David looks up from his perusal of the sketches of the conduit cube patterns. "I hadn't expected you to be indisposed to such a degree, though. Will you be all right with the research?"

Elise covers a yawn. "I'll manage," she says. "What do you make of the patterns? I'm very rusty on my pre-Empire history. Most of my books are relatively modern."

"It's certainly early Empire, and probably predates it to some short extent," David says. "The symbols are a common arcane cipher, mostly used for convenience rather than encryption." He shuffles through the sketches in the folder. "Most of these are numbers, although I cannot see any reasonable progression between them. They seem random, which may be a sign of the actual cipher used for the cube."

"In other words, you need more data," Elise says blandly.

"I'm afraid so."

Elise takes a breath to steady herself, and then struggles to her feet. You start forward to help her up, but she waves you off. "Thanks, Nicole, but I'll be fine."

"I could come back next time," David offers.

"With your responsibilities and schedule, that might not be an option," Elise says. She gingerly flexes her fingers. "Come on, David, Nicole. Let's go pump some more magic into that cube."

> "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
> "I really don't think you should be casting magic in your state, Elise."
> "Why can't the Professor come back later?"
> "Yes, Elise."
> "Do you still need me here? I don't think I'll be very useful just standing around."

>>36998433
Again I forget my trip. That post is mine.

A couple of things: I'm feeling pretty worn out from the past week, so this thread will probably be short.

Also, suptg is down. I know there are other archive services, but I'm hoping suptg will come back up by the time I finish, for ease of archive binges. If I should end the thread and crash before suptg recovers, could someone please help me archive this thread there? Thanks in advance.

>>36998422
Just wanted to pop in and say I really like this quest and this is the first thread I've managed to catch. Thanks for running m8. I'll stick around till I pass out.

>>36998433
>> "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
>> "I really don't think you should be casting magic in your state, Elise."

I don't like sleepy wizards

>>36998433
>> "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

>>36998433
>> "Yes, Elise."

>>36998433
>> "I really don't think you should be casting magic in your state, Elise."

Go back to sleep.

Speaking of which I probably wont be able to last long. Its 2 am here.

>Nicole Quest
Yes, I have waited!

>>36998433
> "I really don't think you should be casting magic in your state, Elise."

> "Yes, Elise."

Have her fight through the sleep deprivation, get her second wind going. It works, I'm well versed in the art of painstakingly turning oneself into an Insomniac. It's not like it's unhealthy and extremely detrimental to your health or anything, though.

>>36998433
> "Yes, Elise."

>>36998433
>I really done think you should be casting magic in your state
She is probably going to fail any dice roll she needs to make.

>>36998530
Ahh, I thought the thread was over and not just starting. I'll do my best anyway and not fall asleep.

>>36998433
> "I really don't think you should be casting magic in your state, Elise."

>>36998433
> "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

>>36998422
>This focus may or may not resemble a small golden ring, which you did not find after your nocturnal chase with the shadow familiar, but which you did notice some time earlier in the personal effects of a murdered petty criminal

This is a red herring. There is no reason to suspect the random theif with a gold ring of anything, or even the gold ring for that matter. Didn't we find out about the theif before we started chasing shadows anyway?

>>36998660
At the least we will know a tad more when we solve the murder case. Though somehow I feel like it's too late and our guy got away.

>>36998660
Might as well make sure though. It's a theory, and it will either be confirmed or discredited.
It was the anons who pointed it out anyways.

Rolled 2, 3, 1, 3 = 9 (4d6)

>>36998433
> "I really don't think you should be casting magic in your state, Elise."
I knew geting up before noon was worth it! Even if I barely went to bed before noon!

Well guys, I'm off to bed. Don't mess things up too bad while I'm out.

>>36998922
It's cool, I'm here so every thing's going to be juuust fine. Just fine. 100% fine.

>>36998480

Just FYI, now that 4chan archives threads, you have a leeway of a few days before you can't archive on suptg anymore.

Keep the url handy just in case it comes back up in a day or two.

Quite apart from the dangers inherent in meddling with an ancient artefact, Elise does not look as though she will be paying very much attention to basic magical safety, in her sleep-deprived state.

"I really don't think you should be casting magic in that state, Elise," you say carefully.

"I said I'm fine," Elise says shortly. If she had been more awake, it might even have been a snappish remark.

David looks as dubious as you feel about this whole affair. "Nicole may have a point, Elise. What have you been doing to yourself? You're not usually so exhausted, even with your usual sleeping habits."

"It's a very long story," Elise growls. "I'm the only one who can conjure up enough magic to power that cube. This may even have been proven."

David gives you a puzzled glance. You do your best to look blank; if Elise does not wish to elaborate, it is not your place to reveal her secret fears.

"Anyway!" Elise continues. "Unless you can convince Anders to take my place, and good luck with that, you're stuck with me."

"Couldn't the Professor inspect the cube without having Elise use magic on it?" you ask. "Or work on the sketches alone?"

David sighs, and pushes his glasses up to rub the bridge of his nose. "Most of my books and reference materials are at Grunmarl," he says apologetically. "I packed a few along just in case, but looking at these sketches, they are from entirely the wrong pre-Empire culture. I could go back and collect the relevant books, but that would take most of the day. And given what's happening back at Grunmarl, I'm not sure we have the luxury of wasting so much time." He eyes Elise askance. "I take it we are not allowed to take the artefact back to Grunmarl?"

>[1/2]

>>36998922
Yes yes, our secret demon lord master's whims will be carried out.
We're not *that* incompetent, anon.

Elise opens her mouth, closes it, and settles for yawning. "That is an excellent question. I'd really rather not let that cube out the palace where I can keep an eye on it, but I have to confess I don't have a good reason why not. I would simply feel much better knowing that the cube is still here." She frowns. "And there's something else I was hoping to try, so even if you take the cube away, I'll want it back in a couple of days."

You refrain from pointing out that Elise is hardly in the best state of mind to make reasoned judgments at the moment, and the decision to cast the counterspell had yet to be formally made. Again, Elise's secrets are, for the moment, her own.

"Without your magic," David says, "I could make notes on the cube as it is, and return to Grunmarl to consult my library. But it really would be much easier to transport the cube to Grunmarl."

"I don't see how that would help," Elise says. "You don't have a proper spellcaster there."

"Cavie could try," David murmurs.

"Terrible idea," Elise responds immediately. "Definitely a terrible idea."

> "Who's Cavie, and why is it a terrible idea?"
> "What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?"
> "Anders will probably listen to reason."
> "I think Elise is right. We don't have much choice."
> "Why don't I travel to Grunmarl to pick your books up, and bring Cavie back as well?"

>>36998956
> "What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?"
> "I think Elise is right. We don't have much choice."

>>36998956
>> "Who's Cavie, and why is it a terrible idea?"
>> "What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?"
>> "Anders will probably listen to reason."

>>36998956
>> "I think Elise is right. We don't have much choice."
> "What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?"

>>36998956
> "Who's Cavie, and why is it a terrible idea?"
> "What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?"

>>36998956
>"What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?"
>"Why don't I travel to Grunmarl to pick your books up, and bring Cavie back as well?"

>>36998956
> "What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?"
> "Anders will probably listen to reason."

Elise needs her rest godsdamnit.

We still haven't told the librarian about William's favorite animal, right?

>>36999008
Nope. No time.

Damp, you were talking about possible timeskips. I think you should go ahead with them. We don't need to see every day in the life of Nicole, and it allows for a lot of the behind the scenes stuff like weapons training to occur.

>>36999022
Speak for yourself. I like the slow pacing.

>>36999029
Same. This quest is super cozy.

>>36998956
> "Who's Cavie, and why is it a terrible idea?"
> "What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?"

>>36999029
Same here, I like how relaxed this quest is.

>>36999029
I never claimed to speak for you, anon. And we can still have our slow pacing. Damp was musing about the slow pacing causing him to freak and possibly reveal too much plot too soon. Narrative wise it allows for more pacing, while still allowing for similar thread structure. Just think, would you miss glossing over combat training?

>>36999022
I like the pace, a cozy quest is nice.
We probably need more social links before we get to the real stuff anyway

>>36999061
..Yes? That much should be obvious.

Comfy pace for the win.

>>36998956
> "Who's Cavie, and why is it a terrible idea?"
>"Why don't I travel to Grunmarl to pick your books up, and bring Cavie back as well?"

>>36998956
>"Why don't I travel to Grunmarl to pick your books up, and bring Cavie back as well?"
I feel Like we should avoid trusting Elise with the cube. I mean she's been poking it all this time, but she straight out admitted to us she is likely compromised.

>>36999071
We do. That's the main reason I'd like to avoid timeskips.

>>36999080
Okay, new scenario. We have two weeks until we have to go somewhere. Do you want to play through every single day and have PLOT jump up because Damp feels like there needs to be some action, or just get straight to the plot that is intended?

If you are worried about social links, I wouldn't be. There will be plenty of opportunities.

>>36998922
Don't worry, we will remember to plug in to recharge when the full moon comes.

>>36999125
I'd love to play through every single day. But in the end it's up to Damp

>>36999029
Aye, I don't mind this. Definitely gives it that slice-of-life feel.

That said, if the story and the setting benefit from a timeskip by all means. There aren't many things are awful as fillers for the sake of extended runtime.

>>36999136
This is why I ask.

"I do wonder if I should try a timeskip. I'm not sure if this will result in players complaining that we'll miss out on exposition, but quite honestly I'd rather not blow through all the Plot Events before even the trip to Whiteford, simply due to not having anything else to fill the time in between."
http://ask.fm/qmdamp/answer/123243437774

>>36999143
>timeskip, by all means.*
> There aren't many things as awful*

Ughhh.

>>36999150
Well I won't complain either way. Two weeks is a bit much, especially if damp doesn't want us going through all the plot hooks. On the other hand I'm really happy with the way things have been going. Middle ground is no doubt best.

>>36999125
I'd rather play out every day. Imo, this quest could use an injection of light-hearted romp.

>>36999171
>romp
>to play or frolic in a lively or boisterous manner.

Lewd, Anon.

Hey, just wanted to point out that everyone has been assuming that the runes in the tower activated on us because of how human we are, but it could be sabotage from Mr. Shadow.
Also the shadow could have been a summon from Elise, and she was particular worn out that night. And she outright said not to trust her.

IMO court mage is the one who summoned the shadow. Reason unknown. Linked to her being controlled maybe?

>>36999171
>romp
W-Who should we romp with anon?

>>36999249
I'm pretty sure the runes were just for us. Mr. Shadow would have no reason to do it, as at that point we weren't fucking with anthing.

>>36999264
Marianne was a fun character. It'd be nice to hang out with her again.

>>36999061
I want more william. I want more meowing. More combat training please.

>>36999300
I agree. We need to Buddy Cop it up!

"What's happening at Grunmarl that's so urgent?" you ask. Surely an ancient ruin will remain an ancient ruin tomorrow, or next week, or next century.

David purses his lips for a moment, before evidently deciding that your status as a knight-apprentice accords you the right to be kept up to speed with current developments. "We uncovered a new chamber in the ruins," he says. "We may have triggered some sort of security system."

This is enough to perk even Elise up. "That's... all right, given that it happened, it's not impossible," she says. "But it's still very unlikely."

"Exactly," David says. "This is unprecedented. The site is effectively locked down while we figure out what to do next. Fortunately nobody has been hurt yet, but you can understand my reluctance to leave things as they are back in Grunmarl."

You should be very careful in how you inquire about this. "What is the nature of this security system?"

"That," David says wryly, "is part of the issue. We have no idea. I was in the middle of trying to work out some of the symbols and signs, when William arrived to collect me. And triggered more systems, but that was through no fault of his own," he adds.

You quash your curiosity on William's activities at the site as being irrelevant to the matter at hand.

"A millenia-old security system must run on a millenia-old power source," David continues. "Such things have been discovered before, but we had not had an indication up until now that the ruins at Grunmarl were anything but completely abandoned and inanimate. No doubt there will be a rush of people to the site, once the news gets out, but at the moment I am more concerned with the fact that we have no idea what condition this ancient power source might be in." He shrugs. "It appears stable for now, based on the workings of the security system, but again, we haven't had much chance to study it in detail."

>[1/2]

>>36999249
>>36999267
Wasn't it explained that the runes were there to discourage people from wandering into the mage tower, a kind of suggestion spell?

I think Elise is linked to the nightmare spell but I doubt the runes themselves were sabotaged.

A security system means that something valuable must have been kept within. You really, really want to go to Grunmarl to investigate this, now. The thought of an unstable magical energy source deep within the ruins that had not been maintained for a thousand years is a little worrying, though.

There is also the matter of the travel time to Grunmarl. You will likely not be able to do anything else for the rest of the day, which means the visit to the Southgate Watch House would have to be postponed. You console yourself with the fact that even if you were to obtain that gold ring from the evidence room, Elise is still in no condition to inspect it.

"Who's Cavie?" you ask. The name had been mentioned earlier, at Clarissa's office; Clarissa had implied that she did not quite trust this person. Elise's reaction had been rather more pronounced. "And why is it a terrible idea for her to try using magic on the cube?"

"Cavie is my aide," David explains.

"She's more than that," Elise mutters.

"Be that as it may," David says calmly, "if we are to activate the artefact cube, we need some significant magical power. And to be quite honest, Elise, you don't look like you can cast anything more potent than a shower of lights without having it fizzle."

Elise glares at him. The effect is somewhat spoiled by her inability to focus properly for more than a few seconds at a time.

> "Elise can probably do it."
> "I'll try to convince Anders."
> "I'll bring Cavie back here."
> "I think the cube should go to Grunmarl."

>>36999305
I want more shadow. [Spoiler]She[/spoiler] was kinda cute.

>>36999344
> "I think the cube should go to Grunmarl."
'Time to head to Grunmarl!

>>36999344
> "Elise can probably do it after a cup of coffee."

>>36999344
>> "Elise can probably do it."

>>36999357
Brown is best, after all.

>>36999344
> "I'll bring Cavie back here."

Yes, a perfect chance to visit the ruins AND let Elise rest. We could also ask Clarissa or William to go secure the ring in our stead, just in case.

>>36999150
>but quite honestly I'd rather not blow through all the Plot Events before even the trip to Whiteford
He can always just fill it in with SoL, we love that

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>36999344
> "Elise can probably do it."
Can is the operative word, not should.
> "I'll bring Cavie back here."

>>36999344
>I'll try to convince Anders."
But not because we don't trust Elise, because if she doesn't rest now she'll only get even MORE tired and something is bound to happen that she'll be needed for. So she needs to catch some sleep while she has a chance.

>>36999344

if we do go over there, something should be done about the ring first

maybe go get the ring and THEN go to grunmarl

definitely dont let things hanging here

>>36999381
Probably because of he 100% Human status effect.

>>36999344
>> "I'll try to convince Anders."

>>36999344
>>other
How about [insert lord's son's name here, god damn i forgot]

>>36999396
Bad choice for a number of reasons.

>>36999344

> "I'll try to convince Anders."

Oops. Copied the wrong thing.

>>36999396
Ahahahaahah, no.

>>36999344
>> "I'll try to convince Anders."

>>36999396
Victor...I think.

>>36999344
If we can do something about the ring first then:
>"I'll bring Cavie back here."

Otherwise:
>"Elise can probably do it."

>>36999344
>"I'll try to convince Anders."

What if we were the ones to go to Grunmarl, pick up the notes, investigate a bit, accidentally activate stuff due to our nature, then head back to the castle? David's aide should know which documents to bring, right?

A round trip to Grunmarl alone would take far too much time, much less convincing this Cavie to come back with you. It sounds like Grunmarl is seeing rather more excitement at the moment than Alvar, which is no easy feat. If Cavie has been left in charge in David's absence, she might not want to abandon her duties so easily.

Also, you realize that going to Grunmarl would require you to ride a horse. You've never ridden a horse before, but at least they do not seem to react adversely to your presence, unlike the smaller domestic pets you've encountered. Your journey to Alvar was relatively uneventful, hitching rides on carts pulled by horses or oxen, depending on how rural the area happened to be.

Still, you should probably learn how to ride a horse some day. You have the strong impression that knights are very much associated with equestrian matters.

Elise should not be allowed to push herself any further. The Duke had already ordered her to take the day off, which Elise seems to have taken more as a suggestion than a rule, so that option is not as effective as it would have been with Clarissa.

Which leaves Anders.

"I'll try to convince Anders," you tell Elise. "You should go back to sleep. It'll be a problem if you're still exhausted when something happens. If something happens," you correct yourself conscientiously.

"I agree with Nicole," David says. "Having you make a mistake when dealing with ancient artefacts is usually something to be avoided when possible."

Elise flops back down onto the floor. "Fine," she grumbles. "Talk to me, David."

David blinks. "Beg pardon?"

>[1/3]

"I said talk to me. Ask me questions. I need to stay awake long enough for Anders to get here, so I can tell him what to do. I'd make some coffee for myself, but the machine exploded a couple of days ago. Too much sugar, I think."

You glance around, but if there had been a spectacular breakdown of any known contraption involved in the creation of coffee, it is not apparent through the background visual noise of the usual clutter.

David sighs. "Nicole, will you please send Anders up here when you can? If Elise hasn't dozed off by then, we should be able to take over from there. Thank you for your help."

Meaning you are now obligated to get Anders to agree to cast magic at the cube before Elise is willing to go back to sleep. An odd set of arrangements.

You excuse yourself for the sake of formality, as Elise embarks on a barrage of technical terms of wizardry in a tone that marks it as a frustrated rant. David takes this with unruffled calm, interjecting a few opinions of his own calculated to keep the flow of complaints going.

No further incidents present themselves on your way to Anders's office. You knock politely, and an unfamiliar voice bids you enter.

Three unfamiliar men are busily working through the substantial pile of paperwork; more of Anders's clerks. They look up at you in polite inquiry.

"Anders?" you ask meekly.

All three of them point in the direction of the Duke's chambers.

"Thank you," you say, slipping back out of the office and shutting the door behind you. Anders is in session with the Duke. From what you recall from comments made yesterday, Victor is also likely to be present, learning the basics of governance through observing his father.

>[2/3]

Relocating to the door to the Duke's office, you raise your hand to knock, just as the door is flung open with some force, and Anders stops short before colliding into you.

Behind him, you can see the Duke at his desk, his face set grimly. Victor is seated at his own desk in a corner, looking exquisitely pained by some intense social awkwardness.

Anders, for his part, looks impressively blank. He simply nods at you. "Nicole."

> "Elise and David need your help, Anders. They're waiting in Elise's workshop."
> "Is this a bad time?"

AFK an hour or so for dinner.

>>36999798
>> "Elise and David need your help, Anders. They're waiting in Elise's workshop."
>> "Is this a bad time?"

>>36999798
>"Elise and David need your help, Anders. They're waiting in Elise's workshop."

Forget Anders using magic on the cube, I have a better idea: Let's hook up the millenia old cube to the millenia old power source; nothing could possibly go wrong right? And then we send Anders to do something else like deliver the ring to Elise while we're away.

>>36999845
>nothing could possibly go wrong, right?
yeah, maybe we should have Victor do the hooking up, for extra "what could possibly go wrong?".

>>36999871
And use Nicole as the connecting cable.

>>36999798
>"David needs a competent spellcaster to assist in investigating the cube and Elise is already dangerously exhausted. Do you think you could take some time from your duties to help?"

where did all the votes go?

>>37000081
I usually don't vote if I don't care about the given options and also can't think of anything myself.

>>37000099
well your one out of 15-20 anons, last update there were shitloads of votes, now theres me and another anon voting

where the fuck are the others?

>>36999798
>> "Is this a bad time?"

>>37000118
I see two distinct possibilities.

Like me, many others may also not care about which of the current options wins.

Or maybe there was a lot of samefagging in the previous vote. Since there were several deleted posts there as well, it's quite likely.

>>37000139
Forgot to vote this time, also I don't vote unless it's a choice where I can make a decent informed vote.

>>37000158
Yeah, the current vote is pretty inconsequential unless someone comes up with a brilliant OTHER option.

>>36999798
>>36999887
This

You have obviously stumbled upon the endpoint of some discussion or other that may have become heated, leading to Anders storming out of the Duke's office. This implies quite a lot of trouble that may be to come, since you didn't think Anders had the temperament to do something like that, unlike the more mercurial Clarissa.

Even so, whatever this disagreement may be is not your concern, at least until it impinges upon your knight-apprentice duties. You are resigned to waiting for whatever trouble has brewed to trickle down towards your lowly position, but you should not concern yourself with the lofty decisions being made at this level.

You step aside, letting Anders pass. Anders shuts the door behind him with less temper than he opened it. His expression remains blankly unreadable, and you cannot tell if he has calmed down, or if he is suppressing his anger.

You speak up before Anders can return to his office, just next door. "Elise and the Professor need your help. They need a spellcaster to assist in investigating the cube, and, uh, Elise is not really in the best condition right now to do it."

Anders does not turn to face you yet, but at least he stops. "My sympathies to Elise," he says. "But I am otherwise engaged with my duties. Find another."

Maybe you should be more firm. "Anders, Elise is completely exhausted." No need to go into why. "It's far too dangerous for her to try casting any magic, much less manipulating an unknown artefact. There is nobody else who can do it."

Anders slowly turns to face you. You brace yourself for another bout of his piercing gaze, but today he seems very distracted. "Is it so important?" he asks mildly.

>[1/2]

"Yes, it is." You give him your best attempt at a severe frown. "This could be the key to helping the Captain, but we can't let Elise destroy herself just for that either. You are in the best position to assist." Perhaps just a little push. "Why are you so reluctant to help?"

Anders just shakes his head. "Duties. Obligations. You would not understand, Nicole."

You're pretty sure you would, but this is not the time to get into a shouting row with Anders. "Is it more important than helping Elise? Helping the Captain?"

Anders is silent for a moment. "Very well," he finally says. "What should I be doing?"

That was odd. You hadn't expected Anders to give in so easily, based on what Elise had implied. You should probably take advantage of this moment of acquiescence. "Elise and the Professor are waiting in Elise's workshop. In the wizard's tower. Elise said she'll tell you the details when you get there."

Anders turns on his heel and departs, without another word.

And that is that. You take the opportunity to lean against the wall for a bit, until your heart rate slows down. You really, really do not like direct confrontations, even ones that go as smoothly as this one.

It is just about time for lunch. Apparently you are free to do what you wish for the rest of the day.

> Follow Anders to the tower to make sure everything is settled
> Have lunch in the palace
> Go out into the city for lunch, then go to the Watch House
> Skip lunch, go to the Watch House directly

>>37000339
>Skip lunch, go to the Watch House directly
Humans only sometimes need to eat food right?

>>37000339
>> Skip lunch, go to the Watch House directly

>>37000339
>> Follow Anders to the tower to make sure everything is settled
GUIT GUIT GUIT

>>37000339
>> Go out into the city for lunch, then go to the Watch House

>>37000339
> Follow Anders to the tower to make sure everything is settled

I'm so very curious.

>>37000339
>> Follow Anders to the tower to make sure everything is settled

>Follow Anders to the tower to make sure everything is settled

Knight Apprentice GO!

Anders's sudden concession to your demand for his help feels vaguely suspicious, although you can't pin down exactly why. You don't think it is especially sinister, but you get the impression he is doing this for reasons that may not have much to do with helping Elise.

Best to make sure everything is fine, and no further interruptions prevent the cube investigation from being carried out. You scurry after Anders, keeping a respectful distance behind him as he strides purposefully towards the tower. If Anders notices you following him, he gives no sign.

From this angle, you cannot see Anders's face, but a pair of patrolling guards do. They fling themselves to the sides of the corridor, standing stiffly at attention, avoiding all eye contact. You keep your head down apologetically as you hurry past them.

Back at the wizard's tower workshop, Elise is still awake, if barely.

"... which is simply outrageous," she says, slowly and haltingly, quite obviously running down on her energy.

"What is outrageous, Elise?" David says kindly. His eyes flicker to you at your entrance, and his grimace is expression enough of his clear worry.

"You know, that thing. Things. The really, uh." Elise blinks several times. "The not good thing. Which is not good."

Anders walks up to Elise, easily stepping through the debris on the floor.

Elise finally registers Anders's presence, and turns to him. "Anders! Listen, we have a big problem, and-"

Anders reaches out and clamps his hand on Elise's forehead.

Elise promptly goes limp. When Anders releases his grip, she collapses in a boneless heap atop her books.

>[1/2]

"Was that really necessary?" David says quietly.

"In a manner of speaking." Anders surveys the workshop, before settling his gaze on the long desk against the wall. "Bring one of those orbs," he instructs David. "Any one will do."

David picks up one of the nightmare-absorbers, and starts making his way back to the workshop entrance, giving Elise a wide berth as he does so. "You sound as though you already know what to do," he notes, an unspoken question hanging at the end of his statement.

"Do I?" Anders says. He does not sound especially angry or mocking. In fact, there is an eerie absence of any kind of strong emotion in his tone; he may as well have been making polite conversation.

Whatever David thinks of this, he evidently considers the details none of his business, pasting a non-committally tranquil smile onto his face.

Just before he sweeps past you, Anders stops, and gives you a professionally bland look. "Don't you have someplace else to be?" he asks.

Behind him, Elise begins to snore.

> "Uh, yes sir. I'll be on my way sir."
> Sidle past him to check on Elise
> "So why do you sound like you already know what to do?"

>>37000686
> "Uh, yes sir. I'll be on my way in a moment sir."
> Slide past him to check on Elise

>>37000686
>> Sidle past him to check on Elise
>> "So why do you sound like you already know what to do?"

>>37000686
> Sidle past him to check on Elise
> "Uh, yes sir. I'll be on my way in a moment sir."

>>37000686
>> "Uh, yes sir. I'll be on my way in a moment sir."
>> Slide past him to check on Elise

>>37000686
>"Several, sir. This investigation may have relevance to the one I am assisting the Watch with, however, so I would like to observe."

>>37000686
> "Uh, yes sir. I'll be on my way sir."
> Sidle past him to check on Elise

Man, Anders is pissed.

>>37000674
>boneless heap
Did he just suck her bones out?

Taking mine
>>37000755
and switching to
>>37000751

That's a very good point, I think, and shit's suspicious as hell.

>>37000686
> "Yes, and I can't do my duties at one of those someplaces if you put Elise in a coma."
> Sidle past him to check on Elise

>>37000751
seconded

File: ready-for-duty-captain.jpg (166 KB, 439x797)

166 KB JPG

Tablet or Photoshop acting up. Weird shit.

>>37000686
This anders guy is up to no good. I say we stab him with a dagger

It is remarkable how easily you can tell that Anders is seething with barely-controlled anger, simply from his complete lack of outward emotion. Whatever had set him off likely had something to do with the conference with the Duke; you won't be able to satisfy your curiosity by asking the Duke directly, but Victor had also been present at that confrontation, and Victor is not good at keeping secrets of any kind.

You snap to the closest approximation of attention as you can achieve, resisting the urge to salute. "Uh, yes sir. I'll be on my way in a moment, sir."

This elicits a reaction. Anders raises an eyebrow, likely due to your change in how you address him. You didn't consciously intend it either; it just slipped out, on the basis that a respectful form of address is likely not to attract any more attention upon your lowly subordinate head.

You sidle past him, avoiding eye contact in much the same way and for much the same reason as the guards just now. Elise seems fine, inasmuch as you are already aware of her odd sleeping habits and tendency to ignore poor posture. Even now, she snorts in her sleep, and shifts to a marginally less awkward position.

You do try to cover her with a blanket and tuck her in properly, again. This may well turn into another one of your unofficial duties as a knight-apprentice, right after making sure your commanding officer gets a good night's sleep free of nightmares, and refraining from punching your sword instructor for calling you a kitten again.

"She will remain asleep for the rest of the day, until tomorrow morning," Anders announces. "Try not to wake her up before then."

>[1/2]

You straighten up. "Would you mind if I observed? I'm helping the City Watch with another investigation, and I think the cube may have something to do with it."

This comes as news to David, who looks vaguely interested, but Anders just gives you a curt nod.

Anders keeps a brisk pace as the three of you troop back down to the ground floor, and out to the training courtyard. David drifts over to your side.

"I've heard about the spells being cast through the artefact," he says. "Only in summary, though. I wasn't aware that it had turned into an official City Watch case. I wouldn't have thought Clarissa would be willing to let so many people know about it."

> "This is a different investigation. It is kind of a long story."
> "I'm actually not sure exactly how the cube is linked to the other investigation, but I know there's a link somewhere."
> "I just want to see Anders in action. I've never seen him cast magic before."

>>37000968
> "This is a different investigation. It is kind of a long story."

>>37000968
> "I'm actually not sure exactly how the cube is linked to the other investigation, but I SUSPECT there's a link somewhere."

>>37000968
> "I'm actually not sure exactly how the cube is linked to the other investigation, but I know there's a link somewhere."

And internally:
> "I just want to see Anders in action. I've never seen him cast magic before."

Staying near magic going off might also be !!FUN!!

>>37000968
> "This is a different investigation, but I suspect they may be pointing in the same direction."

>>37000968
"A golden ring has been found on three different unsolved murder victims, each of them killed with magic. A couple nights ago, a shade of some sort was seen looming over the cube, reaching for it. It was likely cast over a long distance and used to observe the cube, and possibly tamper with it. A golden ring is an especially potent conduit for the casting of long range elven magic. From what the Duke said, the Elves are acting shifty about it. It's possible these events are unconnected, but I have no other lead on the murders."

>>37000968
>> "I'm actually not sure exactly how the cube is linked to the other investigation, but I know there's a link somewhere."

>>37000968
>> "This is a different investigation. It is kind of a long story."
>> "I'm actually not sure exactly how the cube is linked to the other investigation, but I know there's a link somewhere."

>>37001022
Voting against. We've shared our suspicion with Elise, Clarissa, and the Duke. If anyone else needs to know, they will be informed by someone else.

"This is a different investigation," you clarify. "I don't actually know how the cube is linked to it, but based on recent events, I strongly suspect some sort of connection."

David looks impressed. "That artefact appears to be at the center of quite a few mysteries."

Which is why David was asked to come back to Alvar in the first place. "We're hoping to unravel the mysteries with your help," you say.

David touches his chest lightly in a mock salute. "I will try my best."

The skies are as overcast as they were this morning, if not more so. An oppressive, gloomy pressure lies over the courtyard, empty now that the guards have gone on duty or to lunch. Even Roderick is absent, with a wooden sign hung on the doorway to his armoury proclaiming him to be Out.

Anders treads through the wards surrounding the conduit cube without bothering to keep them intact, which is unexpected, given Elise's careful preservation of the ward patterns. You keep your distance anyway, just to be safe. David remains at the edge of the wards, a notebook and pencil in his hands, prepared to begin at any moment.

Anders paces around the cube, hands clasped behind his back, contemplating it in deep thought. After three orbits, he appears to have come to some sort of decision.

"Nicole," he calls out.

You tense instinctively, then force yourself to relax. "Yes?"

"When Elise wakes up, tell her that she is not to attempt to use the cube in any way."

> "Why?"
> "I'll tell her. I'm not sure she'll listen, but I'll tell her."
> "Yes, Anders."

>>37001153
>> "Why?"
>> "I'll tell her. I'm not sure she'll listen, but I'll tell her."
>> "Yes, Anders."

>>37001153
> "Yes, Anders."

>>37001153
>> "Why?"
>> "I'll tell her. I'm not sure she'll listen, but I'll tell her."

>>37001153
>"Why? What's wrong?"
Sorry, but even if he's pissed he's not getting off that easy.

>>37001153
>> "Why?"
>> "I'll tell her. I'm not sure she'll listen, but I'll tell her."

>>37001206
>implying he owes us anything

"I'll tell her," you say dubiously. "I'm not sure she'll listen, but I'll tell her."

Anders plants his feet wide, bracing himself, and shakes his hands free of his sleeves. He carefully places the nightmare-absorber orb on top of the cube.

"Why?" you ask.

"Because I'm about to overload this cube," Anders says evenly. "The next time anyone tries to use it, it will release all its energy in one burst. I recommend you do not stand anywhere near it when that happens."

Wait, what?

"Wait, what?" David says, nearly dropping his notebook. "Why would you do that?"

"I assume Elise wanted to use these orbs to contain the meagre amount of magical energy she would feed into the cube," Anders says. "But that is inefficient and imprecise. I have a much better idea of how to deal with this. And since Nicole was the one who asked me to take over the task of feeding magic into the cube, I do not think any of you have any standing to criticize my methods."

"But that's a pre-Empire artefact!" David protests. He sounds much less calm than he usually does, although he is obviously trying to keep in control of himself. "It must be at least a thousand years old, and full of things we have yet to discover!"

"It is a conduit for a spell used to attack one of our own," Anders counters. "Neutralizing it should be our top priority. Quite frankly, I am not in the mood to debate this issue. If you wish for me to deal with the matter, you will have to accept my decisions. If it matters," he adds, "the cube would have been overloaded quite soon anyway, with how much Elise has been meddling with it. I am quite certain she already knows that, but has failed to inform you for reasons of her own."

>[1/3]

Something you will have to question Elise about when she wakes. "What happens if the hostile spellcaster, the original one, tries to use the cube again?" you ask. Stalling for time, so you can decide whether or not to let Anders go through with his rather drastic plan.

"A very impressive light show," Anders says. "I will create a release clause in the spell to let all the energy dissipate relatively harmlessly into the atmosphere. The cube will be burned out and useless for a conduit, but David is free to collect the husk for his own studies." Anders gives David a nod. "Whatever secrets might have been locked inside will be gone forever. A terrible sacrifice, but one that must be made."

Anders does sound sincerely regretful about the loss of whatever information is locked inside the cube. As an elf, he would be more inclined to preserving information, rather than destroying it. But his resolve seems firm.

David looks very unhappy, but he shakes his head in resignation. "I defer to your decision, Nicole," he says. "To me, that artefact represents something more abstract, a collection of treatises and papers about the life and cultures of pre-Empire civilizations. Valuable knowledge, and a precious legacy of our collective history, but... I do not have first-hand experience with how it has interfered with your lives, here at the palace. I may be too detached from the situation to make a proper judgment."

You wonder why everyone likes to make you the final arbiter of all these weighty decisions.

>[2/3]

"If it makes you feel any better," Anders says dryly, "I highly doubt any of the pre-Empire information within the cube was intact before we even rediscovered its existence in our vaults. If it has been used as a conduit for a contemporary spell, whatever secrets are encoded inside will likely have already been corrupted beyond repair." He turns to you. "And if Elise would like, I can pass along further instructions on how to alter the release clause of the spell into something more directed. Just to satisfy her blood thirst for revenge."

> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."
> "Do it, Anders. But don't give Elise any instructions on altering the spell."
> "I'm sorry, Anders. But I don't think it's worth the risk."
> "I'm sorry, Anders. But I think the information in the cube is more important."
> "How do you know so much about how the cube works, anyway?"

>>37001600
> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."

Can finally be done with this annoying cube stuff and just go back to having orby to worry about~

>>37001600
>> "Do it, Anders. But don't give Elise any instructions on altering the spell."
just in case Elise is the original spellcaster, we don't want her head exploding, its best the energy in it be dissipated harmlessly and no more fuss come of it

>>37001600
>> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."

I like Anders

>>37001600
> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."
> "How do you know so much about how the cube works, anyway?"

>>37001600
>> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."

>>37001600
> "How do you know so much about how the cube works, anyway?"
> "Do it, Anders. But don't give Elise any instructions on altering the spell."
Now I'm paranoid that giving Elise instructions and her potentially being the original spellcaster would kill her, that ain't happening.

> "How do you know so much about how the cube works, anyway?"
> "Do it, Anders. But Give me the instructions, I'll pass them on to her if she wants them, but they are too dangerous otherwise."


>>37001619
>>37001640
>>37001641
>>37001643
Guys, if he gives her the instructions and she was the one using it and mindfucked herself, then she'd kill herself with the instructions.

>>37001666
woops, forgot to link to >>37001600

>>37001666
No, she'd have to trip the trap as well.

>>37001686
No anon, the original spellcaster merely interacting with the cube will set it off.

>>37001587
>"What happens if the hostile spellcaster, the original one, tries to use the cube again?"
>"A very impressive light show,"
>I can pass along further instructions on how to alter the release clause of the spell into something more directed

If he gives her the instructions and she modify's the spell for make the casters head pop like she wants to, and she is the original caster, then merely interacting with the cube will kill her.

Read anon.

>>37001705
>No anon, the original spellcaster merely interacting with the cube will set it off.
Yes. At himself.

>>37001686
Nope, she'd trigger the release clause, which if she changed the spell with what Anders gives her, it would be directed at her if her fears are correct.

>>37001722
...

Have you read fucking nothing?

SHE IS PARANOID THAT SHE IS THE ORIGINAL SPELLCASTER

Seriously, go read the last thread right fucking now instead of making stupid decisions when you don't even know whats going on.

>>37001728
Yes. If she continues using the cube even after knowing that it's trapped.

>>37001741
Do you even remember what she said about trying to target the original caster before she went to sleep?

She revealed that she herself might be the one casting the spells through mindmagic, she even said that if thats the case and her spell makes the original caster's head explode and it kills her then so be it if it makes Clarissa safe.

How the fuck are you not understanding this?

With Anders spell on the cube, if she modifies the spell with his instructions to be directed and violent, and it turns out her suspicions are right and she is the caster, then she will kill herself because you voted to give her the instructions like a retard.

>>37001600
> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."

>>37001600
I'll second >>37001666
>> "How do you know so much about how the cube works, anyway?"
>> "Do it, Anders. But Give me the instructions, I'll pass them on to her if she wants them, but they are too dangerous otherwise."

Why not change the spell so that instead of killing the user, it just makes them visibly glow neon green or something akin to that? Something that marks instead of murders? That way, we can eliminate the Elise theory pretty quickly and there's a pretty nice guarantee that if it's someone from Ridelham, that we'll pick up rumors about how so and so started glowing like a demented lightbulb a few days ago when we end up going there.

Either way, we'd figure out who it is, since the only people that could cast the spell are noteworthy enough on their own.

>>37001734
>>37001765

Actually, if you read what Anders said, there's nothing saying it would target the original, just whoever uses the cube as a spell conduit.

>>37001600
> "How do you know so much about how the cube works, anyway?"
> "Is there a way of having the release clause of the spell mark the original spellcaster? Not anything violent, but just a means of detecting or locating them?"

>>37001780
>there's nothing saying it would target the original
...

YES THERE IS

That the whole fucking point of
>instructions on how to alter the release clause of the spell into something more directed
In direct reference to
>"What happens if the hostile spellcaster, the original one, tries to use the cube again?" you ask. Stalling for time, so you can decide whether or not to let Anders go through with his rather drastic plan.

>"A very impressive light show," Anders says. "I will create a release clause in the spell to let all the energy dissipate relatively harmlessly into the atmosphere.

His instructions changing the release clause ARE TO TARGET THE ORIGINAL CASTER IN REFERENCE TO US ASKING ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CASTER INTERACTING WITH THE CUBE

Seriously how the fuck do you not understand this?

>>37001600
>>37001781
This

>>37001780
>if you read what Anders said
I would advise you read the entire update, all of its posts, again anon.

>>37001780
>there's nothing saying it would target the original, just whoever uses the cube as a spell conduit.
theres nothing saying it targets the original, just whoever is the original

Uhh, you do realise that the only person using the cube as a spell conduit is the original spellcaster right?

>>37001798
Because that's not how logic works. If Elise is the original caster and she knows there's a trap, the trap never gets triggered because she knows about it.

There isn't anything saying the spell would home in on whoever used the conduit first, just whoever uses it in the future. The original caster as referred by Nicole is just there because the assumption is that the original caster is the one who'd get caught in the trap. But anyone could be caught in it.

Damp, now would be a great time for you to chime in and clarify this mess for anons.

>>37001830
>the trap never gets triggered because she knows about it.
What.

How the fuck did you interpret that from the update?

Anon, it says it right in the update
>if the hostile spellcaster, the original one, tries to use the cube again?

There is no avoiding the trap, they use the cube, it activates. How is this so hard to grasp?

>>37001830
>There isn't anything saying the spell would home in on whoever used the conduit first
Yes there is, that entire post is as a response to the quest of "what happens if the original caster uses the cube?"

>assumption
You didn't make an ass out of yourself, you made a retard out of yourself.

>>37001846
>There is no avoiding the trap, they use the cube, it activates. How is this so hard to grasp?
If Elise is the original caster, the trap never gets triggered because she knows about the trap.

She isn't going to go fuck around with the trap after being informed that it is a trap.

So, in the case that Elise is the original and only caster through the cube, the cube will simply sit there and never be triggered.

>>37001860
What.

Seriously what the fuck are you smoking?

If she alters the spell to be more directed and harm the caster, and she interacts with it, and she is the caster, then it will harm her.

>>37001860
>She isn't going to go fuck around with the trap after being informed that it is a trap.
This is Elise anon, of course she will, have you not been reading this quest?

Your entire argument is based on flimsy logic and jumping to conclusions instead of actually reading and understanding what Nicole asked and what Anders answered with.

>>37001860
>>37001874
Get a room, you two.

>>37001860
>She isn't going to go fuck around with the trap after being informed that it is a trap.
I thought her suspicions was that someone was using mind magic on her to make her cast the spell via the cube which is such a ridiculous sounding plan when you put it in a single sentence.

>>37001874
And why would she set it off? Why would she step into her own trap?

The trap can't harm her unless she steps into it. It's as simple as that.

>>37001860
>If Elise is the original caster, the trap never gets triggered because she knows about the trap.
...

the trap is using the cube in any fashion, if the original caster interacts with it, the trap triggers, and Elise herself has already said she was going to implement her own trap and trigger it to kill the original caster, whether it is herself or not

you are directly arguing against what the character herself has explicitly stated...

>>37001889
>And why would she set it off? Why would she step into her own trap?
GO READ THE LAST THREAD WHERE SHE SAYS SHE WILL DO EXACTLY THAT

FUCKING HELL HOW CAN YOU BE THIS STUPID?!

>>37001887
And if that is true, or if she used mind magic on herself, either way it would kill her.

>>37001837

I'm writing the next part, but given the discussion, would it be all right if I went with >>37001666 for the question of the redirect instructions? It seems to be a good compromise for now (and a good write-in I wish I'd thought of).

>>37001892
>>37001905
Except that situation was different. In that case she would directly attack whoever was the original caster, which may have hit her.

>>37001907
Sure, though maybe add in
> "Is there a way of having the release clause of the spell mark the original spellcaster? Not anything violent, but just a means of detecting or locating them?"
too, I think everyone would be happy with that

>>37001907

yes pls damp.

>>37001912
>Except that situation was different
How?

>>37001912
>In that case she would directly attack whoever was the original caster, which may have hit her.
That is exactly what Anders just suggested about the release clause of his spell...

You didn't even read what he said did you?

>>37001907
It would be best if you clarified matters before writing the next update as it would probably drastically change consensus.

>>37001905
>And if that is true, or if she used mind magic on herself, either way it would kill her.
What?

Are we now suggesting that Elise is using mind magic on Elise to make Elise cast a nightmare spell on Clarissa via the cube while simultaneously trying to figure out who is the original spell caster in order to save Clarissa?

>>37001907
>>37001917
this, if it merely locates the caster then we can deal with it however we want, but if Elise makes it make their head explode then thats bad

>>37001941
we're not suggesting that anon, Elise herself did

>>37001928
>How?
In the current case she sets a trap that anyone who acts as the caster through the cube again in the future will be hit by.

In the previous case she just sends out a blast that hits whoever was the original caster in the past, regardless of what they're doing right now.

One is a trap, the other is an attack.

>>37001941
Thank you for admitting you didn't read the last thread at all you stupid moron.

Elise already insinuated as much, and Nicole drew the same conclusions in the last thread when discussing this very issue.

>>37001600
> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."
Then either go to the library or the guardhouse.

>>37001912
>In that case she would directly attack whoever was the original caster
The situation is exactly the same, Anders spell will do exactly that if Elise modifies it with his instructions.

>>37001950
That guy isn't me.

Also, stop with the personal attacks, there's very little reason to read your posts after you scream about retards and morons in the first sentence.

>>37001967
Forgive me for being angry with this anon, but I tried being civil and explaining this to him more than 3 times before frothing at the mouth, and he still doesn't understand it at all and clearly neither do you.

>>37001966
No, it won't. The previous case would hit Elise no matter what. The current case would only hit Elise if she is genuinely suicidal even before any mind tampering being done to her.

>>37001941
https://archive.moe/tg/thread/36851380

Read the last thread for the love of god, the first couple updates are very relevant.

I should have brought popcorn for this!

>>37001987
>The previous case would hit Elise no matter what
No it wouldn't, it would only if she was the original caster.

>The current case would only hit Elise if she is genuinely suicidal even before any mind tampering being done to her.
She has already said she's going to trigger her spell on the cube to kill the original caster, whoever it is.

You guys aren't forgetting that Nicole had a feeling she knew the changing patterns on the cube, right? If it still repeats them, it might be a good idea to actually take a look at them before overloading the cube.

>>37001994
*passes popcorn* watching dueling sperg is always fun.

>>37001907
Don't keep just writing, stop and address this discussion please, it seems there are two factions of anons with wildly different interpretations of events at a rather critical time and merely continuing and ignoring them is bad and would only make things worse.

>>37001945
>>37001950
That doesn't make sense.

Elise doesn't suspect herself of casting the mind influencing magic that's causing her to cast the nightmare spell on Clarissa, she suspects someone OUTSIDE is using mind magic on her to cause her to target Clarissa. If said caster would use magic on Elise again, it won't matter if she knows of the trap or not because she's not willingly casting the spell.

>>37002009
I'm not, which is why I'm not advocating the stupid course of action, but of course the idiots don't give two shits and don't bother actually reading the quest so they don't care.

>>37002025
>she suspects someone OUTSIDE is using mind magic on her to cause her to target Clarissa.
No, she suspects that her mind has been affected by mind magic, whatever that entails, and insinuated she herself is the person who cast that mind magic on herself. Nicole interprets as much and comments mentally on it.

go read https://archive.moe/tg/thread/36851380

>>37002009
Yeah. I was hoping Nicole would get a chance to go over those notes or inspect the cube again at some point before it's rendered inert.

>>37002001
Okay.

The previous case would hit the original caster no matter what.

The current case would hit anyone who acts like the original caster in the future. Since the trap would be set by Elise, it would not be triggered by Elise, unless Elise wants to kill herself for which she doesn't need a trap in the first place.

Better?

>>37002009
>>37002046
>it might be a good idea to actually take a look at them before overloading the cube.
It would be a very good idea, yet evidently this playerbase is full of drooling fools with double digit IQs

>>37002058
Lighten up.

>>37002057
>The current case would hit anyone who acts like the original caster in the future
Nope, still exactly the same as the previous case, or did you ignore
>What happens if the hostile spellcaster, the original one, tries to use the cube again?
>the original one

>unless Elise wants to kill herself for which she doesn't need a trap in the first place.
You're still ignoring where she confirmed she would trigger her head exploding spell even if she turned out to be the original caster and killed herself

>>37002083
>>What happens if the hostile spellcaster, the original one, tries to use the cube again?

>>37002057
>Since the trap would be set by Elise, it would not be triggered by Elise, unless Elise wants to kill herself for which she doesn't need a trap in the first place.

>>37002090
Right, keep on ignoring my argument then, if you can't even read the entirety of my short post how am I to expect you to actually read the updates and make informed decisions?

>>37002083
>You're still ignoring where she confirmed she would trigger her head exploding spell even if she turned out to be the original caster and killed herself
That was for the sake of finding out who the caster is and protecting the captain. She's willing to gamble her life for gain, not throw her life away for no reason.

>>37002090
What is your point anon, that anon directly addressed your second quote...

>>37002105
>Right, keep on ignoring my argument then
Ironic, coming from you.

>>37002118
The point is that the current case is safe for Elise, even if she is the original caster.

>>37002113
>She's willing to gamble her life for gain, not throw her life away for no reason.
And this is still gambling her life for gain, how can you possibly think its for no reason?

Let's follow a simple logical chain of events:

1. Elise modifies the release clause of Anders' spell to kill the original caster if they interact with the cube.
2. Elise interacts with the cube.
3. It turns out Elise was the caster, whether by her own hand or someone who used mind magic on her.
4. The release clause she modified killed her because she was the original caster.

>>37002129
>The point is that the current case is safe for Elise, even if she is the original caster.
Not if she modifies it with his instructions to be deadly, like she intends with her own, like Anders implies with his statement
>And if Elise would like, I can pass along further instructions on how to alter the release clause of the spell into something more directed. Just to satisfy her blood thirst for revenge."

You vet your tone in your head first, making sure that you speak respectfully and without too much suspicion. "If I might ask, Anders: how do you know so much about how the cube works?"

Anders favours you with a broad smile that has nothing to do with friendliness or humour. "I am the seneschal of Alvar, Nicole. Every report written in the palace goes through me. And Elise, despite her habits, is also required to submit the occasional report, however delayed, with or without coffee stains. She has been quite open with her findings on the cube, perhaps since she knows I am also versed in magic, and may double-check her work."

David looks as though he is about to add something, but clears his throat awkwardly instead, and keeps his peace.

You inspect Anders's assertion from a few angles, but can find no convenient contradictions to challenge. You don't think Anders is specifically out to betray Alvar or anyone in it, but you can't shake the nagging feeling that he may not be motivated entirely by his responsiblities and duties as seneschal. Something to keep in mind.

"How would the excess energy in the cube be directed?" you ask instead. "If Elise were to use the redirection alternation, I mean."

Anders shrugs. "That's between Elise and her methods. She had not seen fit to describe them in detail in her reports. I can only provide the basis for the underlying structure of the spell I use. How Elise chooses to alter it is up to her."

In other words, there is no way of telling what would happen if Elise turned out to be the original source of the nightmare spell, controlled by an outside mental influence as a catspaw. Elise's original plan would have had the planned counterspell fizzle if she was the one responsible for the nightmare spell, but that was before Anders's plan of filling the cube with far more magical energy than it would usually have.

>[1/2]

>>37002129
>The point is that the current case is safe for Elise, even if she is the original caster.
Not if she changes the spell to be harmful, which is what this whole stupid argument is about...

"Is there any way to make the energy non-lethal?" you persist. "Maybe, um. Make the spellcaster marked, but not harmfully. Turn them bright green or something."

David just gives you an odd look.

"As I said," Anders says, "that is all up to Elise. What she does with the energy, and what she is capable of doing with it, is entirely her concern." He shakes his head. "I will admit that I share your concerns, Nicole. I, too, do not wish to hear of any reports of Whiteford nobility receiving an unannounced magical backlash, much less have it happen before my eyes. But Elise seems quite insistent on having her vengeance. So I will say that it is certainly very possible to achieve a harmless result. Whether Elise wishes to do so is another matter."

Elise had obviously not told Anders about her own suspicions regarding possibly being compromised.

> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."
> "Do it, Anders. But don't give Elise any instructions on altering the spell."
> "Do it, Anders. But give me the instructions instead. I'll decide whether I should pass them on to Elise later."
> "I'm sorry, Anders. But I don't think it's worth the risk."
> "I'm sorry, Anders. But I think the information in the cube is more important."

>>37002164
> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."

She'd also be notified of the increased energy, so what she does it up to her.

And thank fuck you posted, this was getting ridiculous.

>>37002164
>> "Do it, Anders. But give me the instructions instead. I'll decide whether I should pass them on to Elise later. Also let me inspect the patterns on the cube again."

>>37002150
Even if the trap is deadly, she wouldn't trigger it because she knows about it. She would have to go out and walk into the trap in order to be hit by it.

In case she does actually want to kill herself, she doesn't need the trap.

>>37002150
>1. Elise modifies the release clause of Anders' spell to kill the original caster if they interact with the cube.
Right.

>2. Elise interacts with the cube.
Wrong. She doesn't interact with the cube because the cube is trapped and she happens to know about said trap since she's the one who set it.

>>37002186
>>37002164
This

>>37002164
>>37002186
This

>>37002179
>so what she does it up to her.
So you don't care if she kills herself because of your vote?

>>37002186
>>37002164
seconded.

>>37002164
Seconding >>37002186

Let's see if the patterns have changed or we can figure anything more out about it.

>>37002164
>>37002186
This I quess. I'm all confused now.

>>37002164
> "Do it, Anders. Give Elise the instructions."

>>37002187
>Wrong. She doesn't interact with the cube because the cube is trapped and she happens to know about said trap since she's the one who set it.
That's assuming whoever mind magic'd her doesn't make her interact with it.

Because mindfucking a person do commit suicide is totally plausible in this situation.

>>37002219
Guess*

>>37002164
>>37002186
This, I'm not comfortable giving the instructions to Elise without a long talk about what she will do to modify the spell and its impact. I would very much rather her modify it to merely be harmless but mark the caster.

>>37002228
I find her dying of this to be just as likely as of other reasons. All the trap presents is a gun she can shoot herself with. She happens to have plenty of those on herself and in her lab already.

>>37002164
>> "Do it, Anders. But give me the instructions instead. I'll decide whether I should pass them on to Elise later."

>>37002187
>she wouldn't trigger it because she knows about it
That assumes that she is in control of her own mind. If she is not, then its entirely possible whoever manipulated her mind with magic can make her walk right into the trap.

>>37002247
Now you're just strawmanning because you can't come up with an actual argument. She has already admitted to motive for going through with her lethal spell, but why and how would that mean she will go and brain herself with a book in her lab with no motive?

>>37002239
Yeah, there are many smarter better alternatives to making someone head pop for this spell. She could paint them bright green, she could teleport them to the palaces dungeons, she could make them admit to the crime, she could do any number of things that is not reckless and irresponsible, while still finding out who the culprit is, and enabling us to suitably bring them to justice appropriately.

>>37002255
If someone manipulated her mind then they either know what's going on right now, or they are giving her very general orders. If they have direct control then they can do whatever they want. If they are giving her general orders, then she would actively avoid hurting herself even while under the mind control, since death would prevent her from accomplishing whatever she was ordered to accomplish.

>>37002264
I'm still arguing for the exact same thing I did from the start.

>why and how would that mean she will go and brain herself with a book in her lab with no motive?
Because it's the same as triggering the trap on herself for no reason. It's just as likely.

>>37002310
>then she would actively avoid hurting herself even while under the mind control
Thats a pretty big conclusion to jump to anon, don't go making assumptions, her general orders could be wildly different if they exist

>>37002310
>since death would prevent her from accomplishing whatever she was ordered to accomplish.
That's just ignoring the possibility that she could be ordered to do just exactly that to cover her manipulators tracks...

>>37002326
For example?

I find it very unlikely that someone gave her specific orders to use the cube even when doing so is destructive to their objective.

>>37002334
And she could also be ordered to jump out of her tower to cover her manipulator's track.

But who was cube?

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Anons, please! I implore you for calm!

Losing the cube to magical lashback would slow down the investigation but it would likely not hinder Nicole's true goal - that is, being friends with EVERYONE so they accept her DEEP DARK 100% HUMAN SECRET.

>>37002339
>I find it very unlikely that someone gave her specific orders to use the cube even when doing so is destructive to their objective.
I find it very likely that someone, who is manipulating an agent, upon discovery that they may be compromised through said agent, decides to remove said agent to create plausible deniability.

>And she could also be ordered to jump out of her tower to cover her manipulator's track.
But that would leave the cube intact and able to be further investigated, potentially revealing the manipulator.

You would make an atrocious paranoid wizard or spymaster anon.

>>37002353
I couldn't care less about loosing the cube.

What I care about is by loosing the cube indirectly loosing Elise.

Because then we can't be friends with her.

>>37002353
>Squire

You filth.

>>37002164
Sure, go for >>37002186

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30 KB JPG

>>37002353

>That filename

You monster.

>>37002370
True enough. Your heart is in the right place, Anon!

>>37002372
>not correcting it

>>37002353
Yeah. Fuck the cube, we don't need it around.

>>37002361
>I find it very likely that someone, who is manipulating an agent, upon discovery that they may be compromised through said agent, decides to remove said agent to create plausible deniability.
For which they don't need to use the trap. There are hundreds of other ways for Elise to kill herself.

Not to mention that using the trap would point us to Elise as the security breech.

>But that would leave the cube intact and able to be further investigated, potentially revealing the manipulator.

I find it very unlikely they already know about that. If they are in fact capable of getting such information, they could just destroy the cube by interacting with it themselves.

Not to mention that them being linked to the cube is very unlikely considering the entire reason to use Elise for it was so she'd be the one interacting with the cube.

In fact, now that I think about it, that would be the best way to cover tracks. Have Elise "accidentally" die while all the suspicious leads in the cube lead to her, since she was the one interacting with it.

>>37002425
>For which they don't need to use the trap. There are hundreds of other ways for Elise to kill herself.
All of which do not remove the evidence and links to you.

>Not to mention that using the trap would point us to Elise as the security breech.
Which is what you would want, a misdirection and red herring covering your tracks and involvement, if the trap kills Elise, then Elise was the caster, whether by her own hand or not, and with Elise dead, the trail ends and no more can be found, so Elise did it.

I hope to god you never get into espionage (or Shadowrun) because you would be terrible at it.

nice to see I just dodged a huge arguement.

>>37002425
>I find it very unlikely they already know about that
More baseless assumptions anon.

>If they are in fact capable of getting such information, they could just destroy the cube by interacting with it themselves.
So if they can gatehr the info from Elise' mind, but not physically interact with the cube, that suddenly means they can destroy the cube themselves? Massive hole in your logic anon

>>37002425
>In fact, now that I think about it, that would be the best way to cover tracks. Have Elise "accidentally" die while all the suspicious leads in the cube lead to her, since she was the one interacting with it.
Thank you for completely contradicting yourself and agreeing with me...

>>37002450
If Elise kills herself with the countermeasures, then it's pretty obvious she wasn't thinking clearly, thus pointing her out as the security breech.

If Elise dies while the cube is still intact, all of the evidence of mental tampering dies with her, and all of the evidence of cube tampering points to her.

It's a much better way to cover the tracks.

>>37002463
>More baseless assumptions anon.
>baseless
Oh, I see, they must be omnipotent. Either that or you're saying that Anders is the perp.

>>37002476
I didn't agree with you, in my example the cube would have to stay untouched, so obviously the trap on it wasn't triggered.

>>37002493
>thus pointing her out as the security breech.
>all of the evidence of mental tampering dies with her
That applies in both situations, and how can you possibly think that the one where the cube is left intact for other magic users to investigate is the better one if you want to hide your involvement?

You try to calm yourself, and clear your thoughts. Examining the decision you have to make from several angles quickly reveals that it is a set of different and distinct decisions, interlinked, but not all to be answered at the same time.

You nod to Anders. "Do it, Anders. But give me the instructions instead. I'll decide whether I should pass them on to Elise later." Thus postponing that particular decision to a later date, after you've had a chance to consult with Elise. Meanwhile, the more immediate question on letting Anders overcharge the cube is answered.

Anders lays a hand on the nightmare-absorber. You suppress a completely unreasonable shudder, given that you've been assured multiple times that the orbs are all harmless to the touch, at least for most people. Even so, those things creep you out.

The cube immediately flares to life. Patterns begin to flicker on its surface, tracing the whorls and spirals, chaotic at first, before settling into a steady progression, images changing every ten seconds or so. David quickly scribbles down notes, and flips through the folder of sketches as he watches the glowing green patterns.

Apart from his lips moving as he chants the cadences of the spell under his breath, Anders looks quite relaxed. In fact, he looks slightly more emotive than just before, which is a sign of an improved mood. Maybe this is his way of cutting loose on all his frustrations.

You focus your attention on the cube, trying to memorize the patterns you see. You still have the sensation of having seen the patterns before, but cannot quite recall where.

The difference this time is that you have an expert on pre-Empire civilizations and languages beside you.

"Professor," you say, "what do those patterns mean?"

>[1/2]

>>37002493
>It's a much better way to cover the tracks.
No it isn't you delusional fool.

"They're just numbers," David says, keeping his attention on the cube. "For example, that one is fourteen. That one is twenty-three. Seven. Thirty-six. Thirty-eight. Twenty-three again." David trails off, his brow furrowing. "Nothing above forty thus far. I wonder if this could be meaningful?"

You leave him to his thoughts, and quietly gnaw on your own. You have no idea why you would feel that ancient numbers are familiar, but you are even more certain that the familiarity is real.

Of course, you have no idea if the familiarity is significant either. You could have just seen the patterns in passing a long time ago, in some trivial context, and mis-remembered them as something important.

Something else to keep in mind.

Anders makes a gesture with his free hand, and every line on the cube lights up for a moment, before fading away into a sullen green glow. Evidently the performance is over.

David pockets his notebook, and extends his hand to Anders, who stares at it in puzzlement for a moment before recalling human peculiarities in formal greetings. "Thank you for your help, Anders," David says.

"Of course," Anders replies, politely disengaging from the handshake. "If there is nothing else, Nicole, I will return to my office. No doubt lunch has been delivered, and is cooling on my desk."

Which reminds you that you have more or less missed lunch entirely. You don't feel especially hungry, but you could always pick up a snack in the city later.

"I will submit the instructions on the spell when I have the time," Anders says. "Likely through Clarissa's desk, by the end of the day. Was there anything else I could help you with?" From his tone, this is merely a formality, and Anders is expecting to return to his work without further interruptions.

> "Nothing else, Anders. Thank you."
> "Actually, I'd like to ask a favour. Could you detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

>>37002553
>"Actually, I'd like to ask a favour. Could you detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

>>37002553
> "Actually, I'd like to ask a question. Is there a way to detect if someone is under the influence of mind-affecting magic?"

We shouldn't bother him with more extra work, he has plenty to see to.

>>37002553
> "Actually, I'd like to ask a favour. Could you detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

>>37002553
> "Actually, I'd like to ask a favour. Could you detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

"If Elise were to try and detect it on herself, the spell might have her overlook the results."

>>37002531
>That applies in both situations
It does not. Elise setting a trap and then triggering it herself is clear evidence she was mentally assaulted.

Elise dying of some other random cause is not.

>and how can you possibly think that the one where the cube is left intact for other magic users to investigate is the better one if you want to hide your involvement?
It's called a scape goat. It helps in keeping your name clean.

>>37002553
> "Actually, I'd like to ask a favour. Could you detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

>>37002553
> "Nothing else, Anders. Thank you."

Nope, not picking the second one. It's a veritable minefield option.

>>37002553

> "Actually, I'd like to ask a favour. Could you detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

>>37002553
>>37002577
This

>>37002553
>"Nothing else, Sir. Thank you."

>>37002586
>Elise setting a trap and then triggering it herself is clear evidence she was mentally assaulted.
Not really, you could be a would be thief thinking your own trap wouldn't kill you, like a bomber might think he can get outside of the blast radius, but underestimate its power.

>>37002553
>"Nothing else, Anders. Thank you."
Elise didn't trust Anders, either.

>>37002553
>> "Nothing else, Anders. Thank you."
save it for another time

>>37002615
This depends on the person and their reputation and what people are willing to believe. It's unlikely Elise would be in an important position like she is if she were careless enough to blow herself up under normal circumstances.

At any rate, evidence in the cube that it was Elise using it plus a dead Elise who can't be interrogated is more solid.

>>37002641
>It's unlikely Elise would be in an important position like she is if she were careless enough to blow herself up under normal circumstances.
She's an apprentice magic user at best, playing with magic she has very little idea or control of

>>37002641
>At any rate, evidence in the cube that it was Elise using it plus a dead Elise who can't be interrogated is more solid.
exactly as solid as her blowing herself up with it, do you not understand how circumstantial evidence works?

>>37002668
What. She's a court wizard. She might not be an archmage but obviously she isn't an apprentice or incompetent.

>>37002553
>> "Nothing else, Anders. Thank you."

>>37002680
We aren't talking about evidence you bring into a court of law here, we're talking evidence that would point us in the right direction for further investigation.

>>37002553

> "Actually, I'd like to ask a favour. Could you detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

>>37002553
>> "Actually, I'd like to ask a favour. Could you detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

>>37002705
The distinction is meaningless, the impact exactly the same, both points of evidence draw about the same conclusion and lead to the same evidence, away from the manipulator.

>>37002730
No. Elise killing herself with by taking actions that are obviously insane is suspicious and directly points to someone tampering with her head. Elise dying under circumstances unrelated to the cube are not.

>>37002785
>Elise killing herself with by taking actions that are obviously insane is suspicious and directly points to someone tampering with her head.
No it isn't, but if your too narrow minded to not be able to comprehend the many hundreds of ways that can be interpreted I'm not going to waste my time with you any further trying to educate you.

>>37002806
It doesn't matter that there are many hundreds of other explanations if the most obvious one happens to be true. Someone trying to cover their ass wouldn't want to be obvious.

I heard MGNQ was looking for its lost shadowruns, did you guys steal them?

>>37002846

>>37002846
IT'S THE FUZZ!
YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE! I'M NOT GOING BACK!

Anders had put Elise into a deep sleep instantly and almost offhandedly, complete with a confident estimate of when she would wake. You are not entirely clear on the distinctions between the many schools and varieties of magic, but maybe Anders has some further skill in detecting mental intrusions.

"Actually," you say cautiously, "I'd like to ask a favour. Is it possible for you to detect if someone is under the influence of mind magic?"

And there is Anders's piercing stare again. Now that he has vented his anger on the cube, he is free to unsettle and unnerve you once more. You are acutely aware that David has wandered off, likely to prepare for his return trip to Grunmarl. Only the two of you are left in the courtyard.

"Why do you ask, Nicole?" Anders asks. Nothing but conversational curiosity in his tone.

You consider making up some excuse about a contingency plan for Clarissa, but all invention wilts in the face of that stare. You can only fake a non-committal shrug, desperately keeping your face straight.

Anders pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, which has the benefit of providing temporarily relief from his stare. "If you are asking if I have the capability, I do. But not without certain pieces of equipment, which I do not own. Elise can easily produce these; if you wish to determine if a given person is being influenced by outside forces, I would suggest going to her."

Except Elise told you that she may be too compromised to detect any meddling in her own mind. You're not sure how you can ask Anders to test Elise without raising even more uncomfortable questions. You'll have to try convincing Elise to submit herself to testing by Anders.

"Without a more concrete example, however," Anders continues, "you may find it difficult to acquire her cooperation. Elise does not trust me, and rightly so. She will likely insist on performing the detection herself."

>[1/2]

And the mysterious yet irritating conspiracy of elvenkind against themselves interferes once more. "Why doesn't Elise trust you?" you ask. And "rightly so", according to Anders himself.

In reply, Anders brushes aside his hair, tracing his pointed ears briefly, a faint smile on his lips.

"So should I trust you?" you say, with forced jovial humour.

"You should attend to your lessons," Anders says, turning to leave. "You may encounter the concept of the liar's paradox, and receive an example very much like this one."

You flush in embarrassment, as your brain catches up to the situation at hand. You really should start thinking about what you want to say before you say it.

Left alone now, you consider your options for the afternoon.

> Head to the Southgate Watch House
> Attend William's etiquette lesson
> Report all of this to Clarissa
> Visit the one sane elf in the library

>>37003104
> Visit the one sane elf in the library

And panic mildly.

>>37003104
>> Attend William's etiquette lesson

>>37003104
> Head to the Southgate Watch House

I really want that bloody ring. I have a terrible feeling it might disappear one way or the other.

>>37003104
>Visit the one sane elf in the library

>>37003104
> Visit the one sane elf in the library

>>37003104
> Head to the Southgate Watch House

Let's get away from these damn elves for a while.

>>37003165
That's racist, Anon!

>>37003104
>> Head to the Southgate Watch House

>>37003104
> Head to the Southgate Watch House

>the ring has disappeared!

>>37002846

Look, if the QM introduces mind control magic as an active element into the plot and most of our problems are going to be directly relevant and ultimately tying back in to said mind control magic like some giant conspiracy, then you're going to see some paranoia. Especially since we can't (through circumstance or just not being able to) do magic and thus really can't affect what's going on beyond trying to track the trail back to the origin.

Well, I mean, we could speculate about what Nicole is some more, but that tends to end just as horrible as this.

>>37003104

> Visit the one sane elf in the library

We need to go drop off that thing about William real fast. A promise is a promise.

>>37003104
>Visit the one sane elf in the library

>>37003104
>Attend William's etiquette lesson

>>37003104
> Attend William's etiquette lesson

>>37003104
The library or the Watch House. Either one is fine.

What's the point of going to the library? Is there anything important there?

>>37003348
To tell whats-her-face about Williams favorite animal.

>>37003358
>people are getting murdered in the city
>clarissa and elise might be blown up in a magical conspiracy
>...better go talk about cats with the librarian

>>37003369
as the 3rd of 3 elves either not nutso or doubting themselves, odds are she's the cat's paw.

>>37003348
Just a quick stop to get a favor out of the way. We're not stopping to pick up new books. It's probably off to the watch house right after.

>>37003369
Hey, I didn't vote for it. But it's not like it should take very long to tell her.

>>37003369
She's not even likeable, that librarian.

>>37003422
None of the elves are, imo. Elise is alright sometimes but they're all kind of annoying.

>>37003438
I like Lily despite her seekrits.

Then again, everyone seems to have questionable backgrounds.

>>37003499
Am I the only one who likes all the characters so far?

>>37003514
Yes.
Just joshing with ya, they're all pretty great!

>>37003514
Yes. The librarian is fun in the way that we can tease her but her attitude is annoying at best. Which, if we follow the usual VN tropes - makes her a really good friend after she properly accepts Nicole.

I'm not personally interested in becoming friends with her though.

With Elise out of commission for the rest of the day, you're not sure if it's worth visiting the Southgate Watch House immediately. That gold ring should still be there, given that entry into the evidence room requires bypassing an entire Watch House full of surly, cynical guards, possibly with one guard who is not surly or cynical but is very active and enthusiastic and surprisingly observant.

And given the shadow familiar you chased did not teleport or disappear until you caught up with it, you're pretty sure they do not have the capability to fade through solid walls. Confirmation will have to wait until Elise is awake, at which time you could also ask why the shadow familiar chose the very moment you caught up to it before disappearing. Maybe it wanted to make fun of you.

In any case, the gold ring had lain in the evidence room ever since the first murder was discovered, without having been retrieved by spies or intruders, shadowy or otherwise. It is demonstrably safer there than in Alvar palace, which is rather more porous.

The master of the shadow familiars is still unknown, although that interview request from the elf nation of Crystal Vale had been telling. The Duke had quashed it for your sake, which helps in reducing the number of elves you know who delight in choosing the most cryptic ways to tell you about their own untrustworthiness.

Which reminds you that you still need to inform Katherine of William's preferences with regards to small domesticated animals.

Katherine should be in the library at this time, fulfilling her duties as a librarian by avoiding as much social contact as she can. Which is also a convenient excuse if you are questioned about your whereabouts; the library is often synonymous with study, which is an important part of your knight-apprentice duties, as opposed to low gossip.

>[1/2]

The route to the library from the palace is quite familiar, as are the guards on duty at the entrace. They nod you through with professional disinterest.

Katherine is seated behind the front desk, busy with her needlework. You lean over.

"He likes kittens," you murmur.

Katherine's hands still momentarily, before she looks around furtively. Upon seeing that nobody is paying any attention to her immediate area, she beckons you over to her side.

"All right," she says in a low voice. "What do you want? For payment."

> "Payment? There's no need for payment. I'm returning a favour, after all."
> "A book recommendation, maybe."
> "Could you make a dress for me? I'd like to see what you can do."
> "What do you see in William anyway?"
> "Never mind. I'll be going now."

>>37003694
> "Payment? There's no need for payment. I'm returning a favour, after all."

>>37003694
> "Payment? There's no need for payment. I'm returning a favour, after all."

>>37003694
>"Payment? There's no need for payment. I'm returning a favour, after all."

>>37003694
> "Payment? There's no need for payment. I'm returning a favour, after all."