I see,” you say. This is decision time, you feel.

>1. Outright reject Rayza’s move on you.
>2. Ignore Rayza’s seduction and just talk about tonight, but don’t reject her.
>3. Let Rayza ‘seduce’ you. Another dragon is another dragon, after all.
>4. Custom
>>
>>34025439
>>1. Outright reject Rayza’s move on you.
>>
>>34025439
>1. Outright reject Rayza’s move on you.
There is a point where a harem becomes more trouble than its worth, and that's when someone uses it against you. Like so.
>>
>>34025439
>3. Let Rayza ‘seduce’ you. Another dragon is another dragon, after all.
>>
>>34025439
>>1. Outright reject Rayza’s move on you.
>>
>>34025439
>>2. Ignore Rayza’s seduction and just talk about tonight, but don’t reject her.

Just to screw with her.
>>
>>34025439
>1. Outright reject Rayza’s move on you.
Brethren before wenches.
The bond of a father and his son are even more stronger than this.
>>
>>34025439
Finn, Your waifu a slut.
>>
>>34025439
>2. Ignore Rayza’s seduction and just talk about tonight, but don’t reject her.
>>
>>34025439
>2. Ignore Rayza’s seduction and just talk about tonight, but don’t reject her.

Women like mysterious men.
>>
I don't think she is actually finn's waifu
they literally fought once and she popped his cherry because she liked his fire.

that being said, we are with lynn and she and lynn don't get along. So if she wants to get with talon she has to solve her issues with lynn first
>>
>>34025439
>4. Custom
"I'm afraid so long as you are under my care I can't really engage in such matters Rayza. After that though, who can say?"

No hanky panky with newly acquired wards/political refugees.
>>
>>34025545
She needs a firm hand if the FTB is any indication.
Finn got himself a fine prize if he can man up and spank her bottom raw everytime she starts getting prissy.
>>
>>34025607
clueless isn't mysterious
neither is disinterested; which can attract but isn't mysterious either.

that being said, I second your vote for 2
>>
>>34025610
Every women not Talon is Finn's waifu. They just don't realize it yet.
>>
>>34025615
I also meant to bring up using this to get her into business mode. Unless someone told her about the whole protection thing already.
>>
>>34025545
so is talon
and now that i think about it, lynn is insatiable so many dragons just have overactive libidos?

>>34025661
finn is gushing over our girls too.
>>
>>34025687
>Finn is gushing

Yes. But those are Talons waifus. Finn has all the waifus not Talons.
>>
>>34025439
>1. Outright reject Rayza’s move on you.
>>
>>34025439
>2. Ignore Rayza’s seduction and just talk about tonight, but don’t reject her.
>>
>>34025439
>3. Let Rayza ‘seduce’ you. Another dragon is another dragon, after all.

Hell why not!? I mean whatever stopping us we passed a long time ago.
>>
>>34025439
>>2. Ignore Rayza’s seduction and just talk about tonight, but don’t reject her.

I don't really mind 1 winning either
>>
>>34025439
>3. Let Rayza ‘seduce’ you. Another dragon is another dragon, after all.
>>
>>34025439
>3. Let Rayza ‘seduce’ you. Another dragon is another dragon, after all.

Dragon, DRAGON. WHY NOT?
>>
>>34025439
>2. Ignore Rayza’s seduction and just talk about tonight, but don’t reject her.
>>
>>34026030
>Talon York: Single handedly repopulating a dying species.
>>
>>34025439
>3. Let Rayza ‘seduce’ you. Another dragon is another dragon, after all.
TALON BEING TALON
>>
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>1.

“Just so you know, I’m not one to touch women that my friends are with. And Finn does seem awfully fond of you and you did say you wanted to have more fun with him,” you say.

Rayza stares at you in disbelief. She then reaches up to her breasts and undoes her bra, letting it fall onto her lithe thighs. Once again you thought: Finn is a lucky, lucky squire.

“You do realise that I see that a lot, right?” you ask her, maintaining her bland voice.

She scowls at you. “Do I need to take the bottom off, too?”

“I’m saying that as nice as you are to look at, I’m not going to touch you so long as you’re showing interest in my squire,” you say, dropping all tact.

Rayza stares at you once again, her expression going unreadable. She nods to herself a few times, clearly thinking things over. You don’t really know what, merely that she’s thinking of something. Then she stands up and fastens her bra again before stepping over to the closet and beginning to pick out clothes.

“You’re willing to talk business while I get changed, right?” she asks, giving you a quick glance as she holds a red top in front of you. “Accentuates my breasts too much with the colour change on my upper chest, right? I really do wish I had the chest of your earth elemental for this shirt.”

“Yes, it does. Stick with something that emphasises your overall figure rather than your chest,” you say, hiding your confusion. “You’re just giving up that easily.”

>continued
>>
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>>34026068
She shrugs. “I’m not really going to doubt your word. I’d kind of hoped your reputation with women meant you were easy to nab but I guess it’s the opposite – you can get women so easily you never have a need to get more. And, uh, you’re probably amazing but given a choice between sharing you with ten other women and having a cute elf who is eager to please, I know what I’ll take. I don’t have anywhere near the experience to beat out centuries old women who probably could write a manual on sex.”

You fail at holding in your laughter, instead opting to maintain a low chuckle as she speaks. She gives you a broad smile at your response. Clearly she hasn’t given up on winning you over, even if she’s decided that it won’t be done in the bedroom. Or with you inside her, given you are in her bedroom.

“You say that like you’re inexperienced yourself,” you say, curious at her choice of words.

“Tarfinn is literally the second man I’ve been with,” she admits. “The first was… unimpressive even if it did last a few years.”

“What happened to him?” you ask.

>continued
>>
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>>34026089
“You,” she says bluntly. “After I failed to kill you, you counterattacked our camp the next day and chopped him in half. Don’t feel bad – he wasn’t a real loss. That was the mages you butchered at the same time.”

You rub the bridge of your nose, remembering the fact there’s a certain level of awkwardness there. Oddly enough, she certainly sounds like she doesn’t care that you killed her previous lover. You just hope that she didn’t want to sleep with you for that reason – that was a little too much for you.

“On a more serious note, Rayza, you realise that you’re under my protection, right?” you ask her.

“I do. I basically lost all of the Magi League protections the instance I went all out against Caitlyn,” she says, shrugging. “Really bad call on my part. I figured that because I hadn’t been hauled out of here by the League forces or the Mage Guard inquisitor lurking about that you had been protecting me.”

You blink. She seemed to have a more rosy view of you than you had expected. Maybe you had really overestimated her experience in general. You…

>1. Correct her. Point out that Alyce is trying to protect her and you’re helping her.
>2. Let her delusion be. It’ll make you look better and will probably never come up in the future.
>3. Actively lie to her – tell her that you will only be able to protect her if she swears fealty to you.
>4. Custom
>>
>>34026106
>2. Let her delusion be. It’ll make you look better and will probably never come up in the future.
>>
>>34026106
>>1. Correct her. Point out that Alyce is trying to protect her and you’re helping her.
>>
>>34026106
>1. Correct her. Point out that Alyce is trying to protect her and you’re helping her.
>>
>>34026106
>Correct her. Point out that Alyce is trying to protect her and you’re helping her.
>>
>>34026106
1
>>
>>34026106
>4. It seems the archmage likes you more then you think. While I would protect you anyway the first thing the archmage did was tell me I should.
>>
>>34026106
Its not exactly inaccurate
alyce "protecting her" amounted to literally telling us that she CAN'T protect her and asking us to take her in for her safety. but that was a personal request from alyce.
Although we planned on doing it anyways even if alyce hadn't asked
>>
>>34026106
>3. Actively lie to her – tell her that you will only be able to protect her if she swears fealty to you.

Because more dragons.
>>
>>34026106
>>1. Correct her. Point out that Alyce is trying to protect her and you’re helping her.
>>
>>34026106
>2. Let her delusion be. It’ll make you look better and will probably never come up in the future.
>>
>>34026263
this is in no way necessary for more dragons.
in fact it is the opposite, swearing fealty is just words, if she finds out we lied then she has much less incentive to keep such a word.
on the other hand, if we actually are doing right by her, then she is likely to remain with us
It might be counter intuitive, but its how it is.
>>
>>34026106
Basically these:
>>34026230
>>34026234
>>
>>34026106
1

its funny because 2 reminds me how we just caught lynn in a lie and we thought how we should talk to her about that and how it can bite her in the ass in the future.
>>
>>34026106
>1. Correct her. Point out that Alyce is trying to protect her and you’re helping her.
Tell it like it is. Also, inquire as to how she managed to hide her secret for so long.
>>
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I might as well ask now – what interest is there in a longer session (e.g. running for another 4 hours or so)? Note that the content won’t change a huge amount. Mostly light character development stuff while I steadily drink myself into a stupor.

>1. Plus a bit of the custom

You sigh, pushing aside your more callous mask and adopting a more truthful approach. “That’s not quite accurate, if not completely inaccurate. You did lose the protections the Tower of Stars provided you but you’re also here because Alyce wants to help you. She asked me to protect you while she figures out what she can do in Ahm – she could very easily have just offered you as a sacrifice to appease the mages who oppose her but didn’t.”

Rayza gives you a long, level look. “Huh, I can’t say I expected that. I thought Alyce disliked me. I guess her principles kept her from just selling me out. Just like yours mean you’re protecting me.”

“You think I’m protecting you out of principle?” you ask.

“You’ve made a pretty good name for yourself for not caring about racial issues,” she says, suddenly slipping out of her underwear and giving you more of a show than when she was trying to seduce you. “Given I abused your tourney rules, shit-talked your chosen grandmaster and then caused you endless grief you really should have just used me as a pawn. Instead you’re acting like you actually care.”

“Surprisingly enough, I do have a heart,” you say dryly.

“You might want to stop it from beating too much, then,” Rayza says. “if you don’t then you’ll end up like Alyce. The less willing you are to kill those who need to be killed or sacrificed those who deserve sacrificing, the less likely you are to succeed.”

You frown at that. Something about the way she stated that sounds defeatist and offends your sensibilities. You can hear the vein of truth but you don’t like it.

>Response?
>>
>>34026106
>will probably never come up in the future.
it will certainly come up the next time she talks to alyce. which will be the next time alyce visits. I am pretty much certain of it.

that said, 1 makes it sound like we are only protecting her as a favor to alyce, when it was our intent all along.
>>
>>34026469
its 12:30am here in central USA.
I got all the interest but i am not sure how long i can go before running out of steam. (potentially the whole 4 hours)
>>
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>>34026417
>Also, inquire as to how she managed to hide her secret for so long.
"My father was a pretty old dragon and knew a few tricks. The big one was how to prevent the astute, like yourself, from noticing what you were. Didn't teach me much else but the simple ability to actually use my draconic sorcery seems to put me a league ahead of practically every other dragon I've met. Caitlyn included, even if she is a complete beast compared to me in every other way.z'
>>
>>34026469
"I'll do what needs to be done. I make it a point to always have a choice in the manner on how I do things

"Even if I put my heart on a sleeve."
>>
>>34026469
I'm in for another 4 hours.
>>
>>34026469
longer session? im game after all its almost 7am uk time and i dont think i'll be going to bed since its this early. besides im perfectly fine with more fluff especially if its as good quality comedic gold as it has been so far.
>>
>>34026469
You wouldn't happen to be one of those royal dragons sylvian said got slapped down, would you?
>>
>>34026469
Sure I'm on a midnight burn anyway, support for longer session on my end.

"What can I say I'm greedy. Lets move on to the whole racial aspect. The only dragons I've had extended conversations with so far either don't know much about your race or are an ancient Helldragon with an agenda. Care to fill me in from your perspective?"

Dragons have had a rough patch for quite a while so it makes sense that she's not boiling over with optimism on being able to protect everything.
>>
>>34026469
I don't mind a longer one. I just woke up so I can be here all night.

>I'll kill those I have too. If it isn't necessary though then it isn't necessary.
>>
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Well, I'll probably just keep running until I run out of steam given this feedback.

>>34026549
This is partially my fault due to the PoV switch but what's the in-character reason for asking this?

>>34026547
If you stayed awake to read this quest, I'm sorry.
>>
>>34026615
>apologizing because people want to be apart of your quest

I don't know if I should feel good you're concerned for peoples health, or mad because you think it isn't worth it.
>>
>>34026469
Her issue is more the lack of authority. Too much power that doesn't answer to her, comes with choosing to not make herself a queen.

And I am also not that bleeding heart. I care, but I didn't survive this long as a soldier and general by being a total sap.

But here my back isn't to the wall, I have authority here, and popularity. Such a sacrifice will be a small gain which I can live without. Besides, you can't underestimate the value of being a safe haven to otherwise maligned races.
>>
>>34026615
>This is partially my fault due to the PoV switch but what's the in-character reason for asking this?
She seems like she's speaking from experience, given her defeatist attitude I don't think it's outside the realms of possibility that she tried making a faction of her own and failed miserably. Other than that it's a shot in the dark that costs Talon nothing if incorrect.
>>
>>34026615
Different anon, it'd be a stretch, but if we put together what we've been told of dragons, the fact she knows draconic sorcery and actually had her father teach her properly coupled with the whole "gotta make the tough calls or your empire will crumble just like ours did" vibe she's got goingI could kind of see us going out on a limb and bullshit it, It'd Talon taking a wild guess from my point of view though.
>>
>>34026615
well i was on catchup with this thread for a while and i needed a good thread after Gobbles pokemon quest randomly died. besides the comedy in this quest is amazing. i'd gladly stay up for all of them provided if i'm able to.
>>
>>34026615
>If you stayed awake to read this quest, I'm sorry.
not him, but i have often stayed awake for this quest. 4am+
its worth it, its the best quest around.
>>
>>34026615
>the in-character reason for asking this?

I honestly get the feeling that anon put that too direct. It would probably be better phrased as him asking her if she knows where other dragons are. Talon shouldn't jump to royal but it should be a possibility on his mind that there is a breed out there that is royal.
>>
>>34026728
its worth noting that gathering other dragons openly is exactly something sylvanis cautioned us against and said will cause mass slaughter of the race.
>>
>>34026705
In my area this quest tends to start at around 5:30-6:30 and stop at around 4 Next morning and I haven't missed a single one all the way though yet. Though I have passed out in the middle of one and slept though half of one. I typically talk a bit after the thread for a couple hours too so staying up means nothing to me.
>>
>>34026791
same here actually.
>>
>>34026760
Yeah. I don't think he is going to go gather them up like pokemon or something. Just he would probably think to know where they are in case he needs them later.
>>
>>34026816
>like pokemon
A talon's kind of like a lance, right?
I mean, they're both sharp.
>>
>>34026469
I think it's amusing she doesn't realize how useful she could be to a starting power.
>>
>>34026816
more like porkhermons
>>
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“I’ll do whatever is necessary to maintain my empire,” you say, giving Rayza a serious gaze. “If I need to kill to maintain it, then I’ll kill. If I don’t, I won’t. I see less benefit in sacrificing you then protecting you, so I’m protecting you. There’s also the simple fact that there’s no point in ruling if you can’t do what you want to do – if my whims are constrained by others so easily, can I really say I’m a ruler?”

Rayza returns your gaze, licking her lips as she holds a slightly more ordinary set of underwear over her stomach. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I can kind of see how you get all of the women. There’s a real atmosphere about you that I could only wish to emulate.”

You cock an eyebrow. “Most people wouldn’t need to emulate it? Do you have your own interests in doing so?”

There’s a several moments where she returns your gaze, looking strangely frightened. You can tell her breathing has stopped as your questioning somehow terrifies her into inactivity. Then she gulps and returns mostly to normal.

“Not really. Just like I said, I wish I could emulate it. Doesn’t everybody dream of being awesomely powerful?” she says, her voice wavering as she tries to cover for something.

“I see. In any case, as I said, there’s not much to gain from sacrificing you,” you finish. “You’re a capable fighter and I’m not one to kill people in cold blood just because of their heritage, to hell with politics and public opinion.”

>continued
>>
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>>34026956
She nods, finally dressing herself properly in a relatively modest shirt and skirt. She poses slightly for you, giving you a deep curtsy in what is a thinly veiled show of subservience. Rayza was clearly fearful of people after her life because she was a vampire and wasn’t about to betray you and your protection. At least, it all seemed that way.

You had some serious suspicions that she was hiding something and you suspected there was more to her but were unsure whether it was a good idea to push her right now. On the other hand, she seemed oddly more likely to accept direction than Lynn – if you tried to bend her to your will right now you had an odd sense she would accept your will without any issues. It might not be the best result for her though.

>1. Try to bring her to heel, pushing her over her background and loyalty.
>2. Just push her over her background without any expectations of loyalty. She might still react poorly to your advances over her background.
>3. Leave her alone for now and merely invite her along to the closing ceremony.
>4. Custom

>>34026676
It's more that I didn't realise that so many people missed sleep for this quest.
>>
>>34026956
man, talon sends shivers down my spine and I am as straight as they come
>>
>>34026970
I am not sure what is actually going on in this post and what the vote represents
>>
>>34026970
>Rayza was clearly fearful of people after her life because she was a vampire
>because she was a vampire
>vampire
Distracted, Aspir?
>>
>>34026970
>1. Try to bring her to heel, pushing her over her background and loyalty.

I don't mean to be a dick, but there will probably be very few other chances to do this in the future.
>>
>>34026970
>>2. Just push her over her background without any expectations of loyalty. She might still react poorly to your advances over her background.

>she was a vampire

Vampire dragon waifu incoming.
>>
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>>34027022
No, just very tipsy.

>>34027019
It's meant to be about whether you push her to reveal her royal dragon background. You've also got the possibility of trying to make her subservient at the same time.
>>
>>34026970
Just see what scared her so much. She's obviously in a very vulnerable position so forcing the background thing is a bit much but whatever scared her that much may mean she has more enemies than just dragon hunters. Just show some concern but don't push too hard. She has to know that Lynn is a Felldragon after their fight so she should be able to trust us with keeping our mouth shut.
>>
>>34027068
>It's meant to be about whether you push her to reveal her royal dragon background. You've also got the possibility of trying to make her subservient at the same time.
but there is a bit more than that too
stuff about a "feeling" that we have a chance to make her subservient NOW if we push, but that it might not be the best result for her...
but by that does it mean "not the best result for her" in terms of "she is not going to be as well" or "we will be under utilizing her by doing so"
>>
>>34027068
That's tempting, though I prefer winning loyalty than forcing it.
>>
>>34026970
>2. Just push her over her background without any expectations of loyalty. She might still react poorly to your advances over her background.
Honestly, we'll have plenty of time to bend her to our will in ways that won't make her feel coerced.
>>
>>34026970
3

go for best results
>>
>>34027045
wha? but?

oh, heh, I see now. funny typo
>>
>>34027097
I think it implies her loyalty will be tainted with fear of us. If we get her to spill everything we'll have leverage over her and that will define the relationship.
>>
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>>34027097
>but by that does it mean "not the best result for her" in terms of "she is not going to be as well" or "we will be under utilizing her by doing so"
I believe it's come up before but my general point of view is that if you abuse your authority their mental state you'll get greater obedience in exchange for a certain amount of capability.

She might become a fearful servant who won't betray you and can be trusted with the greatest secrets but that fear will taint all of her actions and limit her ultimate abilities.
>>
>>34026970
>>2. Just push her over her background without any expectations of loyalty. She might still react poorly to your advances over her background.
Or let Finn do that for you.
>>
>>34027068
>It's meant to be about whether you push her to reveal her royal dragon background.
Does talon know about her royal ancestry in character? I don't quite remember if sylvian mentioned this

If he is, he might as well just tell her he knows instead of pushing her to admit it. like
>Just so you know, I know about the royalty. I will caution against leveraging it.
>Sylvian believes it will mostly attract young, weak, impressionable dragons who would then get butchered. As such she has a policy of coming down hard on any dragon who attempts such a thing.

if he isn't aware of it in character, then we shouldn't pursue it at all since we don't know.
>>
>>34027174
oh, thanks for clarifying. first time i hear it but it makes sense
>>
>>34027189
>Let Finn push her over onto her back.
>>
>>34027189
pls anon
she has him wrapped around her finger
>>
>>34027192
He knows she is terrified of something and Sylivan mentioned royals existing. He just doesn't know she is one. But it doesn't take a genius to realize she is hiding something.
>>
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>2.

“I don’t mean to push you over this but… no, sorry, that’s a lie,” you say to Rayza, stepping closer to her as she stares at you, wide-eyed. “I’m protecting you but I don’t owe you anything. I’m pretty sure you’re hiding something and I’m worried it’s important enough to threaten myself and those around me. That means you’re going to tell me what that thing is.”

[DC11/16 Intimidation]
>>
Rolled 7

>>34027249
I'm luckily blessed by the dice gods. So everything will be fine anons.
>>
Rolled 12

>>34027249
>>
Rolled 9

>>34027249
>>
Rolled 8

>>34027249
>>
>>34027249
She's the daughter of the dragon Lynn pretended to be the daughter
>>
>>34027231
yeah he's pretty much pussy whipped already, but there's potential that she unleash the inner Talon in Finn. Or that by being his usual clueless self Finn will wrap her around his finger...or shank.
>>
>>34027345
But he is a feldragon, and she isn't
i doubt he was royalty too considering he brought low their empire
>>
Rolled 13

>>34027345
Can felldragons even naturally reproduce? It seems like Lairos had to cheat code a new type of dragon to make lynn.
>>
>>34027249
Talon can be mean sometimes, I am not a fan of mean talon
>>
>>34027477
>Not being a fan of Talon at his best.

I love me a protagonist that doesn't fuck around.
>>
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>Lower target met

She licks her lips as she looks up at you, her eyes wide and obviously frightened as she holds her hands together in front of you. She hardly looked like the confident spellblade who had nearly killed you years ago and fought an amazing battle last night. You realise now that the power you hold as the ruler of a nation is much greater than the raw physical and magical power you hold otherwise – you sincerely doubt that Rayza would be acting like this if you weren’t solely capable of throwing her to the wolves by withdrawing your nation’s protection.

“I… Do you know of royal dragons?” she asks you, her voice wavering.

“Yes. Are you saying you are one?” you respond.

She nods, her expression and manner unchanging. Realising that terrifying her into absolute obedience isn’t your goal, you step back and raise your hands in a calming matter. She immediately sits on the bed once you back away.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were going to- I’m sorry,” she says, beginning to repeat her apology before you cut her off.

“Just speak about your background, Rayza,” you say.

She nods. “My father said I had enough active royal blood to be the next ruler of the race but I… I didn’t want to be a ruler. I just wanted to fight.”

“You never wanted to be a ruler?” you ask.

>continued
>>
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>>34027544
Her eyes dart away from yours and she plays with her fingers instead of answering. You sigh upon realising she won’t seriously answer without you pushing more – and you’re wary of damaging her psyche anymore than you’ve already done. You wave it off and change topics as you set off for the ceremony, trying to ignore the way that Rayza immediately shifts backs to trying to seduce you. Clearly she reversed her earlier decision about ignoring you for Finn after your behaviour. On the plus side, you doubt you’ll need to worry about her too much in the near future.

The ceremony goes without a hitch. The crowd cheers Lynn on as you announce her to be your grandmaster. Rayza even gives her a hug in celebration, giving the appearance of the two having no troubles remaining after the fight. You wish that were so.

Sitting in your common room, sipping at some brandy as you review a map of the nearby regions, in comes…

>1. Gnome. She wants to talk about that canal project.
>2. Sarah. She wants to talk about how you’re going to handle the disruptions caused by the upcoming wars and other issues with major powers.
>3. Undine. She wants to talk about your relationship with Alyce.
>4. Custom
>>
>>34027560
>1. Gnome. She wants to talk about that canal project.
>>
>>34027560
>1. Gnome. She wants to talk about that canal project.
>>
>>34027560
>you’re wary of damaging her psyche anymore than you’ve already done
>anymore than you’ve already done
what have we done!
>>
>>34027560
>1. Gnome. She wants to talk about that canal project.
Poor tunnel-bro.
>>
>>34027560
>1. Gnome. She wants to talk about that canal project.
I could do with some non-social empire building right about now.
>>
>>34027560
>3. Undine. She wants to talk about your relationship with Alyce.

More interested in Undine and the archmage then a Canal right now.
>>
>>34027603
We've made another dragon want Talon

Just one more dragon to go.
>>
>>34027603
Something unforgiveable, anon.
>>
>>34027603
>Not mindbreaking all the dragons
>Not building a dragon harem of mindbroken dragon girls.

Anon, Anon why even live if not for a dragon harem?
>>
>>34027669
I live for the dragon harem
I just don't want them broken
>>
>>34027697
B-but anon the fun of a dragon harem is the mindbreak. Without that it's just a harem!
>>
>>34027560
Is there something up with pastebin because the ftb and master links give me 'this paste has been removed'

Am I the only one getting that?
>>
>>34027758
yep you are.
>>
>>34027713
you make baby tiamat cry
>>
>>34027777
>Tiamat

Tiamat go back to Marduk's harem where you belong.
>>
>>34027845
oh oops, brainfart on my part there.
i meant to say bahamut
>>
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>>34027758
I'm still seeing them.

>1.

Gnome steps inside, wearing just her undershirt and pants, with the several other layers that usually cover her chest presumably lying in her bedroom. She’s carrying a number of papers with her but you suspect that’s mostly an excuse to wander up here and claim you for the night. Gnome’s always been much more unwilling to simply say she wants to sleep with you for the night, unlike the other girls.

She retrieves a glass and you pour a nip of brandy in it as she lays out her papers. You’ll never tell her so, but you’re actually more interested in her report on the canal than the night’s entertainment. You’ll never tell anybody else either as you’ll never live it down – Maloric would probably engrave the fact into every stone inside Harrowmont if he found out.

“So, what’s your verdict on a canal between Ahm and Vitria,” you ask, growing impatient.

“It’s both doable and economically viable,” comes the positive response from Gnome. “It’s also more difficult than you’d imagined. Build a canal that covers four-hundred and thirty miles isn’t easy. It will literally be the longest canal ever constructed in Gauron – and I can say that confidently as I constructed the two longest before this.”

“So you think it’s crazy,” you answer, feeling a tad bitter about your hopes being dashed.

“No, I just think you need to start preparing for its construction right now,” she answers, giving you an irritated glance. “It’ll need to be bigger than you expected – moving barges over such a distance means you’ll need much of it to be capable of containing two barges side-by-side at the same time. It will vastly improve travel speeds, however, even taking into account the high-quality highway between Vitria and Ahm. At least a three times improvement in travel time and even more in terms of cost for merchants.”

“What does that mean, Gnome?” you ask.

>continued
>>
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>>34028004
She gives you another irritated look. “If you keep extending the canal system out as you expand, you’ll be able to move your troops and equipment three times as fast. Even Taira’s teleportation would be hard-pressed to match that. There’ll be immediately increased toll revenue and the growth spawned by the additional trade with add up over time. I’m not going to pretend to know how to handle that – that’s Undine’s area. I can merely give you some designs and ideas. The main one being that it will be a several year effort, especially as you can’t guarantee I’ll be working on it full-time.”

You nod at that, sipping at your brandy as you peruse the map that Gnome has scribbled on. There’s two paths – one stretching from Vitria to Ahm along the north side of the Marnn mountains and the other along the south. It looks like the north side is more complicated but faster to travel along for ships but the southern path runs past Harrowmont but will take longer for ships to travel along.

“Do you think we should build it, Gnome?” you ask.

“I would love to design and construct this canal,” Gnome says, avoiding your actual question. “But I won’t be doing it myself – you’ll be redirectly a lot of taxation revenue to the engineering corps you’ll construct to actually do it. Alyce will be doing a lot on her side and you’ll then need to negotiate a trade deal. From what I can understand, you’ll probably turn Vitria into the largest trade harbour in Gauron in short order if you do it.”

It came down to money, naturally.

>Any questions for Gnome on the canal? You’ll get more precise details if you present this to your cabinet.
>>
>>34028016
What if we used more avatars to build smaller portions of the canal and have Gnome connect them as they finish.
Also where would we find enough water for such an engineering prowess? from an existing river(s)?
>>
>>34028077
Avatars/elementals you understand what I meant.
>>
>>34028016
>This is going to cost a fortune won't it?
>>
>>34028016
Flatter her a little. "Of course you can't do all of it yourself, I'd miss you too much."
>>
Gotta spend money to make money
the fact is that it will benefit us in 2 ways, trade revenue AND troop movement speed.
Neither can be underestimated
>>
>>34028140
Of course it also goes both ways since it means a foe can use it as well to get 3 times as fast movement.
>>
>>34028016
Gnome is wonderful.

So, basically

north:
+faster/shorter travel when done
-More expensive/slower to build

South
+Passes by harrowmont
+Cheaper/faster to build
-slower/longer travel when done
>>
>>34028151
The north side should be safer as its deeper into our territory. The south is closer to the RSK making it risker.
>>
Could start the canal running from the north and after a few years start the south portion to connect Harrowmont and Darlesia.
>>
>>34028151
if they do that, we can cut off their supply lines and entrap them. And it pretty much requires for them to already have broken the back of our military.
>>
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>>34028127
She grins at you, moving across the table to sit next to you. "I know. That's why you enjoy my presence more often than the others."

"That has more to do with your libido, Gnome," you reply, ignoring her... advances with her hand.

"You never seem to complain, though," she says, whispering in your ear.

>>34028201
"You could. Keep in mind that will be years of consruction after years of construction, most likely."
>>
>>34028233
Good thing we plan on living for at least a thousand.

Time for some "hugs"
>>
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>>34028077
"That was what I expected. The engineering corps will presumably contain a number of mages and earth elementals to construct major projects."

>>34028114
"Malataine dropped more money than you receive in a year to construct a canal between Sortraine and their mountain fortresses to enable rapid troop movements. They valued their security more than the money."
>>
>>34028225
All they need to do is get a good section of our canal and load some boats full of men in it. In general while it's a good idea one should be prepared for someone to use our own travel methods against us if they can. Especially if a heavy war situation breaks out.
>>
>>34028259
>Thousand
>Not at least 100,000
>>
The canal seems good. It'd be nice if we could find a way to make the process more efficient but the economic and security benefits of its construction are pretty damn juicy.
>>
>>34028233
Digging through all these provinces could reveal veins of minerals that we could exploit right?
>>
>>34028305
Ok, so they loaded troops onto a boat.

now we can ambush it at any point on the river and capsize those boats with water elemental

Or, we can just close in behind them and prevent those troops from getting any supplies, meaning they are trapped behind enemy lines with no reinforcements and no supplies.
remember that magics require spell componenets, some of which rare and expensive.

and its not like the canal leads inside the walls themselves. and even if it did, artillery can be preset to bombard the river on the path to a city, where they are literally sitting ducks.

so they basically have to debark a few hours away from the city and then walk the rest of the way.
>>
>>34028277
Where we will find enough water? or will we use water elementals to provide it? could be usefull in case we ever get an enemy bald enough to use our canal to move their troups. Would work wonder for the times we'd need to perform maintenance on the floorbed and such, would there even need of maintance if we have earth elementals on duty?
>>
>>34028341
Your assuming they won't load up with water elementals and mages and other things to defend it.

Danger is more a powerful nation getting a good chunk of one area then sending a elite force straight at harrowmont. A little magic to speed up the ships and they could cause a lot of chaos. There is also the risk of some bastard using a random elemental stop up a part of it.

Not saying we shouldn't do it but we should think of possible attacks to it or from it and make sure it's pretty well guarded.
>>
>>34028414
its easier to destroy than it is to protect anon.
and water elementals are not that common since everywhere else heavily frowns on summoning.
and we have literally the strongest water elemental in the world.

It will take about 6 years for it to even come close to harromont and even then it won't go into the walls, they still have to climb up the easily trapped path.

And we will be in

no to mention we have our own troops intercepting them on the same canal system

furthermore. in 6 years we would have probably gotten all the pops so attacking harrowmont becomes suicide unless you are an army of angels or somesuch.
>>
>>34028471
Pretty sure they frown on summoners. Not so much familiar bindings and summonings. Also yeah I see what you mean. Just it's still something to think about later because the POPs don't extend the rage that far.

1 for Gnome.
4 for Undine
2 for Talon which gives him the keep.

At a certain point he will have 3 for himself due to being able to feed Gnome enough power but that is going to be a while.
>>
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Although Gnome is one of the members of your harem most likely to want sex she’s usually in control of her libido enough to go through the business matters she brings you before moving onto the entertainment. This is in contrast to Sala, who rarely brings you business matters at night but usually has to come up for air to explain anything serious. It had taken a while to explain to her that you couldn’t understand a word she said when he mouth was wrapped around you.

Tonight, Gnome throws her usual demeanour out the window and is happily riding you even as you attempt to focus on outstanding matters. This wouldn’t be so bad except Gnome knew all the best ways to disrupt your concentration.

>>34028332
“You’ll only be digging a few metres deep for the most part, Talon,” Gnome explains once she pauses, running her hands over your chest during her ‘break’. “I doubt you’ll find too much of importance.”

>>34028341
>>34028414
“The canal will contain dozens on manned locks. A water elemental at one of these could render one unusable without days of repair in a matter of minutes,” Gnome explains between breathes, having resumed a slow grind. It also requires them to seize your ships and be able to pilot them down the canal. There’s danger but it’s not as easy as it initially sounds.”

>>34028412
“It would be trivial to redirect some existing dams as necessary. Water elementals could provide additional amounts of water, or mages with some time and resources. Good lock design will prevent too much water from being released downstream during normal operations, too,” Gnome explains between ‘sessions’, breathing heavily into your chest as she recovers from her pleasure. She was clearly hornier than usual, as she usually outlasted you in the initial bout of sex. “Maintenance is easier with mages, too. Don’t worry too much about that – you just need to be able to pay salaries out of the taxes you collect.”

>final set of questions
>>
Speaking of POPs. Why do I get the feeling that the barrier was made using sources as one of the power sources? I mean the Sources suddenly are sealed? Right when the Barrier is formed.
>>
>>34028505
The source and keep are the most important thing to protect though. its the one thing we can't afford to lose
>>
>>34028517
I think we asked enough about the canal, lets give her our full attention
>>
>>34028517
just write the smut already jesus.
>>
I assume the water issue will be handled by tapping Undine's PoP directly? It seems to produce an endless amount of water much like the source. Sends to fix that issue pretty quickly.

Also I'd say that using the southern route has more military benefits in the longer run. It allows for three distinct mustering locations, Vitria, Harrowmont, and Darlesia. As opposed to just Vitria with the northern. Plus I'd imagine Marcus would be diamonds if some of that trade came so close to Harrowmont.

Also I want all the bridges and twin tower forts we can afford it would look so awesome
>>
>>34028536
Depends a lot on how we lose it too. Like some really strong guy sneaking into the keep wouldn't be much of an issue because Talon has astral power anyway. An army on the other hand or something singularly powerful though yeah. Once we get a decent amount of land we should bind a POP to talon.

Especially considering how close Slyph and our other POP will be to us after Termina.
>>
>>34028517
Ask what's got her so worked up.
>>
>>34028569
an army inside is commiting suicide either way
to take it out, 50 angels threw a mountain at it. what is stopping talong from standing within the 1 mile radius of source dominion and just throwing massive boulders to decimate the invaders? his ability to overwrite reality doesn't extend outside it, but a tossed boulder retains its momentum

heck, he could do the thing with a magnifying glass and burning an ant. only on a larger scale to shoot beams of flaming death. If we place it right we could actually extend power quite a bit further from harrowmont with such tricks
>>
>>34028616
Pretty sure it was just the archangels that did that and we really don't know much about what Talon with the POP bound can do.

We know there is methods of getting things build inside outside and we know we can't control time and the only people that could fight a uphill battle is the archangels/Archmage/etc etc.
>>
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>>34028548
I already did write it once.

The general activities that take place in the discussions are mostly filler, adding a certain level of personality to characters and what's happening beyond them just being talking heads.

>Moving right along

You’ve gotten most the important information out of Gnome for now, so you decide to stop distracting her and give her what she wants. Talking to her the next morning reveals that the cause was relatively innocuous – Sala and Lynn had simply been teasing her. The side-effects of staying well away from the politics within your harem.

It’s several days later and you’re settling back into Harrowmont. As are the new knights that were recruited for your order during the tournament. There’s still a lot of work taking place around the fortress, including your surveyors poking about and trying to determine how to modify the fortress itself for further expansion. There’s plenty of room, you merely need to worry about defending it.

As you stretch out you try to make a decision on what to do.

>1. Go join Sala, Lynn and Rayza in the practice grounds for some sparring.
>2. The foxes are having a meeting in one of the larger breakfast buffet rooms – it might be interesting to see what they’re discussing.
>3. Sarah’s inspecting one of the manors Gnome constructed before the tournament. Maybe you could see what her opinion of it is and who she thinks should use it.
>4. Custom
>>
>>34028793
Although I swear the moment we finally bound a POP to Talon we should have him challenge all his allies to a fight in the courtyard. Just to test out how strong he becomes.
>>
>>34028819
>>2. The foxes are having a meeting in one of the larger breakfast buffet rooms – it might be interesting to see what they’re discussing.

I'm curious what they are planning.
>>
>>34028819
>2 foxy politics!

That sounds weirdly sexual!
>>
>>34028819
>>3. Sarah’s inspecting one of the manors Gnome constructed before the tournament. Maybe you could see what her opinion of it is and who she thinks should use it.
>>
>>34028819
>>2. The foxes are having a meeting in one of the larger breakfast buffet rooms – it might be interesting to see what they’re discussing
>>
>>34028819
>2. The foxes are having a meeting in one of the larger breakfast buffet rooms – it might be interesting to see what they’re discussing.

Did we decide against the idea of setting up a group to go clear dungeons and get stronk or is that just something to be tackled later?
>>
>>34028793
while its true we don't know what he could do then, i am sure there is something that could be weaponized.
>>
>>34028819
i am really curious as to how the lynn rayza dynamic is developing
animosity there can have some bad results
>>
>>34028999
Almost assuredly so. I just kind of wonder how the archangels buried the place. You would think the master would just destroy the rubble as it falls down.
>>
>>34029053
well, it was mentioned that an archmage could stand a chance fighting on the inside if only by virtue of using something we haven't specifically thought of?

I bet the previous master didn't think to specifically protect himself from "an entire mountain falls on me" and was killed instantly.
>>
>>34029079
Problem there is it doesn't take much to think. "Any chunks of mountain falling down here turns to sunflowers." and the archangels didn't go into the guys range.
>>
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>2.

Stepping into the room you know the foxes are using, you first wonder how it can be snowing inside the keep. Then you realise that the room is full of fluffy white fox tails. There must be twenty foxes in the room, you think, staring at the fluffiness that surrounds you. You idly note a full breakfast buffet to the side and automatically motor towards it, watching the swaying of the many fluffy tails throughout the room.

“Although Teripo will be our primary settlement for the time being, we will still be actively scouting out the other settlement locations,” Karise is explaining as she draws glowing lines and figures in front of an enormous topographical map of the northern section of Mier province and the Marnn mountain range. “Mari’s team will be in charge of that. The other important job is- yes, Aina?”

“Is it okay if the Imperator steals our breakfast?” comes a young woman’s voice. You see countless faces turn towards you, their white fox ears pricking up as they become aware of your presence.

“Technically it’s my breakfast and I’m letting you have some of it,” you answer, continuing to heap beans onto your heavily laden plate.

>continued
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>>34029125
“Thank you, Imperator Talon, for your timely reminder of who is in charge her,e” comes Karise’s voice and she receives a caucus of laughter. On the plus side, the many inquisitive faces turn back to her and away from you. “As I was saying, we also need to scout out nearby villages for those we can trade our skills to in exchange for food. We might also look into giving them seeds for plants that can grow in this ground. Building strong relationships with the surrounding villages is important.”

“What about the our intelligence operatioms? How do they fall into this?” comes another voice.

You only vaguely pay attention to what’s happening afterwards once you take a seat, as your empty table is suddenly full of young foxes who seem oddly interested in just listening to the sound of your voice. You try not to let it get to your head too much.

[DC12 Attentiveness]
>>
Rolled 16

>>34029146
>>
Rolled 1

>>34029146
>>
Rolled 11

>>34029146
>>
Rolled 19

>>34029146
>>
>>34029174
godamnit talon your too focused on stuffing your godamn face... right thats it we are hitting the sparring rooms next to make sure we dont get fat.
>>
>>34029174

Anon y
>>
>>34029174
Of all the times to get a one. Right when I thought. "It would be really shitty to get a one here."
>>
>>34029174
I was just imagining how pleasant it would be to crit (success) on this.

oh well.

say, aren't we actually paying them?

>>34029205
don't be silly, its not the food its the sea of tails that is distracting him
>>
>>34029223
Why do I see Talon getting caught up in the foxes wanting to hear his voice. So when Karise starts asking him why he is humming a tune out loud he doesn't notice.
>>
>>34029174
You know what, I think it's time for me to tap out.
>>
>>34029215
eh, we embarass ourselves in front of 20 foxes, the leaders of the tribe that is emigrating to our domain. and get more of a reputation as a lech by starting at their tails (like staring at a woman's boobs).
its more funny than disaster. also, it wasn't even a crit fail, just a regular fail. so it means we just don't learn anything.
>>
>>34029288
That, or we just stepped on Ren's tail.
>>
>>34029223
>say, aren't we actually paying them?
I hope we do. but its probably not enough for all their needs because not every single one of them actually works for us.

Although funds could perhaps aid their resettlement efforts. maybe we could get the tribe more focused on immigration if we actually provided financial assistance during the first few years to assist in the relocation? a decent enough budget could do well for their efforts to relocate.
>>
>>34029288
Yeah I would rather succeed on this though. Just so we know a tad more on how things are going.
>>
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>Target not met

You are a man of many talents and one of those talents is that of stroking tails. You’re rather surprised at the ability of the other foxes in the room to completely ignore the fact you’re systematically pleasuring a half-dozen young female foxes by stroking their tails. Not that the girls are complaining, even using their magic to muffle the noises made by the stroke. You’re certainly not complaining either, as you manage to enjoy a hearty breakfast and get to stroke many fluffy tails.

So fluffy.

The last of the girls scarpers suddenly, flushing bright red, having lingered well past the others. Karise takes her place, leaning against the table directly in front of you.

“Do you know how hard it is to give a serious presentation to a group of foxes when a quarter of them are happily getting their tails stroked by their erstwhile ruler?” she says, sounding highly amused.

You respond…

>1. In a completely uncaring manner. “Not really. Most of my experience is in stroking the tails, not watching that happen.”
>2. Slightly bashfully. Maybe if you’re slightly apologetic she’ll let you in on what she was talking about.
>3. Obliviously. “That never happened, Karise.”
>4. Custom
>>
It's only a normal failure guys. We might be able to sound out Aspire had on mind from how he rolls it
>>
>>34029306
They'll be fine. They're biggest issue is more the mage guard screwing them so they don't really need much assistance from us to get things going.

>>34029298
Oh, That mental image.
>>
>>34029313
>>2. Slightly bashfully. Maybe if you’re slightly apologetic she’ll let you in on what she was talking about.

Breakfast orgey. Really Talon?
>>
>>34029313
>1. In a completely uncaring manner. “Not really. Most of my experience is in stroking the tails, not watching that happen.”
I'm glad we got that 1, now.
>>
>>34029313
>>1. In a completely uncaring manner. “Not really. Most of my experience is in stroking the tails, not watching that happen.”
>>
>>34029313
>1. In a completely uncaring manner. “Not really. Most of my experience is in stroking the tails, not watching that happen.”
>>
>>34029313
haha. oh talon

and gosh nabbit i can't decide.
>>
>>34029313
>2
>>
>>34029313
"Do you know how difficult it is to appropriately caress the tails of a half dozen foxes when someone is trying to give a serious presentation?"
>>
>>34029463
This.
>>
>>34029463
Oh god this is perfect. Should add something like "Tails need to be adequately loved. You can't just half way stroke them."
>>
>>34029463
I like it seconding
>>
>>34029313
>4. Custom
"it's not my fault stroking fluffy tails is so addicting..."
>>
>>34029463
This man is running an Empire. I'm undecided on if the other leaders fear us or are simply confused as how to Talon manages to be competent
>>
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>>34029527
He works hard, he plays hard.

>1.

“Not really,” you answer your spymaster. “Most of my experience is in stroking the tails, not watching that happen.”

You chomp down on the remaining broccoli on your plate, returning Karise’s unbelieving gaze with complete placidity. Nothing that unusual happened. A bunch of fluffy tails landed in your lap and you stroked them. That’s how it works, right?

“I have a very strong feeling that if I had never mentioned my engagement when we met I would now be ruined for marriage,” Karise says after several long moments of silence. “I am also going to spend half of my life here keeping my young foxes away from you.”

“Don’t keep them away from me, just have them do their jobs,” you say, pointing out the obvious solution.

“That’s what I’ll be doing,” Karise growls. “The closer they get to you, the less likely they are to see a need to work when they can succeed simply by waving their tails in front of you.”

“They’ll have to offer more than just their tails if they want to succeed,” you say.

“That’s exactly my point,” she says.

You shrugs, deciding to move back to the topic. “I honestly don’t know why you’re complaining, Karise. Do you know how difficult it is to appropriately caress the tails of a half dozen foxes when someone is trying to give a serious presentation? I had to use all of my talents to ensure they were adequately loved despite your best efforts to prevent me. I refuse to do a half-assed effort in a field so important.”

The room falls dead silent after that as your spymaster stares at you with a slightly crazed look.

[DC16 Karise’s Sanity]
>>
Rolled 5

>>34029547
Now is the time to roll low gents!
>>
Rolled 10

>>34029547
>>
Rolled 17

>>34029547
"Karise, I'm going to admit something deadly serious to you. My one true weakness in this world is fluffy tails."
>>
Rolled 3

>>34029547
Oh god the dam is broken. My ribs are on the other side of the univese right now.
>>
>>34029571
i am not sure if this is good or bad

>>34029547
>We forced a sanity roll
... are we a bad imperator?
>>
>>34029571
Man, the one time I wanted the roll to fail...
>>
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Rolled 14

>>34029571
God-Damn man. Why couldn't you let this poor anon have this one moment?
>>
>>34029599
I'm sorry anon, I wanted it to fail too.
>>
>>34029591
really? remember that roll for taira's self control when we tried to make her throw herself at us? she succeeded on the self control check
>>
>>34029588
I think we just push all her buttons and she's a faithful woman. It's a cruel thing, fate.
>>
Rolled 19

>>34029547
>>
>>34029618
That was like a DC 12 check though. So the odds of her not succeeding was absurdly low.
>>
>>34029644
but i still really wanted that roll to fail and for her to ravage us on the spot
>>
>>34029599
I for one am glad that our spymaster didn't lose sanity
>>
>>34029547
I think we had enough joking, and that it is about time for us to apologize and say we are a tease
>>
>>34029697
>Implying joking.
>>
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>target not met

As Karise stares at you, seemingly in some form of stupor, you gaze longingly at the leftover buffet. There’s still quite a few little pork sausages there, and plenty of buttered vegetables. You get the feeling that something very bad will happen if you act before Karise does, though. Or something very good. You don’t really know.

“I don’t know what to do,” Karise whispers, staring at you in complete confusion.

You decide to make her life simpler by letting her in on a secret. "Karise, I'm going to admit something deadly serious to you. My one true weakness in this world is fluffy tails."

That seems to do the trick, causing her to recover as she dryly replies, “Really, I thought it was your sex drive. I swear I find you with a different woman in your bed every morning.”

“It’s really the same women, just different mornings,” you reply, deciding the danger has passed and retrieving some more breakfast. The morning exercise Gnome gave you always left you incredibly tired.

“I noticed,” she replies. “One day I will muster the courage to ask you to stroke my tails like that.”

“Just get Sarnn to do it,” you say.

“Foxes don’t stroke other foxes tails the same way humans do,” Karise says, taking a seat. “The fact that Vad’s little discovery was news to me is proof of that.”

>continued
>>
>>34029765
>target not met
wait what? it was met here >>34029571
guy rolled a 17 vs a DC16
>>
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>>34029765
You don’t say a word on that, as you’d made good use of ‘Vad’s little discovery’ with Taira and didn’t want to start that conversation. You had a strong feeling that the foxes outright ignored your intimacy with Taira for the same reasons most foxes ignored you stroking those girls’ tails during the presentation.

“So, how exactly are you managing your split resources, Karise,” you ask between mouthfuls, keen to hear your spymaster’s plans.

They’re straightforward enough – most of the intelligence gathering efforts are being undertaken by foxes who haven’t formally moved into your territory but spend most of their time abroad anyway. This means that when they would otherwise return to fox society they can instead make their way to your territory, increasing your population by stealth. At the same time you can maintain a spy population far large than otherwise and still have spare capacity in her foxes for odd little errands such as playing minders for your adventuring knights.

>Any particular topics to bring up with Karise?
>>
>>34029765
>>target not met
>>34029571
i'm sorry, what?
>>
>>34029780
shhhh
>>
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>>34029780
>>34029801
That was just a mistype. Karise clearly kept her sanity. I added that line seconds before posting and got it wrong.

NEW THREAD
>>34029799
>>
>>34029765
>“The fact that Vad’s little discovery was news to me is proof of that.”
huh? what is vad's discovery?
>>
>>34029801
SHHHH

>>34029781
Ask her if she wants us to teach her husband how to stroke fluffy tails. We could demonstrate on Taira.



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